Act Now

We need more people like Marc Benioff, willing to act now. A billion dollars is pittance for a government, but an amazing amount of money for a person. It’s more than you can spend in a life, your kids, perhaps even your grandkids. I’d argue that it’s more than one person deserves to spend on themselves or their desires, no matter how they earned it.

The Response to the First Responders

A horribly tragedy last week in Aurora, a few miles from my home. People killed in a theater by a crazy man, and a shocked nation.

I didn't hear about it until the next morning, but in watching the news conference the next night, I was pleasantly surprised, and inspired to see our governor praise the first responders, and make allowances for any mistakes made. It was an impossible situation to predict or train for. Yet the praise for those involved, instead of seeking personal glory, or spreading blame, seemed to be a theme. Apart from our governor, I've seen numerous posts and notes that thanked all the police and emergency personnel.

Inspiring to see people come together.

Hustle

As long as we have people with this attitude, we are going places:

"If you hustle – all out, fully hustle – and you succeed, then you gain the satisfaction of a job well done. If you hustle and fail, you never have to worry about what might have been if you’d given everything.
If you slack off, you might get lucky and still succeed, but there’s little satisfaction other than the temporary thrill of escaping with your life. If you slack off and fail, you have to live forever with not knowing what you were truly capable of."

From Todd Henry

Karen Lopez, Crusader

She might not see herself as one, but I really love the efforts Karen puts into making the world a better place. I met her a couple years ago and have since seen her speak on a number of topics, both technical and career based, and I think this post of hers is wonderful.

This is Why I #WIT…And Why You Should. Too

She’s a great inspiration to women especially, but really to everyone.

PepsiCo Women’s Inspiration Award Winner – If I can do it, so can you…

An inspiring story. A hard one, and one that comes from someone with talent.

I like seeing stories like this, and I think they do give some inspiration to others. Here is someone that was dealt a hard hand in life, and turned it around, with perseverance and hard work.

However this is clearly an exceptional person. I wish we saw more stories from people that were average, or even just slightly above average making a change in their lives, and growing. It’s more realistic, and I think it would motivate more people to actually pursue their goals, rather than looking at someone like this and thinking “I’m not that talented” and I won’t have that level of success.

You should pursue your dreams, not be afraid of the hard work and setbacks, and roll with them..

Steve Jobs 1955-2011

It sucks getting older. There are any number of reminders of that fact on a regular basis as I move through my 40s. A kid in college, the aches and pains from moving my body too quickly, the paunch that I struggle to keep under control, and the most annoying might be having to get up most nights to go to the bathroom when I should be sleeping.
One of the saddest reminders, however, is the all too regular passing of someone we admire, someone we know, someone we love. I haven’t had much death in my life to this point, fortunately. I lost a friend, a former boss, while away at college. A good friend, only slightly older was killed earlier this year. And I lost someone I admired yesterday.
I never met Steve Jobs. Never saw him speak in person, never worked at Apple, and rarely used their computers. However Steve Jobs was one of the few people that I wanted on my “what three people I would invite to dinner” list. Apple has always been a “cool” company to me, one that transcended the engineering efficiency of so many technology companies to build something that you could use, but more importantly, you wanted to use.
The comparison that came to mind this morning as I lay in bed, thoughts churning about both my day and the loss of someone I admired was the same one that Dave Winer wrote about in his memorial post: Frank Lloyd Wright.
The design, the clean, clear lines, the lack of anything extra was both elegant and insanely frustrating at times. However also genius, and reminiscent of not a better way to do things, but of the future.
That’s what Steve Jobs brought with both design and form in the Macintosh, the NeXt, Toy Story, the iPod, the iPhone, the Air, and the iPad.
The future.

Feel good Story - How I Harnessed the Wind

From TED, worth watching. The message is more powerful than the story. Trust yourself and try.

 

How I Harnessed the Wind

The World Peace Game

Our children are the future. Whether we like it or not, we will cede control to them at some point in our lives. It’s one of those things that makes me believe the investments in education are important, perhaps even more important than some of the other places where we spend money.

This is a great talk from John Hunter, teacher in my native VA. It talks about a game for fourth graders that helps them to learn and understand the world, and in many ways, learn to think about their impact on the world.

Here’s the link: http://www.ted.com/talks/john_hunter_on_the_world_peace_game.html

It’s humorous and inspiring. Someone that recognizes children are not only our future, but that they have perspectives worth listening to.

Sermon Walking

Posted elsewhere on the web, but sent to me today by my Mom and I liked it. Your character and your actions stand out more than anything.

Sermon Walking
In 1953 reporters gathered at a Chicago railway station waiting to meet the 1952 Nobel Peace Prize winner.

He was a big man, well over six feet tall, with bushy hair and a large mustache.


Reporters were excited to see him and expressed what an honor it was to meet him. Cameras were flashing, compliments were being expressed when, looking beyond the adulation, the visitor saw an elderly black woman struggling to carry her two large suitcases.


"Excuse me," he said as he went to the aid of this woman. Picking up her cases, he escorted her to a bus and then apologized to the reporters for keeping them waiting.


The man was Dr. Albert Schweitzer, the famous missionary-doctor who had invested his life helping poor and sick people in Africa.


A member of the reception committee remarked to one of the reporters, "That's the first time I ever saw a sermon walking." The measure of any man or woman is not their name, nor their fame, nor what they say, but what they do.

Inspirational

My little girl is something. She took her whole allowance from this week, $5, and put it in an envelope along with a letter for the ASPCA. She had me send it off, and I’m hoping for a good response. Here’s a copy of her letter:

In case you can’t read it, here is the text:

October 11, 2010

Dear ASPCA

Hi ASPCA, my name is Kendall. I am Atieh’s daughter. I love animals. I donated the money. Using my allowance. I can give you money. I have 17 animals. My Mom owns and boards nine horses. It is 6:52 and four are standing out my window. They are Jemini, Tina, Reo, and Zarha. The other horses are Starlight, Yurecka, Eemler, Cowboy, and Rain. I have three dogs. Deuce, Oscer, and Kolhy. Three cats: Jewl, Nero, and Milky Way. Jewel and Nero are barn cats. Two guinea pigs: Tiffany and Trixy. OK all my animals done. Now time to learn about me. I love animals more than anything. My favorite animal is the wolf. My favorite domestic animal is the German Sheperd. I love them because they were bred with wolves. So next time you ship to my Mom, write a letter about yourself. Thanks you!

Your New Friend,

Kendall Jones

The Average SQL Saturday Attendee

I have been to quite a few SQL Saturdays. This year I have been to 5 and will go to 2 more, and next year I’ll do a few and perhaps run my own events.

One of the things that I’ve noticed from attendees is they often work at local companies, governments, with a common theme: a lack of training dollars.

However these people take a Saturday away from their families, some driving for hours (I’ve seen up to a 6 hour drive) to go and learn something. To go improve their skills, and make the investment in their career.

It should pay back for them, but I’m not sure that I would have made that investment when  I was younger. It certainly makes me want to deliver more training, and do more to help others.

And work on my own career.

The Sack Lunch

A story shared by the Scoutmaster from Delaney’s Boy Scout troop inspired me this morning. It’s the way that I would love to see more people behave.

-----

The Sack Lunches

I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. 'I'm glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I will get a short nap,' I thought.

Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation.

‘Where are you headed?' I asked the soldier seated nearest to me. 'Petawawa. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Afghanistan.

After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached the east, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time...

As I reached for my wallet, I overheard a soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch.  'No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks.  I'll wait till we get to base.'

His friend agreed.

I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty  dollar bill.  'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.' She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. 'My son was a soldier in Iraq ; it's almost like you are doing it for him.'

Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best - beef or chicken?' 'Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she asked. She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class.

'This is your thanks..'

After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room. A man stopped me. 'I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.' He handed me twenty-five dollars.

Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand and said, 'I want to shake your hand.' Quickly unfastening my seatbelt I stood and took the Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.' I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers.

Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.

When we landed I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars!

Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. 'It will take you some time to reach the base.. It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless You.'

Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers.

As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals. It seemed so little...

A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America  ' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'

That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.'

$1.86

$1.86 is what it took to inspire me recently.

I got the mail one day after school and was heading home with it. Kendall was in the car with me, and for some reason wanted to know what we had. A mix of bills and junk mail, but one envelope with ASPCA written on it caught her eye.

She grabbed it, opened it, and was asking what it was for. I explained this was a way that the organization raised money to care for animals and lots of groups do this. She kept the envelope and its contents and disappeared when we got home.

She apparently raided her purse, grabbing out her change. She’d just spent some allowance on a few stuffed animals, and had a little bit of money left. She packed it up in the envelope, and with a generous application of tape all over, sealed it up.

She was happy to help the animals, and a couple days later I had her put it in the mailbox, sending her donation off.

I’m proud of her, and it’s refreshing to see my kids thinking of something more than just the next toy they want. It’s an inspiration to think beyond ourselves.

Why

A very interesting talk from TED and Simon Sinek. Worth the 18 minutes.

 

 

I think that this ties in with some of the ideas that Dan Pink has in Drive. You need a purpose, more than just earning money or making a profit.

Helping Others

The Elizabeth Food Bank is a resource that is in the local town near me. It’s near the Scout troop that my son is a part of and we have volunteered there for some time.

I’m amazed by the couple that run it, from the local church, it’s an older retired couple that manage the donations, finances, and distribution of food twice a week, year round, to help the local community. They have other volunteers, but even on the days we’ve gone and they have been “off”, they’ve often stopped by.

It’s heartening to see people like that, giving of themselves to help others. That’s a cause that inspires me, and makes me want to help more in the future.

The Boy Scouts

I was involved in scouting as a kid, and in the last decade, with all three of my kids. I’ve volunteered to help out in various ways, though I haven’t usually officially held positions in the troops/packs since we’re so busy and my wife travels, sometimes unexpectedly. As a result, I haven’t wanted to let anyone down, but I’ve tried to help out as often as I could.

I look at the Scout leaders that my kids have now, and the efforts they go to in creating a program that motivates, excites, and pushes the kids, I’m amazed. And inspired. The Dutch Oven cooking I’ve been trying over the last month is based on the tremendous efforts I saw the Dads at the cook-off going to last fall.

I also look back at our Girl Scout leader. My daughter’s had 3 in 3 years, but this last one is great. She really goes out of her way to keep the girls interested and finds new things for them to do. I was out of town recently for the Powder Puff Derby, but I had the nanny take my daughter, knowing that our scout leader would ensure that she had a good time. And she did.

I don’t agree with all the philosophies and ideas behinds scouts, but I do appreciate, and am inspired by, the people the volunteer at the local level.

A Second Career

Maybe.

I haven’t ever really wanted to retire. As much as I like my hobbies, and I keep busy, I don’t have any great passion. When I reach the age, and have the ability to stop working, I’ve always wondered what I’d do.

My wife loves her horses. I’ve considered teaching, or even going to help a group like Habitat for Humanity, but nothing really inspired me.

Then a few weeks ago I was at the Elizabeth Food Bank and I felt a pull. I felt like this was something I could do, and more importantly, would want to do.

Sue, who runs the Food Bank, is almost 80 years old, but she goes to work most weeks ensuring that families in our community that are struggling can get food. Even on days where other people are in charge, she and her husband will often drop by and make sure things are running, drop off food, do something.

I’ve had the kids volunteering for scouts, but we’ve completed our requirements and still go. It’s a good feeling, and they like it. And so do I, as it’s inspiring.

Everyone has places they’ll support as a charity, or they should. However the food bank speaks to me, and I plan on getting down there once a month to help out.

Community Down South

When I attended SQLSaturday #17 in Baton Rouge, I had no idea who I would see there. There was only one person I knew that was going to attend, so it was an all new experience for me. I've never been to the area, and knew I would meet a bunch of new people.

It's the deep south, a city tucked up above New Orleans, and I have to say it was beautiful. However as I met people, the leader of the group down there, Patrick LeBlanc, really stood out to me. I was surprised by his passion and by his dedication to pushing education out to others.

On Friday night, we had the speaker's event, where a number of volunteers and speakers attended, getting the chance to talk with each other, and share some experiences. As we talked about our jobs, things that made us laugh, things that frustrated us, I was kind of amazed to hear about how much Patrick does for the community down there.

He presents on a regular basis for the user group. Not too many people have volunteered, so he leads meetings, and often digs in to come up with something to present to others. He runs lunchtime Livemeeting events to help those learn that can't come to the in-person meetings. He even taught a course at a local college while working on his own advanced degree.

A lot of things to help others, at times getting frustrated, but never thinking of quitting all these volunteer efforts. He never even mentioned getting benefits back, not even an MVP award from Microsoft. Until someone else mentioned it, I wouldn't have even guessed Patrick knew about it.

Over the weekend, watching him work the event, getting things organized, taking up the slack where needed, even giving an extra presentation when someone cancelled, it really inspired me.

I was so inspired by Patrick's work with the community, and it motivated me to push forward and set up an event in Denver. I've been talking about it, trying to get someone else to run it, but I finally started to push a little after coming back from the event.

A good person, and someone making the world a better place. Patrick LeBlanc is one of those people giving me hope for the world.

A Community Man

Recently I was in Richmond, VA for a user group meeting. I had a presentation scheduled for the SQL and .NET groups, who held a combined meeting because I was in town. Thanks to them for that, and I had a great time meeting people and I think they liked the presentation.

However, earlier in the day I had lunch with Andy Leonard. Andy has been a friend for a few years, mostly through our online communications (email, IM, and lately Twitter). You can follow him at @Andy_Leonard and he has a blog at VS Team Systems. He's one of my "go-to" SSIS guys for issues with that subsystem.

We had a long lunch, talking about various things, but one thing stood out to me. He loves the community.

Besides enjoying his work, besides caring for his family, Andy has a great time just helping the community. He's not looking for anything to come back to him, no payment, no great recognition, but he just enjoys helping people.

I know that Andy is awarded his MVP recognition in part because of this, but I get the feeling he'd be doing it even if he didn't get that.

With so many people seeming like they have an agenda, this was refreshing to me.

Different Thinker

My brother is an interesting cat. Spending time with him on vacation, quite a few talks just the two of us, remind me of how different he is from me. He sees the world differently, and he really wants to make it a better place.

As we talk, and he's just started his Physician's Assistant internship, I'm touched by how he laments the lack of time the hospital doctors spend with patients. He is working through the internal medicine group, and so often he spends more time (with the nurses) talking to patients and checking on them. He genuinely knows there are pressures, and the almighty dollar rules, but he's still looking to somehow find time to help people.

The passion comes through as he talks, and that's amazing. Especially as I don't think I have great passion, and it's something I'm not sure I ever will find. I appreciate his, however.

The other day he also wanted to meet at his office, and I think show off a little. I'm glad I agreed as it was impressive to me. It's nothing special, an old stone building built into a hillside in Ellicot City, but a nice reception room, 3 patient rooms, and lots of oriental and Asian or Middle Eastern decoration. He really embraces culture, and more natural, almost mystical healings. It was impressive to me just to see my brother's name on a sign and the door.

He spent a few minutes looking at my wrist, which I injured snowboarding in March. I'd mentioned it a month or so ago, and didn't say anything, but he asked if he could look at it here. He cares, and his desire to help shines through.

It's a different path than mine, and not even what I want, but it is admirable. And it's inspirational in many ways.