YOU AIN'T GONNA LEARN WHAT YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW

Just received this video, courtesy

Just received this video, courtesy of Fred - called "Sniper in Iraq."

If you watch this video, and are NOT angry about this -- then I'm amazed.

The video is HERE

This made me sick, and angry, and sad.

All at the same time.

I've been following the Wayne

I've been following the Wayne Gretzky story quite closely.

The final chapter (or 1st chapter) has yet to be detailed about this...

But, we may have a similiar case to the Pete Rose deal.

Sorry to say Pete's name in the same sentence as Wayne's -- but it will be inevitable, to draw the parallels.

Click HERE for another reason why this is a big story.

It's big becasue he was THE BEST, like Pete, and he is a big gambler, like Pete.

And, his positions with the Phoenix Coyote hockey club, put him in a huge POSITION OF INFLUENCE for games.

London, what a great city.

London, what a great city.

The people I have come in contact with are, friendly hospitable, and caring.

I genuinely feel that in the world we live in today, there are very few countries, that we know have our interests at heart.

Maybe 3 or 4 at the most. (countries that really have similiar interests and values)

I'm proud to say, I'm in one of the countries today.

Meeting up with some old pals tonight, downtown in Central London...and, I'm looking forward to that.

Virgin Atlantic runs a great airline.

Happy Early Valentines Day to my readers.

Rob Deichert, (who I link to) has written a fantastic post about careers, and learning on the job.

I highly encourage you to read this, as it nails down alot of the (corporate issues that we all deal with)

The article can be found HERE

Great job Rob, good writing, and great insight.

Blogging next week -- Interesting

Blogging next week --

Interesting week next week, as I will be posting from "across the pond" -- as in the United Kingdom.

Specifically, I will be in London, working feverishly on a project for a client...

But, here is what I think of, when I close my eyes and recall my history with London.

* The smell of Schwarma
* Texas Arizona -- great bar
* Damp and Cold
* Speaker Corner -- and VERY angry people
* Pomp and History
* HUGE Parks
* Great city

There are many more, but this is what always hits me...when the word London is said.

I plan on writing next week mostly about my experiences with the citizens I run into, and their feelings about issues that are important to me (world events, etc...) -- and their feedback. I have always found it interesting to hear from a "man on the street" - rather than some talking head, or media person, to make decisions and read a situation.

This is why blogging is so cool.

You get to hear from people that you normally would NEVER have a opportunity to come in contact with, hear lots of different viewpoints, and most of all process information from the "people, and the bottom up..." (not the top down)

I plan on asking tough questions next week, to waiters (my food will be spit on), taxi drivers (I'll get in a crash) -- and anyone else I come in contact with and can engage.

Blogging will be different next week.

Rock on.

I hope the direct hit,

I hope the direct hit, of ....

I sincerely hope the direct hit of the F-18's fury, from one of our guys, or our friends, lands directly on this guy's head.

Take people at their word -- he is letting us all know his intentions, his desire, and soon his mission.

Article HERE from the Bangkok Post

Ahmadinejad: Israel 'will be removed'

Tehran (dpa) - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Saturday that the Palestinians and "other nations" will eventually remove Israel from the region.

Addressing a mass demonstration in Tehran - one of many organized throughout Iran to commemorate the 27th anniversary of the Islamic revolution - he once again questioned the Holocaust "fairy tale".

"We ask the West to remove what they created sixty years ago and if they do not listen to our recommendations, then the Palestinian nation and other nations will eventually do this for them," Ahmadinejad said in a ceremony marking the 27th anniversary of the Islamic revolution.

"Do the removal of Israel before it is too late and save yourself from the fury of regional nations," the ultra-conservative president said. He once again called the Holocaust a "fairy tale" and said Europeans have become hostages of "Zionists" in Israel.

He also accused Europeans for not allowing "neutral scholars" to investigate in Europe and make a scientific report on "the truth about the fairy tale of Holocaust."

"How comes that insulting the prophet of Muslims worldwide is justified within the framework of press freedom, but investigating about the fairy tale Holocaust is not?" Ahmadinejad said.

Fascinating Stuff. Everyone Sells. Everyday,

Fascinating Stuff.

Everyone Sells. Everyday, whether they like it or not.

Everyday.

Sales is convincing someone that YOU are right, convincing another, that your way is the correct way - and asking them to listen, and take action that YOU recommend and desire.

"Trust me."

"Try it"

"Please...."

I met someone recently who is an amazing salesperson, inside of the company she works for.

She does not want to be called a "Sales person." Not, Sales Director, not Acct Exec, not anything remotely smelling or being involved with sales.

But, she is.

She is ADAMANT, "I'm not in Sales, I don't want to be in Sales..."

Somemone, somewhere, made her believe that salepeople were the bottom of the food chain in business. And, they were not to be respected, admired, and NEVER EVER Aspire to be in the "sales group" of any organization -- or you have failed.

I LOVE IT.

I love that feedback, I actually love, and respect that perception.

Why?

Because it's real. There is NO phoniness, its actual and you can feel it, taste it, and its the TRUTH from her vantage point - and she wears this "disdain for sales" on her sleeve.

"But, you are in sales - you talk to clients, generate revenue for the company, even have a goal..."

"No, I'm not in sales - call it what you want - this is not a sales job."

Do you know how many people feel this way, who are prospects, clients, -- AS WELL AS PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLY IN SALES, AND SELLING - but they never say it? (they never express THEIR disdain for sales, and salepeople in general)

Lots.

So many in fact, that it becomes a TACTIC for selling.

Use it. Use the fact that you, ADDRESS the differences in your sales style, to PROVE value.

Sell INTO the wind.

The 'negativo's" as I call them, end up being your BEST customers, your best employees -- and your BIGGEST FANS.

Why?

Because, in the process of "proving your value to them" -- you have sold them, and now, they dont' even know it, they don't even know they were being sold by you - and because of that very fact of NOT KNOWING YOU WERE WALKING THEM DOWN THE SALES PATH --they end up being your amongst your elite clients/prospect base.

Be unique.

Be different.

More to follow.

Setting Expectations.... A "huge" in

Setting Expectations....

A "huge" in business, life and relationships.

There are a few ways to describe this:

* properly setting goals and vision
* executable and deliverable options
* what will transpire
* a roadmap of "if X, then y."

Problem is, when PERCEPTION and EXPECTATIONS are misaligned, little matters.

Case in point.

The Islamic world.

This is a MESS. A MESS that we need to confront, challenge - and NOT be afraid to discuss issues....of expectations for both parties.

But, there is such a MISALIGNMENT of perception, where to begin?

Watching the rioting and destruction over this cartoon horrifies me.

Will we be UNABLE to discuss perception issues moving forward, out of fear of retribution and violence from the Islamic community?

Will the real issues now NEVER get discussed openly?

Our country stands for freedom, and the freedon to express and share ideas and opinions is what seperates us from many countries of the world.

This rioting, and the general reaction of the press in the Western World has sickened me, almost as much as the riots itself. Many press outlets REFUSE to show, and publish the Danish cartoon in question. THAT IS NEWS.

We have gone down a slippery slope, and allowed it.

Hey, NY TIMES -- "paper of record" print the cartoon - and let your intelligent reader's judge for themselves if it is offensive.

Sorry, this just bothered me a bit.

I installed Feedburner yesterday to

I installed Feedburner yesterday to this blog.

Feedburner is a cool feature, and it will allow you to create your own personalized web page of content.

I use Google Reader Lense -- and I encourage people to take 2 seconds and do it.

It's yummy. And, it BRINGS you your favorite content to your destination page, as soon as it is posted by sites/writers that you like and visit often.

Nice...

Andy

2005, and the Billy Joel

2005, and the Billy Joel Tune

Billy Joel wrote a song called, "We Did'nt Start the Fire..."

Those that do not know, the song is both a history lesson, as well as a comment on the fact that NO generation causes specific problems, no problem is UNIQUE to history. They are all baked together. Generations are dealt a piece of history, that they must deal with, like it our not. It's HOW they deal with it, thats up to interpretation.

2005 was NOT a good year for our world. It may have been a good year for many of us on a personal level, but in terms of world history, and MACRO issues, it was a less than stellar year.

Tsunami's, Hurricanes, Earthquakes, Terror--- to name a few challenges -- but this past year overall was a tough one.

War in Iraq. A divided nation. Terror. Supreme Court nominations. Gaza. London. Madrid. Cheney. Oil. Rising Gas. Sharon. Osama. Internet. Al-Jazeera. Missle Strikes. Eavesdropping. Hillary. Bill. Democrats in dissaray. Karl Rove. Scott Peterson. Aruba. Natalee Holloway. Chavez. Drugs. Nuclear Iran. Trade Inbalance. War. War. (there are many more, that just took me about 30 seconds)

The above are issues.

Issues that need to be dealt with. One by one. Challenges that we face.

Maybe I am being pessimistic, but, I'm hoping that 2006 yields BETTER fruit, on a macro level for us all. Personally, YOU may be outperforming your life, and doing BETTER than ever.

But, re-read the list above from 2005. ONE of those issues above WILL affect/effect YOUR life in 2006. Just ONE. Pick one.

As innocent as this time is in our lives, (our national life) the riots over this cartoon, in th Arab World---should be a wake up call to us all, as to the ALARM bells going off around us.

2005 the alarm rang, and it's going off. It's shaking, "this is your wake-up call.."

Anyone going to answer it, and WAKE up in 2006?

As Billy Joel Wrote--

"We didn't start the fire
It was always burning
Since the world's been turning
We didn't start the fire
No we didn't light it
But we tried to fight it"

These words have been ringing in my ears for 48 hours, not sure why....

Anyone have a clue?

My Boy ERIC KRONTHAL -

My Boy ERIC KRONTHAL - wrote a great letter to the country of Iran.

click on his name above to see also

http://www.erickronthal.blogspot.com/