The Place

This is the place where I come to write. I write for me and maybe for others feeling what I feel. My opinions are my own.

[jbisme13]

My perspective as I embark on a milestone birthday.

[jbisme13]

[jbisme13]

[jbisme13]

[jbisme13]

First post using Medium

[jbisme13]

Daily Thoughts: Saturday, 8/22/2015

I've read several articles about having a personal "board of directors". The concept of an inner circle of people you trust who will advocate and support your personal and career goals and development opportunities is not new. This came up in a recent conversation I had with a person I have had the opportunity to work and hang out with in the last year or so. He is probably a good candidate for anybody's board of directors and was clear about the importance of who "sits on your board". The part about this that can be most difficult is assessing "who" belongs on your board. What is the criteria of be on your board? Since my conversation with my colleague I've had the opportunity to answer the question as it relates to my board. To me, the word that came to mind is "trust". I've learned over the years that this word means something different to so many people. Per Webster, trust is a "belief that someone or something is reliable, good, honest, effective, etc.". I like the word reliable. Will your board members be there when you need them? Will YOU be there for them (I think it's important that it's a two-way street)? It's also important to give these people an opportunity to be reliable. Seeking advice and ideas shouldn't always be formalized and delayed until the next scheduled lunch. People who are truly invested in you will answer the call. The words good and honest are important but, to me, the next one is more critical - effective. Are your board members going to be able to motivate you? I am probably one of the most self-motivated individuals I know but at the same time, I need to be pushed, especially when it comes to taking risks. We all need an effective coach. A few other questions I thought of for my board members as it relates to effectiveness include: - Will they share meaningful feedback and hold me accountable - Will they be an effective board member? - Are they experienced at accomplishing some of the goals I'm trying to accomplish? - Are they willing to share their personal successes & failures? After thinking about this topic further, I am ready evaluate my personal board of directors. While doing so, I need to consider if I have people in my circle who fit the criteria. Finally, have I opened my mind enough and considered: - Have I paid enough attention to the people around me? - Have I opened up enough to others and shared my goals? - Have I asked enough questions and gained other perspectives about meaningful topics? - Do I fit this criteria myself? To close, as I think more about this, it's going to be people I admire and aspire to emulate some of their qualities. They won't necessarily be people who share my attitudes or beliefs but people who respect me, root for me and people who probably have their own personal board of directors.

[jbisme13]

Daily Thoughts: 08.08.2015

Read an article today about a professional athlete who has recently come out and made it clear he doesn't believe in God. I wasn't surprised to hear about another person not believing since it does feel like there are more people then ever making such a declaration. I was surprised to learn about how this person's journey in life got him there. When I think about the days when I called myself Catholic (or religious) and how I would have reacted to this article I realize how judgmental of a person I was. I would have failed to "seek to understand" and probably would have started thinking about all of the reasons (or judgements) why this person was a "lost soul". I definitely would not have considered that maybe this person could have been more faithful and more of a student of their faith prior to "not believing". That maybe they had almost too much education or information to go with an open mind and critical thinking skills that we aspire our children to have. I would have failed to assume there was a supportive parent in his life modeling the way for him only for that parent to encourage his son to "find his purpose". I wasn't drawn to the article because I don't believe in God. I was drawn to the article to gain more perspective. To understand "why" and "how" this person got to a place where they don't believe. I learned that he had a supportive father who was very devoted to their faith and modeled the way for his son. I learned that this athlete tried for the majority of his life to understand his faith and worked hard at being disciplined and loyal to it. I learned about courage. He had the courage to speak up and share his true feelings to his father when he realized he didn't believe. I learned about unconditional love when I learned his father supported him and encouraged him to, again, go "find his purpose". Spirituality is so personal, but, like a lot of things these days, it's such an openly judged facet of a person's life by society. Religion and spirituality is aligned with big business and so many different industries, even though we live in a democracy. In these times where it's so difficult to be "different" or a free thinker, I hope to be an encouraging father to my sons. I hope to model a way of strong core values and continue to teach my children to challenge everything, ask questions, especially the "why" things are the way they are. Finally, I hope for whatever they choose to believe - it brings them peace and happiness.

[jbisme13]

First day back from rolled ankle...killed it! Ever heard a #song that kicked #ADRENALINE in so much you went #numb? #running #motivated #sat #5k #training #attitude #music

[jbisme13]

#monday #motivated #attitude #positivity #energy #productiveday #productivity #leadership

[jbisme13]

08.02.2015: Daily Thoughts

I have been spending more time reading then writing. At first I was a little disappointed about that since I had so much excitement around blogging and sharing my thoughts. However, and maybe I'm spinning this to myself, what I've learned is two things. First, I'm not as good at time management as I thought I would be. In my career it's one of my strengths. My focus on personal development and building upon my skill set is a priority that has helped me elevate over the past 5 years or so. It was important to me - so I had made the time. I need to do the same with writing and anything else in my personal life that I want to learn to do. The second thing I've learned is I'm learning by reading and enjoying other's writing. I used to pay attention to content. The what I was reading about and trying to learn from. I am paying more attention to the why somebody is writing. Are they sharing information? Are they attempting to influence? Are they entertaining me? It used to be I chose my reading based on category and seek information about it. Now I seek to understand what the author is trying to accomplish through writing. I choose based on title and take it from there. The Flipboard and Zite apps help me with breadth. It's not all about sports (my favorite thing in the whole world!). Learning and reading about new things is secondary with this approach. I am finding out that I am well-rounded. In reading about other things besides my obvious favorites I am learning and I am gaining perspective about things I I have strong opinions on. I still have the same opinions on many things however I feel like I understand more about it because of dialing into the goal of the writer. As I move ahead to begin writing more regularly I will be considering my goals for any given piece. Am I going to influence? Motivate? Share information? Rant and rave about the latest topics? We'll see once I figure out that time management thing!

[jbisme13]

Daily Thoughts: 7/15/2015

So apparently I haven’t had any thoughts since 7/3 since it’s been 12 days since my last post. Actually work has picked up substantially and I have a lot of other challenges I’m working through.

Another reason is an exciting one to me. Since my last post I’ve become a runner! I am very excited about that. I have a new friend who has introduced the discipline and focus it takes. I enjoy the challenge. I also enjoy the peace it’s given me as I don’t feel a lot of stress after a run. I finished my first 5K - I even placed. It wasn’t about that though. This was about taking on something new and seeing it through. It was about my new friend and learning from her. Her name is Melissa and I admire her in so many ways. Her approach to running clearly translates to the many roles she plays in her life.

I guess today’s post is about dedication, commitment and trying new things that challenge a person. It can also be about the impact people who come into your life can have in such a short period of time.

[jbisme13]

First #5k ever and I took 3rd place in my age group. It was an amazing #adrenaline rush before the start of the race. Had a great #coach & #pacesetter in Melissa Vasiliou! I have a #benchmark now! #running

[jbisme13]

#self #writing #repost

[jbisme13]

Daily Thoughts: Friday, 7/03/15

What a week it's been! So full of many different experiences and emotions. I am going to focus on the positive. We all have some form of adversity right now in our lives. Some of us more serious than others but no matter how stressful or consuming the thing we're going through, I am realizing how important it is to reflect on the past, think of the current state and make a choice to envision something better for the future. Adversity is a test of our mental toughness and as Coach Laughlin used to say "intestinal fortitude. To me, it's about acknowledging the adversity and emotions you're feeling along with it, not ignoring it. It's also about choosing to "bounce back" and reminding yourself "what's done is done". To think about what you're learning (or have learned) and how you going to apply that knowledge going forward. Today, I've learned how important it is to get back to my goals and let go of what I can no longer control. I am optimistic about the many roles I play, the impact those roles have on others, and even more optimistic about living a full, happy life, even when just days ago that adversity consumed my mind. Adversity is part of life - acknowledge it, learn from it and move on.

[jbisme13]

#love #unconditional #soulmate

[jbisme13]

#perseverance #dreams #goals #tenacity

[jbisme13]

#integrity #respectful #expectations #values