Tweed Texas

More Changes

This will be a rather short post but I need to bring you up to date on a couple of things. First and probably more important for my speaking business is that I just changed my phone number and I want to share that with you and potential clients. I moved to Cypress, a suburb of Houston, last October. For the longest I have held onto my Austin area phone number because that is the number my friends and clients were used to finding me. However, having lived in Houston now for coming on a year, my day to day activities clearly revolve more around the Houston area now. It makes sense to make the change. So I made the change. My new number is (832) 281-6100. If you think you might have the occasion to call me, pleas put that number in your phone or at the very least, write it down where you can find it.
  I do want to thank the members of the Dover Club in Houston for their kind invitation to come out and speak to them recently. This is a top of he line networking and referral group. I also got to conduct a workshop in Johnson City, TX at the LBJ Settlement National Park in conjunction with the national park, the Johnson City Public Library and the Writers' League of Texas. My workshop focused on Memoir writing. I had a bout 17 eager and interesting people in my group. Believe me, I had a great time. 
  While I was in the area, I restocked he Nimitz Gift Shop with more copies of Texas In Her Own Words and opened a new outlet at the Berkman Bookstore in Fredericksburg. I also made a swing by Luckenbach. I need to restock the General Store there. I AM bummed that I didn't get to hang for awhile and down a Shiner Bock but I was on a pretty tight schedule. That's what I've been up to. There is more to tell you but that will wait for another post but let me tease you a bit. The Johnson City Public Library chose my book as the book of the month for July-August. So I get to go back in August to conduct two book discussions with the library patrons. I'm excited already.
   Don't forget to note my new phone number. (832) 260-6100 The old one doesn't work anymore.  In the meantime, take care of your precious selves.

The 'Which Way Tree'

  Anyone who knows me knows of my passion for Texas. One of my favorite things to do is explore Texas.  I have been in a love affair with my adopted state since I was barely 18 years old when the US Navy saw fit to send me to Kingsville from New Hampshire.  I have crisscrossed this state at least a dozen times and I never tire of it. I am continually amazed by its geography, flora and fauna and her people.  And as for its history…well…my friend Scott Rylander said it better than anyone has ever said it. He said, “Texas doesn’t so much have a history--it tells a great story.” He’s right. The history of Texas is a great story.

  The story of the Texas Revolution is an interesting story on so many levels. I see it as a tapestry of colorful people, places and improbable events. These were very real people in every sense of the word. They were just as human as you or me. They were afraid of what the future held in store. They knew what it was like to be hungry, to bleed and to take a stand. History is full of little weird anomalies that make you wonder about what was going through this person or that person’s head at a critical moment in time. Those same thoughts struck me recently as I stood under a solitary gigantic oak tree in the now defunct Texas settlement of New Kentucky.

  There is nothing left of this community. Unless you know of its history and location you’d never know it ever existed. Just a few miles west of present day Tomball, TX on FM 2920 there is a tiny park tucked in just off the road. You need to be looking for it if you want to find it. It is New Kentucky Park. What is historically significant about this place is that it is the site of the ‘Which Way Tree’ and a well.

  I pride myself on knowing a good bit about Texas. I’m a voracious reader of Texas books and materials but I can honestly say I was surprised that I had never heard the story before or if I had, I’d mysteriously forgotten it. I’d like to share the story with you now. It’s really not a long story…just a quirk in history but for me fascinating.

  As for the 'Which Way Tree'... During the TX revolution after the Alamo fell, the government and the army fled to the east as part of what we know as the 'Runaway Scrape.' Sam Houston was trying to keep his army together and one step ahead of Santa Ana. The road from Washington-on-the-Brazos forked at the settlement of New Kentucky. Sam Houston's army stopped there around midday April 16, 1836. One road led east to the Trinity and the Sabine rivers. The other road led to Harrisburg (you know it as Houston today). On that site was a gigantic oak tree with limbs pointing to each of the 2 roads. Houston and his men camped under the tree enjoying the protection from the elements offered by its expansive canopy. As Houston pondered his options and strategy, at some point, Sam supposedly looked at the tree and decided to go in the direction of the limb pointing toward Harrisburg. That road led the ragtag little army five days later to victory at San Jacinto and the Republic of Texas was born. The gigantic oak still stands there today in that tiny park. There is also a well that Sam and his men supposedly drew their water.

  As I stood there under that tree, I couldn't help but be moved knowing that Sam Houston stood in that same spot just over 173 yrs ago. I could easily visualize him standing there weighing his options and struggling with a making a decision. As I said those folks were just as human as the rest of us. That unmarked tree is the 'Which Way Tree. It helped Sam Houston determine which way to go. Maybe a minor quirk in our history but something fun to ponder. I can't speak for you but some days I wish I had a 'Which Way Tree' to help me make up my mind.

  The only more significant tree in Texas is ‘Treaty Oak’ in Austin. Someday I’ll tell you about that tree too.  I was there when that loon tried to kill it by poisoning it back in the 80’s. I could easily see the tree from my KVET control room window overlooking Lamar Boulevard. I watched it die slowly every day until heroic efforts were made to save what they could of it. Thanks for sharing your time with me.

Catchin' Up

For some reason I don't totally understand I have been asked several times lately about how my book, Texas In Her Own Words is doing. Well here's what I can tell you.   It's a good time to talk about where Texas In Her Own Words is today. This has proven to be the 'little book that could.' Who knew. We had a wonderful start selling 125 copies at the book release party at Hill's Cafe in Austin, TX. This book has proven to be special even from the git go. The Alamo called a month after it came out and wanted to sell it in the gift shop. They asked me how long it would take to get the books delivered to them. It is exactly 64 minutes from my house to the gift shop...but who's counting?
  After that, doors blew open everywhere. It was like instant validity and credibility for this book. I cannot thank them enough for being such great partners. The market continued to grow for my little labor of love and before long we found the book being sold in such wonderful places as The Bob Bullock State of Texas History Museum, both of the State Capitol building gift shops in Austin, the San Jacinto Monument and Battlefield, the Sam Houston Statue on I-45 in Huntsville just to name a few.
  This has been a remarkable journey for both me and the book. I knew before the book was ever printed how I was going to market this book. I would do the bulk of my marketing through speaking, giving presentations and speeches and then sell in he  back of the room. That has been the key to any success we've had. Understand I truly appreciate any sales from Amazon or Barnes & Nobles for that matter but my passion is speaking...speaking about Texas specifically.
   I started off by speaking to civic groups like Rotary, Kiwanis and Lions clubs and selling the back of the room. Before long people started to come up and ask me how much I would charge to speak to another one of their groups. That completely changed my business model. Instantly I went from being a writer who speaks to a speaker who writes. There is a big difference. I tell people who want to write a book to remember that as an author you will spend 6% of your time writing your book. You'll spend 94% of your time marketing your book. I have been doing this for just over 3 years now and that statistic is dead on. That is the reality.
  Fortunately, I love what I do and plan on continuing with the journey. I am still actively opening new outlets for the book. When I wrote this little jewel, I wrote it for both Texans and non-Texas alike. I also wrote it to be an evergreen. There is no dated material in it. The concepts that went into the making of this book where  170 years in the making. 
  I'll close for now saying that we have been blessed by this book and all the friends and acquaintances we've made a long the way. I thank each of you who have bought Texas In Her Own Words or have invited me to speak for your group. Thank you for your many kindnesses. They have not gone unnoticed. Where do we go from here? Well who really knows. People ask me all the time, 'How are you doin'?" My answer is always the same. "I'm just living the dream." I have you to thank for that.
  I am a speaker and I would love to speak for your group or organization. Contact me through my website...http://www.TweedScott.com  Talk to you soon.

Road Trips

 

This will be short post but I do want to thank my hosts for a couple speaking engagements. I spoke in Caldwell, TX for the Burleson County Chamber of Commerce. That was a fun audience and they made me feel like some kind of rock star. I hope they had half he fun I had.
  Then the following Tuesday, I drove to Lawton-Ft. Sill, OK to speak for the American Society of Military Comptrollers. If has anything to with moving Money or manpower for he Army, these are the folks who do it. I created a whole new program just for them. I called it 'All Stressed Up and No Place to Go! These folks are under a lot of pressure to get stuff done and right.  They are under a lot of stress. The presentation focused on humor and embracing change.
  It is interesting, I booked an event today and the meeting planner suggested that I use that title for her group. So I am back to the creating stage of my next presentation. I have also applied for another speaking opportunity in Wichita Falls in June. So the journey continues. I'll be back soon to update you. In the meantime, take care of your precious selves.

Terrible Tuesday Revisted

   I couldn't let this day go by without mentioning that today is a dubious anniversary. It's not a day I celebrate but simply remember with a profound humbleness and some sadness too. It is hard for me to believe this is the 30th anniversary of the Lawton-Wichita Falls tornadoes. If you were there you understand. It was a day I will never forget. I have run into several survivors over the years and the one thing we all have in common is that we all remember the most minute details of portions of that day.
  My friend Dane Daniel reminded me of that this morning on Facebook about the impact that day had on all of us. He was there too. He understands.
   As for me, I had just taken over the Operations Manager duties of KLAW radio. The station had changed formats from Rock/Disco/Whatever it was to country music less than ten days prior. When the management changed format, the entire staff walked out...quit...vanished. I got hired to clean up the mess. I inherited a radio operation with one full time DJ and several part time high school kids. That was my air staff. Fortunately, I brought a trusted friend and co-worker, Al Smith with me from my previous operation at KSEY in Seymour, TX. He was a rock. We worked well together for many years.
  We both settled into our new duties and began to make changes to the operation that would enable our success in the months and years to come. One of the things that needed addressing was the station van. With the format change,it was obvious the van needed a whole new paint scheme. So one of the first things we did was take it to a paint & body shop to get a new design. I went by the shop on the morning of April 10th, '79 with plans of picking up the van.  After inspecting the new paint job we debated about leaving the van there for another couple of days because if you looked very very closely, there were a couple of tell tail signs of the previous paint scheme under the new one. We almost left the van there but finally decided that it really wasn't worth the hassle. I drove the van back to the radio station and parked it.
  That whole day the weather was cloudy, very very humid and at times there was almost a fog during the day and visibility was diminished.  It was after 3pm when we got our first indications of the trouble to come. Richard Adkins at the Civil Defense Unit which happened to be right across the street from  the radio station notified everyone in the media via a hot line installed at all the media outlets. Our first indication of bad weather was him telling us about a tornado that had just torn up Vernon, TX; killing 11 or 12 people. What I remember about that was that one of the fatalities was child who was supposedly a decendent of the famous indian Quanah Parker. Vernon is about 85 miles to our SW.
  From that moment on, Adkins did a wonderful job of keeping us informed and up to date about the progress of the storm. Understand weather technology such as radar was still just coming on the media scene and was not widely available. I'm sure most of the information we got that day came from the fabulous network of mobile storm spotters stationed throughout the area.
  After the second or third phone call on the hot line, I had enough information to begin to make some informed decisions about what we needed to be doing to begin to prepare for what was coming our way. I walked into our closet sized newsroom on the third floor of the Security Bank Building. On the wall was a map of OK. It showed enough of Texas that I could draw a straight line from Vernon to Lawton. Doing a little 4th grade math I figured that if the storm continued on the present course and the current rate, I determined we would get hit by the storm at or about 4:50 or 5 o'clock.
  It was just before straight up 5 o'clock when Richard Adkins made his final phone call to tell us that the tornado was going to come into the SW area of the city and exit out the east side of town. I walked over to Al Smith who was on the air at the time and I tapped him on the shoulder and said, "This is it."
He faded the song down and he cracked the microphone open for me and I spoke.
  I began, "Ladies & gentlemen, we have just been informed by Richard Adkins at Civil Defense & Preparedness that we have a tornado on the ground and it will enter the city within 10 minutes. You need to go to a place of safety. This is not a drill. Do not panic but you do need to take some positive action right now. If you are in a mobile home, you need to get to a more secure location. If you have a storm cellar, now is the time to get to it...." There was more but you get the picture.
  I moved the office staff and some others into the stairwell between floors. Al & I stayed in or near the control room. I do recall us moving around the office some. In fact at one point I remember leaning out of the window looking for the tornado. Yes, that was totally stupid. Fact is, if we had looked out of the General Manager's office window, we would have seen it as it passed not 6 blocks from us. It passed just south of Central Mall which was being built at the time. If I recall some of the roof collapsed where JC Penny was being built.
   The tornado hit us at about 5:05. At that very moment, unknown to us another tornado was just getting cranked up in Seymour, TX about 52 miles SW of Wichita Falls. This storm would build and work it's way up Highway 277/82 and would explode over Wichita Falls as a killing monster. This tornado would expand to a half mile wide and would destroy everything in its path for at least 6 miles. 20,000 people became instantly homeless in ten minutes...some 20% off the city of roughly 100,000.
  I believe the Lawton tornado made the national news at 6pm. Nobody talked about Lawton after that. What happened in Lawton was dwarfed by everything that happened in Wichita Falls. For me it was a physical experience to see what happened in both places. Tornadoes have a way of taking life out of context. You see things tossed together that your mind finds almost impossible to put together. I actually saw blades of straw driven into a fence post at 90 degree angles. The WF storm finally played itself out near Waurika, OK as I recall. The paint & body shop where I picked up the van not 7 hours earlier was gone...nothing left but a bathroom and a cement slab. The 3 men who survived in the bathroom recounted how they heard us on the radio telling them to take cover. They we saved their lives. When I read their story in the Lawton Constitution the next day, the hair came up on my arms. We made a difference. it mattered that I was there.
  I could go on for several hours about that day. I still think of the people who lost their lives that day in Vernon, Lawton and Wichita Falls. Those of us who were there remember. I remember parts of that day as if it was yesterday. Thank you for letting me ramble on this 30th anniversary of an important day in my life. That one day had the biggest and most profound impact on my professional career--more than any other day of my 31 years in the business. That one day made me realize that what I did for a living really mattered. That single day colored the way I did my job and approached my career from that day forward.  If you were there, I'd love to hear from you.

 

Texanomics !

I would like you to be the first hear about my newest presentation

TEXANOMICS!...Why the national economic recovery starts HERE!

Texas already holds within its borders everything it needs to lead the nation back on the road to economic recovery. It also has a 'secret weapon' that the rest of the country recognizes but doesn't understand...the Texas Spirit and Can-Do mindset. Texans will not accept NO as an outcome. By the close of my presentation you will understand why the turn around will begin in Texas. It's a great presentation for Chambers of Commerce or any business or organization invested in successful outcomes.

  If you have seen my signature presentation lately, you know how I always work in some the many special attributes Texas and Texans possess. This is truly a special place. Not only is it an awe inspiring place to live and work. It is a hotbed of entrepreneurial energy and ingenuity. It has been that way from the git go and has never stopped. This is a place where dreams are invented not just dreamed.

  I have to tell you. I saw a video this week that inspired me even more than I normally am about Texas. In fact, many of the facts I present in my presentation were quoted in the video. I bet you have done the same thing in your life as I have regarding inspirational moments. How may times in your life have you heard a song and said, "I could have written that." or "I wish I had written that"? I had that very same feeling the first time I saw "Texas--The Big Picture" on the IMAX at the Bob Bullock Museum. (In fact I made that statement to Tim McClure while interviewing him for my book that I could have written that script. He mentioned to me that HE in fact wrote the script for the movie...{ever see the Southwest Airlines commercial where they say..."Wanna get away?"}  OOOPS. By the way have you ever noticed that OOOPS and Oh-Oh are never associated with anything positive?)

  Well back to the main thought...I had that feeling while watching the video and I bet you do too. Before I share the link with you. Let me tell you something else. I thought about what I had seen and what I have been telling various Chambers of Commerce around the state lately. I talked about it in a previous post. The recovery will be from the bottom up---NOT top down. It IS true. Texas has every asset it needs to come out of this economic down turn better than any where else in the country. And do it more quickly too. We are blessed to live here but we also have a responsibility to live as Texans. Be should always be undaunted and find  better ways to improve this place we call home. We need to buy local and from each other and our neighbors. We need to share ideas with each other. Texans have always thought outside the box...hell there never was a box. It's too big for a box. It's Texas...No is NOT an Option.  Here's the weblink: http://texaplex.co  It was put together by someone I don't even know but want to. It is geared toward Texas Real Estate but it works for the big picture that is Texas. If you enjoy the video and if you own a real estate companyy and need a speaker to inspire your troops...call me. In the meantime, take care of your precious selves.

Remember the Alamo

  Today is the 173rd anniversary of the fall of the Alamo in San Antonio. I believe that this place is so special and meaningful to Texans everywhere. When I was interviewing people for my book, Texas In Her Own Words, I found people speak of the Alamo with reverence. They speak of it as if holds a special meaning for them. I'm convinced that somehow, some way the people of Texas are somehow spiritually connected to those men who gave up their lives.
  What happened at the Alamo is not unique. Groups of people have stood up and fought to the death for something they have believed in in virtually every generation since history was recorded by man. What is unique about the Alamo is that a country was forged out of that process. These men died for an idea. To this day Texans admire people who will stand up for what they believe in--even in the face of insurmountable odds. Texans admire courage, standing up for what you believe in and the perseverance of mind. That is an inseparable part of the Texan character. The events at the Alamo have been internalized so completely by Texans that it has become a part of who they are.
  I congratulate all Texans and join them in celebration and solemn gratitude on this special day--Alamo Day. Texas was forged out that and other events 173 years ago. There should always be time to "Remember the Alamo!"

If You're In Business; You're In Politics

I am usually not much of a political animal. My mind began to change several years ago when I introduced Steve Bercu, the founder of the nationally acclaimed independent bookstore Book People at a professional's business lunch. At the time he had just come through a harrowing experience of having to deal with the political machinations of the City of Austin. He made a statement that day that has stuck with me ever since.
  He too mentioned that he was not nor ever intended to be involved with politics but that he found "if you own a business...you're in politics." The upshot of it is...decisions are going to be made by others that are going to impact you whether you like it or not. You need to look no further than the current economic climate to see that for yourself.
  In his case, he had to get involved in the political process to keep his business from being put at a huge  disadvantage by the decisions of mindless politicians who were about to allow a nationally recognized corporate Goliath to move in across the street and likely dessimate his business--perhaps put him out of business. He had to DO something...so he took on city hall and won.
  Now I'm not suggesting we all go grab burning torches and march up the stairs to Congress. No, I'd hate to give them all that free publicity. However, it IS important to keep ever vigilant. It is just the nature of the place...the people in power are going to do what THEY want to do and pay the citizenry whatever lip service they think they can pay to the public and still get away with it. You've heard that old adage...fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me....Well that certainly applies here. Maybe we were asleep at the switch...but now we know what will happen if we don't make them accountable. We need to always be watching.
  The new stimulus package is going to get railroaded through Congress while most Americans know it is not going to immeadiately stimulate anything and it is so full of pork...it is disgusting.  Those people up there in Congress who are supposed to be looking out for you and me have given pork a bad name.
  I believe in the little guy--in the entreprenuer. My friend Thom Singer feels the same way and says it more elequently than I in his blog  http://thomsinger.blogspot.com/2009/02/economic-stimulus-package-needs-to.html 
  It is refreshing to know that I am not the only one who believes in the little guy...the entreprenuer. This country (Texas too) was built by people who fufilled dreams. They made this land great with their own two hands, sweat equity and a burning desire to succeed. What is any different about our current economic client. It will ultimately be resolved from the grassroots...from the bottom up...NOT the top down. It will the little guys with dreams and desire that will haul our buns from the fire. My sleeves are already rolled up. How can I help?  In the meantime, take care of your precious selves. I appreciate your comments.  Agree or disagree...that's my point of view...what's yours?

It's All Attitude...

 

First we were anticipating the holidays, they came and went. Then it was the inaugural...a new administration and so far it strikes me as politics as usual. No one will truly compromise to get anything done on the hill. Same-ol same-ol..And now, that little weasel in PA has seen his shadow again to tell us with no surprise we can look forward to six more weeks of winter. If it was the government that saw its own shadow, you can count on six more weeks of gridlock. So where is the good news?
  The more I look at this economy and the talk that is stirring up about it the more I realize how much of the economy is a state of mind. It seems to me that the more people and especially the media talk about how bad it is...people start to believe it and then before long we're all wallowing in the misery. I'm sorry but I refuse to buy it. Can we be honest here? Sure we're all hurting and that's because we all need and depend upon each other in one way or another, someone produces the food you eat and someone else refines the gas we burn in our cars and everyone is getting the squeeze...I get all that.
  I do not believe that the problems of this economy or the miasma we find ourselves in is going to be fixed or solved from the top...i.e the government, president et al. We cannot count on those people at the top to solve what is facing us. Remember, they are the one's who got us here in the first place with corruption, greed and blind-eyed political agendas.
  Like most other crises we've faced in our lives, it's going to be a bottom up solution. It has to be solved from the grassroots up. We as people will figure out how to turn this thing around before the politcos will--count on that. The first thing we can do to improve the situation is quit talking about how bad things are...don't get caught up in the things we can't do but look for the things we can do...for ourselves and each other. There are opportunities for those who look for different ways of doing things..or different ways to approach our problems.  I know that when the chips are down, I'm more than willing to work with my friends and neighbors to get through a situation than wait on the government to come up with a solution. There are greater brains out here in the citizenry than many might think. Let's put them to work to find other ways of accomplishing great things. Let's start talking to each other instead of AT each other.
  Life is all about ATTITUDE. These are times when we must adjust our attitudes about the way we approach the future. We know that what got us here doesn't work so it's time to think a little differently and seek new and improved ways of getting us to where we want to be. I think it starts with attitude, determination and perseverance. What do you think?

New year...New start for all of us

  Well would you look at that. A new year has crept up on us. The one good thing you can say about January, it is a great time to start over. A new year, clean slate, fresh start or any of those cliches you care to insert--your choice.
  Earlier today we gained a new president. Change is supposed to be on the way...I expect the changes to be positive and for the general well being of the country. We do need all the political bickering to stop. I personally don't care which party comes up with a solution or claims the credit...just do something to make things better. We need people of action make some sane decisions, come up with a plan and get it going.
  The people who take action are the ones who make history. Not the ones who sit around and throw stones at new ideas. As the new president takes over the reigns, I can't help but think about the economy. It never should have gotten this bad. But Greed with a capital G apparently became what the markets were all about. A mentality of 'Let me get mine and then I'll be rich enough that I won't be affected by the fallout' seems to have permeated the financial markets. Now the rest of us pay.
  In my last post I said  I had been invited to attend the recession. I refused to attend and I still do. I believe in my heart of hearts that the economy is driven by state of mind. When people finally get tired stepping on their lower lip, they are going to look up and charge ahead and start buying and making the things we all need and the recession will become a thing of the past. I'm not a Pollyanna but I KNOW that people in this country are resilient and determined to move ahead.
  I was talking with someone yesterday and we both agreed that people who do what I do will be in great demand shortly. Those of us who tend to see the glass as half full all the time and who can convey a positive, motivational  message are precisely the people to lead other people out of the mental morass we as a people get into at times--times like right now. Yes there are conflicts and problems around the world. But understand. Life is about ATTITUDE...it's all attitude. Our attitudes affect the way we look at and perform in life. Doesn't it make sense to find the good in life rather than always singing 'poor poor pitiful me?' You don't have to live in a swamp...crawl out onto the shore and stand up and turn your face into the sun.  Nothing good can happen until you take some action.
  It's a new year and a new start for all of us. Let's make the most of it. If you need help, just let me know. Let's make this new start one worth remembering.