Tweed Texas

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.

Putting the Wraps On Another Year

   I was at the bank today taking care of some business when I realized that today is the 15 of December ALREADY!  How the hell did we get here so fast? It is incredible. Fact is, it's here. It has been a year of change for me and my speaking business. I have spoken more this year than in the past and it will only get busier. I'm looking forward to it. I have three speaking engagements lined up for January and two more in February.
  I'm sure there are speakers out there who are concerned the the current economic climate is going drive the speaking business down. I'm not so quick to buy into that logic and here's why. I saw this same phenomenon take place a few times while I was in radio.  Here's how it works every time.
  Whenever the naysayers start talking about how bad the economy is going to get, the media is all over it and gets everyone else talking about how bad the economy is or is going to be...people start talking gloom & doom and recession and after awhile the consumers start cutting back and the next thing you know, the economy starts to slow down. Why? It's a mindset. If I learned anything in my college Economics classes is that the economy is nothing more than a state of mind. Yes, there are real things happening to real people BUT so much of all this financial stuff is brought on by people--people who are wanting to line their own pockets or perhaps they don't have a clue about what they are doing. Everything is cyclical.  But these tough economic cycles don't have to be as bad as they are if people would just keep their heads.
   What would happen in radio was that advertisers upon hearing of the oncoming recession or slowdown, they would pull back and  after they quit advertising, sure enough their sales dropped and dropped to the point that they felt the pinch and cut back on everything like everyone else. Finally it gets to the point that they don't know what to do next. Finally, they decide, "Maybe I need to do some advertising to draw in some business." So what do they do?  The begin to advertise again. And what do you suppose happens?  They get more business!  Well, duh!  If they had continued to advertise when everyone else was pulling back, how do you suppose they would have done? Probably better than everyone else who had cut back.
  I see the speaking business the same way. When times get tough, good speakers and presenters have an obligation to inspire people to do their best. It is in tough times that people need support, inspiration and to remain focused on the job or goal ahead.  People need some inspiration and their motivation reinforced from time to time. As speakers we can make a difference in people lives.  We may not completely connect with every single person in the room, although that is a worthwhile target to shoot for but we do connect with enough to bring about change. The past presidential platform was run on the goal of change.
   As event planners look ahead to 2009, I'd submit, this is NOT the time to be scaling back on speakers but to push forward and book even more. You want and need your people to be motivated when times are perceived as difficult. We are doing  a disservice to the country and ourselves if we buy into a down trodden defeatist attitude. We cannot afford to harbor those attitudes. Regardless we all live in the greatest country on earth.
  As speakers we need to walk the talk and get out there and do what we do best...making a difference in people's lives.

There's Snow Place Like Home

  Well here is it is. The season is upon us once again. I figured when I moved to Houston that I'd never see snow again. Was I wrong or what?  Now granted it was nothing like snow you'd see in the panhandle or around Lubbock BUT it WAS snow. It started here about 3 o'clock in the afternoon and lasted for about an hour. A friend and I decided to go out and look at some of the Christmas lights and it started snowing again around  8 pm. It only left a dusting but it was fun to see again. I'm sure it was the lead story in the news. It wasn't anything like the snow I grew up with in Norman Rockwell's America but for a few hours it was fun to see it again.
  That reminds me. I wrote a piece last year and sent it out to friends at Christmas time. It is a Christmas story that relates a real life incident that happened in my life. It is a funny and poignant story about my family at Christmas time. It's called The Christmas Tree.  It is about a pivotal moment in my life and the ugliest Christmas tree ever displayed in a home. If you would like a copy of it, it's free. Just email me at Tweed@TweedScott.com and ask me a bout it and I will send to you. It's the kind of story where you can pour yourself a glass of wine or eggnog and enjoy it by the fire. It is my gift to you this holiday season. Just drop me an email and it's yours. My way of saying thank you for dropping by my blog.
   I tend to look back at this time of year and reminisce about the Christmases past. Those thoughts always center around people...most of which aren't here anymore. My parents are gone now...have been for several years but I always seem to miss them most this time of year. I have so many pleasant memories centered around them.
   I just recently caught up with an old friend from my radio days in Austin through this blog. She's now firmly ensconced in Iowa with an eye toward Minnesota. We shared some great memories of radio when it was really fun to be in the business. Susan, thanks for finding me.

   Finally, I just want to close wishing you and yours the warmest and best wishes for Christmas. I have no love for political correctness. If you don't believe in God or Christianity, or believe in a different way, that's your right and you are entitled to it. I happen to believe in GOD and Jesus Christ. I wouldn't be who I am or where I am with out them. So please don't take it personal if I wish you a Merry Christmas. If wishing you a Merry Christmas offends you...well get over yourself. It's about the sentiment and the spirit of the salutation...not the small print.   Reminds me of that old saw that I learned from a lawyer...The large print giveth...and the small print taketh away. 

   Anyway...Merry Christmas and let's all have a spectacular 2009.  In the meantime, take care of your precious selves.

 

 

Nothing So Constant as Change

As I said in the last post, everybody wants improvement...nobody wants change. Well there have been more changes for me. Since my last post I have moved to Houston, actually Cypress, TX, a suburb of Houston. I figure this can be a good move for my speaking business and for book sales too.  I'm sure many of my friends will assure me I am crazy but I figure ya have to do what ya gotta do and I've done it.
  I have been fairly busy between finding a place to live, securing a reliable internet connection and working in some speaking opportunities. I spoke recently in Austin before the Texas Association of Chamber Executives...various Chambers of Commerce from around the state.
I also got the opportunity of speaking before the Texas Conference of the Church of 7th Day Adventists in Alvarado, TX--just south of Ft. Worth. Again these were some really nice people and I made some more friends. That is one of the great benefits of doing what I do. I have ALWAYS enjoyed meeting Texans from all over the state and I get the chance to do that fairly frequently.
  If I haven't met you yet, I'd like to. Texas is such a wonderfully diverse place. You can meet some of the nicest people you could imagine...friendly and welcoming. People who always seem to be looking for their next new friend. I can't help but think the world would be a better place if everyone thought that way. Who knows, we might could back to the days when nobody needed to lock their doors at night.  Now THAT would be a change. Until next time, take care of your precious selves.

Change...ain't it grand?

 One of the points I make in my main speech, Texas Mantra: No is NOT an Option, is 'Everyone wants improvement but nobody wants change.' I believe that happens to be one of life's little truisms. I also quickly point out that you can't have one without the other. Still another truism. 

  Change is an ongoing process and another one of life's constants. My life is no different than yours. Change is inevitable. If you are a regular visitor of my website, www.TweedScott.com you will notice the recent changes. I grew restless with my previous hosting situation and decided that a change was needed and so I took action. I moved the site to a new host and redesigned it. I believe it is more functional and offers more information to my core market, the event & meeting planners. I also added a shopping cart with additional products.

  Another important change was the addition of Wendy Knesek to my marketing efforts. Wendy is a master of marketing. She will assist me in identifying, finding and contacting new markets for my speaking business. If you would like to find out more information aboutme or booking me for your group or organization, please contact her at Wendy@TweedScott.com.  If you are interested or the least bit curious about bringing me in to speak to you group or organization, you might want to contact her soon. I still have some dates for the rest of this year available and have already booked several dates in 2009.

  These are just a couple of changes I have made lately. Look for even more momentus changes in the near future. I promise there will be lots more to talk about. Change...Ain't it grand? Check back soon.  In the meantime, take care of your precious selves.

Moment in Time

Today's date will forever hold a special meaning for me. 29 years ago today, I lived through an experience that had a great impact on my life. Anyone who was present will never forget it either. I'm referring to the Lawton, OK-Wichita Falls, TX tornadoes.  To this day it is still 'Terrible Tuesday.' It was every bit of that and more. I was the newly appointed Operations Manager of KLAW in Lawton, OK. I had been on the job for 8 days. This station was woefully under equipped for the events of that day; however, I cannot commend my makeshift staff enough for their unselfish efforts in making a difference in an untold number of lives.  The day was cloudy and oppressively muggy the whole day. Around 3:30 that afternoon we received word that Vernon, TX had been hit by a super cell and by all indications, it was coming our way. By 5 o'clock the tornado cell was upon us and ripped through the SSW portion of the city and exited out the east side killing 3 people.

An hour later, a behemoth of a storm, a cell that would dwarf the Lawton twister tore through Wichita Falls, killing 46 people. It rolled over Memorial Stadium on Southwest Parkway and headed on toward several neighborhoods, leveling 'Faith Village', a neighborhood filled with small houses built shortly after WWII. The funnel was at least a half mile wide and stayed on the ground uninterrupted for at least 6 miles. It ripped a path on toward Sikes Center Mall grazing Midwestern University later playing itself out some 47 miles later near Waurika, OK. It made 20% of the town of roughly 100,000 uninhabitable. There were 20,000 people who found themselves instantly homeless.

  My radio station was owned by the operators of KVET/KASE in Austin, TX and they sent me to Wichita Falls about 40 miles south of us to get some audio from witnesses and officials. After getting my media credentials, I  walked through several neighborhoods both in Lawton and in Wichita Falls. The only way I can describe what I saw was that it was a physical experience for me. I had never seen anything like it in my life. This was the embodiment of total destruction. I literally wanted to vomit. I stood in these neighborhoods and saw people still walking around stunned by their surroundings. I felt horrible for just being there. These people had lost everything. I had lost nothing. I was actually ashamed to be there doing my job. Tornadoes have a way of taking life out of context. We all learn through association. Tornadoes put things together in such a way that although you see it, your mind has great difficulty accepting what it sees.

  The experience had a huge impact on me. I was determined from that moment on. Any radio station I ran would make a absolute commitment to weather coverage. As I stated in my book, Texas In Her Own Words, the weather in Texas runs between the serene and the majestically violent. I know that for a fact. I saw it myself--first hand. I still think back to that time every year on this date. I think about all those people that died that day in two states. I also remember how the experience changed me for forever.  I'll take those events with me to the grave. As a result, Lawton and Wichita Falls will always hold a special place in my heart. I could tell you many stories about what happened, when it happened and the people involved. If you want to know more, contact me through my email, Tweed@TweedScott.com and I'd be happy to share with you. In the meantime, take care of your precious selves.

Movin' On

How can this be April already?  It's just not right...  I recently spoke at the Llano County Library in Llano. Now those were some great people. They took me to lunch at the ledgendary Badu House. If you get the chance to stop by on your way through Llano...don't miss the experience and while you're there check out the rare bar top. It is granite but has flecks of cobalt in it. It all comes from there in the county. See what I get to experience when I'm out on the road? I love sharing the 'Gospel of Texas.' Call me and I'll come to your group and speak. That's what I do. I'm getting geared up to participate in several events regarding the Round Rock Reads program in Round Rock, TX. Texas In Her Own Words was chosen from among 6 finalist as the book to be read by the community between February and the end of April.

On the 7th they'll show a movie called the Unforseen. It's about one of Texas' treasures, Barton Springs and the impact our decisions as communities have on the environment. It was produced by Robert Redford who does have an onscreen appearance at the springs. He apparently spent a good protion of his early years in the Austin area and says he learned to swim at Barton Springs. I've only seen the trailer but I was surprised to find one of the people in my book in the film. It was Marshall Kuykendall. I consider him a good friend and a Texas icon. If you've had never met a Texan in your life and could only meet one, Marshall would be near the top of my list to have you meet. That's Monday the 7th at 7pm at the Round Rock Higher Education Center. I hope to see you there.  The next event isn't until the 17th and that is a program about 'Round Rock In her Own Words.' I wouldn't miss that for the world. That's going to be fun. I'll have more on that in the next post. In the meantime, take care of your precious selves.

Brief Follow-up

Just a quick follow-up on my last post. I heard from my good friend Paul Ellul over at speakermatch.com. He was good to remind me that if you want more specific information about the upcoming speakermatch boot camp in June in Chicago, the web address is www.Speakermatch.com/bootcamp. There you'll learn pretty much everything you'll need to know to get started and you'll get to learn more about Johnny, Tony & Dave, the men who'll walk you through the weekend. Again, I want to stress that if you are a speaker, especially an emerging speaker--one just getting your legs under you, THIS is the seminar for you. I don't get a commission or benefit from endorsing this seminar. I have attended it, lived it and have reaped benefit from it. If you are serious about growing your speaking business...this is the best way I know of knocking years off your learning curve. Bryan Caplovitz, the owner of Speakermatch and his right hand, Paul Ellul have put together a great vehicle to help you build your business quicker and more efficiently than just trying to figure it all out for yourself. Learn from people who have already been there before you. Take advantage of their experience and let them teach you. Not all seminars are created equal--This seminar is everything it says it is. Invest in yourself and your future. Go to this seminar.  You can thank me later.  See you soon.