Dave Guerra (the official blog): November 2023

29 November 2023

Journal - Wednesday - November 29, 2023 - AMBITION

AMBITION

Before I define AMBITION, I should say this may trigger some of you. The definition cuts to the heart of the matter at hand. There will be some that will get offended because the definition has a certain four letter word that some find deplorable, disgusting, and down right dirty well too bad. It has got be said before I can continue:

AMBITION is defined as "a strong desire to do or to achieve something, typically requiring determination and hard work."

There it is and there is actually another four letter word in front of it: HARD WORK!

Yikes, here come the disgruntled comments. I can almost hear them now; "Who does he think he is?" "What does he know about hard work?" and other such nonsense from the ill-informed.

I have AMBITION and I act on it.

If you have AMBITION then you know you have to act on it.

Nothing is handed to you for free. You want something you work for it.

Change my mind.

-David Guerra

P.S. I invite you to follow me on Twitter: @daveguerra • visit my website: www.daveguerra.com

P.P.S. To order your copy of Great To Follow: Amazon paperback / Amazon Kindle | Barnes & Noble paperback
To order your copy of The Walking Leader: Amazon Paperback / Amazon Kindle | Barnes & Noble

28 November 2023

Journal - Tuesday, November 28, 2023 - WISDOM

image by Georgi Dyulgerov from Pixabay

WISDOM

For those not too sure what WISDOM is let's break it down is "the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment; the quality of being wise."

Thus, let's create the following formula:

W=E+K+CS+GJ
WISDOM = Experience + Knowledge + Common Sense + Good Judgment

Please know there is NO preset amount of any of these variables. Thus making it subjective solely to you and your life. Even then, there is no expectation of WISDOM. For example, you make bad decisions and do not learn from that experience and ignore the knowledge that should have been learned then that individual lacks the wisdom that is needed to prevent bad decisions from re-occurring then they get what they most richly deserve, time and time again.

Learning from Life Experiences and the Knowledge gained then coupled with Common Sense and Good Judgment should lead to WISDOM.

Sadly, far too many do not follow this formula and wonder why they continually find themselves in the situation they get themselves into. It does not matter what situation (personal relationships, vocational, financial, medical) they just cannot help themselves because they REFUSE to know better. They REFUSE to wise up.

Whether by arrogance or ignorance or both, the individual that REJECTS wisdom is one that is rejecting themselves and any shot at happiness.

It is quite simple, almost perfectly clear, to succeed in life (all aspects of life) use the WISDOM you have earned & learned. If you think you do not have WISDOM well change that, flip it and become WISE and Level Up.

Change my mind.

David Guerra

P.S. I invite you to follow me on Twitter: @daveguerra • visit my website: www.daveguerra.com

P.P.S. To order your copy of Great To Follow: Amazon paperback / Amazon Kindle | Barnes & Noble paperback
To order your copy of The Walking Leader: Amazon Paperback / Amazon Kindle | Barnes & Noble

24 November 2023

Journal - Friday - November 24, 2023 - CHARITY

image by Htc Erl from Pixabay

CHARITY

They say CHARITY begins at home. Sound familiar?

Charity begins with you.

Charity begins with giving and ends with MAYBE receiving.

Charity is not a person.
Charity is NOT a business.
Charity is NOT an concept.
Charity is NOT a social construct.

CHARITY IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT AND DO WITH IT.

CHARITY is NOT about getting a hand-out, it is about GIVING without any expectation of a return on the investment. Sound familiar?

When it comes to CHARITY only you can decide what it is and what it is not.

Remember, someone's misaligned and misunderstanding of what CHARITY is or is not, is not how you should define it. If it feels wrong then go with your gut and do what makes you feel right.

And if they don't like it, well, that is on them!

23 November 2023

Journal - Thursday - November 23, 2023 - THANKSGIVING

image by J Lloa from Pixabay

THANKSGIVING

GIVING THANKS FOR WHAT YOU HAVE.

GIVING THANKS FOR WHAT YOU HAD.

GIVING THANKS FOR WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS.

Thankful, for having the ability to make your own decisions and sticking to them.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

22 November 2023

Journal - Wednesday - November 22, 2023 - SACRIFICE

image by Urszula from Pixabay

SACRIFICE

The online Cambridge Dictionary defines SACRIFICE as "to give up something that is valuable to you in order to help another person."

SACRIFICES are done all the time. We make SACRIFICES all the time. Some we OVERTLY decide to make and then there are others we subconsciously make.

However, there are individuals that claim they are making SACRIFICES while doing so ONLY make those "sacrifices" with the INTENTION of "EXPECTING" something in return.

If you believe this is why SACRIFICES are made then let me be the first to tell you: YOU ARE WRONG.

SACRIFICES are made WITHOUT any expectation of payback or in-kind gesture.

Let me make this clear: If you are doing something (anything) under the cloak of deception or with an expectation of re-payment then that is NOT A REAL SACRIFICE.

Plain and simple that is a BUSINESS TRANSACTION. There is no real SACRIFICE in a business transaction. You pay for something with the intention of getting something in return.

Think about this: What if your parent or parents raised you, fed you, sheltered you and clothed you for 18 years, then after that they started charging you for living at home and eating their food. THAT TO ME MAKES PERFECTLY GOOD SENSE. You're an adult now, so get on with it.

However, if on your 18th Birthday your parent(s) hand you a bill for all they did for you from the moment of your birth to your last day of being 17. THAT IS NONSENSICAL. That kind of parental behavior is B.S. They had the fun 18 years and 9 months ago and now they want payment for their actions from those 5 minutes up until now.

They created you and what kind of imbeciles create people only to charge them? That's right the dumb, ignorant, and stupid people are those imbeciles. There is something seriously wrong with the way they are wired and sadly NOTHING will change that or them.

Seriously, they can "claim" they sacrificed and now they want something in return. You can pay them back in silence. You did not ask them to create you and yet they want to bill you like an ungrateful tenant.

So make your own SACRIFICE. Give up something to better yourself, to help yourself. Because it is obvious they (and other like them) gave up on you so long ago.

As a reminder, here is the definition of SACRIFICE "to give up something that is valuable to you in order to help another person." That is it with absolutely no mention of expecting something in return. I know this may cut (and I truly hope it does) but as a hypocrite, you get what you deserve as you cannot have it both ways.

Yes, I wrote this...
-David Guerra

P.S. I invite you to follow me on Twitter: @daveguerra • visit my website: www.daveguerra.com

P.P.S. To order your copy of Great To Follow: Amazon paperback / Amazon Kindle | Barnes & Noble paperback
To order your copy of The Walking Leader: Amazon Paperback / Amazon Kindle | Barnes & Noble

21 November 2023

Journal - Tuesday - November 21, 2023 - PRAGMATISM

image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay

PRAGMATISM

Leaders, demand that PRAGMATISM in all that you do, say, and in those you lead.

Being PRAGMATIC or "dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations."

Sensibly and Realistically? Imagine that. Imagine a world where leaders want to actually lead based on an approach that is rooted in PRAGMATISM.

Sounds far fetched?

No. Organizations used to be run in that manner. Now, a departure of sorts has taken place and it can be difficult to run an organization Sensibly and Realistically.

The shift away from Sensibly and Realistically running an operation has created an authentic leadership vacuum.

There is ABSOLUTELY nothing wrong with being sensible and practical; PRAGMATIC.

Leaders, always remember and never forget that being PRAGMATIC is contagious.

Being PRAGMATIC begins at home. It begins within you.

Self-Leadership is about being yourself in a manner that fosters creating the leader you have always wanted to follow. Thus by being PRAGMATIC all along your journey of self-leadership you will pass that mindset on to those that follow you.

This then helps in returning PRAGMATISM back into the workplace, personal life, and making you a better leader and creating better future leaders. Build the foundation now, so that those in the future will be better because of what you start today.

20 November 2023

Journal - Monday - November 20, 2023 - IMPARTIALITY

image by Keith Johnston from Pixabay

IMPARTIALITY

This word...this word IMPARTIALITY is a JOKE!

It is a joke because far too many ignorant, immature, uneducated, or unwilling to learn individuals blissfully misuse this word and what it means an its implications to active and future relationships.

Up and coming leaders either know what this word TRULY means and how to used or just stop trying any attempt at leading others.

If you are not willing to learn then you are NOT willing to lead others.

Also, do not kid yourself with that nonsense of that you hold a position in the family, you have a degree, or that you are a parent, if you are not willing to learn then you are NOT FIT to lead.

What does this have to do with IMPARTIALITY?

Leaders must always be impartial. To be honest and great leaders, the must be impartial at all time.

However, there are always favorites to be had. Managers have their favorites.

Managers (not leaders) are always wanting to be accepted and will pay homage and honor those who are recognized as being at the beck and call of the manager without hesitation or reservation. These individuals are the known as YES-MEN. In the tragedy of Julius Caesar, the Roman Emperor surrounded himself with YES-MEN. They called Caesar great and never a bad word was heard.

While the YES-MEN knew of Caesar's impending demise they did nothing to help prevent the fatality. They stayed on Caesar's good side till the end. The emperor wanted this and those not in-line with the "leader" quickly found themselves on the wrong end of the whip.

Bad, bad manager. This is the path for far too many people that refuse to accept that with the good the bad must also come. Thus they play favorites and refuse to acknowledge that while having YES-MEN around is nice, it is also NOT good. We need YES and NO. We need good and bad. We need both to stay grounded.

Impartiality helps us succeed because we can take the good and bad. We enjoy the time with the YES-MEN as well as learn something from those that say NO.

Practice IMPARTIALITY by keeping the YES and NO around you, always.

Fail to do so might just find yourself one day saying, "ET TU, BRUTE."

17 November 2023

Journal - Friday - November 17, 2023 - DARING

image by 12019 from Pixabay

DARING

Be Bold, Be Daring, Be Yourself is a mantra that every individual should not only repeat but believe and act on.

And you may ask yourself, "Why do I have to be bold and daring?"

Well, that's a great question.

The answer is rather simple. Being Bold is a by-product of being DARING.

Daring is defined as "venturesome boldness"

There is absolutely no excuse as to why you cannot step outside your comfort zone.

Remember, those that never dare, never change and never win!

Get Up and Get Out There. Be Bold! Be DARING!

16 November 2023

Journal - Thursday - November 16, 2023 - ASSERTIVENESS

image by meineresterampe from Pixabay

ASSERTIVENESS

This is a funny word in that just by saying people (typically the weak minded) go on the defense.

This word is also bandied about by those that do not fully understand what it means and ignorantly believe this word is the extreme form of the word AGGRESSIVE.

No my friends,Assertiveness is defined as "the quality of being self-assured and confident without being aggressive to defend a right point of view or a relevant statement."

So, you see where the disconnect can occur.

The weak minded get offended when actually they are being paid a compliment.
The weak minded believe it is an insult to tag someone as assertive.

Get familiar with this word and what it EXACTLY means and when and how to use it.

Hope you saw how I was assertive in this post, while at times I actually bordered on being aggressive.

Get to work!

15 November 2023

Journal - Wednesday - November 15, 2023 - VARIETY

image by gate74 from Pixabay

VARIETY

VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE!

Don't like having a choice, don't like have variety in your life then what do you have?

NOTHING!

Variety is what makes life livable.

VARIETY is what drives people to extremes.

Seriously, you can only climb a hill just so many times before the need and want for something else kicks in.

With VARIETY, who knows what's next? Mt. Everest?

For those that oppose to this point of view; how you liking your black and white world?

VARIETY IN SPICE, VARIETY IN LIFE!

14 November 2023

Journal - Tuesday - November 14, 2023 - PRUDENCE

image by Thomas H. from Pixabay

PRUDENCE

Again, another word that can easily misconstrued. Thus let's define it: "the quality of being prudent; cautiousness" and PRUDENT is defined as "acting with or showing care and thought for the future."

Biting the hand that feeds you is NOT being PRUDENT or having with PRUDENCE.

PRUDENCE should be the one factor that helps drive you forward.

This is not to say to be OVERLY CAUTIOUS with whatever you do but to do it when proceeding with caution.

Remember, while it is all about the journey, you most definitely want to reach your destination in one piece.

Keeping Moving Forward, Keep Your Head On A Swivel, and Practice Prudence Wherever You Can.

13 November 2023

Journal - Monday - November 13, 2023 - ENERGY

image by WikimediaImages from Pixabay

ENERGY

Folks, here is a word that is also very much misunderstood, misinterpreted, misaligned and so on.

ENERGY is the product of force and power. E=F•P, of course this is an off-shoot of E=MC2.

Yes, that E=MC2.

The misunderstanding, misinterpreted, misaligned comes from those individuals that are quick to assign good or bad to the energy they encounter.

Usually, those that assign it or claim something as good energy do so when that energy is applied in their favor.

On the flip side, they assign or claim it to be bad energy when it goes against them or not in their favor.

There is NO GOOD or BAD ENERGY.

Folks, please do not for those veiled attempt when people try to pull the wool over your eyes by declaring there is good energy or bad energy. These are individuals that will demand you blindly follow them in the nonsensical belief system.

ENERGY is just ENERGY.

Good or Bad is purely SUBJECTIVE to the observer.

Remember, when someone claims it to be BAD energy, it may very well be GOOD ENERGY for you.

Then when they claim GOOD energy, well that's on them as most times it is BAD ENERGY for you.

Manipulation, Hallucination it is all up to INTERPRETATION!

Go Out A Make Your Own ENERGY, whether they like it or not!

11 November 2023

Journal - Saturday - November 11, 2023 - VETERANS DAY

Image by April Bryant from Pixabay

TO ALL THAT SERVED

HAPPY VETERANS DAY!

-David Guerra (US Army Infantry Veteran)

10 November 2023

Journal - Friday - November 10, 2023 - JUSTICE

image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay

JUSTICE

In case you forgot, Justice is defined as "just behavior or treatment."

There can never be JUSTICE when one side continues to demean, degrade, or humiliates others.

There can never be GROWTH when there is NO just behavior or treatment.

Folks, especially those that like to put their head in the sand, you will never know peace, you will never succeed as a human being if you refuse to accept JUSTICE.

Those with an axe to grind or still hold a grudge because someone did or said something to you a long time ago, your only way to succeed is to get over it, grow up, and take the pro-active steps to move yourself up the line.

Everyone else on the side of JUSTICE. Keep doing what you do.

Those that are not on the side of justice, remember their legacy will reflect their ignorance and lack of respect of others. No one deserves that.

Personally, I respect everyone that I disagree with, those that have done me wrong, those that are NOT mature enough to take care of their business, and those that have never experienced justice. I respect them by not burdening them with my presence. I respect them enough to remove myself from the injustice they blindly believe they are entitled to.

It is all about just behavior and treatment.

09 November 2023

Journal - Thursday - November 9, 2023 - WALLS

image by Michael Kauer from Pixabay

WALLS

Back on Thursday, November 9, 1989 the Berlin Wall Fell.

The greatest feat in the modern era.

Throughout the Summer of 1989, change was in the air.

People were challenging the established norms.

People were tired of listening (and following) those that "supposedly" knew better.

Back then, in East Germany, Warsaw Pact, & the Soviet Union, those that "supposedly" knew better were the only ones that could behave and act with impunity.

They were the ruling citizenry. They had the backing of the police and military.

So of course, they controlled the people thus they knew better.

However, the people had enough. They had enough of the double-standards.

They had enough of the favoritism, nepotism, and most any other kind of -ism that was designed to keep the general population down.

Just as quickly as the Berlin Wall went up 28 years earlier, it came down.

The WALL like many other walls before and after fell. They came crumbling down.

All because people were fed up and tired of the nonsense that was being fed to them.

WALLS and CHANGE go hand in hand.

Walls go up = Change

Walls coming down = Change

You can't escape it!

08 November 2023

Journal - Wednesday - November 8, 2023 - DEPENDABILITY

image by Evgeni Tcherkasski from Pixabay

DEPENDABILITY

Who can you depend on? Who can you ring up and with absolute certainty someone will answer?

In my life I have three people, that's right 3: My wife and my two Army buddies.

There are two others that most certainly have been there, and I most certainly Thank them.

As for everyone else, well their level of dependability is usually in one of two forms:

1. They talk a good game but selectively deliver, meaning depending on the circumstances or the person.

2. They will be dependable only up to the point you have been dependable in their perceived previous interactions or requests with you. Yes, TIT-FOR-TAT.

DEPENDABILITY is NEVER CONDITIONAL

DEPENDABILITY is NEVER COMES WITH MULTIPLE LEVELS or TIERS.

If YOU are one of two types mentioned above: YOU ARE NOT A LEADER.

You are someone that cannot be counted on nor can you be trusted. You have a lot of growing up still left to do. Good Luck with that.

Remember, only a child plays that TIT-FOR-TAT game. Only one with an immature mindset plays games when it comes to being considered dependable. Either you are 100% dependable or you are NOT dependable, at all!

For those that are working on themselves, the time has come to pick a side. Play no games. You want to be taken seriously, then start behaving seriously.

If you want people to be dependable then show them that they can depend on you.

For those that want to abuse that, well, cast them adrift and lay their ships bare.

You can only be dependable to yourself and then you must decide who is genuine and who is a poser.

DEPENDABILITY is a TWO-WAY street. Give it and Get it. Those that want to abuse it, well, they know where they can go straight to.

Yep, I said this...

07 November 2023

Journal - Tuesday - November 7, 2023 - VISION

image by Dorothe from Pixabay

VISION

You have dreams. You have goals. You have hopes. You have a VISION!

It should go without saying, but I will say it anyway:

Your Dreams, Your Goals, Your Hopes, and Your VISION is ALIGNED with who you are and what you want to achieve.

Your vision is what will drive you to achieve those goals, hopes, and dreams.

Sadly, there are people in your life that do NOT align with your dreams, goals and hopes.

Even more sad, are the people in your life that will go out of their way to ensure that you do not achieve your dreams, goals and hopes. They excel at working to squash your VISION because

    1. They know better than you!
    2. Who do you think you are to try to be better than them?
    3. You caused them "pain" and now, like a child, it is their turn to cause you pain.

They are NOT looking out in your best interest because they DO NOT know better than you. They resent the person they helped create and would rather keep you under their thumb. If you were raised by those that "claim" you caused them pain then consider who the child truly is.

Folks, these are the individuals that WILL screw around with YOUR VISION, YOUR DREAMS and GOALS and these are the people you need to recognize, sooner rather than later, and set the free.

Cut them loose. Set them adrift from your life. Lay their ships bare (without sails, oars and rudders).

Why?
Remember, to them YOUR VISION, YOUR GOALS, YOUR HOPES & DREAMS do NOT matter.

Their dreams, goals, and vision matters ONLY to them. As it should matter to them.

However, if they their vision is to see you fail by bad-mouthing you, sabotaging you, and working hard to see you lose, then they have the wrong priorities and are NOT the right person/people to have in your life.

Once you remove those individuals out of your life, know that now it falls on your to achieve your dreams, your goals, your VISION.

Along the way, you may need to re-evaluate your VISION, then do it.
Course corrections are acceptable. Course corrections are expected.

Clear the path as often as needed and get to work!

You have a VISION make it a REALITY!

06 November 2023

Journal - Monday - November 6, 2023 - STRENGTH

image by wsyperek from Pixabay

STRENGTH

What is strength but "the capacity of an object or substance to withstand great force or pressure"

That definition alone can mean so many different things to so many different.

In the end, what does it matter?

I will tell you what matters.

What matter is what it means to you.

I have my definition of strength. Please have your own definition.

That is what matters most.

03 November 2023

Journal - Friday - November 3, 2023 - DECISIVENESS

image by Arek Socha from Pixabay

DECISIVENESS

When it comes to making decisions, there is absolutely no need to overthink it.

Having the "ability to make decisions quickly and effectively" is key to making and keeping decisions.

Sometimes, decisiveness is what makes success happens.

Go with your gut. Make the decision and stick to it.

STOP OVERTHINKING and BE DECISIVE!

02 November 2023

Journal - Thursday - November 2, 2023 - COLLABORATION

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COLLABORATION

When it comes to COLLABORATION most people think it has to do with working with others, in real time or face-to-face, in proximity to one another.

Let's get this clarified; COLLABORATION means "the action of working with someone to produce or create something"

Collaborations take place all the time. Collaborations are necessary in this day and age.

Collaborations are where the magic happens.

Go out and make some magic!

01 November 2023

Journal - Wednesday - November 1, 2023 - ACCOMPLISHMENT

image by Madeleine Bucher from Pixabay

ACCOMPLISHMENT

When you have set a goal and complete it, when you have a mission and you achieve it, when you have a destination and you reach it, YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED IT.

No matter what it was, the ACCOMPLISHMENT you made is all yours. You have worked hard for it. Your worked long to get to where YOU want to be.

That ACCOMPLISHMENT is all yours and NO ONE can ever take that away from you.

You put in the work, you did your best, and you made it.

You finished what you started.

Many will hunt high and low to find a way to discredit you, to minimize your accomplishment, to fill the void in their lives by working hard to create one in your life.

Well, let them try. Their pettiness, their jealousy, their immaturity, their lack of respect towards others suits them well. Because no matter who they are or are not to you, at least, now you know what they are made of.

Keep on with your ACCOMPLISHMENTS!

and...as always...if they do NOT like you, what you are doing, and/or your ACCOMPLISHMENTS well that's on them.

Maybe they should take inspiration and motivation from you and do something for themselves that they can be proud of calling a true ACCOMPLISHMENT.