Germany: A Country Turns 21

Twenty-one years ago today (October 3, 1990) the countries of the German Democratic Republic and the Federal Republic of Germany quit existing as East Germany and West Germany. On that evening, the two countries were unified again. Prior to that the last time Germany was united was during what is considered its darkest hour: The Third Reich.

Once the Second World War was over and the victorious allies (US, UK, USSR, & FRANCE) moved in to claim the spoils of war and to begin rebuilding Europe in their image. The only problem is that no one could really decide in whose image Europe was to be rebuilt in. So a line was drawn right down the middle of Germany and it extended beyond the borders and throughout Europe. On the Western side of that line was Democracy and Freedom and on the Eastern side was Communism, Suspicion, Rhetorical Speeches, and Oppression. However, on both sides of that line were rows and rows of soldiers, tanks, airplanes, and bombs, both conventional and nuclear.

For almost 45 years, the country of Germany was not only divided but occupied by those that broke the back of the “thousand year” Reich. During that time tensions all over Europe were high. Brinksmanship became a new word in the Cold War dictionary. It was East versus West, move and counter-move, point and counterpoint, spy versus spy, and the men and women at all levels of all governments did what they could, on a daily basis, to ensure that those "99 Red Balloons" never went up.

When the Berlin Wall went up in 1961 things became even more desperate and impassioned, what was once a simple walk across the street quickly became a mad dash between life and death. Those in the East found themselves trapped behind wires, machine guns, and towers with beams of light. They knew that deep inside it was fundamentally wrong to keep people down, it was wrong to keep them from living a life that allowed for basic human rights and freedoms. People on both sides of the Iron Curtain knew it was wrong. That did not stop those in the East from trying to escape the oppression of the Communist Regimes that littered the Eastern European countryside. While many managed to escape some did not. Some were made to die where they were shot only to serve as a horrific reminder to the entire world as to who as in-charge and to what lengths governments would go to impose its will on its citizens.

Then as things started again to look their darkest, a small tide of change was starting to form in Moscow, when a new General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union was announced. Mikhail Gorbachev brought to the forefront a new way of thinking, living, and (hopefully) thriving: Glasnost and Perestroika (Openness and Restructuring). By having the vision to recognize that as time is changing, the Communist system must change otherwise face implosion because the world changed and the Soviet Union stood by idly wondering why. This spark of change slowly spread throughout Eastern Europe however it did not take the form of Government sponsored or sanctioned reforms.

Quite the contrary, the people saw opportunities to take advantage of some of those Moscow backed changes and use them against their governments. In Poland, the Solidarity Trade Union was born and with it a new name became the face of the Anti-Communist Movement: Lech Walesa. Here was a simple shipyard worker that was now as common as President Ronald Reagan and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. The seed was planted and it was starting to take roots and spread.

Even the Catholic Church got in on the act when in October of 1978 the church leaders elected Polish Bishop of Krakow Karol Józef Wojtyła as the head of the Roman Catholic Church who took the name of Pope John Paul II. It was this Polish Pope who is credited as being the spiritual inspiration for the downfall of the Communism in Eastern Europe.

As the late 1980s began, other loopholes in the system were being discovered and exploited. The economies of Communist Bloc nations were being taxed in the sense that it was becoming increasingly difficult to stay in the black as their economic output was greater than the income that was being generated. Something had to happen before the DDR and other eastern nations went bankrupt. Food, materials, basic supply shortages were starting to become commonplace. Thus in desolation and frustration, the hungry made their stand when they would stand for no more. The East Germans were the most obvious when it came to having the hunger, the longing in that they had a common history with their brothers and sisters on the other side of the Berlin Wall. Throughout the summer of 1989 East German citizens found their way to Hungary and into Austria by a hole in the Iron Curtain. Then what started as a trickling stream turned into a flood of humanity. The flow of people out of East Germany was starting to tax not only the Eastern Bloc countries that were acting as way-stations but also East and West Germany. East Germany was having a brain drain the likes of which it had not seen since before the wall went up. West Germany was having difficulty processing and assimilating those new comers into West German society, it was not for lack of trying it was due to the sheer number of East Germans transitioning to the west.

Then in early November 1989, the DDR’s leadership met to discuss the question of the emigrating citizens to the West. On November 9, 1989 through a slight error when the announcement regarding when modified travel restrictions between the DDR and FRG were to take effect, the Berlin Wall fell.

Seizing the moment and the opportunity the Federal Republic of Germany and its western allies, US, UK, and France, moved quickly towards unification of the German nation and people and with the work of the politicians, diplomats, and the people (through popular vote) the process was underway. Then with the signing of the Two plus Four Treaty or the more formal, The Treaty on the Final Settlement with Respect to Germany, the two nations, with a common people, were unified once again.

Now 21 years later the one German nation continues to thrive. Even as the largest economy in the European Union, the country continues to have growing pains. Then again what is one to expect from a country that is only twenty one years old?

Congratulations to all my Friends and Family in Germany. Keep up the good work as there is a long, hard road ahead but as we did it during the Cold War to get to this place and time, you will carry on to ensure a lasting peace well into the future.



As always you can read this blog post in its original location at http://daveguerra.blogspot.com

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Embrace Those That Lift You Up and Ignore Those That Bring You Down

You can stand there and try to justify your existence to those that bring you down but at the end of the day, they are just going to continue to drag you down to that dark, bottomless, heartless, soulless, lonely, ugly, pit of hell they seem to find themselves living in.

-or-

You can seek out and join those that openly and without expectation of something in return will go out of their way to lift you up to a higher and better place.

...the choice is obvious

As always you can read this blog post in its original location at http://daveguerra.blogspot.com

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Another Word (or Two) About Mediocrity

Some time back I wrote about Mediocrity and how it is the most average thing someone can do.

Thus, it is time to revisit this whole "mediocrity" thing. Things get average all the time, all things that are done over and over become average thus we become average. Let's say that you and I are All-Star Baseball Players and we are the current Home Run leaders in Major League Baseball. We've been hitting a Home Run at least once per game. However, we are no longer excited. The fans are but for us it is has become the same old, same old. It has become average and we have become mediocre/complacent in that what we are doing is no big deal.

How can we claim we have become mediocre or average? Well, it is something like that question of being in a car that is traveling at the speed of light and you turn on the headlights. Do they work? The answer is Yes and No.

It's like this: to the observer we are doing something spectacular. We are hitting one home run per game and in a 162 game season that is a lot of home runs and that makes it a remarkable streak. To the participants, us, hitting those home runs has become routine, average, and mediocre.

Thus the answer to the headlight question: to the observer the lights do not appear to come on, to the participant they turn on every time. The observer sees something that has approached the speed of light and moved beyond it and can only see the spectacular event unfolding in front of him. The participant sees everything including the headlights turning on as if not even remotely affected by the spectacular event that is taking place.

In the case of the car and its headlights, it is all about perspective. In the case of the home run hitters (You and Me) it is about doing what we can do to go one step further, to go beyond what we are used to. To break out beyond the mediocrity. To hit two or more home runs in every game we play (now that would certainly make things exciting).

There comes a time when an individual sees that there has to be more, more to living than just going through the motions and becoming complacent with life and all that we have at this moment. It is at point that the little light bulb flickers on over your head and the realization that something needs to happen. Something needs to change! That change will only happen with the first step and that is to recognize that change has to happen now, not later. If you put it off until later then I can all but promise you it will never happen.

So if you find yourself just like me then it is time for a change. Time to make things happen is right now, right here, at this very moment. Time to quit talking and start doing. The time for planning is over. Time to start hitting more home runs is now.

So start making that change happen because one thing is certain change is not going to change itself.

-Dave

As always you can read this blog post in its original location at http://daveguerra.blogspot.com

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Mein Morgen….

Guten Morgen (German for Good Morning). I was reading something about what people do in the morning. Their morning routine and how what we do as part of the morning routine sets the mood and tone for the rest of the day. After reading the article I got to thinking about my morning routine and I concur with the findings. On those mornings that I do everything that I planned on doing it is a great day. Then on those mornings where I do all but one (or more) the day isn’t as great as it could be. Then there are those mornings when I have one or two things to do and I get them done, the day is, also, not as great. The way I see it, is that I could be doing more and don’t.

For me, the morning routine ends at around 8:00 but it begins around 5:30. I typically get up after hitting the snooze button one time (yes just once). Then get my gear on to hit the road. In this case, hitting the road means running as I am currently working on a 10K prep program for a race in February 2012. It is around this time that I take a photo of the day’s sunrise to share with friends and family. Then make coffee and two hard-boiled eggs (eaten sans yolk). Of course, there are mornings when there are more things to do that are more work related. But for the most part that’s about it, the core of my morning routine.

When I press the snooze button more that three times then all bets are off. When it is raining, the road has to wait. When I am out of coffee then you can rest assured that it will be a very bad day. As any one of the things that I fail to do will certainly lead to a less than spectacular day I try to do them all...everyday. When those days that I don’t get things done, the guilt (which I guess is a good thing as it means that I do care) drives the day.

What is your morning routine and how does it drive your day? Because Mein Morgen is my morning and it's alright.

As always you can read this blog post in its original location at http://daveguerra.blogspot.com

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I said it before and I'll say it again

CHOP WOOD, CARRY WATER!

It's Your Time To Lose

Last Friday, I had lunch with some old co-workers. It was great seeing them again, it had been long overdue. As lunch progressed we caught up on old times, how things are going today, and about the recent changes that the organization has been going through were affecting everyone.

Like many organizations recently, my former workplace has been undergoing a change that involves closing of facilities, reduction in (work)force (RIF), and budget cutbacks to name a few. My friends were telling me about how throughout the organization there were some individuals that had been with the org for a very long time. During the conversation, my friends were telling me that they were sent to one of the locations, that is scheduled to close, to help with the draw-down of equipment, records, and personnel all of which comes to a conclusion by end of August.

The added that while they were are the closing location they met a man that was worried about his future. They told that he said that he had given the organization over 20 years of dedicated service and they let him go just like that. He went on to say that no one wants to hire an "old man" who only worked in supply his entire career with the organization. My friends said that they were really upset about his situation and wished they could do something.

I took it all in and told both of them to not feel bad about this individual. Here this guy had twenty years of good solid work but what did he do with those twenty years? Did he go and get himself an education? Did he go get certified in something that would make him a valuable enough asset that the organization would find a place for him? Did he decide to do something with his time other than off at 5:00 PM and home by 5:05 PM, no work on Saturday and Sunday, enjoy the holidays and major holidays off, and above all did he sit there and collect a paycheck? I could see their jaws hit the floor.

I said that I was not trying to be mean nor sound like I was the most heartless, ruthless, cold-blooded individual this side of Ebenezer Scrooge but I cannot feel sorry for someone who would rather sit there as an organization takes over 8 years to get to this point and then have the nerve to ask "What happened?" or better still with 20+ years of opportunity to better his place in life have the gall to say "Please feel sorry for me, look at what the man went and did to me. Put me out on the street so they could save some money."

Well buddy, if in 20 years you couldn't do something to better yourself, then the organization was well overdue to save some money.

Fair warning to everyone: The writing is on the wall and times are constantly changing. If you are not ready for when the hammer falls, there is no one to blame but yourself (and ONLY YOURSELF).


As always you can read this blog post in its original location at http://daveguerra.blogspot.com

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Summer of Change: Friends

Greetings fellow space travelers, yet again. Time for another post. Sticking with the Summer of Change theme, this time I will talk about Friends. We all have them. Some have many, some have a few, some have just one that stands above all and some have many that they can summon with just one call. No matter how many or how few the reality is that we all need friends and they need us.

John Lennon & Paul McCartney were the best of friends and out of that friendship some of the greatest music the world has ever known was born. While many of us will never have the kind of relationship that John and Paul had, in that with one of their simple conversations a timeless classic was born. We may come close but really there will never be another Lennon-McCartney duo.

However, that does not mean that every friendship is doomed. Not by a long shot, what it means is that friendships don’t start off as Musical History making machines. They start off as all friendships do and that is getting to know each other. They start off knowing that friendships are based on give and take. They grow and become greater than the sum of their parts because all parties recognize that in order to have a successful friendship/relationship both have to give and take. You could call it a dialogue, a two-way conversation. A friendship or any relationship for that matter cannot grow and sustain growth when the conversation is always one sided, always a monologue. One person gives while all that the other person does is take. Yeah, that’s not so good.

Thus here we are, at the point where pen meets paper, where the rubber meets the road, where steel and target become one. We are at the point when many of us don’t want to realize it but it must be done (and it can be done) that is seeing who our “friends” are and who are our Friends. Getting to the point and making that hard decision when it comes to realizing that there are some people in our lives that are there to only use us as sounding boards, to bitch, moan and complain about their lives and how bad things are with them. Then when it is your turn to bitch and moan they could care less.

Is that Right?

It is, if you like being stepped on and having other people wipe their feet all over you (basically if you like being treated like a door mat then I guess that’s good thing).

Most people will say “No! It is not a good thing” however many people will not do something about it?

All of us have those kind of people in our lives. Some we have because will like the misery, some we have because we feel we can help, and some we have because they got dumped on us by some other friend.

So what do we do? What can we do?

Personally, you need to decide whether having that friend is right for you?

I mean if that individual, the one that is constantly dumping his or her problems on you but NOT there for you, is someone that can elevate your social standing, really worth keeping??? Here is a big clue: IT IS 2011! and you can elevate your own social standing with little to no problem. This is the age of Social Media and the age of being his/her friend because he/she is "so-and-so" is OVER!!! That’s right my friends "name dropping" is so 1996 and it is so OVER.

Now ask yourself AGAIN, do you really need that individual in your life?

Now, on the other side of the friendship file what are you doing to foster the relationship with those individuals that you will drop everything you are doing to be by their side because you know they will do the same for you (without hesitation)?

What about them?

Moment of Truth time: WE TEND TO CAST THEM OFF TO THE SIDE.

I am Guilty as charged. In the past I have done that to friends and it has cost me, dearly. Though I am not happy about it and I may never get those friendships/relationships back I am certain that whether or not they come back I will not do it to another REAL, TRUE friend. They deserve that.

Right now, I have the people that I want in my inner circle, my sphere of influence if you will. My sphere of concern is always expanding, it is ever changing, it is dynamic and one day, some of those that are in the sphere of concern will move into my sphere of influence. Why? Because I will work hard at building those relationships and they deserve it as well.

How does the Summer of Change come into play here?

Simple:
• We all need friends.
• We all need two-way conversations
• We need giving and taking.
• We do not need to part of All Giving and No Taking Relationships
• We need people that we can be there for
• We need people that will be there for us

How do I/You make it happen?
• Re-evaluate all my relationships and friendships
• Salvage what can be salvaged
• Strengthen what is weak
• Take strength and Energy AWAY from a Draining, One-Sided, non-Mutually Beneficial relationships
• DEFINITELY Cut the ties that bind me to those relationships that are
- not about dialogue
- not about sharing
- not about being there for each other
- not about TRUE Friendship

Above all, always remember to quickly identify those that are only in it for themselves and set them adrift, quickly, don’t worry they will find some other port to land at. Hopefully, those at the new port will also see them for who they are and set them floating down stream as well.

What happens after I cut those ties that bind?

A couple of paragraphs ago I wrote about Social Media and name-dropping. If you fear that you will be alone and isolated, here is where you can try using social media to your advantage.

Be yourself and you will find people that share YOUR interests will start to gravitate towards you. If you find yourself a student of 16th Century French Poetry, find a Blog or start your on the subject. Find an online group/community to join or start your own. Put yourself out there and before you know it, you will be surrounded with people that not only like you but also genuinely care about you and you about them. Then once you have them make time for them, real time!

Good Luck with your Summer of Change.

As always you can read this blog post in its original location at http://daveguerra.blogspot.com


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Summer of Change: Simplify

Hello, again. Time for another post. Continuing with the Summer of Change, this time I am talking about Simplicity. Simplicity, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is the state of being simple, uncomplicated, or uncompounded. Really, life being simple, uncomplicated, uncompounded? Yeah right, easier said than done. But it can be done.

From almost birth, we have been conditioned to accept that change usually means things are going to get real complicated, real intense, real fast. Very seldom does change mean the opposite. Very seldom does change mean streamlining in the truest sense. Change comes in all shapes and sizes, in all forms or in all fashions. Change can be good and change can be bad (oh so very bad). Above all, Change is constant, fluid, and ever changing.

That being the case, change can be molded to fit any situation and any purpose. When it comes simplifying life, change is what you make it. We control how simple we want things to be. For example, if we are in a relationship that is not beneficial to BOTH parties then the simple thing to do is to change the situation. Change the relationship. Simply put make things less stressful, less difficult, less complicated and simpler.

Just like the squeaky wheel that gets the grease, instead of getting torn apart and rebuilt only to have the squeak return, taking the simplest approach is usually the most effective, most efficient, and ultimately, the most lasting change.

Now how does this apply to simplifying life and sustaining that simplicity? Simple, make that conscious effort to make simplicity and simplification part of your world. Seek out those things in your life that is “over-stuffed.” The stuff that is bursting at the seams with complexities and start slimming them down. A sort of “spring cleaning” if you will. Of course, as humans it is in our nature to break things down and build them up again (hopefully building back up with a different set of complexities), then only to recognize that we have to simplify that which has become complicated, yet again. That’s OK, there is no need for concern because it is expected. The concern should be taken if what is rebuilt starts to look exactly like what was just recently removed. Then you have the “moth to the flame” syndrome kicks in and that is just crazy. Silly people thinking that the same conditions will yield different results.

Remember, that every time you work towards simplification you are also working towards making your life less cumbersome. In the end, who needs to be lugging around all that complicated baggage? Seriously? Really! Who needs it?

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Daisy Photo Credit: KKIMPEL on FLICKR (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kkimpel/2877860110/)

Summer of Change: A New Perspective

With the frequency (or lack thereof) posting that I have been doing (thank the book for that one) I have decided to try something a little different. And because things are constantly changing and because I wouldn't want it any other way, I dedicated 2011 as the Year of Change and so far it has not let me down. However, I want to break it down even further and keep change moving and staying fluid, therefore let it be known that I am hereby declaring the summer of 2011 as the Summer of Change.

So to get things started I want to share with you the first of ten things that I believe are key to Change and embracing all it has to offer (and not just for the summer but for always).

Therefore, the first thing to consider is to adopt and adapt to A NEW Perspective. A New Perspective is at the top of the list or better yet the foundation for accepting change.

Walking through life with blinders on leaves little room for a seeing life through a new perspective let alone recognizing when a new opportunity is walking beside you. Casting those blinders off, you can see the world for what it is: wide and varied. You instantly start seeing a new perspective, as you have no choice.

It is at that point that we can see the blessing of family and friends. The little things in life that are no longer cloud by a self-imposed haze or short-sided or one-sided. Not only do we start seeing more of the world but also we start hearing more of the sounds of life. Instantly, we start experiencing new life and new experiences. At that moment, change has established a foothold and we are off and running.

Of course, there will be that moment when things change so fast that we want to put the blinders back on just as fast. Don’t do it, You can’t do it…like Pandora’s box once the spirits are out you can’t put them back in the box. Any attempt to fight it will be a moot point. So, don’t do it! Just roll with it! Start living in the now and less in the then.

A word of warning…
Living in the now does NOT mean replacing the blinders with rose-colored glasses. It means knowing to be aware of the dark side of things, the negative stuff. It is also what we are made of. People want to only see the good side of life and ignore the bad and there are others that only see the bad side and refuse to accept that there is good in everything. When it comes to accepting change it means, whether we like it or not, accepting the good AND the bad, the Light and the Dark, the Yin and the Yang. You get the picture: See the world for what it is (from all sides).

Once you start growing and cultivating your new perspective, it will become easier to weed out the bad and only let in the good. Deciding what can be removed and what can be added will become easier because you are seeing life in a whole new way. You are seeing that life is all around you and in the end, isn’t that what being happy with your life is all about?


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Memorial Day 2011

Want to take a moment of your time to ask you to take a moment tomorrow and remember what is the reason for Memorial Day.

From the US Memorial Day dot org website (http://www.usmemorialday.org)
"Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service...Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery."

Take a moment and remember all those that have paid the ultimate price as well as those that go in harm's way now. It is their sacrifice that allows us to enjoy the freedoms we have now.

Don't forget to fly the US Flag & Enjoy Your Day!
-Dave


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April 2011

Lately, for some strange reason I have not wanted to blog. However, I did not want the month to go by without posting something (anything). Now don't get me wrong I have plenty to say whether people want to hear it or not, makes me no never-mind.

The lack of posting may be in part that lately the conversation has been taken to other platforms and while that may be a good thing, on those other platforms I am more apt to fire off quick responses or go off on tirade about some injustice in the world. While lately those tirades and rants have been on an issue, a very personal issue, that I know I am right about and others...well, are just CONFUSED.

As this month of April comes to an end, I am at an impasse when it comes to picking a topic to write about. Of course, this month has been such a target rich environment such as the NFL Knuckleheads worried about whether they get a bigger piece of the already multi-billion dollar size pie they are carving out slices out of or not, to the sleeping Air Traffic Controllers and their blatant disregard for human life, to my old pal, Donald Trump, thinking out loud about running for office. As you can see I just gave myself plenty of fodder for the month of May.

Please don’t think I have been resting on my laurels for the past month. Quite opposite, my “Book” project has been well underway and more focused than ever before. A word of warning, if prior to the start of 2011 you thought you heard me talk about a book…well this is not that book (I will get back to that one (soon)). Something else got a hold of me and it would not let go until I put it on paper, and well, let’s just say that by this time in May I should be ready to announce the title.

WOW!! Some 330 words later and while I didn’t say much, I managed to set myself up for the coming month quite "brilliantly"



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Earthquake & Tsunami: What You Can Do

While the story continues to unfold in Japan there is something to remember: the humanitarian efforts are underway. At last count, resources from all over the planet are on their way to help on all aspects of recovery in the wake of last Friday's Tsunami and Earthquake. Working together, the world can help Japan get out from under the rubble and rebuild. That means all of us have to lend a hand or two to make it happen. How does one do this and WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Right now you can:
• Donate Money to the RED CROSS at http://redcross.org and click on the DONATE FUNDS button.

• Donate your unique service or skill to the RED CROSS at http://redcross.org and click on the VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME link.

• Give Blood. Donate your blood and help save lives at http://redcross.org and click on the GIVE BLOOD link.

• Get TRAINED. Get training and become certified in CPR and/or FIRST AID http://redcross.org and click on the TAKE A CLASS link.

Do this, the sooner the better. Please don't wait until it is too late.


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Going Up and Up, Where and When it falls no one knows!

I am more than certain that no one that I know has been living under a rock or with their head in the sand for the past several weeks. You have seen that the price of gasoline (and oil) has been skyrocketing higher, faster, and further than anything we have seen in the recent past. When will enough be enough? When will we put our foot down and say, "That's it!" It might not be so easy to bring this to a grinding halt.

Of course, a real life human drama is unfolding and the uncertainty of that human drama is what cannot be contained. Thus, inevitably, there are people and/or groups of people or organizations that are taking advantage of the uncertainty and that is what needs to be reigned in. Unfortunately, the chief culprits are the media and their reporting on what is going on. This past weekend I saw a news report that was far from fair as the reporter made certain that an oil port was highly referenced in the news story. Then the focus of the follow-on discussions with alleged “experts” becomes that of what to do about rising oil prices and what must be done now to drive down the prices.

This type of “news” reporting then causes the listeners/viewers to start worrying which creates fear and in the immortal words of Star War’s Jedi Master Yoda “Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”

In all actuality, if right now the fighting was to stop and all would be good in the world the price of oil would climb before falling back to the prices we had before the Middle East’s Jasmine Revolution started. Why would it continue to climb?

The reason it would continue to climb is that it takes time to get the oil out of the ground and pouring into our gas tanks. Until the supply lines are fully restored the price is expected to climb. So while we all wish we could scream, at the top of our lungs, “I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!” in this case it will be counter-productive. No matter how loud we yell we’ll still be in the same place where we started off.

If this won’t help, then what?

At this time, there is no surefire remedy to the economic impact of a full tank of gas. However, there are some things you can do now to lighten that load. Begin small and a little will certainly go a long way:

• Buy a Fuel Efficient Car (most of us can’t do this at the drop of a hat, if you can then more power to you)

• Start a carpool and share in the misery. Seriously, it helps to minimize the hit to the pocket book when five people share the cost of a tank of gas.

• Minimize the trips to the grocery store or the local mega-lo-mart.

• If there is something you really need and a store is within a two mile walking distance, walk or ride a bike.

• Keep your tires inflated to the recommended

• Keep your vehicle tuned up

• Clean your car (a clean car means a lighter car and that means less stress to move the car)

• Start a garden (and eat what you grow)

One last thing to remember: When the crisis is over (they always end) please continue doing what you do now to save fuel because the next crisis is one bad dictator away (and there is always another crisis on the horizon).


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image courtesy: eschipul at http://www.flickr.com/photos/eschipul/4577660624/ used by Creative Commons licensing (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/)

What The Fairly OddParents Have to Say About Homework and Life

Recently, my son was watching the Nickelodeon cartoon "The Fairly OddParents" and something very interesting happened that caught my ear. If you don't have a 5 year old running around your house, then you might not have heard of this an animated series about the adventures of Timmy Turner and his fairy godparents named Cosmo and Wanda.

While I don't remember what exactly the episode was about but what caught my attention was something that OddParent Cosmo said to the show's hero, Timmy Turner. Cosmo passed out these priceless words of wisdom to Timmy: "DO YOUR HOMEWORK, WATCH YOUR STOCK PORTFOLIO, AND YOUR LIFE WILL BE OK!"

Now, I am not advocating you fire up your DVRs to catch those words of wisdom from Cosmo or Wanda but when those nuggets come at you, you better be ready.

...and Kids you better listen to what Cosmo and Wanda tell Timmy, they know what they're talking about. Of course, you can only watch Fairly Odd Parents after you do your homework (and with your parents permission).

Here are some Technorati Tags: • Dave Guerra • Leadership • Leading • Leadership Development • Professional Development • Lead, Follow, or Get out of the way • Words of Wisdom • The Fairly OddParents • Do Your Homework • Watch Your Stock Portfolio • Life Will Be OK • Cosmo • Wanda • Timmy Turner • Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero

image of The Fairly OddParents is used without permission from Nickelodeon.

When You Can't Say NO, What Is The Opposite Of Yes?

Have you ever been in a situation or asked to do something that you don't really want to do and you hesitate, flinch and say "YES" but deep down you know you want to say NO!!!

Every nerve and fiber of your being is SCREAMING at you to say NO!!!

But you do the opposite and say, "Yes" (and paint on something that half way passes for a smile on your face).

What do you do? You have to do it or be considered someone who does not keep their word or wishy-washy or worse still "passive-aggressive".

I once knew someone who had everything going for him in life. A wonderful career, a wonderful family, and above all, he had a wonderful support system in those friends and family that thought the world of him. But there was one flaw that no matter how hard he tried he could not hide. That flaw was his inability to say, No.

He would say Yes to many things that people asked of him to do and at first he would do what was asked of him. But as time went on he would be a "no-call, no-show" or feign and give the old faithful answer of "oh, was it yesterday?" and expect that everything would be alright. Well it wasn't.

Still my friend never caught on and that was starting to strain relationships. You could say it was getting harder and harder to be around my friend as people were getting tired of his half-hearted approach to following through with the expectations he was leaving people with.

At one point people stopped asking my friend for anything, as they knew what the answer was and what the result was going to be.

Then finally my friend reached out and needed something done. Well here was time for payback, give him a dose of his own medicine, he was going to get what was finally coming to him, as it was long overdue. Someone told him Yes they would do what he asked. When the big moment came the person that said Yes to my friend actually came through and completed the requested task.

At some point after the task was complete, may be it was guilt or naivety but my friend asked that person why did you help me?
The person replied, “Because you asked and I said Yes.”
"Oh...I thought you weren't going to show" was my friend's response.
"Why? Because you say Yes and don't show?"
"Yes"
Seizing the moment the person then asked, "Why do you say Yes when you really want to say No?"
My friend responded, "Because I want people to like me"

Just as the last word came from my friend's mouth, it was like you could see the light bulb turn on over my friend's head (he finally got it).

So remember, when you can't say NO, the Opposite of Yes will always be NO!

You are a big boy/girl and it is perfectly fine to say NO! People will certainly respect a person more that way than someone who is wishy-washy. People who respect you know that you respect them and that is certainly the best way to get and keep more true friends around for a very long time.

Something else to think about: Those people that don’t want to hear a NO from you are the exact same people that will tell you NO the moment you really need something from them.

Here are some Technorati Tags: • Dave Guerra • Leadership • Leading • Leadership Development • Professional+Development • Lead, Follow, or Get out of the way • Don't Just Say Yes • You Can Say No • Say No • Say Yes • Say what you feel • Don't say what you think others want to hear • People like you for who you are • Friends Commit • Give to the American Red Cross
• Hire A Hero

Are Bad Drivers Putting You Out of Business?

Folks, it is not rocket science and it doesn't have to be. It is real simple:

Business Owners if you have vehicles with your company's name on the side, back, or on top do you know who is driving and promoting your business?

If you do not know, you really should know who it is and how they're doing it. A lot of businesses tend to forget that the way their vehicles are being driven reflects directly on the business who's name is stenciled on the side of the vehicle.

There isn't an old saying, you may heard of it, and I really believe especially in business; "the first impression is the ONLY impression." I am more than certain that all business owners do not want any potential customer's first impression of the company to be that of one of your vehicles driving recklessly, changing lanes without using the turn signal, rolling through a stop sign or blowing past them on the highway with no regard for their own safety or the safety of the other drivers.

This certainly is not a good way to do business. In the current economy, no business can afford to lose future customers, before they even get them, because company drivers are not properly trained with the company's expectations when it comes to driving a company vehicle.

I haven't started talking about current customers. Imagine the horror in your customer's eyes when a vehicle from a business they had a long time relationship with cuts them off out on the highway.

Business Owners I do so hope you get the hint. If you don't get it, then you deserve every customer you lose because you chose not to address a very serious situation. Remember, on the road, a first impression is a very long, lasting impression (that's what billboards are expected to do).


Using Creative Commons credit image courtesy of ***Karen at http://www.flickr.com/photos/sarahbelle1/3017785110/




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3 Rules for Dealing with Kids as Customers

This public service message goes out to those that work in the entertainment industry. Especially, in the entertainment industry that is aimed directly at children under the age of 12.

If you want repeat customers, especially those that will throw a fit when parents asked them where they want to go, then it is wise to know and live by these three SIMPLE rules .

#1. Never hurt a kid's feelings by telling them NO with anger in your voice.

#2. Never hurt a kid's feelings by Over-Promising and Under Delivering

#3. (a.k.a. THE GOLDEN RULE) NEVER, EVER PUT YOURSELF IN A SITUATION THAT WILL GET YOU ON MOM'S BAD SIDE!

Here is a BIG Hint to not breaking Rule #3: DO NOT BREAK RULE #1 OR #2 OR #1 & #2.



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Under New Management

What if you went to a restaurant and the food or service or both were TERRIBLE?

Would you go back? Probably not!

OK, who would want to subject themselves to the same punishment? the same bad food? the same bad service? Unless, you are masochist it is understandable to never set foot in that place, again.

Now fast forward 6 or 8 months later. You drive past that same restaurant, in the front window a sign reads "Under New Management" and now your interest is piqued.

Do you dare venture in? Most will, if only to give that restaurant a second chance.

Consider this: Does having an "Under New Management" sign mean that some pixie dust was sprinkled within and among the restaurant's staff and it magically stopped being terrible?

Probably not! If there was not a complete replacement of the staff, the policies and procedures the organization will continue to do what it has always done. Sure, they make change for the short term. Maybe just long enough to create some "regulars" but eventually the new paint will start to peel off and the layers of grease, grime and bad attitude will come out. Then you are right back where you started.

Consider this: When an NFL or College football team replaces the Head Coach, the rest of the coaching crew is replaced. Typically, this is not done by the organization itself but by the Head Coach. The new Head Coach will say that this a "brand new" program and not the continuation of the old way of doing things. If the organization wanted to continue doing the same old thing they would not have fired the Head Coach in the first place. Thus cleaning house is not only in order but expected.

While it is fully understandable that not all the waitstaff and cooks can be replaced at one time (or can they?) However, some measurable change must take place even if it is until the entire old crew can be phased out and a new crew is phased in.

Therefore, if you do decide to return and you don't see a change in personnel, especially where the problem area was then then only change that took place was that someone got a great deal on an "Under New Management" sign and that is a crying shame!


Image of kitchen and cooks by Seattle Municipal Archives and used under Creative Commons License.


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Train Your Replacement

Train Your Replacement.

EVERYDAY!

The military does it, successful organizations do it and if you are not doing it you really should. You would be amazed at the amount of stuff you do, especially if you have been around a while.

If you haven't thought about it but the COLD HARD REALITY is one day we will stop coming to work, we will no longer be doing the job we are doing now. Thus, no better time than now to seek out and train your replacement.

One thing to remember when you start training your replacement:
TRAIN THEM RIGHT

This is your opportunity to get rid of bad habits and start making things right.

Thanks for your time.




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Communication vs. Leadership

Have you ever noticed that people are so eager to blame problems on lack of communication? Usually the blame is put on the other party and not the one calling attention the problem(s)!

Let's take a look at this; the word “communication” is defined as "a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior" (Merriam Webster Dictionary, 2010). An "exchange between individuals" sounds to me like the individual calling attention to the problem is part of the exchange between individuals and therefore part of the problem.

While it easy to blame others for their lack of communication, it is also a bitter pill to swallow when you have to admit to yourself that you are perpetuating the same issue as your counterpart is in the lack of information exchange department.

Why not be the one to take the first step, be the leader, be the driver and take the situation to a better place. Remove all the barriers and the issue of lack of communication becomes MOOT.

Failing any attempt on the complainer’s part to change the situation leads me to ask: Is the issue really that of lack of communication or is the issue really just a lack of leadership?

Go ahead, put pen to paper and write a letter, pick up the phone and start a conversation. Begin a dialogue. Put your fingers on the keyboard, bang out that email now and get your reply. Press the speed dial on your office phone and make that call. The sooner the lines of communication are open, the more apt they are to remain open.

Who knows the person on the other side of the exchange may be thinking that the lack of communication is on your part? Go ahead and prove him or her wrong.

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A Leader's Impact

As a leader you are in a unique position to impact people's lives. You alone have the power to elevate the people that work with you and for you to a new level. You are the one that they will turn to tomorrow when it comes time for leadership, guidance, and motivation.

Do not let them down when they come to you for anything. Take the time to pay attention and lead them, it will leave a lasting impact in the lives of your peers, co-workers, and those that look up to you.

Remember, what you do today will have a deep and lasting impact, so do the right thing.



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Setting yourself apart from the crowd

In today's current economy and tight job market words like downsizing, layoffs, rightsizing, and the doing more with less are as common as words like profit sharing, stock options, and bonuses were not too long ago. I'm hard pressed to find any organization has not been touched by the current economic situation.

Having said that organizations are not tolerating anything less than complete employee dedication and commitment to the mission. When individuals find themselves delivering less, they quickly find themselves being escorted out the door, hopefully, under some sort of amicable conditions.

There will always be times when even those that dedicated and committed to the mission will find themselves without a place to go on Monday morning. What can one do to prevent this from happening? To paraphrase Patrick Townsend and Joan Gebhardt, authors of Five-Star Leadership, your organization "cannot settle for a random selection process for its leaders. Waiting for leaders to develop naturally is out of the question when the penalty for error is swift and permanent, as it is in combat...To ensure a continuous supply of leaders, leadership training" must be part of not just your organization but of also you.

The answer is quite obvious set yourself apart from the crowd. By setting yourself apart from the crowd means that you have to be eating the crowd (in the right direction) and not be struggling behind the crowd (the slowest follower).

Taking the queue from my favorite military organization and maker of leaders: the United States Army and it’s Be, Know, Do Leadership principles I offer the following quick list of what you can do now set yourself apart from the crowd:

• Be:
  Be technically proficient. Know your job to the point that you become the recognized leader in doing your job for your organization. Additionally, it is good to know the job of the people 1 to 2 levels below on the process chain and 1 to 2 levels of above your job on the process chain. For example, if you are a computer programmer it does know what the hardware people know and it certainly helps knowing what the Quality Control people are looking for. In most cases, this may mean going back to school. Remember, you are never too old to go back to school.
  
  If it is training you need then take that shot and invest in your future. If that means spending money then always know that money spent on your education is money never wasted. If all it takes is to spend $20.00 on a book that will increase your technical proficiency then that is a wise $20 investment that will yield a sizable return on investment in the long run. Then again it may also cost over $30,000 dollars to get that edge over those that are choosing not to invest in their future. Every situation will be different but then again every situation will call for a different level of commitment to achieve what you need to achieve.
  
  
• Know:
  Know yourself and know your limits. Never be afraid to accept and admit to the fact that you have your limits that cannot be exceeded. Also by knowing yourself you know what you have to work on as far as seeking self-improvement goes. Therefore, you will always seek self-improvement as an example for when it comes to becoming technically proficient.
  
  Know your organization. Know and fully understand your organization's mission and vision. Know where in the organization's big picture you fit in. Lastly, know what it will take to get you to the next level.
  
  
• Do:
  Do become a follower and a leader (sometimes at the same time). It has been said that every great leader begins, as a great follower and I, 100%, believe that. If you've never followed then you have never experienced a good leader or a bad manager.
  
  Do not be afraid to live by your morals, value, and belief system. Living and sticking to your morals, values, and belief system will go a long way towards establishing yourself as an individual and not as someone who sticks to the pack and has a “follow the pack” mentality. It also builds credibility and authenticity. Being credible and authentic are two highly coveted labels that any leader strives to be considered by his peers. A word of caution, while it is difficult to achieve and maintain those labels, it is so very easy to lose them. Be Careful.
  

Certainly, there are other things you can do to ensure you are set apart from the crowd. As a word of advice be sure that as you are setting yourself apart from the crowd you are moving towards the front of the pack into the lead position and not the last person so far behind that the only way to move to the top is to let the leader lap you (and that is not a good thing).



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When To Shoot Out The Glass

Not too long ago, I caught an airing of the 1996 motion picture Eraser on cable TV. This movie featured the then action star Arnold Schwarzenegger and the always lovely Vanessa Williams. If you haven't seen the movie, Arnold plays U.S. Marshal John 'The Eraser' Kruger and he is tasked to protect William's character, Lee Cullen, and ultimately erase her past life after testifying. However, along the way as in most action movies things go awry and that is when the action begins.

As the action heats up Kruger and Cullen are being chased by Good Guys turned Bad Guys who have one thing on their mind and that is to erase Cullen from this existence as well as Kruger. Naturally, our hero and his charge find themselves in the reptile house of the Bronx Zoo (in New York City).

As always, the situation is grim, outnumbered by the bad guys and Kruger is running short on ammunition. It was something like 9 or 10 bad guys and only two bullets. Kruger is looking for the way out of the building to keep himself and Cullen alive long enough for her to testify.

Realizing that two bullets is not going to be enough to put a dent in the 5 to 1 ratio, you can almost see the "light-bulb" moment when he realizes what he needs to do. He shoots out the glass to the tank that separates numerous alligators from the reptile house visitors. As soon as the first gator hits the ground the attention of the bad guys is shifted from Kruger and Cullen and onto the potential man-eaters that are now scattering about. At that moment of shifting focus Kruger and Cullen make their getaway. Mission Accomplished, the witness has been saved.

While this is a Hollywood motion picture, it is still not bad for a man who suddenly finds himself outnumbered, outgunned, and (almost) out of options. By changing the situation and shifting the focus away from himself, Kruger was able to make a getaway and live to fight another day.

In changing the situation, he also changed the force ratio from 1 good guy/gal for every 5 bad guys to ratio that added one too many man-eaters. He also changed the ability for the bad guys to maintain their undivided attention on a man with a dwindling ammo supply.

He also reduced the time he spent in one location. Had he stayed in the reptile house any longer he would have given the bad guys a greater opportunity to completely surround the building. By changing the parameters of the situation Kruger increased his life expectancy and made it equal to everyone else in the building (except that of the gators).

How does this apply in everyday life? First of all, there will be very few times that you will find yourself charged with protecting Vanessa Williams in a reptile house at a zoo, but if you do you'll know what to do. Seriously, this can be applied to just about anything that we have to deal with in life. When things appear that they have you under their control you can always change the situation by shifting the focus and buying yourself some time.

Use the time that you have just been granted to regain control and get back on top of things. Do not fail to successfully exploit this limited opportunity and it is limited because once Kruger and Cullen left the reptile house there were other bad guys to deal with outside that building (but there were also more witnesses on the outside).

Remember, desperate times call for desperate measures and when it appears that hope has started to fade do what you must do even if it means shooting out the glass that separates the alligators from their food.


image courtesy of Stefano. Used under Creative Commons permission.



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"We herd sheep, we drive cattle, we lead people"

I recently read something that is attributed to General George S. Patton as saying, "We herd sheep, we drive cattle, we lead people. Lead me, follow me, or get out of my way."

Since the end of World War II (especially since around the time of General Patton's unfortunate passing) there have been many quotes that have been attributed to one of the United States' greatest fighting Generals. Some of these quotes have been outright falsehoods (or a product of Hollywood), some have been twisted to suit other needs, and some have been spot on. However, this quote (We herd sheep...) falls somewhere between spot on and just off the mark.

This quote makes the classic distinction between manager and leader crystal clear. Anyone can drive cattle, with a little training, of course. Heck, Billy Crystal and Daniel Stern did it in "City Slickers" with Curly's help, of course. As for herding sheep, that may be a little more difficult, as a lot of trust is put on the shepherd in that he/she will take the flock where it needs to go. In the end, both the cattle and the sheep will wander around aimlessly and therefore cannot be effectively led. A manager, in this case, in the form of shepherd or trail boss, are certainly not true leaders.

Now when it comes to people (human beings) on the other hand are dynamic and depending on the situation can either do one of following three things: Lead, Follow, or Get out of my way.

Having to pick from one of the three means that it is up to the individual and not the collective (the flock), to determine what path he will take. The individual can either pick up the Staff of Leadership and lead other people to where they need to be or will he pass the baton to someone that will lead him. Then again, the individual can throw his hands up in the air, step aside and watch the parade go down the road and out of sight (without him) while he wanders aimlessly like the cattle that broke away from the herd.

Which one of the three do you like? Just like General Patton, I love being at the front of the parade instead of watching it from the curb hoping that the clowns wave at me.


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Classic Wisdom for the Professional Life (another book review)

Everyone needs a place they can turn to for inspiration and a resource for inspiring others Classic Wisdom for the Professional Life is that resource. This little black (very dark blue) book pulls no punches and offers no fluff just plenty of nuggets of wisdom and wit from many notable individuals from all walks of life, past and present.

From the first page to the last the quotes contained are applicable at almost any time and any point in one’s life. Most books that host a collection of quotes tend to be a gathering of the same quotes from the same people that were in all the other books that make a book of quotes look like all the other books of quotes.

Editor Bryan Curtis took the time to ensure that Classic Wisdom for the Professional Life was not like all the other books that contain a gathering of quotations. From the first page the people that the quotes are attributed to are, in some cases, the last person anyone would expect to say what they said. Those are the kind of quotations that keep the reader turning the page to see who said what. Above all, having a copy of Classic Wisdom for the Professional Life within reach is essential in these rough and turbulent times.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Flip The Funnel (a review)

Back in October of 2007 on my blog I compared Joseph Jaffe to Donald Trump to the 80s band Duran Duran. The comparison was how the three have a rhythm that is "uniform and a well-coordinated action." The Donald, Joseph, and Duran Duran continue to be relevant and not allow any part of their brand to get stale, as they wouldn't allow it. After all, it is their name (their brand) that gets people to buy into what they are selling. In 2007, that comparison dealt with Joseph Jaffe’s book Join The Conversation.

Now, Joseph Jaffe’s done it again with his latest book, Flip The Funnel. This time he takes the reader on a journey and makes it an experience that is filled with tools and tips that will take anyone (from business owner to client/customer) to the next level in customer satisfaction or, better still, Relationship Building.

In Flip The Funnel, Jaffe provides real world examples of people and organizations that get it right and those that can’t seem to get it right no matter how hard they try or fail to try. For both, though, he offers answers to creating and sustaining a lifelong relationship with stakeholders (internal and external).

Right now, in an economy where up is down and down is sideways we all certainly need people to be spot on 100% of the time. What Jaffe delivers in Flip The Funnel is something that can only be described as SPOT ON!

You can get your copy of Flip The Funnel at Amazon.com | Barnes and Noble


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The Saturday Morning Magic Hour

There is one time of the week that I love above all:
Saturday mornings!

There is a time from when I wake up to when everyone else in the house wakes up, cinematographers call that the magic hour.  For them, it is that first hour of sunlight of the day (or the last hour of sunlight). That time is best for filming because the light is softer and the shadows are longer. Something about the light exposure on film is better than dealing with darker shadows and overly bright spots when the Sun is directly overhead. Depending on where on the planet one is filming or taking pictures the time and duration of the "magic hour" can vary. Therefore, in the filmmaker's and my case "hour" is used rather loosely.

I try to keep the same wake time everyday (makes it a little easier come Monday morning). During that two hour or so period there is, typically, no pressure to get out the door, get something done, or to wake up everyone in the house. That time is mine (all mine)...call me selfish, I do not care, it's still mine.

That "magic hour" is my time to reflect, meditate, and get focused. Now whether I choose to do all of them is beside the point, typically I will do one or two but it is very seldom that I do all three.

Of course, there are some mandatory things that I do during the magic hour. First, I brew a fresh pot of coffee and as coffee drinkers know there is nothing like a hot cup of java to get your day started. Next, either I crack open a book and catch up on my reading (currently: Joseph Jaffe's latest Flip the Funnel) or head over to the living room, fire up the laptop, and get caught up on required blog reading. That's about as intense as I want things to get, remember I am using this time to reflect, meditate, and/or get focused.

Now as the sun gets higher and the day starts to kick into high gear, my second cup of coffee is poured, and I am ready to get the weekend started.

I am curious, when is your magic hour?


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