Dave Guerra (the official blog)

22 July 2023

Journal - Saturday - July 22, 2023 - DISPUTE

image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay

DISPUTE

In Life there is always DISPUTE.

You cannot fight it nor can you DISPUTE it.

This is a fact!

Thus, when it comes to DISPUTE and resolving one.

No matter whom you have a DISPUTE with you are NEVER going to be right and you will ALWAYS be WRONG.

So what's the point in settling a DISPUTE?

There is no point.

So what can be done?

Simple: You can state your case as clearly and as calmly as you can. That's it.

Depending on who you are having the DISPUTE with, remember the Brick Wall ALWAYS listens.

Proceed with caution.

-D

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 July 2023

Journal - Friday - July 21, 2023 - MIRROR

image by Andre Mouton from Pixabay
MIRROR

What is a mirror?

A mirror is a tool that allows us to see ourselves as we see ourselves.

A mirror screams to us those "flaws" only as we see them.

The mirror is who we are without pulling punches.

The mirror NEVER lies.

Standing in front of the mirror, ONLY we lie to ourselves.

I challenge you to stand in front of a mirror and look yourself in the eye.

Soon, you will realize that those "perceived" flaws are self-imposed.

Seriously, look yourself in the eye, if you can. If you got the guts.

20 July 2023

Journal - Thursday - July 20, 2023 - SOME DAYS

SOME DAYS ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS

A. Our Own Day of Birth
B. Wedding Day
C. Child's Birth Day

D. The Day Before The Day We Die

Change my mind.

Some Day.

19 July 2023

Journal - Wednesday - July 19, 2023 - TIME

TIME

We are all running out of time.

Fix Yourself

We are all running out of time.

Fix ONLY Yourself

We are all running out of time.

ONLY FIX YOURSELF

Before it is too late.

CHANGE YOURSELF

You can change

CHANGE YOURSELF BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE

We are all running out of time.

ALL OF US ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME!

18 July 2023

Journal - Tuesday - July 18, 2023 - REVEIW

REVIEW

Take periodic breaks to review your life. Stop and Take Time To Decipher What is Really Going On and WHY?

The thing is, is that every one needs to take a break from what happening ALL around them.

The purpose is that we all need to stop and see where we are, how we got here, and what are we going to do next.

As I do believe I have made it abundantly clear, life is not meant to be easy.

Because it in not meant to be easy, that is why we have to PAUSE and evaluate everything.

REVIEW - COME UP WITH A PLAN - EXECUTE THAT PLAN

I am not promising good or bad things will happen but with an EXECUTE PLAN will most certainly help stop you from running in circles.

17 July 2023

Journal - Monday - July 17, 2023 - ILLUSIONS

ILLUSIONS

What do they say about people who create an ILLUSION so huge that it makes them re-think their reality?

Nothing.

Let them figure it out for themselves.

16 July 2023

Journal - Sunday - July 16, 2023 - INTRUSIONS

INTRUSIONS
image by Bernd from Pixabay

Needlessly, people intrude our lives.

Purposefully, people intrude our lives.

We post signs on our own front doors and yet like clockwork Saturday Morning rolls around and there is that bright and early knock on the front door.

INTRUSIONS are not always that simple or overt.

INTRUSIONS are done over time, they beat you down and before you know it, you are doing or saying things you do not want.

COVERT INTRUSIONS happen to all of us.

Some of us recognize the COERCIVE intent of the COVERT INTRUSION sooner and others later.

No matter when you recognize you have been COVERTLY INTRUDED upon, acting fast is CRITICAL.

Failing to act (fast or slow) is a SLIPPERY SLOPE and down the rabbit hole you go.

Acting fast to rid yourself of the INTRUSIONS is the best course of action.

This I prove when I ask those SATURDAY MORNING door knockers that I would love to talk about the perceived perceptions, disguised as the "good word" that they want to share. I ask them to share their home address and that I will be there the following morning (Sunday) bright and early to talk about their good news. Not a single one has taken me up on my offer to join them.

I wonder why? Is it because their level of hypocrisy is one-sided? Probably. I may be wrong but I highly doubt it.

What about those that are COVERTLY INTRUSIVE?

Simple, beat them at their own game by not playing their game. While it works for me, it might not work for you. They COME to my home, to disrespect me, my wife, my children. They come into my home to belittle me, my family and our lives but I cannot and do not do that to them in their home.

Why? For one, I do not go to their home. Next, because I RESPECT MYSELF more than they respect me and my family.

Those COVERT INTRUSIONS have stopped once I stopped letting the DISRESPECT into my home.

Those COVERT INTRUSIONS have stopped because I stopped listening to the DISRESPECT.

What works for me, works for me. What works for you might not be what works for me. However, you want the INTRUSIONS to STOP, then Act fast and stay diligent

15 July 2023

Journal - Saturday - July 15, 2023 - CIRCLES

CIRCLES

It can be funny. It can be sad.

When people run in circles and claim they are someplace new.

There is no sense of real, no sense of truth, just perception.

So let them believe what they want to believe but

Never fall for their perception, you have your own and you are entitled to use it.

-D

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

14 July 2023

Journal - Friday - July 14, 2023 - OBLATE

OBLATE
Image by Eduardo Davad</a> from Pixabay

Oblate comes from the Latin word Oblatus which means "one offered up".

Please do not confuse OBLATE with the word MARTYR. They are two different words.

One word has heroic like connotations and the other is just sad.

OBLATE is "a lay person connected with a religious order or institution and living according to its regulations"

The hero is the one that stepped up without any intent on recognition and did what they felt they had to do.

The modern-day martyr demands recognition for what they did, all the while being completely oblivious to the fact that what they did, they were supposed to be doing all along.

Be the hero and never the modern-day version of a martyr. They are so unbecoming.

13 July 2023

Journal - Thursday - July 13, 2023 - BAIT

BAIT
Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay

When it comes to FISHING you, without a doubt, are going to need some BAIT.

No one can just throw a hook in the water and expect to catch a fish. No ONE is that good of a fisherman.

To catch a fish, you will need BAIT.

Depending on what they want to catch, Fishermen will change the type of BAIT they will use.

Growing up, I remember using salmon eggs on a spinner to catch trout and a messy mix of stinky cheese and dough rolled into a ball on a treble hook for catching catfish.

Well, when it comes to a human being wanting to catch another human being for whatever reason, they will carefully choose the BAIT they know will either trigger you or make you ensnare yourself into their web of deceit, lies, or misery.

People that bait others will do so to make others fall into some trap, or to make the person who took the bait look bad in front of others, or to make themselves look good.

Seriously, no matter the reason, baiting others is not good form.

Actually, it shows the person that is baiting others as someone who LACK of Self-Confidence, LACK of Self-Esteem, LACK of Self-Discipline and most of all, LACK of Self-Respect.

If YOU cannot handle yourself in a proper manner, people will see through your BS and no amount of BAITING others will ever make YOU look good.

12 July 2023

Journal - Wednesday - July 12, 2023 - SHOES

SHOES
Image by gershoots from Pixabay

People are funny.

Some don't ask for forgiveness, while others beg for it.

Some have no clue as to what absolution truly is. Others claim it's the only way.

Some claim others don't know what they are going through,

Some claim they know it all, so what's the point.

The point is that there are those that will gladly and opening invite other to walk in their shoes.

Gallantly, thinking people will finally understand.

Unfortunately, the cold harsh reality is that no one can ever walk in anyone else's shoes.

They would stumble. They would fall. Not because they are proving a point. It is because we are all unique and will never be able to walk in anyone's shoes but our own.

Time to face reality and stop with the nonsense of using the unattainable as a viable option to get people to understand.

The only way for you to get other people to understand you is to SHUT UP and GET TO WORK. Put in the work and let your actions show others what is real.

11 July 2023

Journal - Tuesday - July 11, 2023 - UNDERTOW

image by Dimitris Vetsikas from Pixabay

UNDERTOW

They say the UNDERTOW will always get you. I agree.

Actually, the UNDERTOW will ALWAYS get you if are NOT paying attention.

If you do not know what UNDERTOW is, this should help.

UNDERTOW is defined as "any strong current below the surface of a body of water, moving in a direction different from that of the surface current."

What does this mean?

It means if you ever get caught in an UNDERTOW and YOU are NOT PAYING ATTENTION (like most people) you will very soon find yourself in a situation you will be ill-prepared to handle and PANIC!

FIRST, STAY CALM!

Life is just like the UNDERTOW. One day you find yourself all caught up in NONSENSE. Soon you find yourself getting swept out to see. Soon, you are losing sight of shore, of safety. You start to PANIC! You don't know what to do because it all happened so very fast.

SECOND, STAY CALM!

This may sound cray-cray but ride it out until you feel there is a lull in the current that is taking out further and further, deeper and deeper. Once, you find that lull, do what you can to move away from the UNDERTOW. Do not go back to safety by going against the UNDERTOW but move in a manner that is intentional and deliberate to get away from the perils of the UNDERTOW.

Then head for home, for shore, make landfall as quickly as you can. That UNDERTOW will eventually stop from sucking you deeper and further out.

Pay attention to what is happening around you, at all times. Keep your head on a swivel. Be aware that the UNDERTOW will deceive you. All it takes is for you to stop being on guard and that UNDERTOW will get you.

Just remember, just like anything in life, Stay Calm and be intentional to get yourself away from the UNDERTOW or anyone that dedicating themselves to pulling you under and deeper into their nonsense.

You can escape it. You owe it to yourself to do so.

10 July 2023

Journal - Monday - July 10, 2023 - MADNESS

/V\ADNESS

Any time there is sadness it is surely preceded by Madness.

Any time there is happiness it is surely followed by Madness.

The Madness, most of then not, comes from individuals ill-equipped to handle the harsh realities of life.

They were either coddled too much early in life, thus never truly maturing or someone sold them on a FALSE premise and now expect people to bow before them and that's just Pure Madness.

Those that bring the Madness do so as a solid favor to those affected.

The Madness is sure to pass but the one bringing the Madness is sure to return.

How is this a favor? Simple, we are like a moth to the flame the more we continue to gravitate towards the flame we get burning. However, we are not like the moth in that EVENTUALLY we recognize that they are the moth, by constantly bringing their Madness.

They bring their Madness only to fan our flames with their sole intention of getting us to burn ourselves.

Therefore, we can have our sadness our own way, enjoy our happiness our way for as long as possible. The Madness must end and you get to decide when their Madness is not your concern. Their Madness is NOT what shapes and defines you.

Lastly, their Madness is not for you to fix. Last time I checked there are PROFESSIONALS that can DIAGNOSE and TREAT the Madness. Don't get caught up in their nonsense! I know I stopped getting caught in people's Madness and I have never felt better.

09 July 2023

Journal - Sunday - July 9, 2023 - EASY

EASY.

Who said life was supposed to be easy? Whoever said that as you get older it is supposed to get easy. IDIOTS, FOOLS, & IMBECILES are the only ones going around saying and believing it. Sadly, they get too many to follow that train of thought because ONLY IDIOTS, FOOLS, & IMEBCILES are always looking for the easy way.

See, if life was easy then everyone would move through life without any issues and most of all, they would move through life without drama.

But it ain't easy. Life is easy for no one. I repeat: LIFE AIN'T EASY!

Sure it can be easier going for those that ACTUALLY take charge of their own lives. Even then, it still ain't easy.

Then there are those that REFUSE to take control of their lives. By taking control I mean, those individuals that are ACTUALLY doing something to change their lives instead of being ALL TALK and no action. YOU know who YOU are.

For those that REFUSE to take control of their own lives there is this: OTHERS will do one of these two things:

1. They will take control over YOU. This makes it easy for YOU to blame others.

or

2. They will see through you; see through YOU and YOUR BS and decide enough is enough.

No matter which of the two occurs, it is without a doubt: YOUR FAULT!

You decide make life hard for yourself, no where is it written that YOU have to make life hard for others. Because YOU made life hard you then open YOURSELF to a life of misery. A life opposite of easy. LIFE was never meant to be MISERABLE. You take the good and the bad that life throws at you and you decide not to do something good but instead the path you choose becomes a BURDEN to OTHERS but not for you.

Your only solace in the misery you want others to have is you find it easy to blame others for YOUR current situation of MISERY because of YOUR actions, inactions, and inadequacies that brought YOU to this state of being. Take genuine RESPONSIBILITY for YOURSELF and see how quickly life become easier. Not easy but easier than living a life of misery.

Remember, at some point people are going to see through YOUR SELF-IMPOSED BULLSHIT for what it truly is, a TRUE and ACCURATE REPRESENTATION OF WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU STAND FOR.

Lastly, I leave you with this: Remember that today and everyday, LIFE is about LIVING and living this life was never meant to be easy but ONLY YOU can make it easier.

08 July 2023

Journal - Saturday - July 8, 2023 - PRACTICE

PRACTICE

People practice for any reason. They all do so to practice to become better.

Then they stop. They rest on their laurels. The become complacent with themselves. There goes the practice time. Yet for some odd reason what does not stop is their sense of becoming better.

Where is the growth in believing your own delusion. You practice to get better. Your practice to be better.

The cold hard truth is when you stop practicing you stop growing, you stop becoming better.

NOTHING can change that. So stop fooling yourself, the sooner, the better!

There is a podcast episode that I dropped today and it is all about PRACTICE, check it out on my website. The link is below.

07 July 2023

Journal - Friday - July 7, 2023 - NOTHING

Changes come at you faster than light.

It is up to you to either accept or reject change.

That decision is up to you up to the point that one thing is certain:
THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT CHANGE.

It is going to happen whether you like it or not.

06 July 2023

Journal - Thursday - July 6, 2023 - LIVING

When you need something.

When you want something.

When you...

Just be living for the day!

05 July 2023

Journal - Wednesday - July 5, 2023 - RESTING

Resting...

I'll do it my way!

vous faites vous.

04 July 2023

Journal - Tuesday - July 4, 2023 - FIREWORKS

The Use & Misuse of Fireworks.

It's your birthday, so there's a candle or two (or more) on your cake. But where are the fireworks?

Seriously, you made it to this point in your life, surely you deserve a fireworks show. Maybe a Roman Candle or two (or more)?

Usually, we don't get a fireworks show in life. When we do, it is usually in the form of hot air and not a sparkler in sight.

Those fireworks come at us with no smiles or laughter only pain and suffering. There is no celebration. Only aggravation and agitation. Where's the fun in that?

The only fun in the misuse of fireworks is when no literal or figurative fingers are lost. However, that is short lived as in most cases people get overly confident (a.k.a. cocky) and they keep playing with fireworks until that day comes, and it will come, when "overly confident" individual goes home minus a finger.

Then who is laughing. Folks take fire, in any form, for granted and you will get exactly what you deserve. BURNED!

-D

* If you don't know what AKA means, it is short for "Also Known As"

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

03 July 2023

Journal - Monday - July 3, 2023 - REST

The day between Sunday and a Holiday is what it is.

A day of rest.

Whether you worked today or took the day off. It was a rest day.

A day of rest in the sense of NOT having to get anything done (aside from cleaning the house) but that happens anyway.

If I was at work today, the bare minimum would get done because others that I need to get things done with are OFF. So that takes care of that, However, as a day off should be treated as such, today is one of those rare days that fall between a holiday and a weekend.

Because it is a rare occurrence it must be treated as a rarity. Trust me when I say the day after Thanksgiving here in the United States does not count.

So mark your calendars for next 4th of July. The day after Independence Day 2024 will be that kind of day. See 2024 is a leap year. That will push every day one more day forward starting on March 1st. Thus, the 4th day of July will fall on Thursday. That makes Friday the 5th that special day of rest.

So start planning early or don't. That is up to you so don't blame me when you start moaning and groaning with your tired "shoulda" taken the day off.

Folks, sometimes all we need is to rest and when the opportunity arises, take it.

02 July 2023

Journal - Sunday - July 2, 2023 - Three Sides

They say that every story has two sides. Actually, there are three sides to every story: the two sides and the TRUTH.

Never forget that. THERE ARE THREE SIDES TO EVERY STORY!

There is no escaping it.

You can hear one side and so sucked into it that soon there is no other side, no other version.

Those individuals sucked in are those gullible many that have no actual first person experience will always side with the "victim" that feeds the story first.

Like lemmings they eat that up. The like the gossip and want more of it. Soon, nothing else exists for the suckered fool. Fool? Yes, if they fall for one side without casting a critical eye on the rest of the story then they will gladly and proudly wear the crown of King Fool. Sadly, too many wear that crown because they feel they are suppose to do so out of loyalty or a misguided sense of obligation.

Don't do that. Fight tooth and nail to avoid wearing that crown. Question everything and everyone.

Never fall into the trap of not wanting or not seeking out the other side. The loyalty and obligation to yourself matters most, do not fall victim to the alleged "victim" because they spun their story first. Proceed with caution when you decide to be an adult and seek out the other side of the story. If the "victim" finds out you are looking to hear the other side, you might just find yourself on the other side of another story and again, as usual, they are the "victim".

See, it is like this, if you hear the other side of the story. You might just find out how much of a role the "victim" played in the actual story they are not telling. They do not want you to know just how much of an instigator, manipulator, and major contributor they actually are to the entire situation. Once they get found out be prepared because they are not going to like being found out for who they truly are.

Remember, when the time comes that you find yourself on the other side of the story that same "victim" tells, then will you see what it feels like when no one want to hear your side or any other side than the tall tales that have undeniably already been told.

Do yourself a solid and start demanding both sides of the story be told, no matter who is telling them. You deserve to know the truth long before you assume your role as King Fool.

01 July 2023

Journal - Saturday - July 1, 2023 - EXPECTATIONS

Welcome to the Second Half of 2023.

Today is the first day of the second half of the year. The first half of 2023 can now be officially classified as #yesterday.

Today and just like every day to come, we move forward.

When we wake up, we put our feet on the ground and get moving. We Move Forward.

We do so because that is what it takes to make this life breathable and bearable. We move forward by taking that first step of the day, then the next, and so on and so on.

While what the future brings is UNCERTAIN. What is certain is that the FUTURE = CHANGE.

Yep, more change. Remember, as a constant, change is a certainty.

The sooner those that feel they have the luxury of sipping on high expectations realize (and learn and accept) change is what we are slave to, the better off they will be, indeed. We cannot escape change. Change is the chain that cuts across our soul. Change is the chain that anchors us to this world.

Believe me, sipping on high expectations was not foreign to me. Then when those expectations came crashing down on me, I knew then that I was the only that was putting myself in that situation. Especially, when I allowed people to pass judgment, ridicule, and other nonsense on did I realize the expectations I placed on them were much, much higher than what they were actually delivering. Strange coincidence? I think NOT. Remember, I was allowing them to do what they chose to do.

Folks, for the next six months and all the months after that pick and choose wisely how YOU will react to the change that is coming. You will either embrace it or you will rage (and curse) at how the expected change is UNFAIR it is. Remember, when you decide to rage or embrace, it is all about how you created the situation that lead to change or YOUR CONTRIBUTION to the actions that caused things to go to CRAP!

When it is all said and done and what matters most is that one day the actions YOU contribute to WILL lead to change that you will either love or hate.

There is no turning back once change arrives.

Oh, and before I forget, I promise YOU one more thing:

THE EXPECTATION OF MORE CHANGE IS HIGH!

30 June 2023

Journal - Friday - June 30, 2023 - SOUL

What am I doing with my SOUL?

I am NOT talking about the HEAVEN & HELL soul. Seriously, for those that must then please know I truly believe, WE are ALL going to hell in a handbasket. There is no escaping it.

But I digress.

I am actually talking about the SOUL that drives us today. The SOUL that we have our passion rooted in. The SOUL that is who we are right here, right now.

The SOUL that is our mission, our vision, our passion. The SOUL that is who we are and how we live in the present. This moment. Again, not the soul people claim we will need later.

What Am I Doing With My SOUL?

I am taking inventory on the daily. I do so because I want to be better today. Better than yesterday. Before the hypocrites get up in arms about being better. Remember, this is my definition, like it or not. I more than likely do not like nor care about what your definition "of the day" is or is not. I believe in me. Again, whether you believe in yourself is a moot point to me.

I truly live and breathe being better today has nothing to with going to heaven and hell. Doing what is best for you and your SOUL today is heaven!

As I have said, so many will disagree. SO WHAT? Let them disagree. Let them enjoy and wallow in the experience being wrong.

Letting others disagree is picture perfect. It means you are NOT thinking like the crowd.

As for the crowd and their souls. Well, to be honest (just look around and prove me wrong), most of them are hypocrites. Living their crappy miserable lives for all week with the exception of that one hour a week that relieves them of their guilt, shame, and anguish. Then as soon as the church bell rings. game over! There they go back to their reality of lust, gluttony, jealousy, and coveting. Seriously, I challenge anyone to prove me wrong. Oh, and before you begin with that casting stones or living in glass houses. I KNOW EXACTLY WHO AND WHAT I AM AND WHERE I LIVE.

Again, I digress.

Don't become like those hypocrites that always play both sides of the coin. They play that game without shame and impunity. The once discovered they play another game. The game of victim.

Don't become another hypocrite, take a STAND. No matter what that stand is, you take and live it. Let it become you PRESENT.

Lastly, when taking that STAND make absolutely certain that stand is what YOU want and DAMN anyone that tries to play the "I am your parent" or "I am your elder" or any other NONSENSICAL AUTHORITARIAN card. Be really cautious when they want add a dash of religion and they do so to play their game. Challenge that...ALWAYS.

It is up to you. It is your LIFE. It is your SOUL to keep because when you are standing in the spotlight or in their crosshairs the ONLY thing that matters is YOU RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW.

29 June 2023

Journal - Thursday - June 29, 2023 - ALMOST

ALMOST.

It is so very true that ALMOST only counts in Horseshoes and Hand Grenades. I know this to be true as I have thrown both.

You have to throw both in order to full understand and comprehend just what almost really means.

Sadly, I also understand the simplistic mindset that people all too often have. Sadly, ALMOST is their crutch to account for their mediocrity, their shortcomings, and their lame excuse for not doing.

Failing to do both (Horseshoes & Hand Grenades), you are stuck. You are stuck in a world full of people that "ALMOST" did this or "ALMOST" did that. Those are people that are mediocre to the core. There is no changing them. They are stuck. Stuck in their ways.

They may talk a good game. Hell they may even make you feel bad for them. But those that talk a good game lack something that certain: They can NEVER give a good fight.

Mediocrity demands never being capable of giving a good fight (but they almost can).

Do NOT fall for that trap.

Set a goal and make it happen. You do not know how many times I have heard people say "I almost wrote a book" or "I almost joined the Army."

Almost this. Almost that.

What a crock! ALMOST = YOU AIN'T DONE CRAP!

SERIOUSLY, You are way better than that.

Be A DOER not a wannabe or worse; an ALMOST.

28 June 2023

Journal - Wednesday - June 28, 2023 - Truth

Truth. Your Truth. Nothing But Your Truth.

Your very own personal truth is what matters most.

Whom you choose to share that truth with is solely up to you.

Proceed with caution, you fool, because who you share it with WILL either not care or embrace you or take that truth to twist and use against you or keep your truth only to grow with you.

Even the closest people can be the ones that make the sharing of the truth an absolute living hell.

What a fool!

Proceed with caution. Choose wisely. Go with your gut. Because even your parents DO NOT NEED to know everything.

However, without hesitation and reservation, do GET HELP from PROFESSIONALS and not the chisme monger of the family or the two faced, fair weather friend(s) that have no clue who they are but are, at a drop of a hat, ready to tell you who you are.

Proceed with caution and Do NOT let your TRUTH overtake/overwhelm you.

27 June 2023

Journal - Tuesday - June 27, 2023 - Chance

A word of warning and advice and good practice

A trifecta just for you, today and every day.

"Don't lose the chance to hear when you don't listen." -Le Bon, Taylor, Rhodes

26 June 2023

Journal - Monday - June 26, 2023 - Another Monday

Another Monday but no good deed goes unpunished (or so they day).

Remember, to not set expectations of the day and then rest on your laurels about it.

There is NO Auto-Pilot in life. No Auto Pilot in my life and absolutely love to burst your bubble but there is NO AUTO-PILOT in your life.

If you are not making, I mean ACTIVELY making this day as you expect it to be. If you are not actively working on it then why bother and why do you slap a stupid look on your face when you realize you set the expectation, did nothing about it, and it did not turn out that way?

Seriously, why are you astonished or get upset when you did nothing but allow the opposite happen, when it turned out opposite of the expectation?

For those that are challenged when it comes to setting expectations but not doing something about it: You cannot paint a masterpiece without picking up a brush.

At the end of each day, ask yourself: did you create a masterpiece or did you make someone else's masterpiece happen?

Sure you can help but never at the cost of your own masterpiece.

Pick up that brush and paint what you expect to see. Deliver on your work and words.

Deliver on your expectations by making then happen

-D

02 March 2023

HAVING GREAT CONVERSATIONS - A CHART

This week’s CHART focuses on HAVING GREAT CONVERSATIONS

They say SMALL MINDS talk about other People, Average Minds talk about Events and GREAT MINDS talk about IDEAS.

Some of the greatest conversations I have ever had have been about Events and Ideas. The worst conversations I have had the misfortune of being a part of is those when individuals have to talk about others. It leaves me wondering if they can talk about others to me then they must be talking to others about me. I know, I know, those small minds do not know any better.

Sadly, those that exceed at talking about others do so not because of their level of education. I know several very smart, very bright, and highly educated individuals that, at a drop of a hat, dive into the cesspool of talking about others. Even sadder, are those that talking about others it is all they have ever known.

Leaving the temptation of talking about others behind immediately puts you on the trajectory of reaching the high levels of conversations. Delivering on the kinds of conversations that leave people seeking you out in that you not only talk not about others. The conversations you bring to the human interaction are the stuff that people want because it stimulates and intrigues them. It makes others wanting more.

Bring the opposite and others will do all they can to avoid you. As you should do all you can to avoid being in situations where the topic of conversation is others.

Remember, the longer you stick around and listen you rest assured to be mentioned in the next conversation (without you).

Thank you,
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

23 February 2023

BEING TRUE TO YOURSELF - A BELL CURVE

This week’s BELL CURVE focuses on BEING TRUE TO YOURSELF

We are all human beings. Yet, we are all very different. But we all have three sides to who we are.

The Public facing side: The side we pridefully show the world. This public facing side is usually facing one way because, heaven forbid others see the rest of who we are. If and when they find out who we are, usually the Public will care as long as it takes for something else to come along and distract them.

The Personal facing side: This is the side we show those close to us. This personal side is usually what we show those we love or keep close. We do so without fear of it being used against us. Yet, there are those occasions where we are either mislead or others collect what we share only to use it as fodder when they

The third side of who we are is our PRIVATE facing side: This is the side what is within us. This side is who we are in our truest form. This private facing side is never revealed, sometimes not even to ourselves. This is called the PRIVATE side for a reason. We all have it. We all live with it. Here in the PRIVATE side resides all our deepest hopes, dreams, fantasies, resentments, and plots of revenge. For most people, that is where they stay.

Many live with all three sides out of balance and broken. They fear truths being revealed. They live in fear and are never happy.

Individuals that do not fear being revealed live in balance. A balance that they have nothing to lose by letting in those that mean no harm. A balance by immediately dealing with those that mean them harm.

The balanced life comes from BEING TRUE TO YOURSELF, FIRST!

16 February 2023

MAKING EXCUSES - A CHART

This week’s CHART focuses on MAKING EXCUSES

We all make excuses. NO ONE IS IMMUNE FROM MAKING EXCUSES.

For the most part, excuses are made not to deflect blame but to explain why something was done the way it was done or why it was not completed or started. In general, EXCUSES such as these should be occasional occurrences. They should be the exception and not the norm.

Yet, there are those individuals that excel at making too many excuses for why this or that happened. Their EXCUSES can almost be predicted down to the second of when they will occur. These EXCUSE making individuals cannot be counted upon to do what must be done and completed by the time it needs to be completed. The EXCUSES these individuals make will vary with most, if not all, will be in blaming others or situations that they had no part in, yet find themselves being impacted by them.

Once these types of EXCUSES begin, they do not stop coming. EXCUSES blaming others, deflecting from what actually happened, and other such nonsense leads to one common denominator: NOT ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY.

EXCUSES flow in a manner that, as mentioned, others can predict, with great accuracy, when the next one is coming because it will come. Individuals of this caliber, while not delivering on what they say or promise to do can be trusted to do one thing with absolute certainty: MAKING EXCUSES.

If you are an EXCUSE maker, try something new: STOP MAKING EXCUSES!

09 February 2023

SELF-RESPECT & KEEPING YOUR WORD - A BELL CURVE

This week’s CHART focuses on SELF-RESPECT & KEEPING YOUR WORD

For some odd reason or another, I have discovered that individuals that are all show and no go have the most followers. While the individuals that keep their word find themselves as the odd-man out. Strange.

Strange indeed!

How must it feel to be an individual living life as a someone who talks a good game but delivers nothing on those words.

We all know someone like that, someone who promises the moon and cannot deliver dust. Yet, they continue delivering their pipedreams and making unfulfillable promises.

Most peculiar is that the individual that keeps their word is one the most scrutinized when they deliver on their dreams or fulfill their promises. How dare they keep their word?

This is where and when those that keep their words start to separate themselves from the rest of the pack. With great consistently delivering on what you say you are going to do, will move you to the ABOVE AVERAGE level of life.

As I have unswervingly stated time and again, improving on yourself will positively impact your level of SELF-RESPECT.

Thus, while it may make you unpopular (because those that fail to keep their word do not like those that do keep their word as it makes them look bad. But then again, your SELF-RESPECT is all you have to worry about. That is, if you have any to begin with.

Yet, if you want to have some SELF-RESPECT, my advice to you: KEEP YOUR WORD & FEEL GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF.

02 February 2023

GETTING FOOLED ONCE & THEN TWICE - A CHART

This week’s CHART focuses on GETTING FOOLED ONCE & THEN TWICE

Whether it be young age, lack of knowledge, not enough wisdom or whatever the reason may have been WE have ALL been fooled at least once in our lives. Typically, this happens when we are in childhood, when we are most naïve and vulnerable.

Being fooled by others is essential to making us the people we are today. On occasion we need to be fooled by others. You could say it is almost a rite of passage into adult life. Being fooled is part of how we as humans gain wisdom. It is also part of how we grow as human beings. It helps sharpen our senses of self-preservation and makes us more observant about everything around us. Being fooled helps to put us “on guard” for the unsuspected events in our future.

However, what is NOT a rite of passage is allowing ourselves to continually be fooled by others. It is plain and simple extrapolation: The more you continue to allow yourself to get fooled, the more your chances of getting fooled again and again increase.

Once the word gets out that you are an “easy target” because you continue to get fooled the more opportunistic individuals will not only come out of the woodwork but the more, they will try (and succeed) to fool you again.

Most times, no one knows when the next time they will be fooled will occur. However, there are tell-tale signs such as when an offer seems too good to be true or you are being offered an outrageous amount of money only after you pay a “processing fee” or better still the individual(s) that fooled you before comes back to do it again. All which you willingly allow.

Of course, if you recognize that a certain type of individual or situation is returning then understand that it is up to you to do something about it. Either stop the situation from escalating or move yourself out of that situation. Know that when you REFUSE to change the situation, you WILL end up getting fooled again. Then there is one person to blame (NOT the one that fooled you) but the blame rests 100% on YOU.

Remember to old adage, “Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me.”

Don’t get fooled again.

26 January 2023

THE RIGHT THING WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING - A BELL CURVE

This week’s BELL CURVE focuses on THE RIGHT THING WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING

Throughout our lives we have been told to do the right thing especially when no one is watching.

We should always do the RIGHT THING. While doing the right thing is always the right thing to do no matter if there is an audience or not.

There are far too many people that will do something good only when others are watching. Those people that seek an audience before doing the right thing do so for any number of reason and I can understand some of them.

Having an audience is proof that you did the right thing. I get that.

Having an audience can confirm that you did what you said you were going to do. I get that.

Having an audience watch you do the right thing for the applause, the accolades, that I do not get nor understand. While it is nice to be recognized for doing something nice, if that is the ONLY reason you do what you do then please check yourself.

By checking yourself, I mean check your SELF-RESPECT levels. I mean look deep inside yourself to see why you MUST have an audience.

Some individuals will demand to outsiders that they do NOT need an audience when doing what is RIGHT. Yet, they will either go out of their way to ensure someone “accidentally” sees them do the right thing and when no one is around to “accidentally” see them they try again later (at a more convenient time for the audience).

See, when the time comes to do the right there is no better time than present. However, being stuck in a mindset of “needing an audience” does nothing to improve the RESPECT you have for yourself. There are countless RIGHT THINGS BEING DONE on a daily basis that you will never hear about because those doing the RIGHT THING WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING do so because to them (and only them) it is the RIGHT THING TO DO!