February 23, 2017
#BaxtersBuzz
Every day is a new challenge. This week, the kids started a new daycare. The last daycare didn't have enough structure for my pre-schooler and the staff was too inexperienced. This is slightly more expensive, but I believe it will be well worth it. Developing a comfort level with the people who watch your kids can be tough. The wife and I made it seem like our biggest concern was how our daughter would adjust to being at a new place, but we're more anxious than she is! Children are so resilient and much of their insecurities are based on how we as parents respond to things. Some of the kids aren't really playing with her because she's new. She is aware of the shady characters and even pointed one out to my wife and said, "She doesn't want to be my friend." You wouldn't know it by her mood though. She got home and told me she had a great day. Maybe Zara knows that the people will act however they want, but that shouldn't change the way we act or the way we feel about ourselves (Us adults can learn a lesson about worrying about what others think). Maybe Zara knows what my wife already know: They'll all eventually fall under her spell of charm and sweetness. THEY just don't know it yet.
January can be feast or famine at my job with regards to generating revenue. Sales numbers really sucked for me. It's like watching a scoreboard and you're getting blown out. Although it is only one game (Or not even an entire game depending how you look at it), it doesn't make you feel any better. Between my terrible sales, my (allegedly) sick kids and our quest to find a new daycare, January was like a nightmare that I couldn't wake up from. It has taken me a few weeks into February to completely remove my head from out of my behind. Momentum is real and can be tough to keep on your side. I realized I had to take a step back, not panic and focus on the things that I can control. Things don't always happen when you want them. Check that. They hardly EVER happen when we think they should. I came back to a job and really wanted to knock it out of the park every single day. That isn't the way this gig works, but admittedly, I've been putting a ton of pressure on myself.
Imagine getting a "do-over". Imagine having the chance to go back to a job. Knowing what you know about the job, coupled with experience from other jobs. What would you do differently? What lessons did you learn? You'll probably be ten times more productive, huh? Exactly my thoughts! LOL. In fairness, I have been doing a very good job, but sales is a "what have you done for me lately," type of position (Now that I think about it, what type of position isn't?!). I have a chance to do some amazing things, but the journey isn't all amazing. The journey will be long and difficult, but that's honestly all that I know. With my struggles in January, God is forcing me to think outside of my comfort zone. Sometimes we can experience TOO MUCH success TOO SOON and forget how we got there. I thank God that I've taken the scenic route to get to this point in my life. But now...it's time to knock it out of the park!
Read more. Write more. Love more. Pray more. Live more.
Thursday, February 23, 2017
Monday, February 20, 2017
A Hint of Spring
February 20, 2017
#BaxtersBuzz
Happy Black History Month. How important is excellence to you? Not "Black" Excellence, but excellence on all accounts? Black History Month is important because excellence achieved by African Americans hasn't always been highlighted. Shout out to everyone striving for excellence.
Rival Watch - Who's your real competition and how do they approach their day? Many of the people we compete with (Whether they know it or not!) should actually be contributors in our mission. The friends that you grew up with aren't taking money out of your pocket because they're making a couple of dollars. There's no law that prevents everyone in your family to make money at the same time. No, they don't (necessarily) think they're better than you because their house/salary is bigger. Your loved ones typically aren't the enemy. We should be collaborating with one another, setting our sights on much higher goals. You'd be surprised who's battling similar problems and the result of you brainstorming together can propel you to levels that seemed too far fetched on your own.
Real Ish - Yes, I'm overwhelmed. I picked an occupation with high turnover and high stress (And high rewards if you're lucky). I have a soon to be 4 year old and a soon to be 1 year old. They put so much pressure on me each day. They don't care, nor should they, about what my work day looks like. They need what they need and they're my priority. Problem is: I'm human and terribly flawed. I don't always have the patience that I should. There are times when I can't hear myself think and I need a moment to myself, and it's not in the cards. My career deserves attention and time. My wife has her needs and deserves my time as well. I have personal interests like my nonprofit or my writing that I'd like more time for. Not to mention my friends and family that helps provide me with guidance to keep going and heading in the right direction. Maintaining those relationships are important to me as well. Sacrifices will have to be made. We just need to make sure that there's balance as to not completely neglect an integral relationship. All great relationships needs cultivation.
Back to Black History - Black history is empowering. When I was young I thought our history was: Slavery, Harriet Tubman, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr and Jackie Robinson. Black people have been in this country since its inception, and in the face of slavery, oppression and media outlets stories that make us appear like inferior uneducated criminals, we've continued to positively contribute to the beautiful country.
Read more. Write more. Love more. Pray more. Live more.
#BaxtersBuzz
Happy Black History Month. How important is excellence to you? Not "Black" Excellence, but excellence on all accounts? Black History Month is important because excellence achieved by African Americans hasn't always been highlighted. Shout out to everyone striving for excellence.
Rival Watch - Who's your real competition and how do they approach their day? Many of the people we compete with (Whether they know it or not!) should actually be contributors in our mission. The friends that you grew up with aren't taking money out of your pocket because they're making a couple of dollars. There's no law that prevents everyone in your family to make money at the same time. No, they don't (necessarily) think they're better than you because their house/salary is bigger. Your loved ones typically aren't the enemy. We should be collaborating with one another, setting our sights on much higher goals. You'd be surprised who's battling similar problems and the result of you brainstorming together can propel you to levels that seemed too far fetched on your own.
Real Ish - Yes, I'm overwhelmed. I picked an occupation with high turnover and high stress (And high rewards if you're lucky). I have a soon to be 4 year old and a soon to be 1 year old. They put so much pressure on me each day. They don't care, nor should they, about what my work day looks like. They need what they need and they're my priority. Problem is: I'm human and terribly flawed. I don't always have the patience that I should. There are times when I can't hear myself think and I need a moment to myself, and it's not in the cards. My career deserves attention and time. My wife has her needs and deserves my time as well. I have personal interests like my nonprofit or my writing that I'd like more time for. Not to mention my friends and family that helps provide me with guidance to keep going and heading in the right direction. Maintaining those relationships are important to me as well. Sacrifices will have to be made. We just need to make sure that there's balance as to not completely neglect an integral relationship. All great relationships needs cultivation.
Back to Black History - Black history is empowering. When I was young I thought our history was: Slavery, Harriet Tubman, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr and Jackie Robinson. Black people have been in this country since its inception, and in the face of slavery, oppression and media outlets stories that make us appear like inferior uneducated criminals, we've continued to positively contribute to the beautiful country.
Read more. Write more. Love more. Pray more. Live more.
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