I believe there is a direct relationship between attentiveness to details and the attainment of a successful life.

A focus on details is time consuming and requires extra effort.

So, it’s like everything else worthwhile, it’s not easy.

One of the benefits of anticipating all the details is that they provide the information you need to decide to drop a project or go after it with vigor.

Have you, at this point in your life, developed the habit of pursuing the details necessary for evaluating and executing an objective?

If not, it’s never too late to start.

Are you hopeful of moving up in your company?

Have you examined some of the major challenges your company is facing?

People who get promoted in corporate America are people who solve problems and “go the extra mile” to help their employer.

Do your homework.

Learn more about your company’s challenges.

Get into the details.

Become a proactive problem solver.

If not today, when?

I learned that saying from my mother.

A graduate of The University of Chicago, she was a deep thinker.

I admired and loved her greatly!

Having given birth to six children, she spent most of her time at home raising all of us.

My dad was a professor at The University of Notre Dame. He would often come home in the evenings to tell us all about some news event on campus.

I think she used the saying as an expression from a very bright woman that she was the one “who stood and waited.”

She did find an outlet in writing articles and books.

She told me near the end of her life, however, that she regretted the fact that she could have done more with her life.

She accomplished a lot. Maybe, it’s never enough!

While vacationing in Florida, we hear the roar of Navy jets overhead.

They are based at the nearby Pensacola Naval Air Station.

They are a daily reminder that the next generation is up there on guard.

They are practicing every day.

They are flying the most sophisticated war plane ever built.

As part of their training they must land and take off (touch and go) from an aircraft carrier in the Gulf of Mexico.

Senator John McCain was shot down while piloting a Navy attack plane in Vietnam.

We have always had young patriots who volunteer to put themselves in “harms way.”

Those young pilots flying overhead every day are a constant reminder that freedom isn’t free!

Be sure to thank ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY and VETERANS for their service!

If not today, when?

Will the world be better off because you were here?

What should be the means of measurement?

We know Dr. Jonas Salk developed the first polio vaccine. He has spared millions throughout the world who would have otherwise been stricken.

Yes, he made a difference with his life.

But, you don’t have to save the lives of millions in order to make a difference.

No, if you can make just one person’s life a little easier, you have made this world a better place.

Is your next door neighbor lonely?

If so, there is an opportunity to make a difference.

Will you welcome a new, fellow employee who is struggling to become accepted.

Too many of our kids are becoming depressed because they haven’t been to school in a year.

Will you become a sincere listener to their problems.

Forget thinking about you. Begin thinking of someone else!

Make a difference!

If not today, when?

There are many aspects to our personality that determine what kind of person we’re making of ourselves.

Among them are: Empathy, passion, honesty, compassion, kindness and patience.

Of course, it would be ideal if we possessed all the above in large quantities.

I feel, however, without patience, we sabotage all the others.

I’m talking about patience with yourself, patience with others and patience with life.

WITH OURSELVES: No you’re not perfect and you never will be, but our gracious GOD wanted you on this planet. He has been very patient with you. Why not follow HIS example?

WITH OTHERS: The greatest detriment to a healthy relationship is a temper. And you can’t take it back once it’s out of the box.

WITH LIFE: I know you’ve had your disappointments, but I can show you people I know very well in Detroit’s inner city who have lived a life of despair from their very first breath.

Develop more patience!

If not today, when?

When classrooms were filled with students, an important benefit was that the kids had access to breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Like most schools, virtual learning is the only option since the pandemic began.

I received a call from a friend who is the athletic director of a Detroit high school last night.

During our conversation, I asked if the kids are still able to pick up meals at the school even though it’s not in session.

I was glad to hear that the schools are providing meals for the entire family of registered students.

Of course, many families don’t require this service.

But, for the ones that do, it’s literally a life saver.

All of our kids are suffering because their lives have been so disrupted.

The Detroit students are suffering for the same reasons.

At least those who need help are being fed.

I have written 11 books.

Some of them are on Amazon.

I received an email from a guy posing as a literary agent who was interested in selling one of my latest self-published books to a major publisher who had expressed an interest.

He said he only worked on a straight commission basis and would charge 15% of the proceeds if he successfully made a sale.

I thought that was a fair arrangement and in a recent phone call, I told him I was interested.

He said that there would be some expenses involved in presenting my book to a publisher.

This morning I did a Google search on his name and a website popped up called WRITERS BEWARE.

Sure enough, he had used the exact same words with me as he did with other writers.

Luckily, I didn’t give him any money.

It just seemed that his story was too good to be true.

Even at my age, I’m still amazed at people who try to earn a living defrauding others.

At the age of 15, I was asleep in my room.

It was about 5 a.m. when I was awakened by loud footsteps racing up the stairs.

Those footsteps were my Dad’s, who burst into my room and said, “Tom, we have a girl!”

Yes, after my mom had given birth to five boys, at age 39, she finally had a daughter.

I did remind Dad that he NEVER ran up the stairs to announce another boy!

My mother had a saying she used upon certain occasions. It was, “Let joy be unconfined!”

The birth of our sister was one of those occasions.

I hope you have experienced UNCONFINED JOY during the course of your life!

Rejoice!

YOU CAN’T FIGHT GRAVITY!

These four words made Amazon the success that it is according to Andy Jassy, its new CEO.

Early in the company’s development, it was only selling its own products.

According to Mr. Jassy, there was a huge, spirited debate internally about whether or not Amazon should embrace the new trend of websites springing up and selling other people’s goods.

They could see that the trend was gaining speed and they had better become a part of it.

So, as he said, the four words that made Amazon what it is today are “YOU CAN’T FIGHT GRAVITY!”

How should the Amazon experience affect your decision making?

Are you fighting a trend that will not go away?

If so, how could you prosper by admitting “YOU CAN’T FIGHT GRAVITY?”

If not today, when?

Yes, I want Tom Brady to win another Super Bowl!

Oh, you might say he’s had enough Super Bowl rings.

Well, I disagree because, at the age of 43, he is still in great physical shape and can handle the rigors of an NFL season.

And how is he able to stay in shape?

He only eats certain foods all year long.

He has a severe workout regimen.

He is very focused on his goal which is each year’s Super Bowl.

After beating Green Bay to win the NFC Championship, a Bucs player was so happy that he was crying in the locker room.

Brady yelled at him and said, “What are you crying about? We’re not done yet!”

That’s LEADERSHIP!!!!