Words Can Make Or Break You

Words can make or break you, your career, as we have seen with Paula Deen.

Paula Deen mentioned words that offended many people. She apologized. I'm sure, on any given day, she wished those words never escaped through her lips.

Still, she can't take the words back. People have been hurt, offended, by Deen's remarks. The reason or time the words were used makes no direction.

When a perspn's actions offend, those actions has to be addressed.

It goes back to what a person does, good or bad, comes back.

Deen and her sons explained how she in't a racist.

However, the words she used was racist. Why use those words if her feelings/thinking were different.

People tend to use comfortable words out of habit. Sometimes, a word is spoken that you're use to hearing/saying or grew up with.

Still, no one can or should offend because it's their way of doing, living.

I can't say it enough: Think before speaking.

"The Color Of Your Skin..." Paula Deen

Paula Deen was slapped with a discrimination law-suit.

It stems from Deen, 66, admitting to using the N-word, racist jokes and commenting about wanting black waiters dressed as slaves.

She apologized using YouTube as the forum.

The Food Network, her employers, fired her.

"The color of your skin, your religion, your sexual preference, does not matter, but it's what's in the heart...and my family and I try to live by that" is part of her apology.

Questions: Do you believe her?
Why would she utter such words?
You accept her apology?

I've seen over and over like situations. Some people rise to a certain position and become too comfortable. They feel that they can do or say anything, surpass the rules.

Many thoughts will come to mind, but it isn't wise to say or act on all of them.

Think before speaking or acting.

Edward Snowden

"I'm neither traitor nor hero," Edward Snowden. "I'm an American."

An American who believes a certain way makes it known, acts on it and the stand is made. Often, a person's stand brings unfavorable consequences.

An American would stay and defend his/her stand, not flee to China.

This is a land, United States, where differences exist.

Perhaps, a person is called traitor, hero and a host of other names due to his/her stand. Still, it goes-along with taking a stand.

"I do not want to live in a world where everything I do and say is recorded," Snowden said.

Snowden, 29, leaked secret information about NSA's domestic surveillance programs to the media.

Today's world is a place, foreign and domestic, where you're recorded almost everywhere. There're few places a recording, spying or listening device isn't.

Without the devices, terrorists, murderers and other bad elements wouldn't have been captured.

Still, Snowden didn't destroy the information, but the former NSA contractor leaked it.

The result of Snowden's hands on the stolen information resulted in chaos.

Snowden departed the United States, left behind everything that was near and dear to him.

Snowden announced that he'd fight extradition back to the United States.

How To Believe In Yourself

Sit down. Take a deep breath. Think about the direction you want to take, life direction. You must believe in yourself, and the direction your life will go. Believe it with every fiber of your being.

A life direction path is weighed against what's going on in your life. What has to be taken out of your life for the new direction? Who will be removed? You have to get-up earlier in the morning?

Most likely, there will be people who disapprove of your choice.

Believe in yourself. Explain your decision if you want. Be prepared for questions. Why it's right for you.

There are many answers. It's time. it meets your skills, education and experiences.

Still, others will have nothing better to do than throw negativity at you, your life direction choice.

The more man meditates upon good thoughts, the better will be his world and the world at large. Confucius

The first step toward success is taken when you refuse to be a captive of the environment in which you first find yourself.
Mark Caine

Simply, believe in yourself.

Goals

Goals are places you'll be in three, five or ten years. Often, others see your writing goals, goals, differently than you.

"You're not a writer," Someone said.

It's possible that person sees a goal, for you, at Walmart. There's nothing wrong with working in retail, but continue to move toward your goals. Believe in yourself, and decide on the place you'll be in three, five or ten years.

Don't allow anyone to turn you against your goals. Remember, no one knows what's best for you, or the goals that matter to you.

Confusion slips through when you listen to goals that aren't yours. Be kind as you listen, but a friend's goal isn't going to motivate/inure you. Simply, share your feelings.

Confusion is avoided, and friendships last. Everyone knows the truth, what path will be taken.

Friends and family have two choices: Respect your choice or move on.

People who really care tend to help you realize your goals.

Work on the goals you set, not goals that belong to someone else. Sooner or later, the weight of doing what someone else wants pulls you down. The road of unhappy swallows you.

Trust you, your talent.

A Writer's Success

A writer's success depends on how the writer feels. Success to one writer is different for another.

The ability to write a poem could mean success for one writer, and posting to a blog is success to someone else. Still, a third writer may feel success is publishing books.

"Bloggers aren't writers." I heard a hater bark.

In that person's view, bloggers don't qualify as writers. Most likely, he/she doesn't realize what research, talent and work goes into writing a blog.

A writer posting a daily journal is that writer's success. The act of writing is success.

Don't listen to people who don't understand the writing process, your talent or goals.

The mind-set to write is a writer's success.

The Ingredient For Successful Businesses

The ingredient for successful businesses: customers. Customers hold a business together as well as help it grow. The primary concern of a business owner, big /small or online/off, must be customers. Without customers, you have no business.

The manner in which you/your employees interact with customers determines success. Yes, your customer service.

Customer service involves assisting, providing problem resolution and support.

I had a problem, for example, of not receiving a mattress that should've been delivered along with the bed frame.

The delivery guys called the store. I was asked to get on the phone. The employee volunteered to bring it to me. I agreed.

The manager wanted to speak to me. He spoke, but didn't help.

The manager didn't need to get on the phone. The employee had assisted, solved the problem with the right amount of support. I would've been a customer for life until Mr. Manager jumped on the phone to say nothing. I was done with the store, and found the needed mattress at Ikea.

My Question: How many others had the manager treated unprofessionally?

Good customer service means addressing the problem quickly, and getting repeat business.

Clearly, a professional acting business knows the ingredient for a successful business.

It's important, for all businesses, to remember the ingredient for success.