Grandfather and grandson. – photo copyright MyOpus

This young man came along with his sister, (a few posts back) to get his picture taken, while I took some for her Senior pictures. When I first met him, I recognized his “cuteness” right away. It wasn’t until later, when I really looked at him through my lens, that I saw……”The Look.”

So,…. I think he favors Sean Connery, in “The Look” kinda way. =0)

Maybe it’s the brown eyes, or the eyebrows…different eyebrow arching. Nonetheless, this is one cute kid and I really enjoyed talking while we walked from place to place taking pictures. He came up with a lot of his own poses…very creative!

I used this shot on my blog for his sister too, but I love this one. They have a very loving “brother and sister” relationship, so this fun shot makes me smile even more.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!!

“Behold, bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord, which stand by night in the house of the Lord. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord. The Lord that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion.” Psalms 134

Generations of women
know how i feel
when I say abuse, rape, and fear
Trillions of women
know how I feel
when I say that the end is near
Due to me
Looking at the wrong peer
Billions of women
know how I feel
when I can’t speak
Cuz my words
Have been choked out by tens
of thousands
of men
“complimenting” my ass
instead of wiping my tears
Millions of women
know how I feel
When courage runs low
And thoughts of being low
Run high
Thousands of women
know how I feel
When sweat, blood, and tears
Dripping down on us
Remind us of the most traumatic
Incendent of our lives
Hundreds of women
know how I feel
When I reminise about a hate
so strong
That my ora literally
Burns
Your whole atmosphere
Your whole world
Til nothing exists
Cuz thats what you did to me
Tens of women know
My story
Now, a part of me
in my history
One woman knows
That this story will not
Define who she is
This woman
Is me.

Never mind, beyond the organized historical joy and happiness, Sustainche by following the news and trying to read newspapers also identifies tremendous problems in the land he arrived now. Just to mention the most obvious problems at the moment: Schweinche flue (the pharmacy industry apparently found a pleasant environment to organize an economically blooming pandemic event), a new Federal Government hasn’t find its compass yet and the state debts have reached the astronomic magnitude of 1.6 Trillion Euro. Just for visualization: Sustainche found a very interesting calculation that 1.6 Trillion Euro composed of 500-€ banknotes form a tower as high as about 320 kilometres. “Unbelievable”, Sustainche is speechless. 

There can be no doubt that money plays a major role in this society. No matter what you are and what you do: money is most important. Concordantly, people work to have money for enjoying a good life … or whatever they understand as to be a good life. To work is most important ! Since in fact quite some time, however, and in particular thanks to dramatically increased efficiency of production, many citizens became unemployed – many of them for years. Unemployment of course is a tragic situation, both economically and socially for any member of a society, which in large defines itself by working. This in particular refers to the génération précaire ? These youngsters even accept a tenth internship without adequate payment, just to have warm meals and being able to declare that they work. Clear: Everything needs to have its order ! Sustainche is puzzled to notice something like this. He, Polar Bear Sustainche himself neither has money nor is he working in the traditional sense of the meaning. And, he has not the impression that it is HIS path just to function like a single ant in an ant colony. Sustainche is a mammal – although not a human mammal – and he is self confident enough to show his big heart. 

It might be that it is because of all these problems that Sustainche feels – although this is only his first impression – that the 82 million people in his now surrounding environment seem to have a problem with real joy of life. Grey weather might create grey souls. “Hmmm … this is really strange”, Sustainche thinks, “Macedonia also has tremendous problems, but since the sun is shining more, people seem to be happier.” Sustainche wants to think more about his observation and perhaps it’s simply to wait until spring time for final conclusions. 

‘Fine Sustainche’, Sustainche hears his blog readers say, ‘but you still haven’t told us where you arrived now’. Well, Sustainche thought that his descriptions were good enough. The country is called Germany … and Sustainche wonders what he should do here in terms of Sustainable Development … . Perhaps it is a good idea to start reading the National Strategy for Sustainable Development

What image of the answer do you have in your mind when you ask that question?

There can be replies that are static — a picture at a point of time: “I am fine”, “Not been well lately”, “Doing good”, “Just back from Australia”. And there are replies that are dynamic – a movie of sorts where the end has not yet come: “My wife left me last week”, “I am growing old”, “I am planning to rob a bank”.

Like there are spectacular hotels with magnificent structures — pictures — but often with lousy service. Or there are crubby places where the spectacle is in the movement. Or there are huge corporations with massive assets & people but no growth, or the lean-mean fast growing entities.

You can describe a hotel, or a corporation — or a life — by its picture, or by its motion.

A picture is an end in itself, motion is continuous, endless. And so, those who describe their currentness as motion leave a lot unsaid — invite participation. Those who describe themselves as a picture close the door, and at most they expect another picture in acknowledgement. When asked “How Are You”, the chances are that we present pictures many more times than movies — trained as we are throughout life to “never drop guard” and ”be in control” .

But what  answer do you expect when you ask the question? From those whose lives you wish to participate, you expect the answer that denotes the motion. From those to whom your “How Are You” was meant not as a question but as a greeting, you wish they’d give you the picture, fast, dammit.

Now think of the two generations before and after you. The chances are that you want the picture from the generation before you, and the movie from the generation after. You don’t want your mother to say “I was miserable all of last week”, and you don’t want to hear your son tell you, “I got married day before yesterday”.

Sadly, I am a son and a father myself.

To help promote environmental initiatives, jobs, and overall sustainability, it remains vital to encourage our students and young professionals from all backgrounds through program incentives and rewards. Helping our energy sector curb dependency on foreign oil and fossil fuels will help create and begin the process of establishing a sustainable-based economy, but it is within our students and young professionals that we should be putting equal or greater importance towards.

They are the ones who will bring about the innovation, invention, and implementation of new design needed to help a sustainable economy become a reality. Scholarships, directed student programs, and rewards, are a great way to help our young and future generations get not only the tools they need to implement a sustainable future, but also the motivation. Here are 10 such scholarships.

Meet cute little Mr. O.  I tagged along to assist my friend Mary for this baby shoot.  At just over two weeks little O. was the most active infant I’ve ever met!  He was practically holding his head up and rolling over!!  Thanks, Mom and Dad for welcoming me into your home and allowing me to capture these precious memories of your new family!

Baby O with his Great-Grandma.

Four generations…

Okay, so this one is more of an outtake – but he was so cute even when he was done cooperating

Beautiful family moments:

And the realities of parenthood:)

Precious!

Thanks for looking!

We have much to escape, much to shed, much to loose, much to famine from and much to walk without. Moreover, there is far more that we ought receive. It is made perfect in the Lord. And it is the Lord whose perfection is gifted freely unto those who so submit that they receive it.

There is but one way to sever the chains of bondage from that which you come from. You were born to an environment where no father nor mother may have existed. Perhaps it was an environment by which chaos devoured you lean and mean into futile rebellion even unto that which is good. For what is good?

Is it your friend beside you? Your wife? Your brother? Your neighbor? Be it your dog that returns even after you have wrongly kicked him in your deeply embedded rage of anger? Was it Mao Tse Tung or perhaps Benito Mussolini or even Adolf Hitler? Who is good?

Ought it be defined and declared that all men should agree? Ought your good be greater than mine? Perhaps your good just as good as mine? Yet when my good just isn’t good enough should I fashion is definition accordingly? And to you the same? Should in debate the definition be altered by mere perspective? Ought we pervert our utterances evermore that we tailor it to our quests for inequity? Are you willing to accept that there remain truth everlasting? What is good?

WHAT IS GOOD

• Matthew 19:17 – And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
• Mark 10:18 – And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
• Luke 18:19 – And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.

Now let it be known what is good. Therefore there be no mistake nor nothing but a definitive proclamation of good. The definition of good is thereby defined and everlasting on its own accord. It is neither me nor you. It is Almighty God as Jesus so proclaimed.

Finally, from where have you arisen? Great disdain do I have for much of what I had to endure during my earliest years of childhood and youth. It was not great and certainly not the worse. But have I been shown any other way that I might know how to be a “good” man to raise a family of two boys or moreover be a deserving husband of such a great wife who takes great care of myself and our boys?

This woman, my wife, stands at my greatest honor and thanks to have gifted me such earnest prayer and persistence in the Lord. I cleave unto her my wife who stands to build me to my finest hour in the Lord. She stands resilient in her directives to deliver us from generations’ fate. Tired in her plight she drives on that our two boys may be delivered from our own woeful pasts. She builds me up even when undeserving of such gifts of grace. She is magnificent in her manners and sharp with her retort against wrong. Correction is fierce but even still loving and pure.

I am inspired and go nowhere without. We are one in the same. She prays fervently on my behalf and behalf of our family. At my greatest hour she awakens me to rise. She is a valiant warrior herself, faithful and steadfast for the Lord. Even before her I stand, yet she stands before me such a gift that by whom there is much gain.

Likewise at such low she raises me accordingly by way of earnest servitude to the Lord everlasting, fashioning herself tireless in righteousness for the sake of our family even at great measures.

I have learned many of the wrong ways by the manner at which I have arrived. As a man, as a husband and as a father I am merely lost upon my own accord. My practices are vaguely practical and even less loving than I might be of myself if I even knew love beyond which she has led me. I was left to my own right, left to my own way, left to my own flawed vision of what family ought to be. My wife has been the greatest of contenders on my behalf. Her pursuits were greater than my reliance upon self. She ushered me unto my redemption. She in her own graciously loving way was delivered me that I might be saved from my own peril and likewise the generations hereafter.

Now what damage has been done? The path from which we might flee might lead full circle in our haste and angst against our those who’ve delivered us unto this moment. Now what damage has been done?

The damage from mere words can draw down nations. Words ruin marriage and raise up armies against a people. How is it that the generations from which you come and which follow shall not equally be affected by the sins therein of the forefathers? Even you at work whose anger is awoken take it with you and lay it upon the threshold of your home. Ought not the same remain for generations of perpetual misery that is made feast on our families?

• Exodus 34:7 - Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty ; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation .
• Joel 2-3 – 2 Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Hath this been in your days, or even in the days of your fathers?3 Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation.

I urge you to release it.

As a man and warrior, the enemy is real and wears a face and yet likewise goes silent among you, unnoticed. He wears the face that our soldiers face in Afghanistan. He is shewn down by bullet or by hand. He wears a face in more common places and yet goes unnoticed and lives freely among you to toil in your way. Target acquisition. Engage. Eliminate.

Sever ties from the way of generations who have jettisoned you unto this moment and make new for you, your family and even still such a great country among us.

And take upon you “the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” that you may drive the sword straight through that which you were and lead those generations who follow unto greatness greater than you yourself, as it is purposed deep within you, where reside the voice hereafter referenced. Heed.

• Ephesians 6:10-20 – 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places .13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

My recent presentation to the Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI) in Canberra.

Web 2.0 and Workforce Planning: Why an understanding of how people work in a modern, web-savy workforce, is important to the survival of your organisation.

M

Main Entry: vir·tu·ous
Pronunciation: \ˈvər-chə-wəs, ˈvərch-wəs\
Function: adjective
Date: 14th century
1 : potent, efficacious
2 a : having or exhibiting virtue b : morally excellent : righteous
3 : chaste

Websters’ definition above sounds as though it might be on the edge of extinction. Using words like moral and righteous just don’t seem to fit into the current vernacular. It certainly doesn’t seem to fit with the trends in social or political thought.

When I was growing up (go ahead and groan), the standards of behavior were still rooted very much in the traditions and values of my parents’ generation, reflecting how they had been brought up. There was a genuine respect and reverence for the dignity of the individual, and an acceptance of certain behaviors that showed a recognition of the value of civilized interaction.

Now, at the risk of sounding very much like my parents, I fear for the generations that are the product of my own. As much as I love the romance and creativity of my youth and the era of the 60’s with all of it’s drama and art, consciousness and dialogue, the standards that were broken down are missed.

Add to that the pervasiveness of technology as a replacement for reading and self-awareness and you have not only dysfunction and illiteracy at record rates, you have millions of youth who simply don’t care.

Watching life through the lense or on a big screen has created an insular environment in which nothing is real. I cringe at the reality of my cousins’ death in Vietnam from the gun of a sniper as I listen to a game being played in the next room. The pop of the guns and the tactics to win are all contingent on the skill of the virtual sniper that the gameplayer has become. That’s obscene to me. I object. There is no virtue in this.

How is that a generation or two of American youth don’t know anything about the 19th or 20th century? They find Mark Twain boring, and Jane Austen only palatable for the duration of a 90 minute dramatization of her timeless works. The literature of these types of authors portray a sensibility and sensitivity to us that offer us lessons on observing and respecting people and their situations. In many ways, they speak to the need for compassion and understanding.  When I saw the movie The Count of Monte Cristo (several years ago) I was shocked to observe the interpretation of this classic piece of literature.  There was so little connection to the original that it might as well have been renamed. And, most importantly, the “moral”, so to speak, of the story was lost. Vengeance is not the answer, and you don’t get a reward for your wrath.  No one got the message because it wasn’t included in the film.  So much for learning from the past. 

For all of the advancements that have been made technologically, we have lost the soul of imagination and creativity that comes from reading, and thinking independently. While it’s likely that eye/hand coordination has improved due to video games, where is the soul of the individual and the search for meaning? When do kids gain understanding?   

 Am I wrong? Maybe my assessment is incorrect. But, still, something is missing from a culture that turns it’s back on the contributions of the past.  If virtue and righteousness are consigned to merely religious thought, being viewed only from the distance provided by ridicule and compromise, then how do we teach love, or inclusion?  How do people learn to accept without prejudice, if they haven’t learned themselves what righteousness is, since it is rooted in love? It  appears that the bold new world of the 21st century is going to be brazen, perhaps, but not bold.  Boldness, that which comes from a courageous and inventive generation,  comes from the actions of informed and creative participants.  Life is not encompassed in a controller. You don’t have the option of playing it again when the time runs out or you reset it.  It is necessary to know what came before, and to thoughtfully consider what may yet appear.         

 My parents told me stories of their era, and it helped me to recognize the world around as it changed and forged ahead. I’m sure we rolled our eyes periodically, but somehow it all remained intact, a real entity in my life and those of my friends.  Vietnam was more horrible to us because our parents had fought in the wars that forged history.  We honestly didn’t see a path to anything good, and the loss of life shocked and saddened us deeply. There was a sense of morality among us, recognizing and abhoring the actions of politicians who sat cozily in their offices while sending the youth of America to a blood soaked country, all in the pursuit of …we didn’t know the answer to that.      

 Maybe what I’m missing in this young millineum is passion.  The kind of passion that commits to a cause beyond us, reaching for something so great and wonderful that it will stir a nation or change society.  There is an irony to having participated, in some degree, to that passionate search of the 60’s.  The hunger for change and liberty became transfixed into a license for moral abandon and less liberty to those who were engulfed in the abyss of addiction.    

Perhaps that is part of the history we should recite now.  Because within it, there are answers to how it can be done better.  Creativity, searching and independent inquiry from the perspective of the informed will lead to broader horizons on every level.   

Technology is one type of answer.  But, it will not help us if we are bankrupt in our souls.

Drones carry war into many villiages. Talibans’ toy-tin soldiers, a war machine once created to fight Russia and its Communist politics in the early years (the 80’s) is now an army of survivors and the army of death.

Toy soldiers and Communism and proxy wars against damning influences in any country. The US of A will eventually bring war to many countries near you…Creation and then Destruction and construction and destruction.

Once upon a time, Afganistan was at war with mother Russia. Mother Russia was a Communist country and wham, bam…thank-you…! Without 1980’s politics and its economic model the Taliban would not exist. No war equals better farming and ultimately lower street value for a better drug…WoW!

This writer cannot find the writer’s name so…”War is the color of earth as it explodes in our faces.”

Imagine a young mother. The young mother carries a baby. The baby is covered with a thin blanket. As bombs explode around the mother and the baby, please imagine that they are running across a damage street from one building into another. Imagine, they are joined by (200) other women holding, within thin blankets, two-hundred little ones . The survival of life.

Life is sacred. Stop the killing and the blood-spilling. Pray that these young mothers and their babies end their running, alive for another day.

Respect and Understanding and Peace and Love…Please! Save us all…Amen.

Mindy Phillips is the Operations Director at Lightspeed Research – The Foresight Group

by Mindy Phillips

Not too long ago, one of my friends sent me a fun forward. One of those “you know you are a child of the 80’s when you know you are getting old when” emails.  Now, I don’t know when 33 became “old” but as I read on, although really funny, I did notice that there is a difference between myself and others I work with. Even though the age difference isn’t that large, some days it feels larger than others.

This became evident to me a few weeks ago when I noticed frustration starting to build after project meetings where everyone seemed to understand what needed to be accomplished only to discover later that there were some who didn’t really get what needed to be done. Initially, I thought that maybe not enough detail was given or it was not explained clearly so I would help solve the issue by being clearer in my communications of steps needed, explain the whys and ask in the meeting to confirm their understanding of the to-dos. Yeah, I thought to myself, I am helping fix a problem. However, my triumph was short-lived when I still discovered that some still didn’t “get it”.

I found myself thinking, “Why don’t you just listen?!” Then, I ran across a SHRM article “3 Ways to Get More Out of Generation Y at Work”. One of the article’s points was that Generation Y processes information differently. More specifically, due to the sheer volume of information readily available from multiple media, they can’t take in all the information, so they don’t. This can lead to times “when they act like they “got it” but actually didn’t and tuned you out too quickly.” 

Bingo! This was the exact situation I found myself in. Although explaining the whys was actually another strategy for working with Generation Y (hey, I didn’t get it all wrong) and being clear is always a good idea, this was never going to solve my “listening” issue. The article suggested creating accountability with technology using outlets such as email, text messaging and auto reminders to bring everyone on board. I have started asking team members to confirm to-do’s or understandings via email and I’ve found that it seems to be working out.

Understanding these simple differences will help Gen Yer’s be more productive.  And those that manage them, more satisfied that they were heard and understood.  So, even though my coworkers may not know what Willis was “talkin’ ‘bout” hopefully they will understand what I’m talking about.

Yeah, I know Veteran’s Day was last Thursday, but I had to dig out some old photos before I could finish telling you about some of the other military men in our family. Genealogy fascinates me and I dabble in it in my free spare . . .  let’s just say I plan to get a software program someday soon to help me with this. But that’s another story.

This story is to honor a few of the men in our family who dedicated part of their lives to serving their country. Three are but a memory, and one is still very much a part of our lives.

So, let me now introduce you to…

Johann Philipp “Philip” Klippel; My great, great grandfather.

This is a tintype I scanned into the computer last night. Philip was born in Germany in 1835. He became a Corporal in the Union Army when he was 25, and  fought in the Civil War from 1861 to 1862 with the Missouri Cavalry. I like to picture him as the “Orry Main” of the Union Army. He would have had more “southern charm” than the North’s George Hazzard. After the war, he settled around New Melle, MO and bought a hotel and saloon. He died at the ripe old age of 88.

David Homer Wescott; My grandfather.

(still digging for the photo and more info)

Born in Wichita, KS in 1903, my grandfather served in the Army in 1925 between World War I and II, at Ft. Riley, KS. After his time in the Army, he married lovely Maidia Crystal (an older woman by 4 years!) and settled down to have a family. By the time WWII rolled around, he was already a father of 5 children so they didn’t draft him again. With 5 kids underfoot, he may very well have needed the rest from being drafted!  Grandpa lived until 1973. I don’t remember him very well as I was a bratty teenager during the 70s.

Vernon Almeling; also known as “Dad.”

My dad was a Marine Corps Corporal in 1947 and 1948, between the end of WWII and the beginning of the Korean War. He spent time on the naval destroyer, USS Schmitt. Thankfully, his tour on the Schmitt focused on peacetime training in the Caribbean. Tough stint, Dad. His occupational specialty was Intelligence Man. He was also in the Air Force sometime in the mid 50s and was Honorably Discharged in 1955 as a Second Lieutenant. Dad received an engineering degree from Kansas State University and the University of Missouri-Rolla before he settled down with wife and kids. Sadly, he left this life in 1992 at the young age of 64.

Emil Fischer; aka Dad, Grandpa and Great Grandpa

Dad F. enlisted in the Air Force in 1952. He served as a medic from 1952 until 1956, and spent time in North Africa during the Korean War as well as Bermuda. When his tour finished, he trained as an electrician and married Mom F. Been hitched ever since (that’s 53 years for those of you trying to do the math in your head). He’s now retired and enjoying his 6 grandkids and 2 great grandkids. We recently celebrated his 75th birthday in fine fashion.

I’m sure there are others hanging off the branches our family tree I have not discovered yet. Gimme time.

Here’s a belated Veteran’s Day salute to all of them.

Brandon Obert has been working for Lightspeed Research for four years as a project manager. He is currently taking on new responsibilities within the HR Department while continuing to work on project management activities.

by Brandon Obert

In the 20^thcentury, good leaders had a good vision of where they wanted the company to go, effectively communicated this vision to all employees, and finally set goals, policies and procedures to ensure the vision was met.

In the 21^stcentury, the role of a leader has been changing. Leaders still have a vision and need to communicate the vision with long term goals to all employees, but good leaders no longer need to manage how the vision is carried out. Instead, leaders need to foster an environment where employees are empowered to make their own decisions to move the company in the right direction to meet and exceed the long term goals.

As new generations enter the workplace, the culture of the work environment has changed. New generations seek more flexibility in the workplace. For example, work from home opportunities are becoming more common in the workplace and employees are looking for a better balance between their work and personal lives. In addition, new generations bring a sense of independence to the workplace. They are always looking for out-of-the-box or innovative ways to move the company in the right direction. These innovative ideas can be exactly what the company needs to help distinguish their products or services from the competitors.  However, if leaders enforce policies and procedures they are essentially restricting the innovation and creativity the company needs to survive.

An article, A Culture of Thinkers by Jane Hartman Frankel discusses how leaders can foster an environment to provide guidance to employees without restricting innovation.  Frankel suggests three things: Create readiness, develop relevance and ensure reinforcement.

To create readiness, leaders should share the organizational direction, goals and general information as needed to help prepare employees for making effective decisions in the workplace. To develop relevance, leaders need to show how employees help make the company successful. This connection will help educate employees about which areas of their job have the most impact on the bottom line and will empower employees to make the right decisions based on the knowledge and experience they have to offer. To ensure reinforcement, Frankel suggests implementing a reward system that helps recognize and inspire workers to use independent thinking and interdependent work, along with utilizing risk management to help drive decisions being made in the organization.

In an environment where the recession has impacted almost every industry in a negative way, and with technology making businesses move quicker and smarter than ever before, leaders are faced with even more fierce competitors. Leaders need to make a choice between leading in the 20^th century or moving forward and changing their mindset to lead in the 21^st century.  Which one will you choose to lead by in order to be ready for the 22^nd century?

Sustainche during the past days enjoyed making substantial progress in identifying his new surrounding environment.

Sustainche – although he hoped to see Africa – is sure: Hmmm … he migrated from Macedonia not towards the south, but to the north ! Based on his Polar home experience Sustainche knows that during the Northern Hemisphere winter daylight time becomes shorter the more we proceed towards the north. No question, compared to Macedonia the daylight time here is indeed shorter. The land where Sustainche finds himself now is grey, wet and cold … sometimes even foggy; until now only occasionally he could enjoy some sunbeams. Ok, Sustainche’s blog readers might think: ‘Bravo, Sustainche, you returned to your roots.’ No, this land is far away from what he knows from his Polar Ocean home. Here, there live many more human mammals. Interesting enough and despite so many people everything appears to be clean – nothing to compare with Macedonia. People here seem to have a good life and everything has its order. However, Sustainche wonders whether people are also happy and can enjoy … .

During this week Sustainche followed on TV some rather ‘organized’ or ‘institutionalized’ joy. The event of joy was the ‘Fall of the Berlin Wall’ 20 years ago. Until now Sustainche hasn’t heard anything about a ‘Berlin Wall’ and that this thing collapsed; but he can’t know everything yet. Sustainche learnt with his online research that 20 years ago the movement of normal citizens inspired by their wish for freedom and in particular because of their wish to travel wherever they want made them overcome a rather strange political system which thought that it is necessary to transform an entire country into a prison. Finally the citizens start to escape from their prison – which was also a prison for the mind – and the walls and fences around the prison were peacefully torn down. The ‘Berlin Wall’ was the most prominent part of this prison wall. Sustainche is impressed what human mammals are able to do !

Doing something spontaneously with joy and happiness on the one hand and celebrating this event 20 years later on the other hand seems to be something completely different. Sustainche has the feeling that the historical joy organized and presented as a Saturday evening show event by national TV was embarrassing and only served the desired ‘panem et circensis’ mentality of those who by themselves would have never ever made any wall fall … and this was not only because of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s public catnap … probably dreaming on what kind of blond Italian TV show girl he can propose next to become a Minister of the Republic … .

It’s oh so not easy living with an entrepreneur. While my entrepreneur has many outstanding qualities, much of the time I live in a constant state of head-shaking. My entrepreneur fits the stereotypical be-your-own-boss, if-it-has-to-be-it’s-up-to-me attitude to a T. Therein lies most of the problems frustrations challenges opportunities.

Entrepreneur thrives on opportunity and goal setting. He sets them for himself…and for me…and for employees…and for the kids…and for the dogs. The only person free of goals being set for them is Peanut…for now. He has a compelling need to achieve goals, but in his own way. Not that this is a bad thing, but it’s irritating when he doesn’t believe another way is just as good, or, heaven forbid, better.

There is a never-ending sense of urgency in Entrepreneur’s world. He thrives on productivity. Me? Not so much. Did I mention he’s a “lark” and I’m an “owl”? He’s up at dumb-o’clock in the morning and asleep in front of the TV at 9pm. I prefer not to rise before the sun is actually up, but can always find things to do well past 11pm. I can easily spend Saturday morning doing absolutely NOTHING until noon (not that hard to do when you don’t get up until 9am).

Everything must have a purpose with Entrepreneur, and he gives new meaning to the term, “outcome based education.” Success is defined by performance, and nothing less than perfection is expected.

More concerned with outcomes and goal achieving, Entrepreneur is much less concerned about feelings. This is more of a problem for me, but I cope with it and try not to let it upset me. Sometimes I’m successful, sometimes it’s just a big fat FAIL on my part. I have to remember, this is simply who he is. It’s just part of his DNA.

But, for all these problems frustrations challenges opportunities, he never gives up. Setbacks are never failures. He simply changes directions. Thanks to his anal-retentive attitude about money, savings, credit and debt, we very well may be retiring well before the age of 60!

He’s a consummate Type-A driven personality. On a DISC profile, he’s an off-the-chart High D. With Meyers Briggs, he is an ESTJ. I’m more of the ENFP type. Quite the opposite in just about every sense! He’s a list-maker. I’m a mind-mapper. He’s left-brained; I’m right-brained. How we ended up together is sometimes a mystery. How we’ve stayed together for almost 30 years may be an even bigger mystery. And, the fact that we work together only adds to the mystery of why neither of us has committed manslaughter.

For Entrepreneur, living among mere mortals is very painful most of the time. A unique ability to read his mind and anticipate his next thought is very helpful for survival. Sometimes I possess this sixth sense; other times I don’t. Therein lies a lot of problems frustrations challenges opportunities for me.

And then he does something like this: He brings me an ice-cream sandwich in the middle of the work day. Ice cream. In November. On a rainy day. When the temps are struggling to make it to the mid-40s.

Yep, he marches independently to the beat of his own drummer.

So tell me, when did we move from the baby boomers generation X, to Y, to Z and now G?

When everyone was branding the various generations X, then Y then Z I was wondering what tag we were going to come up next. Alpha, beta..? I guess it was the same crazy person that tagged generation X after the baby boomers.

I keep looking for some logic but there clearly is none.

Generation G after Z?

Let’s take a quick history lesson to understand the various branded generations.

The Baby Boomers were between 1946 and 1964. Those brash and confident bunch that  pushed their values and political views on anybody that would listen. A whole bunch of them became very successful and rich benefiting from all the post war demand for anything and everything.

And yes, they are still around, lots of them are our managers, bosses or our politicians. We can definitely brand them as a bunch of know-it-alls and who love doing, pushing and competing . We keep thinking that they will retire at 65 but no way, as long as they have their health we will not stop them.

From 1965 to 1979 we got Generation X. Oh man, what a laid back bunch. Straight from Woodstock. They made love freely, studied harder than their parents and when it came to relationships commitment was not high on their agenda.

Low and behold we got generation Y from 1980 to around 1997/8. These were our risk takers and our computer bof’s. They loved the internet and their communication skills evolved around it.

Ok, so now we have our current rug-rats born from 1998 to-date, Generation Z. Wow, do they live in the age where information flows at an all time high. These rug-rats play a major influence in the buying economy as they are the driving force behind all parent decisions.

With this generation I am not sure what happened to childhood, but they certainly stepped right over it.

Now that brings us to Generation G. Unlike the other generations, G is not characterized by age but spans across all the generations from Baby Boomers to Z.

Generation G covers any age, where you as an individual have come to the realization that the most important aspect of any business is its generosity to society as a whole.

What caused this shift?

1. The recent economic melt down caused a lot of people to realize how greedy and disgusting society has become.

2. We started to look for and want more from the corporate world than bonus payouts. We want corporates to care about us and our fellow citizens.

3. As individuals we have started being less selfish and caring more for others. We are a far more generous society than before.

4. We have also grown very aware of our planet and our environment and the damage we do each and every day. We try harder to be kinder to the environment and we are changing our bad habits.

So there you have it, G for Generous. Go to my web site and download some free ebooks.

And, yes, let me know what you think about the various generations.

Today is November 14, 2009.   We are in the middle of the Month of the Motherland—Mes de la Patria. A month in which the Panamanian people  honor their country.  Even through Panama is a young nation, it has a very promising future.  It only regained full control of its territory on December 31, 1999, when the United States turned over the Panama Canal Zone to the Republic of Panama.  That was only ten years ago.

Even as we speak, Panama is engaged in several mega projects in an effort to push itself into a full developed country.  It’s not going to be an easy task, but the determination is there.  So far its results have been more than satisfactory.  Let me explain.

Since Noriega was incarcerated in December 1989, Panama has returned to embrace Democracy.  There have been five president democratically elected in Panama, (e.g., Guillermo Endara Galimany, Ernesto Pérez Balladares, Mireya Moscoso, Martín Torrijos and Ricardo Alberto Martinelli).   In general terms, there is a separation of powers within the state:  Executive Branch, Legislative Branch and the Judicial Branch.  With some imperfections, they are separated and trying to coordinate their activities to fulfill the needs of the people.  More is needed to perfect this union, and President Martinelli has promised to modernize the Public Administration.

During the last two decades, Panama has had one of the highest economic growth in Latin America, even though there was a global recession going on.  Fortunately that economic meltdown has left this country almost unscathed.  Direct foreign investment has remained high, surpassing a billion dollars a year.  Below are major public investments to be finished during the next five to ten years:

• Expansion of the Panama Canal – $5.25 billion.
• Construction of the first phase of a Metropolitan metro:  $1 billion.
• Construction of the final phase of the Coastal Strip which will connect the South Corridor to the Bridge of the Americas.
• Expansion of Tocumen Airport to accommodate more planes at any given time.  Operating capacity will by enhanced by approximately fifty percent.

For a small country, these are very significant public investments.  It’s an economic endeavor in the right direction to plunge Panama into the Twenty-First Century.

When I saw those enthusiastic students marching last week, I saw a whole young country in motion.  Students are the fresh blood of any country.  They are the ones responsible to assume the responsibilities of the old generation who has accomplished its share.  One generation passes the baton to the other generation and the country keeps on moving towards a more promising  future.  Those parading kids represents our country in motion.

Below are the last photographs of the “November 3rd. Parade Series”. Here we go.

(Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

(Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

(Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

(Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

(Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

(Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

(Omar Upegui R.)

As the sounds of bugles and drums die out, Panama is preparing for its next big day in November:  the Shout of Independence at La Villa de los Santos on November 10th.  In Spanish it’s called, “El Grito de la Independencia” by a humble  22-year-old woman called Rufina Alfaro. Shouting “Viva la Libertad”, together with a small group of local soldiers, she took a Spanish garrison at la Villa de Los Santos.  It was the beginning of the independence of Panama from Spain in 1821.

I went to the November 10th parade and shot several pictures.  That will be the theme for my next pictorial series.  It’s a total different perspective with a countryside touch.  I invite you to come to Lingua Franca for a new view of the Panama from the countryside.   Good Day.