Zoom into Reality and Zip the Fluff

I can't remember how many times when I ask my friends exactly what the problem is, their reply would always be five to ten minutes of continual beating around the bush excuses, instead of explaining in two to three sentences what the problem really is. My father was the kind of guy who "tell it as it is." There was no "well, maybe, unless, perhaps, or nearly, it was either a "yes" or a "no". So even in my early childhood, I learned really fast to always be clear, objective, honest and straightforward with him or else I won't get anywhere.

Now that I am a little older, I am very much appreciative of my father's attitude, although sometimes it was frustrating to get a "tell it as it is" reply. However, as I observe my friends in how they handle problems and make choices, I can't tell you how many minutes, hours and days they waste "beating around the bush". Their skill of making up their minds and taking advantage of beneficial opportunities was often disappointing. Life waits for no one. Nobody owes you anything. Opportunities come and go in an instant. What you decide today, affects tomorrow. The difference between victory and defeat could be measured in .001 of a second difference.

I challenge you to set a clear and straightforward vision for your future. When positive opportunities arise, you seize the moment and never look back. When problems arise, you zip the fluff, you cut down the bush, admit your problems, admit your weaknesses and fix them. There's nothing worse than constantly giving excuses and never fixing the problem. Think of how long you'll last in your future career if you always responded to your boss, "it's not my fault."

The top 1-2% of teens that later arise to becoming great, powerful and respected society members learned early, the lesson of accepting the situation and making the most of it. It doesn't matter if you or your parents live in luxury or bare essentials, abusive parents, suicidal/drugs/alcoholic friends or family members, disability/cancer or disease, bullied constantly, harassed, denied of necessities, or tragic and emotional moments, powerful and effective teens learn to accept what has happened, zoom into reality and zip the fluff. An old proverb rings true "if it's going to be, it's up to me".

Keough Joins Vozzcom as Director of Human Resources (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
CORAL SPRINGS, Fla.----Vozzcom, the leading provider of broadband fulfillment services, announced today that Timothy Keough, PHR has been appointed Director of Human Resources. Keough holds a Professional in Human Resources certification from the Human Resource Certification Institute .

Joe W. Laymon Named Corporate Vice President of Human Resources (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
SAN RAMON, Calif.----Chevron Corporation today named Joe W. Laymon corporate vice president of Human Resources, effective immediately. Laymon joins Chevron from the Ford Motor Company, where he was group vice president of Corporate Human Resources and Labor Affairs.

Nineteen researchers selected as 2008 Leopold Leadership Fellows (Stanford Report)
Nineteen environmental researchers from across North America have been awarded Leopold Leadership Fellowships for 2008.

Central Exchange's women's Leadership conference April 22 (The Kansas City Star)
The Central Exchange's sixth annual Women's Lyceum leadership conference will be April 22 under the theme of "Organic Leadership: Grow Your Natural Abilities."

Olmstead students attend Leadership conference (News Democrat & Leader)
On February 25th and 26th, representatives from Olmstead Middle School attended the "Great Kids Summit" Leadership conference in Lexington, Kentucky. This seminar featured Stedman Graham as the keynote speaker, with other prominent national leaders holding workshops during the two-day event.

Known as The Miao, Lin Miao Executive Director of LinCity.com - http://www.lincity.com - The Ultimate Online Teen City, is labeled as one of the most powerful and inspirational teen speaker in the subject of Teen Leadership. He is also the Chief Information Officer for United Planet - The Largest Cultural Exchange - lin@lincity.com