A Book, a Bourbon, and a Belvedere

When was the last time you won an argument or discussion on social media? The answer. Never.  The days of polite, social intercourse seem to be long gone.  It sometimes feels like all that is left is the other word for intercourse, and I don’t mean friendly.  Too often the default position is, “my way or the highway, you are wrong, and I am right”. You might even start defriending friends, blocking old buddies, axing acquaintances and end up in an echo chamber.  Now you are siloed off in the blissful realm of ignorance. The ignorance of not being exposed to another idea, another opinion, another way of thinking even if you disagree with it.  “Hey Brad, but those idiots are just wrong, those people have an agenda, those people are ruining the country.”  Perhaps, but how will you ever know how strong your position is if you are not open to hearing other ideas, even if they may be wrong?

I am a member of many groups on many platforms in social media.  Often, I am just a voyeur, reading and looking but seldomly engaging on most. I do this to try and determine how others may think, feel or react to the passing scene.  I read other’s ideas and internally ask myself, “Is this written on principle or emotion; Is this a personal experience or a bubbameister.”

(A grandmother’s fable in Yiddish).  If a post, picture or phrase upset me I will read it, reflect on it. Then open a word document and write like a crazy man and then put it away and read it the next day.  If I still feel the same way I may post it, but by then hopefully the “better angels” have spoken and the embarrassment of posting something I’ll regret has passed.

Several years ago, I started posting an ongoing series of images that intrigued, inspired and informed my connections on what I was reading.  Usually on Sunday afternoon I will perch myself out on my porch, light up a favorite cigar, pour myself a favorite beverage, usually Bourbon, and read a book that interests me.  I am a voracious reader.  There are so many great books to read and learn the timeless wisdom of the ages.  There are current policy books that address an emerging or ongoing public issue, biographies that inform how a person lives, learns, and laughs through life. I also enjoy books on history, philosophy, business, public speaking, communication as well as stories of ideas and people.

I’ll post a photograph of said book, belvedere, and beverage on social media with a quote from the author or I’ll reflect on how the book impacts me or best yet, why I think others might benefit from reading it.  Like a moth to a light, people are often attracted to the image or interested to know what brand of beverage or smoke I am enjoying.  For the most part a conversation ensues or likes, hearts or smiles pop up on my feed.  In the many years of these positive post I have only had one connection attack me because he did not like the title posted.  I asked if he would read the book so we could have a conversation afterward.  More nasty comments ensued so I did what I rarely do, I blocked this individual.

I will not tolerate a person who will not have the common courtesy to engage civilly.  We can disagree respectfully.  We can have feisty and firm disagreements on ideas and subject matter. It is good for people to understand their positions based on their principles.  To be a connection with someone on social media should be considered a privilege and should be done in good faith.  If a person gets upset because of a book I read, or its title, they have many more problems than I want to engage in.  After all, life is short and so am I.  There are too many great books to read and I don’t have the time or the patience to fight or virtue signal.

Now if you don’t mind, it’s time to get out on the porch, with a book, belvedere, and a beverage.

Cheers!

https://kimmonson.com/kim_monson_show/the-importance-of-effective-communication/

From My Front Porch

I live in a community built to resemble a by-gone era.  Most of the homes in my neighborhood are reproductions of Victorian, Federal or Craftsman style homes built with a front pouch.  This is one of the many reasons my wife and I purchased a home in this development because our “purple-painted-lady” has a charming character and a wrap-around front porch.  On most weekend afternoons, after doing yard work or several “honey-dos”, I can be found sitting in a comfortable white wicker chair armed with a book, a beverage and a belvedere.

Neighbors will pass and wave on their walks with their dogs and baby strollers.  Children will ride their bikes or scooters along the sidewalk to the sound of the clicky-clack of each of their wheels passing over the divided portions of concrete.  Off in the distance one can hear the sounds of birds chirping, buzzsaws sawing, or babies singing for their afternoon bottles. This symphony of sounds brings a sense of certainty and serenity.  Often passers-by will stop and say, “Hello” or more familiar folks will ask, “what are you reading this week”.

A front porch allows for interaction in a community to take place.  Most modern homes are built with a back deck, which I have as well for those occasional times when I wish to have privacy in my thoughts or dwell on ideas alone.  Yet a front porch brings one in contact with neighbors and strangers walking by. Children and their parents with all manner of sporting equipment pass by on their way to the local park to play, exercise, smile and skip in the expectation of soon having fun and recreation.  

My front porch has been the scene of countless parties, picnics, private conversations, passionate debates, playful prattling, political gatherings, profitable projects, public prose, and putrid joke-telling. Life has been lived on my front porch. There was a time when Americans used to know their neighbors because everyone lived outside on full display on their front porch, especially in the Spring, Summer, and Fall.  If a neighbor's kid did something in front of your house that they were not supposed to be doing you could yell out to them to “stop it or I’ll let your folks know”. It was a deterrent to mischief. Ask most people, “do you know the names of the people living more than two doors down from you” and their response is likely to be a shrug. I happen to know most of my neighbors simply because I like sitting on my front porch. 

When cars drive down my street people will often slow down and point at my house as they gleefully-gawk at the whimsical woodwork which adorns my home.  When they realize a person is sitting on the porch they wave. I smile and wave back with a homespun “howdy” or “hello”. A homeowner’s pride swells up inside of me but more importantly, a connection is made. Several times those gawkers have found a home in the neighborhood and after moving nearby, they will be out walking and will stop to remind me that I was the friendly fellow who waved and welcomed them to the neighborhood.

Front porches build a sense of belonging and bonding that is sorely needed in our communities today.  Front porches allow for connectivity and community that people are desperately looking for. A front porch is part of the fabric of a neighborhood which encourages building relationships, fosters conversations and allows for people to interact in ways that are no longer common, yet should be.  When looking for a place to call home my suggestion is to find a neighborhood with a front porch you can live life on. And if you're in my neighborhood stop by and sit awhile on my front porch

The “OWL” Method

A wise old owl sat on an oak

The more he heard, the less he spoke.

The less he spoke, the more he heard.

Wasn’t he a wise old bird?

This rhyme was often said by John Wooden, the greatest coach for the UCLA Bruins Men’s Basketball team. Wooden used to share this saying with his student-athletes to help them understand that listening is more powerful than talking.

It also, helped to remind me of using the OWL Method, Like the bird, the OWL.

The “O” which stands for "Observe."  Look at the world around you.  What stands out?

What grabs your attention? What’s ordinary, yet significant?  Your eyes have the opportunity to observe if you look.

I’ll skip over, to the “L” which stand for "Listen".  What do you hear now?  Are the sounds melodic or messy?  Do you hear that?  Are the sounds around you balanced or benign, or deep and disturbing?  Are your ears, open to the music in the air or do you even audience to the sounds around you?

Now back to the middle letter.  The “W” which stands for “Write”.  Write down what you see and hear.  The “W” unifies the “O” and the “L” and makes you more aware of the world around you. Write with an eye that describes what you see and an ear of what you hear happening around you.

Writing makes me a better speaker because when you write I clarify my thoughts. When I have clarity, I come to conciseness, which is being brief. This process gives a speaker the opportunity to be efficient with their words, yet get their point in an effective and memorable way.

The “OWL” Method consists of observing, listening and writing. and helps me unify my speaking to be a more effective communicator.

A wise old owl sat on an oak

The more he heard, the less he spoke.

The less he spoke, the more he heard.

Wasn’t he a wise old bird?

Design Master Feature and Interview

Thanks, Amatos Wholesale Florist​ for the nice feature on DESIGN MASTER. We think distributor partners like you are pretty special too!!! #flowers #wholesaleflorist #dmcolor https://www.amatodenver.com/video/cool-new-rose-variety-honey-hearts-2-2-5-4-2-3-2-2/?fbclid=IwAR2xEGgSYwt3CKjBdBNLciRCYheJUxEnWLWgFYjYNWug_OT-Tg8Q15zhuxg

A TALL MOUSE, a paperweight and an outhouse.

On my desk at work sits a variety of “chachkies,” a Yiddish word meaning trinkets. These were collected with others from my many years of business travel.  These dust-collectors remind me of the past, yet often inspire me to think about events and opportunities in the future.  Three pieces that stand out for me are a ceramic tall mouse, a stone paperweight with the words “Soring into the Future” embossed on it and a rubber outhouse I was handed at a trade show. 

The TALL MOUSE figure I bought from one of my customers in Southern California. Tall Mouse  Arts and Crafts was a four-store chain owned by Jim and Ricki Bremmer.  I was on a courtesy call with his buyer, Kim Donahue who told me the story of how the store got its name. In the mid-1960’s the founders of the company, Richard and Mariam Oehllam were at a New Year’s Eve party with lots of champagne. Party guests were milling around enjoying each other’s company, and they were talking about a name for the store when somebody suggested, “You need to invent a better mousetrap.”  Thinking a mouse trap a bit inhume, someone suggested that it would be better to just “build a better mouse.”  There happened to be a cartoonist at the party who quickly sketched several drawings of different mice, the long-legged mouse stood out and was purchased from the artist.  So basically, as Kim stated, “it is how all good ideas happen—a party, champagne, and a cartoonist!”

The tall mouse reminds me to be creative, to think differently and to not listen to the conventional wisdom.  To follow one’s passion, with vision and enthusiasm.

The paperweight with a stone base was a gift given after graduating from the 1993 Wholesale Florist and Florist Supplier’s of America’s Management Institute held at Cornell University.  Since 1982, there have been 37 Management Institute Institutes and I have attended 29 to date.  I love learning, networking with my industry peers, and experiencing new ways to apply these best practices to our business.  This educational event also helps me share the knowledge I learn with customers who appreciate the ideas I bring them as a valued and trusted advisor. 

This paperweight reminds me to continue to be a life-long learner and to “Soar into the Future” by continuing to grow, challenge and adapt to the changing winds of the marketplace.  It’s often be stated that the only one who likes change is a baby, with a dirty diaper. One should embrace change otherwise you’ll start to stink from within.

Which brings me to the third object in this grouping, a rubber outhouse.  This was a promotional giveaway at a special event show from a waste management company.  In the party, wedding event business if you don’t have a necessary room close by, your event might turn out crappy.  This “stress reliever” is intended to be squeezed when one was feeling overwhelmed and needed to redirect their angst.   I walked up to the folks who were standing in front of a gleaming, outhouse on wheels.  And said, “How’s shit going?” One replied, “Pretty regular” and we all had a good laugh.  A salesman threw me this rubber outhouse and said, “squeeze this the next time you go.  It will help with the experience.”  More laughter. 

The rubber outhouse reminds me to have fun and laugh in your business.  As I have often stated, “I’m going to FUN If it’s work find someone else.”  It also reminds me to, GSD = GET SHIT DONE.  Crude perhaps.  Yet in business, if you don’t GSD you go HUNGRY. 

Three simple souvenirs which sit on my desk.  They remind me to continue to be creative, think differently, to continue life-long learning, to get shit done and have fun doing it. 

Growing Up With Flowers

I

n 1991 a group of Young Executives from the Wholesale Florist and Floral Supplier Association, WF&FSA, created a flower education program called, "Growing Up With Flowers" Flower Industry friends, Laura Kantakis, John Dillon, Lee Sorensen, Lisa Allensworth, Gregg Wilke, Katy Miller, Dave Garcia, Eric Levy and Kenny Hopkins and I worked together with little funding and lots of enthusiasm to create a flower education program for youth, with the result of hopefully increasing demand for flowers with a positive educational experience. In 1993 a Wholesale, Retail, Educators Guide and a Coloring Book were unveiled. This video was created in 1995 and "The Flower Song" which I wrote, was included to help interested parties to begin their presentation and to get the attention of pre-school and kindergarten students. PDF's of the original guides, coloring book and this video are all available. DM me for your copy. The materials may be dated yet sharing the beauty of flowers with kids never gets old. #flowers #GrowingUpWithFlowers #WFFSA

Promoting Your Toastmasters Club Via Radio.

You work hard building your club and creating a dynamic meeting environment.  Things are going great and your club meetings are exciting, fun and your members are improving their skills.  Yet, even the best of clubs lose close to one-third of their members yearly. It’s all part of the life cycle of a Toastmasters club.  Members come and go for many reasons and that is why good clubs are constantly recruiting new members. 

Kim Monson is a member of Liberty Toastmasters in Denver and she is also a drive time radio show host, and half of the “Americhicks,” on KLZ 560 AM from 6:00 to 7:00 AM.  Her radio program focuses on public policy issues and includes a diverse range of topics which features local and national personalities. 

Kim observed the membership falling and approached the club to see if we would consider being a co-sponsor of her radio show.  During a club business meeting, the members agreed to promote the club with the help our sister club, Liberty Toastmasters-North in Longmont, to share in the investment and promote both clubs. 

Several times a week a recorded Toastmaster Ad is played, and at least monthly members are interviewed and even have the opportunity to participate on the radio show by practicing their Table Topic skills, “live” on the air.  After the program airs, each participant is sent their portion of the recorded program to share on their personal social media or in e-mails. This amplifies the investment and helps promote the clubs.  As Liberty Toastmasters President, I have been interviewed on the program about our uniquely themed club, and have been invited as a guest co-host several times.  Yet, more importantly, we have invited listeners to attend our meetings and to practice becoming better speakers and leaders via Toastmasters.

Wonder if this investment has panned out?  So far, the results have been promising.  After the first radio program aired, a couple from Parker attended a meeting at the Denver club.  When introducing themselves, these guests shared they heard about us on the radio. Wow! It worked.  The following week the Longmont Club had a similar experience when a gentleman attended from Fort Collins after hearing the interview on the radio. Wow again!

We continue to invest some club dues in public relations and recruitment and now have proof that radio does reach potential new members. Plus, we have a wider reach of potential new members across the entire front range.  If you are looking to grow your membership and who isn’t, you may try this unique approach. 

10.29.18:Brad Beck with Liberty Toastmasters on the Americhicks 

https://soundcloud.com/the-heart-of-the-matter/102918brad-beck-with-liberty-toastmasters