Lottery ticket? Really?

Posted on by

I went to a hockey game last night and found myself laughing at one of the intermission activities. This one is pretty simple—a section number was revealed and everyone in the section won a lottery ticket.

The winning section was in the lower level of the arena. These seats cost about $90 each. However, as the section number was revealed, everyone seated in the section responded with more excitement than they would had their favorite player scored a hat trick. These people spent $90 each and were thrilled to receive a $1 lottery ticket that probably won them nothing.

It’s easy to lose perspective in life. These people spent $90 each for the chance to win $1 (which likely would result in no additional winnings). Sure, none of them came to the game to win a lottery ticket, but you couldn’t tell that by their reaction.

We need to keep life in perspective or we too will celebrate dumbness. That’s what the world celebrates and that’s how politicians want us to think. They know that an intelligent electorate doesn’t bode well for them.

Before you celebrate what you’re about to be given, take a moment to reflect on what that gift actually cost you. You’ll probably discover that you paid for your prize several times! Think about it.

Listening to rodents

Posted on by

February 2—the day we wake up and turn our attention to a rodent and allow him to predict the amount of winter remaining. It’s a big deal for a lot of people. For me, however, it’s just another day for the rats.

We’ve been celebrating Groundhog Day for a long time. That still doesn’t make it a great idea. We have meteorologists to predict the weather; rodents should stick to being rodents.

This might sound like a senseless rant, but I want you to stop and think about all the things we do that make no sense. We do them because we’ve always done them. We inherited certain behaviors. We aren’t really in control of our actions, are we?

Maybe it’s time to leave the rodent out of weather prognosticating. Turn on the news or check the Internet. You can get more reliable weather forecasts from the professionals. Let the rats be rats.

Can You See It?

Posted on by

A well-known coffee company recently took away my gold card. I’m not sure what benefit the gold card provided other than screaming to the world that I spent way too much money during the past year on bad coffee. It’s only when I stopped spending money on bad coffee at the on-every-corner mega-coffee mart that they downgraded my coffee status. Now, if I ever go in there again, I’ll be treated just like I was treated when I had the gold card. I’ll get a marginal cup of coffee from an automated machine served by someone who doesn’t know nearly as much about coffee as he or she wants me to believe.

I’m glad they took my gold card away because it was tangible evidence of poor decision-making. I have enough evidence of bad decisions, I don’t need a gold-plated one. Often, the things we view as improving our status are nothing more than souvenirs of things we wouldn’t do if we really thought about it. Do you see it? Do you see those areas of life where your decisions are questionable, at best? Sometimes our trophies are better kept in the closet!

30 Seconds to Chaos NOW AVAILABLE

Posted on by

Have you ever made a decision only to realize that it wasn’t the best decision possible? We’ve all been there. That’s why I wrote this book.

30 Seconds to Chaos presents some simple principles that, when applied to our lives, can help us avoid some of life’s chaos or decision debt. With refreshing insights and the T-I-L-E decision-making system, this is a must-have book for anyone with decisions to make.

It is NOW AVAILABLE for Kindle. Just click the image to visit the Kindle Store and purchase it for only $2.99.

This could be your time

Posted on by

Time. From the moment we are born, our clocks start ticking. Seconds, minutes, hours, days, months, years… they all fall into the bottom of the hourglass never to be reclaimed. We get to choose how our time is invested but the choices must be declared in advance. We never get to go back and reassign time. Wasted time and time well-spent have one thing in common—they are gone before we realize their full effect.

So, this is your time. You can’t go back and change the past but you can make wiser investments of whatever time you have left. You get to choose how to invest it. You have the opportunity to make a difference. This could be your time to shine.

Where is your life headed? Are the decisions you are making right now keeping on the path you desire? Choose wisely. Invest intentionally. Live with passion. The world needs you to make a difference…today.

Decision Debt

Posted on by

We hear a lot about getting out of debt (which is a really good idea). But, have you ever considered “decision debt”? This is the price we pay for decisions we make. As with money, decision debt adds up leaving many people buried under the consequences of bad decisions.

If you want to get out of debt, you have to take a fresh look at your spending habits. If you want to get out of decision debt you must evaluate your decision-making practices. The key to getting out of debt is controlled spending. The key to getting out of decision debt is controlled decision making.

What if thinking can be a new way of life. Sure, the ultimate consequences of our decisions are unknown and even smart decisions can have undesirable results. However, improving our thinking skills can’t hurt; it most likely will help.

  • Think about the decisions you are making right now. Are you comfortable with the immediate and long term consequences?

Carpool idea gone bad

Posted on by

A Washington motorist was busted for making a boneheaded decision — he put a skeleton in the passenger seat so he could drive in the HOV lane.

A state patrolman made the grim discovery after pulling over driver Bryan Stime for alleged aggressive driving through Kent on Dec. 20.

Although Stime used the carpool lane, the only companion in his silver Mazda was a green skeleton outfitted in a white sweatshirt — a violation of the rules for commuting in the high occupancy vehicle corridor, a Washington State Patrol release said. Stime admitted he broke the rules, but told reporters that it was practically a matter of life and death.

“It’s a heck of a commute,” he said about his 45-mile drive each way to work. “Since my commute was so bad, I started thinking — blow up doll, mannequin?”

But Stime didn’t stop at sneaking into the HOV lane. The highway patrol also claims that he drove at 82 mph and made several unsafe lane changes. He was fined $454, including $124 for the skeleton-related charges.

  • What other options did Stime have?
  • How would his decision have been different if he had used “what if thinking”?

Bank robber solves robbery

Posted on by

Cincinnati police barely had to break a sweat solving a bank robbery on Friday.

Cops say that Frank Coleman robbed a U.S. Bank branch at 2 p.m. and less than 30 minutes later he called 911 to turn himself in at a nearby shopping mall.

Coleman fled from the bank with $2,000. His plans were almost thrown off track when he slipped a note to the teller, saying “put the money in the bag.” The teller replied by saying there weren’t any bags. Evidently, Coleman prepared for this possibility, because  he handed the clerk a plastic shopping bag. He pulled off the robbery without using a weapon.

Shortly after that, Coleman reportedly dialed 911 to say he was the culprit in the heist and that cops could pick him up at the Tower Place mall.

  • What “decision debt” does Coleman have as a result of this ordeal?
  • How would “what if thinking” have affected his choices?