Trick or Treat??

Digging around the grave yard I've uncovered some very interesting numbers.

41 MILLION: that, according to the 2010 Census, is the number of children ages 5-14 who will go Trick or Treating this year.

116.7 MILLION: again according to the 2010 census that is the number of occupied housing units in America today - potential targets for those Trick or Treaters.

1.1 BILLION: number of pounds of pumpkins grown during 2009 and the majority of that crop is used somehow during this season.

Now I know you are wondering how I could EVER possibly tie this into a Raving, well that is easy - You see all those folks with all those children ALL need whatever it is that you are making or selling - that's right - they're potential targets (OK substitute customers) for your efforts. Now the real question is this: Will you provide them a treat or a trick when they visit you?

Many companies promise their customers a huge treat if they come do business with them and indeed only deliver a "Trick" instead. Don't be one of them! Deliver at least what you promise - at the minimum - successful companies (and people) deliver MORE than they promise every time!!

Think about this Raving while you spend the next few days getting prepared for your little visitors to come ring your doorbell.

Steve

I'LL NEVER BE A PROFESSIONAL BODY BUILDER.

This is a huge realization in my life, but sometimes reality just has to be faced head-on. Does this mean that I now must stop trying to watch my weight or health? Not at all! It just means that despite any desires I might have it just will never be possible, no matter how much motivation or mental preparedness I develop, I just don't have what it takes to become a professional level body builder.

Does this sound out of character for the Steve Rausch you have come to know? Not at all, I still believe in creating dreams, showing spirit, and working hard towards a goal. I just need to be realistic about the fulfillment of some of the goals I set.

I still embrace the concept of living life doing what you love with all the passion and spirit you can give. Just be sure to have a healthy dose of reality so that you aren't chasing an empty or impossible goal. My personal body and my decisions about time spent on just one single segment of my life, will never allow me to reach that professional level - I can still spend time on training and exercise, and IMPROVE my body, but realistically I can never, given my circumstances and age, reach that top professional level.

I was deeply saddened by the death of Dan Wheldon this week, but I also rejoice knowing that he died absolutely happy doing what his passions and spirit led him to do for earning his living. None of us know when our time is up on this earth, but how many of us know that we are daily doing exactly what it is that makes us the passionate driven person that we want to be doing exactly what we love in our daily lives. I also lost a good friend several months ago who was a pilot. He made a landing and taxied into a fuel pump and died in the cockpit. I had many prior conversations with him and one of his concerns what dieing while flying his beloved airplane and (A) hurting someone on the ground, (B) ruining his aircraft which he had spent many hours restoring to like new condition. He died, I'm confident, absolutely happy at that moment.

I have been blessed in both my business and personal life to be able to make that claim also - how about you? If you aren't, then start right now, today, to change yourself and take personal responsibility to begin doing what it is that you love daily.

These are my thoughts, what are yours?

Steve

MAYBE NEXT YEAR????

Many folks I come in contact with have already written off 2011 and are wishfully looking forward to next year. They seem to preface everything they say or do with "Maybe next year" and then outline some distant plan for doing what they want to accomplish.

I have to ask: "What is wrong with this year?" I guess I just don't understand why you can't still create accomplishments in 2011. Is this the best of times? NO. However, there is still time to make things happen and that will only happen if (A) YOU believe, (B) YOU start into action, (C) you actually DO something.

Anyone who knows me knows that I absolutely believe in written plans and goals, and that when you take the time to put your thoughts/ideas into writing it seems to make those things happen. I also like to do planning in advance of the need (whatever need that might be) so I agree that mid-October isn't too soon to start thinking about and planning for 2012. However, there is still plenty of time left in this year to continue to strive and accomplish your last years goals.

IF you have already reached your 2011 goals then I suggest that you set your sights way too low last year. Old Indian saying: "Its easier to hit the Flying Eagle when you are aiming at the Sun." If you've missed your 2011 plans and goals then don't give up, start pushing harder and working longer and smarter.

Nobody ever has an absolute promise of another "tomorrow" let alone a "Next Year." So why not give today all you have in the way of energy and efforts and work towards meeting the goals and dreams you have already outlined instead of spending time making excuses and thinking about the "MAYBE NEXT YEAR" trap.

These are my thoughts on this subject, what are yours?

Steve

Why run for elected office?

I've spent considerable time lately thinking about (pondering) and watching the politician's trying to decide about running for elected office. It used to be fairly simple, but obviously today it has become so complex you have to wonder why anyone would subject themselves to that grief.

It is no longer enough to want to serve and help your country - I fear that has long ago passed and today it is ONLY about the power and money. No matter which party or side you choose to be associated with, the only way someone can become noticed or known is by using the media of some type and that never escapes the watchful eye of those who currently hold the power and money - and they absolutely are not going to let someone into the inside circle with promises of providing more power and more money to them.

When a respectable and good intentioned person does finally break into the limelight, then everyone, it seems, from both sides, go into attack mode and attempts to disgrace that person so that THEY can look better. It seems like nobody, even within the same party, wishes anyone else any success and does their absolute best to destroy the candidate before he or she ever gets started.

We have a long list of potential folks for office, from the Presidential race all the way to local levels, and it doesn't seem to matter who or how good someones past is (was?) that person is probed and questioned until at least once, one day, under immense pressure, they make one tiny mistake and then the entire world it seems jumps on them and starts picking at that tiny issue.

I wonder how our founding fathers would view our current political process? I wonder if ANY of them could be elected with today's process? My main wonder is why does anyone, knowing all of the above, ever decide to attempt to run for elected office?

These are my thoughts, please share yours......
Steve