As the Seasons change…so do the “Seasons” in our lives. Let this be the change you’re desiring… Here to help.

October 2011 can truly become the month that you look back to years from now as the time your life began to change forever. The smallest effort goes a long way and remember… Dogs don’t, and won’t, chase parked cars. Let’s get moving.

All of us…I REPEAT…all of us…have wanted to quit at some point in our life. Whether it be a relationship, a business, schoolwork, exercise…we have all wanted to quit. The desire to quit is not what creates greatness in our life…and I think you know this. It’s the ability to just keep going. Some call it Grit. Some call it “Stick-to-it-iveness”. Others call it Heart. What do you call it? Whatever it may be…keep going.

Can’t keep going…? from Josh Perrington on Vimeo.

Throughout the past few weeks, I have run across some close friends who are emotionally…running on empty.  I, and many of you, could definitely be included in those ranks at some point in our life. How do you know? Maybe…

• You’ve found yourself less willing to be around people – even shutting them out.

• You’ve been much quicker to insult someone, or give up on a project (or relationship)

• Your closest relationships have suffered as a result of being so “busy”. Filling your schedule with “things”…

Our emotional tanks are important because when they are full, we are at our best. We are optimistic, caring, willing to hurdle any and all obstacles around. But, much like a car, when they are empty…it’s extremely hard to get moving and make any real progress.

On my way into the office today, this topic was on my mind and I began to think of solutions (I’m a fixer).  How can people practically fill their emotional tank?  Hope this helps:

• Solitude: You MUST retreat to a place and create solitude in your life. Even if for only 20 minutes, spend that time reflecting on all of the good that is currently happening in your life. Spend time imagining what your life will be like when your tank is “full”. Remembering how easy life was to concur when all of your relationships are in line. Spending quite time everyday in not a luxury. Plan it, as it is a necessity.

“The apostles then rendezvoused with Jesus and reported on all that they had done and taught. Jesus said, “Come off by yourselves; let’s take a break and get a little rest.” For there was constant coming and going. They didn’t even have time to eat.” Mark 6:30-31

Even the Bible mentions, as described above, how important it is for us to retreat. Sounds eerily familiar… “for there was a constant coming and going. They didn’t even have time to eat.” A lot like many of us right now. Retreat. Find a place…and go there daily.

• Recreation: Bottom line…find a way to inject FUN back in your life. Maybe it’s playing a board game with your kids, going running, bowling with friends, taking a new cooking class @ the community college. Whatever it may be for you…HAVE FUN AGAIN, and fast!

“”How can I account for this generation? The people have been like spoiled children whining to their parents, ‘We wanted to skip rope, and you were always too tired; we wanted to talk, but you were always too busy.’ John came fasting and they called him crazy. I came feasting and they called me a lush, a friend of the riffraff. Opinion polls don’t count for much, do they? The proof of the pudding is in the eating.” Mathew 11:16

Jesus was no stranger to fun. Parties, weddings, fellowship – he was there. And the vision I have is not of a Jesus standing in the corner observing, sipping water…it’s of a Jesus in the middle of the dance floor living it up. Intense fellowship, truly finding those friends who know you and simply having fun again. Do it, and your tank will begin to fill…the sunset will become that much more beautiful.

• Laughter: Laughter exercises the diaphragm and the cardiovascular system, improving breathing and oxygen flow – as well as creating the same levels of endorphins (natural mood-elevating and pain-killing chemicals) as exercise. Laughter releases our natural cure for depression. Finding a way to laugh daily will release those endorphins and begin to fill your emotional tank quickly. Need help jump starting this area? Just head to YouTube for a while…

Why bother with any of the above? Because your life depends on it. No, you may not die directly as a result of being emotionally drained…but your relationships surely will.

You deserve better for yourself. Think of those around you… Start viewing everyone through the eyes of a gas station attendant. What can you do right now – not tomorrow – to emotionally fill someone’s tank… Their life may depend on it. Their life may depend on you.

So, you have a Facebook account and you’ve probably seen updates & Event invites announcing “Meet-ups or Tweet-ups” where online friends get together and meet offline. The problem? Most of this happens during the day…while you & I are at work… Not anymore.

Introducing #rkeUnwind

#rkeUnwind is a group of people that come together to meet and talk about what’s relevant & important to them (in more than 140 characters) at a local eatery. There are no formal agendas. There is no dress code. You can have 5 Twitter accounts or simply want to know why you should have even 1 account and, most importantly, what you should probably do with it.

The best part? We’ll be “unwinding” after the work day is done.

There’s power in #’s. (Read that as “numbers” or a hash tag because the statement is true of both.) And, together, we’ll figure this web thing out… Don’t understand why the hash tag is important? Come out and find out!

Join us for our inaugural gathering Thursday, March 18, 2010 from 5-7pm at 202 Market. Come meet old friends, make new friends, and have a great time…

Oh…and btw… yes… there will be prizes!

In true social media fashion, don’t forget to tweet your heart out about it… and follow us on twitter @rkeunwind…

We’ll see you there!

PS: Want more info? Ask any of these ppl…it was their idea.

Josh Heather Marty

I’m hearing it virtually everyday now from friends, clients, and family members.

“I wish I had more money.”

“How did we end up with so many bills?”

“If I can just make it to next payday…”

I understand that most of us can’t just wave a wand and create more income for ourselves, or talk our companies into giving us a raise…not in this economy. But, what if I told you that you can…at least create additional income for yourselves…maybe not talk your boss into a raise, just yet.

Did you know that you can, in essence, give yourself a raise today? One that will, most of the time, immediately hit your very next paycheck?  Here are the facts.

You probably received a huge tax refund this year. Maybe more than $2,000? If that’s the case, did you know that you just gave our government an interest-free loan in the amount of $2,000? It’s true.

In essence, you said

“Dear Uncle Sam,

I don’t need my money, will you hold on to this for the next 12 months, until I file my tax return?”

Sounds insane right? You’re doing this every year! See, when you receive a tax REFUND – it means that you OVERPAID your taxes for the year, which also means our government will give you back the difference, in the form of a refund. But, can you really afford to wait 12 months? Your family could use the money now, not next year.

Think of it this way…

If you buy a book from Amazon for $10…does it make sense to give them $50 for that book, expecting to have the $40 difference refunded to you in 12 months?

Would you buy a new TV from Best Buy for $1,000, but give them $3,000 expecting a refund of the $2,000 difference a year from now? Of course not! Then, why would you do the very same thing with your taxes? This is YOUR hard-earned money that we’re talking about…no one else…YOUR money.

Here’s your solution. Look at your paystub. On there, it will say what your “tax withholding” rate is. It will have a number similar to one of these: S1 (Single & 1), M2 (Married & 2), S0 (Single & zero). The S = Single Filing, and M = Married Filing. The associated numbers represent the amount of dependents that are likely in your household.

1. First-things-first, determine if anything is going to change significantly for you this year. Are you expecting a baby, a sizable raise in your pay rate, heading back to college for a degree, or maybe selling or buying a home? All of these things can impact your tax rate and we will want to take those into account before adjusting. If you do have some things changing, feel free to email me, or see your tax professional as we will likely need to adjust your model.

2. If not a lot will be changing this year and given the $2,000 refund example above, you can elect to receive your refund in equal monthly installments just by changing your withholding rate. A general rule is this:

The more withholdings you claim, the less amount of taxes will be deducted from your paycheck.

The less withholdings you claim, more taxes will be taken from your pay.

Example: Someone claiming Single & Zero (S0) will have MORE money taken from their pay than someone claiming Single & Two (S2). Why? Because the theory is that someone with more withholdings will likely qualify for more tax credits and overall deductions, requiring less taxes to be due. This works exactly opposite for someone with claiming a lesser amount of withholdings.

You can adjust your withholding rate so that you receive that $2,000 refund (from above) in equal monthly installments throughout the year, instead of one lump sum at the end of the year. That’s an “extra” $166.67/month. No, you won’t receive the large tax refund, but you WILL be reaping the benefits each month. Even if you just placed the extra $166 into your savings each month, there’s a little more comfort knowing that your dollars are available now, instead of later. For a person making $36k per year, that $166/month = the equivalent of a 6% pay raise. Ask your boss to give you a 6% raise today, do you think it will happen?

Don’t let the above information overwhelm you. It really is simple, once you start looking at the numbers. Get your current paystub out. Go to Brown, Edwards & Company’s calculator and start playing around with your scenarios. If you need help, I’m here.

Remember, would you pay $50 for the book on Amazon knowing that it only cost $10…and wait 12 months for the refund?

Go easy on me. This is officially my first video post with just me…nothing else.

Relationships. Trust me, over the past few years I’ve learned more about the value of relationships than I could possibly ever imagine.  Thank you to those who encourage, uplift, and most importantly listen…truly listen.

Conversely, thank you to those who did the exact opposite of the above. Without you…I would not be the person I am today.

relationships… from Josh Perrington on Vimeo.

Many of us have met at the Daily Grind on 419 in Roanoke for coffee, lunch, or fellowship and it’s become almost a home away from home for some. Countless relationships, ideas, and friendships have been forged at the very booth I’m sitting in as I write these thoughts.

If walls could talk…what would they say here? Would they talk about the frequent regulars like Heather Jacobson, John Lusher, Marty Martin, and Susan England? Or, would they tell about all of the creations that have come from these booths – like Project Give and other non-profit efforts? We’ll never know of many of the ideas, but rest assured they’re plentiful.

As I sit here observing, I see patrons visiting with each other. Some talking about the snow, some talking about their futures, some just being present, and a few truly diving deep into conversation as if no one else were here. Without Daily Grind, would any of this be happening? I suppose it would be taking place at Mill Mountain or MoJo Cafe, but there’s something special about this address. It’s not the coffee or the food, it’s the owners. On any given day, you can see Jeanie Patterson floating to engage with her “family”. Just ask. Most will tell you they come because of Jeanie. They come because they feel a part of their extended family, and rightfully so. Have a chat with Jeanie or Jim (husband) and both will admit their love for the people who occupy these seats and not for reasons you may think (profit, and such). They care because it’s in their DNA. Natural networkers, if you will.

So, should we be sad, full of remorse that our establishment is leaving? Nope.

The Staff (including Jeanie), is staying. And, let’s face it, we don’t come here for the coffee – we come here for the people. We come for the relationships. We’ll take a sabbatical for a few weeks, but then? Then…there’s this:

Enter Baja Bistro.

Word is…they’ll have FRESH tacos, nachos, salads, etc…and the best part? Margaritas. I can see Roanoke’s TwitterSphere going crazy for #MargaritaMondays already (I know you’re in @JohnLusher, I’ll probably be there too @joshperrington)…and let’s make that happen. Let’s pull together and support the efforts of Roanoke’s very own. Who better to initiate a recovery, than us.

As I wrap up, I realize this will be the last time I post from Daily Grind. The signs come down February 6^th, but the memories remain for a lifetime.

You will be missed, my friend.

I’ve recently been arguing the point that Marketers shape a consumer’s needs and wants – versus – simply reflecting what a consumer needs/wants. Here are my thoughts…

By definition, Marketing means to “identify and meet human and social needs”. The question, then, becomes exactly how are those needs identified. Are consumer needs shaped by marketers, or are the needs voiced first by the masses and then fulfilled by marketers? Arguments can be made for both, but I choose to take the following position:

Marketing shapes consumer needs and wants.

Twitter is a fantastic example of how marketing can shape a consumer’s wants and needs. People often say “I don’t care that Johnny had meatloaf for breakfast”, but the statistics speak quite the opposite and marketers realize this. Twitter has exploded into a cultural icon virtually overnight due to viral marketing efforts and has become the equivalent “water cooler” hot spot for information. But, was Twitter conceived by consumers voicing their need for this product…or, did marketers help shape the consumer’s need by predicting trends? I say the latter.

Twitter has truly become a marketer’s dream for both profit-driven and non-profit organizations. The Haiti Earthquake alone created in excess of 2.3 million tweets reflecting the words “Haiti” or “Red Cross” from Jan 12 to Jan 14, 2010. Almost immediately, word/buzz started spreading about the text-to-give function the Red Cross was utilizing in order to generate monetary support for Haiti relief. By texting “Haiti” to 90999 the Red Cross has gathered more than $2 million in support, simply because people/consumers choose to care about “Johnny’s” breakfast choices whether they admit it or not. With nearly 18 million users expected by the end of 2010, a 50% increase since 2009, the flood of information dissemination is difficult to argue that consumers dislike the product.

Twitter has done a remarkable job observing consumer habits and then relaying that into a product that’s being devoured at lighting speed. Marketers must pay attention to trends because they undoubtedly lead to new opportunities and threats. By engaging in these observations, marketers have the opportunity to identify shifts and possibly shape a consumer’s attitude and behavior surrounding a product. Twitter identified a cultural shift towards informational interest of all levels and produced a product that delivered what most consumers would not have asked for initially. Genius.

There have been few times in my life that I can undoubtedly pinpoint that there was/is another force…a higher force…working. Some call it God, some call it the Universe, some call it coincidence… But, I would not chalk James up to coincidence.

We were finishing up a tour of our local SWVA 2^nd Harvest Food Bank and were lingering in the Salvage Dept. This is where, amazingly enough, 1 Million pounds of food – not regular food mind you..dented cans, crushed boxes of cereal, etc…that the Stores won’t sell – filters to area Rescue Missions, Shelters, & Churches to give to our neighbors on the streets. It was here that we met James. The short, stocky, black/brown/”darker than I am” male about 20yrs my Senior walks up in his sweat suit to greet us. Immediately, we could feel his enthusiasm… He started sharing the stories of his volunteers, showing us pictures of them on his wall, thousands every year…

It’s not often that we meet people that actually have a love for their job is it? These people would do their work for free – no paycheck, if they could survive. James looked at us with his gleaming eyes & extended hand saying… “I know you’ll be back. I can tell by that smile on your face that something’s pulling you back – that God’s working in you.”

As we were leaving he said something profound…something that maybe only I was dialed in to – because I needed it. James said “You have to have Passion…or it’s not going to work”. Those words rang so true, as if someone had prescribed them. Of course I heard/read it before…but this was different. And to think, I was on the verge of canceling on the tour…that I was going to head back to the office early…

Those closest to me know that I’m passionate, but sometimes it’s great to be reminded by strangers the exact importance of that emotion. We’ve all been created with certain gifts, strengths, ideas, and wisdom…yet few are actually using them. Few are working daily in their “zone”. That same zone that allows us to work until 3am on projects without complaining, waking in the morning to start again feeling refreshed…because you are serving your purpose.

Are you Passionate about your work…not your job, your work? If not, maybe it’s time for a little self evaluation… Picture yourself 90 yrs old looking back on your life. How do you want to remember it? Some call it Divine Intervention, some call it coincidence…nevertheless…thank you James, for salvaging more than just food today.

Until next time… – Josh

@joshperrington | jperrington [at] gmail [dot] com