Vacations, fireworks shows and celebrations have been canceled or scaled back.  For some this may be discouraging but I find it refreshing.

Americans have been spending money they do not have for a long time and a dose of responsibility is what this nation needs to rebound.

In my sheltered world do we really have it that bad?  Many of us may not be able to spend money we do not have this Independence Day but we will have the opportunity to enjoyit  in the fashion we decide.  We are free to do as we choose.  Yes the government interferes with our money and commerce but the big picture is we don’t live in Iran or North Korea. If you really don’t like it here you might want to check out the other options available.

When we are unhappy about something our government does not shutdown Twitter or prevent us from communicating our opinion.  We are free to have our own opinion and share it.

In the United States our biggest worry is how will I maximize my life in a system that is for the most part free.

Here is my top ten list for what it means to be American.

1. I am not a victim, I live bold and free
2. I love America and do not bash it but serve it
3. Serve others (even those without obvious needs) (we all have needs)
4. I am thankful for those who have sacrificed for me.
5. I support our troops and their welfare.
6. Our President is American not Democrat or Republican.
7. If you don’t like something do something about it
8. Responsible – I am repsonsible for my own lot in life, period.  Nobody is going to bail me out.  Not even Obama.
9. Freedom is in our spirit, not our laws.
10. I have an opinion and I share it without fear of government.

Thankfully, I have no worries about being killed or jailed today for sharing my opinion.  I live in the United States of America.

What does it mean for you to be free?  Seriously!

I have a very simple solution.

Share What You Know!

It does not matter how simple or silly the idea or need.  The world is just looking for somebody to share their wisdom.

Formalize it and turn it into a blog.

Here are some ideas:

• Teach someone how to change their motor oil.
• Teach someone how to set up a Gmail Account
• Teach someone how to use Google Reader
• Teach someone how to care for tomatoes
• Teach someone how to cook a crepe
• Teach someone how to write a Haiku
• Teach someone how to organize their files
• Teach someone how to care for a baby
• Teach someone how to train a dog

This quite simply is the easist way I know to make the world a better place.  Simply Share What You Know!

I can being driving in my car and before you know it I am on a bus en route to the big wrestling match as the “Lunatic Fringe” blares on my radio.

“Benny and the Jets” and I am jumping on the couch in the living room with my sisters.  “Betty Davis Eyes” and I am in the back seat of my Dad’s car with my little brother he is only 2 and it”s one of his favorite songs.  White Snake and “Here I Go Again” hosting a party while my parents are away for the weekend.  “Yankee Rose “at Myrtle Beach on vacation with my buddy Craig. “Come Away With Me” and my wife and I are dancing our first dance.

Over the years I have felt like the songs were the catalyst for these good times but I now believe the songs are merely a marker or reference for a good memory.

My I-Pod has become a trip down memory lane but maybe, just maybe, all of this nostalgia is holding me back.

Maybe the access to the music from my past has made me lazy.  As my life moves on I have less and less songs that impact me.

I think the predominant factor in this development is, as I get older I take on less challenges and socialize less.  If I look back most of the musical memories revolve around people and experiences.

BOOM, BOOM POW! Time to start living again!

Last week I celebrated my 38th birthday.  My wife asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday.

I really love parties and entertaining, but I have become bored with the eat, talk and get fat format.  Instead  I suggested we host a “CornHole Tournament.” For those of you not from the Cincinnati area I assure you “CornHole” is not what you think.  CornHole is a fun bean bag toss game similar to horseshoes which supposedly originated in the Westside suburbs of Cincinnati.

Since I am 38  and too old for a traditional birthday party and I  did not want any presents, I decided to request my guests bring a can of corn to donate to the FreeStore Foodbank a local food pantry.  This worked out beautifully.  We collected 24 cans of Corn including one Sam’s Club size can of corn.

The success of my “CornRaiser” got me thinking about how easy it is to serve the world or community when you intertwine it with your everyday life.  In todays very hectic world sometimes the simplest of ideas are the best.

I challenge you to come up with a simple Fund Raiser to make a difference.

Here are a few to get started

• Cookie Buffet:  At work request co-workers bake a dozen cookies to bring into the “Cookie Buffet” those that bring cookies get free admission to the buffet and charge others a cover charge.  Donate the proceeds to a charity.
• Food Drive:  Put a large basket or bucket near the front desk of your office and collect can goods year round.
• White Elephant Silent Auction:  Request co-workers to donate an item of value that they just never use but maybe somebody else might find more useful.  Have the items on display for a week with bid sheets.  The money collected can be donated to a local charity.

These a just a few ideas, post your ideas and successes in the comments area.

Starting Over is not Starting from Scratch.

If you are finding yourself in a pinch and starting over don’t confuse it with starting from scratch.

Starting from scratch implies you have nothing.

Starting over leaves room for more.

Starting over is time to channel Rod Stewart’s lyrics “I wish that I knew what I know now,
When I was younger.”

“Do Over!”

It’s been said “HindSight” is always 20/20 and starting over is your chance to get it right.

Starting over means you have:

• experience
• resources
• relationships
• expertise
• support
• knowledge
• wisdom
• vision
• education
• practice
• perfection
• repetition
• contacts
• courage

Remember these assets if you think you are starting from scratch.

Thanks Rod!

"START" Watch

So many talented people I know wait until they are ready to start something new.

My question is how can you be ready unless you start?

It’s the proverbial chicken before the egg question.

My belief is the only way you will be ever ready to start is if you actually take the plunge and start today.

Starting today allows you to build confidence, experience and momentum.

Not starting today builds fear and stagnation.

You will never know the doors that will open for you by being in the flow of starting on your dreams today.

On Your Mark, Get Set, Go!!!

Questions are living!

Change your life on a dime, instead of looking for answers, start looking for questions

What can you do to change the world?

They say the key to life is an “Attitude of Gratitude.”

Tell Me Something Good about your life.

Share it right here.  It’s a great way to start your week.

• I am thankful I work for a company that is doing well in this tough economy.
• I am thankful for a healthy baby girl 4 months old and all smiles.
• I am thankful for a beautiful wife who loves me dearly.
• I am thankful I am inspired and connected with my life and passion.
• I am thankful for a wonderful and supportive family.
• I am thankful for good friends.

Alright it’s your turn.  What are you thankful for this week?

Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has plenty; not on your past misfortunes of which all men have some. –Charles Dickens

We need  That’s right, you heard me, PRONUNCIATORS!
You only have to try to say the word “PechaKucha”, it will be quick and painless.  But since you’ve expressed interest in PechaKucha, we’d love it if you would put your face where your facebook is!

D E T A I L S
Lightborne Studios, 210 E. 14th street downtown, between Main and Sycamore.

Today: Noon  - 2pm

The more the merrier, the more diverse the merrier.  Please feel free to bring a friend or family member!

Hope to see all you PRONUNCIATORS there!

PechaKucha Cincinnati

Do You PK?

If you plan to attend just show up.  Or you can catch me on Twitter until 11:30am Today.

See you there.

I do and so does Cincinnati!  Sleepy and conservative Cincinnati has joined the international movement known as Pecha Kucha Night.

You are probably thinking Pecha Kucha, isn’t that one of the Pokémon characters and why is Cincinnati celebrating a “Pocket Monster?”  I don’t blame you for the confusion.  Pecha Kucha and Pokémon do have a common root as they are both English translations of Japanese words.  Pecha Kucha simply translates as “the sound of conversation.”

Pecha Kucha Nights are the creation of a pair of architects, Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham as a technique or style of presentation for designers to share their work without boring the daylights out of everybody involved.

Klein and Dytham came up with a simple idea of 20 slides or images timed at 20 seconds each.  6 minutes and 40 seconds, pure genius, with the limitation of 20 slides at 20 seconds each, the presenters are forced to present only their best work allowing the cream to rise to the top.  If there is no cream to rise the presenter is limited and no awkward yawning from the audience because their time is up.

I was introduced to the concept of Pecha Kucha by Daniel Johnson Jr. the founder of New Media Cincinnati, a local group of social media addicts who meet monthly to share ideas and to be “social.”  In November our monthly meeting was conducted Pecha Kucha style.  I was immediately attracted to the idea due to my nearly two decade career in audio visual productions and sitting through hours, days, weeks and years of really boring PowerPoint presentations.  Pecha Kucha is an answer to my prayers.

My inspiration led me to whip up a Pecha Kucha in under an hour since my 3 week old daughter did not allow for much more.  I parsed my notes for a business networking e-book I had been working on for a few months and “20 Ninja Networking Secrets” was born.

You can view my slide share below:

After the meeting I was inspired to research hosting a Pecha Kucha Night in Cincinnati and I started creating a team of advisors to help me launch the project.  I emailed Klein and Dytham and did not hear anything back.  Pecha Kucha is a trademarked concept so I did not want to step on any toes.  Over the holidays I shelved the project and planned to start gathering a team after the first of the year.

A good friend from the past contacted me over the holidays looking for audio visual assistance for an event she was putting together with a coworker.  She asked about my experience in the Contemporary Art Center in Cincinnati and asked if we could meet.  She had no idea I had any knowledge of Pecha Kucha.  I asked about the event and she mentioned designers and artists would be sharing their work at the event.  I asked, “Is this a Pecha Kucha Night?”  She was floored.  Although Pecha Kucha is an international movement, the average person will look at you a bit funny when you mention the name.

I shared with her that I had a vision of hosting Pecha Kucha nights in Cincinnati promoting the city to attract conventions and meetings.  I shared that I wanted to host one on Fountain Square in Downtown Cincinnati, her team had the same idea.

I must admit at first I was a little disappointed, my ego wanted the glory of bringing Pecha Kucha Night to Cincinnati but I quickly realized that a ready made team was the way to go.

My friend invited me to a planning meeting and it just so happens that the Pecha Kucha founders replied on the same day with their contact info for the Pecha Kucha Cincinnati team.  I must admit it is interesting how life’s twists and turns often lead to the same place.  Pecha Kucha found me.

I am now an official member of the Pecha Kucha Cincinnati planning committee and my employer Prestige AV & Creative Services is on board as a sponsor of the event.

I hope you join us on February 13th at the Contemporary Art Center.

Visit DoYouPK.org for more details.

Follow on Twitter @doyoupk