Hound Dog Blog

Get Real!

... on Hyperbole, clichés, and BEING a phony. These are things I can do without.

I'd rather sit here, read, learn and watch my beautiful hound dog than to quote movies or proclaim that I possess THE answer. You see - this is why I think my friend Bucky is cool. Bucky is cool because he is enlightened, in His way, yet also empathizes to others, because he was not always enlightened; therefore (in my book), he is real. I like real people, no matter how 'odd' they are. In fact (more often than not in my life) the odd ones are the REAL ones - it is the PHONIES that are trying to be odd.... (such a paradox... that I must use my ellipses). Movies like 'Say Anything...' (never seen it, but I hear its great) where there is a hackneyed line used to the death, of the actual line itself are part of this problem... I can't stand that line... the 'sell processed goods' whatever line... it's phoney baloney mumbo jumbo.

Just be yourself. If your in sales, it is likely that you often must play a role, but at least believe in what you do. If you don't believe in what you do, and the people that help you to make you what you do what you do, then you're being untrue to yourself.

Don't mean to 'rant.' It's just hard to understand why anyone would have such a 'high opinion' of oneself.

Humility is a trait, or character attribute which I find to be (and I know this my opinion and a personal blog) the most attractive characteristic a person can possess. Of course, confidence is attractive also; however, when humility is nonexistent, all one can assume is that person is a jerk.

Stop being a jerk.

I am indebted to the Olive Garden family

People thought I was nuts for working at the Olive Garden for as long as I did. But here is a fact: their line, "When you're here, you're family" is indicative of the work culture, as well as the service.

This is not a post about culinary quality. (i.e. 'how good the breadsticks are' or 'how great the Soup and Salad is at the Olive Garden,' or 'how rockin' of a deal that Neverending Pasta Bowl is,' this is a post about what I believe is right. 

I was employed at the Olive Garden for about six years. From the top (Darden) down, that restaurant, their managers, their employees and the way the 'care' about service, quality and satisfaction is unmatched. (I remind you, this is not a 'restaurant review,' so if you had a bad experience - save it, lest you look a fool).

The point is this:

• They cared about me, my health, my sanity 
• They compensated me fairly, commensurate with my work 
• They allowed me to take time with my family when faced with life's toughest challenges. (and it was not only me they did this for) 
• They allowed me and everyone at the restaurant the opportunity to 'do our part' during the tragedy of 9/11 
• They were not like and not were, but are a family to me  

Ok, so why the 'restaurant review'? Well it isn't. It has nothing to do with the Chicken Parmesan. It has to do with the way an organization treats its employees without any validation that after an employee leaves that the employee will remain as loyal.

I work for an organization now that is of the same ilk. It is not the restaurant business, but I am treated like family... but... it comes with a high price... for a good reason: The stakes are higher. More money is exchanged, and the company is smaller (in workforce), therefore there is a much heftier price tag of mutual loyalty. 

My intention is not to opine about org 'structures;' however it is my intention to at least plant a seed that it is up to YOU to decide if YOU are capricious. The organizations that I just pointed out do not accept caprice, because their very existence relies upon the marketer's belief (DING DING... got it?... thought you would).

If you leave a place, and I have only left the Olive Garden (for the most part... see my LinkedIn profile here for proof) and it was for a 'career change,' not because I wasn't 'making money' or 'felt I was being treated unfairly,' - I was sad to go, because I knew they had my back.

The company I work for right now is the same. 

Again, I am in a position where I can choose these things (p.s. there are more than 2):

• give up
• work harder 
• invent new things 
• walk around  
• talk 
• laugh loudly 
• listen to music loudly  
• sell 
• work 
• oh... lest I forget... fight like hell 
• sleep on the floor 
• be remarkable 
• sell covers   

...bored yet... obviously I am employed at a place where choices are in abundance, and it is up to me to create. 

The main point is... if you leave... be true to the hand that fed you, if not... you were and are only being untrue to yourself.

I couldn't STAND some of the policies at the Olive Garden, but they were there for a reason, which I later came to understand. Loyalty is what Tim Tebow is. Loyalty is belief. Belief comes from passion, and passion cannot be contrived, nor can it be hyperbole. 
  

Whac-A-Mole or Web Marketing?

The blog will remain a mainstay on the web.

Why? There are - (I'll bet you), thousands of posts, antidotes, lists and theories as to why one should 'blog.' I'm not going to attempt here. However, I have written about it in the past.

If marketing and advertising are basically a blend of statistical analysis and artistic imagery than one should realize, if one happens to be in the industry (let's face it), we all are in the biz, then it should stand to reason that a 'blog' implements the most  fundamental ingredients of all that marketing is and is not.

How many pieces of spam do you get a day? How much junk is on the internet? One step further, how many junk blogs are out there? Go ahead and call this one junk, for all I care, but that is precisely why the blog will stand in good stead.

Facebook and twitter, for example, are 'new media' platforms. Both of them have an enormous amount of 'media' attention, Why? Well, because 'marketers' use them. Not because they are solving problems, or curing cancer... you know 'important stuff.' People are looking to them as a means to their financial gain. . . Which is ok, I guess... but (for me) anyway. . . facebook and twitter are simply networking platforms... that are rapidly and I mean very rapidly eroding into a uncontrollable blather of noise.

Not because of the marketers (markerters were the proverbial 'mother's of the invention,' but because of pedantic, baseless, and lame individuals who don't contribute to the 'health of the platforms' themselves.  Or, maybe they do what they do 'well' (financially, that is), but so does someone selling life insurance. I am glad people do -many who sell it are amazing people; however the pitch:

'ma'am, that piece of parchment is just a piece of parchment until it's been baptized by a widows tears'

is not my idea of sales or marketing... however effective it may be.

I like to blog, I like to 'tweet' and I like to use facebook, but if you aren't good at innuendo, you will fail miserably while attempting to use them as a marketing platform.

It brings me back to perhaps one of the most amazing marketers I have ever met... She is so good at... so good... that you don't even know she is 'selling' or 'marketing'.... which in fact is what makes a 'blog' successful, or an interesting facebook profile. It is not 'the quantity' of content, it is the 'quality.' This . . . I believe is the paradox of the web. Everyone wants a piece of the pie, but the way they go after it is by inundating with 'junk' and not quality. Garbage into the server, garbage returned upon search results.

Of course, you aren't always going to have a 'great' hair day, and of course you aren't always going hit it on the mark... but... don't use facebook and twitter like a Whac-A-Mole. Thus, the blog will survive the digital revolution and be an important tool for your success.... you can't wack it... it takes persistance, drive and (a dash) of courage.

Passion Puddle

My Dad wrote this at the age of 27. I wonder where he wrote it.

God To Me John C Beattie, Jr October 9th 1967

Bewildered and awed by His institutions. 

Belittled we seek to make restitutions.

A paramount so high, the sky is below.

Of knowledge so vast, there is nothing to know.

Of dominations so immense and unwielding

Belabors the mind to concentrations unyielding.

Of a magnificence so perfect too true to behold

Of itself indescribable, no words can be told.

We shudder to think of His boundary of perfections

Each conclusion we reach subject to objections.

Let it be – that never we will

Attempt to climb the crest of a His all perfect hill.

And if in Him we near our top

Pray to Him that we’ll never stop.

Please use reunion.com - not facebook.com - please, pretty please...?

Social Media. (read this - good insight) How many blog posts must it take before an 'official rulebook' comes into play... I have to break from it... largely because I can't explain myself anymore on it... 

I cherish the friends that I have there, but a 'class reunion...' No thanks... didn't go to the last one... and won't go to the next one... no offense. But reunion.com and facebook.com are separate entities... please distinguish between the two...

What I like about facebook is it's 'anonymity,' with its 'transparency.' I'm not sure if I would consider myself an early adopter... but I am an early adopter... and I have connected so many of my friends via facebook... some of them have adopted the technology and embraced it modestly as I did, and some... just abuse it. 

So, how does one abuse facebook? Well, here's how: It is a powerful tool, a powerful communicative device, a powerful way to market things and a courageous way to be yourself (especially for introverts). 

The last point is where the problem is. These 'introverts' (and I am one also, btw, have grabbed a hold of the facebook platform to make high school reunion groups, and who's cooler than who groups, instead of what was fun about it to begin with... which was just to be connected. It's nice to know that I am connected with certain people that I don't talk to all the time. 

But all of the sudden (and it is recent) it is no longer a platform... it is 'the place to be' which makes it ... well... 'myspace'... no offense... but... dare I say it . . . there is now an opportunity for a new Social Media model because the facebook model has been hijacked by people who need something to do when American Idol or Dancing with The Stars is not on. 

p.s. I always thought those shows sucked, never watched one of them... and if they were on and I wasn't on facebook, I was READING a BOOK... they still make them you know...

Kind and Generous

I am compelled to do this. I don't know why, but there are some people who have helped me in the past 3 months that I want to thank... and this seems to be an appropriate place - I have left off your last names intentionally (but you know who you are).

I have needed help, unfortunately... I guess sometimes we all need help, but these people have encouraged, helped or offered in the most selfless and touching ways... these people will forever have a place in my life - no matter where I am, who I am with, or what I am thinking... 

Also... this list is unordered... by that I mean - it is not a 'rank' - I am indebted to each and every one of you and for different reasons and to all my most sincere gratitude... 

• Charlene
• Sheri 
• Danielle K 
• David S 
• John P 
• Challen M 
• Martha B 
• Cynthia R 
• Jamie H 
• Ty A 
• Stan G 
• Ralph A 
• Alan M  
• Libby C 
• Linda P 
• Wags
• Liz S
• David A 

These are people that helped me... without 'asking' in return... furthermore... I did not ask them for help... they are just the must genuine, true, honest, faithful and empathetic people I have ever known. 

 

The Blues Explained...

If you don't understand the blues, or if you are a shiny happy person... this is worth 5 minutes of your time... like Mr. Marsalis, the blues make me smile...

That's me in the spotlight... That's me in the corner...

Publishing. Recording. They are a record. The kind of record that never goes away... but the word 'record' could be a verb or a noun. The latter being one of vinyl (or however they evolved or devolved for that matter), or a 'burden of proof' for someone, something or someplace.

See, I have had this wonderful, enlightening conversation with my new cyber-blog buddy Beth. I interpreted a post to mean something that wasn't what I thought it was (I always had low reading comprehension scores - though I was an advanced reader) and she kindly pointed it out. It became quite a luminous discourse. She offered amazing insight, while (since I cast the stone) offered a bit of my own.

This post, however is necessitated by a sad state of affairs. Beth's last bit of insight was so revealing. The reason why is because it begs a question that I think I can answer. She writes:

"What about musicians who don't tour . . . like Enya? What would be the source of income  What do you think? Note: I know this is probably rare."

She is right... it is rare... Enya ... simply beautiful in soul, spirit, mind, artistry, and music... perhaps one of the greats of the 20th (not 21st) century, but deluded by the recording industry because of publishing copyright shenanigans.

Seth actually talks about this, (the music industry, that is) how the publishers / copyright holders failed to 'push' the envelope because the actual 'physical record - the one that you put on a record player became obsolete' - the industry became a game of lawsuits and 'me me me' and stopped being about music, the craft, etc.... I digress... his point was about how the industry failed themselves by NOT embracing modern technology - they fought it.

My point here is not about music, because I (personally) can play songs on the instruments I choose and even have access to music I want to listen to... maybe because I am resourceful, maybe because I WANT to... this is my point...

You can STEAL this post... yes... I said... Take it... take it and put it on your blog... I dare you!! I won't sue you... In fact, I hope you do... (I hope you at least 'hotlink' it back here), but I don't care... you know why? ... and not to use a 'Metalllica' reference... but ... this is 'Sad But True'... people don't read anymore... people don't play music anymore...

Reading is substituted by the television, XBOX and Rockband... Music (playing it that is, is substituted by synthesizers, beatboxes, and DJ's - ohh... how I loathe the DJ with a 'record' ... give me a break!! - however, I do make exception when it comes to Old School 'DJ's' where they actually used the 'turntable and microphone's' as instruments)....

In sum, if you blog, write, publish, (whatever) you probably have 'read.' You likely have 'read' a lot. If you play 'stringed' instruments and care about 'metronomes,' 'cadence,' and the 'blues' you probably have listened to a lot of music. You can't write if you haven't read, and you can't play if you've only played XBOX rockstar. (Period). So... steal my song, steal my words, but they'll never be yours... because mass consumption has corrupted both of the crafts by legalisms, societal advancements, and institutional 'that's just the way it is' type thinking. If you make money with your pen, you are lucky... but unfortunately... most people don't read anymore... just as they don't listen anymore... and that, my friends, is a 'shame.'

I am Tracking this ... (back, that is)

Seth Godin (among many others - and I apologize for not mentioning you here) has been a primary source of my 'typing' and 'publishing on the web' (the word 'publisher' seems to have much esteem to it, so I use it with extreme caution).

His post today was titled: "Don't get sued" - exactly - but without the quotes, of course and it was emboldened (at least on my monitor). The post was typical Seth Godin fashion - straight shot, to the point with a hint of innuendo; however, I must respond (and again - I speak from my voice alone).

Why must this be something of concern? Afterall, copyright laws are silly indeed, as proven by Mark Twain and one of the many strokes of genius he had was this: (for the full article click here)

In any case, like so many things Twain, the story brought a smile to my face as I thought about how ingenious the man was in the face of a challenge, even something like copyright terms that he found unfavorable. While he stumped for copyright extensions (which eventually did come, obviating the need for his schemes), Twain was at least on to one important point: you can and must compete with "free." In Twain's situation, "free" was the threat of publishers who could use his works without paying him. Today "free" takes on a new level of meaning, since so many copyrighted works can be shared without an intervening publisher. Yet the point still stands: Twain understood how the value of copyrighted works could change over time, and he imagined a scenario in which he would creatively try to enliven old works to renew their commercial aspects to compete against works that would not benefit him commercially. Much has changed since 1906, but not the need for intelligent vigilance or business ingenuity.

It is our the modern version of today... except 100 years ago, technology wasn't instantaneous. but the Wright Brothers were still working it out (flying, that is).. and Henry Ford was basking in the light of the 'introduction of the Model T.'

Today... we spend more time 'trying not to get sued'... it's a shame... I think anyway... what is wrong with innovation? Isn't creation what WE are all about anyway?

Maybe I'm Amazed

You don't have to be a Beatle fan to recognize that whatever happened during 'Beatlemania' (circa 1962 - 1969 and that might be a tad bit long), was sacrosanct (and I only use that word cuz CBS used it today - and I like it). In order to describe Beatlemania, The Beatles, their music or even the cultural effect they had upon society is to embark upon an hackneyed book that shows up each Christmas... I have no intention of that... but...

To my knowledge, it was this 'song' ... (one of the greatest songs EVER) that precipitated The Beatles' breakup. I am not going to disagree... I am only going to suggest that this is 'folklore' or 'nonsense.' Call it what you will. I don't read tabloids. I never have, and it is likely that I never will. Since I chose to study History for a Bachelors of Arts at the University of Florida (yes... props to the National Champs), I am one who likes to think about what is real as opposed to sensational. I don't mind 'whimsical' stories or people... in fact the GREATEST movie (IMHO) EVER made was 'The Wizard of Oz.' The entire film is a dream sequence... WAY ahead of its time... just like yes... back to The Beatles...

Here's the point: The Beatles did NOT break up because of 'Maybe I'm Amazed.' That is faulty logic, at best. They broke up because they were young men with 'CHOICES' . . .

Make sure you got that... CHOICES . . . you have them also. Sometimes we don't get to choose. But we always - and I mean ALWAYS have more than two of them. I take that back... If you are sitting on your death bed (which I know a man - my father) - you may not actually have 'choices,' you may just have to make ... 'decisions' - some of them may have already been 'choices' that you have made... with - in my Father's case, my Mother - his wife and best friend.

I don't mean to belabor this, but you ALWAYS have more than 'only 2 choices in life' . . . that is, if you are living... if you your life is defined by 'medical devices' for sustenance - perhaps you may have ONLY TWO choices or even less ... but... again I digress...

The Fab Four had a multitude of choices, which is exactly why the song 'Maybe I'm Amazed' was written... but for the record... Lennon had alread made a decision (and a choice, for that matter) to leave the band... he was tired of it... John Lennon was in love. He loved Yoko... under much duress, I might add. The press hated her, but he followed the many choices he had.

If John Lennon marrying Yoko Ono (whom I think is brilliant, by the way) - doesn't tell you that people have MORE THAN TWO CHOICES ... unless... that is: YOU know for a fact... that 'people' have alread 'DECIDED'... because life, as I know it anyway... is not about 2 choices... and if it were... I'd give up...  I don't know but ...maybe... just maybe... I'm amazed...