A New Way
by Gordon Graham
It feels like a new day! The past is a part of history, the future remains a mystery, but the present is what is. We need to deal with “what is,” but the focus should be on what can be.
Every day I become more aware of the rapid changes that are occurring across the country.
Much of the change is driven by technology. In reading, hearing and seeing the political approach to the election of 2008, we have seen a dramatic difference in campaign strategies.
Obama was directly in touch with voters from Oregon to Delaware. His use of the web, Face Book, the Blackberry and all the other internet connections kept him in touch with you and me at the grass roots level. He’s someone that most of us felt could understand our challenges, hopes and dreams. McCain seemed to be a throwback to a different time in history. He seemed to be talking to an audience that wasn’t aware that the world has changed. We are a diverse society, no longer able to fit old solutions to the world’s problems of today; a society that is coming to recognize that diplomacy is at least as important as military strength. McCain’s service to this country is something that every
American can admire. However, it’s a new day and we need a new way if we are to regain our image as a leader of the free world.
I have great respect for Obama. However, I am closer to McCain in terms of technology.
The internet, the web, Face Book, and all the other technological tools are still beyond my abilities. Fortunately I have Cat, Kate and Eve who work to keep me connected to the information highway. Newsletters, blogs and on-line learning are today’s reality. The ingenuity of the high tech world continues to amaze me. The marketing power of the web, and it’s ability to place opportunities in our living rooms is truly awesome. The world is changing and we must choose either to adjust or we will be a memory from “back in the day.”
So with this in mind, we will be offering on-line courses that allow people to sign up and participate in our curriculum on-line. There will be courses to help individuals gain insights and tools for self-improvement, as well as how to deal with the changes we all face. We will offer programs for correctional facilities, parole and transitional services for prison inmates. Another area of focus is union/management relations, and how to build strong companies and organizations right here in our own country. We will continue to add
other courses which will assist individuals and organizations in dealing with change, the only constant we can all count on.
Change has become the driving force for organizations and individuals as we strive to remain competitive in today’s economy. Change has been my personal mantra for the past 38 years. Just when I think I’m on top of things, they change! With a new president and new leadership in Washington D.C., this country has the opportunity to create a change in direction that will benefit not only the U.S., but the entire world.
Change is an inside job. It starts with each one of us. I’m excited about what we can achieve over the next four years. I’m in!
Peace,
Gordy Graham
Gordon Graham & Co.
www.ggco.com
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
A New Day!
We anticipate a new day under new leadership. It will take tremendous courage to change the course of this country. Good words are important; they can get you elected, but they only last a short time without the actions that bring them to life. I’m optimistic about our new leadership, and excited about the possibilities that lay before us. We need jobs that pay decent wages, workers need a voice in the game, and unions give them that voice. Unions, like any democratic organization, are judged by their leadership. I’ve been impressed by the leadership of the U.A.W. They were willing to “put skin in the game.”
Labor built this country, and unions are the last advocates for keeping decent paying jobs here. Politicians need to address the greed and self-serving culture that is destroying people’s ability to find jobs that pay a living wage. We need to bring jobs back to our cities and states, and stop the out-sourcing that has destroyed our manufacturing base. Unions give our working men and women a voice in the future of our country. It has proven to be extremely dangerous to leave our future in the hands of politicians and greedy multi-national corporations.
This is a new day, and we need a new way. We voted overwhelmingly for change in this country. Obama rocks!
Gordy Graham
Gordon Graham & Co.
Labor built this country, and unions are the last advocates for keeping decent paying jobs here. Politicians need to address the greed and self-serving culture that is destroying people’s ability to find jobs that pay a living wage. We need to bring jobs back to our cities and states, and stop the out-sourcing that has destroyed our manufacturing base. Unions give our working men and women a voice in the future of our country. It has proven to be extremely dangerous to leave our future in the hands of politicians and greedy multi-national corporations.
This is a new day, and we need a new way. We voted overwhelmingly for change in this country. Obama rocks!
Gordy Graham
Gordon Graham & Co.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Gordy Graham's Daily Affirmation:
Gordy Graham's Daily Affirmation: "I believe in myself and I believe I can make a positive difference in this world."
Gordy Graham: Dealing with Challenges
Dealing with Challenges
by Gordon Graham
If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change! Problems and opportunities can be two sides of the same coin. These are important concepts to keep in mind when things appear to be in turmoil.
There’s no question about current reality. The country is going through some very challenging times and it’s easy to get caught up in a negative mind set. However, it’s important to remind ourselves that the way we react mentally will have an influence on the outcome.
That doesn’t suggest that we ignore our challenges, but that we focus on creative ways of moving forward. To see through the present situation to what we will look like without the problem.
A good mental exercise is called the flick back, flick up technique. Flick back mentally to a challenging time in the past and then flick up to when you had worked through it. We have all gone through many difficult situations and we are all still in the game. Looking forward with hope and a positive expectancy can brighten the day.
The way that we think has a lot to do with the way that we act. It’s important to remind ourselves that we can control how we think. We can’t control the actions and conversations around us but we can control how we react to them.
See yourself six months from today, looking back on today and thinking “That was an interesting time!”
5 Tips for Managing Challenging Times
1. Keep in mind that we have control over how we react or respond to situations.
2. Recognize that bad news sells papers so don’t get caught up in the gloom and doom scenario.
3. Step back and evaluate options that may be available and have patience with yourself and others.
4. Stress can cause damage to relationships, so be gentle with those you love – again patience.
5. See yourself through the current situation into a positive future.
Be at peace and have patience with self and others.
by Gordon Graham
If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change! Problems and opportunities can be two sides of the same coin. These are important concepts to keep in mind when things appear to be in turmoil.
There’s no question about current reality. The country is going through some very challenging times and it’s easy to get caught up in a negative mind set. However, it’s important to remind ourselves that the way we react mentally will have an influence on the outcome.
That doesn’t suggest that we ignore our challenges, but that we focus on creative ways of moving forward. To see through the present situation to what we will look like without the problem.
A good mental exercise is called the flick back, flick up technique. Flick back mentally to a challenging time in the past and then flick up to when you had worked through it. We have all gone through many difficult situations and we are all still in the game. Looking forward with hope and a positive expectancy can brighten the day.
The way that we think has a lot to do with the way that we act. It’s important to remind ourselves that we can control how we think. We can’t control the actions and conversations around us but we can control how we react to them.
See yourself six months from today, looking back on today and thinking “That was an interesting time!”
5 Tips for Managing Challenging Times
1. Keep in mind that we have control over how we react or respond to situations.
2. Recognize that bad news sells papers so don’t get caught up in the gloom and doom scenario.
3. Step back and evaluate options that may be available and have patience with yourself and others.
4. Stress can cause damage to relationships, so be gentle with those you love – again patience.
5. See yourself through the current situation into a positive future.
Be at peace and have patience with self and others.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Gordy Graham's 5 Tips on Talking to kids about drugs
Gordy Graham's 5 Tips for talking to young people about drugs
written by Gordon Graham
1.)Whenever possible avoid a confrontational approach. When we feel pushed
we automatically push back.
2.)Be pro-active in discussing the issues surrounding drug use, i.e., make
the problem something that impacts communities and families on a larger
scale than just your son or daughter.
3.)Respect the young person's right to have opinions. Develop an
understanding that we are on the same side and solicit their input.
4.)Avoid a judgmental approach. The goal is to fix the problem not fix the
blame.
5.)Take advantage of opportunities to discuss current events (newspaper
articles, news stories) relating to the consequences of drug use, however,
not with an "I told you so" attitude.
A sense of unconditional love should override every conversation.
written by Gordy Graham www.ggco.com
written by Gordon Graham
1.)Whenever possible avoid a confrontational approach. When we feel pushed
we automatically push back.
2.)Be pro-active in discussing the issues surrounding drug use, i.e., make
the problem something that impacts communities and families on a larger
scale than just your son or daughter.
3.)Respect the young person's right to have opinions. Develop an
understanding that we are on the same side and solicit their input.
4.)Avoid a judgmental approach. The goal is to fix the problem not fix the
blame.
5.)Take advantage of opportunities to discuss current events (newspaper
articles, news stories) relating to the consequences of drug use, however,
not with an "I told you so" attitude.
A sense of unconditional love should override every conversation.
written by Gordy Graham www.ggco.com
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Gordon Graham: First Look at 2009
First Look at 2009 – January 5, 2009
by Gordon Graham
The beginning of a year is always a time for reflection and for making New Year’s resolutions. 2009 looks like it holds some significant challenges, and also some great opportunities. There’s real anticipation for our new leadership to take office, and also a sense of trepidation, depending upon your point of view.
I’m blessed with friends who hold some very different perspectives from Yours Truly. The beauty of friendship is that you can agree to disagree without damaging your relationships, because the basic decency and core values of the individuals involved are generally very similar. A lot of time and energy can be wasted trying to convince people that we have a monopoly on the “real truth,” which can cause a rift in the relationship, or people start to avoid our company.
There are certain things that are best avoided when we are with new acquaintances, they would include religion, politics and government to name a few. We can explore these topics with our close friends, with the caveat that we respect the other’s right to believe as they choose. Some of my best friends hold positions differing from mine on issues that are close to my heart. However, I recognize that they are caring, loving human beings who happen to disagree with my point of view. Life would be quite boring if we only associated with people who always agree with us.
One of my New Year’s resolutions (in addition to my yearly health resolutions!) is to recognize how blessed we are to live in a society where we can express our points of view. We can agree to disagree and then sit down and break bread together, remaining close friends.
2009 should be an exciting time for new beginnings. I look forward to Obama taking office. I’ve read both of his books and admire the depth of his knowledge, and the broad range of his personal experiences. We live in an extremely diverse society and there needs to be a respect for our differences, and a willingness to build on our areas of agreement is an essential component of coming together in unity.
Obama’s understanding of the deteriorating of our inner cities, and the lack of opportunities for young men and women growing up in these environments is encouraging.
He recognizes that there is a connection between the number of young males ending up in prisons and these poor environments. This gives me hope for addressing the problem where it exists, in our inner cities. We live in a great country that has the capability of ending the cycle of poverty and prison. This year of 2009 could be the start of something new, a change that will be of value to all segments of society.
Peace,
Gordy Graham
Gordon Graham & Co.
www.ggco.com
by Gordon Graham
The beginning of a year is always a time for reflection and for making New Year’s resolutions. 2009 looks like it holds some significant challenges, and also some great opportunities. There’s real anticipation for our new leadership to take office, and also a sense of trepidation, depending upon your point of view.
I’m blessed with friends who hold some very different perspectives from Yours Truly. The beauty of friendship is that you can agree to disagree without damaging your relationships, because the basic decency and core values of the individuals involved are generally very similar. A lot of time and energy can be wasted trying to convince people that we have a monopoly on the “real truth,” which can cause a rift in the relationship, or people start to avoid our company.
There are certain things that are best avoided when we are with new acquaintances, they would include religion, politics and government to name a few. We can explore these topics with our close friends, with the caveat that we respect the other’s right to believe as they choose. Some of my best friends hold positions differing from mine on issues that are close to my heart. However, I recognize that they are caring, loving human beings who happen to disagree with my point of view. Life would be quite boring if we only associated with people who always agree with us.
One of my New Year’s resolutions (in addition to my yearly health resolutions!) is to recognize how blessed we are to live in a society where we can express our points of view. We can agree to disagree and then sit down and break bread together, remaining close friends.
2009 should be an exciting time for new beginnings. I look forward to Obama taking office. I’ve read both of his books and admire the depth of his knowledge, and the broad range of his personal experiences. We live in an extremely diverse society and there needs to be a respect for our differences, and a willingness to build on our areas of agreement is an essential component of coming together in unity.
Obama’s understanding of the deteriorating of our inner cities, and the lack of opportunities for young men and women growing up in these environments is encouraging.
He recognizes that there is a connection between the number of young males ending up in prisons and these poor environments. This gives me hope for addressing the problem where it exists, in our inner cities. We live in a great country that has the capability of ending the cycle of poverty and prison. This year of 2009 could be the start of something new, a change that will be of value to all segments of society.
Peace,
Gordy Graham
Gordon Graham & Co.
www.ggco.com
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