Prism or Prison

When light passes through it, a prism provides a beautiful array of light.  r.o.y.g.b.i.v. comes to mind when I was learning about such things in school.

Prison on the other hand reflects an array of shades of grey.  Having done 6+ years of prison ministry, I know all too well the sad, cold, loneliness of the colors of prison. 

One offers beauty while the other conjures up fear.  One offers hope, while the other offers nothing but despair.  One offers a wide range of creative freedom.  The other provides limited access controlled by iron bars, razor wire and steel gates.

Why, you may ask, am I offering a comparison like this in my weekly blog?

Whether you are in sales, marketing, relationship building, or simply just hanging out with friends and family – it matters whether you are a prison or a prism.

Prism people look at and talk about possibilities, opportunities, exciting challenges and dreams.

Prison people speak from a victim mentality.  They offer negativity, gossip, criticism, and an opportunity to join them as they live under a dark grey cloud of unfulfilling sadness.  They drag others down to their life of drudgery so that they don’t feel so alone.  They spread their depressed outlook on life like a fast moving cancer.

Prism people have a spring in their step, a purpose in their walk and are a joy to be around.

Prison people find joy in bringing others to their cesspool of daily living.

As we approach the holidays, many of us will be going to parties, gatherings and family events.   The choice is yours.  Will you be a prism person or a prison person?

If you are not sure which person you are, simply take a second look at your Facebook posts.  Do you whine, complain, moan and groan?  Or do you encourage, uplift, and offer a ray of sunshine.

Still not sure?  Well, look at your 5 closest friends.  Are they upbeat and positive?  Or are they dark clouds that brighten a room when they leave?

Again, it’s your choice.  Prism or Prison – it’s up to you.

Have a great week.

Ron  

To schedule Ron to speak to your business, civic group

or organization, contact him at:

ron@ronorendi.com

717-802-0483

Lonely At The Top

Lonely at the Top

YOU!  Yes, you.  You are the above average employee.  Your work ethic is strong.  Your knowledge of your particular field puts you in the top 1%.  You are a hard worker.  You put in long hours.  You are a loyal and dedicated employee.  You are the one assigned extra tasks, responsibilities and projects.

You are also the target among the “average” crowd at work.  There are accusations on the color of your nose.  Others in your work section look at you and shake their head.

When a promotion or designation comes, your “co-worker friends” say they are happy for you.  But, you know better.  Some are jealous.  Others cannot believe they chose YOU.  Some create a “distance” between you and them.

Why is it so lonely at the top?

I don’t think there is an easy explanation.  Perhaps there are a number of answers to this question.

As you climb the corporate ladder, Caste system at work there are fewer and fewer people like you - the higher you climb.

The “average” person is just that AVERAGE.  Some are lazy or unmotivated.  Others are just passing their time – waiting for retirement.

The top can be lonely.

BUT, it also can be exciting, adventurous, challenging, fulfilling, and purposeful.

The key is to enjoy the journey.  Enjoy the opportunities and challenges afforded a person in your position.

Ya see, the minute you start looking at where you are at through “average” eyes – your climb and your journey will become drudgery.  Once you start looking at the negatives, the positive will disappear.  And, sadly – all the zest, adventure, and zeal drains out of you like a freshly snaked drain.

Yes, it is lonely at the top.  But the view is spectacular.

Understand that turkeys can never fly as high as eagles.  Eagles soar above the tree tops.  Turkeys have to duck and weave the branches in order to fly through the woods.

A turkey can never understand the view an eagle has.  A turkey cannot grasp an eagle’s desire to nest in the tree tops.  Turkeys rely on the tree branches for protection from the elements.  Eagles catch the currents of the wind and spread their wings wide to enjoy the view.

Is it lonely at the top?  You bet.  But soaring with other eagles challenges all the eagles to greater heights.

Over the years, I have had to come to an understanding that was shared with me by a mentor.  Some people in your life were put there for only a short season.  They were not meant to take the full journey with you.

That said, it does not make them bad people.  They just simply were not put in your life to make the entire journey with you. 

Don’t take your position in the tree tops for granted.  It’s a very quick (and sometimes devastating) tumble from the top.  And, many never regain their height after the fall. 

Respect the position you are at. 

You were the one chosen for the spot you are in.  You can handle the pressure, the work load, the decisions that need made and you have the creativity to continue growing.

Is it lonely at the top?

Yeah, but there is a reason why so many people look up at an eagle flying and stare with utter amazement.  They are a rare breed.

Have a great week.

Ron  

To schedule Ron to speak to your business, civic group
or organization, contact him at:
ron@ronorendi.com
717-802-0483

Side Effects

Have you ever noticed that every commercial for a pharmaceutical product that is “supposed” to make our quality of life better has a disclaimer?  The announcer may speak faster or the print may get smaller or even scroll faster on the television screen – but the disclaimer is always there.  Ya know, for legal purposes – they say.

May cause drowsiness.  In some cases suicidal thoughts have occurred.  In rare cases, kidney or heart failure may occur.  If extreme vomiting or diarrhea should occur call your doctor.  Some patients experience night sweats.  Do not take while driving.  Avoid consuming alcohol when taking this medication.

The disclaimers are always there.  The disclaimers may cause symptoms that are worse than the original condition.  Yet, for some strange reason – we still take the stuff.  We assume that we won’t be the ones who are the statistic in the next series of commercials for the product.

We all know that there are consequences for our actions.  And, we all know that there is a chance of this or that happening when we consume any drug (be it prescribed or over the counter).

And, sadly, when we think of the word consequences or side effect – our mind immediately gravitates toward the negative end of the spectrum.

Well, in this week’s blog – I want to promote having a positive attitude. 

If you are one of the people who say, “I already have a positive attitude” then you need to read this blog just as much as the person with a negative outlook.  Simply by your response – you mentally went to the negative.

Having a positive attitude reduces stress.  In doing so, it improves your quality of life.

It also reduces drama in your life.  The drama queens feed off of negative people.  The drama people suck the life from an indifferent or negative person like a vampire sucks blood.  Then they use your drained emotions as a gasoline to power their dramatic lives.

It also enables one to see life from a totally different perspective.  Positive people seek out the upbeat, the uplifting, the encouragers, the people with creative juices flowing at warp speed. 

Positive people also have more opportunities come their way.  Why?  Because people want to be around an upbeat and happy person.  Take note – people flock to where the sun is.  Rarely do people gather under a rain cloud or a lightning storm.

When things happen – take a breath – pause – and ask yourself – should I respond to this or react to this?  Animals react to things and situations.  PEOPLE respond to things, situations and others – through utilizing a mental process.

In a situation – stop for a moment and think – am I going to allow this “thing”  to take over me or am I going to tackle and overcome it?

Side effects – they are not JUST negative.  The side effects of a positive attitude are:
•    Improved eye sight – you see the world in a different way
•    Improved awareness – when you don’t allow your problems to lead your way through life – you become more aware of what is beautiful around you.
•    Greater opportunities – people want to be around happy people.   The positive person is viewed as the person who has a good grip on life.  The positive person can be entrusted with more because they won’t quit.
•    Possible job promotion – employers and bosses would rather put someone upbeat and positive into a leadership role or management position.  Positive people are more responsible because they tend to take responsibility for things.
•    Feeling of satisfaction – looking back at what you have done or the way you handled a situation – from a positive light – is a feeling of great accomplishment.
•     Enhanced appreciation for life – positive people enjoy life more than the doom and gloom crowd.

So a word of caution……having a positive attitude DOES have side effects.  Try it – make a conscious effort to be more positive this week.  Then let me know what has occurred in your life, that’s a side effect.

Have a great week.

Ron  

To schedule Ron to speak to your business, civic group

or organization, contact him at:

ron@ronorendi.com

717-802-0483