Get-r Done

I wast trying to think of the best way to title this blog post..so many thoughts come to mind, but "Get-r Done" seemed to be the most fitting for a variety of reasons.

This experience is all about my wife Stephanie (http://www.twitter.com/binkstwit) and her never ending willingness to give and get things done. Unlike myself where getting things done can take on a variety of shapes, for her, getting it done is about doing it right, and very well. She take great pride in anything she does, and does things with the state of mind where she wants to be proud to have her name attached to it. Before I  even go there though, what is so great about Steph, is her willingness to step up to get it done. In times where we ALL are stretched thin and pulled in a dozen or more different directions, she always finds a way to take on new things, do them extremely well, and deliver.

I can go on and on about her, and she will without a doubt be my inspiration for future posts, but for this I want to point out her leadership in organizing a major fundraiser for Hope School.  As with most private schools, the cost to educate a child far exceeds tuition.  With that, fundraising (or development) is a necessity.   This year, Steph stepped up to the challenge to lead the "Hope School Rocks" fundraiser, an 80's themed event with entertainment, food, and small auction.  This Saturday people will gather and turn back the clock, in an effort to help the school and the kids they serve.  Steph took the challenge head on and, as I have witnessed first hand, is "Getting it Done" big time.  It is shaping up to be a great event.

In encourage everyone to step up to the plate, take on new challenges, and get-r-done!  We will always be pulled this way or that way, but it take a special person to step up and "Make it Happen!" Read More!

Doing What You Need To Do

With the recent tragedy in Haiti, there has been a lot of news watching.  The news stories that we have been following the most recently are the ones where families in the adoption process are in search of their kids, to try and get them out.  Locally, there was on story of a family in Bellingham, where the Dad got on a plane right away and luckily was able to find his kids and it was simply a waiting game to get them out.  Today, all the waiting came to end when the Dad arrive home with their two new kids from Haiti.  As we watched this story today, I thought it was a great example of "Making It Happen"...This Dad knew what he had to do, and he did.  He Made It Happen!



Here is the whole story from King5 News Read More!

Time to Give

Although I have had a lot of ideas in my head about what to make my next blog post about, given the recent tragedy in Haiti it seems appropriate to talk about giving.  On a daily basis, we are asked to give, and on a daily basis it can at times feel overwhelming as to the level of need out there.  However, the recent tragedy in Haiti takes this to a new level.  Along with my wife, we have been glued to the TV to try and learn more about what is happening there, how the recovery efforts are going, and most importantly the possibility that people are being found alive. 

With that, it is clear that this country (and entire country) is in need.  A nation that was already "poor" by certain standards, is now facing their biggest challenge ever..recovering from a major disaster.  It has been amazing to see the outpouring of support already...From the 20m raised from Text Messaging, the various Corp donations, to the Clinton/Bush Fund...people are "Making it Happen" with their giving.  My hope is that we realize that this recovery, and thus our giving, cannot end here.  We are in Phase 0 of this effort, and although the money raised will have an impact, this nation will need help for some time to come. 

So, if you have not yet sent that text, written that check, or dialied into the telethon, I encourage you to do so...At the same time, there will be additional opportunities to meet the changing needs around this tragedy and to Make it Happen! Read More!

Reaching Out

As I have started to embrace the number of social networking tools out there, I have had the chance to reconnect with people from High School, College, old jobs, etc.  It has proven to be a great way to see how people have grown since the last time we even talked.  At the same time, it is a bit akward, especially with people that you knew, but werent "great" friends with.

Regardless of all that, as you make these connections, you have the chance to actually "connect"...so this last week when I learned that a friend from College was being inducted into the WWU Hall of Fame...I reached out to say congratulations..that's it.  Might not seem like much, but in this age of getting 1000's of followers on Twitter, and hundreds of "Friends" on Facebook, I challenge you to do something with those people.  Don't just just be a friend or a follower, Make something Happen with those connections.

Congratulations Gina on a great accomplishpment. Read More!

Make It Happen - Introduction

Welcome to my new blog titled "Make It Happen."  As the side bar describes, this blog is a way for me to capture the opportunities that are put in front of me on a daily basis to make something happen.  I am firm believer that everything happens for a reason, that there is a bigger plan for all of us and part of that are the daily interactions we have with others, the contributions we make to our companies as well as our families.

The inspiration for this actually came from an interaction that I had one day on my commute to work.  I have an awesome opportunity on occasion to commute to work via the King County Water Taxi in Seattle.  This is a 200 person capacity boat that take people back and forth between downtown Seattle and my "hometown" of West Seattle.  It is a lesiurly, relaxing 15min boat rid on beautiful Elliott Bay.  One sunny summer day (yes we have those in Seattle) after arriving at the dock I overheard a passenger as they exited tell a crew member "Have a good day!"  OK, nothing special, but the response grabbed me.  Instead of the standard, "You too" or "Thanks" the crew member replied with "Make It Happen!"  Not your ordinary reply to an everyday greeting, but it really hit me...he's right.  Not that the gesture of telling someone to have a great day isn't a good thing, but the chance to have a great day is all in our hands.

So, as this little saying has sat with me over time, I have tried to apply it not to just how my day goes...but to go beyond that in everything I do, and every interaction I have.  I have a chance with every interaction to take the initiative...to Make It Happen!  With the New Year, I have made "Make It Happen" my theme for how I approach my family, friends, co-workers and even strangers.  In addition to relationships, I am going to apply this to what I do and how I do it...my work projects, my home projects, etc...Stuff that needs to get done!

I hope you enjoy the things I share, but more so, I hope it might inspire others to do the same.  Treasure the opportunities you are given every day and Make It Happen, not just in big ways, but in small ways too. Read More!