Enliven Daily

“America isn't easy. America is advanced citizenship. You gotta want it bad, 'cause it's gonna put up a fight… We've got serious problems, and we need serious people.”

I originally was going to write about Tiger Woods today and how in the blink of eye, a person’s life could go from Utopia to a living Purgatory.  Granted it was Tiger’s Choices over a period of time that lead to this but one day he is the world’s most recognizable and respected athlete/celebrity and the next he is locked in seclusion wondering if he has any true friends or business partners as companies are dropping and distancing themselves from him left and right.  Companies like Accenture which used to be the accounting firm Arthur Anderson.  You remember Arthur Anderson don’t you?  They were the poster boys for accounting fraud and ethics and moral failure in their role at Enron and who knows how many other firms as greed and corruption took over so people could get rich at the expense of others.  But no Tiger today as he screwed up big time by giving into temptation and he must now take accountability for these Choices.

I started Enliven First a few years ago because I was convinced that inspiring others is the key to success and happiness in life.  I have witnessed and lived it in the office, at home, in the classroom and on athletic fields.  I have also talked to many people that have also proved this theory time and time again.  Usually these are people who have made their lives about serving others first above serving themselves.  The biggest part of their success is that even though these people may have inspiring words, it is one’s actions that speak the loudest.  (Click Here) to see what inspired today’s entry as President Obama is going big game hunting and I hope he has the ammo and support needed to succeed.

I enjoy listening to President Obama speak as he is inspiring.  What concerns me is if his words are leading to positive results?  I have no doubt he means well and truly wants to fix our nations’ problems.  But politics are now big business and there are pitfalls and obstacles awaiting your every step.  Just about everybody has their own agenda and goals and special interest groups they try to please.  For too long, we have allowed excessive greed and unethical business Choices to go unaddressed and it has spiraled out of control to the point it feels like we are trying to boil the ocean to correct it.  Like so many things I life, until someone is personally affected but others’ actions, few do anything to get involved or address inappropriate behavior.  But I guess this is why we elect people to handle these matters but sadly, too many elected officials are more worried about what’s in it for them or re-election than the issues they were elected to handle.

Tiger is this month’s disaster which has Balloon Family and the White House crashers breathing a little easier.  Too many others, in a twisted way, also feel better today about themselves at seeing others face such adversity despite having what seemed to be everything.  We block out corruption, homelessness, poverty, poor education, sky-rocketing healthcare, crime, etc. and hope it will either go away or take care of itself.  It won’t unless more and more people get involved and have their actions speak louder than words.   Like our opening quote from the movie “The American President”, we need serious people to inspire and lead and I hope our President can start this today as he addresses our nation’s business leaders.