Bold language may illumine with lightning’s brilliance, but it can also scorch with lightning’s shock. Recently, I saw a memo from a manager to his department members who were exploiting the use of company-issued mobile phones a little too freely. Too often, employees could not reach one another for business purposes because personal use of the phone kept it occupied. Clearly, the company was losing some productivity.

ACCUSATIONS OF ABUSE
Even though the memo shows that the manager didn’t lose his temper, his repeated reference to “abuse” grated on the employees more than their honking alarm clocks did earlier the same morning. With this wording, the memo’s tone took an exasperatingly authoritarian turn. The manager not only sprinkled the hot-button word throughout the document, but he also threw it into the subject line so that the word could stare at the reader with all the intimidation of a tyrant’s scowl. I don’t question that some workers were abusing a privilege, but abuse is a loaded term. Sure, workers can abuse a privilege, but abuse can also come from parents to children, from supervisors to workers, and from governments to citizens. For readers who have seen real abuse, the term carries baggage that has crashed down onto their toes too many times.

CONSTRUCTIVE CONFRONTATION
To improve the tone, the writer could follow one of several revision tactics:
1. Use a softer or neutral term. Instead of “abuse” of company phones, write “misuse” or even “use.” The rest of the memo will supply context to make it clear that you are referring to negative use.
2. Express the desired change positively. Change the subject line from “Tackling the problem of phone abuse” to “A more productive approach to phone use.”
3. Confront less directly. Instead of a straightforward approach, move your statement of the offense outside the main clause (illustrated below). The revision displays an opening clause that not only pushes the reader toward the main clause but also gives the writer a chance to show optimism for the future. No: “Beginning immediately, this phone abuse must stop.” Yes: “Although this use occurred too much last month, I know that we’ll see better productivity now.”

WHAT COULD GO WRONG?
When we sense that we’re being confronted, we raise our defenses, sensing an imminent attack. Words that would otherwise appear as innocent as tea light candles can look like flaming arrows during confrontation. One reason that people hate to confront is that so many things can go wrong. Paul Tripp, the author of the book War of Words, proposes the acronym “ENCOURAGE” to keep nine things in mind as you confront. Nine things? I don’t know about you, but I have trouble keeping more than two things in mind at a time. That’s why good workplace professionals develop good communication habits. When certain skills become as automatic as tying your shoe, you can focus on the more challenging ones.

GET THAT FIRE UNDER CONTROL
The writer of the “abuse” memo is not within my organization; I don’t even know him personally. (In fact, I have changed several details to protect the guilty.) Believe it or not, the rest of the document shows the writer to be an amiable manager, who displays effective boldness in the rest of the memo. But his unfortunate word choice burned some rapport with his workers. And in the perspective of some, this small, uncontrolled fire charred the whole message.

Article by Alfredo Deambrosi. Visit www.OnTargetEnglish.com for more information.

I was asked to speak at a small business event about Entrepreneurship: Are You Ready? My experience in working with Small Business Development organizations and projects and doing consulting and training for Woman/Minority Owned Businesses has shown me that when people talk about becoming (or being) an entrepreneur they primarily mean they want to start a business (or have one).
With that in mind, I prepared a list of important questions for my audience to ask themselves. Below are those questions along with the supplementary questions and points. Definition of Entrepreneur (according to Wikepedia): Term applied to the type of personality who is willing to take upon herself or himself a new venture or enterprise and accepts full responsibility for the outcome.
Here are some important questions to ask yourself whether you have a business, are starting one or are thinking about starting one.

Why do I want to start this business? (Or why did I start it?)
• Needs to be more than: “I didn’t want to work for someone else anymore.”
• If X can do it, so can I, may or may not be true.
• Remember having a passion for something is not enough.
• Be careful of: “So I can be at home with my children” or “So I will have more control of my time”.

Do I know what my product or service is (will be)?
• Be sure you are clear.
• Don’t try to be too much.
• Don’t group things that are different.
• Too much and too different make you look as if you’re not good enough at something specific.
• Can you translate your product or service into a benefit.

Who are my customers, clients, prospects?
• If this is not clear you will be wasting time, effort and money marketing and selling.
• Everyone or anybody are not good answers.
• Banks say this is the number one question loan seekers cannot answer.
• It takes research to truly answer this.

Do I understand what makes my prospects spend money?
• Your product/service doesn’t make them spend money; their need or desire does.
• It takes research to know what makes them spend money.
• Not understanding this will cause you to waste a lot of time and money and possibly to fail.

Does it matter to my prospects that my business is Small or Minority/Woman Owned?
• They must have a reason.
• Typical reasons are social consciousness or money.
• If they do not care, use another marketing angle.
• Research is necessary to know this.

Am I prepared to spend the time and money necessary to market/sell my products and services?
• Because research is necessary, you must do it or have it done to be successful.
• Marketing and sales must be done whether you like it or not
• You must do it or pay someone to do it.

Where will I get money to start/run my business?
• First, do you know how much you need?
• If you plan to start part-time or on a shoestring, be sure you can be successful.
• If you go to a bank you must address the other questions in this list.
• Remember that with investors of any kind you lose some control.
• Passion and Good Ideas are not financed, potential profit is financed.
• Do not expect to receive grants to start or run your business – they do not exist.

Do I understand the difference between should and will?
• Just because prospects, banks, investors, employees, etc. should doesn’t mean they will.
• Believing that people will because they should sets you up for failure or at the least disappointment and frustration.
• Research is vital to know if prospects and banks/investors will do what you think they should.

Who are my competitors and how many of them are out there? Are they succeeding? How many have started and closed in the last 5 years?
• Don’t start a business in a field that is already crowded unless you have something very unique.
• Don’t start a business in a field where people are not succeeding unless you know why they are not succeeding and you know (not think) you can do better.
• If you do not know your competition how will you compete?
• Be sure you have enough money, time and people to compete.
• Research is necessary to understand the competition.

Do I have enough time, energy and money to run a business?
• A good question is “Do I have the stomach for it”
• Another good question is “Do I have the stamina?”
• You must do the research, understand the situation and develop the plans so that you know what it will take to start and run a business.
• The research will also help you put passion and expectations in perspective.

Do I have a clear understanding of the obstacles and pitfalls of starting and running my business? Do I have a plan to deal with them?
• This is very important, but is specific to your business type and your situation.
• The need for this understanding is why research is vital.
• The need for planning is why you hear “Do you have a Business Plan?” all the time.

How thick is my skin? (Or how sensitive am I to these words: “NO”, “You’re too small/new”, “We already have a supplier.”)
• Can you hear these words and move on to the next loan officer or prospect?
• Can you use these words to help you decide if you need to modify, redirect or fold your tent?
• Can you take these words as opportunities and not obstacles?

How prepared are you to follow direction and jump through hoops?
• If a prospect has a process can you accept the fact that you must follow it, will you allocate the time to do so?
• Do you understand that the directions or hoops are part of the “test”?
• Do you recognize that the directions or hoops do not have to make sense to you?
• Remember that the customer is always right!

Janet Christy is President of Leverage & Development, LLC, and can be reached at janet@leverageanddevelopment.com.

You’ve probably heard the saying “Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.” The idea is that something valuable shouldn’t be discarded in your eagerness to get rid of something useless associated with it. While in the business world this often makes sense, there are situations where you really should throw the baby out - here are 5 of them: (Note: the term “baby” is used below to represent business concepts, ideas, products, etc., not cute and cuddly little people!)

1) Your “baby” is ugly Lets face it, you may think your baby is the most beautiful thing you have ever created, but if others think it is ugly the baby is going to have a rough childhood. You will struggle to find people who want to buy it, struggle to raise the money to support its development and struggle to attract employees to nurture it. Do yourself a favor, show your “baby” to a few people who have no vested interest and solicit their honest feedback – if enough tell you it is ugly, either get some plastic surgery done quick or throw the baby out!

2) Your “baby” takes too much away from your other “children” If you have more than one “child”, are they being neglected because you have to spend too much time and money taking care of your new “baby”? You should ask yourself whether you are better to focus your energies and resources on turning your other children into superstars rather than nurturing the baby into adolescence. If the answer is “Yes”, then throw the baby out!

3) Your “baby” does not play well with others Does your “baby” play well with your other “children” i.e. does it fit well within your family or is it the little “red-headed stepchild”? If your baby is a great baby but just does not fit in, put it up for adoption or sale. If it neither fits in nor is good, then throw the baby out!

4) Your “baby” is never going to grow-up Has your “baby” been out in the world for a while and, while managing to survive, is failing to grow? If you have a “slow developer” that shows signs of never growing up, you should consider figuring out what cocktail of growth hormones it needs. If this cocktail either does not exist, is too expensive, or would take too long to take effect, then throw the baby out! (Assuming of course you will not be happy looking after a baby in perpetuity.)

5) Your “baby” is a Trustafarian Some “babies” never return more than they take to raise. These are your typical “trustafarians” that never come off the family dole. Unless you love your baby so much that you are happy having it continually drain your financial resources, you should identify the Trustifarian early, cut-off funding, then throw the baby out!

Just because you have to throw a few babies away, do not let this discourage or stop you from making more babies! THE WORLD NEEDS MORE BABIES!

Logan Metcalfe is CFO and Business Consultant for entrepreneurs through Arena Consulting. She can be reached at logan@arenaconsulting.net.

Unemployed workers, both professional and hourly, want jobs. But even when jobs are available, many people don’t know how to find them.

See what Jenny Munro, of the Greenville News has to say about this week’s event where we try to help job seekers maximize their efforts online and off.

Read the article: Greenville News

Learn more about the event: Moving Up Event

A pharmacy and a physician say they didn’t intend to upset anyone when their group handed out prescription bottles filled with candy during Ripley, W.Va.’s Fourth of July parade.

I’m sure it felt like a good promotional idea when the pharmacist ordered promotional pill bottles from an online distributor. Unfortunately, there was no personal interaction where a marketing professional could have asked questions like these: What message are you trying to convey? Who will be the key recipient? What is the method of distribution?

Parents were incensed. The sight of young children picking up prescription bottles from the ground and being positively reinforced with delicious candy was too much for many parents. Irate e-mails and phone calls reverberated from the community.

“It’s easier to learn something than to unlearn something,” said one parent. “Thinking this is candy in a pill bottle is not the message we want our children to have.”

When planning a promotion, it’s vitally important to think the plan through and discuss it with a marketing consultant if possible. It always helps to get a different perspective from people who handle hundreds of promotional campaigns a year.

There are many ways to safely get candy into the hands of children while promoting the brand of the pharmacy or physician. The negative publicity from this type of incident can take years to overcome.

Posted by Traye Fuqua, president of VineWorks Marketing. To contact Traye, email him at fuqua@vineworksmarketing.com. To learn more about VineWorks Marketing, visit www.VineWorksMarketing.com.

Remember Abraham Maslow from your college psychology class? The guy with the pyramid and the “hierarchy of needs?”

Although science has since come to understand that his list of needs isn’t a true hierarchy (people often pursue these needs simultaneously), one thing Maslow did have right is that people do have basic desires. And people are very much emotionally connected to these desires. Here’s the list, from top to bottom as Maslow presented them:

Transcendence—helping others to realize their potential
Self-actualization—realizing our own potential and fulfillment
Aesthetic—achieving symmetry, order, beauty, and balance
Learning—growing in knowledge, understanding, and mental stimulation
Esteem—achieving, being competent, gaining the approval of others, having status
Belonging—having love, family, friends, and affection
Security—having protection, safety, and stability
Physical—having food, shelter, clothing, and bodily needs met

As a business owner or marketer, you can motivate people to buy your products or services by appealing to one or more of these needs and helping them to visualize themselves enjoying the benefits of your product or service. As the director or team member of a non-profit, you can motivate people to give of their time or resources by showing them exactly how they are making a difference in the life of someone else.

When people visualize a positive potential experience, they are more likely take action toward that experience. Mother Teresa is quoted as saying, “If I look at the mass, I will never act. If I look at the one, I will.” If you present your case in terms of generalities, people will glaze over and the facts will not compute. On the other hand, if you present your case in terms of something they can easily picture or imagine, people can connect emotionally and will be stirred to act.

Take, for example, a study done by psychologists in 1982, reported by the “Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.” The researchers arranged for a group of student volunteers to visit a group of homeowners in Tempe, Ariz. and asked them to fill out surveys for a class project. Cable TV had just arrived and was unfamiliar to most people. The researchers wanted to know which of two approaches was most effective in getting the homeowners to understand the benefits of cable TV.

One group of homeowners was presented with the following advertising copy: “CATV will provide a broader entertainment and informational service to its subscribers. Used properly, a person can plan in advance to enjoy events offered. Instead of spending money on the babysitter and gas and putting up with the hassles of going out, more time can be spent at home with family, alone, or with friends.”

The second group was presenting with a different version of ad copy: “Take a moment and image how CATV will provide you with a broader entertainment and informational service. When you use it properly, you will be able to plan in advance which of the events offered you wish to enjoy. Take a moment and think of how, instead of spending money on the babysitter and gas, and then having to put up with the hassles of going out, you will be able to spend your time at home, with your family, alone, or with your friends.”

The first presentation is general: “a person can. . . .” The second presentation is specific and personal: “imagine how CATV will provide you with . . . .”

Guess which appeal led to more people subscribing to cable TV service. The homeowners who received the first appeal subscribed at a rate of 20 percent—about average for the people in the neighborhood who hadn’t received any appeal at all. The homeowners who received the second appeal, however, subscribed at a rate of 47 percent—over twice that of the rest. The people who imagined themselves enjoying the benefits of cable TV could visualize the benefits, and their desires were stirred by the activity.

Two key action points to take away from this department of psychology: 1) Craft your messages so that you are appealing directly to an emotional need. 2) Craft you messages so that people can easily visualize themselves enjoying the benefits of what your product or service provides.

Posted by Laura MacPherson, co-owner of Northstar Creative. To contact Laura, email her at laura@northstarcreative.net. For more information about Northstar Creative, visit http://www.northstarcreative.net.

In a challenging economy where wallets are tighter and people are traveling less, social media applications are a new means for artists to connect with the masses.  As an artist consultant and creative coach, I am advising my clients to spend some time plugged in each day to stay connected with an ever expanding online network. Social media applications can be used as an important marketing tool, but using them the right way can make the difference between wasting large chunks of your time, or actually growing your business.

-Block off some time.
It’s incredibly easy to spend all day on the computer playing, believe me! An important first step in taking charge of your technological advancement is blocking off some time each day to log on and connect, but don’t forget to log out or your creativity could tank.

-Get connected.
This may sound ridiculous, but there are actually artists who haven’t gone beyond sending emails online.  Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, LinkedIn, Etsy, StumbleUpon, Technorati, and blog sites open up a wealth of opportunity for targeted, immediate, personal connection with your mailing list, venues, buyers, friends, and family. There are more social media sites than I can list in this article. Explore some of these options and find two or three applications that work best for you.

-Brand yourself.
Your 1” profile image is your first impression. Whether you choose a picture of yourself or a piece of your work, make the most of it and let it say something about who you are.
What can your picture do for you?  Choose your screen name wisely, as well.  Now might be the time to launch a studio name, or to find a catchy screen name that defines you to run consistently throughout your online applications.

-Expand your network.
Your online network should expand way beyond your friends and family.  Artists have an entire online community at their fingertips: other artists, critics, gallery owners, journalists, media, venue owners, event planners, organization directors, retail shops and museum staff. Who is in your circle?

-Post it!
“What are you doing?”  As artists, our lives and craft are tightly tangled, but try to observe a 50/50 rule when posting to your networking sites. 50% business/arts related posts and 50% personal posts.  Your audience needs to connect with you on a personal level, but aside from family and friends, no one really cares that you are drinking coffee or that your mother just called. Think hard and post wisely. Let people know what’s going on in your local art scene, or turn people on to the inspiring musician you just discovered.   Most importantly, status updates are a great way to let people know where to find your work.  Posting a link to your online gallery, Etsy shop or Ebay store gives your network a direct link to your work.

Social Media shouldn’t be scary.  Reach out and connect with people. Expand your network globally and join the revolution that is transforming the way we do business.

Posted by Nichole Livengood, artist consultant and creative coach for Art To Profit. Find out more information at: http://www.arttoprofit.com

It’s that time when we all tend to do some self-evaluation and consider what we want to accomplish in the coming year. It’s very common to make resolutions for personal growth. I think it’s important to set goals or resolutions for your business and parts of your business too! The following resolutions play off of a list of some of the most common resolutions people are making for 2009 but will benefit your business, website, and/or blog.

1. Lose weight.

Like many of us, our websites have gained a few pounds! It’s time to trim the fat. Steve Krug’s fantastic usability book Don’t Make Me Think devotes a chapter called “Omit Needless Words” to this subject. His third law of usability is:

“Get rid of half the words on each page, then get rid of half of what’s left.”

For many of us this goal may be a bit far-fetched, but Steve is trying to make a point. Many webpages are wordy for whatever reason. The Internet is a different place. People don’t read your content for the most part; they skim, looking for specific facts and information. Make it easy–lose some weight! We’re not really talking about blogs so much here, but bloggers should remember that short, actionable content is the most effective. It’s time to resolve that you’re going to cut down on the fluff.

2. Go back to school.

Are you learning? Your website will suffer if you’re not. Guy Kawasaki writes in Reality Check:

“Learning is a process, not an event. I thought learning would be over when I got my degree. It’s not true.”

Reading is one of the most effective ways to learn, and your website or blog can benefit by your reading related books and blogs. Don’t be afraid to take classes at your local community college to become more familiar with subjects you don’t understand either. I know many people who’ve gone back for one or two classes just so they can get better exposure and understanding on a subject. (It’s also a great place to network!) Resolve to read a book or take a class related to your website or blog.

3. Spend more time with family.

In business or on the Internet, your customers and readers are like your family. Are you spending time connecting with them? Are you using social media such as Twitter and Facebook to connect with your “family”? Seth Godin writes in Tribes about Laura Fitton, a young mom from Boston who connects with thousands of followers (13,613 as I write this). Laura has built an entire consulting business by connecting with people (her “family”). The technology, says Seth, shouldn’t be the focus.

“The essential lesson is that every day it gets easier to tighten the relationship you have with the people who choose to follow you.”

Resolve to use the tools of technology to connect with your customers and readers; your website or blog will benefit.

4. Try something new.

Some of us tend to think “trying something new” means skydiving or sailing around the world, but it doesn’t have to be that extreme. Your site can greatly benefit from you doing new things and keeping it fresh. The advent of great tools such as Google Website Optimizer makes it even easier for you to try new things and learn what’s working and what’s not working. Freddy Nager writes in his book Claw Your Way to the Top:

“Business as usual can get awfully dull. A touch of novelty is . . . outright sense-awakening.”

Nothing bugs me more when I visit the website of a company I’m considering doing business with and find that they have a “latest news” section but the most recent item is over a year old. Whether it’s changing the font size a small amount or using different colors, resolve to do something new and different with your site at least once a month.

5. Take a trip.

Get out of your office! Meet some people, and talk about your blog or website. Join a local club or organization. The contacts you’ll develop and things you’ll learn are invaluable. Olivier Blanchard points out that you shouldn’t just join a group to “be there” but rather to “be committed to building something.” Geno Church suggests that a major reason to join comes from being able to offer leadership, especially in a new or developing group. He goes on to say it should be about sharing knowledge and being authentic instead of just seeing it  as a sales club. Amy Bomar says:

“Getting involved is the key to getting the most out of any association or group, so choose selectively!”

Trey Pennington says you should join a local chamber of commerce or club because you’ll form incredible connections with active people who are tuned in to similar interests. Jordana Megonigal agrees and adds that you “don’t join a Chamber to learn how to tap dance.” Whether it’s going to a tweetup at a local coffee shop or joining your local Jaycess to do charity work or forming a local Social Media Club, you and your website or blog will benefit. Resolve to take a trip outside your comfort zone.

6. Pay off your debts.

Financial debts aren’t the only ones to consider. In a New York Times article titled “The High Cost of Paying Off a ‘Sleep Debt,’” Lawrence Downes wrote:

“Not only does losing sleep sap your energy, darken your mood and impair your alertness, but it also invites other problems.”

Want to have a better website or blog in 2009? Better sleep habits are going to help. Don’t fight it out to stay up and finish a blog post; save the draft and come back when you’re well rested. Want to feel fresh and energetic? A great night’s sleep will do wonders! Resolve to stop racking up a sleep debt!

7. Get a better job.

If your website or blog isn’t working, consider doing something else. Don’t waste your time on a dead-end. Are you contributing to your field? Are you making a difference? The Internet is becoming a crowded space, but stick it out if you have unique ideas. If you’re trying to use shortcuts to make a quick buck on the Internet, you’re probably just going to end up funding someone else’s success story. If you can’t find a niche or take something to the next level, seek other outlets. You can even use Twitter to find a better job. And hopefully if you’re applying any of these tips, you’ll find that this tip isn’t necessary (or maybe you’ll find that you don’t need a “job” anymore). So, resolve to find a better job if you need it, or make your current job better.

Get started now!

• Remove fluff from your home page
• Register for a class or buy a book
• Comment on this blog, join twitter, and follow me
• Sign-up for Google Website Optimizer
• Join or help form a local Social Media Club
• Take a power nap (or if it’s late and you’re reading this, go to bed!)
• Find a better job

Doug Cone is the Director of Business Development for Nullvariable Web Consulting. Doug has been working with/on the Internet for over 12 years. Doug has done training programs and seminars for companies and organizations like, Texas A&M University, Sony, Logitech, Best Buy, CompUSA, AMPed, Helio, DirectTV, Circuit City and others. Doug enjoys writing and speaking along with coding open source applications like Drupal.This blog entry can be found at http://blog.nullvariable.com/2009/01/7-resolutions-website-blog/

The epic collapse of Lehman Brothers’ marked a stunning turning point in the financial markets from which Wall Street is still recovering.

When investors woke up on Monday, September 15, the landscape had totally changed: Lehman Brothers was bankrupt, Merrill Lynch was sold, and the credit markets - which had been improving after Bear Stearns’ bailout in March – were, and still are, in crisis.

To add fuel to the fire, 2008 marks the first time that all economic indicators are negatively trending. Stocks, bonds and real estate are down, corporate layoffs are rampant, consumer spending has dwindled, and overall confidence is at an all-time low.

The spontaneous combustion of these issues has left investors with a multitude of questions about what the financial future holds for their families and businesses. Coupled with the economic collapse of many of the world’s most recognized and respected financial brands, many investors are also confused about where to turn for answers.

The current lack of confidence in many of the well-known banks and brokerage houses is one reason, among many, for the growing popularity of independent investment advisory firms.

The shift towards independent firms can be attributed to younger investors – those between age 35 and 54, as well as attorneys, physicians, dentists and senior corporate executives, who are all more likely to choose an independent financial advisor over an affiliated advisor based on recommendations from their peers..

Adding to the allure of independent firms versus affiliated advisors are the comprehensive services that independent firms can provide over banks or brokerages. Since independent advisors aren’t compensated for selling an employer-branded product, independents can provide clearer, more objective advice to clients.

The type of advisor is also a factor in each investor’s decision whether to opt for the independent or affiliated model. Investors who prefer working with independent advisors often look to accountants, independent financial planners and registered investment advisors as their primary advisors.

At many independent advisory firms, investors have access to certified financial planners, certified public accountants, accredited investment fiduciaries, chartered financial analysts and operational professionals, bringing varied perspectives to each client engagement. This team-focused, individualized approach to financial planning allows for the provision of customized objective and competent investment solutions for all firm clients - individuals, companies, endowments and foundations.

In my professional experience I have found that full-service, experienced independent firms like the latter can serve as an unbiased, one-stop resource for a variety of individual and business needs. The team-based approach to financial planning not only differentiates the independent investment advisory firms – it helps clients achieve their objectives.

As one of the financial industry’s leading publications, Financial Planning reported, “With all the choices at clients’ disposals, the bottom line may be that in the debate over independent and affiliated advisors, satisfaction levels simply run higher with the independents. And satisfaction leads to loyalty – the Holy Grail of advisory services.”

Philip H. Brice, AIF® is principal of Elliott Davis Investment Partners. He has more than 25 years experience as an investment advisor providing investment advisory services to high net worth clients, corporate retirement plans, endowments and foundations. Brice co-founded Hamilton Joseph Investment Consulting in 2002. Prior to that, he served as the consulting group director with Smith Barney. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Presbyterian College.

I recently began reading a book by an author I had heard of but whose work I was unfamiliar with. About 35 pages into the novel I stumbled upon a cluster of paragraphs which I found profoundly intriguing.

In this part of the book, science fiction writer Kilgore Trout just received an invitation to speak at the grand opening of the new Midland City Center for the Arts. Success was foreign to Trout; in fact, failure was such a familiar occurrence that he found comfort in it.

Needless to say, the author was skeptical when he received the letter of invitation. In the following paragraphs from the book, Trout is discussing the matter with his parakeet, Bill:

“Then he thought about what Bill himself might want. It was easy to guess. ‘Bill,’ he said, ‘I like you so much, and I am such a big shot in the Universe, that I will make your three biggest wishes come true.’ He opened the door of the cage, something Bill couldn’t have done in a thousand years.

“Bill flew over to a windowsill. He put his little shoulder against the glass. There was just one layer of glass between Bill and the great out-of-doors. Although Trout was in the storm window business, he had no storm windows on his own abode.

“‘Your second wish is about to come true,’ said Trout, and he again did something which Bill could never have done. He opened the window. But the opening of the window was such an alarming business to the parakeet that he flew back to his cage and hopped inside.

“Trout closed the door of the cage and latched it. ‘That’s the most intelligent use of three wishes I ever heard of,’ he told the bird. ‘You made sure you’d still have something worth wishing for—to get out of the cage.’”

Upon reading Trout’s logic, I was astounded. Not by the truth of it, rather by the sadly familiar bell it rang in the steeple of my head. I wondered how many people live their lives with such a mindset; afraid to break out of the comfort of the average, the security of the ordinary. I wondered if I’ve unconsciously succumbed to a similar lifestyle.

We’re beings of order; that is the way we were created. However there is a thin but distinct (and indelible) line between a natural proclivity to order and an apathetic life of comfort.

Thin metal bars were not keeping Bill incarcerated, fear was his prison. Fear of the unknown was a more impenetrable cage than any man-made holding unit. We are too often just like Bill; afraid to extend ourselves, to give comfort, to sacrifice, to share our faith, to love

Don’t let fear entrap you. Don’t let apathy hold you down. Don’t let comfort keep you from doing what is right.

Originally from the Philadelphia, PA but residing in the beautiful Upstate of SC, Jon Eckert spends most of his time working as the Production Manager at Fluor Field, home of the Greenville Drive. However when he’s not at work he stays busy co-hosting the online video podcast Digital Driveby, writing music, reading, playing tennis, and spending time with his beautiful fiancee.