It’s Valentine’s Day 2023. Today, a now-former NFL quarterback was released by the Las Vegas Raiders. He was released because tomorrow $40.4 million of his contract would be guaranteed. I don’t own an NFL team nor have I ever worked for the NFL or any of its teams (although I have worked for a professional sports team… kudos if you can guess.) The point is, while I do NOT think Derek Carr is having the wonderful Valentine’s Day that he anticipated, he just had a pretty crappy one. 

I’ve been in a similar situation (although not anywhere near the tune of $40 million,) and it still sucked. Derek Carr is, for the moment, unemployed. Hopefully, he managed his money well. He will, most likely, get picked up by another NFL team BUT, I highly doubt, it will be to the tune of $40m much less guaranteed. 

I learned the hard way. Don’t put faith in everyone. Do your thing. Do it great. Work hard. Do what you like… and love. Put your faith in yourself and your higher power, not in others. 

If you do these things, you will be successful. And the $40m won’t matter.

Some people may think that they are a true friend but while a friend knows your stories. A true friend has lived them with you.

Not via social media or because of a sense of obligation to click the “like” or “care” button on Facebook.

It’s that friend that you reach out to when you really need to vent and explain what is going on or, better yet, the one that reaches out to you first. Good times or bad times. Doesn’t matter whether it is a business or personal matter. They don’t want anything from you. They will listen and give advice, joy, celebration, consolation or empathy as needed.

Or, they tell you something you may NOT want to hear but need to.

Are you the “heel” that friends love to hate OR the “baby face” that they love to love?

OR, are you a true friend.

Do you see the hidden messages? Whether you realize it or not, your brain sees them.

We are bombarded with messages constantly. Most have to do with influencing us as a consumer. Buy this. Call that. Text here. But are there some that aren’t as innocent as they seem?

This is only one example (actually three but who is counting?)

Quoting the movie The Matrix, “This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill – the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill – you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.”

Which pill do you take?

Apple has done this for decades. Sony made the first MP3 player. Consumers loved it. Apple waited and jumped in with an improved one. And now dominates the market.

Don’t try and do what YOU think consumers want. Instead, focus on what consumers WANT. See what’s working and then improve on it. Consumers will flock to your door.

Just ask Apple.

There are many writers in this world that are more prolific than myself. Apparently tech companies like ChatGPT are using all of the contents of the Internet to train their AI software… to mimic and produce content based on others’ work… without their permission. Soon, the toaster will cook your toast based on what it thinks you need, not what you want. Like dark toast? Well, today you get light toast or, perhaps, it thinks you shouldn’t be eating toast at all and refuses to make it. Sentient AI will eventually make our decisions for us. For now, it is learning from us. And stealing that content. What happens when it knows more than us? Skynet. For now, it will just replace writers and content creators.

“Given enough time, a monkey randomly striking keys on a typewriter will end up banging out a copy of Hamlet.” [LINK]

Well, it seems as if AI is following this theorem. It will just need less time.

Hasta La Vista and RIP, writers.

Yesterday and today was one of those days when I just felt like I might drown. I think we’ve all had those days… down, depressed and wondering what to do.

I imagine that firefighter or Coast Guard service member trying to save someone’s life and having to fight not only the current or freezing water but also that person that is so desperate to live that they endanger the lives of a potential savior.

So, when you are down and feel like you’re drowning, just make sure you have arm floaties. You might get scared but you’ll always know that you have protection and security no matter what life brings you.

Arm floaties rule. Unless you have a life preserver… those are better (but less portable.) Just keep your head above water and keep swimming. Eventually, you’ll hit solid ground and feel much better.

Too many people try to be the star of the game, the one in the spotlight, the one that everyone can’t wait to see play. Not everyone really wants that, however. Some people have found their happiness by helping others achieve their goals without looking for recognition for themselves. Their happiness comes from watching others succeed and quietly knowing that they helped them achieve that.

That’s the path I chose a long time ago. I’ve helped many people in my career. Some have taken my help and done nothing with it while others have taken my help and soared like an eagle.

Will you do nothing or soar. Ultimately, it is your choice when you find someone that wants to help you succeed.

I chose to soar… in the way that makes me happy… helping others.

There are times when things that will affect your life are out of your control. And it can drive you crazy while waiting for the outcome. You can only control what you can control. Everything else is out of your hands and in someone else’s. Stay the course. Plan in case the worst case scenario happens but don’t give up on the best case scenario.

You might end up grateful, surprised and more loyal than you were before.

You know I’m loyal.

Don’t believe everything seen.

Truth is what is real.

(an original haiku)