Brainzenning - Whatcha Gonna Do?

Brainzenning - A video moment of calm and reflection.

Brainzenning - Spinners in Brookside

Brainzenning - Taking the NO Out of InNOvation

Brainzenning - MIght As Well Jump

Brainzenning - Light and Shadow

An Early Career Lesson

From the Funny Eye for the Corporate Guy Blog series, Apprehensories.

Brainzenning - Basket Case

Father's Day - From Aligning Your Life's Work

This post ran for Father's Day on my "Aligning Your Life's Work" blog. It triggered a number of people reaching out to share stories about their fathers, so I decided to run it here on Brainzooming also:

Many of you know my dad entered the hospital in early April. Three surgeries, four ICU stays, a life flight to Kansas City (followed by an ambulance ride back to Hays), and several weeks in rehab later, he was released Friday after 70 days.

Through the incredible prayers of many people, the indefatigable support of my mom, and his indomitable positive spirit, he's alive today, with something still to prove.

There were many ups and downs during his hospitalization. One 24 hour period stands out.

On Mother's Day, I headed to Hays when he returned to ICU with a blood clot in his lung. The ICU doctor pulled me aside and asked if I understood how serious Dad's condition was. I assured him I did. And even though it was ostensibly her day, I don't think I wished my mom Happy Mother's Day until 9 o'clock Sunday night.

Back at home, I laid in bed, making myself cry for the emotional release needed in the days ahead. I thought about what I'd learned from my dad and all the things he'd been and done in his life. And I got the idea for the piece below.

As I've told a number of people, I feared the worst when I went back to the hospital the next morning at 8 a.m., and Dad was unconscious and on a ventilator. At the 10 a.m. visit, he was alert and nearly squeezed my hand off; suddenly my tears from the night before turned to tears of joy. By the 8 p.m. visit, he was off the ventilator and watching "Dancing with the Stars."

That's my dad, and I'm so glad he's out of the hospital for Father's Day to be able to read this post.

I love you Mom and Dad!

My Dad

My dad is my dad.
He's a son, a husband, and a big brother to many - whether or not he's older or even a sibling.
He's a Kansan.
He's a friend.
He's a partner with Jesus.
He is loved by so many people.

My dad is a barber. He's a salesman, broadcaster, TV celebrity, and announcer. He's a chef and restaurateur. He's a board member and advisor.

My dad is an electrician, plumber, mechanic, gardener, carpenter, house painter, collector, comedian, impressionist, and artist.

I've seen him fix all kinds of things for people.
For those in genuine need, he's a bank, a financier, and investor.
Hard working and strategic; a solver and critic.
He has a distinctive personality. He's a learner and advice giver.
My dad is tech savvy, following me into blogging and tweeting.
He's incredibly proud of his son.

My dad's a positive thinker and struggling. He's sweet and rebellious.
A coach and cheerleader, with a cantankerous, opposing voice.
He loves sports; hates athletic ineptitude. That's why he's a frustrated golfer and Kansas City sports fan.

He's demanding and a loving, supportive man; big hearted and skeptical.
He's a confidant who is inquisitive (at times nosy), and doesn't take any bullshit from anyone.
He is infirmed, and he looms large.

My dad is a rock, a fighter, and seemingly to me, invincible.
My dad is my dad.

C-Level Strategy Issues

From the Funny Eye for the Corporate Guy Blog series, Apprehensories.

Brainzenning - Escalator

Taken at Water Tower Place last week while attending the Business Marketing Association Conference. Look for some other posts this week generated from the conference and the experience of producing its social media content team.

Brainzenning - A Babbling Brook

Featuring a moment of Brainzenning was suggested by MrsRoadshow. Thanks for the suggestion Jan! Look for more moments of Brainzenning on Mondays throughout the summer months.

A Few Life Lessons - Just because . . .

• Just because you can doesn't mean you have to.
  
• Just because you don't have to doesn't mean you shouldn't.
  
• Just because someone else wouldn't doesn't mean it isn't worth trying.
  
• Just because it hasn't worked before doesn't mean it will or won't now.
  
• Just because it hasn't been done doesn't mean it's not possible.

An Online Ad that Made Me Laugh, Stop, and Click

ancestry.com "black sheep" online ad

A Good Competitive Strategy Reminder

Enemies - Some enemies are okay to have. Some enemies are bad to have. Snow plow drivers are horrible enemies.

Audi Lap Flap - Please Check the Box!

unsubscribe me from a life of conventional and hackneyed ideas - audi

Why Don't I Cheer at Restaurants Anymore?

Surf’s Up

Fun Shoestring Branding in the World of Finance

A Great Perspective for Turning Current Apprehensions into Positives

Dilbert’s Advice on Battling the Idea Squirrel



What have been your favorite web finds for the week? Leave them in the comments or email me to share them with everybody.

Wonderful Wishes for Today - HBTM

More Relationships They Don't You in MBA School

Success Quotes - Compare and Contrast

"A creative man is motivated by the desire to achieve, not by the desire to beat others.” - Abraham Maslow

“It is not enough to succeed. Others must fail.” - Gore Vidal


"Delay is preferable to error.” - Thomas Jefferson

“Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.” - Winston Churchill


“If 50 million people say a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing.” - Anatole France

"50 million Elvis fans can't be wrong." - Elvis Presley