"Its not that I don't know, its just I haven't learned yet"--Jed, Bartlet, West Wing

What I hope I will be in 30 minutes


Veins of Gold. Ray of Gold. "I am still learning--Michaelangelo."

These are the little snippets I have gotten from this new book I am beginning to read. Forty more pages and I should be caught up.

By coincidence, I met up with a reading group all femmes with artistic aspirations. Having lunch at Panera's and I couldn't help but listen to these women having "Discourse." Initially, I thought it was healing group. Kind of afraid to inquire because I got this feeling there was some anger issues. Male-bashing trauma. Reminded me a bit of Fight Club. No, not the UFC stuff. It was the weekly meetings, Ed Norton's character was attending to battle is insomnia. Testicular Cancer, Sickle-Cell Anemia, etc.

I felt like a Tourist. I had no intention of involving myself. I had no desire too, either. I was simply drawn at the battle of two personalities. I've seen it before, In group development. In all group development four stages must happen: Forming, Storming, Norming, and Performing. This was undoubtedly the storming/ forming stage. As an outside viewer, a tourist, I could not help but listen. I tried not to, I swear. Yet, I was drawn.

The group's discourse reminded me of the movies when people kiss. I always avert my eyes during the scenes of intimacy. A passionate, innocent kiss--I always avert my eyes. Its so intrusive. Its so intimate. Its so personal. Guess, during my Peer Counseling days, privacy was and still is of utmost importance. If I went, I would assume it would be like a confession. Baring one's soul to the world. I mean, being adept in sales, it has been my natural instinct to be able to cut through the Bull. Get Cliff Notes in snippets. Watching someones shoes, their gait, their outfit. Listening to the inflection. Watching the congruences, their tells, when they spoke. I was able to size up a situation and circumstance in an instant.

All of us do it all the time. Guess, I had good teachers to be listening with my eyes more often.

One of the ladies passed by on her way to the washroom, I asked innocently what the group was. I was right. It was a reading book group with a theme of self-help artist within-stuff. Well, I was invited to join and I accepted. One lady was a published author and I thought. Why not? If I have any aspirations of writing a book, well, okay. Jump.

One said I was a catalyst. Had to look that up to make sure that was a good thing. Its just I like to get things done. I don't want to be the alpha in this group. I am just going to flow. We naturally step into roles we feel most comfortable in. Mine has been toward leadership. Lately, I have been consciously not falling into this role. Don't get me wrong, but I think I am enjoying playing the devil's advocate. The road less traveled. I enjoy being the other voice. Yet, I will take a backseat approach and enjoy the ride

When the time calls, I'll be whatever needs to be done to reach where this journey needs us to go. For a long time, my question has been "If you were a fly on the wall, what wall would that be?" For me, it was answered in the movie Thirteen Days. During time of crisis, I felt that I would play a role. What role? Honestly, don't know. Thought I would be the decision maker. Thought I would the special assistant. Thought I would be the voice to call for war. Played this scenario so many times, . . .It was like playing chess. E4, E5, Kn F3. . .

Maybe these events will be a warm-up for something more. Posse is forming. Foreshadowing. Well, time is short. Must go on my mini-escape.

"Its not that I don't know, its just I haven't learned yet"--West Wing

To Dottie, the person at Barnes and Nobles: Basics of Sir Galahad Theory

I understand now.

This is to Dottie the person I met at Barnes and Noble tonight. (Again, this is not the person’s real name. Privacy is important I do not have this person okay use her name)

All of Life's Questions Are In the Movies.
Answer to the question, why we met? It is to give you the lay of the land. My experience, my skill set, my education, my love--It was to give you the broad strokes for what you have ahead. Books to read and movies to watch: Art of War, Celestine Prophecy, Incarnation of Immortality Series, Grand Canyon, Leap of Faith, True Colors, Primary Colors, Great Debaters, Power, Eli Stone. There is more to follow, but that should be enough. When and if we meet again, I will tell you why? For now, just pick them up. If you can find the Cliff Notes, Monarch Notes, or whatever, that is fine, too. Others interpretation are important. But everyone has their own heuristics, their own mind maps, you and I have different filters.

James Redfield Would Love This
Synchronicities, connections, the Big Smile—these are the reasons we had our encounter. I hope our brief meeting helps you in your journey. In your life, you got to Pay It Forward (Another book or movie I suggest.) You are part of the critical mass. Your question is part of the bigger picture. Your funeral, your eulogy, what are people going to say about your life. Remember, how do you want to be remembered?

I admire you, Dottie. First is because you understand what your question is? Second, and more importantly, you are readying yourself for the task at hand.

My message to you is Risk
Leave No Doubts. Regret Nothing. You will offend some. Hopefully, if you do it right, you will have many naysayers. Trial by Fire is not just for you, it is for others to hear the message. Remember another thing, it’s not your message. You are just caretaker. It’s your responsibility to prepare to take and deliver this message. Movie for my point, “Great Debaters" For future note,

Allen Iverson Remembered
I like to think backwards. My modus operandi is End in mind first. Second, what-if the possibilities and game plan the scenarios out. Prep for most likely scenario. Chess 101, control center. (I was Chess Club President for two schools. Yes, I am geek) Keep Question in Forefront. Good sales people, debaters will try and try to reframe the question in order to control the message they want to win the audience.I was a good Sales Manager. I love to train the close. Fact: Its just natural for people to side with winner of debate. Last, and most important, is practice, practice, and practice.

Cautionary Note:I Will Burn This Village to Save It
My questions for the post-winning the heart and minds is this: What’s next? You got them convinced¸ now ask for the Close. (Red Book of Sales, another interesting read, not a must, but an interesting one) WHAT DO YOU WANT THEM TO DO? Ready Yourself. Dottie, you will still have a big responsibility. I hate when people betray trust and when office holders take position to resume-build, I get perturbed. You convinced of something, now what? Leadership position is one I expect and demand responsibility. I hope you are ready.

You don’t have to answer right now. It is one for your next journey. You asked me, “What is my purpose for writing this blog?” I know you only read a short quip. I swear it is in my origin issue blog. Thanks, though. You reminded me what I need to . . .I have to remind me why I write. My question for our encounter is what do I need for this blog? Thank you for your answers to my question. Now, I digress.


The question for your next journey is this. You have convinced the masses that the Big Smile exists. Now what? Better have or know someone who has the answers to this question. Actually, no. Personally, I instinctively guard up whenever I felt like I was being closed. Again, I hope you have an answer for this question, Now What?

I hope that I have your purpose correctly remembered: Convince naysayers and the like that Big Smile exist, empirically, right? (Philosophy of religion class talking), Again, Now What? Its okay to not know. It is okay to not know where or who to go to. Its just you better have answer to give. Many if need be.


Lesson: Art of War, The Way
For clarification on my position, I believe people unconsciously know in their heads and instinctively in their heart in the Big Smile. Think Jodie Foster and the movie Contact. Brains are a Good Thing. Heart is just as important and at times, more. Again, What you have ahead? You convinced the masses, what’s next? Think Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. If not that, Professor X and Magneto. How about Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson? All believed in change was needed and was that it was undoubtedly coming. Now how to fix it is the next step. Methods are different. Radicalism one method of achieving goal. I don't know you well enough to determine methodology. Again, message the same. Conclusion and methods to resolve was/is problem dramatically different and is a question that must be considered.

Think Communication basics: Sender, message, barriers to communication, medium, receiver, and feedback. Besides the argument, there is arguer, the advocate, the mouthpiece. What’s the plan now to fix it?

Lesson: 8 Miles Revisited: Win Crowd and Silence Opponents
There will be detractors. Embrace the detractors. Learn the arguments. Learn their tactics. Understand the straw man defense. Understand the different rhetoric techniques to get you off your message. Confront them with it. Shedding light on their tactics, blows away their message. Think cockroaches. Turn on the lights, they scurry away. Tell what their argument is before they do. Then come back at them with the power of your message. Quiet the detractors. Think 8 Miles, Eminem, last scene. Embrace them, because people have lost their way. People argue, just because they like to argue. I am one of them. Detractors are simply the fire you need for the crucible. Their argument valid as they may be needs to be brought to the light, figuratively and theologically. It’s easy to burn down a house, then to build one up. However, once a foundation is built, it is hard to tear it or burn it down. You will be building your case and people are going to try to burn it down. Hope you will learn how to dodge future landmines.

You Must Understand Lancelot's Son
Dottie, you have got to learn offense/ defense. You got to do both. When Enemy is stronger, evade. When equal, fight. Sir Galahad theory: If you believe in something strong enough, then its your duty to learn how to fight for it. There is much to discuss, but this more than enough right now. Be strong. Good luck in your journey. Remember you are the Hero on your journey. Setbacks are just part of the journey. Prepare for battle and for ready for post-Ragnorrak, post-2012, post-Final Conflict.