Extreme Makeover- Over 50 Version

Extreme Makeover- Over 50 Version

Doing all the things you didn’t do cuz you were too young to appreciate them.

Morgan Freeman, Jack Nicholson and a supporting cast showed us a lighter side of a part of our life that many of us really should take more to heart. Their portrayal of two over the hill men spoke volumes to me as I watched my own youth passing before my life. Not only was I about to turn 50 but there was in the back of my mind the remembrance of things yet accomplished and opportunities yet realized. In my haste to take care of family, friends, ministry and career I had forgotten to take care of the closest thing I possessed, me.

Now before you reach for the mouse to click to yet another dull and boring site let me expand on this idea. If you are like me and I suspect you are, you have spent many of your best years investing in the lives of your kids, church, business, or boss. You have gotten up at maybe 4am or 6 and made the trek into that mill we call life and done your duty to make ends meet, bring home the bacon. You have done your duty.

Now you are half a century old and reflective on life. Have I made any mistakes, have I done the right thing. Could I have done this or done that. Will the Cubs ever win the pennant? All of these ideas circle your mind like the Indians at Custards last stand. The hardest part of this whole thing is that you are still relatively young.

In my own case my family lives a long time. My parents are still both going strong, if not physically at least mentally. So I can look forward to another 40 years plus of life. It would be different if I only had a few short years to kick it but I have a long to time to get things done. So what will I ever do?

Getting going right now in life while life is good for the getting sounds like the best medicine for me. Maybe I’ll take up skydiving, write that novel, and become a doctor, a lawyer, or whatever. The main focus needs to be, “Get going”.

If I had only know then what I know now, I would have started a business, became a lawyer, or done so many other things that would have benefited me now in life. I would have become a totally different person, maybe even a better person. But at the time when I was going through those situations, I was way to young to appreciate what I had.

Now I’m not here to cry over spilled milk. I am here to tell the world that life is way too short and is wasted on the young. Their comprehension is so limited that they aren’t able to really grasp their limitless potential, rather they, well we all went through it, so there is no need to rehash the past.

Right now, I am bent on getting all that I can out of life. From the time that I wake up in he morning till the time I lay my head on my oversized pillow at night, I plan on squeezing the most out of the last half of my life.  What that means is that I am less fearful and more fearless. Less skeptical and more optimistic. Less Cynical and more Open-minded about the wide variety of life. This is what Life is all about.

So for the rest of you out there that are spending your final 40 or 50 years of life in a stupor, on a video machine in Vegas, or at a seminar on “Being Quiet”, Get out of my way. I plan on living a full life. Full of fun, excitement, risk taking and people touching. When they finally put me in that old pine box, on my tombstone will be written the epitaph “Here lies the worn out carcass of what was once the happiest Mamma Jamma in Vegas, He lived, loved and went out in a blaze of glory”

Sherman

Sherman Ray is the founder of Diversity Networking Group, a mentoring and networking group in Las Vegas. He is also a businessman, speaker and author. To see more of his work contact him via Facebook, Twitter, Ustream, Youtube, LinkedIn. Also look for other leadership and articles that will encourage you at www.redlettermedia.net

The Answer to US Economy

Had a brilliant idea today. The US economy is in its worst shape since the great Depression. During that time nearly 25% of the workforce was on the public dole or just sitting on street corners waiting for something to happen. And happen it did. We had a huge influx of jobs due to wars and the greatest surge of hiring due to the Industrial Age here in the US.
This same sort of infusion needs to occur in American in order for us to just keep up with the pace of people coming into the workforce in the next 20 years. Unlike in past times we can't look forward to a war or some major upheaval to occur, so we need to look at some more obvious tragedies that we can all attack to make things work out for the global community. If America doesn't take the lead in this battle then our competition, i.e. China, Hong Kong, Japan, etc... will.

Operation Africa
Northern Africa is argueably the most destitute area on the planet. There is drought, famine, homelessness on an epic scale and warring factions that need nothing more than direction and stability. In many parts of the world the overarching reason why there was fighting was because there were so little resources to go around, subsequently it was "Every man for himself".
Here is my plan. We need jobs. Africa needs...well everything. Why not accomodate them and us at the same time. In order for us to have jobs we need someone to buy or use our products and services. I can't think of a better if not in an alruisitc sense project to work on.
Africa needs infrastructure- we'll build thier roads.
Africa needs food- We'll give them food. Release our American farmers to grow in areas that have long since been laid fallow because we are trying to artificially keep prices low.
Africa Needs Water. Desalinazation- We can build the largest desalinization plant and system the world has ever seen.
Africa needs energy- We can build them a new energy grid.
Africa needs Technology- Bill Gates get out your checkbook and pen. We can use our American know-how to help them leap forward. Can you imagine cellular towers, cable underground feeds, Electric grids erected?
Africa needs housing- millions of new homes could begin in earnest. The building boom would last for literally generations with no end in sight.

The rest of the list could fill not only this page but volumes as the basic building blocks of a society are put into place.
Now if only others would see this simple solution to a US and global problem. If we don't do it...someone else will.
Who would pay for all of this?
Africa sits on the some of the largest oil, mineral and gas reserves on the planet. Contractors and private entities could negotiate their pay with African governement officials to get paid through this countries natural resources. It is a win-win for everyone. America gets to go back to work and Africa gets to become a viable partner in the future world stage. We get immediate money and a future trading partner, they get to come out of 3rd world poverty and become a major force on the world stage.

WooHoo
Operation African