All leaders are not equal

Taking the time to look inside the minds of those who seek absolute power, I found out one thing for sure and that is the fact that power corrupts but it corrupts only those who think they deserve it. Having the inability to look inside their heads since it was never one of my own ambitions, I looked it up to see how the psyche of such a person works and found it to be very interesting to say the least. Anecdotally, at least, the connection between power and hypocrisy looks obvious

Experiencing a culture of entitlement in today’s business place, there has always been the discussion between power by position or authority and those who gain power by influence. Needless to say those not in a position of power can’t compete with those who have the position thus it is often an unbalanced equation that results in the shifting of power to those who have the authority to do the things they desire. Studies have revealed that those who are powerful and who have been primed to believe they are entitled to their power readily engage in acts of moral hypocrisy.

People with power think that they are justified to break rules not only because they can get away with it but also because they feel at some intuitive level that they are entitled to take what they want. This sense of entitlement is crucial to understanding why people misbehave in high office. In addition, there arrives a sense which some powerful people seem to have that different rules apply to them and genuinely believe it. Regardless of what tests you apply to those in power, the results will show that the powerful do indeed behave hypocritically and relative to a higher their position, the less harsh they are on themselves thus suggesting that they condemn the transgressions of others more than they do their own.

This entitlement to power also applies to the entitled to abuse as it appears to be the way powerful people conduct themselves. It is speculation that corruption and hypocrisy are the price that societies pay for being led by alpha type persons although the opposite solution, although not acceptable in most cases, is to be led by wimps. We clearly do not want to be led by wimps as an alternative to the alpha's. There would seem to be another possibility though. If we selected leaders literally at random from a large pool of qualified people and gave them a fixed, non repeatable, term of power, that they were expected to serve as a public duty, then perhaps we would get the best of both worlds. Another option would be to invite being led by either corrupt "alpha males/females" or wimps, the alternative are not being led by anyone at all. Lead yourself, and leave everyone else to do the same. Follow your own moral compass and do the best job you can.

Age and the Job market

Record high jobless rates and new college graduates hitting the job market makes finding a job so much harder for those who have been laid off or can illustrate a “long and varied list of work experience.” Struggling through both time and financial constraints to earn a degree and acquiring “extensive training” in areas of specialties that normally would have guaranteed them a foot in the door, it has become harder to find a job at 50 plus. Seeking to compete with the younger, the techno knowledge of the internet and the more vibrant group coming out of college with no experience, their chances are slim of being hired.

However, there may be a hidden fact that impacts such action as many well qualified people over 50 and looking for a job have engaged in what we call a “self-fulfilling prophecy” or a self demise of their own confidence and ability to compete with others and maintaining the edge to compete. Thinking too much about your age can hamper your chances thus showing even the slightest about how your age applies to the job you seek your own words or actions may put the nail in the coffin to terminate your opportunities to be successful. Employers will never reveal the reason for the not-hire decision as they are most aware of federal discrimination laws and its impact on their business if suspected. However, it may be the applicant who directs themselves to such a decision based on their own concerns about age and the ability to compete in a particular market or job assignment.

Self-promoting of your experience and willingness to pass on that experience to others in an organization can in fact provide an effective management tool if recognized. Many employers have mentor programs that can benefit from such an approach and if used wisely, it could in fact be a growth factor for successful career development for others who may lack the experience or are novice but identified as being potential great employees with mentoring and training.

Talking to a career expert and proper preparation for future interviews should be considered if you are lacking the self-confidence to implement this approach on your own. Selling your own experience and wisdom can in fact be recognized as you forget about age discrimination and allow your creativity and energy to remain positive and pass this on to the future. Finally, as for age discrimination in the hiring process I am sure it does exist or happen but as career specialties will tell you “if you walk in the door believing that's what's going to happen, that's what's going to happen and it's not because of age. You are going to be discriminated against because you are not presenting yourself as the professional they are looking to hire."

Moral Compass = moral intellect = individuality

We all know that at times in our lives there are events occurring that cross our own moral values thus creating conflicts that have to be resolved most of the time, under pressure especially in the workplace. Working with individuals who are driven and influential in your personal and professional life creates situations or needs to resolve or find resolutions on both ends that require a certain degree of delicacy to fix the problem. Learning how to do the right thing is not easy and requires strength and internal fortitude to stay the course according to your own moral compass. Walking a fine line between being a compliant worker or a disgruntled worker, you try to meet your organization or your family in the middle balancing a tightrope that resembles walking on the top of a picket fence. Your first reaction is to react with anger and become verbally aggressive towards the source of the issue often resulting in shooting the messenger rather than the person sending the message. Executives walking a fence are rarely acceptable in leadership positions thus your own conscious must alert you to what direction to take as you expand your own personal and professional endeavors. Explaining his moral reasoning he writes “

So how do we do the right thing under pressure and strategies do we use to avoid conflicts? The answer is strength in emotional intellect [think smart] and moral intellect [think right] as you make your decision based on these two principles that are not the same in any way. Emotional intellect can be defined as doing something good or bad or ethical or unethical in many cases. Moral intellect is skills that are driven to do good and is a very important element of leadership. It is the cause and course we take that is worthwhile and gives us the necessary fundamentals for life’ challenges.

Being a good leader you must believe in holding on to a set of well developed principles and consistently use those principles to guide you through your daily events. This same set should be the same set that all organizations adhere to throughout time but as we already know, there are many who have drifted away from the “right” thing to do and created their own fundamental beliefs that are embedded to suit their own needs rather that the “good” for others. Embracing the universal principles throughout the business world and your personal life includes taking and recognizing the elements of personal responsibility, reciprocity of your acts or good faith, and the ability to empathize with others. Basically this resembles those qualities taught in most religions and preached throughout the world as sound guidance for positive behaviors that self respect, taking responsibility for your own acts and caring for others.

Antonio Rossini’s Theory of Ethics explains moral powers are “two kinds of moral powers: those moral in themselves and those moral by participation. The former direct the practical judgment and the latter regulate affections and external acts. External moral acts presuppose the power of acting externally, this becomes a moral power when moved by moral affectivity. This power in turn becomes moral when moved by practical esteem or practical judgment which in itself is a moral power. The others are powers by participation. When speaking on the “Conscience” Rosmini wrote “If I make a practical judgment based on non moral motives I sin, and certain affections and immoral actions follow. I am conscious of sinning, and experience interior bitterness. I am conscious of not assenting to direct knowledge and of violating it. I judge myself, declaring my practical judgment evil and immoral. This judgment is moral conscience. It is a speculative judgment on the morality of my practical judgment and its consequences. We say we must follow our conscience. That is, we must appreciate and judge things for what they are worth, love them proportionately, and then act according to this well ordered love. Conscience precedes practical judgment, indicating how it should be made. When it has been made conscience approves or disapproves of it.”

Explaining his definition of moral reasoning he writes “Practical Reason: Is the capacity of voluntary reflection to form decisive esteem of the object and consequently of the action which follows. As we saw above, decisive love is bound up with this esteem and the external action then follows. The practical reason is the power which controls the practical judgment. This power vacillates in its preference between moral and eudaimonological [concerned with human happiness. It is the power to apply being as a rule for judging our own subjective good] motives presented to it. After it has considered them, it makes the practical judgment or esteem which activates the affection and then issues in an external act. It is the judge between the utility and probity of actions. It judges what is better to do here and now and is based on moral and eudaimonological reasons. For example, 'Do I feed myself and leave my brother or sister to starve, or do I deprive myself and give them what they need?' Both ethical and eudaimonological reason are included in practical reason. These are theoretical and speculative and reduced to practice by practical reason. A comparison is made between moral and eudaimonological motives, their importance is weighed and an operative judgment is made. Affection and action follow immediately. This is the practical judgment as opposed to the speculative judgment and it is controlled by the practical reason.”


Walking the talk means to be in position with your self-identified moral compass [that includes your basic moral principles, personal values, and beliefs]; your goals and your behavior including those inward or unspoken thoughts, emotions and external actions. Living in alignment means being consistent with personal goals and is not something that is accidental in any means. Moral intellect is an outgrowth of “living in alignment,” the interconnection of an individual’s moral compass (basic moral principles, personal values, and beliefs); their goals; and their behavior, including inward thoughts, emotions, and external actions. “Living in alignment means an individual’s behavior is consistent with their goals and that their goals are consistent with their moral compass. Living in alignment is not accidental. It requires individual strength in understanding and building on each component while maintaining alignment among all components, especially during pressure points in our work or personal life.”

Just like your vehicle’s GPS serves as your navigational tool while you are on the road, your moral compass keeps you on track in your life’s journey, analogous to the GPS used in your vehicle. However, just like the GPS system it may lead you into the right direction but there are many individual and sometimes complicated decisions that have to be made to stay on course. Giving you the aide of general directions gives you confidence in your destination and goals but to achieve the best out of life you must be creative and use your personal strengths and potential to arrive at your destiny with a safe and sound attitude or purpose.

The bottom line is if you use your moral compass with good awareness of its power as it would be hard to conduct your business or personal life with ignorance and deniability of what is right or wrong in the matters at hand. A leader must recognize this advantage gives them the ability to achieve lasting personal and organization performance and dependability others seek to acquire through sound mentorship and leadership methods.

Border Patrol Agent Jesus Diaz is in Solitary confinement, another form of punishment

Border Patrol Agent Jesus Diaz is looking at getting multiple years inside a prison for “pulling handcuffs” during arrest in Texas. Meanwhile, he’s been in jail since the verdict nearly two months ago. He’s in solitary confinement 23 hours per day for his safety. So far, the judge has refused to allow bond while Diaz awaits sentencing. Solitary confinement in itself is punishment and extreme living conditions inside a prison or jail.

Solitary confinement in itself is punishment and extreme living conditions inside a prison or jail. Prisons designed for solitary confinement are instant isolation units merely by their design. Many times, when ex-lawmen are convicted of a crime they are placed inside one of these concrete boxes to do their time in protective segregation units inclusive of maximum custody in many states or federal prisons.

None, even the best of the best, choose to remain inside one of these boxes any longer than they have to because of the steady pandemonium that exists within cell to cell and inmate to inmate.

Many have electricity but often, if the inmate is problematic in sorts, the breaker is turned off for a designated amount of time undocumented anywhere. The same applies to delayed letter deliveries, torn books, food thrown on the floor as a message that the inmate “needs to clean up his act” and other SID methods of satisfying the boundaries of control and who is actually in control of the box. Never getting a hot meal or balanced diet, they live like that forever until someone questions why this inmate is not getting a regular meal.

This builds animosity between staff and inmates and often results in frequent force being used during those periods where the inmate is escorted out of his or her cell to go to the recreation pen.

Personal property is limited especially if designed a suicide problem or behavioral troublemaker. SID can be used by staff, employees or even other inmates. SID is destructive and responsible for homicides, suicides, serious assaults on both staff and inmates and is rarely identified as the cause or catalyst for such disruptive conduct. Any inquiries by family members may prompt further SID treatment and create additional stress between the administration and the inmate

Don't Walk with the Devil

Don’t walk with the devil for he will steal you soul

Don’t talk to the devil for he will change your role

For you cannot run or hide from his evil ways

And often the persons you will admire and embrace

So let me give you some sound advice

Don’t walk with the devil for you cannot afford his listed price

You can find the devil almost anywhere

Don’t look into his red red eyes with his evil stare

Don’t fall for his tricks, his promises that he cares

For his evilness will shake your hand and cause you pain

And for certain his wicked ways will cause you to drain

Don’t walk with the devil for you will see

What he has done to you and me

Run as fast as you and don’t look back

For his influence is worst that an ounce of crack

Don’t run with the devil don’t even dare

For your heart will falter and no longer care

About those you love and those you have chosen

Don’t let him trick you into a heart that becomes frozen

Don’t run with the devil for he won’t set you free

He’ll keep you around to spread the seed

Don’t run with the devil for he will make you sow

Every evil seed that is planted on devil’s row

Don’t smile at the devil for he will make you cry

As he makes you forget those scriptures written from the sky

Those parables and verses you know so well

Will lead you on his well paved road to a place called hell

Don’t run with the devil, it’s plain to see

His evil was meant to destroy you and me

Don’t look at the devil with his mesmerizing eyes

And never forget he speak his words with nothing but lies

Don’t run with the devil with his trickery voice

As long as you are free you have a choice

To decide to walk hand in hand with the angels of God

And deny the devil what he so desperately sought

So walk with God and his angels true

And keep His word so close to you

For as long as you speak of our Lord and son

Your work for God has just begun

And when the devil comes up to you

Turn your head and ignore his taboo

Planning your Future

It has been said that writing a plan for your future requires you to integrate a number of life experiences, events and proven as well as unproven processes so you can find the direction desired. This plan has to be formulated carefully as a good solid plan can’t stand alone on just one of its concerns but must rather be closely integrated with the others in order to be effective.

Sometimes we get discouraged when we believe that individual progress is not as fast enough or perhaps inconsistent with the outcome desire thus we have to constantly rewrite the plan to make it true. It often helps you collaborate with a friend, a family member or a pending partner to develop the specifics and where you feel these ideas or objectives fit according to your ability to complete them as desired. Don’t be shy and not ask another person for help or input to make your plan a realistic plan. Focus on every progress and every process taken and completed. Measure your efficiency and determine if it is time to move on to the next step or improve on the current situation. Ask yourself how you feel about the progress made or experience gained. When you reach your own conclusion on this matter, feel free to share this with those who helped you develop the plan and see where this stage of the plan fits.

Never underestimate the influence or the insight of the participants or partners as they speak. When they speak to you about your plan evaluate and assess their own strengths and weaknesses and gauge your action plan from there. Those that support you have grown to a commitment that is now a solid element of the plan and must be taken into consideration every step of the way. Let’s look at some of the essential components of a plan. Making sure we cover all bases for the sake of having a good plan we must constantly evaluate the processes and the progress made during every step made at every level. We have already agreed to share our findings with those who volunteered to collaborate with us regarding the structure of the plan.

Evaluations or assessments can be formal or informal processes. They create the foundation of the plan. The plan is the roadmap you will follow but is not made of stone and can be re-arranged as you find it necessary based on those barriers, or changes encountered during the journey. Again, make your adjustments accordingly with input from those who support you along the way. Don’t be inflexible or unchanging in your ways for if the plan is too rigid it will likely be broken due to stress along the way. Update with effective and current information to keep you informed and with the social times around you. That is not to say you need to follow those social influences but rather, adjust for them to keep you plan in step and realistic with your surroundings. Reinforcement can be positive or negative and are based on ideas that will impact consequences.  It comes down to desired or undesired outcomes thus it can be equated with how you want the event or process to turn out as a final result.

Summarizing your actions, you have decided to write a well written plan in pencil with one or more measurable objectives and outlined specific steps to take to achieve such success at each level. You have collected data to make informed decisions and adjusted accordingly making your plan flexible and realistic. You collaborated with family; friends or partners to ensure you receive both negative and positive feedback and adjusted as they guide you towards your designed and desired outcome. Based on these steps, you have developed a living breathing plan for the future that will suit your needs and desires as you work on making yourself better. The most important part after you reached your desired outcome or successes is how you will enhance or improves what you have achieved and find ways to strengthen your position, your futuristic possibilities and your earning power.

Last Breath -Loneliness

Today is probably one of the worst days of my life. In my warped and almost certainly distorted conscience are memories of loneliness. It is times like this I wish I could go back to the time when I was surrounded under an abundance of clamor of people, lots of people on the playground, in the movie theaters or as we played flag football on those narrow cobblestone avenues on the south end of Columbus Ohio in the sixties.

The mind is twisted as it brings me back to memories of the bad things that happened in life and as if it deliberately hides the good things that you seldom remember when the room seems dark and airless. Laying still on a queen size bed made for two people, you reach over to the empty breathing space where you thought someone would be at a time like this when everything seems to be collapsing and crumbling inside your personal world.

No longer filled with the exuberance and faith once possessed as a young man struggling to deal with the world's issues and political implications, I come to realize that my heart and soul has become lethargic and stale. Energized and full of vigor once reminiscing to the days of my life where engaged in hostilities of an ostracized jungle confrontation in Southeast Asia with vivid images of running through dense jungles packed with cry and detonation.

Today, to be within a touch of depression is an unreal certainty to say the least.  The truth of the mere existence within this world is shrinking as my legs can no longer carry me long distances creating less and less activities for me to enjoy.  My eyes are dull as my mind drifts endlessly beyond the thoughts of tomorrow.

 Coming to the realization this slow and torture will strip away those very same senses once possessed when young. It has become troublesome to reach those levels of self satisfaction in the pursuit of happiness, and realize a man needs to encircle himself with others to enjoy life to the fullest to the end.