A few weeks ago I was reading the following article, and I thought it was so great I’m linking it on my blog. You gotta love the attitude of the wounded Navy Seal in rehab, and the appropriate sign he posts, leaving simply zero doubt about his success and the perspective, and no tolerance for others who doubt around him. The perspective about his injuries, as well as his soon-to-be victorious healing, is beyond noble–if we could all represent just a fraction of his brave then our lives, and this world, would be significantly different.
This holiday season, home in Texas and surrounded by close friends and family, I often found myself thinking about virtual strangers.
I met them this fall when I spoke at the Naval Special Warfare Foundation (NSWF) dinner. The NSWF supports naval commandoes with scholarships and assistance for families of Navy Seals killed or wounded in combat or training.
During my White House years, I came to know of the heroic actions of the Seals and other special operators in the global war on terror. These men willingly follow evil into dark and perilous places. They volunteered to be on the front edge of the conflict whose outcome will shape this century.
Click here to read the entire Wall Street Journal opinion piece.
No doubts, take Lasix only as prescribed by your physician. Levitra is one of the best-known medications of all time. What is the most significant data you must study about levitra vs cialis? Most doctors say the effectiveness of Levitra is well documented. Absolutely, a sexual problem refers to a problem during any phase of the sexual response cycle that prevents the individual from experiencing satisfaction from the sexual life. Whilst sex is not vital for good soundness, it’s doubtless significant for anyone. Why it happen? What kinds of professionals treat sexual diseases in men? A common class of antidepressants, which include Zoloft — can kill the mood in bedroom.
During my 20 years with the U.S. Navy, I had many occasions to work with the Seals. I have high regards and a lot of respect for these men of valor. I honestly believe that our country does not have enough respect and honor for our military men and women after they have given their time and their lives to serve this country.
Thank you for your recognition of our military men and women.
Charles
L’Chaim “To Life” Univera Team
Lake Oswego, OR
Awesome article! I love to hear stuff like that about people in high positions. Makes me very proud to be part of nation where people willing put themselves in harms way to protect my way of life.
http://www.brianclayville.wordpress.com
This article has actually generated several more comments and emails than I posted, intentionally.
It’s rare that I won’t post comments, but a few were a bit polarizing–one in particular that would generate a bit of good fodder and more engagement on this blog. But I didn’t post several . because, simply, these comments were comprised of pro and anti-Rove personalities and philosophies, which didn’t have anything to do with the point of my posting the article. For the purposes of this blog entry, I have neither rebuke nor commendation of Rove, or the Iraq war for that matter. Ultimately, the article had very little to do with either.
What I do admire, respect, and appreciate, which was the very point of the WSJ article, is that there are some very determined people out there serving us in ways we can’t imagine. And when they come back, particularly those who have been injured by the brutality of war, there exist some incredible stories of commitment and determination to bring back their own personal renewal.
Oftentimes, we lose sight of the message because of the messenger. In this particular case and for some it was Karl Rove’s article in the Journal. Yet, how you perceive the world–and also messenger–can directly determine your outlook and life’s experiences.
My blog is a personal one, yet it’s also deliberately apolitical–or politically agnostic.
In my corporate role I have made my own decision to remain very private in political matters. This isn’t something that’s required. In fact, I find many Executives at many companies that are vocal about their political beliefs–and I offer them no criticism either, even though I try to subscribe to a different approach.
I would expect that most people, even at the highest levels of leadership inside and outside Univera, have very little knowledge of my personal political beliefs.
At times I’ll take various stories or learnings from authors on either side of poiltics. Political debate and discussion is important to all countries and parties, yet here’s one perspective that I will acknowledge: bitter and non-collaborative partisanship is destructive. Within and outside of politics.
See, in many cases the messenger is largely irrelevant. I wouldn’t take the leap to make that a generalization across the board in every case, and even still sometimes the messenger IS the message.
But it’s interesting that, oftentimes, we become so fixated on the messenger that we refuse to hear the message, or we interpret the message the wrong way. Forget politics and this particular WSJ article, this applies to nearly anything.
Take most every subject, philanthropy, religion/spirituality, the environment, poverty, or even Univera–and too often people get so fixated on who is delivering the message that they lose the opportunity to understand the message.
I think of all the people that consider Univera but they can’t get beyond the fact that this is a mission bigger than a single person who might be the messenger to them, or grapple with the fact that this is both credible and real opportunity that also is within the Relationship Marketing industry, or that they simply don’t like how someone presented or shared the gift with them. And we all know those people who actually have to work to find reasons not to get engaged in this business.
And when we’re so narrowly fixated on the messenger, or perhaps our own judgment, that we miss out on some great lessons and experiences in life.
Thanks Raz – Though I appreciate your comment on the polarizing nature of the author – I wouldn’t suggest that the article is necessarily separate from the author. If you truly want to remain politically agnostic, I would find authors and stories that don’t skirt the line like this. Karl Rove is a human being, not an evil non-human, but he does have a political agenda. It’s probably best to look for a story from a person inside of your company and highlight their service. Reposting content authored by a polarizing figure will not be disconnected from the content no matter how honorable the story may be.
Dear “Anonymous”,
I think that’s a very good point, thanks for sharing your perspective and suggestion.
Best,
Raz