You Are In Control
by John R. Sedivy
Are you currently unhappy with your life? Do you wish you could make a change, but feel powerless? Are you looking to place blame on someone for your circumstances? If this is the case you should look no further than yourself.
You Are In Complete Control
Consider the following words from Viktor Frankl the author of “Man’s Search For Meaning” on what he describes as pan-determinism:
“By that I mean the view of man which disregards his capacity to take a stand toward any conditions whatsoever. Man is not fully conditioned and determined but rather determines himself whether he gives in to conditions or stands up to them. In other words, man is ultimately self-determining. Man does not simply exist but always decides what his existence will be, what he will become in the next moment.”
So to some extent it is true that others may be to blame for your unhappiness, however only to the extent that you allow them to have control over your life. You are in ultimate control of yourself, your path, and therefore your destiny – which can change at any instant. Frankl continues with the following:
“By the same token, every human being has the freedom to change at any instant. Therefore, we can predict his future only within the large framework of a statistical survey referring to a whole group; the individual personality, however, remains essentially unpredictable. The basis for any predictions would be represented by biological, psychological, or sociological conditions. Yet one of the main features of human existence is the capacity to rise above such conditions, to grow beyond them. Man is capable of changing the world for the better if possible, and of changing himself for the better if necessary.”
This is why predictions of the future do not work, and one can only approximate at best. Each person has their own free will, which can change at any moment, and is therefore self-determining – this makes such predictions impossible. One can only make rough estimates based upon an individual’s background, current environment, and desires. These factors can help steer a person by taking them into consideration.
Chart Your Own Course
Therefore it can be reasoned that you are in charge of your own destiny. I will ask the same questions that I started this article out with:
1. Are you currently unhappy with your life?
2. Do you wish you could make a change, but feel powerless?
3. Are you looking to place blame on someone for your circumstances?
Based on our preceding discussion we already know the answer to the third question. Although others may have influence, you are ultimately in control – therefore there is nobody to blame but yourself. This also links to answers to the first two questions. If you are unhappy with your life you should simply change it. And of course we know that you are not powerless to make a change – you hold all the power over yourself. The power others hold over you is what you grant them.
How To Chart Your Own Course
You may wonder how one goes about making a change in their life. It may seem easier said than done – however it really isn’t. It’s really quite simple. If you are unhappy with your situation, simply change. It does not have to be drastic. Quite the contrary, simple changes can make a difference. Are you merely “sheepwalking” or are you fully aware of your activities. Become aware of your feelings and surroundings – what makes you feel joy? What makes you feel pain? Add more of the joy to your life, remove the pain. Small steps in this direction will add up to big results.
For better or worse you are in control of your life!
-John R. Sedivy of Cape Cod Branding
Liberty and Tyranny Book Review
by John R. Sedivy
This was the first book I had read by Mark Levin and I had not heard his radio show prior to reading Liberty and Tyranny. I have to say that my impression of his work is very high – especially given this is his first book I had read! The author argues for an originalist interpretation of the Constitution of the United States and provides compelling, intellectual arguments to back up his beliefs. The author further argues for the rights of the individual over the state and provides compelling arguments for this. I particularly enjoyed “The Conservative Manifesto” as outlined in the book which serves as a logical blueprint for getting back to basics.
Highlights
Here are what I consider to be the top three strengths of “Liberty and Tyranny:”
1. Rational
2. Thought provoking
3. Call to action
The tone of “Liberty and Tyranny” is rational and well spoken and in my opinion is the top strength of this work. The author’s background is in law, and the presentation of the book reflects this background. This runs counter to many of the political books that are what I consider a “flash in the pan” – meant to generate a frenzy of excitement without logical presentation. Not the case here, this book has staying power with the arguments presented with an articulation one would expect from someone well versed in law.
Regardless of if you agree or disagree with the outlined principles, the logical presentation of the material provides good food for thought. I had listened to the audiobook and at many times during the presentation I had found myself thinking to myself – “I didn’t know that!” The manner at which Mark Levin logically dissects the Constitution and conservative principles will likely challenge the thinking of many a reader or listener. At a minimum this book will raise more questions for you and possibly make you re-think your stance on some issues. In my opinion this logical presentation raises the bar for credibility for this type of book.
One of the more intriguing parts of this book is the “Conservative Manifesto” presented by the author. This is basically a call to action which addresses ten areas to include taxation, environment, judges, administrative state, government education, immigration, entitlements, foreign policy and security, faith, and the Constitution. I will not delve into the details here as they are a major part of this book – just consider the author addresses a wide variety of topics with a road map for improving each area.
Drawbacks
In my opinion I do not believe anything could have been improved upon in this book. The author provides his areas for concern in a clear, concise manner and addresses each in a well thought out and rational manner. Mark Levin definitely has an opinion and puts a stake in the sand – but he does a great job arguing his opinion – no doubt the benefits of an education in law!
Closing Thoughts
“Liberty and Tyranny” is not for everyone. However, this book is for those who are interested in an intellectual read, conservative politics, and individualism. I consider this to be the best political book that I have read, for the reasons previously stated in this review and I highly recommend it to those who are interested. I definitely plan on going back and reading some of his earlier works.
If you enjoyed “Liberty and Tyranny” you should also read “Catastrophe” by Dick Morris, and “Do The Right Thing” by Mike Huckabee.
-John R. Sedivy of Cape Cod Branding
Force Multipliers
by John R. Sedivy
Recently I had reflected upon the end of my first enlistment in the Marine Corps and how when it came time to stay or go, I had received a letter saying something to the affect that my re-enlisting with the Marine Corps would serve as a “force multiplier.” This memory led me to think about the concept of a force multiplier and how this concept just as readily applies to business as the military.
What Is A Force Multiplier?
Wikipedia defines a force multiplier, or force multiplication as the following:
Force multiplication, in military usage, refers to a combination of attributes or advantages which make a given force more effective than another force of comparable size. A force multiplier refers to a factor that dramatically increases (hence “multiplies”) the effectiveness of an item or group.
In simple terms, this means that by strengthening one attribute you can greatly increase your competitive advantage, either in a military tactical sense, or a business environment. The Wikipedia entry continues by providing the following examples of common force multipliers:
* Morale
* Technology
* Geographical features
* Weather
* Recruitment through diplomacy
* Training and experience
* Fearsome reputation
* Deception
Keep in mind that the preceding list is designed specifically for military application and some examples which are necessary in the military environment, may not be desirable in the business environment (for example deception).
Force Multiplier Examples
One example of a force multiplier provided by Wikipedia is that an increase in technology may add to higher morale. This example makes sense to me. Technology, in many ways, makes our life easier. Something that makes my life easier puts me in a better mood, and therefore increases my morale or motivation. High technology which translates to higher motivation, and productivity equals a competitive advantage.
I really enjoy using my MacBook Pro. It’s fun to use and makes my life easier in many ways. This ease and enjoyment increases my morale which ultimately drives my productivity. Again, increased technology equals increased motivation which in turn equals higher productivity – this is a force multiplier.
In the military sense and in my situation, my force multiplier was my age and training. After serving five years in the Marine Corps, that organization viewed my military and academic training received to date as being valuable. What increased my value was that of my age – at the end of my enlistment I would be older than many Marines, which would equal more maturity and experience. Training is valuable, however training combined with experience, maturity, and ability is many times more valuable. So in this instance my force multipliers would be specific experience within the organization, my age, experience, and education – all of which would are force multipliers.
One final example that I will provide is that of the partnership between Amy and I. As I had mentioned in our original article on partnership, our strengths compliment one anothers weaknesses. Individually we have force multipliers, but together we have many more. I am strong in the beginning and end of projects and love to start and finish quickly but become bored in the middle. Amy tends to delay starting but once she starts, she is slow and steady throughout. This is one of the aspects that make our partnership great. For Amy’s original article on partnership refer to “The Key To Successful Business? Partnership”.
Discovering Your Force Multipliers?
At this point I ask you to consider your force multipliers. Consider your individual force multipliers and that of your business. What aspects make you a strong and unique person when compared to others? What aspects of your organization make it strong and unique when compared to others? Once you have an answer, consider how you can leverage multiple force multipliers to strengthen your competitive advantage, both as an individual and as a business.
Consider your force multipliers and how you can leverage these to overcome the competition.
-John R. Sedivy of Cape Cod Branding
