Blog | Bryan Clifton

From the Blog

Mar

Spring Awakening

Posted by Bryan Clifton at 9:04 am

Last spring, world news was dominated by revolts and uprisings in the Arab world. The people were ready to make a change. They saw an opportunity and seized it. No longer would the suffer under the hands of oppressive dictators and military governments. They were ready for a new day.

That was then. This is now. What will happen this spring?

The word spring radiates a sense of action. It is a call to make something of yourself. To act upon your ideas and dreams.

Spring reveals the birth of a new day. Flowers are in bloom. Things are changing. Nature is acting and growing. Can the same be said of you?

Renewal and rejuvenation are the words that best encompass the season of spring. Hope is in the air.

Short terms goals are set and achieved. Spring workouts create beach bodies in preparation for the summer months ahead. Completion of homework assignments and essays allow for a relaxing summer break. With every new days come new opportunities that flood the landscape. The problem is not if you need to change or follow through with an existing commitment, but rather where to focus.

This is a season of personal growth. It is a time to produce fruit from months of hard work.

Spring is a call to action. We are all due for an awakening.

What do you need to do in your life to spring into action?

Feb

Children in Adult Situations

Posted by Bryan Clifton at 3:25 pm

We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public. – Bryan White

When we were little, the world seemed small and simple. The only worries in our life were recess, ice cream, and what toy to play with. Then life changed. We still have the same basic decision process, but the items we are choosing have greater consequences.

The playground shifts to an office, but the work stays the same. The work is decision making.

Children make decisions, but within a safe environment. Parents give direction and slowly teach children how to make choices. When we become an adult, we are expected to make these decisions on our own. But let me honest with you, sometimes I feel unprepared to make decisions that will alter the course of my life.

Picking a flavor of ice cream to eat as a child does not have long ranging effects. Deciding which job path to pursue does. Both are decisions, but one has consequences that last.

Making decisions is part of life. We will never outgrow it. But there is a bright spot. We can reduce the fear that uncertainty brings.

The best person to choose a career path is someone with decades of experience. Because of their experience, they can tell you every step they wish they had taken. If you listen, they are revealing a path of decisions most likely to help you reach your desired outcome.

Mentors and advisors offer years of experience and wisdom that give direction. Think of them as surrogate parents with specialities in their respective field. They could be your parents, older friends, or someone assigned by your employer or university.

If we are wise, we will heed the advice of those smarter than we are. They have been there. They know what they wish they had done. Successful people seek mentors and listen to their wisdom.

We never grow up, we only learn how to manage the new world around us. We adjust on the fly and gain knowledge from those that have gone on before us.

Our world is full of decisions. The next time you feel unprepared, find someone who has been there before and learn from them.

Feb

Procrastinating Focus

Posted by Bryan Clifton at 3:51 pm

We don’t lack the desire to change. We lack the focus necessary to make the change happen. To change requires action, and action does not exist without focus.

The problem is focus is easily diverted. Jumping from one task to the next does not make you more effective. It makes you a serial quitter. Your focus is cut each time, thus reducing your ability to get the job completed efficiently.

Understanding the difference between a great opportunity that is deserving of your focus and a time-wasting habit can only be developed over time. Discernment is needed to make wise choices.

Not all opportunities are created equal. With every chance you take, there is a reward. Some are larger than others.

We spend hours and hours talking about the things we need to do…only to fail to do them because we do not have the time. Here is a novel idea, what if we quit talking about what we have to do and actually did it? Action must take the place of procrastination. Focus on the task at hand. Get it done. Then go on to the next great opportunity.

Feb

Wedding Tourism

Posted by Bryan Clifton at 8:14 am

Get off the tourist track. Engage with local people. Find ways to interact on a personal level. Participate in family events. Have discussions with people who you cannot speak with. That is how you see what a country values.

At the wedding last week, I was extremely uncomfortable. I slept a few feet away from my future food while it was butchered. For the record, machete chopping is a tremendous alarm. The house did not have air conditioning or internet. It lacked a shower and the doors were not conducive to my height (I hit my head a lot). But it had something that our homes often lack. Community connection and interaction.

The entire village came together to share in the love of this young couple. If you got married next week, how many of your neighbors would help you? An even better question might be, have you met your neighbors?

This attitude was my main takeaway from Leyte. It took traveling halfway around the globe to see the value of a close-knit community bonding together to meet a common goal. It is simple yet profound. We do not have limits when we all work together.

They decorated a church, set up a reception area for 500 people, butchered 8 pigs and 3 cows, prepared the food, entertained guests, had a wedding, delivered the bride via water buffalo taxi, and most importantly had a great time doing it. I never saw a person lash out in frustration. The opposite was true. They throughly enjoyed each others company and loved the work they were doing. They did all of this in about 15 hours. That is amazing.

This was the highlight of my trip. It was so fun to interact with the people of the community and get to know them as best I could.

Do me a favor, take a trip outside your comfort zone. It does not need to be outside the country, but it should be slightly nerve racking. Situations like that force you to reassess what is important in your life. It is a good habit to do from time to time.

Feb

Philippine Wedding

Posted by Bryan Clifton at 9:00 am

Jonre is a seaman and works 8 month shifts mostly in the Caribbean on oil delivery ships. It is a great paying job that allowed him to provide a large house and comfortable living for his family. He is very thankful for this job even though it takes him away from his family for long periods of time.

Leny worked as a secretary but recently resigned to become a full-time wife.

Jonre’s mother was an interesting woman. She would grab my hand and lead me throughout the house to meet relatives and neighbors who helped prepare for the wedding. Sort of like a human show and tell. She might be 5 foot tall on a good day. Her English was very limited, but that did not discourage her from trying.

When she got excited, her limited English and uncontrollable enthusiasm created a lively atmosphere for all to enjoy. She would jump up and down a little while grabbing my arm. For an older woman, she had a lot of energy.

The wedding was a delightful experience. I’m glad they let me take part even though I was vastly under dressed.

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