Accountable Citizens Updates

Overcome Fear of Failure From An Expert of Both Fear and Failure

Experience is the best teacher. My struggles with fear of failure will help you avoid the same pitfalls and live the life you desire.

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"This Moment"

(Editor's note:) We're leading into our theme for next week with a short passage from Steve Maraboli's excellent little book titled, "Life, the Truth, and Being Free".

"Today is a new day! Each of us aspires to become more. Each of us wants to improve ourselves in some way. Our chance has come! It is time to seize this opportunity to transform ourselves. The time has come to harness the blessed power within us and to use it to transcend from our current existence into a more empowered reality.

What will you do with this moment? It is this, and only this, moment that is yours. What shall be the fruit of this moment? Will you seize it and empower yourself with its juices? Or will you let this fruitful moment spoil and gamble that you will receive another?

The power found in this moment is immeasurable. It can propel you to success and happiness or chain you to failure and misery. Which would you prefer? Haven't you had this choice before? Which did you choose? We all know that our lives can change in a flash-in a moment. We have become accustomed to being a victim of a moment.

Today is your opportunity to break free of the limiting belief that the moment answers to no one. This moment is yours and yours alone! Take charge, seize this moment and allow it to propel you to the high levels of an empowered life. Allow upon this fertile moment to be planted the seeds of your happiness and success.

Today is a new day. Seize this moment!"

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"Legislating Morality"

In terms of ethics and integrity, there cannot be shifting targets. The proverbial goalposts can't be widened, the outfield fences can't be brought in closer, all in efforts to make it easier. We've written extensively about baseline truths. Things that are facts, always facts, not subject to whims or agendas. Scientific data can't be massaged or manipulated to create a false narrative. Cooking the books isn't legal under the law, cooking the data is just as unethical.

Today we're sharing a little more wisdom from Zig Ziglar. This very short passage is titled, "Legislating Morality."

"Every time issues such as gambling, pornography, prostitution, sleazy television programming, etc., are discussed, there are those who say we cannot 'legislate morality.' The reality is we can, we have, and we must. It's immoral to kill, and therefore we have laws against murder. It's immoral to steal and we have laws against thievery. It's immoral to abuse someone, so we have laws against assault. We constantly legislate morality; however, the legislation would be more effective if we conscientiously taught morality through the process of teaching values. You don't teach ethics-you teach integrity, because a person of integrity will do things in an ethical manner, provided he knows what the ethical manner is and that's why teaching it is critical...

Some experts argue that ethics and values are learned as a natural part of human development, derived from home, school, religion, and other influences. However, they say that some authorities maintain that ethics, as the innate notion of right and wrong, cannot be taught to an adult. They're saying that an individual has been shaped as honest and upstanding or devious and venal long before he or she sets foot in the business world.

Certainly part of that is true. Some experts maintain that 80 percent of a child's character is formed by the age of five, but to say that ethics and values cannot be taught to adults is erroneous. People can and do change because, basically, all of us will act in our best self-interest if we clearly understand what that best interest is. Evidence is solid that the 'good guys,' over the long haul, are the big winners in their personal, family, business, and financial lives."

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Meat Loaf Was Right

Several years before he died, Meat Loaf gave an interview to Dan Rather. It became clear early in the exchange that the on stage persona of the actor/singer wasn't a true reflection of the personality of Meat Loaf. He was kind of shy in "real life" and was a thoughtful guy. I was reminded of that interview after reading the most recent column from guest author T.O. Illustratio. If you haven't had a chance to read it, the link is just below.

Pursuing Probity Principles

Meat Loaf told his interviewer that he was always searching for more knowledge and that included trying to learn a new word every day. Our guest columnist wrote about probity principles in that latest column and I'm guessing for some, probity might be a word not as well known. I would be raising my hand to join that group.

I was kind of aware of the word at least in terms of business structures. During my years as a self-employed individual, my business was developed and built around the foundation of honesty, transparency, and determination to create a system that everyone on my teams utilized to do things properly. Trust was important then and we did speak of integrity and of never taking shortcuts.

But in total candor, I know that I never really made the connection to moving integrity to the higher plateau of probity. We followed the steps of probity principles in that business format, but after reading our guest column, I realize I didn't know what I didn't know back then. If I had a better grasp on those principles, I would have been more effective in conveying the vision of our business.

In our work with young leaders we use these probity principles. We stress being the examples of positive action. We give them the skill, the confidence, and the support to put them in positions where they can succeed. But I can see that I haven't been as good as I could have been in guiding them to the next level. They model integrity with their work in support of the most vulnerable and the people most in need of help.

After reading that post a few times, it is clear that more can be done to distinguish the path from integrity to the more vocal, more public position of probity.

Meat Loaf was correct. We should always try to learn new things. Good work can become great work. Good intentions can become amazing accomplishments.

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Pursuing Probity Principles Is The Giant Leap Past Personal Integrity

Guest author T.O. Illustratio takes us beyond the commendable perch of personal integrity to a higher level by pursuing probity principles.

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What Does Integrity Mean? Think Of It As A Hurricane Proof Building.

There will be challenges. There will be difficult times. The answer in dealing with them is found in the answer to the question, "What does integrity mean?"

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How To Find Your Purpose So You Never Have To Wonder "What If?"

Imagine looking back on your life and wondering, "What if I had another chance?" If you know how to find your purpose, you won't have to answer that question.

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Words Of Wisdom That Can Be Life-Changing

Guest author T.O. Illustratio shares a story of life-changing words of wisdom from a stranger turned friend.

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Life Is About Finding Balance. The Expedition Will Be Worth It!

The odyssey of humanity is fraught with trials and triumphs. A successful and peaceful life is about finding balance. The journey will strengthen you!

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Opportunism and Opportunities

Opportunism and opportunities are on my mind this morning. I guess both words have been bouncing around in my brain for a couple days, probably spurred on by the most recent contribution from guest author T.O. Illustratio. The author wrote about defining citizen and citizenship. The link is just below if you haven't had the chance to read it yet.

Define Citizen and Citizenship

In a perfect world opportunism and opportunities would be considered as similar in both intent and execution. But as we all know, our world is not perfect. Crooked opportunists have been with us forever. Think about the carpetbaggers who descended on a war-ravaged southern part of America following the Civil War. They saw an opportunity to profit from the desperation of citizens struggling to recover from devastating losses.

The same situation offered opportunities for responsible citizens to look at the same scenario, the same war-ravaged communities, the same desperation among fellow American citizens and offer a helping hand. Many did just that. There weren't easy profits coming from lending a hand as there were from fleecing the population, the favored method of the opportunists.

In my state we're seeing attack ads blaming sitting members of Congress for the mess in DC involving this ridiculous government shutdown. The ads come from opportunists on both sides of the two-headed monster strangling national growth through their collective greed. The blame goes to both sides of the aisle and both sides have the opportunity to put country above politics. But the lure of opportunism is too great. The chance to assign blame away from themselves and on to the "other side" is too enticing to ignore.

It has become the in-thing today to stand on the street corners and wave signs at cars passing by in protest of anything that various media and gossip columns are blathering about at the moment. I'm stating here and now, that peaceful protest is the right of every citizen in the United States. But as been the theme in other pages within our website, then what?

You had your say, you made a sign, you stood out there and yelled at the cars passing by, but now, what are you going to do to makes things better? The opportunities are there. The need for positive action, for utilization of time and talents is right there in front of all of us.

Opportunists will hope every effort from the "other side" fails, even if success would help our nation. They are hoping for failure so they can capitalize on the fallout from such failure.

The opportunities to shake off the intentional stalemates blocking growth and prosperity, to cast aside the petty antics of opportunists and to rise to the level of responsible citizens of America are right there for all of us to grab.

Life is about choices and choices always have ramifications.

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Different Types of Leadership for Every Situation

Learn the pieces of the puzzle that make up different types of leadership for different goals

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Define Citizen and Citizenship Through Contemplative Conversation

Guest author T.O. Illustratio guides us through a collaborative conversation to best define citizen and citizenship.

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Why Do We Learn History? Because It Always Determines Our Future!

Why do we learn history? Because the past always offers an accurate prediction of our future as described in the words of guest author T.O. Illustratio.

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Beacons Attract Dreamers And Deviants

"A beacon to the world." This phrase has been used many times to describe our nation. We've used a form of the same phrase when writing about being a responsible citizen in America. A guiding light that illuminates the pathway to a better life, to more opportunity, is the premise of this comparison to "a beacon to the world."

The ideal behind that beacon is one of liberty and justice for all. The flip side of this ideal is that the same beacon invites criminals and connivers to slink across the same borders. And there is the rub. We depend on the law of the land to protect us from those criminals and connivers. Sometimes that isn't enough. These criminals and connivers are professional in their roles. They are adept at beating the system.

So do we need to limit personal freedoms across the board? Do we need even more laws? Is this challenge reason enough to ignore or remove certain parts of the Constitution? This week our theme is citizenship. Later this week in this spot you'll be able to read an interesting commentary about this word, citizenship, in both noun and verb form.

Our main thrust within the pages of this website is about being personally responsible. Responsible citizens are the key to maintaining this metaphorical beacon to the world offering a better life, liberty, and justice. None of us can turn away from our own personal responsibility to act in the true spirit of citizenship in America. No one can ignore the responsibility to respect the laws we currently have, because if they were enforced properly, these laws would be enough. There will always be criminals and connivers. Our job to is to be vigilant and assist law enforcement in bringing them to justice. No matter who they might be.

Citizenship also requires us to be sure we don't blur the lines of the Constitution. Just below is part of an essay from a longer column. We don't necessarily agree with the writer's full text, but she makes some good points in this excerpt.

"I live with this contradiction every day, with the knowledge that the bleak past and the better future meet in the present moment. Citizenship is both an idea and an ideal, the journey from one to the other a measure of the nation’s progress. I wish this journey could be taken in a giant leap, even as I fear it will be walked slowly, fearfully, and with many steps back along the way. Yet I keep the faith. Perhaps it’s because I’m a novelist, whose work involves constant use of the imagination. Or perhaps it’s because I’m an immigrant, whose vantage point grants the privilege to look at the country from the inside and the outside. Either way, I know that promise is the best catalyst for progress." Laila Lalami

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Grateful For Higher Powers And Demons

(Editor's note: Thanks for this guest column. We are grateful for it.)

At times my mind drifts from specific evaluations of current topics. At times, not usually intentionally, I find myself meandering into a more philosophical mode, more contemplative, more meditative. This would be one of those times.

Today I'm offering a message of thanks and gratitude to the universe. Some of you looking in might equate this to good and evil, higher power and satanic, some might consider it as karma expressing itself.

I'm grateful for every experience placed in front of me by the Higher Power in which I believe and the temptations skillfully disguised by the satanic presence in which I also believe. This message is a thank you for the examples of good people who never back down from challenges. I believe the Higher Power places these examples near me so I might emulate their courage and kindness.

There is a difference between thanks and gratitude. The former, thanks, is most often found in actions, as in this written form, or maybe an in person conversation. Gratitude is a deeper look, as described in my first paragraph. Offering thanks is the action step for gratitude.

I'm grateful that the aforementioned satanic presence continues to entice me to take shortcuts away from the moral course that hopefully guides my daily life. This evil tempter is persuasive, but in an ironic twist the evil more often than not, redirects me to the examples bestowed on me of the good found in most people.

I'm grateful for the history of our nation where all are created equal. I offer my thanks for those who came before us, who blazed new trails and dared to mold a place where everyone is endowed with the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

It's often frustrating and nearly always mind-numbing as I compare the antics of the congress members of our nation to spoiled children, which is probably not fair to the children. But their selfish examples remind us of our responsibility to become more involved in deciding who fills those chairs in our nation's Capital.

Our system of government is the worst system imaginable except when compared to any other form of government. Today I offer preemptive thanks to the patriotic, intelligent young leaders who will step forward to replace the abject failures currently drawing paychecks as representatives and senators.

I'm grateful for the glorious opportunity to be a citizen of America. The satanic presence can tempt me with gloom and doom headlines, with offers of personal gratification and with the lure of apathy. Instead I'll stay with the steady guidance of the Higher Power who calmly leads us to work together to makes things better. Thanks to those who showed us the better path.

I'm so grateful to you.

Written by T. O. Illustratio

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