What I’m referring to here is when someone tells you they are going to do something and the back it up by following through. They gave you their word that they were going to connect with you the next day. . . and they did. I remember one time when I went to visit my friend who was at NYU at the time. He was working on his thesis project and I came to help him. During that time I met some of his friends and had a lot of time to hang out and talk. One of his friend’s and I hit it off and at the end of the day he said he would give me a call. Living in Los Angeles, I took it to mean that he enjoyed our time getting to know one another and at some point in time maybe our paths will cross again. But, who knows. What I didn’t think it meant was that he was going to call me the next day. Guess what? He did. Alex is from the east coast. (I know this is a very blanket statement) I tend to find that people from the east coast say what they mean.

I like that. Everyone is not going to be your friend – I’m not saying that, but there is something solid about someone who keeps their word. You can rely on them. I have people in my life who say things and he and I BOTH know they’re not going to follow through with what they just committed to. No way! I don’t hang out with many people like that these days. I find it to be a way I don’t want to spend my time.

There are also people in my life that don’t really fit the mold of a person I want to do things with on a regular basis, but, they keep their word and somehow it makes up for other missing personality traits I would like to see. Go figure.

In the grand scheme of things, I feel like I can place my trust and direct my energy in people who keep their word and hold themself accountable more than people who don’t. It’s a small attribute, but it adds up.

And at my age, it’s enough for me to cultivate the relationship to see where it’s going. As I am pretty picky about who I spend my time with.

It’s a no-brainer for me: I would choose quality over quantity. But, it seems to me that today in our culture, more is always better. More money, more best-selling books, more followers, more subscribers, more likes, and on and on. I don’t necessarily believe that.

So, how does that translate in my life when it comes to day-to-day activities? I’m not exactly sure. If we’re talking about custom cabinetry, does that mean there is a singular focus on making the absolute perfect cabinet for one job. I’m not sure that cabinet shop would stay in business for very long as the minutes per cabinet would not be cost effective. Does it mean they build the cabinets to the best of their ability? Or do they spend a certain amount of time on each cabinet and no more to make sure they make a profit on the job?

I’m not sure. My instincts tell me it’s somewhere in between. This invisible line is where I find the most difficulty in making decisions in life whether it’s business or your personal life.

I do know this: If your intentions are true and you back that with “showing up” (doing the work), your chances of getting it right increase dramatically.

Renaissance man, Jack of All Trades, Utility Player, Multi-Talented . . . . For whatever reason in my household those names had a negative connotation and I’m not sure why. Even though my Father was a staunch proponent of being a multi-sport athlete. So much so, that was exactly what I was through high school.

However, when it came to other roles in life, such as work and my career, I got the sense I needed to focus on one and only one profession. Often times, as we do as young adults, we try to please our parents instead of listening to the small quiet voice within us that points us in a direction that doesn’t follow the logical steps our parents’ have laid out for us.

Ehh, whatcha gonna do? I chose to listen to the small quiet voice. How else do you end up in L.A? Anyway, as I got older, I began to relish and respect my different interests. And I cultivated them. Developed them. Whether it’s music, Meditation, Writing, etc. I accept them as different aspects of who I am. This isn’t some great revelation, I know, but for me it’s validation for who I am as a person, father, husband, brother, son, friend, artist and more. I accept all of these as part of who I am. I used to believe, “Jack of all trades, master of jack$#!+, but I don’t believe that any more. I can have various roles to jump into when I feel as such and it all nourishes me.

And for that I’m not cynical, I’m grateful.

Do you have to have a master’s degree, a best-selling book or sold “X” amount of albums to be legitimate – to be a force – to be heard? I’m not sure. My instincts tell me no.

I have seemed to pick up extremely valuable advice and tidbits of gold that I have been able to apply quite successfully in many different aspects of my life from “regular ole folk.” It resonated with me, so I kept it. And used it. It meant something. I was able to mentally articulate it so that it made sense to me.

Maybe I asked this question because there is a part of me that believes you do need a degree. Then again, the areas of my life where I have the deepest well of knowledge has come from living life. Not a piece of paper or a target number or any other accolade.

It’s a perspective I’ve gained by committing to the process. Caring. Refining. Growing. And Loving.

Deciding to evolve.

Most people look better with a smile on their face. Not a disingenuous one, but a smile that says, “I’m in a good place, a willing participant and aware of the big picture – we’re all in this together.”

This doesn’t necessarily mean they are happy in that moment, but they wear it knowing it’s one part of a series of choices they make in order to get the perspective they want in life. Nothing wrong with that.

For whatever reason people choose to wear a smile, I’m alright with it. When I see someone walking down the street with a big grin on their face, I think they must know something I don’t know. And what is it?

Because I wouldn’t mind having that look on my face.