This past Saturday I took my book directly to the masses and set up shop on one of the busiest beachfront sidewalks in the country (okay, I made that up, BUT, I would lay a bet that it actually is). Venice Beach California is famous for being its own little world.  If you can imagine it, you will find it at Venice Beach.  Guy on roller blades wearing a turban and a robe playing an electric guitar you say, check, he is there.  Man on roller skates wearing a black Speedo and devil horns on his head, yep, its been done.  I decided to set up there because the spaces to sell your art or trinkets, or books in my case, are all first come, first serve and free.  I did a lot of research to make sure because hey, this is CA and everything has a charge to it, except that apparently.  Upon arrival, my beautiful fiance and I strolled along the walk with no clue what to do, so we just kept walking.  Little piles of trash or “markers” as we found out, were reserving spaces for people.  We came to an opening and paused.  Just then, a friendly voice from the opposite side of the walk said “That space there, it’s open.  Put your stuff there, number 71.” Great, cool!  I walked over to him and introduced myself.  His name is Ahab, yep, like the captain in “Moby Dick”.  For the remainder of the day, Ahab schooled us on the process, the superstitions, (at one point he walked around his spot and ours slinging water all over the ground.  He said it was good luck to do this in his home country of Egypt, so why not here?) and rules as there is a lot of police presence these days.  Sales were light for us, but good for Ahab.  We took a lot of notes and have some ideas that I plan to put together before the next time we go.  It is a long, hot day, but one sale, one connection is all it takes to get energized.  The key, we found,  is to get people to come over to the table.  If we get them there, boom, sale!  I say this confidently because in the entire day, only two people came up to the table, but both bought a book.   The whole process looks to be like going camping.  The first time, you fumble about with everything, tent, cookware, campfire, but, after a few times out, you perfect your system and things are much smoother and fun.  I will continue to perfect the site and the process so more success will come of it.  #myaumakua #justkeepswimming #makemybookamovie #aloha #venicebeach

True statement.  In fact, I may have said it before.  Today I was reminded how important it is to concentrate on the things within your immediate, and true control.  I like to use the excuse “I’m just not wired that way” when talking about challenges at work.  I grew up with the railroad spike of work ethic being pounded into my being.  The following is not a comparison, but, the great Walter Payton could have been the absolute, hands down, greatest football player the world has ever known.  To some (like me) he is.  Football is a team sport however, so no matter how good one player is, if key people on the team are not on the same page, well, you lose, a lot.  Walter Payton knew all about losing, but somehow he never lost his will to win.  His work ethic was rivaled by no one, and yet, it wasn’t enough, that is, until the 85′ Bears gelled and the rest of the team got on board.  I heard enough “what’s the point” and “it doesn’t matter” and “just fall in line with what they are wanting us to do” today to want to throw up.  Then I realized how unhappy all this makes me and I also realized that one thing I am in control of is my own happiness.  I realized that many of the things I have been stressing over are things I have no control over, so I decided to let em go.  I will control the things that I can and not worry about the things I can’t.  Ready…Get Set……GO!!!!

It’s hard enough to get people to peel themselves away from the glow of television, phone, Ipad, or computer and get outside, breathe the air and enjoy their surroundings.  What I saw yesterday at the beach gave me pause for sure.  I love the banner planes, mainly because you seem to only see them when you are at the beach, the happiest place on earth (eat your heart out Micky Mouse).  I have no words.  Have a good week.  #myaumakua #ventsurfer #killyourtv #allthenewslies

I call this “The Jerry Maguire Rule” because, if you saw the movie, and or remember the scene, Jerry begged this very line, over, and over, until it registered to his ego-maniacal client.  I thought it fitting to explain this to certain employees that need some help understanding the objective from time to time.  Sometimes it is hard to convince someone that the objective is for their own good, but to get there, sometimes, you have to look beyond yourself.  Managing people for instance.  Almost all of a managers success lies in the success of the people being managed.  If they don’t feel successful, needed, or included, your success as a manger will be limited.  If a farmer managing a field fails to water, fertilize, and make sure there is proper sunlight and pest prevention, the fruit will be average.  The crop in the sales and business management world is people and the fruit is the success of the teams labor.  If you don’t provide opportunity you will see nominal performance.  Sometimes you have to get down on your knees to show the opportunity, and possibly even straight out beg for your people to take advantage of it, “Help ME, help you!” but when that light comes on, you will see the fruit.  Businesses fail when they fail their people.

Have you noticed an increase in fear, aggravation, hate, and violence?  Yeah, me too.  I’ve come to a conclusion of sorts that it has a lot to do with the information we receive and who from.  I am making an effort to stop looking at the news that is currently being provided, instead, I am searching for a new source.  There has to be some news source out there with the basic foundations of integrity, fact-finding, honest, and responsible reporting, right?  The big providers seem so bent on getting the story out that facts are an afterthought.  I find it very strange that a story can be on all the outlets the minute it breaks, but once it is found that the hook that made it interesting is no longer there, it disappears into oblivion.  Let me just say this.  If you are going to rush to judgement, then, cruise around as if you know the facts as if you were standing in the place where the interesting story happened…you better consider your source.  I trust the news being reported to me about as much as I trust a politician, in other words, not at all.  Wake up everyone, we need to get educated.  Not too long ago, if something happened overnight, you had to wait until tomorrow to READ it in the newspaper.  That is, IF the newspaper wasn’t already printed and on its way to be delivered to your door.  I’m not going to shake a cane at anyone, I’m not that old, but I do think we need to catch ourselves and apply the breaks, sometimes, until all the facts are in.  In the meantime, go outside more, say hi to your neighbor more, get more fresh air, do something nice for someone you don’t know or just met.  Calm down and be the positive, good person you demand everyone else be.  One of the “Roadhouse Rules”, be nice.

I believe if you really want something to be successful or for dreams and aspirations to come true, you have to work at it all the time.  I have been relying on social media and other assorted outlets to promote and sell my book “My Aumakua”.  This has proven to be the same thing as buying a diet pill to take without changing my diet or exercising at all.  In other words, it hasn’t produced the results I had hoped for.  So Saturday morning came around and I decided to hit the beach with my beautiful fiance’ Nicole.  She came up with a great idea to promote my book the old fashioned way, hang up a shingle and talk to people enjoying the beautiful weather at the beach.  We stopped at the dollar store and bought some poster board, markers, a little basket that matched the color of the cover and even some lei’s to give anyone that bought a book.  We made it to the beach and set up shop (see pic).  Before long, we had some interest.  One gentleman rode his bicycle past while looking very intently at the sign.  He stopped, turned around and came back.  “Hey, what is that?” I described the book in short as well as the meaning of Aumakua to him.  Like most who I explain this to, he had stories of Aumakua’s in his life.  We talked for about twenty minutes when he asked me how much my book cost.  He was so pleasant that I was considering giving him a copy for free when he said “How about $10?”  “Deal!” I said with an ear to ear smile.  There was others that seemed interested but didn’t want to make eye contact so we just handed out my Author card to them and asked them to look it up on Amazon.  It was a very strange feeling bringing something I created purely out of my imagination to the public from the bed of my pickup truck.  We had a blast.  Some lessons were learned for certain but I will be out there again.  I think I am gonna get a wagon and hit the bricks along Venice Beach next time.  #MyAumakua @aloha #motivation

Don’t you just love it when someone says that to you?  I mean, how does that just wipe off all the trickiness and probable harshness of the comment to come?  “No offense but, your kid is really ugly.”  Oh, well good thing you started with that all encompassing disclaimer, otherwise I might have been offended and a bit upset.  Here’s a good idea.  If you are thinking of telling somebody something, and the first thing your brain tells you to say is “No offense, but” I recommend not saying anything and moving on in your wrinkle free world. Let’s try being nice to each other and tie up the high horse for a while.

Happy Friday.

Its Wednesday today, but it sure feels like this week has been two weeks long already.  So much terrible news, sadness, anger, hatred, fear, impatience, pretentiousness,  and disgust everywhere you turn.  It seems so many people are riding around on some imaginary high horse acting like they are more important than the other people in line, in traffic, at work, and sometimes, at home.  Where does this come from?  Is it in the upbringing of the past couple generations where everyone grows up being told they are special and if you aren’t treated the way you feel you should be treated all you have to do is throw a temper tantrum and you will get your way, after all, the customer is ALWAYS right, right?  Disgusted over McDonald’s giving you a hamburger instead of a filet-o-fish?  Check yourself your Majesty, smile and ask for the other sandwich. You have no idea what kind of things may be happening in that persons life right now.

Listen folks, and listen carefully, nobody is any better than anyone else, we are all just different from one another, that is all.  Now, before you start pestering me about that statement, allow me to expound.  If my basketball skills were compared to Michael Jordan, everyone would agree that he is better than me.  If I grew up with the same grit, determination and work ethic as Mr. Jordan to become the greatest basketball player ever and did nothing but hone my craft, well, who knows.  I don’t like the game of basketball very much however so I decided to work on different things.  I don’t fault anyone who happens to like basketball, nor do I go out and knock on doors telling people that baseball is better so you should watch that instead.  No, because what I choose to do is mind my own business.  I am constantly asked at work about my competition and whether they are busy or not, told how they do things different, better, or worse.  The truth is, I really don’t care what they are doing different, better, or worse, and if they are busy or not.  Nope, because I choose to mind the very business I have been charged to run and give every ounce of energy I have to making sure we are doing the very best we can for our customers.  It seems people today spend way too much time sniffing around in other peoples business when they really should be minding their own.  The most important thing we have in this world is time, so use your time wisely and mind your own business, help those who are having a tough go of things and be a positive role model. Maybe try “Roadhouse Rule #1” and be nice, always be nice.   You may end up a happier person.  #prayfororlando #nobodyforpresident #livealoha @aloha

I might have a rough way of showing it, but I do love music.  I guess it may be because I am a complex guy, but I do love the complex songs and bands.  A song from the “Dave Matthews Band” is a good example.  My favorite is “#41”.  Listen to it and you will understand my like of complexity.  One of my other favorite bands is “Rush”.  Listen to their music and realize that all that sound is coming from three members. Amazing.   Whatever music you love, classical, country, rap, blues, creole, pop, bluegrass, rock and roll, jazz, battchata, hip hop, or salsa …we all have music we love…listen to it as often as you can because it is all amazing. #AMsucks #FMRadio #donttrustthemedia #isthereanotherchoice

There is no shortage of advice out there on how to successfully market yourself, your business, your book, and your abilities.  “All you have to do is…” Is what?  You are worth me listening to you because why?  “All I have to pay you is, how much and you’ll make my book a best seller?”  As each day goes by, post publish, I am learning more and more about navigating the dangerous waters of social media and communication.  When my copyright came through, I was virtually attacked by publishing companies to sign up with, all promising they will make me famous, best selling author.  I got myself this fancy website, okay, maybe not so fancy, but a cool one nonetheless.  I’ve been blogging as much as my “tired from a long day at work” brain will allow me.  Heck, I even have almost seven hundred Twitter followers, close to a thousand on Linkedin, Facebook and Instagram, and eight solid reviews on Amazon for my book “My Aumakua”.

 Somewhere, however, there is a magic button or hidden code I am not seeing as my book sales are flat.  I guess I need to figure out exactly what it is I am hoping to do with this book.  Do I want to be published by a reputable publisher?  Yes, I do.  Do I want to be approached by  some big, Hollywood movie producer about turning this story into a movie?  Yes, I do.  Do I want my book to start selling more so I know my story is liked and being enjoyed all over the world?  Yes, I do.  I guess what I really need to ask myself is; how long I plan on waiting before I get off my ass and make all this happen?  It took me a long time to write and publish my first book “My Aumakua” and frankly, I don’t have that kind of time to wait around for it, or my next one, to be successful.  It is time to hit the bricks, hard, and start pounding the pavement and make something happen.

#myaumakua @aloha @myaumakuabyjasondolson #readmybook #hawaii #letsdowork #getbusy @mikeroweworks @TheRock