Shout It From The Rooftops!

I was challenged by one of my younger readers to write something more positive than my previous posts; this has proven to be a more difficult challenge than expected.

The simple fact is that it has taken me the better half of a month and the entry into 2011 to post; I dare say that I have failed the challenge. Being 30 something does not always allow for the care free ramblings that were requested. 

Just a side note on being 30 something, I wonder sometimes (often actually) if being 30 is like the hazing period to get into the county club of life. The carefree life I once reveled in seems not to be attainable at the moment. I do hope this will someday pass.

Back to my challenge, however, looking back though my posts I can say confidently that hidden within the shadows of my stories always lurks a positive message or a learning experience.

So let me try to start this New Year on a positive note and a deliver in turn a challenge to my readers as well.

January is a time for change, a chance to make proclamations and resolutions for the incoming New Year. So I ask…

What happened to your resolution from last year? Have you accomplished it?  Have you even started it?  Did you lose weight, quit smoking and become a better person?

If you were successful, do you have advice for others?  If yes; please share! 

If you failed; what steps did you take to succeed?

I have never actually made an official New Year’s resolution before, but here is my advice for making yours succeed for 2011.

GO PUBLIC!  GO LIVE! DON’T WAIT! SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOFTOPS!!!! PLASTER IT ON YOUR WALLS! See it, hear it, feel it everywhere…

The more public you make it, the more you write it down and tell it to others the more you will re-enforce it in your own psyche. Additionally, if everyone knows your goal for 2011 and you talk about it all year (NOT ONLY JANUARY) then when you succeed you will become a success story… Stories are something passed on to friends and family they live on well past the act of success. However, if you fail, you fail publicly and no one likes to be embarrassed. Consider these factors as secondary motivation.

The drive to succeed in the eyes of others motivates and drives our society; why should it be any different for your New Year’s resolution?

So here is my resolution for 2011 – I will lose 10 kilo by the end of the year and I will travel more frequently by public transportation in the effort to live a more active lifestyle.

With my resolution now public, I challenge all of you to post your resolutions here in my comments section, on your Facebook walls, scream it to your friends, and tell everyone you come into contact with not only today, not only before you complete you goal but everyday even after you complete it until 2012!

I will leave you now with some words from Kevin Spacey playing Jack Abramoff (not such a great guy, but interesting movie intro) in a movie called Casino Jack to help inspire you for the New Year.  

You know, I do a lot of reading and studying and praying and I have come to a few conclusions I want to share. People look at politicians and celebrities on the TV, in the newspapers and glossy magazines - What do they see?  

I am just like them I am special, I am different I could be any one of them.

Well guess what, you can’t! You know why?  Because in reality mediocrity is where most people live – mediocrity is the elephant in the room, its ubiquitous - Mediocrity in your schools, it’s in your dreams, it’s in your family.

Those of us who know this, those of us that understand the disease of the dull we do something about it, we do more because we have to! The deck was always stacked against us. You’re either a big leaguer or you’re a slave clawing your way on the C train every day…

I will not allow my family to be slaves, I will not allow the world I touch to be vanilla, you say I am selfish f$@k you, you say I have a big ego, f%$k you twice!!!

I am humbly grateful for the gifts I received on this planet and I work out every day!

Good luck and have a safe, happy, healthy 2011!

"OOOOH THAT Mark Anderson"

This past Saturday I went out, something I do so rarely these days… I went for a lovely dinner at Monarch on Kolkovna (Good food, nice wine list and terrible service) followed by an evening out with my best friend and some of his friends at Tretter's (As usual a nice atmosphere let down by SOME members of its wait staff) after 3-4 drinks or about 2 hours, I had the great pleasure to make the acquaintance of a beautiful Dutch woman.

As is the norm for a first encounter of two expats in Prague we shared our stories (How we got here, what we do for fun, what we do for work and any other accomplishments worth mentioning).  After just a few moments my respect meter began to climb hearing her story, I was truly amazed by all she had to say from both her professional life to her private life, a true inspiration.  Then as most normal first meetings go, it was my turn to share, who I am, who I have become over my time in Prague, etc.   

I shared my standard introductory story, i.e. owned my own business at 23, started EBA by 24, went to GE Money at 28 had some ups and downs since, currently getting my MSc at Prague College, etc.  Then to clarify, she asked about my cleaning company and EBA, and then she exclaimed with some surprise and shock “Oh your THAT Mark Anderson…”

To which I proudly answered “Yes”

I do not regret who I was from the ages of 23-30. I was tough, aggressive, and outspoken; often confused, scared, and intimidated.  I accomplished what some have not accomplished in decades of trying; I made some choices which shaped my future for both positive and negative.  I will no longer apologize for who I was, it is in the past, and I hope that we can let it stay there.  

If anything I look at those years as my first Masters Degree in International Business.  I learned how to succeed and handle success and I learned how to fail. I learned how to play with the big boys, and I learned how to be diplomatic. I learned how to be screwed and I learned how to be screwed royally... I learned that no matter how hard you try you will never overcome your shortfalls unless you own them, accept them, mature from them, learn from them and MOVE ON. 

While this next statement may seem a bit grandiose, the stories of “THAT Mark Anderson” have become bit of a folk legend, some hold a little truth, some hold a lot of truth and some hold no truth at all.  Some of them I am aware of and some I am not aware of  - So please feel free to just ask me to clarify something for you should you be one of those perpetuating the rumors or folk lore, because honestly, it’s time for it to stop.   

If I can grow up at 31, I hope those that carry on spreading such tall tales can grow up as well, so both I and they can move on with their lives.

I am not perfect, but I am seasoned, I am strong, I have learned from my mistakes and have become a well rounded individual deserving of a second chance. 

My Final Apology – Owning My Wrongs

I openly admit I made some funny and not so funny faux pas in my 20’s, and I could occasionally be downright rude to those who I felt hurt or betrayed me in some way.  I was scandalous in my personal life and I offended many without even knowing it.  I was aggressive and tough on my employees, and I earned a lot of respect and money too quickly and I abused the privilege.    

One thing I have not done is to cheat or steal from ANYONE, EVER so let those rumors be proved or dismissed. 

I apologize to those that feel or felt wronged by me and I hope you will understand that I was in a very new place in my life and was not very adult in all my decisions.  Please feel free to forward this to anyone you think it may be relevant to… 

And please, let’s move on.

And to my new anonymous Dutch lady friend – Thank you for not pre-judging me and for such a wonderful evening! I hope we will have many more!!!!!!!!!!!!!