The College Game: Time for Schoolwork and Teams

As I obtained the residual part of my loan today, I went into the bookstore and bought my last two course books. Cost: $330 plus. What did I get: an access card ($140), a lab book ($30) and a paperback Economics book ($143). The cost of education: priceless. Or so we are told.

I have been operating under the 'graduate school theory' of getting ahead (or don't get too far behind) on some the courses. Reading two or three chapters into the books. Setting up accounts, word documents for course notes, etc. The last time I was here, I never crack a book until a week into the course, if then. This time, I am operating from getting an A in the course, instead of shooting for Bs and Cs. (I actually did set myself up for failure some twenty years ago...) While I have not had to, I make a daily trek to campus, sit in the Union, and read, write, or somehow open up something that might help me before the classes start. Preparation and routine - that is what it is all about.

To use a tired sports analogy, the guys who win on Sunday, typically did their work Monday through Saturday to put themselves in the position for a team win. For myself, I am going to be proactive hopefully this entire rodeo in order to get As, instead of something else.

2012. By mid-year, forty years of age will be here. Some questions cross my mind. Can I learn how be a better time manager? Can I learn how to force myself to learn stuff I may not always see a need for, given prior experiences? Can I be refreshed and happy, when I am usually alone, and no longer fit the model of "typical college Joe?" Whom will join my support team?

The last one I have not talked about much in my life. A support team. My mom was pretty much my best and only member, so much so, that in my initial business formation agreement for DCF Press, I made her the responsible party in case something happen to me. With her passing, that falls under "things to review and change."

I've been looking for a while. Some guys I know or have met, have potential. Some more as supporting the cause or goal once I figure out how to generate inertia on my own. But I too need mentoring, or someone that sees what the road ahead needs from me before I can lock into that path. So right now, I think college could provide that if I meet one professor that is not closed off to helping someone such as myself formulate a business, or publish at least several articles/books of worth.

You got to have such a team to reach another level. Writing or writers need editors that see common mistakes and oversights. Coaches need coordinators to get parts of team to work like clockwork. Manufacturing managers need maintenance and production workers that impart the wisdom of their experiences on particular tasks to get it right. Even those financial wizards, need someone to point out the risks of doing deals that can generate a chaotic environment for a larger economic world.

By no means have I worked out the path to forming this team. It is just a start of that process.
To improve my plan, as always, I listen to courses, or people that might help:

John Maxwell is putting up a 4-part series:

1. Path Towards Success
2. Add Personal Value in this Economy
3. Become A More Effective Communicator
4. TBA

Its my way to build upon my thoughts. He's not the end-all, be-all on this, but he's accessible (and free) and is doable at this point.

As the cost of college is not without a price.

Time for a new day!

A Second Constitutional Convention: Constitutional Reformation in the 21st Century

I hope that my desire to fix America does not mean that what I write and why I write it is called into question. We have a serious problem and serious solutions are needed. (Not the inane discussions on Letterman.)

I have proposed this in a document on DocStoc: Constitutional Reformation in the 21st Century.

It is my firm belief that we have to sit down for a prolonged period of time and figure out America. It can not be of a half-hearted, hen-pecked, small-victory design. It has to be a grand ideal, much like the dream and reality that is America.

So I hope you read the links and download the document. We need debate and the time has to be now.

Music, Change and The Crisis: The Politics of Dancing in the Land of Confusion

The Politics of Dancing song (below) takes me back to the Big 80's when Reaganomics ruled, Wall Street had a 5-year cocaine and credit-inspired boom and Less Than Zero was considered a pretty cool take on addiction, unless you were Robert Downey Jr. (Bret Easton Ellis wrote the Less Than Zero book, and also, American Psycho and Rules of Attraction.)



The Rules of Politics, if there were such a creature lurking somewhere off the shores of Kennebunkport, might be to trash everything your opponent ever voted for. Chastised his acquisition of wealth, power and clout at all human costs. Put a spin on their take so violent that a world class figure skater or gymnast could not fathom the rotations involved. Maybe most important, never tell anyone how you really intend to solve any problem, because, someone, somewhere is going to be hurt by your plan. (You can never please everyone all the time. Or even some of the time. So it might as well be none of the time, in my opinion.)

The Politics of Dancing: Not as hard as the Politics of Politics



But as we all have come to know well, no matter how hard you think this time will be different and groundbreaking, there is always doubt. (Like, for example, the Cubs winning a World Series.) We want to change the world from the ground up. The grass roots are the places where things can really get done, if, and only if, we could part ways with the concepts drilled into us by the society at large.

Some of which are never seen as harmful or undermining, like religion, but often truly are too dogmatic and confrontational individually to be espoused as the framework or bedrock on which we could change the real big picture.

The Politics of Changing America is a art I can rarely see working. There are too many factions. Too many old, tired and worn out reasons for behaviors and circumstances. Too many people with hands in the pockets of poor folk. Too many blind eyes staring into the abyss of what is a faltering America. Too many excuses. Too many deadly sins.

Land of Confusion: Too many people making too many problems



But it has to be apart of us to fix something. I had the misfortune of screwing up my life in ways most who read anything I have written can't even truly understand where I am at until they read between the lines.

My mother and aunt will either complete a bankruptcy or lose their house, possibly both. My latest post at my other personal blog explores that to reaches you won't want to go, I suppose.

America is also likely heading for a catastrophe the likes of which hasn't been seen in 80 years. I see it. People are selling off cars, personal items and anything else they can in NW Indiana. 50% of the mortgages in America are in 2 failing entities: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Banks are tight. Too tight. Afraid of the next shoe that will drop. It is coming...I feel it. (But why listen to me?)

My personal maliase intercepts this politics of dancing around the issues. Not exploring solutions, just lying to you, to me and anyone else with a brain and time to research. This has been in the making for nearly 30 years...much like my own predicament.

Anyways, if you politick enough, you might believe it is "all ok" and the world is "not confused or lost," just dancing while a little bit tipsy. God bless ignorance and bliss.