Let's Unite

Well people, the big race is over, and it seems that Obama has ended up on top. As we all know, it was quite a close and intense race for the democratic nomination, and it caught the attention of the entire nation. More so than any candidate race that I have ever experienced in my life.

The question is why though? Why did this race pull so many strings in our hearts and compelled all of us to get involved, Republican and Democratic? It wasn't a particularly mean or offensive campaign, granted there was some scuffles, but for the most part the candidates did their best to not snap at each others throat. It wasn't because their views were so conflicting, in fact they agreed on pretty much all of the key issues that are apparent to this upcoming election.

So what was it then? What was the reason that this primary election grabbed the headlines of every news outlet every day? Well I think the answer is the same one that can be used in determining why Obama won the race in general.

The key difference between Obama and Clinton was a very subtle one, but it made all the difference never the less. Obama spoke from his heart, where as Clinton spoke from her head.

Clinton came from the angle that pretty much every other candidate that I have observed in my short life, and that was one of a politician. The tactics of double talk, and covering up her real self were very apparent throughout her whole campaign. Her tactics for acquiring new voters were all pretty conventional, and somewhat emotionless.

Then you got Obama, who spoke from his heart every time he came to a podium. The sincerity and conviction in his voice let you know that he was for real. The man just spoke from his heart, and the nation could see that (at least the majority). For a man who came out of nowhere, the fact that he even won the primary election is an amazing feat nevertheless, but when you hear the man speak, you can start to understand how he pulled it off.

So what can we learn from this? We learned that Americans are changing. We are learning to determine what is real and what is fake much better than even 5 years ago. In a world littered with advertisement, and shameless promotion, we are in turn becoming more efficient in determining what is genuine, and what is just another attempt to get our vote (or dollar for that matter).

While this information probably has many advertising agencies shaking in their extremely overpriced boots, this does nothing but put a big smile on my face. Watching my fellow Americans wake up and pull the wool from their eyes brings me so much happiness and hope. Hope that this country will become the great nation that it can potentially be. A true United States of America with emphasis on the word "United"

So how does this effect business? Well for starters it once again stresses the fact that consumers (or voters for that matter) want to know about your company, and not about how much money you spent on that Superbowl ad. They want information, not presentation, and if your product isn't any different than your competitors that has established a real relationship with their own clients, don't even bother.

So in closing, I would like to say whatever your political party, whatever sex or race you might be, I'm proud to be your fellow citizen, and let's do what the name of our country says and unite.

Staying centered

If I had a dollar for every time I was skating, and some random person asked me the phrase, "how do you do that?" I wouldn't have to work, that's for sure. Most people are amazed and almost scared of skateboards, when the reality of it is that it's really not that hard once you break it down.

The key to skateboarding is all about staying centered.

That's it, the rest is just muscle memory. Keeping your weight right over where you are at is the hardest, and often most misunderstood part of skateboarding.

But it's not just about skating either. If we stay centered over what it is we want to accomplish, the rest is just brain memory. When we try to throw our weight around too many places, we will fall over every time.

In skateboarding and life in general, too many people are not staying centered on what it is they want to accomplish. Like in skateboarding, fear will tell us that we are crazy to want to stay centered on such a scary and unpredictable vehicle. You may be starting a business, and think that it is too scary to stay centered on your business because of financial trouble, unpredictability, and competition. Well let me tell you, if you are not completely centered on your business in every aspect, you are going to fall every time. The key is not to focus on all the bad things that can happen. I mean you can get hit by a car and die just crossing a street, but I doubt you are thinking of such things why you are performing the act. Skating, and many other things are just like that. Focus on the good, and roll with the punches.

It's not like I am saying for you to just drop every aspect of your life to do whatever it is you want, but when it's time to do what you do, be on top of it.