IT'S ALL ABOUT PEOPLE: 2020

If I like and trust a writer, speaker, newscaster, then I allow myself to receive some level of their influence on my own thinking. It can't be helped.

Right or wrong, influence happens. I owe much of my spiritual/theological understanding to a few good men and women.

I owe my drumming style to a couple of dead guys. They influenced me greatly.

With whatever influence trail I may leave, I have a couple of wishes. May I represent truth and integrity. May I speak words of hope and encouragement. May I look for the best in others and always attempt to encourage them to bring their best foot forward.

How are you handling your influence?

This is what is

on my mind today.

It's All About People Blogsite

P Michael Biggs

Hope~Encouragement~Inspiration

Tuesday, July 7, 2020

What Are We Waiting For

What Are We Waiting For

We’re here, waiting, waiting, waiting. And for what?

If you’re on an elevator and you're stuck, do you walk up, or down, or wait for someone to come and fix the broken mechanism?

Are you waiting for Mr. or Ms. Right to come along?

Are you waiting to be asked to write the great American novel, or any book, blog or article for that matter? I had to ask to write a series of magazine articles once upon a time. And they said “Yes, please do.”

More often than not, we are the ones who have to take action, take the first step, reach out and do the thing that needs doing. I got a few jobs early in life that just landed in my lap, but most of the time, I had to reach out, make the phone call, send the resume. They weren’t waiting for me, but after reading about me, then they wanted me.

So, what are you waiting for?

This is a purely motivational thought for today.

This is what is

on my mind today.

It's All About People Blogsite

P Michael Biggs

Hope~Encouragement~Inspiration

Saturday, July 4, 2020

#70 Podcast - Up-Words

Podcast #70 from Up-Words

ABR-Always Be Reading from It's All About People 1:33

Carry Away Small Stones from Morning Notes 3:07

Is God Faithful from Internet Church 4:34

Check out this episode!

Wednesday, July 1, 2020

Failure Is Not Shame

Failure Is Not Shame

When I was a small boy, I had to learn to walk. I fell down a few times. There was no shame in that. Falling down is a part of learning to walk.

When I really got into singing in high school and college, I would, on occasion, sing a few flat notes. I probably shamed myself. I beat myself up for my flaws as a singer. As I look back on that time, I have to put things into perspective. As in learning to walk, learning to sing is a process. My vocal chords weren’t developed yet, nor was my musical ear trained to discern pitch perception. Those are learned traits. They are not shaming moments.

In the tenth grade, I took mechanical drawing. I was lousy at it. I believe I made a D minus. My teacher, Mr. Casteel, had the good sense to write on my report card something like … “Mike really tries hard to do a good job in my class. He just doesn’t have the insight, a basic skill, for mechanical drawing.”

And yet, I’m a darn good drummer, singing, conductor, writer, speaker, manager, banker, and a few other skills and talents I’ve accumulated along the way.

Oh my, I’ve had some hard learning curves, and that is what they were – LEARNING curves. Not shame closets, not failure marks – learning curves.

I’ve written on this topic a dozen times, and will continue to address this subject.

Failure is the gateway to success, to learning and improving.

FAILURE IS NOT FINAL!

This is what is

on my mind today.

It's All About People Blogsite

P Michael Biggs

Hope~Encouragement~Inspiration

Saturday, June 20, 2020

#69 When The Flame Barely Flickers - Up-Words

#69 When The Flame Barely Flickers from Up-Words

When the flame Barely Flickers - Morning Notes (1:04)

You'll Get There ... Maybe Today - Morning Notes (5:20)

A Piece of Peace for Today - Internet Church (6:10)

Do What You Do Best - It's All About People (8:32)

Check out this episode!

Tuesday, June 16, 2020

Does Your Direction Match Your Destination?

Does Your Direction

Match Your Destination?

Now that is perhaps one of the more astute questions I’ve asked of myself and of you, my reader, in a very long time. Oh, we are all headed in some direction, I suppose. But is it compatible with our ultimate destination?

Really and truly, I don’t think this blog requires a lot of words, phrases and metaphors from me from this point on. I think I’ll leave this large topic with you. It is, after all, your call.

This is what is

on my mind today.

It's All About People Blogsite

P Michael Biggs

Hope~Encouragement~Inspiration

Monday, June 8, 2020

#68 Let's Go Invent Tomorrow - Up-Words

#68 Let's Go Invent Tomorrow from Up-Words

Morning Notes ~ Let's Go Invent Tomorrow (1:01)

It's All About People ~ Today I Choose (4:53)

Steps and Skips ~ The Things I've Learned Along the Way (9:39)

Morning Notes ~ Keep Throwing Darts (12:18)

Check out this episode!

Saturday, June 6, 2020

Today I Choose

Today I Choose

There is a lot going on at the moment in our world, in this land called the United States of America, in our cities and counties. There is political divide, racial divide, economic divide, philosophical divide and spiritual divide.

And what are you choosing to do about all of that?

Here is what I am choosing.

I’m not a marcher. Never have been. If you choose to do so, and choose to do it in a peaceful, non-aggressive way, I bless you and say, “go do what you must do.”

I’m a Christian. I do not curse and slam those who are politically or racially different from me. I bless them for also living on this planet in this world and breathing the same air that I breathe. I choose to allow you to believe differently from me, use different phrases and language expressions from me. You can hold any political stance you wish, any philosophical dogma you care to hold. Please, hold to those thoughts with passion and confidence.

However, … allow me the same privilege and the same opportunity. Just because we differ does not mean one is better or more superior than the other. We just believe differently. We express ourselves differently. You get to choose and I get to choose. How great is that?

I choose to pray for all of mankind. I pray for George Floyd’s family, I pray for those who staunchly wave his flag of honor and memory. I pray for the police officers who were involved in his death. I pray for their families and fellow officers.

I choose to pray for their commanding officers and other law enforcement individuals, including those in the judicial system and court systems that will have a hand in in bringing about proper judgments and assessments in this situation.

I choose to pray for my President. I will not judge his motives, his past life, his present actions, for I do not know all that he knows. I don’t have the privilege of knowing all that he is privy to. He has a weighty responsibility, and I pray for his health, his safety, his judgment, and for those who advise and consult with him. I also pray for his family. This is no small burden resting on their shoulders either. To see one you love and respect who faces daily criticism and one whose every move and decision is questioned … that is a hard burden to bear. I pray especially for them.

I choose to pray for all our men and women in political positions and with varying responsibilities. They, too, bear a heavy load and have much to weigh on a daily basis.

I choose to pray for you, my reader, regardless of the stance you may take on any of these issues. Be open, be wise, be careful in making hasty decisions and forming judgmental opinions.

I choose to believe in the honest and fair resolution of these crisis that we all face. It will take time, perhaps a lot more time than many of us would hope for. Yet I believe a positive outcome will be revealed in due time.

I choose to believe mankind will have a future with hope in the middle of all of this upheaval.

This is what is

on my mind today.

It's All About People Blogsite

P Michael Biggs

Hope~Encouragement~Inspiration

Monday, June 1, 2020

How to Keep the Lamp Burning

How to Keep the Lamp Burning

To keep a lamp burning,

we have to keep putting oil in it.

~Mother Teresa

This idea is simple, you see. I hate paying my electricity bill, but I love having power whenever I need it.

To build any business, we have to keep the ideas coming, the employees content and the marketing plan in place.

I am a writer. My number of clicks suffer when I don’t produce fresh material or promote my stuff. I now know this after ten years of doing this work.

Feed your dream

Stoke your fire

Read

Learn

Grow

Become whatever it is you wish to become so that you can keep your lamp burning.

This is what is

on my mind today.

It's All About People Blogsite

P Michael Biggs

Hope~Encouragement~Inspiration

Monday, May 25, 2020

#67 Finding My Good Up-Words Podcast

Morning Notes ~ "Finding My Good" (:56)

Morning Notes ~ "Don't Turn In Your Heart" (3:24)

It's All About People ~ "Treat Me Like a Human Being" (6:38)

A Time for Rhyme ~ "We Hunger for Love" (7:56)

Check out this episode!

Sunday, May 24, 2020

Self-Motivation Is the Best Motivation

Self-Motivation Is the Best Motivation

After thirty or forty years of reading and following motivational thoughts and mindsets, I have come to the conclusion that self-motivation is the best kind of motivation.

I’ve been to motivational seminars, heard great speakers, read inspiring books on the subject of motivation, and that is all right and good.

However, if a book or seminar or speaker failed to motivate me, then what? You see the importance in being a self-starter in the motivation game? It is an inside job. It has always been an inside job.

Someday, the speaker or book won’t show up. What then? Well, if you depend on outside sources to motivate you, you are in a pickle.

What motivates you? That is the question.

This is what is

on my mind today.

It's All About People Blogsite

P Michael Biggs

Hope~Encouragement~Inspiration

Saturday, April 25, 2020

If at First

If at First

The salesman says, “But I knocked on the door, and they slammed it in my face.”

The athlete said, “I ran that race once, and fell down. Never again.”

The speaker said, “I had a sure-fire speech, and they laughed me off the stage.”

The romantic said, “I asked her for a date once. She said “no.”

Oh my, it is so easy to walk away and never try again. ‘Tis easier to give up than to try again.

But what if there’s gold on the other side of that “NO”?

Here’s what Seth Godin says about that.

When success doesn’t occur, the easiest thing is to walk away and not make the mistake of speaking up ever again. The most important thing to do, though, is to do it again, to care again and to seek to make change, again.

Seth Godin What to Do when it’s Your Turn

An encouraging word for all of us –

Try Try Again.

This is what is

on my mind today.

It's All About People Blogsite

P Michael Biggs

Hope~Encouragement~Inspiration

Saturday, April 18, 2020

Do What You Do Best

Do What You Do Best

Here’s the thing … do what you do best. I write about topics that I have some experience in. I read a lot, I’ve had nine or so different careers, I’ve lived in seven different states and have a bit of insight into some cultural distinctions I would not otherwise have. Those experiences have colored my perspective, in living life, in foods I enjoy, in dress, in language and accents, in religious perspectives.

We are happiest when we do the things we love, when we express what we know best, whether it is a special dish we love to make, a painting we love to draw, a song we love to sing.

I write a certain way. I’m not James Paterson, but I am ME.

If I were to open a restaurant, it certainly wouldn’t be French cuisine. It would probably be a breakfast place, for I can do some good stuff for breakfast

What about you? What would you do if you did something in a contributing way for mankind?

Here’s the thing.

~Draw the art you want to see

~Start the business you want to run

~Play the music you want to hear

~Write the books you want to read

~Build the products you want to use

~Do the work you want to see done

Show us your best side.

This is what is

on my mind today.

It's All About People Blogsite

P Michael Biggs

Hope~Encouragement~Inspiration

Saturday, April 11, 2020

These Things I Know Today

These Things I know Today

Covid-19 is still with us. We are seeing some downward trends in some areas of this globe that it is being conquered, yet it still exists. The global economy has been impacted by this pandemic. Many hopes and dreams of spirited entrepreneurs have been disrupted in the middle of this madness.

And this is what I know for today.

~Mankind will ultimately overcome and eradicate this threat.

~Our economies will rebound.

~New dreams and new hopes will arise from the ash-heap of Covid-19.

AND … God is still in control. I often have to remind myself that God never promises to keep bad thing from us. He DOES promise to be with us in the middle of the bad and the good.

My faith is in mankind, our medical capabilities, and my God.

What are you clinging to today?

This is what is

on my mind today.

It's All About People Blogsite

P Michael Biggs

Hope~Encouragement~Inspiration

Friday, April 3, 2020

Treat Me Like a Human Being

Treat Me Like a Human Being

I captured this quote from a book a few years ago and it is still worthwhile. Please keep reading.

“Well-known physician, Dr. Bernie Siegel, author of Love Medicine and Miracles, once asked two terminally ill patients what they wanted most from their medical professionals. Here are their responses.

~“Let me talk first.”

~“Knock on my door.”

~“Say ’Hello’.”

~“Say ‘Goodbye’.”

~“And look me in the eye when you talk to me.”

Nobody said “Cure me. Get me a transplant.”

They said ‘Treat me like a human being.’”

What a timely reminder.

And don’t we love to be recognized as human.

Kind of important.

This is what is

on my mind today.

It's All About People Blogsite

P Michael Biggs

Hope~Encouragement~Inspiration

Saturday, February 8, 2020

Ruts Don't Dig Themselves

Ruts Don’t Dig Themselves

I’m borrowing this idea from Seth Godin, one of my heroes.

Here’s the thing … Ruts happen, because we do the same ‘ole thing over and over and yet expect different results. Thus, THE RUT!

Notice that WE have an effect in this equation. Carolyn doesn’t dig my ruts for me, nor did my parents, siblings, bosses, neighbors or distant cousins.

In his excellent book, The Power of Habits by Charles Duhigg, he says this:

The brain can be reprogrammed.

Changing any habit requires determination.

For more, read the above-mentioned book, or any of several others on this topic.

That is all for now. I guess we all have some mulling to do on this topic.

This is what is

on my mind today.

It's All About People Blogsite

P Michael Biggs

Hope~Encouragement~Inspiration