Ted Schneider on "Improv Leadership" on WRLR 98.3 LP FM

  Outsource? 1/13/24 - It is common practice in business today to ‘outsource’ certain functions or hire a third party to perform certain tasks or services. Thanks to technology, individuals outsource more and more and I’m not convinced we need all of it. A few examples – A Roomba now does the vacuuming because you have a mansion to do (my Dyson, pushed by me, can beat your Roomba any day). Utilizing a dishwasher (I guess if you are running a catering business it makes sense) and it does use much hotter water than if you did them by hand (but not as hot as the water temperature Starbucks uses in their hot beverages). Speaking of Starbucks, Dunkin and McDonalds – millions of gallons of overpriced coffee is served daily (it’s too much work to make a cup at home?). Alexa and other type devices now turn on lights, turn the volume up and down on music and change the temperature in the house because a great deal of effort is required to flip a switch, click a button or turn a dial. On the flip side I understand the use of security cameras and automated outdoor lighting (since we all can’t have Gladys Kravitz for a neighbor - for the younger readers Google Bewitched). I also get the use of a washing machine (especially since the nearby creek dried up and it’s no longer practical to beat the clothes on the rocks). But some tech is going too far like facial recognition cat feeders (has grandma been trying to eat cat food again?), or automated snore stoppers (place a pillow firmly over his face for a few minutes – snoring problem permanently solved!), robotic gas pumps (definitely don’t turn your back on those) and lastly self-driving or self-parking cars – if you no longer have the ability to do either perhaps it’s simply time to give up driving. 

Stories 1/6/24 - Over the years people have mentioned that I seem to have a story for almost every situation. In reality, all of our lives are simply a vast collection of stories. Our lives are made up of funny stories (like taking the train downtown to work in full Halloween makeup or pulling assorted pranks on my sisters), sad stories (losing loved ones), scary stories (being laid off in 2001 or driving home in a bad snow storm late one night from Rockford and low on gas), short stories (some dates), long stories (some relationships), work stories (I really can’t say in case it winds up on LinkedIn), college stories (I think the statute of limitations are not up yet), boring stories (can’t think of any) and stories my children shouldn’t hear until they are much older (PM me for details – they are sorted by the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s). Some of our stories actually connect across decades (some things never change). Like in the early 80’s when I drove down a sidewalk in a Chevy Chevette to beat a guy I was racing, to a few months ago I was racing a Chicago Police SUV down a ramp to get on I-90 (I backed off near the end where the two lanes merge into one only when I realized it was a cop). The longer you live, the more stories you accumulate and the longer you live the more stories you are able to tell.  

Happy New Year 12/30/23

It is indeed a Happy New Year if you are physically healthy, emotionally present and still alive,

How bout a high five!

But seriously people usually want you to have a better year if that’s possible, in the upcoming New Year,

That’s pretty clear.

And depending on your past year you might wish for a variety of things, like finally retiring, finding true love, better health or even a dog,

Maybe to write a blog!

Let’s also not forget about the most important word in Happy New Year, the word and focus on being Happy,

I know it sounds a little sappy

But why not make an attempt to focus on being happy by doing things that you enjoy, that you really like to do and make the best use of your time,

Cause you’re in your prime!

Also surround yourself with events, situations, people and things that bring you joy,

Maybe a new toy!

But whatever you decide to focus on, challenge yourself to be the best version of you that you can be,

And set yourself free!

And also remember to bring others along on your personal happiness, fun and joyful journey or cruise,

And don’t hit the snooze,

So that you don’t miss out on anything that might be worthwhile, or could change your life or your mood or even your state of mind,

Lastly, remember to be kind.

Merry Christmas! 12/23/23

I just looked at the calendar and can’t believe it is already that time of year,
Time flies my dear.

I barely got the tree put together, the lights set up and the assorted Christmas decorations hung,
I fear I’m not that young.

There are still gifts to be purchased and last minute things to do and now I am out of scotch tape,
I’m not in holiday shape.

What caught me off guard is there is no snow on the ground yet,
Just broke out in a sweat.

I looked at all I have to still get done, and there are many things still unchecked on my list,
I’ll tell everyone I hurt my wrist.

But really there are no excuses and I think I am in better shape than I might believe I am in,
So I’ll put on a grin and know it’s not a sin,

To be a little less prepared than normal,
And why be so formal?

For at the end of the day what matters most is what is in my heart and soul,
Can you bring an extra bowl?    

Scroll down 12/16/23  – I was ordering movie tickets on my phone and couldn’t figure out why the transaction wasn’t progressing. The problem, I didn’t scroll down the page to see they required more information. Besides this being a poor mobile design and experience it made me think of how similar things occur in life. At times, we simply don’t scroll down past what is in front of us. If you are reading the warning label on a medicine or chemical or pesticide etc. it pays to scroll down and read the entire label. If you are having an eye exam the doctor will ask you to scroll down and read more than just the top line or two since the top lines are no indication of your vision capabilities. It pays to scroll down your email inbox to see what has moved out of your immediate view so you do not miss something you need to read and/or respond to. You even have to scroll way, way, way down to click, “I agree” on an assortment of statements you will never read to get it to complete successfully. Of course on the other hand, sometimes people scroll down too much especially when it comes to social media and related entertainment (YouTube, Facebook, Tik Tok etc.) – you have to know ‘when to say when’ in terms of mindlessly scrolling down further and further as if you are in a deep hypnotic state. Lesson learned, we shouldn’t be lazy, we should be curious and we should always seek to scroll past what is in front of us to better understand what we might be missing but at some point there are diminishing returns if you scroll down too much for too long. 

Happy 20th Anniversary 12/9/23 – This month marks the 20th year I have written a weekly “thought of the week” (resulting in over 1000 ‘thoughts’). My website is like an online diary – I express and elaborate on thoughts and ideas that have popped into my head during the week. I enjoy writing, whether it’s a poem for a friend or family member, work communications (some of which are distributed to almost 600 people) along with my weekly thoughts (to name a few examples). This little experiment (weekly thoughts) proves one thing, that whatever you focus on, playing an instrument, practicing ministry, doing sales, playing pickleball, making ceramics, painting, doing puzzles or if you are simply focused on being a better human being, if you put some thought and effort into it and do it consistently over a period of time, you just might get a little better at it. If nothing else, you hopefully continue to find happiness doing what you enjoy and love. 

39 minutes, 23 seconds 12/2/23– This is how long Springsteen’s Born to Run album is. I play it every morning for motivation and meditation when I begin my daily workout of push-ups, pull-ups, weights and core exercises. Here are the eight songs and what they mean to me and why I think they are important. Thunder Road (get out of the rut you are in and enjoy life by doing something different), Tenth Avenue Freeze Out (don’t let anything hold you back and become more than you are right now), Backstreets (broken friendships – they happen and you need to learn from them and move on), Born to Run (escape when you can and seek your freedom), She’s the One (perhaps the person I am seeing is truly the one I have been searching for although she can easily break my heart - regardless you need to be vulnerable to get the most out of life), Meeting across the River (there’s always one last chance to succeed, to do better, never give up) and Jungleland (reminds me of all the excitement and activity that occurred ‘out in the street’ when I was younger). The album never gets old even though it was released 48 years ago and it’s a daily reminder that I will never get old either, even though I was released 65 years ago. 

Thanksgiving 11/25/23 – I am thankful for my health, my children, my family and my friends. On a deeper level, I am thankful for 1) the sunrise because it confirms I’m alive and it’s a sign of new possibilities, hope and unlimited opportunities, 2) my heart beating, which has a rhythm no instrument can ever recreate, 3) the abundance of energy that allows me to accomplish what I want to (and then some) each day, 4) the people I have encountered along my path of life because I am richer from knowing them and some left a little part of themselves in my heart and in my soul, 5) the gift of sight to see the beauty all around me along with what isn’t there yet, 6) the ability to hear sounds, language, music and just plain noise, 7) legs that propel me which, if it wasn’t for gravity, I’m not sure where I could travel, 8 a mind that enables me to remember the past, ponder the future and absorb the present, 9) I am thankful that the joy and happiness I have experienced has outweighed the pain and sorrow, and lastly, 10) sunsets that indicate the close of another day but hopefully not my last. What are you thankful for?