Normally my blogs come from events that take place around my daily life. 

For the past 8 days I have been in Madrid trying to finalize open items on our agenda in preparation for our move.  Unfortunately things did not go as planned. I became frustrated and disappointed with how others do not value time and effort.

The realization that many of the people I was working with in Madrid did not have the commitment to finalize any tasks was disappointing.  Again I made the error of expecting too much of others, my mistake!

However, while working on this blog I looked for the perfect word to use as a title to describe the situation.

I came across the word ENDEAVOR, which is defined as to try hard, to do or achieve something, an attempt to achieve a goal, an earnest and industrious effort when sustained over a period of time, to undertake an enterprise a challenge….

I thought to myself, what an extraordinary word…

Eight letters that embrace a powerful concept that if we truly understand and COMMIT to it, the improvement of our lives will be ten fold.

So I went back to the dictionary and got the synonyms;

ENDEAVOR: try, attempt, seek, undertake, aspire, aim, set out; strive, struggle, labor, toil, work, exert oneself, apply oneself, do one's best, do one's utmost, give one's all, be at pains; informal have a go, have a shot, have a stab, give something one's best shot, do one's damnedest, go all out, bend over backwards.

For me Spain, is just another enterprise… it will take me weeks or months to find the right people to work with.  I am confident I will find the people that I can count on to undertake the job.

When we get involved in any venture: family, work, school, politics, or friendship… We must be committed to make it work!   GO ALL OUT!

"It was character that got us out of bed, commitment that moved us into action, and discipline that enabled us to follow through" 
                                                                                                          Zig Ziglar 

Yesterday, I got an email from my business partners.  They were in the middle of a dead end discussion.  The email said, “We need you to get involved, we need some of Mauricio’s magic.”

Mauricio’s magic? I thought…

What a great complement, but what is it?  I realized what they needed is a simple solution to a problem, which is an ability I enjoy and practice!

So I started to think, why do people make everything so complicated?

First, what does it mean to complicate? It means to make something more difficult or confusing by causing it to be more complex.

Life is complicated because we decide to make it that way.  We worry about everything, relationships, jobs, money, our image, how others perceive us, and much more.

With some of the concerns, there is really nothing within our power that we can do to change, so why should we have anxiety about it? We just have to learn to live with it. However, concerns that we have 100% control of we should work towards a solution and conquer them.

The majority of people think that the more complicated we make things the smarter we are.  

As a student, I had 2 types of professors, the ones that believed the more complex they made the lecture or solution it was better. They believed that they were perceived as more educated or prepared.  Bad news for those professors, I did not learn or even remember their names.

On the other hand, the professors who presented us with complicated material and encouraged us to find simple solutions are the teachers that really shape our minds, we admire and always remember!

This may sound like a complicated blog, but it has a simple message… simple solutions and simplicity in your life is key!
 
I took some of these rules from: 100 Ways to Uncomplicate Your Life
Try to follow them!

• Don’t try to read other people’s minds
  
• Get 8 hours of sleep per night, so that you think more clearly
  
• Don’t try to be friends with everyone. Cultivate closer relationships with fewer people.
  
• Before getting angry, ask yourself if it will really matter in 20 years
  
• Focus on being a good person, not on pleasing others
  
• Kiss and make up
  
• Don’t drink alcohol when you’re tired, sad, or mad
  
• Get an annual physical examination
  
• Say “I love you” to your significant other and to your children. Studies show that more marriages last, and fewer kids use drugs, when these words are spoken every day.
  
• For just one day, imagine everyone’s intentions are good because most people’s are
  
• When you have a conflict with someone, talk it out. Don’t let it turn into more than it is.
  
• Know what your priorities are in life, and act as if they are your priorities
  
• Tell the truth
  
• Don’t cheat
  
• Don’t steal
  
• If you’re holding on to a ridiculous grudge, let it go
  
• Do your best at work, or at school
  
• Be yourself
  
• Say no unapologetically
  
• Help your children with their homework every night, and have an open dialogue with their teachers
  
• Spend your time with nice people
  
• Avoid drama
  
• Refuse to gossip, or talk behind other people’s backs
  
• Never go to sleep angry
  
• Ask nicely for what you need and want
• Don’t befriend anyone that isn’t trustworthy
  
• Don’t envy others
  
• Don’t look for reasons to be angry or sad, look for reasons to be happy. You’ll always be able to find plenty of each.
  
• Don’t procrastinate
  
• Forgive and forget. End of story.
  
• Let go of perfection in others
  
• Let go of perfection in yourself
  
• Don’t try to help those that refuse to help themselves
  
• Finish what you start
  
• Allow your children to grow up
  
• If a relationship is over, let it go
  

Coming back to Mauricio's magic, we did have a conference call among the business partners and it took us 24 minutes to find a solution. An easy solution!

Life should be easy to understand!

Do not get complicated…

Keep in mind; the real talent is to find simple solutions! 

“Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.” - Confucius

English version available

معنى كلمة أم

كما تعودت دائما، كلفت أولادي بمساعدتي في كتابة هذه المدونة.

هذه المرة، كان التكليف عبارة عن كتابة موضوع بعنوان "معنى كلمة أم".

ولأول مرة كان ثلاثتهم متشوقين ومتحمسين لمساعدتي في هذا الموضوع، واليكم ما توصلوا اليه من معان ومفردات لكلمة "أم".

إن الأم هي شخص يحب أولاده دوما بغض النظر عن كل شيء. إن الامهات هن من يرعين ويحببن ويعملن كل شيء يستطعن عمله لمساعدة من يحببن. لا يوجد هناك من شيء يستطيع ايقافهن عن فعل ذلك لأن الحماس متأصل عندهن. إنهن يعرفن دائما كيف يجعلن أطفالهن يشعرون بأنهم يحتلون المرتبة الأولى  وحبهم متأصل في القلوب. كما أنهن لن يتراجعن اطلاقا عندما يحتدم الجدل. فالأبنة أو الأبن ينظر إلى والدته في بعض الاحيان على أنها شديدة وقاسية إلا أن الابناء لن يتوقفوا لحظة عن حبها. الأم هي صديقك المفضل وأنها الشخص الذي تحبه أكثر من أي شيء آخر في هذا العالم.

أحبك ياماما – دانيلا

إن هناك الكثير من الطرق للفظ كلمة "ماما" مثل : مام، أم، ماما، مادري (بالاسباني)، مامي وهناك الكثير. إلا أن هذه الكلمات تحمل معنى واحدا. ما هو معنى أم؟ نعم فعلا إنها تعني شخص انجب ولكن ما هو المعنى الحقيقي؟ بالنسبة لي أعتقد أنها تعني أفضل صديق. السيدة التي تحبك التي تستطيع العناية بك عندما تكون حزينا أو مريضا أو أنك بحاجة لشخص لتضمه إلى صدرك. بامكانك أن تثق بها عندما تريد اخبارها بأي شيء وتعرف بأن كل شيء سيكون على ما يرام. إن الأم تعلمك أن تكون قويا أن تدافع عن نفسك وأن تكون قائدا وليس تبعيا وأن تكون بطلا وليس مهملا وأن تكون جميلا وعاطفيا وليس صعبا وحادا. إن الأم زعيما ومثالا طيبا، إن جميع الامهات يرتكبن اخطاء لكن عليك أن تتقبلهن والتفكير بالجانب الايجابي لهن. إن الأم بطلة وإن والدتي هي بطلتي.

هذه العبارات مكرسة لك يا أمي : ايزابيلا

ما هي الأم؟ الأم هي الأم وكلنا لنا أمهات، وكلنا بحاجة لأم، وفي النهاية كلنا نخسر واحدة. لكن كل منا لديه أم وكل أم تختلف عن الأخرى. وهكذا هناك أمهات مختلفات وافكار مختلفة ترافقهن وجميع ذلك يعتمد على الكيفية التي تعاملك بها امك. البعض يقول إن الأمهات شر لا بد منه وآخرون يقولون إن باستطاعتهن التصدي لمثل هذا الشر ومعالجته. ولكن إن ما أفكر به عندما أسمع كلمة أم هو أن هناك سيدة ستقفز أمامك لترد عنك رصاصة قاتلة. إنها ربما تقتلك بأشياء من عندها، إنها سيدة لن تتوقف عن رعايتك حتى لو أنها أظهرت ذلك من خلال التكرار لارتداء معطفك أو عدم السير حافي القدمين داخل المنزل. هذه ايماءات بسيطة تتميز بالعطف والحنان تعودنا عليها. عندما نكبر لن تكون أمنا معنا لتعلمنا ماذا نفعل، لذا فانه يتعين علينا أن نكون ممتنين لما تقوم به الأمهات من أجلنا الآن بدلا من بعدين.

بالنسبة لي، أمي هي امرأة خيالية إلى حد كبير. ففي الوقت الذي يقول آخرون ذلك يكون موضع نقاش، إلا أنه لا يوجد من سبب يدعوني لتغيير ذلك عندما أقول " إن أمي هي رقم 1" في نظري انا أرى مخلوق. مخلوق جلبني إلى هذه الدنيا غذتني عندما كنت طفلا وتواسيني عندما أكون حزينا ومن هو الذي لا يزال يعلمني القيم الجيدة والأخلاق في الحياة لتجعلني شخصا أفضل كل يوم. كل ما أود قوله فعلا هو شكرا. شكرا لحبك لجميع أخطائي وعاداتي. شكرا لطبخك الأكلات الشهية لي بحيث لا أتضور جوعا. ولأني أحب أن أكون حيا أرزق  شكرا جزيلا لك. أنا أعلم أنه لا توجد هناك سياسة ترجيع، بالنسبة لي عندما ولدت اشكرك على ذلك لقبولي كما أنا، أحبك يا أمي وأرغب في أن اتمنى لك يوم أم سعيدا.

من أبنك المحبب والوحيد – جبريل.

تعريفات عظيمة

بالنسبة لي فإن الأم هي شخص جلبك إلى هذه الدنيا وغمرك بالرعاية والحنان، شخص دائما يسهر على راحتك، إنه ربما يكون الأم التي أنجبتك أو جدتك أو استاذك أو شقيقتك أو عمتك أو شخص مهتم بك فعلا وتعتمد عليه دوما.

علينا اليوم أن نكرم ونقدم كل الاحترام إلى جميع السيدات العظام اللواتي شملنا برعايتهن.

" يومكن سعيد يا أمهات"

قال ابراهام لينكولن في الأم:

" كل ما هو أنا أو ما آمل أن أكون، الفضل فيه يعود إلى أمي الملاك".

Like always, I recruited my kids to help write this blog.

This time, the assignment was to write about, "The Meaning of A Mother." 

For the first time, all three were eager to help me and here are their definitions of a Mother:

M Morality, Mastery, Magnificent, Marvelous, Magical, Meaningful, Miraculous, Mastermind, Motivator, Mind-blowing
O Objectiveness, Open-minded, Obliging, Original, Outstanding, Outgoing.
T Tenacity, Tolerant, Tender, Truthful, Tutoring, Thoughtful, Tranquil, Trustworthy, Thankful, Teacher.
H Heartfelt, Humanity, Honorable, Healthy, Hilarious, Happy, Honest, Helpful, Handy.
E Enduring, Essence, Emotional, Enthusiastic, Empathetic, Enjoyable.
R Responsible, Reliable, Relating, Respectful, Reasonable, Resolver, Resourceful, Remarkable

A mother is somebody that will always love her children no matter what. They are caring and loving women who will do anything they can to help their loved ones. Nothing can stop them and they are professional motivators. They always know how to make their child feel number one and love them with all their heart. They also never back down from a fight. A daughter or son might sometimes see them as a mean person but they will never be able to stop loving them. A mother is your best friend and the person you will love most in the world.
Love you Mama, Daniela

There are many ways to say the word mom, like: Mom, Mother, Mamá, Madre, Mommy and more, but all mean the same thing. What is the meaning of mom? Yeah sure it means the person who gave birth to you but what is really the meaning? I for one think mother means your best friend. The woman who loves you, who can take care of you when you are sad or sick or just need someone to hug. You can trust her with anything you tell her and know everything will be all right. A mother teaches you to be strong, to stand up for yourself, to be a leader not a follower, to be a hero not a sidekick, to be sweet and caring, not mean and a bully. A mother is a leader a good example, all mothers make mistakes but you have to accept them and think about the positive side. A mother is a hero and mine is my hero.
Dedicated to you Mama. Isabela

What is a mother? A M-O-T-H-E-R, MOTHER. We all have one, we all need one, and eventually we all lose one. But each and every one of us have different mothers. So with different mothers, different opinions come along, all depending on how your mother treats you. Some would say mothers are a pain in the butt and others would say they deal with a pain in the butt. But what I think of when I hear the word Mother, is a woman who would jump in front of a bullet for you. She could possibly kill you with all her smothering. She is a woman who can’t stop caring for you, even if she shows her care through nagging about putting on a coat or not being barefooted in the house. These are the small gestures of kindness we take for granted. When we get older we aren’t going to have a mom around to tell us what to do, so we should appreciate what they do for us now rather then later.

To me, my mother is the most fantastic woman in the world. While others could say that is debatable, I am not up for reason or change when I say that MY MOTHER IS #1! Through my eyes I see a creature. A creature that brought me into this world, nurtured me when I was young, comforted me when I was sad, and who still is teaching me good values and morals in life to make me a better person each and every day. All I really want to say is thank you. Thank you for loving all my flaws and habits. Thank you for cooking delicious food for me so I don’t starve and die, (because I do like being very alive, thank you very much). And I know there was a “no return policy” for me when I was born so I thank you, for accepting me for who I am. I love you Mama and I wanted to wish you a happy mothers day. 
From your favorite and only son, Gabriel.

Great definitions!

For me a Mother is somebody that brings you up with care and affection. Somebody that looks after you…
It could be your birth mom, grandmother, teacher, sister, aunt or somebody who really cares about you and can always count on. 

Today we should honor and pay respect to all those "Great Ladies" that take care of us.

Happy Mothers Day!

"All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother." - Abraham Lincoln

I just came back from doing therapy on my shoulder…
The doctor asked me “Why did you fall?
 "I always ask the same question and few have the answer.”
I did have the answer, but I thought…What a great question!

“Why did I Fall?”

A few weeks ago while skiing with my family, I got into an accident. At that instant I knew that I had hurt my shoulder. 

Before getting on the slopes, Nesrin, my wife asked me to take a refresher skiing class. I told her, “don’t worry, I know what I am doing… I am a professional”,   Ha!  A professional on his but…

It’s very important to be self-confident, which is what I constantly preach….

Self-confidence means to trust in one's abilities, qualities, and judgment.
It is the ability to envision optimism and success when others only see failure. It helps to get over the fears and being able to achieve. Self-Confidence means to be happy about ones abilities and to be self-assured.

But it is completely different to be self- confident than over-confident. 

Over-confident is excessively or unreasonably confident: mistakes are made by being overconfident.

When you are confident about something you always have your eyes open, and you know where you are going. When you become over-confident, you become blind, and can’t see the road.

A few years ago while building our company I got involved in several projects, I had done well till now, so why should anything go wrong. I didn’t listen to people or the signals. I became blind and arrogant. Nothing could stop me. Little that I knew – that the United States and the world was about to experience a resesion. I had over extended my reach and when everybody collapsed, I collapsed with them. I had become over-confident and blind.

So, today in therapy everything made sense… Why was I there?

Once again, I became ( I got the synonyms for overconfidence) careless, cocky, foolhardy, heading for a fall, heedless, hubristic, impudent, presuming, presumptuous, rash, reckless...

To be self-confident is important because it allows you to live life courageously. Lacking confidence is when you become fearful, demotivated, and timid. Self-Confidence is a part of your mind that allows you to act like yourself at all times. 

Confidence is one of the keys to success in life. Be self-assured but keep in mind that you are NOT INVINCIBLE. 

"Giving people self-confidence is by far the most important thing that I can do. Because then they will act." - Jack Welch 

A crossword puzzle created to utilize the various words that define key concepts in my blog, I Love Failure and my facebook posts.  I tested this with my kids which helped them to reinforce and think about words and their relevance. To print a copy, press on the link "Word Puzzle" and have fun!