Life Improvement Tips For The Wise Few

For those who are unfamiliar with “Sin City”, it’s the place where all gamblers go for 24 hours of non stop gambling fun and excitement. It is also the city where the most conferences and conventions are held yearly. They have more Hotels per square meter than any part of the world, and I do mean high rise buildings with over a thousand rooms per hotel. I was amazed and wondered what type of expertise and management skills are needed to manage such a complex.

Anyway, while visiting Sin City, it was more for business than pleasure, but at the same time, it makes no sense visiting a city and not enjoying the place and capturing the moments, with a couple neat pictures.

Oh, before I forget, some of you may not have a clue what city I am referring to, or what part of the world I am talking about. I am talking about Las Vegas, Nevada, the place of lights and 24 hours of entertainment. It is amazing to see how people stay awake around the clock, and no matter what time of the day it is, you can find places open for fun, a little bit, or should I say a whole lot of gambling.

Let the journey begin, I left St. Maarten around 2:35 P.M. and got into Miami, Florida about 5:30 P.M. From there we took a connecting flight to Las Vegas, the flight departed around 19:55 P.M and arrived around 11:20 P.M. The flying time was about 5 and a half hours, but they are three hours behind us, so we were traveling for about 8 and a half hours and not including stopover of 2 hours, so a total of almost 11 hours.

When we arrived in Las Vegas, from that moment on we saw a very amazing and yet astonishing arrangement of how lines are built to keep people in check. It was the amount of people waiting in a long line upon a taxi. Believe it or not, it was spring break and many kids head to Las Vegas for even more fun and recuperation I should say. It took about 2 hours to catch a Taxi. Some of the other persons traveling with us took a Limo. The lines are almost always very long, no matter where you go.

Checking into the Hotel

All went well, and we got to our Hotel, and checked into the Hilton Hotel, the rate for one night was $355 dollars, excluding taxes. With Taxes the room was nearly $390 dollars per night. I must thank my boss, for seeing my potential and giving me a chance to experience the CTIA Wireless convention of 2008. It was awesome, and a real eye opener.

Let me give you a little glimpse of the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas Nevada. Hey I am no master photographer, I took these pics with my phone. So I do hope they do justice and give you an overall view of this trip. My check in didn’t go very well, my credit card was not being approved, and it made me wonder why the company doesn’t pay for the Hotel room. My Boss pitched in and put up his card.

The following day, I called the credit card company and they spoke with them and had everything arranged and ready for my stay.

Attending the conferences

We actually had a booked schedule, because we were there attending two conferences. One was for Nortel inform 2008, and at the same time attending the CTIA 2008 convention.

The first conference we attended was at the Paris Hotel, very elegant and sheik looking conference rooms. Nice place to plan your dream wedding if you ask me. Saw a wedding going on while we were there.

The conference was one where Nortel covered all the new technology based on where the ISP (Internet Service Provider) and Telecom industry are heading. The schedule was very tightly focussed and you had to choose among the many rooms were a different product, case study or technology was being discussed. Me and my boss planned a full schedule and decided exactly which sessions we would attend.

We attended very different sessions in order to cover a many more of the session. each session was given in 45 minutes intervals. It was organized very well and the information was really important and very helpful. Each session showed exactly where the industry was heading for this year, and exactly what our company would need to do in order to keep up to date with the changes.

The trainings were organized for three days, and we attended two days, and the other two days, we attended the CTIA show. It was spectacular. Will give a couple pictures, so you get an idea what takes place.

An exciting design for a Hotel

While there, I must admit that some of the Hotels were symbols of money and artwork. Breath taking designs and nice paintings, with huge sculptures displayed something that only money can build.

Here is the first master piece, it’s the Luxor hotel. Below you can see the exit, that leads to the monorail station. Oh, just in case you didn’t notice, they guy below, is my twin brother…

Here is the view of the Hotel from the highway, it is built like a pyramid, a couple of the show attendees, say they didn’t like the Hotel rooms, but I have only seen the outside, so I can’t vouch for that.

There are many more Hotels, but I only took picture of the ones I found really attractive. The interior as well as the structure and built of these building are something to see.

Here is a night picture of the Mirage Hotel, a few friends was staying there and they found they rooms very nice. I like the building, and the design. I will show you the night view.

Next I will give you a snap of the famous Bellagio Hotel, this is the Hotel form the movie “Ocean Eleven”. Nice movie if you haven’t seen it, and if you did, you will know this Hotel, it was the one they robbed.

The view is awesome, but one one place that I went that really stood out, was the Venetian. The designs on the roof of the building is awesome, and then the day effect that was created by clouds is just breath taking. It gives the impression that it is never dark, no matter what time it is, and while walking it seems that the clouds are moving. You had something similar also in the Paris Hotel.

There is also a real venetian style boating scene where you can ride in a Gondola. This is on the second floor of this Hotel complex and it is such a lively and attractive setting, that will amaze you.

As you can see, it is world wide theme of many of the famous spots from around the world, they also have Disney Themed Hotel and Caesars Palace. Huge Hotel, just splendid. I was even in the Famous MGM-Grand which is known for all those Pay Per View boxing matches that we watch here on St. Maarten.
CTIA 2008

Now back to our business trip, next is CTIA 2008.

The CTIA show was huge and many thousands of visitors from around the world come to display their newest and latest gadgets, ranging from TV’s to Wi-Fi-equipment down to cellular phones and accessories. From wireless to wire-line equipment. You name and you will be able to see it.

I have many pictures, of the various boots, but will only show a couple so that you get the idea. Below you can see a cell phone supplier, displaying all the latest cell phones.

The booths were huge, and some even had two levels, below is a picture of a well know switch manufacturer.

All in all, the experience was awesome, and it was fun speaking to the many vendors and getting ideas from them. You can’t ask for a better experience if your in the technology field. The amount of systems displayed was overwhelming and there is so much to learn and understand once you took time out to really listen to what the vendors had to offer.

To be yourself means to be always positive on the JOB and at home. More positive influence at home will be worth it’s price in gold. Many times we try to be the most influential person on the JOB, and when we get home we show our children or our loved one the sign of tiredness. We try to not get involved with anything that is happening at that moment, it is as if we live in a different world than the rest of the family.

This is not right. To pretend to be a nice person when we are in town or visiting friends and family and when at home, you become the “boogy man”. You snap at the least annoyance, you seldom show your positive attitude towards the family and you always complain about being tired. If that’s you, then it’s time to kick that habit.

I honestly say, that you have to always be yourself no matter where you are. Stop trying to impress or act like your all that. No one notices you for what you pretend to be, they notice you for the things you do and the way you treat others.

We have a busy life on the JOB, and when we get home, it’s like the children rush you into overdrive. That should not be your break point, at that moment you should realize that they need a little attention and loving, that’s all. Give them the little time they deserve and try not to complain or take out your frustration on them. For all you know, they could have also been having a rough day, and would just like someone to talk with.

If you don’t try to understand them when they are little, then they won’t give you the time of day when they are grown.

Communication is the make or break point, when it comes to building a friendship with your children. Take time out of your day at home, and spend some time chatting or just watching T.V. with your children. Just do something fun, besides trying to act tired or act busy. Go play a little card game or some type of board game with them.

At this moment you might not see the importance, but the little time you spend with them when they are younger, will show the positive side of you and give them the attention they need. They will look forward to playing games with you, and will appreciate the time you spend with them.

At times we try so hard to be the best on our JOB, and when we get home our family members only know the negative attitude that you show. Try to be as positive at home and show that positive attitude that you have for your JOB also at home. And if your negative on your JOB, which I know you won’t admit, then bring that positive attitude from home to your JOB.

Simply showing respect to your children, is so important, and still so many parents neglect that. Be a role model for your children, let them model you, they will, even if you think they are not. Your children looks up to you, and if your not the parent you wish to be, then your guaranteed that your children will be confused, and will have many of your behavior traits. You can influence your family in a positive way or in a negative way, so why not choose the best way.

It really pleases me to hear my son ask me; ” Pops, how was your day?”

I always explain how it was, and then I talk to him about certain things that took place on the job, and he always laughs, and he gives me little bits of his own way of how I should have approached those situations. That really makes me smile. And then I ask him; “And, how was your day at school, got any bad grades today?”

We tend to jump into our own little conversations about school, and I enjoy those moments.

My daughter on the other hand, seldom ever ask, but she jumps straight into game playing mode, and always picks a game she would like to play. At that moment I tell her not now, and after I do what I had my mind set on doing, I then have some fun time.

I do wonder if those bosses that are always showing the worse attitudes on the JOB, have fun at home or do they go home and show a positive attitude. Or is it that they are controlled at home and need to express a sense of power when on the JOB.

Please let me know your point of view, on this, because I really want to know if these type of people have fun off the JOB, because they surely don’t show any positive sides on the JOB.

Do you think a Boss with a nasty attitude, has a different attitude at home?

The key to happiness and a better life starts with trust, your relationship is based on trust, not money or anything else matters when it comes to being happy or having a loving relationship. The more trust people have for each other, the happier and longer they will live together and the more joy they will see in their life.

When your ill, you can only get better when you believe in yourself and your own ability that your body has to heal its self. That is also based on the trust factor. The power of mind and body working together can heal any sickness, but you have to trust and believe in the healing power that all of us are born with. So it all boils down to trust, the more you trust and believe the more your body will improve and the healthier you will get.

When your having a bad day, it all boils down to you trusting that your day from that moment on will get better, if you don’t trust your own ability to have better days, nothing will happen.

Now, let’s talk about the trust in building healthy relationships. It is easy, but many of you are scared to love and build a long lasting relationship. You go into a relationship thinking that it will fail, and trust you me it will. The next thing you do is go into a relationship with the idea of changing your partner, it just can’t and won’t ever work. When you met that person, you met them with a certain attitude, it was that attitude that you fell for, so why try to change them?

Building a trustworthy relationship takes time, and patience. You have to believe in each other, and trust each other. Do the things that your partner loves. Bring out the best in each other, make your partner feel special.

As time passes, many relationships dwindle like a rose slowly fading away, first the niceness, then the loving moments and soon after that the passion. What happened? How did those two that used to love each other grow so apart? It actually starts when you stop paying attention to each other, no one wants to do for the other, both are hiding the trust they used to have in each other, each partner is now waiting for the other to do something nice. Well, you know what? No one does anything, and like the rose that doesn’t get water, your relationship doesn’t get affection, the rose dies, and so is it with your relationship.

What happened, how can things go from great to horrible in such a short time?

That is the easy part about relationships, even friendship, and I should state that both of you lost touch, your friendship lost importance, you two are living like strangers now. To keep the flames burning you also have to realize the importance of communication. Any relationship where no one is talking, even about the simplest topics of the day, will fade away slowly.

An important point to consider here is that circumstances creates the greatest opportunities.

Today while talking to a friend she mentioned how ill her sister is, and she told me that it is really bothering her. You could have seen it in her. That is very sad, but it is times like this that brings you two closer together and really shows the power of trust. She will have to trust her own healing powers and you will have to believe that your sister will get better. She stated that these things happens to show how disconnected she became and that t was time to slow down and start enjoying life. Your task now is to cast blessing onto your sister, each and everyday.

In every happening or sad event, the reasons are not always very clear, but it does create and open many doors for things that we didn’t consider. You have to always try to see even a sad event like this one she is facing now, as a positive happening.

At moments you would question; Why her?

And for the same reason, I would say; Why not her? You nor I can predict what will happen or why it happens, but one thing we do know for sure, is that trust and our beliefs is what will get us through the rough times and make us stronger.

As you may have noticed, I never take anything for granted, and I try to see the positive of everything, which I know isn’t easy for many people. But, I wish you and your family strength and I do hope that your sister pulls through this. One thing I learned is that when your ill, you should watch a lot of comedies, it will take her mind of the illness, and get her into a healing mood. Laughter is the simplest cure for the soul.

Trust is the Miracle cure, it can heal the weak, make any relationship better, overcome any obstacle and bring happiness to your life. If you would only learn to trust, trust in God, or whoever it is you worship, trust your partner, trust your parents and at times trust your friends. The more trust you have the more happier you will be.

When you have trust, everything has more meaning, and your outlook is much brighter.

Trusting your own ability

I want to share with you an experience I had a couple days back. I got into a conversation with a customer about a situation that they were dealing with. They explained the problem they were having, and I honestly had no clue what to do.

As always, I trusted my work ethics and said to myself that I will solve this. I spoke to them and asked a couple questions. I then told them what I think would work. They honestly said they had no clue what I was talking about and asked if I could come by and help. I told them that I believed in their ability to get this working and that I would guide them.

I guided them over the phone, and without really and honestly understanding what I was doing solved their problem.

When I got off the phone, my colleague was listening to me, and I told him how surprised I am at times to find a solution, when I don’t fully grasp what I am doing. He told me that he himself is shocked to see my ability to solve such complex situations over the phone. I told him, well I learned it from you. And, that is the truth, he does that exceptionally well, and I just believe that if he can, so can I.

Believe in yourself, and trust that you have the power to work miracles and make things happen. Life is about trust, and your happiness will improve once you learn to trust and miracles will happen when you trust, just believe, and look for the best.