He’s stated that he has not met them in real life.  His credibility is being called into question because of the lies he initially told regarding the scandal.  His judgment is part of that controversy in regards to his career. Many people are wondering whether someone who would lie to his constituents, his family, his friends, and the media could do his job with honesty and integrity.

Anthony says that he admitted to his wife of 11 months, before they got married, of his inappropriate online relationships that took place before his marriage; but it appears, that she was not aware of his recent interactions.  His wife, Huma Abedin works for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.  Media reports say she is consulting with the Clintons about how to save Anthony’s job in the shadow of the scandal.

Questions abound in our world about the role that social media plays in the lives of everyday people and people who are famous, public figures, or people in roles of leadership.  How people conduct themselves online has a direct affect on their work, their reputations and in their relationships both online and off.

Whether Mr. Weiner is able to retain his position as a lawmaker will depend on what information is garnered through the ethics investigation that Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi has asked for.  If he has violated the rules of conduct or has used government resources in these circumstances…he could lose his standing among his fellow lawmakers not to mention other repercussions if any laws were broken.  His marital relationship has to be addressed as well; counseling would probably be advised for the best possible outcome, if they wish to heal the damage.  The pressure has to be tremendous as many people are calling for him to resign; which at this point, he has refused to do.  One would hope that in his quest to save his job, that he doesn’t sweep the issues under the rug that allowed him to make choices that were so potentially detrimental to his well-being.

It is human nature to try to avoid consequences when we screw up…however, the responsibility of a person in the position that he holds requires that he hold himself to a higher standard than most.  I am sure that he wishes he could go back and undo what he says he has done regarding posting those pictures and writing allegedly sexually charged exchanges with those women.  His actions supposedly goes back a few years…so this is not new behavior.  Yet, it was unchecked because he has continued to reach out through digital means & through the phone to women who are not his spouse to interact with racy exchanges.  It is said that these types of relationships can become addictive.  We know that they can be destructive.  It will take a lot of work to regain trust and respect of those people in his life that he had those things from, before this behavior came to light.

The whole situation goes beyond Democrat/Republican politics…because it doesn’t matter what a person’s political stance…this issue is a human issue.  I hope it doesn’t get turned into that kind of a discussion…because outside of his particular offense… both political parties struggle with individuals who have made serious mistakes in their behavior regarding sexual boundaries and values.  Immoral behavior is immoral behavior…no matter what party you belong to; in my opinion.

In any case, Anthony Weiner will have to show true remorse and take steps to correct the mind-set that allowed him to place himself in such a position as to lose ground as a lawmaker, and as a new husband.  In America we do believe in second chances and the opportunity to turn your life around…whether he will deserve that opportunity to go back and restore his reputation will depend on what they find out from the investigation, how he handles that information; and, whether he reforms how he conducts himself in the future.

Trust, dependability, integrity, honesty = a person’s reputation…the value of those attributes are immeasurable.  A person’s name and reputation is important.  There were so many plays on Anthony Weiner’s name in the last few days in the news headlines…but, truthfully, all that kept running through my mind was a little advertising commercial jingle that Oscar Mayer had on television, years ago, as I grew up.

IF I remember right, it goes like this.  “oh I wish I was an Oscar Mayer wiener, that is what I truly want to be; cause, If I was an Oscar Mayer wiener, everyone would be in love with me”.   Right about now, I would imagine that Anthony Weiner wishes his first name was Oscar, so that he too could have the love and support of all the American people, much like the kind of relationship the company Oscar Mayer has been able to forge over the years with the public.  Then again, to the best of my knowledge, that company has never been involved in any kind of scandalous behavior…

What is your opinion on the situation with Anthony Weiner…should he remain in office?

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        That should be a comfort in itself; so then why do we fight it?   Whenever we try to take control and steer our lives in the path that we think it should go…we are operating blindly; it is good to remind ourselves of that.  For we only see our small portion of the jigsaw puzzle or road map.  God, you DESIGNED the jigsaw puzzle and the map; you know where every single piece of the puzzle fits; you know which road to take to avoid additional hazzards. 

        God, you alone know how each piece of our lives are supposed to fit together to create something beautiful and whole.  While we sometimes struggle to MAKE the pieces fit, and  occasionally they may even appear to fit together for a time…in the end; we often discover our mistake in trying to force something to work that does not belong there at all. 

        We need you God to make sense of it all, to guide us in our decisions, our reactions, our ACCEPTANCE, of what is supposed to be.  We need you to guide us in the areas of our lives to avoid and reject…to put our feet on the path that they belong on; even if it is dark and scary.  For you are the light, by which we can be sure, to follow to the correct destination.   Is it the obedience that you are looking for from us?  Why is that so hard to remember to do?

       Why do we worry, wonder and fret?  It is the unknown that terrifies us.   Imagination is usually a friendly companion in our daily lives, but in times of stress it can become the enemy towards building and strengthening our faith.  We want to trust and be a pillar of strength and encouragement…but, there is still the uncertainty of how things will turn out.   Do we feel worthy of a miracle in our lives when we desperately need it?  Do we KNOW  without a doubt that you love us ENOUGH to take care of our difficulties?   

           In the end, it doesn’t matter how we got where we are, nor does it matter if we like where we find ourselves…what does matter is how we choose to proceed; how we conduct ourselves in the midst of the challenges we face.  In other words…

          It is in our BEST INTEREST then to give up control,  remove doubt and fear from the equasion, find courage,  and expect miracles…trusting that even through the challenges…good will come.  Knowing with certainty that lives will be changed, improved, and blessed.   Thank you then God, for always being there; for loving us, and for helping us even when we are being problem children!

       Getting a mentor or an instructor who’s teaching style matches up with your learning style is important to maximizing the instruction.  I love learning in a relaxed setting. 

         It is hard not to feel intimidated when you are trying to absorb information all at once from someone who is treating you with a superior attitude or in a demeaning way.  My mentor doesn’t do that.   As an adult, I realize that not everyone has access to a coach, mentor, or instructor who is as great as mine is…however, if what you are wanting to learn is important enough to you…you will make an effort to find someone who makes you feel safe enough to make mistakes while you learn; knowing that you will not be made to feel stupid while you learn it.

       That is important.  Life is interesting and there are so many things to do and learn.  Be adverturous and explore…find someone who loves teaching, to learn from.  You will not be disappointed.  Remember, if you are ever in the position of doing the teaching…take the time to make sure that those who are in the position of learning…actually do so, while feeling good about the process!

        Kudos to my coach and mentor Dixie Brown of Lay Off Your Boss Marketing.    I am an affiliate for them because I believe in what they teach and how they teach it.  If you are interested in learning how to market online or to becoming an affiliate marketer in any niche online…then Jeff Wellman, Dixie Brown, Paul Counts are the people you need to learn from.   Right at the moment, Dixie has a great video training for *Free* on turning your PLR products into CASH -  http://bit.ly/315R1m  Take advantage of her great teaching abilities and you too will know what value she adds to the Lay Off Your Boss Marketing Team and to those who wish to learn to making money online!

          The reason for this violence?  No one seems to know at this early stage; although a family member said that he was fearful of being deployed to Iraq.   What is known is that soldiers expect danger and violence when they go to war, however they don’t expect on their own home base on American soil from one of their own.  

           The psychological terror and stress this incident has and will continue to instill in our soldiers is going to have a tremendous effect on our military men and women.   It is being said that the shooter was about to be deployed to Iraq.  He was supposedly trained in psychiatry and disaster relief regarding traumatic stress.  What then, could explain his actions (or those who joined him)?  Will we ever know the whole story?

             In the media there is speculation about his background and whether this was an act of terrorism.  I don’t know about his religious/ethnic background…and, I think people need to be very careful not to judge on that score until more information is known; however, it definitely is psychological terrorism. 

               This shooting took place in an area of the base called the Soldier Readiness Facility.  This building is a stop for final medical and or dental treatments before military personel are sent overseas for deployment.   This assault on the troops right before they are deployed is a terrible psychological trauma.  I wonder why a person, who had the kind of medical/psychological training that Mr. Hassan had, would do such a thing?  Did he have a mental breakdown …or did he plan a deliberate attack on his fellow soldiers mental preparations right before they were sent off to war for some other reason?

         This kind of situation damages trust and training that troops are instilled with.  They need to be able to trust and depend on one another.  How can they do that when they don’t know if one of their own is going to open fire or kill their own fellow soldiers?  They have enough to deal with when fighting a war with the enemy…without worrying about having an enemy within their own ranks.

          We have to be careful not to judge any group of people by an individual’s actions.  Everyone is responsible for their own actions; and prejudice is an ugly thing.   There are going to be those who will play the blame game on a particular race, religion or ethnic background; that is not ok.  To know the truth of this horrible violence, we will have to wait for more information to know what is behind this violence.  In the meantime we need to pray for those who were killed , injured or just traumatized; and, for their friends and families. 

           We usually do something different with our kids and have a fall harvest celebration.  If the weather is decent we will have a campfire and maybe we do something like put up a pinata with a minimum of candy to tickle their fancy; but, not enough to be obscene about how much candy they end up consuming.   It is a good idea to have some games planned and invite their friends.  Be prepared for loud and boisterous fun…but that is ok…they are supposed to be having a good time.

          My  main concern about this time of year  is safety and spiritual well-being.  Some Halloween revelers take things to a level glorifying evil and gore.    I don’t like all of the gore, the frightening costumes, the evil that seems to be celebrated by some.  Most of all, i don’t like how vulnerable the kids are to violence, to kidnapping, or to many of the other dangers that go along with the so called “holiday”.   I think it is a good time to remind parents to keep your kids close…minimize the danger that they are exposed to. 

       When it comes to costumes…make sure that they have some kind of reflective quality so that they can be seen in the low lighting conditions.  Have them carry a lighting device or a glow stick.  Go over reminders of safe street crossings and appropriate approaches to people’s homes and property.  There are some people who do not watch out for little ones crossing streets and sidewalks.  Then there are those who don’t appreciate kids and teens prancing across their lawns “begging for candy”. 

        Every year we hear of parties that have gone wrong and someone is killed or injured in a fight or in a case of over-reaction to a misunderstanding.  We hear about kids who go about doing destructive pranks and then their are the occasional people with emotional/anger/substance abuse issues who react violently.  We hear about teens horsing around and accidents happening where another in the crowd is injured or killed because things get out of control.  There are incidents of bullying or gang activity.  There are rapes…and kidnappings; children become lost or missing in communities; they are at risk for predators at this time of year especially when it is acceptable to be walking the streets with masks on and in disquise.  Large cities often have issues with “devil’s night” fires and looting. These things can be minimized if parents take steps to insure that they know where their kids are and what they are doing…as well as who they are with.

         It is wise to go out with your children if you are going to allow them to go trick or treating.   Don’t let them out of your site.  You really don’t know who to trust and who your child/teen will be meeting up with.  It seems weekly that there are reports of missing and or exploited children…noone wants their child to be one of them.  We have heard too any news stories recently about children who have been violated or murdered to just let them go off and wish them a good time.  Parenting responsibilities don’t end just because your kids may be able to go off with a crowd.  

        Even teens…God bless them can get caught up in situations that either are not in their best interest or that can endanger them.   Your teens probably won’t verbalize their appreciation if you take a protective stance about their activities…however, no one ever promised that parenting would win you any popularity contest, now did they?   Create an alternative environment for them to get together with their friends; but, still be supervised and protected.   Law enforcement officers will appreciate the help because they can’t be everywhere at once. 

           When David announced details  on the show about the alledged blackmail attempt (which he reported to the authorities) David was applauded by some supporters as “being manly”; or, being proactive and taking the reins in the attempt to spin the public’s perception of the whole sordid situation.   I personally dont find it manly to sleep with co-workers casually and then make a joke out of it for public consumption on television.   

             There are some people who are “standing by their Letterman” no matter what.   When I hear them talking it makes me wonder what their personal values are…and I also wonder about the individuals that they are in a relationship are thinking.  Hmmm…if my significant other thinks it is ok for David Letterman to cheat in his relationship and sleep with his co-workers…then what is my significant other doing when I am not around…that is the kind of thoughts that would be running through my mind if my significant other was speaking out in support of David’s bad behavior. 

         Another thing, while David has spoken in jest about such matters…he has that smirk on his face (in my opinion)…which just doesn’t sit well with me.  It makes me think he is callous in his treatment of others or worse…that he is loving all of the chaos that this mess is causing and is giving him more attention and ratings than he could have hoped for.  Either way, I don’t like watching his cheesy grin while he devalues his relationship with Regina or those other woman by turning it into some kind of “hip” monologue to “entertain” people with.  

            There is some concern that all of the jokes that David (and others) are cracking in public is going to create a backlash for David and his image.  I say, are you serious?  Ok, so none of the women he had relationships with on his staff are complaining.   Still, some women’s organizations are complaining about his attitude toward women in the workplace.   Ok, so his wife has not made a public statement about her feelings on the situation.  Ok, some really big stars and supporters are saying …yeah well, David is the man, because he confronted the issue through his television show.  David has done plenty of bashing of other men, who were in similiar positions as him regarding inappropriate or immoral sexual behavior over the years. 

        I just want to say that I don’t find any of this a laughing matter…it really rather offends me that he is cracking jokes about such a serious situation; one that is causing hurt for so many people.  For those who are spiritually minded, this is a huge concern as it goes against most religious guidelines for proper or appropriate behavior; in fact, it is considered a sin by many. 

         Maybe David thinks this is the appropriate way to address the situation by laughing at it.  Hmmm…or maybe not.  Maybe he is attempting to put a spin on the damage or as they say, he is doing damage control.  Except…really, for a man who waited so many years to remarry…to have a young son…wouldn’t you think he would be concerned about how this is affecting those closest to him?  I have heard him apologize to his staff, and acknowledge that his actions have deeply hurt his wife Regina.  I heard him say that if one is responsible for causing that kind of hurt that they need to repair the damage.  It is easier said than done.

          Ok Dave…I am going to speak your language and give you some free advice.  Here are the top 10  ten reasons that you, David Letterman, need to stop laughing and making jokes about your actions in this situation.

Reason #10

People might think you would do it all over again-because you thanked your staff for standing by you when you got “yourself” into something stupid!   Hello…you got alot of people into something stupid.

Reason #9

You could lose your job over the situation.

Reason #8

You could lose viewers in the long run (even though the immediate numbers are up).

Reason #7

You could lose sponsors for the show-which in turn could cause you to lose your job.

Reason #6

You could have damaged marriages & family relationships for the people on your staff.

Reason #5

You have given your child plenty of counseling material for years to come-plus ammunition for school bullies to taunt your young son Harry…he may not always respect you, like you appear to have respected your father.

Reason #4

You have given your wife reason to doubt and mistrust your actions with present & future staff-this may have destroyed the trustibility in your marriage-costing you companionship, love, support, and half of your financial legacy.

Reason #3

You have damaged your relationship with your wife & mother of your only child-yes you were not married but you were in a relationship with her during the time of this alledged behavior.

Reason #2

You look like an insensitive jerk by laughing at a situation that affects thousands & thousands of your viewer’s marriages and relationships each and every day.

Reason #1

The other half of the story isn’t out yet…and there will be more information to come out.  The more you laugh now the more there could be to explain later…to the public, to those you have personal relationships with and to the authorities in a court room.  Your name will not just be known for your comedic skills and talents…it will be forever associated with sex, scandal, back room relationships…and negative publicity.  Your so called friends and supporters will distance themselves from you quicker than quick if the publicity takes a negative turn.   Oh and by the way, it just isn’t funny David Letterman!

           There are even people who want or need to sell products or services online…but, they cringe at the very thought of being called a salesperson.  They want to make money…but, they don’t want to sell.   Why is that; it is because over the years, sales people have gotten a reputation as being pushy, dishonest, or smarmy!    The reality is, to make money online-you DO need to be a sales person.  Can you successfully sell and still be perceived as  a “good person”?  

          Sure, I think you can sell products or service and still hang on to who you are, with your ethics in place.   I believe that the way you sell is a reflection of who you are as a person…or at least, it should be.  Don’t be persuaded to take one tack or another in how you market if it goes against who you are as a person; just because it worked for someone else and they made lots of money.  For those people LEARNING internet marketing, online sales techniques, or affiliate marketing….I want you to think carefully about what kind of salesperson you are!  How you conduct your business definately matters.

          In case some of you don’t know it…customers are a pretty savy bunch of people.  Oh there are coaches/marketers out there who tell you that your customer doesn’t even really know what it is they want or need; and, while there may be a handful of those kind of customers…for the most part-they Do know what they want.  Respect them and act accordingly.  

         If the customer thinks that they want something that isn’t going to benefit them; you could choose to  not correct them and just sell them what they want anyway; but is that right?  If you want to keep them happy and see them successful; you will point out the difference between wanting/needing.  Show them how they could benefit from other products, if that is the right thing for them, if  that will increase their success.    You will have gained a customer for life .  But what if your product isnt right for them; but, they want it anyway?  Truth…give them truth about what they really need…even if it is your competitor’s product or service.    Say what?

            Isn’t your goal to have a happy customer in the end?  Then you must represent yourself and your business in a way that reflects that you respect your customer by not manipulating them into purchases that they either dont want or dont need.   But you say, I am in business to make money!  True enough…but, repeat business is better than a dishonest sale that will leave a bad taste in your customer’s mouth when they think of you or your business.  They will remember how you conducted yourself as a business person; whether you handled the situation in a good way, or in a  bad/indifferent way.

          In my mind, if you have to “shock” your potential customer by how you “sell” them…then you are merely playing mind games and manipulating the customer with ”black hat” tactics.  Instead, try operating in a genuine way which connects what you provide them, along with exactly what they need.  Now that may take some honest, straightforward speaking because some of your customers may believe they need something else.  You have to convince them with facts, figures, and testimonies that don’t promise them the moon…when you know that you can’t deliver them any such thing.  Be realistic with your promises…make sure you can deliver what you say you can; and then, go one step further and give them a bit more.  They will recognize your commitment to them, as your customer, and it will begin to build a loyalty between you, as the salesperson; and them, as the buyer.

          Ok, some more honesty here; your honesty as a marketer or salesperson… can cost you some customers.  What?  Why would being honest cost you customers?   It is because your customers have been being taught by others to expect to be manipulated.  They may think that you are not for real…they may believe that there is a “catch” to what you are promising them.  It is possible that your potential customer may buy into another marketer’s big promises or overly hyped product-if it doesn’t deliver them what they expected…that will come back to bite both the customer and the marketer who did not represent themselves or their product/services honestly.    It is up to you to present yourself in a way that delivers exactly what you say you will, in the way you promise, in a timely manner; and, back up your promises by following through.  Eventually, word gets around about how solid you are as a marketer and you will get respect, as well as trust, from those who do business with you.   And what’s more, they WILL come back and DO business with you because they will realize that it is better to deal with business people that are honest in how they conduct their business.

         In the old days when people conducted business in small towns…they quickly made a name for themselves as honest or dishonest.  Word got around.  The internet may be a bigger business field…but, if you create an image online with your customers one way or the other…be prepared for that to impact your business!

       So, what kind of salesperson are you; or what kind of salesperson do you want to become?

      I can see how you were able to manuever and avoid some of those obstacles; and yet, from where I watch, I can see that there are places on this river where you will not be able to avoid the debris.  It is obvious that you will be slammed into the rocks in some places, there are deep waters up ahead; there are places where the water moves so fast that it tumbles over the waterfall with a suddeness that takes my breath away.  You took no precautions, will you survive the fall?

      It would have served no purpose to have shouted warnings to you, of the dangers up ahead, when you stepped into the smooth, calm waters on your entry into the river of life; for you would not have heeded the warning.  You could not see those dangers for yourself from where the journey began.  The joy of the water surrounded you with a false sense of security and peace. You looked so happy; enjoying the ride.   You thought you were in control of the journey.  Yet, who controls the will of the river?  No one has the power to control it except God who made the river.  The challenges were to come along the way.  They could not be avoided forever; it is the way of life for us all.   

         The frequent traveler who chooses the same path, over and over again, learns much and can be a guide; yet, by spending all of their time guiding others, the guide risks missing out on new life experiences of their own.  So we must understand that life has it’s hurts…and, if a person does not risk the occasional bump or bruise, they will miss much of the joy of the journey.  For it is in traveling the river of life where we gain knowledge, experience, and a connection to the world and those around us.   I decide to no longer just observe…I want to have an exciting adventure of my own.

       The waters may be deep, there could be rapids, there are rocks and debris for each one of us.  However, there is also an appreciation for the beauty of the scenery as we travel, the people that we meet and bond with, the thrill of the experience as we take in the challenge and the risks.  Living in fear paralyzes and prevents many from experiencing all that life has to offer.   Trusting in God, the Creator of the universe, is a lifelong learning lesson.  Really, when you think about it, what do you control?

        I need to fear less and risk more.   I am not in control of what happens in all areas of life.  You need to risk less and recognize that fear is a tool that can help prevent avoidable, foolish risks.  For you are not in control of all areas of life either.  By sharing and connecting with one another, understanding that ultimately God is the only one in control; we will take more from the river experiences and live more fully; appreciating the journey and the scenery along the way.  Life is short…let’s not waste any of it!

        To me, labeling has always had a negative connotation.  Labeling is the action by which someone or something is described…it is limiting.  Putting something in a box is not helpful for picking up fringe business in areas that COULD be related to the services that you provide.  Labeling does not provide opportunities for expanding what you do…it simply describes itemized ideas or services.

         Branding on the other hand is defining…or designating something as a go to source.  It is creating a process of authority in a certain area of expertise.  Yes, to a potential customer it also describes who you are or what you are about…but, by branding yourself/your business a certain way…you can create your own description (labeling of your brand) by choosing how you want to be known.  It is a very carefully constructed advertising association in the minds of your potential customers or targeted audience.  If done skillfully, when your customer or targeted audience is in need of services which you can supply…they do not think of others with the same skills or services…they think only of what you as a business or business owner can provide them…that is branding…and that is why it is so very valuable in today’s business world. 

         If you can brand your business as a go to source…when your customer is in need or want of something RELATED to your brand…it opens the possibilities of, what ifs.  Even if you can’t provide the what if…a good go to source will have in place a referral plan to other directions that their customers may need.  This only builds your credibility as the go to source…it builds your trustibility factor and your customer’s appreciation and loyalty; when they again need what you/your business can provide them.  That is how a brand is grown and strengthened.

         Here’s wishing you a BRAND YOU day!