I believe that for the most part, we all expect the good in others. Whether we meet someone in real life (IRL) or in a virtual environment; we expect them to be honest, forthright and professional. We expect these actions without thinking about them; it’s just what we expect. We expect trust, doing the right thing and not hurting the other person.

Unfortunately this is not always the case with our relationships. People hurt us, take advantage of us, do hurtful things; it is a sad fact of life, that in some ways, is becoming more common place.

IRL when someone treats us this way, we have choices: confront the person, turn and walk away, or do nothing but maybe distance ourselves from that person. What have you done in these situations?

Today, more business and personal relationships start online or in a virtual environment. I believe the same rules and thought processes take place with these relationships: we expect the best out of those we meet online. We believe what we are told, we develop a friendship, a relationship or seek out opportunities to work with these individuals. At times though, these relationships are revealed to be less than wholesome, meaning the other person has mislead us, lied to us, or they have been using our expertise and business relationships for their own gain. We must ask ourselves the same question though; how do we handle it? Do we confront the person online? Do we call them out? What have you done or what would you do?

I know friends that have been hurt through virtual relationships. This is as unfortunate as being hurt IRL because it is life. True these relationships are virtual in as much as we do not see these people face-to-face, but we are humans being hurt by other humans. How do we correct this? How do we deal with it when others treat us this way?  My thoughts:  call them out.  What do you say?

The virtual environment, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc. is a little like the Wild West. While you will find plenty of material written about the right and wrong way to conduct yourself; there are no rules. People are free to do what they want. Is this good or is this bad?  How can you make a pinky promise in a virtual relationship?

I believe in people and trust others until they give me a reason not to. I am far from perfect and have made my own mistakes in relationships, friendships and in business. However, I do believe most people we meet, IRL or online are honest and trustworthy.

What do you think?

One of the reasons I love visiting Walt Disney World is to see the looks on children’s faces when they see everything before them!  Cinderella’s Castle, Mickey Mouse, thrill rides and their favorite characters right before their eyes!  The eyes wide open, jaw dropped look is priceless!  This is how children approach most days, with wonder, amazement and excited to see what will happen!

My question to you is this: How Do You See The World?  Think about it; each and every day we are given has this same amazement and wonder to us as adults….if we only adjust our thinking to see what is before us.  Amazing friends, new connections, opportunities to help others; these are just basic examples of what is in  front of us each day! Business opportunities are in front of us at every step, every single day; but only if we open our eyes to see what is in front of us!

How Do You See The World?

Unfortunately, as adults too many of us see the world and each day as a chore….we must get up, we must go to work, we must meet quota, we must do this and do that!  Wake up!  Each day is a gift given to you and you are NOT guaranteed tomorrow!  Greet each day as a child does entering Walt Disney World:  ready to see it all, do it all and experience it all!

How Do You See The World?

It amazes me how connections can turn into incredible partnerships, friendships and opportunities to promote one another, even when its unexpected.

If you follow me on Twitter, thank you;  if its been a while since we spoke, drop me an @ reply or a DM, I would love to hear from you.   Followers on Twitter know that each morning, the #PositivePosse gets things going on the East Coast early, normally 5:00 or 5:30 am.  We are a group of friends that support each other and try to keep the positive energy flowing through our conversations on Twitter.

One participant in the #PositivePosse is my friend Vincent Hunt; (@VincentHuntCo) the Captain of our group.

Vincent is the owner of the Vincent Hunt Co.; their main goal, making cool things happen. Essentially his specialization is Design and as he puts it, Design Thinking.

Vincent sent me a DM yesterday asking me for my email address because he had ” a fresh baked idea from his design kitchen” for me.  Just knowing the caliber of this man, I was very excited! After sending my email address, I received a series of emails back with several Fresh Baked Ideas; many of which you will see in this space in the coming days.  I was blown away.  If you want a preview, check out my Twitter profile page @JohnLusher.

Vincent is amazing; with incredible talent and creativity.  Do you need fresh ideas for your brand or business?  Do you need to rebrand?  If the answer is yes, I encourage you to talk to Vincent.

Thank you Captain; we have many more things to work on.  You are amazing!

I believe that most of us have confidence and faith in our own abilities.  We believe that we can accomplish quite a bit on our own, and traditionally, we don’t like to ask for help.  In life, in the business world; we need to get past this outdated way of thinking and build an alliance.

More simply stated, we cannot do it alone.  It takes the help and support of others to reach our goals in business, in life, in everything we strive to accomplish.  I admit that I need help and thankfully I am part of an incredible Alliance.

In 2009, I was blessed to be asked to be part of an Alliance.  Or as we affectionately refer to it, our “Secret Alliance.”  The inside joke is, it is not so secret!

My invitation to join the Alliance was given by Rochelle Veturis (@RochelleVeturis).  Rochelle is a PR professional, part of the The OC Triumvirate and an incredible person.  Her goal with creating this Alliance was to provide an opportunity for professionals to support one another, ReTweet information on Twitter and to serve as a sounding board for ideas and opportunities.

One of the funniest members of our Alliance is Paul Tran (@PaulTTran).  This man’s sense of humor is something to experience! An entrepreneur, an investment professional, and a restauranteur, Paul is fueled by energy drinks and a drive to succeed.  I dare you to try to work harder than Paul. His experiences and outlook on life is amazing. I am blessed to call him a brother.

Look up the word dynamo in the dictionary and you will find a picture of Gina (@GinaParris). She is a speaker, coach motivational maven, wife, mother and a friend.  If you want good, practical advice, along with a laugh or two, check out the videos on her site: GinaParris.com. The positive energy that Gina exudes simply amazes me!

Instigator of awesomeness.  How do you follow up that statement? Danielle Miller’s (@daniellemmiller) sense of purpose is laser focused on her goals.  As a former teacher, she is using her experience to coach others as to how to reach their goals in business and in life. As Danielle states it, “Create the Life  You Crave….With A Dash of Sizzle and Spice.”  That is what Danielle does; help you create the life you crave.

Let’s clear this up at the outset, this man’s name is J.  That is it, not Jay, not an initial, just J.  (@J__Steele) on Twitter and yes, it is two underscores.  J is the type person that I strive to be; the owner of a heart larger than all outdoors. He is a builder and remodeler, father and husband and all around great guy.  Everyone needs a J on their team; I am glad he is on mine!

Ted Nguyen is the latest member of our Alliance (@TedNguyen).  He describes himself as a social media advocate, avid life-learner and d0-gooder.  I describe Ted as a human dynamo.  Spend some time reading his blog and getting to know Ted; it will be a life lesson in appreciating what we all have and the life experiences that make us who we are today.

I encourage you to follow and engage these individuals if it makes sense for you.  More importantly, I strongly encourage you to build your own Alliance.  You cannot do it alone.

Thank you Ted, Paul, J, Danielle, Gina and Rochelle for your incredible support, insight and love.  You push me to be a better person, businessman, Alliance member and friend.

Join us TODAY for the Roanoke 4Square Day!  This is a great way to promote Roanoke and a local business while networking and relaxing!

More Info: http://www.roanoketweetup.com/…

Since August 2009, I have been fortunate enough to have an incredible friendship and relationship with Bev Wallace as well as a working relationship with her charity, Crafters with Love (CWL).  I also had the good fortune to work with the Board members for CWL.

Unfortunately, I failed Bev and her incredible charity as well as let down the Board and the people that CWL serves.  This post is an attempt to apologize for that.

In working with CWL, I served as President of the Board and then later as a social media advisor and fundraising director. I failed to deliver in these rolls within the charity, and in doing so I let Bev and the Board down and damaged her charity.  I apologize for doing that.

My behavior style  requires accountability; I have learned this about myself after years of experience.  Sometimes I can hold my self accountable, but most of the time I require others to hold me accountable.   Bev placed the confidence in me to do what I said I was going to do, and I didn’t.  I did not hold myself accountable enough, and failed to deliver what I promised. I made commitments and promises, both personal and professional to Bev, as well as to CWL, and quite simply I failed to keep them.  Worse than that, I tried to cover my mistakes so I wouldn’t look bad to Bev and to others.  That was wrong.

In leveraging my social network to be an ardent supporter and promoter of CWL, people started associating me with CWL and gave me credit for the charity and its work.  I tried to make it clear that I was only a worker for CWL and that it was Bev’s hard work and the dedication of the other Board members that fueled CWL, but I did not make it clear enough; by not making that point clear to others, I actually took credit for the charity. That was wrong as well.

You reach a point in your life and maturity level as a human being that you know when you need to accept responsibility for your actions, that is what I am doing with this apology.  These were my mistakes and I am sorry for the mistakes I made, for not delivering what I promised and for trying to cover myself so that I wouldn’t look bad.

To Bev, CWL, the Board Members and the supporters of Crafters with Love; I am sorry and I sincerely apologize.

If you chose to not do business with me, if you chose to unfollow or unfriend me because of this, I understand.

During the 2010 Olympics, the Canadian women’s hockey team was strongly encouraged to apologize for their celebration after winning the gold medal.   After the fans had left the arena, the team celebrated with beer, champagne and cigars and of course photos surfaced.  That is when the controversy began.

You can read more about the story and the apology from Hockey Canada on the Huffington Post.

So I ask you, what’s wrong with celebrating?  Did the Canadian women’s team go over the line in their celebration, or are we too concerned about what others think when we celebrate a victory?

For your consideration:

• Some school systems shy away from giving a student a failing grade; academic achievement is not promoted like it has been.
• Some school systems prohibit keeping score during games.
• Achievement Punished in Tennessee?   An article about banning honor rolls; read the full article it here.
• End zone celebrations in the NFL are penalized.

So, what’s wrong with celebrating?  Are we being forced to contain our celebrations or apologize for them?

I will choose to celebrate.  I join with those that work hard and then celebrate the victories in their lives.  The student that passes the exam; the adult that has finally lost the last ten pounds; the person that works hard every day just to make it through the day due to health challenges; the wounded veteran that with family and health care professionals cheering them on, makes the first few steps when learning to walk again.

I choose to celebrate.  What about you?

A volunteer is a person who voluntarily offers himself or herself for a service or undertaking or a person who performs a service willingly and without pay.

The word comes from Latin, and can be translated as “will” (as in doing something out of ones own free will).

I am proud to work with Trust House, a a non-profit organization serving people in crisis in the Roanoke Valley.  Trust House’s mission is simple, to provide stabilization and growth to homeless individuals and families in crisis. The work this organization does in the community is invaluable.

I serve on the Board and volunteer because I believe in the organizations mission and because they are committed to making a difference in the Roanoke Valley and Southwest Virginia.

Below you will find more information on Trust House and the programs offered.

We Are Trust:

Trust House provides emergency and transitional housing to homeless individuals and families with emphasis on case management, life skills education and financial independence. These services are provided in a safe, confidential and home-structured environment where people can recover from crises, move toward greater self-sufficiency and move on to permanent housing.

The core values of Trust House are:

• Confidentiality
• Safety
• Personal Responsibility
• Self-Sufficiency

Trust House aims to honor all people where they are, explore their possibilities for growth, and support them on their way back to independence.

Shelter:

Trust House is an emergency and transitional housing program that encourages growth and change for homeless individuals and families.

Trust House believes that as people are supported and taught life skills, they become self-sufficient and can leave the cycle of homelessness and crisis. Most Trust House participants move into long term or permanent housing.

Our case management team provides one-to-one guidance; makes referrals to community resources; and, works with residents to develop action plans that lead to independence. Our end goal is permanent housing. However, meeting the objectives of training people in life skills and linking participants with services ensure that residents are prepared to live independently once permanent housing is found.

Trust House accepts calls for referrals until 12:00 noon and after 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Calls are accepted all day and night on Saturday and Sunday.

Trust House: (540) 344-8060

You Can Help:

You can help provide stabilization and growth for homeless individuals and families in the Roanoke Valley.

1. Volunteer to work directly with men, women, and families acebook Fan Pageexperiencing homelessness by calling 540-344-4691.
2. Learn how you can help Trust House with fund raising by calling 540-344-4691.
3. Join our Facebook Fan Page and help spread the word!
4. Give.

Volunteer:

Volunteers are always needed at Trust House to assist in our programs, for help with fundraising efforts, and to assist with holidays/special occasions. Whether you are an individual or a group wishing to share your talents, expertise and interests, we invite you to contact Trust House.

The Trust House Administrative Office: (540) 344-4691

I encourage you to consider giving of your time and/or money to Trust House.. The residents of Trust House and our exceptional Executive Director, Daren Gunter appreciates your assistance.

Thank you
John Lusher

For a moment, close your eyes and envision your network, the people you interact with, virtually or face-to-face, as a huge library with rows of books.   Think of how each person fits into the shelf as a category: self-help, motivation, business advice, how-to, friendship, humor; you get the idea.

When was the last time you read a book from one of the categories?  Meaning, when was the last time you learned something from your network?  It occurs on a daily basis, if you stop to think about it.

Each day we learn from others, from the people in our network.  It may be by reading status updates and fan page updates on Facebook.  It could come from answering a question or accepting a request to connect on LinkedIn.  It could be interacting with followers on Twitter.  We learn each time we interact, as long as we are open to learning and actively participating in the conversation.  How can you learn more?  Read more blogs, books and sites; actively participate with your network; ask your friends, followers and connections what they are involved with and how you can help.

What have I learned from my network?  Plenty.  From @NursbevW (today, 1/25, is her birthday!) I have learned how to selflessly give to others and to put others needs first.  As the Founder and Director of Crafters with Love, Bev gives of herself to others.  She makes sure other families have Christmas before she does; working tirelessly to raise money and awareness to help others.  I have a long way to go before I give like Bev does, but I learn from her constantly.

From @MickeJ57 I have learned how to properly thank others for their service.  Mickey has created a following on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube because of his Mick’s Pick videos.  Videos that highlight the men and women that have sacrificed and served our country.  Memorials are terrific, but Mickey is making sure that we know these individuals and thank them while they are still with us.  Thank you Mickey for what you do.

From @Iconic88 I have learned that being a positive force can have a tremendous affect on others.  If you don’t follow “my brother” on Twitter, you should.  Tweeting the positive, encouraging random acts of kindness and reminding us all that we can make a difference in others lives is just a sampling of what this man does.  The Chief Happiness Office on Twitter lives up to his name and will provide a daily pick-me-up!

On a daily basis I learn how to be better at what I do, how to better engage, how to write better, ask better questions and countless other things; all from my network.

What have you learned from your network?  Let me know by adding your comments!