100 Things I Learned About Nebraska or What It Has Taught Me

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1. Huskers or Bust.
2. “Farmers” grow crops. “Ranchers” raise cattle. “Trucks” are semis. “Pickups” are the things most people drive. 
3. Farmers never get tax refund checks.
4. Slow life is comfortable. Big cities are normally unnerving.
5. Many have never been farther than 100-200 miles from home, let alone in a plane.
6. Can't stand to be indoors.
7. Always willing to help. Even with the not-so-fun jobs.
8. Dogs are house hold commodities. Cats are a given (outside) for mousing purposes.
9. Small animal 4-H is a joke. Livestock showing is their art.
10. Can start driving at 13.
11. Beer is always available after a day of work.
12. To gain respect fast, don't be afraid to get dirt under your fingernails. Eating a fresh rocky mountain oyster does the trick too.

Don't Just Settle with a Job

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The other day I went over to a house, which I consider a home, in Curtis with people I feel are my family. The Wetzels were the first couple I met in Curtis while I was flying back and forth from Dallas when my boss and I were trying to do business from afar. Instead of staying at the local hotel, George insisted I stay with the Wetzels to feel more welcomed and a part of the community while I was visiting. Maybe he had some sort of intuition knowing I’d end up moving to this tiny American rural and dying town.

The Wetzels knew George when they went to the agriculture high school together back in the early 1950s, which is now a University of Nebraska branch campus. The Wetzels’ kind hearts reeled George in and gave him a place to share and relax without worrying about being politically correct. They have been a godsend as they’ve continued that with me. I always know I’ll get a warm welcome and hugs all around when I visit. The Wetzels are truly the most genuine, kind, and loving people I’ve met here, and honestly don’t know if my sanity level would be the same without them.

How are You Dealing with Change?

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Pandora current song: Praying for Daylight, The Fray

How are you dealing with change?

On Wednesday, Sept 22 I took the NCTA student senate leadership to a conference in Lincoln, NE. Why, you ask? Well, even if you don’t care, let me tell you.

Back at WSU, I was a part of the Services and Activities (S and A) Fees committee where we allocated over $7M to organizations on campus to broaden their reach or event success for an overall better student experience. The money came from fees charged within the student’s tuition. When I came to NCTA, there was no help from the college for organizations and no way for new ones to start.

I was appointed at the Student Union manager with over $60K in funds available to it for student activities, maintenance, and salaries. I decided this would be a great opportunity to utilize the funds to bring fun entertainment as well as allocate funds back to the students. Why not?

I took everything I knew and created the same kind of committee on this campus with three staff members and seven student members. The committee has to be heavily student weighed because the students need to decide what they feel is important for the entire student body. Old farts like us as staff don’t necessarily “know” what they want.

Anyway, all student organizations who wanted money had to send student representatives to present what and why they wanted the funds. Student senate requested funds to attend a leadership conference for their leadership. So long story short, that’s why we ended up in Lincoln.

The keynote speaker was Gary Bradt, who is an endorsed business speaker who has spent 20 years consulting the nation’s senior business leaders, advising them on how to thrive in the constant change that takes place in today’s business world.

Read on because I promise you’ll be inspired.

What was I thinking?

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Pandora current song: She Will Be Loved by Maroon 5

In my summer blogs, I mentioned I was pursuing a job as a recruiter for Washington State University. I was trying to find something I could hold on to. Something solid. My life is ever consumed with uncertainty. I’ve been blessed with a life full experiences I’ve either forced on myself or have been lucky to be a part of. Yet, there’s still something missing. The satisfaction of accomplishing something, whether for a greater good or for those that need a push to start their own adventure, doesn’t ever seem to ever be completely fulfilled. Is it because I’m alone and don’t have someone to share it with? Maybe. Is it the fact that I am unsure of my future? Absolutely. Or what about the instability of the present? Sure. How about all of the above, plus trying to put a smile on my face so I can create and explore new opportunities for my students so they can get the most out of their college year? Shall I keep going?

One of Life’s Tough Adventures

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Pandora current song: Fat Bottomed Girls, by Queen

Communication. Some people are really good at expressing their feelings and others aren’t. Some people aren’t afraid to tell you wants on their mind, while others hold it in. Some people have a few ticks up their sleeve to mask their fright of communicating issues, while others overcompensate.

This is something I'm still learning too. I usually try to make everyone else happy by steering clear of confrontation. This blew up in my face two summers ago when I was working for someone I used to trust and appreciate. She could be one of the top 10 best manipulators in the world, and she knew it.