Korea Part II- A Story of Sacrifice

I finished my MBA program with a trip to Korea to study the business environment and what I got was a valuable cultural experience.  In 1953 as a result of the devastation caused by the Korean War the city of Seoul was described as unrecognizable, yet today it is one of the world’s largest cities.  Korea’s 50 million people make them the 25th largest country in the world while their GDP is ranked 15th.  For a 60 year old economy this achievement can be described as nothing short of a miracle and that is what is written on the walls in the lobbies of some of their largest businesses.    The question I kept asking myself was how Korea 

achieved such success.

Korea Part I-Where is my box?

As part of my MBA program I recently spent a week in Korea as an exchange student.  I was both excited and nervous to be visiting one of the largest cities in the world.  I have a tendency to live within a box and global travel and experiencing cultures outside of my own are way beyond the walls of my box.  I also am not much of an experimenter when it comes to food and that box is even smaller and boarders on peculiar.  So when I arrived in Korea and was introduced to eating Kimchee while sitting on the floor without shoes my box was blown to smithereens and I was on the adventure of my life. 

  

In loving memory of Raymond Lutzke 1957-2013

Raymond Lutzke was simply the most inspirational man I have ever known.  Ray was born mentally handicapped and grew up down the street from my childhood home in a neighborhood full of kids just outside of Toledo, Ohio.  He was much larger than all the other kids and his mere size could be intimidating.  Our neighborhood had a small community swimming pool that was the spot where we all hung out all summer long.  It was the perfect place for kids to burn off their excess energy while teenagers flirted with their latest crush and parents could relax and gossip with the neighbors.  We all loved the pool, including Ray.  I am sure that’s where we met.   

I Met a Man on a Plane Today

I fly a lot and my usual routine is to find my seat get comfortable and occupy myself with something.  Continental now has Direct TV on most flights and I can rely on that, if nothing else, to keep me occupied.  On today’s flight a very polite man sat next to me.  I say polite because he called me sir and said please and thank you in virtually every sentence that came out of his mouth.  He was a studious guy first checking the news and markets on his iPAD and then on Direct TV.   He mentioned he was going to the Corporate Headquarters of his employer that happens to be near my home.  When I asked how long his stay would be he told me he was on a flight back home tonight.  A quick turn like that begged a question, why?  My tendency is to ask questions sometimes without thinking.  He said he had to return home because he had lost his brother on 9/11/01 and this weekend marked the tenth anniversary of this horrible tragedy and he needed to be home with his family and friends. 

Words vs Actions

When I was trained to run I was taught that the faster I moved my arms the faster my legs would move.  You see your arm movement facilitates your leg movement and if you speed up your arms your legs will follow.  Until that was brought to my attention I never even considered using my arms to run faster.  It works give it a try.  There was a clear cause and effect relationship between my arms and legs.  I wonder if the same is true for the words you choose and your subsequent actions. 

Memorial Day or Thanksgiving

The following are my jounal entries from a trip to Hombourg, Belgium.  I traveled with my wife Sue and her Mother Barbara to visit the grave of Barbara's Father who was killed in World War II and buried on European soil.  You may never look at Memorial Day the same again.  You may look at it more like Thanksgiving.

The Irony of Pain

I am sure all of us do not like pain and regard it as something we try to avoid.  You could say our hypothesis about pain is that it is NOT good.  One of the reasons I am writing this is that my 15 year old niece told me recently that she doesn’t do anything that causes her pain. 

Jazz

I am not much of a music guy.  Don’t get me wrong I like music and I can appreciate the role it plays in our society as well as history, I just never really paid much attention.    As far as I was concerned a conductor of an orchestra just waived a wand around and a group of people plucking strings, blowing horns, pushing buttons, and banging things did just that.  And somehow music was made.   For all I knew a C sharp was some type of cheese.  This was obviously my simple mind at work.

Grand Canyon

I completed a 16 mile hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back up yesterday, it was one of the toughest things I have done in a long time.  Unlike my aching muscles and dehydrated body which are temporary results of the hike, the canyon itself and completing the hike will leave a lasting impression. I am not sure what name I would have chosen for the canyon but GRAND seems

What is your favorite word?

Have you ever asked yourself; what is your favorite word or what is the most meaningful word in your vocabulary?  If you had one word of advice what would it be? 

Proper Perspective

During a difficult time in my life God showed me the value of a proper perspective.  Our perspective is just that, ours.  What God has planed for us, comes from his unique perspective. 

My Family

My sister and I often joke that we have such a unique family story we should write a book.  Why don’t you be the judge?