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Showing posts with label Obama. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Obama. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Better Late than Never
Spencer struggles with Patriotism. Spencer struggles with friendship. Will love of country conflict with brotherly love? Guest Landon Squire gets a good talking to. My life changes forever. Find out how.
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Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Bruised and Beaten
The blogging world is full of competition. Wikipedia, a blogger's best resource, reports that currently there are over 156 million public blogs fighting in this cyber world. With so many, it is tough to know where I stand.
Thankfully, I received some help from my blogging friend (and fiercest competition), Spencer Hansen. He recently reported that his blog was ranked the 20,951,584th most popular website in the world by Alexa.com. Alexa Internet Inc. and their results proved that Spencer was not only popular among blog readers but also among the entire internet. Twenty-one millionth most popular website in a world of 215 plus million web domains and 156 million blogs is a huge accomplishment. I commended Spencer for his great success and I have treated him as my social media leader ever since.
Today that ends. Spencer, consider yourself beat. I win, loser.
Alexa.com recently revealed that spencerhansen.blogspot.com has fallen over two million spots to an unimpressive and shameful 23,126,099 over the past three months. And to think I looked up to him...
What makes this pathetic event even better is how he fell from his lofty grandeur. He didn't do it all on his own. He was beat out by the competitors.
He was beat out by me.
Alexa.com reports that my blog is ranked 23,121,073 in internet popularity. That's right. nateballard.blogspot.com is 5,026 sites more popular than Spencer's gimmick. I went from unranked to locally best in a matter of weeks. Sadly, I guess preventing family shame isn't important to everyone like it is to me.
Now I do realize that I didn't reach this great milestone on my own. Were it not for Spencer's extreme failure, I'd probably be ranked 23,121,074. But I'm not. I'm ranked better than that. And I have his diluted and dull prose to thank for my great advancement.
A quick browsing of Spencer's domain reveals many fatal mistakes and last-ditch efforts over the past three months. Here are a few:
Thankfully, I received some help from my blogging friend (and fiercest competition), Spencer Hansen. He recently reported that his blog was ranked the 20,951,584th most popular website in the world by Alexa.com. Alexa Internet Inc. and their results proved that Spencer was not only popular among blog readers but also among the entire internet. Twenty-one millionth most popular website in a world of 215 plus million web domains and 156 million blogs is a huge accomplishment. I commended Spencer for his great success and I have treated him as my social media leader ever since.
Today that ends. Spencer, consider yourself beat. I win, loser.
Alexa.com recently revealed that spencerhansen.blogspot.com has fallen over two million spots to an unimpressive and shameful 23,126,099 over the past three months. And to think I looked up to him...
What makes this pathetic event even better is how he fell from his lofty grandeur. He didn't do it all on his own. He was beat out by the competitors.
He was beat out by me.
Alexa.com reports that my blog is ranked 23,121,073 in internet popularity. That's right. nateballard.blogspot.com is 5,026 sites more popular than Spencer's gimmick. I went from unranked to locally best in a matter of weeks. Sadly, I guess preventing family shame isn't important to everyone like it is to me.
 |
| At the bottom of the see-saw - where he belongs |
A quick browsing of Spencer's domain reveals many fatal mistakes and last-ditch efforts over the past three months. Here are a few:
- Fresh out of new ideas, Spencer has resorted to sequel posts (The Restoration II, Ryan Pearson II, The Coach II) - once was enough
- Unable to pen worthy literature, Spencer has begun making podcasts (Often cited as being too long and boring)
- Hoping to lure alternative demographics, Spencer has written posts with misleading sexual-reference titles, descriptions of bodily functions (younger/immature viewers?), and copycat national media endorsements
- Desperately trying to bribe readership, Spencer has given out false, ego-boosting, nonexistent awards to supposed followers
With these credentials, I'm surprised his website didn't fall even lower. It is disgusting and horrid to think that he has imposed these sadistic conventions on his once vast support group. I'm glad the people have spoken.
I now take the reigns of leadership. I will go forward and learn from the mistakes of those who have so foolishly fallen before me. Thank you.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Success
Success is a lifelong goal. Everybody seems to want to be successful in one way or another. Success is often associated with a positive result or end-goal, but I believe that success can have a lot to do with the journey to a goal. Not all goals that are set are met. Maybe it's because we set our sights too high or maybe it's because we just failed to achieve what we desired.
I want to feel successful. If others don't think I'm successful in life but I do, then I'm sure I'll be happy with the results. Nobody is viewed by everybody as successful. Perhaps the biggest determining factor for success is personal accomplishment. If you feel good about what you have accomplished then you should feel like a success. You should set your goals up a notch and strive to accomplish even more.
As I strive to be successful in life, I like to look at the examples of people I classify as a success. One such person is Shay Carl Butler from Pocatello, ID. If you've toured my blog before, you may have seen links to some of his YouTube videos. This man is a self-described social media expert. He is in his early thirties, married, and has four kids. I'd estimate that roughly one million people in this world would recognize his name (that's probably less than 0.2% of Americans). That's a pretty small piece of popularity when compared to someone like President Obama but pretty large considering it's twenty times the number of people that live in his city.
Three to four years ago Shay was making ends meet working multiple jobs including installing granite counter tops and being the night radio DJ for a local station. With three kids (at that time) he was doing all he could to keep his family afloat. One day he learned about YouTube and was up all night searching and watching videos. Soon after, he decided that he should make some videos himself. He arose almost overnight as one of YouTube's stars. Thanks to Google Ad revenue, he quit his jobs and works "full-time" as a social media expert making videos that hundreds of thousands of people watch everyday. He loves his life. He is successful.
Now what I like about Shay is that he recognizes where his success came from. Sure, a lot of it had to do with the fact that he works hard at putting humorous/adorable/exciting content up on the web everyday. He realizes that the only reason he is successful is because there are others out there who watch and like his videos and shamelessly promote them. He is happier (not waking up at five to install granite everyday has its benefits), his family is happier (that or he has improved his editing skills to make them appear to be happier in the newer videos than the older ones), and his viewers are happier (video comments are often gushing with happiness).
In the 1000+ videos Shay has uploaded in the past few years (no, I have not seen all of them), I had never seen him cry until today. Due to his internet successes, a singer named James Blunt used one of his photographs (a shot of his daughter flying through the air) as the cover of his new album. He was featured on Jay Leno and this is a video of Shay watching on television.
He looks pretty happy to me. And this leads me to my conclusion of what success is. Shay is not successful because he achieved his goals of providing for his family. Shay is not successful because he spends his days doing what he loves. Shay is not successful because one million people in this world know everything about him. Shay is not successful because his daughter was on Jay Leno. Shay is successful because he set goals, achieved them at levels much higher than he ever anticipated, and recognizes that there is no way he could have every achieved them on his own. And for that he is extremely thankful.
I want to be like Shay, not because he is well know, has a great job, or has an enviable beard. I want to be like Shay because he is grateful for all that he has and realizes that in spite of his best efforts, he doesn't even deserve it. Success is accomplishing your goals, being proud of yourself, and realizing that there is no way you could have accomplished what you achieved on your own.
I want to feel successful. If others don't think I'm successful in life but I do, then I'm sure I'll be happy with the results. Nobody is viewed by everybody as successful. Perhaps the biggest determining factor for success is personal accomplishment. If you feel good about what you have accomplished then you should feel like a success. You should set your goals up a notch and strive to accomplish even more.
As I strive to be successful in life, I like to look at the examples of people I classify as a success. One such person is Shay Carl Butler from Pocatello, ID. If you've toured my blog before, you may have seen links to some of his YouTube videos. This man is a self-described social media expert. He is in his early thirties, married, and has four kids. I'd estimate that roughly one million people in this world would recognize his name (that's probably less than 0.2% of Americans). That's a pretty small piece of popularity when compared to someone like President Obama but pretty large considering it's twenty times the number of people that live in his city.
Three to four years ago Shay was making ends meet working multiple jobs including installing granite counter tops and being the night radio DJ for a local station. With three kids (at that time) he was doing all he could to keep his family afloat. One day he learned about YouTube and was up all night searching and watching videos. Soon after, he decided that he should make some videos himself. He arose almost overnight as one of YouTube's stars. Thanks to Google Ad revenue, he quit his jobs and works "full-time" as a social media expert making videos that hundreds of thousands of people watch everyday. He loves his life. He is successful.
Now what I like about Shay is that he recognizes where his success came from. Sure, a lot of it had to do with the fact that he works hard at putting humorous/adorable/exciting content up on the web everyday. He realizes that the only reason he is successful is because there are others out there who watch and like his videos and shamelessly promote them. He is happier (not waking up at five to install granite everyday has its benefits), his family is happier (that or he has improved his editing skills to make them appear to be happier in the newer videos than the older ones), and his viewers are happier (video comments are often gushing with happiness).
In the 1000+ videos Shay has uploaded in the past few years (no, I have not seen all of them), I had never seen him cry until today. Due to his internet successes, a singer named James Blunt used one of his photographs (a shot of his daughter flying through the air) as the cover of his new album. He was featured on Jay Leno and this is a video of Shay watching on television.
He looks pretty happy to me. And this leads me to my conclusion of what success is. Shay is not successful because he achieved his goals of providing for his family. Shay is not successful because he spends his days doing what he loves. Shay is not successful because one million people in this world know everything about him. Shay is not successful because his daughter was on Jay Leno. Shay is successful because he set goals, achieved them at levels much higher than he ever anticipated, and recognizes that there is no way he could have every achieved them on his own. And for that he is extremely thankful.
I want to be like Shay, not because he is well know, has a great job, or has an enviable beard. I want to be like Shay because he is grateful for all that he has and realizes that in spite of his best efforts, he doesn't even deserve it. Success is accomplishing your goals, being proud of yourself, and realizing that there is no way you could have accomplished what you achieved on your own.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Dave
I've always dreamed of dating a girl named Wendy. Unfortunately, I have net yet had that experience. But I am not too concerned. The name Wendy has already positively affected my life in many ways.
I owe it all to Dave. As a restaurant virtuoso and long-time friend and assistant of Col. Sanders, Dave has shaped my life into a beautiful 1.78 ounce masterpiece. He will forever be know as the hero.
His face was once recognizable by 90% of the American population due to his charm, class, and genuine affection shown in his 800 plus television commercials. But more than being the number one most versed commercial star in history, he was a man who changed my life personally and for the best. It's as if fate had intervened. In 1986, the year of my birth, it seemed that Wendy's was taking its final pass through the drive-thru with nearly 20% of its locations threatening to remove the pickles for good. Dave stepped in to save the day. By the time I could savor a juicy burger and eat a Frosty Dairy Dessert on my own, Dave stepped up to recreate life as we know it. Imagine a world without a 99 cent value menu. Horrible. Dave lived in that world and he knew that it needed to change. He made a change that I can believe in. In 1988 he stepped forward and created the first ever 99 Cent Value Menu. Words cannot describe the great impact that choice has made on my life. Instead of spending close to five dollars for a burger, drink and fries, I purchase a delectable Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger for just 99 cents. Maybe I even get two, or three. Or maybe I get a Chicken Sandwich as well. Sometimes I haven't eaten healthily all day and I would feel bad if I loaded up on burgers. Luckily, I can get a Caesar Side Salad for the same price. Sure, a cup of water would be nice too. And maybe another JBC. The possibilities are seemingly endless.
Over the past 20 years I have revisited the same scenarios thousands of times: "I'm hungry. I should eat something. I will eat Wendy's" "I'm bored. Let's go do something. Let's go to Wendy's" "I could really go for a juicy burger with cheese, bacon, lettuce, and tomato, but I only have a dollar..." Tragedy struck in 2002 when my friend Dave retired permanently from the world of restaurants. He was a friend and a help-meat. As a child, I truly believed he was even my grandfather. Then I learned that he and my grandfather just looked a lot alike. I wondered if that was the end of my quality life. It seemed, however, that the aura of Dave continued on. A brief year later, Wendy's made a move for which I will ever be grateful. They threw out the old cliches that dinner ended at nine. Wendy's was now open late.
My home away from home. Sanctuary and refuge. Fed upon the mercies of Dave Thomas himself. I continue to this day to feast upon the value items that have always been a part of my life and I plan on continuing to do so. I do have fear, however, that people are forgetting Dave. The square and ample servings seem to be on their way out. The Logan community refuses to allow Wendy's to be open past ten. And the prices appear to be inching their way toward disaster. We must fight back. A Stack Attack of our own. We must help people remember again the man of the hour. The timely, attractive, warm-hearted, and successful Dave that we once knew. If Dave can save The Colonel and the 12 piece bucket, we can do our part in saving Wendy's as we know it and in preserving the hero's memory.
His face was once recognizable by 90% of the American population due to his charm, class, and genuine affection shown in his 800 plus television commercials. But more than being the number one most versed commercial star in history, he was a man who changed my life personally and for the best. It's as if fate had intervened. In 1986, the year of my birth, it seemed that Wendy's was taking its final pass through the drive-thru with nearly 20% of its locations threatening to remove the pickles for good. Dave stepped in to save the day. By the time I could savor a juicy burger and eat a Frosty Dairy Dessert on my own, Dave stepped up to recreate life as we know it. Imagine a world without a 99 cent value menu. Horrible. Dave lived in that world and he knew that it needed to change. He made a change that I can believe in. In 1988 he stepped forward and created the first ever 99 Cent Value Menu. Words cannot describe the great impact that choice has made on my life. Instead of spending close to five dollars for a burger, drink and fries, I purchase a delectable Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger for just 99 cents. Maybe I even get two, or three. Or maybe I get a Chicken Sandwich as well. Sometimes I haven't eaten healthily all day and I would feel bad if I loaded up on burgers. Luckily, I can get a Caesar Side Salad for the same price. Sure, a cup of water would be nice too. And maybe another JBC. The possibilities are seemingly endless.
Over the past 20 years I have revisited the same scenarios thousands of times: "I'm hungry. I should eat something. I will eat Wendy's" "I'm bored. Let's go do something. Let's go to Wendy's" "I could really go for a juicy burger with cheese, bacon, lettuce, and tomato, but I only have a dollar..." Tragedy struck in 2002 when my friend Dave retired permanently from the world of restaurants. He was a friend and a help-meat. As a child, I truly believed he was even my grandfather. Then I learned that he and my grandfather just looked a lot alike. I wondered if that was the end of my quality life. It seemed, however, that the aura of Dave continued on. A brief year later, Wendy's made a move for which I will ever be grateful. They threw out the old cliches that dinner ended at nine. Wendy's was now open late.
My home away from home. Sanctuary and refuge. Fed upon the mercies of Dave Thomas himself. I continue to this day to feast upon the value items that have always been a part of my life and I plan on continuing to do so. I do have fear, however, that people are forgetting Dave. The square and ample servings seem to be on their way out. The Logan community refuses to allow Wendy's to be open past ten. And the prices appear to be inching their way toward disaster. We must fight back. A Stack Attack of our own. We must help people remember again the man of the hour. The timely, attractive, warm-hearted, and successful Dave that we once knew. If Dave can save The Colonel and the 12 piece bucket, we can do our part in saving Wendy's as we know it and in preserving the hero's memory.
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