i really like the domino’s pizza tracker.  i don’t even like domino’s pizza that much, but my children do.  i go there for the tracker.  oops, gotta run - delivery expert charles is on the way!

this piece by john g miller is excellent!  i got permission from him to post it - thanks, john!  i highly recommend his books.

QBQ! QuickNotes™ may be forwarded by email to others or printed in their entirety with full credit given for personal and group use. © QBQ, Inc. 2008. All rights reserved.
What If Your Guy Loses?
By John G. Miller, author of QBQ! and Flipping the Switch.
(Complete contact info below)

Well, every four years in America we vote for the POTUS (President of the United States), and every four years on the day after there is weeping and gnashing of teeth by the losing side. And the truth is, the losing side is just about as large as the winning side. Amazingly, there could be 60 million people who vote for the ticket that does not win on November 4th, 2008. That’s a ton of people who’ll have a choice to make.

The choice to whine, complain, bemoan, and blame—or simply bring personal accountability to their daily walk by asking The Question Behind the Question (QBQ), “What can I do today to move on?” “How can I be my best on the job?” and “What can I do to serve people?” These questions enable those whose candidate remains a U.S. Senator, to avoid the humanness of finger-pointing, victim thinking, and discouragement.

And for the slightly larger winning side, where does personal accountability come into play? Will this group think that now all is right with the world? It’s so easy to give a U.S. President too much power—in our minds—over our lives. It always makes me laugh when, with our massive, ever-changing, and complex economy, we think it’s all about the man in the Oval Office. The truth is, economies go up and they go down—and then they go up again. By their very nature they are cyclical. When they’re strong, the President gets too much applause, and when they slump he’s buried in way too much blame. And so, in that vein, for the winning voters on Wednesday morning November 5, how dangerous these thoughts would be: “Yes! My guy won! Now I’ll have a better job and more income and good finances and perfect health and a happier life and … !”

Really? Does the POTUS have that much power, influence, and control? Would we, in a democracy, want him to? Can he give and take away joy? Will he help me get my personal finances in order? Will his tenure improve my relationships or keep me in shape? Do I really need my guy to be in the Oval Office for me to excel at my work, love and provide for my family, and contribute to the lives of others?

My wife, Karen, gave me a t-shirt that reads: It’s All About Me! I don’t think it was a positive statement the day she handed it to me, but in reality, aren’t my successes and setbacks all about me? Isn’t it about me taking ownership for my personal growth; me contributing; me setting and reaching goals?

Me loving life? Me loving my country?

Yes, regardless of who’s in the Oval Office and what political party is in charge of Congress, it’s really all about personal responsibility—individuals making good choices each day, and being accountable for those choices.

And for all of you who vote for the guy who doesn’t make it, I say TAKE HEART! There’ll be another election in 2012 and another round of advertising and debates. And that campaign will begin in January … 2009.

Meanwhile, I recommend using what we call the Ultimate QBQ! - “What can I do right now to let go of what I can’t control?” Remember, no matter who is elected as the next POTUS, for each American there is no debate: The answers are still in the questions, and personal accountability is still the secret to our success.

John G. Miller
Author of QBQ! and Flipping the Switch
Edited by Kristin Lindeen
QBQ! speaker/workshop facilitator
Please enjoy two QBQ!® interviews:
The Dave Ramsey TV Show QBQ! interview:
http://qbq.com/media/ramsey_video.mov?PHPSESSID=fe25f13817e3d835159a2f12f0271e26
CBS-4 QBQ! interview:
http://www.cbs4denver.com/video/?id=30433@kcnc.dayport.com
QBQ, Inc.
Helping Organizations Make Personal Accountability a Core Value ™
11368 Nucla Street, Denver, CO 80022
303-286-9900, Fax: 303-286-9911
Email: info@QBQ.com

the wait was only about 30 minutes.  i didn’t think that was bad, considering the line wound around inside and went out the door.  the worst part was they were out of “i voted” stickers.  i was bummed.  my husband offered me his from a couple of days before but it’s not the same!  maybe it’s true that the turnout is greater this year than it has been for decades… because they ran out of stickers.  maybe i’m not so bummed if this means more people are taking the time to vote.  i will be glad when this election is over, though!

yesterday we were driving home from running errands and my 5yo wanted to hear the new ac/dc cd.  we were listening when the following conversation takes place behind me:

5yo:  what song is this?

10yo:  i think it’s “decibel.”

5yo:  no, it’s “back in brown.”

(i’m working hard not to laugh out loud right now)

10yo:  they wouldn’t make a song called “back in brown”!  this is “decibel.”

me:  i think they should make a song called “back in brown.”

i loved it!

also known as “something’s gotta give” and it just might be my sanity that goes.  i am reading the book “crazymakers” and see so much of my dad and brother in it, and to some extent my mother.  i don’t know how much longer i can stand my mom taking turns living with me and my brother.  i know it sound really bad to say that but it’s true.  she is pretty much back to being herself.  the one that i can’t live with anymore - there’s a reason i moved out.  but the thing is, my brother and i are all she’s got.  thanks, dad.  am i bitter?  yes.  yes, i am.

i am very attracted to the idea of moving to a remote island with just my husband and children and having no contact with other people for a couple of years.

the wasps.  they keep getting in.  i think through the chimney.  this happens every fall but it seems worse this year.  tis the season?

and while there seems to be a “day” for everything, this one does mean something to me.  i remember when my oldest (and then only) child was about one year old, my aunt told me i should have a half dozen because he was so cute.  you know what?  i did have a half dozen, but only got to keep four.  not everyone knows and that’s okay.  i know i’ll hold them in heaven and i look forward to it.

it’s part of growing up, learning to choose how we spend our time.  my oldest is having to decide on a couple of things today and he’s not happy with me for making him choose… but i know it’s the right thing, i know he will grow from it.  and i’m pretty sure he’ll blame me when he has to explain to people that he can’t do something.  lol.

i’m trying to decide whether to buy a new mp3 player or not.  i cleared off my old one and then when i went to put stuff on it i was told i was out of “sync rights”, so i guess the songs i bought i’ve lost?  i don’t understand how this all works.  i’m liking those new rainbow colors of ipod nanos but don’t know enough to decide if i want it yet.  i heard that the zune requires you to keep an active card that costs $15/month as far as i can tell and i don’t like that - i just want to buy a song, own it forever!  i guess there is so much fraud that these policies have become needed… it’s sad.

i remember reading an interview with tom petty and he talked about how he works on an album, getting the song sequencing just right and then wonders why he bothers because we’re all a bunch of button pushers anyway.  he sure has a point - i would listen to an album start to finish when i bought it.  i wanted to hear it as a whole work of art.  i still do that.  but now once i’ve done that i become a button pusher, but i like more than the “hits” because i’ve listened to them all.  on vinyl it was a pain to move the needle and with cassettes it was hard to find the end of the song.  but once cd’s came along, you could pick exactly what song you wanted to listen to and not listen to the rest and with mp3’s you just buy the one song and not ever even bother with the rest.  that’s kind of sad, too.

okay, i got way off on a tangent!  i definitely need more research on this mp3 thing.

i think the catholics have a great sense of humor!

the other day my 10yo started learning the intro to tom petty’s free fallin’.  so we’ve been playing it in the car as we drive around our (what feels like) million miles a week.  my 5yo is getting into it and is singing along with us.  the chorus is the most fun because we sing it at the top of our lungs, as it should be.

but now i’m wondering about the vampires walkin’ through the valley moving west down ventura boulevard…