www.LauraPedersen.com

Nothing happens without first, a dream

My wife and I ran into a friend of mine from my days with the Cleveland Opera. It was a chance meeting in the Orlando airport. The last time I saw Laura was about three years ago while I was escorting six Radio City Rockettes to a TV interview at a local station in Cleveland. Laura was the featured guest on the evening “soft” news hour. She had become an international opera star.

When we saw her at the airport she was on her way back to Cleveland from spending time with her vocal coach. It was great to spend time with her and learn about her career and the success she has had. We exchanged contact information and have already communicated by email.

What I found interesting is that when I first contacted her by email, I expressed my excitement and happiness at her success. When she responded, she thanked me and said that it was nice to have someone be genuinely happy for what she had accomplished. She went on to explain that not everyone was happy for her. I found that distressing. Distressing because she pointed out something about society that is really troubling…

In general, humans (especially in the U.S ) are negative about the success of others. The average person views the success of others as somehow taking away from their own opportunities. How sad. I wrote back to Laura and told her that I view the success of others as an indication that all is right with the world and that anyone/everyone can succeed in whatever endeavors, as long as they believe in themselves and are willing to work. Further, the average person stops dreaming about their own potential somewhere around 24 years of age. Just about the time that they get into the full-time work force. I believe the correlation is bad management and poor treatment of the workforce. I guess that is why entrepreneurs make more money than employees. If you don’t believe me, take a walk around the Bahia Mar Yacht Club in Fort Lauderdale and do what I did…ask the yacht owners what they do for a living. You will never hear the words; “ I work for…” You will instead hear the words “ I own…”

In a sense, my friend Laura is in business for herself. She owns and operates a one-person operation focused on providing exceptional soprano vocal services to the opera industry. She dreamed it could happen. She believed in herself. She surrounded herself with people who believed in her. She did not accept a world where the boss could make or break her. Today, she gets paid for doing something she truly loves; singing.

I am really proud to know Laura, and am really happy to have re-acquainted with her. She reminded me to dream.

We're back...

The bad news is that Letterman did not call. The good news is that we missed all the snow that fell in Cleveland this past weekend...

Spent Sunday at Epcot visiting the UK, Germany, Norway, Mexico, China, Japan, France, and Mars.

I'm going to Disney World

Now that the new Pope has been chosen and it wasnt' me...Now that my taxes are filed...I have checked my email, my voice-mail, my snail mail, and the missed call directory on my cell phone, I am fairly certain that I have once again NOT received an invitation to dinner with the President... Now that "NYPD Blue" is off the air, I am certain that I am not getting that guest appearance...Now that "24" is finished taping for the season...I can safely take some time away from the computer, the phone, and the mail box.

I'm going to Disney World. I am only taking calls from David Letterman.

As I indicated yesterday...this is NOT me.

End of round one...

Well, it is official. The first day of the conclave is over, and the smoke is black. Evidently, I have not yet been elected as the new Pope.

St. Peter look out!

...Terry Schiavo, Pope John Paul II, and Frank Perdue all arrive at the pearly gates together... I hate to say this, but there are going to be some jokes about this...