Excellence

Today, as many prepare for the upcoming Thanksgiving Weekend, my thoughts are tied to excellence.

There are several areas or things on my mind tied to excellence.  Some of them for starters are coffee, dress code, behavior, attitude, appearance, and taste.

In addition, it seems that sometimes when I visit different restaurants, excellence is deemed by various factors.

The food, the working conditions, how many hours a person has already been on the job, the cooks in the kitchen getting orders out, correctly mind you, or even the service you receive once you walk through the door.

I have seen the changes over the years, even when you walk in, how people are greeted with an acknowledgement and a smile.

Knowing the many meals that I have personally prepared over the years, I took time to ensure excellence was incorporated into the meals.

We look for vegetables that are of excellent quality.

We look for brand names like “Butterball” in selecting the Turkey we will cook.

We look for everything that will make it special, even the decorations.

We even prepare the next generation to show them what excellence looks like, so that when they become of age, they can host a special dinner.

Not to mention that this weekend, manhy will look for excellent deals for those who are preparing for Black Friday and the start of Christmas Shopping.

Although the word “Excellence” may not be at the top of the list of words you may choose, subconsciously, it’s a possibility that you are having those thoughts today.

As a Soldier, I can remember while I was in the Military, the Dining Halls or Dining Facilities taking extra care to provide an excellent meal for Soldiers and their families.

Those days still resonate with me both as one who not only helped serve during Thanksgiving but also having the privilege of receiving an excellent meal.

We also know that some families will be on their best behavior this week in hosting guests.  Depending on your environment there will always be some form of excellence, and our desire to please our company.

As the year begins to slowly come to an end, the excellence we have created will show up in everything we do.

The keyword or takeaway is “created.”  In creating excellence, we must all work at it and decide how we want to excellence to become part of our lives.

Those who decide to take shortcuts in the preparation of food and attention to detail will reflect on whether they made the right choice.

On this day, excellence is up to all of us to decide how we want the outcome to be represented.

It’s my prayer that each of you has an excellent Thanksgiving and no regrets.

“If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception; it is a prevailing attitude.”   Colin L. Powell

Today, I challenge you to think about the quote from the late General Colin L. Powell. What habits in the little things are you working on to ensure excellence is not an exception, and it is a prevailing attitude for you?

If you were not aware, Colin Luther Powell was an American Army general, diplomat, and statesman who was the 65th United States Secretary of State from 2001 to 2005.

Blog source: https://mckinleysthoughts.com/excellence/

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Interruptions

Today, my thoughts stem from listening to a recent homily this past weekend and reflecting on the fact that life is short.

Many times, in life, our train of thought gets interrupted by not being mindful of our current situation, or we are distracted and frustrated about something that has happened to us.

On Saturday evening, I learned of the recent death of a Parishioner who passed away after seeing him at Mass the previous week.

Ironically, I’m also celebrating a heavenly anniversary this past week by celebrating the life of my father, who died five years ago on November 11, 2020, at the age of 93 years old.

When the Pastor spoke about interruptions, all kinds of thoughts flooded my mind.

One thought was hours before Mass this weekend, members of the Knights of Peter Claver and Ladies Auxiliary were assembled for a meeting with the Bishop of the Birmingham Diocese.  Unfortunately, at the end of the meeting, I had to interrupt conversations to get everyone’s attention in taking a group picture with his excellency.

I could physically see the frustration or facial expression while this was happening.

In another incident, of course, we had in the United States an interruption for 43 days with the Government shutdown.  We already know the Government shutdown caused stress on families, not knowing when it would end or if they were going to receive back pay.

We experience or experience interruptions when our Internet goes out at the most inopportune time in our Zoom Meetings. At least that’s how I see it.

I depend on the Internet, and when it’s not working, there is an interruption to my daily routine.

We have Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) that are supposed to hold up from power being interrupted but sometimes fail in the process.

We have people in our lives who fail to properly plan, causing us to react to their plans at the last minute.

These are the people who like to work in crisis management mode and are most likely to be reactive instead of being proactive.  The one who has never read “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” By Stephen R. Covey and doesn’t operate in quadrant two. They don’t understand the principles of “Put first things first.”

Covey talks about what is important versus what is urgent. Priority should be given in the following order:

• Quadrant I. Urgent and important (Do) – important deadlines and crises
• Quadrant II. Not urgent but important (Plan) – long-term development
• Quadrant III. Urgent but not important (Delegate) – distractions with deadlines
• Quadrant IV. Not urgent and not important (Eliminate) – frivolous distractions

“The order is important, says Covey: after completing items in quadrant I, people should spend the majority of their time on II, but many people spend too much time in III and IV. The calls to delegate and eliminate are reminders of their relative priority.”

You can also refer to this “The Eisenhower Matrix.”

The Eisenhower Matrix: How to Prioritize Your To-Do List [2025] • Asana

Overall, when I heard the homily, it hit home with all the interruptions in my life that I’ve dealt with over time.

What about your interruptions with people who sometimes just don’t get it?

Sometimes we get sleep interruptions, whereas we can’t go back to sleep, or our sleep cycles are broken.

I know that with the recent change of daylight savings time that took place on November 2, 2025, my circadian rhythm was interrupted.  I was interrupted with the clocks falling back an hour as I reset my internal clock for changes in guiding me back to sleep and waking up.

There are various schedule interruptions that we must contend with each day.

There are various health challenges that are part of aging and getting older.

There are various car challenges depending on your favorite automaker, as recalls are always happening.

Today, my question is what interruptions you are facing in life. Granted, there will be unpleasant things and circumstances may cause interruptions and delays, but never lose sight of your goal.

“Circumstances may cause interruptions and delays but never lose sight of your goal. Prepare yourself in every way you can by increasing your knowledge and adding to your experience, so that you can make the most of opportunity when it occurs.”  Mario Andretti

Blog source: https://mckinleysthoughts.com/interruptions/

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Seeing it Through

Today, my thoughts are with all the people who had a vision and pursued it.

They listen to their hearts, spend time reflecting, and adjusting to the world around them as others watch.

Some call it fortitude and others may call it following their purpose in life.

This week many of us are celebrating Veterans Day, myself included as one who answered the call, seeing it through for 30 years.

As parents we see things through for our children ensuring that we do our best in giving them the things required and not just the things they want.

The military service has allowed plenty of great things to happen for me so that I could see things through for my family.

I’m currently in the role of caregiver for my wife.  I have found it humbling to see it through that others may have a quality of life they desire.

Every day each of us wakes up to see different things through to live a life worth living.

We age and sometimes we need a reality check to keep us grounded in seeing it through the next day.  We take our medicine, go to the doctors, and adjust our diets accordingly.

Another aspect of seeing it through for me was that this past weekend, I had the opportunity to host a specific Mass for Zone 4 (Gulf Coast District) Knights of Peter Claver and Ladies Auxiliary.

It’s seeing it through where believers in the grace of God, came together on November 8, 2025, for one purpose: honoring those Knights and Ladies who paved the way, keeping their light shining for others to see. It was our Annual Mass of the Deceased held at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Huntsville, AL.

Everyone that was part of the committee had to see it through in order to make the program a success, which it was.

As I prepared to close my eyes at the end of day before going to sleep that evening, I wrote in my journal and reflected how grateful I was for God’s Grace allowing me to see it through.

This morning, my thoughts and prayers continue to go out for those who are affected by the Government shutdown that are not as fortunate as I am.

We continue to see the impacts when politicians in Washington fail to fund the government.  We now have to live with the consequences which have spread far beyond the Capitol.

Yesterday, was the 40th day, signaling the U.S. government shutdown reaching the longest in U.S. history.

What does that say about seeing it through for the American People.

I’ve often said that history seems to repeat itself yet, each year we continue to forget the past.

Many were already aware of those who would be affected before the government shutdown that were living from paycheck to check and now still missing a paycheck to support their families.

Today we have families standing in line due to the government shutdown.

I’m wondering how many families with the ongoing government shutdown are making decisions or have made decisions that forced families to skip meals amid delays in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits with them missing multiple paychecks over the last 40 days.

What impressed me was early on during the government shutdown agencies like USAA and Wells Fargo sent me messages checking to ensure that I was okay as a part of seeing it through.

I’m sure there are other organizations that have done the same for you.

In a little more than 17 days we will celebrate Thanksgiving Day, and it’s my prayer that government shutdown will be over.

As mentioned, every day we have opportunities to see things through and follow our purpose.

Today, my question is what are you seeing through in following your purpose in life?  See (something) through “To continue working on or engaging in something until it is completed or concluded.”

In the book: A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini he say’s “You see, some things I can teach you. Some you learn from books. But there are things that, well, you have to see and feel.”

“Seek and see all the marvels around you. You will get tired of looking at yourself alone, and that fatigue will make you deaf and blind to everything else. – Don Juan”

Blog source: https://mckinleysthoughts.com/seeing-it-through/

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Why Hiring Motivational Speakers in Madison, AL Can Elevate Your Next Event

When you’re planning a high-impact event—whether it’s a corporate retreat, a school assembly, or a nonprofit kickoff—the right voice on-stage can make all the difference. Choosing a speaker who not only resonates with your audience but also sparks energy and action is key. If you’re located in or near Madison, Alabama, here's why hiring Motivational Speakers in Madison, AL can elevate your next event and deliver real results.

Local Presence, Regional Relevance

Hosting an event in Madison, Alabama and nearby areas means your audience shares common cultural references, community challenges, and aspirations. By engaging Motivational Speakers in Madison, AL, you tap into this local understanding. These speakers know the regional context—what motivates teams in this locale, how local businesses operate, and the types of leadership dynamics that matter here. This relevance makes your message land stronger, bridging the gap between “generic inspiration” and “actionable, relatable motivation.”

Tailored Messages That Hit Home

Generic keynote speeches can feel disconnected. When you select Motivational Speakers in Madison, AL, you gain access to professionals who specialise in customizing their message to align with local audience needs—whether it’s Alabama-based corporations, schools around Huntsville/Madison, or regional associations. They craft the narrative so it speaks directly to your company’s culture, your team’s goals, and your event’s outcome. That tailored approach means the message doesn’t just land—it sticks.

Energy and Momentum for Your Audience

One speaker can shift an entire room’s mindset. With the right motivator at the helm, attendees move from passive listening to active engagement. Our selected speakers emphasise momentum—igniting teams, boosting morale, and inspiring forward motion. When you bring in Motivational Speakers in Madison, AL, you’re not just filling a slot in the schedule—you’re creating a moment that turns into lasting momentum for your organisation.

Strategic Investment in Your Event’s Success

Let’s face it—events are investments: time, budget, brand reputation. Using a local speaker means less logistical complexity (travel, accommodation) and often better value. It also means these speakers may have past experience working in Alabama’s corporate, educational, or nonprofit sectors—so you get a mix of practical know-how and inspiration. With some research, you’ll find that local speakers not only uplift the room but provide return on investment through improved engagement, stronger take-aways, and actionable take-home insights.

Seamless Booking and Local Support

Working with regional professionals simplifies coordination. They understand venue dynamics around Madison, AL, know how to engage local audiences, and often have experience with a variety of event formats—from breakout sessions to full keynote talks. When you book Motivational Speakers in Madison, AL, you gain a partner who aligns with your timeline, understands the local workforce culture, and can even adapt on-site if needed. At this level of support, your event planning agency role is easier and your event delivery smoother.

Impact Beyond the Stage

The goal of any motivational engagement isn’t just applause—it’s action. Speakers who are selected carefully can provide follow-up tools: worksheets, discussion guides, team activities, or digital resources. This means the inspiration doesn’t end when the mic is turned off. Because the speakers know this region’s businesses and workforce environment, they can suggest practical steps your team can take the next day—and the week after. This helps transform an event from “memorable” to “meaningful”.

Why Choose Our Team for Your Next Event

We specialise in supporting organisations across the Madison, AL region—corporations, schools, associations—that seek not just a speaker, but a catalyst for change. We vet and match keynote presenters who deliver engagement, insight and transformation. From pre-event consultation through post-session follow-up, our full-service approach ensures your event is aligned, on-brand, and results-oriented. When you engage us, you choose a partner committed to raising the bar for your audience—ensuring your event doesn’t simply happen, but excels.

In today’s fast-moving environment, standing out means doing more than gathering people in a room—it means moving them. By choosing the right speaker—one who truly connects and inspires—you elevate your event from good to exceptional. Ready to bring that spark? Contact us today and let’s plan an experience your audience won’t forget.

Blog source: https://mckinleysthought.wordpress.com/2025/11/12/why-hiring-motivational-speakers-in-madison-al-can-elevate-your-next-event/

 

 

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Colors

Today, as we begin this first full week of November 2025, my eyes are seeing various colors.

One of the first things I see are the trees in my neighborhood changing colors.  I’m reminded of the beauty that continues to play in my mind when I was traveling through Upper New York State in the early 90s.  It was all the scenic routes through the Palisades scenic byways, scenic roads and scenic parkways seeing the fall foliage.

This year it’s the bright pink and red azaleas in my yard which are in full bloom the second time lining my walkway to my home.  Not to mention the big red tree across from my house and my neighbor’s red mums in his yard lining the entrance to his front door.

Each of us sees colors in a different way each day.  I see nature’s beauty unfolding, just as we set our clocks back for an hour for daylight saving time for the fall this past weekend.

Maybe it’s also the colorful words we hear others speak, or maybe it your reminder of the book or movie like the “Fifty Shades of Gray.”   For me, it’s those old black and white movies that once were popular, or even the colors of the leaves turning brown as winter begins to set in.

As I thought about the topic today, I also thought about how boring it would be if we didn’t have a pop of color in our lives.

I’m thinking also about the clothes we wear, the shoes we pick out for our outfits and the color of our hair as a starting point.

I’m one that doesn’t believe in dying my hair.  Although, I do get subtle reminders from my spouse who continues to remind me how gray I’m becoming.

Although those remarks don’t take away from how I am, it’s a fact that gray-haired people have wisdom, at least that’s my story.

What’s yours?

We also hear others talk about the colorful lives they have led or are living.

Yes, today color has different connotations for many people.

If you have ever been to the Augusta National specially “Amen Corner” (It’s one that I’ve had opportunity five times to visit) there you would have witnessed the greenest grass ever in my opinion.  It’s a golf course where the “Masters” is played where every single part of the immaculate golf course, is kept green.

As many of us are preparing for our yards to go dormant and brown; I’m enjoying my own “Amen Corner” while it lasts before the winter weather begins it freeze for the year.

As you and I walk through the various department stores, the colors orange and black is being replaced with red and green preparing us for the coming of Christmas.

We also know that it wasn’t long ago when we recently closed out Labor Day where the color of white pants used to be a common thing to stop wearing once it happened.

Many of us are also very accustomed to the phrase or color of a Blue-Collar Worker and White-Collar Worker, which we don’t hear about these days.

We even have the color associated with our foods, such as swamp soup, how we want our steaks cooked (pink or red), and the colors of our vegetables.

I’m also aware that we must be aware of our surroundings, because everyone doesn’t always look like me and I must be comfortable in my own skin.

I can thank my parents for that because we grew up for the most part not worrying about the color of someone’s skin.

Of course, those of age can remember “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.” The movie I’m speaking of happened in 1967 featuring Sidney Poitier, and Katharine Hepburn, and features Hepburn’s niece Katharine Houghton.

Today, this classic movie is one that many of our youth have no idea about.

However, movies like “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.” Is a trigger and a reminder of our past and where we are today.

Although we witness today plenty of interracial marriages in the United States, many are still being judged in my opinion for those that marry outside of their race.

Therefore, the color of love has various colors.

You may not be aware that: “The presence of 11 million interracial married couples nationwide represents a substantial population that continues to challenge traditional racial categories and cultural boundaries.”

https://www.theglobalstatistics.com/interracial-marriage-statistics/

The United States has come a long way, but not so much in my opinion with the Republicans being “Red’ and Democrats being “Blue” as we have continued to see in 2025.

Therefore, when you think about the word color it can have a different connotation all together in various categories.

I’m not one to judge you or whether you want to pass judgement on someone else, because for some of us we are hardwire to a specific belief based on how we were raised.  We must experience it for ourselves to understand the dynamics of rewiring those beliefs.

Spending 30 years in the uniform was part of my rewiring wearing green everyday allowed me to have a different perspective of color, because certain things were not openly allowed.

Today, there is a different standard anytime I see or hear the words Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion which is not being honored or as they say rolling it back.

How corporate America got DEI wrong : NPR

Today I challenge you to think about how you are wired and how you see colors.   As you dawn your rose-colored lenses think about all the colors that may be blocking what you are really seeing and feeling.

I agree with Dolly Parton “When someone shows you their true colors, believe them.”

Blog source: https://mckinleysthoughts.com/colors/

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Always Expect the Unexpected

Today, many are wondering what is going on in times like these.

Between Gun violence, Domestic Violence, Government Shutdown, and Furloughed employees being out of work you must always expect the unexpected.

Shooting at a party in North Carolina kills 2 and critically injures several others

13 people were shot at ‘large party’ and 2 have died, North Carolina sheriff says

President Trump heads to Asia as government shutdown enters Day 25: Live updates

Furloughed Redstone Arsenal employees discuss Government Shutdown on day 23

What was unexpected for me was hearing tragic news of person’s family members that was not in the news dying unexpectedly.

Each time someone close to me that I know who experiences a loss of life hits home, because we all know you can’t prepare how people will react in each situation.

We also don’t know how we will die when it is our turn.

It’s in times like these that I have learned to always expect the unexpected and live every day to the fullest with no regrets.

As a big proponent of Emotional Intelligence, this week has been about self-awareness.

For two days I was reflecting on this tragic incident.

If you have ever read the book “Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman” then you will understand that his book is a comprehensive look at what emotions are and why we have them, how we can get better at managing them, and why the well-being of humanity might depend on us doing so.

On occasions, I also reach back into things I’ve learned through my studies in Clinical Mental Health Counseling on how we must apply empathy to those we meet.

If we have not walked in their shoes, our words may not match their thoughts and are perceived as hallow words to them.

When someone tell me “They are doing the best they can” it has a different connotation for me.  Mainly it’s because I need to understand what does “The best they can” really mean to me?

My faith is important to me, and I’m not trying to proselytize or read you a specific scripture, however faith in knowing that everything will be alright is where I draw my strength from when bad things happen to me or around me.

I’m studying the book of Galatians, written by the Apostle Paul and I have found that Abraham didn’t have scripture to look at just his faith in believing.

Abraham, originally named Abram, is often referred to as the “father of faith or the father of many nations.”

When I think about Abraham’s faith journey and his unwavering trust in God’s promises despite numerous challenges and uncertainties; It’s in times like these; I too must believe everything will happen at just the right time and for a reason.

I’ve learned from Rick Piña through listening to Today’s Word that “No religious system can add performance requirements to what God freely gave by grace! The covenant was sealed before the Law was given. The Law came 430 years AFTER God’s promise to Abraham. Religious people may try to make you jump through hoops, but God’s covenant doesn’t require their approval or their additions!”

I’ve also learned that our “Humanity can get in the way of our divinity.”

Which has allowed me to be more laser-focused on having spiritual focus and spiritual discipline in my life.

Finally, what many are also aware of is that on October 20, 2025, last Monday the Amazon Web Service (AWS) that many depend on went down for a day.  It’s a day that “quickly devolved into chaos, disrupting the lives of millions around the world. Banking customers were locked out of their accounts, travelers couldn’t check into their flights and smart home devices like Alexa suddenly went haywire.”

What Caused the Massive AWS Outage in 2025? | Built In

These are things we don’t expect to happen, but they do.

Today I challenge myself and you to think about all the unexpected things that have happened in your life and how you have overcome them by being a better version of yourself.

As Neil Armstrong says “You’ve got to expect things are going to go wrong.  And we always need to prepare ourselves for handling the unexpected.”

Blog source: https://mckinleysthoughts.com/always-expect-the-unexpected/

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Candid Conversations

Last Wednesday, October 1, 2025, I had a candid conversation at 0800 in the morning while standing in line waiting for the Post Office to open.

It was at somewhat of a surreal moment that I realized in life, we will meet people from different cultures anywhere.

I also realized that the people we meet always have a story to tell.

Today, I will tell a story of elderly, small Hawaiian woman who has a super big heart.

Imagine someone weighing less than 100 pounds and very petite.

As she and I waited patiently for the local post office to open, she made a statement, “Can you believe it, we are already in the month of October, where has time has flown by so quickly.”

Because I’m always curious about people and have learn to properly ask so that I don’t insult anyone, I then asked her politely where she was from, as she responded “Hawaii.”

From that moment on, we were in steady conversation for about ten minutes, passing the time holding candid conversations.  We waited patiently for the person to unlock the door.

I decided it was time to head back home, being 15 minutes had already passed.  Although the lights were on, the doors remained locked, and no one ever came to open them.

My friend, on the other hand, had four large mailers which she needed to mail and decided to wait for them to open; being a retired person with plenty of time to waste, at least today.

It was through that candid conversation that she told me about being retired and her recent trip to Hawaii, which was somewhat like the one I had experienced during the month of August 2025.  My trip to Pennsylvania had an unexpected 11-hour delay, while her trip was a 24-hour delay, having been put up in a hotel because of a seat belt malfunction.

As I walked away, I thought about her comments tied to patience that she told me about the Hawaiian Gods, as it would not be good to complain.

I then thought about a compliment that was given to me by one of my friends, who said I never complain when asked how I am doing.

It’s through these candid conversations that we build on our character and let others see how Christ or our Deity who lives within us.

I witnessed Christ in her and her faith through her actions.

How we show up each day is up to us.

We all have met people who have nothing good to say, regardless of how well things are going.

They can always find fault with something, which makes me grateful that my emotional intelligence is regulated towards better self-awareness.

It’s my reminder of a quote I’ve seen that says, “You can complain that roses have thorns or rejoice that thorns have roses.”

When we all woke up last Wednesday, October 1, 2025, knowing there were going to be some candid conversations about the recent Government shutdown.

We all know the implications when organizations go on strike; now, many are thinking about the Government shutdown as the effects are felt globally.

The candid conversation that we were supposed to have on September 30, 2025, failed, and as a result, we continue to live in a divided country.

I’ve said plenty, I believe, to allow you to think about holding candid conversations with others concerning our country.

I’ll leave you with this quote from Kim Scott: “Communication is the No.1 trait that leads to higher levels of success, yet hardly anyone invests time and resources to becoming a better communicator.”

Today, my challenge to you is to think about the candid conversations you are having and how well you are communicating with the other person.  Have you invested time and resources in becoming a better communicator?

Blog source: https://mckinleysthoughts.com/candid-conversations/

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