All posts by Keith Thompson

Who cares

A couple weeks ago I wrote about all the Hollywood award shows and why they need 18 such shows to feel important. Over the past few weeks, they have rolled out Globe, Grammy, Tony, Emmy and last night was the Oscars.

Today, all the mainstream news outlets spent much of the news hour covering the Oscars, who won what and who was wearing what and then the thing that really tells you how out of touch Hollywood is, the Red-Carpet Walk. See, the Red-Carpet Walk is made for the actors to feel important, and desired and idolized. Having the people oohing and awing with flash bulbs going off is their way of feeling validated in life. Its not enough to just make a movie and ear a bunch of money, they need the respect that they feel the Red-Carpet Walk give them.

These award shows are without question, the most narcissistic productions available for American viewing pleasure. These actors will spend 10’s of thousands having dresses made to compete on the Red Carpet Walk and then prem, strut and style down the runway.

Lastly and then I will hush up. In all these award ceremonies, the movie that has the highest box office sales very rarely ever wins a prize. Case in point, last night’s Oscars. It is usually some b-budget, off market, movie that checks the social boxes of the judges. In all sports, the team or player that has the best score wins the game. Its simple, pure, and transparent. Why can’t the most popular movie (highest box office sales) win the award? Well, there you have it. My opinion of the “who cares” movement. Ha. I still say, give me a good Denzel Washington, Jason Statham, Matt Damon or Tom Cruise thriller, and we are good to go. KT

Salespeople are like dogs

To say that salespeople are like dogs, is probably an understatement. They are so much like dogs, it is uncanny. A few examples are as follows;

Dogs can be temperamental. So are salespeople.

Dogs have to believe in what they are chasing. So do salespeople.

Dogs are tempted to lay on the porch instead of hunting. So are salespeople.

Dogs are very loyal. Salespeople, not so much.

Dogs need praise. So do salespeople.

Dogs need attention. So do salespeople.

When dogs are in the hunt, they don’t scratch their fleas. Same with salespeople. They don’t focus on the problems if they are working hard.

Dogs will chew on one bone at a time. Unless trained out of it, salespeople will do the same thing.

If a dog doesn’t trust you, it will not come to you. Unless a client has trust in a salesperson, they will not come either.

Dogs are very trainable, so are salespeople.

Dogs want to please, so do salespeople.

Lastly, a great Dog is a joy to be around. Same with salespeople.

So, you see, if you are a salesperson or lead a sales organization, think about what works with dogs and you are on your way to fully understanding salespeople. KT

Headstone in the Graveyard

Do you want to do something that will give you a little pucker factor? Go buy your headstone for your grave plot and have it installed. Yes siree, that will put a little hitch in your giddy up.

Elaine and I were at the graveyard behind the Rock Baptist Church (Rex GA) recently looking at our newly installed headstone and grave plot. All of Elaine’s family dating back three generations are all buried there and when the good lord calls us home, that is where we be also.

 Why am I telling you this? If you are reading this, you still have time to do all that you were meant to do. To finally be that somebody you are supposed to be. It’s very humbling actually to walk through the graveyard and see all those families going back to 1889 buried there. You wonder what their life was like, and did they complete their mission or were they just satisfied with getting by. Did they choose joy to uplift those around them or did they choose to teardown those around them. Did they leave a legacy of truth, honor and credibility for their children. Was their soul saved the moment they stepped over to the hereafter and lastly, was their family sad to see them go or relieved they were finally gone.

We have two shots to get it right. Our children and our grandchildren. You will not have much influence on any generation beyond that. To the third generation you will just be the old person they visited sometimes and the funeral they attended with their parents.

Hopefully as you read this, you have lived the right life before God and your family. No regrets. If you haven’t, go stroll through a graveyard and make the decision to get things right with those you love. KT

Hollywood award shows

Have you ever thought about why Hollywood actors have so many award shows?  Golden Globe, Oscars, Grammy, Tony, Emmy etc. to name a few, but there is a total of 18 Hollywood award shows.

I can see having one award show with all the categories, but 18? These are award shows created by themselves, paid for by themselves, for themselves, to award themselves and celebrate themselves. They do it so they can feel important. Do you know any other industry that needs 18 award ceremonies? Ever wonder why they all have the red carpet walk with all the flowing gowns and the fawning people outside the ropes with the cameras flashing? These shows are the single greatest ego trip the actors can imagine. Its all for them and all about them.

In hotel Broker world, there is one award ceremony in January of each year. If you are an insurance salesman, plumber, schoolteacher, business executive, home builder or work at a government agency, you get one award ceremony with about eight categories and a free buffet dinner. That’s it.  

So why all the award shows for the Hollywood elite? Well, here is my unvarnished opinion. First, most of the actors are pure narcissist that believe they matter to the fabric of America.  They don’t. Second, they believe they set the example to follow and that they are admired by all. There not.  Third, they are so far out of touch with reality, it is their way of proving to themselves that they matter.

So, just give me a movie with Denzel Washington, Jeff Bridges or Matt Damon. Why? Because they are great actors, and they seemingly live their personal life in an honest way and they haven’t been married eighteen times and they believe in family values. They would get the awards in my book. KT

When the grown children don’t need you any more

One of the most comforting, yet sad, euphoric and yet heart wrenching realization is when a parent realizes their grown children don’t need them anymore. Don’t misunderstand me, they still want the parents, but they don’t need the parents to make it in life.

When a parent realizes this (especially a father) it is both saddening but also very comforting to know you raised them well and they can make it in life without you. There is great peace and rest for a parent that knows their children will be ok.

When I think about this shift in parent/child relationship, I remember when I was 13 and didn’t want my parents to hug me in public anymore and I didn’t want to sit with them in church, etc. I wanted to sit with all the other kids. It is the right of passage for all children both boys and girls. They need to begin the breakaway in early teen years from the parents, and it progresses until one day, they don’t need the parents at all. They want the parents and love the parents, but they can make their way in life without the help of the mom and dad.

Both of my girls went through this pulling away and it is as normal as life itself. I will tell you that I still hug and kiss my adult girls no matter who is watching, because I want them to know that I love them.

A parent wants a child to grow up and leave the nest and forge their own way in the world and wouldn’t want it any other way. It is still hard on the heart, but also very assuring and comforting for a parent to see. KT