COMMISSIONING AND COMMENCEMENT

You never really know a person until you ask for something. 

I am not a good public speaker.  I dropped Public Speaking, a required class in engineering school at the time, go figure.  I dropped it twice and the third time got a D and was excited to have passed the class.  So because of that you will not frequently hear my voice unless I deepfake it [digital rendering which, by the way, is a very good reason not to believe anything you see on television].   I'm shy in front of the camera.  But I have a lot to say.

My hobby is curated charisma - speaking through the voice of other artists.  You will understand in time. 

My Commissioning and Commencement are Saturday May 7 in Virginia Beach, Virginia, from the same campus as Pat Robertson's 700 Club is broadcast from worldwide.

.i just finished graduate school at Regent University, May 10, 2020, MBA Entrepreneurship (which encompasses Leadership Marketing Equity-Investment and Operations). Regent's slogan is "Leadership to Change the World." 

My undergraduate degree is Bachelor of Science Economics.  The combination Economics and graduate MBA jive really well together.

I reflect tonight about college commencement week and what that really means to me.  I'll have graduate credentials after my last name and will join a different echelon of society by proxy.  But I don't feel any different than I did last week.  I'll have to print new business cards. 

But I don't want my circle of friends to change, though it probably will as with any graduate about to pass through commencement, 

My future holds greatness.  It's not something that I aspire to or desire.  But I can feel it in my design I was meant for greatness.  And someday I'll find the motivation to grasp what us right in front of me.  The thing that trips me up is will I live long enough for society to hear what I have to say.

if you are a friend, please watch Doctor Angelou as she addressed President Clinton during his inauguration.  This will shake you to the core and you will understand me more after you listen to her wisdom. 

Understand her gravity - and feel what I'm telling you.

I know most of you don't have much.  And I'm not asking for money.  But at graduation it is customary to give a gift.  If you believe in me, you don't have to say it.  But please donate one dollar on the site just to say you care and congratulations. 

If you remember me from a list of countries, all fifty states, the $2M weekend house in Vail to the ghettos of Pittsburgh.  Step off a Learjet and sleep in somebody's basement.... my life has been all over the world.  If you remember me, throw in a dollar.  Don't be lazy, make your mark in history.  In 50 years you might be glad you did, well maybe.  I plan on still being alive so check-in with me.  Do something with that dollar that I know you worked hard for (well some of you hint: Shirley). James do not tell me you don't have a dollar I will give you one and once again you'll be able to give me back my own money. 

Some of you I have banned, blocked, or vice-versa.  Step out from that and resume a paused friendship.  The horizon leans forward offering us new steps of change.  Yes yes my fellow academics I plagiarized.  It was Maya Angelou who wrote that line.

This applies to you a current friend now, 2 years ago, 5, 10, 20, or 50 years from the past (I would have been 3).  Kindness transcends time. I have lived many lives in many countries - i reach out to all of you this week of commencement.  

Those of you that have it going on, you know who you are, please throw in a little more coin - come on who else do you know that's made it this far?