tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70027755235875567892024-03-13T15:04:46.185-04:00Dave Pray's BLOGDave Pray's musings relative to owner's representation, litigation support, and all the other things grabbing my attention that I feel worthy of sharing.Dave Prayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01269756485600831576noreply@blogger.comBlogger134125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002775523587556789.post-43063774947488147292012-09-06T07:39:00.000-04:002012-09-06T12:14:29.497-04:00I'm back!!!!!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Several years ago, two nodules were observed on both of my
thyroid glands. You can go elsewhere to find out more about what the common
treatment for these growths are but it includes needle biopsies, ultrasounds,
and drug treatments using synthetic hormone (i.e. Synthroid). Eventually, I landed at the Cleveland Clinic
and my biopsies (which were ambiguous)
were evaluated using a new medical technology known as Afirma developed
by Veracyte ( <a href="http://www.veracyte.com/afirma/">www.veracyte.com/afirma/</a>
). The cells were determined to be
suspicious, meaning, in laymen’s terms as explained to me, there was a 30 to 50
percent chance of these cells morphing over to cancer. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Meaning…they are not cancerous now but might be one day.
Medical technology..wow!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So…..surgery was scheduled for late in June. It went well
except I experienced the loss of my ability to speak, say above a whisper. It
was explained to me that in about one percent (or less) of total
thyroidectomies this was an experienced risk. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Great.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is a nerve that runs from your brain to your vocal
cords known as the laryngeal nerve. My nerves were not appreciative of activity
in their neighborhood so one of them decided to go on strike. I was told this
would take some time to repair and there were things that could be done if a self
repair did not occur. So, what to do…..well I came home from the Clinic and the
day I came home, we experienced the derecho and lost power in our house for 12
days. So, I was distracted and had little time to consider my situation.
Everyone I worked with was great. We worked thru e-mail. I was really not very
troubled.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I had one major design meeting for a project I’m working on
in Las Vegas. It was kind of cool. When I had something to say (to the meeting
of 10), I’d raise my hand and everyone would shut up! Yes…..drama. I worked
through a major multi-day session for a client using the Adizes methodology and
all went fine.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I really was doing pretty well with this whole deal, which
sort of surprised me. I mean, this is not like losing your eyesight, but the
ability to talk is important but what to do? A biker friend of mine is an ear,
nose and throat doc here in town and I finally reached out to him and he said
to come right down…I mean that day. Which I did. He put a small camera down my
nose and was able to videotape my vocal cords, which are the rascals that make
sound and sit at the top of your trachea. My left cord was paralyzed. He took a
lot of time with me, more than anyone had to date, and we discussed alternatives…which
is essentially watchful waiting and potentially some surgery to force the cord
back over to the center with a caulk like product.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I brought up the concept of speech therapy and he thought
that would be helpful. I had to leave town on a business trip and left it to
Laura to get me an appointment, which she did. In so doing, the speech
therapist asked her to read the prescription. My vocal cord was <u>partially</u>
paralyzed…a major difference. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, in early August, I went to CAMC and began speech
therapy. There was testing and then I was given a series of exercises and told
to stay well hydrated and stop clearing my throat ( a life long bad habit for
one’s vocal cords). I practiced my exercises and did what I was told to do and
guess what…about 10 days ago I began to speak..more or less normally. It
happened really all at once.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And the moral of the story is…………things change. They do and
they will. That is the nature of life. Change my friends is constant. And trust
me…you’re not the only one that has stuff going on! Now…some folks certainly more than others but we all have "stuff".<br />
<br />
I thought this deserved a BLOG entry (at the end of the day, I spent a
reasonable amount of time reading about folks that had experiences with total
thyroidectomies, so maybe this will reassure someone in an analogous situation.
Who knows.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Resilience. That’s the goal…..and I think I fared pretty
well when I could have chosen to go down the rat hole and dream up a very
different future. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thanks for the support and prayers…..you know who you are!!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the meantime…I’m back!!!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Dave Prayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01269756485600831576noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002775523587556789.post-10261563958153318082011-11-10T14:18:00.001-05:002011-11-10T14:20:08.880-05:00So what does an Owner's Rep do??<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">One of the services I offer is <u><b>owner’s representation</b></u>. I thought it might be helpful to describe the service…perhaps over a few postings.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Ideally, an owner realizes his organization (and this could be her family), is about to become involved in the “constructed environment”. In other words, the organization has some significant interest in building or renovating something….such as an office building, a house, a hospital, a nightclub, an athletic facility…the list goes on. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">So, most owners turn either to a contractor or an architect to perform the roles as their primary trusted advisor. An owner’s representative is a firm that has developed relationships with both architects, contractors, design-builders as well as other professionals (lawyers, realtors, accountants, suppliers, subcontractors). That is the role I play.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">So….let’s review one of my recent projects which was the redevelopment of 209 Capitol Street which was a vacant building and is now the law offices for Bailey & Glasser (this is also where my in-town office is located).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Ben Bailey approached me shortly after he had made an offer on 209 Capitol Street to the former owner (Charleston Urban Renewal Association). I initially reviewed the building to be sure that the building could even be rehabilitated…and if so…for how much. So, I relied upon a structural engineer I knew who first did a kick the tires walk through. He did not see any immediate issues but did see some areas of concern that if the owner did decide to proceed, deserved more significant exploration.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I roughed together a conceptual estimate of the renovations to see if this would even be commercially viable. During this process, I decided to examine the possibility of renovating this structure under Department of Interior guidelines and subsequently receive what would amount to a 30 percent tax credit (20 percent federal and 10 percent state). When the renovation costs and the tax credits looked like they would make sense to B&G (and before the building purchase was concluded), we did some destructive testing, engaged both an architect and contractor on a preliminary basis and submitted a phase one and phase two application to the Department of the Interior. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">So….through my initial efforts…the owner(s) developed an in depth view of this project and prepared themselves to finalize a significant decision…i.e. should they purchase the building and renovate it. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">(More to follow in part 2).</span></div>
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<br /></div>Dave Prayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01269756485600831576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002775523587556789.post-7533892386079129302011-11-02T17:14:00.000-04:002011-11-02T17:25:48.848-04:00DP's 4 Hour Body (Experience)<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">For a number of years I have had a goal….probably like many of you…to lose some weight and to also increase my muscle mass. Now….this may come as a shock to some of you as I guess I might reasonably be considered skinny but I had managed to accumulate a fair amount of body fat in my mid section and this accumulated fat was not what I had in mind for my bathing suit bod.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Somehow, I bumped into Tim Ferris book the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/4-Hour-Body-Uncommon-Incredible-Superhuman/dp/030746363X"><span style="color: #223cfb; text-decoration: underline;">Four Hour Body</span></a>. Now…this book has about 400 pages…but it is not a book you need or want to read from front to back. So I read the weight loss section in May (prior to our annual beach vacation) and in day two of my attention to this diet I had a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual-energy_X-ray_absorptiometry"><span style="color: #223cfb; text-decoration: underline;">Dexa Scan</span></a> and learned my percent body fat was 21.7%. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Now that the baseline measurement was in place, I stayed on the diet as prescribed until my next visit to <a href="http://www.physiologix.org/index.php"><span style="color: #223cfb; text-decoration: underline;">Physiologix</span></a> (in my home town, Charleston, WV) for my next dexa scan and the results were great. (Lean mass grew by 2 pounds and pounds of body fat went from 37 pounds to 24 pounds.) Remarkable.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Too…..as of the date of this writing, I now weigh 164 pounds which is a couple of pounds lighter than I was then…but of note….I have now been on this diet for about 5 months with zero rebound.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">So…..if you are in the market for some weight loss……..give the Four Hour Body a look…think you will be happy you did.</span></div>
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<br /></div>Dave Prayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01269756485600831576noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002775523587556789.post-13752112248355139312011-01-04T21:49:00.005-05:002011-01-04T21:56:14.058-05:00Woolworth's FireTony Yunker with GBBN sent me a link with footage from the 1949 <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=girgAi-UsIA ">Woolworth's Fire</a>. It's incredible.Dave Prayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01269756485600831576noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002775523587556789.post-1315223840999844522010-12-24T09:42:00.003-05:002010-12-24T09:44:39.716-05:00Happy Holidays!!!!The New Year might see a rejuvenation of my interest in this Blog...or maybe not!<br /><br />Anyway....all that aside, I wish you an engaging and meaningful New Year and a holiday that brings you close to your family and friends.<br /><br />Happy Holidays!!!Dave Prayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01269756485600831576noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002775523587556789.post-29010271416579709832010-05-03T13:27:00.004-04:002010-05-03T13:50:06.788-04:00Projects/Weekly Review/Next Actions GTD!In GTD vernacular, a project is a desired outcome that takes more than one action. So, let's say you have an errand...like I do right now....<span style="font-weight:bold;">purchase 4 AA batteries</span>....thats a task that gets accomplished in one move...an errand. Laura and I just completed a project I defined a couple of months ago.<br /><br />The Project was <span style="font-weight:bold;">Improve organization of attic so clothes can be easily found by April 15</span>. I'm sure you all have projects like this you'd like to accomplish...and I'm not really trying to illustrate how to complete a domestic task.....but I would like to discuss...at least a bit...how the project was achieved.<br /><br />I think sometime in January, I defined this project. I thought about the project and tried to accurately define this attic cleaning project...and an accurate definition means...check mark...this project is <span style="font-weight:bold;">done</span>.<br /><br />So..I did that.....and then...every week...in the all important weekly review...I reviewed all of my projects and generally scheduled some <span style="font-weight:bold;">next action</span> that would advance this project. Many times that simply meant blocking off an hour on the weekend to work "up there". And I did that....the one hour time frame worked well...enough to get something accomplished and not too much that it felt overwhelming.<br /><br />Then one of my next actions was @w/Laura (my wife) to work with her to sort some of the stuff that I was not qualified to sort...Christmas stuff and fabrics mostly. So that happened and Laura became inspired and together...while the attic is not perfect....it is way better......the task is complete....and its really neat to be routinely getting things done using my trusted system.<br /><br />Give it a shot. It works.<br /><br />Clear Project Definition (Know when you can say Done!)<br />Weekly Review when you plan the next week's next action<br />Do the work planned (no...planning alone does not do it)<br />Weekly Review<br />One Next Action<br />Weekly Review<br />One Next Action<br />Etc<br />Check...project done...clebrate...reinforce....on to the next one!Dave Prayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01269756485600831576noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002775523587556789.post-79569296294118477562010-04-27T19:35:00.001-04:002010-04-27T19:40:08.103-04:00iPhone tech tips<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0gB86VdofXvymX5xQpgL2tPvJ-jBIKjLIHWRU2evBDv8VlzkRdtluqm3e9ZcozLzB8-cf7Ei3k1FoRdHnEhJQbX5pE5QVthL6VUqhqGwMZgJ4Cu_vpKb6pyciLITk6DMJewYklUJHEIiD/s1600/photo.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0gB86VdofXvymX5xQpgL2tPvJ-jBIKjLIHWRU2evBDv8VlzkRdtluqm3e9ZcozLzB8-cf7Ei3k1FoRdHnEhJQbX5pE5QVthL6VUqhqGwMZgJ4Cu_vpKb6pyciLITk6DMJewYklUJHEIiD/s400/photo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464963551278346738" /></a><br /><br />I'm playing a role in the new Basketball Center at WVU which involves me driving back and forth to Morgantown from time to time. I like to have a good handful of podcasts available for these drives and/or a book from audible.com. I drove up yesterday and everything was coming out high pitched and fast....so I texted a friend of mine who manages my tech things and he came up with the fix...thought I'd share.<br /><br />So...launch your iPod and look at the bar that indicates where your are on your podcast...look all the way to the right and you will see "1X" if normal....."2X" if double time "1/2X" if have speed. Touch it and you can scroll thru these settings. (I was on 2X and wanted 1X).<br /><br />Viola....and...I just learned this...if you want to take a picture of your iPhone screen...hit the home and on/off button at the same time and you will take a photo of your screen.<br /><br />That was worth the read...huh?Dave Prayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01269756485600831576noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002775523587556789.post-56310015054501395642010-03-14T13:31:00.012-04:002010-03-14T14:03:26.314-04:00Thanks Coach Huggins<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-F56aMaxXoGCWt44oyg7sS4SVEYZzrtyB7VMdRpRZWdcjbgYGOkBsFZL8XeG1aCMgG_AYl6HJEK3CP-ktAzpt-ACypnHLzYLaGRbx9ePpYp5XFKY7pzkAk0N7mRkv4Z3dfycCRBSIPn2y/s1600-h/512px-Bob_Huggins.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 341px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-F56aMaxXoGCWt44oyg7sS4SVEYZzrtyB7VMdRpRZWdcjbgYGOkBsFZL8XeG1aCMgG_AYl6HJEK3CP-ktAzpt-ACypnHLzYLaGRbx9ePpYp5XFKY7pzkAk0N7mRkv4Z3dfycCRBSIPn2y/s400/512px-Bob_Huggins.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448543638125453826" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />What a remarkable game yesterday. WVU beats Georgetown and...for the first time in school history, won the Big East Basketball title. I loved the game and really the entire week. What impressed me the most about yesterday's performance was Coach Huggin's post win interview.<br /><br />Coach's post game interview doesn't seem to be popping up at the moment on ESPN's website...but here is the jist of it. (1) Coach Huggins is very close to tears....and this is not coming from the head....but the heart. (2) And why he is almost crying in his words...is because the kids played their hearts out...played beyond their skill levels....and he is so happy because he is happy for the State.<br /><br />And I for one am buying this. Many Division One coaches would be crying because they know their resume just got expanded and they are worth more money. <br /><br />Huggins isn't looking to move. He loves West Virginia and he is inspiring these young men to play beyond their given capabilities. His ability to provide a much bigger mission is paying off and is a great example of leadership we can all learn from.<br /><br />OK...he's got the X's and O's down...he is a great recruiter....he knows how to build individual skills and conditioning....yeah...and so do about 50 other D1 coaches. But he is leading these young men on a slightly higher mission....win this one for the people of West Virginia....he means it and I feel it.<br /><br />Great season...great coach...great leader.Dave Prayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01269756485600831576noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002775523587556789.post-90903928075965452992010-03-08T10:31:00.002-05:002010-03-08T10:33:57.328-05:00GTD and Vacation Protocols<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9s-IDqPJK8DnvuyXodJnN-o8SeDJxV61Tv-crM8aBZPLkHHiHZ9Qv7fHDlxH5IRK7BzW8xZbtxTvWFceCjOaMAcuFJjm8RAEef0nM6nC-gt-t06YK9FLhZy7p0b0cwWnL__koPR_2S4B/s1600-h/family-vacation.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 263px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9s-IDqPJK8DnvuyXodJnN-o8SeDJxV61Tv-crM8aBZPLkHHiHZ9Qv7fHDlxH5IRK7BzW8xZbtxTvWFceCjOaMAcuFJjm8RAEef0nM6nC-gt-t06YK9FLhZy7p0b0cwWnL__koPR_2S4B/s400/family-vacation.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446286297117582178" /></a><br />At one point in my career, I was the CEO of a mid-sized design-construction firm which I founded, grew, and sold called Pray Construction Company. At a point in the early to mid 1990’s, Pray Construction really needed a job of some size. We were in the process of bidding-negotiating a major addition to Charleston Catholic High School. We knew we were one of two firms in the final running….and then my vacation (horseback riding in Ireland) presented itself.<br /><br />So….with my family, we went to Ireland and I chose a style I call “going dark”…meaning I was not going to check in. Now…communications back then were quite different. E-mail was just firing up and cell phones were not at all wide spread. We were “in the west” in Ireland, which meant….from a communications point of view…that the available land lines were few and far between…but you could find one…but I choose not to. Instead of calling in to touch base…I remained anxious and worried about the job….or lack of it. (For the record, we did get the job and the decision was not finalized until I returned).<br /><br />The point to all of this was I’m not sure I was better off not calling in. Yeah…I was on vacation and was not obsessing like some of my wall street friends that were also on the trip and who called the office everyday (although notably that really changed as the week went on), but I was still anxious.<br /><br />So…here is what I do now…and I think this is very GTD.<br /><br />1) First of all….I go on holiday with my in-boxes (electronic and two paper ones) to zero. Now…this is really no big deal for me…I’m at zero several times a week…but it is foundational I think. So…e-mails are either deleted, read or action taken, they are filed for reference, stimulate other actions steps and so forth. But..the in-box is zero.<br />2) I do a good weekly review just before I leave.<br />3) I let everyone I’m actively involved with know I’m off for a holiday. You can’t hit all the stakeholders, but you can get the big ones which really helps manage the incoming.<br />4) I use the out of office assistant to remind anyone sending me an e-mail that you won’t hear back from me.<br /><br />So…I’m feeling very caught up and ready to leave. This involves work and discipline. Laura and I just went on a one week holiday and I’m sure I worked until 10:00 pm the night before to do all of the above.<br /><br />My computer stays at home but the iPhone comes along.<br /><br />I do in fact read my e-mails. If they require action, I move them to a folder on my sidebar entitled “e-mails to respond to”. This helps me delete the junk, stay very loosely up to speed, and sets the stage for re-entry. Plus, and I think this is relevant; I don’t get reminded of my work every time I review my in-box...(as the messages have been physically moved). Plus, I maintain that good feeling of having a zero in box.<br /><br />I tested this process last summer on a two week holiday and just did it for a one-weeker. Process works well. I try and get back from holidays on Saturday so I can process the e-mails to respond to folder on Sunday. I have likely 50-60 e-mails that required action. This took about 4 hours.<br /><br />Coming back to my two “cleaned” physical offices effectively supports the re-charging you are hoping for from a holiday. And…I woke up this morning with a zero in-box as well.<br /><br />I think this method of execution helps support vitality and renewal which is one is one of the things one hopes for from holiday. But…like a lot of the GTD stuff, this works for me and may/may not for you…but perhaps is worthy of experimentation.Dave Prayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01269756485600831576noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002775523587556789.post-87102545252435454082010-02-19T13:06:00.004-05:002010-02-19T13:15:48.988-05:00Don’t Let the Door Hit you in the Ass on Your Way Out<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4loQ6i-JDGK8pEWM7QAYv578N6Z90whjEq2W7F8Nr2YWiTKmWSdZTWlsG2Lok_obDUNBLHersxALZnE-RggrKPXDLustD24TSJiikkXePc_GJb1vuvsDNrNk1FW_1HkI_adJANjnCt79/s1600-h/Crabby-Btch-Magnet-C11749830.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 274px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440017727796288178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4loQ6i-JDGK8pEWM7QAYv578N6Z90whjEq2W7F8Nr2YWiTKmWSdZTWlsG2Lok_obDUNBLHersxALZnE-RggrKPXDLustD24TSJiikkXePc_GJb1vuvsDNrNk1FW_1HkI_adJANjnCt79/s400/Crabby-Btch-Magnet-C11749830.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />A good lifelong friend of mine recently sent me a link to the attached <a href="http://nyti.ms/clIPLj">NYT article</a>. When he sent it to me I did not read it but felt I would be inspired to write a retort referencing my recent work with the <a href="http://www.adizes.com/">Adize’s Methodology</a>. And I could perhaps do that…..but after reading the article, I actually would have to say right on!<br /><br />I’ve been around small and mid sized businesses for the better part of 40 years and…as a group…we….businessmen…just put up with too much crap. I’m serious. It’s tough stuff running a business…..right…fun…exciting…rewarding….and I do not think the exclusive focus should be earnings (earnings is a natural outcome of a job well done…maybe), but there is a bit too much bitching going around most shops.<br /><br />So….got a problem…fine….do me a favor and go find another job. I’m serious…quit. Go share your good attitude and work ethic with one of my competitors.Dave Prayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01269756485600831576noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002775523587556789.post-54016819018800027022010-02-14T16:16:00.002-05:002010-02-14T16:25:38.908-05:00Happy Valentine's Day!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv5goKm-lZnJ277h0wsEpRzBD9lYpQzW_Z96fyLbjiwmbrhLr_l2lFRiuxm2AweRrwQFHQVmVtvQ3qrYu8WAoDFn5K635HTCH2yl8SFE-5FVJlZeqNz2F5HlMo06qm2miVwSkBA8wOXOVw/s1600-h/IMG_1049.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv5goKm-lZnJ277h0wsEpRzBD9lYpQzW_Z96fyLbjiwmbrhLr_l2lFRiuxm2AweRrwQFHQVmVtvQ3qrYu8WAoDFn5K635HTCH2yl8SFE-5FVJlZeqNz2F5HlMo06qm2miVwSkBA8wOXOVw/s400/IMG_1049.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438212082512622402" /></a><br /><br />I had all sorts of brilliant topics for BLOG posts, but I got sidetracked uploading photos from my camera to my new 27" iMac. That led to a brief review of all my images from the last year...and this one caught my eye. This is my 2+ year old granddaughter Zoe...photo taken last September.<br /><br />Happy Valentines all!!...Zoe...is this your first BLOG post??? Well.....maybe the first for 2010.Dave Prayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01269756485600831576noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002775523587556789.post-64077787027735310782010-02-08T10:20:00.005-05:002010-02-08T10:30:35.785-05:00Working on my GTD SystemI first became exposed to <a href="http://www.davidco.com/index.php">David Allen</a> when the Mountain State YPO Chapter brought David to Charleston to present his public one day seminar. I’m guessing this was in 1994. I brought about 6 or 7 employees from Pray Construction Company hoping his system would sweep through PCC. <br /><br />I’m pretty sure his system didn’t really stick at Pray, but I bought in and continue to practice. I later spent some one-on-one time with David and his wife Kathy on an YPO cruise. David gave me a few telephone coaching sessions with <a href="http://www.davidco.com/coaches_corner/Meg_Edwards/article45.html">Meg Edwards</a> and she really helped me tune up my Outlook based system. I think I did perhaps two sessions and then went on about my business. <br /><br />I likely stopped about 2 sessions too early!<br /><br />Anyway….I lived with my system. Essentially, I used tasks to collect my next actions (calls; e-mails; read; meet with; waiting for, etc). So, let’s say someone sent me an e-mail and this e-mail stimulated a response (that took more than 2 minutes) so I’d drag this mail into the left column in Outlook and into the task folder. When you do that, the mail explodes. You can then input text in the subject line (i.e. 304-744-1111 Jack Jones and then select @calls from your custom designed menu in categories in the lower right corner). <br /><br />So…..you have the context (@call) and the next time you have time and or desire to make calls, they are all there together. A few things going on here.<br /><br />1) You can stop thinking about what you need “to do”…in other words your personal RAM is not being bogged down trying to remember all your stuff.<br />2) I like the electronic system as it is easy for me to keep portable. I use an iPhone and an app called iMExhange. This app syncs up my tasks from Outlook, so again, when I have an appropriate spare moment, whip out the iPhone, see what calls I might make and then make one. <br /><br />What I was also doing was sorting by due date, which reminded me to make that call on a particular day. So, this also drove me to review my tasks more or less daily and change the date on a number of tasks as they did not get accomplished that day…..and that happened almost every day.<br /><br />Fast forward to about a month ago when I thought perhaps it might be time for me to pony up and buy some consulting. So, I interfaced with Davidco and hired <a href="http://www.davidco.com/julieI.php">Julie Ireland </a>to do some telecoaching. Using Go to Meeting, Julie was able to spend an hour with me and look over my shoulder. Essentially she said, “Well…this is very non-GTD”.<br /><br />Yikes! But wait…I thought I had this all figured out!!!<br /><br />So…the illumination was as follows:<br /><br />If it MUST be dealt with on a day, that task goes on the calendar. (In Outlook, launch an appointment, put your to-do in the subject, click all day event, show time as free, and add any supporting stuff below).<br /><br />So…when you start to Do Work, you look first at your calendar. (If something is going to happen at a specific time, clearly put the time in and don’t select all day event).<br /><br />Now…..when you look at your calendar, Julie suggested be sure it’s not too clogged up. Three booked hours in a day is about tops. OK…sure…there are going to be exceptions, but if your calendar is booked from start to finish, then you better start learning how to say no.<br /><br />OK….now my tasks are no longer sorted by date. So, I open up my tasks segregated by categories, and all my stuff to do (say @office), is all together. Based on my appetite and other in-coming I can now choose what to do.<br /><br />Anyway…….my system was pretty broken and I had more or less learned to accommodate, but was always feeling like I had way too much to do. I was wasting time sorting my tasks by date and then feeling like every day I was not getting done what I “should” have been doing.<br /><br />If you haven’t given GTD a look……I suggest you consider buying the book and then sticking your foot in the water with implementation. We are all expected to perform at a high level. This helps me get a lot done (i.e. perform) and I feel good while doing so.<br /><br />And I have my second telecoaching hour with Julie booked for next week.Dave Prayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01269756485600831576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002775523587556789.post-84123715071979015142009-12-06T10:08:00.007-05:002009-12-06T10:19:28.061-05:00Great Ride Will!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgArXmVEjS1Dx1Bs8PT4XLI7lIVl5ZXnsT_nbXzwn4vBfhkiXx22dnUqv8fSPTpSPl5eLdaCLeb_CtWqFxIz2VcDZYkHyxSuyP1yGvt8TBPf0pPqQnQx4xhTgJ3l8uguRssOJsEmal-Tgye/s1600-h/Will.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412140422976166946" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgArXmVEjS1Dx1Bs8PT4XLI7lIVl5ZXnsT_nbXzwn4vBfhkiXx22dnUqv8fSPTpSPl5eLdaCLeb_CtWqFxIz2VcDZYkHyxSuyP1yGvt8TBPf0pPqQnQx4xhTgJ3l8uguRssOJsEmal-Tgye/s400/Will.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />If you've been reading this BLOG for a year, you will recall the brief period where I behaved as if I was Will Frishkorn's Charleston based press agent.<br /><br />Thought you might like to check his <a href="http://www.slipstreamsports.com/2009/12/03/shifting-gears-a-conversation-with-will-frischkorn#comments">status</a>. <br /><br />I ran into a friend of mine in the last few months and his 15-16 year old son is a talented young rider. His Dad was telling me that he just wanted to be like Will Frischkorn. Will...living proof that your contribution has been deeper than you may realize! Great job and keep it up!Dave Prayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01269756485600831576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002775523587556789.post-74479770385143827992009-12-05T12:03:00.003-05:002009-12-05T12:09:12.368-05:00United Breaks GuitarsThis proves there is a constructive use of YouTube . . . <br /><br />A musician named Dave Carroll recently had difficulty with United Airlines. United apparently damaged his treasured Taylor guitar during a flight. Dave spent over 9 months trying to get United to pay for damages caused by baggage handlers to his custom Taylor guitar. During his final exchange with the United Customer Relations Manager, he stated that he was left with no choice other than to create a music video for youtube exposing their lack of cooperation. The Manager responded : "Good luck with that one, pal". <br /><br />So he posted a retaliatory video on you tube. The video has since received over 6.5 million hits. United Airlines contacted the musician and attempted settlement in exchange for pulling the video. Naturally his response was: "Good luck with that one, pal".<br /><br />Taylor Guitars sent the musician 2 new custom guitars in appreciation for the product recognition from the video that has lead to a sharp increase in orders.<br /> <br />Here's the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YGc4zOqozo&NR=1">video</a> .............<br /><br />Thanks friend Ralph for sharing.Dave Prayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01269756485600831576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002775523587556789.post-60557847504670007412009-12-05T10:39:00.009-05:002009-12-05T11:12:42.371-05:00And Now Onto Solutions<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZMSVhvVqXx8TN6Dyc0tWfs_uIH3T7cfsuIWmRhQtT9BuQjdNr2foWFORqmfmonosZZ-NC7IBh_e9vVTB_Cl2JOHfwVSTmaa1IoicY4X3eyCOiqOCbpIFsSwAwUx8ppX3fMlXlHQw-g5_o/s1600-h/frank_gehry_6.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 249px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZMSVhvVqXx8TN6Dyc0tWfs_uIH3T7cfsuIWmRhQtT9BuQjdNr2foWFORqmfmonosZZ-NC7IBh_e9vVTB_Cl2JOHfwVSTmaa1IoicY4X3eyCOiqOCbpIFsSwAwUx8ppX3fMlXlHQw-g5_o/s400/frank_gehry_6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411782311860189986" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />(Photo Frank Gehry)<br /><br />So...you've created your program of requirements....and it is marked "draft...for discussion purposes only"...but you have begun to connect the left brain to the right brain and...of significance...place your thoughts (and feelings) into a text document which at least makes your conversation with your project delivery folks more meaningful. <br /><br />I'd like to keep this all simple and arm you with some trade vernacular....you can at least act like you know what you are doing along the line of "fake it til you make it". <br /><br />So...imagine that you have gone directly to an architect...that's a traditional step. You give your draft of your Program of Requirements to him/her (we'll use him but not trying to make any gender distinctions...ok) and he is already sensing he has a more advanced student/client. You ask for some solutions...or some feedback...or both. Assuming the architect sees some potential with you and or the project, then they will perhaps sketch some elevations and floor plans. They may want some limited compensation and of course this depends about the scope....i.e. adding a bedroom to your house or creating a new office building for your 200 person firm.<br /><br />This phase of design is referred to as the conceptual stage. <br /><br />From this exercise you will likely learn:<br /><br />1) Project is not feasible. Time to be thinking about other alternatives (hopefully you have already done so).<br /><br />2) We're onto something...but can we do it for the dollars we have in our program? Or can we change this or delete that???? Your on the path.<br /><br />3) Or...slam dunk....this is exactly what I wanted! <br /><br />(Option 3 is highly unlikely...but it could happen...particularly if you have a lot of money....I've had hmmm about one client like that out of say 500!) Significantly you will also get a good sense if the architect is someone you can work with....but please....don't confuse bed side manners with skills and abilities. <br /><br />So...how do you check skills and abilities...well....get a list of ALL of the projects the architect has been involved in for the past say year. Make the calls. Your time will be well spent.....Ask questions...probe..take notes. You'll be glad you did.<br /><br />So many people hire architects because they have great people skills and can sketch like a wild man...so creative....(very right brain yes). But please.....we need some serious left brain at the table. If it is not all available in one package....which it probably is not....then wait for the next post and we'll add another leg to the stool.Dave Prayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01269756485600831576noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002775523587556789.post-29200157694898945902009-12-04T15:26:00.006-05:002009-12-04T15:56:40.227-05:00Ready Fire Aim<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzqIc4OXviwk_61w8USiSB0wSUiwRHOzgppxlxkQioAlOOeKwYAue5Q_hEdPfK9VIng1D84H3AYJIkolYFYtYq54ehyphenhyphenRv_flxSY0OIk5TU5GryGXrk_-HIkMqYcvvhg0s2_8zIBwyIeWO/s1600-h/ready-fire-aim.gif"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 312px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 312px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411481326319009522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzqIc4OXviwk_61w8USiSB0wSUiwRHOzgppxlxkQioAlOOeKwYAue5Q_hEdPfK9VIng1D84H3AYJIkolYFYtYq54ehyphenhyphenRv_flxSY0OIk5TU5GryGXrk_-HIkMqYcvvhg0s2_8zIBwyIeWO/s400/ready-fire-aim.gif" /></a><br /><br /><br />I used to have a printout of a saying I heard by some YPO speaker printed on the wall of my office at Pray Construction Company and it read "Lack of Planning on your Part Does Not Constitute a Crisis on my Part". Since I've moved on in my career, I'm not sure if in fact that is the case.....meaning that the lacking of planning...while I'd like to disclaim responsibility...the result may fall in my lap...I'm sure you get the drift.<br /><br />If you are anticipating a project that involves construction which inevitably involves a sizable outlay of your capital and which will drag you into the mysterious world of those that "deliver" projects...either architects or contractors....do yourself a favor....create a text document and call it the Program of Requirements. This is essentially what you want to accomplish with your "capital project". Avoid gong down the path of "solutions" at the moment... (solutions are designs or drawings that actually indicate how to accomplish your "program").<br /><br />Now your program will include things like adjacency's, activities to be accomplished (ok...just say sleeping), finishes, special equipment, any issues with accessibility (please...if you are doing a residence....take it from me, a wheelchair is not out of the question), natural light, acoustic separation, safety, site considerations (i.e. parking/landscaping/irrigation)...the list goes on.<br /><br />So....once you have put your program together (by the way...how much you want to invest/spend is part of the program as is the time for execution), you will be much better prepared to evaluate the design solutions. <br /><br />Now...your program will morph as you learn more or more is revealed as your are educated, but you will be on your way to a well executed project. Recall....starting does not necessarily directly correlate to finishing. Know what I mean??? Plan/plan/plan and then execute. This is a strategy and one I utilize on all my projects...trust me...it works but I know....we just want to get started...OK...don't blame me!Dave Prayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01269756485600831576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002775523587556789.post-81938935746220144512009-10-23T06:39:00.002-04:002009-10-23T06:42:35.739-04:00Free Gift to Readers from Adizes...We would also like to offer your readers a free gift, which is the popular Adizes video, entitled “What is a leader” Please take a look at this link and add it to the end of your post.<br /><br /> <br /><a href="www.adizes.com/freegift">www.adizes.com/freegift</a>Dave Prayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01269756485600831576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002775523587556789.post-25070153161507908962009-10-20T16:46:00.003-04:002009-10-20T16:56:39.492-04:00Guest BLOG from Ichak AdizesThe following post is from the BLOG of Ichak Adizes chairman of the <a href="http://www.adizes.com/">Adizes Institute</a>. For years I thought my customers really missed the boat on the concept of expressing gratitude. I just thought the expression of gratitude would have been a behaviour that would have gotten a lot more out of me and my team <br /><br />Glad Ichak put it in this perspective....somehow validates my thinking. (By the way, I'm getting ready to attend a course at the Institute in November which will be very exciting). <br />____________________________________________________________________________________<br />I have heard a great lecture by Dr. Douglas Lisle, an evolutionary psychologist who is also training to become an Adizes Adjunct Associate. It was about “Stone Age money” and how it impacts our behavior today.<br /><br />The lecture gave me some insights I want to share with you.<br /><br />In the Stone Age, and for a long time thereafter, there was no money or any other means of exchange for barter. So if I did something for you, how would you pay me back? With gratitude, a sense of “I owe you”, and I would expect you to reciprocate.<br /><br />Those who did most for the village-who hunted the best, and thus fed the village-got the most recognition and became chiefs, or something similar.<br /><br />This went on for thousands of years. The result is that we have developed this “chip” in our heads, a storage mechanism like a bank account, to receive, store, and pay gratitude.<br /><br />We need gratitude. Period. It is deep in our subconscious.<br /><br />Now, what does this need for gratitude mean for management?<br /><br />It means that merely getting paid for work is not enough. If you just got paid, but the paying party did not show gratitude, you would feel as if you did not get paid at all. You would feel like a prostitute.<br /><br />Whoa! This was news to me. How often do people say: “You got paid, so what are you complaining about?”<br /><br />The highest rate of suicide among the medical professionals is among dentists. They get paid in money only; no gratitude for drilling into your teeth.<br /><br />The highest rate of turnover in the human services industry is among consultants. They just get paid money. No gratitude. Thus, when the question is asked, “what is the oldest profession?” the answer is not always prostitution. Often the answer is consulting.<br /><br />Hello managers. Wake up. If you only pay your workers money and fringe benefits, you did not pay them in “Stone Age money” and they feel gratitude deficient. Not strange that they are not cooperative. Their deepest need-something that developed and was nurtured for thousands of years-is not getting fulfilled. This can sometimes produce dysfunctional repercussions for the companies we manage manifested in lower morale and productivity.<br /><br />Always say “thank you,” your mother told you. Listen to your mother, and don’t stop listening for ever.<br /><br />Sincerely.<br /><br />Dr. Ichak Kalderon AdizesDave Prayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01269756485600831576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002775523587556789.post-34144421486291817722009-10-14T17:51:00.003-04:002009-10-14T18:06:52.811-04:00Public Health...Part 3<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnR5UWSYK9ndcB4XQOZ5MXxhOs1hVxY-NONidso_m8kznL5wceLwtPFywLeZjy0c_xO8ry5OAO8ZeM8rDgFYmlFrTF4Z9e45DUITF8UIC2yQKgejErapSrnXlQpy7y7uVktjXZ9_dpxqxo/s1600-h/Picture+013.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnR5UWSYK9ndcB4XQOZ5MXxhOs1hVxY-NONidso_m8kznL5wceLwtPFywLeZjy0c_xO8ry5OAO8ZeM8rDgFYmlFrTF4Z9e45DUITF8UIC2yQKgejErapSrnXlQpy7y7uVktjXZ9_dpxqxo/s400/Picture+013.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392578382020522162" /></a><br />Laura..Dave...Michele...Tom in corridor in St. Vincents...on the way home.<br /><br />OK….now where were we……Started out reflecting on my experiences involved with public health care….see the previous two entries. Now….would I have rather been home, in America. No question. Did it really matter that much to me what the expense was? Not really. The way our system works is that the expense….let’s project that it would have been easily $175,000 not $21,000…is an issue for the insurance company to absorb.<br /><br />But, obviously, society ends up paying this price. In England and Ireland, everyone gets health care and clearly this has something to do with this delta. There are differences in the systems…which I got from my roomies. For a lot of procedures and tests, you have to wait and this can be for some time. The facility worked, but I wonder if Americans can ever get used to a six bed ward. Now, I liked it because I’m interested in people and…as I was sort of the sickest guy on the block, they all looked over me. This is not a bad thing and there was a sense of community that was established. I don’t think the public health system cares too much about who you are and/or how much money you have. So….it’s hard to jump rank. I’m not sure how I’d like that on a long term basis but I hope I could successfully adapt…particularly if it meant that everyone in my community (define community however you wish) had coverage.<br /><br />Enough….on to the next chapter. We were flying Delta and were in business class. When we arrived at the airport…recall it is December 24, our plane was delayed. Anxiety began creeping in. We were flying to Atlanta and only had about 2 hours to clear customs and catch our plane. We finally got airborne. At this point, I was only living with about 5 feet of small bowel. What that means, functionally, is that I had a very difficult time staying hydrated. I’d drink quarts…literally…of sports drink and had to force drinking. While I was hospitalized, I was being given a drug called Sandostatin. This drug is injected subcutaneously in your stomach twice a day and helps with the absorption. Eventually, Laura and some nurse and doctor friends would come to the house and do this (I was too wimpy to learn how to do it). Looking back, they should have coached Laura and sent us out of the hospital with this drug and equipment. The upshot of this all was I got really dehydrated on the plane.<br /><br />I’m guessing this was likely the second most stressful day for Laura. She was on the verge of crying a good bit. This was tough. We finally landed in Atlanta and had maybe 45 minutes to make the connection. The airport is loaded…Christmas traffic and bad weather. I get seated in a safe place and Laura goes hunting for help. I think she breaks down and a Delta supervisor (angel) takes over. We abandon the customs deal…the bags can just catch up. She gets a golf cart, puts me on it, and before we know it, we are on the tarmac (!!!) driving to the gate…the only way she could figure out to make this work. The plane to Charleston is slightly delayed. We make the connection!!!!!<br /><br />Now…this is small commuter plane. I’m really fading…but finally we land. They get us off the plane. We have several folks waiting for us…but the only one I really recall was my precious son Josh. I fell into his embrace in the airport. Man….clearly one of the most touching memorable moments in my life.<br /><br />Down to CAMC General we go. There is very little activity Christmas Eve in a hospital. My great friend Dr. Dave Seidler is there to make this all go quickly. Up we go…private room. They bring in the scales…I’m down to 141 pounds (from 170). I get hooked up to an IV and they run 2 bags thru me. I get the other drugs start flowing…..Laura and Josh make it home and she gets some Granny juice going (this is what granddaughter Zoe calls wine). <br /><br />I got to admit…this all felt like the Four Seasons. Private room, special attention from the medical staff, family and friends nearby, and TV!! <br /><br />I sent a letter eventually to Delta. If we had not made that connection, I would have had to go to an ER in Atlanta. I’m sure we would have made it but that was one chapter I did not need to write, if you know what I mean. Our love and eternal thanks to that Delta supervisor.<br /><br />It’s been interesting to me sort of semi-publically reliving this experience. I’m guessing there is some sort of closure happening. Isn’t the whole new media thing interesting? <br /><br />There are so many people that helped us. You know who you are or maybe you don’t but thank you! We’ll never forget you.<br /><br />I eventually end up in the Cleveland Clinic. If I have the energy...I may write that chapter one day. Thanks for reading and for the many off-line comments. Bottom line...somehow....we need health care for all.Dave Prayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01269756485600831576noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002775523587556789.post-3092904502893318092009-10-02T17:44:00.004-04:002009-10-02T18:57:20.035-04:00Public Health Care.....Part 2<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbREaFo2WCtLaoF932oLkrwJc9dUopL54HSs5baFeTHlM-LJWoZ3FNiFRj1Ghl146gTnjqjl9H2s8iLRTifZ2Q7ZCm2dnMSY99SQvUY4cRdkzwiQnkTiCiU8qA01JLWxPfOwvyuDHIog-E/s1600-h/Picture+021.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388122191922582386" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbREaFo2WCtLaoF932oLkrwJc9dUopL54HSs5baFeTHlM-LJWoZ3FNiFRj1Ghl146gTnjqjl9H2s8iLRTifZ2Q7ZCm2dnMSY99SQvUY4cRdkzwiQnkTiCiU8qA01JLWxPfOwvyuDHIog-E/s400/Picture+021.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This photo is taken the day before I leave for America! Happy!!!<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ok</span>...so where were we??.....OK....<a href="http://www.stvincents.ie/About_Us/About_Us.htm">St. Vincent's University Hospital </a>in Dublin, Ireland. I'm fresh out of the ICU where I've been for the last 24 hours after life saving surgery. Big point....I was not at all aware that I came that close to dying....didn't get it. About 3 years prior I'd been in a very bad bike wreck that sent me to the hospital for two weeks. You might say I am experienced and I inaccurately equated the two events I guess. Laura on the other hand, had been told...point blank....50/50 if I was coming out of surgery alive. So...the trauma experience was not really pointed in my direction.<br /><br />Back to health care....so, the hospital does not have room for me in post surgical care, so I go to the lowest level of care. I show up in a six bed ward...meaning one room...six beds....very simple cloth screen that is occasionally pulled between the beds. Camp like....but with sick folks. I'm unique...i.e. non Irish...so a bit of a celebrity but really not much.<br /><br />When I show up, I'm basically telling Laura to get me out of here....just what she needed. I was honestly scared. I was not at all sure they would take care of me. It was so different than my previous experiences. We were all equals and there was no pulling rank. I had a good friend that is a prominent citizen in Ireland and the care is all equal. There are private hospitals that I guess are better looking facilities...furniture, privacy, food...but the good docs are here and that's what I need. So I'm here...with my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">roomies</span>. No TV...all pretty basic.<br /><br />Here are some bullet points...Roomies....James...age 75....3 packs a day..dying....a wonderful man. An obsessive compulsive character...washes his hands like 15 times a day...had some medical issues but I think it was mostly mental.....a fellow that was there I think because he needed a good meal and a bed...it was like that...he'd go outside to smoke and then one day just walked out.....methadone addict in bed 5......would get VERY cranky if the drugs were not there ON TIME....and a teenager that had very serious kidney problems...a good guy...there were others that came and went. James and I were the old timers. Now I know this would be a BIG ISSUE for a lot of my friends. Honestly, it was all quite entertaining. It was way easier for the nurses and we sort of looked out for one another....or the other <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">roomies</span> did for me as I was the scary sick one.<br /><br />I'm focused.....if I'm coming out of this...I need to step up and do it. Be a big boy and I think that mind set is important. I really think you need to...if you will...be strong...and I think that singular mind set helps with all the other "stuff" that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">might</span> be a distraction if you allow it to be.<br /><br />The facility was just older. Checkout the beds in the photos. There was a pretty good range of skill with the nurses. the day nurses were frankly just great. Felicity, Candy, Penny.....Irish....good looking (sorry...sexist pig present)....fun and kind. I had so many tubes coming in and out of me...I'm not kidding. My abdomen had been opened up...just had to count the sutures...55 and staples. For a few days this would cramp and it was very painful. I had tubes in my nose into my stomach...got pissed one night and pulled em' out. Bad move cause they came and stuck back in.<br /><br />The night nurses were not as skilled....not as well payed I think...not always Irish...there were plenty of Africans around which was OK but they were just not quite as well educated. I was scared at night early on.<br /><br />The big time docs are not addressed as "Doctor Smith" they are called "Mister Smith"....now the Misters were a pretty sharp crowd. I was in the unusual position of being an interesting case, so all the big boys stayed in touch. I think I received very good care. I was being anti-coagulated and pumped with expensive antibiotics. There were a few tests too that were happening and there was no communication about letting me out. Christmas was coming and I wanted out....So Christmas is on like a Friday...on Monday I tell Laura....either we get out this week or I'm leaving. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Hmmmm</span>.<br /><br />Well.....and god bless David <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Seidler</span> my good friend and the Director of Emergency Services at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">CAMC</span>....Dave worked out a transfer...they would not release me but they would transfer me...Once I agreed to pay 'em and my "Mister" agrees to let me go.<br /><br />My <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">physician</span> shows up like Tuesday night. It's pretty late...like 7:00 pm. Dark. He is by himself, which is <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">unusual</span> as...as this is a teaching facility...he usually has a team with him. Solo.....he says I can go home....and then he more or less apologizes. Says he almost missed the diagnosis and was afraid that it was too late when it dawned on him what was going on. Can you imagine that very human thing happening in America? He <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">talked</span> to me all about the surgery...<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">felt</span> he had lost me...and I'm there reassuring him...until he left <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">and</span> then I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">quietly</span> freaked...it all came home that night...or at least most of it. Baby......<br /><br />The deal with the $$$$ was becoming sort of a deal. As I was not an Irish citizen, I needed to pay for the work, and they wanted the payment before I left (they didn't know I already had a jail break planned...my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">roomies</span> were going to show the way) Blue Cross was helpful but they really didn't care if I made it home for Christmas or not. But we worked it out...so.....they agreed to pay for ER...emergency surgery...tons of consultants....tests...drugs...room for 17 nights...etc. etc.....and the grand total is.....$21,000. No...not $210,000....$21,000.<br /><br />You know......that is just so much less than care would have been in America. I still can't believe it. While this setup worked just fine for me I think a lot of Americans would not have liked this at all. There was a TV room where...once I could walk...I would go and watch...you guessed it..ER with the nurses...really.<br /><br />I don't think Docs and Nurses made as much as they do here....relatively...but that's just a guess. But a big step in this direction just might make some sense and get a ton more care spread around.<br /><br />So......the next stop was Delta airlines...then on to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">CAMC</span> and then on to The Cleveland Clinic....so stay tuned.....and please...take care of yourself! Believe me...the story on the the flight home is worth checking back for.Dave Prayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01269756485600831576noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002775523587556789.post-14140198443658494942009-09-29T20:50:00.003-04:002009-09-29T21:04:10.302-04:00My Experience With Public Health CareIn December, 2004 Laura and I traveled to Ireland to visit a variety of friends we knew from school and business. First stop…Dublin. We are pretty experienced travelers and Laura in fact was very active in an Irish business for about 15 years…..so we have flown a good bit and understand and have plenty of experience with jet lag…let’s face it…we’re talking Ireland…not Asia or Australia! So…when I got off the plane and didn’t feel quite right…well I was a bit concerned. <br /><br />We were off the plane by 7:00 am….I was in the emergency room (A&E for Accident and Emergency) by 4:00 pm. My abdominal pain was a 9 on a scale of 1-10. The A&E was incredibly busy and I was in bad shape. They put me on some good drugs and I recall a close call when my blood pressure dropped down to 70 over 40 (“Come on David…stay with me…you can do it”…says the head doc into my ear). <br /><br />Well….they don’t do anything except observe me over the night after I almost go into shock…keep me on morphine and run the experts in and out. Luckily…I’m in a teaching hospital. The pain does not subside. I’m in a total haze around 10:00 am and recall going into surgery and saying goodbye to Laura….this is all surreal but I’m aware I’m in tough territory. I’m sort of aware this may be it…but I’m detached…almost out of body. They waive signing the releases….”We don’t have time!” <br /><br />I go to sleep………<br /><br />And wake up…. “David…David…a young doctor is whispering in my ear. You are in intensive care and you will be OK. You really gave us a scare…..but you are OK.” <br /><br />Now…I can’t really move. I’m in close quarters and the ICU has quite a few folks around me…I mean patients and staff. <br /><br />“We had to remove about half of your small intestines and you now have two pouches on your abdomen. This should be temporary. Ah…but your brave!” (recall…Ireland…super macho). I had an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowel_infarction ">infarcted bowel </a>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowel_infarction . 73 percent of the folks that have this condition die. Very tough diagnosis.<br /><br />Man….wow! Whew…..too much. Five years later and I can’t really believe it.<br /><br />The ICU is quite different. The deal is I have my own nurse and she attends to me and when there is nothing to do, she sits at the foot of my bed. I’m on morphine so this is all quite blurry. I get it that there are some folks nearby not as lucky and there is death in the air…close by…literally.<br /><br />But I’m alive…in Dublin….and about to go into their public system for the next 17 nights. More to follow……..Dave Prayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01269756485600831576noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002775523587556789.post-91384985154440552062009-09-24T15:44:00.003-04:002009-09-24T15:50:23.034-04:00Individual Responsibility in Health Care ReformI’m more than a little disappointed in President Obama’s progress to date. While he’s busy assuring everyone in the United Nations that there is a new sheriff in town…which I don’t imagine caught anyone off guard.....the time for looking backwards is over…period…end of story.<br /><br />But what I really wanted to talk about is health care. Having spent 17 days in Dublin in 2004 in a 6- bed ward after life saving surgery…I suppose I could compare and contrast what amounted to 45 days in skilled medical care facilities (St. Vincents/<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">CAMC</span>/Cleveland Clinic) and discuss the pros and cons of the 2 systems….but I have something else rolling around.<br /><br /><strong>Individual Responsibility<br /></strong><br />As in not smoking….as in controlling your weight…as in taking your medications….as in pushing back from the computer screen and saying hello to the great outdoors.<br /><br />The point in this mini rant is I had the mistaken impression that Barrack Obama would lead the masses to the figurative moon aka JFK. Does anyone recall the President’s Council on Fitness….and the 50 and 400 yard dash/run? I recall it was like 2 years before I could squeeze out one chin up and I finally got to 4 at age lets’ say 9.<br /><br />We need a different health care system. I’m a believer. And I can subscribe to a certain amount of blind faith…..but I can only do so if the leadership of health care reform starts talking about this being a partnership and not an entitlement.<br /><br />Am I out in left field? Feel free to comment.Dave Prayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01269756485600831576noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002775523587556789.post-7868197383992068302009-08-30T10:07:00.003-04:002009-08-30T10:26:35.473-04:00Faulty Grammar May Have Lost Tax Court Case<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-nHul8fUWDVPb9rYHMuevT9Q0phkIbwxnrl1Vz2eAq10Doa7gaQm_srdGuf1tMg8qT18RW97JuDw1dgyB2pHl01Gi9y4E7ElGtEcirN3L_VYZfd7GEJ12IE8DOy3O4qAoKhyU-SNvg__g/s1600-h/GAVEL_COURT.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375758496051695010" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 208px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-nHul8fUWDVPb9rYHMuevT9Q0phkIbwxnrl1Vz2eAq10Doa7gaQm_srdGuf1tMg8qT18RW97JuDw1dgyB2pHl01Gi9y4E7ElGtEcirN3L_VYZfd7GEJ12IE8DOy3O4qAoKhyU-SNvg__g/s320/GAVEL_COURT.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>(Re-printed from <a href="http://www.gandkcpas.com/welcome.html">Gibbon's and Kawash's </a>Fall Newsletter.) Do the abbreviations "i.e." and "e.g." confuse you? Are you unsure of which one to use?</div><div></div><div>A recent tax case required the court to deliver a grammar lesson.</div><div></div><div>First, a little background on the tax issue involved in the case (<em>Laura Seidel v. Commisioner</em>, CA-9, 2009-1 USTC 50,370 April 28, 2009)</div><div></div><div>Compensation received from physical injury is generally excluded from income. However, emotional trauma is not considered a physical injury. So payments received for emotional distress are fully taxable.</div><div></div><div>In a settlement with her former employer, Laura Seidel received $157,000. The settlement agreement described the payments as being for "personal injury (i.e. emotional distress) damages only."</div><div></div><div>The case originally went before the Tax Court in 2007. All of the parties-the Court, Seidel and the IRS-focused attention on the "i.e.".</div><div></div><div>Seidel argued that emotional distress was an example of the type of injuries she had received. The IRS argued that "i.e." is a limiting phrase that should be read to mean that emotional distress was the only type of personal injury being compensated by the payment.</div><div></div><div>The tax court observed that "i.e." is an abbreviation for a Latin phrase <em>id est</em>, which roughly means "that is" or "that is to say". Accordingly, the court agreed with the IRS.</div><div></div><div>Now the Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit has upheld the Tax Court. Interestingly, the higher court did not comment on the Tax Court's grammar skills. The appellate court simply upheld the Tax Court's decision in an unpublished opinion.</div><div></div><div>Note that Seidel might have fared better if the settlement agreement had used "e.g." instead of "i.e.". Both are abbreviations for Latin terms. However, "e.g." stands for <em>exempli gratia</em> which means "for example".</div>Dave Prayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01269756485600831576noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002775523587556789.post-36800604623606561912009-08-17T12:32:00.007-04:002009-08-17T16:32:27.102-04:00Spirit of the Valley<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_mvoHQPj1QqK23qPT4TmhGZLEadnBWQrXVbXKDSzPngKQ7PoaubLzN3MX8zCddfcZLFm9XvqizSDwKIoGT_VZ2MCKgp_rSC6M4KFV1PjqiE-y3R7svOFAyN7g7s3bqmLacyadIa0RxTsR/s1600-h/Spirit1_D0908122onval%5B1%5D.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371032611654902578" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 275px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 178px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_mvoHQPj1QqK23qPT4TmhGZLEadnBWQrXVbXKDSzPngKQ7PoaubLzN3MX8zCddfcZLFm9XvqizSDwKIoGT_VZ2MCKgp_rSC6M4KFV1PjqiE-y3R7svOFAyN7g7s3bqmLacyadIa0RxTsR/s320/Spirit1_D0908122onval%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Last Wednesday was the YMCA’s Spirit of the Valley Luncheon. I was the chairman of this year’s event which honored my father-in-law Charlie Jones. This was a special personal opportunity for me and it stimulated a lot of reflection on my behalf about Charlie (who I’ve known quite well since 1970 and knew casually before that) and my experience with the YMCA. This BLOG entry is about reflections on the YMCA and more broadly, the concept of volunteerism.<br /><br />In the very early 1980’s…I think basically when I turned 30, I decided I had best start spending a bit of attention on my personal fitness which one could argue has become a lifelong obsession. So, I signed up for a co-ed fitness class and would go to the Y a few times a week. During this matt class, John Wells Jr. and I became acquainted. At some point in time, he asked me if I would consider joining the Board of Directors. I really hadn’t done much community service work since high school and zero community leadership work. I was honored and flattered and accepted.<br /><br />I was born in upstate New York and met my wife Laura at the Lawrenceville School (which is where I met Charlie), in New Jersey. I was an import to Charleston and I was amazed at how easy it was to get involved in the community. I recall telling friends…most of whom lived elsewhere…how cool Charleston was. Yeah…they just get you involved and welcome your involvement. Anyway….I was impressed. As I became more involved, Charlie offered me a warning…be careful…the non-profits can suck up all your time.<br /><br />I listened to that advice and decided I would not spread myself too thin…but would attempt to work diligently at any position I accepted or task assigned. Along the way, I bumped into several folks that were on many boards. Many of these people that were simply adding to the curriculum vitae were undependable. A lot of these folks had been encouraged by their employers to seek board positions. One of the problems though was they forgot to tell them to work! Now…I know I set the bar high and my expectations for performance are perhaps a bit steep…but I bet you can relate to what I’m sharing.<br /><br />Anyway…….I worked diligently at the YMCA and ran the facility (from a board perspective) while John Wells Jr. headed the pool campaign. We worked through many tough issues together and this was all a great experience. The point of all of this is that this work I did…while it did in fact benefit the Y and in turn the community…it was really self centered. I was the winner in all of this and continue to be.<br /><br />Don’t miss the opportunity to get involved and do a good job. You’ll get it all back in spades.</div>Dave Prayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01269756485600831576noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002775523587556789.post-70901621881694636882009-08-05T13:15:00.005-04:002009-08-05T13:44:53.213-04:00Knife to a Gun Fight<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib8pttAJKt5na-TOUDRgWPzNglBY8UROzyQiUEfVeD1O7c8vXsK_xjnpXfRY2NLE9QcIz-uifShNJpQ75pZGwAevQ6RISxzak0M9eRyhvyXpUCjLO2GP_7FStqQ8Y4ad0eZxQFeXWA4Dl6/s1600-h/bringiton.gif"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 249px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366529920477106098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib8pttAJKt5na-TOUDRgWPzNglBY8UROzyQiUEfVeD1O7c8vXsK_xjnpXfRY2NLE9QcIz-uifShNJpQ75pZGwAevQ6RISxzak0M9eRyhvyXpUCjLO2GP_7FStqQ8Y4ad0eZxQFeXWA4Dl6/s320/bringiton.gif" /></a><br /><br /><div>I offer a service known as owner's representation. A friend/professional acquaintance of mine also offers this service albeit in another marketplace. He recently published a post that described this <a href="http://www.rharperadr.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/TACC_email_072009_Owner_Rep.209121841.pdf">service </a>in his newsletter and the title of the post was "Don't Bring a Knife to a Gun Fight". The implication to me is...of course...so...you are about to go into construction...huh? Well get ready for a battle.</div><div></div><div>Honestly, that has not been my experience. I'm not sure how many projects I've been somehow involved in...let's say 500.....or that value...easily $500,000,000 and sure...I've been in a few disputes.....but really an amazingly few.</div><div></div><div>As a contractor...I was always reasonably careful about who I worked for. Now....we can all make mistakes and I certainly made a few....can you spell APCO...but besides a few notables, Pray Construction had a great lineup of clients. PrayWorks too has a had a great list of people we have worked for...thanks to you!</div><div></div><div><strong>If an offering seems to good to be true...well it probably is</strong>. One means of travel in this industry is basically to beat a project around until you get the price you are looking for and THEN GET THE CONTRACT SIGNED. OK...now you really need a gun slinger.</div><div></div><div><strong>Assume the project is over once the contract is signed</strong>....<strong>WRONG</strong>...Really, the fun is just beginning...and it can and should be fun....but...as an owner...if you simply rely on your own forces or your architect...well get ready.</div><div></div><div><strong>Understand the contract</strong>...or better...get someone around you (i.e. like me) that will understand the contract and its attachments (read plans and specs)....<strong>pay attention along the way....be knowledgeable....expect great work and fair treatment</strong>...and you'd be surprised.</div><div></div><div>Yes...it is good to be prepared...and if your are conflict averse (BTW...conflict has a bad name...good things can and do come from conflict)...be sure to get someone that is not.</div><div></div><div><strong>The whole process can and should be fun.....Use that paradigm</strong> <div>but put a good plan B in place! How's that for wordsmithing?</div></div>Dave Prayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01269756485600831576noreply@blogger.com1