Credibility

          As you progress through your life, you gain experience and trust with various people based on your actions. This is what you can call obtaining credibility. This means that you have a track record of consistency and/or reliability that is attached to your name. People value credibility because they know they can count on you and the results you present to them time after time. Similar to gaining respect and things of that nature, becoming credible is a process that takes time. Showing up when called upon, being truthful, and being genuine are things that would aid you on your task to becoming more credible. It can take a while to obtain a high level of credibility but it can also be lost with simple inaccuracies and shortcomings. There wouldn't be much value in being credible if the path to acquiring that aspect of yourself was an easy one. If you are the kind person who finds it difficult being reliable, routine is the only way to improve on that side of yourself. Small and minor changes to the way you conduct yourself would be much more easier than a sudden drastic change to your personality. If you stick with it, slowly but surely you'll start to see people looking for that part of you that seems to be brought out on a routine basis. There is also a good chance that they will then share their experiences and feelings about your consistency with others. This can also validate you and actions. Whether you're watching a television show, reading information on a website, or simply talking to a friend, you tend to gravitate to those that you find to be credible. The reason for that is because people like to know what they are getting themselves into and what they are going to get out of it. If you are looking to become credible, consistency with your actions and speaking the truth will definitely help you along the way.

Integrity

           For the most part, as we go through life we all would like to be respected by one another based on the way we conduct ourselves. Integrity deals with the idea of someone being trustworthy and having very strong moral values. Becoming a person who has great integrity isn't an over night act but a habit practiced over a period of time. Similar to building a relationship with a person, one would have to compare the actions that you display to previous ones experienced to gauge whether they are consistent or not. Consistency in morals, beliefs, and actions help build your integrity and because of this people will begin to form a specific view of you. Perception is one of the main components of this term. How people perceive you to be initially may not be the same way that they view you later down the road. The idea of someone who's moral views and trustworthiness that seems to change frequently can cause people to lose faith in your validity. Being someone who remains true to their actions time after time is a person who can be relied upon and will usually deliver no matter the circumstances. If your goal is to become a person who has a substantial amount of integrity, always remember that its an aspect of life that occurs time after time, and  not something that is plainly stated to be so.

"Live life, responsibly"

-Kelly McGhee

Hacking, Spying and Prying

          

           When you send a text message to a friend or loved one, are they the only ones to see it? When you call your business associates to discuss private matters, are they really private? When your browsing the internet for more information on touchy subjects, are you being monitored? These are questions that not too long ago would be so far from thought but now make headlines on some of the world's biggest news outlets.

          We are in the age of information and can find out just about anything we want to know. Peoples approximate whereabouts, online activity/history, credit card information, and SSNs can be acquired with ease. Technology that has made our lives easier on a day by day basis potentially leave us vulnerable to cyber attacks that can damage incredible progress made over time. The U.S. government for a while now have been keeping tabs on its citizens to prevent future terrorist attacks. Their efforts have proven to be successful for the most part but what has been lost in the process. The idea of true privacy is slowly slipping away in our everyday lives because of the way various information is collected.

          Non-Government workers (civilians) are capable of possessing software and services that can intercept your text messages and e-mails. Listen to your phone calls. Turn your webcam or cell phone camera on to see where you are and your surroundings. They can even monitor your on screen activity so whatever you see, they see. When first hearing about this, it does seem very scary but then you wonder, who would use this and why? Some smartphone app creators call these "spy apps" and market them to insecure spouses to "snoop" on a potential cheater. Some say you can use them as a boss to see if your employee is being truthful and respectable outside of the work place. What's interesting is how you would go about doing this. The only way you can "hack" someone's phone to these measures is to download the software on their phone or computer. But even if you lock your device there is software that only requires you to call someone and get their unique phone frequency. In other words you have to deceive someone in order to hack their device.

          When thinking in those terms, do two wrongs make a right? To be honest, you would be doing something very underhanded to find information that may not even exist to begin with. This all comes down to what could be an uncontrollable urge to know the unknown. When thinking on a governmental level we are being protected and should feel safe, but people's concerns come from another place in that security. The idea of a person having a wide range of access to you at all times means you have to be mindful of your actions because someone's watching and potentially paying close attention. Most people would agree that we don't live in a perfect world so there are some that would abuse such a power to catch you when you are most vulnerable. Imagine being in your home, a place where you should feel relaxed and at ease. You hop out of the shower and receive a message on your cell phone. You go to check it without covering your nude body because your under the impression that your alone. Being that most smartphones have a front facing camera someone that has compromised your device takes a screenshot of you and now possess a very compromising photo of you. 

           Now there are a lot of people that absolutely don't care but to those that do, this could greatly harm their reputation, public image, and emotional well being due to being ridiculed. This is in no way an article to discredit the government and their efforts to protect us from harm, this is meant to inform the population of the possibility that their privacy is being abused by untrustworthy people. It is up to you to protect yourself as you see fit and hopefully you are not taken advantage of in the future.

"Live life, responsibly"

-Kelly McGhee

Unity

           For the most part, people would agree that there is strength in numbers when approaching something challenging or difficult. Unity has to do with separate parts, pieces, and aspects coming together as a whole. Moving in unison gives great advantage to those united due to the combined effort and characteristics that make up the specific unit formed. You can see many display’s of unity with our government, police and fire departments, sports teams, military forces, and many more. Leadership plays a big role when unifying a collective group. To create a successful bond between different people the leader must be aware of most strengths and weaknesses so that they can be complimented accordingly. Unity is also good for social interaction and learning. Sharing ideas, emotions and physical interactions can help build a better bond with a specific group making it much more effective when tackling various tasks. When the idea of unity comes up, the quote “all for one, and one for all” would be a perfect way to describe the term. When becoming united, actions of the individual reflect and influence the whole. Moving together and complimenting one’s surroundings would be a great way to ensure a long lasting unity between you and the group or organization you are a part of.

“Live life, responsibly”

-Kelly McGhee

Leadership

Leadership is guidance. Without a leader, it can be somewhat difficult for a group or organization to function effectively when attempting to complete tasks and various goals. Leaders not only can see successful endings but organize groups based on strengths and weaknesses to ensure the best possible chance of a positive progression. Leaders have much control over the outcome of a particular situation and because of this they must be accountable for whatever results are produced. Everyone is not born with great leadership skills. The idea of having a group of people looking towards you for answers that you may not have at the moment can really put you in the "hot seat" pretty easily. A strong leader embraces pressure and produces with a sense of urgency and precision. Be in mind, a leader is only as good as the group being lead. The quote "you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink" is perfect for this point. No matter how you may intend to influence the outcome of your group’s effort by leading, it ultimately depends on their abilities to do what they set out to do. Inspirational skills also are put into play when referring to leadership. An inspirational leader also has the capability of bringing out hidden talents of someone that they may not have known existed before. Leadership is a very useful and well needed skill when thinking of keeping large groups and organizations on track when pursuing success but a leader is only as good as the people being lead.

"Live life, responsibly"

-Kelly McGhee

Solace

Life isn't always full of happy days and positivity. Sometimes you may need to offset sad moments and negativity by finding solace. Some may call it an escape or finding peace, but solace is the idea or feeling of comfort during hard times. Solace is a way to keep your emotions and mental state in check while your journey of life takes an unexpected turn. An example would be if you get a bad grade on a test and you watch your favorite television show to take your mind off of the failure you endured. By doing this, it is possible to reset your mood and thoughts so that you can either move on or attempt to try again with your shortcomings. Finding solace isn't just limited to watching t.v. Solace can range from artistic expressions, conversing with friends, traveling, trying new foods, reading inspirational books, etc. The trick is to find out what keeps you "sane" during chaotic moments so you can effectively function. What may work for someone you know may not necessarily work for you. Be in mind that the concept is to avoid being overwhelmed by the lows of life, not to ignore them. If what you find solace in is affecting your progression or ability to alleviate negative situations then you may need to find another way to do so. Finding peace in various activities and moments can be difficult, but if you are true to yourself and do whats best for you, it can make things a little more easier to handle.

"Live life, responsibly"

-Kelly McGhee

Loyalty

Loyalty is a strong support for a person, society, organization, or cause. Being loyal tends to mean that you aren't just supportive, but that you are also willing to make sure that what you are supporting is a success or continues to flourish. Loyalty is another thing that you may come across in life that could possibly peak your intrest. Having someone that is loyal to you or what you believe in can give you a good boost in confidence and can make what you are trying to accomplish that much easier. True loyalty is consistent and unquestioned. Whether you are experiencing wonderful days or your darkest hours, whoever is truly loyal will remain so. Loyalty is closely related to respect in terms of supporting someone or something based on how it is presented and what its about. But, just like respect, because you are loyal to someone doesn't necessarily mean they will be loyal to you. When the moment comes where you have to make a choice on whether or not to show your support, take the bigger picture into consideration. What would come from your support, how would it affect other people, and would you stand by your decision no matter the conditions? If you are without any doubt of showing loyalty then you should show support. Always remember, loyalty is through thick and thin.

"Live life, responsibly"

-Kelly McGhee

Racism in sports?

Recently there has been a discrepancy over whether or not certain sports team's names are offensive and/or racist to the Native American demographic. Teams like the Cleveland "Indians", Kansas City "Chiefs", Atlanta "Braves" derive from Native American culture and have defined these athletic organizations for years. Particularly out of all of them, the Washington "Redskins" have generated an outcry from various Native American tribes in a negative manner. They claim that the term is very derogatory and demeans their heritage and culture that they have held dear for generations in the past. The Washington Redskins Owner is said to be aware that his team may be offensive but intrestingly has a defense to the name chosen. Washington Redskins Owner says that the name has a place in many fan's hearts and is almost historical in terms of tradition over the past football seasons. So far there is no word that there will be a name change even though President Obama has spoken on the issue this week. A poll in the Washington

Post reveals that a majority of the population doesn't find it offensive or just doesn't care. This is a very intresting situation because it can tell us alot about us as people if a specific group comes forth and says that a well known organization is displaying what seems to blatant racism and pretty much arguing that its ok.  We'll cover more of this story as it unfolds.

-Kelly McGhee

Modesty

Last week we covered confidence, but there is something that should be addressed if you would like to avoid being completely arogant in the way you carry yourself. Modesty is a good thing to keep the estimations of your abilities moderate and down to earth. People that are modest are humble and almost never overestimate themselves. The cause of this could be because of a low self-esteem or due to the "realistic" nature of someones prediction of what they're capable of. Modesty is a good practice for those that have tasks that are very meticulous and require precision. An arogant person may miss particular details because they don't believe they matter where as someone that is modest is completely aware of them and shows it in their actions. To be modest is to feel honored that you even have a chance to make something a success rather than feeling like you deserve it just because its you attempting it over someone else. We all want to be the best or at least feel like we are at some point but it is very much possible for that to over shadow what you are actually capable of. In other words, let your actions do the talking. Not your ego.

"Live life, responsibly"

-Kelly McGhee

Respect

The admiration of someones abilities, character, and beliefs is called respect. We all want it and tend to give it to people we see fit. Its all about who you are and what you do when attempting to gain respect. The idea of giving to recieve is only valid when dealing with a respectful person. Its kind of hard to be a genuine person without showing the utmost respect to someone who is giving you the same. So be mindful that you can be the best person you can be to someone and at the end of the day it still won't be enough. Don't let this get you down, but rather admire someone that has the kind of personallity your looking for that will give back when recieving. It can be hard to be respected but the trick is being the kind of person that has a specific way of conducting themselves and standing by it. Leaders are at the top of the list of respected people because they have the ability to convince people that they can get them to where they want to go by how they operate. Its a tough task and in the beginning you may not recieve the respect you want but if you remain true to your morals and who you are, you'll slowly but surely notice yourself getting the respect you deserve.

"Live Life, responsibly"

-Kelly McGhee

Temptation

Many people along with myself have fallen victim to temptation. The idea of finding pleasure in something at first but later regreting that it even took place to begin with. Temptations may vary from person to person so managing them can be tricky. Where one may succumb to a tempting treat that isnt necessiarily healthy after a meal, another may not be able to resist a risky oportunity that could potentially bring them closer to their dreams. It would be wise to be honest with your weaknesses when dealing with temptations because this is what it thrives off of. The lack of control to resist instant satisfaction of certain aspects of life could be the "kryptonite" of a person who is impatient and/or overly optimistic for a positive outcome. You really have to look at tempting moments for what they are and what they could do to you if you wish to indulge in them. The saying "good things come to people who wait" is perfect for this topic. Just because a moment may present itself as something amazing upfront is enough for you to miss a great downfall waiting for you around the corner. Theres nothing wrong with wanting to feel good, but when the negatives outweigh the positives you probably should look for pleasure elseware (it will more than likely benefit you down the road). All in all, if your in a predicament where you cant decide whether to give in to temptation or not. Just ask yourself one question. "Am I going to regret this later"?

"Live life, responsibly"

-Kelly McGhee

Ambition

Chasing goals and aspiring to do accomplish great feats often requires a little thing we call ambition. It is the drive to pursue what you set out to acheive. Its the burning fuel in us that keeps us going along our journey even when it feels like there isnt anymore left in us. People who are ambitious are percieved to be hardworkers and clever thinkers. The willpower of an ambitious person is usually rather high and because of this, brings them much success in taking care of what they set out to complete. Keeping a sharp mind also can give you an edge because you are able to see potential posibilities in certain situations that others may overlook. Ambition is setting a destination and precisely making moves in order to get there. Be in mind, there is a fine line between ambitious and being unrealistic (don't bite off more than you can chew). As long as you are confident in what you are capable of doing and continue to work towards your goals, you'll start to see yourself becoming a more ambitious person as the days pass.

"Live life, responsibly"

-Kelly McGhee