Erich Stauffer

Author: Erich Stauffer

  • 7 Steps to Turn Desires into Reality

    A method by which desire can be transmuted into reality in seven steps.
    1. Fix in your mind the exactly what you desire. It is not sufficient merely to say in general what you want. Be definite and specific.
    2. Determine exactly what you intend to give in return for what you desire. (There is no such reality as “something for nothing.”)
    3. Establish a definite date when you intend to have what you desire.
    4. Create a definite plan for carrying out your desire. Write out your steps, the smaller the better.
    5. Write out a clear, concise statement of exactly what you want (Step 1), what you intend to give in return (Step 2), a time limit for its acquisition (Step 3), and describe
    clearly the plan through which you intend to accumulate it (Step 4). SEE below.
    6. Read your written statement aloud, twice daily, once just before retiring at night, and once after arising in the morning. As you read—see and feel and believe yourself already
    in possession of what you desire.
    7. Begin at once, whether you are ready or not, to put these steps into action. Otherwise, you never will be “ready”.
    It is important that you follow the instructions described in these seven steps. It is especially important that you observe, and follow the instructions in step six. You may complain that it is impossible for you to, “see yourself in possession of what you desire,” before you actually have it. Here is where a burning desire will come to your aid. If you truly desire something so keenly that your desire is an obsession, you will have no difficulty in convincing yourself and others that you will acquire it. The object is to want it, and to become so determined to have it that you convince yourself you will have it.
    I desire _________________________________________________________________ and am willing to give ____________________________________________________ in order to get it. I will have it by _______________________ using the following plan:

  • Partnerships, Helpful or Hurtful?

    I’m sure that most of us have a certain picture come to mind when the word “partner” is said.  It could have to do with the game of patty cake.  It could have to do with a business endeavor.  It could have to do with an alternative lifestyle.  Maybe you see a man with a cowboy hat saying: “Howdy partner!”

    However many different ways that you see it, it will always involve another person.  Nobody can be a partner by themselves.  One of the cheesiest examples of this is the Lone Ranger and his trusted pal….Tonto.  What particular partnerships come to you mind in the realm of sports?  What about in romantic relationships?  Music?  Business?  Comedy?  Do you mostly envision healthy partnerships where the two together are stronger than they would be apart?  Or do you tend to imagine broken partnerships that didn’t pass the test of time?  You may discover some of your own prejudices towards your own partners by examining these.

    For Growth and Creation

    Great partnerships will typically cause growth for both parties.  There is a clear demarcation of who one was at the beginning of the partnership to who they are in the midst of it, over some amount of time.  Sometimes we are only aware of this subconsiously.  We may not even conciously plan to grow.  We just know that it is worth our time and energy to be a part of something, so we continue to do it.  Partnerships created around a certain task are often to create a solution to a problem, or simply to create something that the individuals could not do apart.  Maybe the clearest illustration of this is the conception of a child by a man and a woman.  Neither could create a child by themselves, but only by both having a common goal and an enjoyable (ahem) task.

    The transfer of knowledge can never happen without two people making an agreement.  One must agree to give, and the other to receive.  Here is something that I saw this week:

    httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTrrv-Fe3aM

    If you give a man a fish, he will eat for a day.  If you teach a man to fish, he will eat for a lifetime.  If you throw a man a fish, if he is your partner, he will catch it!

    The risk…

    Of course, partnerships only succeed over time if you count on somebody to do their part.  This means that there is the risk of failure and pain.  So, to avoid this possible pain, just avoid all partnerships!  It’s easy, right?  But, life will be utterly lonely.

    You have made a partnership with every person in your life on some level.  Maybe its just a partnership to be friendly in social situations.  Maybe it is a pledge to take care of another’s physical or emotional needs.  It can be an agreement to avoid each other (like an enemy).  Partnerships are everywhere.

    As you manage your life and the actions of your life, be aware of the partnerships that you have and how you are utilizing them.  Don’t manipulate people, but be a good partner.  Give your partners what they ask for and don’t be afraid to ask for what you need!

  • Erich Stauffer Hires General Manager

    Erich Stauffer welcomes Jason Cobb who brings his extensive management experience from the banking sector and applies it to business promotion at the brink of explosive growth as workers in the Midwest begin opening their own businesses “on the side” or to replace a previous job.

    Indianapolis, IN (TELABLUE) February 24, 2009 — Erich Stauffer announced today the hiring of Jason Cobb as the new Product Manager. Cobb has over 7 years of previous experience managing people and projects for the financial industry. “I am excited to bring data-driven marketing as a new addition to the Erich Stauffer culture, said Jason Cobb, General Manager at Erich Stauffer. “I am confident as we continue to move forward that we will can grow the brand of web design that Erich Stauffer has already established in the Indianapolis area to the rest of the Midwest.”

    “Jason Cobb is a welcome addition to our executive management team,” said Chris Hendrickson, Sales Manager at Erich Stauffer. “His approach to management through analysis and accountability will help us continue to improve our positive operating results in spite of the current challenging macroeconomic environment.” Jason has worked for several large institutions and looks forward to the growth potential and nimbleness of an up-and-coming business in the heart of the Midwest.  “Jason Cobb is a hard-working executive ,” said Erich Stauffer, Production Manager at Erich Stauffer. “I look forward to working with him as we help businesses around the Midwest, but especially in Indianapolis, grow.  That’s what its all about.”

  • Life ROI

    How to judge the return on investments you’ve made in your life.

    Using the base point of a high school graduate or GED equivalent aged 17-18 years old, what life investments show the greatest ROI (return on investment).  Is it better to start working for another company right away to build experience and move up the corporate ladder or is it better to sit it out four years in college, then start at the bottom working for another company?  Is it better to attend a trade school or 2-year college then enter the workforce as a type of hybrid?  Is working for someone else better than starting out on your own in the beginning, middle, or late in your working life?  How does being married affect your success in life?  Does it matter if your spouse supports you or if you have an unhappy marriage?  How do children affect success?

    There are many metrics and many examples of each scenario.  It is hard to know how you want to end up when you are 17-18 years old, but if you could do it all over again – if you could share your experiences with someone just starting out – or just laid off and starting over – what advice would you give them?

    My Path

    After high school I attended college for 5 years during which time I got married and had children.  I graduated with a bachelors degree and a mountain of debt, going to school and working full time as a bank clerk during and after college.  It wasn’t until I went back to school to get Microsoft certifications that I could get beyond the clerk job.  The 6-month certification training nearly doubled my 5 year investment in college tuition and board.  I watched as peers who didn’t go to college at all were at or above my clerk level and were without the college loan debt.  The only thing that allowed me to move up was going beyond the BS degree.  Because of that experience I tend to recommend going straight into a technical training field or apprenticeship straight out of high shool whether you plan on working for someone else or yourself.  Become an expert in your field and above all, follow your passions, but listen to those around you.  If you keep hearing the same advice from different people, its probably right and should be considered.

    Success can be measured many different ways.  While children may take your time and energy, they also give you motivation and fulfil your innate desire to leave a legacy behind.  The joy and agony that comes from raising children is uncomparable to any other duty in life.  Have you ever heard that behind every good man is a great woman?  This is usually true if the man and wife are supportive and loving of each other.  A constant bickering under one roof can only restrain what could otherwise be successful endeavors.  How can we measure success?  How do you measure success?

  • People Watching in Utah

    I’m sitting in the Salt Lake City airport.  I’m casually doing some people watching.  There is a women’s college basketball team that has gone back and forth in their matching kelly green hooded sweat shirts and sweat pants.  They seem to be on their way to play a game, but they could be returning.  They are loose, laughing, casual, and seemingly a bit boy crazy.  They look my way now and again, maybe wondering if I am married or not.  It’s flattering, but I can’t really see myself “with” any of them.  It’s not that they aren’t physically attractive, they just can’t capture my attention at this point in my life.

    I have also noticed a good amount of older couples meandering through the terminal.  It’s interesting to notice all of their similarities, and not see too many differences.  They seem to move in tandem, with one leading the other.  So far, more men leading than women.  Both seem a little resigned to be with the other.  They probably want to go to the same place, but they don’t seem to be enjoying the journey to get there.  I look at the women and try to imagine them as girls once again.  Maybe they played on a basketball team at some point, “back in the day”.  Maybe they were boy crazy at one point too.  Maybe they latched on to one of these boys and ended up marrying one of them.  Walking down the aisle with stars in their eyes.  An end of innocence, a turning of the page.  But a page that they turn willfully, proudly, passionately even.

    The group of people I have been most struck by today have been the middle aged mothers.  I have always been drawn to young children.  Their joy for life is often impossible to contain, even in a sterile airport in February.  But its their mothers that are speaking to me today.  Not literally, but in the looks of pride on their faces.  There is a tangible sense of “I’m doing it!” beaming from them every time someone mentions how cute their son or daughter is.

    I’m not sure if it is this place, or my perspective that is different today.  Typically, the mothers I see tend to be worn out, beaten down, and ready for a break.  Perhaps it is the completion of the flight that is reason to celebrate, or at least smile for a bit.  Maybe it is the anticipation of the destination and the impending joy for their children and the trip that is almost upon them.  Maybe it’s none or all of these things.

    Maybe they saw the green machine basketball girls too.  Maybe they remembered what it was like to have such a fun and enjoyable task as a “job” and the excitement of a possible flirtatious encounter.  Maybe they saw the older couples as well and felt a different sense of pride for them, like an appreciation of a race well run.  That comfort of a companion who has cheered the same victories, and fought the same fights.  It’s something they look forward to, although with the same longing for love that they had as a young woman.  They seem to know that either way, there is a lot of life left to live, especially for their kids.  I’m happy to believe that these women still have for their own fulfillment and joy to long for and live in.

    The Joy of the Journey

    It is a long way from beginning to end, but there isn’t time to wish you were somewhere else on the journey.  Maybe you have kids, maybe you have a career, maybe you are student.  If you have starting something that you know will continute in the the future for a considerable amount of time, it only makes sense to enjoy it.  A lot of things in life feel like you “have to”.  The solution is to change your thinking into understanding that you “want to”.  Search around the site to find more ways to grow into this way of thinking.

  • Youtube Query String Parameters

    I’ve been experimenting with the query string parameters after the main Youtube address. Some people may refer to them as “Youtube codes”, but the easiest way to explain them is that they are the ampersands and snippet of text at the end of the web address. This string of of code, the Youtube query string parameters, adds functionality to what is presented. There is no real comprehensive guide on the Internet for this, but I’ve compiled a short list of the Youtube codes I could find here so that when you need them, you’ll be able to find the Youtube codes or “query string parameters” faster than I did.

    Update: If you’re looking for query strings for Youtube or Google Maps, you might try Map Strings if the other link isn’t working.

    Thanks to sysop073 for the heads up on Reddit.

    Query

    Translation
    &hl= hl stands for Host Language (thank you MapKi!) It is followed by “hl Parameter Values” which correspond to “Language/Locales” ex. en-US means English (United States and Canada).

    It also can stand for hoc loco, which is Latin for “in this place” or hl stands for “human language”, but not in this case.
    &video_id= Youtube video ID – used in conjunction with &get_video? to embed a Youtube video into another application. Not supported by Youtubes terms of service and may no longer work.
    &t= Youtube video tag – used in conjunction with Youtube video ID.
    &fmt= &fmt=6 is good quality, &fmt=18 is better, and &fmt=22 is the best. Video must originally be in high definition (HD) to work. May not work regardless as this feature is in beta and not available for all videos.
    &rel= Rel stands for related. In relation to youtube, rel=1 means show related feeds and rel=0 means don’t.
    &fs= Allows the fullscreen button to show up or not. 1 means it will show up, 0 means it is disabled.
    &start=225 Starts the video 225 seconds into the video.

    I recommend this extensive post on Youtube plugins and tools for more information and for advanced users, check out the Youtube Reference Guide. Also, check out this Google Maps Parameters Guide from MapKi and Youtube Query String Arguments.

    More > Learn how to delete a Digg submission > How to Delete a Digg Submission…

  • Climbing up the Mountain…Literally

    The Challenge

    So, I put a challenge before myself: to hike to the top of the Upper Yosemite Falls Trail.  According to the official description on the National Parks website, it is a 3.6 mile trip up, with 2,700 feet in elevation gain.  You are told to plan on 6-8 hours of hiking time, with the grade of the trail listed as “strenuous”.  Being the middle of winter, it was also going to be cold, icy, and AWESOME.  I was eager to get started at noon.

    I brought a backpack filled with bottled water, triscuits, spray-can cheese, and some beef jerky.  The essentials, of course.  I took my time on the first few switchbacks, resting every 5 minute or so.  I figured that if I caught my breath, I could keep a good rhythm of work, rest, work, rest, etc.  It was very manageable and I made it to the halfway point.  Here was the view:  httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58a7mGfQ0bY

    Now, It had been about 2 hours, and I had enjoyed a lot of great view of the Yosemite Valley on the way.  But honestly, it hadn’t been much of a challenge.  I was barely hungry, thirsty, or tired.  I was staring at an amazing waterfall and rainbow, and I wanted to see the source of what created it.  After taking that video, I decided to eat the rest of my rations, chug some water, and just push it out the rest of way up the steepest part of the trail.  On the way up, I saw about 20 people at different levels of hiking and resting.  After the halfway point, I only saw 3 more people.  For a lot of people, the halfway point of the trail was the finish line.  I mean, that’s a pretty incredible view of the falls right there.  But for me, I had not been challenged enough yet, so I decided to go the rest of the way without stopping for more than 10 seconds at a time.

    Holy crap, did this hike kick my butt!  I had to trick my mind on every turn.  I would look up a rock staircase and see all of the steep steps in front of me, and feel like stopping.  But, I would convince myself to keep on going until the next turn, and then take a rest.  When I got to the turn, I told myself to just keep going and rest on the next turn.  I did this for every turn for the next 2 hours, and made it to the top.

    The reward

    httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmH2hKrECwU

    I felt so good that I had made it to the top.  I felt a huge sense of accomplishment.  The view from the top wasn’t breathtaking, but I had a real sense of how far I had come from the valley floor.  I had a ton of memories of all of the different turns and steps up the trail.  The journey meant so much more to me than the destination, when it was all said and done.  But, I wouldn’t have continued on the journey if I didn’t have something to reach at the end of the journey.

    Insert metaphoric language here.  During the trip, I was relating every step to a specific issue that I was dealing with.  It really made me examine how much ground I covered in a certain amount of time.  I was making progress.  I was moving forward.  I still am.  Do you have a way of measuring your progress on your journey?

  • Erich Stauffer Hires Sales Manager

    Erich Stauffer announces hire of Chris Hendrickson. With over 8 years of experience, Hendrickson will oversee the company’s sales division, delivering exceptional service to clients in the Midwest.

    Indianapolis, IN (TELABLUE) January 21, 2009 — Erich Stauffer, a leading provider for Indianapolis web design and web promotion products and services, is pleased to announce the recent addition of Chris Hendrickson to our team as the Sales Manager for the organization.  Chris will be focused on creating client acquisition strategies, further developing a positive client onboarding experience, and will lead product management efforts for the fast growing Indianapolis web design company.

    Chris brings 8 years of project and product management experience to the Erich Stauffer team.  His skills in delivering products and services to clients on schedule, within budget and with the highest quality are well-respected and admired.  Chris is a graduate of Ball State University with a B.S. degree in Finance.  He also acquired his PMP, Project Management Professional, certification in January 2008, and has been active member of the Central Indiana Chapter of the Project Management Institute since that time.

    “Chris will be a great addition to our team at Erich Stauffer.  His ability to interact with clients, understand their vision, and develop solutions that suit their needs will bring great strength to an already solid foundation to our Indianapolis web design company.  We are very excited about the growth of the sales division under his leadership,” says Erich Stauffer’s General Manager, Jason Cobb.

    “I am delighted to join Erich Stauffer and look forward to continue building strong partnerships with our clients and local businesses.  Erich Stauffer has established itself as an emerging Indianapolis web design and web promotion company, and I could not be more excited about being part of a team with such strong talent and innovative ideas,” said Hendrickson.

  • Attitude…How You Lean

    In light of the US Airways flight that safely crash landed into the Hudson River yesterday, my mind raced through what I might do in such a situation, both as a passenger, and as the  pilot.

    As a passenger, I would probably break the “no cell phones during flight” rule and call my children, if there was even time for that.  I would assume that death was at hand and prepare to meet my maker.  Maybe my mind would flash back to scenes from the movie Castaway and how Tom Hanks’ character actually did survive a water landing.  The nearby island might be a little bit more inhabitable than his, but I digress.

    More than likely, I would assume the worst, until the plane stopped its free fall and I found myself still breathing and able to move.  Really, what can you do when you are trapped and strapped inside of something that heavy going against the force of gravity?

    Now, as the pilot, my brain starts spinning things in a more heroic direction.  Even though the plane is fighting a losing battle with gravity, I still feel some sense of power, since I can control the wings.  Perhaps I can see the terrain below and choose an ideal crash site, like a river.  Not only do I want to save my own life for myself and my family, but I have so many others who will benefit from my opportunity to steer us closer to safety and away from a more clear danger.  The goal would be to save lives and just plain (no pun intended) do my job.  But, as was the case with the pilot, C.B. Sullenberger, I might become a hero overnight.  Just responding the way that I knew I needed to respond would bring great appreciation and accolade.

    Repetition

    One thing that C.B. Sullenberger had going for him (and everyone else on the plane, for that matter), was that he was passionate for safety procedures.  Even though this was his first jet-airliner crash, it didn’t seem “new” to him, because he had rehearsed it in his mind so many times before.  He was aware of the risks of flight, and didn’t fly airplanes hoping that such a situation would never happen.  He was prepared for any possible situation and took the “responsibility” aspect of being a pilot as fully as the “fun” side.  Because he had practiced the crash landing mentally, his body knew how to respond, even though the stakes were much higher.  You can probably see where I am going with this, but it is absolutely true that practice and repetition will serve you better than just “showing up” for game time, whatever your game might be.

    Control

    The biggest difference between my response as a passenger and my response as a pilot is control, or at least, and understanding of control.  Is control an illusion?  Maybe.  But it is absolutely true that we can alter the course of our lives, every day.  Even in situations where we feel like we have no control, most often WE put ourselves in that situation.  WE chose to get on that airplane.  Yes, the odds are small that it could crash, but the odds are still there.  That was our choice.  We controlled that choice.  Just like we control where we work.  What town we live in.  What type of society we live in.  The value of money.  When we have freedom, we have control.  With freedom, there should be less fear.

    Attitude

    Finally, our attitude strongly impacts our outcomes in life.  We all know what the word “altitude” means.  It is the relation between the airplane and sea level.  In the flight world, a plane’s “attitude” refers to whether it is leaning left or right.  With our choices in life, we can either lean in a positive direction, or a negative direction.  Think about magnets, and how a negatively charged magnet repels objects, while a positively charged magnet attracts things.  When you are charged negatively, you are pushing things and people away, saying “I don’t want to be a part of this.  I can’t help myself, so how can I help you.  Woe is me!”  When you are charged positively, you are drawing people and things to you, saying “I am in control.  Trust me.  We can do it!”

    I think that it is clear how we all want to lean in terms of our attitude.  There is something very attractive about a positive attitude.  Magnetic even.  Maybe that’s why I relate so much to this guy.

    This is a guest post by Zac Parsons.