Making a Difference:

I’d like to think I can make a difference in most endeavors or causes I endeavor to be connected with.? I’m not comfortable being a wall flower, although, take me to any club or bar and that is what I will be.? That aside, if I have the opportunity, see the opportunity and feel that my internal voice could quite possibly have a positive effect, then by all means, I will express it.? It’s a right I reckon, but also a passion.? In many situations I am questioning the STATUS QUO, in others I am offering my advice, based on experience, then disseminating that down to the point at hand.? I am more then willing to step in, step up and roll up my sleeves.? I am thrilled to lend a hand, just ask me. However, If I feel that my presence, my ideas and my skills are not needed, wanted, welcomed or respected, I will extract myself from the situation and move on. ?

Many times, I have taken to task my cell phone company, the bank and even my health care provider. Yeah, I am that guy. You may see me as that old cranky weirdo with nothing better to do. But for me, ‘I think’, I am serving the greater good, or I hope I am.? Yes it also serves me to stand up and ask the 'WTH' questions and suggest that there must be a better way.? Arguably those who state I am just cranky, could be the same folks, who say and do nothing in direct context, yet complain on the internet to the void, or to family, friends and co-workers. I mean we are all guilty of such banter, like it or not, but at one point, perhaps that groaning should be more focused on change. ?

‘Why should I care?’ wails Roger Daltry and maybe others too. How is it you have time for such tomfoolery? And why?? If I said, well I am a writer, I engage for the experience as well as for the potential for a positive outcome, what would you say?? Further examples are my experiences in fighting parking tickets and defending myself without a lawyer, yes in court, no I didn't do anything bad, at least once to defend my good name, yes I won, quite a few times actually, against lawyers. I look back on those experiences with a Cheshire Grin and An Experience had and to draw from.? To go through life any other way, at least for me, would cause me to lose agency over my life. ?

The idea of agency was first proposed to me in feedback on a screenplay.? It caught me by surprise, because I didn’t know what it was or meant and couldn’t immediately define it.? Even upon research, the immediate concept escaped me.? I researched further and further until I could come up with a metaphor.? Which in case you are wondering is simply this:? Agency is driving the train, losing agency is being a passenger.? Sure there are plenty more metaphors one could use. But for me, a train seems more out of control than being a passenger in a car or on a plane. Anyway the thing is, what I really mean and getting back to the point here, is where we are ending up.? Agency: are you in control of your own agency? do you have agency in life? And are you contributing to not only your own agency, but for the better good of those involved? Therefore giving others agency.? Might you be a role model? Do you see yourself as one? Even if amusing to others??

I am sorry I just can’t accept things like, ‘Thats just the way it is’ or ‘that’s how THE SYSTEM works’ which is applied to everything, everywhere all at once it seems. The idea of ‘The System’, is applied to the Futures Market all the way through to Health Care, education and yes government. I often repute, ‘The System’, is not aliens with guns drawn down upon us, it is not some nefarious celestial body (band name alert), ‘The System’? is created, programmed and manipulated by humans, and as such, can be deconstructed and reprogrammed by humans, with, dun dun dunnnn - you guessed it 'AGENCY'. Cue the glitter canon.

Wow I can’t believe I made that come full circle. ?

On that note I think I’ll end his latest edition, but if in case you were wondering how this applies to filmmaking or entrepreneurialism, think about it…

(writers note: the first edition was posted with way to many type - O's. It was in my haste to finish and get outside to rake leaves. I kid you not. I think I have now fixed those grave errors, sorry about that.)