Celebrate, Appreciate: Keep Going, Sowing and Growing This issue is very much about celebration and appreciation; including appreciation for a mild Winter, a “weather perfect” Easter (at least for Northeast Ohio), miracles large and small, and foremost, for life itself. Included are brief comments about an after Church Service Easter Egg Drop that delighted and excited children, along with a few adults. Then there was a celebration of a life about to begin at the Baby Shower given in honor of Baby Steven, who is “on the way.” We decided to surprise our friends Cynthia and Gordon Weston by sharing their granddaughter Kendall ’s winning ways, as she continues to make her family proud. Appreciation extends to the Pixel Photo Club and founder Vicki Jeromos-Blayney’s ability to draw top photo experts to the club as members and presenters. We also appreciate the vision and willingness of Vicki and husband Jim to use their talents to launch Pinup Industry Magazine, a digital publication designed to elevate the businesses of pinup artists and professionals. Certainly my greatest appreciation is being of part of my wife Dianne’s month-long Birthday celebration, and her remarkable comeback from the prognosis she faced last August. This Birthday celebration is a reminder of what is really important. Of course our appreciation extends to the support and prayers Dianne has received. It has made all the difference in the world. I would be remiss if I did not express my appreciation for friend and mentor Willie Johnson, who continues to inform and inspire VISIONS Readers, and myself. Despite high demand for his services and a travel schedule to match, Willie always seems to have time to offer his time and talent. I was particularly challenged to get moving on this issue, and it was Willie’s announcement that “I just sent you two articles” that caused me to “dig a little deeper.” How could I ever explain missing a publication date when the Guest Writer is two issues ahead? This month Willie’s article The Key to Success is Failure informs and reminds us that failure is not permanent, but is essential to growth. “Where there is no vision, the people perish” - Proverbs 29:18 Your Success Newsletter - May-June, 2016 - Published Bi-Monthly Henry & Dianne Ford Publishers Our willingness to keep going, sowing and growing feeds the mind and soul; resulting in many of the things we celebrate and appreciate. In each of the articles in this issue, some level of investment contributed to allowing for the reward. The investment may have ben planning, or studying, or practicing, or increasing a commitment to healthier living habits, or learning from past errors. In many cases it was a combination of factors, but in all cases it increased the likelihood that your celebrating and appreciation will continue, and that is much of what life is about. IN THIS ISSUE Pg. 1 - Celebrate, Appreciate, and Keep Going & Growing Pg. 2 - Mt. Zion Easter Egg Drop Pg. 3 - Baby Shower for Baby Steven Pg. 3 - Kendall Grace wins 1st Place Pg. 4 - Willie Johnson: Success by Way of Failure! Pg. 5 - Pixel Photo Club Meeting: Featuring Jim Trombo Pg. 5 - Pinup Industry Magazine Launch: Raising the Bar Pg. 6 - Happy Birthday Month: Dianne Ford Pg. 7 - Total Beauty Care Salon: May 22nd Open House Pg. 8 - Products & Services “Some people grumble that roses have thorns; I am grateful that thorns have roses.” Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr Critic- Journalist - Novelist ----- ”Success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty, and persistence.” Colin Powell Son of Jamaican Immigrants Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff 1st African-American Secretary of State
Transcript
Celebrate, Appreciate: Keep Going, Sowing and Growing
This issue is very much about celebration and appreciation; including appreciation for a mild Winter, a “weather perfect” Easter (at least for Northeast Ohio), miracles large and small, and foremost, for life itself. Included are brief comments about an after Church Service Easter Egg Drop that delighted and excited children, along with a few adults. Then there was a celebration of a life about to begin at the Baby Shower given in honor of Baby Steven, who is “on the way.” We decided to surprise our friends Cynthia and Gordon Weston by sharing their granddaughter Kendall’s winning ways, as she continues to make her family proud. Appreciation extends to the Pixel Photo Club and founder Vicki Jeromos-Blayney’s ability to draw top photo experts to the club as members and presenters. We also appreciate the vision and willingness of Vicki and husband Jim to use their talents to launch Pinup Industry Magazine, a digital publication designed to elevate the businesses of pinup artists and professionals. Certainly my greatest appreciation is being of part of my wife Dianne’s month-long Birthday celebration, and her remarkable comeback from the prognosis she faced last August. This Birthday celebration is a reminder of what is really important. Of course our appreciation extends to the support and prayers Dianne has received. It has made all the difference in the world. I would be remiss if I did not express my appreciation for friend and mentor Willie Johnson, who continues to inform and inspire VISIONS Readers, and myself. Despite high demand for his services and a travel schedule to match, Willie always seems to have time to offer his time and talent. I was particularly challenged to get moving on this issue, and it was Willie’s announcement that “I just sent you two articles” that caused me to “dig a little deeper.” How could I ever explain missing a publication date when the Guest Writer is two issues ahead? This month Willie’s article The Key to Success is Failure informs and reminds us that failure is not permanent, but is essential to growth.
“Where there is no vision, the people perish” - Proverbs 29:18 Your Success Newsletter - May-June, 2016 - Published Bi-Monthly
Henry & Dianne Ford Publishers
Our willingness to keep going, sowing and growing feeds the mind and soul; resulting in many of the things we celebrate and appreciate. In each of the articles in this issue, some level of investment contributed to allowing for the reward. The investment may have ben planning, or studying, or practicing, or increasing a commitment to healthier living habits, or learning from past errors. In many cases it was a combination of factors, but in all cases it increased the likelihood that your celebrating and appreciation will continue, and that is much of what life is about.
IN THIS ISSUE
Pg. 1 - Celebrate, Appreciate, and Keep Going & Growing Pg. 2 - Mt. Zion Easter Egg Drop Pg. 3 - Baby Shower for Baby Steven Pg. 3 - Kendall Grace wins 1st Place Pg. 4 - Willie Johnson: Success by Way of Failure! Pg. 5 - Pixel Photo Club Meeting: Featuring Jim Trombo Pg. 5 - Pinup Industry Magazine Launch: Raising the Bar Pg. 6 - Happy Birthday Month: Dianne Ford Pg. 7 - Total Beauty Care Salon: May 22nd Open House Pg. 8 - Products & Services
Above: Enthusiasm reigned in the trek to the Egg Drop Zone. Below: Helicopter Pilot prepares for Egg Drop.
Blessed by a vision, a plan and perfect weather, the Easter Bunny showed up at Mt. Zion of Oakwood Village, Ohio on the ground and in the air. Following the 11:00 a.m. Easter Day Service, the packed-house congregation walked from the church to the nearby Baseball Diamond to participate in (or view) the excitement of an Easter Egg Drop by Helicopter. A large number of eggs were dropped, and because the helicopter would only hold so many, the Oakwood Village Fire Department assisted by bringing out additional eggs. Those fortunate enough to grab one or more eggs, found treats and sometimes money inside. I felt it was much safer for me to operate the camera from a distance.
Easter Bunny Visits Mt. Zion of Oakwood Village Children and Adults Treated to Egg Drop from Helicopter
Because his expected arrival is near, Baby Steven Crudup wanted his parents, Sara and Steven Crudup and other family members to party, party, party. Baby Steven “asked” his Aunt Ashley to plan a gathering for Sunday, April 10th. The location selected was the Look About Lodge, a Cleveland Metroparks Facility in the South Chagrin Reservation. Baby Steven wanted family and friends to have a chance to celebrate and spend time with each other, so that when he arrives, he will get ALL the attention! His upcoming arrival drew family and friends from near and far, including a surprise visit from Aunt-to-be Victoria Dunston, who flew in all the way from North Carolina, to the surprise and delight of her sister Sara. Guests enjoyed good food and great company in the large, spacious and rustic lodge. In addition to appetizers, a complete meal with irresistible desserts, and party favors, many took “to go” boxes that I am sure never made it to the “doggie.”
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The excitement of the event was felt not just by Sara, Steven and other adults, but also by Baby Steven’s sisters who are anxiously looking forward to spoiling their new brother. What a welcome, to have all these anxious relatives and friends cheering Mommy as she looks “patiently” toward that special day. O.K., so I made up the patiently part, because it was easy for me to say. Hopefully I don’t get in trouble with Sara for using that word! In all seriousness, Dianne and I join the family in praying for a quick and smooth delivery, and welcoming Baby Steven into a world that is just waiting for him.
Kendall Wins Dance Competition
Congratulations to Kendall Grace Johnson on her recent Dance Competition victory. Kendall is a talented, straight "A" honor student and all-around fantastic young lady. For Kendall, winning is like repeat, repeat, and repeat. A big thank you to her parents, grandparents and other role models. If this article missed anyone or I misspelled a name, it is because the article is a surprise, so I am operating “without counsel” or consultation. Kendall is the daughter of Darius & Tracey Johnson, and granddaughter of our friends Gordon & Cynthia Weston.
Kendall with one of the dance judges
Baby Steven Draws a Crowd He is due to show up soon, but meanwhile, his Shower!
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Throughout my life and career – I have found that too many people give up too easily. When confronted by something new, many people try a couple of times and without experiencing success, they walk away. They write it off as something they will never be good at, and or something they were not born to do. However, the reality is this: ability is rarely the deciding factor in success. A person can be born with all the ability in the world, however, if they are not willing to hone their skill, or to practice long after others have quit, they will never experience the satisfaction of putting their natural gifts to use successfully. I feel that we have a strange view of failure. We come at it from the wrong direction. We view failure as a stop sign instead of a textbook. Failure is a fantastic way of learning, however, we have to be willing to embrace it, to celebrate it and realize that failure is an event, not a person. Oh sure, we all experience setbacks when we experience a failure; however, as my good friend Willie Jolley says, “A setback is only a setup for a comeback”. So you see - we must be willing to embrace failure and learn from it, and let that learning propel us forward. Always remember that failing at something doesn’t mean you are a failure as a person; it means you have room to improve. I have experienced and witnessed failure a lot over my lifetime and career. I know a lot about it. I know that most people do not give themselves enough opportunity to fail because they fear it. Must I remind us that “FEAR” is nothing more than “False Evidence Appearing Real”. Therefore, we must embrace failure for the gift that it is – an opportunity to learn and to grow; as a person. The same goes for business and organizations, because failure is necessary to innovation and leadership. True and inspiring leaders know that if they don’t encourage failure, their competition is going to take away their market share. As I wrap up this article – let me leave you with this: Failing successfully is not just a metaphor; it is the key to success. If you are not failing, you are not growing. And if you are not growing, you are not writing new scripts. Therefore I close by saying - celebrate your successes and embrace your failures as a means of learning a better way to achieve your goals. Fail successfully and you’ll succeed.
The Key to Success is Failure By Willie Johnson
“The Ambassador of Potentiality” [email protected] www.williejayspeaks.com
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Pixel Photo Club Treated to Jim Trombo Gallery
There is never a dull moment at the monthly Pixel Photo Club Meetings in Twinsburg. The diverse talent, willingness to share, and eagerness to learn, always make for an interesting meeting. The April 7th meeting featured Professional Photographer Jim Trombo, a true master at his craft. Jim informed and astounded an attentive audience (including some astounding photographers) with samples of his work. Club founder Vicki Jeromos-Blayney introduced and welcomed Jim with her “signature” warm smile and enthusiastic charm. Jim briefly shared his interests, background, his photographic journey, and a few lessons learned along the way, before showing some of his amazing work. It was an informative but informal "interrupt me and ask questions anytime" presentation, where Jim demonstrated that he takes his craft very seriously, but not himself The audience could "feel" the emotion as Jim begin to speak of his now deceased longtime outdoor and photo companion Gabe. Gabe used to run to the door anytime Jim picked up his photo equipment. As Jim paused to regain composure, his wife commented "O.K., we're not bringing that photo anymore," and I'm thinking YES YOU ARE! It was an understandable pause that demonstrated Jim's humanity and a part of his driving force. The attentive audience hung on Jim's every word and explanation. After the meeting, close-up examination of his work revealed unbelievable detail that made one think they could actually "walk into" the photo. It was a meeting I am so happy to have attended For additional information:
Jim Trombo Photography - Nature’s Graces and Rural Places www.jimtrombo.com - [email protected]
So how does a young married couple with three growing and active children maximize their passion and talent, and maintain the all-important family time? Many of us understand the challenges of keeping the children involved in activities that expand the mind, build character, and strengthen the body; while at the same time enjoying our mate, and not running ourselves ragged. Jim & Vicki Blayney found that one solution is to combine their expertise and expand their market into a business that more fully utilizes their combined skill sets, while allowing them to spend more time as a family. With expertise in Media Art, Graphic Design, and Photography; Publishing ranked high on the list of possibilities. Mix in love and compassion toward others, and the focus narrows to something entertaining, informing, and uplifting. So Pinup Industry Digital Magazine was founded to elevate the businesses of pinup artists and professionals by informing, inspiring, promoting and publicizing their activities, products, services, and achievements. The first sentence of their Principles Statement caught my attention, and would not let go. And it states: “Pinup Industry operates on the principles of high moral standards, continuous life-long learning, and mutual support.” The couple is working hard to increase their customer base by offering a large and diverse mix of products and services, and providing a resource base for advertisers to offer products and services that enhance the experience of industry professionals. Because Jim and Vicki have proven track records as owners of a successful business, I can only imagine what the future holds as they re-invent themselves and open another business. They have already proven that married couples can work together successfully. While my intention is to keep up with them, and to keep you informed, the reality is that I may have trouble keeping up. I urge you to visit them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pinupindustry and on their web site at www.pinupindustry.com for exciting updates. I am certain you will like what you see, and when you do, please share with others.
April is “Birthday Month” for Dianne Ford, and she did not disappoint! She began the celebration on April 1st (and that is no joke) at Gateway Lounge in Bedford Heights. Who better to celebrate with than her Birthday Club members, a close group of six fantastic ladies who have celebrated birthdays together for about thirty years (yes they started at age ten!!!). Other friends helped celebrate, including Tuskegee Airman Roy Richardson, who is always an “Officer and a Gentleman.” Roy interrupted a quiet evening of television to help Dianne celebrate. When a basketball fan stops watching a game on TV to come and pin money on you, you know that both you and the friend are special.
In addition to good company, the menu of Catfish, Chicken Wings, Home Fries, and Cole Slaw was A+, thanks to Chef Rick. There was plenty to eat, and we ended up bringing home extra wings, catfish, potatoes and coleslaw. The leftovers lasted for several days. Dianne’s actual Birthday (April 8th) found us at the Wasabi Restaurant in Beachwood. Anyone who has eaten at Wasabi knows they serve great food and huge portions. The “take home” lasted two additional meals. By alternating leftovers with home cooked meals, our stomachs were filled through Wednesday, April 13th. On April 14th it was off to the Akira Restaurant in Solon for hearty dining, and you guessed it, more leftovers! If this month doesn’t end soon, I will weigh 500 pounds!
As I am completing this article, there are two weeks remaining in April. I am certain that much more celebrating is in our immediate future. Of course those things will not be included in this issue due to publication deadlines. What Dianne and I are both including is a sincere Thank You to everyone for the Birthday wishes.
In addition, Thank You again to everyone for the kindness, support and prayers during Dianne’s recovery from her illness. Without your prayers, God’s Grace, and the miracles of medicine, I would not have the pleasure and privilege of writing this article. We are truly grateful, and ask that you continue to keep us both in your prayers, and we will do likewise for you and your families.
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Henry Ford - Author, Consultant, Publisher Challenging, Compassionate, Culturally Aware
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