United States of America Welcomes Pope Benedict XVI

When Pope Benedict XVI arrived in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, April 15, he arrived with the guidance of the Holy Spirit to complete a special mission in the United States of America. The Pope who is the Visible Head of the Catholic Church in the world gave a very positive presentation today on the South Lawn of the White House. With more than 10,000 persons in attendance, the Pope was warmly welcomed by the President of the United States, George W. Bush at the White House. Appropriately, the Pope's 81st Birthday is today. Happy Birthday, Your Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI.

Thank you, President Bush, for your openness to show respect for the Pontiff. This is the second time that a reigning Pope has visited the United States of America in the last twenty-nine years.

Your Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, you can count on our prayers for the success of your mission while you visit the United States of America. May the peace, the joy, and the love that you express through your words and through your actions touch the hearts of all Americans especially the ones who need it the most and those who think they need it the least.

Long live the Pope Benedict XVI and the inspired message that he brings through the guidance of the Holy Spirit...the Spirit of Love! With the closing comments of his speech this morning, the Pope said, "God Bless America." Our response should be, "America Bless God."

IDES OF APRIL, 2008, ACHIEVEMENT LADDER RECOGNITION AWARD

CONGRATULATIONS TO RON BELSCHER, FLORIDA FBLA-PBL STATE ADVISER, WHO WILL RETIRE AFTER 37 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO FLORIDA FBLA-PBL ASSOCIATION. Ron is our Ides of April 2008 Achievement Ladder Recognition Award Recipient. Ron retired from Springstead High School, Spring Hill, Florida, a few years ago and continued to be part of the State Adviser Team for Florida Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda Association, Inc.

Future Business Leaders of America/Phi Beta Lambda brings business and education together in a positive working relationship through innovative leadership and career development programs. Ron Belscher lived up to the Mission Statement by his desire, dedication, determination, discipline, diplomacy, dignity, discretion, and discernment in all of his leadership accomplishments.

In 1999, Ron Belscher was awarded the prestigious national honor to the FBLA-PBL Adviser Wall of Fame in Reston, Virginia. Ron was a National Board Member representing the Southern Region, which is the largest membership in FBLA-PBL, Inc. Also, Ron was a Board Member of the National Association of Parliamentarians. His parliamentarian skills were well-known and well-respected by his colleagues.

Thank you, Ron Belscher for all of your years of faithful and unselfish service to the many students who were fortunate to have worked with you and to the many business education professionals who honored your exemplary example and wit.
Ron, your sense of humor will always be remembered as the your way to smooth out a challenging situation that won friends and influenced many people.

Congratulations, Ron Belscher, as our IDES OF APRIL 2008 ACHIEVEMENT LADDER RECOGNITION AWARD RECIPIENT. Continue your Ladder of Achievement Climb up the positive thrust beyond the 100 percent challenge!

Your Vote Always Counts in the Marketplace

As we have been bombarded by political primaries this year with more to come, the enthusiasm for the presidential candidates that once numbered 16 is now down to 3! Yes, one political party has narrowed its choice to one and the other political party is between two persons. There will be more voting to be completed by the remaining states that have yet to cast their personal ballots for these two individuals. Yes, their votes count because these voters made a decision to say, "I did vote" as a responsible citizen. Although the process for the political parties is decisively different in how they use the delegates for the two conventions this coming summer, voices have been heard about what is important to these patriotic voters who really are the difference at the grassroots level. Their votes always count and should always be honored and respected!

However, the General Election in all fifty states this coming November will be worth preparing for in obtaining all of the appropriate and determining information to make an informed and intelligent decision and a choice for the next President of the United States and their respective teams. In addition, the voters will have an opportunity to choose House of Representatives' candidates, Senate candidates, state candidates, county candidates, and local candidates. The margin of victory or defeat depends on the actual voter turnout in November.

Yet, your vote always counts in the marketplace where you decide every day whether a company, an idea, a service, a philosophy, a website will continue to be in existence. Your voting for products, services, entertainment, media, theme parks, travel, etc., are impacted by your purchasing power and your discretionary power after paying (voting) for your mortgage (or rent), utilities (electric, gas, water, sewerage, communications), taxes, etc. Your choices will decide the fate of companies to continue to exist in operation. This is truly economic power. In a free market economy, consumers (voters) have many choices as compared to controlled economies that have limited selections available to the consumer. The power of the consumer is often ignored until the quarterly reports or the annual reports indicate a slow down in spending (voting) by consumers. In the free market economies, the consumer spends (votes) the most on goods and services available as compared to a controlled economy where the government is the number one consumer(voter).

To achieve a successful market flow to the consumers (voters), the various distributors of goods and services appeal to the ultimate consumer (voter) to make a good decision based on good judgment. For example, if the consumer (voter) is interested in making a change in their lifestyle, the labels on the packaging have a source of information that will assist the consumer (voter) to select this product over another product. In choosing services, especially in the health field, the consumer (voter) will select the health professional who best meets the needs of the patient (voter) and that professional's positive achievements in the health field. In the entertainment arena, the voter (consumer) selects the performances, the concerts, the sports outlet, the theme parks that best meets their entertainment needs and wants.

Yes, your vote always counts economically, politically, socially, morally, physically, religiously, ethically, and aesthetically in your personal choices (your votes) consistent with your values in your every day's -- "I won't (0 percent) to "I did it (100 percent) ladder of achievement choices (votes).

April Fools Achievement Ladder Challengers

Another April 1, "Fools Day," has been given to us to accept the challenges that human life demands. Yes, the easy way out is to say, "I won't do this job, career, diet, change, etc." because of many dubious reasons. To encourage ourselves to make any change in our life style means to change my comfort zone...what is easy for me. For many this day is a reminder that we are fooled by many claims that seem too good to be true. We often read our daily newspapers, emails, or listen to our various media outlets that may make us become gullible to the short fix or the quick buck or the easy way out. Fool me once, shame on you...fool me twice, shame on me!

In the spiritual life style that we may embrace, we may become fooled by the smooth talkers and the sly hucksters who know how to reach our weaknesses to accept without question their jargon.

To grow in our spiritual faith takes a leap beyond reason, and to rely on the Uncaused Cause of our wonderful Universe unconditionally. When we discover our inner spiritual being, we realize that the Creator of this beautiful universe wishes us to use our free will to accept and to lean on the unconditional love and attention of our Creator.

When we witness hate, greed, power-hungry individuals, and deceit, we eventually realize that there must be a better way to be a loving steward of our God-given talents, time, and treasures. Although we can still be fooled by apparent "saviours," we will discover a thirst, a hunger, and a deep desire to find out the Truth, the Way, and the Life that really matters to have eternal happiness as God intended for all of His children. Yes, we realize that we are brothers and sisters in this vast universe, and that we have a Saviour who has already given His life for all humanity with His unconditional love.

We become "Fools for Jesus Christ" because the world, the flesh, and the devil have fooled us enough to accept a life-changing desire in our lives. Each day of our lives can take us from "No, I won't accept this truth to eventually saying, "My Lord and My God, I do believe...Help my unbelief. Happy April Fools Day...May God's will be done and His Kingdom come! Let us all become Achievement Ladder Challengers for our Loving God!

Achievement Ladder's Positive Impact 33 Years Later

On Sunday, February 23, 1975, my family and I attended Saint Edmond Church in Philadelphia, PA. After the Mass, I picked up a Parish Bulletin for future reference. On the back of the Parish Bulletin, I noticed for the first time the verse on the"Ladder of Achievement." The Saint Edmond Church Bulletin listed the following:

100% - I did.
90% - I will.
80% - I can.
70% - I think I can.
60% - I might.
50% - I think I might.
40% - What is it?
30% - I wish I could.
20% - I don't know how.
10% - I can't.
0% - I won't.

Looking at that Parish Bulletin today after more than 33 years, I realize that my educational philosophy has been affected and impacted by this Ladder of Achievement. During the 70s, I was employed as a full-time instructor at a Pennsylvanian Community College in Williamsport. I made numerous copies of the Ladder of Achievement verse over the years and left them on my desk for students to pick up and hopefully use the positive philosophy in their lives.

When I retired from a Florida Community College after 24 years of service five years ago, this Ladder of Achievement verse was an essential part of my orientations for first time students and for returning adults to the educational system after many years of lifelong learning experiences. As I continue to teach part time at a local community college, I now use the verse in my website: www.ladoach.com.as well as pass out copies of the Ladder of Achievement in my classes. Using this blog, "Achievement Ladder," gives me an opportunity to reach more individuals who are interested in making a positive difference in their community and in their personal lives. May we all continue our ambitious climb up and down our Ladder of Achievement with enthusiasm, with perseverance, and with the self-confidence that saying, "I did it," brings to our lifelong learning adventures.

Middle School Band Members Accept Achievement Ladder Challenges

Last night, my evening was enhanced by a tremendous musical experience. My observations of a Pasco County Middle School Band "Mid-Winter" Concert indicated that the Music Director took the band members to new heights. These beginning, intermediate, and advanced band members treated the audience in attendance with a spectacular rendition of challenging music selections. One of the selections was a "Sight Reading" opportunity for these young band members. This challenge is given to all band members at State Music Competitions in the Spring. To practice this sight reading challenge prior to the actual music competition was what the audience experienced first hand. This music selection had never been practiced by the intermediate and advanced band members. A standing ovation was given after the selection was presented. What a wonderful example of climbing the Ladder of Achievement with the positive attitude of "yes, we did it." What self-confidence was accomplished in a performance well done!

The Band Director is to be commended for the leadership that was in evidence during the concert. The band members responded with effective discipline to all of the directions given by the Director. This person believes in giving the band members a challenge at a new level of mastery of musical achievements. What was learned was a life-learning exercise in going above and beyond the average. Reaching new heights of musical experiences at a middle school level is currently avoided by other middle school music directors. The band members are fortunate to have a music professional who understands the carry-over value of reaching new heights that are obtainable and challenging for these enthusiastic young people. The transferable skills learned will assist the young learners to apply the perseverance and persistence that is required to excel with the time, talents, and treasures in other subject matter areas.

What a joy to find educators who really make a difference in forming learning skills in the young lives of future leaders of our country. The desire, dedication, determination, discipline, and discretion are the learning tools of successful life-learning individuals who are maximizing their learning potential. To reach the next rung of the Ladder of Achievement takes a willingness on the part of all lifelong learners to listen to the wisdom of effective and efficient coaching winners.

Self-Confidence Motivates Achievement Ladder Progress

In climbing the Life Ladder of Achievement everyday, self-confidence stimulates and encourages an individual to make the positive progress to achieve short-term and long-term goals. Motivation examples are obvious in the current March Madness Tournaments for both the college men and women. The desire, dedication, and the determination to excel in competitive events propels individuals to reach down deep in their inner focus to make the difference for their team members.

Going from 0 % - I won't get involved with this team to 10 % - I can't afford the time and energy that this exercise will require to 20 % I don't know how to better perform with my skills will start the progression up the ladder. At 30 % - I wish I could perform like my competitors or my mentors to 40 % - what is it that will make me more confident to continue my positive efforts. At 50 % - I think I might learn what will be expected of me to be a loyal member of the team. At 60 % - I might take the time to learn the fundamentals and the necessary practice to perform when I can make a difference. At 70 % - I think I can be an asset to my team and keep the balance of self-worth and selflessness. At 80 % - I can contribute to the success of my teammates. At 90 % - I will step up when my team needs me the most and when the team thinks they need me the least. At 100 % - I did accomplish a self-confidence that positively helped me to climb the Ladder of Achievement with successful results. "It is not the size of the dog in the fight that counts, but the size of the fight in the dog that really counts." Nobody wants a hand out but they will accept a hand up! Self-Confidence stimulates success at all levels of progress!