$ 190,915...A Day's Pay?

So I woke up this morning in a really, really good mood. I picked up my Wall Street Journal and headed to my favorite coffee shop as I do most mornings. I picked my normal table, set up my little office away from home and settled in to enjoy my morning roast and read the stories of corporate giants that I one day hope to work with.

I quickly scanned the front page for interesting stories. I find the little summary they put on the front is really useful for this. Then I saw it!

EXXON CEO Lee Raymond received total compensation of $ 69.7 million for 2005, when the oil company had a record profit

What the hell? Record profit? In a time when oil is at an all time premium and I am paying nearly $ 2.70 at the pump. Surely this can't be right....so I read on. In fact it was.

I am sure I am not the only American who cringes every time that I pull up to the pump. In fact, I make it my absolute must to stare blindly into the gas stations Happy Mobile Mart window to show my vast displeasure each and every time I fill up. Up until now, I have yet to have anyone come out and question this obvious displeasure and private protest.

When are we all going to wake up? I said nearly two years ago, if we don't collectively stand up and voice our displeasure with gas prices, they will continue to creep up and up. People protested when it hit $ 2.00 here in Austin. People went absolutely freaky when it hit $ 2.25. Then it went to $ 2.27 not a peep. It went to $ 2.35 and some minor grumblings but no main protest. Now we all absently pull up to the pump and pay or nearly $ 3.00 per gallon and take it. Sure it angers us but what can we do?

Think about it. The oil companies have adopted the Starbucks mentality. Why sell or reduce the gas prices when people will absently pay whatever you tell them to pay. At least at Starbucks you get a significantly better cup of coffee than say at Denny's. But is Exxon giving us any better gas than what they offered at $ 1.63 nearly 3 years ago?

They tell us that OPEC is the driving force in these high gas prices. Exxon maintains that they have to charge these ridiculous prices because their costs are so high. Well I call "bull*$@%!" You are paying $ 69.7 million (yes....$ 190,915/day) to your retiring CEO and guys like me are struggling to pay our nearly 60% increase in our gas bills! This is just plain wrong. In fact, I think it is criminal.

I believe that companies like Exxon that can outwardly and in this instance, boldly, continue to stick it to the American people should feel ashamed of themselves. I don't disagree that their outgoing CEO should have just compensation for his efforts. But in economic times when you and I are having a hard time dealing with an increase of nearly 50-60% in our fuel bill from this time just two years ago isn't right.

One thing is for sure....if we call continue to sit ideally by and take it, there is zero motivation for the companies to change. And with the continual trends, we likely will be well over $ 3-4 per gallon in the not too distant future. Then what kinds of ripples will our economy feel?

Now....what did I do with my scissors? I have an Exxon card in need of trimming!

Ripple On....

Steve Harper

The Liberation of Reconnection

People have always said there are events that occur that become so deeply rooted within us that they are forever planted inside of our heart and mind. The way something happens, the feelings that one experiences, the lighting, the smells, the energy all encapsulate to form a very real and present picture. That picture is something we will call upon well beyond the actual event itself. This becomes our memory and these memories can be either good or bad.

One's ability to have more and more of these "real moments" is their ability to be present in the "now." The “now” is how prepared and willing you are to accept events as they unfold and to experience them fully. By fully I mean without ego, prejudice, fear, doubt or skepticism. Experiencing “it” without using the positive and negative of your past or the fear and anxiety that we often attach to the future.

I have found myself doing a lot of reading as of late about being more in the now. Because I am forcing myself to become more aware, I am finding that certain events that would otherwise would not be as impactful are now awakening me to an entire new perspective on life. It is truly surreal and very exciting.

One of these moments occurred this past week. I found myself sitting across the table from my brother Rick whom I haven't spoken to or really seen in nearly 15 years. It seems ironic that having written a book about the power of relationships I would be admitting to having a fractured relationship with my brother. Never-the-less, I think a small part of me wrote that book out of the hope that I could one day use my very own knowledge and philosophies of life to one day repair (at least from my end) the relationship.

I found myself connecting with a man I have barely known since I was nary a teenager. The issues that broke us apart are irrelevant now and after spending several hours with him, leave me feeling foolish that we have both allowed so much time to pass. So much has happened that we could have both enjoyed in one another but alas, circumstances were what circumstances were.

It was amazing to sit down to dinner with the brother I always admired and worshipped as a young boy. To discover our similar strategies to work, our philosophies in life and our passion for growing and expanding as individuals! The entire evening was unbelievable powerful and I believe healing to us both.

The words have long since left our lips and the warmth of the brotherly embrace has now cooled but the moments of that evening keep turning over and over in my mind. With all that I have had going on this past year, I would have to say that it truly one of the most powerful things to happen to me without a doubt.

Whatever caused the strife in our relationship seemed to disappear like a lone cloud hanging in the sky on a spring day. It was there and then it wasn't.

We all have people that we have hurt or done something to that we would like to fix if we could. What stops us? Fear? Rejection? The need to be right and justified in our own thinking?

Regardless of what it is, set pride aside for a minute and pick up that phone, drop by that office or sit down and write that letter. Nothing is more cleansing to your mind, body and spirit than letting go of the anger and frustration. I didn't used to believe that the negativity could control me, but it did. It has for 15 years and now I feel like truly liberated by this reconnection. Talk about the creation of a ripple!

The past is irrelevant and the only thing that matters is the here and now. Take the time to fix something that needs fixing and the world of opportunities open up to you. For me, I have my brother back which is one of the greatest gifts I believe I could ever receive.

Have a super successful week and as always.....

Ripple On!!!

Steve Harper