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Kenney Myers

Author | Actor | Producer | Kickboxer | Entrepreneur

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Saluting10 Famous Military People or Actors Named Ken

November 26, 2015 by Kenney Myers

kennethtaylorWhether in reality or fiction, the Kens of the world have had a long and illustrious association with military service. The ten Kens on this list have risen through the ranks of the sea, air and land forces to protect the world from tyranny wherever it rears its head, be it in real life or on the silver screen.

  1. Ken Curtis – Better known as popular deputy Festus Haggen from the hit show Gunsmoke, Ken Curtis has a number of associations with the armed forces throughout his acting career. On Curtis’ own record, “Gunsmoke’s Festus Haggen Calls out Ken Curtis,” he alludes to Haggen’s history as a confederate soldier. Other military roles for Ken include The Horse Soldiers, as Cpl Wilkie, and a part in The Wings of Eagles, where he played the real life navy Admiral, John Dale Price.
  2. Kenneth M. Taylor – This decorated military man is a recipient of both the Distinguished Service Cross and the Purple Heart for his part in shooting down four Japanese dive bombers during the attack on Pearl Harbor. In 1970, Taylor was again honored for his heroics in the successful Hollywood depiction of Pearl Harbor, Tora! Tora! Tora! In 2006, Ken – a great American hero – sadly passed away from hernia complications.
  3. Kenneth O’Donnell – After serving three years in the US Army Air Corps, Kenneth O’Donnell took his first steps towards a high level political career when he met Robert Kennedy during his time studying at Harvard. The two men were roommates, which led to a lifelong friendship and political allegiance. Kenneth became a close aide to both Robert and John F. Kennedy, and served as Lyndon Johnson’s Presidential Aide between 1963 and 1965.
  4. Ken Hicks – One of the most successful CEO’s in American retail history, Ken Hicks attributes much of his success to his time spent in post-Vietnam military service. Hicks has held roles as both the CEO of Foot Locker and the president and chief merchandising officer of J.C. Penney. In an interview referring to his experience in the army, Ken is quoted as saying, “So I learned that you’re very dependent on your people to be their best. You train and develop and motivate them.”
  5. Kenneth Lay – The infamous Enron Business executive, who was found guilty on six counts of conspiracy and fraud in 2006, was once a proud military man, having served in the U.S. Navy from 1968 to 1971. Unfortunately, Lay’s military service was marred by the Enron collapse, which cost 20,000 employees their jobs and investors billions in cash losses.
  6. Ken Summers – The pride of the Canadian Naval Forces, Ken Summers played a number of pivotal roles throughout the Gulf War. He is the only Canadian admiral to command a “total” national contingent in war by directing both land and air forces in the Middle East during the Gulf War. These achievements alone are enough to cement Ken Summers’ place as one of the world’s most decorated military leaders.
  7. Kenneth Ahrens – Kenneth Ahrens is one of around 35 soldiers who survived the Malmédy Massacre, a war crime that took place on December 17, 1944 during the battle of the Bulge. 85 U.S. soldiers were cut down by the German SS after they had already surrendered. After the war, Ahren provided important evidence in the trial, which helped lead to the capture and conviction of a number of German war criminals.
  8. Ken Norton – One of the few and perhaps most unlikely men to defeat the great Muhammad Ali in the ring, Ken Norton learned to box during his military career. Norton broke Ali’s jaw in the second round of their first fight, before eventually winning a decision in the bout. The two men went on to fight twice more, with Ali winning narrow decisions in both rematches.
  9. Ken Berry – The army practically ushered Ken Berry into a successful television career when his sergeant announced a talent contest on base. Berry, with tap shoes in hand, won the competition without breaking a sweat, and later went on to star alongside Andy Griffith in F Troop and The Andy Griffith Show spin-off, Mayberry R.F.D. Berry is renowned as being a multi-talented performer, listing dancing, singing and acting in his repertoire of skills.
  10. Ken Jenkins – Before playing Doctor Bob Kelso on popular sit-com “Scrubs,” Ken made a bit of a trademark playing the role of military men. Some of his noted performances include General Kubrick in Five Minutes to Midnight, Admiral Pollack in The Sum of All Fears, and NSA Agent Moore in Clockstoppers.

Filed Under: Article, Kens

What Our Business Teams Can Learn About Winning Streaks from the Golden State Warriors

November 24, 2015 by Kenney Myers

winningI could have chosen to talk about the Patriots or Panthers, but instead I chose to focus on the win streak that the Golden State Warriors have going on in the NBA this season.  It’s not that one winning streak is better than the others (it doesn’t get better than undefeated), it’s how they have gone about it and what we can learn from their players and coaches.  I am a Rockets fan so this is by far the viewpoint of a homer/fan.  With that said, they have something truly special going on that is worth diving into and seeing what we can apply to our business teams.  I wanted to do this by focusing on some recent quotes.

  1. “I’m completely okay with the fact that the wins don’t count on any record book for me,” said Luke Walton. Since Walton is an assistant to Steve Kerr  (Kerr is not able to coach for health reasons so Walton is leading the team in games), the wins are counting for Kerr and not Walton.  I think we can learn how important it is to have a top-down commitment from our teams. It would be great if all coaches/team leads in organizations were more concerned with team wins than their own career achievements.
  2. “Whether or not we get it, it really doesn’t affect our ultimate goal of trying to win a championship,” said Luke Walton.  Here’s another lesson for management and team leaders to stay focused on the big picture and goals of the organization.  It’s a long NBA season and the Warriors know that from the top to the bottom of the organizational chart.  Their eyes remain on the prize which is to win another championship.
  3. “It would be a cool milestone,” Klay Thompson said. “Shows how special this team can be.”  It is important though to recognize that our teams are doing something special when they are on a streak of wins.  That’s far from losing focus it’s just appreciating a moment in time and recognizing that your team gets it.  There is nothing wrong with appreciating the fact that you are on a great team.
  4. “It’s kind of a quiet confidence that we don’t feel like we’re going to lose anytime soon,” Stephen Curry said.  I think this is a defining characteristic of this team.  They aren’t cocky about it, they just believe they can get it done.  That’s the kind of team that I want to be a part of and that I’d like to have throughout my organization.  How about you?
  5. “The way we’re playing … we can get even better, ” Stephen Curry said.  I think striving to get better realizing that we are never going to be perfect is a great outlook/attitude to have.  No matter how many wins your team racks up, knowing you can all individually and collectively perform better is contagious.  Staying hungry and pushing yourself is a great way to keep your team and organization moving in a positive direction.

It’s really hard to dislike the Warriors with the way they have been handling themselves (for me it’s impossible).  Even though we all know it’s a long season and they will most likely lose at some point, I’d like to see them get the record tonight and start 16-0 (I can’t believe I just typed that).  It seems like a classy organization and I think we can learn a lot from how they are going about their business every day.

The quotes used came from the following articles:

  • Fox Sports
  • Inquirer

Filed Under: Article, Entrepreneur

Twitter Tips & Vernacular for Us Fortysomethings

November 24, 2015 by Kenney Myers

hashtag2For those of us fortysomethings out there, we may just really be starting to leverage Twitter and one of the things that I know I have struggled with is the proper use of some of the abbreviations and Twitter slang. In order to provide myself with a quick reminder and to hopefully help others out, I prepared a quick list. If you know of anything that I missed that could help more people (including me), please add them via the comment section below.

Important Twitter slang/vernacular:

@reply (it’s like hitting an email reply button) – Here you substitute the reply with another username on twitter so @KenneyMyers for example if you wanted to reply to me. This is a simple way of responding to another twitter user in a way that will get back to them almost as if you are having a regular conversation.

ab/abt (about) – This is shorthand for about. Given we have only 140 characters to get our point across it can be really handy to use common abbreviations. There will be several throughout this twitter vocabulary list.

b/c (because) – I think some of the twitter abbreviations have been around forever. I remember using b/c for because a long, long time ago and it means the same when used in a tweet.

b4 (before) – Sometimes letter an number combinations are used to abbreviate like this one which means before (b4).

BFN (bye for now) – This is a way of ending a twitter conversation or just letting people know you have other things to do. It literally mean bye for now.

BR (best regards) – This is just a way to send someone your best regards. You might for instance tweet @KenneyMyers BR & good luck with your speaking gig in Dallas.

chk (check) – This is another abbreviation that has been around for a long time and literally means check.

clk (click) – If you want the other twitter user to click on a link you might use this abbreviation.

direct message (DM) – This is a direct message in twitter that is sent privately to the person you direct the message to. Use this feature if you want only one other twitter user to see a tweet.

EM/eml/EMA (email) – There are a lot of abbreviations for email including my favorite (because it is the shortest) EM.

F2F (face to face) – If you want to meet someone in person you would use F2F or if you are just describing a meeting that you already had in a tweet.

fab (fabulous) – This is a great way to say you really like something while just using 3 letters.

FAV (favorite) – This is referring to the fav action in twitter where you want people to fav your tweet and/or to let them know you did for them or someone else.

follower – This describes the people that are following your tweets on the network (they are your followers).

FF (follow friday or #followfriday) – FF is used when you want others to follow or favorite something else in your tweet.

Hash Tag (hashtag – #) – This almost deserves an entirely separate article but it in essence makes something more searchable and draws attention to that word (see more on hashtags below). So if you preface any word with a hashtag (#) it draws attention to it in the world of twitter.

IC (I see) – This is just letting someone know that you understand what thye are tweeting about.

IDK (I don’t know) – If you don’t know this abbreviation, you might want to give up now!

kk (kewl kewl – cool cool) – It’s just telling someone that you get what they are saying and/or you like it.  BTW, I’ve dropped this a couple of times when talking/chatting with my teen kids and they are quick to tell me that nobody does that.  Really?  I beg to differ! kk?

MRT (modified retweet) – This is literally a modified retweet identifier.

NTS (note to self) – This is used when you are just wanting to use twitter to remind yourself of something on your home page (where you see your own tweets).

OH (overheard) – This is an efficient way to say that you overheard something (usually juicy).

PRT (please retweet) – Use this when you would like your followers to retweet this one.

RT (retweet) – This is when you retweet someone’s message. The functionality is built into the twitter client or you can just type RT @KenneyMyers cool post!

selfie (taking a picture of yourself) – Thanks to the iPhone’s ability to have a forward facing camera it is easier than ever to take a picture of yourself (a selfie).

TFTF (thanks for the follow) – This is just a quick way to thank another twitter user for following you.

TMB (tweet me back) – If you want another user to message you back through twitter then you can just tell them to TMB.

Tweet (a message on twitter) – This is literally a message on twitter and how people let their followers know something (they tweet it out).

twis (dis) – This is the way of saying you got dissed or dissing someone else on Twitter.

U (you) – This is just a quicker way of referring to someone else on Twitter.

wtv (whatever) – This means whatever in one context or another and allows for a much more efficient message.

yoyo (you are on your own) – Use this when you want to tell someone you disagree and/or that they are on their own for any reason.

Important Inforamation on Hashtags:

So I have seen these abused so many times it is crazy. I think one good source of hashtags is hashtags.org, that site will help you understand a bunch about the do’s and dont’s of using hashtags on Twitter. Basically, a hashtag in front of any word makes that word searchable inside of Twitter. Because people sometimes abuse hashtags to associate a tweet with a trending topic (even though it is really unrelated), Twitter came up with the following rules:

Here’s Twitter‘s official statement on hashtag abuse.

“The following behaviors and others like them could cause your account to be filtered from search, or even suspended:

  1. Adding one or more topic/hashtag to an unrelated tweet in an attempt to gain attention in search.
  2. Repeatedly tweeting the same topic/hashtag without adding value to the conversation in an attempt to get the topic trending/trending higher.
  3. Tweeting about each trending topic in turn in order to drive traffic to your profile, especially when mixed with advertising.
  4. Listing the trending topics in combination with a request to be followed.
  5. Tweeting about a trending topic and posting a misleading link to something unrelated.”

In other words, don’t just put a hashtag in front of any word because you think it makes you kk (kewl kewl). It doesn’t work that way. If you use hashtags improperly you could find yourself suspended from Twitter in a heartbeat.

So hopefully you have learned one or two things from this article about how to properly use Twitter.  If not, I can at least confirm that it has been helpful for this fortysomething to simply research these and refresh my diminishing memory.  Happy twittering (okay, that’s not one of our vocabulary words, but that’s okay)!

Filed Under: Article, Catch All

10 Kens With Famously Funny Tweets on Twitter

November 23, 2015 by Kenney Myers

kennyhamiltonIn the Twitterverse, it’s all about how many followers you have. Some of the most successful people on Twitter use humor as a way to keep their followers engaged. However, before you start thinking you’re going to become the next famous Twitter comedian, you should know that it’s not as easy as it sounds. With only 140 characters or less to work with, you need to keep your tweets short and succinct, while leaving enough room for the punch-line. These 10 Kens have mastered the art, so make sure to check them out for your daily does of Twitter comedy gold.

  • Kenny Hamilton – Justin Bieber’s former bodyguard and now road manager, Kenny Hamilton, had this to say recently on Twitter; “Last time KobeBryant took 8 months off he was in the womb!” Obviously, Kenny’s talents stretch beyond being the hired muscle for young Bieber, as when he’s not posting funny tweets, he’s the right-hand man to the world’s most famous pop star.
  • Ken Jennings – If it’s not good enough that he’s the recipient of the longest winning streak on Jeopardy and is a successful writer, Ken Jennings, it seems, has a sense of humor too. He often posts gems like this for his adoring followers: “Look you can spell yeah as “ya” in texts & emails if you want. Just like I can forever imagine you talking in Swedish Chef voice if I want.”
  • Ken Rogerson – Comedian Ken Rogerson is a keen observer of life, and often shares the funnier side of the news on his Twitter account. When a 73-year-old woman was caught selling marijuana, Ken couldn’t resist having a dig with this gem: “73 yr old woman busted for selling pot. Mommy says smoking is bad for your health Grandma. Why are you laughing?”
  • Ken Freedman – DJ Ken Freedman is a professional cynic, which is clearly evident from this tweet: “Keep your friends close, and keep your enemies locked inside the walk-in freezer.”
  • Ken Baker – Who better to ask for a critique of dairy treats than Ken Baker, fashion writer for ENews? Baker often shares his views on fame, fashion and weight loss via his Twitter account. However, he took time out to enjoy the finer things in life, with this profound observation; “This whipped cream would be a lot edgier if it were called “whooped” cream.”
  • Ken Anderson – You can always trust a pro-wrestler to court controversy. Ken Anderson is constantly on hand to provoke a reaction, but the wink at the end is to let you know that he’s really not such a heel. Or is he? “It’s so freakin cold in the Midwest right now that I just saw a gaggle of liberals walking with their hands in their OWN pockets! 😉 ba dump.” No actual liberals were body-slammed in the writing of this tweet.
  • Ken Davis – Comedian Ken Davis has some valuable advice for his followers. “I learned a life changing lesson today. Do not keep your earplugs in the same pocket as your vitamins.” If that left a bad taste in your mouth, don’t worry, Ken’s act is strictly tongue in cheek.
  • Ken Garr – They make you laugh and brighten up your day, but comedians are also on hand to provide product and service reviews in 140 characters or less. Ken Garr shares his appraisal of Frontier Airlines with his Twitter followers: “I think they call it frontier airlines because they used these planes to settle the frontier.”
  • Ken McGraw – If you ever find that you can’t quite articulate what you’re feeling, take a page out of Ken McGraw’s book. He certainly has a way with words, as is evident in this hilarious self-evaluation; “If my self-esteem had a sound…It would be the last slurp of a strawberry milkshake on a Saturday night.”
  • deKenstruction – He does voice overs, is self-effacing and is an all-round funny guy. So don’t take this tweet from deKenstruction too seriously. “The amount of time it takes you to turn off the garbage disposal once it’s obvious that you’re grinding a fork is all the IQ test I need.”

Filed Under: Article, Catch All, Kens

27 Blogs with Tips for Getting the Most Out of Running

November 21, 2015 by Kenney Myers

runningBecause all you really need is a good pair of running shoes and a road, running is the preferred cardio choice for many. Not only does it strengthen your heart, but it also torches calories, aids in weight loss and, according to webMD.com, a regular running routine can help fight heart disease. Running also releases endorphins, which can help combat depression. Many people swear by running as a stress reliever, and use the time spent pounding the pavement to work out problems and think things through. The benefits you get from running are impressive, and these 27 blog posts will help you get started on a running regimen or improve what you are already doing.

Tips for Beginners

It’s important to know how to run properly when you are first getting started.  Take it slow and don’t push yourself too much at the beginning.  The last thing you want to do is get injured or be so sore that you quit running.  If you are currently not exercising at all, you may want to start by walking and work your way up to a run.  These and other tips are shared on these nine blog entries.

  • Running Tips for Beginners
  • Running Tips & A Beginner’s Running Workout
  • 10 Tips for Beginning Runners
  • 7 Tips for Beginning Runners
  • 10 Tips for Beginning Runners
  • Training Tips for Beginners
  • Tips for Beginner Runners
  • Running Tips for Beginners
  • Eight Unique Running Tips for Beginners


Tips to Improve

Most runners are continually looking for ways that they can improve as a runner, whether it’s increasing speed or distance, running a first race or improving your form.  These nine blog articles are full of tips for improving your running.

  • 6 Tips to Improve Your Running Form
  • 10 Tips to Improve Your Cardio Workout
  • 3 Tips to Improve Your Running
  • Crucial Tips to Improve Running Speed and Break Your Personal Best
  • Easy Tips to Improve Your Running
  • 5 Tips to Improve Your Running Race at High Altitude
  • Five More Tips to Improve Your Running in 2013
  • 5 Tips to Improve Your Running Life


Tips about What to Eat

Figuring out what to eat before, during and after a run is very dependent on how your body responds to different foods.  There used to be a big push that encouraged runners to carb load the night before a big run so that they would have the fuel to make it through the entire run, but more recently there have been some changes to that recommendation. In reality, you need to be eating in a healthy way all of the time, and there is no need to drastically change what you eat the night before a big run. For more fueling information, read the next nine posts.

  • Post-Exercise Nutritional Tips for Improving Performance and Recovery
  • Do I Need to Carb-Load Before a Race?
  • Fitness—What to Eat Before Running?
  • The Science Behind Eating After a Long Run
  • What to Eat After Running— 6 Super Foods for Active Runners
  • What to Eat Before and During Your Run
  • The Evolving Art of Carbo-Loading
  • Basic Running Tips: What to Eat Before Running
  • What to Eat/Drink Before and During Your Race or Long Training Run
  • The Best Foods to Eat Before Running, After Running, and Foods to Help Increase Energy Levels While on Your Run

Filed Under: Article, Catch All

Things to Remember About Nanny Background Checks

November 20, 2015 by Kenney Myers

rememberIf you’re in the market for a nanny, then you’ve probably already had friends, colleagues, or nanny agencies tell you about the importance of a background check. After all, that’s what professionals do, and that’s the logical next step if you’re going to act as an employer and hire someone to render high-quality childcare services. But what exactly does a nanny background check cover? What do you have to do to get one? And what do they really provide? Whether you’re new to childcare in general or are just now branching into things like background checks, here are some things you need to remember:

They’re Wide-Ranging
Background checks cover many areas, including:

  • Employment verification.
  • Certificate and license verification.
  • Credit history (though not a specific credit score).
  • Criminal records (local, state, and federal).
  • Driving records.
  • Drug use.
  • Checks of child abuse and sex offender registries.

Consumer reporting agencies — the outfits that gather the data in background checks — query a variety of sources to find relevant information, like the Interstate Identification Index System and the FBI Identification Record. They may also use manual court record checking methods if databases are not adequate or available. A thorough background check ensures that you’re getting as much information as possible about your nanny, and it’s the best way to know you’re covering your bases.

They Aren’t Perfect
Nanny background checks aren’t perfect, though. For instance, less serious driving incidents may only appear on record for a limited number of years. The incident might not be a dealbreaker either way, but if you’re hiring someone who will very likely need to drive your child around town, it could be good to know about it. In the instance of an old offense though, if the nanny didn’t want to disclose it, you may not learn about it.

Background checks also (obviously) only show things that the person in question was caught doing. Don’t be fooled into thinking that “background check” means “exhaustive list of every bad thing someone has ever said, done, or thought.” Consumer reporting agencies aren’t psychics, and state and federal databases are only as good as the people who maintain them. A background check is a tool that can tell you some of what a person has done, but not everything.

You Must Have the Nanny’s Permission
This is crucial, too. Legal background checks for employment must be done with the express consent of the person being investigated. Period. If an agency or investigator tells you they can just start digging on someone, think again. The Fair Credit Reporting Act governs the way personal data is harvested and used in the employment application and verification process, and to safeguard against abuses, the person being examined has to know about it.

The best way to do this is to provide the nanny with a simple consent form. You can get these forms from the agency that will conduct your background screening. Once you’ve narrowed the candidate pool down to a few top choices — or if you’re working through applicants one at a time, or maybe just found someone you like — get in touch with each potential nanny and inform that you’ll be conducting a background check. Tell them politely but plainly that this is a required part of the application process, and that failure to consent to the check will result in withdrawal of their application from consideration. After you’ve received permission to conduct the background check, you can work with your particular investigatory agency on next steps. They can tell you what information you’ll be getting and how quickly you’ll be getting it.

They’re Only One Part of the Hiring Process
If you remember nothing else, remember this: a background check is just one part of the process of interviewing and hiring a nanny. It’s an extremely valuable tool, but it’s just one tool. It is not a shield against future damages or incidents, nor is it a guarantee that someone whose check comes back clean will be a perfect employee. Similarly, it’s not a guarantee that someone with a spotty background check is a risky hire, either. A background check is a powerful thing, but it has to be used in conjunction with everything else at your disposal. For instance:

  • Take your time interviewing nannies. Get to know them. Talk about their goals, their personal mission statement, their childcare experience, and where they see themselves in five or ten years.
  • Let the nanny applicant spend time with your child. Watch how they interact with and discipline your child, and talk with your child afterward about how they felt dealing with the nanny.
  • Check every reference in the nanny’s resume. Verify every place of employment they list on the resume. A consumer reporting agency will cover a lot of this in the background check, but there’s no harm in being extra careful.
  • Don’t rush. Even if hiring childcare is a pressing matter, don’t run the risk of moving too hastily and hiring someone who just doesn’t fit. Don’t let a clean background check sway you on someone you don’t feel like hiring.

Filed Under: Article, Care Industry

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