October 22nd, 2007
Blogging for 1 Year
I receive a news letter from Black Political News. This is an informative and compelling read of a profound nature. They shared a link to the Baltimore Sun, that cause me to think of my Dad and there is a good chance you will think of yours or your Grand Dad particularly if they have passed on to the promise land. The point is some where along the way we have lost our purpose and worst perhaps our soul. We have done some good things and things we can be proud. I am glad to have thought of Allen Walton Sr. today, 3rd grade educated, voter and some would say politically active, hard worker and very demanding head of house hold. I have been blogging for one year; my first post was on October 16, 2006. The tag line is a blog for ordinary people doing extraordinary things. As most of the blogging world knows, this is cool stuff, blogging that is, but at first, what do I say, who will care, it is like what if I through a party and no one came. At the end of the day, it was, what the heck, I am going for it. If my dad could crawl in a mine shaft, a mile underground, return to work after heart attacks and fill his lungs with dust that will eventfully become the nature of a malignant tumor and kill him, to raise a family, damn I should be able to blog.
I will credit two guys for helping to get me started, Chris Baggott and Doug Karr. Both of these men a highly talented and are true winners. Chris’s new company, Compendium blogware, is kicking butt with setting new sales standards each month. Congratulations to Chris and Ali Sales for providing an example of what is possible. Doug Karr is ranked in the top 5k in the world and his blog contains something for every one. These guys are available to me 24-7; well they always do get back to me. Doug is a web designer and coach that I highly recommend. Bloggers defiantly check out Compendium blogware, it is a hot product.
I am giving a shout out to Mike, Chris and Shawn for their early support. Liz, Ellen and Robin for being supporters get a shout out as well. Jamie Parks provided early encouragement and my thanks to him for being a brother.
I have become a proud member of Afro Spear; a group of black bloggers who’s commitment to cause is only out done by their excellence in blogging. I urge you to check out some of the Afro Spear sites they have it going on. Some of my favorites are Esq Holland, Acting White, Field Negro What are Going to Tell Our Daughters, Electronic Village, Paula Mooney, LDW and Tish. In closing here is an update on 2 guys, ordinary doing extraordinary things in life! I did post on Bill Minix and Darryl Gresham. These are 2 Intelligent, hard working, handsome, and modest brothers with out ego. Well maybe a little I am very proud to call these 2 friends and say I hired them both.
Bill Minix has taken on a major new responsibility for Fisher health Care’s call center. Bill will have a director’s title and a team of 35 including the inside sales team. Bill is a Graduate of Southern University, was an officer in the US Army Rangers, and recently completed his MBA.
Darryl Gresham has taken a major promotion to be General Manager of Abbott’s Diagnostics’ African business and will reside in South Africa. Gresh graduated from Carnegie Mellon University and has been a star Abbott performer for 21 years with the best yet to come. I am so happy Gresh is getting his chance to show Mr. Charley what it takes to be great. If You linked on the Baltimore Sun article it mentioned our forbearers and their sacrifice and what would they be proud of today; the best compliment I can articulate to Bill Minix and Darryl Gresham is , my dad, Allen Walton would be proud of them.
October 22nd, 2007 at 3:32 pm
Congrats fam!
Keep up the good work.
Peace.
October 22nd, 2007 at 5:19 pm
brother, you set the standard. Thanks for the visit, I am honored
October 22nd, 2007 at 7:26 pm
Happy one year to you! keep up the good work. being very new to blogging (about 2 weeks) I am finding that blogging has a little something for everyone!
Thank you for doing what you do!
Blessings
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:19 pm
Congratulations, JD! Wow! That flew by, didn’t it?
I’ve got 2 young men that I’m helping bring their ‘dream’ to fruition via the web now: http://21stcenturyslave.com
I want to introduce you guys when we get the chance. They are 2 young black men who have made a personal choice to try to change the world around them - starting with themselves. I just put up a site for them this weekend.
My hope is in the next year they have as much of an impact as you have!
October 22nd, 2007 at 11:22 pm
Hey Jim, what a cool blog — and what a fine tribute to your dad! You are obviosly the apple of his eye in this blog and one senses he smiles at your words tossed together in ways that inspire the rest of us. Thanks for the link Jim — and for setting up some cool new sites here that I plan to visit! Stay well friend — and keep blogging — cause we need your wit ‘n wisdom!
October 22nd, 2007 at 11:59 pm
wow!
JD! A year and we’ve got so many things still to do. It’s getting exciting now. . .
Your dad is man who raised powerful son.
Your blog is an upstanding, wonderful example of intelligent blogging. I so enjoy being a part of what you’ve become. Thank you for the honor you’ve shown me by including my name in your anniversary post.
October 23rd, 2007 at 12:29 pm
Doug, I will pay a visit, let me know how I can help.
October 23rd, 2007 at 12:36 pm
Ellen,thanks, your work is one in which I am proud to share. All of the thinkers will benefit from a visit. Thanks for your kind words
October 23rd, 2007 at 12:39 pm
Liz, well the summer is gone and I missed out on our lunch but I hope in due time we will find a way to work together on some things.
October 23rd, 2007 at 3:48 pm
Regina, thanks for the visit. I enjoyed your blog, I hope you enjoy this experience as well as me
October 23rd, 2007 at 9:47 pm
Jim, thank you for the kind words, and I am honored to be a friend to the masterpiece that Mr. Allen Walton created. Your accomplishments, power, and influence epitomizes what every father hopes his son will become. May God continue to bless you richly!
October 24th, 2007 at 11:39 am
Jim, thanks for the shout out. You do such fine work here to get young black leaders up and running well. Your tips and advice help encouage and lift them in their journey toward a successful career. Thanks for all you do here. I am honored to see my name here!
October 24th, 2007 at 12:07 pm
Robyn, thanks for the visit, your work and blog is one of my favorites.
October 24th, 2007 at 12:17 pm
Bill Minix, thank you for your visit.Thermo Fisher is lucky yo have you heading the ship. Your excellence in leadership is something all can learn from.
October 31st, 2007 at 5:54 pm
Congradulations brother-in-law!! Many more successful years to you.
Evelyn
November 2nd, 2007 at 12:22 pm
Hey Sis Evelyn, thanks for the shout out, I want to feature the success of your son, the PHD someday. It will be an inspiring story
November 4th, 2007 at 12:50 am
Hey James. Congratulations. Great blog and keep up the good work.
November 5th, 2007 at 1:23 am
[...] to the event. Something that I want to note is that the MC made a special effort to make the African Americans in attendance feel welcome and this theme would continue throughout the night. Afterward the [...]
December 15th, 2007 at 9:56 pm
I read your earlier blog (May 2007) re Gresh and was delighted to hear of his success. I was at CMU at the same time as he, and even spent a summer internship in Lancaster, PA, commuting to work with him. (Imagine this: Gresh driving 3 young Black female engineers to work each day in a huge late model sedan that got about 4 mpg!) Would love to contact him if you’re able to forward my email (he’ll know me by my maiden name, Michele Chambliss). Thanks!