What am I known for?

I met Scott a couple of summers ago. He was not hard to miss as I passed his table at my favorite restaurant. I was headed to meet some friends on the patio.

"Does that guy know he is still wearing his nametag?" I figured he was in town for a conference.

When I finished dinner one of my friends, who works at the Chamber, came up and said "We had this great motivational speaker today and I want you to meet him!"

When I got to the table it was the guy with the nametag. He said, "Hello, my name is Scott." For the next hour he and I visited and we talked about motivating people and where we found our personal inspiration.

Our conversation stopped when he asked me a tough question I couldn't answer. "What are you known for?"

I tried to explain some of the volunteer projects or community service events I had participated in. This wasn't what he was looking for.

"Can you say it in one word? What is the one word people think of when they think of you? Does that word make you stand out from all the other motivational speakers?"

I actually think it has been three years since I met Scott and I find myself still thinking of him and his question to me. Tonight I thought I would ask for your help.

Go online and look up Scott Ginsberg the Nametag guy. You will see why his word is approachable. He uses this word in all of his presentations. He helps others find ways to become more approachable in their personal and professional life. Check out his youtube, podcast and blog. You will find the word works for him.

After checking Scott out, I want you to come back to this blog and help me answer the question.
"What is John Beranek known for?"

Can you say it in one word?

Then there were MORE

The joy continues for the Beranek family. My brother Tom and his wife Robin, who have struggled to have a baby brought us great news. They are going to have a baby!! Not only one, but TWO. Our family is going to have two sets of twins in one year.

I got a kick out of watching Robin take in all Angela and Davin are having to do with their twins. She recently told me on the phone she "watched little cousin Sarah to know just what she should do."

Robin comes from a small family and it is sad to know that her mother is no longer here to share in the blessing, but I am sure she is smiling from above.

If any of you know my brother Tom you can imagine he is busting his buttons. He paid attention however, when my brother in law Davin told him I could handle the night time feedings. He called me the other day wanting to know when I would like to come to Vegas to visit. I am pretty sure he meant AFTER the babies were born.

I wish I had the picture in my mind as I saw the great joy, relief and then tears on my Dad Leo and mother Mary when they were told the news. Dad seems to think lately all of his prayers have been answered, so if you have any wishes I would suggest calling Dad.

2:00 AM Feeding of the Soul

This week I travel to Wilder, Idaho to work with teen gang members. I find myself awake trying to get down a couple of ideas I have just had. I have learned some of my best thoughts come in the between time of sleep and awake and if I don't get the ideas down they are lost when I fully wake.

I look up from my thoughts to see it is 2:00 am. I feel a sense of relief knowing I have hours yet to sleep but can't help wondering how sleepless my thoughts are going to make me.

I have been asked by a school district to come and help create a dinner event for parents to better understand the draw of gangs. They have also decided to throw in the topic of alcohol. I will be going to correctional facility and attempting to convince gang members to come to this dinner event and give advice, through teen eyes, to anxious parents. I have to teach others how to facilitate this dinner, I have not yet created, after I am no longer in the state. No wonder I am restless!

I can't help but sympathetically think of my sister Angela and her husband Davin. One of them is up right now rocking the twins. I wonder how many other parents are getting up from their coma like sleep in order to feed their children?

The most common excuses why teens join a gang are they needed "someone to have their back" or needed "somewhere to belong." How many parents right now are rocking children who will eventually choose to join a gang?

My experiences are different. I will never rock my own children, but it doesn't mean that I am not awake at 2:00 am thinking about what they need. I remember the teens I have met who are locked up because they made bad choices and too often I hear their ache of a disconnected or uncaring family. I wonder how I am going to help these Hispanic families beat the odds?

It is in these early hours when all the garbage of the day has disappeared and our true heart is revealed. If only I could capture these "mental snapshots" of late night feedings and exhausted rocking. I would like to reflect these pictures back into their faces when they feel the loss of connection. I have to believe it would make a small difference.

Keep Rocking.

The work

Here is the real Uncle John. I spent some time with the twins and broke all the rules. If one of the babies started to cry I could not resist pulling them out of the crib. It didn't take me long to figure out they would fall asleep while sleeping on your chest. It also didn't take long to figure out I could catch a couple of winks during this time. Davin took this picture of me and flash startled me awake. It was amazing how in tune your senses become when you are dealing with little souls.