2nd Day of Lifeguard Training (Bay de Noc Watch)

Meant to 
be a little funny. 

We are on Bay de Noc

Today was the second day of lifeguard training. I'm doing this to help out a little and I enjoy being active. I figured I would spend a night or so a week when I'm in town filling some gaps if I can. More people are needed so if your interested and want to know who to contact just send me a message or talk to me when you see me. I will just point in you the right direction. The training was very much worth it for anyone. 

Now that I've started and made it through most of the course, I can honestly say I've gained a tremendous amount of respect for lifeguards. When you see lifeguards on the beaches in places like San Diego or Escanaba-Gladstone, it can look easy from the outside, but there is a lot of training behind what they do. Here in Michigan, there are certifications for working around open water and aquatic environments, but before you can earn those certifications, you have to complete challenging training.

The course takes more than twenty+ hours and includes swimming, fitness testing, rescue techniques, medical training, and much more. It's definitely not as easy as many people think. In fact, that's probably one reason communities often struggle to recruit enough lifeguards. There is also a test you must pass. You have to make a commitment to the training.

I love swimming, being on the water, and staying active, so I thought this would be a great fit. I also enjoy writing, so I wanted to share a little about the experience and encourage others to get involved. Whether it's lifeguarding, volunteer firefighting, or another community service role, these positions help people and make a real difference. It is a part of community type service. You are literally helping people and encouraging growth in recreation.

One thing that surprised me is how much emphasis is placed on observation and prevention. Lifeguards spend a lot of time learning how to properly scan the water and recognize potential problems before they become emergencies. During training, they place a rescue dummy in different locations around the pool. You would be amazed at how difficult it can be to spot. You can walk around the pool and completely miss it. The exercise teaches you how important vigilance is and why lifeguards frequently change positions, move around, and adjust their viewpoints. Water reflections, shadows, and splashing can make it surprisingly difficult to see what is happening beneath the surface.

The medical training is also extensive. Firefighters learn medical skills, and EMTs obviously receive advanced medical training, but lifeguards have their own specialized set of responsibilities. They deal with injuries and emergencies on a regular basis and must be prepared to respond to strokes, heart attacks, choking incidents, allergic reactions, drug overdoses, cuts, broken limbs, and many other situations. Their job is often to stabilize a person and provide care until additional medical help arrives.

Then there are the rescue skills. We spent hours practicing rescue after rescue after rescue. There are different ways to enter the water depending on the situation, different approaches to victims, and different techniques for assisting people in distress. After about eleven hours of training today, with constant movement in and out of the pool, I can tell you that it definitely takes some energy. Repeated rescues and drills are physically demanding, but they help build the muscle memory needed to react quickly when a real emergency occurs.

Tomorrow is the final testing phase. I successfully completed the first portion, and now I have to pass the second part. If all goes well, I'll be in good shape and done with certification. Fingers crossed.

Of course, we've also had some fun along the way. We jokingly came up with the term "Bay de Noc Watch," our own lighthearted parody. Training can be serious, but it's good to keep a sense of humor too. You have to enjoy life because it moves so fast. Be serious and lighthearted.

Locally, we have great beaches, pools, and recreational facilities. Our area continues to attract more tourists and visitors, and people are working to serve tourists well. If you are visiting or want a place in the UP to hang out on the beach, shop, and have fun come over to Escanaba or Gladstone. We have a variety of things to do and it is right in the Great Lake's back yard.

So my advice is simple: get involved. Try something new. Enjoy the sunshine, get some fresh air, and stay active. If you're working at an indoor pool, that's great too. Lifeguarding is a meaningful way to help others, learn valuable skills, and maintain your fitness at the same time. It's challenging, rewarding, and far more demanding than most people realize. A few quick things I found online on lifeguarding. 

Indeed Lifeguard

American Red Cross Training

Lifguard Store-Lifeguard Skills

How Personality and Diversity Impacts Start-Up Success (Custom Country Club Golf Clubs)

(Illustrative Only)

One of these
comes up 
with the best
 ideas?😳

The executive team
is designing new
golf clubs. 

Ludington Street
is going to look great
after the facelift. 

If your interested
in starting a business in the
area you might want to 
check out. 

Escanaba DDA

You might think that personality is just psychological jargon with little practical value. However, the field of applied psychology demonstrates that understanding human behavior can have significant real-world implications. In the workplace, psychology helps explain how people perform, interact, lead, and make decisions. It also sheds light on how personality influences management style, entrepreneurial behavior, and even the likelihood of starting a business in the first place.

The study below examined more than 21,000 startups and explored the relationship between founder personality traits and entrepreneurial success. One of the most interesting findings was that there is no single "perfect" entrepreneur. Success does not belong exclusively to one personality type. Instead, the researchers identified several distinct personality profiles associated with successful founders, suggesting that there are multiple paths to entrepreneurial achievement.

The findings also reinforce the importance of persistence. Entrepreneurs who continue learning, adapting, and improving through cycles of success and failure often increase their chances of long-term success. Different personality traits may become advantages under different circumstances, industries, or stages of business growth.

Perhaps the most significant finding was the value of diversity within founding teams. Startups with greater diversity in personality traits, perspectives, experiences, backgounds, and ways of thinking were more likely to succeed. This provides a strong argument for cognitive diversity—the idea that teams benefit when members approach problems from different angles and bring unique skills, backgrounds, educational experiences, and industry knowledge to the table.

Tip: Having people with experience that can make ideas practical and people from different perspectives who can come up with new ideas helps. 

As organizations grow and face increasingly complex challenges, having a team capable of viewing problems through multiple lenses can improve decision-making, foster innovation, and strengthen problem-solving capabilities. Diversity of thought is not simply a social ideal; it can be a practical advantage that contributes directly to organizational success. 

The Impact of Founder Personalities on Startup Success

• This study examined more than 21,000 startups and found that founder personality traits are significantly associated with startup success, highlighting the importance of human factors in entrepreneurial outcomes.
• Successful founders tended to display higher levels of openness to new experiences, a preference for variety and innovation, greater activity levels, and lower levels of modesty compared to the general population.
• The researchers found no single “ideal entrepreneur” personality. Instead, six distinct founder personality types emerged, suggesting multiple pathways to entrepreneurial success.
• Startups with founding teams that exhibited greater personality diversity were more likely to succeed than teams with more homogeneous personality profiles.
• The findings suggest that personality diversity should be considered alongside traditional factors such as experience, education, and industry knowledge when building entrepreneurial teams and evaluating startup potential.

McCarthy, P. X., Gong, X., Braesemann, F., Stephany, F., Rizoiu, M.-A., & Kern, M. L. (2023). The impact of founder personalities on startup success. Scientific Reports, 13, Article 17200. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-41980-y

Life Guard Workout, Breathing and Faster Swim Times

Illustrative Only

Recently, I decided that apparently I didn’t have enough hobbies, so I started working toward a lifeguard certification. My goal is to help out the local community once in a while—maybe a night a week or on weekends. Plus, I enjoy finding new and creative ways to remind myself that I’m not as young as I used to be. My body reminds me in the morning.

Before you can become a lifeguard, you have to pass a pre-certification test. This is basically the universe asking, “Are you sure about this?” The test involved swimming back and forth across the pool multiple times, treading water for two minutes without using my hands, swimming some more, and then completing a timed rescue exercise.

The rescue exercise was particularly exciting. First, you sprint across the pool, then dive 9 or 10 feet to the bottom to retrieve what feels like a small car disguised as a weight. After wrestling it off the pool floor, you bring it to the surface, hug it like your favorite teddy bear, and swim on your back to the other end of the pool without using your hands—all while racing the clock.

The first time I did it, I finished with about 10 seconds to spare. This time, I finished with 21 seconds to spare. That may not sound like much, but in lifeguard terms that’s the difference between “barely survived” and “not to shabby.” Even better, I got shorter times than younger peeps. 😁 I’m not saying I celebrated, but if anyone heard a victory speech in the parking lot, that may have been me (I know...not mature but still a kind of pat yourself on back thing.).

I’ve spent years learning new things, gaining certifications and hobbies like some people collect baseball cards. I’m a certified fitness trainer, certified yoga instructor, shipwreck diver (asked recently if I could dive a path for boat navigation but waiting on one of my dive friends wants to come with...and a new strap I ordered to come in for my air tank that keeps slipping.), sailor, occasional surfer, boogie boarder, and general enthusiast of activities that involve water and questionable weather conditions. I like the water, being near the water, on the water, by the water, etc...

Lately, I’ve been focusing on improving my breathing and endurance. My workouts include yoga, Pilates, dance, horse riding, rowing, sword fencing and martial arts. If that sounds like a strange combination, it is. On any given day I might be practicing breathing techniques, working on flexibility, learning balance, and then high kick. The goal is to increase lung capacity, improve control, and avoid sounding like a steam locomotive after climbing a flight of stairs.

One thing I’ve learned is that you can get into pretty good shape without living in a gym. Right now, most of my workouts are at home. I use some 15-pound weights, mostly to remind my muscles that retirement is not an option (Doesn't matter size as much as fatigue. Focusing more on functional muscle.). I also keep an eye on my nutrition, which turns out to be much more effective than my previous strategy of hoping vegetables would somehow count if they were next to pizza.

I still have the written tests and classroom work ahead of me, but the physical portion is mostly complete. Hopefully, the mental side goes as well as the physical side. If not, I may become the world’s fastest person at incorrectly answering lifeguard questions.

Overall, I believe people should keep challenging themselves. Learn new things. Stay active. Exercise your body and your mind. Life is more interesting that way.

And if you need some help getting started with fitness, I’m always happy to share ideas. As a fitness trainer and yoga instructor, I can help you put together a routine, talk about nutrition, and point you in the right direction. Worst case, you’ll get healthier. Best case, you might even find yourself at the bottom of a pool racing a stopwatch while wondering how exactly you got there. If interested send a message to the right. 

‘Guard’ Workout: Can a Lifeguard-Specific High-Intensity Functional Training Reflect Rescue Demands?

• This pilot study examined a lifeguard-specific High-Intensity Functional Training (HIFT) workout designed to replicate aquatic rescue tasks, including running, swimming with fins, victim extraction, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
• Twenty-seven lifeguards completed a 15-minute AMRAP (As Many Rounds As Possible) protocol. Most participants completed three rounds, while none completed a fourth, demonstrating the demanding nature of the workout.
• Physiological responses showed high exercise intensity, with average heart rates reaching 82% of maximum heart rate and post-exercise blood lactate levels increasing from 1.50 mmol/L to 15.50 mmol/L.
• Perceived exertion increased significantly throughout the workout, reaching near-maximal levels, yet CPR performance remained consistently high (86–94%) despite accumulated fatigue.
• The findings suggest that a lifeguard-specific HIFT program may be a practical method for both training and assessing rescue readiness under realistic conditions, although further validation studies are needed before widespread implementation.

Ignacio-Rodríguez, I., Aranda-García, S., Sanmartín-Montes, M., Morales-Rejas, O., Otero-Agra, M., Santos-Folgar, M., Zarzosa-Alonso, F., & Barcala-Furelos, R. (2026). ‘Guard’ workout: Can a lifeguard-specific high-intensity functional training reflect rescue demands? Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology, 11(2), 218. https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk11020218

Does Time Management Work? A Few Ideas...

Time management is important in every aspect of life, including your career, education, and personal development. It is easy to fill our days with activities, but not all of them provide meaningful value. Some activities bring us joy, while others help us accomplish important tasks and move us closer to our goals.

Effective time management helps ensure that we invest our time and energy in ways that maximize personal growth, productivity, and overall well-being. By managing our time intentionally, we can focus on what matters most rather than becoming distracted by less important demands.

One useful strategy is to identify a few key objectives you want to accomplish and then organize your time around those priorities. Many people find it helpful to set goals, establish milestones, and allocate time to specific tasks. However, it is important to strike a balance. A schedule that is too rigid leaves little room for flexibility, while a schedule that is too loose can result in a lack of direction and productivity.

Each day, try to identify a small number of meaningful tasks or goals and make steady progress toward them. Over time, it is consistency—not perfection—that leads to achievement. Small, deliberate actions repeated day after day can produce significant results and help you reach both personal and professional goals.

Does Time Management Work? A Meta-Analysis

• This meta-analysis examined the relationship between time management practices and outcomes related to performance, well-being, and stress across multiple studies.
• Findings showed that effective time management is moderately associated with improved job performance and academic achievement.
• Individuals who practice time management tend to report higher levels of well-being and life satisfaction.
• Time management was found to have a moderate negative relationship with distress, indicating that better management of time is associated with lower stress levels.
• The authors concluded that time management interventions can provide meaningful benefits, particularly when they help individuals gain greater control over how they allocate and use their time.

Aeon, B., Faber, A., & Panaccio, A. (2021). Does time management work? A meta-analysis. PLoS ONE, 16(1), e0245066. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0245066

Celebrating Juneteenth-As We Continue to Improve

Today is a special day as we commemorate a significant step toward greater liberty and freedom. Juneteenth marks the moment when those who resisted freedom and emancipation were ultimately overcome, and the promise of liberty moved closer to reality. It is an important day to recognize the sacrifices and challenges endured by people whose contributions helped shape our society, yet who were not always treated with the dignity and equality they deserved.

These struggles are not confined to the past. Throughout history and into modern times, societies have continued to face challenges associated with discrimination, hatred, racism, and other forms of mistreatment. While most people strive to do what is right, those who engage in wrongdoing are sometimes met with indifference, selective accountability, or inadequate consequences, creating additional victims in the process. In some cases, narratives and victim-blaming can normalize misconduct and desensitize society to injustice.

The Allegory of the Clan, loosely modeled after Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, explores how systems that embrace corruption and exclusion can emerge within societies. It examines themes such as discrimination, abuse of authority, manipulation of vulnerable populations, reputational harm, secret agreements, retaliation against witnesses and whistleblowers, misuse of public resources, and the tendency of some groups to protect wrongdoing rather than correct it. When institutions fail to hold themselves accountable, public trust erodes and injustice can become entrenched. If such behavior becomes a pattern rather than an isolated incident, it signals a deeper problem regardless of the narrative used to justify it.

The encouraging reality is that the overwhelming majority of officials and citizens strive to do what is right. They honor their commitments, uphold their social contracts, and live according to values shared by millions of people. Many stand for fairness, justice, and the rule of law, though they often need support and encouragement. These individuals possess a strong moral conscience and a commitment to ethical conduct. Yet challenges remain. At times, society still struggles with victim-blaming, excusing harmful behavior, or rewarding actions that undermine the common good. Principles and higher ideals can be disregarded when personal gain becomes the priority, and accountability mechanisms may prove insufficient.

Not everyone agrees that all people possess equal value or that laws should be applied fairly and justly. Throughout history, there have been individuals and groups who intentionally harmed others while favoring those who shared their values, appearance, religion, ideology, or political views. In some cases, prejudice and hatred were openly tolerated or even rewarded. We strengthen our communities not by disengaging, but by participating—by supporting those who act with integrity and reporting misconduct when it occurs, even when doing so is difficult or unpopular. While efforts to address wrongdoing may not always succeed, taking action remains important. As the saying goes, if you cannot correct it, you may end up protecting it.

We are all connected, and future generations will live with the consequences of the choices we make today. No politician, judge, official, or powerful individual should be above the principles of liberty, justice, and equality that generations have worked to establish and preserve. Every person possesses inherent worth and deserves equal protection under the law. When victims are silenced, targeted, or denied meaningful recourse, society must recognize that a serious problem exists.

As a society, we move forward through civility, kindness, understanding, and mutual respect. By encouraging constructive behavior and holding destructive actions accountable, we help create communities that are stronger, fairer, and more resilient. Juneteenth reminds us not only of how far we have come, but also of our continuing responsibility to safeguard liberty, justice, and human dignity for all. Most importantly, it reminds us of our obligation to leave a better and more just society for the next generation.

*The Allegory of the Clann is a philosophical thought experiment for learning purposes so come to whatever conclusion you desire as long as you thought about it. 

What is Junteenth?

You may be interested in this article, 

Hate as a System: Examining Hate Crimes and Hate Groups as State-Level Moderators on the Impact of Online and Offline Racism on Mental Health

• This study examined whether state-level hate crimes and hate groups influence the relationship between racism and psychological stress among racial minority individuals in the United States.
• Using data from 935 racial minority adults across 43 states, the researchers found that both online and offline racism were significantly associated with higher levels of perceived stress.
• The presence of hate groups, rather than hate crimes, significantly strengthened the relationship between offline racism and stress, suggesting that hate groups contribute to a broader culture of hostility and exclusion.
• Online racism was consistently linked to stress regardless of the number of hate groups or hate crimes in a state, likely because online experiences transcend geographic boundaries.
• The authors conclude that hate groups should be viewed as a form of structural racial inequity because their presence can amplify the psychological harm caused by racial discrimination and negatively affect mental health outcomes.

Keum, B. T., Li, X., & Wong, M. J. (2022). Hate as a system: Examining hate crimes and hate groups as state-level moderators on the impact of online and offline racism on mental health. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 91, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2022.09.002

La Noche Blanc Orphan Fundraiser July 18th 2026

 This is an organization that one can support. It helps orphans and those in need. Children are children no matter where they reside. Get Tickets

If you are not able to attend and would like to donate (any amount) on my page consider Donate Now

Leadership: Empathy with Expecations

 Let's talk about empathy in leadership. Whether you're leading an organization, serving as an elected or appointed official, managing a department, or volunteering in your community, empathy can be a powerful contributor to success.

Human beings are inherently social and adaptive. Over centuries, we have developed the ability to build relationships, cooperate, and create networks that help us achieve common goals. Organizations themselves are collections of people who come together to pursue shared objectives, create value, and, in many cases, generate economic benefit. Because organizations are built on human interaction, empathy plays an important role in effective leadership.

Empathy allows leaders to understand other people's perspectives, experiences, and concerns. It often improves communication, strengthens relationships, and helps build trust within teams. Leaders who demonstrate empathy are generally better equipped to understand employee needs, address challenges, and communicate in ways that resonate with diverse groups of people.

In leadership roles, much of what you accomplish depends on the social networks and relationships that influence organizational outcomes. You may hold a formal position of authority, but your ability to connect with others often determines how effectively you can lead. Empathy provides insight into the motivations, concerns, and aspirations of those around you, creating opportunities for more productive and meaningful interactions.

That said, empathy is not the same as avoiding difficult decisions. There is an important distinction between understanding someone's situation and simply yielding to every request. Effective leaders balance empathy with accountability. They seek to understand people while still making decisions that support organizational goals, maintain standards, and promote fairness.

Empathy combined with clear expectations can be one of the most effective leadership approaches. When rules are transparent, performance standards are understood, and accountability is applied consistently, leaders can treat people with respect and compassion while still encouraging high levels of performance.

The study below offers an interesting look at the relationship between empathetic leadership, employee engagement, and organizational commitment. It may be worth reading and reflecting on how empathy influences your own leadership style and the impact you have on the people and organizations you serve.

Empathetic Leadership in Corporate Communication: Cultivating Positive Dynamics and Enhancing Employee Well-Being

• The study examined how empathetic leadership influences employee well-being, engagement, and organizational commitment within corporate communication and public relations environments, using survey data from 1,055 communication professionals in the United States and Canada.
• Results showed that employees who perceived their leaders as empathetic reported higher levels of work engagement, stronger organizational commitment, and greater trust in leadership.
• Significant demographic differences emerged, with male professionals, older employees, and those in higher organizational positions reporting stronger perceptions of empathetic leadership than other groups.
• While empathy was strongly associated with positive workplace attitudes and engagement, it did not significantly reduce employee burnout when considered independently of broader organizational factors.
• The authors concluded that empathy is an important leadership competency but should be combined with organizational supports such as workload management, mental health resources, flexible work arrangements, and career development opportunities to improve long-term employee well-being and retention.

Robayo-Sanchez, K., Cacciatore, M. A., & Meng, J. (2026). Empathetic leadership in corporate communication: Cultivating positive dynamics and enhancing employee well-being. Behavioral Sciences, 16(3), 412. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16030412