New media rules!

Politicians and the media have developed a love-hate relationship, and to a large extent, have become devisive rather than unifying forces. The good news, is that the internet and social media have taken much of the power away, and have returned it to the people via citizen journalists and bloggers. It has also leveled the playing field so that the “Average Joe” who is willing to get out there and communicate with people, can run for office. It is no longer just a “BIG MONEY” game. The world is changing rapidly and I am glad to be a part of it!!! GO Sarah!! KS

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&ref=search&gid=90276679173#/pages/Kevin-Seney-for-Governor/181090867059?ref=mf

Sarah Palin. Her Side of the Story.

By MELANIE KIRKPATRICK

“Going Rogue,” the title of Sarah Palin’s autobiography, refers to the snide remark of an anonymous McCain aide late in last year’s presidential campaign. It was used to describe the vice-presidential candidate’s move to break free of her media handlers and speak out against the campaign’s decision to pull out of Michigan, a state that, in Mrs. Palin’s view, was well worth contesting. The “word came hurtling down that I had been ‘off-script,’ ” she writes. The campaign hadn’t bothered to inform her of the Michigan decision, which she learned of from a reporter. “Of course,” she adds drily, “it’s pretty easy to issue candid, off-script messages when there is no script to begin with.”

One of the biggest mistakes of the failed McCain campaign—and there was no shortage of them—was its handling of Mrs. Palin. Her criticisms of the campaign’s treatment of her appear prominently in “Going Rogue.” But the book contains self-criticisms too, if not as many as there ought to be for a candidate who was ultimately responsible for her own uneven performance.

That said, “Going Rogue” is more a personal memoir than a political one. More than half the book is about Mrs. Palin’s life before the 2008 campaign. She discusses her coming of age in the “new frontier” state of Alaska; her personal faith journey; her experiences with marriage and motherhood, including two miscarriages, a special-needs child and a pregnant teenage daughter; and the free-market convictions that have guided her political career. As a politician, she comes across as a prodigious worker capable of mastering complicated issues—not least the energy policies that matter so much to Alaska’s economy—and of building bridges to Democrats.

Through it all, Mrs. Palin emerges as a new style of feminist: a politician who took on the Ole Boy network and won; a wife with a supportive husband whose career takes second place to hers; and a mother who, unlike working women of an earlier age, isn’t shy about showcasing her family responsibilities. She writes with sensitivity and affection about her gay college roommate, and she confesses her anguish when she found out that she was carrying a baby with Down syndrome. That experience, she says, helped her to understand why a woman might be tempted to have an abortion. This is not the prejudiced, dim-witted ideologue of the popular liberal imagination.

But of course it is for details of the McCain campaign that many readers will pick up “Going Rogue,” and Mrs. Palin will not disappoint them. She describes in particular how campaign aides muzzled her and mismanaged her family. If anything, she is too gentle on the staffers who kept her out of the loop and under wraps. She is certainly too gentle on the man at the top of the ticket who let them get away with it. She has hardly a critical word to say about John McCain, whose appearances in the book are surprisingly few.

The mistakes started on day one. The McCain communications team had not compiled the usual press-briefing guides, she writes, with the result that the national media had “zero information” on her or her record in Alaska. Moreover, her “family, friends, and political associates were under strict instructions not to talk to the media.” She wasn’t even allowed to speak to her home-state press, which was very friendly. When one of her aides asked McCain headquarters for permission for her to go to the rear of the campaign plane to talk to reporters, the response was swift: “No! Absolutely not—block her if she tries to go back.”

She says that the campaign stiffed her for $50,000 in vetting expenses. She expresses perplexity at the focus of McCain aides on her clothes—”Never before had I been involved in a campaign that placed such an emphasis on packaging.” And she is angry about the campaign’s handling of her daughter’s out-of-wedlock pregnancy, which included putting out a press release that Mrs. Palin had not seen or approved. “If they [the leaders of the campaign] weren’t going to let me speak my heart and mind even about an intimate issue affecting my own family, what would they let me speak to?”

When the media blackout was finally lifted and she had an interview with Katie Couric of the “CBS Evening News,” the result was disastrous. Mrs. Palin takes responsibility, saying that she “let the team down” and that she “mistakenly let myself become annoyed and frustrated with many of her repetitive, biased questions.” But she also blames the campaign for not prepping her adequately and for telling her that it was going to be “a pretty mellow interview, short and sweet, about balancing motherhood and my life as governor.”

It is disappointing that Mrs. Palin devotes so little of “Going Rogue” to the issues that she and Mr. McCain ran on. She says that the campaign should have focused more on the flagging economy and been more aggressive in countering Barack Obama’s agenda. She also says that she wasn’t allowed to praise President Bush’s homeland-security policies. But that’s about it.

Mrs. Palin’s veep candidacy ignited fury on the left and much skewed reporting in the mainstream media. It is probably too much to hope that a book that begins at the Right to Life booth at the Alaska State Fair will inspire her critics to read on. But if they do, they’ll find themselves in the company of a woman whose views are more nuanced than they were portrayed to be during the campaign. As for her supporters on the right, they won’t find much new ammunition with which to counter those who say that Mrs. Palin isn’t ready for the rigors of the White House.

Speaking of which, “Going Rogue” offers little guidance on the big question: Is Mrs. Palin preparing to run for the presidency? The final chapter, “The Way Forward,” is a mere 13 pages and reads like a stump speech. It consists mostly of generalities on conservative values, fiscal restraint and the need for a strong defense. But the quotation from her father with which she introduces the chapter perhaps offers a clue to her future plans: “Sarah’s not retreating; she’s reloading!”

Ms. Kirkpatrick is a former deputy editor of the Journal’s editorial page.

Rock On, Steve Wampler!

Stephen Wampler was born with severe Cerebral Palsy and uses a power chair for mobility, but it is truly amazing how fortunate he feels about his life and wouldn’t change it for anything! At nine years old, his parents enrolled him in an annual wilderness camp in the High Sierras where he fished, hiked, played in the lake and slept under the stars. His disability paled into insignificance. He learned He could do anything he set his mind to and it became his favorite place on earth.

Ten years and hundred’s of happy ‘Wampler Kids’ later, Stephen Wampler’s quest continues to champion young adventurers by directly funding these life-changing programs. None of this, of course, is possible without your generosity and I hope I have inspired you to action by including us in your giving. Churchill once wrote, ‘You make a living by what you get, but you make a life by what you give.’

This is it, the BIG one!

Steve’s extreme quest to be the first with Cerebral Palsy to climb El Capitan in Yosemite will mark an achievement of massive proportions. His will power, athleticism and sheer guts, is something for us all to admire, irrespective of his disabilities for this gargantuan task.

Sleeping six nights suspended from a face of granite, Steve will need an unthinkable 20,000 pull-ups to conquer the vertical face that’s twice the height of the Empire State Building!

Don’t bother telling Steve it can’t be done. He’ll just smile.

Steve’s endurance training, mindset and personal commitment is typical of the character of a man dedicated to his Foundation’s goal for funding challenging programs to enrich the lives of kids with physical disabilities.

He is an iconic role model and has moved individuals and corporations alike to ‘Rock On’ and make a real difference.

Learn more, and how you can support this amazing man on his quest! Thank you! KS

https://www.wamplerfoundation.org/donate

Red Bull Air Races – San Diego

I was fortunate enough to receive VIP passes to the Red Bull Air Races, held in San Diego, CA, May 9 & 10, 2009.  I would like to extend my sincere thanks to my good friends Elias and Victor at Royal Maui Jewelers, Lisa Roman, Marketing Director for Breitling, and of course, Red Bull for their amazing hospitality in the Red Bull “High Flyers Lounge.”  We had spectacular bay-front seating, in a posh lounge, with gigantic video screens for replays, and racing stats, and an amazing feast of food and drink served all day. The “Red Bull Girls” provided “first class” service to us all!   As a pilot myself, I am in total awe of the pilots, the aircraft, and at the over all “super bowl” magnitude this event has grown into in just a few short years.  Thanks to all!!

Kevin & The Red Bull girls!

 

The “High Flyers VIP Lounge”

 

The Red Bull Girls!

New Book to be released June 2009

I just received a pre-release copy of our new book, “In Service” from the Best-Selling Series “Wake Up… Live the Life You Love,” which will be printed and released in June 2009.  This exciting project has already opened the door to another writing opportunity, which I will begin this summer 2009.

Book Cover:

The Answer: Change your brain, change your life

Cassis, Corsica.  Yesterday, John Assaraf presented his new book, “The Answer” in a 2 hour lecture on his research on how you can reprogram your brain for success.  We discussed how to pinpoint your own passions and achieve your business goals, use the law of attraction, and rewire your brain using a step-by-step neural reconditioning process, all of which creates a powerful mind-set for success.

The most amazing part of this journey has been being surrounded by so many like-minded successful people.

Kevin Seney & John Assaraf aboard the Sea Dream Yacht

John Assaraf is a speaker, entrepreneur, and the internationally best-selling author of Having it All and was featured in the movie and book The Secret.  John resides in San Diego, CA and is the founder and CEO of OneCoach.

Take the Passion Test

St. Tropez France.  Janet Attwood, author of the book, “The Passion Test” was our guest speaker yesterday.  She conducted a workshop with our group and later we gathered on the rear of the boat, for a sunset coctail party.  It was an incredible day.  I would highly recommend her book, and taking “The Passion Test” on her website:  www.thepassiontest.com  www.janetattwood.com

St. Tropez…

BTW, I got my wings back

I finally got started on my pilot license instrument rating and completed my check ride Saturday.  This morning I am flying my dream plane, the New Piper Matrix, with my flying pal, Mike Borden at High Performance Aircraft! 

 

Getting back in the air made me realize how important it is to have something you are totally passionate about.  When you act on your dreams, you take risks and push yourself to the limit to achieve them.  That energy fuels your ambition throughout your career and personal life.  Life is too short to worry about the past.  Dream, and dream big…  KS

First Stop, Portofino Italy

July is set to be the most amazing month of the year!  this Wednesday, I leave to Italy to join John Assaraf and his group on a Mega Yacht in the Mediterranean.  First Stop, Portofino Italy.  I am meeting up with an old friend at the Splendido Hotelfor lunch, overlooking the harbor below.

I was in Portofino years ago, but it is difficult to drive into, there is no parking, no hotels, etc. but this time it should be fantastic!  To sail into that harbor, on a luxury yacht will be unbelievable!  Then on to Poltu Quaru, Sardinia; Corsica, Cassis, France, St. Tropez and more!

Finally, I return to San Francisco on July 22, for a speaking engagement at the Inman Real Connect SF 2008.  I will update that event as it unfolds, but for now, it is time for a much needed adventure.  More to come…  KS

Take Flight…

In 2001, I had just sold my company and was taking some “much needed” time off and was suddenly inspired to pursue a childhood dream of becoming a pilot. My granddad was a pilot, and I flew with him regularly as a young boy.

The timing was perfect, as shortly after 9/11/2001, the aviation industry was desperate to sell airplanes. I was able to purchase a new airplane, with unheard of financing, and they even threw in the cost of obtaining my pilots license.

It began like any project, or new pursuit.  Buying all the books and study materials was exciting. But, there was nothing like the day I took delivery of my new airplane. I had hired a CFI or Flight Instructor, and we agreed to meet at the airport.

I had already told him I owned an airplane. But when he walked up to the plane, I will never forget him looking at me, then back at the plane, and then back to me, and saying, “This is your airplane?” “It is new?” “Yes,” I said. “Have you flown it?”, he said, and of course, I said “no, I don’t have a license.”

He just stood there and smiled shaking his head.

So that moment was the beginning of my flying career.

We flew that day and had a blast. I never imagined I would be so cool. And, my CFI was extra happy, as he was used to spending his day in beat up old lesson planes.

We flew everywhere. It was a amazing. We became good friends.  My children lived in Northern California and I was in Southern California, so we flew up and down the coast, regularly.

After several months, I finally I was ready to solo.

We practiced all morning, and after hours of preparation, I was ready to go.  John, my CFI, finally weaned me off his role as “back up” man, and I was ready to roll on my own.

It was so exciting. I remember lining up on the runway, going through my final checks. I received final clearance, and off I went. The second I pulled up off the ground and retracted the gear, I knew that is was suddenly “all me.”  Pilots have lots of funny sayings, but this was the one that applied to that moment:

“Take offs are optional”

“Landings are mandatory”

My first Solo

And, man was I feeling that at the moment. My heart beats faster just writing this.

Another pilot “saying:”

“A good landing is when you can walk away”

“And, a GREAT landing is when you can reuse the airplane!”

I am proud to say, I had many GREAT landings, actually over 200!

I could go on and on with my many adventures, and they seemed to never end. Especially, the time I got caught in a snow storm in Salt Lake City UT, with my little girls on board. Talk about sweaty hands! But, we finally landed safely.

So, what is the point?

I took amazing risks, both financially and personally, to pursue my highest personal goal. It cost me a fortune, but it was worth every penny!

Just know, that life is not a dressed rehearsal. You do not get to try again.

Set your goals high, and begin to figure out a way to achieve them now.

I sold my airplane in 2004 to start my new company, but just recently, I started working on my instrument rating. Guess what my next big goal is? A bigger-better-faster airplane of course! I am taking a test flight on Friday! How will I pay for it? ($2 M)   I will cross that bridge when it arrives, but it has never stopped me before… KS