We had our first EliteXC fight last Saturday night (Feb. 10th) on Showtime.  It rocked.  We also streamed the live undercard to our website at ProElite.com.

Check out some of the undercard ACTION (from a camera phone). 

We'll have the fights up from the undercard shortly.

Pretty exciting.  These athletes are amazing.

Kelly

This shot is of me and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson.  He's currenlty a UFC fighter, but he was there cheering at our fight!

Hi All:

I recently took over as the President of ProElite.com.  We launched a social networking tool last week that will help fans, fighters and organizations in mixed martial arts (MMA) grow the sport.

I'm incorporating much of what I learned helping Brian build eteamz and my time as an Ambassador here at Zaadz.  I'd love to get your feedback.

Our live event fight company, EliteXC, will airing our first fight live on Showtime this Saturday, Feb. 10th at 10 pm.  ProElite will be showing the 5 undercard fights live on the web for free at www.proelite.com.

This is an incredibly exciting sport and we are committed to growing it!

Take Command!

Kelly

Attention all Entrepreneurs!!!!

I just started a newsletter for entrepreneurs that I will send out monthly.  It has a lot of content and several sections I think you'll find interesting and hopefully very useful including:

1.  Leadership Series
2.  Technical Review
3.  Legal Corner
4.  Book Review
5.  Useful Links
6.  Readers' Q&A

Please REGISTER if you'd like to recieve it!

TAKE COMMAND!

Kelly Perdew

On Monday, January 15th, 2007, hundreds of thousands of Americans will honor Martin Luther King, Jr.’s vision through a Day of Service that builds broad and diverse coalitions, breaks down barriers, and makes our communities the best they can be. On behalf of the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation, I encourage you to join me in making Dr. King’s dream come to life.

Throughout the nation, people will join their neighbors to work side by side – whether painting recreation centers, feeding the homeless, or sharing stories of the fight for civil rights. Large or small, every project makes a difference.

Dr. King recognized the power of momentum. The time is now for you to join a growing national effort that reaches across neighborhoods and divisions to unite Americans with a common goal: a day of celebrating by turning community concerns into volunteer actions. Here are four things you can do to get involved:

1. As an individual, participate in a volunteer service project. To find an opportunity in your community, visit www.mlkday.gov.

2. Use your voice and organizational resources to invite others to serve. Through his words and example, Dr. King challenged individuals to take action and lift up their neighbors and communities through service. Encourage your networks to volunteer on King Day and throughout the year.

3. Consider supporting a project in your community. Find a project that interests you and provide project materials or contribute a financial donation.

4. Recognize volunteers in your network. Honor the work they do throughout the year by presenting them with the President’s Volunteer Service Award. For more information on presenting the awards or becoming a Certifying Organization, visit www.presidentialserviceawards.gov.

Dr. King believed each individual possessed the power to lift himself or herself up no matter what his or her circumstances – rich or poor, black or white, man or woman. Teaching literacy skills, showing older adults how to use the Internet, helping people build the skills they need to acquire a job, and other acts of service help improve lives. And they make those citizens who perform the service feel happier and more motivated.

Join us on Dr. King’s birthday as we kick off a year of service and civic engagement in which every Americans can realize Dr. King’s message that, “Everybody can be great because everybody can serve.”

TAKE COMMAND!

Kelly Perdew
President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation

I'm on The President's Council for Service and Civic Participation.  Our mission is to recognize outstanding volunteer service on the part of organizations and individuals.  The Council and the Board of The Corporation for National & Community Service trecently completed a three-day tour of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.

I want to say that it was one of the most impactful three days I've ever spent anywhere.  There are a lot of things going wrong and a lot of things going right.  Although there were enough stories for 10 books, I want to highlight those items that I feel are most important here in my blog.

Overall Impression:  I have never seen such breadth and depth of devastation.  New Orleans was particularly unbelievable.  We visited the 9th Ward and I personally don't believe it will recover any time in the next 10 years.  Maybe longer.  Additionally, the amount of reaction and clean-up is significantly behind that of Mississippi.  I think there are a number of reasons for that, but I explore them in a separate blog entry.  Here are a few photos that don't  even come close to conveying the extent of the damage.




Mixed in with my awe at the complete devestation is an unbelievable pride in the American people that are volunteering everything they have to help fellow Americans in need.  It is truly inspiring to see the volunteer effort in both New Orleans and Mississippi.  Here are a few shots of the different organizations that we recognized on the trip and that are doing amazing things for people that were affected.








Young, old, rich, poor, you name it...they are there.  People showed up to help in the recovery effort for three days and have been there for five months.  Story after story after story of amazing compassion and outreach by hundreds of thousands of individuals (over 500,000 have contributed their TIME since Katrina) and they need more.  A LOT MORE.  On the Council's website, we list out the different organizations that you can volunteer with and they are listed by state.  If any of you are interested in getting involved, here are just a few of the programs that we saw and officially recognized for their oustanding efforts and I would recommend:

1.  Trinity Christian Community Americorps (New Orleans).  Based in one of the poorest neighborhoods in New Orleans, TCC has focused on cleaning and repairing homes and working with a network of service entities to provide disadvantaged community members with relocation, home repair, volunteer recruitment and assimilating returning evacuees.  Kevin Brown, program director, is particularly inspirational.

2.  Tulane Americorps VISTA (New Orleans).  Tulane's Center for Public Service is actually institutionalizing a "service-learning" component into their curriculum.  The project aims to both increase the impact of service-learning on students' civic engagement and to build capacity in participating community agencies.  GREAT PROGRAM!

3.  Xavier (New Orleans).  Xavier is also creating internal programs to bring in a service component as well as partnering with other universities to bring volunteers into New Orleans.

4.  Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service (Mississippi).  An amazing organization with great leadership and execution.  The mission of the Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service is to engage and support Mississippians of all ages and backgrounds in service to their communities.

5.  National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) (National).  To put it mildly, this organization ROCKS!  The mission of AmeriCorps*NCCC is to strengthen communities and develop leaders through direct, team-based national and community service. In partnership with nonprofit organizations, state and local agencies, and faith-based and other community organizations, members complete service projects throughout the region they are assigned.  Drawn from the successful models of the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930s and the U.S. military, AmeriCorps*NCCC is built on the belief that civic responsibility is an inherent duty of all citizens and that national service programs work effectively with local communities to address pressing needs.  If you want to serve your country but don't want to be in the military, DO THIS!  All the same leadership skills that are developed in the military of which I write about in my book, TAKE COMMAND, are also developed in this program.

6.  HandsOn Network (Mississippi).  Their mission is to organize long-term rebuilding efforts.  This group is awesome.  Basically, all a volunteer needs to do is get there and HandsOn Network will figure how best to utilize them, give them food and a place to sleep.  Truly inspiring group. 

7.  KaBoom (National).  Get this, they build playgrounds in the Gulf Coast to help give the neighborhood a nice place for their kids and a place to meet.  They've been amazingly successful and usually work in conjunction with other local volunteer organizations.

8.  Habitat for Humanity (National).  They are doing some fantastic work in New Orleans.  New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity is mobilizing for an unprecedented rebuilding effort.  In 2006, NOAHH plans on building hundreds of new homes in Orleans, Jefferson, Plaquemines, and St. Bernard Parishes.

I hope this blog entry gets you more interested in learning about what's going on with Katrina recovery because it is only just beginning!

TAKE COMMAND!

Kelly

The person with the most varied responses ultimately wins. This is true on the battlefield, in business and in life. I firmly believe this. There are all types of leaders and managers. How many managers have you had that can only address a problem one way? Some are shouters, some are planners and some are collaborators. But how many can be all three effectively in three different situations?

Any person who is inflexible - who can only operate in one manner - is not likely to survive very long. Problem-solving requires flexibility - and so does career planning. Very few jobs these days offer the security of knowing that you'll be there for 20 or 30 years. In fact, the average time with a company for 20- and 30-year-olds is a little more than three-and-a-half years. Everyone needs to reinvent themselves, and leaving their comfort zone, and constantly, constantly learning.

How do you attack problems? Are you constantly seeking out new skills so that you can be more effective? Or are you satisfied with all that you think you know?

A lot of people are surprised when I say "flexibility" is a key leadership principle I learned in the military. Hollywood frequently portrays military personnel as rigid and inflexible. That is unfortunate and, in fact, nothing could be further from the truth. When an infantry unit is told by the commander to take a hill, they aren't told how to take it. That is where the problem-solving comes in. The unit has to figure it out on its own. That problem-solving is something every ex-military person takes with them into the civilian workforce.

In June 2006, Korn/Ferry International - a premier global provider of executive, search outsourced recruiting and leadership development solutions - released the results of their study examining the performance of Fortune 500 companies led by CEOs with military background compared to those companies with CEOs without military experience. Companies led by CEOs with military experience have outperformed the S&P 500 Index over the past three-, five- and 10-year periods by as much as 20 percentage points. One of the six attributes listed as being the reason for their disproportionate success is the ability to solve problems in stressful conditions.

How do you handle co-workers that you can't get along with? Or how about when you don't get along with your boss? Do you blame it all on him or her? Or do you look at it as a challenge that you can overcome by being flexible? Try looking at those tough relationships the same way you look at a tough problem - they come in all shapes and sizes. How you handle them is up to you. One caveat in the regard, being flexible does not mean compromising your integrity. Always maintain your integrity.

In a May 2005, Fast Company article entitled "Change or Die," editor Alan Deutchman described a great example of flexibility and how that leadership characteristic really can influence success. When Steve Jobs led the turnaround at Apple, Jobs returned to the company after having been gone for a long time and he focused almost exclusively on Apple's flexibility and innovation. He recast Apple's image among employees and customers from a second rate player defeated in its quest for a share of the market to the home of a small but highly enviable elite -- the creative innovators who dared to "Think different." Apple has been an innovator and focused on flexible thinking ever since and their stock has soared.

It is never too late to recreate yourself. Take the best attributes and skills you've got, identify where you want to be and what it takes to get there, set up your plan and go for it. For instance, if you're currently in a very technical job, spend some time on marketing and sales skills. Understanding how marketing and sales perceives problems will help you deliver more effectively on the technical side. And, by developing your own sales and marketing skills you become infinitely more valuable to your company - or to a new company.

You can do the same thing in your position, no matter where you are. Don't be the employee that always has the same solution for every problem. Don't be the leader who approaches every employee the same way. Be fair, but be creative and understand that every employee and every problem is not identical.

TAKE COMMAND!

Kelly

I started a company with a classmate of mine from West Point called American Family Protection, Inc. (AFP).  We repurposed information used by the US Government to train US military and officials across the world so that it can be made available to families throughout the US.  We produced an interactive CD titled "The Terrorist Attack Survival Kit," which contains 3.5 hours of material extracted from a library of government-approved multi-media training modules.  This kit is the definitive encyclopedia on how to recognize, prepare and react to terrorist attacks and it will become the first-aid kit for the 21^st century.

Drawn from the knowledge of over 30 specific military experts, this CD kit includes topics such as:

1. What are WMDs?
2. The differences between biological and chemical weaponry
3. Survival supplies check list
4. Preparation checklists for your family
5. Flight or Stay - When to run and when to stay
6. Guidance for first responders
7. How to spot early warning signs

All modules have been approved by the US Government.  This CD will give average Americans access to invaluable information that could save their lives in the event of a terrorist attack.
 
TAKE COMMAND!

Kelly

Hi all:

Nope, that's not me...

I just finished up a two week road trip where I was forturnate to meet in-person a fellow Zaadster (one I originally met here on Zaadz!) in Golden, CO.  BTW - Do we have a name for that yet?  Where we meet someone in "real" life that we orginally met here on Zaadz?  How about Zmeet?  Or Zighting?  As in, "Hey I Zighted Shawn Phillips yesterday!" 

Shawn Phillips is CEO and Founder of Phillips Performance Solutions, LLC., best known for pioneering the world's first performance fast food, Full Strength^TM. 

A few observations:

1.  Shawn.  Shawn is an incredibly driven, passionate and compassionate individual.  It was great to sit with him and his team and talk about their comprehensive plans to develop their business.  He's got plans to LITERALLY lift everyone's health, strength and eventually the planet through his integrated strength training.  I'm sold.  And meeting him in person is a great way to get motivated to get STRONG.  I'll be in the gym!

2.  Shake.  Over the years of competing in sports, working out, and being on the road I've tried all sorts of nutritional shakes and supplements.  Shawn's shake is the best I've ever had.  I've been taking Shawn's shakes for over a month now after workouts and in the afternoons when my energy ebbs and they are great.  I highly recommend them.

3.  Team.  Shawn, in the typical nature of a strong leader, has surrounded himself with a great team.  Tom Bottagaro and Rob McNamara are clearly passionate and creative about solving problems.  The GET IT and they form a very formidable team! 

Great work Shawn!  I look forward to your progress.

Take Command!

Kelly

I had an amazing time last week when I was the keynote speaker for an Armored Cavalry Battalion (2-12 CAV, 4^th BCT, 1^st CAV DIV ) event at Fort Bliss in El Paso, TX. 

I was honored to speak to the 1,000+ soldiers and their loved ones at a formal event, known in the military as a "dining out."  The ceremonies for the event included a receiving line where the commander and special guests personally greet everyone and shake their hand, a detailed history and presentation on the unit, a smoking session where everyone lit up their cigars, and the drinking of the grog (a mixture of about 10 different types of alcohol in a big punch bowl).

I spoke to the group about leadership with an emphasis on Passion, Perseverance, and Planning.  I emphasized that all of the great training at every level they were receiving now had direct applications for the civlian sector, if or when they decided to get out.  However, the true highlight of the event was their commander's, Lieutenant Colonel Jim Nicholas, heartfelt remarks at the end of the evening. 

LTC Nicholas, eloquently and not without a few tears, expressed his pride and gratefulness to all of the soldiers and their families for all that they do in service of this great country.  He quoted Thomas Paine, "These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their county; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny like hell is not easily conquered yet we have this consolation with us, the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value."   

The unit deploys to Iraq in December and they only just formed last October.  Most of these soldeirs have never worked together before this.  Yet, their determination, professionalism and the underlying leadership principles have prepared them to go to war.

I plan to stay in contact with 2-12 CAV and post updates on their progress here in my blog.

TAKE COMMAND!

Kelly

As most of you know I've got a strong connection to the military.  I, and three of my four younger brothers (one still serving), have served in the military.  I try to support our military through various activities and love it when individuals and organizations recognize and support our soldiers who are out there in harm's way.

Well a fellow Zaadster, Jeff McMahon (also the keyboardist and vocalist for Tim McGraw & The Dancehall Doctors) has done something amazing...

Check out SHIPPING OUT.  SHIPPING OUT is quite simply an effort to remind our soldiers on active duty that they are remembered. We will share stories and photographs from both sides of the world reflecting thoughts and packages sent to our military, and we hope this will inspire others to take a moment and do the same.

AWESOME!  Thank you Jeff.

Kelly