Rafael Vidaurri

The new year is in full swing.  It is hard to believe that another decade has gone by.

How can I be of service? What can I help you with today? Can I have an ice cream? Can you help me with this? Do you need someone to talk to? Can I buy this at a lower price? Do you need a mentor? Are you lost? Can I borrow the car? Would you like to go on a date? Will this save me money? Is this a good investment? It Doesn't Hurt to Ask....

For many, coming up with new content can be difficult.  Does it have to be?  There are so many experiences that we can share that can be of benefit to others.  The experience of a "good day" can be shared so that others may learn from it.  A positive experience in customer service that you received can definitely brighten someone's day. Share what made it so good.

There comes a time in our careers in which we amass a great deal of knowledge.  Acquisition of this knowledge requires that we share it.  We have a responsibility to others.  We should not hold our knowledge all to ourselves.  There may be others struggling with something that we can help with. Being a Mentor to someone can be very rewarding.  Being a Mentor should start in the home.  Our greatest mentoring responsibility is with our children.  This is our responsibility. We should Mentor others in the workplace.  Our past experiences can help new employees learn and grow.  As mentors, we can also learn as well. Never stop learning and never stop mentoring.  Share the wealth.

I have developed a short video tutorial instructing how to sign for a role within the Laredo Toastmasters Website.  I hope that you find it informative.

This as an easy method to stop the neighborhood dogs from pooping on your front lawn.  Just place your used coffee grounds on the grass to keep the dogs away.

The Laredo Washington's Birthday Celebration Association can really put on a great event.  There are many events throughout the City of Laredo during the month of February.  One of my favorite events is the "Pipes and Stripes" Car Show.  This 2017 I filmed a short video of the event.  Hope you enjoy!

My thanks to Gamestop of the Shops at Rivercenter in San Antonio, Texas.  This past weekend, my son and I were provided with superior customer service in resolving an issue with a previous purchase.  Special thanks to Brian and his supervisor who ensured that our issue was resolved quickly and to our satisfaction.

As we continue towards Christmas, it was great to visit Texas A&M International University for the 2016 lighting of the Christmas Tree.  The event was well attended.  Dr. Pablo Arenaz, TAMIU President, led the countdown.

The days are getting shorter as the Christmas season approaches. It was a beautiful evening for a drive and decided to visit Laredo Community College Downtown Campus. For students that have attended LCC, I hope this video brings back memories for them.

I just had to share this Snapchat video taken over the Thanksgiving Holiday. We laughed so hard watching it.

When we ask others, “ how may I be of service”, we usually get a quick response.  We are glad to comply.  When we ask ourselves "how may I be of service", the answer oftentimes escapes us.  It is a question that we struggle with all the time. Being of value to others is very important.  We must be ready to lend a helping hand when it is asked of us.  However, the value that is placed on what we do can also lead to high rewards.  It can lead to a great feeling of satisfaction, great appreciation, and great monetary rewards. Do not be afraid to lift others up and never stop asking yourself “How May I Be of Service?”

Visited the SXSW Gaming Expo this year in Austin, TX and it was a blast!  There was so much to see.  There were some very impressive game demos.  Two games that really got my attention were  Layers of Fear  and  Arena Gods .  If you are interested in the latest gaming technology and games, I highly recommend it.  I shot this video while there.  Enjoy!

I had a great time shooting this video of the Air Hogs Jump Jet.  It was filmed at the Slaughter Park in Laredo, TX.  We had fun learning to fly it.  It was a bit tricky but once we got the hang of it, it was pretty rewarding.  Enjoy.

I shot this video on November 14, 2015 at St. Peter's Plaza in Laredo, Texas. It was part of the Volkswagen Border Jam. Quite a few classic cars.

I recently shot this video in downtown Laredo. This fountain was recently repaired. It is located on the grounds of the Downtown Laredo Library.

I really admire people who are persistent at what they do.  People who never give up in important areas of their life can accomplish great things.  Especially noteworthy are salespeople.  They keep trying and trying to make a sale and do not get discouraged.  They shake off rejection without a problem.  Rejection can crush many people but not the persistent salesperson. What would it take for you to develop persistence in your life?  Are you afraid of rejection?  Well don't  be!  Rejection is just a part of life.  Just think of all the times that you have been rejected in the past and learn from it and don't give up!

Before we start a trip, we like to plan it out.  We use a map to chart our destination.  We make a list of all the places we would like to visit.  Pack our clothes, camera, and anything else we may need. Once everyone is in the car, and before we head out on the open road, we push the reset button on our car's tripmeter.  This act marks the beginning of the trip.  A total refresh. There are times in our lives when we as individuals must reset our own tripmeter.  If something is going wrong, if our plans are not playing out, a total refresh is just what may be needed.  But before we do, we must use trip planning as an example.  Whether it is a change in career, relationship, or other important part of our lives, we must plan it out, seek advice, and prepare. If everything is in order, the anticipation will build, and we will be ready to push that button!

A few days ago, someone asked if an entry level job opening in land surveying would be a good fit for his son who had no experience but was incredibly eager to learn.  I told the individual that the worst that could happen was the that his son would not get the job and I encouraged him to try anway. Shortly after the discussion, he very passionately told me that in his younger years he had studied drafting and surveying but that unfortunately due to circumstances beyond his control, he was unable to finish his studies.  He told me that it was his dream for his son to take the same classes but to actually finish them and graduate.  His eyes really opened wide when he spoke of his son as he was so very proud of him. I asked him what was stopping him from continuing with his studies. He said he was too old, too tired, etc.  I told him that age was not an issue.  My next statement really encouraged him.  I told him, DO NOT BE AFRAID and go back to school ....

Some of us have chosen to ride a steam powered train.  Others have chosen diesel power, and others a bullet train.  At times, our train speeds up and at others it slows down.  Regardless of the speed, we have all chosen to ride.  We must take care that we are not riding a runaway freight in which jumping off would be too dangerous. Which leads to the question, when do you jump off?  When do you realize that you have spent too much time in the dining car watching the scenery flash before your eyes?  There comes a time when switching trains is the best thing to do, even if it means getting a few bruises from the fall!  Don't worry, another train will come by to pick you up.