Be Mostly Average

My son Josh ran his last cross country race last Thursday.  He was elated to be done.  Josh runs cross country mostly to stay in shape and to be with his buddies.  Truth be told, Josh is average at cross country.  But if you put him on a 400 meter track, he performs like you switched the afterburners on and he mostly dominates the track.  And he loves it.  He is passionate about track and the results show it.  He is built to run a powerful fast race instead of a longer endurance race. 

I think we should also concentrate mostly on being average in life and in business.  I am average looking, make an average income, drive average vehicles, and live an average life.  I'm no Bill Gates, or an NFL football star, or a movie star.  Nope.  I am none of that.  Just an average American trying to make an average living.

In the workplace I am mostly average too.  I am average with Excel and Powerpoint presentations, I am average at gettting reports done, and I am average when I have to sit in a cubicle and do quarterly reports for weeks on end.

But just like Josh, if you get me in the right scenario doing the thing that I am made to do, I can be exceptional.  And I am no different than anyone else.  Each and every person has that something special that they can do.  I can't play in the NFL or the NBA and I would not make a good trigonometry college professor.  But if you put me in front of a crowd to make a presentation or ask me to lead a team, I am probably your guy. 

And that is the way that business teams and families should operate.  I think it should be acceptable to be average at most things but exceptional and focus in the area that you are made to be exceptional at.  If we would put members of our teams in the areas that they are designed to excel in, production and results would skyrocket and families would learn to be functional instead of dysfunctional. 

That's my version of the story anyway.

It's My "In-Between" Time

It's my "in-between" time.  I'm in between jobs.  I'm in between responsibilities and quotas and trying to help others become better at business.  In today's economy, I think it is rare to have a few days like I just described.  And I feel blessed to have been able to be the one to call it quits at one company and be able to have another company that is looking forward to the help that my experience and past successes can provide. I feel blessed to have this time.

 In reality, it feels like halftime to me.  When I played football in high school and college, halftime was a time to go into the locker room and rest and hydrate.  But it was also a time to analyze the first half and make plans for the second half.  It was time a time to determine what worked up to that point and keep doing those things.  It was also a time to review some of the things that had not gone as planned and to re-adjust the playbook and strategize to do whatever we could to be able to win the game.  It was a time to prepare.

I am going to do the same personally and professionally today and tomorrow.  I am going to take some time to hike the historic Natchez Trace trails and enjoy the beautiful autumn leaves and fresh air and freedom.  I am going to spend time with my wife just enjoying her company and doing whatever we want.  I am going to spend some time with my son and enjoy his time in-between cross country season and the start of track workouts to heal his body and allow him to shift his focus and prepare mentally to do everything necessary to give him every possibility to become a state champion again. 

But I am also going to start to plan and strategize for the success of my next business venture.  I have been thinking about new processes and procedures to help SRSI become world-class.  I am also going to re-focus my energy to one of the personal aspects of my life that I am not achieving excellence, my weight.  I believe every aspect of  your personal life affects your business life in some way or manner.  I believe by losing weight that I not only have the opportunity to demonstrate discipline, I also believe it will allow me to function better, give me more energy, and, in turn, help me to be more productive.

So the next few days, if you want to find me you will have to come to the woods or take a drive to the country.  It's halftime and I am recharging and re-focusing for the second half.  I am preparing. 

And I have a feeling it is going to be a good one.

What a Week!

This week was an incredible, tiring, and rewarding week.  No lessons or observations for the blog today.  Just looking back and looking forward. 

It rained from Tuesday through Friday.  As I tried to make the camper look like new, I fought the elements time and time again.  With heaving rains falling, along with the leaves, it seemed as though I cleaned the camper everyday from Tuesday to Friday.  I replaced the two roof vents, three lights, drained the lines, and washed the camper three times.  When I was done with the camper, I had to clean the campsite that I had occupied for 3 1/2 years.  As I pulled away from the campground and marina on Thursday morning, it was a bittersweet feeling.  I am grateful for my time at Guist Creek and I am grateful to be moving on.

The letters and luncheon and goodbyes were emotional this week.  I am thankful for the opportunity to have worked with the people in Kentucky.  In some way, each and every team member enriched my life.  I also got to see life from a different perspective at times which allowed me to grow as a person.  I will always be grateful for the opportunity, the people, and my time spent in Kentucky.

I also realized, through simple timing, that my life is blessed and my move and career change are the right things to do at this point in my life.  When I purchased my camper, I bought it on a Saturday and towed it to Kentucky the next day.  This week, I pulled the camper back from Kentucky on Thursday night and sold at 10:00 a.m the next day.  No storing, no advertising, no wondering about what to do when my family moves to Chicago on June 1st of next year.  It simply was a blessing to sell the camper with such incredible timing.  I will miss the camper, or more specifically, the time that I was able to spend alone in the camper.  But again, the timing was perfect to sell it.  Thank you God for your blessings!

Tonight I walked out on the field with my son and wife for Senior Night at the football game.  Josh ran his last cross country race on Thursday of this week and had his best cross country season ever.  It was a good way to end his XC career and I was a very proud dad walking the field with him as he escorted his mother.

So tonight as I write this blog, I am sore and tired and relieved.  So, I am going to sleep tomorrow morning until I wake up.  No alarms, no worries, no commitments. 

And I will sleep well.

Creating a Legacy

I love Chick-Fil-A and I am exhausted.  So, I am going to have Dan Cathy, C.O.O. of Chick-Fil-A fill in for me.  Thanks Dan...and enjoy his blog!

 

Creating a legacy

I have been thinking a lot about the word "legacy" lately. Usually when we hear the word, it is being used to describe a great character. It's a word reserved for heroes and icons. We use it to celebrate someone who did something great, or impacted the lives of thousands of people.

Steve Jobs died recently and we heard over and over about the "legacy" he left behind. I was a big fan of Steve Jobs and I will forever be influenced and encouraged by his creativity, bravery, innovation and willingness to step out and do something different. Steve Jobs left behind a life-changing legacy that none of us will soon forget.

But the truth is, we all are building a legacy. The choices we make, the things we believe and the things we do day-in and day-out are creating positive and negative charges that will be passed down from generation to generation, whether we intend it or not.
I thought about that as I sat across the desk from a young man who wanted to work at Chick-fil-A. He was a great candidate, but something puzzled me. I knew his father was a very successful lawyer and I was confused as to why he wouldn't want to follow in his footsteps. But his answer was a powerful one:

“My dad was never around for our family. He missed every game or event I had as a kid. I would never do that to my family. I would never be absent like that.”
The legacy he was given was certainly not the one his father intended: Hard work, determination, perseverance. Those are probably the words his dad would have liked to pass on to his son, but somehow priorites changed and something went askew. Somehow, the things he passed on became negative instead of positive charges.

What positive and negative charges are fueling your story and the stories of the people around you? Are you sure? Take a step back and rethink, refocus, and recommit yourself to creating a great legacy. You may not have control of what the future holds, but you do have the power to make an impact that you and others will be proud of for generations to come.

What will your legacy be?

My Wish for You

It's after midnight and I have finally called it quits for the day.  As for my time in Kentucky, I am done.  It has been a good thing.  I was able to meet wonderful people through work, I was able to mentor some high school boys, I got to work with an old friend and, although we didn't always agree, we are walking away friends, and the last few days I have been rewarded so incredibly by the kind words of so many people.  I have definitely received more than I have given.  I am the lucky one.

I believe I will look back at this time in my life as a turning point.  I still have so far to go, but during my time in Kentucky I have learned to care about others more deeply, I have learned to not be so judgemental, I have learned to reach out again, and I have learned that by giving of yourself, it is possible to get more in return.

I will miss the boys that I mentored.  Stay strong and focused and love God and people.  I know several of you long for a "better life".  My advice to you would be to find your passion and pursue it with all your energy and heart.

I will miss the people in the plant.  You work hard laboring to provide the product that is sold and serviced.  Without you, there would be no company.  I am grateful for the job that you perform everyday.  You make a difference.  Thank you.

I will miss Eric, the maintenance guy at the campground.  Just like me, you got taken advantage of when you were at the top of your game.  But you don't complain and you just keep working everyday to ensure that the campground is maintained, clean, and in proper working order.  Thank you for your service.  I loved the stories you told me about your experiences in Vietnam.  Eric, you are the real deal.  A man's man.  I will miss working beside you like we did in the ice storm of 2009 to clear the road of trees so that we could get to the main road.  God bless you.

I could go on and on, but I won't.  Don't be offended if you are not mentioned here.  I have made a special connection with so many people and you know who you are.  And, while not mentioned in this blog, I will remember you and the good memories that we share.

Rascal Flatts has a song called, "My Wish".  It is my wish for the people that I have met here in Kentucky. 

I hope you never look back but you never forget
All the ones who love you and the place you left
I hope you always forgive and you never regret
And you help somebody every chance you get
Oh, you'd find God's grace in every mistake
And always give more than you take
But more than anything, yeah more than anything
My wish for you
Is that this life becomes all that you want it to
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small
You never need to carry more than you can hold

God Bless.  Stay in touch!

Elvis has left the building!!

Lessons from the Yacht Trip

Last year my wife's family gathered in Chicago for the wedding of her niece.  It was a wonderful wedding and a great time was had by all who had the privilege of attending.  But along with the wedding, my wife's family turned the event into a sort of family reunion.  I love getting together with her family.  Everyone seems to get along so well, and when the event has ended, we all feel more connected and whole. 

Every time we get together, there always seems to be an "event" that defines our time together.  Last year was no exception.  We all decided to take the train to downtown Chicago and walk to the very large yacht that would take us on a dinner/cruise excursion past the beautiful skyline of Chicago.  It was a great plan, but we miscalculated the time it would take us walk to the cruise.  Halfway to the boat, we all realized that we would be lucky to make it.  So we all stepped up the pace, running, jogging, walking, running, jogging, and walking again when we were too tired to run any further.  I wish that someone would have followed us with a video camera.  I have no doubt that the video would have gone viral.  Some of us were trying to keep everyone together, others were running with strollers, others were crying out of sheer exhaustion, and others were hurrying back to get some of the slower family members because the boat had threatened to leave without us.  It was an "event" that will be etched in my mind for the rest of my life!

When we all did get on the boat and launched from shore, it was obvious that an entire team of people was necessary to make this massive boat run correctly and smoothly.  It was entirely ridiculous to imagine one person running that yacht.  It was impossible. Everyone had a job to do and each and every person that was a part of the crew had to do their job to make sure that we enjoyed our cruise and then returned to the exact same spot from which we had been docked to start.

But unlike the yacht crew that worked together to ensure our enjoyment and safety, some people try to lead their teams by themselves.  They see themselves as more important than another team member.  They think that they can row all by themselves and get the job done.  Others let the wind blow their company or team in whatever direction the economy takes them. Still others try to take on all the tasks by themselves without any help from the outside.  However, to make a company run smoothly and efficiently, it is imperative to recognize that each team member plays a vital and important role and that each member is necessary to make the company work to its fullest potential, very similar to the yacht crew at our family reunion.

I had a great time the day that we took a cruise in Chicago and also saw a great example of how teamwork is necessary to have a successful journey and arrive at your destination as efficiently as possible.

What is your True Mission?

I have traveled over 60,000 miles just to get back and forth between work the last 3.5 years.  I believe I know every bump, twist, and turn on I-65 between Nashville and Kentucky.  I have used the drive time to think, reflect, wind down, and to simply enjoy the freedom of traveling.  Sometimes I would turn the radio on and sometimes I would travel the 3.5 hours in silence.  But almost every trip, I would call my granddad.  And my last trip up to Kentucky today was no exception. 

Sometimes my granddad tells me stories that I have heard before.  Sometimes I hear new ones.  But every call is a time to catch up on what is going on in his life and to check in on how he is doing (he's 97!).  Today, he told me about a leak in his roof and how it is peeling the paint on the ceiling and the walls of his kitchen. He called an old, trusted friend to come out and work on the leak.

How ironic I thought.  I am going to work for a roofing company next week and my granddad is telling me about the leak on his roof.  But I think the timing was perfect.  It emphasized to me what the main mission of the roofing company should be.

I have read several books about companies that excel in the marketplace and how they differ from average and good companies.  Each one of the leaders of those companies had a focus that isn't obvious at first glance.  Starbucks mission is not to sell coffee, it's mission is to enrich the lives of others.  Tony Dungy's goal was not to lead the Colts to a Super Bowl win, it was to develop leaders that lead others on the team.  Dan Cathy's mission is not to sell chicken at Chick-Fil-A, but rather to positively affect the lives of it customers and community.  Mark Zuckerberg did not set out to create a $19 Billion company, he wanted to bring community together. 

So, I don't think the mission of SRSI is simply to do a good job of putting roofs on houses and businesses.  I believe the mission should be to provide peace of mind to a home owner or business owner. I believe that SRSI should be focused on providing comfort to its customers. Of course, every team member should be focused on providing protection to the owner's largest investment.  But more than anything, I believe SRSI should strive to affect its customers and community by demonstrating a level of caring that surpasses all of our customers and community expectations.

And if we can fulfill that mission, sales and revenue and profits will take care of themselves.

How about you? What is your true mission?

To Truly Succeed, You Must Fail Well

When I was in the 6th grade, I tried out for the 7th and 8th grade boys basketball team.  In those days, K-6th attended one school, and the 7th and 8th graders went to another school.  It was the school's practice however to let 6th graders try out so that the coaches could observe upcoming talent and possibly put them on the team to groom them for junior high.  Very, very few 6th graders ever made the team but there was always an outside chance, so I decided to give it my best shot.  When the roster was announced after a week of tryouts, I was one of the few 6th graders to ever make the team.  By the time the first game was played, I was the first 6th grader in the history of the school to ever start on the 7th and 8th grade team.

I was very nervous at the start of our first game.  And then it happened.  I will never forget it as long as I live.  The game was started with a jump ball at center court.  As soon as the ball was tipped, I hustled to the ball, dribbled down court, stopped just outside of the free throw line, and sunk a basket.........in the opposing teams side.  2-0 we were behind in the first 10 seconds of the game.  All because I shot the ball in the wrong hoop.  I can't tell you how badly I wanted to run into the locker room and call it quits at that moment.

And then, thirty years later, I failed again big time.  This time I lost nearly everything I had.  One single decision led to me losing all my savings, my retirement, my house, and my dignity.  I walked away from that business deal with not even enough money to fill my vehicles gas tank two times.  I was a huge failure, lost my identity as a man, and was scared to death to wake up the next day for fear that somehow, someway things might get even worse.

If you are a driven, motivated person, I believe it is almost inevitable that you will experience failure at some level, to some degree.   But I believe, if you fail well, that it is possible to gain lessons in life and business that you would never learn otherwise and become better a better person for it.  In other words, learn to fail in a meaningful manner.

For example, failures can help you to understand other's situations better, appreciate how a person feels when experiencing failure, and help you to better inspire and lift others.  Sooner or later, someone around you will experience failure and the feelings of embarrassment and dread accompanied by it.  It may be the case that their failure is well-deserved and that they need "tough love" advice (and a kick in the butt).  On the other hand, anyone and everyone can be an "armchair critic" and be quick to humiliate those that fail.  This is the time that you can use your unique experiences of failure to encourage and inspire. You can make all the difference to someone by letting them know that you believe in them.

When I announced my resignation last week, one of the most rewarding things I heard from one of my team members was his expression of thanks for me helping, teaching, and trusting him.  I believe he will succeed after I leave, mostly because of his drive, passion, and pursuit of excellence, but also partly because of I have trusted him and encouraged him to rise above his personal and professional failures. 

And I was able to help him in a more meaningful manner because I understood his failures through experiencing failures of my own.

To truly succeed, you must learn to fail well.

Are You a Cabbage?

In 2005, the movie The World's Fastest Indian came out.  I really enjoyed the movie but it did not reach critical acclaim at the box office.  The movie was based on a true story about a man from New Zeland named Burt Munro.  Burt had a dream of setting land speed records on a motorcyle, but didn't have the means to pursue his dreams in a normal, conventional way.  But on August 26, 1967, Munro set a land speed record for under 1000 cc bikes that still stands today.  He was 68 years old and was riding a 47 year-old motorcycle that he had modified for over 20 years when he set the record.

Dreams, and why we pursue them, are as varied as the people who dream them.  I wrote about passion the other day and I believe it is one of the key "ingredients" necessary to pursue them long term and when the odds seem impossible to overcome.

I believe dreams are a necessary part of our lives.  Through our dreams, we are able to keep hope alive and to believe that we can make a difference.  Big or small, long-term or short, personal or business, we all have dreams.

But as varied as our dreams are, I am sure of one thing about dreams.  If we do not wake up and take action, none of your dreams will come true.

If your not pursuing your dreams, Burt Munro thinks you are a cabbage.  The explanation is below in the video.  Enjoy one of my favorite scenes from the movie The Worlds Fastest Indian.



Losing my Marbles



The older I get the more I enjoy Saturday mornings.  Sure, as a kid I used to love getting up to watch cartoons with my dad.  But nowadays, it's hard to beat a quiet, relaxing, early morning. 

I know you have all heard the "3900 Marbles" story, but I think it bears repeating on this normal, typical Saturday morning:

An elderly man was talking on the radio and was reflecting on his life and his Saturday mornings, and he did a little arithmetic.

He calculated that the average person lives about seventy-five years. I know, some people live more and some live less, but on average, people live about seventy-five years.

Then, he multiplied 75 times 52 and he came up with 3,900, which is the number of Saturdays that the average person has in their entire lifetime.

Then he got to the most poignant part.

It took him until he was fifty-five years old to think about all this in any detail, and by that time he had lived through over twenty-eight hundred Saturdays.

It got him thinking that if he lived to be seventy-five, he only had about a thousand of them left to enjoy.

So he went to a toy shop and bought every single marble they had and he ended up having to visit three toy shops to collect a 1,000 marbles. He took them home and put them inside a large, clear plastic container where he could see them very clearly.

Every Saturday since then, he has taken one marble out and thrown it away and he found that by watching the marbles diminish, he focused more on the really important things in life.

There’s nothing like watching your time here on this earth run out to help get your priorities straight!

Then he noticed that one Saturday morning, he took the very last marble out of the container.

He pondered and reflected that if he made it until the next Saturday then he had been given a little extra time.

Although this story has been told a million times over, I believe it is important to read these stories again and challenge ourselves.  We all want a little more time, we all hope to get to the end of the jar and have another Saturday to spend with family and friends.  But the real question should be how will we spend our Saturdays, how are we spending today? 

Sometimes, our greatest challenge is to press our pause button so we can actually STOP, step back, and ponder, think, read, or just enjoy another cup of hot tea.   Making small changes can make a BIG difference in our lives over time with a new sense of purpose and direction.

What are you going to do with the rest of this Saturday morning?

Cleaning out the "Compartments"

My farewell tour continued at work today.  Everyone has been very kind and the thoughts expressed have been humbling.  Throughout the day I caught myself thinking that it would be incredible if I shared my thoughts of appreciation and gratitude towards my co-workers more often so that it didn't take leaving a company to lift others as I have been lifted by other's comments the past few days .  I am going to work diligently at sharing more openly my appreciation to the team at SRSI.  I believe it matters and makes a difference.

I spent most of the day going through my office and cubicle and training room.  Thankfully, I am more organized than most, so I was able to get everything transferred over to others and get everything into order fairly easily.  What surprised me the most was the work to be done at the camper after work.  Everyone that has ever visited me at the camper remarks about how organized and clean everything is.  The other comment I often hear is how I live on so little.  But today I found out that wasn't reality.  When I started to pull everything out of all the little compartments throughout the camper I was shocked at what had been hidden.  I didn't even realize how much "stuff" I had accumulated in nearly four years.  So I threw a lot of items away and packed the rest of my "treasures" into the Suburban.  Actually, I filled the entire vehicle. 

As I was working, and organizing, and cleaning out the camper, I started to think about how it's a lot like our lives.  We often compartmentalize things, everything is put in its own little space.  We have our work compartment, our church compartment, our spouse compartment, and our parent compartment.  Often times we act different ways and even hide things so well that others wouldn't even know us in a different "compartment" than what they are used to seeing us in. 

I am guilty.  I can be very patient and understanding and helpful at work, and then when I get home some of that patience and helpfulness seem to go away.  I can listen to a stranger for long periods of time to try to understand and help to reach a solution for their problem.  But when I get home, I have been with my spouse for so long that I think I know what she is going to say so I try to help her finish her story.  In other words, sometimes I have more patience for a stranger or acquaintance than for the ones I love the most.

I have an incredible opportunity within the next 12 days. I will be making big changes professionally.  I get to work in a new leadership position, I get to work in a new industry, and I get to work with a new team.  But I think I will also make the best of this change to do some things differently on a personal level.  I am going to focus on being more patient and helpful at home.  I am going to try to listen more, to be more understanding, to be more loving, and to be praise my wife for all the wonderful things that she does.

Can you believe I had a George Foreman cooker in one of those compartments and never used it once in all that time?  It's very interesting what you can find in your compartments when you look hard enough.

Campground Memories

Well, it's official!  I am leaving Kentucky and I am moving to Chicago.  I am extremely happy to be joining SRSI and look forward to working with the team to help them become a world class service and sales organization. 

My days in the old camper and campground are numbered (5 as if this writing) and I thought I would share some of my fondest memories while experiencing this adventure.

FUNNY MEMORIES:

1. I will never forget the winter months in the camper.  No running water (it was campground policy to turn the running water off in November and turn it back on in late February/early March).  Fixing food, going to the restroom, brushing your teeth, etc. all become chores that required more effort than the "norm".
2. The shower house was so cold that I had to constantly turn while in the shower so that I could keep the front and back of my body warm.  It was a habit to play Elvis songs on my phone and sing at the top of my lungs during the shower to distract my mind from the coldness. 
3. I would go back to the camper on Sunday nights and find huge bras and panties in the men's locker room.  I found out later that a prostitution ring was in full force three campers away.

SCARY MEMORIES

1. Two years ago in the winter months, several cars would drive to the end of the circle in the campground and stop for five minutes at a time.  Yes, drugs were being sold.  So, I got freaked out one night because I was alone in the campground.  I decided I would not be a sitting duck in my camper so I got my camo on, grabbed my gun and binoculars, and took off through the woods to spy on the drug sellers. Eventually, the cars stopped coming and my sleep habits returned to normal.
2. A homeless man came into the shower and demanded money from me.  I would like to tell you that I was calm, cool, and collected.  I was not.  I wanted to think I would be like Clint Eastwood when threatened, but I learned that my adrenaline takes over quickly and I freak.  He decided he didn't need my money so much when "Black Betty" appeared from under my towel. 
3. It is pitch dark many nights at the campground.  One night I was going to the shower house to take a shower.  I stepped out of the camper, closed the door, and looked to my left (headlamp on bright).  Instantly, there were two glowing eyes staring back at me.  A raccoon was standing on the picnic table about 10 feet from my door.  Needless to say, I almost didn't make it to the shower house (restroom) in time.

UNFORGETTABLE MEMORIES

1. All of the fires that I had every week.  There is something about a fire that calms the soul.  Given the choice now, I would much rather go outside and have a fire and stare at the stars than stay indoors and watch TV.  Not even a close comparison to me.  I will not be giving this habit up any time soon.
2. I loved putting the kayak in the water before the sun came up.   It was incredible to watch deer, and fox, and other animals come to the lake to drink.  I also loved sneaking up on the fish "floating" near the top of the water. 
3. Laying under the stars for hours at a time just thinking and planning and praying and wondering.  I feel small when I look at the stars and I think that is a good thing.

Yes, I will miss some things at the old campground.  I will miss the challenge.  I will miss the opportunity to get away and think, and read, and pray.  I will miss the quiet.

But, it is time to move on.  And while I look back on most of my times in Kentucky with fond memories, I also am looking forward expectantly and am ready to create new fond memories.

"Memories, pressed between the pages of my mind. Memories, sweetened thru the ages just like wine.  Memories, sweet memories" - Elvis Presley

A New Chapter in My Life

Nearly four years ago, I accepted an offer to go to work in Kentucky for a friend.  And things were not what I had envisioned.  At his recommendation, I purchased a camper, purchasing it on the Saturday before the Monday that I reported to work.  Several things were strange about this move.  For one, I had been my friend's boss at my last place of employment.  It certainly would be a change to get used to but seemed par for the course for my life at that time.  Also, I had never owned a camper and had never been to the campground at which I would stay.  A new adventure for sure.  The day I arrived in Kentucky, hauling my new place a residence behind me, the snow was falling golf ball size flakes and I should have known at that moment that the Kentucky weather was very different than the Tennessee weather that I had gotten used to.  But the last thing that I anticipated the least was that this unconventional work/live situation would change my life in many ways, in ways that I believe are for the better.

Being 230 miles away from home, after a failed business venture that left me with less in savings than I had at age 11 from working a paper route, missing my oldest son's last two years of high school and my youngest son's entire high school experience, was certainly not ideal.  I could not believe that my life had come to this.Early in my business career, everything seemed to fall into place so easily and I climbed the corporate ladder so quickly.  And then, suddenly I found myself living alone in a camper during the week, making less money than I did in the early 90's, and suffering from a very bruised ego that left me not caring whether or not I would wake up the next morning.

But something happened over the next four years.  I used the camper as my getaway, a place where I went to laugh, and cry, and to heal.  I had gone back to an industry that I had excelled in before, and I found myself winning again at the corporate level.  Being away, I realized how much I missed and needed my family, and especially, how fortunate I was to have a wife that supported me enough to take on all of the burdens of being a "single mom" throughout the week, and then adjusted to being all that and a wife on the weekends (I am convinced that 99% of women could not have made our situation work). 

With my renewed confidence and appreciation for my family , I started to get things in order mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and later physically.  I dove into books and learned so much from wise authors about business, God, and how other great men had lived their lives.  Again, my camper became my haven and I started to not only get back but I felt as though I was growing more and becoming better grounded as a person. 

While I still have a long, long ways to go, I feel like I have been given a gift over the past four years.  While I despised my situation at first, I learned to embrace the camper and my time away as a time to learn and to gain better perspective on life than I ever had in the past.  My goal now is to continue to grow and learn.

But I am now turning the page in the story of my life.  And I am making some big changes.  I am humbled and honored to have been given a new opportunity to work with a great company and great team of people starting in the next few weeks.  I will also be moving.  And within the next year, my wife and I will be "empty-nesters".  Big changes and new chapters in my life indeed!

Yes, I am somewhat anxious.  Yes, I know that it will be difficult at times.  Yes, I know things will not go according to plan and there will be setbacks.  However, I know I am better equipped, more mature, focused, understand life and business and people better than I ever have, and that I am ready to make a difference in this new company and in the lives of those I lead.

I thank God for the gift of the camper and the time away to heal.  And I thank God for this new, exciting chapter in my life. 

What if We All Cared Deeply?

What if we all cared deeply?  I know it is a strange question, but,  it is one that I think is worth thinking about.  Caring deeply is another way of saying we are passionate.  What if we all had a passion for the things we did, the community around us, the people we come in contact with, and, of course, our families?

Caring deeply, whether it is in business or your personal life, is the "thing" that creates action, creates teachable moments, improves the quality of a product or the time we spend with others, increases profit in a business and allows things to flow more smoothly within a family.

I worked for a man early in my career that started his company from a thesis he wrote in college.  In a very short time, he was able to convince businesses to use his service, attract a very high caliber employee throughout his company, provide world-class service, and grow his business into a global phenomenum, which in turn made him a very wealthy man.  What was the game-changer?  This individual had a contagious passion that transformed his company from the very start.  Employees wanted to be a part of his team, wanted to produce a high quality service, wanted to strive for excellence, and would do whatever was necessary (as long as it was moral and ethical) to make his company #1 in the world.  This individual created a deeply loyal and passionate following with his team, his partners, and his customers. 

Caring deeply for others, whether in your family or with your team at work, covers a whole laundry list of differences; personality differences, differences in IQ, and differences in skill sets.  Passion is key in creating excellence, teamwork, and leadership. 

Caring deeply works with your spouse, your child, your co-worker, and your customer.  What if we all cared deeply?  I'm not sure what our world would look like if we all cared deeply, but I think it is worth a try. 

And caring deeply, being passionate, should start right now with you and with me.  Let's make a difference!

RIP Dan Wheldon



I grew up surrounded by Indy car racing.  My dad loved the races and followed Indy style racing fervantly.  Some of my favorite memories are from going to the Indianapolis 500 with the my dad and brothers.  I don't follow as much as I used to.  It's a long story but the cars changed and sponsorhsip changed and things just weren't the same afterwards.  Despite what people say, I don't think most people go to the races to see a crash.  We didn't.  We loved the speed, and inginuity, and teamwork that was involved in racing.  So, I know that this blog will not resonate with a lot of people.  But that's ok.  I write about things that interest me from my point of view so that my family will know me a little better.  I have copied bits and pieces of an ESPN article below about the Dan Wheldon crash yesterday.  RIP Dan Wheldon

LAS VEGAS -- Dan Wheldon, the 2011 Indianapolis 500 winner and one of the most popular drivers in open-wheel racing, died Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in a horrific multi-car crash on Lap 11 of the IndyCar Series season finale.

Officials decided to call the race, but the drivers, many sobbing openly, did a five-lap tribute to Wheldon. IndyCar Series CEO Randy Bernard made the official announcement of Wheldon's death without further comment.

Wheldon, 33 and the 2005 series champion from Emberton, England, was competing in only his third IndyCar race of the season, trying to win the race and earn a $5 million bonus that was part of a league promotion for driver who didn't compete full-time in the series this year.

"One minute you're joking around at driver intros. The next, Dan's gone," said Dario Franchitti, whose wife, actress Ashley Judd, had to bring him a box of tissues. "I lost, we lost, a good friend. Everybody in the IndyCar series considered him a friend. He was such a good guy. He was a charmer."

When drivers returned to the track for the tribute laps, Wheldon's No. 77 was the only one on the towering scoreboard. Franchitti sobbed uncontrollably as he got back into his car for the memorial ride. The sound of "Danny Boy" echoed around the track, followed by "Amazing Grace." Hundreds of crew workers from each team stood at attention in honor of Wheldon.

"What can you say? We're going to miss him," Ganassi said. "Everybody in IndyCar died a little today."



A Bowl of Happy

I woke up on Saturday morning and had eggs for breakfast.  But when I was young, cereal was the staple.  I remember the cupboards being filled with different types of cereal. Cap'n Crunch Peanut Butter was my favorite (My health conscious son will cringe when he reads that).  But, this weekend I had a really weird thought while I was eating.

I saw a commercial that advertised a bowl of cereal as a "bowl of happy".  And my mind started to race.  What if we could have different bowls of "cereal" in the morning that really were full of emotion?  What if you literally could have a bowl full of courageous, a bowl full of happiness, a bowl full of satisfied, a bowl full of confidence, a bowl full of relaxed, a bowl full of inspired, or a bowl full of positve?

Further yet, what if the more you ate the more intensely you felt the emotion.  For example, you could eat of bowl of happy but if you ate a second bowl of happy you would be ecstatic, excited, or exhilarated?

I know what you are thinking right about now:

1. We have "bowls" of happy right now.  They are called drugs and they are illegal.
2.  Jeff, you must have lost your mind.  This is weird!
3. What is the point of this ridiculous blog!

If you are thinking the first two points, you are probably correct in your thinking.  But the point is that all of the people I know would pick a positive emotion and not a negative emotion.  However, some psychologists tell us that we should welcome and embrace our negative emotions.

Personally, I would not wake up and order a bowl of sad, or angry, or frustration, or intimidated.  I think we can work through our negative emotions and not dwell on them, but embracing them is not something I will do anytime soon.

When God created the Garden of Eden, he did not intend for negative emotions to be a part of our human experience.  I have also read that heaven will be pure joy with no tears and sadness. 

A life full of positive emotions is a rich life.  So if I had my choice I would order the bowl of inspired with a second bowl of Peanut Butter Cap'n Crunch just for old times sake!

What bowl of "emotional" cereal would you have?

Walking Under the Stars

Last night I couldn't sleep.  I woke up to crazy winds and strong rains.  In the camper, that can be a combination that makes for a long night.  So I read and listened to Christmas music and followed Twitter for a while.  Eventually, the rain and wind died down and, still unable to sleep, I decided to take a walk.

When I opened the door, a gush a cool air hit my face and the moon and stars were so bright that I didn't need a flashlight, a perfect night for a 2:45 a.m. walk to clear my head.  As I walked through the wooded areas and past the plowed fields, I was awestruck with the moon and stars and how magnificent they were. 

And it brought back memories.

Looking at the stars last night made me reminisce about sitting under the stars on a cold Christmas night in the desert in Mexico when I was 17 years old and on a missions trip.  I thought about the times that my family and I had vacationed out West and how many stars were in the sky when we would camp out.  I also thought about the many walks that I strolled through Farmdale Park listening to the coyotes howl and having the occasional owl swoop down through the trees.  All memories that are etched in my mind.

And last night is probably one of those nights I won't forget either.  You see, I couldn't sleep because I was reminiscing about the past nearly four years in Kentucky and how those times have changed my life.  Hopefully for the better.  And I was thinking about endings and beginnings and the different chapters in the story of my life.  I was also thinking about the future chapters of my story that have yet to be written. 

I don't know what those chapters hold, but I am excited and hopeful for the days ahead.

Seasons End

The leaves are falling like snow today.  Leaves have accumulated on the ground and half of the trees are mostly barren.  It's definitely autumn and it seems like just yesterday that I was dealing with extreme heat.  But there is no stopping the seasons in nature.  I think it is the same way with the seasons of our lives.

Just as summer ends, so must some relationships, business and personal.  In his book, Necessary Endings, Dr. Henry Cloud states that, "Growth itself demands that we move on.  Without the ability to end things, people stay stuck, never becoming who they are meant to be, never accomplishing all that their talents and abilities afford them".  Both of my boys are figuring this out.  They are learning what they like and don't like in regards to traits and beliefs in a future spouse .  They are also learning that it is sometimes necessary to end relationships so that they can grow more personally before engaging in the complexities of dating.  They are learning what means the most to them and what they are willing to take a stand for in regards to spiritual, physical, and relational issues.  Dr. Cloud also makes a good point when he says, "A breakup, an ending of some friendships or activities, or an unplugging from some commitments, often signal the beginning of a whole new life."

In business, endings also can signal positive new "life".  Whether it means giving up a certain product or an entire division to realize higher profit margins, the change can be exactly what is needed for growth or to stop a downward spiral.  Sometimes a business has to end a relationship with an employee in order to grow and bring stability back to the company.  Chances are, if the employee is causing problems, the ending can be a new start for them elsewhere where they are happier and more productive also. Sometimes a business has to end a relationship (not necessarily firing) to get to the next level.

In regards to personal issues, it is often the case that people get stuck in bad situations or relationships that are harmful, that hold a person back, or that can be abusive mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  These relationships must be ended.  Sometimes, it is not a relationship that needs to end but a behavior.  "In many contexts, until we let go of what is not good, we will never find something that is good.  The lesson: good cannot begin until bad ends" (Necesarry Endings)

Endings are a part of life.  But they are also a pre-requisite for thriving personally and professionally.  I explained to Josh yesterday that everyone has had a relationship end.  It is the reason that I did not marry my first Homecoming date.  It is the reason that I don't still deliver papers on Ehrett Street in Creve Coeur, Illinois.  But I took positive things from my first Homecoming date and I learned discipline delivering papers in brutal Illinois snow storms.

For some reason, we are taught to dislike endings.  We are usually not well-equipped to handle them.  But really, proper perspective is a good first step to handling endings well.  "When done well, the seasons of life are negotiated, and the proper endings lead to the end of pain, greater growth, personal and business goals reached, and better lives.  Endings bring hope".

I am hopeful!!

Politically Zapped

I have been thinking about my blog recently and I think I will make some changes.  As my readers know, I have blogged often and openly about my political views.  And, yes my opinions are correct. I mean who can argue with common sense?  Balance the budget, impose a straight tax, stop illegal immigration, govern by the Constitution, etc, etc,  And the hypocrisy within the parties just irritates me beyond belief.  For example, why did the 100 or so Occupy Wall Street protesters walk past George Soros' house yesterday in their "millionaire protest march" and head straight for Republican and conservative suites in NY?  Strange isn't it?

Of course I am talking tongue in cheek when I say that my political views are correct.  But really, that is the point.  I have my political views and I think they are correct based on my moral beliefs, my upbringing, my education of the facts, my understanding of past history, and what just seems like common sense to me.  Others have views that are opposite due to their circumstances and understandings.  And some people are simply evil and don't care about the good of people or a nation. They are simply following failed ideologies. 

But, I am coming to the conclusion that it is useless and a waste of time to blog about politics.  99% of my readers agree with 99% of what I write politically.  I am quite sure that I have never, ever changed the opinion of a lefty, progressive, Marxist, communist.  So I am not going to write about politics as much as I have in the past (but I am not going to stop altogether).  I will be educated and ready to discuss politics with anyone that wants to ask my opinion or to try to convince me of their differing opinion, but I am going to focus on other areas of my life when writing my blog. 

I think topics like leadership, and daily lessons learned, and regular people doing extraordinary things, and memorable experiences make for more interesting topics anyway. 

But before I go, did you hear Herman Cain is leading the national GOP polls now?

Why Are You in Business?

Growing a business is about delivering world-class service and providing exeptional value to your customers.  Of course, having a vision for increasing profits, living the company mission, and affecting the community around you are all very important also.  However, I believe the ultimate purpose of business is to develop and serve people.

"Herb Kelleher, the founder of Southwest Airlines once said, 'the business of business is people'. Whatever your business (roofing, healthcare, uniform rental, firefighter, etc.), I believe it will succeed or fail based on the ability of your team to create relationships with your employees, suppliers, and customers.  To quote Robin Sharma, the goal is "to be so staggeringly excellent and caring and ethical that the human beings you serve are reminded about what’s best in the world".

Times are tough and the economic situation we are facing is getting worse by the day.  Especially now, the businesses that take care of their customers are the ones that will survive and even grow. But it is equally important to take care of people, not just for the sake of growing your business, but simply because it is the right thing to do. The golden rule comes to mind.

Be Quiet

I have written about my camper lately, more specifically, about the benefits that I have gained from being alone in the camper for nearly four years.  My appreciation for the time alone has been learned.  At first, I despised the camper.   Now, while I still miss my family, I look forward to the time alone to think, and plan, and to "take a breath" from the daily buzz that surrounds us all.

One of the things that I have learned is that it is necessary to be quiet to be able to learn and imagine and create.  If you are constantly being entertained with an ipod stuck in your ear, or with the television on, or surfing the web, you can not be at your level best.  You are simply consuming and not creating at that point.  The best way that I know how to learn and absorb new ideas is to read.  Instead of simply getting little snippets of images and "facts" from a tv screen or listening to music that is "contagious" because of a beat or sound, reading allows the reader to stop and apply what the author is saying, all at your own pace. I have enough books on my Kindle right now to read the rest of my life and to learn something new every time.

However, without taking the time to absorb the information, reading is just about as useful as watching TV, surfing the web, or listening incessantly to an ipod.  The key is not just to find time to get away and think, and plan, and read.  The key is to be quiet long enough to absorb the information and put it into practice.

 

Neutrinos: The "Usain Bolt" of Particles

For those of you that aren't track and field fans, Usain Bolt is the fastest man ever in the history of mankind.  So, neutrinos are definitely the "Usain Bolt" of particles......on steriods with jet packs for spikes.   Whether or not you relate to the Usain Bolt analogy, you will probably be interested in neutrinos.

Neutrinos were discovered by scientists at CERN, a supercollider outside of Geneva.  Neutrinos themselves are ghostly particles that travel through nearly everything unimpeded. (Thousands are passing directly through your body as you read this.)   In addition, they claim that the neutrinos are a particle that can travel faster than light, 60 nanoseconds faster than light over a distance of 454 miles (Geneva to Gran Sasso).  A discovery so "impossible" that the scientists thought that something must have been wrong.  They thought their measurements must be wrong or that something had been overlooked or contaminated.

Here's why the scientists were so complexed and why this discovery is so unbelievable.  If the discovery of neutrinos is correct, then everything we know and everything that science teaches about the universe is wrong.

For example, in simple terms, this is what happened in Geneva:  "If the Gran Sasso (end point of the 454 mile journey) scientists had a plate to record the arrival of the neutrinos and a super-powerful telescope to peer (through the Alps!) directly into the lab in Geneva from which they were being fired, the Gran Sasso guys would have “heard” the neutrinos clanging against the plate before they observed the Geneva guys squeeze the trigger on the neutrino gun."  (Washington Post/Charles Krauthammer)

Starting to get the picture?  It means that physics such as Einstein's theory of relativity is fundamentally wrong.  It means that the “standard model” of subatomic particles that stands at the center of all modern physics is wrong.

And that is just the tip of the iceberg.  All physics, astronomy, cosmology, and anything that measures time and distance on the assumption of light speed will be useless.  Physics books will all have to be re-written, a new understanding of the past and future and cause and effect will have to re-examined, re-thought, and re-explained.

In a race with Usain Bolt, it seems unfair that the neutrinos would finish before the starting gun was shot.  Yeah, I am still having some trouble comprehending this whole thing also.

Obama's Moral Dilemna with Water and Lead

Obama has given dozens of speeches in which he stated,  "Waterboarding violates our ideals and our values. I do believe that it is torture. That's why I put an end to these practices. I am absolutely convinced it was the right thing to do, not because there might not have been information that was yielded by these various detainees who were subjected to this treatment, but because we could have gotten this information in other ways".

And now information regarding the killing of Osama bin Laden has surfaced saying that terrorist Khalid Sheikh Mohammed gave the US the name of Osama’s courier when he was.......waterboarded. 

The Star Tribune reported, " Officials say CIA interrogators in secret overseas prisons developed the first strands of information that ultimately led to the killing of Osama bin Laden.  Current and former U.S. officials say that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, provided the nom de guerre of one of bin Laden’s most trusted aides. The CIA got similar information from Mohammed’s successor, Abu Faraj al-Libi. Both were subjected to harsh interrogation tactics inside CIA prisons in Poland and Romania.  The news is sure to reignite debate over whether the now-closed interrogation and detention program was successful."

If Obama did stop the practice of waterboarding, recent information regarding the killing of Anwar al-Awlaki, in Yemen and the killing of Osama bin Laden would seem to produce a very ironic position from a moral, ethical, and intellectual standpoint.  If waterboarding violates Obama's ideals and values, using Hellfire missiles from multiple Predator drones to kill al-Awlaki and putting a lead bullet through the head of an unarmed bin Laden must cause Obama severe gut-wrenching angst.

I wonder what the real truth is? Does Obama really despise waterboarding and approve of using Hellfire missles and putting bullets through the head of unarmed terrorists?  Or does he really privately despise both methods but is publicly approving of the killings simply as a means to boost his poll numbers?

You know what I believe, but it would appear that, from behind the podium, Obama believes water is bad and bullets and missiles are good.

In these instances, I personally approve of both methods (and have no angst in telling you so).

Is Anonymous for Real?

 Anonymous is a leaderless group initiating active civil disobedience via the internet.  From it's early conception, members have acted anonymously in a seemingly coordinated manner.  Beginning in 2008, Anonymous has become increasingly associated with what they call Hacktivism,or computer hacking.  Their mission seems to be to protest various groups from Scientology to the Tea Party, often with the "goal" of promoting internet freedom and freedom of speech. Sources on the internet say the "actions credited to "Anonymous" are undertaken by unidentified individuals who apply the Anonymous label to themselves as attribution."

Some of the hacks that have been attributed to Anonymous so far are the orchestration of the crashing of Paypal late last year, Visa, Mastercard, Bay Area Transit agency, the CIA's public website, Booz Allen Hamilton website ( leaking email addresses of 90,000 U.S. military personnel), and hacking a Monsanto Co. website and releasing personal data of 2,500 employees.

Obviously, Anonymous has experienced a degree of success.  At the same time, some experts are saying that this group of up to 4000 members is made up of mostly young and inexperienced teenage hackers. 

Now the group is threatening to hack the NYSE on October 10th and then Facebook on November 5th. 

I have attached a video produced by Anonymous regarding Wall Street.  Ironically, I agree with most of the information in this video.  But listen carefully.  Remember my blog from yesterday?  The attached video and the demands of the "Occupy Wall Street" protesters sound very different but are one in the same.





Is Oil Sustainable?

For most of my life, I have lived with the "fact" that oil is a limited resource and that someday in the near future the last oil pump will drill the last drip of oil and the world will change immediately, dramatically.  But throughout my lifetime, threats have come and gone, and we continue to pump oil.  In the 70's, we were told that oil would not last for another 20 years.  But in 2011, we actually know that there is more oil available to pump and drill than there was in the 70's (if only Obama will allow it).

So what is going on?  Why is there more oil now?  Some scientists believe that the oil is regenerating.  For example, 80 miles off the coast of Louisiana is a mostly submerged mountain known as Eugene Island. A large amount of crude oil was discovered there in the late '60s, and by 1970, a platform named Eugene 330 was producing nearly 15,000 barrels a day of high-quality crude oil.  But by the late '80s, the platform's production had slipped to less than 4,000 barrels per day and was considered dead. Done.

Suddenly, in 1990, production soared back to 15,000 barrels a day, and the reserves which had been estimated at 60 million barrels in the '70s, were recalculated at 400 million barrels. Interestingly, the measured geological age of the new oil was quantifiably different than the oil pumped in the '70s.

Analysis of seismic recordings revealed the presence of a "deep fault" at the base of the Eugene Island reservoir which was gushing up a river of oil from some deeper and previously unknown source, from the bottom up.   The same thing is happening in Alaska, the Middle East, and around the world.

"There are a number of observations across the oil-producing regions of the globe that support this theory, and the list of proponents begins with Mendelev (who created the periodic table of elements) and includes Dr. Thomas Gold (founding director of Cornell University Center for Radiophysics and Space Research) and Dr. J.F. Kenney of Gas Resources Corporations, Houston, Texas."

"Dr. Gold strongly believes that oil is a "renewable, primordial soup continually manufactured by the Earth under ultrahot conditions and tremendous pressures. As this substance migrates toward the surface, it is attached by bacteria, making it appear to have an organic origin dating back to the dinosaurs."
(WorldNet Daily)

So what if these theories are correct?  Doomsday predictions simply would not happen.  While reserves are most likely not inexhaustible, if pumped correctly and given time to regenerate, generation upon generations could experience low-cost fuel.  Dr. Gold has been quoted saying that current worldwide reserves of crude oil could be off by a factor of over 100.

Let me know what you think.

The "Occupy Wall Street" Movement

There is a lot of talk about the 'Occupy Wall Street" protests going on right now.  As with most things, I have found that the true motive is often hidden and underlying agendas surface after it is too late.  So, I dug a little deeper and found out what is being demanded from these protestors and what this movement is really about.

(As a side note, ironically, the "Occupy Wall Street" Movement already has a healthcare plan, a newspaper, food tents, medical tents, etc for people that are protesting.  Sounds like a Soros/SEIU backed plan to me.)

Following is the list of demands from this group.  As you read, you will get the picture very quickly!  Quite frankly, most of the demands are a complete joke and even contradict themselves. 

Read and weep:

Demand one: Restoration of the living wage. This demand can only be met by ending "Freetrade" by re-imposing trade tariffs on all imported goods entering the American market to level the playing field for domestic family farming and domestic manufacturing as most nations that are dumping cheap products onto the American market have radical wage and environmental regulation advantages. Another policy that must be instituted is raise the minimum wage to twenty dollars an hr.  Anyone in their right mind knows this isn't possible.  Even if it was, all this would do is raise the price of goods astronomically!

Demand two: Institute a universal single payer healthcare system. To do this all private insurers must be banned from the healthcare market as their only effect on the health of patients is to take money away from doctors, nurses and hospitals preventing them from doing their jobs and hand that money to wall st. investors. I understand that the healthcare system needs to be reformed. But it does not need to be gutted.  Goodbye Liberty!

Demand three: Guaranteed living wage income regardless of employment. Where does government get their money?  From the taxpayer (worker).  If you get guaranteed living wage income regardless of employment, why work?  Obviously, this is totally unsustainable.

Demand four: Free college education. Why the heck do you need this if you get demand one, two, and three?

Demand five: Begin a fast track process to bring the fossil fuel economy to an end while at the same bringing the alternative energy economy up to energy demand. No problem!  Obviously, we haven't already done this because of the greedy oil companies.  So why isn't Communist China already at this point. 

Demand six: One trillion dollars in infrastructure (Water, Sewer, Rail, Roads and Bridges and Electrical Grid) spending now. Uh, Obama has tried this the last three years and it doesn't work!


Demand seven: One trillion dollars in ecological restoration planting forests, reestablishing wetlands and the natural flow of river systems and decommissioning of all of America's nuclear power plants. How are you going to power your electric cars without fossil fuel plants or nuclear power plants?  Really?

Demand eight: Racial and gender equal rights amendment. Be careful what you wish for.  In 10 years the white man is going to be the minority!

Demand nine: Open borders migration. anyone can travel anywhere to work and live. We have this now! How is this different?

Demand ten: Bring American elections up to international standards of a paper ballot precinct counted and recounted in front of an independent and party observers system. Independent party observers really means liberal, progressive , communist, Marxist supporters.

Demand eleven: Immediate across the board debt forgiveness for all. Debt forgiveness of sovereign debt, commercial loans, home mortgages, home equity loans, credit card debt, student loans and personal loans now! All debt must be stricken from the "Books." World Bank Loans to all Nations, Bank to Bank Debt and all Bonds and Margin Call Debt in the stock market including all Derivatives or Credit Default Swaps, all 65 trillion dollars of them must also be stricken from the "Books." And I don't mean debt that is in default, I mean all debt on the entire planet period. Geez, where was this demand five years ago?  I could have owned 15 houses right now!

Demand twelve: Outlaw all credit reporting agencies. Duh!  There is no need for a credit reporting agency if there is no debt on the entire planet.  Sell me Oprah's house, maybe I will pay you back, maybe I wont!

Demand thirteen: Allow all workers to sign a ballot at any time during a union organizing campaign or at any time that represents their yeah or nay to having a union represent them in collective bargaining or to form a union. Why the heck do you need a union and collective bargaining if no one is working?

These demands will create so many jobs it will be completely impossible to fill them without an open borders policy  Vomit, vomit, vomit!!  This is so stupid it's not even a joke.  It's a first-grader's wish list.

The leaders of this movement have stated that their goal is to crash the system and create a crisis!!  This is economic terrorism and radical ideology on display.

Please pass this information along.  Take the time to be informed.  It is time to stand up for reasonable change.  It is time make OUR voices heard.

The Pre-DVR Life

I remember watching MTV when I was in high school. Thriller, the chart-topping song and video by Micheal Jackson, was playing every thirty minutes and it was so unique and ground breaking that we would sit by the TV for hours just waiting for it to come on.  We had to be physically present and we planned our life around it.  But when the DVR became available, it changed the whole deal.

In addition to simply being able to record shows, the DVR could actually pause live TV.  I could now record a show, replay a play from the game, and not miss a second of any show, while being able to actually do the things I wanted to do when I wanted to do them.  I was not a prisoner to the programming of the network. 

Often times I find that I live my life like it is pre-DVR.  I get involved with work, traveling back and forth from Kentucky and Tennessee, checking twitter and e-mails constantly, and answering the phone as soon as it rings, no matter where I am or what I am doing.  These distractions tempt me to sometimes forget the power of structure and taking time to get away.  Sometimes I believe I am less effective simply because I am worn out. 

So at that point, I think it is necessary to push the "pause" button, re-focus, take charge of your time, and become energized again.

So if I dont answer the phone tomorrow, I may be in the hammock, enjoying the autumn leaves, and listening to Thriller on my ipod.  On second thought, I am going to skip the Thriller!

My Adult "Tent Fort"

When I was a young boy I would make "tent forts" on my bunk bed.  It was my getaway where I could let my imagination go wild and escape reality for awhile.  In some ways, my camper has become my adult "tent fort".  I'll explain. 

This past week, I held a company meeting at my camper.  My sales team all came to talk about the quarter that was just ending and the new fiscal year that would begin on Monday.  I had previously met with each of them individually to talk about their specific goals for the upcoming quarter, so this meeting was about team and was designed to allow the team members to loosen up a bit and enjoy some time away from the office.

And the concept worked.  We all enjoyed good food, shared great ideas, motivated each other for the upcoming quarter, and enjoyed a great fire until late into the night.  It was a great setting that provided an opportunity to bond more with my team and to be in a more relaxed setting.  We all had a fantastic time. 

It's somewhat strange to think about my attitude evolution regarding the camper in the last nearly four years.  When I went to Kentucky to work, I despised the camper.  To me, it represented and symbolized all of the failures that I had just endured.  Here I was, a man in his mid-forties that had tasted the good life and was now working 3 hours from home in another state and in a camper the size of the foyer of my previous home.

I now look forward to my time away at the camper.  Yes, I still miss my family terribly when I have to travel to Kentucky, but the camper has become a "friend".  It has become a place for me to go and think, plan, read, focus, and gain perspective on my life.  It is a place where I have laughed out loud to myself, cried tears of anquish and pain, and a place where I have learned to relax and prepare for my next step, my next journey in life.

And when I take that next step in my journey, I will think back fondly of the times that I spent in the camper; times that allowed me to grow as a father, as a husband, as a friend, and as a leader.

Un-churched and De-Churched

Those of you that follow my blog know that I have had a problem with the church for the past eight years or so.  I have attended church sporadically, but have not found a regular church "home".  As my youngest son prepares to go to college next year, I often find myself second guessing whether or not I should have simply put up with the church in order to instill better 'church-going" habits for my boys.  I often wonder how much I cheated my boys from the "christian" experience.  I often wonder if they will stray from their faith in God because they know of my disdain for the church based on my experiences.

Unfortunately, if I had to do it all over again, I am not sure if I would have done things differently.  That is how deeply rooted my feelings against the church are.  For me, becoming involved in the church does not warrant the time, energy, hypocrisy, and drama that almost always exists in church organizations.  I would rather take a hike in the woods, kayak on a lake in the early morning hours, or personally experience God in my camper than have all the angst in my life caused by attending church.

I have recently started reading a book by Skye Jethani entitled, With: Reimagining a Life With God.  Skye Jethani also has a very popular website called SkyeBox.  On one of his popular posts, he explains the un-churched and de-churched "movements" from the church.  The following are some of the excerpts from that post.

The video below is referenced by Jethani in his blog.  I thought it was a good explanation of the "un-churched" and "de-churched".  The speaker in this video is Matt Chandler.

"Chandler attributes the exodus of young people to the proclamation (explicitly or implicitly) of a false gospel of “moralistic deism.” This understanding of the Christian life says that if you obey God’s rules he will bless you with what you desire. This represents a form of the prosperity gospel which saturates the Texas soil where Chandler pastors, but it’s also popular beyond the Deep South. (How many teens have been told that abstinence will be rewarded by God with great sex within marriage?) The problem arises when God’s blessing doesn’t come—or doesn’t come in the form we want. Divorce, illness, poor grades, failed relationship—virtually any hardship has the potential to destroy one’s faith in Christ and the church that represents him. So, according to Chandler, people walk away. They enter the ranks of the de-churched.

There is another group within the de-churched population that has not held to a false gospel of morality, and they haven’t walked away from faith in Christ. These Christians have simply lost confidence in the institutional structures and programmatic trappings of the church. For them the institutional church is not an aid in their faith and mission. Rather it’s become a drain on time, resources, and energy. It feels like a black hole with a gravitation pull so strong that not even the light of the gospel can escape its organizational appetite. (that's me folks)

In that same issue of Leadership, Matt Russell wrote about the year he spent interviewing de-churched people in his community. He wrote:  "Most people left church not because they had a deep theological problem with something like the virgin birth or the resurrection of Christ. They left because people in the church have the tendency to be small and mean and couldn’t deal honestly with their own sins or the sin of others. As one man put it, “People in the church were more invested in the process of being right than in the process of being honest.”

So, where does this leave us? On one side the de-churched are leaving because they’ve received a false gospel that made promises God has failed to fulfill. On the other side are deeply committed Christians who are finding more meaningful authenticity, mission, and transformation outside the institutional structures of the church".

It seems to me that the church has forgotten that God exists and dwells within people, not the brick and mortar of a church.  It seems to me that the church has forgotten that it needs to act like a church, not corporate America.  It seems to me that the church has forgotten the greatest commandment of all... to LOVE.

Stay tuned for Part 2 in next week's Campfire Sunday Sermon.

Help! I Have a Ton of E-mails!!

I am sure you have heard people complaining about having so many e-mails.  Technology is unbelievable.  From Facebook to twitter to e-mails, communication has become so much easier than what it used to be.  But in some ways, I think that technology has become a "crutch" for us.

When I walk through the hallways at work, it seems like everyone is stuck on the computer.  And almost always, when I stick my head in the door to say 'Hi", I am told that they are trying to get through their e-mails.  Sometimes thousands of e-mails.

And so it has become acceptable and expected to sit on the computer for hours at a time and look through your e-mails, answering certain ones and ignoring others until a later time.  And it keeps us so busy.  After all, we have tons of e-mail because we are important, right?  People need us.  They need our advice and expertise.  Right?

After all, how would you look if you only spent 10-15 minutes on e-mail every morning and then at the end of the day?  For most, you wouldn't be viewed as very important.  You wouldn't be viewed as being needed.  You would surely need to get your act together and communicate electronically with customers and prospects more often.

Or just maybe, instead of spending hours on sorting through e-mails and answering some and igoring others, you could visit a prospect or hand-write a "thank you" note to a colleague, or you could spend some time planning, and strategizing, and focusing on new ideas to grow the company.

I challenge you to have a zero e-mail policy.  Spend a day and get rid of all of your e-mails and then keep them as close to zero daily as possible.  I believe it will free up your time and allow you to do more meaningful and productive things more often.

After all, Edison, Vanderbilt, Colonel Sanders, Carnegie, Macy, and Henry Ford never once answered an e-mail!