I enjoyed the sidewalk sale with my baby Leslie Ann in Logan Downtown. We stopped into some of our favorite stores, including The Book Table but we got lost in the books, S.E. Needham Jewelers where Leslie tried on wedding rings just likes she’s been doing for several years, and The Sportsman where we looked at shoes, clothes, and rock climbing gear. Having a great relationship with a business is one way I found to Gain the Red Edge. A…
Major companies are recognizing the great value Utah brings to businesses. We’ve got a great work force, a great place to live, the most beautiful mountains in the world, and incredible tax incentives, as reported in this Deseret News article. Tax incentives have their place. But they also come with a price. Are the benefits the incentivised company brings to the state, in the form of job creation and above-average wages, enough to make up for the loss in tax revenue…
Focusing on creating a clear vision is a great way to Gain the Red Edge. Creating vision activates the Law of Attraction to automatically open our heart and mind to see the many opportunities surrounding us. Creating a clearer vision will also help us clarify our passion. Creating a Vision Board is a great initial action step to help you create a clearer vision. These three simple steps can be a good starting point. Create a vision board with a picture…
I love Independence Day. I love the Fourth of July parades. I love all the floats, candy throwing, and marching bands. I love the old classic cars and trucks and the shining red fire engines. I love the 4-H horse club and the pooper scoopers diligently cleaning up behind. I love the beautiful city royalties. I even love the numerous politicians. Most of all, I love standing for the Flag. Photo by Aaron Burden The Flag leads the parade and…
Sometimes the best way to Gain the Red Edge is to stop what you’re doing and sit down and talk to a stranger. That’s exactly what happened to me a few weeks ago. I had scheduled a quick morning appointment at the Salt Lake VA before the start of a training conference. I’d be a little late to the conference but figured all would still work out. But as Murphy so faithfully teaches, a couple of things caused a delay. Soon…
Sharpening Your Saw is a great way to Gain the Red Edge. Stephen Covey pioneered the concept of “preserving enhancing the greatest asset you have… you.” Covey taught we should have a “balanced program for self-renewal in the four areas of [our] life: physical, social/emotional, mental, and spiritual.” Today I sharpened my mental saw with training from Utah BNI. I better learned how to grow my business by focusing on helping others grow their business. Givers Gain is a philosophy…
The memories came pouring in. I was thinking about my dad and it was quite amazing how fast and how many different moments came to mind. I especially enjoyed the huge variety of memories from throughout his life, not just those poignant ones at the end of his journey. One of my most favorite memories were the many times we stood quietly on a ditch bank, waders on and shovels in hand, overlooking water moving through a field. Many times,…
Listening to a mentor is one way to Gain the Red Edge. That’s the lesson Chris Yancey shared with me last night as we visited him at Summerfest. Chris is phenomenal sculptor creating relief and 3D works of art that touch my soul. His relief of the Star of Bethlehem is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. Another relief had me feeling as if Abraham Lincoln was standing close by. I first met Chris a few years ago when he…
Education and training is one way to help you Gain the Red Edge for your passion. I took some of my own advice to heart by attending a three-day course focused on improving my speaking and presenting skills. “Present Yourself” was put on by Kirk Duncan and 3 Key Elements. I enjoy speaking and giving presentations and I’m excited to take advantage of new opportunities to speak to businesses, groups and organizations. Attending training like this can help you Gain…
I confess I don’t have much of a connection to David Crosby. Well, not until recently. I was introduced to Crosby, a founding member of the groups Crosby, Stills & Nash and the Byrds, by Jeff Benedict. Unbeknownst to him, Jeff has become one of my writing mentors and has greatly influenced my style of storytelling. Crosby and Benedict have teamed up on a couple of projects. Last year Crosby wrote the theme song “Home Free” for the movie Little…