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Author: Les Patterson

Monday Morning Boost: Counting the Homeless

Monday Morning Boost: Counting the Homeless

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I sat in the dirt asking a mother detailed personal questions why she was homeless. Her answers touched me deeply. While not uncommon nor unique for those living in the throes of homelessness, they were raw, real, and very personal. It’s one of the most humbling things I’ve ever done. POINT-IN-TIME COUNT The humbling occasion happened on a recent Saturday when I participated in the annual Point-in-Time Count with the Cache Valley Veterans Association. This is a survey to literally count the number of…

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Monday Morning Boost: 3 Tools to Relieve Stress and Anxiety

Monday Morning Boost: 3 Tools to Relieve Stress and Anxiety

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Here are three very simple and easy tools you can use to Gain the Red Edge when you’re feeling anxious, stressed, or feeling down. 1) Use the 5 to 1 Technique. The 5 to 1 technique is counting backwards… 5-4-3-2-1. This technique allows your brain to catch up and do a mental reset. This is a simple mental strategy we can use to focus our thoughts in a healthy direction. It’s incredibly intuitive, as you’ll see, and it has the power to…

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Gaining the Red Edge at the Sidewalk Sale

Gaining the Red Edge at the Sidewalk Sale

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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…

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Are Tax Incentives Worth The Price?

Are Tax Incentives Worth The Price?

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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…

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Monday Morning Boost: Creating a Clear Vision

Monday Morning Boost: Creating a Clear Vision

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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…

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Monday Morning Boost: Standing for the Flag

Monday Morning Boost: Standing for the Flag

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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…

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Monday Morning Boost: The Gift of Combat Chaos

Monday Morning Boost: The Gift of Combat Chaos

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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…

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Sharpening the Saw to Gain the Red Edge

Sharpening the Saw to Gain the Red Edge

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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…

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Monday Morning Boost: The Gift of Memories of Dad

Monday Morning Boost: The Gift of Memories of Dad

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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,…

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How a mentor can help you Gain the Red Edge

How a mentor can help you Gain the Red Edge

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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…

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