Okay, it’s not Monday morning. I know. Actually, it just may be Tuesday morning when you’re reading this. Here’s the deal. I escaped to the mountains and took some time off. In fairness, I had planned to have today’s Monday Morning Boost set to send at 6am today. Then… Isn’t there always a then, or more often a but… Then I buried myself in work, and pushed through a newsletter project for my church, and totally forgot about the Monday…
I’m a passionate believer in pursuing business dreams. I’m passionate about creating stories of success. I’m also passionate about strategically analyzing opportunities, risk factors, market conditions, demand for services, competition, capital requirements, available financial resources, growth strategies, legalities, etc. Do we need to understand all of these things before pursuing a business opportunity? Most certainly not. Just think of the many stories of businesses that got started on a napkin at a restaurant. Legend has it Southwest Airlines was started…
When we allow our voice to be silenced, such as I did for many years because I felt invisible and of no worth, we allow others to become our voice. Others end up speaking for us by deciding how we feel because we don’t express how we feel. Others decide what we believe because we don’t express what we believe. Others sometimes react to our silence as if we had spoken volumes. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Our lives begin…
“Do you really want the grease?” That’s the question Seth Godin recently posed in one of his daily blogs. Okay, first of all, a daily blog??? Yep. The quintessential father of “Permission Marketing” writes a daily blog. Some are short. Some are long. Each is highly valued. So the next time you think you’re sending too many emails… But on to the grease. In the age-old adage, “The squeaking wheel gets the grease,” the idea is the one who complains…
I lost a tribe a few years back. It was hard. Really hard. It’s still hard at times bumping into some of my old tribe, though not near as hard as at first. The anger is mostly gone as is most of the hurt. Most of the time I feel at peace because I’m in a much better position. I’ve extended a lot of forgiveness and hope the lost tribe has as well. I gloat sometimes knowing I got the…
To be home is heaven A quiet assurance All is still good In a world that Clamors to say Otherwise. I wrote this little gem last week inspired by my friend Max Brown who was enjoying a quiet moment at home after traveling. Such is the gift of being home or feeling at home. While home is most generally felt at the place we actually call home, I have found the feeling of home exists in many ways and many…
It takes a pioneer to start a community. It takes a community to keep a community going. I witnessed the result of this heritage connection this weekend at the Hyde Park Community Celebration. City leaders, community members, school classes, and families came together to create a wonderful event. It was an honor to be part of the patriotic program Friday night at the Hyde Park community celebration where I was asked to share a few remarks. I collaborated with Mark…
Sometimes we just have to show up just as we are. Broken. Imperfect. Out of place. Not knowing what we are doing. Such an example shared with me this past week inspired this little thought. COME AS YOU ARE By Les Patterson Come as you are The world awaits the gifts Only you can offer. Come as you are Your courage abounds Though hidden to you it may feel. Come as you are You are cherished beyond measure Loved more…
Rebecca will be having her first baby any day now! It’s an exciting time for a new mother-to-be with a mix of emotions… anxiety, concern, and trepidation while also anticipating with wonder the beauty of the new life growing inside. Adding to the tumultuous mixture is a pending move out east as Taylor prepares to start law school. It’s also an exciting time for grandpa as we prepare to welcome our first grandson to join the ranks with our first…
The Fourth of July, Independence Day, offers us the chance to reflect on what it means to be an American. There are lots of easy answers, such as, “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” as boldly declared in our Declaration of Independence. It’s popular to attempt to sum up what it means to be American in meme-worthy words and phrases: Freedom. Patriotism. Red, White, and Blue. The Flag. Some define America by activities, such as parades, fireworks, picnics, camping,…