I See Opportunity Everywhere

Opportunity everywhere… Those were the words spoken by my oldest son, Andrew at 7 AM the day after Christmas. He came down the steps and saw we had just received 4 plus inches of snow during the night.

“What do you mean Andrew?”

“Well, it snowed last night and I know people will need to get their driveways shoveled.”

“How do you plan to shovel, we don’t have a snow shovel.”

“Hmmm, maybe I’ll ask Mr. Tom if I can use his shovel.”

After about 30 minutes and a breakfast, Andrew went next door to Mr. Tom and borrowed a shovel. Within a few moments I looked outside and my son was shoveling the snow off the driveway of our neighbors. They are in their late 60′s. A perfect target market for this endeavor.

In about 45 minutes, my son came back in the house with $20 in his pocket and a grin the size of Texas.

He warmed up a bit, then came into my office. We plotted out the other homes in the neighborhood who had older residents. Determining these homes were the best opportunity for him to earn money shoveling snow.

Our neighborhood has about a thousand kids. Of which 100 are in the 12 to 17 year old category. No one is out offering to shovel driveways for $10 or $20. Most are probably inside, staying warm, playing the wii or facebooking.

There is no doubt in my mind, that Andrew saw this snowfall as heaven sent. A divine opportunity to earn some cash for his summer scout trip to the Northern Tier.

He didn’t futz around, come up with excuses or figure out how not to get a job. He saw and opportunity, figured out how to get his hands on a shovel and went out knocking on doors.

Not really hard, but yet don’t we make things way more difficult than they need to be in business? Especially as a Christian?

My son didn’t fast, pray, seek God as if this was the right opportunity. He didn’t consult with his Bible Study group or seek the scriptures to see if there was a reference to snow, money and shoveling.

He just saw an opportunity.

If you are a business owner, or contemplating being a business owner, my I suggest you operate in the same fashion. There is all around you, opportunities galore. Just open your eyes and get after the abundance around you.

Other kids in the neighborhood saw snow, my son saw a money making opportunity. Into which category would you fall into?

Popularity: 47%

The Fear Of Shame Is Sucking Your Courage Dry

My good friend Perry Marshall of www.PerryMarshall.com sent out this video regarding shame and fear.

Perry is one my closest friends. He is one of the few guys who stood by me during the dark days in my living hell. He is also one of the brightest business owners/entrepreneurs I know.

A few days ago, he sent out this link to a wonderful video. In this video, Brene Brown discusses the impact that fear and shame have on our lives. Now I don’t know if Brene ‘Knows Jesus.” (Frankly I don’t care.) One thing I do know, she discusses the basics of following Christ in this video.

She said a few things that really impacted me (as I’ve watched this video 3 times already) Here’s just a sampling.

“The only people who don’t experience shame are the ones who don’t have any capacity for human connection.”

“In order for connection to happen we have to allow ourselves to be seen.”

“Those who have a strong sense of love and belonging believe they are worthy of love and belonging.”

I’ll let her tell the rest.

Popularity: 50%

I Want To Share Something Deeply Personal With You

I am going to let you into a room in my life that very few have entered. It has taken me the better part of 30 years to wrestle with the results and outcomes of April 11, 1981.

Don’t worry it’s not gruesome. I wasn’t beaten, raped, or anything else dramatic.

It happened on a spring day in Chicago, I was in 8th grade and my father was going through a long recovery from his open heart surgery in October of 1980.

That day, while my father and I watched a baseball game (Yankees vs. Texas Rangers) on NBC. My father, aged 60, died in front of my eyes from atrial fibrillation. My mother was in the room and my sister Molly was upstairs. (That’s a picture of my father during WW II in his US Marine uniform.)

We lived out in the country, about 5 miles from town  and it took 10 minutes for the paramedics to arrive. When they arrived, my father was purple and dead. They were able to resuscitate him. He was taken to the hospital where he stayed on life support for two weeks. After numerous tests, it was determined that pulling the plug was the best thing to do. So on April 25, 1981, my father passed away.

In so many ways, I still haven’t come to terms with this in my life. For 25 plus years, this massive gaping hole existed in my life.

From that day forward at the age of 13, my life was never the same. I set out to prove something to someone, somewhere that I was someone.

I became fiercely independent. If someone told me NO, I figured out a way to make it YES.   Usually my way.

I became incredibly determined. Always figuring out a way to make it work. I garnered awards in college, connected with movers and shakers in my industry. I became one of the youngest Head Golf Professionals of a 4 star resort in the country. Moving up to General Manager of a private club before my 30th birthday. A full 15 years ahead of the national average.

Everything I touched turned to gold.

Then I started my own business. It too took off. Making me more money in 90 days, than I made in a year working for someone else. Continuing month after month. The midas touch eminating from my fingers to everything I did.

Through all of this, my heart longed for a father. An earthly father whom I could talk to, ask questions. Learn how to be a man, a husband, a father, a friend.

I so longed for a father. I see my friends who have their fathers in their lives. The relationships they carry. How a dad is in their lives, even at the age of 40 or older. Those men seem to have a peace, a calmness to them that I wish resided in me.

As my business ownership morphed into difficult times, my heart longed even more for the connection of a father. Sure there were mentors, other business men who came along side, but it was nothing like having your own Dad there to advise you.

My father was a business owner. Surely he could impart wisdom to me in my times of stress and distress. But he was gone. Leaving me along to figure things out on my own.

Then the bottom hit. I kept things inside.. hidden from view. Keeping a good face on no matter what the circumstances or situation.

Then one day, through numerous acts and the hand of God moving in my life. I found myself in Kansas City attending an event for 7 days. On day two, I found myself in a prayer room, tears rolling down my face, longing for my father in my life. Knowing my ‘crisis’ could have been completely averted had I only had a father to talk to.

At that moment, a small still voice cried out of me. Saying “I’m right here.”

My tears stopped almost immediately. Again the voice said; “I’m right here.”

This voice was so clear, so real, I had to snap my head around to make sure no one was next to me saying something to me. There was no one there.

“Son, your earthly father may have been taken from you in 1981, but I’m here. Right here next to you. All you have to do is ask me and I’ll show you the way.”

For almost 30 years, my heart broke and desired to have a father in my life. I strove to achieve success, money and power, because I thought it would fill the void. When the time came to make a truckload of money, I busted my ass to make it, putting everything else on hold to cash the check. In the end, the void still existed. Nothing could fill it. Not a truckload of money, respect from my peers, adoring crowds at events. Nothing.

Today, my life is very different. My stack of goals are replaced with a longing to hear my Fathers voice. To feel his touch as he directs me down the roads He wants me to explore.  In many ways, I wish to get back those 25 years of my self absorbed, driven life. To know what it would have been like to hear my Fathers voice.

The hole in my heart is gone. Oh sure, every once in a while the drive wants to come back. The list of things to accomplish, the long range plans. Then I turn to my Father, who is right next to me and He shows me His plans for me. He tells me how perfect I am in His eyes. He reminds me that He loves me, not for what I do, have done or will accomplish. Rather He loves me as I am.

One day, I will see my earthly father again. I don’t doubt that for a second. One day, we will play golf again, watch the White Sox or the Bears. Until then my Father, (God) is right next to me at every moment.

And I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Popularity: 36%