And The Winner Is..........

My friend and mentor Orrin Woodward has just received the honor of "TOP LEADERSHIP AWARD WINNER", for his website:

Orrin Woodward : http://www.orrinwoodward.com/

The criteria for the IAB Awards winners includes,

- Originality of ideas
- Practicality of ideas
- Presentation style
- Testimonials
- Impact of ideas
- Quality of web content, publications and writings
- Ranking of website in America

This is no small deal.

Recognized as America’s Premier Membership Association, IAB has served over a million members. IAB has also received prestigious commendation from state and federal officials for its ability to educate and advance the growth of small businesses and the self-employed.

Orrin's unique style of mentoring, unshakable character and integrity has drawn him to the top of the leadership industry. His most recent endeavor the "LIFE" opportunity invites everyone to jump on board the self improvement train. The unusual combination of self help, life coaching, community building, and networking creates an outstanding environment for personal development through the enhancement of focusing on what Orrin has defined as the 8F's.

Finance

Fitness

Faith

Freedom

Family

Fun

Following

Friends

There isn't a soul on earth who couldn't benefit from improvement in any of these categories. As a benefactor of this systematic approach I stand before you as a testament, "it works!" What moves the LIFE initiative above the pack is the specific content. While others give you general principles designed to improve your existence, the LIFE opportunity helps you pinpoint and improves your area of weakness. This is why Orrin Woodward has achieved top recognition in the leadership field.

Congratulations Orrin, and thank you for assuming the leadership role that has brought thousands to a higher level of achievement.

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

Not Tuna again!

Orrin Woodward has written an outstanding article on the state of our political system. Please take the time to read it @

http://orrinwoodwardblog.com/2011/12/29/american-politics-right-or-left-equals-lost-freedoms/

What he points out brought me to a great analogy about shopping for canned tuna. When we enter the aisle to make our purchase we are given a myriad of choices. There are rows of beautifully packaged product tempting us to select. Each one promises to be better on the outside than the other, but after we make our selection and bring it home, we open the can to disappointment. Inside resides the same old stinky fish. Duped again!

The political process is basically the same. It doesn't matter if it's a left wing "liberal" offering or right wing "conservative," they all stink! What our country needs are people of principle who are willing to put the health of the nation above self, not unlike George Washington or Abraham Lincoln did. George declined not only the offering of being a monarch, but conceded power to others not willing to seek additional terms in office. Abraham Lincoln took an unpopular stand against slavery that divided the country then led to a civil war, and corrected the injustice. He was murdered for his effort. Show me a candidate today that'll show that kind of spine, void of corporate corruption, and I'll show you a hero.

We have perverted the principles that this country was founded upon to the point it'll take a leader who is willing to put aside self, (because they are going to take some heat), and make the changes necessary to align us with our stated purpose. Liberty is not dependence on government. The more we feed that beast, the bigger it grows and the harder it is to slay. I think you can imagine how it's going to take a person of Washington or Lincoln's commitment to principles to turn this nation around. The same old stinky fish will not do.

We also need to change the culture of our people. Lost are the values of independence. We cannot change Washington until we address ourselves. The same old can of tuna will keep being purchased until we the consumer demand a better product. To do that we have to put liberty above personal gain. This my friends is just one small part of the LIFE initiative.

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

Do Nothing?

It seems in Washington their is a air of disgust over the label "do nothing Congress." They say that like it's a bad thing! A great deal of our elected officials believe that they are sent to Washington to make laws. We have enough laws, thank you. How about you simply uphold the Constitution, (as you vowed to do in your swearing in oath), and pass a balanced budget? Since neither one of those items have been addressed recently, perhaps it's time to get back to the job responsibility. Once Congress has proven it can handle that chore we can move on to bigger things.

It kills me they are considering a federal ban on texting while driving. Why? We have two laws in place in each and every state to handle the misuse of cell phones right now. They are defined as "careless driving," and "reckless driving." They are kept general and non-specific for good reason. They cover every form of communication anyone can ever come up with. What if we had passed a law a few years ago banning the use of PDA's while driving? Some of you are reading this going, what's that? Exactly! Technology changes rapidly as time moves on, so specific laws become outdated quickly. Just enforce the ones we already have on the books. It's not Congress's job to regulate every new form of technology with specific legislation, that's micro managing.

So next time you hear the phrase, "do nothing Congress," positively respond, "good!" Now can they please pass a balanced budget so we can work on paying our debt?

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

What You Don't Know Does Hurt!

It's interesting that while on this leadership journey the information we discover that somehow got left off the table in the feast of knowledge. For instance, were you ever told that the individuals who reach the top tier of business management, selling, engineering, religious work, writing, acting, and every other pursuit gets there by following conscientiously and continuously a plan for self development and growth? I know I was handed a diploma and told I had completed my education, it was time to go make my way in the world! That couldn't have been further from the truth, the learning had just begun! Here's the kicker...Though I thought I was done learning I was actually being taught by outside sources that I ceded control to, rather than having some say about the input I was receiving. Can that ever be a recipe for a good outcome? Trust me it wasn't. Results improved only when I made the decision to have oversight on what was put into my head as information. I now controlled my destiny.

You see, because I sat before learned individuals I hadn't opted for during the first part of my education life, I fooled myself into believing I had no say about who taught me what. Ergo I drifted in the current of life and allowed whomever to influence my thought process. Can a random education process without purpose ever receive the desired results? Fortunately through God's providence, I got involved in a systematic education process that allows me to choose what areas I want to grow in, and at what speed. The more I found out I didn't know, the hungrier a student I became. Why would I allow someone to have an edge on success when all that stood between me and fortune was a few books and audio recordings? You talk about keeping up with the Jones, this was an opportunity to leave the Jones in the dust!

I'll invite you to scratch that itch called success. Show the Jones' how it's done! Find an education system and take control of your destiny. Grab hold of those who already have the fruit on the tree and harvest that crop! That education system exists in an opportunity called LIFE. Be it by subscription, or becoming part of the distribution end and earning an income as you grow, the fruit is there to be picked. Come be a part of a movement to change the culture of this society to that of a learning one. Learning to be better in the 8F's. Faith, fitness, finance, following, fun, freedom, family, and friends.

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

"Winning!"

I've always been dismayed about attempts by parents to "level the playing field," in the competition of life. But we should not be surprised that the society rushes to teach false doctrine through athletics. In many athletic programs, especially the parks and rec kind, egalitarianism is rampant. Winning and losing are not important. What matter in their minds is every child comes away feeling good about themselves. The problem is this false empathy is sometimes taken a spiritual and a non threatening approach. While it's true the competitor should put their best effort thereby glorifying God showcasing the talents He blessed them with above the goal of winning, life demands that we win in almost every activity. To teach children it's okay to lose, insinuates that their best effort isn't required. Who does that serve? It certainly isn't our Creator.

Not once in the scripture is there a hint that athletic competition is considered immoral or sinful. Just something to think about for the next time a well meaning board tries to "make things fair."

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

The Power Of Cabbage!

There are those hell bent in this country to revise historical fact. You see the events of the past don't quite fit in with their agenda, so rather than change their ideology, they pervert history. I'm convinced that part of that agenda is to teach history in the most boring manner possible, turning it into a session of memorization of dates and times that would certainly put the greatest insomniac to sleep. There are some outstanding stories behind the events that shaped our nation, human events that have fallen by the wayside making the instruction of history seem cold and without human interaction.

Here's a little ditty that I've never heard of how George Washington's father taught young George about providence....

The Cabbage Seed Lesson

George Washington's father once used cabbage seeds as an example of how Divine Providence works. As the legend goes Washington's father arranged the seeds in the ground in such a way as to spell "George." When they began to grow, he showed them to his son and explained to him that they had just happened to grow in that particular pattern by accident. When George rejected that notion correctly suspecting his father had a great deal to do with the outcome, his father told young George to look around at how perfectly everything else was placed. The trees, the grass, the water, the hills, and the sky.

Was it all mere coincidence, or part of a master plan?

Washington immediately knew the answer. Perhaps this is why George Washington was noted to always infer that Divine Providence had been part of every outcome.

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

Presents For All!

Merry Christmas to each of you and may your blessings be many! It's the season of giving, a season that should never end. We are here on earth to serve others, anything less is simply selfish. The highest accolade a man can receive is to be known as a servant leader, as a man that walks with God in his heart. When that's achieved, and we live our lives in a way that will impress and inspire others, they automatically turn to us when trying times arrive, and they will.

Not once in history has a man reached a level of significance without adversity. Adversity is the challenge handed to us that attempts to undermine our faith and principles; questioning our ability to maintain a sure footing and being an immovable object when those are called into question. What better time to renew that faith than the day we celebrate the birth of our Savior?

Remember not to allow yesterday to be an excuse for a brighter tomorrow. That's a trap set not by God, but by those who have a horse in the race, betting your not going to overcome. Have a blessed day, and take stock in where you are in your leadership journey. The best present of all is to cede yourself a brighter tomorrow.

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

Christmas Eve

Clement Clarke Moore (1779 - 1863) wrote the poem Twas the night before Christmas also called “A Visit from St. Nicholas" in 1822. It is now the tradition in many American families to read the poem every Christmas Eve. The poem 'Twas the night before Christmas' has redefined our image of Christmas and Santa Claus. Prior to the creation of the story of 'Twas the night before Christmas' St. Nicholas, the patron saint of children, had never been associated with a sleigh or reindeers!

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

Twas the Night before Christmas Poem

God Bless and Merry Christmas!
Capt. Bill

Think And Dream Creatively!

" Great men are those who see that thoughts rule the world."- Emerson

Now that my friends is something to ponder, (pun intended). The size of one's bank account, happiness, and their over all satisfaction with life itself is directly proportional to the size of one's thinking. We are all representatives of how we think, responsible for the ideas we've had that have led to the results we enjoy, or don't. This is a key to personal growth, the realization that we are responsible for our outcome. Since this is indeed true, why not think big result thoughts with positive results?

How many of us are trapped in the misleading concept that there are too many chiefs and not enough Indians? Who strives to be and Indian? The truth of the matter is there are too many unqualified chiefs, but the good news is there is room for plenty more of the qualified version! As a chief, or leader emerges this opens up opportunity for the Indians, or followers. That's why this country was originally designed to encourage the entrepreneur and flourished.

Our current system of education doesn't encourage this concept. Have you ever seen, (outside the TEAM/LIFE system) a school to learn entrepreneurial concepts? Our children are taught to attain a job, and at best, a good job. You were schooled on how to secure a job, and that's why most of us now have one. They infected our thought process! There are currently more people who apply for lower paying jobs than high skill, high income employment. Why is that? Have we been taught to lower our expectations, shrinking our thought process to believe that's the American Dream?

If you access honestly the percentage of big thinkers now, with a population of over 300 million in this great country, verses the day of Ben Franklin,Thomas Jefferson, etc, I think we can all agree they had the edge. While we do have our Dell, Jobs, and Gates, we have disproportionately moved away from the thinking that made America great. I propose it's how and what we think that makes the difference. After all....

"There is nothing either good or bad except that thinking makes it so." William Shakespeare

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

One Sentence Says It All!

I've been captured by a sentence in Orrin Woodward's new book "Resolved." While Orrin wrote it to be specific to leadership, a simple addition of a word or two and it points to the answer to just about everything.
et me preface this with a previous quote from the chapter on the art and science of leadership.

"Leaders create culture; culture creates results."

Now here is the sentence that captivates me...

"A culture of execution demands excellence from each individual compelling others to raise their game, not by force, but by the positive peer pressure of a unifying vision backed by the trust in the leaders."

That in itself speaks volumes about what needs to be done to solve the problems our culture faces today. But lets change a few words and see if it leads us to more answers.

ON THE ECONOMY

A culture of entrepreneurs demands excellence from each individual compelling others to raise their game, not by force, but by the positive peer pressure of a unifying vision backed by the trust in the business environment.

ON EDUCATION

A culture of education demands excellence from each individual compelling others to raise their game, not by force, but by the positive peer pressure of a unifying vision backed by the trust in the educators.

ON SELF RESPONSIBILITY

A culture of independence demands excellence from each individual compelling others to raise their game, not by force, but by the positive peer pressure of a unifying vision backed by the trust in the founder's vision.

I could do this all day. Like Orrin Woodward and Chris Brady are found of saying, "Everything rises and falls on leadership." How many applicable statements can you make from this one sentence on leadership? And lastly, how's your leadership journey going? We are all called to leadership, and it maybe sooner than later those skills are desperately needed.....

God Bless
Capt. Bill

Reading Is Fundamental!

Well the government run school system is at it again! Here on the Treasure Coast of Florida the teachers are upset because they raised the passing grade for reading on the FCAT tests. It wasn't a giant leap, in fact from the information available it barely keeps students out of the remedial reading status. Yet people who've dedicated their lives to the instruction of our youth have made these concerns known.

"The new standard of FCAT grading will require more students to take remedial reading classes instead of having the option to take elective classes."

So my question is to these educators...If the children your instructing cannot read at their grade level, how do you expect to teach them those elective classes? Even physical education has required reading, like the sign that says locker room, enter, exit. Oops, I'm being sarcastic! Honestly, where does this thought process come from? Could it be the bonuses they look forward to if they receive a passing grade from the standardized testing? I hope that wasn't too bombastic....

Look education hinges on the ability to read. Some love to, some find it a chore, but it is a necessary evil nonetheless. Wouldn't it be in everyone's best interest to inspire our youth to find the love of reading rather than try to lower the bar so everyone can pass? Who's agenda does that serve? Does an educator in the upper levels appreciate being handed a child who cannot or won't read? I think not.

This all points to the attitude taken by educators for a student receiving a failing grade. Isn't this an indication of an area where the child needs to improve? Not passing is exactly that, failure comes when we give up trying. Giving up trying is lowering the bar so those who need to improve pass a false level of acceptability. How about we get back to teaching our children the basics they need to compete in this world; reading, writing, and arithmetic? It's funny that back when the federalist papers were written they were authored to a level that the common farmer could read and understand them. Most of our citizens today look at that literary work as if it's written in Greek. what does that say about the decline in our standard of which our children are educated? And now they want to lower the bar yet further.....

If you love to read, and can read, thank the teacher or person who inspired you to do so. If you can't read or hate to, unfortunately you also have to thank a teacher, but please try to change that. There is no substitute for reading, it's what separates us from the lower species.

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

Results Reflect Investment!

In this media driven world it seems entertaining to portray Dad as an incompetent, bumbling idiot. Ignored by wife and offspring when he makes a decision, if the plot allows for that to even happen. When did it become "normal" to disrespect the God assigned leader of the family? Is this a result of promoting a secular education and the disavowing of religion in society? I don't know if you've noticed or not but children who have difficulty obeying both parents also seem to have even more difficulty obeying God. We could be reaping the benefits of allowing media the power of educating our youth.

For example, if a young woman has been reared in a warm loving relationship with both her mother and her father, is it more or less likely that she'll carry into her relationships or marriage a respect for her partner? I'm guessing the finished product would be a well adjusted wife that has no feelings of alienation, and is capable of giving as well as receiving love with a committed partner.

If a young man sees his father as a strong, loving, provider for his family, and his Mother as respectful of his father's decisions and leadership is he more or less likely to assume a role as the same model he grew up with, or emulate irresponsibility? I'm thinking the former rather than the later, yet daily those children are indoctrinated in a system of education, (media), that defies those examples as outside normal behavior. What possible good results can we expect when dysfunction is hyped up as acceptable?

It's way past time for adults to review what's been teaching our children. It's also time to review what input you've been receiving. As the old saying goes, "garbage in, garbage out." Take a serious look at our influences before that input is allowed to achieve the results we really are not looking for. Can we expect a beautiful garden of roses when we permit weeds to take control of the flower bed?

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

Walking In Faith

I just got done reading an article about how Saturday Night Live did a segment lampooning Tim Tebow, freshman starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos. For those of you who don't know Mr Tebow expresses his Christian faith at every opportunity, to this a great many take exception. Now I understand humor, and the media's need to parody events in the news, but what was depressing was the comments that followed the article. It's amazing the number of people who are critical of someone that walks with God.

Here's my point, we've deteriorated this society to the point where it's an exception and mocked to openly love the Lord. Mankind has always ridiculed those who walked outside the norm, but to be exceptional, don't you by definition have to be different? Mr. Tebow has proven his ability to be exceptional both on and off the field, and for that he takes the wrath of those non-achievers. We've gotten to the point where we criticize what we don't understand even when by following that example we'd get better results. It's a sad commentary. The real humor is that his critics are the same people complaining about their lives because of a lack of spiritual success. Success leaves clues. When a man that every expert professes does not possess the traits to achieve greatness does so, there has to be intervention from above. Tim Tebow chooses to openly give all the glory to God, who ultimately is responsible for those talents, while those who live lives of insignificance mock. Even if Tim Tebow never completes another pass, his time on earth will remain a success because of his faith in God. How many of his critics can say the same?

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

Be The Example!

Yesterday I got a dose of something that might not have bothered me a short time ago. I ran into a physical trainer that quite honestly was completely out of shape. He has accolades up one wall and back down another in forms of certification, but the proof wasn't in the pudding. Three principles violated here that we might want to learn.

First, take your advice from someone who has the fruit on the tree. Be the example! Wait let me rephrase that. Be the good example, the after picture as opposed to the before. If you wish to inspire lead them with a goal you've attained yourself. Asking someone to do what you don't, is a form of hypocrisy.

Second, To learn and not to do is just the same as not knowing at all. Knowledge applied is power, knowledge on the wall and not enacted upon, is a waste of education. When your trying to teach discipline, be the model. There is no greater inspiration.

Third, You cannot impose a discipline upon another human being if you don't have it yourself. Anyone can brow beat someone into being motivated when they are standing right over top of them. All that takes is a loud voice. The moment your out of sight, the bad habit will return. It takes deposits in the old relationship tank to inspire change that'll carry on when temptation sets in and there isn't anyone to hold them accountable but themselves. This is the difference between leadership and positional management.

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

Hold Fast Your Dreams!

Here's a little ditty by Louise Driscoll that I simply adore!
Enjoy!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill

Hold fast your dreams!
Within your heart
Keep one still, secret spot
Where dreams may go,
And, sheltered so,
May thrive and grow
Where doubt and fear are not.
O keep a place apart,
Within your heart,
For little dreams to go!

Think still of lovely things that are not true.
Let wish and magic work at will in you.
Be sometimes blind to sorrow. Make believe!
Forget the calm that lies
In disillusioned eyes.
Though we all know that we must die,
Yes you and I
May walk like gods and be
Even now at home in immortality.

We see so many ugly things—
Deceits and wrongs and quarrelings;
We know, alast we know
How quickly fade
The color in the west,
The bloom upon the flower,
The bloom upon the breast
And youth's blind hour.
Yet keep within your heart
A place apart
Where little dreams may go,
May thrive and grow.
Hold fast—hold fast your dreams!

Set Yourself Free!

We've often been told that to hold a grudge is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. The easiest way to overcome someone who has wronged you, and acts like an enemy, is to make them your friend. It's the ultimate win, and to do that we must learn to forgive.

All wrong behavior is wrong! There is no excuse for it. The act of forgiveness never implies that any offense was accepted as proper behavior. When someone is wounded through the acts of another the offense is real and the emotional pain incurred is also real. We don't have the ability to let the offender off the hook, we cannot impose consequences or put stipulations on forgiveness. That burden is for God to handle, our load is lifted and we are emotionally free when we move the guilty from off our back to that of the God's

Forgiveness is the unconditional dismissal of debt and not a sign of spineless passivity. Your not a doormat if you find forgiveness in your heart, it's a sign of godly courage when you allow Him to handle the debt owed.

Remember, not forgiving someone give them a link that eternally binds you together. Neither are ever free from it. Unforgiveness becomes a heavy load we bear like a stack of bricks weighing us down. Neither party can be freed of the burden as long as the debt remains on your books. Clear the account and allow god to be the collection agency. He'll make those annoying conscience calls asking for payment and garnishing their soul. Remember to forgive is to release your rights regarding the offense.

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

What Is Fair?

LIFE"S NOT FAIR!!!!!

Thank God!!!!

I wonder if we all realize how miserable an existence this would be if life was fair. Can you imagine being held responsible for our sinful nature? Jesus accepted the role of whipping boy and made payment in full for our past and future sins.

There are people who stand on a pulpit and preach about reparation. They suggest to their congregation that someone owes them something. Wouldn't it be something if we all had to pay the piper for every sinful thought and action? How do you stand before others and suggest they are due reparation from others for the actions of their forefathers, (contrary to the teaching of the Bible), when you have been forgiven and not held accountable for your own sins? Yes, life is not fair, Thank God!

Personally I'm glad life isn't fair, we are all on the winning side of that one. There is no gnashing of teeth or wrath of God present in our daily life, but that would be fair. Now the afterlife, what occurs post judgement day, that'll be fair. In the mean time we all need to hit our knees and praise Jesus for accepting the wrath of God for our sins, and begging forgiveness for our daily sinful nature. We'd do well to explain this to our fellow man. Some of them have been deceived by Satan that we live in a just and fair world. I think once we all realize what just and fair involves, we'll happily accept the fact that the playing field isn't level, that it's tipped heavily in our favor. Just the idea that we "deserve" something we have not yet earned suggests a level of selfishness. Isn't that also something we'd have to atone for?

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

A Football Miracle!

There is a phenomena in the National Football League, well okay there usually is one every week, but this one is different. It's a God fearing quarterback who's ability has been questioned from day one, but has led his team's record to seven wins and one loss, most being either in overtime or last second comebacks. It makes for very exciting football, and even better press as he humbly lets the criticism roll off his back while he converts he non- believers. In fact, because all the "experts" have anointed him as very improbable to become successful as a quarterback at any level, Tim Tebow is causing those who question God's existence to question their reason. How else would you explain his success? We've all been told he doesn't have the talent, so it's very difficult to justify his success without the admission of a higher power because that's what Tim Tebow exposes everyone to, as often as he can.

There is a larger affect, Tim Tebow is selling tickets and filling the stands. Owners like that! Let's compare him to say, Pac Man Jones, a very talented player of questionable character. If you were an owner and it was draft time, might you lean your choice in favor of the player who professes his faith and lives it publicly, or a dirty player who is constantly having brushes with the law? Which one is filling the stands? By living his faith, Tim Tebow is changing the culture in the NFL. He's a great example to us all. We can have an impact and effect change by living our faith and principles. Apparently it's an attractive trait! When it was announced Tebow was starting against the Miami Dolphins, ticket sales went through the roof for the struggling Fins box office.

Let me assure you Mr. Tebow is having an impact. His recent book is being gobbled up and read by aspiring youth with hopes of someday living the dream of playing in the NFL. Not only is he changing the culture in professional sports, he's inviting the youth of our country to read, dream, and believe in God. He has a ministry that changes lives, teaches the word of God, and never passes a plate for donations. He's reaching the lost sheep by visiting their living rooms every Sunday and being a humble example of God's glory. We should all take a page from that book.............

God Bless
Capt. Bill

Worth Their Weight In Gold!

From the book "Resolved" by Orrin Woodward. Please read these words and weigh their value. I found them worth their weight in gold....

Acceptance from one human being to another creates peace, which allows one to relax and share openly. When someone is constantly judging what is said or done, he doesn't allow the other person to relax, making friendship nearly impossible. Acceptance doesn't mean one approves of everything that his friend does, but only that he accepts his friend as a human being. A friend's acceptance stills the troubled waters, allowing the other person some breathing space to develop personally. It's only when a person is accepted as he is, that he is freed to become what he desires to be. Acceptance for the soul is like food for the body, providing nourishment and energy for further improvement.

By accepting people as they are, they desire more of this feeling, leading to seeking approval, which creates the process for change and growth which is nurtured along by the Triple-A formula. Many people get this wrong thinking they cannot accept someone until he does things right. But no one does everything right, leaving us all unaccepted and lonely. Everyone needs personal growth, but it's only through acceptance that the soul is nourished to pursue approval and appreciation. A person shouldn't judge the faults of others too critically, since he has a full time project working on himself. Like the proverb says, "Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape."

Now I've read and understand them, the challenge is to go and live them....

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

You Weren't Made to Idle!

If you love life, then don't squander your time here on earth, because time is the stuff life is made of.

It's interesting as you age how the value of time increases. It's not uncommon to watch our youth sleep away their days and be totally content, where I can't even fathom that as possible now. Yet so many times as an immature adult I traded my liberty for laziness as I chose to be unproductive rather than seek my purpose. I couldn't conquer the mind over mattress principle, but all that was required of me was to pick up a book and that time could have been better spent. I was free to do as I please with my idle time, and I choose to treat it as "spare time." Is there any such thing as "spare time?" Isn't it a little arrogant to assume we have "spare time" while here on earth? Oh, to have that wasted time back!

Now it seems most people my age are trying to amass wealth so they can buy back their time. A true test of liberty is to be free to spend your time as you choose, not pursuing an income to survive. I know I'd rather be working on figuring out what my purpose here on earth is and contributing my "spare time" to income earning! It's funny now that when I was young and granted the freedom of "spare time,' it was wasted as idle time, or better defined, mattress time.

Life has a wealth of distractions, a great deal of our economy is dedicated to providing those for us. Some lead us closer to our purpose, most don't. It's a path to achievement to live your life with specific intent. Find your purpose and dedicate your "spare time" to it until it can become your life's work. This defines the difference between those merely taking up space, and those living a life of excellence by pursuing a passion.

Happy Monday!

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

The Touch Of The Masters Hand!

I love this piece of timeless literature! Enjoy!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill

The Touch of the Masters Hand
Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer
thought it scarcely worth his while to waste much time on the old violin,
but held it up with a smile; "What am I bidden, good folks," he cried,
"Who'll start the bidding for me?" "A dollar, a dollar"; then two!" "Only
two? Two dollars, and who'll make it three? Three dollars, once; three
dollars twice; going for three.." But no, from the room, far back, a
gray-haired man came forward and picked up the bow; Then, wiping the dust
from the old violin, and tightening the loose strings, he played a melody
pure and sweet as caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer, with a voice that was quiet and low,
said; "What am I bid for the old violin?" And he held it up with the bow.
A thousand dollars, and who'll make it two? Two thousand! And who'll make
it three? Three thousand, once, three thousand, twice, and going and
gone," said he. The people cheered, but some of them cried, "We do not
quite understnad what changed its worth." Swift came the reply: "The touch
of a master's hand."

And many a man with life out of tune, and battered and scarred with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd, much like the old violin, A
"mess of pottage," a glass of wine; a game - and he travels on. "He is
going" once, and "going twice, He's going and almost gone." But the Master
comes, and the foolish crowd never can quite understand the worth of a soul
and the change that's wrought by the touch of the Master's hand.

Myra 'Brooks' Welch

Aspire To Learn!

Greatness is individual! Have you ever seen a copycat in anything achieve the level of exceptionalism as had the original? The old adage that the sequel is never as good as the original holds oh so true here.

While it's always a great idea to learn and gain experience from others, we have to develop a niche of our own. The secret here is expanding your mind by learning how to think and resolve issues. Perhaps you might turn to some wisdom of the past to guide those decisions, but the benchmark of greatness is forming and instituting a thought on your own. The key to that is bombarding yourself with as many sources of information as possible. When we learn to take a little from this pile of information, and wrap it with some tidbit from another source of information, then combine a little of our own input, then we arrive at a truly individual thought and plan of action. You can't be a victim of your own thinking if you bank on the wisdom of multiple sources who've walked down similar paths then add a little of yourself to achieve a better outcome. You can't have a clear vision of the future without a complete understanding of the past!

A learning organization or individual occurs when people are continually discovering how they can create their own reality! There is a drive born inside each and everyone of us. It's stronger than the urge to eat or the desire to have sex, it's the need to learn! It begins at birth and for those who succeed at achieving greatness doesn't subside until death. It never needs medication or the right setting to occur, we do it naturally everyday. Everything we do is a potential learning experience and the outcome depends on the individual's thought process. The only stumbling block is when as Grandma used to say, "you've become too smart for our own good," and we think we've learned it all. Perhaps you've met those individuals, academics or others who are not engaged in the learning process, detached intellectuals if you will. To me those people have acquired a learning disability and like any fruit on the vine, once you stop your growth process you begin to rot. It's the price that's paid for the arrogance of being a know it all.

So we have a decision to make here. Are we destined for greatness? Are we going to strive for individual thought and achievement? Are we going to fill that hunger to learn that dwells inside each and everyone of us? To be exceptional, by definition, we have to do something different, to be outstanding we have to standout. The norm is to feed our need to learn by sitting in front of a TV. Is that really where greatness is born?

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

Be All You Can Be!

Personal mastery is the core! If you get the personal mastery element right, everything else falls into place!

Here in lies the mantra of the new LIFE business. Everything rises and falls on the individual being the best individual they can be. We cannot collectively be anymore than the sum of ourselves, so when the individual improves the rising tide raises all the ships.

I'm sure you've noticed that the world is currently going through a transitional period. There are elements we grew up with on their way out, and a new era is painfully being born. As the old crumbles in decay, a new phoenix will rise from the ashes. It's like the shift from the agrarian age to the industrial age, jobs and careers are being slowly replaced with something else. The globalization of business has also created a wave of change, coupled with unknown side effects. The difference between the "haves" and the "have nots" will shift on these paradigms.

Governments are confused with the new set of challenges they face. Where we used to celebrate and insist upon diversity, they now look to compliance based cultures with diversity as a problem to be solved. In the confusion they want a "level playing field," because they don't know how to handle the chaos of innovation. They seek predictability and control where the excitement of the dawn of a new age creates a quandary in their minds. We are at a fork in the road.

The people or organizations that will survive are those who adapt, think differently, and react. The changes that lie ahead will demand personal change. We are fast approaching the moment when everyone will realize that learning organizations will come out on top. This is where those who dedicate themselves to personal mastery will reap the rewards. So that begs the question; how have you aligned yourself to win under these circumstances?

LIFE begins!

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

A Classless Society!

"Back in the day" when I was educated we had the option of two paths. Those who achieved the grades and had the gumption to attend "higher education" were encouraged to do so, and those who's fate seemed to lie in joining the work force early were pointed toward a technical school where they learned a marketable skill. Basically the were "trained" and not educated. This separated the blue collar worker from those who delayed gratification and went on to seek employment at a higher level. Pay was commensurate with your degree of education, or level of "training."

In effect this was creating an class type society where the elite learned out earned and enjoyed a better life style than the trained working class. Not unlike the model our ancestors braved the trip across the Atlantic ocean to avoid, and fought England over the right to separate from. The founding fathers original intent was to have a classless society void of aristocrats who have a tendency to amass all the power. Their vision was for the masses to be educated, having a broad understanding of history, philosophy, literature, math, etc, because they understood education is the key to maintaining a classless society and dis-establishing the aristocracy they fled. A great example would be the education of Abraham Lincoln. He was not born into wealth by any means and had no claim to elitism, yet he rose from a farm boy, to a lawyer, and finally the President of this great nation by rooting his education in the Bible, Shakespeare, and Euclid. Was this curriculum an intentional part of any of your education? How and why did we stray from that?

Throughout history the elite have been educated, while the masses who serve them are at best trained. A class style society where aristocracy rules, requires that only a few are broadly educated, while the masses are narrowly trained to perform for them and remain dependent on jobs. Standing idly by and accepting this willingly is to cede our freedom and subject ourselves to the rule of the aristocracy, the pompous elite! I'm sure your familiar with the description of the current President, a statesman who is deemed by his peers as an elite intellect.

Thankfully there is a solution. We still live in the freest and greatest nation on earth and for now are capable of educating ourselves. Fill in the gaps of the government run education system, if you will. No better system exists to assist you in this endeavor than the opportunity we call LIFE. We have a program to bring you up to speed by pointing you to information that will quickly and efficiently fill in the lapses our current education system suffers from. Training will be put to the side as our system inspires people to learn and grow in every area of their lives. What educator and author Oliver DeMille calls a Thomas Jefferson education! This nation will not fall back into the hands of an elite class, not on our watch!

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

You Freedom Needs To Be Maintained!

For us to maintain our freedom it's important to understand the aspects of it so we can protect it when it's under attack. We live in a Democratic Republic, not to be confused with a Democracy. While it is a fine line the difference is important. This Republic survives upon three extremely important principles; principles that our leadership have a tendency to try to circumvent. They are as follows...

1) A free government, where power is separated, checked and balanced effectively.

2) A free enterprise economy, where entrepreneurial ventures are encouraged and supported by law and non- governmental factors, and the government treats all citizens and legal entities equal.

3) Strong morals, families, and voluntary communities void of government intervention, which see charity and service as virtues and engage them adequately to meet the needs of the disadvantaged.

These factors are not only vital to our free society, they are the hinge point of a vibrant economy as they keep American Capitalism functioning without the interference that destroys it.

When Social Democrats or Progressives from either side of the isle control or influence the government, they pass legislation to erode the first two on the list and they insert governmental programs to oversee and force our charity on the third. This leads to massive and restrictive legislation that constricts the economy. Entrepreneurs and investment capital flee to more friendly venues, and the economy tanks. This my friends is the problem with today's economy.....Government intervention!

As I've mentioned before, we also bear a responsibility. We need to insure that charities and any aspect of life in America we do not want the government's hands in, are maintained freely by the population. Otherwise expect regulation that digs deep into your pocket and wastes tax dollars. The best form of government is seen and not heard.

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

Freedom Defined!

Our country evolved into a world super power not because of might or financial superiority alone. We became great because of the principle we were founded upon, freedom. Without freedom none of the rest was possible. It's important we understand what defines our freedom and that we take great lengths to protect it. Freedom is not a concept for the masses, it begins and ends with the individual. Decisions on what is good or bad for our liberty should rest solely upon how it affects each person individually. Here's an example of how your liberty is being manipulated away from you....

If you earn a dollar, you have exactly one dollar worth of choices available to you. You may spend or save 100 pennies, anyway you see fit. This is 100% freedom. If you earn a dollar and the government decides to tax you 25% you have seventy five cents worth of choices. Do you have less freedom with that scenario, or more freedom? The answer of course is less. Freedom is defined as having choices, less money equals less choice. The government has taken away some of your choices, ergo restricted your liberty.

Without exception every time someone in government decides to spend tax dollars for anything your liberty is restricted. Tax dollars come from you. When they are spent, you have less options, because the money in your pocket has been removed to pay for that spending. Does anyone reading this think that government, be it local or national, understands this concept? What percentage of the American population do you think believes that money that government spends doesn't come from them?

A large portion of the population thinks that government spending is manna from heaven. A gift from the government to them. When in fact they have traded liberty for whatever the government offered. To be an independent people we have to remember that requires being responsible for oneself. Every time you allow the government to handle something for you, you have ceded the right and the options that come with that right, to control the outcome. This is not liberty.

True freedom demands the individual become and remain self sustaining. The shortest path to that goal is to become financially independent. Secondly, it's important that the officials you cast your vote for on every level of government understand and practice the principle of protecting your freedom. This means limited government.

There are little things you can do to become a person who loves and protects their freedom. Give freely and willingly to church and charity so the government doesn't have to step in and forcibly redistribute their wealth through taxation. Pick up litter everywhere you go so the government doesn't have to hire people to do that. Little things like this reinforce our liberty by making government irrelevant and set on heck of an example for others to follow. Freedom begins and ends with the individual, and the responsibility to maintain it lies solely on the back of the individual.

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

A Christmas Message!

Today we celebrate a victory! Albeit a small one it is a step in the right direction. The effort to change the culture is taking hold despite the attempts by the media to indoctrinate dysfunction into mainstream society. Below find the musings of my teenage niece, of which I am oh so proud of at this moment; who struggles daily with the arrogant years and the negative input of peers and media. Most youth are mindlessly quoting lyrics to song, or mesmerized by the television's version of life in America where Dad is portrayed as a bumbling idiot, religion is to be hidden, and the what's left of the family unit is in total disarray; she found the true message in the spirit of Christmas. You'll not find this young lady engulfed in the debauchery displayed on the likes of the Maury Povich Show, or thinking that Jerry Springer represents real life drama. She is grounded in faith and understands that time spent idolizing the TV is a direct representation of your income stream. Here's her story.....


The Real Meaning of Christmas
by Cole Howard on Sunday, December 4, 2011 at 10:27pm
11/4/11

Yesterday morning I was opening the dry cleaning store. Before I open, I usually run next door and grab a coffee from Dunkin Donuts. Every Saturday there are people who stand outside the store an ring bells collecting money for the children's hospital. Yesterday, there was an elderly woman standing outside, who was collecting money. As I walked out of Dunkin Donuts past her, she asked "Would you like to make a donation to the children's hospital?" I answered back "Not today thank you" and walked away.

As I was walking back to my store, a little boy who had braces and crutches walked out of Dunkin Donuts. He had no coat on, and he was bald, and skinny. I figured he was a recovering cancer patient. He was with his mother, who looked tired and worn. The little boy walked over to the woman with the bucket and reached into his pocket, and pulled out a few coins. He dropped them into the bucket and said to the woman, "This is all I've got. I know it's not much, but i do know what it's like to be sick, and in the hospital on Christmas. So please give this to the people who need it most, and tell them that God loves you." The woman smiled and said "I will tell them, and thank you very much!" The little boy smiled back and said "By the way, please tell the kids at the hospital that Benjamin said Merry Christmas."

With the help of his now smiling mother, the boy hobbled back to their car, leaving me standing there on the sidewalk speechless. I knew right then and there that God had sent that little boy to remind me what Christmas is really about. I could not help but think about how small my heart must be. I normally can't stand people who are too selfish to help others, who can't go out of their way, yet there i was, one of them. I was so busy in my up and down world that I had seriously forgotten what Christmas time is about. I then looked down at my warm coat and Ugg boots, realizing how lucky I was that I had these things, that I spent every Christmas home, with my family, that I was in good health, wondering how it was that I could be so blind.

Growing up my Mother had always told me that angels don't only live in heaven, they walk among us every day. You don't have to have wings and a halo to be one of them. She told me that God sends these angels for several different purposes, to help others, to help keep watch over his creations, and to remind people like myself that it's not all about me. I had decided that Benjamin was an angel sent here to help others like myself. It was his job to make people like me realize what's truly important in life.

Before I went back into my store, I turned to the woman, reached into my bag, and put a five into her bucket. I looked at her, and she said "Thank you." I then told her that I had heard what that little boy said. She said to me " He's a very special boy." and I said "Yes he is." I then turned and walked away. How that little boy had a smiling face despite everything puzzles me, because as I walked away I felt a tear slip down mine.

Thank you Nicole!

God Bless!
Capt Bill

If.....

Classic literature remains so for good reason! Please enjoy this piece and the wisdom it reminds us of....

If

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!
-Rudyard Kipling

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

The Beginning Of Knowledge!

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; but fools despise wisdom and instruction. My son hear the instruction of your father, and forsake not the law of your mother."-Proverbs 1:7-8

Mankind has a history of getting all wrapped up in itself first. While it is a selfish attitude, something can be said for the instinct of survival. Yet this quote brings survival to light, because without the understanding that God is our Creator and putting our faith in His hands is essential to something more than just survival or existence, our instinct insists we busy ourselves maintaining self preservation. We need to make the time to acquire the knowledge that deepens and reaffirms our faith, then we'll move from simple survival mode to a life of significance. Also the proverb tells us as parents we must awaken that knowledge in our offspring, and they need to listen.

It's simply a success key, taken directly from the owner's manual of life, the Bible. A great example of why we include faith in the teaching and mentoring of the LIFE opportunity. Success leaves clues, and there is a defined pathway to a life of significance. Society does it's best to muddle up that path with distractions, entertainment, and non-truth. Wouldn't we all agree that everyone's life would improve if they sacrificed just a short period of time everyday setting aside the TV or Internet, for reading some instruction about the principles taught in the Bible? Just some understanding of a few of the Ten Commandments would be a vast improvement in today's society. A quick glace at today's headlines should be enough to verify that. The mere living of those two short sentences that begin this blog would make a significant difference, and they came from the Bible, a place to find wisdom and instruction.....

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

Misdirected Ire!

I honestly never thought I would ever write these words, but the occupy Wall Street protesters have a legitimate gripe. Though be it immaturely presented and misdirected, they do have something to absolutely be upset about.

First let me clarify, those who the protesters are presenting as the evil and that has ruined the country are hardly responsible for the dilemma they are faced with. The main problem our protesters face is after all their education, they do not feel comfortable with their prospects for finding employment. They are upset that after years of indoctrination in the school system, they cannot produce an income. Herein lies their problem. The system they went through is based on industrial age thinking; it was designed to "train" them to get a job. Had the system taught them how to think so they could create wealth, their problems would not exist. So using the scarcity mentality they were taught, their ire is directed on those who know how to create wealth, since in their minds there is a limited supply of money, and those people have gobbled it all up.

News flash...There is no limited supply of money in the United States of America. Just ask the Fed., they'll print all you need! You simply have to think your way outside of the, "I need to seek employment from others" box and learn the entrepreneurial spirit. If your mad at anyone it should be the Federal Government for insuring you were educated by a system that's time has past. We left the manufacturing age two decades ago! Why are we still teaching our youth to seek employment in an area where one in ten can't create a paycheck? The youth in this country are taught conveyor belt style to answer questions on a standardized test to seek a higher grade. What does that prepare them for? The unionized teaching force is inhabited by instructors that have "no skin in the game" when it comes to the results they produce.

Prior to the 1900's we were an agricultural nation. Most of our time was spent by families on a farm creating a food supply. The children were taught these skills because the teacher, (their parents), relied upon them in their retirement years to be productive so they didn't starve to death. You knew how to farm and create a living when you grew up under those conditions. We entered the industrial age in the early 1900's and the mind set changed. You were sent to school to learn a trade so you could "get a good job" and be "cared for" by the corporation through your retirement years. The government stepped in and enhanced this scenario by introducing Social Security to insure you didn't have to rely upon relatives in your golden years. Now the government is responsible for not only your retirement income but the training you get while your educated to "find a job." There is no one directly responsible for the outcome! Does anyone wonder why the results are what they are?

So, this same government that trained these protesters to get jobs that do not exist, points their fingers at the people in our nation that have broken out of this model and financially succeeded, as the reason the model they designed and operate failed. They took all the money! They have your share! They aren't creating jobs! They made their wealth on the backs of the poor and middle class! So the herd of useful idiots that are government indoctrinated turn their anger on the wealthy, because that's what they were told to think.
You see they were never taught how to think, or they could create wealth without being told how to do so. Our government should be very concerned because if these individuals are ever led to the truth, there is going to be a problem in Washington, not in the parks.

We are in the information age, the age of the entrepreneur! Wealth is created by those who can think for themselves and bring those ideas to market. Bill Gates, Michael Dell, Steve Jobs, these are the people who left the broken system and self educated themselves to success. Be mad Wall Street Occupiers, you've been taken advantage of, but not by the wealthy, by the government.

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

"How's That Working For You?"

"Educational laziness is the mother of poverty and sloth."-Douglas Wilson

Man that hit home! My results in life prior to making a decision to give myself a Thomas Jefferson education, were the direct result of my laziness when it came to learning. How much one grows when the decision is made to ingest valuable information both spiritually and financially. Why would one struggle through life learning lessons, ( or not grasping them at all) the hard way when the guidance of others who've already walked that path is available to all? It's an absurd and egotistical notion to assume you can do it better yourself, yet that's where I found myself prior to making a decision to change. How much better a place this world would be if everyone took the above quote to heart and lived it!

We are all basically brought into this world with the same beginnings. Naked, broke, extremely upset that our comfortable environment was changed, and not having any grasp on the language to communicate that frustration. Then someone swats us on the bum and we do the only thing we know how...scream! What separates us from each other is our ability and our drive to learn. How proud young parents are when little Johnny or Suzie is potty trained or walks at a young age? They have quickly learned the vital behaviors necessary to succeed, and this in turn makes their parents proud! It's truly a sign of more good things to come.

Then there are those who choose the distractions over the learning. They trade good for great and their results reflect it. They make excuses for wearing that warm wet diaper when they could have the freedom of being potty trained. That's where I found myself, all comfortable in a soiled environment when the liberty of having choices only required a little more effort. It simply took a decision to apply a little more effort and humbling myself into admitting there are important things you can learn from others. Others who have demonstrated the level of success I desired and were willing to share the information to get there. I simply had to honestly ask myself the old Dr. Phil question; "How's that working for you?"

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

Friends!

The Eight Principles of True Friendship
From the book Resolved-Orrin Woodward

!) True friends form around a shared insight, interest, or taste, enjoying the common bond uniting them.

2) True friends accept one another, loving each other despite our human imperfections.

3) True friends approve of one another, protecting each others' weaknesses, while enhancing each others' strengths.

4) True friends listen with empathy, learning the hopes, dreams, fears, and struggles for each other.

5) True friends appreciate one another, encouraging serving, and believing in one another's gifts and talents.

6) True friends celebrate one another's success, being proud of each other's accomplishments without a hint of envy.

7) True friends are trustworthy, maintaining all confidences shared with unimpeachable honor and self respect, knowing that gossip separates the best of friends.

8) True friends are loyal, respecting and defending one another's character, reputation, and motives, as far as truth allows, while addressing any issues or concerns between them promptly and privately, ensuring misunderstandings never fester.

I cannot add a word to that! Enjoy!

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

The Lesson Revealed!

Reflecting back I find it interesting that the teachers I dreaded in school were the ones that had the most impact on my life. It's an unusual concept, but those who challenged us the most or provided the greatest amount of adversity caused us to grow. I guess it's human nature to always take the "easy way out" but then without a struggle, there is no victory! While the nice teachers provided a comfortable environment and were loved by all, life demands we step outside our comfort zone in order to achieve anything deemed exceptional. Some how those detentions don't seem as harsh now, and writing things on the blackboard over and over actually served a purpose.

Blackboard:an archaic device used in your parent's youth to convey a message through the written word...It would be considered today akin to physically writing out texting. Always accompanied by a piece of chalk and an erasure.

So the lesson here is don't judge the method, it has a purpose. While it may not reveal itself so years down the road, it has a specific intent. Don't shy away from anything that makes you step outside your comfort zone, that struggle is designed to help you grow as a person. There is no victory without first a struggle. We can learn something from everyone we meet. Some are positive lessons, some expose the negative, but each is designed to learn from. And make an effort to thank those who challenged you, they are a part of who you've become!

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

Teach Your Children Well!

As I am graced with age, so to comes wisdom and understanding. These gifts are generally kept from the young as if a reward for time spent. To compensate it seems God gives the youth strength; and the duty of a young man is to use that strength to discipline themselves into obedience. Part of that discipline is also productivity; using God's gifts to the best of your ability to survive in the highest manner possible to glorify the Lord.

"He who has a slack hand becomes poor, but the hand of the diligent becomes rich. He who gathers in the summer is a wise son; he who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame."-Proverbs 10:4-5

I find it interesting those who slack rely upon excuses and blame to rationalize their lack of productivity. Some of those excuses and some of the blaming can seem pretty darn reasonable, but the results are still the same. Goals and responsibilities were not met. A sure cure is to allow the lazy and those who place blame at the feet of others to eat their own cooking. Wallow in the fruits of their lack of labor, if you will. Subsidizing bad behavior has a great deal to do with the results our country is experiencing today.

"The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat."-Proverbs 13:4

It's imperative we teach responsibility to our children. Orrin Woodward has always told me, "you can discipline yourself or allow others to do it for you." Wouldn't it be easier to send prepared, disciplined children out into this unforgiving world? Are their rooms clean? Are they given responsibilities and do they handle them in a timely manner? Are they fluent in the teachings of the Bible and understanding that God is where the glory all goes? If not they are leaving the house and entering a hostile environment unarmed. As Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young told us in song....Teach your children well!

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

Be Diverse!

"The year was 2081, and everybody was finally equal. They weren't only equal before God and the law. They were equal every which way. Nobody was smarter than anybody else. Nobody was better looking than anybody else. Nobody was stronger or quicker than everybody else. All this equality was due to the 211th, 212th,and the 213th Amendments to the Constitution, and to the unceasing vigilance of agents of the United States Handicapper General."-Kurt Vonnegut

A liberal's dream...What does this look like? No sporting events or any type of competition would exist, they would be pointless. The diversity the liberal sect embraces so vehemently is erased. The could be no innovation, no entrepreneurial spirit or adventures. I daresay to achieve this utopia would require the human race to be dumbed down, lowering the bar on all if you will. Here is the ultimate goal of all those who wish to "level the playing field." All those dear souls who seek open borders and one world government find Mr. Vonnegut's quote a description of a heavenly society. Yet in the next sentence they will profess the need to celebrate our diversity. I think it's fair to say they are confused about what their utopia actually looks like. It's a common malady, suffering from short term vision, as opposed to long term reality.

They'll gather in our parks and quote foolishness like this to each other in an attempt of promoting the facade they are "learned". Reality dictates ignorance as they look down their noses at we they find less astute in the ramblings of their liberal dream. These fantasies are enacted to compensate for the liberals lack of ability to compete on the field of ideas. If you can't play the game effectively, you change the rules in your favor! Everyone is equal, now those who are unable, can muster a feeling of self respect without any effort. Erase competition, the playing field is level and all is fair, but extremely boring and I daresay less intelligent.No effort is required, no feelings are hurt when failure strikes. No lessons are learned and no one seeks to improve. It's less than the effort of an amoeba.

Everyone dreams of better things, that's how they come to fruition. What the liberal sect fails to understand is your supposed to dream for better, not worse. Humanity seeks to improve itself, that requires competition and innovation not a society of suckled couch potatoes who all wear the same shoe size. God made us different for a reason, celebrate your independent thought and individual accomplishments. Don't try to dumb us down to less than a one celled carbon copy of one another. If another individual didn't show us there is something more to be had by their own outstanding achievement, what would we have to look forward to?

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

Don't Be The Turkey!

What better time to focus on attitude than the season of Thanksgiving? After all, giving thanks is simply a grateful thought process for events you've deemed as blessings in your life. It's a day when the negative is replaced with positive thoughts. I'm willing to bet if everyday was treated in the spirit of Thanksgiving everyone's life would improve. Imagine, if you will, a nation of truly grateful people, who assert the positive over the negative. People would have no reason to sit in a park and protest! I'm reminded of a passage from Orrin Woodward's outstanding new book, "Resolved."

"The person's thinking is more important than the actual event, since the event happens only once, but how he thinks about it happens over and over again in his heart and mind and is shared over and over again with himself and others"

Then Orrin lowers the boom....

"Ironically then, failure in life isn't from outside events, but the stories a person tells himself."

Is it not important to guard what we tell ourselves and put a frame of thanksgiving and a positive outlook on every event? Wouldn't it be best to look for the lesson in an event rather than marinate in the temporary outcome? I'm grateful for each and every event, good and bad, that helped me achieve where I am today, and where I am today is just a stepping stone to where I'll be tomorrow!

We can choose to spiral up or spiral down, and attitude determines that direction. The key word in that last statement is "choose," as any free individual endowed by our Creator we have options. Today we celebrate the option of thanks. Why not everyday? Happy Thanksgiving!

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

Reflect On What You Enjoy!

Tis the day before we all assemble and count our blessings. What a great time to reflect on exactly what we are going to be thankful for! Why limit yourself to just one day? I'm certain the good Lord loves to hear daily what we appreciate about our existence.

It's terribly easy to reflect on all the negative. How simple it is to fall into the victim mode and wallow in self pity. Just yesterday I was wondering how anyone might complain about our standard of living when we could have been born elsewhere, like Afghanistan or Zimbabwe. We live in the most prosperous land in the world and enjoy an abundance of opportunity. We have clean running water and sewage disposal unlike the favela, (shanty towns in Brazil), but somehow those conveniences escape our thanks. How much of your busy day would be consumed in toting water for daily use if that faucet and the accompanying drain wasn't an option?

We are taught to read and write, comprehend math, speak proper English, and understand history. Each and everyone of us are given this as a birth rite, but in other lands that's not a given. A select few squander this opportunity, and have the audacity to complain when their results don't match their dreams. I'm wondering how many children in Uganda would value what is taken for granted in this great nation?

We are lucky enough to live in a free society, where you can foster an idea and bring it to fruition and if the public deems it worthy, prosper from it. How lucky are we to not have been born into a nation where the tyranny stifles such innovation. We enjoy freedoms like no other nation. Are we thankful enough for the blessings bestowed upon us? There are citizens through out the world that'd jump at the opportunity we sometimes take for granted, and often don't guard closely enough. Tomorrow is the day to rectify that, it just doesn't seem like quite enough.

Let's start everyday counting our blessings. There can't possibly be a downside to being grateful! Reflect on what you enjoy, and why you enjoy it! Then here's the key.....Help others see where they are also blessed. Pay Thanksgiving forward, everyday!

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

Excuse-itice

The more time I spend in the living rooms of America, the more I understand the problem. We've become so adept at making excuses for a lack of results it's almost mind boggling. There are citizens in this country that accepts the status quo as if there isn't anyway they can do anything but sit back and accept what life sends their way. It's truly a test of my emotional maturity to sit back and listen to excuses, but then that's why Orrin Woodward made just this point the other day.

"When people in our business stop asking me questions about what is answered in our top five books, I know they are ready to move forward and become a top leader."

Here's another little ditty that drives me.

"It's what angers or disappoints a person about the world that leads to his purposeful assignment to change it."-Orrin Woodward

Watch out all you thumb suckers, I'm on a mission. I vow to get the thinking right in this nation if I have to address each and everyone of it's 330 million excuse makers one at a time! I promise I will resist the urge to slap some sense into you when you tell me you can't afford to pay attention, while your real attention is focused on the $150.00 a month, cable fed boob tube, filling your mind with crap. I will resist the urge to hold your head underwater until your blue after you tell me your finances are a wreck, yet both of the adults in the family unit drive around in overpriced lease cars to impress, who? I will apply the principles found in the top five books in our system, and help you overcome your excuses for mediocrity. I will resist the urge to pull out a violin and play while you relay the sob story you've allowed your life to become. Did I mention I'll practice the principles taught in the top five books? I will no longer accept excuses and will provide the answer! I pity the next fool who tires to hand me some lame excuse for their lack of success, I mean...Bless your heart, I have what you've been searching for!

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

We've Raised The Bar!

I've come to notice of late the incredible boost of my community on Facebook. Not so much the numbers but the level of what they post. It's gone from incidental stories about their cats or dogs to inspirational quotations that indicate to me a learning organization. There are spiritual inputs, government watchdogs, and motivational quips that frankly are not only appreciated, but pretty darn informing. There is one young man who is a freshman in high school and the son of a dear friend who puts out John Maxwell quality inspirational thoughts. Now that's outstanding! It's a serious sign we are changing the culture in this country and the message is spreading like the flu. Here's the great part...that young fellow hasn't even hear of the Team or the Life business. He's simply expressing himself and influencing his friends.

Don't get me wrong, there are still the miniscule minority that stand on the other side of the fence. I was sent a suggestion to watch a video from TED the other day, there's 8 min. of my life I'll never get back. It consisted of a self proclaimed "intellectual" who mocked the idea of creation, but that was all he had to offer. No facts, no reason, just poorly attempted humor aimed at the opposition with nothing but his ire at the non believers of evolution to use as evidence of his aloof position of "know it all." Sadly the individual who posted this dribble likely thought the stance made him appear educated. We do have work to do my friends. Presenting an opposing world view is paramount to changing the culture of this great nation. The secular has to become informed and deprogrammed. Atheist and philosopher Bertrand Russell put it so well...

Without God, man has no purpose.

It's like playing hockey without a net. No philosophy that rejects Him can hope to stand. You cannot arrive at life's purpose by starting the focus on yourself. You have to begin with God, your Creator. You exist by the will of God, for God, and until you understand that, life will never make sense. It is only through this realization we have purpose.

"There are two important days in your life: the day you were born, and the day you found out why you were born."-Carl Townsend

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

Saddle Up!

After having thus successively taking each member of the community in its powerful grasp and fashioned him at will, the supreme power then extends its arm over the whole community. It covers the surface of society with a network of small complicated rules, minute and uniform through which the most original minds and the most energetic characters cannot penetrate, to rise above the crowd. The will of man is not shattered, but softened, bent, and guided; men are seldom forced by it to act, but they are constantly restrained from acting. Such a power does not destroy, but it prevents existence; it does not tyrannize, but it compresses, enervates, extinguishes, and stupefied a people, till each nation is reduced to nothing better than a flock of timid and industrious animals, of which the government is the shepherd.-Democracy In America, Alexis De Tocqueville

This is the impression of a writer's fears for a democratic nation. Honestly, De Tocqueville is very insightful! Let's examine the first sentence.

" After having thus successively taking each member of the community in its powerful grasp and fashioned him at will, the supreme power then extends its arm over the whole community."

Isn't this a description of a government operated public school system?

Now the second sentence...

" It covers the surface of society with a network of small complicated rules, minute and uniform through which the most original minds and the most energetic characters cannot penetrate, to rise above the crowd."

It's not hard to see the path we are heading down. The above passage points directly toward all those pesky government regulations installed without oversight by the EPA, FCC, DER, and a host of others. Then the elitists in government enhance that stance by educating individuals to sit in our public parks and complain because some have risen above the crowd. There is income disparity and those who choose to stand above the herd are making the "thumb suckers" look bad. Those citizens must be punished! If De Tocqueville hadn't foreseen and warned us, I'd think we are in "bizarro world!"

I'm dedicated to preventing the last of this paragraph from occurring.

"The will of man is not shattered, but softened, bent, and guided; men are seldom forced by it to act, but they are constantly restrained from acting. Such a power does not destroy, but it prevents existence; it does not tyrannize, but it compresses, enervates, extinguishes, and stupefied a people, till each nation is reduced to nothing better than a flock of timid and industrious animals, of which the government is the shepherd."


Where do you stand in this battle? Are you complacent and apathetic, or are you a citizen of virtue, character, and the moral fiber required to stand against this assault on the American dream? The soul can be schooled, we can turn this attitude around. Exercising reason and will, outside of our comfort zone, can awaken the sleeping freedom loving occupiers of this great nation. As George Washington once said, "Happiness and moral duty are inseparably connected." We have a responsibility to our offspring and their offspring to turn this great nation around, back toward a path of prosperity. History has shown us the result of relying upon a government to "take care of it's citizens." History has also show us the path to freedom. That path lies in empowering the people financially, spiritually, and in the name of individualism. It's time to change the culture. It's time to change our world view. It's time to save our nation!

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

Be A Thinker!

I've found though observing leadership expert Orrin Woodward that the path to clear and uninhibited thought lies in the ability to apply the information not only from the individual books one learns from, but when the concepts of the teachings of several authors are combined.

Example: We recommend everyone read the top five books. Each one individually is an eye opening experience, but combined they provide you the information to change your life. The input, when assembled creates the ability to think at another level. Orrin has just recently advised me that he knows exactly when a member of the TEAM leadership community is ready to assume the highest level of leadership in our organization. That realization is when they stop asking him questions whose answers are provided in those top five books. For me that meant that I need to be capable of citing them chapter and verse.

This isn't the only example. I've found if you understand the concepts of mob mentality introduced to us by Gustave Le Bon in his writing, "The Crowd," and enhance that information with "Democracy in America," by Alexis De Tocqueville, you'll gain a unique understanding of how factions of this country are using class warfare, and the indoctrination of the masses to undermine our freedoms.

Combining information sources brings the picture into a clearer focus. Each article you read adds value to your ability to form the picture, but introducing a combination of input will bring you to a higher level. It creates a thought process the average individual avoids, and in itself brings you to a level of exceptionalism. It's like the difference between monolithic sound and theater quality surround sound, and the realization of it is an Aha moment! It's akin to owning the knowledge and the difference when you apply it.

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

Bah Humbug!

It was a little depressing that retailers have decided that Christmas season begins during Halloween. It's like the totally ignored Thanksgiving and went right into retail mode. Honestly it was giving me a bad attitude! Good news, there is a cure!

Last night at our monthly Knights of Columbus meeting, a Catholic men's organization dedicated to aiding orphans and widows, we were asked to pick out an orphan child ranging in age from infant to eighteen and respond to their Christmas gift requests. Some of the knights rummaged through the tags to find age and gender specific recipient, but being a random kind of guy I just snatched one without looking. The lucky young man I opted for is David M., a six year old. The children were asked to list their three top choices for Christmas presents guided by a counselor who was familiar with the child, and we were asked in turn to make just one of their wishes come true. Now you talk about living the 8 F's, if this doesn't fall under the fun bracket, you need your fun meter checked! Here is David M.'s wish list....

First choice; Leap Frog Educational Toys.

Second Choice: Elmo.

Third choice: puzzles/books.

I'm kind of feeling like the Genie just released from the bottle. I'm so moved by this young man's requests, and the thought of the struggles he faces daily as an orphan, he's going to get all three of his wishes granted. I'm so excited about Christmas now I couldn't sleep last night, I kept waking up wondering how I could do more. This is what the spirit of Christmas is all about, and this is how we can make a difference. I've already written out the card for his gifts....

Dear David M.
Wishes do come true! Never stop dreaming! Merry Christmas and God Bless.
Love
Santa

Won't you join me in making a difference? Find that cause that brings a tear to your eye this Christmas season. I promise you it'll be worth it!

God Bless!
Capt.Bill

Read The Instructions!

A few months back while attending a meeting of The Knights of Columbus we were invited by a right to life group to financially sponsor and attend a talk by Sister Kelly Prejean author of Dead Man Walking. It was designed to financially support her ministry to oppose the death penalty. Now let me first preface this by saying I'm all about stopping abortion and on the side of everyone's right to life, but I was having a problem with convicted murderers spending life in prison. So despite the inference that this was the Christian attitude to have, I opted not to participate. By Divine Providence the talk was canceled because Sister Prejean had a death in her family. That still didn't solve my dilemma, was I an eye for an eye kind of fellow, or a Christian who saved judgement day for the Creator?

I was enthralled by a sermon months back by a pastor who passed on the message to beware of those who don't preach the Bible from the pulpit but their perversion of it. I imagine that all through time there has been some well meaning false profits, and those with hidden agendas. In today's world there are many, many who spew a self serving agenda under the guise of being people of faith, and people fall for that. I choose not to be one of them. The answers to our questions are always somewhere in the Bible, so it just takes some research to understand what you believe, and why you believe it. This morning I found my answer to that nagging question above.

"If anyone kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the evidence of witnesses; but no one shall be put to death on the testimony of one witness. Moreover you shall accept no ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death; but he shall be put to death." Numbers 35:30-31

This is what the Lord said to Moses, not what someone passionately said to a crowd. The answers to all of life's questions lie between the covers of the Good Book. It's our owners manual, when all else fails, read the instructions!

God Bless
Capt. Bill

Special Privilege?

Today will be a first. You going to see in print something I never thought I'd ever say. I will stand in public and say, "it's time to level the playing field." While the word of a liberal just flowed from my finger tips, be confident they didn't carry the same meaning. I'm referring to the ability of those representative in Congress who use inside information to make stock trades to line their pockets with cash. The same insider information that if used by John Q Public would land them in jail. That "special privilege" has got to stop.

Here's another first! Congratulations 60 Minutes for an outstanding job of non-bias investigative reporting. I really thought that skill was lost on partisan politics. Call me stunned!

I've always wondered what drove individuals to remain in the legislature well past the age of retirement. I mean, what drives someone to forfeit quality time with family after working so hard all those years? Silly me imagined it was devotion to service and love of country; but still in this economy that is so in need of jobs, why hold a spot that could be occupied by one who needs employment? It wasn't patriotism, it was financial greed and the need for power. We've allowed those in power to create an aristocracy! We are ruled by the elite, not governed by citizens!

Some will claim that those boons of wealth are simply coincidence. Really? Defend Environment and Public Works Chairwoman Sen. Barbara Boxer (D., Calif.) and her husband's only stock transaction in a year's time when they magically decided to invest one million dollars in a "green" company that shortly thereafter received billions of dollars of federal loan money from the Department of Energy. Please note she heads the "Environment" and Public works committee. This type of insider trade isn't limited to just liberal democrats, although that is a grievous example of abuse, our whole Congress is infected with this disease and they passed the legislation to keep it legal for them and not for the public. If one of us, the citizens, had acted on information like this we'd be in jail. Ask Martha Stewart!

It's time for legislators and their aides to be subject to the same rules and benefits every American citizen abides by. Who are they to enjoy special privilege? This won't change till we demand action. We have to change the culture in America and in Washington. God knows we have our work cut out for us!

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

Make Them Wonder What Your Up To!

"If you're not using your smile, you're like a man with a million dollars in his bank account and no check book. A smile is a million dollar asset in your human relations inventory.- Les Giblin

So how many of us are going to cash that check today? Will you disarm a bad day and apply your signature finishing move to a negative result? Smile there cupcake, it's free and it works! Nothing says you can't hurt me today like a beaming smile. God gave you that defense for a reason...use it! take the place and attitude that rightfully belongs to you and the world will acquiesce. People judge you by the value you put on your self and the attitude you present to them. Why would anyone devalue themselves and not smile? Everyone you meet is literally waiting for you to tell them how to treat you by the aura you present. Throw a little of that magic sunshine their way and flash those pearly whites! The only thing more disarming is a hug and a kiss, but all of society isn't quite ready for that display of affection yet.

I've found the easiest way to add a smile to my face is to count my blessings. If you focus on the positive all the rest falls right into place. A positive outlook demands positive results. It simply brings out the best in all of us. And isn't that the way to put your best foot forward? Your smile is infectious, and raises the value of others. Don't they feel more in tune with you if you approach them with a smile? It exudes friendly when you turn up the corners of your mouth and offer others a smile, and is the ultimate defense against having a bad day!

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

Is A Cardboard Sign The Cure?

Because we have allowed our society to be duped into believing the "right" thing to do is to become a secular nation, we have suffered. Tolerance of different religions doesn't mean no religion. It simply implies a free man has the right to praise his Creator without interference of the state. It's the driving factor America was founded upon and of late has been perverted into a tolerance of no religion. It's true God has allowed us the free will to sin and not honor Him, but it's also true that consequences are forthcoming if we choose that path. For instance...

Our youth are camping in the street as we speak to complain about those who've acquired wealth in this nation. Since we as parents have adopted the secular notion and not taught the wisdom inscribed in the Bible, I'll bet you they aren't aware of this little ditty.

"The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat."-Proverbs 13:4

Then there is the parable of the talents, where we are told of the owner who gave each of three servants talents according to there ability. Two of the three used their new found wealth and doubled their master's investment. The third and final servant choose to hide his talents and return his master the original investment, angering him for his idleness.

Are we and our families honoring God by investing the "talents" he gave us, or are we like those camped out complaining about how unfair life is? I've found God honors commitment, the harder I work, the luckier I get!
through this success, and only through this success have I found a vehicle to help others. Making a difference doesn't involve complaining, it requires action! You can whine about situations all you like, but that's never ever solved anyone's problems. Someone actually has to get up out of their tent and do something productive. There is nothing so clever you can put on a sign and point at traffic that'll solve today's ills. Remember..."a sluggard desireth, and hath nothing.".....

God Bless!
Capt. Bill