Becoming A Leader!

In the sphere of life, we as participants are always becoming! Everything is always changing in one form or another. Where there is no growth, there is decay. As ancient Greek philosopher  Heraclitus once noted....


"You can't step into the same river twice."

This is why I stated at the beginning, we are always becoming. Your not the same person now that you were when you began to read this article. So the question today is. What are you becoming?

We all have potential that is limited by only our imaginations. But that potential left on it's own has no actual value. We have to get ourselves into motion. Motion has cause. Cause has an effect. If we are to have an effect, hopefully a positive one, we must first get into motion. And as we all know, a body in motion tends to stay in motion, whereas a body at rest tends to stay at rest. Which begs yet another question. Are you growing, or decaying?

Personal development is about becoming. Becoming one that's not in decay. Remember the tomato, once it stops growing and achieves ripeness, the next process is decay. So to avoid the decay process we must press forward, be in motion, fertilize the growth process.

We have enough decay in today's society. Let's be the agent of change! Let our actions and yearning for personal growth be the example to lead society out of the state of decay it realizes. It's a call to leadership!

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

Twice As Good!

Condoleezza Rice is absolutely one exceptional individual. After reading her book "Twice as Good," and learning about the struggles she has overcome and the drive she has to succeed, I have nothing but absolute admiration for this exceptional woman. She reaffirmed my respect last night during her speech at the Republican National Convention. I couldn't get to a pad quick enough to capture her exact words but what I heard went something like this.


"Self esteem is the result of achievement, not lavish praise and awards heaped upon someone for simply showing up."

This is a country that celebrates and rewards exceptionalism. We understand that second place is not acceptable, and in reality is the first loser. This is the attitude that lifted our nation above the rest, and drove us to become the most powerful country on the planet.

There are those who challenge this mantra. They look to celebrate attendance. "Here is participation trophy," is how they smother the drive to achieve. Instead of encouraging success, they remove the hunger to improve by checking one's progress and improveing the results. Quite frankly this is a form of Socialism; redistributing the admiration of a job well done. We have to keep score, we have to have winners and losers, we have to want to get better.

When your number one there is always another trying to knock you off. Could anyone even fathom that those forces might come from within? Try as they might, they'll never tamp down the will to win.

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

Political Fodder!

The political season is in full swing with the opening of the Republican National Convention. We've been entertained with robust and rousing speeches proclaiming the benefits of being aligned with your party of choice, soon to be duplicated by the opposition. And then we've been subject to the critics. No word is spoken in politics without an answer from someone in dissent. Yesterday we had governor after governor paraded in front of the nation who had turned the tide on the fiscal demise that was bequeathed to them by previous administrations. Sound fiscal policies had brought back their states from the brink of bankruptcy and even added surpluses to their budgets, and still they had critics. Isn't it interesting what politics will do to a perfectly rational human being?


Look at women for instance. Most women I know are loving, nurturing individuals who teach respect to others through their actions. They guard their family with more fervor than the government guards Fort Knox, yet when abortion becomes a political issue, some of those same loving individuals show the opposite behavior. All of a sudden those giving, loving, nurturing souls become self centered and aggressively lobby to end life in the womb. Is this really the stance of a mother?

We listen to politicians rage war on poverty, yet the war is being lost. Could it be those very same politicians need people to remain in poverty to sustain the cause they cling to? Who would they pander to should everyone be lifted out of poverty? They seek education as a means to end poverty, yet our children are becoming less educated as time marches on. We have programs for exceptional students, that yield no exceptional adults. Is this by design, or simply the result of an insensitive government machine intruding where they have no business?

You see politicians have a master, and it's not us. This is why we should never allow the government to do for us what we can do for ourselves. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and suggest they mean well, but the results of a well meaning individual are not always in your best interest. Vote for limited government. Take personal responsibility for your own life and don't allow politicians to dole out largess. Stay focused!

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

The Community of Starfish!

While a starfish and a spider look similar, there is a huge difference between them. If you remove the head of the spider, the spider is done. And if you extract a leg from the spider it may live, but it will have a handicap. Remove 2 or 3 of that spider's legs, and it's not likely to survive.


Cut a starfish in half and you have two starfish. Cut that starfish into ten pieces and you have ten starfish. This my friends is how we grow leaders and expand communities. We become like the starfish! We develop leadership that can stand and grow on it's own, unlike the community led by the spider like individual. The spider run community dissipates if the leader is removed. The starfish style of recreating leadership abounds and survives, because each appendage can stand on it's own! This is why it's important to inspire personal growth and the development of leadership skills.

Be the starfish!

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

Time To Make A Stand!

Yesterday I bloviated about the decline in society that has led us to accept less than the truth. The ninth Commandment explains this in no uncertain terms.


"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor."

But then when you move toward becoming a secular society any semblance of morality is abandoned. Now it is perfectly acceptable to abandon the truth applying the rational that it's just spin. AJ Nock said it best.

"Truth tampered with is truth lost."

There is no gray area when it comes to the truth. A lie is a lie, is a lie, period. And it's a sign of disrespect for one to try to feed you untruth. They assume your not intelligent enough to discern the difference between fact and fiction. Those individuals are attempting to prey upon you. This is exactly why society shunned liars back when truth mattered. It's also understood that if you associate with such individuals, your of the same cloth.

It's our responsibility to demand truth. How would you treat one who came to your face and declared you to ignorant to understand what they were saying? This is the statement a liar makes when they feed you their fantasy. Your not smart enough to see through my ruse! How arrogant and self serving could another be?

Honestly it's your choice, but I for one am done with liars. I intend to call for the truth from this day forward, and will correct anything I see that strays from that mandate. One man can make a difference, several can change society. Join me in demanding a just and moral society, accept no lie!

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

I Hope This Changes!

There was a time in our society when a liar was shunned. If you had a problem with the truth, people avoided you, and rightfully so. No one appreciates being misled. It shows a lack of character and for me personally, I have no trust in that individual. Your also perceived to be guilty by association if your found in the company of one who is a stranger to the truth.


This doesn't appear to be the case today. Somehow we've morphed from intolerant of being lied to, to accepting this as normal behavior. How did this happen? Perhaps it began when as a society we tolerated the telling of little white lies. We justified this previously unacceptable behavior as being in one's best interest.What they don't know won't hurt them comes to mind, or maybe we didn't feel they could handle the truth. Those little white lies have grown, now public officials stand adamant before us defending the statement they had just said with, "I never said that," or "that's taken out of context." And if they are really accomplished liars we make them the head of the democrat party or the President of the United States.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8-fM1thotY

We used to have a truth in advertising rule. Information supplied to the public was scrutinized for truth and if it wasn't we demanded it be removed. We used to shun liars, now they are moved to positions of political power, and when they are called out and exposed, they lie even more. How has society eroded to this? How do proud people who are free accept being misled and misinformed? We need to demand the truth. We need to help people who are strangers to the truth to see the error of their ways, not accept it as normal behavior. We need to make changes in our society, and those changes start from within. Remember what we are willing to tolerate, we better learn to accept.

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

Purpose!

"Let us endeavor to live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry!"-Mark Twain


Everyone matters, everyone makes a difference! We are all part of God's creation and designed with a purpose. The greatest day in anyone's life is when they understand exactly what that purpose is! Only then can we embark on our journey to fulfill that calling. The time leading up to that point is merely training camp for the grand performance.

All of want to live a life of significance. It's human nature to yearn for validation for a job well done. Even the humble wish for recognition that their purpose was fulfilled. That expression of appreciation is the fuel that moves the cause forward in a committed manner. I often think of Mother Theresa, one of the most humble individuals that ever lived, yet she was driven by the validation of her Savior seeking those sweet words, "Well done my good and faithful servant."

Seek your purpose! Never allow those who don't understand we are all here by design to deter you from achieving that pinnacle. Help them see they too have a purpose. Nothing turns the head of a non-believer like when they understand they were created for a reason, and the alternative theory makes them insignificant.

Everyone matters!

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

Time To Inform!

The more I engage people about the state of our country the more apparent it becomes that the problem is most don't understand the principles this nation was founded upon. Because those assigned powers that separate the authority of the governments have been abused, the system is broken. Our citizens have come to accept things the way they are, only because they don't understand the way it was meant to be.


I just left a fellow complaining that the federal government hadn't "invested" any money in math and science for years. Imagine his shock after I explained to him there is a compelling reason that's a good thing; it's not the job of the federal government to fund education, that's the responsibility of the state and local government! It took no time at all to convince him that problems are best solved at the lowest level possible and Washington couldn't possibly understand and solve the needs of the diversely different school districts. The challenges the city of Miami faces in education are not the same as Flippin, Arkansas school district needs. You cannot paint their picture with the broad brush of federal oversight and funding, that's why there needs to be local school boards, funded by local property taxes, with a hint of state oversight to ensure the community's needs are being met. We can abolish the Dept. of Education at the federal level which sucks seventy cents out of every dollar to fund it's self and deprives that money from the student's needs.

This is just one example of how our ignorance and complacency has allowed Washington to grow into this out of control ogre, that consumes our tax dollars, like a hay baler sucks in grass in August. Politicians have abused the Twenty Enumerated Powers of the Federal Government and wandered outside the scope of their responsibility, diminishing the effectiveness of the system of checks and balances installed by the framers. All by our consent, all because we didn't know, or didn't take the time to care. Since we are about to exceed 16 trillion dollars in debt do you think it's time to understand now? I can't stand by and watch as my children and grandchildren's future freedom is leveraged for the largess of buying votes. The least we can do is inform everyone of their shortcomings of their knowledge of government so they can join in the protest.

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

Coincidence? I Think Not!

Often times in life we encounter an individual who points their finger at another and decries improper behavior. It has been my experience that the accuser usually is aiming everyone's attention at someone else to camouflage their own misdeeds. Find below a reprint of an article about Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid as found in The National Review authored by Betsy Woodruff, indicating just such behavior. You might be familiar with how recently, Harry Reid was accusing Mitt Romney of hiding his wealth and evading taxes. I find the circumstances surrounding Reid's accumulation of the wealth that coincides with his rise to power an interesting read. I'm certain you'll draw your own conclusions!


God Bless!
Capt. Bill



How Did Harry Reid Get Rich?
By Betsy Woodruff

Try this thought experiment. Imagine that someone grows up in poverty, works his way through law school by holding the night shift as a Capitol Hill policeman, and spends all but two years of his career as a public servant. Now imagine that this person’s current salary — and he’s at the top of his game — is $193,400. You probably wouldn’t expect him to have millions in stocks, bonds, and real estate.

But, surprise, he does, if he’s our Senate majority leader, whose net worth is between 3 and 10 million dollars, according to OpenSecrets.org. When Harry Reid entered the Nevada legislature in 1982, his net worth was listed as between $1 million and $1.5 million “or more,” according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. So, since inquiring minds inquire, let’s try to figure out how Reid’s career in public service ended up being so lucrative. He hasn’t released his tax returns, which makes this an imperfect science, but looking at a few of his investments helps to show how he amassed his wealth.

In 2004, the senator made $700,000 off a land deal that was, to say the least, unorthodox. It started in 1998 when he bought a parcel of land with attorney Jay Brown, a close friend whose name has surfaced multiple times in organized-crime investigations and whom one retired FBI agent described as “always a person of interest.” Three years after the purchase, Reid transferred his portion of the property to Patrick Lane LLC, a holding company Brown controlled. But Reid kept putting the property on his financial disclosures, and when the company sold it in 2004, he profited from the deal — a deal on land that he didn’t technically own and that had nearly tripled in value in six years.

When his 2010 challenger Sharron Angle asked him in a debate how he had become so wealthy, he said, “I did a very good job investing.” Did he ever. On December 20, 2005, he invested $50,000 to $100,000 in the Dow Jones U.S. Energy Sector Fund (IYE), which closed that day at $29.15. The companies whose shares it held included ExxonMobil, ChevronTexaco, and ConocoPhillips. When he made a partial sale of his shares on August 19, 2008, during congressional recess, IYE closed at $41.82. Just a month later, on September 17, Reid was working to bring to the floor a bill that the Joint Committee on Taxation said would cost oil companies — including those in the fund — billions of dollars in taxes and regulatory fees. The bill passed a few days later, and by October 10, IYE’s shares had fallen by 42 percent, to $24.41, for a host of reasons. Savvy investing indeed.

Here’s another example: The Los Angeles Times reported in November 2006 that when Reid became Senate majority leader he committed to making earmark reform a priority, saying he’d work to keep congressmen from using federal dollars for pet projects in their districts. It was a good idea but an odd one for the senator to espouse. He had managed to get $18 million set aside to build a bridge across the Colorado River between Laughlin, Nev., and Bullhead City, Ariz., a project that wasn’t a priority for either state’s transportation agency. His ownership of 160 acres of land nearby that stood to appreciate considerably from the project had nothing to do with the decision, according to one of his aides. The property’s value has varied since then. On his financial-disclosure forms from 2006, it was valued at $250,000 to $500,000. Open Secrets now lists it as his most valuable asset, worth $1 million to $5 million as of 2010.

How Reid acquired that land is interesting, too. He put $10,000 into a pension fund his friend Clair Haycock controlled, to take over the 160-acre parcel at a price far below its assessed value. Six months later, Reid introduced legislation that would help Haycock’s industry, a move many observers said appeared to be a quid pro quo, though Reid and Haycock denied that the legislation was the result of a property deal.

We don’t know how much more money Reid has or how he made all of it. For that, we’d have to see his tax returns.

Oh, How We've Strayed!

One of the must read books for every American is Alexis De Tocqueville's "Democracy In America." It's a perspective about our fledgling nation through the eyes of a foreigner. As students we've been subjected to second, third, fourth, and even fifth hand information about our founding and the culture that existed. This is an on scene report of exactly what the culture was from an independent source outside the fray. Here are some of De Tocqueville's observations about the office of the President.


"There is no country in which everything can be provided for by laws, or in which political institutions can prove a substitute for common sense and public morality!"

"Executive power in the United States as limited and exceptional as the sovereignty it represents."

"The President is also the executor of the laws; but he does not really co-operate in making them, since the refusal of his consent does not prevent their passage. He is not therefore, a part of sovereign power, but only it's agent."

"The President of the United States has no share in the formation of the legislative body and cannot dissolve it."

" The President is placed beside the legislature like an inferior and dependent power."

"In the exercise of the executive power the President of the United States is constantly subject to a jealous supervision. He may prepare, but he cannot conclude, a treaty; he may nominate but not appoint a public officer."

"The President of the United States has not the exclusive right of making any public appointments."

"In America the President cannot prevent any law from being passed, nor can he evade the obligation of enforcing it."

How many of these observations can you find we've wandered from? The perversion of the original intent through the last 236 years has led us astray from the principles our nation was founded upon. It's invaluable to understand the perspective of an outside observer who took the time to tour this nation in it's beginning and report back to the rest of the world about our experiment in freedom. I can't help but wonder how he'd report his findings today.....

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

A Leadership Tidbit!

Yesterday the news was a buzz with the insensitive remarks of one Todd Akin, the republican nominee from the great state of Missouri. There is no doubt in my mind that his individual has absolutely no business in a position of leadership, but then neither dose his opponent, Claire Mc Caskill. Neither one of them understands leadership or the principles this country was founded upon.   

 

 

I think this picture says it all. Leadership requires you understand people and people skills. While I understand as humans we all make mistakes, we can whittle those inappropriate comments down to non-existent if we think about others first.

This blip in his career could have been avoided had he invested time in honing his leadership skills. This indiscretion reeks of someone who brought positional management into the realm of leadership. To manage is to control, to lead is to inspire. Voters don't wish to be controlled, that's right out of Communist Manifesto. as a leader your elected to serve, serve others, that's what leaders do.

This is the frustration America faces. Voters have to choose the lesser of two evils when opting for their representation. This screams of the problems with our country, we are void of leaders in positions of authority. We have much work to do. My prayer is Mr. Akin invest his time in leadership development and expands his people skills.

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

Dollars And Sense!

I'm not a big TV guy but I did happen to catch some of the "Sunday circuit" yesterday where the political parties send their surrogates out to explain or defend their policies and the actions of the week. It struck me as odd that those from the democrat camp spend the majority of their air time on defense. Which brought the question to mind, how effective are you at governing if your constantly making excuses? Even a novice at political strategy would see something is amiss.


The straight forward truth is, the people of this country are dissatisfied with the economy, and the debt created by government. Very few in Washington know how to address this mounting ire because we've slipped so far from the original model, the path we're on cannot lead to financial prosperity without course correction back to the days of yore when we followed the original principles this nation was grounded upon.

The problem is the money supply. Our current financial model is designed to benefit the uber wealthy. The rest of us are shackled, (note the terminology Joe Biden) by fiat money. Printed money that has no backing with anything of value. Those forced to use this currency are strapped with a fluctuating buying power because the worthless pieces of paper we trade with have nothing of intrinsic value to stabilize their worth! The uber wealthy trade their notes for gold, silver, land, jewels, or anything that has a stable value, so as the value of the dollar dips, the value of what they've invested in returns more paper. Fiat money hurts everyone but those who can invest in solid value entities that remain stable despite market fluctuations.

If our currency was backed by a gold reserve, the buying power of the dollar would remain predictable as long as the government didn't flood the market with printed money.

This has other effects on society as well. The crime spree they call Chicago, all economically driven. Continuous periods of inflation are often accompanied by obvious declines or morality and civility. If your broke, your not happy! You seek some sort of gratification and that'll generally lead people astray from a moral code. Visit an inner city for validation of this observation. Do you ever see strip clubs or other forms of debauchery in the exclusive neighborhoods? The need for decadence and immediate gratification is brought on by the frustration of poverty. While it's short term, it has the distracting power to make being financially frustrated tolerable for a brief moment. The aristocrats don't feel the need to prey on each other like that, so their neighborhoods aren't subject to that type of crime.

Fix the money supply, fix the nation!

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

The Principles Of Coaching!

Yesterday was one of those days in a father's life when everything you've gone through preparing your children for real life came to fruition. I was asked by my youngest to sit down and advise him on his choices for insurance, retirement, and budget decisions for his impending first paycheck from his initial employment out of college. We weighed the options and he made wise decisions, got a budget in place and then the conversation turned to his challenges while trying to instill a winning culture into a football program that has gotten used to losing. What a great segway into a life teaching moment!


People resist change! They bang their heads against the wall trying to poke through, when a simple course correction will aim them right at an open door to pass through. The challenge my son faces in coaching football players is not unlike the challenges a life coach faces when mentoring. Repetition and reminder of the principles of success is all a coach can do. The individual has to want to change before one who has the fruit on the tree can show them the path to success. Instilling a clear vision of what success looks like helps the student remember what the sacrifice is all about.

So step one. Paint a clear picture of the prize. Insist on inspiring the elephant side of your student's brain to activate and drive their actions. This has to be a vivid interpretation of the stated goal complete with the accolades of success. Remind them often to keep the elephant in a fully focused mode, denying the ant access to the thought process. (For more information see The Ant And The Elephant by Vince Poscente).

Step two, repeat, repeat, repeat. Individuals have a way of becoming comfortable with the status quo. Even when the status quo is losing, it's become comfortable and familiar. They know what to expect and resist change. Instill course correction by reminder. Remember people respond better to reminders than to being told. Reinforce proper behavior with praise and remind them of the goal. Repeat, repeat, repeat!

Step three, know your limitations. Not everyone will accept change. It doesn't mean you stop trying, it simply means you focus the bulk of your energy toward those who accept the mentoring. Don't become overwhelmed with frustration at those who refuse your tutoring, they aren't ready. A person's opinion changed against their will, is of that same opinion still and will revert back to the old habits as soon as your out of sight. This isn't your shortcoming, it's theirs.

Step four. Accept failure and setbacks as teaching moments. There will be failure. They will grow from learning from those mistakes if the student is open to growth. Find the hungry student who is humble enough to set aside their pride to be honed into a shining star. They all aren't shining stars! Some are simply average, some chose to remain below average, and some strive to become above average. We couldn't have exceptional if no one was average or less. Find your diamond in the rough and polish that rock!

When the student is hungry the teacher will appear!

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

Solid Leadership Doesn't Chase People On Social Media

Apparently the MLM "Zeek Awards" is having overwhelming problems, and has had to "close it's doors." I'm not really familiar with the whole situation but I am disappointed with the behavior of some individuals in competing businesses. While I'm sure they view this as an opportunity to extend a hand to people in need, while at the same time expanding their down line, it speaks volumes to the lack of leadership and community building skills.


First of all the people who are suffering while their livelihood is in question are in turmoil right now. Questions are flying up and down the line of sponsorship while each of them are searching for the meaning of the events that just happened. They are wondering, do we have a business model, are we out of business, can this be salvaged, why did this happen? There are certainly more questions than answers right now. The last thing these entrepreneurs need is a flock of vultures circling looking to pick their bones clean.

If the leaders of the "Zeek Awards" model are truly leaders the hierarchy will begin to inform and supply answers to those questions. Should they decide it's time to move on, they will interview opportunities to find the right fit for those they lead. They will not flock to some desperate individual promoting their opportunity on Facebook. They will seek solid leadership first, grounded in a foundation of principle and reinforced with a proven business model. Solid leadership doesn't chase people on social media.

These people need to heal. They just had the rug pulled out from under them. Leadership and people skills are demanded at this point in time, not the offer of joining a compensation plan. When these offers are made, they reveal the true nature of your business. Your out to "get people". There is no concern offered for the individual, just the expansion of your down line. Building compensated communities of people require that you put the people first, the compensation will follow. How does one expect to build a solid business based on people, when their emotional needs are ignored from the get go?

Real leaders don't need to advertise in social media, newspapers, or with signs on the side of the road. That's a sign of desperation and frankly a lack of concern for the people you work with. It screams, "we don't care about the people we chose to represent our product." That, my friends, is less than attractive.

Zeek people, seek leadership and personal development if there is a need for another opportunity in your life. Now is a time for healing and concern for your down line, that's how leaders confront adversity! When the student is ready, the teacher will appear. Avoid the desperate carnival style barking trying to lure you into their game of chance. Put the people first!

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

Treat Them As Sacred!

I was mulling over the principles outlined in the Bible used to live a blessed life. After all, given a choice, wouldn't we all rather be blessed than not blessed? So since I have a choice in how I behave and what the consequences of that behavior brings, I thought a review was in order! As I perused those Ten Commandments one word came to mind, sacred! If any one word describes all ten of those principles, sacred fits the bill. Let me explain.


10. “You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's.”

What another has earned is sacred. Envy of another is not.

9 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor."

The truth is sacred. Also your relationships within the community are sacred as well.

8 “You shall not steal."

Ownership of private property is sacred.

7 “You shall not commit adultery."

Marriage is sacred.

6 “You shall not murder."

Life is sacred.

5 “Honor your father and your mother"

Parenting is sacred.

4 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy."

Your relationship with God is sacred.

3 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain."

The Lord's name is sacred.

2 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them."

To honor but one true God, your Creator is sacred.

1.“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.

To serve but one Master, the one who gave you life and fills your cup is sacred.

These Ten Commandments define morality, and morality defines our essence. A man of God is humble, teachable, and knows what is truly sacred!

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

Freedom Of Choice!

I was privy to a little tidbit of information the other evening that just might put a new perspective on your daily routine. I always start my day with a little reading of the Bible and a prayer. It just seems to put everything into focus. This great input explains why...


" Start your day with the Lord so you can see the world through His eyes, not see the Lord through the world's eyes!"

What a novel concept! I've often pondered why everything has a different perspective when I begin the day with some quality time invested with the Bible and prayer, now it all makes sense! The day begins with inspiration, not conceptual bankruptcy. Why wouldn't everyone want to enter each and every new day we are blessed with standing on the top of the heap as opposed to trying to shovel out from underneath it?

Again it's all a matter of choice! As free men and women our Creator has given us options. Our current situation is the scoreboard of the sum of our decisions. From day one God has given us the ability to choose. He left Adam and Eve the freedom to choose between an eternity in paradise or a taste of the forbidden fruit. Despite their sin, He still leaves us the freedom to choose. We define our environment by the choices we make. Weigh each decision with gravity of it's consequences. So many times we live for the moment not fully grasping the consequences of the freedom we've been gifted! Making sound, well thought out decisions lead to spiritual, emotional, and financial prosperity.

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

Ode To The Entrepreneurs!

A tribute to entrepreneurs everywhere!

UNDER a spreading chestnut-tree

The village smithy stands;

The smith, a mighty man is he,

With large and sinewy hands;

And the muscles of his brawny arms

Are strong as iron bands.

His hair is crisp, and black, and long,

His face is like the tan;

His brow is wet with honest sweat,

He earns whate'er he can,

And looks the whole world in the face,

For he owes not any man.

Week in, week out, from morn till night,

You can hear his bellows blow;

You can hear him swing his heavy sledge,

With measured beat and slow,

Like a sexton ringing the village bell,

When the evening sun is low.

And children coming home from school

Look in at the open door;

They love to see the flaming forge,

And hear the bellows roar,

And catch the burning sparks that fly

Like chaff from a threshing-floor.

He goes on Sunday to the church,

And sits among his boys;

He hears the parson pray and preach,

He hears his daughter's voice,

Singing in the village choir,

And it makes his heart rejoice.

It sounds to him like her mother's voice,

Singing in Paradise!

He needs must think of her once more,

How in the grave she lies;

And with his hard, rough hand he wipes

A tear out of his eyes.

Toiling,---rejoicing,---sorrowing,

Onward through life he goes;

Each morning sees some task begin,

Each evening sees it close;

Something attempted, something done,

Has earned a night's repose.

Thanks, thanks to thee, my worthy friend,

For the lesson thou hast taught!

Thus at the flaming forge of life

Our fortunes must be wrought;

Thus on its sounding anvil shaped

Each burning deed and thought.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

The "Gray Area!"

I listened to an interesting seminar the other day where the speaker was involved in a discussion with a tenured professor at an Ivy League college. Much to my surprise the professor had announce that the majority of the problems facing our country are the result of business practices that are not only taught but edified in Ivy League business courses. The speaker had to be as taken back as I was, but he recovered and inquired of his guest, "Well what are we to do about this?" The professor was caught in a situation where he allowed his emotions to speak the truth and realized he'd announced something that wouldn't be especially popular with his fellow instructors, replied, "That my friend is a discussion for another day."


There are two powerful forms of indoctrination available to those who wish to counter the moral fiber and integrity of our great nation. The school system and the media. They are both major input forms into our personal computer, the one that processes the difference between right and wrong. It's imperative we closely guard what we allow to enter our main frame. I'm afraid we mindlessly permit ourselves to be exposed to suggestions that cloud the defined line between right and wrong.

Isn't it interesting how we have been introduced to the muddled place called the "gray area?" What we knew to be correct and proper is sometimes presented with exceptions that test our moral fiber. For instance the Bible says, "Thou shalt not kill." That's pretty cut and dried! There are not if, ands, or buts about that statement, yet we find "exceptions."

Once a behavior is excused by society for one, it becomes a standard for the rest of us. After all isn't justice supposed to be applied equally? If little Jimmy is allowed to stay up past his bedtime, doesn't little Suzie have a case to lobby for the same treatment? What we lose in this discussion is the fact that a bedtime was set, and to allow for it to be ignored is wrong. Like Mom always said, "if your friends jumped off a cliff, would you follow?"

Our standards are defined by principles. Those principles should be written in stone, not sand. Those of us who are Christian have a ten lined edict that specifically outlines that code of morality. It's backed up with the seven deadly sins as reinforcement. Just like the Federalist Papers support the writings in the Constitution. Avoid being in the "gray areas," nothing that stands the test of time is ever discovered there!

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

Back In The Saddle!

Well, I'm back from my drive by tour of the flyover states! What a wonderful reminder of how beautiful our nation is, brief as it may have been. So much has happened since last Thursday but the event that stands out and will be talked about for the next week or so is Mitt Romney's VP pick. Say what you will about Romney's presidential campaign, this was a statement! Choosing Paul Ryan was a business decision that speaks volumes about what Romney's objectives are. He's going to get the budget in line, that's why he picked a budget hawk like Ryan. As a businessman, if your company has an issue balancing it's ledgers, you assign an expert to the task of addressing the problem, or you go over a fiscal cliff and declare bankruptcy. The Ryan choice is one that speaks directly to that issue. Romney could have chosen a running mate to attempt to secure favor in a toss up state, instead he chose a budget hawk to reveal this isn't a popularity contest, there is work to be done.


Here's what we're facing now. We have a party in the White House that cannot even plan and fund an event they've had four years to arrange. The Democrat National Convention had to be trimmed to 3 days and is still seriously under funded. How does one expect to operate an economy as diverse as the USA's when you can't even perform at that level? The Obama campaign is burning through cash like it has a fiscal printing press as opposed to a conservative fiscally responsible opponent that is guarding his funds like he would our tax dollars.

Look no politician is perfect, but this is a no brainer. The entire democrat party is going into financial peril. Examine every American city that's had to declare bankruptcy, they are now and have been led by the democrats! It's a party wide disease and the only cure is to take away their checkbook. It seems to happen to both parties when they are given free reign, I hope the republican's have learned their lesson. Until we kick the offenders out of office they just don't seem to get it.

In a perfect world, leaders would exude leadership, character and integrity. They wouldn't have to have us course correct them on value issues. But we are human, and humans always take the path of least resistance. It's why our government was set up to give the power to the people and the ability to course correct our public officials with our votes. If the government has grown enough to offer the people largess, it's become too big and needs to be trimmed. Benefits are for those who earn them, that's the definition of justice. Charity is best handled by private concerns and managed at the lowest possible level to insure the least amount of fraud possible. An individual counselor has a much better grasp on an individual's situation as opposed to a large system. This is exactly why government should not offer benefits nor charity. Just do the job as outlined by our founders within the confines of the Constitution.

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

Religion Responds

Recently there as been an Internet post that should really bother everyone who loves freedom and this country. It goes like this


Dear Religion
While you were busy debating which chicken sandwiches were okay to eat, I just landed on Mars.
Your Friend
Science

Interesting that the secular community would not only obscure the social issue, but hijack everyone in the scientific community as non-believers. Let me explain

First the social issue. The debate of which they speak is one of freedom of speech as well as freedom of religion. Everyone was more concerned about an individual's ability to express one's opinion, rather than the morality of the issue. If it had indeed been a moral conflict, I think you'd have seen protests from the opposing sides at their respective days of assembly at the chicken vendor. So the letter should have been addressed to...Dear Freedom of Speech Advocates. Both sides got to express their freedom of speech, and everyone was a winner. Religion had little if anything at all to do with the issue. Interesting those who claim to be intellectual members of the scientific community missed that! I propose this was more the secular community speaking out using the guise of science. While I support their right to make this absurd statement, I really feel the like those in the scientific community who were spoken for need to respond to this irresponsible poke at those who believe.

The letter also makes a huge assumption that the bulk of the scientific community is of a secular view. With 77% of America and 1/3 of the world aligning themselves as Christians, It's quite a leap to assume all of the scientific community lacks faith.

Scientist understand that nothing in this world takes place without a cause. They also understand that science is merely man's best explanation of those events and is constantly under revision. Truth be told, most of what science does is based on theory. Theory arrived at by input from flawed man, and as every scientist knows, imperfect data yields imperfect assumptions. The scientists who doesn't begin their observations with a predisposed outcome understands they will never have enough knowledge to announce that nothing is producing an observable affect as claimed by secularists. A scientist would have to exhaust every nook and cranny of the universe and then do it again to be sure they didn't miss something the first time to make that leap about creation with any credibility. Ergo the only plausible answer is that there is a Creator with a purposeful design. Since there is a Creator, science will have to take a back seat to religion and lay it's arrogance to rest, while science and religion exist in harmony. If you take exception to this, ask a knowledgeable mathematician!

Enjoy Mars!

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

Integrity, The Media, And Politicians!

In Alexis De Tocqueville's, Democracy in America, a book describing the author's impression of the early America experiment, we find this notation.


"I was struck by the small number of political trials that occur in the United States of America, but I had no difficulty in accounting for this circumstance. A prosecution, of whatever nature it may be, is always a difficult and expensive undertaking. It's easy to attack a public man in journals, but the motives for bringing him before the tribunals must be serious. A solid ground of complaint must exist before anyone thinks of prosecuting a public officer."

This is how De Tocqueville describe the American judicial system to his fellow Europeans. You see, even back in the day is was possible to make unfounded accusations against one in the political arena and play the media to sway opinion. But as De Tocqueville describes, to back that accusation with enough proof to bring it before a judge, you have to have a solid ground upon which to stand.

Some modern day examples of how the system is abused are in our news reports right here and now. The Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid has stood before the nation and pompously proclaimed that the presumptive opposing party's Presidential nominee has not paid taxes in a decade. Now common sense would dictate that the enforcement are of the tax code, the IRS, would have exposed any tax issues as that's a major part of their job description. So if Mitt Romney has satisfied all their extensive legal requirements, why would this be even considered as valid? Especially when the accusation is based on rumor and hearsay! This attack on Romney's character speaks volumes to the lack of character present in the accuser. One might note as De Tocqueville did, that this is baseless and will never qualify as the solid ground type complaint that warrants further action. It's simply designed as a character smear to further Mr. Reid's agenda.

As if that's not embarrassing enough, would you be surprised to learn there is yet more? Mitt Romney has released a 59 point plan to get our country back on track. The plan is general and lacks specifics, sort of an outline as from which to hint at where he's going to take us; enter the media! The Tax Policy Center has decided to grade Romney's plan. Well they couldn't actually do that because in their own words...

" Because we have received no details on proposals to reduce tax preferences, the TPC analysis does not include those proposals"

So they just made up things and filled in the blanks. Their invention details tax cuts for the prosperous and tax increases for the not so prosperous just because this fit their agenda. They then published a report from which I took their above quote. Well the media took this as fact and has their own little smear campaign going, because apparently they missed the first paragraph of the report where this disclaimer lies. The one that says they have no facts on which to base this report, they just made it up.

Is anyone else wondering how we've survived this long? It's no wonder that Christian values are under constant attack. There is no way this behavior could exist under the guidelines of, "love one another as you love yourself." Not to mention, "thou shalt not bear false witness." When you purposely avoid the truth, and consciously attack your fellow man without regard for the facts, it's hard to face your Creator as a devout follower of his doctrine. So like the rest of this story, you avoid or dismiss the facts and live like there is no tomorrow or hereafter. Are these the works of Godly men, or inspired by Satan himself?

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

Oh No They Won't!

A lust for power is sin. In contrast we all have an inner drive for significance. This desire for significance in my case is powered by the desire to honor my Creator by using the gifts He ceded me for maximum effect. The Biblical reference that drives my mission is "The Parable of the Talents," as defined in Mathew 25 and Luke 19. It's undeniably difficult to achieve significance if we accept what is and ignore the temptation to fight for what should be. In fact fighting for what should be can lead to significance, and we need more people to get on board.


Morality in our society is crumbling. Those who abhor having another's morals imposed upon them are doing exactly what is needed to lower the bar on our standards. You see morality is defined as a descriptive science of the habits and customs of a culture. It's a liquid definition! It describes the behavior that is the excepted norm. It's the "is-ness" of what people do. The line is set at what a culture will accept. To drive the morality of a society to a higher standard, society itself must approve of higher standards and denounce the gray areas used to muddle what is right, and what is wrong.

This my friends is where we can all achieve significance. If we as a people demand a higher standard of morality from our culture, our impact will be felt. It's up to us to instill this code into the next generation as well, so there is no decline or erosion of principles as mankind progresses. It's a simple concept, don't accept the gray areas used to blur the principles. We know what is morally right and what is not. Set your bar at that level and allow no one to crawl under it. This we can all do!

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

Time To Make A Stand!

Back in agrarian times, people owned the tools they used to survive. Government could cause little interference with the people of the United States, as they were not only the owners of the tools, but the means of production. If a farmer needed a road to his field so he could easily tend to his crops and harvest them, he built it! He didn't wait for the government to do a impact study, soil test, permitting, inspection, and so on, he had a need and he provided for that need. He was self sufficient. The more the farmer toiled, the greater his reward.


Enter the manufacturing age. Big facilities provided the tools for production of goods and services. The owner of the tools employed people to operate those instruments, and the owner dictated what the service the employee provided was worth. The employee was limited by the scope of their hourly wage as to how much the toil of his labor could provide. The profit was once again kept by the one who owned the tools. Who ever owns the tools, owns the production.

Has anyone noticed the government has begun to provide the tools? Under the guise of innovation and the need for progress, the government has assumed the role of the provider. We need better healthcare, the government controls the tools. We need to be energy efficient, the government finances the innovation, (provides the tools). We need to provide the a work force to make America strong, the government provides the education. You have to have roads and bridges, the government provides the stimulus money to make that happen. Ever so slowly we are transferring our freedom and becoming dependent on the government to provide the means. Just like the agrarian age moved from the farmer owning the tools, to the factory owning the tools; we are relying on the government to assume the role of the tool provider.

Let me tell you why this is a problem. It's the philosophy of Karl Marx! Marx called for the state to own the tools so they could level the playing field and redistribute the wealth. When those in government make a point to inform us, "you didn't build that," they are espousing the philosophy of Marxism. When they instill the thought in our head that innovation comes through government involvement, we are being dragged toward a Marx-like agenda. This is not what Americans believe in, yet they are being slowly conned into dependence on the government to provide. The government is seeking to own the tools so they can exploit the labor, and they have!

This is exactly why there is a call for entrepreneur ism. We need to bring our country back around to the days of self reliance. Innovation is best driven in the hands of the people. It also speaks volumes to the freedom of the individual when we provide and create on our own. We need to own the tools. Our success and freedom demand that we as a people provide the tools, production, and toil, and push government back where it belongs. Government is not the research and development arm of the nation, "we the people" are. We have the means to educate ourselves, we can provide our own roads and infrastructure, and we can function free of government interference. Just provide the security so we can leave our homes to create, and maintain the legal structure to keep our ideas from being stolen, and protect our borders from foreign attack, and we'll do the rest.

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

Rediscovering The Art Of Vacation!

I had a great day of reading yesterday, one that was long overdue as I was getting a little backed up on my "to read" list. While I wasn't intending to get as caught up as I did, I found myself enthralled in a book that I never thought I'd like. So much for first impressions! I consumed a 350 page book in one day because it captured me.


So what is this book that stole my Saturday? The title is "A Month of Italy,"- by Chris Brady. I absolutely had no interest in leaving the continental United States, much less touring Italy, but I have to confess, it's now on my list of things to do! Listen when I say, read this book! I'm certain you'll also enjoy the musings of the Brady head of household as he recounts their journey with four children in tow. It's a must read!

God Bless!
Capt Bill

Lies, Taxes, And History!

There is little that sets me off like an attempt to deceive. That probably explains my constant wrath directed at politicians and the political arena, used car salesmen, etc. Today I have to correct an attempt to deceive that's being played and played again. I don't know if America suffers from short term memory loss, or if we just are so apathetic we don't care to remember but I have to address this.


Our President has toured the country spouting his plan for recovery. He demeans the opposition by pointing his finger back to the Bush Presidency and proclaiming we don't want to go back to the failed policies that got us here in the first place. All he's proposing is to return to the tax rates that were enacted during the Clinton Administration where we had the a balanced budget.

First a disclaimer, I love balanced budgets! But truth be told, Clinton's prosperity was waning as he left office because the dot com, and tech bubble had burst. We were entering a recession as President Bush took office. Just because President Bush didn't assign blame and squeal like a pig about what he inherited, didn't mean it didn't exist. Another factor was President Clinton enjoyed peacetime prosperity, it's easier to balance a budget without wars to fund during your administration. The economy was heading into the tank. Enter 9/11 and bad just got worse. The tax cuts inspired business to roll up it's sleeves and employ more people. Interest rates dropped significantly, and the housing bubble began. (Please note here that both presidencies experience prosperity because of a bubble). Bubbles are designed to burst, and they both did. The difference was, the dot com/tech bubble only benefited people with the tech skills able to create within that sector. The housing bubble was enjoyed by anyone who could sign their name, as credit was readily available to anyone breathing. You never saw any shows on TV during the Clinton Administration telling you, you could "Flip this Internet program!" It required a special skill and training to prosper from the boon, not so much the housing bubble. Both saw unemployment drop, both allowed America to prosper for a short period of time. Neither bubble was affected by taxation, so tax rates were not a factor in those prosperous times.

What taxes did have in common with both bubbles is as personal revenue rose, so did the Federal government's intake of tax dollars. The only common denominator between taxes and increased tax revenue is higher GDP. So to lower the deficit, balance the budget, and increase the cash flow to the Federal government, we need to raise the GDP. (Sell more good and services). Nothing else affects tax revenue! Let me repeat, nothing else affects tax revenue! Not taxing the wealthy, not giving tax cuts to the poor, not giving tax cuts to the middle class, just enact policies that spur business to go full throttle.

Just a little side note here..We are currently taking in more tax revenue than in any other time in history. Tax income is not the problem, spending is. But this Blog isn't about spending, it's about the alteration of history, and the misleading of the American public. You cannot change the fact by speaking something counter to the truth into existence. FDR's policies were a failure, Clinton was no more prosperous than Bush, and there is no Easter Bunny. What is written above is historical fact, not meant to make excuses for anyone, just designed to inform so you can base your opinion on the truth. Let me refresh....

Clinton had peacetime prosperity, the dot com/tech bubble fueled that boon. It was limited to those who had knowledge of the industry. The budget was easier to balance without war. He left office with the nation in economic decline.

Bush had wars to fund. His prosperity met or exceeded Clinton's. It was fueled by a housing bubble that the whole nation could participate in. He also left office in economic decline.

Tax rates had nothing to do with either's success and decline. Tax revenue is only tied to the rise and fall of GDP. GDP goes up, tax revenue increases no matter what the tax rate. GDP goes down, tax rates decline no matter what the tax rate. The key to increasing tax revenue is to inspire business to produce and sell more. This hires more workers, raises the tax base, and increases revenue to the government. Simply cut spending below intake of revenue, and you have a balanced budget. This is how you operate a nation in an economically sound manner!

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

They'll Do It To You Too!

In the realm of politics we are often subjected to diversely opposed opinions regarding the state of affairs and the process to improve such. Most people find the bickering boring and trivial, but it is revealing. There are hints of honesty in the words they speak, that reveal their underlying agenda. When they cross the borders of the principles that this nation was founded upon, you can rest assured that individual and their posse don't have that nation's best interest in mind.


We are often reminded that this nation was founded upon Judeo-Christian principles. These are found in the teaching offered in the Bible, which has revelations that hold the keys to living a successful life. Our current President has decided to tour the country announcing that anyone who achieves that success is responsible to donate more to the government so they can redistribute that windfall as they see fit. He has gone as far to say that the people who've earned their prosperity, "you didn't do that." His solution is to impose a higher tax rate upon the successful using statements like, "we tried the trickle down method, it didn't work." This is where I take exception, because that is directly opposed to what we are told in life's owner's manual.

"It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior."-Hebrews 7:7

Now that I've cleared that up, let's address another misnomer by the same party. Our current Senate majority Leader has announced that he received a phone call from an unnamed source at Bain Capital that told him Mitt Romney hadn't paid taxes in over a decade. Mr Reid is now calling for Mr. Romney to release his tax records, which again is directly opposed to one of the basic principles our nation is founded upon. We are a nation of laws, laws grounded in principle. One of those principles is an individual is presumed innocent until proven guilty, the 5th and 6th Amendment speak directly to this improper action. Especially since Mr Romney has filed his taxes and the governing body, (the IRS) has found no fault with his returns. The burden of proof lies upon the accuser. So Mr. Reid, put your proof where your mouth is, it's not Mr. Romney's responsibility to defend himself against your imaginary friend's attacks.

The point of all of this is simple. If a group of people act in this manner toward fellow citizens, what's to keep them from turning on you in this manner too? The only solution is to remove the threat from a position of influence. They simply don't understand the principles this nation is grounded upon, nor do they care. They are drunk with power. They have forgotten that the power comes from the people, and they only exist at the will of the people. This must come to an end.

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

Moral Liberty!

Yesterday America made a statement and overwhelmed the chicken chain that stands behind Christian values with an onslaught of business to show their support. I can't help but think this is just a precursor to the turnout come election day in November. Frankly, Americans have had it with this assault on our liberties, and the perversion of principles this country was founded upon. When the Constitution guaranteed the inalienable right of the "pursuit of happiness," it is meant to protect a free society from other people's attempt to destroy or hinder that pursuit. Not grant permission for the morally bankrupt to twist the ideals our founders defined as essential for liberty.


For example, the Constitution recognizes that if the thing that makes you happy is to commit murder at will, that doesn't give you the inalienable right to pursue happiness in that manner. That liberty also does not in any way, shape, or form assure you the acquisition of happiness.

When we reconcile ourselves to God, as was the norm at the time of the founding, happiness is often a by-product and the results of God's grace and gifts. Somehow we misconstrued this as a demand that we make upon Him. The founders had no way of foreseeing the infection of secularism into our nation, as to be a God fearing Christian was the way of life in their time. To be a pagan or a heretic was to be shunned by society and never a consideration to lead or hold office. Colonial America understood that if you weren't accountable to a higher power, you weren't accountable for your actions, as denying God is to make yourself the ultimate authority. With man determining what is virtuous, the outcome is subject to the whim of the individual who has assumed power. Hardly a formula for a just and moral society! Mankind is subject to the path of least resistance, and to allow oneself to define what is just, void of divine intervention, is akin to the fox watching the hen house. Our modern day results speak for themselves.....

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

No More!

I have to say, I'm a little more positive about the state of affairs in America today after yesterday's win by the non-establishment candidate Ted Cruz in Texas. Little by little the citizens are chipping away at the established elite in the political arena. It's a shame that Americans have to battle not only the radical left, but the party that is supposed to represent our views to maintain the freedom that we love. Career politicians have to be looking over their shoulder, worried about the movement toward the removal of the aristocrats who sadly have put down roots in Washington, more concerned about their reelection bids than doing the job of representing conservative values.


You see the politicians have become more interested in doing what's best for them, rather than what is correct. It's hard by definition to do the right thing, and there will come a time when you'll have to sacrifice what your interests are to do it. If it was easy to do what is right and just, everyone would do it! Unfortunately, politicians have opted to do what gains votes, rather than what is best for the country. If the issue has a level of difficulty, they kick the can down the road. Case in point...A balanced budget. It's become far to easy to hand out perks for votes than to take a stand that might not be popular, but is the ethical thing to do. The principle of largess is deciding the fate of our country.

Well, until yesterday! The people of Texas said,"no more!" Voters tried to send along that same message last voting cycle by sending 10 freshman conservatives to Washington, but it fell on deaf ears. That message was reinforced last night, and needs to be continued. It won't be easy to drag Washington back toward the principles that our country was founded on, and frankly what made our nation great; but the tug of war is on!

We don't want the pragmatic. We don't want the credentialist.We don't want career politicians that hand out largess to garner votes. We want integrity, fiscal responsibility, character, and leadership. If this country still works the way it was designed, we'll get it!

God Bless!
Capt. Bill