Yesterday morning I was walking alongside my four year old son, Chase.  He was riding his tricycle and loving it!  He rode one big loop, returned to the house for a quick run to the bathroom and then decided he wanted to ride to the park.  I calculated that it would be nearly three total miles of cycling for him.  It seemed like a lot to me for a four year old but he didn’t want to hear my concerns and began his trek to the park.  He rode and rode continually saying, “I’m fast and strong.  Can you see it [the park] yet Daddy?”  About ½ a mile from the park, he stopped.  “What are you doing?” I asked.  “Look Daddy!  Look at this puddle!”  He was full of excitement as he got off his tricycle and sat down next to the puddle.  He pointed out to me everything in it…the leaves, the stones, and even the miscellaneous, unidentifiable stuff.  The morning sun was reflecting off of it and the more I looked at it, the more beautiful I realized it really was.  Strange, in the midst of so much chaos in the world and plenty of goings-on in my own life, I found myself admiring the beauty of a puddle.  It was calming.  “It’s beautiful” I said to him.  “God made it just for us” my son instantly replied.  “He made it just for you and me, Chase?” I asked.  “You, me, Lightning McQueen and Dynaco King” he said including his two favorite race cars from the movie Cars.  With that, he jumped back onto his tricycle and completed his journey to the park dramatically picking up his speed as soon as he saw it.

 

As I think back to that precious moment I realized a few key lessons:

1. Don’t let anyone put limitations on what you can achieve.  Conversely, don’t put limitations on others.  Beware, it may even be your “Daddy” meaning well by trying to “protect” you.
2. Don’t let the drama of the world and the challenges in your own life keep you from admiring God’s beauty.  Remember the saying, “Work like it depends on you and pray like it depends on God.”  With that philosophy, critical people and challenging times need not grab your attention from the joy even a puddle can provide.
3. Keep your sights on where you are going.  Keep in mind the purpose of your mission.  And know that when you really can “see it”, you’ll have all the energy in the world to finish strong.

I was on a plane flying home from a meeting in Detroit, Tuesday, November 20, the person sitting in front of me was reading the New York Times and I found myself in shock by what I was seeing on the front page of the business section.. “No way!” I kept thinking once I was able to read the entire article. “Developed in secrecy over the last two years” the article explained, the new web business was finally launching. “Think of it as part Amazon (online retail), part My-Space (social network) and part Amway (direct pitch from somebody you know).”    more »

The Pilgrims declared a three-day feast, starting on December 13, 1621, to thank God and to celebrate with their Indian friends. While this was not the first Thanksgiving in America (thanksgiving services were held in Virginia as early as 1607), it was America's first Thanksgiving Festival.  Much of the credit for the adoption of a later ANNUAL national Thanksgiving Day may be attributed to Mrs. Sarah Joseph Hale, the editor of Godey's Lady's Book. For thirty years, she promoted the idea of a national Thanksgiving Day, contacting President after President until President Abraham Lincoln responded in 1863 by setting aside the last Thursday of November as a national Day of Thanksgiving. Over the next seventy-five years, Presidents followed Lincoln's precedent, annually declaring a national Thanksgiving Day. Then, in 1941, Congress permanently established the fourth Thursday of each November as a national holiday.

I propose, however, that as wonderful as the Thanksgiving tradition is, let’s promote Thanksgiving as a regular mindset, not just an annual holiday.

 

Many Americans today think of Thanksgiving as the one day per year that we are justified to “stuff” as much food as possible into our bodies, lay on the couch to complain we ate too much and watch football.  Some, however, understand it is a day to be “Thankful” and offer up the things they are thankful about to each other…while stuffing their bodies, laying on the coach, etc.  However, if you break the word apart, you will discover that Thanksgiving actually comes from the original English root words, “Thanks” and “Giving”.  Imagine that?!  (That took some serious research!)  So, our thanks should be coupled with the action of giving.  What is it you can do to give to others?  How can you be of value and service?  Answer and act on these questions and you won’t just have a spectacular holiday, you will have an amazing life.  A mindset of “thanks” coupled with the act of “giving” is what life is all about.  Let’s make Thanksgiving an everyday event…minus the stuffing of food and laying on the couch part.  J

 

It was 9pm and the first 12 hours of running was complete...only 12 hours to go!  I stepped it up a notch and started clicking off some good miles.  I noticed that I was definitely in better shape than I was last year at this same event:  the US Ultra running National Championships--24 Hour competition.  However, a few hours later I realized I was having a challenge keeping down the necessary fuel to keep going.  That's not good.  I attempted some modifications to the strategy but wasn't having great luck.  My pace fell off and I struggled for a number of hours.  It came to a point where the focus was just on moving forward at all verse quitting. 

At hour 23, the course is shortened to a simple 1/4 mile loop.  My legs were fried after some 110+ miles.  My body was way under fueled.  Blood was coming thru my right shoe due to a poor job I did prepping it when I did a shoe change some 12 hours earlier.  However, when the race director announced over the PA system that Connie Gardner was on pace to set the women's American record, I got inspired.  I put everything I had into moving faster... I focused everything on getting it going to encourage her.  I was cheering for her.  I found myself going faster and faster as my inspiration grew.  By the last 1/4 mile, I was running at 7:00 min/mile pace according to the race’s record log. 

The race, although far from ideal, left me with a number of lessons:
1.  I am a very fortunate person to have friends and family that are so supportive they would stay up all night and help me through it all.  Thanks Dad, Wendy, Randy, Sterling, Becky, and Lillian.
2.  Fuel is very important--get some more experience with other fuel sources.
3.  Inspiration that can come from helping another person can tap a deep source of energy.
4.  Connie Gardner is an amazing athlete.  Actually, I already knew that one.

As Dr. Phil McGraw regularly says, “What were you thinking?” followed by, “So, How’s that working out for you?” He has become famous using these questions since they get people thinking and realizing that the miserable results they are experiencing are do to their poor choices that lead them there. My question is when you make some poor choices that lead to undesirable results, doesn’t it make sense to take ownership of them sooner than later? Yes, nobody likes to admit that they made poor choices. However, isn't it true that trying to cover them up just seems to dig a deeper hole?   more »

On Aug. 9th, 2007, the original proposal to Quixtar from the TEAM leaders was the following.  This proposal was open to negotiation and was the first draft presented.

 

1. Peaceful exit

2. Joint positive communication – no disparagement

3. IBOs currently within the Team system will have until December 31, 2007 to resign from Quixtar and sit out from any other MLM for a period of 60 days. After December 31, 2007, Team system IBOs will revert to Quixtar rules in effect at that time.

4. Bonuses will be prorated to the resignation date, including any year end bonuses.

5. Any LOA that is currently not affiliated with the Team system will not be approached or communicated with by any Team representative. Quixtar can prepare a statement that Team personnel/leadership will state if approached by any IBO not covered by this agreement.

6. Team will continue to operate their current training system.

7. No legal action of any kind against Team or affiliated IBOs will be instituted by Alticor or any of its subsidiaries, employees or representatives. Also, Alticor/Quixtar will not use any of its connections with any federal, state or local governmental agencies to cause harm to Team.

8. No communication or otherwise forecasting to current Quixtar IBOs that Team’s methods are unlawful or legally questionable.

9. Neither side to communicate with any press entity regarding the separation beyond an agreed upon written statement.

 

After having the proposal for over an hour and a half, Quixtar’s attorneys returned to the room. With no discussion or open dialogue whatsoever, they presented termination papers.