Are You Ready for a Remodel?

Think of each year of your life as a brick.  If you're satisfied with the kind of home you've built for yourself out of your bricks, this story may not be of much use.  One of the key lessons I learned this past decade is that my brain sometimes goes on autopilot and my bricks tend to be placed in my home without really thinking about what I'm doing.  For some, the bricks turn into some kind of prison and every year the walls get more impossible to break free from.  If this idea is getting your attention and you want out of your prison, consider a remodel.  It won't be easy but I'll share some ideas to for reflection.

I'm pushing sixty in the new year ahead.  That's a lot of bricks.  I already know the challenges of remodeling when my subconscious mind is so comfortable with the layout of my home.  The more time I spend looking at my bricks, the more I realize a complete renovation would enhance my living conditions.  The objections are probably the same you may encounter.  In fact, your brain may be telling you to ignore this story and move on to something more suitable for your comfort zone.  Isn't it strange how your own brain can be your biggest enemy when you're considering changing your habits?

What is your 2020 brick going to look like?  Is it going to be different from all the previous bricks?  If you make a conscious effort to change this brick, you may find yourself in an uncomfortable position.  Your brain will fight you, like when the alarm goes off in the morning and your body says, "it's too early to get up, let's go back to sleep.  One snooze button won't hurt."  Well, it does.  Your 2020 brick is the choice between the snooze button and waking up to a new life, one new habit at a time.  It's time to take charge and get started on your remodel, one brick at a time until your living conditions are optimum.

If you're liking today's story but you're uncertain about how to remodel your life, please bookmark this blog and come visit as often as you like.  I'm rearranging some of the old bricks, redesigning some rooms in my house and I know how challenging it is to break bad habits.  I promise to be here every day with ideas to help you with your remodel.  Your brick matters.  It's up to you to decide what to do.  Have a great day.

A Sneak Peak at What's Coming in 2020

I'm still catching my breath from 2019 and my plan is to use the momentum from these last twelve months to push myself to new heights.  Thank you for your continued support.  I would like to pause for a moment to reflect on this year as it comes to a conclusion.  This is the year I committed to reading at least ten pages a day when I wake up in the morning.  It has been the most significant improvement in my life because the results of this minor change opened the doors to new opportunities.  Speaking of new opportunities, here's what I'm serving up in the coming months.

• Guest bloggers.  Two guest bloggers have agreed to share their ideas.  They inspire me and you will be treated to something special with their words of wisdom.
• "The Adventures of Wilson" will be released in 2020.  "Live Long and Prosper" is not ready for prime time yet and I'm going to continue with my editing efforts until I feel it's suitable.  The original plan was to lead with "Live Long and Prosper" but Wilson stepped up when I was stuck in the mud and he rescued me.  
• The Lucy Project is going to be featured on this blog as a long-term dream I'm nurturing.  I'm sharing here to hold myself accountable to my financial freedom goals and Lucy is helping me to do the hard stuff now so we can adopt her free and clear of any financial obligations that typically have a negative impact on our lives.  She is the ultimate reward for our financial discipline and I believe sharing her story may help others get motivated to get out of debt.  
• Travel.  My first trip will be in the first week of the new year to see my family and offer condolences to the family of my dad's youngest brother in Arizona.  This trip will be more of a touch-and-go since I need to return immediately to the Midwest for the start of my busiest year ever.  My day job is going big in this region next year and I will be assisting with team building in multiple states.  We are also planning a couple of vacations for our family.

Thanks again for visiting me here on this blog.  I'm doing my best to become more flexible and this is helping me to be productive without being too critical when I feel like I'm coming up short.  Life really is about the small daily choices we make.  I'm working on being more aware of the triggers in my life that sometimes cause me to get temperamental.  This is a longterm project.  My hope is that sharing my life with you helps you on your own personal journey.  Have a great day.

Ancient Words of Wisdom Proclaimed by College Quarterback

Our youngest son and I stayed up late last night for a second night in a row to watch one of the best college football games I've ever seen.  Ohio State and Clemson played in the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona in a semifinal matchup of two undefeated teams.  Our son found a way to live stream the game through his laptop since we are now a cable-free household.  For me, the biggest highlight was watching the post-game interview with Clemson's quarterback.  He boldly proclaimed a verse I hadn't heard before from Ephesians 3:20, Now to him is who able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.

One of the biggest reasons I cut my cable was to free myself of all that negativity that's spewing on the airwaves.  What a joy it is to have two nights in a row of great entertainment from college football.  Two nights ago it was our local team who lifted my spirits by waving to the patients at our hospital in Iowa City.  During home games, these patients gather together on the 12th floor of the hospital to cheer for our beloved Hawkeyes.  Players, fans and even opponents pause at the end of the first quarter to wave to these kids.  The kids got a special wave from afar during the Holiday Bowl played in San Diego.  Our family enjoyed many seasons of great football and baseball in that city before moving away.  Sadly, the San Diego Chargers also left when the team owner decided to relocate.  Football fans in the area suffering from withdrawals got to see something really special when two out-of-town teams injected new life into "America's finest city."

Check out the YouTube video below for the interview with Clemson's coach and his players.  Have a great day.

Iowa Wave Goes to Holiday Bowl

The "Iowa wave" is world-famous, thanks to national coverage of last night's Holiday Bowl.  Our favorite football team, the Hawkeyes, trounced USC 49-24.  My favorite part of the game was watching fans, players and coaches pause to wave to the patients at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital at the end of the first quarter, a tradition witnessed worldwide.

We watched the first half with my wife's lifelong friends at a sports bar near our home and caught the end of the game on a Spanish live stream our son found online.  Our cable is no longer part of our household.  We waved good-bye to those unnecessary fees in an effort to accelerate our mortgage payoff.  Felicidades to the Hawkeyes.  Thank you for a great season and thanks for remembering those sick kids at the hospital.  We can't wait to cheer for you again next season.  Have a great day.

Your Gratitude Sunflower

Humor me, please.  I know this isn't the time of year we see sunflowers.  Like my daughter said in a post she placed on her social media page, "I'm a rebel."  My wife responded, "I know where she gets it."  So, today I want you to make a mental picture in your mind of a sunflower.  Every petal in your mental visualization represents something you're thankful for.  Don't stop until every petal in your mind picture has something or someone you're thankful for.  If you're having trouble completing your picture, go ahead and visualize something from your future you are thankful to be pursuing, like a vacation or a family reunion.  Fill your heart with gratitude today.  May you be abundantly blessed with a garden full of sunflowers.  Have a great day.

Plant 12 Seeds Today for 2020

It's the in-between time, that week between Christmas and the New Year and your brain is busy trying to figure out how to prepare for what lies ahead.  Too many people fail at making changes that stick and I think I know why.  It has to do with repeating the same mistakes.  Real change can't happen overnight.  It can't happen just because you think this year is going to be different.  The pressure you're feeling could be a result of the added stress you're under from knowing this happens to be a new decade.  I have a solution and it may or may not work depending on your own willingness to commit.  First of all, please don't call this a "resolution."  Instead, consider this an experiment.  If the experiment works, you can make it a permanent lifestyle and you can use it for the entire decade and beyond.  If it doesn't work, move on and try something else.  There's no pressure here.

You are now a farmer.  Your job for the remainder of this "in-between" time is to acquire 12 seeds.  These are unique experimental seeds that come from within your own mind.  They are the seeds of life – your life.  You will plant one seed each month for the next 12 months.  If you plant them all at once, similar to all those resolutions you made in previous years, the seeds will probably die.  Your new life depends on your willingness to be patient and your openness to the idea that you are now a farmer.

You may be asking, "What do my seeds look like?"  The better question to ask is "What's missing in my life?"  Think carefully.  You have six days to decide.  A wise farmer will choose his seeds carefully and prepare properly with good planning.  I'll give you an example of what I think a quality seed may look like.  It's called the forgiveness seed, also known as the "letting go" seed.  This seed has the ability to open your eyes to all the possibilities that exist in your future.  The way it works is you plant it on January 1, water it every day, keep the weeds out by forgiving everybody in your past who hurt you.  It's not necessary to contact these people.  The only requirement is that you let go of the hurt you are feeling in your heart.  Do this for thirty days.  You are not allowed to miss one day.

Here's another idea.  I call it the meditation seed.  It could be a nice choice for February.  Set aside 15 minutes a day and give yourself some space to do nothing except clear your mind.  You can use the time to evaluate how your "forgiveness seed" impacted your life.  Set a timer to make sure you go the full 15 minutes.  If you get stuck, reach out to me.  I planted this seed earlier in the year and I may be able to help you with some interesting farming techniques.

The last request I have for you is to make sure you get a 2020 calendar and write down what seeds you will plant on the first day of each month.  This will help you with your experiment because you can prepare yourself in advance for how you will watch over each special seed you plant.  Your goal is to keep all 12 seeds alive by focusing on one seed at a time.  I promise you one thing.  You will get out of this experiment what you put into it.  It's up to you to decide your top 12 seeds.  My only recommendation is that you don't plant a "go to the gym" seed on January 1.  Save it until March when all the other farmers have quit and moved on.  Your gym experience will be much more favorable.  Happy farming.  Have a great day.

Merry Christmas

It's challenging to know what to expect about the weather when you live in the Midwest.  Today may be one of the warmest days I've experienced at Christmas since my relocation nearly eight years ago. For us, 60º is a heatwave and we're all planning to bask in the sun while we celebrate the most important birthday of all times.

We opened our gifts early this year in order to accommodate busy Holiday schedules and all three of our adult children gave me what I asked for – books, the kind that inspires personal growth.  Our youngest son gave me something so enticing that I couldn't put it down and finished just in time to go to church for Christmas eve.  It was written by Victor E. Frankl, a holocaust survivor.  "Man's Search for the Meaning of Life" is an ideal book to read during the Christmas season because the author demonstrates that every life is meaningful no matter how challenging the circumstances appear to be.

For some, the Holidays may not be all that joyful.  Maybe it's because they have trouble finding something to be hopeful for.  Maybe they've lost something or someone and they struggle to get past that loss.  Frankl wrote that one of the greatest difficulties for holocaust survivors who returned to their old lives was that the very things they were hopeful for were gone.  Family.  Friends.  In some cases, the total destruction of their old ways of living.  One of Frankl's students asked him what the meaning of his life was and he asked his student to write down his thoughts before answering.  "Read your answer to the group," Frankl said.

The student stood up and shared, "The meaning of your life is to help others find theirs."  It was an exact match.  And that is what Christmas is all about.  There was this lowly birth in a remote area to parents who were forced to stay in a place reserved for animals.  No family.  No pleasantries.  In many ways, the conditions weren't much different from the concentration camps where innocent people were forced to stay because they happened to be related to the same family having a child in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago.  That child gives us hope.  The door to Heaven is now open.  Merry Christmas.  Have a great day.

Thankful for a Midwest December Barbecue Yesterday

The weather in the Midwest can change in the blink of an eye.  Yesterday was one of those days.  I seized the opportunity to fire up my Weber grille in the 54º weather as the sunset yesterday, two days before my dad's birthday.  Dad was always fine-tuning his "world-famous" burgers for our family backyard barbecues often attended by our cousins.  Dad argued that the secret to the ideal burger has to do with getting the heat right.  According to him, no one does it better than Weber.  His final act before departing this world was gifting us our own Weber.  I modified his recipe by going bunless.  In our family, we serve caveman burgers with lettuce as our buns.  They may not be world-famous like my dad's but they are especially tasty here in the Midwest at this time of year when our Weber is usually in hibernation.

May your home be filled with the spirit of Christmas.  Have a great day.

What it Means to be Human

There are certain questions I shy from because I know answering them will only lead to confrontation, chaos, anger and perhaps even the loss of a friendship.  It's so easy to get sucked into trouble.  We're all well-equipped with primitive tools to help us respond to danger.  The dinosaurs may be long gone but our fight-or-flight instincts are strong.

I'm headed to a funeral this morning for an amazing woman who was the organist at our wedding thirty years ago.  There's another funeral on the horizon for the first week of the new year and I'm hoping to be in Phoenix to support my relatives and say good-bye to my dad's youngest brother.  Funerals seem to be a time when we look within ourselves for answers to deep questions like, "What is the meaning of life?"

If you're reading this because you're curious about my answer, I prefer to defer to someone else who happens to be having a birthday in a couple of days.  My dad was born on Christmas day along with his twin brother, Mike, the one I'm named after.  Dad claimed that being born on Christmas was the biggest rip-off ever.  We heard the story many times about how there would be one gift under the tree to Pat and Mike to celebrate Christmas and their birthdays.  One year his twin brother ran away from home because he couldn't handle the unfairness.  That's no bueno when you live in the Midwest and it's cold outside.

Let's take a closer look at what it means to be human from Jesus' perspective.  I find it interesting that Jesus chose to leave the comforts of Heaven and become human, especially because he had everything we could ever want.  He chose to be born at a time when electricity hadn't been invented.  There were no modern conveniences like automobiles or cell phones.  He chose a race of people that are hated by pretty much the entire world.  His family was forced to deliver their baby in a place reserved for animals.  If you ask me, that looks like the ultimate rip-off but that is only the first chapter of the story and it goes downhill from there.  Imagine being accused of a crime you didn't commit and being sentenced to death.  Who would be willing to do that?  It's the same guy who would drop everything to go search for my dad's twin brother and tell him he loves him.  It's the same guy who would tell you it doesn't matter about politics because the only one capable of ruling properly is Jesus himself.  He loves everybody including the sinner.  When I look in the mirror that's what I see, a sinner who struggles with the meaning of life.  There are times when I have trouble loving my neighbor.  I'm not talking about the cool neighbors who live next door to me, but the ones who have hearts filled with hatred or prejudice.  Jesus tells me to love them.  I will struggle with this all my life and I will do my best to follow the one who is having a birthday in a couple of days.  That's what it means to be human.  Have a great day.

Final Par for the Course Scorecard for the Year

It looks like I'm going to finish the year the same way I started. Yep.  There's going to be a December bogey in my game, Par for the Course.  Financial fitness is no easy task.  The goals I set at the beginning of the year were borderline impossible considering I set out to wipe out more than $100,000 of mortgage debt over 36 months playing a game I created to make debt reduction fun.  The first five months of the year netted five bogeys.  I made adjustments to my spending habits and made six pars in a row.  This month I slipped but I'm feeling good about the next 24 months.

I have a feeling the average person would look at my scorecard and tell me there's no hope of winning in the allotted time.  After all, not only do I need to average par over the next 24 months, I also need to account for those six months of bogeys.  That means I need to master this game quickly and find a way to make a whole bunch of eagles by the end of December two years from now.

For those interested in Par for the Course, it's really about developing habits that promote living a debt-free life.  I may not reach my goals on time but I'm going to get really close.  Once that last payment is made I plan to enjoy a lifetime of eagles meaning zero debt and complete financial independence.  I will share more about the game as I work on my skills.  It's all about developing winning habits.  Have a great day.

Family Day is Here

Days like these are the most precious.  Christmas music is playing and the aroma of baked goodies fills the air while I write my morning story.  Our son's pet Chihuahua is enjoying being with a complete tribe.  A full house brings me great joy.  Today may be the shortest day of the year but I'm going to stretch it out and enjoy every minute of it.  May your day be filled with abundance and may you be surrounded by loved ones.  Have a great day.

Time to Say Good-bye, Tribute to My Uncle John Mulligan

Please click here for the link to read about my uncle, John Mulligan, my dad's youngest brother, who passed away while surrounded by his loving family in Phoenix, Arizona.  My uncle joins brothers Dickie, Jim, my dad Patrick, and sisters Mary and Peggy, all residents of Heaven.  I always admired uncle John's positive attitude.  Perhaps my greatest memory was playing tennis with him while I was in high school.  He encouraged his children and grandchildren to play sports and seek an active lifestyle.  I will forever cherish his influence on my life.  The YouTube video below is in honor of his fondness for music.  He finished the race with a smile on his face and he will be missed.  I send my condolences to his wife, Dawn, his four remaining siblings, his children, grandchildren, and all the friends and family members who are mourning his loss.  Have a great day.

Challenge Yourself to Stretch Your Morning Joy

Your morning routine sets up your emotional state.  Done correctly, you're experiencing abundant joy.    Then, you leave the comforts of your home and someone cuts you off on the road.  Another driver closes in so tightly behind you that you can see his eyeballs glaring at you because you're driving too slow for his comfort zone.  Suddenly, your morning joy turns to anger and you succumb to your surroundings.  I have a new idea for you.  It's more of a challenge.  Consider all these distractions as opponents in a game you're playing.  Win this game and you get a full day of peace and happiness.  Pretend each of these negative people that encroach your space is playing the same game but their goal is to steal your joy and they don't really play by any rules.  That means you must expect the unexpected.  You must plan for all kinds of sneaky tricks.  Protect your joy at all costs.

This game is played daily.  Your goal is to see how far you can go in a day before the dark side scores.  Track how many times they found a way to steal your joy.  The longer you play this game, the better you will get.  If you manage to win and keep your morning joy until you go to bed, repeat this again the next day.  Can you go two days in a row?  How about three?  Is it possible to reach a one-week streak?  Remember, you're playing against yourself.  Every day is a new day.  Have a great day.

Should You Follow Your Inner Caveman Voice?

Caution.  Today's story may lead to transformation.  If you're not into change, this story may bring you some conflict.  I'm referring to those voices in your head most of us try to squash so we can better fit into the demands of our modern-day society.  The more I reflect on our caveman ancestors, the more I see the benefits of a somewhat nomadic lifestyle.  If you're having trouble following, think about all the traps we have today, like 30-year mortgages, car loans, and annual property taxes. I call them traps since we end up in these ruts and we must stay there for a lifetime to get out of debt and live free.  Our own possessions turn us into slaves.

Remember when you were a kid and you woke up every morning with a clean slate?  In my neighborhood, we built forts, explored mountains and lived every day to its fullest.  Then, we got jobs so we could pay for our homes.  Over time, these homes got bigger and bigger.  So did our obligations.  Our ancestors could build a hut in a couple of days.  Wow.  No mortgage.  Life was so simple.  Hunting and gathering produced healthy muscles and well-toned bodies.  Our inner caveman calls out because our bodies have become slabs of blubber from sitting and staring at the TV for hours at a time.

I'm not waiting until my retirement years to listen to my inner caveman voice.  I'm making a serious effort to become a part-time nomad and behave more like my caveman ancestors.  What is your inner caveman voice saying to you?  Are you ready to listen?  Have a great day.

Decision Time

It's decision time.  A new decade is almost here.  Are you ready to make it the best decade of your life?  I am.  I'm diving in.  There are some things I really liked about these last ten years, like setting goals and building on them year after year.  I decided to cut out bad habits and replace them with new daily rituals designed to maximize my life.  It all starts with becoming the person you decide to be.  Use this time to ponder what worked for you in the past and what didn't work.  Decide to make new plans.  Do it for the long haul.  Think in terms of ten-year increments.  Have a great day.

Give Me Liberty, Please

Liberty may strike different chords depending upon where you live and how much or how little you have.  For me, liberty is the freedom to live without interference from those who may have power over our lives.  Some of us give up our liberties because of the poor choices we make.  Living in debt is like giving up your liberty because you are beholdent to the people who own your debt.

When I say, "Give me liberty,"  I'm talking to myself.  Sometimes, a good conversation with your yourself can lead to necessary changes you need to make to acqiure something better, like liberty.  I'm willing to pay the price I need to pay today to enjoy liberty in my future.  How about you?  Would you like more liberty in your life?  Try some self-talk.  Have a great day.

Got Curiosity?

If you're having trouble coming up with new ideas for your life, maybe you need some curiosity.  I've heard the saying, curiosity killed the cat.  Well, you're not a cat.  You're a human being loaded with about a billion cells in your brain and they're waiting to be tapped into by your own curiosity.

This last year of my life has been one of the most exciting ever.  I decided it was time to bust through some self-imposed barriers in my mind that prevented me from reaching my potential.  Perhaps the single greatest barrier was this crazy idea I had that I couldn't see the world until I reached financial independence.  That's hogwash.  Maybe my own curiosity is leading me to the best ways to seek adventure without breaking the bank.  It's like having my cake and eating it too, although the cake is pretty much off my approved food list.  If I'm going to see the world, I want to live in a body that's fit and ready to withstand any condition.  You can read my post about the "Lucy Project" to see how my wife and I plan to explore our surroundings once we say good-bye for good to our mortgage.  Meanwhile, I'm using my hotel points to pay for a series of mini stays in the coming year.

I recommend that you place curiosity on your gift list for Christmas.  Make a note to yourself and open it on Christmas Day.  Open it and use it daily.  Use it the same way Albert Einstein did...with passion.  I already promised my wife that I will pursue every project we undertake with passion.  Have a great day.

All in the Family

If you're looking for pictures or stories about my family, you won't find them here.  We have our clever ways of sharing without violating family wishes to be hidden away from social media.  I write fiction.  Other family members share pictures of their beloved inanimate pets.  I have Wilson, the CASTAWAY volleyball who helps me share about my travels.  My sister has a collection of mice with cool names, like Maude and Greta.

Yesterday I shared about my Lucy Project.  My kid sister has code-named her vintage trailer dream to compliment Lucy with "The Linus Project."  I have a feeling she will use her creativity to make a custom quilt and awesome curtains.  She may even have a special place to house her collection of pet mice.  Before she gets too busy with all her grandkids, I'm hoping to enlist her help to make a quilt for the Lucy Project that will remind me of her every time we go on a family outing.  I'm visualizing something that will reflect Lucy's passion for dreaming big similar to when the Beatles came up with the song, "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds."  I find it amazing that John Lennon's hit song was inspired by his three-year-old son, Julian, who came home from pre-school with an awesome out-of-this-world art piece.  Yes, it's all in the family.  That's how we roll, sans the photos.  Thank God for Wilson, Greta, Maude, and our own pet, Hans, a tiny mouse who enjoys cross-country skiing and instigating family reunions.  I don't want to leave my mother's sister, Marcie, out of this story.  After all, she is one of the few in the family willing to share without the need to sign any type of photo-release documents.  I've shared as much as I can share without exceeding any boundaries.  Have a great day.

Lucy Project Declassified

Breaking news.  One of my top-secret personal goals, code-named "The Lucy Project," is now declassified.  When details were leaked to one of my siblings by a mouse in the house named Hans, I decided to share with my readers even though the odds of a successful outcome in the near future are low.  The Lucy Project cannot be initiated until our mortgage is paid in full and both writing projects are published.  Warning!  Projects like this may pop into your head once you release yourself from a daily routine consisting of mindless TV and other timewasting activities.

There was a time in my life when I resisted change.  I was slow to remove my landline and hesitated to cut my cable TV.  I thought ideas like Airbnb and Uber were for the younger generation.  Some argue that "blogging" is an outdated form of communication.  For me, it's my main connection to the outside world.  Maybe all these books I'm reading about self-improvement are influencing me to make changes in the way I view the world.  As each day passes, I find myself embracing bigger dreams without any constraints.  In that spirit, I'm sharing "The Lucy Project."

Lucy is the name of our future van.  She will be fitted with a kitchen, shower, primitive toilet, and a bed.  The roof will be high enough to allow us to stand and the bed will be raised so we can store our belongings below.  Lucy will be equipped with a couple of solar panels to keep us going in remote areas.  There won't be any tv's inside although I plan to have a small cabinet to house my reading material.   I will use this blog to share our adventures.  When Lucy is not in use by our family, she may be available to rent in an Airbnb-type of format.  Who knows?  Future travelers may use Uber or Lyft to come to our location and pick Lucy up for their family vacation.  All I can say is change is in the air.  Have a great day.  Thanks, Hans, for spilling the beans.

How Cutting the Cable Changed My Life

It's amazing how your life can change for the better when you make minor adjustments.  Letting go of one thing allows you to grab onto to something new.  For me, reading books replaced TV watching.  I'm reading books that are inspiring me to manage my time better, eat healthier, and live more productively.  I'm on pace to finish my tenth book by the end of this year, a new record.  I find myself in a better mood these days, probably because I'm not exposing my brain to all that negativity that comes from all the talking heads making noises all night long.  I'm going to bed earlier and waking up refreshed.  I'm also guilt-free because I no longer beat myself up for wasting so much time in front of the TV.  My wife and I still watch old episodes of Frazier on Netflix that are commercial-free.  An episode usually goes for about 20 minutes which is a fraction of what my old life looked like.

If you could choose one habit you would like to modify, what would it be?  I believe the best way to change behavior is to concentrate fully on the new habit that will replace the old one so that the transformation process sticks.  Have a great day.

When the Wheel Falls Off

I peered outside my window this morning and discovered a fresh layer of snow.  This means I need to leave early and proceed with caution as I head to my day job.  It's not as bad as a wheel falling off although some of the people in the 50 car pileup a couple of days ago on I-80 may disagree.  Accidents happen.  They are beyond our control.

My number one method for solutions when I'm facing a crisis is prayer.  Sometimes the answers are stuck in a pileup, like the time Daniel prayed and fasted for 21 days.  The angel, Gabriel, was sent to help but he told Daniel the 21-day delay had to do with demons blocking traffic.  Michael was called upon to open up a free lane so Gabriel could speak to Daniel.  Gabriel told Daniel God heard his prayers and immediately dispatched him but the dark side got in the way.

I will never forget the encounter I had with a traveler named Gabriel while I was vacationing in Big Sky, Montana earlier this year.  We both pulled over the side of the road at the same time to capture the beauty of a waterfall.  Gabriel asked me what I thought the odds were of Michael and Gabriel's meeting.  Then he asked me if I knew the meaning of his name.  He smiled and told me, "It means I'm the messenger of Elohim." He sped away on his motorcycle before I could ask any more questions.  I went back to our hotel room and told my family what happened.  They seemed in disbelief until I showed them pictures from our encounter.  Yep, I've been hearing a lot of Twilight Zone music in my head, maybe the result of my own accident nearly two years ago.  Both vehicles were totaled when I was t-boned.  My bones are healed and I'm ready to venture out in less than ideal conditions this morning knowing God is hearing all my prayers.  My chance meeting with Gabriel inspired me to keep going no matter what the road conditions or obstacles may be.  May you find a way to accomplish all your goals.  Have a great day.

One Inch a Day

Life is a series of marathons strung together from birth to death.  It's an all-weather sport played in various seasons and conditions.  There are days when I wake up and I have no idea what obstacles will come my way.  My hope is that I will find a way to advance by the end of the day, even if forward progress may be limited to one inch.  "What good is an inch?"   Consider the difference between life and death.  Yes, that's how important growth is.  Because if you're not moving, you're dying.

I'm a big believer in momentum.  Your daily efforts, even though they may not seem like much, will multiply as your skills improve.  Keep in mind that you may need to change gears if you can't find an inch of improvement in the area of your life your working on today.  Pick a new area and find your inch there.  One inch of improvement in any area of your life will help all the other areas you're seeking to improve.  Use your momentum to go back to the areas where you're struggling and find new solutions.   Have a great day.

Travel Afterburner is Activated

Afterburner definition:  an auxiliary burner fitted to the exhaust system of a turbojet engine to increase thrust.

I flipped a switch in my mind and fired up an afterburner to help me with my creativity for travel ideas.  Do not try this at home unless you're willing to deal with all the challenges that come from moving at supersonic speeds.  It's exhilarating.

Two ideas are gaining traction.  The first has to do with a group vacation in Montana.  I will share more with my family as I gather information.  The second idea is a long-term vision for road trips.  I'm calling this the "Lucy Project."  Lucy is the name of our future adventure van.  The first criterion for this idea is that we cannot adopt Lucy until we are 100% financially independent.  The second criterion is that we must pay as we go with the modifications in order to remain debt-free.  The time frame for our adoption looks like 2022.  Of course, final approval for these ideas is necessary from my co-pilot.  All I can say is the way things are going in our lives, Lucy will be a part of the family in no time.

Do you have an area of your life where turning on the afterburners may be helpful?  If you're unsure about flipping the switch, ask yourself if you will be happy if you find yourself in the same situation three to five years from now as you are today.  Be bold.  Seek adventure.  Have a great day.

Remember Why You Started

The longer it takes to reach the finish line, the easier it is to get distracted and give up.  Temptations come up.  Others may not understand why you do what you do.  Remember why you started.  This is the best way to stay in the game.  If your why is the only thing you have, it may be the only thing you need to keep going.  Have a great day.

I'm Working on Some Surprises

Maybe it's the Spirit of Christmas.  It could be answers to prayers.  Whatever is going on, I'm feeling a surge of energy and it's just in time because life is super busy right now.  I barely have time to get this story released before heading to my day job today.  I'll share details later.  Have a great day.

Let Passion Be Your Guide

The starting point doesn't really matter.  Neither does the date.  If you're feeling behind because you put your dreams on the back burner, don't worry.  What matters is that you're willing to begin an amazing journey that will unfold over a lifetime.  Let passion be your guide.  You will climb mountains.  You will experience new places and cultures.  Passion knows where you belong.

Today is a new day.  It's the perfect starting point.  Let go of every anchor holding you back or slowing you down and burst out of the starting gate.  Don't look back.  Enjoy your journey.  Have a great day.

Deposits and Withdrawals

Every action in your life is either a deposit or a withdrawal.  What you give is a deposit and what you take is a withdrawal.  The same is true in your relationships.  Making phone calls, sending notes or text messages and spending time with others goes in the "deposit" column.  Failing to respond or connect results in a "withdrawal."  How are you doing with your deposits and withdrawals?  Are you seeing red?  It's not too late to turn things around.

My goal for today is to take a look at my spending habits when it comes to my actions with others.  There is only so much gas in the tank.  If I take too much, I'm out of gas and I'm stranded.  The relationships with others fail.  I need to give in order to keep my relationships going.  My wife is at the top of my list.  Our 30-year anniversary celebration is coming to a conclusion at the end of this month.  We both got a lot of mileage by celebrating our marriage milestone for a full twelve months.  Our gas tank is full going into 2020 and beyond.  My advice for my friends and family is to make sure your deposits always exceed your withdrawals.  Have a great day.

Why You Should Maintain a Scorecard

Scorecards are meant to help you track your performance in any area of your life you would like to adjust.  It's hard to see where you are if you're not keeping some sort of record.  There's one thing I really care about when I look at my scorecards – improvement.  No matter how dire my situation may appear, I look for the slightest hint of improvement on a month-to-month basis.

If you're not maintaining a scorecard, be honest with yourself.  Is it because you feel embarrassed about your lack of progress?   Ask yourself what's causing you to slip.  Maybe your overall goal is so overwhelming that you feel it's impossible to reach.  Try breaking your goal down into bite-sized goals you can fit on a scorecard.  Here's an example:

You want to lose 12 pounds.  Instead of tracking the pounds, measure the ounces and put them on a daily scorecard.  Reduce the 12-pound goal to 12 monthly goals of 16 ounces released per month.  That means you are maintaining a daily scorecard that shows the total number of ounces gained or loss each week.  Put a note at the bottom of each day that also tracks the key choices you make that impact your performance.  I have a feeling you will see improvement if you remain committed to your scorecard.  Do this for 12 months and your scorecard will show you released 192 ounces!  Frame that scorecard and try it again on any other area of your life you would like to adjust.  Have a great day.

Bone Study Followup Today

I'm headed to the College of Public Health at the University of Iowa today as a participant in MOST (Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study).  They are primarily interested in my knees for this study.  I personally believe many health issues can be traced to the foods we eat.   Ever since I eliminated certain foods, like dairy and processed foods, my body has gone through a sort of transformation process.  My excess fat around my belly disappeared.  My double chin turned into a regular chin.  My lipid panels looked like the kind of report card you can't wait to share with your parents.  Most importantly, my energy levels soared.

Today's followup is very different from my own caveman food experiment set up by my cousin, Dr. John Mulligan.  These folks have thousands of participants.  They are using high tech equipment.  The time period covers years.  My experiment had consisted of one lab rat – me.  The time period was 45 days.  The results didn't need scientific evaluation, although the lipid panel results made the experiment more objective than my own subjective opinion about how I felt.

If you're curious about doing your own experiments to see if changes in your daily habits can produce successful outcomes, stay tuned.  I would like to give special thanks to my cousin for offering me an alternative to a life of prescription medicine pills which only serve as permission slips to eat the wrong foods our bodies cannot tolerate.  Have a great day.

Is Your Body Coachable?

I don't know many people who believe their bodies are "coachable."  The successful ones are those who understand mind games.  I say mind games because I believe most things in life are really games we play and there happens to be winners and losers.  Observers can discern your success or failure by watching your daily actions.  No words are necessary.  Another key question you may ask has to do with your mind.  Is your mind coachable?

You are probably inundated with advertising from others who want to coach your body.  They are already premeditating how they're going to bombard you with ads when the new year begins next month.  You may spend large sums of money to get others to coach your body.  I have a different idea and it's all about you becoming your own coach.  You already have what it takes inside your own mind.  You have the ability to coach your body and get awesome results as long as you never acquiesce to the body's demands to be in charge.

If you're telling me your body is not coachable, I beg to differ.  Maybe it's your own mind that refuses to be a leader in the battle of mind vs. body.  If you are successful as a parent, you have what it takes to do what's necessary when your body starts whining about junk food.  Just say no.  Repeat this every time.  Don't give up when you make a coaching mistake.  This mind game you're playing has life or death consequences.  The same is true with cigarettes, exercise choices, finances, etc.

I'm only certain about one thing in today's story.  Regardless of how you answered the question, you're right.  And if you happen to be one of the few who believes you can be your own coach, stay with me for tips.  I've made a lot of mistakes along the way but I'm finally starting to make big progress and I seriously believe it's because I'm trusting my brain to make the necessary decisions so my body can be fine-tuned for optimum performance.  Have a great day.

Burn the Ships

I'm on my way to my house of worship this morning with my wife.  In our faith, this is already a new year.  The four Sundays leading up to Christmas are a time of expectation.  In my opinion, a great way to prepare is to burn the ships on any old habits that aren't giving you joy or happiness.  Burning the ships means completely letting go without any possibility of returning.

There's a big advantage in letting go.  Your mind is open to creative thinking.  Your heart is open to new friends and relationships.   Your fears are nowhere to be seen.  Well, maybe they may be lingering if you don't light the match and burn the ships.  The idea here is to convince yourself you are okay with moving forward into the uncertainty of a new year.  Why not make a list of some new habits you would like to form and get started today?  Here's a YouTube video by King and Country to help you.  Have a great day.

2020 Vision

Here we again.  Another New Year is only one month away.  Do you have a vision for 2020?  This may be the first year that I don't set specific "resolutions" because I'm already on cruise control for 2020 and beyond.  For me, 2020 will be the middle year in a three-year plan.  Lifestyle goals are better than resolutions because they are much more permanent.

There are challenges when you set goals based on January 1 and there are certainly letdowns when those goals fade away before the month ends.  Gyms are overcrowded at the beginning of the year.  If you are serious about setting fitness goals, why not start now?  You could be in much better shape by January 1.  I like building on momentum.  I also like going against the norm.  Right now most people are in party mode and they're not paying attention to what they eat.  You can break the cycle now by making great food and exercise choices today.  You will be thirty days ahead of the pack when the calendar flips to 2020.  Be bold.  Improve your vision for the future today.  Have a great day.

Head Games

It's the day after Thanksgiving.  Maybe this is the day your body is rebelling because you over-indulged at the table of plenty yesterday.  Those voices in your head appear to make the loudest noises when you suffer setbacks.  I had a feeling that was going to happen after I came home from our Thanksgiving celebration with my wife's siblings.  I had the perfect counter-attack for the voices...meditation.  I shared with my family how I use this kaleidoscope video to help me get my mind in a quiet place and we ended up doing a 135-minute meditation together while digesting our Holiday feast.  The combination of soothing music and vivid colors on our TV screen were mesmerizing enough to quiet the voices of rebellion from within.

I'm learning how to train my voices to "sit and stay" just like training our pets.  Consistency matters.  Sure, there are setbacks during pet training but giving up means the inmates are running the asylum and that's no bueno.  I'm ready to seize the day today and get back on track with my long-term food program.  The body scored a touchdown but half-time is over and today the mind is going to find the end zone multiple times.  My 15-minute morning meditation helped me come up with a winning strategy.  I wish you well with your own head games.  Make sure you tell the body who is in charge.  Have a great day.

Happy Thanksgiving

I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds ~ Psalm 9:1

Today is a great day to pause and give thanks.  If the story of my life were to be summarized in one Bible verse, I think Psalm 9:1 is spot on.  I believe I will never ever run out of blessings to be thankful for or wonderful deeds from above to share with you.  My heart is filled with gratitude.

The longer I live, the more I realize there is a Divine plan for each and every one of us.  Is it easy to figure out what that plan is?  I think it depends on how much gratitude we have in our hearts.  Gratitude helps us open our eyes to infinite possibilities.  It doesn't matter where you're from, how many trials you've endured or how many times you failed.  What matters is that God is with you every step of the way and He's ready to reveal countless wonderful deeds in your life.  Happy Thanksgiving.  Have a great day.

Do This When You're at an Intersection

What should one do when at an intersection?  Unless you want to cause an accident or a traffic jam, I believe it's best to MOVE.  Any direction except backward is a good choice.  In life, we all have our intersections and these intersections should be treated the same way...MOVE.  Inaction spells trouble.      Once you get through your intersection, you can evaluate if your choice is leading you to the best possible destination.  A U-turn may be necessary.  That's okay.

I found myself in the middle of a busy intersection this morning and decided to go in a bold direction most would probably refrain from.  I sent an email to the CEO of Disney asking permission to use pictures of Wilson in my book.  I don't know what will happen next but I made it out of the intersection before my own fear could rear-end me.  Perhaps it's time to quit looking in the rearview mirror at that pesky tailgater.  There are some important intersections ahead.  All I can say is, "keep moving."  Have a great day.

Par for the Course Helps with Financial Goal Setting

Financial freedom is a game for me.  Ever since creating Par for the Course, a virtual game where monthly goals are measured similar to playing golf, I've become obsessed with discovering clever ways to manage my finances.

I consider myself lucky to be playing this game with my wife because she doesn't laugh when my shots land in the water.  She checked out a book from the library by Dave Ramsey many years ago that inspired us to live like no one else so we can live like no one else.  We've been making progress but have a long way to go.  Dave uses steps to guide his followers to the promised land of financial freedom.  I'm visualizing playing virtual golf to help me fine-tune my spending habits and stay in the game.  Despite major cuts in our budget, like cable TV, swim membership fees, and eating out regularly, we hooked and sliced our way to seven bogeys during the first seven months of this year.  If all goes well, we will finish the final five months of this year on par.  The key now is to remain consistent and keep improving so that I can eventually erase those seven bogeys.  Have a great day.

The Imaginary Line

The imaginary line is a boundary line we all have that prevents us from reaching our dreams.  Once upon a time, explorers chose not to venture too far away because they believed the world was flat.  That's a powerful imaginary line.  Runners believed a four-minute mile was impossible.  The imaginary line disappeared as soon as Roger Bannister broke the barrier.  As soon as we come up with this idea that something is impossible, we erect one of these imaginary lines and we become incarcerated.

Is your world flat?  Do you really believe in imaginary lines?  What would your life be like if you could break through a false barrier your mind constructed?  Challenge yourself to find at least one imaginary line your mind created and erase it from your memory.  Have a great day.

I Can't Shake the Travel Bug

It looks like the travel bug is going to be with me for a long time.  The more I travel the stronger my desire to see the world gets.  Maybe it's because I love meeting new people and experiencing new cultures.  It's also about the scenery.  Modern concepts like Airbnb and Uber make travel more affordable.  I'm thankful my wife wants to join me on these adventures.  These experiences will give me some fun topics to share in future stories.  Stay tuned.  The travel bug is opening some doors to exciting adventures ahead.  Have a great day.

Watch for the Triggers

Today's story is about anger avoidance.  While driving to my day job yesterday, a semi driver in front of me decided to pass another slower-moving semi driver and changed lanes before I could pass.  He slowed down to match the other driver's speed and remained in the passing lane for several miles.  A line of vehicles formed behind me and the driver behind me decided to tail-gate, pinning me in.  I could feel my blood pressure rising.  This was a sign of a trigger.  Instead of getting angry, I decided to go into prayer mode.  I moved back to the slow lane.  The tailgater moved even closer to the semi still blocking traffic on the left lane.  Both semi drivers seemed oblivious to the angry drivers wanting to pass.

How often do you see the triggers in your day that occur before you lose your temper and all hell breaks loose?  For me, triggers are a great opportunity to keep your cool if you become aware of them in time.  Use the triggers to remain calm no matter what others do to disturb your serenity.  They are like caution signs.  Have a great day.

777 Days to Financial Freedom

My date with destiny is now 777 days away.  It's getting really fun now.  I love finding creative ways to live in abundance while wiping out my mortgage at the same time.  There are those who believe you must forego exotic travel and credit card spending in order to achieve goals of living debt-free but I disagree.  In fact, my credit card serves as a rewards card and I use it for everything.  The key is to make sure the money is in the bank before a charge is made so that all payments are made prior to the due date to ensure no interest is ever paid.  The tables have turned in my household.  I take exotic vacations annually compliments of my rebate checks from my credit card company.

How many days do you have until you reach financial independence?  Set your goals now and find a way to have fun while you're advancing.  Your daily efforts will pay off.  Have a great day.

Par for the Course is Game Changer

The first seven bogeys out of seven months on my virtual debt reduction course made me feel a bit queazy.  The only way out was to keep playing and keep improving until I got it right.  This month is my 4th par in a row meaning I have a shot at finishing the 36-month game very close to my initial target.  As I review my performance for the first eleven months, one pattern emerges.  It really comes down to the minor adjustments.  It's amazing how close we can get to our goals when we stay in the game long enough to develop winning habits.

I'm learning how to be a winner at financial freedom by eliminating anything causing me to hook or slice, such as cutting out costly cable bills, reducing unnecessary add-ons on recurring bills, and concentrating on more home-cooked meals.  I created a second direct deposit account specifically set up to make additional mortgage payments and this money is hidden from our regular budget.  Keeping this account stealth prevents me from the daily temptations that detract from my debt reduction goals.  There are 25 months to go and I'm going to keep chipping, driving, putting or doing whatever is necessary to finish this game on par.  Have a great day.

One More Experiment to Try – Negativity Reduction

If you're interested in experiments that may enhance your life, try this one.  I call it the Negativity Reduction Experiment.  As each day passes, I'm becoming a firm believer in experiments because they help you understand that sometimes there's a better way.  It's impossible to discover it if you keep repeating the same daily routine.

Take a look at the world around you.  Explore every area of your life.  Analyze how you spend your time, your money and your talents.  Are you happy?  I mean, really happy.  Do you like your job?  Is it a career you love?  How about the people in your life?  Do they encourage you to grow?  Make a list.  If the people on your list help you to feel more positive, put a + sign next to them.  Do the same thing with your activities.  Anything negative gets a minus sign next to it.  Here's the experiment:

Decide which activity or person is the most negative influence in your life and do your best for the next 30 days to avoid that activity or person.  Keep a journal so you can track this.  If you find yourself happier at the end of the 30 days, move on to the most negative person and repeat.  Stay with this experiment until you have eliminated all things negative or until you no longer see a positive result.

I would like to add one more personal testimonial to this experiment and it has to do with my TV elimination.  Wow!  What a difference in happiness.  The bonus is in my productivity.  Negativity reduction works.  Let me know if you find increased levels of happiness in your life after giving this a try.  Have a great day.

Spiritual Boot Camp Yields Bumper Crop

I planted some seeds earlier this year and the harvest appears to be fruitful.  My time away from home gave me the opportunity to refine my new habits and make them a permanent lifestyle.  In a way, the journey was a spiritual one.  It's hard to describe but I felt this Divine presence in my life.  There's absolutely no way I could have planned everything that happened or the "random" people I met who touched my very soul.

You may be asking, "Michael, what seeds did you plant?"  Here goes:

• Books.  Nine of them so far this year.  Each one deeply impacted me.  Currently, I'm in the middle of "The Art of Uncertainty." I find it as a compass to help me go in the right direction.  My mother pointed me to an interesting author, Dr. Joe Dispenza.  His words comforted me while I was in Minnesota.  "Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself," and "Becoming Supernatural" were filled with all kinds of interesting ideas which inspired me to meditate daily.  One of my day job colleagues offered me a free copy of "The Slight Edge." I found it so inspiring that I ordered additional copies for our adult children.  My wife is reading "The Happiness Project," something I discovered earlier in the year and gobbled up after reading "The Surrender Experiment."  I found some nice morsels to nibble on while reading "Get Over Your Damn Self."  John O'Leary offered up some great pointers in his book, "On Fire."  Dan Millman lived up to his promise of changing lives in his book, "Way of the Peaceful Warrior."
• No TV while away on my day job assignments.  My only exception to this was game 7 of the World Series.  You will understand the importance of this when you read "The Adventures of Wilson.  This freed up time to read and fill my mind with new ideas.
• Travel.  I can't wait to share more about the people and places I met in my next book.
• Tennis.  My time away from my regular teammates gave me an opportunity to discover new ideas about a game I've been playing since my high school days.
• Beach Tennis.  Yep.  There's a sport that combines tennis and volleyball and I fell in love with it on one of my adventures.  I'm hooked.  Hey cousin, we must try this sometime.
• Daily meditation.  This new part of my life is part of my morning routine.  Sessions go from 15 minutes to two hours depending on the size of my daily tasks.
• Limited social media time.  I often find myself getting lost reading random stuff that really serves no purpose other than to distract me from other high priority items.
• Writing.  Yeah!  I'm finally back on my laptop.  Today's lengthy post is my first time using it and it's so much better than blogging on my cell phone.  I'm super motivated to keep going until both book projects are completed, edited, and self-published soon.

This entire year has been one fabulous spiritual boot camp.  The new habits are sticking.  I'm living proof you can reach any goal you set as long as you plant the right seeds, nurture them and harvest them at the right time.  Thanks for staying with me on this journey.  I can't wait to share my next books with you soon.  Have a great day.

Thankful to be Home

My wife gave me an amazing homecoming last night.  When they say absence makes the heart grow fonder, they're right.  She stepped up to a fancy red wine to serve with a home-cooked Italian feast and it was fabulous.  I'm going to rest for a couple of days before rejoining my team at my day job.  Have a great day.

Honey, I'm Coming Home

Today is a travel day.  My two-month special assignment has come to a conclusion.  It's been a great experience, however, I do miss a good home-cooked meal and snuggling with my wife.  I would like to thank her for giving me the opportunity to contribute to an extended period of time away from home.  I'm thankful to have a couple of days off when I get home to get back into my routine.  Have a great day.

Day Job Special Assignment Ends Today

I'm going home tomorrow.  Today is my last full day away from my family.  I'm counting my blessings today.  My time away from home helped me to stretch outside my comfort zone and I plan to return equipped with new ideas to be a better spouse, dad, employee and member of my community.  I've been surrounded by talented people who have this desire to improve and they inspired me to grow.  Thank you, Eagan, for welcoming me into your community.  I look forward to coming back with my wife and family and visiting you in the future.  Have a great day.

Grand Opening Today at Day Job

The ribbon-cutting is at 8am.  I find it hard to believe how quickly the time passed these last two months on assignment at my day job.  I'll be heading home on Sunday to be reunited with my family in Iowa.  Today is the first day we are open to the general public and we're super excited to be open.  I will never forget all the new hires who joined our family and I'm forever thankful for the opportunity to share my experiences.  Special thanks go to my wife for running the household in my absence.  Have a great day.

It's VIP Night at Day Job

We have a Grand Opening at my day job tomorrow morning at 8am.  Tonight our bosses are coming to town to thank all the new employees for their efforts to open a new location in the Minneapolis area.  I've been here for two months to help as support staff and I'm really thankful for all the new friends I made.

Before the celebration begins, I'm hoping to attend a meeting this morning with some amazing people I met who run a charity involving refurbishing wheelchairs and giving them to needy patients who cannot afford them on their own.  Wheelchairs are collected, sent to prisons for refurbishing, and then given away.  Today looks like it's going to be memorable.  Have a great day.

Where's Wilson?

A familiar face will be missing when I release "The Adventures of Wilson."  Yep.  The main character, Wilson, who dribbled into my life when he was left behind at my day job won't be in any of the pictures.  In fact, if all goes according to plan, Wilson will be out of my life next year.  This is bitter sweet for me but it's the right thing to do.  Wilson never belonged to me although he won over my heart as well as countless strangers who I met on this amazing journey.

I'm in the final stages of the mountain climb.  It's coming together quickly.  It feels really strange to be editing Wilson out of the photos but this is necessary in order to avoid legal complications since I did not receive the permission I was seeking to use Wilson's image in my book.  The empty feeling I have inside while writing today's story foreshadows how my life will be when I finally give Wilson back to his rightful owner.  My sadness will turn to joy when those sick kids at Children's Hospital get their reward for my efforts.  Have a great day.

Recycling a Cover Photo from "The Caveman in the Mirror"

The photo you see here will be a part of all future books.  I decided to recycle it for my independent publisher label, Caveman Miracle Network.  Behind the label are all the prayer warriors who have been with me, some since the beginning of my writing journey.  It started with "Angels in the Outfield," a small group of friends and family members who lifted me up when I was stumbling, fumbling and doing my best to figure out how to navigate the world of publishing.

Recycling is a big deal for me because I'm one of those people who believes in prudent choices to maximize my lifestyle.  I love shopping at second-hand stores, using coupons and finding ways to save money in every area of my life.

That caveman you see in the logo has been haunting me for a long time.  I couldn't get him out of my head while penning my first novel.  Well, it turns out this guy is much more than some fictional character from "The Caveman in the Mirror."  It turns out that there's this place in Northern Spain where some bones were uncovered in a cave not far from my mother's side of the family.  Those bones are 7,000 years old.  An artist was hired to create a model of what this guy looked like, a dark-skinned, blue-eyed hunter gatherer whose DNA is the oldest recoverable DNA ever found.  I have a feeling he's a distant ancestor.   So, I will carry this caveman with me everywhere I go in the world of publishing and I'll always be reminded of the amazing team of people around me who believe in me.  Thank you!  Have a great day.

Dance Your Way to Financial Freedom

It's called the credit debit two step.  In my opinion, it's a fun way to achieve financial freedom.  It's like fighting with fire.  Here's how it goes:

The first step is to charge on your credit card.  Wait a moment.  Stop the music.  I'm already hearing rumblings from beyond the dance floor and I know why.  Like I said, this dance is like fighting fire with fire and you're first step is to pull out your credit card and charge.  Go ahead.  Take that first step.

The second step is a delayed shuffle step to the right.  It comes as soon as your credit card step you made clears pending with your credit card company.  This may take up to three days.  Watch for the signal and make your move with your debit card so that you end up with a zero balance on your credit card.  The trick is to set your bank account up online and link it to your credit card company so your debit payment can be processed as soon as you log in.  My credit card company allows up to two payments a day.

This may look like a slow dance but the beat picks up when you do these steps daily.  You may appear to others like you're dancing a quick shuffle but the moves are actually three days apart.

I hear the rumblings again.  That's okay.  This two step isn't for everybody.  I'm using it to put out the fire that's been consuming my balance sheet for decades and it's working.  In fact, the rewards I earn by shuffling with a no annual fee rewards card are helping me take better vacations without any hangovers from high interest rates others pay when they forget the second step of the dance.  Dancing has never been so fun.  Don't try this at home unless you're willing to always do both steps together.  Have a great day.

Every Mile Matters

Marathon runners know what it takes to get the job done.  First, there's the commitment to train.  It's all about the mind, body and spirit.  Training can be mundane but it's necessary.  Preparation is critical.  The beginning of the marathon is easy.  Somewhere in the middle of the race, the mind, body and spirit have "conversations."  The tougher the challenge, the more negative those conversations tend to be.  This is also what it looks like when you're a writer and the finish line seems so distant. 

I'm not a marathoner but I know what it's like to log the miles on my daily blog and my book projects.  Yes, every mile matters.  Every sentences matters.  And every challenge must be overcome, especially the internal ones inside my own head.  

I love the person who's willing to go for it all, like the student who has so much zest for life that he tells his guidance counselor he's taking on a double major or he's graduating in three years because an awesome life is waiting for him once he graduates.  I'm one of those people who looks at a couple of sharks in the water and asks, "why not chum the waters with some extra appetizers for the naysayers to go after and write two books at the same time?"  This really gives those people who don't know how to get things done something to attack.  All I need to do is be one mile ahead of my opponents and cross that finish line before I succumb to mediocrity.  

Wherever you may be on your race course, my advice to you is to keep going.  Don't worry about your workload.  Stay hydrated.  Remain focused.  Find a couple of fellow marathoners who are willing to encourage you when exhaustion sets in.  Every mile matters, especially the one you're on at this moment.  Have a great day.

Walt Disney Inspires

Have you ever heard of Oswald, the Lucky Rabbit?  The character was one of Walt Disney's first creations.  A corporate dispute forced Walt to give up his rights to Lucky. He also lost employees as a result of the dispute.  It was devastating.  Most people would have given up.  Not Walt.  Instead, he created Mickey Mouse.

Like Walt Disney, I got a devastating punch earlier this week and it was from the highest levels in Walt's company.  I thought my Wilson project was going to end up in the trash compactor.  Thank you, Walt, for inspiring me to never give up.  Sometimes you have to change directions when your lucky rabbit disappears in an unfortunate hat trick you have no control over.  Stay tuned to see what happens to Wilson.  Have a great day.

The Doubt Zone

Have you ever found yourself in a place where you feel uncertain?  Similar to the Twighlight Zone, the doubt zone can raise your anxiety levels if you're not wary.

I like to ask myself where I think my doubts are coming from.  A lack of preparedness is a surefire ticket to the doubt zone.  There's an easy solution.  Get prepared.

The one I follow is always suggesting that we stop being afraid, another byproduct of the doubt zone.  But how do we do this?  Maybe we can work on trusting that God has a plan.  The doubt zone is more like a hallway that connects us to our future.  It can also serve as an elevator that will bring us to the right floor at the right time.

I thought I was finally going to visit the penthouse a couple of days ago but the elevator got stuck between floors.  I sensed some hyperventilating and didn't know what was going to happen.  I ended up in the basement.  My mind started playing tricks on me.

Don't let your time in the doubt zone trap you.  Breathe.  Pray.  Be patient.  When the right door opens, show the world what you can do.  Have a great day.

Future Self Sends Encouragement

I'm sharing a letter from my future self today...

Dear Michael,

Hello.  It's your future self.  It's a good thing you like scifi because this letter came to you in a way most people could never believe is possible.  This letter is to thank you for never giving up even though this is the day you were tempted to give up on your dreams of publishing "The Adventures of Wilson."

That rejection letter you got really hurt, didn't it?  Although it was a long time ago from my point of view, I still remember the sting you felt when you first read that email.

I wish I could tell you how you pulled it off but that would spoil the surprise.  Keep writing.  Someday you will discover how good it feels to see things from my point of view.  Have a great day.

Michael

What are the Odds?

There comes a point when you realize the strange coincidences around you may be something out of this world.  I started noticing this early in the year and now the coincidences are so overwhelming that I can't even fathom the odds.

What are the odds that when I ask a stranger sitting next to me at an airport to share something about his life that may be worth including in my book and he says, "well, my partner and I may win the Nobel Prize for medicine"?

What are the odds that the person standing next you while you're tossing around your friend, Wilson, the volleyball from Castaway, that you discover she's a high school volleyball coach and she asks you to speak to her kids?

What are the odds of meeting the mother of a future World Series champion in a restaurant called the Mustard Seed with a server named Eli and you become her prayer warrior?

What are the odds of meeting a bride-to-be on a plane and she happens to be the director of volleyball for the University of Iowa?

Are you a believer yet?  Well, here's another one...What are the odds of meeting the maestro for the Philharmonic Orchestra and he happens to be the honorary tournament director for a local tennis club where you're working out, he sells "lunch with the Maestro" at the silent auction but you bump into him while having dinner and you end up dining with him and his family?

What are the odds that you are the first person to greet the mayor of the city you're visiting when he asks to come to your training session to introduce himself and you get the perfect photo opportunity with the mayor and Wilson?

What are the odds that you get interviewed by a Japanese television station because they recognize Wilson and they want to know why you're walking around with him?

All of these "random" events happened this year.  I'm beginning to think I really didn't adopt Wilson...he adopted me.

Let me ask you a couple more questions.  What do you think the odds are that a couple of companies who hold the rights to Wilson will grant permission for Wilson to appear in my next book?  Finally, what are the odds that Wilson and I appear on the Ellen show together so I can give Wilson back to Tom Hanks, the actor who created Wilson when he planted his bloody handprint on the volleyball in the movie, Castaway?

Stay tuned.  I'm fairly certain the "random" occurrences aren't going to stop any time soon.  Have a great day.

How to Become a Master of Rejection

Rejection is a mindset.  Focus your attention on the obstacle and you will become a champion of defeat.  I prefer to ponder what lies on the other side of rejection.  This is difficult to do sometimes because rejection for most is personal.  I know people who blame themselves for all the rejection that shows up.

I keep asking myself, "what's the lesson?"  I also like to ask God for Divine assistance getting past the rejection.  It helps to toss in some gratitude for the rejection you're getting.  Why?  Because rejection helps you become the person you need to be in order to overcome the obstacles.

Today is a great day to master the art of rejection.  It's never a "no," it's always a "not yet."  What's on the other side of your "not yet"?  Have a great day.

When the Insignificant Becomes Significant

Think about the love of your life.  Do you know the exact moment you fell in love?  How about when your partner fell in love with you?  Do you recall the precise moment?  The same is true with your calling in life.  Do you remember the day you woke up and said, "I'm a (fill in the blank)?"

Your life is a series of seemingly insignificant moments and choices that add up to something extraordinary as long as you remain consistent and stay in the game.

If someone asked me how many hoops I would jump through to prove my love for my wife, this is my reply..."all of them."

Never underestimate the value of the insignificant.  Never listen to the naysayer who simply misunderstands the value of daily effort.  Jump through the hoops.  Do what it takes to refine your gifts.  Show up.  Say "I love you." It's done best when you can do this without words.  Have a great day.

Fort Snelling is Closed Until Memorial Day

I wasn't the only one who tried to enter Fort Snelling yesterday.  My hope was to meet with one of the employees who shared her Indian heritage with me when I visited last week and do a followup interview.  The fort is closed until Memorial Day.

I have enough information to move forward with my plans even though my interview would have been helpful. The biggest obstacle I'm facing is securing permission to publish Wilson's images in my book.  I plan to reach out to Twentieth Century Fox with another request and will send them my latest photos this afternoon.  I hope the door opens sooner than the gate reopens at Fort Snelling.  Have a great day.

Important Interview Today

Today may be one of my most important days ever in my quest to discover my family history.  When I first ventured into my wife's homestate, news spread quickly I was interested in cemeteries.  Not much has changed.  In fact, my desire to dig up my family ancestry is stronger than ever.  Perhaps it's because I'm surrounded by so many family connections to the civil war era while I'm on a day job assignment in Minnesota.

If all goes well, Wilson and I will spend some time with a woman who knows better than most what happened when our country was expanding in the New Frontier.  She is from the Dakota tribe, one of two tribes that dominated the Minnesota area before it became a state.  My hope is to learn more details about our shared past.  Our time together was cut short last week while I toured Fort Snelling.  I'm returning this morning after my tennis drills located at "the fort" next door to the historic property.  I believe she has much to share.  If she gives permission to share her interview with others, I do believe this could be an exciting chapter in my upcoming book, "Adventures with Wilson."  Stay tuned.  Have a great day.

Financial Freedom is 28% Complete

10 months down and 26 to go.  The debt reduction game I came up with at the beginning of the year is looking much better now that I'm getting a grip on my personal finances.  The first 7 bogeys were frustrating but I kept making adjustments until I found the sweet spot.  It's official now that October is closed out.  That's the third par in a row which means I paid enough additional principal to reach my preset goals.

Financial independence means different things to different people.  For me, it means I can have more time to explore the world without concern about monthly mortgage payments.  It means I can support good causes without tight budget constraints.  I believe debt discipline now is better than mortgage payments in the retirement years. 

If I want to win my financial independence by the end of the 36 month par for the course game, soon I will need to come up with some eagles.  Each month offers an opportunity to learn new ways to improve my game.  Stay with me during the next 26 months and I'll share my progress with you.  Every day matters.  Have a great day.

Washington Nationals are World Series Champions

Photo credit: the Christian Broadcasting Network

Several records were broken when the Washington Nationals won their first  World Series Championship last night in a thriller.  Never before had the visiting team won all seven games of the series.  Never before had the Washington Nationals won the World Series.  And never before had a team been such underdogs early in the season and faced so many elimination games on their way to victory in game 7 of the World Series.

The team was on the rebound after starting off the season at 19 wins and 34 losses when my wife and I met Jackie Barrett at the Mustard Seed in the Atlanta airport.  That's the day we both started praying for her son, Aaron, a relief pitcher for the Nationals who was told by his doctors he would never pitch again due to extensive injuries that were so bad his team forbid any videos to be shown of the incident on the mound.  I asked Jackie if she wouldn't mind joining my private caveman miracle network where prayer warriors team up to seek Divine assistance.  Jackie asked that our group pray for Aaron to get called up to the majors in time for a late season run when the team roster would be expanded.  That's when the magic happened.  My wife danced for joy when she heard the news.

The last record to fall was my no TV hotel experiment which was intact for my last three day job assignments spanning approximately five months.  Yes, I savored game seven while on the road and it was a moment I will cherish forever.  Congratulations to the Washington Nationals.  I hope to capture a photo moment with Aaron and Wilson and include Aaron's faith journey in my next book.  It all started with faith the size of a mustard seed.  We are blessed to be a part of the journey.  I would like to thank all the prayer warriors who continue to pray for others in our network.  Have a great day.

Why I Maintain a Gratitude Journal

There is always something to be thankful for.  If I ever wake up and have trouble finding at least ten things I'm thankful for, I can open up my gratitude journal and read my entries.  I find great joy thinking about the blessings in my life.

In addition to the daily list of ten things I'm thankful for, I add one positive affirmation.  It's usually something I'm striving to improve in my life.  Today's affirmation is..."I believe I can change the world by setting a good example."

Practice gratitude.  Keep track of your blessings.  Try this for 30 days and see what happens.  Have a great day.

Savor Your Pit Stops

I'm sharing a photo from my trip home last week.  It was a rest stop near the Mexico-US border.  I couldn't take my eyes off the beauty of the desert scenery.  It's really easy to slip away from nature if you forget to savor the pit stops.  I keep reminding myself to smell the roses.

Promise yourself that no matter how busy your life is, you will find a way to take breaks.  I believe it's wise to capture photos when you do get rest breaks to help you remember how good it feels to relax.  Have a great day.

Family Member Gets a Mulligan from Abraham Lincoln

I spent the weekend learning about my family history in Minnesota.  I dug up something about my great-great-great grandfather, a man who needed a mulligan in order to get a second chance after he was court martialed and found guilty of padding his enlistment in order to provide adequate provisions for his troops.

My time at Ft. Snelling on Saturday inspired me to probe deep and gain a better understanding of what life was like during the civil war era.  Those of us in the Midwest may be groveling about the cold weather this week.  How about temps in the -60 degree range?  That's what it was like in the Winter of 1863-1864.    The natives were starving to death.  Tensions were high.  Our government wasn't honoring the treaties in place.  Captain James Starkey, my great-great-great grandfather, and a couple of his sons, signed up to protect settlers in the area from the uprising related to the Dakota War.  Starkey led Company E that was formed as an independent battalion of cavalry under Maj. E.A.C. Hatch.  My understanding is that my ancestor was found guilty of signing up underage kids to patrol the area of Minnesota.  He was trying to make sure his people had enough supplies and he failed to follow the rules.

Starkey's sentence was harsh.  He was prohibited from ever serving in the military again or doing public service.  As an army captain who desired to serve his community, he found himself out in the cold.  President Lincoln intervened and amended his sentence to allow elected office.  The rest of the story is history.  Starkey was elected to the state House and served one session as speaker.  He used the mulligan President Lincoln gave him for good and set up what is now the modern day sewer system in St. Paul, Minnesota.

I'm thankful for all our ancestors who came before us and for their willingness to deal with difficult situations.  I'm also thankful Captain James Starkey got a second chance to serve his country.  And I'm really thankful it won't be -60 degrees this week and that my toilet actually flushes.  Have a great day.

Day of Rest Today

My family cautioned me to take rest breaks during my adventure away from home.  Today I'm heeding their advice.  This will be a great day to recharge my batteries while reflecting on my journey.  Have a great day.