Wheels Up for the Journey Home

What an adventure this has been in North Dakota.  My day job assignment is over and I'm going home this afternoon.  I'm thankful for the opportunity to make new friends and participate in something really special, expanding during a worldwide pandemic. 

My wife deserves a medal of honor for keeping our household running during my time away.  There's no place like home.  Wheels up.  I'll see you soon, my love.  Have a great day.

Beware of the Trap

When you're in the trap it's almost impossible to see it.  Your vision is always best when you are able to avoid the snares.  That's why a strong family and a good circle of friends is important.  They can help you become aware of the trap.

Most of us can agree that 2020 is one of the most unusual years we have seen in our lifetime.  Trap avoidance is a skill we need to develop for survival.  Here are the danger signs of the traps:

• Complacency 
• Addiction
• Jealousy 
• Greed
• Anger
• Inability to let go
• Lack of forgiveness 
• Pride
• Temptation 

If you're seeking a better life, work on trap avoidance.  Find people who are willing to help you if you feel you're unable to escape the trap you're in.  Have a great day.

The Pars are Coming Along

I've been playing Par for the Course for nineteen straight months.  The first seven months of my game I came up with to aid in my pursuit of financial freedom were dreadful.  Most people would have given up.  I kept working on my game.  Something interesting happened.  I found my rhythm.  For the first time since I started, I can predict a par for the month ahead before the calendar flips to August.  The momentum will keep me going strong for the remainder of the year.

I would like to thank my wife for inspiring me to improve my spending habits so that we can enjoy our golden years free of debt.  Stay tuned for some tips on how you can gain financial freedom.  Have a great day.

Fill Your Mind with Positive Thoughts

The world at times is filled witb negative people and negative energy.  Your participation in that negativity is not necessary, especially if you want a higher quality of life.

Negative energy drains.  Positive energy lights up a room.  This starts with positive thoughts.  I make sure to allocate my morning time to quiet meditation so that I can find positive thoughts.  These thoughts are centered on gratitude.  It's impossible for gratitude to be negative.  This is my secret weapon for the best life ever.  Have a great day.

Sleep Well, Feel Well

My alarm went off at 4am this morning.  Like all mornings, I woke up feeling well.  The secret?  Deep sleep.  For me, this comes from a commitment to living  a consistent daily life free of stress.  I don't get nightmares in the middle of the night because I'm careful to monitor the input my brain receives while I'm awake.  That means no TV.  This works.

If you want to feel well, start by sleeping well.  Have a great day.

Langdon, Where Everybody Knows Your Name

Today's story is a salute to my ancestors and their ties to a small town about 300 miles from where I am on a special assignment.  I was hoping to visit but the work schedule is packed full and I'm running out of time.

We beached our rental pontoon boat yesterday during our four hour adventure so we could jump in the ice cold water for a swim.  I looked out and spotted a white-haired gentleman that looked like a doppelganger of my grandfather who raised ten kids in Bismarck. He even had the same expression of contentment on his face that reminded me of the day grandad pulled over to smell the fresh cut grass in Phoenix, Arizona where he relocated to be in a climate better suited for his breathing.  I wonder if grandad was reminiscing about his Langdon days where the grass is green and mowing is an activity that must be done weekly to keep the neighborhoods pristine.

I didn't get to meet the man who looked like my grandfather but two men on the boat next to him came over to assist us when we were having trouble getting the engine to turn over.  They had family who live in Langdon and told me they believed our Mulligan name is probably still remembered even though they left nearly eighty years ago.  Langdon, like many small towns across our country, is a place where everybody knows your name.  I'm happy to live in a community where the neighbors look out for one another, just like Langdon.  Have a great day.

Boat on a River

Our day job team in Bismarck is renting a pontoon boat today for an adventure on the Missouri river. The timing appears just right because last night's storm has passed and the sun is shining.  We've been working hard to introduce our new location to the community and now it's time to relax.  We're topping off the day with a barbecue.  We have two Weber grills at our hotel.  I'm thankful we can enjoy a coupl of days off before we enter our busiest day yet in preparation for our opening next month.  Have a great day.

Stick with Your Strengths

There is a danger when you concentrate on your weaknesses.  You are possibly attempting to do things you weren't meant to do.  This will increase anxiety and decrease your sense of wellbeing.

I find great joy pursuing projects that utilize my strengths.  Life is fulfilling.  I sleep better.  When I need to get something done that I am not cut out to do, I find someone better suited for the task and ask for help. The result of sticking with my strengths is a stress free life.  Try it.  Have a great day.

The 3 Days That Forever Changed My Life

I know firsthand what it's like to change your opinion when your mind appears opposed to a new way of thinking. When the thought first entered my mind, my body rebelled.  I became so ill that I vomited.  I was certain that what was happening was unrelated to my emotions but I was wrong.  The body has its own defense mechanisms to keep the status quo.

I rarely share what inspired 5,000 love letters between my wife and me but a situation came up yesterday when I felt a gentle nudge to speak from my heart.  All I can say is it was a Holy Spirit moment just as it was when I was instructed to write love letters to my wife during a 3day marriage encounter.  I was forced to confront unresolved issues deep inside my heart and the experience was quite unnerving. The fight or flight reaction was causing my head to spin.  My body was saying, "run!" My wife was willing to get me the Hell out of the retreat but she insisted on telling the leader we were out the door.  He came out to console me.  He said a few words and convinced me to stick around.  My wife and I managed to write some of the best love letters of our lives.  I no longer believe writing is a waste of time. I will be writing daily for as long as I live.  Thank you for the opportunity to share my passion with you.  Have a great day.

What Kind of Leader are You?

Like it or not, you're a leader.  The question I have for you is about the kind of leader you are.  Before you try to argue with me about why you're NOT a leader, please examine a typical day in your life.  If you're a parent, you're a leader.  School teacher?  Leader.  Do you share hobbies with others?  Leader.  The list goes on.  I'm even willing to bet that you lead others at work, irregardless of your title.

One of my earliest lessons about leadership came from my days teaching tennis in Canada.  My responsibilities off the courts included living in a cabin with the campers.  My buddies in the surrounding cabins had their own individual leadership styles.  My approach was to let the kids lead.  This worked so well that we won top honors every week for the cleanest cabin which gave the kids an opportunity to leave camp and see a movie in the town nearby. I found a way to lead without leading.  I still use this approach in all areas of my life today. If you're not happy with your style of leadership, give this a try.  Have a great day.

I Found a Needle in the Haystack

My first day back in North Dakota was filled with a big surprise. I had a small gap in my schedule and decided to get my haircut in Bismarck. I met Charon (pronounced like Cher and Ron). She wanted to know why I was in town and I shared about my desire to learn more about the state my dad grew up in.  I mentioned a family story about my grandfather who put skis on his small plane so he could make house calls in the Winter months in Langdon.  Back in the day the population was around 1,500.  It turns out that Charon's dad grew up in Langdon.  They may have played sports together.  I have a picture of my dad from his high school football team on my refrigerator.   It was easy for me to spot the three Mulligans on the team because they have a distinct look that keeps showing up in every generation.

I lost my dad to lung cancer at age 67.  Charon lost her dad to lung cancer at age 66.  The day she cut my hair was the anniversary of her dad's death.  

If you happen to be in Bismarck and you need a haircut, see Charon at Sport Clips.  Tell her you read about her in my needle in the haystack story.  Have a great day.  

Wheels Up

I'm headed back to Bismarck, North Dakota this morning for another adventure at my day job. We're learning many lessons as we prepare for another expansion in the Midwest.  I would like to thank my wife for getting up so early this morning to drive me to the airport.

I have no idea how long it will be before our world returns to normal.  What I do know is airline travel is much different in a pandemic.  Airline crews are meticulous in their cleaning between flights.  Passengers wear masks and sit far apart.  I feel safe when I'm asked to support my new teammates in other locations.  Family vacations are on hold until further notice.  For now, I'm only flying when necessary.  Have a great day.

Congratulations to my Teammates

I would like to salute my teammates for their big win yesterday in the Men's 4.0 state championships in the 18+ age group.  The match was decided in a super tiebreaker and our team prevailed 3-2 against a solid Des Moines team that is always a top contender.  Due to COVID-19 restrictions this year, our team will not be able to advance as all playoff matches have been canceled.  I'm super proud of my teammates for all the hard work they put in over the years.  My playtime with my teammates has been limited these last two years due to the expansion efforts at my day job.  It will be nice to get more court time with them in the future.  I'm thankful to be a part of something really special.  Way to go, men.  Have a great day.

See What is Outside Your Level of Awareness

Most of us have our own daily rituals.  We wake up at the same time, eat the same food, do the same activities, and then go to bed at the same time.  Each new day is simply a repeat of the previous day.  What would happen if today you decided to change it up?  Would you possibly discover something new that you've never seen before?  We don't really know what is outside our present level of awareness.  The only way to discover something we've never seen before is to do something we've never done before.

As uncomfortable as it can be sometimes, I choose to live each day with increased awareness.  I choose to stretch my comfort zone.  This means I need to try new things.  Treat yourself to something new today.  I have a feeling there is something waiting for you just outside your level of awareness.  Go for it.  Have a great day.

My Favorite Technique for Dealing with Challenges

How are you coping with all the challenges related to COVID-19?  For many of us, this pandemic is pushing us way out of our comfort zone.  I have a solution.  It involves travel, but not the kind that may get you infected.  You don't have to leave your home.  You don't need to pack your bags either.  The only item you need to make this technique work is gratitude.

I would like to add a disclaimer before I share how this technique works.  If you approach this with a closed mind, you won't get very far and you will probably give up before you get positive results.  All I can say is that I've done this so many times that my frequent flyer account now fully funded for a lifetime of travel.

Let's take a look at history to see what we can learn from the patterns.  Would you agree with me that no matter how bad things were in the past, they got better?  The Spanish flu showed up in March 1918 and killed a minimum of 20 million people.  As bad as it was for the people of the time, it did go away.  World War I was terrible.  It ended.  World War II was horrific.  It ended.  COVID-19 is causing life as we know it to stand still.  Just like all the challenges in our past, this pandemic will end.  Now it's time to introduce my technique for helping you to get through this mess we're in.

Pick a point in time when you believe all signs of COVID-19 are gone from the world.  In my opinion, I think three years from now is probably okay.  Pick your ideal place to take a family vacation and imagine all the things you're doing that you can't do right now.  Be specific.  Plan an agenda.  You may not be able to reserve an Airbnb that far into the future but you can certainly get a really good idea of where you can stay based on current inventory for your dream vacation.  Now that you have a picture in your mind of where you're going, close your eyes and imagine you're already there.  Here's where the gratitude comes in.  I want you to pretend this dream vacation already happened.  Say a prayer of thanks for the great time you had.  It's all about gratitude.  That's the magic ingredient that can help you get to your dream destination.  Your mind has no idea that what you're grateful for hasn't even happened yet.  Your brain will start reprogramming itself and start forgetting about all of the present-day fears related to the pandemic.  Every morning when you wake up, keep visualizing that future point beyond the pandemic.  Here's something else that may offer some Divine inspiration.  Jesus, who operates outside of our human time, is already waiting for you in the future you're dreaming about.  The prophet Jeremiah tells us, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." – Jeremiah 29:11.  Don't give up until your dreams come true.  Have a great day.

How to Turn off Negative Subliminal Messages

Your subconscious mind is always soaking up subliminal messages.  If you allow them to bombard your brain, you risk accepting these messages as truth.  I'm doing something to keep these messages from hurting me and it's really simple.  Turn off your TV.  I find that reading books as opposed to watching TV helps me to avoid trouble.  My days are filled with peace.  The radio station I listen to in my vehicle while I'm commuting to and from my day job is also commercial-free.  This is especially helpful during election years when the negative attack ads are so annoying.

Give yourself a week off from negative subliminal messages and see if you notice increased joy in your life.  Have a great day.

Celebrating 31 Years of Marriage Today

I would like to wish my wife a happy 31st wedding anniversary today.  We were married in a small church just five miles away from our current home.  The whole town came out to wish us well.  What a journey this has been.  We have divided our time between my family and my wife's family.  The last eight years have been devoted to her side of the family.  Our children our spreading their wings in other parts of the country but they always come home to visit.  Happy anniversary, Mrs. Mulligan.  I look forward to celebrating tonight.  Have a great day.

5 Pars in 5 Months

I've been working on a financial freedom plan since the beginning of January 2019.  The idea is to get my monthly expenses in order so that I can get out of debt at an accelerated rate.  I came up with a game to help me stay motivated called Par for the Course.  If I fail to meet my monthly goal, I rate the month as a bogey.  Hit the goal and I earn a par for the month.  Exceed the goal and I record an eagle for the month.  The first year was horrendous.  I stayed with it, looking for ways to avoid the sand traps like the one I faced this month when our tax bill was due.  I'm happy to report that this month marks the 5th month in a row where I scored par or better.  The debt reduction game is actually starting to get exciting.  I would like to thank those of you who offered me encouragement when I felt like a big loser.  Debt reduction is possible if you're willing to change your spending habits.  Have a great day.

Today is Your Best Day for a Course Correction

The longer you wait to adjust the wind in your sails, the harder it will be to get back on course.  I know this from personal experience.  The last major course adjustment I made took years to correct because I didn't see the oncoming storm and it was a doozy.  I'm sensing another storm brewing now and this time I'm making the course corrections daily to make sure I don't blow it.

Take a look at your major goals.  If you're not going in the right direction, don't wait until tomorrow to take action.  The longer you wait, the bigger the sacrifice you will need to make.  The biggest risk you take by waiting is that you may never accomplish your dreams.

Financial freedom is on the horizon for my wife and me.  We're doing everything we can to make sure we cross the finish line.  The lessons we learned from previous errors are helping us understand how important it is to look for any challenges that may knock us off course and then adapt so that we keep going in the right direction.  The best advice I can give is to stay on top of your course corrections.  Have a great day.

The Happy Chair

When our kids were growing up, they knew if dad was wearing his "Maui hat" that I was in my happy place.  The same can be said about the round swivel chair we purchased for our master bedroom during our home renovation in Southern California.  Our youngest son nicknamed this chair the "Maui chair."  We also called it our "happy chair."  It's the place where I penned my first memoir.  My wife and I loved to snuggle on it.  Letting go of this chair was a challenge for me.  The new homeowners made us on offer we couldn't refuse on our furniture.  We said goodbye to the happy chair eight years ago when we moved to Iowa to begin our new lives.

I spotted a chair at my day job yesterday that reminded me of our happy chair.  It arrived early in the morning before I started my shift.  People were gathering around it like tire kickers at a car lot when something special shows up.  My heart skipped a beat when someone put the happy chair on their flatbed and headed to the checkout line.  That left three in inventory and the way the furniture was moving I knew they would all be gone quickly so I got our happy chair on my lunch break and headed out to my SUV to load it up.  When it didn't fit, I pulled it out of the box and attempted to squeeze it in.  A couple of onlookers came over to assist.  Unfortunately, it was one inch too big to fit.  I called my wife and asked her to come over and swap vehicles.  She did everything she could to get me to cough up what was going on but I refused to spoil the surprise.  She popped in an hour later and we swapped keys.  I asked her to go straight home because I didn't want her to see the happy chair on display.

A huge storm hit us at the end of my shift.  Tornado sirens were blazing.  The radar looked horrific.  I moved fast to get the happy chair in her SUV.  Even though her vehicle was bigger, the dimensions in the cargo area didn't work, even without the bulky box.  A co-worker helped with a tarp and bungee cord and we secured the tailgate as best as possible to transport the oversized cargo.  I waited for the hail to pass and made my way home between two giant storm clouds.  Baseball size hail was reported in the town next to us.  The drive home was scary but I made it.  My wife helped me get the new happy chair into our basement and we did the reveal after dinner.  She couldn't believe it.  Our happy chair was back in the family.  It swivels just like our first happy chair!  Now the inside of our home is complete.  We look forward to sharing our happy chair when COVID-19 is over and we can entertain again.  Have a great day.

A Lesson from a Tortured Soul

Today's story is not meant to be a political post.  It's meant to be a lesson from someone who was imprisoned in 1962 and sentenced to life for his role in conspiring to overthrow the state.  Nelson Mandela was freed after serving twenty-seven years and later became president of his country.

I read a story this morning about Mandela who asked his security team to join him for lunch.  Mandela invited another man to sit and eat with his team.  The man's hands were trembling.  Mandela's guards thought maybe the man was suffering from some kind of illness.  After the man departed, Mandela told his team that the man was a prison guard where he was incarcerated.  According to the story, Mandela would scream out for water after being tortured.  This guard would come over and urinate on Mandela.

Retaliation is human nature.  What Mandela did was not of this world.  This story reminds me of what Jesus would do in a similar situation.  For me, the lesson here is to forgive in all circumstances.  If you feel in any way that your soul is being tortured because of the color of your skin, the beliefs you hold, or any other situation you may be in that doesn't conform to the world, remember this story.  Go deep within your soul and find a way to forgive those who hurt you.  Have a great day.

What's Growing in Your Brain Garden?

Like it or not, your thoughts are occupying large amounts of real estate inside your head.  They are like a garden and you're in charge of tending to each and every thought.  I find that tending to my brain garden helps me keep my thoughts well nourished.  Negative thoughts are like weeds that need to be eliminated so positive thoughts a chance to flourish.

It's true no one can see your thought garden but it's also true everyone can get a pretty good idea what kind of thought gardener you are simply by looking at the fruits that are produced from a life well-lived.  Successful people find a way to manage their thought garden on a daily basis.  Take a look inside your head and see what's growing in your brain garden.  If you're not happy with what you see, plant some new thoughts today and start over.  Have a great day.

Behind the Scenes

Be assured that when I say I'm sparing you, I really mean it.  Today is a behind the scenes look at how I share my stories with you.  I thought it would be really easy to add video messages to this blog.  It's not.  In fact, on my last day off I did about thirty takes on my welcome message and still didn't get it right.  The bloopers are hilarious.  It's so much easier for me to speak when I'm in front of large groups than to speak directly into my new GoPro camera.

All I can say right now is I have serious work to do.  The vlog will be an integral part of introducing my next books.  I do believe once I get better at delivering video messages that this blog will be easier to follow.  Thank you for bearing with me during my blog renovations.  Have a great day.

Recognize the Danger Signs of Stress

Ask yourself how much stress you have on a daily basis.  Compared to last year, is it increasing or decreasing?  If it is increasing, what are you doing to manage your stress levels?

If you're not sure what stress is doing to your mind and body, here are some points to consider.  The idea of today's story is to help you increase your awareness so you can take corrective action before it's too late.  Here's your checklist:

• Monitor your blood pressure regularly
• Visit your doctor for an annual exam
• Visit your dentist every six months
• Review your food choices
• Analyze your workout routine
• Read books that help you stay grounded
• Keep in touch with your friends, even when you can't meet in person
• Put fun activities on your calendar

Remember this about stress.  If you don't take proactive action now to reduce it, your brain and body will find a way to shut you down in order to get you off that hamster wheel you're on.  Manage your stress before stress manages you.  Have a great day.

Do This When Your World is Upside Down

It's almost impossible to predict when your world may suddenly flip upside down.  I know from experience that it can wreak havoc on your mind, body, and spirit. How long you remain depends on one thing and it's probably not something you dwell on when your world is in chaos.  In fact, I have a feeling it may be the last thing on your mind.

File this story away for that time when the moment hits and you feel out of control.  Ready?  It's gratitude.  All you need to do is be thankful.  Find one thing.  Maybe it's the lesson you're learning while you're facing the storm.  It could be the good you see in others who are there for you.  When your heart is filled with gratitude, you will find peace.  When you have peace, you can get through anything.  Have a great day.

Can You Live an Untethered Life?

The word untethered came to me as I was awakening from a deep slumber this morning.  It's a word that pretty much sums up my life.  Imagine what your life would look like if you could find a way to release yourself from everything that binds you up.  Some people are so tethered that they can't even fathom letting go.

There was a time in my life when I believed letting go meant surrender.  My definition of surrender has changed.  Now it means freedom.  What I've discovered is that when you hold on to something you are meant to let go of is like sentencing yourself to misery.  You are chasing dreams that don't belong to you.  Life is so much better when you untether yourself and allow God's dreams for your life to find you.  They can't find you until you allow yourself to be in a receptive atmosphere.

If today's story is resonating with you but you're unsure how to begin, I recommend you close your eyes and see yourself untethered.  Let your mind wander.  If you can see this picture in your mind and you like what you see, maybe you will make one of the most important decisions of your life.  Have a great day.

Find the Better Solution

If you're serious about making solid progress on your goals, I have a thought for you. When people tell me they are having trouble getting started on a new goal or project because they don't know the best way to begin, my response is to simply begin and then make the necessary adjustments along the way.

All you need to do to succeed is to keep refining.  Keep asking, "is there a better way?"  Some day you will become an expert.  Your mistakes are your best teachers.  Jump in.  Have a great day.

I'm Celebrating My 60th Birthday Today

Happy birthday, America!  I'm happy to be celebrating my 60th birthday with all of you.  This will be the 4th of July birthday I will never forget.  We're in the middle of a worldwide pandemic, our country is struggling with tensions from within and this happens to be an election year.  I'm thankful that my day job gives all of us time off for holidays like today and that I get to spend it with my precious wife.

This may sound strange coming from a sixty-year-old, but I do believe my life is just getting started.  All those trials I endured at various stages of my life prepped me for what is about to unfold and I'm planning on sharing much more during this new phase of my life.  My wife set me up with a Hero8 GoPro for my birthday.  I can't wait to use it for upcoming adventures.

Thank you for your presence in my life.  That is the greatest gift anyone can receive.  I would like to give a special shoutout to my friend, Josh, the meat manager at my day job.  We stopped in yesterday to pick up some food items and Josh set us up with filet mignon for today's birthday barbecue.  We will be barbecuing on the Weber grill, the final gift from my dad before he left the planet.  If he were here today, I know he would be tinkering with my GoPro.  I suppose I inherited my love of gadgets and gizmos from him.  May you have a happy 4th of July.  Thank you for visiting.

You Will Be Rewarded When You Expect Uncertainty

I had a strange feeling inside my gut when the calendar flipped to a new decade on January 1.  The only thing I knew for sure was that this year and beyond would be filled with uncertainty.  I've learned to expect it.  It's more than expecting it, it's about embracing it.  When you expect uncertainty, you are never let down.  It's simply part of the process.

We are going through some interesting experiences at my day job.  I spent the last two weeks in another state as a support person for a new team we're putting together.  I had no clue about places to eat, challenges to deal with concerning COVID-19, or how the travel would unfold.  It didn't matter.  Uncertainty was my new best friend and it worked out really well.  The best recommendation I can make to you is to let go of all your expectations about how people around you should behave.  Stop trying to force your agenda on others.  Embrace uncertainty.  Welcome it into your life.  Be open to all the change that comes your way.  You will be well rewarded.  Have a great day.

The Journey Home

Another chapter comes to a conclusion today.  My time in Bismarck is complete and it's time to be reunited with my wife.  I'm thankful for the time I spent here, the lessons I learned, and the people I met during my brief stay. A special shoutout goes to Sheyanne, who has been taking care of my team at our hotel.  It's rare to find someone as kind and compassionate as this stellar employee.

This marks the first time at my day job that we expanded during a pandemic.  My gratitude list is huge and at the top of that list is the love of my life.  It will be an amazing reunion.

I would like to thank you for following my journey here on this blog.  I look forward to spending the next three days with my wife and processing all that has happened these last ten days.  The journey home begins this afternoon.  Have a great day.

The Mirror Talk

How are you doing with your inside voices?  These are those voices that never seem to go away.  They get louder in the dark times.  Even on your best days, they have something to say.  If you find yourself struggling with inner chatter, schedule a mirror talk.

Here's how a mirror talk works.  It's rather simple.  You start by looking in the mirror.  The inner voices will want to discourage this idea because it makes them vulnerable.  They really dislike being called out.  Once you get the courage to begin, look straight in the mirror and see how special you are.  There is no other like you in the entire world. You may observe some flaws while you're looking in the mirror. The inside will be there to highlight each one.  Remember, this is your meeting and you're in charge. You decide how to proceed.  Do this activity regularly and watch yourself blossom.  Have a great day.