In reflecting on my life to this point, it has dawned on me that it is relationships that I have with my wife, children, parents and siblings that brings joy and even pain through the past. I am so focused on "accomplishments" into the future that sometimes those whom I find are the most important in my life get over looked in my search for success and self gratification. I am overwhelmed by the need to find meaning in my life, and yet once again all of the importance of my life is right in front of me, in the form of my wife, children, family and friends. Each of these people motivate me to be better than I am now and inspire me to forget myself and serve others.
If all of this is true, why do I struggle so much with the cravings of the natural man; to be selfish and only think about my self. Why is it that I spend 8 or 9 hours per day focused on serving myself at work, eating for 2 or 3 hours per day, sleeping for 8 hours each night, and the remaining time spent randomly in relatively useless tasks that in the end don't mean a thing. Because I am a natural man and my task in life is to come closer to God, through conscientious service to all of those people I mentioned above, and for that matter everyone else as well.
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result. It is that time in my life when I need to take different paths, like putting my faith in Gods Hands, trusting in him and having faith that if I am doing his work, he will take care of me and my family.
I have no idea what the future holds, as it has been so difficult to scratch out the financial means to support my family, and this has given me for the first time in my life cause to question my abilities and whether or not I am worthy of success. I may not be but those that depend on my for that support are unequivocally sufficient cause of action for my most diligent efforts. God grant me the strength to be more than I am to those that deserve it. Help me to love them how they have taught me to love, in giving of myself.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Monday, July 11, 2011
Gotta Have Faith
No matter how many times there is a new round of bad news, a learning experience is sure to follow. I have been seeing many quotes relative to being faced with trials, and how we are to deal with it. My typical approach has in the past been panic, fear of the unknown accompanied with the loss of sleep and appetite. I have learned from several different sources the basic principal, that situations can occur for both the good and bad, but it is our response to the scenario that defines the outcome.
I do have faith in a loving Father in Heaven, but it is my weakness of faith that diminishes my ability to place my burdens on his Sons shoulders as suggested in Holy Writ and have the faith that all will be okay. I do have faith, and have seen it work time after time and in those events where I express my faith with a calm and peaceful response that I find my place of peace. God bless those around me that come by this pure faith naturally, for showing me the way and believing.
I do have faith in a loving Father in Heaven, but it is my weakness of faith that diminishes my ability to place my burdens on his Sons shoulders as suggested in Holy Writ and have the faith that all will be okay. I do have faith, and have seen it work time after time and in those events where I express my faith with a calm and peaceful response that I find my place of peace. God bless those around me that come by this pure faith naturally, for showing me the way and believing.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
I believe in Las Vegas
Several years ago a movie came out, called "Miracle on 34th Street". In this movie a man who portrayed Santa Clause was demonized by evil and conspiring men as a monster for a set up scenario. The event was staged to discredit Santa Claus the man, create wealth opportunities for the owners, and shareholders of a competing toy store chain that was unable to get "The Santa Claus" to come work for them.
In many ways the events of the past few years in Las Vegas are similar in nature to the premise of this wonderful movie. The by-gone economic times of the past few decades has passed and evil and conspiring men and conspired to further hurt Las Vegas, with comments aimed at bettering their own political positions.
I am not a born native of Las Vegas, but this town has brought me under its wing in a business and professional sense, and has developed who I am today. I have been exposed to the business people of Las Vegas, who are creative, inventive and make a significant difference to the world every day. These are the same small businessmen, who employ 75% of the people in the United States.
I believe in Las Vegas, because of these people and what they are doing to reinvent who we are as a people, as Las Vegas, as citizens of the United States. Perhaps we won't return to the economy of years past, but it is my belief that we will return, stronger, better and the world will be a better place to live, directly because of these people that call Las Vegas Home. Join me in this belief and let's get to work, rebuilding not what we lost, but all of the great things in the future of Las Vegas.
In many ways the events of the past few years in Las Vegas are similar in nature to the premise of this wonderful movie. The by-gone economic times of the past few decades has passed and evil and conspiring men and conspired to further hurt Las Vegas, with comments aimed at bettering their own political positions.
I am not a born native of Las Vegas, but this town has brought me under its wing in a business and professional sense, and has developed who I am today. I have been exposed to the business people of Las Vegas, who are creative, inventive and make a significant difference to the world every day. These are the same small businessmen, who employ 75% of the people in the United States.
I believe in Las Vegas, because of these people and what they are doing to reinvent who we are as a people, as Las Vegas, as citizens of the United States. Perhaps we won't return to the economy of years past, but it is my belief that we will return, stronger, better and the world will be a better place to live, directly because of these people that call Las Vegas Home. Join me in this belief and let's get to work, rebuilding not what we lost, but all of the great things in the future of Las Vegas.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
My partner, David
I have owned many businesses and worked with many people, but I have never really had a partner in business and have never wanted one. A good friend of mine who was using my expert witness services, introduced me to David Truman, in late 2010 and I was immediately amazed at what a good person he seemed to be. I was nervous to take on a partner due to the many bad stories that seem to accompany nearly any business circle. Dave and I spoke many times and even did a job together, before forming DS Group, but in the end, I am still amazed at the person with whom I find myself in business.
Dave and I have many things in common, but yet we are quite different. Our commonalities are such things as the fact that we both collect books. I collect business and self improvement books while Dave collects fiction books, or anything that has a story line. He has thousands of books, and organizes them on shelves at his house. I like old engineering books, or text books and books that teach me about the world around. Another area that we have in common is that we are both strong physical specimens of manlyness (don't know if that is really a word). Dave is 6'-8" tall and 240 lb's, I am 5'-11" tall and 240 lb's - go figure.
Although these things we share in common; where we really find common ground is in the truly important areas of life. From my perspective, Dave is and has been an awesome Dad, Father and Husband to his wife, children and family. He loves his wife, children and grandchildren more than himself. I want to be a husband and father just like him, I truly admire his love and dedication to his family. He reminds me every night that he told his wife, he would be home on time and so he is the husband of her dreams, arriving at home when he said he would come home. I pray that I can become one like this as well. Dave has been a bishop, I think three times and has a very strong testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. His dedication to the gospel and to Our Father in Heaven is one of admiration and one that I truly wish to emulate. I have an example of what I want to become right in front of me. Dave and I both also believe that through our observation and following Gods' direction we will and have found success.
Dave and I each have our own unique brand of strengths and weaknesses even though it feels at times that he is always teaching me, I do strive to do my part on the business and financial side to make a success of our venture. Thank you, for being my brother, friend and business partner - David Truman.
Dave and I have many things in common, but yet we are quite different. Our commonalities are such things as the fact that we both collect books. I collect business and self improvement books while Dave collects fiction books, or anything that has a story line. He has thousands of books, and organizes them on shelves at his house. I like old engineering books, or text books and books that teach me about the world around. Another area that we have in common is that we are both strong physical specimens of manlyness (don't know if that is really a word). Dave is 6'-8" tall and 240 lb's, I am 5'-11" tall and 240 lb's - go figure.
Although these things we share in common; where we really find common ground is in the truly important areas of life. From my perspective, Dave is and has been an awesome Dad, Father and Husband to his wife, children and family. He loves his wife, children and grandchildren more than himself. I want to be a husband and father just like him, I truly admire his love and dedication to his family. He reminds me every night that he told his wife, he would be home on time and so he is the husband of her dreams, arriving at home when he said he would come home. I pray that I can become one like this as well. Dave has been a bishop, I think three times and has a very strong testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. His dedication to the gospel and to Our Father in Heaven is one of admiration and one that I truly wish to emulate. I have an example of what I want to become right in front of me. Dave and I both also believe that through our observation and following Gods' direction we will and have found success.
Dave and I each have our own unique brand of strengths and weaknesses even though it feels at times that he is always teaching me, I do strive to do my part on the business and financial side to make a success of our venture. Thank you, for being my brother, friend and business partner - David Truman.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
working, playing and being together
Today I received a brief glimpse into eternity, while working with my boys in the back yard. Working together, we accomplished more than I would have ever done by myself and each of us gained greater appreciation for the other. In 100 years from today my yard may look infinitely better, or may not exist in anyway similar fashion to its current form, but the world may be a different place because my sons and daughters knew that I loved them and being with them.
I look at so many of those fighting for political power who have lost their way, who have forgotten or never knew the importance of life, and why we are here on the earth. I have hear intelligent people state that we have to keep our lives right now in perspective with the big picture or the eternities. Our business, the weeds in the front yard, lunch, current issues at church/school or work are only put here for the passing of time and for our increased understanding of the principle, of cause and effect. It is our strict obedience to true principles that we find happiness and joy, it is so simple, but hard to figure out.
Being together with my children and wife are the happiest times in my life, and yet I constantly struggle to structure my life so that these moments are ever increasing opportunities within my life. It does not matter if we are playing at the park, working in the yard, swimming in the pool or worshiping together in church, it is doing it together that brings joy.
I look at so many of those fighting for political power who have lost their way, who have forgotten or never knew the importance of life, and why we are here on the earth. I have hear intelligent people state that we have to keep our lives right now in perspective with the big picture or the eternities. Our business, the weeds in the front yard, lunch, current issues at church/school or work are only put here for the passing of time and for our increased understanding of the principle, of cause and effect. It is our strict obedience to true principles that we find happiness and joy, it is so simple, but hard to figure out.
Being together with my children and wife are the happiest times in my life, and yet I constantly struggle to structure my life so that these moments are ever increasing opportunities within my life. It does not matter if we are playing at the park, working in the yard, swimming in the pool or worshiping together in church, it is doing it together that brings joy.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Life is good
Some times I am so focused on what I am lacking, that I totally miss all of the great things in life. Perhaps God allows difficult things to happen in our lives, when we have lost sight of what truly is important. I am so grateful for my wife, her tender yet tough love for me has literally saved my life and helped me to find it, again.
The other night as all of my children were sitting on the couch talking and laughing, I found myself remembering the times when they were young and the all of the wonderful times since, when we were together. I have such profound gratitude for each one of our children as they have impacted my life for good, even when I did not recognize it at the time. My life is better because of my wife, Amy and my children; Starlee, Skyler, Aspen and Brighton. Together, we have laughed and played. My plans have not panned out every time, but hope in a bright future is now the hope that I now have in my children and what they bring.
Thank you, God. I am for ever in your debt for how you have touched my life with each of theirs.
The other night as all of my children were sitting on the couch talking and laughing, I found myself remembering the times when they were young and the all of the wonderful times since, when we were together. I have such profound gratitude for each one of our children as they have impacted my life for good, even when I did not recognize it at the time. My life is better because of my wife, Amy and my children; Starlee, Skyler, Aspen and Brighton. Together, we have laughed and played. My plans have not panned out every time, but hope in a bright future is now the hope that I now have in my children and what they bring.
Thank you, God. I am for ever in your debt for how you have touched my life with each of theirs.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Starting over again
Starting over again is hard, but it has its advantages as well. First of all I have been here before. The problems may be different, but my ability to analyze the issue and work through it has increased due to past experiences. Some of the issues we have faced to date were predictable which allowed us to mostly avoid them all together, and yet other things have caught us unaware due to the unique path we have taken. Experience and opportunity has been a great teacher both relative to who I am and who I want to become someday.
Perhaps for me one of the greatest things about starting over again was the partner that somehow appeared at the precise moment I needed him. His genuinely good heart and sense of humor have helped me face the difficulties of starting a new business, and strength in the number two has given us the power to make this new dream a reality. We are slowly but surely building up steam and adding new cases almost every day to our portfolio and increasing our market presence. People are starting to pass our name out as a group capable of reputably doing the work.
Starting over again is hard and at times almost overwhelming, but it is possible and for me with the love of a great woman behind me and a wonderful partner willing to step outside of his comfort zone and keep me in line, I am forever grateful for the opportunity. It is not easy but certainly worth it. Thinking and acting positive is the difference between success and failure.
Perhaps for me one of the greatest things about starting over again was the partner that somehow appeared at the precise moment I needed him. His genuinely good heart and sense of humor have helped me face the difficulties of starting a new business, and strength in the number two has given us the power to make this new dream a reality. We are slowly but surely building up steam and adding new cases almost every day to our portfolio and increasing our market presence. People are starting to pass our name out as a group capable of reputably doing the work.
Starting over again is hard and at times almost overwhelming, but it is possible and for me with the love of a great woman behind me and a wonderful partner willing to step outside of his comfort zone and keep me in line, I am forever grateful for the opportunity. It is not easy but certainly worth it. Thinking and acting positive is the difference between success and failure.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Angels Among us
There are times in life when it seems that the entire world is against you, and nothing is going as planned. Fear and the unknown becomes a constant companion, instigating the start of a downward spiral. Is this reality? Is this just a bad dream as the most unimaginable experiences occur each and every day, without an end in sight?
The breadth and depth of the past economic collapse is one not common in every generation, but one experience that happens without notice, destroying everything in its path. Physically and spiritually backed into a corner, life is forever changed, delivering a radically different perspective of the world to its victims.
Looking into the eyes of those that God stated were my reason for being, and the responsibility of care and providing, which would seamlessly fall short.
There are angels around me that depended on me for the very elements of sustaining life. In this experience they found good in me and demonstrated to me that we are stronger together, than standing alone. My angels found in me the motivation to start again, and find courage to live life and to search for success.
I believe that there is someone who may being experiencing similar trials in life, and to you I say, hang on you are not alone. God, thank you for the second chance to do it correctly, to make a difference in the life of someone else, to find real purpose in what I do. Thank you for the angels in my life namely; Amy, Starlee, Skyler, Aspen, Brighton, Jeni, Marlon, Duane and Dave. You have each made a difference in my life.
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