I've been reading a blog by a gentleman by the name of Joseph Sangl. I really enjoy reading it. And I've learned some little insights and. for lack of a better word, tricks to assist me on my financial journey.
I bumped into Joe's blog sometime last summer or fall while doing a search on financial guru Dave Ramsey. While doing my Google search, I found a link that said something like I Want to Meet with Dave Ramsey. I followed the link and found Joe's blog.
Now Joe wrote on his blog he wanted to meet Dave Ramsey in person. Guess what. He set the goal, announced it to the world, did the steps necessary to make it happen and he met Dave one afternoon in Dave's radio studio.
Joe, like me is into financial responsibility. Unlike me, Joe has made this his own personal evangelistic outreach. He quit his job to make his livelihood. As he likes to say and write, he's FIRED UP. And I must agree.
I've never seen, read or heard anyone as passionate about this mission and message (or as Joe says crusade) as Joe. You can see his story at this link. http://www.newspring.cc/214724.ihtml
Go to the 18:50 mark if you're not interested in hearing the music and seeing only Joe.
Through the years, I've had heros. Joe has quickly become one.
I hope you enjoyed his video. More than that, I hope he inspired you to take the first steps to believing that there is financial hope in your future.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Christmas Light Displays
Over the course of the past week, I've had the opportunity to see three different Christmas light displays. These aren't just lit houses with neighbors competing to see who can blow up the local electricity transformer. They are huge regional displays that you drive through.
The first display we saw was in the Charleston, South Carolina area. This was a great display. Many of the displays were dimensional providing a perception of depth. The neat thing about the tour was the weather was moderate and nice. We roasted Marshmellows over an open fire, walked some paths that had displays and drove through a long lit row of great light displays.
Friday evening, Brian and Abby joined us for a tour of the light show at Alum Creek. To me this has always been a great show, but after the Charleston display, was something of let down. Don't get me wrong. For a local presentation, it's still pretty nice. But Charleston spoiled us.
Saturday evening, we drove with Brian and Abby to Wheeling, West Virgina for the Festival of lights at Oglebay Park. After waiting 90 minutes in a massive traffic jam we finally entered the park. It was really nice. But again, it was not as well done as the Charleston show. The major difference is the light show is spread out over a wide area, and the lights are not as dense as they were in Charlestons. Still, it is a great show to visit and enjoy.
Tonight was a special treat. We listened to a collection of old time radio shows featuring their past Christmas's. The tapes were from radio station WDLR and the station at one time aired the shows from the mid 70's to the mid 90's.
When the station decided to pitch the tapes, I salvaged them and we began listening to them when traveling over the holidays. The listening to the tapes became something of a family tradition over the years that Brian and I continue. The tapes featured classic holiday shows from the likes of Edgar Bergen who is shown at left with his daughter Candice. Also featured was Red Skelton doing skits, Raymond Burr in a holiday drama, Fibber McGee and Molly, Amos and Andy, Henry Aldrich, Jimmy Durante as well as Phil Harris and Alice Faye.
It nice to hear these old shows and how they used verbal details and sound effects to create the mental images the listener imagines as you listen to the shows. They are great fun and a great way to make a long drive more enjoyable.
The first display we saw was in the Charleston, South Carolina area. This was a great display. Many of the displays were dimensional providing a perception of depth. The neat thing about the tour was the weather was moderate and nice. We roasted Marshmellows over an open fire, walked some paths that had displays and drove through a long lit row of great light displays. Friday evening, Brian and Abby joined us for a tour of the light show at Alum Creek. To me this has always been a great show, but after the Charleston display, was something of let down. Don't get me wrong. For a local presentation, it's still pretty nice. But Charleston spoiled us.
Saturday evening, we drove with Brian and Abby to Wheeling, West Virgina for the Festival of lights at Oglebay Park. After waiting 90 minutes in a massive traffic jam we finally entered the park. It was really nice. But again, it was not as well done as the Charleston show. The major difference is the light show is spread out over a wide area, and the lights are not as dense as they were in Charlestons. Still, it is a great show to visit and enjoy.Tonight was a special treat. We listened to a collection of old time radio shows featuring their past Christmas's. The tapes were from radio station WDLR and the station at one time aired the shows from the mid 70's to the mid 90's.
When the station decided to pitch the tapes, I salvaged them and we began listening to them when traveling over the holidays. The listening to the tapes became something of a family tradition over the years that Brian and I continue. The tapes featured classic holiday shows from the likes of Edgar Bergen who is shown at left with his daughter Candice. Also featured was Red Skelton doing skits, Raymond Burr in a holiday drama, Fibber McGee and Molly, Amos and Andy, Henry Aldrich, Jimmy Durante as well as Phil Harris and Alice Faye. It nice to hear these old shows and how they used verbal details and sound effects to create the mental images the listener imagines as you listen to the shows. They are great fun and a great way to make a long drive more enjoyable.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Whatevet Hits The Spot
What a great place!
I love small town mom and pop eateries. And this one has always rated near the top of my favorites list. The Spot in downtown Sidney, Ohio is the name of the joint. It appears to have been at one time a drive in. The canopy and ordering menus are still there, but I didn't take the time to see if they were still being used ala Sonic.
Need a great hamburger? They've got it. How about homemade Chilli? They've got that too. Great homemade pies. And the secret to my heart, fried breaded mushrooms.
The prices are modest, the portions large and the atmosphere is doo wop.
Next time you're traveling along I-75 north of Dayton, Ohio, stop in and try out The Spot.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Benchwarmers
This is a redux of an earlier post from August.
I am fascinated with the phenomenon that separates highly successful people and the bench warmers in life.
I saw that quote on another blog earlier today. I too have had the same question running through my mind for the last year or so. I even sort of touched on it when I added this entry to the blog back in July.
I agree there is a phenomenon that happens. What I can't find is the key that allows for it to happen. For those of us who don't have the natural instinct, can it be learned? Where do you find it? How can one tap into it and make it a useful tool rather than an unknown phenom.
The quote was written by a person who has the ability to pick up the tool and use it. Yes, I'm sure they cultivate it. Yes, I'm sure that there is hard work involved. Yes, well you get my drift.
I cultivate many good characteristics in my life. I work hard. Yet I've never experienced the phenomena. The Guiding Light has never came down and touched me or illuminated the way.
There's another element that falls into all of this. Those who have experienced the phenomena seem to hold those who don't in a second class citizen status. Look at the openning sentence. It's sucessful people vs benchwarmers. Think about what they are saying. Or more importantly, how it appears to have been said.
Those lowly Benchwarmers are the people who turn out faithfully everyday and execute something meaningful. In sports, they provide the role of scout team. In business, they do the work that assembles, provides quality control, ships or greets. Many are not slackers and often put in 120% of the days requirements. They take pride in their contributions. They put out a good quality product.
But they are missing one element in life. The Phenomena.
For those of you who have found or were gifted with the Phenomena, share with us how it is found and better yet, how to cultivate it. I would love to hear from you. Reply to this page or email me @ johnstonteam@gmail.com
I am fascinated with the phenomenon that separates highly successful people and the bench warmers in life.
I saw that quote on another blog earlier today. I too have had the same question running through my mind for the last year or so. I even sort of touched on it when I added this entry to the blog back in July.
I agree there is a phenomenon that happens. What I can't find is the key that allows for it to happen. For those of us who don't have the natural instinct, can it be learned? Where do you find it? How can one tap into it and make it a useful tool rather than an unknown phenom.
The quote was written by a person who has the ability to pick up the tool and use it. Yes, I'm sure they cultivate it. Yes, I'm sure that there is hard work involved. Yes, well you get my drift.
I cultivate many good characteristics in my life. I work hard. Yet I've never experienced the phenomena. The Guiding Light has never came down and touched me or illuminated the way.
There's another element that falls into all of this. Those who have experienced the phenomena seem to hold those who don't in a second class citizen status. Look at the openning sentence. It's sucessful people vs benchwarmers. Think about what they are saying. Or more importantly, how it appears to have been said.
Those lowly Benchwarmers are the people who turn out faithfully everyday and execute something meaningful. In sports, they provide the role of scout team. In business, they do the work that assembles, provides quality control, ships or greets. Many are not slackers and often put in 120% of the days requirements. They take pride in their contributions. They put out a good quality product.
But they are missing one element in life. The Phenomena.
For those of you who have found or were gifted with the Phenomena, share with us how it is found and better yet, how to cultivate it. I would love to hear from you. Reply to this page or email me @ johnstonteam@gmail.com
Monday, November 5, 2007
Lottery Winners Live in Hell
The Associated Press is reporting that John and Sue Wilson of Hell, Michigan are just a little over $115,000 richer after winning the Michigan Lottery's Fantasy 5 drawing on all things........Wednesday October 31, 2007........Halloween night.
Sue is a teachers aid and John is an electrician. They plan to pay off bills and buy their son a video system. And possibly make a long overdue visit to some relatives in Georgia.
Hell, Michigan is located about 45 miles west of Detroit.
Wikipedia has more information on the town. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hell,_Michigan
Sue is a teachers aid and John is an electrician. They plan to pay off bills and buy their son a video system. And possibly make a long overdue visit to some relatives in Georgia.
Hell, Michigan is located about 45 miles west of Detroit.
Wikipedia has more information on the town. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hell,_Michigan
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Do We Have to Say Merry Christmas?
It's about time for the annual angst from the American Family Association about what stores allow or say or use in the advertising. Oh, I forgot. The magic word they will fight so hard over is the word........ Christmas.
Here's the issue. Many retailers now understand that their customer universe has expanded beyond the traditional Judeo-Christian shopper. Out culture is now becoming a larger and larger melting pot. There are now people, as there has always really been, from different cultures and religious perspectives.
There are several holiday celebrations that happen between the last burp of Thankgiving dinner and the last hangover head ache of the New Year. And the list of those celebrations continues to grow. So why shouldn't stores promote the holiday season with seasons greetings since so many holidays and other celebratory days fall in that 40 odd day time period?
To assure they don't offend anyone and are inclusive of all, many retailers have resorted to making their holiday greetings and advertising more related to the season rather than to the specific Christian Holiday.
Many stores suggested that clerks not offer a "Merry Christmas" when ringing a customer through the check out line. But most did not ban a reciprocal response if the customer made first mention. In some cases, I wish I would get a genuine thank you rather than a nonchalant grunt or a mandatory stock phrase.
That's not good enough for the AFA. And of course, talk radio couldn't pass up an opportunity to attack a PC attempt.
I'm not quite sure what the motivating factor of the AFA is. Maybe they should explain it. The comic attached to this writing sort of summarizes my view of the whole thing. It appears that it's more about the fight than the real undrelying cause.
Honestly, the meaning of Christmas was lost long ago when Merry Christmas greetings were in fashion. Commercialism had long outstripped the realization that the promised one was born. So simply saying Merry Christmas isn't going to suddenly make someone crack open the gospels and learn more. It didn't work that way 30 or 40 years ago. It likely won't work with the AFA's annual Merry Christmas dust up.
I'm quite comfortable with making the first offer to have a Merry Christmas by simply saying. And usually I get a big smile back from a very tired store clerk who is probably working two jobs during the holiday season to either pay bills or to earn additional money so their family could have a more bountiful holiday season.
I've always been leery of those who believe we need to impose our faith on others. That to me is what the AFA is attempting to do. Christians seem very eager to impose rather than expose their faith to those who may need it. And a fight for the sake of a fight.
Here's the issue. Many retailers now understand that their customer universe has expanded beyond the traditional Judeo-Christian shopper. Out culture is now becoming a larger and larger melting pot. There are now people, as there has always really been, from different cultures and religious perspectives. There are several holiday celebrations that happen between the last burp of Thankgiving dinner and the last hangover head ache of the New Year. And the list of those celebrations continues to grow. So why shouldn't stores promote the holiday season with seasons greetings since so many holidays and other celebratory days fall in that 40 odd day time period?
To assure they don't offend anyone and are inclusive of all, many retailers have resorted to making their holiday greetings and advertising more related to the season rather than to the specific Christian Holiday.
Many stores suggested that clerks not offer a "Merry Christmas" when ringing a customer through the check out line. But most did not ban a reciprocal response if the customer made first mention. In some cases, I wish I would get a genuine thank you rather than a nonchalant grunt or a mandatory stock phrase.
That's not good enough for the AFA. And of course, talk radio couldn't pass up an opportunity to attack a PC attempt.
I'm not quite sure what the motivating factor of the AFA is. Maybe they should explain it. The comic attached to this writing sort of summarizes my view of the whole thing. It appears that it's more about the fight than the real undrelying cause.
Honestly, the meaning of Christmas was lost long ago when Merry Christmas greetings were in fashion. Commercialism had long outstripped the realization that the promised one was born. So simply saying Merry Christmas isn't going to suddenly make someone crack open the gospels and learn more. It didn't work that way 30 or 40 years ago. It likely won't work with the AFA's annual Merry Christmas dust up.
I'm quite comfortable with making the first offer to have a Merry Christmas by simply saying. And usually I get a big smile back from a very tired store clerk who is probably working two jobs during the holiday season to either pay bills or to earn additional money so their family could have a more bountiful holiday season.
I've always been leery of those who believe we need to impose our faith on others. That to me is what the AFA is attempting to do. Christians seem very eager to impose rather than expose their faith to those who may need it. And a fight for the sake of a fight.
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