Blue Collar Executive

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 How many times do we hear the phrase "they say"?   It is used as a confirmation of facts or to demonstrate a point all the time.  However, the "they" in that phrase is no longer a reliable source.  When my Grandmother said "they say" to give advice about children she was referring to experienced Mothers or medical professionals.  Unfortunately, today the most common source for “they” is social media which is unreliable at best because the root is likely some athlete, celebrity, or politician that are clueless on the subject.  
 
 It is important for us to ensure our "they" is a reliable source before repeating it because when we say it we become the "they" for anyone listening.  

“I no longer listen to what people say, I just watch what they do. Behavior never lies.”   Winston Churchill

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It is easy to reflect on our life and see where we are or where we have been.  We can do that by simply looking at our shadow as it projects our every move.  However, it can never project our next move because that is only in our thoughts.  So if we don't like where our shadow sits we can change it, but it has to start in our mind.  A poor mind will give a poor life while a positive mind will give a rich life. 

"You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you."  James Allen

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In life people will betray us.  The key is not allowing the betrayal to stop us, rather to grow from it and know that God will make everything a blessing if we believe.

“I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon the earth and be an atheist, but I cannot conceive how a man could look up into the heavens and say there is no God.”
― Abraham Lincoln

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In this episode I share a true story about a man named Bob.  While I only knew Bob for a few years and have not spoken to him in more than 25 years he had one of the biggest impacts in my career.  He believed in me when I didn’t and challenged me to always pursue new adventures.  I have shared this story with many young people over the year who are not sure what path they want to take.   

It is okay to TRY new things.  It’s okay to be afraid and you don’t need to have everything figured out.  Jump in, mess up, start over or try something else.  Embrace the experience and have no regrets!   

 “It’s better to look back on life and say, “I can’t believe I did that.” than to look back and say: “I wish I did that.” – Unknown

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Society defines neighbor as someone living next door just like Facebook defines a friend as someone your connected to.  However, just like a friendship is much more than "liking" each other status", being neighborly is more than keeping your dog out of the next door lawn.  The fact is a neighbor is not the person residing in the house next to ours, rather our neighbor is whoever is next to us in any moment.  This may be a friend, loved one, or stranger. 
 
 "When we look for what's best in the person we happen to be with at the moment, we're doing what God does, so in appreciating our neighbor, we're participating in something truly sacred."    Fred Rogers

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While the mask has taken away our ability to share a smile in passing, we can still allow our joy to shine through the windows of our soul.  Our eyes light our way and can never be deceiving.  

A face can be carved into stone with any facial expression such as a smile, anger, or sadness, but only the eyes can emit our true inner feelings, emotions, and character.  

We can fake a smile, but the eyes are not made of one way glass and can never lie. 

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This is a lesson I learned as a boy trying to keep up with Dad in the woods on a dark night while racoon hunting. 

Whether you are leading, teaching, or helping a friend in need you cannot do it by walking in front or behind them.  You can only help them to see the path by walking along beside them.

 "If you light a lantern for another, it will also brighten your own way"  Nichiren

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There is so much power in our words.  We can use them to inspire or to destroy, to lift up or tear down.  Words are like a loaded gun.  Once we pull the trigger we cannot catch the bullet and put it back into the barrel.  So the most important thing we can do is always be aware of the impact our words will have on the person they are aimed at before we pull the trigger. 

"No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world"  Robin Williams

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As Christmas approaches, it can be easy to get distracted by all the shopping, the decorating, the baking, and the celebrating.  Many even see this as added stress to their already too busy life.  We can so quickly forget that the true reason for the celebration in this season is the birth of our Savior, Jesus, which brought peace, joy, hope, and goodwill for us all!  This is certainly what we all need right now!  The good news is that the Christmas Spirit does not hide.  It is right in our hearts, but we have to take the time for it.
 
May you find everything you want under the tree, but most importantly may you find CHRISTMAS! 

"Off to one side sits a group of shepherds. They sit silently on the floor, perhaps perplexed, perhaps in awe, no doubt in amazement. Their night watch had been interrupted by an explosion of light from heaven and a symphony of angels. God goes to those who have time to hear him–and so on this cloudless night he went to simple shepherds.” Max Lucado

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 Tis the season for merry wishes and I have great news!  Wishes can come true!  However, it requires action beyond the blowing of a birthday candle or tossing of a coin into a fountain.  A wish without action will always only be a wish.  If we wish for an apple tree to be in our backyard it will never just appear no matter how many shooting stars we wish upon, but if we plant the seed and nourish it our wish will come true. 

So as you think about what you wish for in life, consider what is within your abilities to achieve it.  You may just find that you hold the power to make your wishes and the wishes of others come true. 

“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”   Mahatma Gandhi