Victory in ......

Business Tips : ·          Surround yourself with Progress : Your results in business are a direct result of those that you associate with. Your office, vehicle, and home should display your journey toward the best so that you have the mark to improve upon. Take a picture of your worst sale, building, concrete, task and then take a picture/outline of your best. Your progress will motivate you to continually get better and build your confidence and give you ideas on how to make things better. Our work is never done in the improvement cycle. ·          Super organized: Reduce things by throwing stuff away before organizing; always write things down and keep these things in the same place, have a place for everything, put it away now, clean up as you go – don’t leave it for another time or someone else, develop a routine and system for doing things Personal Tips: ·      ...

Business Tips : ·          LISTEN: In business & life, this tool has been invaluable. Sometimes we formulate what we are going to say before we let another person talk. Without properly listening to the person that you are speaking with, you will miscommunicate and cause issues. 5 steps: Be present – eyes, ears, posture to engage; Pay attention – stop talking, using a phone, utensil, and avoid distractions; Accuracy – what are they meaning, paraphrase back to speaker to clarify; Empathy – listen under words to hear point of view, needs and feelings, avoid assuming you know their perspective; Mutual Creativity – now you have 2+ people communicating that can look forward, solve problems, relate to issues, develop action plans, and formulate creative solutions so act like it. ·          GO AFTER SOLVING YOUR OWN PROBLEM: This is something that most folks just won’t do. First this has to maintai...

Business Tips : ·          PROBLEMS: I learned this one a long time ago. It appears that if I continued to run up against the same or similar problems I would eventually realize that the problem was me. Sometimes I recognized it fast, others not so fast. But in the end, when I would go to work on myself through help of mentors and personal development I would almost always move forward bigger and better than before. From customer problems, to sales issues, to working with people, all the way to work ethic of those around me. When I went to work on myself, it didn’t matter much about what others were doing around me. I knew that if I raised the bar on myself, I would indirectly raise the bar on those around me. You may not always make friends that way, but in the end, folks always wanted me in their corner because I was willing to fight for them just as I was willing to fight daily to make myself better. ·      ...

Business Tips : ·          SAFETY: Leaders find ways to make their job safer and look out for your fellow workers. We continually do not want folks to get hurt in what we do. We also want to do things efficiently and correctly. ·          IMPROVING: Find ways to make yourself better and make sure to let your foreman and manager know what improvements you are trying to make. Let them know where you would like to be and when. Set up a plan for progression and promotion. Personal Tips: ·          INTAKE: Watch your intake. We all could stand to be healthier. Recently a friend of mine attended a nutritionist to receive tests that told deficiencies and abundances in diet. Since 80% of our health has to do with our diet. I guess we really are what we eat. ·          PARENTING: A good parenting book we are reading right now:...

In an attempt to be more connected and sharing with you I am going to start giving this out monthly as a way of communication from me and our teams. We will organize it into 4 categories. Life skills, business tips, personal tips, and what is happening. I have wanted to do this for a while; I just didn’t know what median to do it in. So here it is….a work in progress. I have called it SCRATCH. Why…..well because I feel like I have scratched and clawed in my life to get ahead. Im sure you have felt the same way. So this isn’t a bragging session, but it’s a way for our teams to share what we have seen that has worked successfully and those failures that it has taken to move us forward. God blesses us with failures and mistakes so that we can make ourselves and others around us better. We value failure more than success as long as we learn and apply the lesson it teaches. Another reason “SCRATCH” is because we have started everything from SCRATCH. Each business we have endeavore...

What can you do? I have had many conversations over the years with those who attend work for a living. Meaning they earn a pay check from someone else for a service rendered. Are you for sale? It seems in life we tend to live our priorities when it is convenient or relevant instead of always. I know that I am guilty of that. I look at the business we have built and now realize what true business and life can be like. Lets just look at some things....                           JOBS                                BUSINESS SYSTEMS OWNERS Time                 Usually given      ...

Its an interesting title to a book by Max Lucado. I normally don't read him much anymore because it has become mostly fluff to me. However, Max had a great run on this one. It seems as if he really tried to put you in a place to begin your path toward service to others. I would highly recommend the book to anyone who wants to face impossibilities, be motivated to make a difference, and move forward in mission. Your courage to act says a lot about the life you endeavor to live. Commit to a team to make your life count. Find a mentor to hold you accountable. Allow God to bless your life through the service of others.

Make no mistake, I have no lack of interest in firearms. I enjoy all of their possibilities. Where I live, its not unheard of to have a "shooting" get together. I look forward to these not only to support the constitutional right, but to also responsibility represent a choice of protection and procurement of food. It makes no difference to me what your thoughts on guns are, but it does make a difference to others. Sometime this month is the big yard sale, its a time to get the house cleaned out for all the junk. My wife calls it the purge. A systematic selling of everything that we haven't touched in 6 months. I find it interesting as the process begins, how attached we become to things that we don't use. It makes no sense to keep or store many of the things that weigh us down in our lives. On another note, my wife started a process called once-a-month cooking. Yes it does save us time. No the meals don't taste like cardboard. No you won't find me in an ap...

Why does it matter? Its a word that brings on many thoughts and feelings. It stirs memories of that first set of keys jingling in your pocket, the moving truck (old beatin up van) coming to take you to college, a first job offer that leaves you scratching your head, and that vow of marriage that changes everything. I've always considered myself someone that stands on their own. I do. But in the end, its not much of the same. I always find myself thinking of gaining ground in many areas of life, but just to find out that wealth and wisdom of all areas of knowledge continue to humble my independent ambition. So again, I ask, why does it matter, independence that is.... It matters because without our independence for free thought, action, worship through all of our God given freedoms then we are in the end restrainig God's creation. When we lack indepence we are in a sense putting miracles of innovation, creativivity, and talent on a shelf and waitng for it to expire. So...

We had a wonderful group of guys go down to Orange beach for some deep sea fishing. There is nothing like the fellowship of a bunch of Christian men sharing stories, eating great food, and riding 4-6 ft swells in the ocean. I'm reminded of Peter's experience with Jesus on the water. It seems to me that whenever you find it hard to take a break. Just remember who is holding you up. Take a step out of your boat and walk with the faith that God can rejuvenate and sharpen your saw so that you can keep the cutting edge and allow dullness to be a thing of the past. Miraculous things happen when you foster and network with others. Bonds can unite to make a difference in society. I pray these wonderful gentleman all the success in the world and a continued fervor for fellowship.  - Signing off - a.k.a. "Chumly"

Congratulations Tim, We are so proud of Tim Barnfield for going Power Player at this last 2012 Spring National Convention. With only 1 day left to qualify, Tim was able to help some great new members join the cause of living a better life. Once again, way to go Tim. We know you will be an inspiration and bring more people back as Power Player to the next convention. Tim has been a long term friend and colleague. He is an avid learner and has an amazing work ethic. He has a history of being a self employeed business owner for most all of his life, mostly working in the finance and insurance industry. Along with 2 beautiful children, a dog named Baxter, and a changed heart Tim lives a life that is truly blest. We can't wait to be on the beaches of the world with Tim. He is someone that we gladly post as a story of VICTORY!

MENTAL FITNESS CHALLENGE We can't wait for the world to experience this challenge. Watch the online video and learn more about it. With all of the accolades and years of experience that this company brings to the table, we will find this information going viral to many communites world wide. For those lacking time, money, stamina, and motivation to further their personal, public, and leadership education, this program solves all those problems in a simple, fun, fast, and easy assessment and 90 day followup.

I have loved the game of basketball my entire life. I remember as a young boy bouncing the ball on a bed of pea gravel practicing desperately until eventually mastering the follow through on a lofty shot toward the beat up fiber glass board holding my bent up hoop down the farm. Its hard to recall some of my experiences, but I will never forget the release from my hand and the sound of the net when connecting with a long range jump shot. It is one of the sweetest experiences that I have ever had. Thus my addiction, you might say, began. It is the sport of basketball that taught me one of the hardest lessons about success. My junior year of high school, I quit the team due to selfish reasons that should have been overcome. My parents let me make the mistake. For that, I am forever grateful. Without the experience of feeling like I had given up on the team and realizing that I could do more led me to a commitment that I have kept ever since. DON'T QUIT WHAT ...

This interview with Will Smith is a great perspective on greatness vs talent or skill. Where do you excel? WORK ETHIC Make it your work ethic that leads you to victory!

The book Rascal by Chris Brady was an insightful and motivating look into the life of becoming a public influencer. From the strength and nemesis sections to the test and characters represented, the book provides an analysis of what a public character that makes a difference looks like. If you are one that wants to follow a path of excellence and leave a legacy in your wake, make sure to ready, study, and implement the principles in this book. It not only gives you the foundation, but it provides real life examples along with an assessment test to give you a tool to measure your progress. Good luck with your findings and as always, you are in the next 5 years what and who you read, listen, and associate with.

No matter how sick or tired I was...... Play to win, lead to succeed, and take your team to the limit. Everyone can hit a new gear, everyone can do more, everyone can make a difference, so DO IT ANYWAY!

Family In human context , a family (from Latin : familia ) is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity , affinity , or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children. Anthropologists most generally classify family organization as matrilocal (a mother and her children); conjugal (a wife, husband, and children, also called nuclear family ; and consanguinal (also called an extended family) in which parents and children co-reside with other members of one parent's family. At Christmas, I was thinking about all of these statistics. How can society overcome so much negative? We can..... In 2010, 66 percent of children ages 0–17 lived with two married parents, down from 77 percent in 1980. We can.....promote marriage. In 2009, 41 percent of all births were to unmarried women. We can..... promote chastity. In 1960, only 9% of children in the United States lived with single parents. By 1995 that figure rose to 27%. We ca...

In life it is amazing how many people you come to know and meet along the way. It seems like you are always coming upon new aquaintances that can help you throughout your journey. However, it are those relationships that you remember and recall from time to time that make the difference. It are those people who you would call truly friends. The onces you trust, the ones you have shared stories and times with that no one else has. Its the people who are there when you need them or the once who just listen, laugh, and cry with you. Just like the picture says. They may not always be where you can see them, but you always know that when you do you can pick up right where you left off. A trail of memories, that when placed together, make a masterpiece of collection of greatest hits. Don't take them for granted or forget them. Good friends can  often shoot through the sky like a falling star, but true friends can keep you on your true North guiding you to a better you.

Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose," Mr. Jobs said in a commencement speech at Stanford University in June 2005, almost a year after he was diagnosed with cancer. Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304447804576410753210811910.html#ixzz1aFgB2LuE

An unexpected gift tonight has prompted me to write a quick note of thanks for my Aunt. She has an amazing gift in crafting beautiful stained glass structures, Tiffany's, and many other items. This one being the beautiful church I remember seeing for the first time a few years back. I forget exactly how it came about, but I distinctly remember seeing this piece and mentioning to take it back home to my place one day. Well the day has come, all the way from the east coast it arrived packaged in bubble wrap greeting an astounded nephew. I found it hard to even touch it for fear of harming such an awesome creation. So I am indebted to a visit out east after this, no doubt. I could never repay the wonderful gift she has given, let alone the time and effort it took to even learn the craft in the first place. I love you. While I sat and thought about it on the way home. I realized how ironic the term "stained glass" hit my logical mind. Normally somethin...