May 5, 2019

Can Faith and Fear Co-exist?

I posit that they cannot co-exist and I go a step further and say that they are mutually exclusive.

Faith and fear are part of a zero sum equation. We say that we trust God and still pal around with the devil. You can’t do both and yet many people do.

I had an interesting conversation with an acquaintance the other day. This person claims to be a believer in Christ, but she said that she is wary of flying to Texas after those 737 Max jets crashed a few months ago.

My argument is how can a person claim to trust God and be afraid to fly? The answer is that you can’t. You either trust Him or you don’t; Full stop.

April 27, 2019

Why I like numbers…

I always excelled in English. I had a particular disdain for Math. I like numbers because you can quantify things. They tell us a story that mere adjectives can’t. If you don’t believe me ask Mitt Romney. His 47% comment derailed his entire campaign for president. When he said that at a campaign fundraiser in 2011, he verbalized his dislike for the common man in no uncertain terms.

Numbers tell a story

Whenever you hear something in Time, USA Today or the Washington Post, you don’t know the effect that the item has until you know how many lives were impacted.

The terrorist attacks on 9/11 had a tremendous impact because of the lives that were lost. Even the date, which also significant because of its number made it unforgettable.

April 20, 2019

I attract blessings

I’m a magnet, but instead of metal filing I attract blessings.

Some people call it luck and others good fortune. I call them blessings. I focus my attention on a task and it manifests. Throughout my life jobs, opportunities and occurrences manifest themselves by me focusing on them.

I can’t explain it nor do I try. This gift is a blessing from God. I can provide you with a lengthy list as proof if you need proof. All that I have to do is start verbalizing and giving you some examples.

Life in this country is a blessing and we take so much for granted. Freedom of speech and freedom of worship are two things that come to mind when I think about our freedom as Americans. We come and go with no restrictions or constraints.

April 21, 2019

How I Went From a Fixed Disability Income to Millionaire

The car gradually got hotter and I didn’t notice until my vehicle pulled to one side. It became increasingly difficult to steer. I was on the 59 Freeway in Houston TX traveling at a high rate of speed. The driver side rear tire was flat and at first I didn’t know it. It became obvious when the car became impossible to steer straight and started making a belching noise.

I have been the owner of several profitable enterprises over the past decade and so when I got a “financial flat tire” it caught me off guard. I went from owning a house in the Houston suburb of Sugar Land TX to renting a room at my parents house in San Diego CA.

When you experience a flat tire on your car, you don’t abandon it on the side of the road. You change the tire. You may even call AAA if you need help or can’t change it yourself.

I got help in the form of information. I changed my mindset instead of my tire. I read books on budgeting, investing and saving money.

I purchased books, watched YouTube videos and listened to podcasts on changing my financial situation.

The first step was to identify my assets. I had a few accounts that I had forgotten about. I closed the accounts and transferred the funds to an investment account.

The second step was to choose an investment account and fund it.

I’m still working on the millionaire part, but I’m confident that I’m on the right road.

I’m going to charge my tire and not abandon my car.

April 19, 2019

Because we’re not robots…

I said to myself, why aren’t you writing. Don’t you want to finish your novel? Don’t you need to post on your blog? Are your readers anxiously waiting for your pearls of wisdom? The answer to each one of my rhetorical questions is yes! Undoubtedly yes!

If the answer is affirmative for each question then why am I struggling? I am struggling because I am not a robot. The biggest argument for automation is the fact that robots don’t take breaks. They don’t call out sick or take vacations either.

I can proudly say that I am not a robot. I have feelings and some days are better than others. I dated each blog post so I can easily track my consistency. I fell off toward the end of last year. My mind was on vacation. I’m back now. I may not win any awards for perfect attendance, but I’m still posting.

I am still employed doing an important job: expressing myself with no apologies.

April 15, 2019

Taxed Day

Nope, it’s not a typo. I intentionally used the word. One definition of the word taxed is to make heavy demands on (someone’s powers or resources).

Using that definition, what is your taxed day? I submit that your taxed day should be everyday. In other words you should be exercising your powers and resources to the fullest.

The next question is how do you accomplish this feat on a consistent basis? People who are the engineering field use the word taxed to express when a resource is pushed to its limits. When that happens the thing is said to be taxed.

April 14, 2019

Why this blog is called My Life in Pieces?

You may wonder why I named this blog My Life in Pieces. That’s an excellent question.

I called the blog My Life in Pieces because it provides you with a glimpse into my fragmented history. I call each independent part of my story a chapter in my life.

The thing that each chapter shares in common with the other part is the goal of demonstrating leadership, encouragement and trust.

I have demonstrated leadership even though I didn’t pursue this initially. Leadership was thrust upon me. I eventually embraced it.