Soul Food Revolution

Had a great time today speaking to the Clovis High Plains Rotary Club. If you don’t know much about Rotary International I strongly suggest you check them out: www.rotary.org. They have a ton of good stuff happening and are doing what they can to make the world a much better place.

Today I spoke about identity. More importantly about being a person that does EXTRA-ordinary things. Anyone can do everyday, ordinary stuff but what am I doing that is a little bit EXTRA to make a difference? Driving to work is ordinary. Driving to work fifteen minutes early so I can stop and help someone is EXTRA. Ordering and paying for my meal is ordinary. Ordering and paying for my meal AND the family behind me in line is EXTRA. Signing a check and mailing it to Haiti is ordinary. Taking a week off of work and GOING to Haiti to help is EXTRA. What are you doing that is EXTRA-ordinary? It’s kind of funny because donig these EXTRA things really doesn’t take any more time or energy than doing ordinary things….and man is the reward amazing!

I’m lifting my glass to EXTRA-ordinary……….hopefully you will too!

Cheers,

Mitch

I remember standing in front of a gathering of people known as a ‘church’ Sunday after Sunday and Wednesday after Wednesday. Compared to many men and women in the world my experience of this weekly happening is small. I know people that have preached tens of thousands of sermons and have stood in front of millions of people. You can turn your TV to the local inspirational channel and catch the newest, hottest fad of a preacher in our country and at that very moment millions of eyes are watching and ears listening to every word this person says. But have you ever wondered while watching on TV or listening to your local church’s pastor…….’does this guy really believe what he’s saying?’ I know, I know some of you are gonna hold fast and stern and say, ‘I never wonder! He’s a man of faith! He’s our leader (aka pastor)!’ But come on, let’s be honest, have you ever wondered? I have. To be perfectly honest there have been times that I step on to that stage and think ‘Do I really believe?’ If I’ve done it…if I ‘ve wondered….. then I know you have.

There is a stereotype in our culture that I really would like to destroy. It’s a stereotype that religion has created. It’s a stereotype that all of the nice suit wearing, fancy background building, smooth word crafting preachers have either purposely or incidentally caused to come about. It’s the stereotype of perfection. I’ve seen many church buildings that are so perfectly kept that I’m afraid to even step in! I’ve seen preachers that wear suits that cost more than my car! Now I know there are ‘thoughts’ and ‘spiritual disciplines’ and ‘principles’ to this madness yet even with all of the good intentions this persona religion has created still leads people to believe things have to be perfect. And that is what leads me to wonder. What would it be like if during the middle of a pastors sermon someone stood up, raised their hand and spoke, ‘Preacher! I really have no clue or relation to what you’re talking about because, well, it’s not the real world. Could you relate it to what really happens in everyday life?’ I can guarantee you this: in 80% of churches across America if you did this you would either A- be escorted out, B- get stared at like you’re an alien that recently landed in a UFO or C- be allowed to speak and the answer that followed would be either, ‘I would love to visit with you after our service (in other words he has no answer), or the pastor would give an answer that really wasn’t an answer. Religious folks hate to be vulnerable. Pastors HATE to show you they don’t know everything. It’s the way we are all brain washed in seminary (schools for special chosen people JK). You see as pastors we are taught, mostly through example, that we have all the answers and wisdom. This leads to the ‘perfection’ presentation that religion shows to people.

The answer to our question, ‘Have you ever wondered’ is yes. You have. I have. Every pastor has as he steps on that stage. If he says he hasn’t he’s lying. I challenge you to question your pastor if you’re a church going person. Ask them questions. Challenge them to stop giving all this biblical gubbly gubbly stuff and help them understand how to be a teacher. And pastors, stop it with the ‘wise’ demeanor. A few friends and I have a game we play when we are at a resteraunt. We love people watching and we try to guess what someone’s profession is by the way they carry themselves. Many times we will start a conversation with these people to find out if we were correct. It’s a fun way to meet new friends. And by the way, pastors are the easiest one’s to spot. Sorry guys but it’s true. The arrogance. The aura. The persona. And we don’t recognize them because these traits are godly…no we recognize them because 90% of the time these traits aren’t real…………….It makes me wonder.

I’m having a great time this week at a resort in one of my favorite cities in America, Phoenix, AZ. Many don’t care for the heat and sun of the Valley but I absolutely love it. Liking this place so much is actually a paradox in my character. As much as I love the sun of PHX, I just as much love the overcast sky of Portland, Oregon. We’ll save that discussion for another day. As for this amazing resort location, there are a ton of villa’s with different types of rooms and amenities. Swimming pools, restaurants, tennis courts, gyms, and such fill these hills. Add a 5 star golf course to boot. The first night the group I’m with arrived the kids bailed out of the bus, jumped into their swimming suits and hit the pool that is located in our little villa. They had a blast. Wrestling, diving, laughing………simply loving the idea of not being in the bus any longer. The next day brought out the adventurous spirit in all of us. While my family and I had stayed at this resort before we had not taken the time to really check out this place. 6 swimming areas….yes 6! Water slides, hot tubs, lawn chairs….everything you could think of. With this discovery the kids went crazy. Of course, once again they grabbed their shorts and suits and hit the water. As I was walking back to our room today I noticed that much smaller pool in the middle of our villa. No one in sight. My thoughts drifted back to a few nights ago as our kids unloaded off the bus discovering the joy of that little pool. Aw but they soon discovered the real reason people come to this huge place. They discovered the adventure of sliding through a mountain only to land in an awaiting gathering of cool water. They discovered other kids from all over the world gathering to enjoy the ray’s of the spring sun. They discovered……more……

My life has changed drastically over the past few years. Experience and knowledge has taken my thoughts, feelings and beliefs to a whole new level. Much of what I grew up believing I no longer find true or complete. Many of the thoughts I fought for in debate ten years ago I would find laughable now. A few days ago my dad and I were having a similar conversation. As we were discussing the things we used to believe he paused, and with a tear in his eye asked, ‘What were we thinking?’ I could only smile and respond with a simple….’I don’t know.’ Much like the kids in this group discovered more, I have discovered more. I’ve discovered that there are better, smarter and more complete ways to do things in life. I’ve discovered that everything I once believed to be exact was all along, well, not truly exact. In fact many of the things I once believed I have now found to be some of the furthest belief’s from reality I could have had! I’m not at all suggesting everything I know now is complete………..I never want to believe I have grasped everything to completion. This false arrogance leads us to never discover the greater in life. It leads us to only live in our one little villa with our one little pool when there is a whole new world out there to find, introduce ourselves to and enjoy. There are others all over the world awaiting the introduction of each other yet this can only happen when we seek, each day, to discover the more.

In business it means not settling for your brick and mortar of old. It means getting out into the world via the web and finding what else awaits. In family it means getting rid of the traditional 40 hour work week and taking advantage of smart work. It’s so possible to work half the time America used to and make ten times the money allowing us to not only rediscover the value of family but also giving us many more resources to ignite that creativity in our children and grandchildren. Discovery and open mindedness means that the old scholars of religion must throw away their philosophies and brain washing traditions in exchange for what the teachings of old truly meant: loving God and loving others. Nothing more and nothing less.

Settling for what was is actually one of the most selfish acts we can create. Discovering throws pride aside and says, ‘While failure might arrive I never let it exist. I will seek to discover.’ While we may not arrive at exactly the place we visualized, we might just be clearing the path for someone to come. And that, my friend, is exactly what discovery is all about. Laying the foundation for a greater path.

I read a story the other day found in a recent edition of the Arizona Republic. The story was reported in the March 9, 1858 edition of the Republic. Yes I said 1858! The story amazed me. It told of a man named Terrance “Phatty” Boden. Mr. Boden was a stage driver at one point and traveled a bit through Tucson. Once, as he was sitting in a dance hall in Tucson, he noticed something interesting about the dance hall girls. He noticed that as the night wore on and the patrons of the dance hall left the girls grew very lonely. This observation stuck in Boden’s mind as he went on about his life. He later resigned from his job as a driver to pursue the idea that had grown from his observation about the dance hall girls. Mr. Boden paid some local boys in Salome a quarter a piece to gather up as many cats as they could! Soon the boys had caught practically the entire cat population of Salome. Boden gathered up these cats, loaded them in a wagon and headed to Tucson. Upon arrival in Tucson Boden set up shop below Auggie’s Saloon and sold cats to the dance hall girls. These girls paid anywhere from two to three dollars a piece for their new furry, purring friends.

This story caught my attention because I believe it tells the secret to successful business. The first is be aware of what’s going on around you. There is always an opportunity. Either for business or maybe just to help someone. Stay alert. Be aware. Observe. Watch and learn. You never know where the next need may arise. Secondly, never fear. Mr. Boden saw a need, had an idea and went with it. I believe many don’t succeed because they don’t dive in whole heartedly. If you’re going to do something then do it! Don’t worry about failure or even success. If you have a dream of an idea and you are passionate about it then do it! With all you have! Failure is a mindset. So don’t even worry about failure. Third, build relationships. I know I’m reading between the lines on this one but in my mind I can see Mr. Boden sitting at a table in that saloon, drinking some whiskey and watching. He notices a young lady in the corner, walks over and strikes up a conversation. Soon he realizes how lonely this girl is! He then asks questions all the while his mind is in motion considering ways he can meet this need. Fast forward to Boden returning to Tucson. Can’t you picture him pulling up to the saloon, grabbing five or six cats and carrying them in! You know the ladies went crazy! Boden built relationships. And besides, there’s not much sexier than a cowboy carrying cats!

Maybe you can take something from Mr. Boden’s story. It’s amazing that principle’s span all tests of time. This same story happens daily in the marketplace. My question is, ‘will you be a part of this success?’

Cheers,

Mitch

Always remember: I do not have the right to hold you accountable to my expectations of you! Each of us has the right to make decisions in life. Because of this, regardless of the decision I make, you do not have the right to hold someone else accountable to what you expected of them. This is a grave mistake I see happen daily. People think someone should do a certain thing a certain way and then get angry when that person didn’t do that certain thing that certain way. Stop it! It’s not your business! When I lay down in bed at night and close my eyes the only person I have to live with is myself. The only decisions I have to review and either dislike or be proud of are the decisions I have made. If we would only allow others room to live their life and inspire them to do so. Not inspire them to live what I think best. NO! Inspire them to live what is best for their life! Inspire them to live out their purpose. This would make life so much easier. And besides, I think most would be amazed that the expectations we put on ourselves are much greater than the expectations we put on each other. People aren’t stupid. We know the purpose we have. May we stop pressuring each other into a life that isn’t ours and allow each other to fulfill our own purpose.  I do not need your expectations and you do not need mine. If we are going to hold each other accountable may we do so by holding each other accountable to our own destiny and purpose.