For those of you who’re in positions of authority, please be sure to check your stress level from time-to-time to avoid taking your frustration out on other harmless individuals.  As an Ex-Peace Officer myself, I understand that there is a distinct difference between the “Spirit of the Law” and the “Letter of the Law” and I’ve found that often times high stress levels can tend to push a person to the side of the “Letter of the Law” more often than not.

I was driving home late last night from hanging out with my group-home boys for the day.  It was about 10 pm and I was traveling on a major road with no other civilian vehicles.  I pulled up behind a CHP (California Highway Patrol) vehicle at a stop light.  The light turned green and I switched lanes and then continued on and watched in my review mirror as the CHP officer got in back of me.  I watched carefully to make sure that I didn’t go too slow or too fast.  The posted speed limit was 50mph and my speed was fluctuating between 49mph and 52mph.  After about a mile or two the officer switched over to the #2 lane and pulled up next to me and yelled at me over his bull-horn, “STOP SPEEDING!  YOU’RE DRIVING TOO FAST!  SLOW DOWN AND DRIVE THE SPEED LIMIT!”  I must admit that I was surprised to hear this, considering the speed I was driving at and the surrounding conditions.  I actually felt kinda like I was being scolded by my father.  LOL.

As a result, I immediately decreased my speed by 2mph to prevent from endangering the general public.  Then it hit me.  I suddenly realized that even CHP Officers are human and have to deal with stress.  I thought to myself that maybe he was headed home from a hard, stressful day at work out on the freeways and interstates and he felt that my actions in his presence was an act of some sort of disrespect.  Well whatever the case, I wasn’t going to let his bad day ruin my GREAT day.  So, I smiled and waved and drove on singing my song. 

This event prompted me to issue this gentle reminder.  We must check our “Stress-Level” often and keep ourselves in check in this world.  We should also be sure that we never let someone else’s stressful day ruin ours. 

Stress-free for me.  How’s your stress level today?  No need to answer out loud or raise your hand, just hear and understand.  Let’s continue to make it GREAT!

E ver heard the term, “No-Brainer“?  This refers to knowing or doing something without having to think about it. Would it surprise you to know most of us live the majority of our lives in what I call “No-Brainer” mode. Most people are stuck in a pattern of comfort and find themselves simply Ok with just being Ok and getting by.  Using their time, talents and gifts to serve others has become a distant future thought based on a contingency of “when” things get better for themselves.  

If this applies to you, I invite you to please allow me to give you some unsolicited advice today.  Don’t make this mistake, for I’ve found that the best form of giving is giving out of scarcity and sacrifice rather than waiting and hoping for future abundance.  

Dare to turn that brain back on and kick that comfort to the curb and get back into the hunt to create a life of substance and significance through your service to your fellowman (or woman).  I sincerely believe that scarcity presents an awesome opportunity for us to “give” our way out of a rut or slump in life. 

So, go ahead and give of your time, talents and limited treasures to bust up these challenging times.  Now that should be a “No-Brainer”.  Let’s continue to Make it GREAT!

When it comes to parenting and raising solid, respectful kids one of the most important words I’ve learned to say is “Yes”. 

As a father of four beautiful kids I must admit that years ago I used to spell “Love”, W-O-R-K and M-O-N-E-Y.  I used to be quick to say “No” when it came to doing the simplest of things with my kids like playing basketball or curb-ball or rough-housing.  I would justify my answer with the fact that I was “too busy”.  Well, thank God years ago I eventually realized that “too busy” was just a common scapegoat that demonstrates our real priorities in life. 

I’m happy to say that one glorious day I had the good-fortune of overhearing a conversation a couple of my kids were having with my wife and it suddenly hit me like a ton of bricks that the most important thing is not how hard we W-O-R-K or how much M-O-N-E-Y we make, our kids spell “Love”, T-I-M-E. 

No wonder there are countless stories of multi-millionaires and billionaires the world over that have failed to create the proper bond and connection with their kids due to the lack of T-I-M-E invested with them.  The biggest factor in our kid’s lives is not the school teacher or the BFF or the babysitter or the TV or the video game.  The biggest factor in their lives should be YOU and your ability to say “Yes” to the time investment in the simple things that show them that they’re important. 

So, here’s a brief reminder for you today.  In this life we have many, many mistakes to make but we don’t have to make them all ourselves.  I invite you to learn from my mistake and take time to tune-out of the busyness that life can bring us and tune-in to those little ones around us both young and old.  And, remember we only get one time through this “life” thing.  No do-over’s on this one, so let’s get it right the first time through.

Be encouraged this week and be sure to say “Yes” as you choose to invest your T-I-M-E wisely with those who are counting on you to show them how to WIN.  The unfortunate reality is that most people won’t even have time to read this post today, “too busy”.  Hmmmm.  Don’t let it be you.

Let’s make it GREAT!