Hiatus

I have decided to take a hiatus from blogger for the time being. The reason is that I want to write my thoughts out on paper. I have a journal that I keep, but I havent written in it since August and so much has happened since then. I really need to recollect myself and find out what I really think and believe and where I want to go in this life.
It may be a week, it may be a month, or it may be longer, but I will be back eventually. Best wishes to all of you who read this. ;-)

The Weekend

So I flew home Friday for Alex's wedding. I hung out with my dad for the most part on Friday and we talked alot about business. I had dinner with my immediate family including Ryan at Johnny Curino's that night. It was great. Then we hung out at my sisters place. She is doing well for herself and Ryan is doing well too.
I had a Chi Alpha reunion on Saturday. My other sister went with me and we had a blast. I dont think they could have asked for a better wedding. I loved it. Great music and worship. P.Mike made us all laugh, and realize what a wonderful couple they are. Jen. Cory, Evan, and Amber were in the wedding party. They all looked so good. Cory, Evan, and this other guy played jimbay, sax, and guitar. They were so good.
The reception was kinda short, but sweet. My fav part was dancing with the bride. I wish I knew her better. She is such a beautiful kind young lady and Im so happy for her and Alex. They will make a great team.
We dropped my sister off at her apartment and then I went to hang out with the Chi Alpha crew. It was fun.
Sunday I slept in at Rons place and we had lunch together. I came back from Pittsburgh to hang out with my parents again before I left and to see Tom and Sarah. We had a Bible study that night that was really great about suffering and what it really means.
Monday morning my dad took me to the airport but I missed my flight because the security line was so long. It was a blessing in disguise because I stayed an extra day and got to see my cousin and my aunt. I also got to talk more to my dad about business stuff. And I talked alot about business with my cousin as well.
So the game plan is still the same it just got more intense. I gotta make it work or die trying just like I did with the painting business. I want to get a steady job with a steady paycheck that will pay the bills for the time being. It will do two things. One, allow me not to worry too much about paying the bills. Two, remind me everyday how much I need to get my own business up and running. ;-) So thats the gameplan. Of course, Ill keep you updated. But please pray for me, so that Gods will be done in my life. Amen.

lost, so lost.

Am I ever going to find where I belong? Thats the question of the day. I dont feel like I should stick around become a franchise developer for these guys. I like the idea but I have no real input into how the business is run or organized. They listen to my ideas, but implementing them is a different story. Granted, I dont think I can find this freedom in any other job, but I cant take it anymore. Painting and construction for that matter is such a unique business. Its one of the few businesses where employees regularly dont show up for work. Its a business with the pickiest customers. Or at least it seems that way.
So Ive kind of reversed my trends as of late. My ultimate goal is to have my own business and help other people start their own businesses. This "job" has taught me a lot about running my own business, and perhaps it has some lessons yet to teach me, but I feel the need to really move on. I have felt this need before as you know from reading previous blogs but Ive decided once and for all to leave. Im going back to the regular employee world for the time being, and I have decided to start a business part-time. I will get that business up and running to where it can support me and then I will really be at the end of the beginning. ;-)
Right now Im probably in the worst of worlds. The headaches of a business owner without actually owning the business. Im thinking hard about getting another commissioned sales, but Im having trouble finding ones that will really help me learn and grow. I need and want to work with a company that has a true mission that doesnt really deal with the bottom line. And they are hard to find it seems. Im also looking for a great team of people to work with. I feel so alone right now, mainly because the people I would work with are located in Ft. Collins. *sigh*
I will find what Im looking for. I had hoped someone would be able to take the journey with me, but it seems Im destined to truly take this trip alone. Not alone in the sense that people wont help me along the way, but alone in the sense that I wont have someone walk that path right beside me each step of the way, except perhaps the man upstairs. ;-) Very few people have the feelings I am having right now, and Id say this might be one of the first times Ive ever experienced them, but we must all follow our heart or die knowing the greatness in us was never allowed to come out.

Franchise It!

So I had my meeting with the owners yesterday. They decided it wasn't in mine or their best interest to hire more managers for the company. They have built the whole company for the purpose of franchising it and that is what they are going to do in a years time. Whats my part in it all?
As an area developer I get to sell the business opportunity to people interested in franchising the Mcguyver name and provide training and support till they get their businesses off the ground. I get a upfront commission and a royalty income from all revenue generated by the businesses I help start. Much better then trying to hire and train a lot of managers.
The company is building value into the name and has basically created business systems that allow a guy like me to come in here and start my own painting business. Which is basically what I did. Ive been the most sucessful person in the company thus far and have the vision to take it where it needs to go.
Five years from now Ill be semi-retired from Mcguyver Painting and probably pursuing some other business ventures. I gotta work my butt off now, but it all pays off in the end. The road is just beginning. ;-)

Considering my Lifestyle

Lifestyle, how we live is as important as ever. We all strive to be better and often when we mean better we mean better then the next guy. If we dont we suffer and go down in our happiness levels. Here's the link. http://www.fastcompany.com/online/68/richlife.html
Here is a quote from the article worth reading, "As it turns out, by the time we get to be our grandmother's age, we'll be happier anyway. That's because happiness over any given lifetime looks like a big U-curve. "You start out thinking that you're going to conquer the world," says Oswald. "Then you discover that it's tough out there and become dissatisfied. Happiness levels tend to bottom out around 30. Eventually, after 5 or 10 years, you come to terms with yourself. You learn to control your aspirations. After you've done that, it's easier to get steadily happier again."
I have started to think about how I live my life in terms of lifestyle after a recent conversation with my friend Lisa. We were just talking about work and other things and she said what seemed a peculiar thing at the time. She said, "Im starting to think about lifestyle now". The important word in the sentence isnt lifestyle like Im stressing. The important word is NOW. Why wasnt she thinking it earlier? Why wasnt I thinking it earlier? Isnt lifestyle what I have been searching for all along? Isnt it why I moved out here to Colorado? Isnt it why I spend my spare moments doing what I can to satisfy my urge to be, do, see what makes me joyful?
Read the article, bookmark it, then read it again. You will be glad you did. ;-)

all better ;-)

Well yesterday I ate a grand total of a piece of toast and a bagel with cream cheese. I visited my job site yesterday to deliver some extra paint and check things out. The homeowner felt really bad for me. oh well. i went home and took a 2 hour nap and then went to my 3pm estimate. she asked me if I was the same person on the phone cause I sounded different. i told her I was a little sick. haha, what an understatement. then after that I made some calls to make sure everything was all right on the job site. it was, so I just went home.
I collapsed on my bed around 5:30ish and woke up about 7:30ish this morning. 14 hours of straight sleeping sure does a body good. ;-) Now I feel like new. haha. ANd yes I am aspiring to the Ironman. You'd think me crazy if you knew me.
now I go to play some volleyball and Im headed up to camp later to play some capture the flag, and hang out with the "kiddos". latas...