I read a quote the other day that sounded almost spiritual. “You have to be before you can do and do before you can have.”

First part- you must be before you can do. It means you must be settled in who you really are, not who you want others to think you are. It’s about being real. Many people never get to this place in their life. They live their whole life insecure and afraid they will not be accepted, and they never remove the veil to be who they really are and who God wants them to be. They always hide behind some image they have created for themselves. It is like they live their whole life in a shadow of the real person they were meant to be.

Therefore, I believe learning to “Be” could be one of the most important decisions we can make in life. The rest of the saying, Do and Have, come after learning to Be. KT

Years ago, I was selling a hotel on the outskirts of Nashville way before Nashville became what it is today. Back then it was just a dirty nasty town with many bad areas. So, this hotel I was selling was a dog, I mean butt ugly, poorly constructed, very little income and in a bad part of town. My staff wrote a presentation book on the hotel that made it look like an investment paradise.

I have this client named Johnny Walker (not the whiskey guy) who owned some hotels and a tour company. He looked at the book we had written and said, I quote, “Keith, you’re pushing a dog.” I asked him what he was talking about, and he told me that the hotel was a dog, and my book was like trying to make a pig look good by putting lipstick on it.

So, the term “dog” for a bad hotel was born that day. I am proud to say that I have sold many dogs (if Dave Akridge is reading this, he managed most of them. ha) over the years and can still remember some that I would not even spend the night in. The second hotel I ever sold was called the Red Inn off Chandler Road here in Atlanta. It was so bad the Atlanta cops would not even respond to a call there because they were out gunned. One time in Charlotte I drove around the back of hotel I was selling for a bank only to see a drug ring selling drugs in the parking lot. I almost stripped the transmission out trying to back up. Ha

Anyway, I found that the best approach with a dog hotel is to tell all the bad news up front as compared to letting the buyer find out later. They respect you a little more if you tell them what a dog it is upfront. I don’t much work on dogs anymore because I let the young brokers do it. Let’s face it, I am too old to run and fight so its best to just stay away. KT

We have a 19-year-old ski boat that runs just fine and does want we want it to. It is a little ruffled around the edges and not flashy and needs a wax job, but it still looks pretty good.

Last weekend we were out on our dock watching people swim, paddleboard, Kayak and ride by in boats. I was a little shocked by how many new boats I saw. I do not mean these little 16 ft deals with a 50-horse mercury like my dad used to own. Oh no, I mean a new Ski Nautique, Malibu Wakesetter, Master Craft X-Star etc etc. These type boats are priced north of 200k, and I bet I saw fifty.

As they went by carrying five or six flat-belly dudes drinking a beer and several scantily clad ladies while playing music from groups I have never heard of, I could not help wondering who bought those boats for them.  Probably daddy. Side note-Driving a boat with an open beer container will get you thrown in the poky and your boat impounded.

Anywhoo, I was watching these folks ride by in their high dollar boats and I looked over at my 19-year-old boat with a stereo that only plays Creedence Clearwater Revival music, and I realized sometimes, what you already have is all you need. KT

Actual news report overview for the month– “In Baghdad, the leader of Iraq is killed by the Iraqi army. Great Brittain reacts to the coup by mobilizing 6.000 troops. The US president announces that he is sending 5,000 troops to Lebanon to monitor situations in the middle east. In Moscow, the Soviet Premier accepts an American proposal to hold a summit on the tension in the middle east at the UN Headquarters. In other news, the international conference on nuclear testing is being held in Geneva Switzerland.”

Does this news report sound like something you would have heard last week? Can you guess what year this was? It was the actual printed monthly news overview for July 1958, 65 years ago.

My point? History often repeats itself. Ecclesiastes !:9 says the following, “what has been will be again, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.” It is a little chilling to realize King Solomon (David’s son) wrote this in 970 BC.

We live in a world dominated by information. Some of it good and a lot it bad. If you wring your hands worrying about social, local and world events, it will drive you crazy. Choose the aspects of your life you can control and focus your energy making a difference to those around you. Shut Facebook and Insta off and watch a good NCIS or Andy Griffith show or a Hallmark movie. You will more relaxed and happier. Never carry your iPad to bed, instead spend some time each night reading a good thriller. You will sleep better and be more rested and know how to handle the crazies on Facebook in the morning. KT

It is hard to be in life’s moments when each moment you are worried about debt and how you are going to pay it. I am not talking about the usual debt like on a house etc. but debt that goes well beyond your capacity to repay.

Elaine’s mom passed away in May and we were going through some dated pictures that I was in. In each picture of the early and mid-90’s, I can see my face and know what I was thinking. Even though the occasion was a happy time when my girls were little, I will never forget what it was like not knowing how I was going to make ends meet.

You see, I did a foolish thing in 1988. I bought three fast food restaurants thinking I was going to do well and provide a good life for my family. The result was ten years of debt, worry, and misery before I finally got rid of the last restaurant. If anyone reading this blog ever thinks they want to open a restaurant, I have three words of advice. Don’t do it! ha.

There is a friend of mine that has been tanged up in debt with the federal government for a number of years. Every time I see him, the anxiety and worry are written all over his face. His situation has robbed him of the last 6-8 years of his life. Literally robbed him because he is never at peace and rest.

 I learned something many years ago that has helped me. When thinking about a decision or investment or a loan, I ask myself the following question; If things go bad, will it affect our lifestyle and cause me stress and worry. If I can’t honestly say it wouldn’t affect us, I don’t do it and I don’t care how good the deal or opportunity is.

Pictures tell a thousand words. We should try our best to put ourselves into a position that when someone takes our picture, we can be in the moment and the smile be real. KT