Category Archives: Life

Looking through the fog

Career, Life

Business and life are full of success and failure. I don’t know of a person that only knows success without also knowing failure. Walt Disney, Henry Ford, Milton Hershey, H.J. Heinz and Abraham Lincoln all had one thing in common. They all filed bankruptcy before going on to great success.

I heard a quote the other day that I wrote down. The quote was “failure is the fog from which we all glimpse triumph.” I have thought about that quote for several weeks and think there might be some truth to it. See, if you only have success you will not be forced to improve, change or better yourself. It is usually a failure (hopefully a small one) that forces us to look deeply at what we are doing and how we are doing it. It also forces us to ask, how can I improve on what I do?

I like the word fog in the quote because when you get turned down for job, lose an account, don’t get selected for a promotion, etc. you find yourself in a little haze (fog) that you must focus to see your way through. Yesterday, we lost a little piece of business that I thought we had a good shot of getting and I had to stop and remind myself that no one wins every time. I also had to remind myself that sometimes not getting what you thought you wanted, can many times be a good thing. Today, I have some clients that are enjoyable to work with and then I have other clients that just are too demanding to really enjoy.

This morning and got up and started thinking about the little deal we lost out on yesterday and I stopped and said to myself, wait a second, look at how blessed me and my family are! After that I was ready for the next opportunity instead of dwelling on the one I lost. As with every fog, it is usually short on duration and then the light comes through and you see a whole new day stretched out before you. Life is a gift so don’t waste one day rehashing old disappointments. Cowboy up and get back on your horse. KT

Knowing what you need to do

Career, Life

Years ago (1990) before I started selling hotels, I had invested in some restaurants and was slowly but surely going broke. I remember the period so vividly that it brings me to tears when I go back and look at journals I wrote or items from that period. People will tell you that time helps to ease certain memories but at least for me, I remember that period in our lives with such clarity, it forced me to find God’s new plan for my family.

I was basically trying to change anything I could and market anyway possible. As I look back on it, it was going to fail and nothing I could do would stop the slide. I was working (seemed like) 100 hours a week and was more broke at the end of the week than at the start.

I remember stopping one day and prayed the prayer, “lord, I don’t know what to do and how to fix it but I commit my life to giving you all the praise if you show me the way.” I realized that God is not usually found in a flurry of actions, rather, he is found in the still, small voice if I would just stop and listen.

I can tell you will all honesty in my heart that one day I was coming back from Columbus GA where we owned the restaurants and for some reason I got off the interstate and started winding my way through of all places, Riverdale GA. I remember turning on a street and seeing a sign for real estate school and with no previous thought, decided to pull in and go see how much it costs. Something deep in my spirit gave me the calm assurance that I was there for a purpose and a reason and that it was not a mistake. I can’t explain it, but I remember signing up for the class that would ultimately change the course of my family’s financial life.

I got my license and showed up on Bill Hodges’ front door who was a friend as well as he sold hotels. I ask if he could teach me to how sell restaurants (because that is all I knew) and I remember Bill saying he didn’t know how to sell restaurants but he could show me how to sell hotels. I said ok. The rest of the story would take ten pages to write but that would not be the point of this blog.

The point is that when you find yourself at the end of your abilities and having tried all you know how to do and willing to place your future in his care, I find that God will show up and lead you where you need to be. I can say with all certainly that without the restaurant failures, I would not be in the business I am in today. Did God lead me into the restaurant business to fail? The answer is no, he didn’t. It is more like he picked up the pieces and led me out of the forest.

Before buying the restaurants, I remember hesitation in my heart that I just assumed was cold feet and therefore I ignored it. The result was that I failed my family and almost lost everything. I can also say with crystal clear clarity that it was God that led me out of that situation and into a better way. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t like I just walked away free. It took me eight more years to get completely out of debt from the restaurants. Therefore, there are some decisions in life you must sweat through it, but it is the knowing, that you are in the right place at the right time that gives you the hope and vision you need to get through it. KT

Retirement

Life

This past weekend we had a family event with Elaine’s cousins at our lake house. Many of the people who attended are a little older than us and most are retired. I was having the retirement conversation with Michael who is one of the greatest guys in the world and who has been retired for some time. I expressed that retirement scares me and he and I discussed what it was like for him.

It does. It scares me to think I will not be doing what I love to do, which is selling hotels. This morning I woke up a little earlier than normal and started thinking about all the things I had to get done this week and the meetings I am going to in other states. Then like a hammer, I remembered the conversation with Michael yesterday about retirement and how he missed the work and the people he worked around and how it was a major adjustment for him.

On the way to the office today, I paused to be thankful for work and the ability to be involved. Thankful to be around other people doing the same thing and what a gift it is to be able to participate. I was thankful for deadlines, spreadsheets, clients and conference calls and all that goes with the business. I also realized that last week I was just doing what I do because it is what we do every week. Today was different because I have an appreciation that I didn’t have last week.

From time to time God puts people in our paths to give us that needed attitude adjustment and many times it helps us be thankful for what we already have. Being thankful and full of hope for the future are perhaps two of the most silent gifts God gives us that enables us to face the future with expectation. KT

The love of money

Life

Money could be viewed as one of the main reasons for many of the social issues we have today in society. It is often the cause of divorce, crime, broken families, broken dreams, mental illness, anger, strife, and jealousy, and this list could go on for pages. You ask yourself, why would money be the root cause for many of these situations? Great question.

I have seen money literally tear families apart and destroy lives. Some the biggest scoundrels I have met in our business are people with money who believe that their money gives them the right to cheat, lie and steal. These same people are also very unhappy, unfulfilled and discontented. Basically, they are miserable people to be around. If money buys happiness then why can’t many people with money be happy? Well, I have an opinion I would like to share that is very simple.

1st Timothy 6:10 is a verse of scripture that reads, “for the love of money is the root of all evil; which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

Some people believe the bible is an old out dated book, written by people who no one knows and the words have very little meaning in today’s real world. Well, bless their hearts, they are wrong. This verse of scripture is very relevant because it is true.

If someone asked you what the key word in that verse is, what you say? Root, money, sorrows, evil? No, the key word is love. When you love something, you protect it, desire it, control it and focus on it. That is the problem. Money is a thing that should never reach the level of love in your heart. Your wife, your children, and grandchildren are what love is meant for. It is not meant for a physical tangible thing.

Therefore, money is not a bad thing. In fact, it provides the means to buy food and clothes and sends our children to college. It is not a bad thing. The love of it is.

So, you ask, how do I balance this in my life? The answer is you learn how to give and be generous. The very act of giving to help others will keep your heart soft. This is one of those God things that you cannot explain but is so very very true. When you put others ahead of your own desires by giving money and time to help other people, you began to fix your heart, repair your soul and find meaning in your life. I could write about this single subject for weeks but will leave you with this simple wrap up.

Money is not bad, but the “love” of it will destroy your life. Be a giver and use your money to have a positive influence in other people’s lives and when you do this, just maybe, you will find joy, peace, and happiness in your own life. KT

Perspective

Life

This morning I was leaving home heading to the office which is about one mile from my house. Tough commute, ha. I decided to swing by Starbucks first and pulled in only to see that some person had parked their van across two parking spaces. Keep in mind now that I haven’t been driving in traffic for an hour. My commute is like three minutes, so when I say I was irritated, there is simply no suitable explanation. I was driving my car that has a six-speed transmission and trying to navigate the parking lot at the Starbucks hoping to catch a glimpse of the dude that used two parking spaces.

When I got parked and started walking to the coffee shop, I looked over at the other side of the van and saw a wheel chair with a man that was maybe 40 years old.

To say I was humbled, would be an understatement. I was immediately disgusted with myself for thinking the worst before giving the other person the benefit of the doubt. I was also overwhelmed with incredible gratitude for things I way too often take for granted.

Me and God had a little talk after that about a very important aspect of life, wanting what you already have. I want to say that again. Wanting what you already have. KT