Monthly Archives: August 2013

The Blind Man in the Bleachers

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“Music gives a soul to the universe, 
wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, 
and life to everything.”

—Plato

Todays story is courtesy of RJB Productions.

Music. “Soul to the universe. Wings to the mind.” With Plato we agree.

Today our story is music in form. It’s quite a treat.
Perhaps a coffee or tea, a comfy chair, and put up those tired feet.

Now close your eyes and relax your mind.
One warning, a Kleenex you may need to find.

The Blind Man in the Bleachers by Kenny Starr.

One parting note to our dads out there…

“Your kids don’t care how tall you grow, how smart you appear, how much you weigh, or how well you tell jokes. They don’t care whether you play drums, shoot hoops or shoot guns. They just need to know you’re there.”

Blind Man in the Bleachers by Kenny Starr

Kenny Starr (real name — Kenneth Trebbe), recorded with MCA Records in the mid-1970’s and was a member of Loretta Lynn’s touring band during much of that time. His hit song “The Blind Man in the Bleachers” was released in 1976 and reached #2 on the U.S. County Music Chart, #1 in Canada.

Uniqueness Can’t Be Bought

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“But find something that you absolutely love doing. And then get to love the way you do it. That’s the uniqueness of all of us. That’s it.”

—Al Lewis

Today’s story is contributed by Bryton Neck.

My name is Bryton Neck and I’m 14 years old. My Dad is a Professor and I must admit at times I have tuned him out as he tried to lecture me on something about life and about success. But the older I get, I’m starting to see that some of Dad’s advice is really cool stuff and really makes sense.

Lately, I have seen him working harder than ever. He seems to always be up late and then up again really early in the morning. READ MORE 

My Dad Taught Me Cash Flow with a Soda Machine

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“I create. I take risks. I live my passion. I am an entrepreneur.”

—YSF Magazine

Today’s story is contributed by Rob Fitzpatrick.

After a brief, failed experiment paying me to do chores, my dad tried something really neat. It clearly took a bit of legwork, but maybe there are some transferable lessons for parents who want to lay an entrepreneurial foundation.

He gave me a vending machine. He rented the machine, found a location in a local workshop, and installed it. And then he told me two things:

  • That this would be the last time I was given an allowance.
  • And that if I wanted to have any pocket money next week, I’d better spend this week’s on some inventory.

I ran the machine for about four years, from the time I was seven or eight.

my cash flow

 

At first, my only agency was inventory management. We drove to Costco in his big van and I decided what to buy. Stocking an empty soda machine is easy: you buy four cases of each soda you want to carry. But then the Coca-Cola runs out first and the Sunkist is half empty, and nobody has bought even a single Grape Soda, and should I cut my margins paying more per-unit for individual cans, or do I buy full cases and find somewhere to store the extras? And why am I doing algebra on the weekend!?

Looking back on it, I’m certain this whole endeavor operated at a loss. Dad subsidized it like crazy so I would have a safe — but real —environment to learn in. READ MORE 

Father-Son Olympic Moment – The Rest of the Story

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“A child looks up at the stars and wonders. A great father puts a child on his shoulders and helps him to grab that star.”

—Reed Markham

Today’s story is contributed by Rick Weinberg.

This story is a tribute to the grit of a son and a dad who raised a great man. Dedication, courage, focus and grit. Some have it. Some don’t. What separates great men from mere boys? Our guest writer, Rick Weinberg, takes it from here.

Derek Redmond

Derek Redmond and his father, Jim

Unlike Carl Lewis and Daley Thompson, Derek Redmond is not a name that conjures up memories of Olympic gold medals. But it is Redmond who defines the essence of the human spirit. Redmond arrived at the 1992 Olympic Summer Games in Barcelona determined to win a medal in the 400. The color of the medal was meaningless; he just wanted to win one. Just one.

He had been forced to withdraw from the 400 at the 1988 Games in Seoul, only 10 minutes before the race, because of an Achilles tendon injury. He then underwent five surgeries over the next year. READ MORE 

Bankrupt to “Booyah!”

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“The only thing worse than being blind is having sight with no vision.”

—Helen Keller

Today’s story is contributed by Darin Kidd.

I was 25 years old. Bankrupt. Medicaid. Applying for food stamps. Car repossessed. My wife and I were at the lowest of low. Neither of us made it through college. Five kids. I felt like a total failure — as a husband, as a father, and as a provider.

bankrupt

Darin and his mentor, Jeff Olson

Opportunities were scarce in our small Virginia town. I needed help. Guidance. Someone to show me the way.

My Dad? A faithful Christian. A family man. Growing up, he helped others in need, even when we were scraping to get by. He was a wonderful man, and I count myself very blessed. But it was clear I needed a different kind of help, from a different kind of mentor. Life smarts. Business savvy. Principles for success. I went on the hunt…

I found Jeff Olson. He wrote a book called The Slight Edge, among others. What I learned from him has defined my life. READ MORE 

Wax Angel

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“Don’t wait until it’s too late to tell someone how much you love them and how much you care about them, because when they’re gone, no matter how loud you shout and cry, they won’t hear you anymore.”

—Unknown

Today’s story is contributed by Risa Nye.

wax angel mom

Risa’s mother at the mic, circa 1960

After my mother died in 2007, my sister and I tackled the job of clearing out her house, room by room. I thought the kitchen pantry would be pretty straightforward, so I opened the door and surveyed the shelves.

My mother’s pantry: stockpiled with “just in case” supplies left untouched for years. I quickly tossed aside the boxes of stale crackers and cookies and emptied murky bottles into the sink. But tucked away in the farthest corner of one shelf, nearly hidden behind ancient cans of soup and boxes of petrified teabags, a little black box caught my attention. My mother had stashed her jewelry in unlikely places, so this box might contain a precious pair of earrings — or it could be empty. I reached for the box and opened it carefully.

And there she was: a wax angel who had rested peacefully in the pantry for over 30 years.

READ MORE 

My Father – A Successful Unhappy Man

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“The most important thing in life is knowing the most important things in life.”

—David F. Jakielo

Today’s story is contributed by Dr. Bruce H. Jackson.

unhappy man, lieutenant

Bruce’s father, Lt. C. Charles Jackson

My father was a self-made man. Growing up during the Depression was a great challenge and blessing for him.

His father, my grandfather (who I never met), was a blind doctor. He made house calls in exchange for eggs and fresh produce. I’m always amazed how this man’s diligence and grit rubbed off on my father.

My father told me of the days he hunted for squirrel and rabbit so they could supplement their meals. He worked before and after school. The family lived a very frugal and controlled life — as my grandfather didn’t like to have his children leave the property much or be out of his control. READ MORE