IDEALS

I have this movie collection. It is actually less than I once had. I used to have over 1,000 dvd's in binders which I used to bring to the Salvation Army in Massachusetts to have movie day, once a week in the winter. They had a movie day once a week, so they didn't have to go face the harsh weather in the winter, so I brought my laptop and some speakers in for an after lunch movie theater in the cafeteria for them.

Anyways, someone stole my binders one day. And I was out my thousand movie collection. And have since started rebuilding my collection, which isn't nearly as big as it was.

In this collection I have the complete series of the West Wing. It was a portrayal of the President of the United States and the ideals and dreams of the American dreams and leadership roles of those who worked with him in the west wing of the white house. There are moments of victory and moments of defeat. And it shows the undying loyalty of those who wanted to keep fighting for the best of the best for those who they served. They were visionaries. They were dreamers. They were people who had a legacy they wanted to pass on to future generations. And I watch this series non-stop every time I get a bit frustrated with business. I watch this series every time I need to re-educate myself on leadership roles, and I watch this group of people who want to leave a legacy of greatness for future generations.

I learn a lot from those who have led me in the past. I watched my managers at restaurant chains I have worked at and gain something from them. And I try to incorporate those ideas, and I try to incorporate their work into my own. Obviously, when McDonald's started, Ray Kroch (sp.?) didn't have any idea of the multi-billion dollar industry he was about to encounter someday. Even Portillo's hot dog shack didn't recognize the great hot dog seller he would once have. But yet, today, there are no better places with which to get a burger for a buck or a hot dog the "right way!"

And even amongst the giants in the fast-food world, they all had humble beginnings. I am humble now. I am giving my blood, sweat and tears every day and wondering if we will succeed or fail, triumph or defeat, win or lose. And I know that on the other side of this challenge, on the other side of this poor economy, on the other side of this next couple years, we will come out better for just trying!

Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls) said that he failed 1,000's of times before he started winning. And those 1000's of times we will fail, those 1000's of practices, those 1000's of times we fail will help us to make the right moves to start the winning game. To take the lead, I need to be inspired and motivated. To win, I need to keep my head in the game. To win, I need to focus on the past and bring to the table, those things that make us all winners. I was reading a scripture passage, it was really great, it said something to the effect of "God will be there to give you everything you need! And when you have everything you need, you will be able to give generously of that which you have excess." I look forward to that! I know it is His to give! I know that we will be there!

I look to the West Wing - for the ideals and the motivation to be a visionary. To be a leader of those who work for me. And then I think, who do I look to when I want to learn who I want to be? I wonder what type of person I want to be and I remember the greatest commandment given by Jesus. It was simple, "Love the Lord Your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind and with all your strength. And love your neighbor as you love yourself!" And I look to Jesus, as a representative of who I want to be like! He fed thousands at a time. He brought wine to the wedding feast! He gave to all - those things that they needed. And yes, he gave them enough to share with all those who needed it! And that is the type of leader I want to be. I want to be one who relies on God's providence. I want to be a winner. I want to know that I will be taken care of, to exceeding abundance. And it will happen. And I want to love God, and love people.

So I look back at those leaders I have had in my life, and I remember Dave Broome, and Bill Newman, and Bill Giovanetti, and I remember my friends, Mike Gorr, and Brian McLaughlin, and Sam Knottnerrus, and I look at the great love which they had for God and for others, and I want to be like Jesus, as they were like Jesus. I know this is the way. There is no other, in living my life, in conducting my business, and in experiencing complete joy, by living my life - loving. And that is it.

I was listening to a Christian radio show one day, and there was this caller who called in and I think he was all of 15-16 years old. He said, "It's about Jesus, and nothing else!" And those words, are what I want to fill my life with! At the name of Jesus, one day, every knee will bow, and every tongue confess, that He is LORD!

Sometimes, my blog posts are a bit "preachy!" I DON'T CARE! I am not ashamed of who I serve! I am in love with my God who loved me first! And I will share that love story with anyone who will listen!