I am addicted to reading and new books are my crack cocaine. I just can’t stop when a book catches my attention … I MUST BUY IT. This is what happened to me a week ago when I purchased Quitter, the recent book by Jon Acuff, and I will say that it is perhaps once of the best books I have ever let my eyes graze upon. Yeah, new saying, but just that good!

Quitter gives insight about Jon’s adventures in “serial quitting” jobs and his quest for finding the ultimate dream job. It’s filled with practical and valuable advice for finding the work you love, but also in making sure you don’t screw up your life before you make the transition to it. Perhaps the best advice has to do with NOT quitting your job until it’s truly time to do so. Acuff’s writing is engaging and fun so the book is a quick read.

I admit that I am fast to encourage people to leave the cubicle and in following their dreams. I love to see people fulfill their calling and in becoming entrepreneurs. And normally I’d recommend some business books like The E-Myth or Trust Agents first, but if you are thinking about striking out on your own, I HIGHLY recommend Quitter be the first book you read!

(All book links are affiliate links and I do appreciate it if you use them – it helps my addiction)

My children, Tyler and Kayla, have brought me more happiness than a parent could ever imagine. There is a tremendous blessing and joy in being a dad that isn’t easily translated into words. As a parent, I want the absolute best for my kids and I desire them to experience a long, healthy, and happy life. I want them to do better than I did and to live a life with no regrets. But I don’t know if they can do this if I encourage them to “play it safe.”

BE SAFE. BUT DON’T BE TOO SAFE.

Don’t talk to strangers. Don’t put your hand on the hot stover or stick a bobby pin in the electrical socket. Don’t run with the scissors in your hands. And by all means don’t do drugs. These are the insights that I believe we should encourage our children to obey. These situations could turn out deadly or harmful and we are wise parents to instill these guidelines into the minds of our youngsters.

Then there are the guidelines or ideologies that may cause painful memories or challenges in life but don’t ultimately result in dangerous outcomes – like falling in love, choosing a career, or following their dreams. These life choices can end up positive or negative but they likely won’t be fatal. It’s here where I believe that parents should, in some way, encourage their kids to not be safe and to explore the unknown.

WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED?

We are told as children to follow our dreams. When we aspired to be astronauts, missionaries, artists, and firemen we were revered for these pursuits and encouraged to chase after them. Then as we got into high school we were told to follow the “safe route” … get a 4.0 grade average, go to a prestigious college, choose a career in medicine, business, or law and work at that until you retire and can buy an RV to travel. Then you die. This plan is guaranteed.

You are no longer allowed to think outside the box and dream. Being an astronaut or an artist is foolish thinking and if you still believe in your childhood dream you will be labeled a loser or heretic. Lemurs are championed and revered.

THERE IS NO GUARANTEE.

Being a lemur is no guarantee for safety. Sure there can be solace or peace in knowing you have numbers. It feels safe being in a large group of like-minded individuals and it can even increase your odds of survival. But you can still get hurt or die.

In our day and age, the Industrial Revolution mindset no longer applies. How many of YOU know someone who took that safe route and now find themselves with expensive pieces of paper but now they aren’t working in the area of their studies, can’t find a job, or have no 401K plans to live on? How many people do you know who absolutely hate the path they are on or have even committed suicide by following the crowd? We have seen a dramatical shift in our economy and the canyon is littered with lemurs who thought the status quo would save them.

SO WHY NOT JUMP?

In the end we will all die. There is only one path and it ends in death. We know this is absolute. So if we know that the end of the game is going to have the same outcome regardless of how we play, why not TRULY LIVE while we are here?

My daughter desires to sing and be artistic. She dreams of being in the music industry and performing on stage for thousands of people. She is also about to turn nineteen and knows that “making it” is a longshot – she understands the decision of pursuing a music degree at our local college may or may not result in achieving her goals. BUT SHE IS NOT AFRAID. She would rather try and fail than to never try her dream at all and live with regret. AND I GIVE HER A STANDING OVATION!!!

People think she is crazy. It’s not a safe bet for sure, but then why not go all in if in the end we lose it all anyway?

Our lives really are a crap-shoot at times. We win some, we lose some. We could experience the rewards of being in the right place at the right time. We could die driving our car to Starbucks or McDonalds today. It’s possible that we could find a career we can retire from or it’s possible that all that hard work will result in a layoff. You just don’t know!

GO AHEAD…LEAP INTO THE UNKNOWN!

I encourage my kids to be safe where it can be deadly and where it matters, but to live with an almost reckless abandon where it’s not. As long as they do all they can to honor God, then I can be content with the outcome. I think it’s foolish to try and calculate every risk in your life rather than never truly live at all!

What do you think?

God Bless America and Thank You to ALL Who Have Served!

Our country may have problems and we may not handle everything to the best of our abilities, but I am proud to be an American. We have a great country and we are free.

I am also very thankful for the opportunity to have served my country in the military. My dad once said, “The Army was some of the best of times and the worst of times in my life!” – I couldn’t agree more and I have no regrets there.

Thank you to all of our veterans who have sacrificed so much. Thank you to all of our military who continue to give and serve. May God protect you and bless you!

Twenty years ago today I walked into the Brookside Wedding Chapel in Moore, Oklahoma to marry the beautiful bride of my dreams. It has been one amazing journey!

Donetta and I first met in Junior High and then we became close friends my senior year of high school. She was a straight A student and a good girl, and for some reason would sit with me – the bad party guy with a mullet – at our lunch table each day to listen to the useless drivel of conquests and teenage rebellion. Something really drew me to her even though there would never be a shot at dating her.

Then came that very special dance.

I had just graduated and went back to watch a football game. Donetta was there and it was then I decided I wanted her to be my girl. My friend said I had a snowballs chance in hell, but I was not deterred. After the game we “lowered our standards” and went over to the high school dance. It was there that Donetta and I shared that first dance to Cheap Trick’s song, The Flame. It was that moment that we first kissed. It was my time to ask her to be my girlfriend — and this is where she said no! I was crushed, but as destiny would have it, we started dating a week later at my 18th birthday party. We’ve never looked back.

On May 25th, 1991 I married the love of my life and I have no regrets.

Our marriage has been filled with absolutely great and fun memories, but there have also been those times where we’ve had to hang onto it by a thread. It’s been a tough and challenging road to defy the odds. And it’s been a lot of hard work over twenty years to get her trained. Only kidding!!! Marriage IS an investment and there are no easy shortcuts to making it work, but I wouldn’t change our adventure together for the world.

To my Amazing Bride …

I love you so very much. You have been an inspiration in my life and the best friend one could ever have. You have put up with me through better and for worse; you’ve nursed me through many injuries and old-man’s health. You have been faithfully by my side in rich times and many more poorer ones. You are as beautiful and amazing as the day we first met and started dating. I am proud to be your husband and I will always love you and cherish you until death parts us. I may not be able to give you much today, but I will give you my eternal love. Happy 20th Anniversary to my wife and hottie!