The Readers are The Leaders

I have a friend that often says, "The readers are the leaders."  As an athletic, well educated, family man, a great friend to many, volunteer coach, and an amazing heart surgeon, he's a good example of the truth of this statement.

I've probably also mentioned that I have a daughter that devours books like most kids eat up television shows.  She reads an average of about five, age appropriate chapter books per week.  I'm not sure if it's true, but I like to think she's this way because I read to her so much when she was young.  Okay, Nancy read to her quite a bit as well, but I'm the one that read an entire 3rd grade reading text book to her before she even started school.

I have not always been a great reader.  In fact, if you don't count Hardy Boys books, of which I read maybe 15, I can count on one hand all the books I read for fun in the four years of high school. 

When I was in kindergarten, my mom moved us from Salt Lake City to Las Vegas, about half way through the school year.  In Salt Lake we did a lot of crafts and ate cookies and drank milk every day.  We probably worked on our ABC's, but I don't remember for sure.

In my new school in Las Vegas, it became quickly apparent that I was about a year behind the rest of the other kids.  On my first day at Ruby Thomas Elementary, when the teacher asked the kids to pull out their books and read silently, I knew I was in big trouble.  I held the book out in front of me and did my best to look like I was reading, but the teacher realized almost at once that I was faking it.  I can clearly remember her coming to my side, squatting down next to me and saying, "You don't know how to read, do you?"

I had just stepped onto the long and bumpy road of a kid who is constantly running to catch up with his peers.  That road lasted all of my elementary, junior high, and high school career. 

About 15 years ago, my mom was big into her real estate sales profession and occasionally went to motivational seminars.  She invited me along to a couple of them, including a day listening to Jim Rohn.  I had never heard of Jim Rohn at the time, but I have never forgotten him.  He was down to earth, logical and straight forward.

One of the things I remember most about the seminar, and the one thing that has made the single biggest impact in my continuing education, was a comment about library cards.  He mentioned that just 3% of Americans carried a library card.  He also mentioned some statistics about high achievers, also in 3% minorities.  I don't remember the details, but I do remember feeling like this was something I needed to do.  I leaned over to my mom and said, "Sounds like I'm going to be getting a library card this week."

I don't remember now if it was that week or sometime afterword, but I soon went out and joined that 3% by signing up for my very own library card.  My first ever.  Since then, I have read or listened while driving to at least one book per month.  15 years x 1 book per month x 12 months = a conservative 180 books since Jim Rohn challenged me to get a library card and use it.

180 books:  business books, leadership books, classics, motivational books, biographies, autobiographies, educational books, military histories, even the Old and New Testaments.  And that doesn't count any Dr. Seuss, or A. A. Milne, or 3rd grade text books either.  180 books - and counting.

I don't know why, but it seems like it isn't cool to talk about motivational speakers.  At times I'm bugged that it's such a taboo subject.  If they aren't exactly taboo, they are at least never discussed like they should be.  There are some great motivational speakers out there, and they have a lot to offer.

Jim Rohn is among the greatest.  His little bits of wisdom are amazing, and they are presented in a way that really rings true to me.  I have tons of quotes by him stored in my phone. For example:

- Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.
- Don't wish it was easier; wish you were better. 
- If you spend five minutes complaining, you have wasted five minutes.
- Learn how to be happy with what you have while you pursue all you want.

      and one I just posted a few days ago
- There is no better opportunity to receive more than to be thankful for what you already have.  Thanksgiving opens the windows of opportunity for ideas to flow your way.

This great man died earlier today, after an 18 month battle with Pulmonary Fibrosis. 

I didn't know him personally, and only heard him speak the one time.  I've listened to some of his other tapes and CD's and have read some of his articles.  None of these - even combined - have compared to the influence of that one challenge to start reading more.  I'm sad that we have lost a man like this and I'm thankful for the impact he's had on my life and the lives of my children.  Jim Rohn  (September 17, 1930 - December 5, 2009).

Clark

Flying Solo

First Posted May 22, 2009 on el Bed.com

A friend pointed out to me once that it’s impossible to babysit your own children.  “Good point,” I agreed, after giving the idea some thought.  I guess it really bugs her how dads say they are babysitting when Mom isn’t around. 

Tonight Nancy, as well as our oldest daughter and several of her friends are up at Bear Lake for a Vacation Party (also known as a long, sleepless night with 8 giggling girls.).  Ah, the last birthday party for over a month.  You would have thought we were starting a business with all the logoed paper we generated this week.  Branding is the term, and branding is what we did.  What party is complete without a tri-fold flyer, matching thank you cards, luggage tags, even water bottles with the party logo on them?  The most fun for me was the CD with traveling songs on it.   Yes, it had a full size logo sticker on it.

Tonight the younger four children and I watched a movie and ate junk food.  I may not be the best parent they have but they all did eat a decent dinner before the show.  And after the movie they all brushed their teeth, said their prayers, and were snuggly in bed before 8:30. 

I do still occasionally slip and call this babysitting.  The really odd thing about that is, except for the movie and treats, I’m involved in this same bedtime routine every night.  Only this weekend, I’m flying solo.  It really does make a difference though when you’re doing it all on your own.  I definitely see one area where I under-appreciate my sweetie pie. 

This also makes me think of my own mother, who was alone for most of the years she raised children.  I can’t figure out how she did it.  When you are stressed out of your mind, what do you do?  You can’t just leave, you can’t just stop being a parent, you can’t just say to your spouse, “tag, you’re it,” or "I cleaned up the throw up last time," or "you change this nasty diaper while I go investigate that explosion in the boys' room."  Your only option is to just dig deeper and make it happen. 

So to all of you women and men out there who are doing it by yourself, who are making it work without a built in “babysitter”, and who are digging deeper and taking great care of your children on your own, I salute you.

Clark

Annual Christmas Collage

The Return of an Old Friend

The day after thanksgiving, we always get a visitor to the house. He shows up in the night and sticks around until the day after Christmas. This has happened now for the last 6 or 8 years.

He says his friends call him Engelbert. Engelbert is the Santa’s elf assigned to our house. He has magical powers that will go away if you touch him. He comes to our house each year to make sure we are good. We leave notes for him and he writes us notes on little pieces of white paper with torn edges.

Mostly he just hangs out in high places and watches our coming and goings throughout the day. He likes spots with views of as much of the house as possible but rarely spends more than one day in the same spot. This makes finding him each morning part of the fun.

Engelbert showed up again this morning. I wasn’t sure if he would since he told us last year that he was getting old. He made it sound like he was maybe thinking about retiring. I’m glad he didn’t.

When Engelbert first started coming to the house we didn’t really know what to think about him. It was neat to find him each morning, watching us from some new location in the house, but that was really as far as our relationship went. Over the years we have come to love him, and from his letters, Engelbert seems to have come to love us too.

Last year was especially with the kids writing him little notes several times a week and him responding to them. The kids would ask unusual questions about where he lives, and what kind of work he does when he is not here, and if he gets to ride on Santa’s sleigh. Engelbert would faithfully write back in his little neat handwriting, always on those small sheets of white paper with the torn edges.

Over the years, and I think especially last year, our relationship with Engelbert blossomed into something much more than just a standard Elf/Family sort of thing. Last year he became our friend.

This morning Engelbert is setting in a small handmade bowl that sits from time to time on the mantle in the living room. When our four year old woke up, he walked through the house calling, “Engelbert, where are you? Engelbert.” In time he found him, sitting there, looking down from his perch. The customary first night gifts at his side.

Ah, Engelbert, it’s good to see you. You are welcome in our home. You look well. I’m glad to see you haven’t retired yet. I’m glad to be able to spend another magical Christmas Season with you, watching over our small family as we grow up together. I’m glad you’ve chosen again to spend this time with us. And I’m excited to read more of your notes and watch my children’s faces as they find your new spot each day.

More than all of these, I’m glad you are my friend. Merry Christmas.

Clark

Angels in the Snow

My moms birthday was last week so I finally get to post this.  I didn't want any leaks so I didn't even tell my brothers about this song.

This was written with the help of Marvin Payne.  I thought of him while writing the lyrics because I knew she liked him back in the time period of when this takes place.  When I emailed Marvin, I told him that back in the day when this event happened, she might have given away one of those two boys to have you write a song for her.  

Marvin was amazing to work with.  He gave me some great pointers with the lyrics that mad the song better than it would have been.  When we got around to making the music, I told him the type of music my mom liked to play on the guitar.  I listed a few of the favorite bands of the day and described the type of music that I was looking for.  He said, "like this?" and started to play.  I couldn't believe how well he nailed what I was hoping to hear. 

Mom came over for dinner on her birthday.  While she waited for us to finish cooking things, I told her I wanted to play a song that reminded me of her.

After the first few words, she asked if I wrote it.  I just shrugged and she stared crying.  She does that.


Let me know what you think.

Clark

Eight Great Quotes on Gratitude

There is so much to be grateful for.
  -- Spencer W. Kimball

Thanksgiving opens the windows of opportunity for ideas to flow your way.
  -- Jim Rohn

Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone.
  -- Gladys Bertha Stern

Happiness comes when we stop wailing about all the troubles we have and offer thanks for all the troubles we don't have.
  -- Unknown

No duty is more urgent than that of giving thanks.
  -- Saint Ambrose

Gratitude is a mark of a noble soul and a refined character. 
  -- Joseph B. Wirthlin

Give thanks for all & for what is around you.
  -- Unknown

Count [your] many blessings & name them one by one.
  -- David O. McKay

How about you?  What are you grateful for?

Clark

Fall – Photo Set 6 of 6 – Snow

This was taken on the first snow day of the year.  I was headed back to the office after a meeting.  I was on the freeway and kept looking up at the mountains and the snow and the way the sun came through the clouds and lit up the snow and rocks and trees.  The mountain was calling me and I couldn't resist a little side trip up the canyon to take a few photos.  I never did get that perfect shot of the light on the new snow, but I had to get back to work so I left.  What a blessing it is to have mountains like this so close to home. 

I took this a week or so later, the same morning as the school bus photo (post 5 of 6).  Nancy and the kids had spent fall break at the family cabin.  I drove up separately and then left a day early to make it to work about three hours away.  It doesn't take much ice on the road and a brewing storm like this to make me wish I had just taken the day off.  On top of this exciting drive, the heater in my car was acting up, so I had to endure temperatures inside the car in the 30's and 40's.  I drove most of the way with one hand on the wheel, while the other warmed up in my coat pocket.  Then, when I couldn't feel the one I was driving with, I switched hands.

This was taken later that same snowy morning.  A few days earlier at about this same spot, I pulled over and made a post on Facebook that said something like, "Evanston Wyoming in the rear view mirror means I'm headed someplace else."  I lived in Evanston the last two and a half years of high school.  I was always happiest when Evanston was in the rear view mirror and I left for the last time the very day of graduation. 

A storm like this can strike in Evanston anytime of the year.  In fact, it snowed there on the 4th of July both summers I lived there.  I once got stuck in a storm like this while on my bicycle.  I was several miles from home with no jacket.  It was not a happy day. 

This photo was taken specifically for my friends from Evanston, especially those that right now are shrugging their shoulders and saying, "Yah, so?"

How about you?  What kind of places have you lived where you were either super happy to be there or super happy to see it fading in the rear view?

Clark