Sept. 2009
Welcome to "I'm Just Lucky"
 
Greetings!

It started about 41 years ago, August of 1968.  I had just come back from Fort Benning, GA. ROTC summer camp.  I was in great shape, no hair on my head or fat on my body.  It was rush week at Rolla school of Mines, Rolla, Mo.  So I was out with a few fraternity brothers at the Blackberry Patch right off of highway 66, first exit into Rolla.  As we ate, I was attracted to a couple of girls at another table, one in particular.  We ate and I tried to strike up a conversation, not very successfully.  She was with her roommate, and I was with mine.  So we agreed to double date the next week to a school dance.  My fraternity brother decided he liked the girl with long hair, the same one I was interested in, so the girl with short hair and I were left to each other.  It turned out to be a lucky move for me.    
 
Years Later... 
Years later we would share what initially attracted us to each other.  She never used foul language, was very polite in her conversation, that made an impression on me.  I was going to an engineering school, 5000 guys, 300 girls.  The girls loved to talk touch, it was not that attractive to me.  She said that she was impressed by my politeness, I opened doors and held them for her, said please and thank you, that sort of stuff.  So I was lucky that my fraternity brother decided to move in on the girl with long hair.  We started dating, it went well.  At one point we were at a restaurant, she asked me to get her wallet.  I pulled it out, fell open to her driver's license.  I looked at it, told her that they had made a mistake on her birth date, showed her as 16.  Not possible, since she had been out of high school a year at that point.  She laughed, said maybe so.  So I said, just exactly how old are you?  She finally admitted she was just 16.  Graduated two years early. 

Smart girl, guess I am just lucky.  We got married the next year, at age 17, in 1969.  That is important cause we are celebrating 40 years of marriage this year, kind of a big deal!  Especially when you consider that is to the same woman, the first woman I married!
40 Great Years! 
My wife and I have had a great 40 years, moved a lot, traveled a lot, ended up in Fort Collins, CO.  entire family is there with us, most under one roof.  I have had many people ask me how do you stay married 40 years these days?  It takes a lot of work, don't go to bed mad, argue without getting personal, all that sort of stuff.  May and I have added a few additional ideas to the list you hear in those seminars, so here we go.

First of all, it takes a commitment.  Not just a marriage commitment, a commitment to each other regardless of what happens.  We are fortunate that we have had a relatively calm, peaceful life, not much has happened.  Right!  Lots of things have happened, still are happening today.  So the commitment is that no matter what happens, we are still in the right relationship, with the right person.  One of the tough things we see today is that is seems to be easy to quit.  Quit the job, the relationship, even the marriage, when things are not moving in your desired way. 

Second, we have placed God as first in our lives.  Not trying to get preachy, but we understood early on that there is a higher power whom we call God, who knows exactly what we are going through.  We trust that he can get us through any sort of situation.  And he does.

Third, we made a decision to stay in Love.  Not some Oprah-feely stuff, a conscious decision.  When you make that decision, it makes it easier to handle the rough spots that come your way.  You act different, think different, even talk different.  When you make that decision, it makes all the other decisions easier.  Not that they are easy, just easier.  

Forth, we realize we don't have all the answers, and get outside help when needed.  Many times we have relied on professionals to help with family issues of all kinds, just as we do with legal matters and financial matters.

Fifth, we don't sweat the small stuff.  If it can be fixed with time or money, it is not critical.  OK, so some decisions HAVE to be made now, but in most cases, we get all worked up about things that are not critical.  Make a plan to understand what is critical, what is important, and what may actually work it's own way to the surface.  Medical issues can be critical, a family member in danger, your business on the edge of bankruptcy, those require your immediate and undivided attention.  Important issues are cash flow, credit card bills, see where I am going?  Also, while I'm here, be sure you know what you can affect and what is out of your hands.  That is the summation of the prayer that they recite at AA meetings.  Because it works. 

Sixth, we have a open door policy, complete honesty.  At all times, in all situations.  Even if the significant other doesn't care for the answer, give it with complete candor.  When we try to shade things, go around an uncomfortable topic, it will rise up later, and usually be even more uncomfortable.  So get it out on the table now.   
How Does this Apply? 
I have no idea what your situation is, this may fit you or not.  Start with the commitment.  Be sure that you have a commitment to not only your business but family as well. 

Many of us work long hours, every day of the week, trying to get ahead.  Take some time to reconnect with the family from time to time.  May and I still go shopping (note I did not say buying, just shopping) on a regular basis.  I am blessed that she can travel with me much of the time, and we love to see other cities when I am involved in training.  When I am at work, even on the road, I am fully engaged.  But when I am with my family, I am also fully engaged. 

Your employees also need to know you have a commitment to them and the industry.  That you will do what it takes to succeed in business, as long as it does not violate moral and ethical standards.  That they can trust you to do the right thing each and every time.  Invest in your business, weather you are the owner or not.  Be sure you are continually improving your game, we must raise the bar each year. 

This is not your father's economy; we have never been here before.  Since that is the case, we must be more prepared than ever, and have a better skill set than we have had in the past.  And when you get into some new project (think internet marketing), get some outside help.    
 
Get Advice!
When you are faced with an issue that is new to you, it is OK to get outside advice.  In fact, that is critical to your success today.  With today's markets moving at microwave speed, we must move fast and accurately, no time for false starts and mistakes. 

So my message this month is this: I hope you have a relationship that you can count on.  The best way to have that occur is to be the person others can count on.  DWYSYWGTD.  Do what you said you were going to do, it sounds easy, but sometimes it is the hardest thing in the world to do.  In work, family, love, all the relationships, it works the same way.  People flock to the person who can be depended on.

Now, if you are in a new relationship, congratulations!  Now, work hard today (and every day forward) to not only maintain but improve that relationship.  May and I are in a small community, not many make it 40 years.  We understand that, and also realize we have to work on the relationship constantly to make sure it goes on for many years to come.  For me, I was lucky to find a person with the same values, goals and morals as me.  We matured together as we went through life, enjoying the process and the journey. 

Thanks for being part of our family, more to come.        
 
SIP REVIEW
In This Issue
Years Later
40 Great Years
Application
Get Advise
Adobe & OBB
ADOBE & OBB!

OBB Logo

Adobe


BIG NEWS!
We're very excited to announce that Adobe just purchased our Online Business Builder™ solution. Very soon our OBB Solution will become the standard in website management software. Read more about this venture here:  Ebway's Blog!
---------------------------
Many of you have already heard about our website design division, EBWAY Creative Development. Since our last newsletter, EBWAY has seen some incredible growth. If you haven't taken the new website software for a ride, they are still offering FREE TRIALS for another 15-30 days. Act fast before the trials are over.

Visit EBWAY!
Join Our Mailing List
James Hinshaw
Sales Improvement Professionals Inc.
[email protected]
www.SipTraining.com