What Inspires You?

Wow, where to start on this one! There are so many things in my life that inspire me. What about you? I believe there is truly inspiration all around us, even in our darkest of days. My wife likes to call me cheesy when I get in this mode of inspiration, but I believe it. We can look around us daily, even in our toughest days, and see inspiration.

Let's start with, what is inspiration? Inspiration: arousal of the mind to special unusual activity or creativity.

I love where it says, unusual activity. That generally means an activity that one would not usually expect to be inspired from. There's my first point. We are always looking for inspiration in things that we're accustomed to or familiar with, when in true reality, inspiration is all around us in our hardships, struggles, new life, new relationships.

I love meeting new people. When you meet new people I feel that you can be yourself a little bit more than you can with the ones you know the best. Now don't get me wrong, there's something to say with having strong relationships and close nit relationships. We all need strong accountability and wise counsel from those that know us best, however, it's also encouraging when you can just have uninhibited conversation with new people and share the things you've learned through life to encourage those that don't necessarily know you personally and can receive your words as that.

I have been going through such a weird day. I've had what I believe an inspirational weekend this past weekend. When I'm inspired my brain just can't stop working. I begin to think of networking, connecting, creative ideas for marketing, promotions, music and relationship potentials for the future to serve and make the best of. It's always tough when you have all these creative ideas and no where to put them. Most of us have jobs that can use just a portion of our true talents and some can use them all. There's nothing worse than going through these amazing times of creativity and having no where to go with it.

I would encourage each of you (2 people maybe :) that are reading to always follow your passion. Never be swayed by glitz and glamour, yet always be driven by passion and purpose. Trust me, I've gone the first road a couple of times and it failed me completely. If we're surrounding ourselves around people that create an environment for openness and creativity, but mostly a place to be heard and used, then you'll find yourself being very successful in your own right.

Go and be fully creative in the way that God created you and don't let anything get in your way. Always find a way to get yourself and what you produce out there, whether you get paid for it or not. What inspires you is what makes you and you have to share what that inspiration produces in you or this world will not be the same.

I'm sure this blog is kind of all over the place, but take what you will cause I don't have the energy tonight to proof read it! :-) I'm spent

"The Climb"

Well, it has officially been 1 FULL year by one day since I've posted a blog. Unreal, since it does not feel like a year at all. A lot has happened since then in my personal life and my professional life as well. I've since resigned my former roll in radio in Austin, TX and am now back in Nashville, TN. Otherwise known as "NASHvegas. Just before the big move, we sold our home in the first day it was posted, we had a newborn baby (6 wks old when arrived in Nashville), new job, moving away from family, but moving to family. Basically our life had been turned up side down. All things good, but just too much change for one to handle. It's been quite a year to reflect on I must say.

This year has shown me that it's not always about winning or completing the race. Life really is about the race itself and finishing strong and with our heads up no matter what place we're in. The strain and struggles from start to finish are what truly strengthens you and inspired you to finish strong. Miley Cyrus sings it best in her new song "The Climb" listed below...

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There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb

Songwriters: Alexander, J; Mabe, J;
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Our lives really are about "the climb". That's where the character in us is built. God knows that I need the climb and not a win every time. I believe that if we can keep our focus on today, that tomorrow will be more of a trill and blessing that we could have ever imagined.

Integrity...what does it really mean?

Recently I've been forced to think about what it really means to be a person of INTEGRITY. Does it mean just to have good intentions, good thoughts or even just look good from the outside. I think these things are elements thereof, except the look good from the outside of course, but not in its entirety.

in·teg·ri·ty (n-tgr-t)
Steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code.

What does this mean to you? Well, I know what this means to me. This means to not justify my actions when they fail to meet the standards in which I choose to live by only because it doesn't fit what I want to do at the time. Isn't it amazing how, even though we may have an amazing life, great family, wonderful job, beautiful home and honorable and helpful friends, that we still feel like we don't have enough? Through coming to this conclusion we can tend to alter our life thinking, as I spoke about earlier, justifying our actions that act against our standards we've committed to live by. Most of those standards are based off of our faith that we choose to live by or the laws of the land in which you live on. I choose to live by the law of my land and the Christian Judeo Faith of Jesus Christ, as I believe that my life is only justified by the death that Jesus paid for me.

I remember my grandmother and mother telling me at a young age, "now remember Daniel, God can see everything you do, even when it's behind closed doors." I've never forgotten that, I just forget sometimes that I actually care about what God thinks. No matter if it's God that we're worried about or our closest friends, parent or our spouse even, we should always remember that we'll always care what those people in our lives think about us based off of our actions. I am making this statement because I believe that we all need serious accountability. Now I don't mean have people rule over our lives, but more to help us stay true to our committments based off of the standards that we have chosen to live by. You and I both know that this person can't always be the closest people to us. It has to be someone that you trust and respect, but still really care what they think of you. I don't want a bunch of "YES" people in my life, always yes Daniel, whatever you say. I want them to get in my face and truly hold me accountable for the things I've committed to for my sake, family and friends as well. It's amazing how the majority of our selfish and un-integris decisions that we make, no matter large or small, they all directly affect the ones closest to us in some way.

in·teg·ri·ty (n-tgr-t)
Steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code.

Always stay true to "you're code" and have others help, as well as you help others, no matter how large or small. It will always pay off.

And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 8:32 (the holy bible)

Relationships - you got em?

Relationships...what do they mean to you?

Relationships to me are a lifestyle. We can either build a life off of relationships, or build a life on relationships. Now you might be asking what the difference is. What I believe the difference is related to building a life off of relationship is to take advantage thereof, only to serve you and your sphere of influence. To build a life on is to serve the other person by your sphere of influence as well as to receive.

I strive to stay connected to people that have been introduced to me with no agenda other than to merely stay connected and just see what happens. I am a firm believer that life (our creator) takes you down paths for a reason, ie: meeting new people for a purpose. We sometimes don't know why we've met someone and may never. However, I love staying connected if not for the sole purpose of seeing someone's life grow and mature. However, sometimes the other part of the relationship can tend to serve me in a different way by learning from their successes and/or their failures. I think that's how we all learn from other people. I also believe that we should be willing to share our our failures just as much, if not more than our successes.

Lately I've had something strongly weighing on me regarding relationship though. I know that when you meet someone for the first time, most can immediately snif out what I call "a fake." A "fake" is someone who generally calls themself a "networker." People can see right through someone like this. Now I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with networking, as our professional careers sometimes depend on this, but if it is for the sole reason of taking advantage of another person and/or potential relationship I personally don't believe in that. This is called a one-sided relationship. If one person is always the giver and the other is the reciever, then the relationship will eventually disintegrate. I believe that we meet people for a reason, but not at the expense of a persons feelings or needs in order to advance our own. I will say that this is my own personal conviction, but I try my best to stand by it and honor the people that I know or have met as we never know truly who we have just shaken hands with and how they may affect our lives and how we may affect theirs.

Just keep an open mind and remember, people are people just like you and me. There is nothing more important that should cause you to walk over someone elses needs to attain your own. We need to remember to invest in the relationships around us. Invest, invest, invest. It will pay off way more than your IRA or 401k ever will!

"If you treat every person you meet as if he or she were the most important person in the world, you'll communicate that he or she is somebody - to you."

- John C. Maxwell, Relationships 101

Thinking of my Mom on Mother's Day

All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother.
- Abraham Lincoln

This quote above really stuck out to me as I prepared to write about my Mother on Mother's Day. "All that I am or ever hope to be." Wow, what a statement, right?

My mother is an honorable women. She has worked so hard to take care of my brother and I by the talents that God has given her. She is not only one of the most beautiful women on this planet, but is truly one of the most talented as well. There's not a thing that my mom can't do. Well, maybe she has a tough time getting less than 10 hours of sleep each night, but who's keeping track.

My Mom and I had a unique bond growing up. I was not only her son, and she my mother, but we were buddies. I know that sounds funny, but we just got each other and still do. I didn't mind going anywhere with my Mom. I was never embarrassed by her. Whether it was the movie theater just to go in a buy her some authentic movie theater popcorn and leave, or the grocery store to buy her some milk and.....well...I'll just call them girly products. I just didn't mind at all. I think that's what my wife loves about me most.

My Mom was very focused on making sure that my brother and I grew up to be perfect gentleman. One of the stories that sticks out the most regarding her training us up this way was when she took my brother and I to the mall one time. As we approached the entrance door she quietly stepped aside and waited for us to act appropriately. Now, what do I mean by this? Well, she was seeing if we would respond to her comment earlier that day to "always open a door for a lady." She wanted us to open her door for her without her having to ask us to. This moment will forever stick with me when I open a door for a lady. I've had comments such as "never stop doing what you just did" after opening a door for someone. That's comment was from a lady that I opened a door for in Colorado Springs over 10 years ago. Thanks Mom for training us right and my wife thanks you too.

Mom's are so important in our lives. I'm telling you, as much as I love my Dad and appreciate the boyish and manly things that he tough me. I sure am glad that it wasn't completely up to him to teach me how to be a gentleman. Otherwise, I would have been taking girls to the local farm pond on our first date. HA!

This is just a reflection and snapshot of a few of the millions of amazing moments I had with my Mom and just a few of the millions of amazing things that she did for me a taught me in my life. She continues to encourage, inspire and enlighten me on so many occasions.

Mom, I would never be who I am today without you!
- Your Son

Spiritual Outdoor Adventures...Literally!

I just want to start out by thanking my Dad for introducing me to the world of Grizzly Adams and Clark W. Griswold at the same time. Ha! What I mean by that is, my Dad loves to fish, but there was never a dull moment on a fishing or hunting trip with him. Either one of his sons drove the car off an incline and tore the drive shaft to bits, or they hooked themselves in the head (ie: ME) with a lure, thus again keeping him from fishing.

GROWING UP LIKE BOYS
But once again I thank him so much for letting my brother and I be boys when we were growing up. Thank God that in the midst of our crazy schedules, that my brother and I can still find time to have a few but memorable moments out on the lake, field or stream. The trip I want to share with you goes down in the books as one of the most memorable outdoor trips that I've ever had with my brother. It was with one of the top hunting and fishing programs called Spiritual Outdoor Adventures w/ Jimmy Sites.

THE TRIP
We began by meeting up at the most beautiful ranch in West Texas near Abilene. Some of the most beautiful land you have ever seen and miles of it. This was my first Turkey hunt and my brothers second or third. However he has never got himself a Turkey on the prior hunts. We starting out very early in the morning, earlier than Bryan and I generally like to wake up since we both have young kiddos. I love outdoors trip as such, cause there is not a Starbucks for miles, maybe hundreds, and generally not even cream or sugar. You pretty much drink and eat the way thinks come out of the coffee pot or pan. This is the Grizzly Adams part of the deal that our Dad got us use to at an early age. I LOVE IT! Most people that have gotten to know my brother (Bryan) and I later in life is usually dumbfounded at the fact that we were anywhere around anything involving camo and guns. Generally we hear, you two pretty boys going Turkey Hunting? Ha, they've got a lot to learn! Okay, so Bryan got his very first bird in the morning hunt. He did amazing, for the first shot ever at a Turkey. Way to go Bryan! Of course, now the pressure's on. For those that know Bryan and I from an early age know that we can be quite competitive when it comes to hunting or fishing. Since I always caught the most fish when we were younger, not that any of that has changed (wink, wink), this always cause Bryan to try and put the pressure on immediately on a trip of this nature.

THE HUNT
The afternoon comes for the second hunt. Boy was I worried that we wouldn't see a gobbler before the end of the day and thinking, what the heck would I do if I missed. You only get one chance with these birds. They are very, very smart. Jimmy (the host of the show) was in the tent with me using every Turkey call in the book. I don't think Jimmy liked hunting with me very much. I can't seemed to sit still for long periods of time without wiggling a bit and squeaking my chair and Jimmy is Mr. Grizzly Adams himself. I've never seen a man with so much patience. Sorry Jimmy! It was nearing the very end of the day and it was not looking good for getting myself a bird this trip, as I had to head home to Austin the next morning. Then low and behold, we get a text from Bryan and the Camera man, Brandon. "Two Toms coming from 2 o'clock!" Of course Jimmy and I totally thought they were messin' with us so we didn't put much stock in it.....until.......OH MY GOSH, here they come! Wow, my heart started pounding. Two big Toms coming our way. It'll make your heart pound when your hunting guide tells you to take the safety off. That's kind of a surreal moment. So I take the safety off and put my shotgun in position. I draw a bead on him and am ready to fire. As the Toms begin to create amazing footage for the show by completely destroying our decoys in a fight, Jimmy just keeps putting me off until they have what they need on camera. I'm totally ready to go, until he finally say.......okay......shoot em! Well now, by that time the only shot I had caused me to hold the butt of the gun directly on my bicep while the barrel of the gun is sticking out a tiny hole of our camo tent. For those of you that know anything about hunting, that's exactly where you DON'T want the butt of the gun. But, that's the only shot I had so I let 'er rip! First shot ever at a Turkey and...TURKEY DOWN! It was truly an amazing moment, and how cool that it is all documented on video and I was able to share it with my best bud and brother, Bryan.

THE MIRACLE
Generally after ever kill on a hunting show, the group of guys hunting all go out and take a look at the animal taken down. They have somewhat of an interview over the dead animal carcass. Our wives really love that part (sarcasm). Bryan and Jimmy went out with me and we began talking about how amazing it was that we got our very first Turkeys on the very same day of the first Turkey hunt we've ever been on together. Jimmy said over and over that it truly was a miracle. Some people hunt for years and years and never get a bird, let alone the size of ours on their first hunt. We also began to reflect on me and my brother's relationship over the years. In our younger years we didn't get along very well, anyone in our family could tell you that. I believe he got me in trouble a few times that I didn't deserve it and I'm pretty sure I beat a few doors down to get to him. Yet here we are, sharing our first Turkeys together on the same day in this amazingly beautiful land that God created for us to enjoy to the fullest. This also caused us to ponder on the amazing moments we had with Dad at a younger age. We just couldn't stop saying "we wished our Dad was here, we wish he were here." This hunt truly was a Spiritually Inspiring moment that we'll never forget, and that goes for everyone on the trip I believe.

Thanks to Jimmy Sites and Brandon Chesbro for providing such an amazing opportunity for my brother and I to reflect on how God can rekindle a brotherly relationship and how much influence our Dads have on us at an early age. That brings me to thank my Dad also for always letting Bryan and I be boys and teaching us all that he knew about the outdoors. OH.........and thanks to our lovely wives, of course, for letting us go!

If you're interested in viewing this two part show, go to www.SpiritualOutdoorAdventures.org, or keep your Tivo set.

COMING SUMMER 2008!

What do you consider SUCCESS?

“We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.”
– Sir Winston Churchill

I felt that this quote was so appropriate for what I've been feeling for quite some time now regarding my career. That's the question, what do I consider SUCCESS?

So many men feel that we're defined by what we do for a living and that we are more defined by the paycheck that we receive. I believe that couldn't be farther from the truth. I believe that we are defined by how we respond to life's challenges and what legacy that we leave behind for our family other than a large inheritance. Before we know it we could be twenty years down the road with an amazing retirement plan, dream home, vacation home, multiple cars, college funds and investments out the Wazoo. Yet our kids have absolutely no idea who their Dad is, their wacked out on drugs, having sex with anything that says hi to them and have absolutely no plan to take advantage of those College Funds for anything other than the opportunity to create their amazing social network on their myspace and facebook accounts. Is that what you consider "success?"

We all need to take another gander at the quote by Winston Churchill above and think through the aspects of your career to where it has been all about you and has done nothing but define you. Then think of how you can fulfill the last part of the quote in your life and that's to "make a life by what YOU give." Guys, invest time in your family and don't let your career or material things define your SUCCESS in life. Let that fall in the product of what others see in your family. That's where true SUCCESS should lie in our lives.