Mike Jr | My thoughts on life, business & technology.

When I was at Teen Mania, they had this award called the “Raging Bear”. It was given to people who went above and beyond their job to make their job better, innovate something new for the ministry, etc… I got to thinking about that on Thursday evening.

A friend, Lars, received the Raging Bear Award one time cause he planned out this coolest and most effecient Facilities Building. That building took care of all the vehicles on campus. Lars was so good at what he did, there were things in the plans that most people didn’t know was possible or that you even needed!

Now, did Lars need permission to build that plan? Was he asked to build that plan in the normal course of his work? To my knowledge, NO. He took the INITIATIVE and went above and beyond what he was supposed to do!

Alot of us, including me, see things that should be changed, innovated, etc… yet we wait for someone to give us permission to suggest something new. Why is that? I want to be someone who takes those ideas, formulates them, builds a plan and then proposes it for action. If those ideas aren’t used, that’s ok… atleast I did something and tried to propose change.

I hope that makes sense. I encourage you to look around and figure out where your expertise is and walk in it. Don’t wait for permission. Go ahead, do what you’re good at.

Disclaimer: this does not mean you walk into your bosses office, or parents room and tell them where they can shove it. Rather, you need to formulate the plan in a manner someone else can review without you having to be there to explain. IE: a document! Proposing change does take finess and tact.

I’m watching the Apprentice right now. I really like the show. I think Mr. Trump capitalized on Reality TV and put it in the realm he knows best. Trump has made some incredible decisions over the last 2 decades. To comeback after the 80s real estate bust like he did was incredible. “The Art of the Comeback” is definately worth the read!

So anyhow… the candidates this season are pretty lame. They don’t seem to have any people skills. I mean, come on. They confront people in the open, talk to much, they are selfish, and much much more. Watch the show! You’ll learn alot by watching these chumps run around on the screen. And Mr. Trump definately has some good advice if you watch closely enough to catch them.

Ok, you wanna know a great upcoming actress? Actually, she’s already been in a few movies. Keira Knightley. She’s pretty and was a great actress in King Arthur.

I live a life full of holes. It’s like on a ship… you get one leak taken care of and then, lo and behold, another leak comes along. Sometimes you wonder, “Is it worth patching the holes or just abandon ship and try to find a better one?” The latter choice isn’t an option cause there are lots of other ships out there in worse condition than mine. If I can help patch other ships before I sink, atleast my life meant something.

So how did I get on this thought? Good question.

I went to the dentist today cause I needed some patch work done. Essentially I had what’s called “pits” in my teeth. While they aren’t bad right now, if you leave them for too long with out filling them, they will become big cavities in your teeth. Gosh, then you need a root canal. Ugh. Not so good holes.

So I sat in the dentist and let him fill them all. And I got to thinking, “You know Mike, your life is full of holes. These are just some that are easier to fix.”

One big hole in my life was meant for Jesus. It’s amazing how many times I fill it with other stuff. Sleep, email, TV, and many other noble things. However, when it’s all said and done… I’m still empty. Another hole is companionship. Now this hole is a little trickier cause I think that the hole can only be filled with close friends and a girlfriend/wife. While that will work for a time, if the first hole isn’t filled, then all subsequent holes are a lost cause cause nothing is ever going to work if the first hole isn’t filled.

Keith Green is telling me like it is right now cause I’m listening to the song “To obey is better than sacrifice”. God wants more than my Sunday and Wednesday nights. He wants me to come to Him everyday. Ultimate dependance on Him. Stink, that’s hard cause then I can’t do what I want.

So I walked out of the dentist with my teeth better, holes filled, and one tooth short. I now have a hole where my 1/4 of a wisdom tooth was. Weird huh, I had 4 and 1/4 wisdom teeth. That 1/4 tooth is now gone and four left which will stay awhile.

Hopefully I can take advantage of all that wisdom!

So, now back to filling my holes so I don’t sink anytime soon.

Gosh this is a long post. I will end with some lyrics I was singing while strumming my guitar. “Lord, I need you. More than anything else. More than anyone else.”