Spunk Fever – agents of change – positive attitude – where are you at with this?

Wow – what a week in history we are going to live through. First – MLK – what an awesome man of character, integrity and determination.  He is one of my hero’s in history. Thanks MLK for being a agent of change!

 

Tuesday marks a terrific mark in history of everyone. The most powerful position in the world is being held by an agent of change, African American – Barach Obama. What a strong race and strategy he has laid out to obtain the votes and now starting Jan 20 – has the power to make the changes needed in the great United States. I am asked every day my position on him and here it is, I respect this position 110% and will support his efforts completely and honor the office. I think that he has the ability and determination to get the job done and I am hopeful that we will look back and commend him for a job well done. I read the letter that he wrote to his girls and all I can say is WOW! I am hopeful that the media will respect his family and let his children be as normal as they can. So lets rally together and support this remarkable man  leading our country.

 

Last – you and I. We can be agents of change in our own worlds – trying to make a difference in the outcome of the world. I am committed to this 110% in my life ~ Today I played cards with a 82 year old woman that has a lot of wisdom, character and spunk in life and whether she was winning or losing – she was full of life. That is what we need to catch – the spunk fever – we need to become agents of change that want to impact the world. So how many people do you know are doom and gloom – negative, glass half empty. It is all attitude> Melissa, my 19 year old was not allowed to say I can’t growing up because she could and CAN. Today as an adult, I am so proud of her for being an agent of change with a positive outlook and attitude! Positive Attitude is the key to success!

World Crisis – HOPE!

This am I woke up with a huge lump in my stomach about the world’s crisis and individual crisis that people have every day. Last week, I was interviewed and I stated, ” You do not have to look to far to find someone with a disaster happening within them” I have thought about that alot since then and have watched, talked and even discussed with people their “personal disaster” and it always comes back to HOPE. It has never been clearer to me. Hope is the HOPE of the World.

Personally, I have alot of stuff happening in my professional and personal life. While sometimes I feel like a rope is around my neck getting tighter, I loosen the rope with HOPE. No one is without issues and it all comes back to the real hope you need to survive in a insane World.

Whether it is a financial crisis in your life, the world it is HOPE that we need. Whether you have lost a boyfriend, spouse in a crazy break up – you need HOPE. What about a minor illness or a life threatening disease – it is HOPE. Whatever it is, HOPE is the answer.

So here you go – This is HOPE!

“Hope is a belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one’s life. Hope is the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best. [1] To hope is to wish for something with the expectation of the wish being fulfilled, a key condition in unrequited love. [2] Hopefulness is somewhat different from optimism in that hope is an emotional state, whereas optimism is a conclusion reached through a deliberate thought pattern that leads to a positive attitude.”

Tiffany – My Dorothy Shoes

New Year! – 2009

Normally when a new year starts it takes me weeks to adjust my check signing, letter writing, etc to get the correct year printed. Since 2009 started, I have not screwed up once. It was an honor to put 2009 on the date line and never hesitated or mistakenly put 2008. So why is that?

• At the end of the day, what impact can I make on yesterday yet alone last year? Can you?
• What difference will it make if I can change time? The damage was done.
• When I drive a car, I better look out the windshield vs the rear view mirror – same in life!

This year will be a year of change, stability, growth and hope! So a few thoughts for you for the New Year -

•  What can you do to make 2009 the best year in your life – what about people around you?
•  What can you do to SUPPORT a cause, a new administration, new rule or strategy?
•  What can you do to have the glass half full – not half empty? (Attitude is everything)
• Last – - just as yourself, What can I do?

A bad situation turned good? We are on our way to Miami!

Soles4Souls is working with Florida Highway Patrol to find new life for abandoned shoes

Miami FL & Nashville TN — The start of the New Year turned ugly for many commuters in Miami on Friday, when drivers were delayed by several thousand pairs of shoes littering the highway. Nashville-based shoe charity Soles4Souls contacted the Florida Highway Patrol and offered to immediately collect the shoes on behalf of needy people it supports, both here in the United States and around the world.

“These shoes are abandoned property and we’re happy that Soles4Souls can make good use out them,” said Lt. Pat Santengelo of the Florida Highway Patrol.

Soles4Souls Founder and CEO, Wayne Elsey, said the sight of thousands of abandoned shoes was a stark reminder of how many shoes are tossed into American landfills. “Too many perfectly good shoes are thrown away each year, and it’s a shame,” he said. “Soles4Souls is dedicated to keeping usable footwear out of our landfills and putting them on the feet of needy people around the world,” he said.

Elsey estimates that over 300 Million people around the world don’t own a pair of shoes. But the charity is working hard to reduce that number: it has already distributed 3.9 Million pairs since the Asian tsunami four years ago.

“We hope people remember us as a simple recycle-and-reuse program,” Elsey said. “We can take any types of ‘gently worn’ shoes. There is no need to throw away usable shoes because we can find the person who will treasure your gift,” he said.

Fran – press on!

So since last week, I have been hanging out with one of the coolest people I have ever met. He is 76 years young, great business guy and just a cool dude. The cool thing about Fran is he wants my friendship for me and the same with him. Either one of us have an agenda, just to have fun. There are many cool stories of him and I over the years, including but not limited to – SAMS Club, RENT, race car driving, my near death experience, your Disney mishap with the wheel chair and me diving to protect him,buying cars or not waiting in lines at Two Jays. These mean nothing to you the reader) but alot to him and I. This guy has been a huge part of my life and inspires me daily. Hard to accept his illness and the pain that he is going through. The good thing is the medicine they are giving him, brings laughter to him and all around him. He mentioned this weekend that a Southwest Jet landed under his chair – hey that is a good branding message for Southwest – maybe I will call them! But the reality is in life – there are ALOT of people with agenda’s and want something from you or make withdrawals from your energy levels – this guy was the opposite – he made deposits in my energy levels, made me laugh and look at business and personal things in a new light. A positive light – always looking for a solution or to manage issues vs taking the opposite approach. So here I am, teary eyed as I write this in a means to help me understand and be strong for him as I say goodbye to him as he leaves for Boston in a few hours for treatment.

Fran, all I can say is thanks and I love everything about you. I had a friend put this together for you. It says simply, PRESS ON – there is a brighter day — Thank you for being such an inspiration to Melissa and I – We will see you soon. PRESS ON Buddy -

Holiday Cheer!

So we are well into the season and hope you have a great holiday with your friends and family. Candidly, I am taking a much needed break as the New Year will be in sane for me it seems. It is all good and we will me making even a larger difference in peoples lives in 09. I want to thank my staff, suppliers, friends and family for a great 2008. While we all have had challenges, we are looking forward to a fast, bright start to 09. Bill Hybels said at the LIGHT production that if you are a 50 Watt bulb – shine brighter. This is so true, take baby steps and you will be the LIGHT for people that need it. NOTE – there are more people that need it than you realize. So what is your wattage going to be in 09. Candidly, I am going to shine brighter as people need HOPE and getting HOPE starts with a positive, believing attitude.  So enjoy your holidays and I will be back after the new year!

It was him in the parade!

An Unfortunate Action to Protect Our Donors

 

 

Last week, Soles4Souls sued another charity for a serious breach of trust.  We found some of our donated shoes being sold online, rather than on a ship to help needy kids in Africa, where they were supposed to go.

 

It pains me to take this action, but it’s the only action possible in light of the events.  Charities are supposed to be completely transparent and trustworthy, and when something like this happens, all charities that “play by the rules” are affected in a negative way.

 

That’s not right, and we’re angry.  We’re angry for those needy kids who were supposed to get free shoes, for our partners who expected their generous gift to help those in need, and we’re angry for our staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to make the GIFT of shoes possible.

 

We work very hard to keep our manufacturer partners protected from “dilution” when they donate products to us.  Our reputation IS our currency.  

 

The bottom line is this: we require that all our distribution partners sign air-tight agreements on where they can GIVE the shoes away.  And in this case, that agreement wasn’t followed.

 

We’re not trying to change the world, one SALE at a time… it’s a gift.

 

My beautiful daughter in her Dorm! What a mess!