Is this Mr Rogers?

Today – well really yesterday!

My days are often way different, today was no exception to that. I had to get up early to speak at a great church in Nashville with some of the warmest, welcoming folks, I have ever met. The 9 AM service was awesome and the  acceptance was better that I could have ever asked for. The 11 AM was out of this world. It started with the introduction and the entire congregation standing to their feet clapping for me. What could I say to regain my composure? Other than Man – the 11 crowd is allot more lively that the 9. It was a simple chat that I want to share with everyone today as many folks came up and just said WOW, you inspired me, etc. That is real cool. So here is the basis of the chat:

* You are impowered to make a huge difference in peoples lives. As I -”got off the couch” and did something, you can also.

* A pair of shoes given to someone gives them HOPE. It makes them look forward to a brighter day and not worry about stumbling their toe.

* What Dash taught me – In life you can walk barefoot – sometimes on sharp areas, rough areas, rough terrain and sometimes on grass. Meaning it is not always grass that you have under your feet and to just keep moving forward. Suffer the pain, enjoy the comfort, etc – there is a better day.

So after the two services, I had to jet to the Soles4Souls, Donelson-Hermitage Parade at noon. Tight squeeze but made it. It was really cool to hear the comments from the team, on lookers and the volunteers that came out to the event. We are humbled by your continued participation and support of our charity and just appreciate you. I think I said that 100 times. And I mean it! Thank you Donelson- Hermitage for welcoming us and making us a part of your community.

The coolest part of my day was having a late lunch with a cool kid Nate who is 13. He has some health problems and is recovering well. His sister has Cerebral Palsy and absolutely beautiful inside and out. We celebrated her birthday today as she shares the same birthday as Tiffany which is Tuesday! (dec 16) Email her at her site and wish her a happy birthday! (www.tiffanyjohnsonlive.com) Nate asked me when I left, “would you come to my school and have lunch sometime – Absolutely I responded.

So then the mega highlight and close to the end of my day, Melissa, my 19 year old daughter asked me to be her friend on FACEBOOK. Cool deal. That made my day! Thank you Melissa for asking me to be your friend, I love you so much and proud of who you are in this world of opportunities.

These things cost you nothing – read on!

How about getting plugged into Soles4Souls with several ways this month and they cost you nothing! Here you go…

* Are you on FACEBOOK? If you add PIPERLIME as a friend, our charity gets $1 per new friend added this month. PIPERLIME is a terrific online store associated with the GAP.

* Apply for the Soles4Souls Visa – once approved for this great rate and benefit card, we get $50 the first time you use it.

* Like to discuss your favorite product? Rate your favorite shoes on epinions.com and s4s gets $5 per rating!

So do you have a few minutes to help us change the world? There you go – Thanks.

 

Stats – I like them!

Want to hear some interesting facts about www.soles4souls.org and www.giveshoes.org?

* The average person stays on our site for 3.07 minutes

* The look at 5.38 pages per visit

* People have visited from over 146 Countries

* In those countries, we have had visitors from 10,731 cities

* Sub continents visits from 21

* Continents visits from 6

Team!

I am asked everyday – why is Soles4Souls so successful – I have two answers for this:

1- It is simple. We get and give shoes.

2- Team. I have the best team that any CEO would ask for. Our executive team of David, Kevin, Paul and I work well together and while we may disagree sometimes, we leave united and on the execution path. Our team members are simply the best. I grade our employees monthly in my mind 1-2 0r 3. 1- is superb, 2- great, needs to brush up on a few things, 3- bad fit or needs major adjustment. Every month I like to compare in my mind where are employees were and where they are now. I ask, Do they get it? I think through – how are they adapting or what can they/we do that is different to make the charity better. Are we the best place to work in town? What can we do better? Believe me, I give these items alot of thought and ask the executive team for their grading. Most often we are on the same page.

The team is what will make or break any organization – the team members are the backbone of Soles4Souls! What is the backbone of your company, organization or group?

 

The news..

Today I had the opportunity to watch the news throughout the day. What a bunch of negative garbage to listen to? From OJ Appealing, suicide bombings, Stock Market, Travel woes, bad weather, layoffs, etc, etc. The sad thing is there is nothing positive reported? Why is that? What about is the news crews across the world tool a week and pressed pause on the world news and focused on catching people doing something right, good or uplifting. How would that reshape the broadcast? How would the moral of the world be? How about you — how would you feel with positive things being pumped into your brain? So lets try it I say… How can you improve your Positive Mental Attitude? (PMA)

So what was DASH thinking?

I met DASH in Jacksonville as he ended is 3440 mile walk, barefoot across the country. When he arrived, he stood on the beach staring at the water. What was he thinking? Was he thinking wow, I am done- now what? Was he thinking through his experiences along the way? I do not know but my hat is off to DASH for walking this 7 month journey to bring awareness to the hurting that have no shoes and how you can change it one pair or as he says one step at a time.

DASH – you are my hero – thank you for making a huge difference in my life!

What’s up?

Well I must let you know that I had a BLOG issue. We have lost everything from Nov 15 to now so  I will get back on this and put some meaningful stuff out this week and next. Thanks to my many followers that let me know there was an issue but we are alive and LIVE with the Blog and will get it moving forward. Stay tuned~~~

Make/Made my day!

I got an email where Tiffany made a blog entry – this really made a great start to my day. I love you Tiffany and thanks for being you! Here is what she said -

 WAYNE…My sweet, crazy man. My friend, my love, my support….I love when we hang out, when we play cards…he is a sore loser. I love to be able to join in the awesome things he is doing for people with Soles4Souls…he makes me so proud and I am in awe of the amazing things he has accomplished. I love how much he loves people and cherishes relationships. He makes me laugh over the silliest things…he imitates me and it is hilarious and also frightening if I really sound that way. He shows his love for me with his actions…not just his words.

What is the reason for this or is there any reason for this? Check out www.50000shoes.com to change this.