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The other day, I quoted Jaynie L. Smith on my Twitter home page saying that, "Without a competitive advantage, price becomes your only differentiator." I immediately received several messages affirming the statement... and several more expressing the point of view that such "competitive advantages" or "unique selling propositions"… 
"I've got a guy I'd like you to meet... " a friend told me. "The two of you have got to get together... you think so much alike... you have so much in common. You know, he's a self-made millionaire!" "Self-made...! Well, that certainly DOESN'T describe me," I said. "Oh c'mon, Steve. I know what you've done in your business career... don't be so modest!" Well, the truth is that honesty IS NOT modesty... and I was just being honest.… 
I was speaking on the phone with a friend today, when he asked my opinion about a concern of his. He happens to be associated with a twelve-step program, and membership isn't growing like he thought it should. So, I asked him three questions. First, what is the range of years in the program among active members? The answer was three years on the low side to nearly thirty years on the high side. Second, what percentage of newcomers come back every week… 
It is no secret to anyone who knows me well, or to anyone who frequents this space, how I feel about my mom and dad. It's always been that way. Are they perfect? Well, no... just like me. But through the years... and the tears... the challenges... and the fears... (hey, that rhymes) what an incredible example of integrity they have been. Yeah, I think that is the right word... integrity. What you see... is what you get. The same in private...… 
As we discussed recently, when it comes to goals that are truly WORTHY of our time, energy, and expense... most WILL involve personal growth or some serious testing of our metal. They are also usually TOO BIG to be accomplished on our own. We must build a team, and attract others to the VISION... one powerful link at a time. In most cases, this means... no, scratch the first… 
I answered my phone the other day, only to hear that a dear friend was calling to apologize. Okay, I thought... apologies are good, especially when warranted. But for the life of me, I couldn't think of ONE THING that they needed to apologize for. In the next two or three seconds of silence, every conversation we had over the previous month flashed through my mind, and I came up blank. "I feel bad because I took your ideas..." came their next words. "I'm… 
So, as part of a decision I made two weeks ago to improve upon my generally good health and physical fitness... I have been out walking each of the last few days. NOT running... NOT jogging. Walking... period. And, as you might imagine... when stepping out in the neighborhood after dark, you notice that there are a lot of people who AREN'T out walking. No... they're mostly gathered around a pale blue flickering light in their living rooms! So it was that… 
I have a confession to make. Awhile back I heard a radio talk-show host make the statement that "women lie about their AGE... men about their HEIGHT." And it suddenly hit me like a ton of bricks that, at least in my case, that's only partially true. Because for the past number of years, I must admit... I ALSO lied about my WEIGHT! Ouch. Yes, the truth hurts... and sometimes it comes from the strangest places. But I digress. However, looking at my… 
Okay, so a few hours ago I read yet another story from the national press about how Brett Favre will be forever hated by Cheeseheads everywhere, if... he follows through and plays for the dreaded Vikings. Yes, the story goes... in the eyes of the Green and Gold faithful, this would be akin to committing the unforgivable sin. Really? Since this scenario really caught fire a month or so ago, I have YET to speak WITH ONE Packer's fan who doesn't want… 
I hadn't really planned on making this a two-part post. When I wrote "Are You Competent..?" a few days ago, about a conversation I had with a family friend who was really struggling... I felt I had said, what needed to be said... at least for now. And then today, I got the call. "What call..?" you ask. The call that said everything... YES, EVERYTHING... had changed since… 
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