The distance between the earth and the heavens has always fascinated me. As a boy I could look at the night stars and marvel at their brightness and the distance between me and them. As a fan of Flash Gordon and Superman I often tried to imagine what it was like out there and if there were people, creatures, beings like or unlike me who were looking out from their world through the same stars I was look at wondering similarly if someone else was out there. Somehow I was certain that there was intelligent life beyond the stars. I was certain that someday I too would visit the heavens.
Even now on a clear night on the mountain I love to gaze at the myriads of tiny lights that create the cloud-like haze of the milky way. The frequent interruption of my gaze by a passing jet reminds me even more of how very far they are away. Then I look at the images of Hubble's view of the universe and even though I know it can only see a small fraction in width and depth of what is "out there," I marvel even more at the beauty, the immensity and the majesty of the heavens. What one of us, who in a moment of disconnection from the single dimensional plane of our own existence on the earth, hasn't felt the awe of gazing into the heavens. But, there were some whose heaven gaze on a star-filled night witnessed Earth and Heaven coming together.
That night and those hillside gazers' view would forever put real perspective into the closeness of the heavens and the nearest of its non-fictional residents. As those shepherds witnessed the heavens come to life with the view and voices of that heavenly choir, they understood more about the reality of intelligent life in the heavens than even those who have created and gaze through Hubble. That night, the heavens and the earth came together and their residents marveled together beneath a single shining star at that heavenly traveler who made it possible for each of us to become residents of His heaven if we would, but learn the simple lesson He brought of how to bring heaven to earth.
Now we gather again with families and loved ones across the planet to celebrate and commemorate that most celestial event of over two thousand years ago. And although the commemoration may be lost in the tinsel and the rush, I hope that you and I will find a moment or two to once again gaze into the heavens and remember that He who came is coming again to bring His heaven to earth - soon.
May you and yours have a most blessed week of celebration of His birth, life and love. May each gift that you give and receive be a reminder of those that He has given. And may your view of the new year be filled with thoughts of what gifts you may bring Him in your service, love and labors in His behalf. May you as the shepherds find joy and choirs of heaven in your heart as you feed and care for His sheep.
We have come far. We have far to go. Let us ever enjoy the journey and seek to bring heaven and earth a little closer with the heritage of our eternal family.
Onward and upward
Love Doug
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Wasn't It Just Yesterday?
I sat on the couch near the fireplace with the tiny bundle in my arms. As I peered down into the waking eyes of my newest grandson, Douglas Frederick Cloward I was struck with an overwhelming sense of dejavu. Wasn't it just yesterday that it was Brytt M Cloward's tiny face I was looking down into? Could it possibly be that "just yesterday" was, in reality, nearly 30 years ago.
Then, as families were preparing to leave after a fabulous Thanksgiving gathering and feast, I held a little larger bundle with arms wrapped around my neck as Brynnlee napped snuggled to my chest and again the feeling washed over me, "wasn't it just yesterday" that I held my own firstborn in a similar secure and heart warming sleepy embrace nearly 35 years ago?
It was a wonderful gathering. When Clowards meet they work, cook, eat, laugh and play and work some more. The first work project was to fill the wood bunker so we could keep the firs going and the cabin warm during the cold and windy days of Thanksgiving ahead. And as I watched Kaiden, the oldest grandson orchestrate the the line of grandchildren for the hand-to-hand wood transfer from the outside woodpile, I marveled at his young, yet strong encouragement of the children who struggled under the weight of the fire logs as they passed them along to the the next sibling. And I marveled, "wasn't it just yesterday" that I was at the hospital newborn room window looking in on this tiny first grandson and wondering what would lay ahead for him in years to come - years that seemed then so far off for such a tiny little baby boy.
Then, as nearly three- year-old Kensi presented a log at least 1/3 her weight to me with eyes searching for acknowledgment of her contribution to the process, I remembered that it was just last year that she stood aside and watched the wood passing tradition. Now, she was fully part of it. My praise of her help brought a smile bigger than the log she struggled to carry and I remembered "wasn't it just yesterday" that I struggled under the weight of some load to hand to my father and grandfather to step into the tradition and the heritage that I now carry on.
And now I know that, yes, it was just yesterday and that yesterdays are the birthplace and the the continuence of traditions, values and the birth and the enrollement of new members to the heritage of the family. It is in allowing even our youngest members to play a part in our traditions that enrolls them and initiates them to the values of work and the right of play. It encourages them in the art and the service of food preparation and clean up and gives them the right and the voice in the choice of play and laughter. Yes, yesterdays are soon todays. And 'er we blink, yesterday is tomorrow.
Then the phone rang and the oldest granddaughter's voice seemed to be from just the other room instead of from the other side of the country in Kentucky. And it seemed like it had been too many yesterdays since I hugged her and saw the bright sparkle in the eyes of the young lady she has become all too soon.
Douglas stretched and blinked with eyes looking beyond me. Was it his two-week-old eyes unable to focus, or was he focusing on something or someone beyond, above his grandfather? Brynnlee stirred from her nap on my chest and stretched, her eyes reaching mine with a smile of contentment that melted my heart and held the rest of my world at bay. Kaiden asked to use the soldering iron to fix an electronic connection on a game controller that was beyond my comprehension. Nicolas, Luke and Afton joined Ireland in coaxing for a grandpa's bedtime story, which is always followed up by a special grandpa's mint. It was a great story about the Goolagangi and there were exactly the right number of mints left in the tin for each grandchild. As they slid down off the bed (one of those you need a step stool to get onto) they left me with a newfound impression of my greatest blessings - each of them.
That was just yesterday! I will remember it forever.
I hope your Thanksgiving yesterday was unforgettable and that you remember it as if it were just yesterday, tomorrow. Tomorrows are too soon here and gone. Yesterdays are what we have to keep and to remember, but to make them count, we must see them in today - everyday. Heritage is what they remember about what you remembered and when you remembered them. They will remember what you valued enough to make them a part of -- work, play, prayer and planning.
I am so looking forward to Christmas when they will all once again converge on the Cabin together and again I will participate in the traditions of today's new yesterdays' wood transfers, food preparations, feasts, burpings, naps, stories - eyes and smiles - heritage.
You still have time to plan your yesterdays ahead.
Onward and upward.
Love,
Doug
Then, as families were preparing to leave after a fabulous Thanksgiving gathering and feast, I held a little larger bundle with arms wrapped around my neck as Brynnlee napped snuggled to my chest and again the feeling washed over me, "wasn't it just yesterday" that I held my own firstborn in a similar secure and heart warming sleepy embrace nearly 35 years ago?
It was a wonderful gathering. When Clowards meet they work, cook, eat, laugh and play and work some more. The first work project was to fill the wood bunker so we could keep the firs going and the cabin warm during the cold and windy days of Thanksgiving ahead. And as I watched Kaiden, the oldest grandson orchestrate the the line of grandchildren for the hand-to-hand wood transfer from the outside woodpile, I marveled at his young, yet strong encouragement of the children who struggled under the weight of the fire logs as they passed them along to the the next sibling. And I marveled, "wasn't it just yesterday" that I was at the hospital newborn room window looking in on this tiny first grandson and wondering what would lay ahead for him in years to come - years that seemed then so far off for such a tiny little baby boy.
Then, as nearly three- year-old Kensi presented a log at least 1/3 her weight to me with eyes searching for acknowledgment of her contribution to the process, I remembered that it was just last year that she stood aside and watched the wood passing tradition. Now, she was fully part of it. My praise of her help brought a smile bigger than the log she struggled to carry and I remembered "wasn't it just yesterday" that I struggled under the weight of some load to hand to my father and grandfather to step into the tradition and the heritage that I now carry on.
And now I know that, yes, it was just yesterday and that yesterdays are the birthplace and the the continuence of traditions, values and the birth and the enrollement of new members to the heritage of the family. It is in allowing even our youngest members to play a part in our traditions that enrolls them and initiates them to the values of work and the right of play. It encourages them in the art and the service of food preparation and clean up and gives them the right and the voice in the choice of play and laughter. Yes, yesterdays are soon todays. And 'er we blink, yesterday is tomorrow.
Then the phone rang and the oldest granddaughter's voice seemed to be from just the other room instead of from the other side of the country in Kentucky. And it seemed like it had been too many yesterdays since I hugged her and saw the bright sparkle in the eyes of the young lady she has become all too soon.
Douglas stretched and blinked with eyes looking beyond me. Was it his two-week-old eyes unable to focus, or was he focusing on something or someone beyond, above his grandfather? Brynnlee stirred from her nap on my chest and stretched, her eyes reaching mine with a smile of contentment that melted my heart and held the rest of my world at bay. Kaiden asked to use the soldering iron to fix an electronic connection on a game controller that was beyond my comprehension. Nicolas, Luke and Afton joined Ireland in coaxing for a grandpa's bedtime story, which is always followed up by a special grandpa's mint. It was a great story about the Goolagangi and there were exactly the right number of mints left in the tin for each grandchild. As they slid down off the bed (one of those you need a step stool to get onto) they left me with a newfound impression of my greatest blessings - each of them.
That was just yesterday! I will remember it forever.
I hope your Thanksgiving yesterday was unforgettable and that you remember it as if it were just yesterday, tomorrow. Tomorrows are too soon here and gone. Yesterdays are what we have to keep and to remember, but to make them count, we must see them in today - everyday. Heritage is what they remember about what you remembered and when you remembered them. They will remember what you valued enough to make them a part of -- work, play, prayer and planning.
I am so looking forward to Christmas when they will all once again converge on the Cabin together and again I will participate in the traditions of today's new yesterdays' wood transfers, food preparations, feasts, burpings, naps, stories - eyes and smiles - heritage.
You still have time to plan your yesterdays ahead.
Onward and upward.
Love,
Doug
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Newness of Life
Greetings again!
The second breakout of shingles was painful and the itching was compounded by the itch to see my newest grandson and namesake. Douglas Frederick Cloward was born to Brytt and Jinger last week and I had to stay away until the shingles were past the contagious stage. Ohh! Itch and pain! But finally the time and scabs passed and I saw and held him for the first time last night.
There is something wondrous, wonderful, awesome and healing in the touch of new life. Not that I am biased or anything about my grandkids, they are all very bright and I simply can't get enough of them, this one included. All children have energy of life that is contagious and sometimes overwhelming. Oh if I could just find the formula and bottle it! I can see it now -- life, energy and heritage in a bottle! Oh well, back to the books. That is likely as close to capturing the life, love, energy and renewing power of any life - including our own.
I know a little bit about the thoughts and the process of new life, having come back from the brink a time or two in recent months. Perhaps that is, in a very real sense, what we are all reaching for - a new life. We call it progress.
Don't we all want a better life? Not that the one we have isn't good, or even great, but all of us are working, living and striving for a new, better life for ourselves and for our families. And Heritage Makers are actively passing on the tools to help do just that. How and where we search for that progress is an adventure and a challenge with life altering potential. What we take in from our search can lead to triumph or tragedy. So here are a few thoughts on how, where and what to search for to discover and capture the joy of newness of life.
1- Cherish your own breath. Learn to find joy in simply breathing. Close your eyes and breathe four times thinking what a joy it is to breath unlabored. Fill you lungs and your heart with a feeling of gratitude for the breath of life - your life.
2- Savor the moment. They are numbered, few and priceless, but we often let them pass without savoring what they bring - experience, relationships, opportunity to respond, repent and to bless. Be sure that where you sell and use your moments is worthy of the most priceless gift and asset your have. Too soon you too will come to know that time runs out for everyone -- including you.
3- If you have eyes to see and ears to hear - DO IT! Really see, really hear. Seek sights that inspire, calm and make you feel small - you know the smallness that feels good. Listen for the music of the moment, the sounds of the symphony of life that is playing all around you. Turn up the volume by directing your reception toward the performer to fully appreciate the performance. Even silence is an instrument of powerful accent and soothing transition between the din of din of humanity's trumpets of rush. See, hear, smile and say "ahh" to all the performers and artists - especially the Master of both.
4- Make your own voice a healing balm. How? Sing a lullaby to a newborn or a crying child. Speak kind and understanding words to an agitated teen, complement a co-worker or associate and praise a spouse for the countless acts and works of service they give to you and yours. Your tongue has great power. See that is used for good before you say "Amen."
5- Reach out and touch yourself. Marvel at your own hand. Reach up and stroke your own brow to discover the healing, lifting power and gift that is yours to gather and to give. Then gather and give. Gather strength, flowers and messes, write a love note. Give a handshake, a handout and a hand up. Make sure that yours is the hand that puts cookies in the jar of life.
6- Savor the flavor. Peel and eat an orange over twice the normal time it would take. Marvel at the orange structure, beauty, scent, flavor and the gift it is. Taste this bit of life and savor it more. Then add the savoring skill to other morsels and meals.
7- Give gratitude three times a day to three people who aren't expecting it. Gratitude is the mother of virtues and the father of real joy in life. Recognizing the little contributions to your life and assigning and delivering the reward of your praise and thanks is healing and it is also contagious and compounding.
So friends, family and heritage makers, here is wishing you newness of life, love and business and a most happy and grateful holiday.
Onward and upward.
Love, Doug
The second breakout of shingles was painful and the itching was compounded by the itch to see my newest grandson and namesake. Douglas Frederick Cloward was born to Brytt and Jinger last week and I had to stay away until the shingles were past the contagious stage. Ohh! Itch and pain! But finally the time and scabs passed and I saw and held him for the first time last night.
There is something wondrous, wonderful, awesome and healing in the touch of new life. Not that I am biased or anything about my grandkids, they are all very bright and I simply can't get enough of them, this one included. All children have energy of life that is contagious and sometimes overwhelming. Oh if I could just find the formula and bottle it! I can see it now -- life, energy and heritage in a bottle! Oh well, back to the books. That is likely as close to capturing the life, love, energy and renewing power of any life - including our own.
I know a little bit about the thoughts and the process of new life, having come back from the brink a time or two in recent months. Perhaps that is, in a very real sense, what we are all reaching for - a new life. We call it progress.
Don't we all want a better life? Not that the one we have isn't good, or even great, but all of us are working, living and striving for a new, better life for ourselves and for our families. And Heritage Makers are actively passing on the tools to help do just that. How and where we search for that progress is an adventure and a challenge with life altering potential. What we take in from our search can lead to triumph or tragedy. So here are a few thoughts on how, where and what to search for to discover and capture the joy of newness of life.
1- Cherish your own breath. Learn to find joy in simply breathing. Close your eyes and breathe four times thinking what a joy it is to breath unlabored. Fill you lungs and your heart with a feeling of gratitude for the breath of life - your life.
2- Savor the moment. They are numbered, few and priceless, but we often let them pass without savoring what they bring - experience, relationships, opportunity to respond, repent and to bless. Be sure that where you sell and use your moments is worthy of the most priceless gift and asset your have. Too soon you too will come to know that time runs out for everyone -- including you.
3- If you have eyes to see and ears to hear - DO IT! Really see, really hear. Seek sights that inspire, calm and make you feel small - you know the smallness that feels good. Listen for the music of the moment, the sounds of the symphony of life that is playing all around you. Turn up the volume by directing your reception toward the performer to fully appreciate the performance. Even silence is an instrument of powerful accent and soothing transition between the din of din of humanity's trumpets of rush. See, hear, smile and say "ahh" to all the performers and artists - especially the Master of both.
4- Make your own voice a healing balm. How? Sing a lullaby to a newborn or a crying child. Speak kind and understanding words to an agitated teen, complement a co-worker or associate and praise a spouse for the countless acts and works of service they give to you and yours. Your tongue has great power. See that is used for good before you say "Amen."
5- Reach out and touch yourself. Marvel at your own hand. Reach up and stroke your own brow to discover the healing, lifting power and gift that is yours to gather and to give. Then gather and give. Gather strength, flowers and messes, write a love note. Give a handshake, a handout and a hand up. Make sure that yours is the hand that puts cookies in the jar of life.
6- Savor the flavor. Peel and eat an orange over twice the normal time it would take. Marvel at the orange structure, beauty, scent, flavor and the gift it is. Taste this bit of life and savor it more. Then add the savoring skill to other morsels and meals.
7- Give gratitude three times a day to three people who aren't expecting it. Gratitude is the mother of virtues and the father of real joy in life. Recognizing the little contributions to your life and assigning and delivering the reward of your praise and thanks is healing and it is also contagious and compounding.
So friends, family and heritage makers, here is wishing you newness of life, love and business and a most happy and grateful holiday.
Onward and upward.
Love, Doug
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Squeeze the Life Out of It
That's right, squeeze the life out of it -- life!
Greetings friends, family, heritage makers and those of you who stumble onto my ramblings. Yes, I am still here, but have not been at the blog for a while. Why? I guess because I have been squeezing a bit of late. Health-wise I have been battling to get my white counts up (very slow progress over the last month - but progress.) The shingles lesions will create greater compassion, empathy and more efficient scratching. The doctors can't tell me when or even if that will go away. I have tried chili pepper ointment, crushed aspirins in lotion, different anti-depressants (not because I am depressed mind you) and anti-seizure meds and a host of other things. Nothing seems to work as well as my sweetheart's TLC (don't tell her that and I won't tell her if the sting and itch goes away).
Anyway, I am loving the extension and the challenge of my life in health, happiness, business, time and faith. I am learning to squeeze more effectively. One of the great lessons I am learning about squeezing life is that it takes less effort, not more. It takes more pause than busyness. It takes more of serving than being served. And it takes vigilant intentionality to avoid being swept away in the rush of everyone else's busyness, urgency, fear, uncertainty, greed and guilt.
Busyness seems to be produced when we rush to be right about things we may have little or no control over, at least that has been so in my experience. Yep, that is a confession. Urgency is usually, not always, but too often, the result of letting things of a lower priority, but higher desire, rob the priority and time of things of a higher, and usually more lasting priority. Fear is simply the absence, avoidance or the abandonment of faith. Faith is the principle and influence that moves us to action to do right rather than to be right. And it comes from an understanding of and a commitment to a higher power that is able to and willing to secure us in making right decisions and doing right things. That is the basis of righteousness - the quantity and the quality of being correct - in all things.
In these times we are all uncertain of the next shoe to drop and crisis to face. All must turn our heads up to dispel fear and the uncertainty of today's challenges and to find assurance of tomorrow's peace. As we do, we bring that peace and light forward into the present -- for ourselves and others.
Greed is the evidence of faithlessness as well as selfishness. It is evidence that a person feels that they must get as much as they can as fast as they can because there is not enough of it (whatever it is) nor enough time to get it and that only they can, by their device, get it because no one else will see that they get their fair share of it. I have discovered that greed is like dehydrated water. It simply never satisfies thirst. Perhaps that is why we are encouraged to hunger and "thirst" after righteousness. Because as we do, we find it most satisfying, healing and enriching.
Guilt is interesting, mine and yours. I am guilty of so many things, most of which have occurred when I was greedy or fearful or just too darn busy. I have been able to unburden myself from some of those things and I am working to uncover and unload as many more as I can in whatever time I have left. I probably will not get through the list, but perhaps I will yet more fully get out from under the load as I more fully discover and use His yoke. When I do, I breathe more easily and I am less greedy, urgent, uncertain and busy. I have found that it is true - His yoke lightens and lightens my load. I recommend it.
May you too find peace in this season of gratefulness by unburdening your hearts and minds and intentionally determining not to contribute to nor be swept away in the drift of busyness.
Happy Heritage Making and Thanksgiving!
Onward and Upward
Love Doug
Greetings friends, family, heritage makers and those of you who stumble onto my ramblings. Yes, I am still here, but have not been at the blog for a while. Why? I guess because I have been squeezing a bit of late. Health-wise I have been battling to get my white counts up (very slow progress over the last month - but progress.) The shingles lesions will create greater compassion, empathy and more efficient scratching. The doctors can't tell me when or even if that will go away. I have tried chili pepper ointment, crushed aspirins in lotion, different anti-depressants (not because I am depressed mind you) and anti-seizure meds and a host of other things. Nothing seems to work as well as my sweetheart's TLC (don't tell her that and I won't tell her if the sting and itch goes away).
Anyway, I am loving the extension and the challenge of my life in health, happiness, business, time and faith. I am learning to squeeze more effectively. One of the great lessons I am learning about squeezing life is that it takes less effort, not more. It takes more pause than busyness. It takes more of serving than being served. And it takes vigilant intentionality to avoid being swept away in the rush of everyone else's busyness, urgency, fear, uncertainty, greed and guilt.
Busyness seems to be produced when we rush to be right about things we may have little or no control over, at least that has been so in my experience. Yep, that is a confession. Urgency is usually, not always, but too often, the result of letting things of a lower priority, but higher desire, rob the priority and time of things of a higher, and usually more lasting priority. Fear is simply the absence, avoidance or the abandonment of faith. Faith is the principle and influence that moves us to action to do right rather than to be right. And it comes from an understanding of and a commitment to a higher power that is able to and willing to secure us in making right decisions and doing right things. That is the basis of righteousness - the quantity and the quality of being correct - in all things.
In these times we are all uncertain of the next shoe to drop and crisis to face. All must turn our heads up to dispel fear and the uncertainty of today's challenges and to find assurance of tomorrow's peace. As we do, we bring that peace and light forward into the present -- for ourselves and others.
Greed is the evidence of faithlessness as well as selfishness. It is evidence that a person feels that they must get as much as they can as fast as they can because there is not enough of it (whatever it is) nor enough time to get it and that only they can, by their device, get it because no one else will see that they get their fair share of it. I have discovered that greed is like dehydrated water. It simply never satisfies thirst. Perhaps that is why we are encouraged to hunger and "thirst" after righteousness. Because as we do, we find it most satisfying, healing and enriching.
Guilt is interesting, mine and yours. I am guilty of so many things, most of which have occurred when I was greedy or fearful or just too darn busy. I have been able to unburden myself from some of those things and I am working to uncover and unload as many more as I can in whatever time I have left. I probably will not get through the list, but perhaps I will yet more fully get out from under the load as I more fully discover and use His yoke. When I do, I breathe more easily and I am less greedy, urgent, uncertain and busy. I have found that it is true - His yoke lightens and lightens my load. I recommend it.
May you too find peace in this season of gratefulness by unburdening your hearts and minds and intentionally determining not to contribute to nor be swept away in the drift of busyness.
Happy Heritage Making and Thanksgiving!
Onward and Upward
Love Doug
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Still Here and Loving Every Minute
Greetings!
Yes, it has been too long since my last post. And so many things have occurred. It seems like life is ever changing in challenge, opportunity and priority. So, here is the short of the last five weeks.
Prior to our National Convention, Reunion, in Anaheim, my blood levels were way low and I had to go on daily Nupigen shots to try and boost my white counts up to where I was out of the Neutripenic range (no immunity). As a blessing, the counts came up and I was able to go with Judy and the rest of the HM team to the convention. I was so grateful to see so many of our HM friends there. The meetings and training were great.
When I returned, I went back to the Oncologist. He did a bone marrow biopsy to check for the Lymphoma, assuming that the delay in white cell rebound was due to lingering cancer in the marrow. The results and the PET scan confirmed, at least at that date, that I was in consolidation (clinical remission). Yes, we celebrated, but know that usually the disease revisits within two years or less.
As of Tuesday's check up, the blood levels again had dropped to the bottom, so next week it will be another bone marrow draw and test to see if they can figure anything out. Such is the life of a survivor who is committed to living fully until the job is done. Yep, it's clear to me I need more time, so I will likely be around for a while yet to learn whatever this adventure has to teach me.
We are in the midst of strategic planning for the coming year. It seems we can't finish one event fast enough to start planning and arranging for the next year's (sometimes two years in advance) event.
As for thoughts and insights into life in general, might I just share with each of you how very much I have come to appreciate little things around me and the many acts of interest, concern, love and service of those around me, especially from and with my sweetheart.
Judy has always noticed the sunrises and sunsets and the myriad of God's little gifts of nature and she has tried to get me to take notice. I did, at a glance, but I had not given myself the joy of pausing to savor the sight, gift and moment - with her. That has changed and I hope I can fill the void of so many lost moments of not noticing with noticing more from here out.
Little things like actually sleeping, or sleeping a full night, or a little while without the paining twing of the shingles neuralgia, a glass of water, delivered to me by my loving spouse and daughter are in reality HUGE things. The constant checking on my status, feelings and needs - pampering, makes my life so very sweet and rich. Don't miss the opportunity to give and receive little acts of kindness - they are, in the final analysis of life, are the real jewels we will carry with us, or bemoan our failure to recognize and gather them while we had the chance.
So, where from here? Day-by-day, week-by-week I will strive to recognize the real priorities. Repent and change when errors are called to my attention and pursue with all my vigor and resources the eternal happiness of my family and the success of our business and business associates. It is all a great and grand adventure and I love it all - every bit of it.
So, till next entry or visit I wish you health and happiness.
Onward and upward,
Love Doug
Yes, it has been too long since my last post. And so many things have occurred. It seems like life is ever changing in challenge, opportunity and priority. So, here is the short of the last five weeks.
Prior to our National Convention, Reunion, in Anaheim, my blood levels were way low and I had to go on daily Nupigen shots to try and boost my white counts up to where I was out of the Neutripenic range (no immunity). As a blessing, the counts came up and I was able to go with Judy and the rest of the HM team to the convention. I was so grateful to see so many of our HM friends there. The meetings and training were great.
When I returned, I went back to the Oncologist. He did a bone marrow biopsy to check for the Lymphoma, assuming that the delay in white cell rebound was due to lingering cancer in the marrow. The results and the PET scan confirmed, at least at that date, that I was in consolidation (clinical remission). Yes, we celebrated, but know that usually the disease revisits within two years or less.
As of Tuesday's check up, the blood levels again had dropped to the bottom, so next week it will be another bone marrow draw and test to see if they can figure anything out. Such is the life of a survivor who is committed to living fully until the job is done. Yep, it's clear to me I need more time, so I will likely be around for a while yet to learn whatever this adventure has to teach me.
We are in the midst of strategic planning for the coming year. It seems we can't finish one event fast enough to start planning and arranging for the next year's (sometimes two years in advance) event.
As for thoughts and insights into life in general, might I just share with each of you how very much I have come to appreciate little things around me and the many acts of interest, concern, love and service of those around me, especially from and with my sweetheart.
Judy has always noticed the sunrises and sunsets and the myriad of God's little gifts of nature and she has tried to get me to take notice. I did, at a glance, but I had not given myself the joy of pausing to savor the sight, gift and moment - with her. That has changed and I hope I can fill the void of so many lost moments of not noticing with noticing more from here out.
Little things like actually sleeping, or sleeping a full night, or a little while without the paining twing of the shingles neuralgia, a glass of water, delivered to me by my loving spouse and daughter are in reality HUGE things. The constant checking on my status, feelings and needs - pampering, makes my life so very sweet and rich. Don't miss the opportunity to give and receive little acts of kindness - they are, in the final analysis of life, are the real jewels we will carry with us, or bemoan our failure to recognize and gather them while we had the chance.
So, where from here? Day-by-day, week-by-week I will strive to recognize the real priorities. Repent and change when errors are called to my attention and pursue with all my vigor and resources the eternal happiness of my family and the success of our business and business associates. It is all a great and grand adventure and I love it all - every bit of it.
So, till next entry or visit I wish you health and happiness.
Onward and upward,
Love Doug
Monday, September 8, 2008
Liberty & Freedom from the Hospital Bed
The room is perhaps 10x6x20 (hallway). There is a window on the side wall that looks out at the mountain and the helipad. On the wall behind my bed view is a poster picture of a cowboy riding along a high mountain stream, with the title FREEDOM. Any of you who have read one of my favorite books, Viktor Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning" will appreciate that freedom is a state of mind and that liberty is control of options.
Freedom is the realization that you are free to choose, own and stand accountable for the choices of your mind and whatever actions your liberty, or lack thereof, permit you. Today, my liberty is largely limited to my hospital room again, but the blood counts are looking like tomorrow maybe they will deliver the key with the hard boiled (steamed, nuked, or otherwise lifeless) eggs. Oh what choices are expanded with that soon-to-be re found liberty. Yet, what accountability will come with that new found liberty as well.
So here we have consultants, moms, with a new found liberty of kids back in school and no longer being focused on last minute vacations, soccer and such --- what to do, ummmh? And then we have the president of the company, no longer confined to the bed and the pricks and pokes and pumps and pills and nurses and ----- ummmh, what to do?
Seems we all have some renewed and important choices to make over the next few days because the choices of the next few days seem to set the course and the priorities of those that follow. It seems that moments of choice of change are far more impactful to longer term actions than one might think.
So, what will it be? Let's see -- no movies, TV, Mall hop shopping, novels and restaurants over the past three weeks for me. Maybe I should really celebrate - do those things I haven't been able to do? Or rather, maybe I can run a little faster, speak a little louder and reach a few more ears and hearts with the message and the movement. I guess my choice will rally speak my priority and my priority will speak my passion and my passion will carry my message of priority and purpose and power. I think until the key comes I will seek the freedom and the liberty to speak out to yet another nurse and doctor about what ails their families and the sound cure that is found in heritage. They seem to be honestly interested in my diagnosis and prognosis and several have carried the message beyond the confines of my current liberty. And so shall they (your contacts) carry your message beyond your circle of influence and reach.
I look forward to introducing you to a simple new tool to help you help them to extend the reach of your liberty to inspire, instruct and motivate with your message of heritage. That is coming at Reunion -- a simple tool that will reverberate your message and your liberty, if you will only choose to use it. IT IS COMING.
Onward and Upward
Love
Doug
Freedom is the realization that you are free to choose, own and stand accountable for the choices of your mind and whatever actions your liberty, or lack thereof, permit you. Today, my liberty is largely limited to my hospital room again, but the blood counts are looking like tomorrow maybe they will deliver the key with the hard boiled (steamed, nuked, or otherwise lifeless) eggs. Oh what choices are expanded with that soon-to-be re found liberty. Yet, what accountability will come with that new found liberty as well.
So here we have consultants, moms, with a new found liberty of kids back in school and no longer being focused on last minute vacations, soccer and such --- what to do, ummmh? And then we have the president of the company, no longer confined to the bed and the pricks and pokes and pumps and pills and nurses and ----- ummmh, what to do?
Seems we all have some renewed and important choices to make over the next few days because the choices of the next few days seem to set the course and the priorities of those that follow. It seems that moments of choice of change are far more impactful to longer term actions than one might think.
So, what will it be? Let's see -- no movies, TV, Mall hop shopping, novels and restaurants over the past three weeks for me. Maybe I should really celebrate - do those things I haven't been able to do? Or rather, maybe I can run a little faster, speak a little louder and reach a few more ears and hearts with the message and the movement. I guess my choice will rally speak my priority and my priority will speak my passion and my passion will carry my message of priority and purpose and power. I think until the key comes I will seek the freedom and the liberty to speak out to yet another nurse and doctor about what ails their families and the sound cure that is found in heritage. They seem to be honestly interested in my diagnosis and prognosis and several have carried the message beyond the confines of my current liberty. And so shall they (your contacts) carry your message beyond your circle of influence and reach.
I look forward to introducing you to a simple new tool to help you help them to extend the reach of your liberty to inspire, instruct and motivate with your message of heritage. That is coming at Reunion -- a simple tool that will reverberate your message and your liberty, if you will only choose to use it. IT IS COMING.
Onward and Upward
Love
Doug
Friday, September 5, 2008
The Movement has begun - And a Little Child Shall Lead Them - and Us
It has been oh so long for me to try to work, communicate and convalesce in the hospital, that is until I meet someone so much worse off and here for so much longer. Dear Lord and friends, forgive my impatience and lack of perspective. But oh, it has felt so long since I hugged the grandkids. But then the massive breakout of shingles across my neck, shoulder, back and head are too contagious for the little ones. It seems so long since I had the chance to give one of the Consultant's kids a sucker or treat at my office, let alone a hug for their moms. Thankfully a few call and visit with news and loves and coordination. Thank you for trying to keep me in the company of the business, if not in the office of the company.
Today I must share a powerful and pressing insight that has distilled upon my sleepless hours. I have come to more fully understand that heritage is children and heritage making is first and foremost about our, yours and their children.
I have had some pretty heavy thinking on that subject the last few days/nights. As I measure and value the things and people of my life, I believe that I have come to glimpse, ever more slightly, into what eternity must be, to be as rewarding and wonderful and the Word and the prophets have indicated. I now understand more why the Lord called the children to Him and counseled his disciples to forbid them not. I understand why He declared. "…for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven" and why we must not offend one of them. And how a millstone would not even begin to reward unkindness to the least of them. I see now why I am so driven by the last two verses of the Old Testament and why 2nd Timothy 3: is so chilling to my bones.
Our lives, His life and purpose is found in children, heritage, even "an heritage of the Lord." Oh that I could find the words to convey to each of you how clear this vision of reality is. How I wish that you could feel as I feel the urgency, the necessity and the opportunity to come to the rescue of the children who must face the voices of deceit and anger and half-truths and selfishness and pride and the rhetoric of special interests, politicians and the media. How I wish you could, as I have, had your heart opened to the view of eternity and the precious love He has for each child. How I wish you could see beyond the story to the eternal realities of their real story. How I wish you could hear the call of the Shepherd of the lambs calling for shepherds of the sheep to gather them to the "folds" of the books and posters and cards - with full explanation of their meaning and power and purpose - for heritage, not just stories.
My friends and family and heritage makers, please find your own moments of silence as I have these last few days and find eyes to see, hearts to feel and ears to hear to know ours is a work of saving the children. Teach them why they are special. Help them discover and cherish the values of the past and the family present. Prepare yourself to carry the message of Heritage through the workshops to thousands of moms and dads who already know the value of their little ones and the challenge they must face in the days ahead. Please, please come to understand what it means to be a maker of Heritage and a Heritage Maker.
Please do not lose the chore of the message in the process. Please rally with me in the creation and coordination of the movement and the cause. Don't get lost in the pages and papers. Rather, get immersed in the lives and voices of the movement. Give the message of heritage, heroes, values and strong resilient children to everyone who will give you the opportunity to share the message of the Heritage Workshop and the passion of a heritage conversation. Please -- join me in the confines of my conviction. Please lead them to their heritage.
Onward and Upward
Love, Doug
Today I must share a powerful and pressing insight that has distilled upon my sleepless hours. I have come to more fully understand that heritage is children and heritage making is first and foremost about our, yours and their children.
I have had some pretty heavy thinking on that subject the last few days/nights. As I measure and value the things and people of my life, I believe that I have come to glimpse, ever more slightly, into what eternity must be, to be as rewarding and wonderful and the Word and the prophets have indicated. I now understand more why the Lord called the children to Him and counseled his disciples to forbid them not. I understand why He declared. "…for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven" and why we must not offend one of them. And how a millstone would not even begin to reward unkindness to the least of them. I see now why I am so driven by the last two verses of the Old Testament and why 2nd Timothy 3: is so chilling to my bones.
Our lives, His life and purpose is found in children, heritage, even "an heritage of the Lord." Oh that I could find the words to convey to each of you how clear this vision of reality is. How I wish that you could feel as I feel the urgency, the necessity and the opportunity to come to the rescue of the children who must face the voices of deceit and anger and half-truths and selfishness and pride and the rhetoric of special interests, politicians and the media. How I wish you could, as I have, had your heart opened to the view of eternity and the precious love He has for each child. How I wish you could see beyond the story to the eternal realities of their real story. How I wish you could hear the call of the Shepherd of the lambs calling for shepherds of the sheep to gather them to the "folds" of the books and posters and cards - with full explanation of their meaning and power and purpose - for heritage, not just stories.
My friends and family and heritage makers, please find your own moments of silence as I have these last few days and find eyes to see, hearts to feel and ears to hear to know ours is a work of saving the children. Teach them why they are special. Help them discover and cherish the values of the past and the family present. Prepare yourself to carry the message of Heritage through the workshops to thousands of moms and dads who already know the value of their little ones and the challenge they must face in the days ahead. Please, please come to understand what it means to be a maker of Heritage and a Heritage Maker.
Please do not lose the chore of the message in the process. Please rally with me in the creation and coordination of the movement and the cause. Don't get lost in the pages and papers. Rather, get immersed in the lives and voices of the movement. Give the message of heritage, heroes, values and strong resilient children to everyone who will give you the opportunity to share the message of the Heritage Workshop and the passion of a heritage conversation. Please -- join me in the confines of my conviction. Please lead them to their heritage.
Onward and Upward
Love, Doug
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Life, Death and Heritage in the Balance
It was a wonderful summer evening. The tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and onions were ripe and ready to be chopped and garnished with fresh cilantro, lime juice and real apple cider vinegar (not the fake stuff). A heavy dash of cumin, some oregano, sea salt and a couple of jalapeños for a little kick. So I chopped and mixed and the famous Cloward family Summer Salsa recipe was prepared and ready for delivery to the widows and friends on the mountain.
It was getting late so our visits Monday evening were quick as the moonlight cast its spell over the lake and season's last hatch of snow flies smashed on the window as we drove back to the lodge. We knew I was at, or near, the bottom of the CHEMO cycle and would likely experience the now all too familiar "drop" in energy and vitality. We just didn't know it would catch me that night with a vengance unlike the previous collapse.
At 10 pm Judy found me chilling and very feverish and I wanted to try to sleep. Sleep for me has become a memory from my prelymphomic night dreams. I was badly in need of rest. However, rest was the last thing on the agenda that Monday night. The night was long and I was far from the hospital when at 4:30 AM I finally got up one more time to get to the bathroom. This time, however, like the parking lot at the office after the last CHEMO cycle, I collapsed. Judy heard me hit the floor and was at my side in a flash. Luckily, John, one of our two not-so-near neighbors, was on the mountain and had his cell phone on. He was quick to get to us to assist Judy in getting me to the car. I didn't remember the ride down the mountain being so long before.
At the emergency room in Provo they again found my blood pressure at 70/30 and suspected with the 103+º temperature meant that we were dealing with a sepsis blood situation due to the absence of the white cells. They put me in ICU and started pumping fluid and antibiotics. I was was in pretty bad shape.
It has been a most difficult week since that flight down the mountain. But, as with all challenge, pain, difficulty and struggle, there has been growth and goodness, faith and friendship and blessing sufficient to the test. Thank you, thank you - please keep the prayers coming. I am off the mountain, but a long way from out of the woods.
The week was oh, so long. As I lay in the hospital bed and watched the coming and going of the life-flight choppers over the long holiday weekend, I was again pained to realize how many others were being called upon to suffer and die in accidents and traffic tragedies. The weekend traffic was heavy and the storms were fierce for so early in the fall. As I looked out at the mountain, the pale of the moon on the aspens from last Monday night's flight had changed to the pale of a new dusting of snow. Oh how I am so not ready for the summer to be past and my labors unfinished.
There is wood and coal to haul, chop and stack. There is staining for the logs and a bit of cement work that has been waiting since spring. And there is the proverbial cleaning of the lodge of the dust and growth of summer which has passed largely with me away from my mountain retreat. Alas, time, summer and life waits on none of us, lymphoma or not. It will all either get finished somehow, or it will wait. Today it will wait.
I am confined to the hospital until my
white cell and neutraphil counts rebound. That could be yet days, maybe weeks. So I continue to work from the bed and cell phone and hope and pray that things will resolve for me to be with each of you at the Reunion Convention - again, prayers please.
As the gurneys shuttled back and forth from the ambulance and the choppers, I couldn't help ponder the lives represented and touched by those on and at the side of the victims. How had they lived? What were their priorities? How had they spent their day, weekend, summer, life, love, passion, service, priorities and values - so far, or totally?
Each of us live in the shadow of the unknown. This allows us to freely choose how and on what we will spend our lives. It allows us the freedom and the agency to determine the "most" important things. For some of us it is "things," for others it is "people" and for some of us it is "cause." For the best of us it is a good balance of each, such that we are not left wishing and wondering when we are called from, or to the mountains of our lives. Balance is tricky business because a choice to focus on one aspect of living is also a choice to not spend it on another. The key is knowing, rather, choosing on what to focus on, when. It seems to me that it is a matter of seasons.
If we are in harmony with the seasons of our day, year and life, we will experience the least regret, loss and disappointment. If we "render" to God, children, spouse, health and work, that focus and time that rightfully belongs to them -- "their" seasons with us, we, while still having wood to chop, will not be so burdened by its constant call to spend our hours, days and summers.
We have just completed a season of summer, with kids and vacations, goings and comings and now back to school. For most Heritage Makers, this has been a season of putting the cause of heritage on back burners, or at least on simmer. It has been necessary while we have tended to the balance of the season of heritage we are both making and protecting. Now, however, the season has changed. It is time for heritage makers, particularly leaders, to rebalance and focus on the business and the "cause."
We have seen a drop in the attendance on Leader Calls and Sr. Leader calls over the summer as the balancing act has taken its toll on time and business priorities. And there are those of you who are not able to connect in at the time of the call, due to work. But now we issue a clarion call to each of our Heritage Makers consultants and leaders. Now is the time to shift and prepare for September, Reunion, fall selling, workshops and your clients and teams.
Important announcements are being made on the Leader call today. If you are qualified, please do not miss the call. If you are not yet a Director, please get with your Director after the call for details and then, please stretch and become an HM Director. We need you. The cause needs you and there is growth and excitement in the days ahead that you will not want to miss. Now is the season for "Fall Selling Salsa" and we have a great recipe for you. Things are about to get really "hot" and we don't want you to miss out on a single bite of the new taste of heritage in the making.
Leaders, today we will be discussing the Leadership Principle of Life and Death. I believe it will help to move you into the new month, season and mindset. I look forward to sharing some impressions from my bedside with you. Please be there.
Onward and Upward
Love Doug
It was getting late so our visits Monday evening were quick as the moonlight cast its spell over the lake and season's last hatch of snow flies smashed on the window as we drove back to the lodge. We knew I was at, or near, the bottom of the CHEMO cycle and would likely experience the now all too familiar "drop" in energy and vitality. We just didn't know it would catch me that night with a vengance unlike the previous collapse.
At 10 pm Judy found me chilling and very feverish and I wanted to try to sleep. Sleep for me has become a memory from my prelymphomic night dreams. I was badly in need of rest. However, rest was the last thing on the agenda that Monday night. The night was long and I was far from the hospital when at 4:30 AM I finally got up one more time to get to the bathroom. This time, however, like the parking lot at the office after the last CHEMO cycle, I collapsed. Judy heard me hit the floor and was at my side in a flash. Luckily, John, one of our two not-so-near neighbors, was on the mountain and had his cell phone on. He was quick to get to us to assist Judy in getting me to the car. I didn't remember the ride down the mountain being so long before.
At the emergency room in Provo they again found my blood pressure at 70/30 and suspected with the 103+º temperature meant that we were dealing with a sepsis blood situation due to the absence of the white cells. They put me in ICU and started pumping fluid and antibiotics. I was was in pretty bad shape.
It has been a most difficult week since that flight down the mountain. But, as with all challenge, pain, difficulty and struggle, there has been growth and goodness, faith and friendship and blessing sufficient to the test. Thank you, thank you - please keep the prayers coming. I am off the mountain, but a long way from out of the woods.
The week was oh, so long. As I lay in the hospital bed and watched the coming and going of the life-flight choppers over the long holiday weekend, I was again pained to realize how many others were being called upon to suffer and die in accidents and traffic tragedies. The weekend traffic was heavy and the storms were fierce for so early in the fall. As I looked out at the mountain, the pale of the moon on the aspens from last Monday night's flight had changed to the pale of a new dusting of snow. Oh how I am so not ready for the summer to be past and my labors unfinished.
There is wood and coal to haul, chop and stack. There is staining for the logs and a bit of cement work that has been waiting since spring. And there is the proverbial cleaning of the lodge of the dust and growth of summer which has passed largely with me away from my mountain retreat. Alas, time, summer and life waits on none of us, lymphoma or not. It will all either get finished somehow, or it will wait. Today it will wait.
I am confined to the hospital until my
white cell and neutraphil counts rebound. That could be yet days, maybe weeks. So I continue to work from the bed and cell phone and hope and pray that things will resolve for me to be with each of you at the Reunion Convention - again, prayers please.
As the gurneys shuttled back and forth from the ambulance and the choppers, I couldn't help ponder the lives represented and touched by those on and at the side of the victims. How had they lived? What were their priorities? How had they spent their day, weekend, summer, life, love, passion, service, priorities and values - so far, or totally?
Each of us live in the shadow of the unknown. This allows us to freely choose how and on what we will spend our lives. It allows us the freedom and the agency to determine the "most" important things. For some of us it is "things," for others it is "people" and for some of us it is "cause." For the best of us it is a good balance of each, such that we are not left wishing and wondering when we are called from, or to the mountains of our lives. Balance is tricky business because a choice to focus on one aspect of living is also a choice to not spend it on another. The key is knowing, rather, choosing on what to focus on, when. It seems to me that it is a matter of seasons.
If we are in harmony with the seasons of our day, year and life, we will experience the least regret, loss and disappointment. If we "render" to God, children, spouse, health and work, that focus and time that rightfully belongs to them -- "their" seasons with us, we, while still having wood to chop, will not be so burdened by its constant call to spend our hours, days and summers.
We have just completed a season of summer, with kids and vacations, goings and comings and now back to school. For most Heritage Makers, this has been a season of putting the cause of heritage on back burners, or at least on simmer. It has been necessary while we have tended to the balance of the season of heritage we are both making and protecting. Now, however, the season has changed. It is time for heritage makers, particularly leaders, to rebalance and focus on the business and the "cause."
We have seen a drop in the attendance on Leader Calls and Sr. Leader calls over the summer as the balancing act has taken its toll on time and business priorities. And there are those of you who are not able to connect in at the time of the call, due to work. But now we issue a clarion call to each of our Heritage Makers consultants and leaders. Now is the time to shift and prepare for September, Reunion, fall selling, workshops and your clients and teams.
Important announcements are being made on the Leader call today. If you are qualified, please do not miss the call. If you are not yet a Director, please get with your Director after the call for details and then, please stretch and become an HM Director. We need you. The cause needs you and there is growth and excitement in the days ahead that you will not want to miss. Now is the season for "Fall Selling Salsa" and we have a great recipe for you. Things are about to get really "hot" and we don't want you to miss out on a single bite of the new taste of heritage in the making.
Leaders, today we will be discussing the Leadership Principle of Life and Death. I believe it will help to move you into the new month, season and mindset. I look forward to sharing some impressions from my bedside with you. Please be there.
Onward and Upward
Love Doug
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Now is the Time - Your Time - You, yes you, are in my thoughts today
Greetings! Of all the many things that are racing through my mind, life and heart that I could share today, I am moved to write about you. You? Yes, you. You who have had the interest in me and my thoughts to log in, this posting is for you--whether you are a member of my family, my heritage family or someone I have not yet had the great privilege to meet.
If you are reading this blog, this post is because my thoughts were on you. Many of you I know by name and by heart, others by reputation and comment, but all of you I know by your interest, faith and good will to me, my family and our shared vision of creating and supporting heritage makers in the homes throughout the world. You are likely here, reading this posting, because we share a mission of strengthening families and homes through the power of the stories of the events, traditions, values and heroes that make up their heritage.
Knowing this about you gives me the right and perhaps the responsibility to declare that this blog is for you. While I don't know if that is one or one hundred, I hope and pray that these thoughts will strengthen our connection and your resolve to the service and work of heritage making in your own family, team and community.
In these days of growing uncertainty in the world with so many voices and so many unsettling possibilities, there are likely many storms on the horizon. These are the days that challenge and try the hearts of men and women, moms and dads. These are the days we instinctfully search the horizon for safe haven from the storms. There are few constants that we can look to to find anchorage and safe harboring for our families. But there are safe harbors and safe principles and there are communities of refuge and there are paths of safety and there are leaders who know and can guide you on those paths. It is a gentle reminder of what, where and who these constants, harbors, principles, communities, paths and leaders are that I make the subject of my post to YOU today.
First, the constants I know are even firm and true and upon which we can tether our life and confidence in weathering the storms - well and secure. The first constant is that God lives and is a loving and understanding Father who knows you and me, His children and is powerful to save us and guide us when we turn to Him. This I know is true - He is constant and dependable. Next, His son, our Savior, is real. He lives and He knows the end from the beginning and is certain of the times and the challenges of our lives - your life, your family, your trials and your hopes and needs. He is there and He is approachable to all who will, in simple faith, believe that He is. We can speak to and with Him and He will answer in calming assurance and peace and will direct us specifically through His word (the scriptures and the Holy Spirit's promptings). This I know and testify is true - it is true.
Although it seems that the world is on a reckless runaway course with crazy people in powerful positions doing selfish, sinful, unthinkable things, yet HE, the God and Father of us all, is in perfect control knowing the beginning from the end. While He allows all men their agency and power in the day of their glory, yet in and through it all, He works His perfect work of bringing those who will come unto Him to ultimate safety, security, peace and happiness. Be assured by this man's testimony that this is true. He is the anchor you can rest fully assured for safety from the storms that He has warned us must come.
I also know that He is moving, not hiding, not resting, not waiting; He is moving in His preparations for His return to draw men, women, families to Him. Those who are not blinded by the craftiness of men and media and dogma and selfishness can see His hand and His people and His voice through His word and His servants as He keeps His promises to restore all things and complete every jot and tittle His prophets have spoken. This I know with absolute confidence. We are where we are in the history of His great plan of life for His children at a most wonderful, exciting and challenging time. We are so blessed to live in the here and now.
Though we each struggle under the burdens of our own heavy loads and trials, yet the blessing of living here and now with the blessings of knowing He lives and loves and is coming is incredible. Let us never loose sight of that fact, knowledge and comfort. Though we may momentarily take our eyes off of Him and the plan of happiness He has given us, yet we must remember where and how to turn back to Him in a moments notice when we need to set our anchor.
Now, as to safe principles - I have found that there are several critically important principles that will increase our sense of security, support and peace, especially during the trying times ahead. The first principle is that of obedience to eternal law. Eternal laws are the truths upon which the universe operates. They are constants and obedience to them will render absolute predictable results. The harvest of the results can sometimes vary, but the harvest is sure. These laws include the law of the harvest itself. That is, we will reap what we sow. That is, all seed returns to the sower pressed down and running over. Therefore, we should sow only good seed, the seeds that we want to be returned to us. Seeds of faith and trust, seeds of forgiveness and love, seeds of patience and forbearance, seeds of integrity and truth. IT is such a simple principle, but what a difference it makes in life generally and so importantly as we move into times of more uncertainty.
Another principle is the principle of work. The laborer is worthy of his hire when he/she works. This, too, is connected to the principle of the harvest. Eternity keeps a perfect balance and all accounts come due and are paid in full measure to the merit of the labor performed. We have all seen people who think that they are working, but in close review we discover they are more often "talking" about working rather than really working. In terms of payment for talk, well you know the saying "talk is cheap" and so is its reward. Those who will be most secure during the coming challenges are those who know what to do, how to do it and then go to it and WORK. If you are going to talk, make sure you are talking about the joy of the work and its rewards and the security it produces, but don't just talk about it - WORK.
Another vital principle is the principle of self-reliance and frugality. We are living in a time when so many seem to think he or she needs to respond to every marketing ploy to buy and have all the cars, toys, clothes and things that life can offer. So many couples succumb to the enticings of debt-burdened homes, furnishings and trappings, they feel that they "deserve" the good life, even if they can't pay for it yet. They extend themselves far beyond reasonable ability to repay the leverage on their paycheck and credit cards. These chickens are even now coming home to roost and are finding that the roost is ruined and so are the lives of families who have violated the principle or prudent self-reliance. Debt is a merciless taskmaster. He can and will pull you from any safe harbor and from the grasp of all security. Get out and stay out of debt is the message and principle we should speak, live and bake into our heritage.
Another principle upon which we can build our trust is the principle of enduring to the end. We see so many who put their hands to the plow - the plow of commitments, relationships, contracts, marriage and yes, consultantships, only to let go prematurely, before the job is done or the goal achieved or the book published, or the child raised, or the life and love matured and rewarded. Yet we also see the more rare, but inspiring examples of those who know and trust this principle and receive the rewards of success, happiness and power. I would hope and pray that every reader of this posting would evaluate their willingness to make and keep commitments, that they will endure to the end and receive the reward of their hopes and goals. By enduring to the end, you will bring your family with confidence into safe harbor. Chart your course, tell them where you are going and then stay on course, at the helm. Make and keep your commitments -- endure to the end.
The safe communities that you can be a part of during the troubling times are those who share your heritage, your family, church and your Heritage Makers team. Those like-minded and committed people with whom you associate can be communities of refuge and will strengthen your foundations and resolve to not only weather the storm, but to fully ride it out, to harness its furry to your advantage and success. Your association, conversation and shared convictions are what make the walls of the community strong and secure. They are the people and the places where you can rest assured that you are supported and secure. Build and expand the communities of your heritage.
As for the paths that lead to security in troubled times - they do exist. Interestingly, the path of direct selling has long been found to be a path leading to solution to the tight and troubled times of previous economic downturns. Why? Two reasons. First, people stop overbuying the more frivolous big things that create debt because they have less discretionary money to spend, but they are willing to spend it on more meaningful significant investments at lower costs. Heritage Makers products and services are a perfect fit to people looking for simple joy and value in times of tighter wallets.
Second, in tight times more people consider the opportunities for extra income to ease the budget and to restore a little more discretionary spending ability. Tight times also change careers with layoffs, downturns and slowdowns. There are more who are looking for options to the uncertainty of the time clock, the boss, the economy and who are considering a new need to enter the workplace. The realities of the Heritage Makers no previous experience, time flexibility, home-based work place, no inventory to invest in or manage, a simple you-do, you-get reward system that is predictable and virtually unlimited all shine brightly in contrast to the help wanted listings and options. Tough times are the beginning of good times for direct selling companies that offer real solutions and values to end consumers and who are looking for feel good, wise investments in things that matter and opportunities that open doors of possibilities. That is, if they know where these paths are, if there is someone to lead them to the path. This brings us to the issue of leaders.
These are indeed the times that try mens souls and they are the times that make real leaders. These are the times when the wise and prudent men and women see opportunity, not adversity. They see exciting openings in possibilities that can accelerate their success. They truly see that from the tough times come the great times. For those who are watchful, fearless and faithful, apply the principles and the promises that define and make leaders. These are the days that will make YOU, my friend and reader, the leader I know you know you can and should be. These are the days when all eyes are on you to see what trail you will walk through the storm, what principles you will live by, what faith in the reality of the ultimate plan of life you adhere to and testify of in how you live, love and serve in your family, your community and your heritage team.
NOW, not tomorrow, not next week or month or year, NOW they are looking to YOU. What you do today, in August, September and through the Fall will be vital to your success. As the shoes of our time continue to drop and the uncertainty of the world, its politics, its wars, its economy and its selfishness continue to pound the TV, the papers and the communication, people will be looking for answers. Now is when your words, voice, actions and commitment to things that really matter and your message of heritage in the making and Heritage Makers will make the difference for many who are watching you and waiting for you to speak out. Now is the time for you to unveil and unleash your passion, faith and trust in your commitment to being a Heritage Maker in your home and your community. Now is the time to step into real leadership.
These are the thoughts of my heart for YOU who have come to know and read them. I know, more than I may be able to convey, that now is the time, YOUR TIME.
Onward and upward,
Love Doug
If you are reading this blog, this post is because my thoughts were on you. Many of you I know by name and by heart, others by reputation and comment, but all of you I know by your interest, faith and good will to me, my family and our shared vision of creating and supporting heritage makers in the homes throughout the world. You are likely here, reading this posting, because we share a mission of strengthening families and homes through the power of the stories of the events, traditions, values and heroes that make up their heritage.
Knowing this about you gives me the right and perhaps the responsibility to declare that this blog is for you. While I don't know if that is one or one hundred, I hope and pray that these thoughts will strengthen our connection and your resolve to the service and work of heritage making in your own family, team and community.
In these days of growing uncertainty in the world with so many voices and so many unsettling possibilities, there are likely many storms on the horizon. These are the days that challenge and try the hearts of men and women, moms and dads. These are the days we instinctfully search the horizon for safe haven from the storms. There are few constants that we can look to to find anchorage and safe harboring for our families. But there are safe harbors and safe principles and there are communities of refuge and there are paths of safety and there are leaders who know and can guide you on those paths. It is a gentle reminder of what, where and who these constants, harbors, principles, communities, paths and leaders are that I make the subject of my post to YOU today.
First, the constants I know are even firm and true and upon which we can tether our life and confidence in weathering the storms - well and secure. The first constant is that God lives and is a loving and understanding Father who knows you and me, His children and is powerful to save us and guide us when we turn to Him. This I know is true - He is constant and dependable. Next, His son, our Savior, is real. He lives and He knows the end from the beginning and is certain of the times and the challenges of our lives - your life, your family, your trials and your hopes and needs. He is there and He is approachable to all who will, in simple faith, believe that He is. We can speak to and with Him and He will answer in calming assurance and peace and will direct us specifically through His word (the scriptures and the Holy Spirit's promptings). This I know and testify is true - it is true.
Although it seems that the world is on a reckless runaway course with crazy people in powerful positions doing selfish, sinful, unthinkable things, yet HE, the God and Father of us all, is in perfect control knowing the beginning from the end. While He allows all men their agency and power in the day of their glory, yet in and through it all, He works His perfect work of bringing those who will come unto Him to ultimate safety, security, peace and happiness. Be assured by this man's testimony that this is true. He is the anchor you can rest fully assured for safety from the storms that He has warned us must come.
I also know that He is moving, not hiding, not resting, not waiting; He is moving in His preparations for His return to draw men, women, families to Him. Those who are not blinded by the craftiness of men and media and dogma and selfishness can see His hand and His people and His voice through His word and His servants as He keeps His promises to restore all things and complete every jot and tittle His prophets have spoken. This I know with absolute confidence. We are where we are in the history of His great plan of life for His children at a most wonderful, exciting and challenging time. We are so blessed to live in the here and now.
Though we each struggle under the burdens of our own heavy loads and trials, yet the blessing of living here and now with the blessings of knowing He lives and loves and is coming is incredible. Let us never loose sight of that fact, knowledge and comfort. Though we may momentarily take our eyes off of Him and the plan of happiness He has given us, yet we must remember where and how to turn back to Him in a moments notice when we need to set our anchor.
Now, as to safe principles - I have found that there are several critically important principles that will increase our sense of security, support and peace, especially during the trying times ahead. The first principle is that of obedience to eternal law. Eternal laws are the truths upon which the universe operates. They are constants and obedience to them will render absolute predictable results. The harvest of the results can sometimes vary, but the harvest is sure. These laws include the law of the harvest itself. That is, we will reap what we sow. That is, all seed returns to the sower pressed down and running over. Therefore, we should sow only good seed, the seeds that we want to be returned to us. Seeds of faith and trust, seeds of forgiveness and love, seeds of patience and forbearance, seeds of integrity and truth. IT is such a simple principle, but what a difference it makes in life generally and so importantly as we move into times of more uncertainty.
Another principle is the principle of work. The laborer is worthy of his hire when he/she works. This, too, is connected to the principle of the harvest. Eternity keeps a perfect balance and all accounts come due and are paid in full measure to the merit of the labor performed. We have all seen people who think that they are working, but in close review we discover they are more often "talking" about working rather than really working. In terms of payment for talk, well you know the saying "talk is cheap" and so is its reward. Those who will be most secure during the coming challenges are those who know what to do, how to do it and then go to it and WORK. If you are going to talk, make sure you are talking about the joy of the work and its rewards and the security it produces, but don't just talk about it - WORK.
Another vital principle is the principle of self-reliance and frugality. We are living in a time when so many seem to think he or she needs to respond to every marketing ploy to buy and have all the cars, toys, clothes and things that life can offer. So many couples succumb to the enticings of debt-burdened homes, furnishings and trappings, they feel that they "deserve" the good life, even if they can't pay for it yet. They extend themselves far beyond reasonable ability to repay the leverage on their paycheck and credit cards. These chickens are even now coming home to roost and are finding that the roost is ruined and so are the lives of families who have violated the principle or prudent self-reliance. Debt is a merciless taskmaster. He can and will pull you from any safe harbor and from the grasp of all security. Get out and stay out of debt is the message and principle we should speak, live and bake into our heritage.
Another principle upon which we can build our trust is the principle of enduring to the end. We see so many who put their hands to the plow - the plow of commitments, relationships, contracts, marriage and yes, consultantships, only to let go prematurely, before the job is done or the goal achieved or the book published, or the child raised, or the life and love matured and rewarded. Yet we also see the more rare, but inspiring examples of those who know and trust this principle and receive the rewards of success, happiness and power. I would hope and pray that every reader of this posting would evaluate their willingness to make and keep commitments, that they will endure to the end and receive the reward of their hopes and goals. By enduring to the end, you will bring your family with confidence into safe harbor. Chart your course, tell them where you are going and then stay on course, at the helm. Make and keep your commitments -- endure to the end.
The safe communities that you can be a part of during the troubling times are those who share your heritage, your family, church and your Heritage Makers team. Those like-minded and committed people with whom you associate can be communities of refuge and will strengthen your foundations and resolve to not only weather the storm, but to fully ride it out, to harness its furry to your advantage and success. Your association, conversation and shared convictions are what make the walls of the community strong and secure. They are the people and the places where you can rest assured that you are supported and secure. Build and expand the communities of your heritage.
As for the paths that lead to security in troubled times - they do exist. Interestingly, the path of direct selling has long been found to be a path leading to solution to the tight and troubled times of previous economic downturns. Why? Two reasons. First, people stop overbuying the more frivolous big things that create debt because they have less discretionary money to spend, but they are willing to spend it on more meaningful significant investments at lower costs. Heritage Makers products and services are a perfect fit to people looking for simple joy and value in times of tighter wallets.
Second, in tight times more people consider the opportunities for extra income to ease the budget and to restore a little more discretionary spending ability. Tight times also change careers with layoffs, downturns and slowdowns. There are more who are looking for options to the uncertainty of the time clock, the boss, the economy and who are considering a new need to enter the workplace. The realities of the Heritage Makers no previous experience, time flexibility, home-based work place, no inventory to invest in or manage, a simple you-do, you-get reward system that is predictable and virtually unlimited all shine brightly in contrast to the help wanted listings and options. Tough times are the beginning of good times for direct selling companies that offer real solutions and values to end consumers and who are looking for feel good, wise investments in things that matter and opportunities that open doors of possibilities. That is, if they know where these paths are, if there is someone to lead them to the path. This brings us to the issue of leaders.
These are indeed the times that try mens souls and they are the times that make real leaders. These are the times when the wise and prudent men and women see opportunity, not adversity. They see exciting openings in possibilities that can accelerate their success. They truly see that from the tough times come the great times. For those who are watchful, fearless and faithful, apply the principles and the promises that define and make leaders. These are the days that will make YOU, my friend and reader, the leader I know you know you can and should be. These are the days when all eyes are on you to see what trail you will walk through the storm, what principles you will live by, what faith in the reality of the ultimate plan of life you adhere to and testify of in how you live, love and serve in your family, your community and your heritage team.
NOW, not tomorrow, not next week or month or year, NOW they are looking to YOU. What you do today, in August, September and through the Fall will be vital to your success. As the shoes of our time continue to drop and the uncertainty of the world, its politics, its wars, its economy and its selfishness continue to pound the TV, the papers and the communication, people will be looking for answers. Now is when your words, voice, actions and commitment to things that really matter and your message of heritage in the making and Heritage Makers will make the difference for many who are watching you and waiting for you to speak out. Now is the time for you to unveil and unleash your passion, faith and trust in your commitment to being a Heritage Maker in your home and your community. Now is the time to step into real leadership.
These are the thoughts of my heart for YOU who have come to know and read them. I know, more than I may be able to convey, that now is the time, YOUR TIME.
Onward and upward,
Love Doug
Friday, August 8, 2008
The Message creates the Membership, the Membership drives the Movement
Greetings!
On Wednesday we had a small group of leaders gathered at the office to work on the Workshop flow and Que Cards we will be introducing at Reunion. We had a great morning of challenging dialog and wordsmithing the framework for the "official" message of the HM story for new clients. . At noon while the team had lunch in the conference room I slipped into my office to lie down for a bit (I was at the bottom of the chemo cycle and needed a little rest). I laid down on the floor under the air conditioner and got chilled. I then went out to the parking lot to the car to sit and warm back up. Bryndi went out with me.
Something in the combination of the cold and heat and the chem cycle's low blood count triggered a sudden rapid drop in blood pressure and as I was trying to get out of the car I collapsed. Bryndi caught my fall to the pavement and went in for help. I was not out very long but unfortunately it was long enough for the leaders to gather and get a look at a fallen president.
Brytt and Marshyl gave me a priesthood blessing while I was still out and they got me home. They called Judy who drove down from the Lodge. She checked my temperature which was over the limit that signals potential infection in the chemo process. So I made the trek back to the hospital. They found my blood pressure was extremely low and they were concerned about illness and infection, so they put me in ICU. They cut in a central line, IV, and direct artery pressure monitor. They dumped a lot of fluid in me and I was feeling chipper and wanting to get back to work the next day.
But my white count and a couple of heart-stopping and self-restarted flutters kept me in ICU another day and then the low white cell count kept me yet another day. I feel great and motivated to get on with the work and life of heritage making and heritage makers. I fully expect to be released tomorrow. Besides that, I think that the hospital is considering charging me office space because I am always on the computer, cell phone and visiting/working with my HM visitors. There is still so much to do to get the vision, mission and methods planted in the hearts of our people - and yours.
As with the former time out in the hospital, aside from just moving my office here, there have been some pause moments for reflection, prioritizing, a lot of prayer and vision time. I have come to know that vision is the flow of thoughts and insight that is directed and connected by divine influence when one is seeking for and open to it. In other words, ASK ing for it. That is Ask, Seek and Knock ing. When I "ask" for answers, I usually find them in the scriptures. When I "seek" understanding, I find it their (scripture's) principled teachings and when I "knock" for application, I find that it opened, unlocked to my understanding, in His words - spirit. Thus, my vision becomes more clear and more timely to the needs of my life and the business as I make the time to ASK and am willing to accept His gifts and simple directions.
Some may be offended at the suggestion that I firmly believe that He is in the details of my life and our business. Make no mistake, His business is not ours. His is saving souls and bringing to pass their eternal life. Ours is helping mothers, and fathers, who will take the time, to proactively build a heritage of values, traditions, heroes and relationships that will carve their priorities, attitudes and ultimately choices -choices that are in harmony with those wholesome, contributive values and traditions. We help them build heritage fences that can keep their good things in and the bad things out of the lives of their children.
Sometimes in the "mechanism" of the business and the magic of the storybooking process we can put the cart before the horse and the process ahead of the purpose. Even the most Sr. Consultants and staff find themselves in this battle of vision/priority definition and messaging.
It was actually in the energy of this conversation that we were working on for the new workshop flow before I collapsed in the parking lot on Wednesday. It seems impossible that it can happen that we can get the story of Heritage Makers turned around to something that might better be titled "Storymakers."
So once again, I lay the vision before you, with the historical details of the convergence of people and preparation that has combined together both the vision (purpose) and the mission (process), which I sometimes refer to as the the cause and the crusade of the business.
Heritage Makers is a business that seeks to help families build, create, and share their heritage. That is the vision and core of our message and at least 10% of the story (time) and 90% of the impact (buy-in and buying rational). We complete this vision by implementing our mission of storybooking the events, relationships, values and heroes of the family. This makes up 60-70% of the story, our message, explanation and time.
How we achieve the mission is through our independent direct salesforce of consultants who bring mothers, fathers and families the message of heritage making - the why (vision) 10% and the how (Mission) 60%. The message of the business and service opportunity is the remaining 20-30% of the message.
If we get the message sequence or balance wrong, we miss the mark and success eludes us and the movement of heritage and Heritage Makers slows. For the most part we have been putting too much time in the how and what of storybooking (less than effective time) because of the complexity of the process and the tendency to add too many embellishing discussions, we can dilute the message and over extend the celebration time and complexity. We then put far to little time into the business message of opportunity for profit and sevice sponsoring. The result of not having the message right and tight has been slower than desired growth, progress, consultant career advancement progress and profit.
The vision of heritage, our purpose is understood quickly and mostly intuitively with the mention of some simple key concepts and words - heritage, traditions, heroes, family, traditions and values. Woven together the message of heritage, the why of our what we do, is clear. Simply holding a picture and a storybook up before a prospective client/consultant while making this heritage making vision statement is self evident and needs only a few carefully crafted and passionately articulated sentences and personal testimony. This can be guided and prompted with a few bullets on a single Cue Card. The bullets references a script (The Heritage Makers Message). Done effectively, the prospect "GETS IT" - quick. Not done well, the prospect does not get the impact and significance "priority" of why, why it is worth it and why now.
The mission, the how we do it, storybooking can also be simplified into an explanation with key concepts and triggering words. Then followed with an effective video presentation of how Studio works the mision message is exciting and compelling. This is best done with a TV showing the DVD that gives the prospect a quick, but thorough overview of the process. Done right the explanation and video can take as little as 20-30 minutes. This part of the message gives then the "BIG PICTURE" of the process and the understanding that - yes, they can do it and that it is fun and easy.
The sequence of the "How" message is simple pictures, to stories, to storybooks, to studio.
This leads right into the membership discussion and on into product package options (Studio and publishing). The idea of membership is not understood by most of our consultants or clients. Our "members" become such when they determine to become a heritage maker for their family, not when they choose a product or choose Studio basic or premier. In essence, when they hear the clear message of heritage making and buy into the idea of their ability to create and perpetuated their family heritage, story, they are a heritage maker. Yes, even before they become a client, they can be a member of your heritage making group. They should be invited to your monthly personal Digi Crops or your team's weekly Digi Crops, as new members of your heritage makers group.
There is much more to discuss about the Workshop structure and Cue Card and DVD tools that will have to wait until Reunion for the full explanation. This will be a very important simplification of the message process. We owe much to the efforts of Wendy McGee, Mary Hansen, Hallie Redd, Heidi Arave, Lena Fleming and Virginia Dixon in the work of helping to forge the message. Much is still needed to get this "cookie cutter" duplicatable message accepted, learned and implemented as our standard for the story of heritage makers -- the message of our business, the invitation to our membership and the progress of our movement.
This is the formula for our success: The message (words) and workshops drive the membership (mission- clients and sales). The membership (new heritage makers) drive the movement (vision-growth, progress, branding and recognition) success.
Again, the message drives the membership, the membership drives the movement, and the movement is our success.
It all starts with getting the message right, and tight (simple and short) with a "little" personalization and minimal customization. This will be the task and the trial of leaders to do it and teach "the HM way" not "their way," good as their way may be. To unlearn and relearn and implement the simple messaging system of the business is, with the introduction of the template system, the best shot we have for faster growth in membership and the movement - growth and profit.
Remember, the message creates the membership and the membership creates the movement.
Lets start now in getting the message right and tight - clear and simple. You might want to get a message to your members to read this blog post - now. Comments are welcome.
Onward and Upward
Love Doug
On Wednesday we had a small group of leaders gathered at the office to work on the Workshop flow and Que Cards we will be introducing at Reunion. We had a great morning of challenging dialog and wordsmithing the framework for the "official" message of the HM story for new clients. . At noon while the team had lunch in the conference room I slipped into my office to lie down for a bit (I was at the bottom of the chemo cycle and needed a little rest). I laid down on the floor under the air conditioner and got chilled. I then went out to the parking lot to the car to sit and warm back up. Bryndi went out with me.
Something in the combination of the cold and heat and the chem cycle's low blood count triggered a sudden rapid drop in blood pressure and as I was trying to get out of the car I collapsed. Bryndi caught my fall to the pavement and went in for help. I was not out very long but unfortunately it was long enough for the leaders to gather and get a look at a fallen president.
Brytt and Marshyl gave me a priesthood blessing while I was still out and they got me home. They called Judy who drove down from the Lodge. She checked my temperature which was over the limit that signals potential infection in the chemo process. So I made the trek back to the hospital. They found my blood pressure was extremely low and they were concerned about illness and infection, so they put me in ICU. They cut in a central line, IV, and direct artery pressure monitor. They dumped a lot of fluid in me and I was feeling chipper and wanting to get back to work the next day.
But my white count and a couple of heart-stopping and self-restarted flutters kept me in ICU another day and then the low white cell count kept me yet another day. I feel great and motivated to get on with the work and life of heritage making and heritage makers. I fully expect to be released tomorrow. Besides that, I think that the hospital is considering charging me office space because I am always on the computer, cell phone and visiting/working with my HM visitors. There is still so much to do to get the vision, mission and methods planted in the hearts of our people - and yours.
As with the former time out in the hospital, aside from just moving my office here, there have been some pause moments for reflection, prioritizing, a lot of prayer and vision time. I have come to know that vision is the flow of thoughts and insight that is directed and connected by divine influence when one is seeking for and open to it. In other words, ASK ing for it. That is Ask, Seek and Knock ing. When I "ask" for answers, I usually find them in the scriptures. When I "seek" understanding, I find it their (scripture's) principled teachings and when I "knock" for application, I find that it opened, unlocked to my understanding, in His words - spirit. Thus, my vision becomes more clear and more timely to the needs of my life and the business as I make the time to ASK and am willing to accept His gifts and simple directions.
Some may be offended at the suggestion that I firmly believe that He is in the details of my life and our business. Make no mistake, His business is not ours. His is saving souls and bringing to pass their eternal life. Ours is helping mothers, and fathers, who will take the time, to proactively build a heritage of values, traditions, heroes and relationships that will carve their priorities, attitudes and ultimately choices -choices that are in harmony with those wholesome, contributive values and traditions. We help them build heritage fences that can keep their good things in and the bad things out of the lives of their children.
Sometimes in the "mechanism" of the business and the magic of the storybooking process we can put the cart before the horse and the process ahead of the purpose. Even the most Sr. Consultants and staff find themselves in this battle of vision/priority definition and messaging.
It was actually in the energy of this conversation that we were working on for the new workshop flow before I collapsed in the parking lot on Wednesday. It seems impossible that it can happen that we can get the story of Heritage Makers turned around to something that might better be titled "Storymakers."
So once again, I lay the vision before you, with the historical details of the convergence of people and preparation that has combined together both the vision (purpose) and the mission (process), which I sometimes refer to as the the cause and the crusade of the business.
Heritage Makers is a business that seeks to help families build, create, and share their heritage. That is the vision and core of our message and at least 10% of the story (time) and 90% of the impact (buy-in and buying rational). We complete this vision by implementing our mission of storybooking the events, relationships, values and heroes of the family. This makes up 60-70% of the story, our message, explanation and time.
How we achieve the mission is through our independent direct salesforce of consultants who bring mothers, fathers and families the message of heritage making - the why (vision) 10% and the how (Mission) 60%. The message of the business and service opportunity is the remaining 20-30% of the message.
If we get the message sequence or balance wrong, we miss the mark and success eludes us and the movement of heritage and Heritage Makers slows. For the most part we have been putting too much time in the how and what of storybooking (less than effective time) because of the complexity of the process and the tendency to add too many embellishing discussions, we can dilute the message and over extend the celebration time and complexity. We then put far to little time into the business message of opportunity for profit and sevice sponsoring. The result of not having the message right and tight has been slower than desired growth, progress, consultant career advancement progress and profit.
The vision of heritage, our purpose is understood quickly and mostly intuitively with the mention of some simple key concepts and words - heritage, traditions, heroes, family, traditions and values. Woven together the message of heritage, the why of our what we do, is clear. Simply holding a picture and a storybook up before a prospective client/consultant while making this heritage making vision statement is self evident and needs only a few carefully crafted and passionately articulated sentences and personal testimony. This can be guided and prompted with a few bullets on a single Cue Card. The bullets references a script (The Heritage Makers Message). Done effectively, the prospect "GETS IT" - quick. Not done well, the prospect does not get the impact and significance "priority" of why, why it is worth it and why now.
The mission, the how we do it, storybooking can also be simplified into an explanation with key concepts and triggering words. Then followed with an effective video presentation of how Studio works the mision message is exciting and compelling. This is best done with a TV showing the DVD that gives the prospect a quick, but thorough overview of the process. Done right the explanation and video can take as little as 20-30 minutes. This part of the message gives then the "BIG PICTURE" of the process and the understanding that - yes, they can do it and that it is fun and easy.
The sequence of the "How" message is simple pictures, to stories, to storybooks, to studio.
This leads right into the membership discussion and on into product package options (Studio and publishing). The idea of membership is not understood by most of our consultants or clients. Our "members" become such when they determine to become a heritage maker for their family, not when they choose a product or choose Studio basic or premier. In essence, when they hear the clear message of heritage making and buy into the idea of their ability to create and perpetuated their family heritage, story, they are a heritage maker. Yes, even before they become a client, they can be a member of your heritage making group. They should be invited to your monthly personal Digi Crops or your team's weekly Digi Crops, as new members of your heritage makers group.
There is much more to discuss about the Workshop structure and Cue Card and DVD tools that will have to wait until Reunion for the full explanation. This will be a very important simplification of the message process. We owe much to the efforts of Wendy McGee, Mary Hansen, Hallie Redd, Heidi Arave, Lena Fleming and Virginia Dixon in the work of helping to forge the message. Much is still needed to get this "cookie cutter" duplicatable message accepted, learned and implemented as our standard for the story of heritage makers -- the message of our business, the invitation to our membership and the progress of our movement.
This is the formula for our success: The message (words) and workshops drive the membership (mission- clients and sales). The membership (new heritage makers) drive the movement (vision-growth, progress, branding and recognition) success.
Again, the message drives the membership, the membership drives the movement, and the movement is our success.
It all starts with getting the message right, and tight (simple and short) with a "little" personalization and minimal customization. This will be the task and the trial of leaders to do it and teach "the HM way" not "their way," good as their way may be. To unlearn and relearn and implement the simple messaging system of the business is, with the introduction of the template system, the best shot we have for faster growth in membership and the movement - growth and profit.
Remember, the message creates the membership and the membership creates the movement.
Lets start now in getting the message right and tight - clear and simple. You might want to get a message to your members to read this blog post - now. Comments are welcome.
Onward and Upward
Love Doug
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Residual Effects - the secret of heritage and healing
The fourth round of chemo has come and now nearly gone it was a bit tougher to recover from this one. I am discovering, somewhat painfully, that there is indeed a thing called residual effects associated with the chemo process. This and next round brings us to a decision point of a stem cell transfer, or a Rituxan maintenance regime, or/and other and continued alternative therapies and lifestyle changes. We will be doing more research and consulting on these options over the next three weeks. But for now, life is good, so good and I count my blessings daily for life, love, faith, family and you who take an interest in our heritage in the making. I have had some insights that may help you in your own heritage and healing.
We had a wonderful family reunion at the lodge this month. The whole family gathered and celebrated with the traditions we have come to love and a review of the values we share and cherish. We rode the ATVs over the top of the mountain on the Skyline Drive. We took in the panorama of beauty and inspiration of the vibrantly colored wild flowers, breathed deeply the crisp morning mountain air of nearly 10,000 feet. And we drank in the cold spring waters and near intoxicating fragrance of the horehound hillside that surrounds the Sheepherder's potty.
Then on the boat we skimmed across the reservoir to our favorite fishing spot and listened to the grandchildren (and their parents) scream with delight as the big trout challenged their patience and then skills. The pictures will only verify the size and the memories long after the grill goes cold and the last morsel of lemon-peppered fillet is forgotten.
But, when the Cloward's meet, they eat! And we had some great feasts that always begin and end with all the family members working together creatively and joyfully in the kitchen and around the campfire. But the kitchen was not the only place we found joy in working together. At the lodge there is always work and projects. It is a never ending project to build and live in a log home in the wilds where nature and the elements combine and are largely left to decorate and landscape. So, there was wood to move, cut and haul. And there were weeds to pull and flowers to gather. For the grandkids, the rewards are ATV riding time, treasure hunts interspersed with grandpa's heritage stories about near-death miracles -- getting shot, crushed by a tractor roll-over, nearly drowned (twice), frozen to death and now the mysteries, magic and miracles of mantle cell lymphoma. The clues and the surprises (complements of Krysti) were great rewards of the adventure of the treasure hunt. But the deepening of family ties and the stories of struggle, prayer and faith, will long outlive the toys and goodies.
Family Reunions are always heritage in both the making and the celebrating. This year's gathering, however, added a new challenge and opportunity for growth, understanding and deepening of understanding and the ties that bind us together. It was a powerful lesson in another kind of "residual effects."
In our late night adult discussions with the siblings, we discovered that there had been holes in our vision, understanding and parenting over the years that had left some members of the family with some unprocessed, painful, memories, questions and misunderstandings. In pulling those bits of heritage past from the attic and clearing the dust and refocusing on the images, we were able to work through the meaning of the memories. Reopening old wounds can be both painful and healing. The pain comes to both the injured and to the offender. The healing comes from the understanding , acknowledgment, forgiveness and increased love from both. Hindsight can reveal both reality and misperception. It can reveal what was not understood, intended, or even real.
Once these "out-of-focus" or missed memories are revisited, the clarification and re-focusing can give new understanding, clarification of significance and meaning. While unintended injuries cannot be undone, the "lancing" and "venting" under the spirit of trust and love can provide needed healing and new depth to security of the relationships.
The "aha" of the process for me was the realization that heritage, that which occurred in the past and which we carry forward, can be the product of misunderstanding, or misinterpretation. More importantly, it can be "re-interpreted" correctly, or where necessary, its residual effects can be resolved and even changed from negative to positive, pain to joy, from limitation to empowerment. The residual effect of what was done, or not, done to meet the needs or build the heritage in the past can be the basis for building a stronger, positive heritage in the present and a more rich family legacy for the future.
I recommend that if you discover or suspect that children, siblings or parents have memories that may be having residual negative, or simply lack of positive effect in your heritage, that you counsel together in the spirit of strengthening your relationships, understanding, forgiveness and love. You surely may use the Cloward story of discovery, pain and healing as a reason to consider, examine and process the residual effects of your own family's past for potential strengthening of your family heritage. After all, its all a matter of the story and our understanding and interpretation of it anyway. So, don't hesitate to rewrite the meaning of your past for a better ending of your story. You to can use the power growing and healing from the residual effects of the journey of heritage making.
Onward and Upward,
Love Doug
We had a wonderful family reunion at the lodge this month. The whole family gathered and celebrated with the traditions we have come to love and a review of the values we share and cherish. We rode the ATVs over the top of the mountain on the Skyline Drive. We took in the panorama of beauty and inspiration of the vibrantly colored wild flowers, breathed deeply the crisp morning mountain air of nearly 10,000 feet. And we drank in the cold spring waters and near intoxicating fragrance of the horehound hillside that surrounds the Sheepherder's potty.
Then on the boat we skimmed across the reservoir to our favorite fishing spot and listened to the grandchildren (and their parents) scream with delight as the big trout challenged their patience and then skills. The pictures will only verify the size and the memories long after the grill goes cold and the last morsel of lemon-peppered fillet is forgotten.
But, when the Cloward's meet, they eat! And we had some great feasts that always begin and end with all the family members working together creatively and joyfully in the kitchen and around the campfire. But the kitchen was not the only place we found joy in working together. At the lodge there is always work and projects. It is a never ending project to build and live in a log home in the wilds where nature and the elements combine and are largely left to decorate and landscape. So, there was wood to move, cut and haul. And there were weeds to pull and flowers to gather. For the grandkids, the rewards are ATV riding time, treasure hunts interspersed with grandpa's heritage stories about near-death miracles -- getting shot, crushed by a tractor roll-over, nearly drowned (twice), frozen to death and now the mysteries, magic and miracles of mantle cell lymphoma. The clues and the surprises (complements of Krysti) were great rewards of the adventure of the treasure hunt. But the deepening of family ties and the stories of struggle, prayer and faith, will long outlive the toys and goodies.
Family Reunions are always heritage in both the making and the celebrating. This year's gathering, however, added a new challenge and opportunity for growth, understanding and deepening of understanding and the ties that bind us together. It was a powerful lesson in another kind of "residual effects."
In our late night adult discussions with the siblings, we discovered that there had been holes in our vision, understanding and parenting over the years that had left some members of the family with some unprocessed, painful, memories, questions and misunderstandings. In pulling those bits of heritage past from the attic and clearing the dust and refocusing on the images, we were able to work through the meaning of the memories. Reopening old wounds can be both painful and healing. The pain comes to both the injured and to the offender. The healing comes from the understanding , acknowledgment, forgiveness and increased love from both. Hindsight can reveal both reality and misperception. It can reveal what was not understood, intended, or even real.
Once these "out-of-focus" or missed memories are revisited, the clarification and re-focusing can give new understanding, clarification of significance and meaning. While unintended injuries cannot be undone, the "lancing" and "venting" under the spirit of trust and love can provide needed healing and new depth to security of the relationships.
The "aha" of the process for me was the realization that heritage, that which occurred in the past and which we carry forward, can be the product of misunderstanding, or misinterpretation. More importantly, it can be "re-interpreted" correctly, or where necessary, its residual effects can be resolved and even changed from negative to positive, pain to joy, from limitation to empowerment. The residual effect of what was done, or not, done to meet the needs or build the heritage in the past can be the basis for building a stronger, positive heritage in the present and a more rich family legacy for the future.
I recommend that if you discover or suspect that children, siblings or parents have memories that may be having residual negative, or simply lack of positive effect in your heritage, that you counsel together in the spirit of strengthening your relationships, understanding, forgiveness and love. You surely may use the Cloward story of discovery, pain and healing as a reason to consider, examine and process the residual effects of your own family's past for potential strengthening of your family heritage. After all, its all a matter of the story and our understanding and interpretation of it anyway. So, don't hesitate to rewrite the meaning of your past for a better ending of your story. You to can use the power growing and healing from the residual effects of the journey of heritage making.
Onward and Upward,
Love Doug
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Because Freedom Isn't Free
It is the season of parades, fireworks, family picnic, a three-day weekend and great sales for local merchants. And what is the reason for the season? Oh yes, it is the 4th of July.
I’ll bet that your family, like my family, made the priority to gather and feast and celebrate. But what will we celebrate, besides being together? Did we take the time to remind our children and grandchildren of the great inspired founding fathers struggle to birth this nation of freedoms they so much wanted and that we may take so much for granted? Did we remind them of our love and loyalty to our great nation. Did we build their understanding of the heavy price our ancestors paid and that our military continue to pay for the luxury for us to sleep at night unafraid and safe. In our celebrating, did we enumerate and celebrate each of the grand freedoms of the the bill of rights? Did we celebrate and build upon their understanding of their national heritage? Did we remember and celebrate the reason for the season?
As I sat with my children and grandchildren around the campfire and sang the songs of patriotism and freedom, I remembered. As we expressed our love of country and prayed for the the safety and welfare of those who are not with their families this 4th of July, I was reminded. We, Heritage Makers, have a grand and important role to play in preserving our nation’s heritage – one family at a time, starting with our own. With so much media focus on what is wrong with government, I wonder if we see in the mirror of reality that what is wrong with America is centered in the homes of Americans, not in the seat of government. I fear that parents grumping and lack of grateful comment on being an American largely has caused the loss of the strength of our country – the faith and commitment of its citizens. It is so easy to place the blame on politicians for fading freedoms, that we forget who put them there and sustains them, or not. Do our children know how we feel about our country? What do they know? The answer is what they hear us say day-to-day and what we share with them heart–to-heart, and bedtime story-to-story.
What storybook have we written and read to our children and grandchildren that defines what it means to be an American, or Canadian? Have we done enough to celebrate the sacrifices of service of our grandparents and great grandparents in the military and wars of the past and of fathers, brothers, uncles, friends and countrymen who serve now?
Do we realize the power, the priority and the principle of our national heritage? And do we realize the price we will pay if we fail to remember and build a national heritage within the weave of our family heritage? We must realize and remember--that which we fail to remember and to celebrate--soon fades. Freedom without celebration is patriotism lost. Children without celebration of national heritage are patriots lost.
This is a year of deciding and setting the stage for so much serious consequence for our future, Americans and Canadians - families. No, I am not referring to the coming political jostling and rhetoric we will be bombarded with over the next several months. I am referring to this being the year that all heritage makers place their votes for the freedom and the national heritage in the voting box of the minds of our children.
We can campaign and vote for freedom with storybooks and celebrations that focus our children and families on the principles and the values that make our families and our nation great. Let us teach them, with the tremendous power of our stories, about the real strength of a, our nation. Lets teach them the principles of freedom and the responsibilities of free men and women. Let teach them throughout the remainder of the election process as it sets the stage for meaningful conversations and family discussions about why we support who we support and about why and how we vote for the candidates whom we feel will best represent our principles and freedoms.
Please, let's be freedom makers, as well as heritage makers. Perhaps we should begin by considering that it is one of our greatest freedoms to be able to be heritage makers. Let us not forget, that we might not lose by neglect or apathy. Rather, let's become known for the contribution we are to freedom, patriotism and strong families who carry the pledge and the flag proudly and responsibly and who have effectively integrated nation and family heritage.
Onward and upward.
Love,
Doug
I’ll bet that your family, like my family, made the priority to gather and feast and celebrate. But what will we celebrate, besides being together? Did we take the time to remind our children and grandchildren of the great inspired founding fathers struggle to birth this nation of freedoms they so much wanted and that we may take so much for granted? Did we remind them of our love and loyalty to our great nation. Did we build their understanding of the heavy price our ancestors paid and that our military continue to pay for the luxury for us to sleep at night unafraid and safe. In our celebrating, did we enumerate and celebrate each of the grand freedoms of the the bill of rights? Did we celebrate and build upon their understanding of their national heritage? Did we remember and celebrate the reason for the season?
As I sat with my children and grandchildren around the campfire and sang the songs of patriotism and freedom, I remembered. As we expressed our love of country and prayed for the the safety and welfare of those who are not with their families this 4th of July, I was reminded. We, Heritage Makers, have a grand and important role to play in preserving our nation’s heritage – one family at a time, starting with our own. With so much media focus on what is wrong with government, I wonder if we see in the mirror of reality that what is wrong with America is centered in the homes of Americans, not in the seat of government. I fear that parents grumping and lack of grateful comment on being an American largely has caused the loss of the strength of our country – the faith and commitment of its citizens. It is so easy to place the blame on politicians for fading freedoms, that we forget who put them there and sustains them, or not. Do our children know how we feel about our country? What do they know? The answer is what they hear us say day-to-day and what we share with them heart–to-heart, and bedtime story-to-story.
What storybook have we written and read to our children and grandchildren that defines what it means to be an American, or Canadian? Have we done enough to celebrate the sacrifices of service of our grandparents and great grandparents in the military and wars of the past and of fathers, brothers, uncles, friends and countrymen who serve now?
Do we realize the power, the priority and the principle of our national heritage? And do we realize the price we will pay if we fail to remember and build a national heritage within the weave of our family heritage? We must realize and remember--that which we fail to remember and to celebrate--soon fades. Freedom without celebration is patriotism lost. Children without celebration of national heritage are patriots lost.
This is a year of deciding and setting the stage for so much serious consequence for our future, Americans and Canadians - families. No, I am not referring to the coming political jostling and rhetoric we will be bombarded with over the next several months. I am referring to this being the year that all heritage makers place their votes for the freedom and the national heritage in the voting box of the minds of our children.
We can campaign and vote for freedom with storybooks and celebrations that focus our children and families on the principles and the values that make our families and our nation great. Let us teach them, with the tremendous power of our stories, about the real strength of a, our nation. Lets teach them the principles of freedom and the responsibilities of free men and women. Let teach them throughout the remainder of the election process as it sets the stage for meaningful conversations and family discussions about why we support who we support and about why and how we vote for the candidates whom we feel will best represent our principles and freedoms.
Please, let's be freedom makers, as well as heritage makers. Perhaps we should begin by considering that it is one of our greatest freedoms to be able to be heritage makers. Let us not forget, that we might not lose by neglect or apathy. Rather, let's become known for the contribution we are to freedom, patriotism and strong families who carry the pledge and the flag proudly and responsibly and who have effectively integrated nation and family heritage.
Onward and upward.
Love,
Doug
Monday, June 30, 2008
A Leadership Makeover
Sorry for the long delay in posts, but as they say, life flies on wings of lightning. So it has been this last week. We had the privilege of spending the first half of the week with new HM Executive Director Virginia Dixon and her family. We rode the ATVs, fished the lake, shot clay pigeons and black powder and cooked, ate, cleaned, played and prayed together on the mountain and created a lasting legacy of friendship with the Dixon family. What a wonderful way of getting to know and appreciate our leaders and their families. It was especially great to get to know Ray better and to feel his love and leadership of his family. Thanks Caleb, Jordan, and Morgan for joining your mom for the celebration of her HM success and spending time with the Clowards at Aspen Lodge. We loved getting to know and love you more.
On Thursday we traveled to Park City for the Sr. Leader Round Table and Leadership Conference. We were at the the new New Park Hotel and the facility and comradery were great. The discussions insightful and energizing. The leadership training was invaluable and the friendships and networking supercharging for the business. We look forward to more of you attending with us at Reunion in September and at next year's Leadership Conference.
The most important information of the Conference focused on the shift from Heritage Celebrations to Heritage Workshops. Thanks to Wendy McGee, Hallie Redd, Heidi Arave and Mary Hansen for their roles in developing the new Workshop format and for the presentation to help Leaders get the vision of how we will move forward with the goal of every attendee becoming a heritage maker, not just a story keeper. We will continue to pilot this exciting shift in the way we present HM and will have Workshop Kits ready for Reunion. In the meantime we encourage all consultants to get with your upline leader to get the picture and start the transition of how we explain and teach heritage making in a workshop format.
The basic focus is a sequence of simple discussions and interactions with a small group (six) participants (not guests). The sequence is -- photos, stories, scanning, heritage, studio (new demo DVD is coming), premier, membership, packages, opportunities (workshop hosting, scanning and consultancies). As we get our entire consultant organization using the system and the simple scripts that will come on cue cards in the Workshop Kit it, we will "cookie cutter" the business so that it is simple and duplicative for all our new people. This will truly position us to move into momentum growth this fall and on into the next year.
It was an intense training and development event, but it wasn't all work. After all, it was a Leadership Makeover. There were the professional massages at check in, the spa products in the rooms, the Jacuzzi tubs on every balcony, the Alpine Slide after the ski lift to the top of Park City mountain. But the absolute best was just being together again with the other HM Directors and Sr. Leaders from across the country. To sum up the experience, we were truly --- inspired, instructed and motivated. Please get with you upline Leader to get more of the details about her Leadership Makeover and what she has brought back for you.
The next post will come after a bit of R & R on the mountain preparing for the next round of chemo and contemplating some tough decisions we must make about my treatment and life going forward. Until then,
Onward and upward
Love Doug
On Thursday we traveled to Park City for the Sr. Leader Round Table and Leadership Conference. We were at the the new New Park Hotel and the facility and comradery were great. The discussions insightful and energizing. The leadership training was invaluable and the friendships and networking supercharging for the business. We look forward to more of you attending with us at Reunion in September and at next year's Leadership Conference.
The most important information of the Conference focused on the shift from Heritage Celebrations to Heritage Workshops. Thanks to Wendy McGee, Hallie Redd, Heidi Arave and Mary Hansen for their roles in developing the new Workshop format and for the presentation to help Leaders get the vision of how we will move forward with the goal of every attendee becoming a heritage maker, not just a story keeper. We will continue to pilot this exciting shift in the way we present HM and will have Workshop Kits ready for Reunion. In the meantime we encourage all consultants to get with your upline leader to get the picture and start the transition of how we explain and teach heritage making in a workshop format.
The basic focus is a sequence of simple discussions and interactions with a small group (six) participants (not guests). The sequence is -- photos, stories, scanning, heritage, studio (new demo DVD is coming), premier, membership, packages, opportunities (workshop hosting, scanning and consultancies). As we get our entire consultant organization using the system and the simple scripts that will come on cue cards in the Workshop Kit it, we will "cookie cutter" the business so that it is simple and duplicative for all our new people. This will truly position us to move into momentum growth this fall and on into the next year.
It was an intense training and development event, but it wasn't all work. After all, it was a Leadership Makeover. There were the professional massages at check in, the spa products in the rooms, the Jacuzzi tubs on every balcony, the Alpine Slide after the ski lift to the top of Park City mountain. But the absolute best was just being together again with the other HM Directors and Sr. Leaders from across the country. To sum up the experience, we were truly --- inspired, instructed and motivated. Please get with you upline Leader to get more of the details about her Leadership Makeover and what she has brought back for you.
The next post will come after a bit of R & R on the mountain preparing for the next round of chemo and contemplating some tough decisions we must make about my treatment and life going forward. Until then,
Onward and upward
Love Doug
Friday, June 20, 2008
Binding Families Together
I had a few tough days this round, but am up and running toward our HM Leaders Conference and our second Executive Family Retreat with Virginia Dixon's family at the lodge this weekend. Life is good and the adventure continues.
As we have developed the HM venture, we have struggled a bit to get clarity of the vision, mission, values and the message of the business. I am not talking out of school to share with you what has been a learning experience for many in this forging of a common vision and articulation of what our business is. I trust that this confession and explanation will shed light and help to clarify who, what and why we now declare we are as Heritage Makers - the company. For family and friends not associated with our business, I hope that you will find, that since my life is so fully entwined in our business that this is my, life journey and purpose for whatever days remain and thereby may be of interest to you as well.
This is the story of our story. It all started, really, with the creation of a concept word called storybooking, the process of creating a scrapbook with more focus on the story behind the pictures and the art, than the art itself. The new concept storybook was also to be a hard bound book, rather than an album of pages and pictures in a binder, the traditional scrapbook approach.
The authors of this novel new approach to capturing important life information in a storybook were Candace May and mother, Sharon Murdoch. This was their concept and they paid dearly to develop the idea into a real product service and eventually a business called "My Family Tales." They were joined in the crusade, to launch the fledgling business, by three other equally committed people who have ownership in the birthing of the storybooking venture. They included Christine Crandall, Heidi Arave and Lisa Nelson. There were others who made contributions including Mary Strand who put financial support behind the new business.
This history and the people of the storybooking concept and My Family Tales in the early 2000's set the foundations for what has become Heritage Makers. Their vision and mission statement was to "put a storybook in every home" for the purpose of creating real life heroes for the readers, usually children and the heroes were often the authors. Their ground breaking work was a vital preparatory part of the eventual creation of Heritage Makers business. From that first storybook for a beloved grandpa, a book that made him a real life hero for his posterity, we now have hundreds of thousands of storybooks, author's, heroes and children who understand, relate to and continue the legacy of their heroes, traditions, values and heritage.
As we moved the storybooking concept, product, people and business into the direct selling system, we did so with the focus of using the heritage enriching power of peoples' stories to the purpose, or vision, of strengthening home and family through those stories' ability to capture, preserve and celebrate family heroes and heritage. In a sense, the story became the means to the ulterior end, or motive, of strengthening the family and clarifying and celebrating the family heritage.
We have now grown our business and extended the storybooking process to a much wider audience. With the growth has come the need to clarify the Heritage Makers message and make it more succinct and duplicable. There have been many discussions around this subject. Some of those discussions have sought to broaden the vision, mission and business concepts, but we continue to come back to the foundations of story, family and heritage. Heritage Makers is a family centric message, business and mission.
So, who are we - Heritage Makers? What are we? What are we about? And how do we tell our story - clearly, concisely with a reverberating sameness that creates a resonance and conversation that can carry us into the homes and hearts of those who have not yet heard our name nor our story?
For the record, Heritage Makers is about family heritage. And heritage is captured and transfered though the medium of the family's stories, even when it is about individuals' stories.
In one sense we are a business of "family life publishing." We publish books about family life.
In is simplest terms, Heritage Makers is binding families together through the power of their own stories.
As we move forward to further clarify and script the HM story we will continue to focus on families and values and traditions and the incredible opportunity to be both an author and a teacher of the storybooking process.
This is why our passion is so focused on remembering the stories and the heroes and values they pass on and perpetuate. In the months ahead, our leaders will be focusing and sharpening their story-telling skills on a standardized approach to the Heritage Makers message, our story. The better we become at telling our story with that consistency, the more powerful our message and branding will become. We invite all of our community members to be ready to learn and share the story and message of heritage making.
Onward and Upward
Love Doug
As we have developed the HM venture, we have struggled a bit to get clarity of the vision, mission, values and the message of the business. I am not talking out of school to share with you what has been a learning experience for many in this forging of a common vision and articulation of what our business is. I trust that this confession and explanation will shed light and help to clarify who, what and why we now declare we are as Heritage Makers - the company. For family and friends not associated with our business, I hope that you will find, that since my life is so fully entwined in our business that this is my, life journey and purpose for whatever days remain and thereby may be of interest to you as well.
This is the story of our story. It all started, really, with the creation of a concept word called storybooking, the process of creating a scrapbook with more focus on the story behind the pictures and the art, than the art itself. The new concept storybook was also to be a hard bound book, rather than an album of pages and pictures in a binder, the traditional scrapbook approach.
The authors of this novel new approach to capturing important life information in a storybook were Candace May and mother, Sharon Murdoch. This was their concept and they paid dearly to develop the idea into a real product service and eventually a business called "My Family Tales." They were joined in the crusade, to launch the fledgling business, by three other equally committed people who have ownership in the birthing of the storybooking venture. They included Christine Crandall, Heidi Arave and Lisa Nelson. There were others who made contributions including Mary Strand who put financial support behind the new business.
This history and the people of the storybooking concept and My Family Tales in the early 2000's set the foundations for what has become Heritage Makers. Their vision and mission statement was to "put a storybook in every home" for the purpose of creating real life heroes for the readers, usually children and the heroes were often the authors. Their ground breaking work was a vital preparatory part of the eventual creation of Heritage Makers business. From that first storybook for a beloved grandpa, a book that made him a real life hero for his posterity, we now have hundreds of thousands of storybooks, author's, heroes and children who understand, relate to and continue the legacy of their heroes, traditions, values and heritage.
As we moved the storybooking concept, product, people and business into the direct selling system, we did so with the focus of using the heritage enriching power of peoples' stories to the purpose, or vision, of strengthening home and family through those stories' ability to capture, preserve and celebrate family heroes and heritage. In a sense, the story became the means to the ulterior end, or motive, of strengthening the family and clarifying and celebrating the family heritage.
We have now grown our business and extended the storybooking process to a much wider audience. With the growth has come the need to clarify the Heritage Makers message and make it more succinct and duplicable. There have been many discussions around this subject. Some of those discussions have sought to broaden the vision, mission and business concepts, but we continue to come back to the foundations of story, family and heritage. Heritage Makers is a family centric message, business and mission.
So, who are we - Heritage Makers? What are we? What are we about? And how do we tell our story - clearly, concisely with a reverberating sameness that creates a resonance and conversation that can carry us into the homes and hearts of those who have not yet heard our name nor our story?
For the record, Heritage Makers is about family heritage. And heritage is captured and transfered though the medium of the family's stories, even when it is about individuals' stories.
In one sense we are a business of "family life publishing." We publish books about family life.
In is simplest terms, Heritage Makers is binding families together through the power of their own stories.
As we move forward to further clarify and script the HM story we will continue to focus on families and values and traditions and the incredible opportunity to be both an author and a teacher of the storybooking process.
This is why our passion is so focused on remembering the stories and the heroes and values they pass on and perpetuate. In the months ahead, our leaders will be focusing and sharpening their story-telling skills on a standardized approach to the Heritage Makers message, our story. The better we become at telling our story with that consistency, the more powerful our message and branding will become. We invite all of our community members to be ready to learn and share the story and message of heritage making.
Onward and Upward
Love Doug
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Thoughts after Round 3, in Time for Fathers Day
Thursday brought chemo round #3. The result and pattern seem to be following very close to Round 2. No problem the first 24 hours after the start of the drip, then a noticeable drop in energy, a little nausea and tiredness for the next 24 hours. The metal mouth, low grade headache and general weakness are manageable. The biggest challenge for me seems to be with the frustration of not being able to move forward at the pace I am accustomed to working. None of us like to have things stand in the way of our progress. Or is what stands in our way the very experience and tool needed for us to progress? Are my current limitations really the portal to my success?
While the good Lord has given us the marvelous gift of agency, the power and the right to choose, I have discovered that He has a way of giving us the life circumstances that, in large measure, control the range of our choices, by putting us in our own "ballparks" that limit and focus those choices to limited options. Those limitations, in large measure, determine the "pitches" we will get to swing at. Where, when and with whom, we live in the world determines our range of possibilities and sets the "bounds of our game and choices."
In his infinite understanding of each of our individual needs for experienced-based development, he has ordered our lives to provide the challenges that will focus our attention and limit our choices to things most important for our happiness. If we will but trust Him and obey, when we ask for His direction He will not leave us comfort less, nor without understanding and counsel. He coaches us through the voice of His spirit, to use our freedom to choose to our best possible advantage. I am clear that His work and His glory is our eternal Happiness.
Think about it. These are great gifts -- the world, family life, health, challenges, freedom to choose and His beloved Son to cover our choices when we mess up choices that would otherwise separate us from Him, eternally. His plan and His love are perfect for each of us - if we will accept them and Him as He has directed.
He is our loving Father in Heaven. There is a verse in Hebrews that is filled with principle and practice regarding this truth it gives all of us much to think about on Fathers Day.
It is loaded with insight and raises questions that can help us make the important choices in our lives.
Hebrews 12:9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
Another favorite scripture about our relationship to our Heavenly Father gives me hope of becoming more like Him as I follow His counsel.
1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
Of course what the scriptures say about men applies to women, they are each the daughters of God in the same way that men are His sons. I love the notion in this verse, that even though we may not now understand (it doesn't clearly appear to us yet), that when the game is over for us individually, or for all of us collectively, when He returns, that we will see Him as He is and that we will be like Him. What an incredible declaration - we will be like Him. He will have worked His perfect and perfecting plan through our developing mortal experience and His son's atoning, saving sacrificing power in our lives. That to that end that we may be like Him. This is His purpose - His work and His glory. And our work and responsibility is to seek to understand and follow the Savior's example and gospel. He came to show us how to have peace and love, kindness and mercy, forgiveness and faith.
His plan for me and my family and for you and yours is perfect. The tests and the tasks, the pitches He throws to me are perfect for me. And yours are perfect for you. And so I will continue to swing with all my might and strength. I suspect that I will hit a few and miss many. But, I rest confident that the end of the game is known to Him and can therefore be known to me, and to you, if we will seek, ask and knock at His door for the answers.
As I am lavished with love from my children on this Fathers Day, I pause to bend my knees and to look Heavenward to my Father and your Father and to humbly acknowledge His love, His patience and His many gifts to me - including the challenges I now face. I know what seems to block my way is indeed, my way. In His way, He is focusing my life to become more like Him. I am so very grateful that He has done so with such marvelous gifts as my sweetheart Judy, my loving and righteous children, my heritage, my friends and you, my family of heritage makers.
What an incredible privilege it is to know that we are working, praying, sacrificing and speaking the vision, mission and message of family and heritage together. I hope that your Fathers day is filled with love for both your father here and our Father there. Our work and purpose, that which we can glory in is bringing our children closer to both.
Onward and upward
Love Doug
While the good Lord has given us the marvelous gift of agency, the power and the right to choose, I have discovered that He has a way of giving us the life circumstances that, in large measure, control the range of our choices, by putting us in our own "ballparks" that limit and focus those choices to limited options. Those limitations, in large measure, determine the "pitches" we will get to swing at. Where, when and with whom, we live in the world determines our range of possibilities and sets the "bounds of our game and choices."
In his infinite understanding of each of our individual needs for experienced-based development, he has ordered our lives to provide the challenges that will focus our attention and limit our choices to things most important for our happiness. If we will but trust Him and obey, when we ask for His direction He will not leave us comfort less, nor without understanding and counsel. He coaches us through the voice of His spirit, to use our freedom to choose to our best possible advantage. I am clear that His work and His glory is our eternal Happiness.
Think about it. These are great gifts -- the world, family life, health, challenges, freedom to choose and His beloved Son to cover our choices when we mess up choices that would otherwise separate us from Him, eternally. His plan and His love are perfect for each of us - if we will accept them and Him as He has directed.
He is our loving Father in Heaven. There is a verse in Hebrews that is filled with principle and practice regarding this truth it gives all of us much to think about on Fathers Day.
It is loaded with insight and raises questions that can help us make the important choices in our lives.
Hebrews 12:9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
Another favorite scripture about our relationship to our Heavenly Father gives me hope of becoming more like Him as I follow His counsel.
1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
Of course what the scriptures say about men applies to women, they are each the daughters of God in the same way that men are His sons. I love the notion in this verse, that even though we may not now understand (it doesn't clearly appear to us yet), that when the game is over for us individually, or for all of us collectively, when He returns, that we will see Him as He is and that we will be like Him. What an incredible declaration - we will be like Him. He will have worked His perfect and perfecting plan through our developing mortal experience and His son's atoning, saving sacrificing power in our lives. That to that end that we may be like Him. This is His purpose - His work and His glory. And our work and responsibility is to seek to understand and follow the Savior's example and gospel. He came to show us how to have peace and love, kindness and mercy, forgiveness and faith.
His plan for me and my family and for you and yours is perfect. The tests and the tasks, the pitches He throws to me are perfect for me. And yours are perfect for you. And so I will continue to swing with all my might and strength. I suspect that I will hit a few and miss many. But, I rest confident that the end of the game is known to Him and can therefore be known to me, and to you, if we will seek, ask and knock at His door for the answers.
As I am lavished with love from my children on this Fathers Day, I pause to bend my knees and to look Heavenward to my Father and your Father and to humbly acknowledge His love, His patience and His many gifts to me - including the challenges I now face. I know what seems to block my way is indeed, my way. In His way, He is focusing my life to become more like Him. I am so very grateful that He has done so with such marvelous gifts as my sweetheart Judy, my loving and righteous children, my heritage, my friends and you, my family of heritage makers.
What an incredible privilege it is to know that we are working, praying, sacrificing and speaking the vision, mission and message of family and heritage together. I hope that your Fathers day is filled with love for both your father here and our Father there. Our work and purpose, that which we can glory in is bringing our children closer to both.
Onward and upward
Love Doug
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Creative Interpretaion – That Is Not My Reality
Judy and I took a three mile hike across the mountain last night and celebrated the fact that we could. Thanks to the many of you, you whose interest, prayers and faith contribute to that fact. I wish that we could have each of you visit and see the life and feel the love that abounds at our log home at 8,0000 feet about sea level where the sky is bluer than the Robbin eggs, but not so blue as the blue birds. We pray that the days will come when we can host many of you at our mountain home and heritage making retreat.
It was brought to my attention recently, that my vision for strengthening home and family, and the heritage Makers mission, of doing it through the heritage enriching power and legacies of family stories, may leave some folks feeling left out. I refer tho those who feel that the legacy of their heritage would best be forgotten. Those whose stories are too painful to recall, let alone write, may feel like an outsider and have nowhere to turn with my suggestions of the Heritage Cornerstones and Keystone books.
It is true that some, certainly too many, have painful memories of family life that was not supportive and loving. When thoughts of the roots of one's life are filled with neglect, belittlement, abuse and pain it is hard to imagine finding much of anything positive to write about. To those of you who have such roots and such concerns for your future with Heritage Makers, I offer the following experience and insight for your consideration. And, I assure you that there is both place and great need for your experienced based participation and for your embracing of the need for our vision and mission. We need your leadership and example.
A friend of mine who is the founder and owner of another very successful direct selling company has a phrase that he uses every time someone points out why he can't do something he wants to do. Whether the reason is financial, practical and sometimes even legal, if he is blocked from pursuing his vision by one of these "why nots", he simply and firmly informs the naysayer, 'well that is just too bad, but "that is not my reality". And then he moves ahead and does it anyway, in spite of someone else's perception of what he could or could not. And he thereby proves his point. It wasn't his reality.
He is not ignorant of the facts, nor is his a simply "to heck with them" attitude. Rather, here is a man who has learned to create his own reality, in spite of what others see as limits to that determination. You might even say that he finds purpose, joy and opportunity in finding out what others think he can not do, and then he proceeds to do it anyway.
In studying his life I find that he has become a master at what I call "creative interpretation." When others see obstacle he sees opportunity. In fact he uses the obstacle as a stepping stone to his achievement and success. Spoken another way, what blocks his way, is his way to success.
Now, back to those whose own heritage was filled with pain and neglect, and who don't want to continue those values, or lack there of, and the traditions that were painful and demeaning. And to those who simply had no heritage to bring forward, I offer this insight. You have the grand privilege of applying the creative interpretation principle to determine what the significance of the events of your youth will be in your future. Clearly you can not change the facts, but you can determine the meaning and so what of the facts.
Those without heritage in their roots may plant and grow a new from the seeds of their own desire and vision a heritage of their own. They can be the authors of a first generation of values, traditions and relationships that are both worthy and laudable. You can change the meaning and influence of the past in the present. By how you think about, speak about and write about your past, in the present, you can change its effect on you in the future.
You can write your own stories, the cornerstones of your heritage, based on what you learned from those relationships and experiences. The tragedies turned triumph are the stories that move us most to be bigger, better, stronger, wise, kinder and successful. The Keystone book of What it Means to Be a ____, can be what it means to be you, if you do not have a family. It can be an expression of a brand new heritage of your own making if you were not bequeathed one.
In short, we are the authors of our own stories and heritage. We can choose what part of our past that we want to bring into our future and what part to leave in the past. Perhaps the grandest part of the adventure of life, especially family life, is that we get to choose, to say what is, to create the story - if we will. And then we get to help others become the builders of their heritage too. They can design, blue print and construct a heritage of their own, with you are the consulting architect.
Another powerful thing about creative interpretation is the healing that comes when you seriously look for the silver lining and the gifts that were delivered with garbage wrapping paper. Your attitude about your heritage can heal the past and enrich the future of your relationships, even with those who injured, or ignored you. You can rise above your past and you can raise others from your past with you. Why should you? That's easy, because you are a heritage maker and your can.
One of the great blessings of my illness has been the understanding of how priceless forgiveness is in the grand scheme of things. We cannot repent for the mistakes and sins of another person, but we each have been given the divine gift of bestowing forgiveness upon those who "sin" against or injure us. The act of forgiving another person, family member, past or present, is a gift we give ourselves to free us from caring their debt of guilt and justice. It is a gift to them to allow them to start anew with us and leave the past and ts pains and sorrows behind. Only the Master can forgive sins that prevent us from fellowship with Him, but we can heal our own bruises by forgiving our bruisers.
We can build a new and lasting heritage that does not carry forward painful or destructive traditions of our past. This opportunity to stop the cycle and start a powerful positive legacy for our selves and our families is the great equalizer in heritage making. Lets use it an dteach it effectively and gratefully.
Onward and Upward
Love
Doug
It was brought to my attention recently, that my vision for strengthening home and family, and the heritage Makers mission, of doing it through the heritage enriching power and legacies of family stories, may leave some folks feeling left out. I refer tho those who feel that the legacy of their heritage would best be forgotten. Those whose stories are too painful to recall, let alone write, may feel like an outsider and have nowhere to turn with my suggestions of the Heritage Cornerstones and Keystone books.
It is true that some, certainly too many, have painful memories of family life that was not supportive and loving. When thoughts of the roots of one's life are filled with neglect, belittlement, abuse and pain it is hard to imagine finding much of anything positive to write about. To those of you who have such roots and such concerns for your future with Heritage Makers, I offer the following experience and insight for your consideration. And, I assure you that there is both place and great need for your experienced based participation and for your embracing of the need for our vision and mission. We need your leadership and example.
A friend of mine who is the founder and owner of another very successful direct selling company has a phrase that he uses every time someone points out why he can't do something he wants to do. Whether the reason is financial, practical and sometimes even legal, if he is blocked from pursuing his vision by one of these "why nots", he simply and firmly informs the naysayer, 'well that is just too bad, but "that is not my reality". And then he moves ahead and does it anyway, in spite of someone else's perception of what he could or could not. And he thereby proves his point. It wasn't his reality.
He is not ignorant of the facts, nor is his a simply "to heck with them" attitude. Rather, here is a man who has learned to create his own reality, in spite of what others see as limits to that determination. You might even say that he finds purpose, joy and opportunity in finding out what others think he can not do, and then he proceeds to do it anyway.
In studying his life I find that he has become a master at what I call "creative interpretation." When others see obstacle he sees opportunity. In fact he uses the obstacle as a stepping stone to his achievement and success. Spoken another way, what blocks his way, is his way to success.
Now, back to those whose own heritage was filled with pain and neglect, and who don't want to continue those values, or lack there of, and the traditions that were painful and demeaning. And to those who simply had no heritage to bring forward, I offer this insight. You have the grand privilege of applying the creative interpretation principle to determine what the significance of the events of your youth will be in your future. Clearly you can not change the facts, but you can determine the meaning and so what of the facts.
Those without heritage in their roots may plant and grow a new from the seeds of their own desire and vision a heritage of their own. They can be the authors of a first generation of values, traditions and relationships that are both worthy and laudable. You can change the meaning and influence of the past in the present. By how you think about, speak about and write about your past, in the present, you can change its effect on you in the future.
You can write your own stories, the cornerstones of your heritage, based on what you learned from those relationships and experiences. The tragedies turned triumph are the stories that move us most to be bigger, better, stronger, wise, kinder and successful. The Keystone book of What it Means to Be a ____, can be what it means to be you, if you do not have a family. It can be an expression of a brand new heritage of your own making if you were not bequeathed one.
In short, we are the authors of our own stories and heritage. We can choose what part of our past that we want to bring into our future and what part to leave in the past. Perhaps the grandest part of the adventure of life, especially family life, is that we get to choose, to say what is, to create the story - if we will. And then we get to help others become the builders of their heritage too. They can design, blue print and construct a heritage of their own, with you are the consulting architect.
Another powerful thing about creative interpretation is the healing that comes when you seriously look for the silver lining and the gifts that were delivered with garbage wrapping paper. Your attitude about your heritage can heal the past and enrich the future of your relationships, even with those who injured, or ignored you. You can rise above your past and you can raise others from your past with you. Why should you? That's easy, because you are a heritage maker and your can.
One of the great blessings of my illness has been the understanding of how priceless forgiveness is in the grand scheme of things. We cannot repent for the mistakes and sins of another person, but we each have been given the divine gift of bestowing forgiveness upon those who "sin" against or injure us. The act of forgiving another person, family member, past or present, is a gift we give ourselves to free us from caring their debt of guilt and justice. It is a gift to them to allow them to start anew with us and leave the past and ts pains and sorrows behind. Only the Master can forgive sins that prevent us from fellowship with Him, but we can heal our own bruises by forgiving our bruisers.
We can build a new and lasting heritage that does not carry forward painful or destructive traditions of our past. This opportunity to stop the cycle and start a powerful positive legacy for our selves and our families is the great equalizer in heritage making. Lets use it an dteach it effectively and gratefully.
Onward and Upward
Love
Doug
Friday, June 6, 2008
The Pricelss Moment of Ah Ha!
Some moments in our lives are priceless. I could go into a long diatribe and expound on a variety of these precious glimpses of supernal joy, but today I want to share only two that occurred this week. They are precious and priceless for me and for those who were part of them, and they will be priceless value for those whom receive the effects of those moments of pure insight and understanding and then form them into duplicative moments for you and others.
The first moment actually spawned the second moment. It came after meeting with a group of our top Heritage Makers leaders and discussed at length the vision mission and values of the company. We were focused on developing a more effective languaging and a presentation sequence for consultants to pass heritage making story on to clients. We had talked about the four cornerstone storybooks that every child needs to establish the foundations of their heritage.
We had concluded the the first four most important storybooks included teh child's roots, that is a storybook of each of their grandparents - maternal and paternal. Those were the first two root books. Then they needed a storybook of their parents lives, before meeting each other, their love story, marriage and anticipation of establishing a family with a rich heritage of values and traditions. The fourth cornerstone storybook needed to be a book about the child - anticipation of his or her birth, childhood, talents and how much they were and loved and how they add to the family. These were the storybooks that would help the parents build self-esteem, a sense of belonging and begin to define the child's story.
Everyone was excited and agreed that these storybooks would make huge differences in the way children and on to young adults would view their lives, and family life. Then we talked about the other storybooks that would follow that largely would chronicle the important events and relationships of the child's and family's life. The metaphor of the building of family heritage continued with these additional self-published family library books. Then came teh discussion around what was the Keystone storybook for the family heritage building. What would be the single most import and influential storybook for the entire family and each child in it. What book would recall, capture and create the heritage, traditions and values, and transfer them to generations to come.
The answer was the storybook called "What it Means to Be a _________ (the family name). This would be a book that told the family story collectively with just a taste of the heritage past (progenitors) and heritage present (members of the family - mom, dad and kids (their vita and special gifts and place in the family). It would articulate and celebrate the traditions, values and priorities of the family. It would celebrate the family members, individually and collective. This storybook would be the story of the family and would give structured meaning and agreement on what it means to be a member of that unique family.
It was a lively and exciting discussion as each of us realized that that strorybooks as indeed the Keystone of heritage development within the family. It was blueprint for moms to define and project a framework for how members of their families live and a basis for her children to evaluate and make choices consistent with who they are because of their heritage -story. Now if this notion resonates with you, you too may have just had one of these amazing moments of "ah ha". You may have discovered the answer to the age old question of "how can I be there to make the right choices, when I an not there". The answer is even when you are not there you can give them their heritage that, like a shadow, will always follow and influence their choices.
One of the leaders in our group, Heidi A, who has been with us literally from the beginning and has been through all of the development of the vision, mission, values, systems programs, incentives, tools etc of the business had a powerful ah ha from this experience.
Shortly after our discussion about the cornerstone and keystone books Heidi had a discussion with her four year old son about what it means to be a member of their family. As they discussed things that were happening around them and in the world she ask Jace "would you do that?" " No, mom!" was the replay. "Why?" she asked him. "Because I am an A___ and we don't do that!"
It is one thing to theorize and conceptualize with the group. But, when the proof of the concept comes back from the mouth of your babes in a priceless precious moment of "ah ha!" you are moved with the reality and truth of the theory. You know the power of the concept and you increase in passion and commitment to the principle and its proliferation.
The second ah ha came in a meeting at the office that was centered around some of the same discussion of cornerstone and keystone books and how to incoporate this message in our website and communications. After about an hour of dialog and word smithing efforts of the team I shared Heidi's experience and email to me about it. It was then that Justin, another of those great souls who has been with Heritage makers from the beginning and has had the most to do with the development of our storybooking technology strategy, had the ah ha moment. I watch it as he said "Now, for the first time I get it! It makes perfect sense!" the it was the whole focus around Heritage Making, rather than just storybooking. He understood an a new, deeper, more profound level, why we are called Heritage Makers not just storybooers, or digital scrap bookers. It was for me a priceless moment for our home office team and those who were present to witness the ah ha.
Now what do ah ahs do? They shape or reshape the way we think about something. They change our priorities and understanding and actions. The make a difference in th eway we do things and thereby in the outcome of our efforts.
Get it? The ah ha is that we, Heritage Makers are trying to communicate the message of heritage making with the power of story and storybooks in such a way that we create an "AH HA" for everyone mom and dad who hears the message. This is our mission and it is what will create a conversation, a brand and a business (thousands of independent businesses). These are businesses that will leverage these ah ah moments I have shared and will spawn other ah ha moments that will establish the principle of heritage making and will make a difference for their family, their neighborhood, their community, the world.
If you are not a heritage maker, yet, I sincerely invite you to consider it. I hope this is an ah ah moment for you.
Onward and Upward
Love Doug
The first moment actually spawned the second moment. It came after meeting with a group of our top Heritage Makers leaders and discussed at length the vision mission and values of the company. We were focused on developing a more effective languaging and a presentation sequence for consultants to pass heritage making story on to clients. We had talked about the four cornerstone storybooks that every child needs to establish the foundations of their heritage.
We had concluded the the first four most important storybooks included teh child's roots, that is a storybook of each of their grandparents - maternal and paternal. Those were the first two root books. Then they needed a storybook of their parents lives, before meeting each other, their love story, marriage and anticipation of establishing a family with a rich heritage of values and traditions. The fourth cornerstone storybook needed to be a book about the child - anticipation of his or her birth, childhood, talents and how much they were and loved and how they add to the family. These were the storybooks that would help the parents build self-esteem, a sense of belonging and begin to define the child's story.
Everyone was excited and agreed that these storybooks would make huge differences in the way children and on to young adults would view their lives, and family life. Then we talked about the other storybooks that would follow that largely would chronicle the important events and relationships of the child's and family's life. The metaphor of the building of family heritage continued with these additional self-published family library books. Then came teh discussion around what was the Keystone storybook for the family heritage building. What would be the single most import and influential storybook for the entire family and each child in it. What book would recall, capture and create the heritage, traditions and values, and transfer them to generations to come.
The answer was the storybook called "What it Means to Be a _________ (the family name). This would be a book that told the family story collectively with just a taste of the heritage past (progenitors) and heritage present (members of the family - mom, dad and kids (their vita and special gifts and place in the family). It would articulate and celebrate the traditions, values and priorities of the family. It would celebrate the family members, individually and collective. This storybook would be the story of the family and would give structured meaning and agreement on what it means to be a member of that unique family.
It was a lively and exciting discussion as each of us realized that that strorybooks as indeed the Keystone of heritage development within the family. It was blueprint for moms to define and project a framework for how members of their families live and a basis for her children to evaluate and make choices consistent with who they are because of their heritage -story. Now if this notion resonates with you, you too may have just had one of these amazing moments of "ah ha". You may have discovered the answer to the age old question of "how can I be there to make the right choices, when I an not there". The answer is even when you are not there you can give them their heritage that, like a shadow, will always follow and influence their choices.
One of the leaders in our group, Heidi A, who has been with us literally from the beginning and has been through all of the development of the vision, mission, values, systems programs, incentives, tools etc of the business had a powerful ah ha from this experience.
Shortly after our discussion about the cornerstone and keystone books Heidi had a discussion with her four year old son about what it means to be a member of their family. As they discussed things that were happening around them and in the world she ask Jace "would you do that?" " No, mom!" was the replay. "Why?" she asked him. "Because I am an A___ and we don't do that!"
It is one thing to theorize and conceptualize with the group. But, when the proof of the concept comes back from the mouth of your babes in a priceless precious moment of "ah ha!" you are moved with the reality and truth of the theory. You know the power of the concept and you increase in passion and commitment to the principle and its proliferation.
The second ah ha came in a meeting at the office that was centered around some of the same discussion of cornerstone and keystone books and how to incoporate this message in our website and communications. After about an hour of dialog and word smithing efforts of the team I shared Heidi's experience and email to me about it. It was then that Justin, another of those great souls who has been with Heritage makers from the beginning and has had the most to do with the development of our storybooking technology strategy, had the ah ha moment. I watch it as he said "Now, for the first time I get it! It makes perfect sense!" the it was the whole focus around Heritage Making, rather than just storybooking. He understood an a new, deeper, more profound level, why we are called Heritage Makers not just storybooers, or digital scrap bookers. It was for me a priceless moment for our home office team and those who were present to witness the ah ha.
Now what do ah ahs do? They shape or reshape the way we think about something. They change our priorities and understanding and actions. The make a difference in th eway we do things and thereby in the outcome of our efforts.
Get it? The ah ha is that we, Heritage Makers are trying to communicate the message of heritage making with the power of story and storybooks in such a way that we create an "AH HA" for everyone mom and dad who hears the message. This is our mission and it is what will create a conversation, a brand and a business (thousands of independent businesses). These are businesses that will leverage these ah ah moments I have shared and will spawn other ah ha moments that will establish the principle of heritage making and will make a difference for their family, their neighborhood, their community, the world.
If you are not a heritage maker, yet, I sincerely invite you to consider it. I hope this is an ah ah moment for you.
Onward and Upward
Love Doug
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