Failure is a misunderstood and underutilized asset

I read the following today in the Business Digest newsletter my dad sends me each morning. I’ve heard this story many times before but it really struck me as fascinating this time around. Failure really can be such an asset and starting point for something great.  

Failure is a misunderstood and underutilized asset. Within every failure is an opportunity to learn. For inspiration, consider part of this man’s resume:

• Age 22: Failed at business
• Age 23: Ran for legislature and lost
• Age 24: Failed at another business
• Age 27: Had a nervous breakdown
• Age 31: Defeated for elector
• Age 34: Defeated for Congress
• Age 39: Defeated for Congress
• Age 46: Defeated for Senate
• Age 47: Defeated for vice president
• Age 49: Defeated for Senate
• Age 51: Elected president

Name: Abraham Lincoln

Lions, Lions, Lions

I just finished reading two excellent books on lions in Africa. The first book was a Christmas present from my friend Marcus, entitled The Man-Eaters of Tsavo by Lt. Colonel J.H. Patterson. It was an excellent pick by my friend as I thoroughly enjoyed it. Colonel Patterson gives his personal account of the legendary Tsavo lions that killed over one hundred people in East Africa during the construction of the Uganda Railway by the British government. Colonel Patterson was hired on as the construction manager for the bridge being built over the Tsavo River. The book describes his incredible adventure of hunting and ultimate killing of the man-eaters by risking his life on many an occasion. The book also describes his many other adventures of traveling through East Africa on many different hunting trips for all kinds of wild game.

“I think that the incident of the Uganda man-eating lions…is the most remarkable account of which we have any record.” – President Theodore Roosevelt

The second book, A Lion Called Christian by Anthony Bourke and John Rendall, was also an excellent book, but was on the far end of the spectrum from man-eater lions. This book was about a friendly lion that developed a remarkable friendship with two guys in London in 1970. Anthony and John bought the lion cub, named Christian, from the pet department of Harrods in London in attempt to save him from a life of misery caged up in a circus or zoo. They take him home to live in their flat above a store where they work. They have many adventures in the store and across London where Christian quickly became a local celebrity. After many months of living in London, Christian gets to be way too big for them. They look into many different options for a life for Christian and end up concluding that they must reintroduce him into the African wild. After a year of living with Christian, they eventually are able to find a group that was able to successfully release him wild country of Kenya.

Their story became famous with the release of this youtube video that shows the reuniting of the guys with Christian a year after reintroducing him into the African wild. 

YOUTUBE---CHRISTIAN THE LION 

A Good Book, Roaring Fireplace & a Fine Cup of Coffee

There is nothing quite like an enjoyable evening cuddled up by a roaring fireplace on a nippy winters evening with just a cup of coffee and a good book. I have found myself here each night this week by the fireplace with a wonderful book that I just can’t seem to put down due to its excitement and the thought of starting my next book. Tonight, I would have to agree with C.S. Lewis when he said, “You can't get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me".

 

Montana

I flew out to Montana last Saturday morning with my best friend Marcus for the week, to visit his grandma’s ranch outside of a town called Roundup. I love the West and was so anxious to get back out there and experience the wild ruggedness that it has to offer. There is just something about it that puts a big smile on my face just thinking about it.  To quote myself on one of my solo road trips back in 2005, “my mouth is starting to hurt; I’ve been smiling for the last 23 hours on my drive out here”. To most people it is a vast part of the country that is desolate for a reason and its ruggedness has nothing to offer, much less be admired, but to me, it’s one gigantic slice of heaven far too great for me to comprehend.

Marcus and I had so much fun out there with his, my new, Grandma Payton. She is such a wonderful lady, who so graciously opened up her ranch to me as if I was her own. I couldn’t have asked for a better host for the week. Grandma never let our stomachs reach half full. She was always feeding us something, including her famous homemade bread and honey butter, which I dare say is the best I’ve ever had.

We spent the week doing all sorts of fun stuff that every man should be so gracious to encounter at least once in life. We helped her with lots of ranch work that she had been putting off, since her late husband passed away and ankle injury last year. We fed the horses each morning and evening, cleaned out the stalls, fixed a cattle guard, fixed the diesel truck, cleared out some debris and picked up a load of sawdust from town. These may have been work activities, but it sure didn’t feel like it. We were always ready to conquer the next work activity. Our fun activities, if you will, were shooting guns, riding horses, prairie dog/coyote hunting, visit to West Yellowstone, riding four wheelers & the big Ford 350 diesel around in the snow. In the evenings, after a big dinner made by grandma and my studly grill skills, we would watch classic western movies. It was such a wonderful trip and I can't wait to get back out there again!  

Unloading a load of Sawdust

Arabian Horses 

Driving the F-350 around

Montana Evening 

Prairie Dog Hunting

New Years in NYC

Once again, I had the great opportunity to spend New Year’s Eve in Times Square with some of my buddies. It was wonderful to be back in the great city of New York with all its hustle and bustle. I went with the same guys I did last year: Bo, Marcus and my brother Chris. This year we were able to stay a few extra days to hang out and enjoy more of the city's shopping and restaurants. And luckily, this year we did not break record cold temperatures like we did last year waiting on the ball to drop. That’s not to say we weren’t freezing, we were, especially the last couple days when it got windy. It just wasn’t as bad as last year, and we were more prepared.  

My brother and I on New Year's Eve

Marcus and I on New Year's Eve

Me in Times Square on New Years Day

Chris, Marcus and Bo on New Year's Eve

As for New Year’s Resolutions…

Out at Times Square with my buddies, I said my resolutions were to: 1) Get back in shape & eat healthier. Which I realize was on my list last year, and I actually did really well for the first 7 months or so while trying to get in shape for my sister’s wedding and beach/lake trips. But as soon as July hit…..wow, did I ever start slacking off! I don’t remember what it was, but I seriously just stopped even trying! I guess it was the summer coming to an end or feeling the need to get my winter coat growing for warmth this winter! But regardless of why, I ended the year right back where I started.  I will once again try again this year….even if it is just for wedding and beach season. 2) I want to get my career/business growing more successfully this year and/or make a change if need be, desired or feel called to.

Since then though, I’ve given it a little more thought and talked it out with a friend of mine and I need to add to that list. In 2010, I really want to get my life back on track both mentally and spiritually. Part of the year in 2009, I really just lost focus and just disengaged from life mentally, spiritually and socially. It was like I climbed up in my attic and just took a year off from life. I mean that’s not to say I didn’t have any fun or didn’t have a good year. I did, I had some really great times in 2009, some great trips, experiences and real fun times, but there were those weeks where I really struggled. It was a tough year struggling with my career at times, relationships, seeking direction, despair over circumstances in my past, and all those things together wrapped up in my relationship with the Lord. It was just a stale, distant and what felt like a non growing relationship for the most part. But looking back it was a great growing experience and I really have grown in so many ways. It was just a tough growth period, which made it feel stale and at times impossible. I know I had reasons behind my actions, and looking back I am glad I went through that, but now I’ve conquered it and I’m ready to get back out there and engage. I want it back. I want my smile, my happiness over the close relationship that I had with the Lord and get back on track and engage in life. 

Christmas

I had a wonderful Christmas this year at my parent’s home in Chattanooga. Chris came up from Birmingham and spent a few days with us. Kate & Johnny also spent Christmas Eve & Day with us before heading over to Memphis to see Johnny’s family. We all had a wonderful time Christmas Eve at the Candlelight service, Christmas Eve dinner, checking out the Christmas window displays downtown and ending the night with our kid tradition of watching/falling asleep to Home Alone. Sadly, it was just Chris and I this year; Kate has left the tradition and decided she just had to go home with Johnny this year, being married and all...sad day. But the two of us are keeping the tradition alive, for now.  Christmas day was wonderful as well. We started the morning off with a wonderful breakfast made by my dad. He makes the best country ham, with red eye gravy and biscuits this side of the Mississippi. The rest of the day we spent opening presents and hanging out around the house. In the evening, after my brother’s wonderful girlfriend, Lauren arrived; my whole family went to the movies to watch Sherlock Holmes on opening day. It was a great movie. And we ended the night at Big River with some friends. It was a wonderful day. The only pictures I have are of house decorations…etc.  I am waiting on my sis to send me the Christmas pictures she took of the family, but until then, the ones I took will have to do!

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas & I wish everyone a Happy New Year! 

Cozy Fire Place

gift quantity may appear larger than it actually was

December Snow

Thanksgiving

My family (minus Kate & Johnny) had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year up at the Manley’s farm in Louisville, Ky. The Manley’s are some real close family friends of ours. It was so much fun being back up in Louisville for Thanksgiving just like the good ol’ days growing up as kids when we would spend Thanksgiving at the Corrie’s on Floyd’s Knob, Indiana.

Manley's Guest House and Barn

Chris and I stayed at our buddy, Clay Manley’s condo in town. We enjoyed having a little break from the grownups so we could hang with some friends and make it out on the town at night. During the day, we would head out to Clay’s parents farm to hang with everyone. We had a great time shooting guns, shooting skeet, eating WAY too much food, using dixie cups and getting to see everyone including the Corrie’s who came over the day after Thanksgiving.  

Shooting Skeet

Shooting Skeet

Val & Wheatley

Chris & Wheatley

Shooting a Century .45-70   

Arguably, the most powerful revolver ever made.