The Power of a Good Decision

Problem is…good decisions require courage and rarely the easiest choice!   

Usually a big decision has history and argues with you a little or a lot every day.   

Call it what you want, I call mine “that little voice.”   Your best resource resides inside, pay attention to how you feel about it. 

A good decision can empower you to do great things however you first need to DECIDE.  You simply have to be all in!  The universe supports great decisions and will amaze you with the right resources at the right time.    

I personally feel we are all here for a reason however it is damn tough to figure it out.  A good decision lets you know that this is a step in the right direction. 

What have you been thinking about? 

What would you be doing if money was not an issue?

What steps could you take to greatly improve your health? 

What is the difference you could make it you decided to “jump in?”

I read today that a mother was told to abort her child due to complications of appendicitis; she was told that her child would have disabilities.  She refused!  Her son grew up to be Andrea Bocelli.

I had to make that decision almost 20 years ago and now have a son that inspired me to find my path in life!  A good decision for sure!

Making a good decision is kind of like exercising.  As you make good decisions, you are better fit to make them again and recognize them as so.    You experience the good ones and resist making the bad ones!   

I encourage all of you to give some quiet time dedicated to decisions that you are yet to make and consider making them. 

People that make good decisions are more fun to be around, so do us all a favor and make a few!  

NobleOne

Pushing the Rope

Have you ever started down a path and instinctively knew it was destined for failure?  

Years ago while serving on the board for the Hilltop YMCA, I came up with the idea (that I stole from Dick Nottingham) to hold “Corporate Olympics”.  Local businesses could sign up teams and compete against each other in various sports that could be orchestrated at the YMCA.

I simply thought it was a good idea and I held meeting after meeting, receiving little enthusiasm or support.  My “ego” would not let it go. 

Does that resonate with anyone else?

When I finally did recognize that my "ego" was driving it and became "aware" that people were supporting it only because I asked them to.   It became apparent that it was not the “time” for this idea and I was essentially trying to “push a rope." 

It is much easier to hold on to a rope that is being pulled vs. trying to push a rope in any direction.

Great ideas will pull you along and you simply need to hold on.   The “right” people will appear in your life that believe in your idea and resources will appear to support it. 

It truly amazes me the power of a great idea!

I call these “nobleisms."  Life lessons that I practice.  I have found that when you “pay attention” to these lessons you “grow” and allow yourself to move forward down your path in life. 

Grasping the concept of “pushing the rope” allows me to quickly notice energy dedicated to the wrong initiatives and that is a wonderful thing!

NobleOne

Three Black Labs

I love a lab in my life! 

 

When I married my wife 24 years ago, she already had a daughter, Allie a wonderful Black Labrador Retriever.   

Labs have so many endearing qualities; however they each seem to have their own eccentricities. 

Allie was given to my wife by a close friend, Sonny Stallings.  He purchased her from Marvin Frazee.  

Marvin Frazee was the local lab whisperer always letting you know how to raise a good lab.  You never saw Marvin without this three black labs accompaning him in his beat up old white pick up truck. 

Marvin would tell ya" the secret to raising a great lab is spending every waking moment with your dog and taking him/her everywhere you go".  Not always an easy task however it does yield great results. 

Allie was simply our family, everyone on 43^rd street knew Allie, including guests/staff of the Cavalier Hotel across the street, Allie’s alternate dining establishment. 

When Allie passed away she died like an old elephant, wandered off never to be found again. 

Lesson learned – if you own a lab, you don't need to surround yourself with fine furniture and expensive rugs.  Allie as a pup reconstructed our dining room tables’ legs and the fringes of our only valuable oriental rug.   

Our second lab came along after our son Matthew was born.  We bought her from Buzzy Cason in Carova for $50.  The other dog’s parent was Bob Romano “the beast” also of Carova.  Carova NC is tailor made for a lab, plenty of water and wide open spaces.

Allie is the name my son chose for our #2 lab.  Made sense to me, why change!  We brought her home to our house on 43^rd street and it was difficult.  Too restricted for a lab puppy, however when we moved to Back Bay, Allie showed us her true colors.  

A five acre horse farm at the end of a county road surrounded by water is simply a gift to a Labrador Retriever. 

Allie was an instant hit with the horses, especially my wife’s Appaloosa named Eddie who didn’t like to go anywhere without Allie taking the lead. 

Our second lab lived for 12 years and gave us more love than any person is capable of.  She is buried next to my office.

Lesson learned – If you let Allie out late at night she would always get into trouble.  Too many interesting critters come out at night and most are not good for you to play with! 

Our latest lab installment was a gift from a friend that could no longer care for the needs of an overly energetic one year old lab puppy!  Marlin was his name, our first male lab!

Marlin, appropriately named after a Black Marlin, both love the open water.    When Marlin was introduced to our farm, he was surprisingly well-mannered for a puppy.  My wife took him on a walk and introduced him to the canal and love was discovered.  The dog took a glance and the next moment was airborne launching four big paws and a whole bunch of enthusiasm into Back Bay.  Marlin had found his new home and the Midgett’s their next lab!

Years ago I worked for G.R. Schell, who headed up Schell Supply a division of Ferguson Enterprises.  We shared many conversations about how a company should and could be run better.  He never hesitated to share his wisdom with me, whether or not I cared to hear about it!  G. R. was overtly fond of his Golden Retriever.  

He told me that there were three kinds of retrievers in this world.

#1  Golden Retriever - a dog that you treat with love and respect and that is what you get in return, love and respect!

#2 Labrador Retriever – a dog you love however keep a 2 X 4 available when they get hard headed.

#3 Chesapeake Bay Retriever – a dog you can love if you want and always keep a 4 x 4 available!

He would then end the analogy by stating I reminded him of a Chesapeake Bay Retriever! 

I don’t agree with G.R. other than the fact the return on investment for the love you give your lab cannot be matched anywhere! 

 

I look forward to the new lessons that I learn from Marlin and welcome  him to our farm and family! 

Are you gonna eat that whole sandwich? 

 

NobleOne

 

 

 

A Gathering of Men

Yesterday I attended the 37^th annual Hunter’s Feast in Knotts Island, NC.  Thousands of men gathering in everything from Carhartt to Camo.   Local legends serving up a variety of deliciousness from brisket to bourbon on the banks of Back Bay. 

It simply amazes me that so many men can gather enjoying libations, cigars, and buckets of good food in the company of great friends, (all men) and no incidents or arguments.  (barely)

In 1985 I was involved in an investment club of men.  We called ourselves the Taurus Societas.  In order to raise money we held a large New Year’s Eve Party that was quite memorable.   We never made any significant money however I will always remember the friendships and the power of a gathering of men.

In 1987 I founded the First Presbyterian Men’s Breakfast.  Six of us would gather @ 6:00 in the morning and cook for 30 plus men every Tuesday for 14 years.  That’s over 700 breakfasts and a lifetime of wonderful stories and growth from a gathering of men. 

It was 1993 when I was inspired to create my next and current gathering of men.  My friends and family supported my wife and me when we faced tough odds of losing our first and only son Matthew. 

In response to that and my way of balancing the gift, I founded The Robin Hoods of Virginia Beach (now The Noblemen) in 1995, initially a gathering of 12 men that has now grown to hundreds serving the community and making lifetime friendships. 

 

It is an honor and a privilege to invest your time and talent in something that returns to you lifetime friends and life changing experiences. 

Note to Women – a close friend and NobleWoman once stated “men and women process things differently”.   I applaud all women and very thankful for the gathering of NobleWomen that are an integral part of The Noblemen.  Meeting separately allows us both to focus on the mission of the gathering.

NobleOne