It has been almost 25 years since my last endeavor with a “classroom”. But an inner desire to be better at what I do has finally driven me to pick up the “pencil” once more. I have embarked on a journey, if you will. One to become a better version of myself. A better version of me, not just for me, but also for my family and my business, because they both deserve it.

The vehicle I chose to get me where I want to be is Mark J’s Master Key Experience. I have been involved with Mark’s training for some time now and I find his, as well as the rest of is staff’s, learning methods very reliable. They not only make learning enjoyable, but also relatively easy- using methods that have been proven to work. Methods that are rooted in science.

I am a bit of an over-analyzer by nature. Part of that may come from my time the military (I am a Persian Gulf War Marine Corps veteran) but the majority probably comes from the way I was raised. Growing up, we did not get a lot because my parents had to work hard for most of what we did have.

So, we learned the value of things. Sometimes the hard way- tear it up and there would probably not be another to take its place. Misuse something or mistreat something and you would probably lose the use of it for a significant while. This wasn’t because my parents were mean, they just had to put in a lot of hours to pay for the things that we did have.

Because of my upbringing and my time in the Marines as an aircraft mechanic, I became someone who analyzed things to make sure that whatever action I was about to take take was the appropriate one.

I also grew up as a hunter. And as such, I had to learn how to make sure that anytime I pointed a gun at something, I knew the consequences of what I was doing. We did not hunt for sport. Rather, we hunted to supplement the food on our table. So, early on, my dad showed me the consequence of what we were doing, something that left an indelible mark on me- in a good way.

All of that being said, I decided to undertake this endeavor because I was “stuck”. Stuck trying to make a business work that wasn’t going as fast as I wanted it to. I have full faith in the product, so I know that the “problem” must lie within me. I know the product, so again, the problem must lie within me.

For most of my adult life, I have been a manual laborer. I have had had numerous jobs, but for the most part, they have all been some sort of manual, or skilled, labor- and I think that has somehow carried over to my everyday existence. The task-oriented mindset, if you will. But things were not always that way!

When I was in high school, I had some business classes. And I had a business teacher who made a lasting impression on me. Her name was Mary Hopkins. I had her for several different classes over the years, but the ones I remember most were the General Marketing and General Merchandising classes.

She, like Mark, had a way of teaching that not only made learning fun, but it seemed easier. Mrs Hopkins was also my DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) instructor. With her guiding me, I actually was fortunate enough to compete at the national level in both Marketing and Merchandising.

I guess maybe that is why being “stuck” in my own business is so frustrating. It’s kind of like knowing all of the answers to the test, and still failing it. And failure for me is NOT an option! I believe too strongly in what I do! As far as I am concerned, I am in a win or die trying scenario. There are too many people depending on me. That, and I am too stubborn to quit and give up.

So now I find myself here. A place that is somewhat familiar, but in many ways, ohh so odd. Back to where it all began, so to speak- learning a new skill set. Although I know that I am up to the challenge, it is still somewhat frightening. I’m not sure if it is the fear of failure, or if it has something to do with this new aspect of blogging, putting my thoughts and feelings out there for the whole world to see, that has me a bit intimidated.

But, nevertheless, I will tackle this challenge headlong as I have all of my others.