do you ever feel

do you ever feel like your week has been one serious of absent-minded mistakes after the other? I'm pretty sure that if my head were not attached, I would have left it behind this week. One day this week I got that wretched ticket. Another day this week, I locked my keys in the car while out shopping. grrrr (I must at least say that this is the first time I have done such a thing since having kids, but dang it, it sucked!) The battery went dead in my car remote, so until I replace it, I've gotten in the habit of manually locking it. So, there we were with fish in hand outside of Petsmart, 25 minutes from home, with a storm rolling in. Jeremy wasn't due to come home for another couple of hours from Tarboro, and wasn't answering his phone. We returned the fish so they wouldn't die. I kicked into my desperate Mom turned McGuiver mode and scoured the shopping center for a drycleaners. Walked us down there, and obtained a classic wire hanger from a really nice guy. There I am battling my minivan with my kids in the stroller, hoping that the heavens won't unleash their fury before I can get in. I couldn't believe how many guys just kind of shrugged and passed by. After a few minutes of struggling, two different kind strangers came by to give me a hand. Not just strangers, but everyday heroes really. Just as they showed up, it started raining and I got the kids under the awning. They worked for about 10 minutes to unlock the van, getting soaked in the process. I can personally say that chivalry is not dead. So here's to you guys-who help stranded moms with kids out of the rain! You rock! I thanked them over and over, and we were on our way. Let's hope that Monday will be a better start to a better week! :}

I've Moved

I've moved my blog to http://navigationuncharted.wordpress.com/. See you there.

Goofy Picture of Me @ Work

So this week my staff has pretty much avoided me. I've been a bit on the 'i'm not going to hold your hand and be your bathroom buddy, get your job done' mood. Normally, I'm pretty fun loving, laid-back, cool, hands on manager. I think it will return by end week. But here's a taste of what they get...

Kudos to my Wife's New Profession!

First, I think any stay-at-home mom ROCKS! Well not any. Those of you who are truly lazy and really to sit on the couch and just watch TV and let your kids watch themselves, then take your kids to the local Chick-fil-lia and let your kids play in the playland while you suck down a big cookies n' cream shake, but don't really watch them and let them beat up on the little kids...well, you don't rock. Either become the mom you are suppose to be, or go get a job and at least be productive for the rest of society.

However if you are my wife, who not only runs are amazing household, raising to beautiful kids, somehow keep up with all our friends, volunteer at church, and still be nice to your husband, well you ROCK! And now Christie is in a new profession which is just over and beyond. I swear she is superwoman in disguise. She has been doing it for sometime now but is getting ready to expand her services as a personal assistant to buisness executives that don't have time to get their personal things done. I can't believe people actually pay for this, but they do.

Her services have been so good that others are now getting in line for them. I'm really proud of her! Way to go Christie!

HRC Open House

On Wednesday we had our Business Open House for Headway's National Recruitment Center. We had around 75 people attend with wine tasting and great food. Headway's CEO, JP Sakey and Suzanne Kinkel, EVP spoke about the company and the HRC. Also David Snyder, author of How to Hire a Champion spoke and had a book signing. My favorite feature was the banners that I got made. The HRC team did an outstanding job! The event made the front page of the local newspaper.

Owner's Work Day

Authentic Community

We had some really great conversation tonight at thegathering. It's exciting to listen to how people are experience a place where they are being accepted and authentic. We have prayed hard that rH will be a place where people can come as they are, where truly no perfect people are allowed. It amazing to be a part and to watch a group of people come together and be the church. We are growing and our space is starting to become tight and we are not sure where God will lead us next but know that great things are beginning to take place.

On Saturday we had an Owner's work day (pictures to follow). Honestly it was the most fun I'd ever had at a church work day. Normally, I would have been like bored and wish it wasn't happening. I guess it was just nice to be around people who didn't put up any pretenses and we all just pitch in and worked together. Maybe its because together we know we are making an enviroment where life change can really take place.

Ok, so this week is a busy one for me! Tuesday we go hear Jessica sing with her choir. Then she's staying with us for the rest of the week. Wednesday is the HRC big Business Open House (expecting around 100 people) town council members, mayor of Tarboro, representatives for the senators, lots of community people, lots of food, lots of wine, geez I just hope it goes off without a hitch, and then Friday, Good Friday service - 7 PM. Saturday, church pinic with Easter egg hunt at the park behind the church, and then Easter. Hope to see some of you there!

Time Management

I listen to a really good talk by Tyler at Vintage 21 on reverse engineering. It was a challenging talk about time managment and how you decide to spend your time and resources for the Kingdom. I realized, really this just confirm what I was feeling, but I needed to really take control of my time. There are a lot of things and people who could monolopize my time without me even realizing it or them even meaning to do so. So I sat down the other day and begin mapping out my days:

6:30-8 Commute to work which is time for message prep and time with God.
8-8:30 Prioritize my day, respond to high priorty emails and items, walk the recruitment floor, complete morning reporting, check my calendar for the day's meetings.
8:30-9 Mondays- Operations meetings, Tuesday - Check in with the boss, Wed - Team lead individual meetings, Thurs - Team Wrap Up Meeting, Friday - Plan Monday's Op meeting
9:30 - 10:30 Marketing & Business Development
10:30-1:30 HRC process & procedures
1:30-2 Follow up, check email and respond to high priority items, and walk the floor
2-4:30 Reporting and billing
4:30 - 5 Planning time, hold additonal meetings, plan next day, target next steps for recruitment center, outline meetings for next day, check the dang email again, and send updates out
5-6:30 Commute home, calls for headway, and call prospects for realHope
6:30-8 Family time!!!!!
8-8:30 Tues, Wed, Thurs - Message Prep, Friday - date night with Christie!
8:30-9:30 Blow off time
9:30-10 Reading and research, Saturdays, realHope Sunday prep

Saturdays are family day, and Sundays obviously are filled with realHope. I felt like the past few weeks I've been meeting myself coming and going and had to take control of my time and resources. I look at all I do above and think, geez know wonder I feel so tired! So, I'm off to bed, to begin a new day!

realHope event's

Ok, so some great things happening around realHope. We keep growing and that is really exciting. Honestly we are going to have to consider knocking down a wall or something, I'm not sure what we are going to do. This is a good problem to have!

We had a guys night out on Monday, which I highly enjoyed. We went and shot pool for the evening at which I completely suck, except for one game where I looked like a professional. But really good fun and one to become a traditoin. Nothing like kicking back and enjoying a relaxing evening.

Coming up we have an Owner's work day this Saturday, Good Friday service on the 21st, Spring Cook Out on the 22nd, and of course Easter on the 23rd. The month finishes out with a Ladies Craft Night and a Management Team meeting. It is a busy month but lots of good stuff!