Country Music

I never was a big fan of country music before spending time in Colorado, but ever since then I really have learned to like it. I'll be the first to admit although it doesn't seem like it's for everyone, that's exactly who country music is for. Country music is all about a story. Now yes it's true many of the stories are the same, but they are still stories nonetheless. The best part, everybody's got one! Everybody has a story about heartache or something great that happened to them. If you can't stand country music, just remember it's all about the story. The story is what allows us to connect to people who don't sound like what we like and who have a totally different background than we might have. It's the common thread between that binds us for those few mins of understanding and compassion for what they are feeling. The point is give country a chance and you might just be surprised at what happens.

Family

There's nothing half as important as the support of your family. It's what gets you through the tough times and they are the people you celebrate your greatest highs with and are there to catch you during your lowest lows. When you have nowhere else to turn, they are the people that are always there. Whether or not your family are blood relatives matters little. As long as they are there for you that's all that matters.

Something Worth Doing

There are times that you want to pull your hair out, but you have to push on. It's times like these when you have to decide whether the brick walls are going to keep you out or show what you're made of. Brick walls are designed to keep people out and you have to figure out a way around them. Sometimes that means going over them or under them. Other times it means go around but no matter what push on and don't get stuck. It's important to remember there is no problem that can't be solved. Some problems take years, others take only a few minutes but never give up.

There will always be detractors

You have to remember that there will always be times when you want to give up. When you want to runaway because things get hard but that's what separates the men from the boys. It's at times like that you have to be true to who you are. You have to push through this, because staying true to who you are wis going to pay big dividends in the long run. So stay true and I'll write more soon.

Elephant Hunting

I’ve wanted to write about this for some time but I’ve never felt that what I had was quite good enough. I’m not sure it’s good enough now but I’ll give it a shot.

Elephant hunting is a term I borrow from a great man who many call the “Oracle of Omaha”. He talks about going after big fast moving game. They are the kind that most can’t take on but they are worth it when you get one. For him this means waiting for the right investment that may only appear briefly but when it does and your ready you make an absolutely killing. This analogy can be applied to many things even dating. Guys know there is sometimes that limited opportunity with a girl that is way out of their league but if they strike it could be great. For me it’s Real Estate.

I’m looking for that elephant. I’m looking for the buyer that can spend enough money that my it is an impressive years salary by most standards. Unlike Buffett, I can’t wait forever, so I take the more proactive approach. I’m actively seeking out potential elephants and coaching them out of the woods to the grassy clearing where I can pull the trigger. It’s not everyday that you can lure them out into the open but when you can it’s always worth it.

Anti-Learning

I’ve been getting email from people who think I’m anti-learning. This is not the case at all. I’m just against the traditional thought that someone with a degree is smarter than someone without one, because this is not the case. In effort to prove that I am not against traditional education I am providing what help I can below for those who can’t normal classes in.

Online education is one way to get some education in without all the normal structure required. Many of these classes are go at your own pace and you can take up to a year to finish them. The benefit of this style of learning is that it fits your schedule no matter how crazy that schedule might be. When you’re ready to learn the course is there and when your too busy it doesn’t care. The University of Colorado is a school among many that offers a wide variety of online courses that you can sign up to take.Click here

ITunesU is a great way to go hear lectures and speeches from different college campuses across the country. The fact that they have audio as well as video for many different schools and speakers is a great thing. I recently was listening to Mark Zuckerberg speak at Stamford from a few years ago before Facebook became the mecca that it is today. Check it out here(requires itunes)

MIT offers open course ware. This website offers course material such as lectures notes exams and other things for people who love to learn for learning’s sake. The site is fairly straightforward and offers lots of different things that people can study.Click Here

I hope this proves that I have greater interests beyond telling people school is not necessary, because it is. The question is to what degree is it necessary. If you can read write and do basic arithmetic and are satisfied by that then fine. For those wanting a little more without throwing away $30,000 a year here are some great alternatives that fit into your life as opposed to the other way around.

Good Idea's Never Last Long

I don’t mean to say that good ideas are bad but rather that they are likely to strike someone else as well. I recently discovered that this had happened to me for the millionth time. I recently discovered that someone else had the same idea that with the dropout rates increasing it was time for someone to start speaking to this crowd. Let them know that there were others out there like them and that they are not alone. The desire to create a place for people who may not know where to go or how much is still available is clearly a thought that is on a few minds. It boils down to the desire to help those with the skills but not the necessary knowledge of how and where they can be applied. In the end there might be a partnership able to be formed and you might see something much bigger than just a blog. Stay tuned!