"Collision" 8.18.2025 Monday's Warm Cocoa

“Collision is the intentional, rapid, and often unplanned convergence of diverse people and ideas.” – Jeff Amerine

Collision

My friend Jeff Amerine is extraordinary. He’s an expert in venture capital and entrepreneurship and is particularly distinguished for his work in building business startup ecosystems in non-traditional locations. Locations commonly referred to as, the “fly-over” states. Those not on the east or west coasts of the United States. 

He is the co-founder and Managing Director of Startup Junkie Consulting, a firm dedicated to accelerating small and scalable businesses in America’s Heartland. He’s also veteran of the United States Army.  You know, one of those guys who have created, protected and maintained the life you and I enjoy. These two life experiences have given him a unique view of business and life.

One of the concepts he developed and uses in his life and business is a principle he calls “Collision.” Not the kind of collision one thinks of occurring as a result of a car crash. Yet, it is of comparatively, high impact. Collision, as he defines it, is the intentional, rapid, and often unplanned convergence of diverse people and ideas. In the context of a startup business, this means creating an environment where founders, mentors, investors, and potential customers interact frequently to test assumptions and get real-world feedback. It is a process of constant "bumping into" new perspectives and challenges, forcing a startup business to either pivot and grow or fail quickly, saving valuable time and resources.

This same principle can be powerful for you and me to accelerate personal growth. It is a transformative method of moving from passive living to active experimentation. In other words, instead of spending months or years in a state of indecision or uncertainty, you can use the power of collision to accelerate your own learning and development.

A key application of collision is in embracing what could be called unstructured networking. Traditional networking can feel like work, a series of pre-planned, formal meetings that you really don’t want to attend. Collision, however, encourages a more natural approach. For example, you could attend a conference of interest, join a local meetup group related to a hobby, or volunteer for a cause that interests you. The goal isn't just to add names to your contact list, but to expose yourself to unexpected ideas and conversations, leading you toward chance encounters, often providing extraordinary insights, while steering you toward a new direction you hadn't considered.

Additionally, collision can redefine your concept of failure. In the startup world, a product that fails to gain traction isn’t necessarily seen as a complete disaster. It's viewed as a data point. Similarly, when you apply collision to your personal life, you can consider setbacks as valuable feedback, a learning opportunity. This shift in thinking allows you to move on quickly, analyze what went wrong, and adjust your approach for the next attempt.

Finally, the collision principle pushes you to accelerate your learning curve by prioritizing action over deliberation. If you're contemplating a major life change, such as a career transition or a move to a new city, instead of spending months in a state of anxious analysis, create small, low-risk collisions. This could mean taking a long weekend in a place you’ve often thought of living, to meet locals and explore different neighborhoods. Attend a workshop of interest. Try a new hobby. Such hands-on "collisions" provide a much more authentic and immediate sense of whether a path is right for you, allowing you to move forward with clarity and purpose.

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I’m Lynn Butterfield, Real Estate & Lifestyle Expert and Television Host for American Dream TV in Northwest Arkansas. I’ve helped hundreds of Buyers and Sellers, as a real estate agent and Associate Broker with Coldwell Banker, to discover where and how they want to live and work; to achieve what I call Realesation™. That’s why I bring you American Dream TV, Both Sides of the Fence, About the Dish, Monday’s Warm Cocoa and Home by Design Magazine to stir your heart and mind. Contact me so I can join you along your own unique path of discovery.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TjKNEZ1QUTxoBXRqghc9Oiwz4-adE6ke/view?usp=sharing

More Than Enough-Monday's Warm Cocoa 8.11.2025

"My 16-year-old son dropped some wisdom on us.” – Brad Alexander

More Than Enough

“Last week my sixteen-year-old son dropped some wisdom on us while we were out at dinner,” Brad Alexander said.

His son has dyslexia. So, reading is torture for him. It always has been. As a result, Brad and his wife have always been worried about him doing well in society and with school work. But, the other day he received the score for his first-ever AP class final test, and he made a four out of five! That’s college credit level stuff! In high school.

“Several of his friends scored lower than him,” Brad before continuing. “Here’s what he said about the test that made me a pretty proud dad.”

“I think being dyslexic actually helped me. I had to focus way more in class than my friends, and I think it helped me learn better.”

Did you catch those three personal deductions?

Brad’s son has discovered something most people have yet to.

The things that make life harder for you might actually be your secret weapon! Another way to say this is, your most difficult challenges are likely to lead you to your greatest successes and growth, if you allow them to.

Brad’s son struggles with reading. And he's a terrible at spelling.

Brad said, “I used to worry about him constantly.”

Three questions constantly haunted Brad and his wife as their son grew physically, mentally and intellectually through his childhood years. 

Would he keep up in school? 

Would others be mean to him?

Would he be okay?

Brad says, “Turns out I was worrying about the wrong things!”

And, he was kind enough to tell me what he has learned from his son through his years as his father.

First, we are all dealt cards we don’t want or don’t expect.

Second, how you play those cards matters way more than what cards you’re dealt.

Brad’s supposedly handicapped son is the embodiment of a powerful principle of great importance. Our biggest struggles might actually be our greatest advantage. They will always shift our minds to seek different answers and alternate paths forward. Paths and answers that we would never have considered otherwise.

You and I just have to learn how to turn everything to our good. It is a learned skill!

Pretty smart for a sixteen-year-old who would have a hard time reading this story!

As parents, we worry our children and grandchildren won’t be enough. But, maybe they’re already more than enough.

We all worry that, we won’t be enough. 

Maybe we all are.

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I’m Lynn Butterfield, Real Estate & Lifestyle Expert and Television Host for American Dream TV in Northwest Arkansas. I’ve helped hundreds of Buyers and Sellers, as a real estate agent and Associate Broker with Coldwell Banker, to discover where and how they want to live and work; to achieve what I call Realesation™. That’s why I bring you American Dream TV, Both Sides of the Fence, About the Dish, Monday’s Warm Cocoa and Home by Design Magazine to stir your heart and mind. Contact me so I can join you along your own unique path of discovery.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TjKNEZ1QUTxoBXRqghc9Oiwz4-adE6ke/view?usp=sharing

Lynn Butterfield's Monday's Warm Cocoa, "Stuck in Neutral"

“I believe my plans have become stale.” – Ed Stokes

Stuck in Neutral

“I believe my plans have become stale,” Ed’s message said. “I’m not sure if there is any strategy to help overcome this.”

Ed’s lament sounded familiar. After all, who hasn’t had an experience of feeling as if they’re stuck in neutral? But, Ed had decided, enough is enough.

For the past two years, Ed has been talking about moving to a mid-sized city in the South, a place holding his attention due to its vibrant community, lower cost of living and temperate climate. Yet, the real draw to that particular location is his family, already living there.

Ed's voice, usually a calm and steady baritone, was frayed with anxiety as we talked on the telephone moments later. “I can’t seem to make any progress!”

As Ed talked It became clear that there was something deeper not being acknowledged.  

"I need to ask you something, and I want you to be honest with me," I started with trepidation. 

"Sure, what is it?" he responded, with a note of acceptance in his voice.

"Why are you deciding not to move forward?" 

There was a thoughtful silence on the other side of the phone call as Ed began to let the question resonate.

“Why have you been deciding not to move forward with your plan? You’ve been holding off for two years and based on your anxiety level it’s clear that you’re paying a high cost by living with such uncertainty. Don’t you think it is time to put an end to this? Tell me the reasons you decided to go forward a couple of years ago."

Ed took the next few minutes to rehearse the factors that caused him to create a new plan for his future.

“Have any of those compelling reasons changed?”

Ed responded firmly. “No!”

“Then it’s time for you to just get it done and finished!”

The feeling on the call changed instantly as soon as Ed’s intent had been refreshed. He began planning again on the spot. Most importantly, he began to act. The barriers he had identified earlier melted away instantly because he changed his thinking. He had shifted the gears in his mind from neutral to drive again.

It is impossible to live in “drive” all of the time. Sometimes a temporary shift to neutral is needed. After all, moving forward with purpose requires a solid plan based on intent. Ed just got stuck in neutral this time.

Ed discovered his sought-after strategy, to shift out of neutral, by simply reclaiming his “why.” 

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I’m Lynn Butterfield, Real Estate & Lifestyle Expert and Television Host for American Dream TV in Northwest Arkansas. I’ve helped hundreds of Buyers and Sellers, as a real estate agent and Associate Broker with Coldwell Banker, to discover where and how they want to live and work; to achieve what I call Realesation™. That’s why I bring you American Dream TV, Both Sides of the Fence, About the Dish, Monday’s Warm Cocoa and Home by Design Magazine to stir your heart and mind. Contact me so I can join you along your own unique path of discovery.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TjKNEZ1QUTxoBXRqghc9Oiwz4-adE6ke/view?usp=sharing