The Power of Unconditional Love

“Sometimes we wake up at three o’clock in the morning and have our best conversations”
-Greg Nelson

The Power of Unconditional Love

I’ve known Greg Nelson for thirty-five years. So, needless to say, I’ve watched him grow in many aspects of his life. Today, he’s a fine business man and is one of the leading experts in providing benefit packages to companies large and small. There are very few people that enjoy the acute analytical abilities he has and I’ve always respected his remarkable talent. Late last week I sat in meetings with Greg for a couple of days and I discovered another remarkable talent he possesses along with more reasons to respect and admire him.

During a break at our meetings a fire alarm went off. Since we were in an office tower in downtown Salt Lake City there was some question as to whether or not it was a false alarm because we could not see any smoke. But, we quickly decided to follow the directions being broadcast and take the stairs down so we could exit the building. It was a long walk down since we had to descend twenty-three floors. But it was worth it when once on the street level we saw fire fighters arrive in their truck and begin the process of looking for the cause of the alarm.

During our wait, we were able to sit in the lobby of the building so we could avoid the cold outside. And, since we had been out in the weather for a little while I sat on a heat radiator to get warm again. Not long after I sat down, Greg’s daughter came and sat next to me and we talked quietly. As we talked, I looked across the lobby and watched her parents stride toward us hand-in-hand. I looked in her eyes and said, “You’re lucky to have parents that still love each other.”
She looked back at me and said, “I know. I’ve never had to worry about that or whether or not my parents were trying to do what was best for me.”

Then, not long afterward, Greg sat next to me and I said, “It’s great to see that you’re still in love with your wife.”

He replied, “Yes. And, we have the most wonderful conversations even after being married for more than twenty-five years. Sometimes we both just wake up at three in the morning and have these talks. It’s great for our relationship, but it makes us real tired the next day. That’s what happened last night.”

As I sat with Greg and his daughter I couldn’t help but feel the power of unconditional love radiating from them. It was a glow I’ll never forget. It was a happiness that was genuine.
It made me wonder how many of us ever are enjoying that same kind of feeling in life. I looked across the lobby of a large building during an emergency and saw lots of other people milling about. I didn’t have the chance to sit and talk with many others. There was one that caught my eye though.

A young man came into the lobby with a large box of sandwiches and chips. He hurried over to the elevator and touched the call button. The elevator didn’t come. He looked puzzled so I got up and walked over to tell him that the elevators were in lock down.

He said, “They can’t be. I have people on the nineteenth floor waiting for this food.”
I said, “They shouldn’t be there. The fire department has ordered an evacuation of the building.”

He picked up his cell phone and called up stairs. A moment later he said, “They’re coming down.”

Not long after, I saw a single man walk up to him and get the box. It was one man! The others had stayed up stairs!

Not more than two or three minutes later a fire fighter used a key to unlock the elevators and told us that the building was clear. There had been an “electrical melt down on the 24th floor.” They had taken care of it so it was now safe.

That announcement answered a huge question for me. Was it a real emergency or a false alarm?
It was real! I was glad I followed directions to safety. I remember thinking how unfortunate the people on the nineteenth floor could have been by believing it was a false alarm. I could tell that’s what they believed by their casual response to an announced emergency.

As I rode the elevator back up to the twenty-third floor I couldn’t help but wonder, “Are we offering unconditional love in our relationships just as Greg Nelson is, or are we treating our relationships too casually, as if they are a false alarm. Luckily I was riding up with Greg, his wife and his children basking in their genuine unconditional love. I could feel the difference between the real thing and a casual love. They gave me the conviction to never make my relationships too casual again.

Unconditional love is a tremendous power and it is a power that is available to each one of us if we will accept and offer it to others. Take a few minutes today and decide to offer unconditional love to the people who are important to you. If you will, it will change your life and the lives of those around you. “This is not a drill.”

Add to Life's Excitement and Possibilities

“Pursue your dreams, be persistent and don’t give up.”
- Curt LaBelle

Add Your Own Unique Contribution to Life’s Excitement and Possibilities

I had the opportunity to participate in the 25th Annual Investors Choice Venture Capital Conference on Thursday. This annual event is the culmination of thousands of hours of work by entrepreneurs, investors and the professionals that work with them. The conference is a great event; but if you only attend the conference itself you would see a very small part of what amounts to an immense movement.


This year’s conference showcased twenty-six companies as they presented their business to investors from across the United States. The companies themselves came from locations from Hawaii to South Carolina. And, they were prepared by Mentors who donated their time and expertise to help these companies hone their “pitch.”


Each presenting company received ten minutes in which to make their presentation to the large crowd in attendance. That may seem like an easy task; but each entrepreneur realized that it was their shot at raising millions of dollars to help make their dreams come true so, they wanted to put everything they had into creating the best presentation possible.


I love the process created by Wayne Brown Institute to help these companies. My friend Brad Bertoch, President & CEO of the Institute calls it Cooperative “Venturing.” Cooperative Venturing combines experienced professionals such as attorneys, accountants, financial experts and marketers with entrepreneurs to provide them with access to capital, expertise and a strong network for little cost. It allows everyone involved to pursue their dreams within a concentrated time frame and specific, proven system to reach a successful outcome.


Every participating company had to apply to be accepted to participate and then, they worked as a member of a team to create and improve their presentation. If you were to walk into one of these “mentoring sessions” you would see thousands of dollars of billable time being donated to the entrepreneur! With such amazing “fire-power” in the room you can bet that it takes a great deal of persistence and work to create a winning presentation.


There are times in this process when the entrepreneurs feel as if their presentation just can’t be done in the ten minutes allotted! They present to their team; they get comments; they go back to work on their presentation and they finally get it close to perfection. It is a process that forces every participant to produce their very best outcome!


Why do people put themselves through such a rigorous process? On the surface it appears as if it’s all about making money. But in the nineteen years I’ve been participating it has become clear to me that it’s about much more than that!


I contribute because I love to be inspired by the creativity and drive demonstrated by the participating entrepreneurs. I always sit in awe of their intelligence, ability and determination. This was the case again this year as I had the chance to work with Kuru Footwear, Immunologix and NVH Technologies.


Bret Rasmussen, Founder and President of Kuru Footear, has had a dream of creating incredible shoes since he was ten years old! Today, he is living that dream by creating a new category of outdoor/urban wear that you have to wear to believe. Take a look for yourself at http://www.kurufootwear.com/.


Ryan Fiorini, President of Immunologix, has built a company that has created a new technology to create human antibodies for autoimmune diseases and inflammation. Now the treatment for health issues such as a snake bite will no longer have the potential to be more harmful than the venom itself! You can learn more at http://www.immunologixinc.com/.


Tod Schulthess, President & CEO of NVH Technologies, has built a company around new technology capable of delivering high tech solutions for critically unsolvable low frequency noise problems. I like to think of this company as creating “noise cancelling head phones” for locomotives! Their products allow operators to drive a train or hauler without feeling as if they have been run over at the end of the day. See more about what they have created at http://www.nvhtechnologies.com/.


Now you can see why I take part in the process of Cooperative Venturing. It fills my soul with new energy and vision. It gives me a chance to associate with amazing people. It shows me that almost nothing is impossible because these new companies are doing what was once thought of as impossible! I get to work with people who have, “never give up” firmly implanted into their being.Let me ask you a question. Are you doing something on a regular basis that reaffirms your desire to pursue your dreams, be persistent and to never give up? Have you found a group of people to connect with that brings out the best you have to offer the world? If not, take a few minutes to make a plan to do so. It will be well worth the effort! You deserve to be excited about life and all its possibilities. But, most importantly, you deserve to add to life’s excitement and possibilities as only you can!

The Power of Care

“I’ll make sure you’re taken care of.”
- Joe White

The Power of Care

I was driving in Syracuse Utah this week with my friend Reman Jacobsen. He’s a great handyman and was going with me to take a look at some work for a Client of mine. As we came to a stop light I noticed four young girls on the side of the street getting ready to cross right In front of us.

After looking both ways the girls put their arms around each other and began to walk forward. It was a striking picture to see their smiling faces as they filled the crosswalk from side to side. I felt mesmerized as they laughed, talked and almost skipped arm-in-arm to the north side of the street. I remember thinking, “Now that’s something you don’t see every day!”

Too many of my days have been spent thinking such a thought as this, when it is clear that if I will just take the time to watch every day occurrences it will be obvious to me that such caring is all around. I really do want to see more caring and I also want to be more a part of it.

During this same drive as I talked with Reman, on our return to Salt Lake City, I asked him if he was sure he could perform the work for the price he had quoted. He simply looked up at me and said, “I don’t need to be rich. I just need to make enough to be able to do a good job so I can take care of people.” He went on to explain to me that by working in this way, people would want to work with him again so he never had to worry about having work to do.

I was refreshed by our conversation as well as by his caring and I thought, “I am so lucky to be associated with such a good man.” He is a good man indeed and it has been my pleasure to have known him for almost seven years.

Another friend for more than ten years also demonstrated deep caring to me this week. Joe White and I have been working together for these many years and have been able to work through a few difficult circumstances when the occasion has called for it. And, we had such an occasionthis week.

When a person we were working with became angry, it was Joe who said, “Let me talk with him. I know we can work things out.” Later I learned that Joe said to this person most sincerely, “I’ll make sure you’re taken care of and will be happy.” That was just the thing that needed to be said. But, more importantly, it was just the thing that needed to be said and believed!

Joe’s words were believed because he has created a reputation of being honest and fair. So, when he says such things, people believe him and know it is true. I was glad to be able to thank Joe for being the kind of person I can talk and work through difficult situations with. It is great to be able to count on others to provide care when I need it!

There have been many times in my life when I haven’t felt as if I had much of anything to give. I’ve felt “spent” through and through. I’ve wondered why anyone would take the time to listen to any advice I have to offer since my own life is so far from perfect. While I know these feelings from trial and error, they have led me to a marvelous discovery.

The most important thing I can offer to people around me is a caring attitude! I don’t have to have all of the answers for everyone I come into contact with. I just have to care about them and offer small gestures that make a grand difference.

Small things such as a smile, a gentle pat on the back, and the offering of an encouraging word make the greatest difference. When we live life in this way somehow the universe makes up the difference and helps us along. It is a miraculous thing to watch!

About three weeks ago I was standing on a step. Below me was an old man struggling to walk on level ground. As he approached the step I saw his eyes become filled with doubt. He knew it would be a challenge for him to lift his legs high enough. He doubted his strength.

I knew I could not restore his strength. I knew I could not remove his fear. I also knew that I could extent a hand to give him some of my strength. So, I reached out and as I reached out he instinctively stretched to take my hand. I gave him a slight boost and a big smile. He smiled back and gave me a “thanks” that lifted my day and told me once again that caring isn’t about solving all the world’s problems. Caring is about offering a little boost to make a huge difference for someone else!

Take Your Stool and Begin to Play

Why are you trying so hard to fit in when you were born to stand out?
- Ian

Take Your Stool and Begin to Play

Have you ever heard the saying, “Marches to the beat of a different drummer?” It holds a warm spot in my heart because when I was a child I wanted to be like my father who was a drummer. He loved big band music and played his drum set in our basement. I would listen to him playing and would marvel at his skill in using the different drums and symbols contained in his set.


When he was playing with his whole demeanor would change. He would become lost in his movements as if transported to another realm while being swallowed alive by the music. Yet, he was still there with his arms flailing and his feet taping.


I loved it when he would take his talent and combine it with other instruments to form a band. During such “gigs” he became more than just a drummer; he was a member of a band making amazing music. As I listened to the music I noticed that the drums became the generator of the rhythm, the pulse of the musical gift, as they blended with the other instruments. This has ever been the case for me through all the years.


It has been many, many years since hearing the drums from my childhood. But I was thrilled to be transported back to those days when I recently went to a family wedding. Upon my arrival at the reception I was greeted by a group of young musicians playing jazz. My father was there and I watched him look on with wanting eyes.


I wasn’t the only one who noticed the desire in his eyes. Because, before long, he was invited to take his seat with the band and his transformation was revealed before my eyes once again. There he was, unique to the band because of his years. And, there he was, becoming one with the music and the other band members regardless of their differences!


It was their difference that made the music so interesting and so intricate. It was their difference that gave new life and meaning to everyone hearing the sound of their music.
I saw only one person with quiet reservation looking on as my father played. He was the contemporary drummer in the band. I’m pretty sure he had the feeling that he had been replaced. My father certainly didn’t look as if he intended to yield his prized position within a short space of time. Perhaps the young drummer had the chance to feel what my father has been feeling for a while; his place and time with the band had drawn to a close.


But, it wasn’t time for the young drummer to be so isolated. Soon my father yielded up the stool and handed over the sticks to their rightful owner. The drummers had changed, but the music remained magical!


Later, my friend Ian made the comment to me that he had witnessed a transformation in my father during the exchange. We had been talking about people and their unique abilities not long before. During that conversation I loved his question to another friend, “Why are you trying so hard to fit in when you were born to stand out!”


Just like the drummer has a unique talent that stands out, yet still adds to the beauty of the band’s music, each one of us has something to give the world that only we can give. Discover what you love to do; make sure it makes you feel as if you want to flail your arms and tap your toes with joy every time you wake up in the morning. When find it, you’ll know you’re ready to take your place in the band and make beautiful music. The music of the universe needs you! Please take your stool and start to play!

Why are you trying so hard to fit in when you were born to stand out?
- Ian

Take Your Stool and Begin to Play

Have you ever heard the saying, “Marches to the beat of a different drummer?” It holds a warm spot in my heart because when I was a child I wanted to be like my father who was a drummer. He loved big band music and played his drum set in our basement. I would listen to him playing and would marvel at his skill in using the different drums and symbols contained in his set.

When he was playing with his whole demeanor would change. He would become lost in his movements as if transported to another realm while being swallowed alive by the music. Yet, he was still there with his arms flailing and his feet taping.

I loved it when he would take his talent and combine it with other instruments to form a band. During such “gigs” he became more than just a drummer; he was a member of a band making amazing music. As I listened to the music I noticed that the drums became the generator of the rhythm, the pulse of the musical gift, as they blended with the other instruments. This has ever been the case for me through all the years.

It has been many, many years since hearing the drums from my childhood. But I was thrilled to be transported back to those days when I recently went to a family wedding. Upon my arrival at the reception I was greeted by a group of young musicians playing jazz. My father was there and I watched him look on with wanting eyes.

I wasn’t the only one who noticed the desire in his eyes. Because, before long, he was invited to take his seat with the band and his transformation was revealed before my eyes once again. There he was, unique to the band because of his years. And, there he was, becoming one with the music and the other band members regardless of their differences!

It was their difference that made the music so interesting and so intricate. It was their difference that gave new life and meaning to everyone hearing the sound of their music.
I saw only one person with quiet reservation looking on as my father played. He was the contemporary drummer in the band. I’m pretty sure he had the feeling that he had been replaced. My father certainly didn’t look as if he intended to yield his prized position within a short space of time. Perhaps the young drummer had the chance to feel what my father has been feeling for a while; his place and time with the band had drawn to a close.

But, it wasn’t time for the young drummer to be so isolated. Soon my father yielded up the stool and handed over the sticks to their rightful owner. The drummers had changed, but the music remained magical!

Later, my friend Ian made the comment to me that he had witnessed a transformation in my father during the exchange. We had been talking about people and their unique abilities not long before. During that conversation I loved his question to another friend, “Why are you trying so hard to fit in when you were born to stand out!”

Just like the drummer has a unique talent that stands out, yet still adds to the beauty of the band’s music, each one of us has something to give the world that only we can give. Discover what you love to do; make sure it makes you feel as if you want to flail your arms and tap your toes with joy every time you wake up in the morning. When find it, you’ll know you’re ready to take your place in the band and make beautiful music. The music of the universe needs you! Please take your stool and start to play!

“I need to simplify my life. I just have too much to do between my job, my daughter and this house.”

- Cynthia LaRoche

It’s Simply a Great Life

This week has been a lesson in simplification for me. It started as I drove with my friend Jonathan Cohen to a meeting. During our drive, we talked about our families and how they were doing. He has a great family and it is the center of his life. Perhaps the capstone of our conversation was when he told me how lucky he is to be able to count on his immediate and extended family for the support he needs in life.

There are lots of demands on our lives these days and I think most of us are feeling a little worn out by everything we have to do. I know from talking with Jonathan that he’s grateful for the closeness of his family and how much strength they provide him in every area of his life.
“I look around me and I can’t believe how lucky I am to have a father who is so close to me,” Jonathan said. His mother passed away when his was about twenty and it turned into a great opportunity for him to really get to know his father. That friendship has continued to grow as they have entered into new phases of life.

All of us will go through differing phases as we move into the future, so it’s important for us to keep our eye on what is of the highest importance. My friend Cynthia LaRoche was describing this to me yesterday. She recently adopted her young daughter and it has allowed her to explore a fresh take on her life. “Now that we have Brittany, I need to simplify my life,” she told me.

It was great to sit in the middle of Cynthia’s life for just a few minutes. There we were, surrounded by the things of importance; a black cat that jumped up on the table in front of me and swooshed his tale across my nose; a chocolate lab who stuck his nose up toward that same table, just hoping to have a taste of pizza, and then there was Brittany, sliding along the wooden floor perched on top of two enormous, round plastic disks. When her friend asked her, “What are those,” Brittany simply exclaimed, “They’re my shoes!”

To one less experienced, this may have looked as if it were life on the edge of chaos. But to me, it was most decidedly life on the edge of heaven. And, Cynthia’s eyes agreed as they scanned the whole thing while expressing a sense of satisfaction at her good fortune to be swimming in the middle of her treasures.

Fortune: “Life’s ups and downs – chance happenings throughout life that may turn out well or badly.” I think not! Both Jonathan and Cynthia have made the choice to create their life surrounded by friends and family. They know what the most significant things are in their lives. They know what elements make a great life and they have embraced them fully.

When such a choice is made it becomes easy to be selective when it relates to other things that compete for time. So, if you’re feeling a little worn right now, I invite you to take just a few minutes and identify the important things in your life.

If you are having a hard time doing so, let me tell you of a conversation I had with another friend this week. Her house had recently burned down, so I carefully expressed my consolation along with my sincere desire that she and her family are doing well. Knowing her as I do, I wasn’t surprised by her answer.

“I don’t think we will ever know the reason our house burned down. But, it doesn’t matter. Everyone in my family is well! The rest is just stuff. As long as we have each other, everything is all right.”

That tells it all! Having a great life is as simple as living centered in the things that have life; family and friends. These will never go away if you stay focused on them. Sure, there will be changes and challenges. But, nothing can stop you from giving the love needed to accomplish this. Pull your loved ones in and hold them tightly. The rest is “just stuff!”

“Life is confusing. Just when we think it’s all over, it throws a view like this at us. And, we don’t even know where we are.”
- Evie

Finding Humility with Faith

My friend Evie spent some time with me talking about some of the difficulties she’s currently facing. She’s been battling a host of problems covering almost every aspect of her life; financial, she has been divorced three times and her career is in its twilight; physical, she’s in her late seventies, and is losing her strength; social, she has no family left and rarely gets a chance to spend much time with any other people; spiritual, she gave up her religious affiliations years ago because the environment at her church was too “stifling.” In short, she was in the midst of the largest test of her life.

We sat looking out across a large valley during the evening as we talked. As I listened, the sun began to retreat toward the western mountains, the blue sky began to erupt into brilliant pinks and purples, and the night was about to pounce when Evie exclaimed, “Life is confusing. Just when we think it’s all over, it throws a view like this at us. And, we don’t even know where we are.” We had walked far enough off the trail that we really didn’t know exactly where we were!
It was amazing for me to see the change in Evie’s face as she received the view as a gift. Life’s trials seem determined to test each one of us to the point of personal recognition that we don’t have the power to deliver ourselves alone. It‘s during these times that we have no choice but to yield to humility.

Humility is a good thing to learn, but there are different types of humility. I can think of two types that are not productive or helpful to us. One type leads us to depression and despair. This is what Evie was struggling with. Another type leads us to bitterness. Again, this type of humility is not something that propels us into our brightest future.

My friend Mike Krause spoke with me Friday night about another type of humility. “You have to recognize that there are things outside of your control,” said he. “Yes, we all make mistakes, but things generally work out under normal circumstances. You have to be able to forgive yourself and know that the worst case is that you have the power to start over again; it’s darkest before the dawn.” This is the humility of faith.

Humility with faith delivers power to recognize that you can’t control everything and at the same time it sets us free to get up in strength so we can go out into the world to create a our dazzling future. Why do some people develop humility with faith when others are doomed to live in depression or bitterness? Where does one see an example of this type of humility?

I think we see natural wonders of humility with faith all around us daily. It is the morning sun bursting open the new day. It is the sun streaming through the clouds after a tempest. It is the grass reaching through the ground toward the life giving sun after being frozen in the ground. It is the view of beauty my friend Evie saw and accepted during a dark period in her life.

Such patterns of deliverance proliferate all around us. They all point to the Law of Humility with Faith. Universal marvel s are available to those who look for and receive them. I invite you to take the time to map out two or three universal marvels and watch for them each day so you can be filled with joy and hope. These are the patterns I look for and love each day.

First, I watch the sun rise over the mountains to the east and I delight in the pink darts it shoots out as fireworks just before it lightens the western sky. Second, I can’t wait to see the brilliant colors announce the resting period of night as the sun sinks low in the evening. Third, during snowy days I am filled with warmth as I sit and watch the dance of snowflakes as they float toward rest. These seemingly small things are examples meaningful marvels that I count on each and every day. They fill my soul with hope and solace.

I invite you to identify meaningful universal patterns such as these for yourself. If you will just take a few moments and think about times where you have felt such joy and peace your daily marvel will act as an anchor of Humility with Faith. It’s a big, awe-inspiring universe out there! Make sure you allow yourself to be thrilled by it each and every day!