Movie Lines We Could Use

Posted in Business

Movie Lines We Could Use dan skognes insurance finance investments motivation blogger speaker entrepreneur (256x320) (256x320)

I love movies.  Always have.  There is something magical about them, and there are certain lines that just stick with you.  I got to thinking, what movie lines could we use or have we heard in our business? Some of them I have WANTED to use…LOL.  If nothing else, some of these memories will make you smile.

These are just few I thought of (sorry for the profanity…but they are quotes):

Jerry McGuire.  “Help me help you!”

A Few Good Men. “You can’t handle the truth!”

Poltergeist.  “They’re here!”

Gone With the Wind.  “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.”

Network. “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore.”

Rocky Balboa. “Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place, and I don’t care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward; how much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now, if you know what you’re worth, then go out and get what you’re worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody. Cowards do that and that ain’t you. You’re better than that!”

Terminator. “I’ll be back.”

The Untouchables. “What are you willing to do?”

The Godfather. “I’m going to make him a deal he can’t refuse.”

Marathon Man.  “Is it safe?”

Cool Hand Luke. “What we have here, is a failure to communicate.”

Terminator 2. “Hasta la vista, baby!”

Apocalypse Now. “I love the smell of napalm in the morning.”

Top Gun. “I feel the need….the need for speed.”

Moonstruck. “Snap out of it!”

Titanic. “I’m king of the world!”

Knute Rockney, All American. “Tell ’em to go out there with all they got and win just one for the Gipper.”

Dead Poets Society. “Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary.”

Casa Blanca. “Here’s looking at you, kid.”

A Streetcar Named Desire. “I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.”

Star Wars. “May the force be with you.”

Field of Dreams. “If you build it, he will come.”

The Pride of the Yankees. “Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth.”

The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. “Badges? We ain’t got no badges! We don’t need no badges! I don’t have to show you any stinking badges!”

When Harry Met Sally. “I’ll have what she’s having.”

Midnight Cowboy. “I’m walking here. I’m walking here!”

The Wizard of Oz. “Toto, I’ve got a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.”

On The Waterfront. “You don’t understand! I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I could’ve been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am.”

Braveheart. “Freedommmmmmmmmmmmmmm.”

Bonnie and Clyde. “We rob banks.”

The Sixth Sense. “I see dead people.”

Silence of the Lambs. “A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti.”

Frankenstein. “It’s alive. It’s alive!”

Apollo 13. “Houston, we have a problem.”

Some Like It Hot. “Well, nobody’s perfect.”

Scarface. “Say hello to my little friend.”

Dirty Harry. “You’ve got to ask yourself one question: ‘Do I feel lucky?’ Well, do ya, punk?”

Forrest Gump. “Mama always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.”

Taxi Driver. “You talking to me?”

Jerry McGuire. “You had me at hello.”

Wall Street.  “Greed, for lack of a better word, is good.”

Gone With the Wind. “As God is my witness.  I’ll never be hungry again.”

Sudden Impact. “Go ahead, make my day.”

All About Eve. “Fasten your seatbelts. It’s going to be a bumpy night.

OK, so tell me the truth…some of these YOU have wanted to say at least once, right?

Shalom!

Dan Skognes

The Other Golden Rule

Posted in Business, Motivational

The Other Golden Rule dan skognes insurance finance motivation blogger speaker entrepreneur  (320x229)

You know what the first Golden Rule is, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”  But you may or may not be familiar with the other Golden Rule.  It says, “He who owns the gold, rules.”

We are fast becoming a society of the haves and have-nots.  Middle-class America is being squeezed from every side, and like the old saying goes, the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer.

What made America great was our freedom to choose our own destiny.  Government control and intrusion into our lives has altered our course, and unless we correct it, we will see ourselves living in a Socialist society.

What has set us apart in the world is our constitution.  We broke ties with England when this country was first formed.  What did we fight against?  There were many issues, but freedom of speech, the right to bear arms, protection from government intrusion, and freedom of religion were at the core.

If I asked you these questions, how would you answer them?

  1. Do you think the Government is controlling more and more aspects of our lives every day?
  2. Do you think our right to bear arms is at risk?
  3. Do you think our freedom of religion is in danger?
  4. Do you think our freedom of speech is being infringed upon?

Have you ever read the Bill of Rights?  In case you have not, or you have not read them for some time, here they are:

The Bill of Rights: A Transcription

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment II

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Amendment III

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Amendment V

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment VI

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense.

Amendment VII

In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Amendment VIII

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Amendment IX

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment X

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people

The founding Fathers of this country knew that controls and checks had to be put in place for freedom to survive.  They fought the tyranny of an unjust and cruel empire, and we have enjoyed these freedoms for over 200 years.  But that, in the scheme of time, is a drop in the bucket.  Our country is a baby in time…a new-born that is just starting to mature.

What concerns me is that the very freedoms we founded this country on are being infringed upon daily.  Our government is taking over banking, the medical industry, the insurance industry, and now they are going after middle America.  The shift is taking place as more and more restrictions are put on small businesses.  They are being crushed by regulations, fees, and taxes that just smother them to the point of extinction.

It is happening to bigger companies as well.  Look at the heat that Hobby Lobby has taken because they did not want to pay for contraceptives for their employees.  The fact that the company has Christian principles that it has always followed apparently is beside the point.  They are at risk of being fined in excess of $1,000,000 a day if they don’t comply with Obamacare.

Freedoms seem to be protected for everyone except those that have Christian values.  What has happened to our country?  We are on a slippery slope if we think that we can trust the government to take care of us.  They have absolutely robbed us.  Social Security is broke, by the way.  They keep printing money to pay for it….and the debt just keeps rising like a rocket.  Good luck if you are counting on having your social security there for you when you retire. 10,000 people are turning 65 a day, and Social Security is already broke.  How is that sustainable?

My hope and my prayer is that we not bend the Constitution.  That we not throw out our Bill of Rights. If we forget our history, we are doomed to repeat it.  We cannot sustain the heavy handed government control of our lives.  We will either be taken over by another country, or there will be another civil war.  I hope it does not come to that.  I pray regularly for our President and the leaders of this country.  I pray that they stop mortgaging the future of our country for their own agenda. I pray that they start by keeping the Constitution themselves.

We have a short time to correct this problem, and I believe that if we do not, everything we have loved and fought for will go up in smoke.  What do we do?  What can one person do?  Pray, and make your voice heard to your Congressmen.  Get involved.  The moral fabric of this country seems to be eroding way.  We have to quit winking at evil and embracing it into our lives. If we sit passively by and do nothing, then we will see our freedoms stripped away one by one…till there are none.  There is still hope for us…and there is an opportunity to put this back on course.  I am committed to doing my part.  How about you?

Shalom!

Dan Skognes

Where Do You Put Your Money That Is Safe These Days?

Posted in Business

Where Do You Put Your Money That Is Safe These Days dan skognes insurance finance motivation blogger speaker entrepreneur

I get asked that question a lot when I am talking with clients.  Let’s face it, the Stock Market is a bubble getting ready to burst.  People lost large portions of their retirement portfolios in 2008.  That was not that long ago and the pain is still very real for most Americans.

When I ask someone if they have taken any hits in the stock market, it is usually responded to with a nervous laugh, then they say, “Hasn’t everyone?”  I just tell them, “No, not everyone.”  There are safe places to put your money these days depending on what amount of money you have and how long you are willing to have your money tied up. I am not one to cry, “The sky is falling!”  But…I am concerned about the rampant spending of our government and the position of the stock market (which is artificially inflated).

I don’t have a securities license, and frankly, I don’t want one.  No offense to those of you that have one…I just want to be able to sleep at night and not worry about what the market is doing.  I don’t want to be getting calls from angry investors because they lost money on something that I recommended to them.

There are 4 strategies that I personally use that have been successful in safeguarding my client’s retirement:

  1. Life Insurance.  There are several very cool IUL products that get great returns and are very safe.  If funded properly, they can provide additional income in the retirement years.  If it is a single premium, even better.  The face is dramatically increased and the backside returns are accelerated.
  2. Annuities.  I like these for a variety of reasons.  They are safe.  They are semi-liquid in that you can take out 10% a year without penalty.  They often come with a bonus above and beyond the standard returns.  And they can be indexed to take advantage of the market upswings without the downside risk.
  3. Gold.  Always a safe place to have some of your money.
  4. Sr. Life Settlements.  This is by far my favorite asset class to expose my clients to.  Most people do not understand what they are, and many are just ill-informed as to what they do and why they are truly one of the best investments on the planet.  I realize that there is a lot of negative press about these, but you have to put that in perspective. The internet is like a graffiti board.  People can write whatever they want and not be held accountable. I like Sr. Life Settlements because the returns are outstanding, there is no exposure to the market, they are not affected by who is in the White House, not by what is happening overseas, not by what the recent reports from Wall Street are touting…none of that affects their performance.  People like Warren Buffet hold large amounts of Sr. Life Settlements, along with institutions like J.P. Morgan Chase and Bank of America.

I don’t do real estate, but I do believe that real estate is a solid investment for at least part of someone’s portfolio.  The only problem is that real estate can take quite a tumble too.  Just ask investors in California, Florida, and New York…just to name a few that have had severe adjustments.

I tell potential investors that now is not the time to be in the stock market.  If you are 30, you might have enough years to recoup your losses when the market comes down…and it WILL have a severe adjustment, but the question is, why would you want to risk anything if you can put your money into something that is safe that gives you above average returns?

I know some people like to gamble.  I just am not one of them.  I don’t want to gamble with my money…and I treat my investors’ money like it was my own.

So, what do you recommend to nervous investors these days?

Shalom!

Dan Skognes

Common Sense

Posted in Motivational, Relationships

Common Sense 1 dan skognes insurance finance motivation blogger speaker entrepreneur

“Common sense isn’t so common.” Voltaire, 1764.  I like this quote.  I heard it the other day and thought, “Wow, that is good.”  Then I started thinking, “Why is it so uncommon for people to use common sense?”

If we had common sense, we would:

  • Love and honor God above all else
  • Love others, respecting them and serving them
  • Love ourselves, taking care of the body God has given us
  • Be thankful for our country and the freedoms we tend to take for granted
  • Forgive others freely
  • Be generous givers
  • Live within our means and not have debt
  • Control our anger
  • Control our tongue
  • See the best in others
  • See the best in ourselves
  • Be thankful
  • Be kind to everyone
  • Be kind to animals
  • Be courteous drivers
  • Be able to laugh at ourselves
  • Take responsibility for our actions
  • Not waste time
  • Work hard
  • Get proper exercise and rest
  • Eat and drink in moderation
  • Wear clothes in public (made ya laugh)
  • Be patient
  • Learn the lesson when we make a mistake
  • Not fret about yesterday
  • Not worry about tomorrow
  • Live today like it was our last day

Common sense dictates that we have common sense; we just need to use it.  There are probably a thousand other things that could be added to the list, but if I can do the things on this list consistently, I know that it will have positive results.  Here is to using common sense throughout the day.

Shalom!

Dan Skognes

What If Money Didn’t Matter?

Posted in Business, Motivational

What If Money Didn't Matter dan skognes insurance finance motivation blogger speaker entrepreneurThis happens to be one of my favorite interview questions. In other words, “What would you do if money did not matter?” If money didn’t matter, you would be free to do the things you love to do.  You would be working at a job that you loved, and living securely, free from stress.  You would be content, blessed, and have the freedom to bless others.  You would not carry the burden of debt, and you would have peace in knowing that you were a slave to no one.

You would have time to be creative and make the world a better place.  You would have time to help others do things they needed to get done, and serve those who were helpless or hopeless.

If money didn’t matter, you would not be worried about tomorrow, or live regretting yesterday.  You would be able to embrace today fully and thus reap the blessings that today brings to you.

There is only one problem with this picture.  Money does matter.  We can’t escape the fact that we have to have it.  We can’t live without it.  Our day is consumed with trying to get more of it.  How can we put some balance in this picture and pursue a living without being a slave to money?

None of this is necessarily easy, but it is essential to find peace and purpose in our lives:

  • Find that work that truly makes you come alive, then put all that you are into it.  That should come naturally for you if you have found the thing that you are uniquely created to do. By the way, when you find what you truly love to do, the money follows.
  • Live within your means.  Don’t overextend yourself to the point that you can’t meet your financial obligations.
  • Pay off your debt, then save up and pay cash for the things you need.
  • Plan for emergencies.  Cars will always need repairs, air conditioners will go out, medical issues will happen.  Unforeseen things will arise from time to time, and if you have not saved up for it, they can put you in the poor house quickly.
  • Invest and save for your future.  Your days are numbered, and they pass quickly.  You will be at retirement in the blink of an eye. It is never too late to start saving and investing.  You may have to play catch-up, but there are investment strategies that can be implemented to help you make up for the years that have passed where no plan was in place.

Money may be essential to our lives, but if we make it our god….we will find it a terrible task-master.  We will be serving a god that has no mercy and gives no true peace.  Having money is necessary…serving money is optional. Here is hoping that you put money in perspective and that you become a good steward of what you have been given.

Shalom!

Dan Skognes

Keep The Dream Alive

Posted in Motivational, Video

Keep The Dream Alive dan skognes insurance finance motivation blogger speaker entrepreneur

 

Sometimes we have to remind ourselves, it is not over till we win.

Click Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-jwWYX7Jlo

Shalom!

Dan Skognes

No Excuses

Posted in Motivational, Relationships

No Excuses dan skognes insurance finance motivation blogger speaker entrepreneur (320x256)

We live in a world where making excuses is common place. I understand that sometimes there are legitimate excuses.  Someone really is sick.  Their car really did break down.  Someone in the family really did die.  That is not what I am talking about.  Those are not excuses by the way; they are explanations that have truth.

Excuses are what people use when they just don’t want to do something.  I think I have heard every excuse in the book when it comes to people buying life insurance.  When I started in the industry, I was flying to different states to see people.  Now you would think that when someone is flying in from out of state that people would remember the appointment that I had made with them within 48 hours of my trip, but I still had people forget that I was coming. Is that ridiculous or what?

Maybe it is human nature that we need to make excuses for bad behavior, but I think it goes beyond that.  You expect children to make excuses.  You don’t tolerate it the same way when an adult is acting like a child.  It boils down to one word: responsibility.

If we are behaving responsibly, we are making our word our bond.  We are intentional in doing what we say we are going to do, and we make it a priority to do what we know we need to do.  We may not “feel” like it, but we can’t live on feelings.  They are like the wind, constantly changing.  Sometimes we have to do things that we just don’t want to do because it is the right thing to do.  Sometimes we have to do it because we are an adult.

There was a joke about a couple that was sleeping.  The alarm clock went off and the man sleepily hit the snooze button.  His wife nudged him and said, “Honey, it is Sunday; time to get up for church.”  “I don’t feel like going to church today,” he said. He turned over and went back to sleep.  10 minutes later the alarm clock went off again.  Once again, his wife nudged him…this time a little harder.  “Honey, it is Sunday.  Time to get up and get ready for church!”  He huffed, “I don’t WANT to go to church today!  I am tired!”  This time she hits him with a pillow. “You are the Pastor.  You have to go to church today!”  Pretty funny story, but sad when you think about how this is true for you and me. Have we not all made that excuse?  If it was not church that we did not feel like going to, I know we have all made that excuse about not going to work.

Quit making excuses for things that you CAN control.  If you are spending too much, stop it.  If you need to lose weight, start exercising and control what you are eating.  If you want a better relationship with someone, quit blaming them and you be the one to build a bridge. If you make an appointment with someone, keep it, and be on time. If you are going to work, work a full day. If you are lonely, you be the one to invite someone to go to a movie or out to dinner.

If we could all just start doing that….behaving responsibly, how much less stress would there be?  How much easier would it be to drive on the highway?  How much easier would it be to have lasting relationships and have jobs that were rewarding?

There are many things that we truly cannot control in this life, but there are many that we can control.  Let’s agree to do our part on what we can do to make this a better world for everyone, including ourselves.  No excuses.

Shalom!

Dan Skognes

Mission Impossible

Posted in Motivational, Relationships

Mission Impossible dan skognes insurance finance motivation blogger speaker entrepreneur (320x122)

Who can forget that music at the start of the show?  What a great theme.  And then there was the visual of someone lighting a fuse.  You knew that it was going to be tense and the outcome unsure.

Sometimes my life is like that show.  I have been given a task that is outside the bounds of human capability. The fuse has been lit, and I have just so much time until the bomb goes off.  Can you relate to this?

It could be in our relationships where things have broken down, or in our finances where the outgo exceeds the income and the well is dry.  It could be in our business where the contracts we were expecting to come through have been delayed.  The fuse is lit…the clock is ticking…and we know something has to give.

Pressure is a constant companion in life.  We can’t escape it.  The only thing we can do is manage it and hopefully respond to it in the proper fashion.  How do you handle pressure?  Do you withdraw from people?  Do you turn to alcohol or drugs?  Do you give up on your dreams? Do you go into a rage and break the thing or hit the people closest to you?

This is a common problem…and there are a thousand ways to respond, but I suggest that we think carefully about the consequences of our actions.  How we handle pressure…how we respond to stressful situations tells not just who we really are, it is an indicator of how long we are going to live.  Stress is a killer and it will take us out if not dealt with properly.

People that blow up on others or break things when they are upset are like the bomb that is exploding.  You have heard the term, “He has a short fuse?”  Well, you don’t want to be around him when he goes off.  It is going to have casualties.  Sadly, in many occasions, it is his own life that is taken.

The two unhealthy responses to pressure are exploding…or imploding.  Neither one is good.  If you withdraw from others and turn to something to medicate the pain…that has severe consequences as well.  Eventually that will take its toll on you.  You probably know of someone that has died from an overdose, or died from alcohol abuse.  It happens every day, unfortunately.  The fight or flight mentality does not resolve anything.  We can’t run from our problems, and if we choose to fight…eventually we are going to lose.

So how should we respond to the everyday pressures that we all must face?

  • Take a chill pill.  Calm down and don’t make any major decisions when you are upset.
  • Put things in perspective.  What is the worst thing that could happen in this situation?  It there a chance that it would NOT happen? If we expect the worst, we attract the worst.  Expect the best outcome.
  • Learn the art of listening.  Too often when we are under pressure, our hearing seems to be impaired. We are too busy telling ourselves and others about our problems, and have closed off our minds and hearts from receiving any counsel that could help us get back on course.
  • Have someone that you can confide in that does not judge you. I am fortunate to have a spouse that is like that.  I can tell her anything and she helps me see the light at the end of the tunnel.  I also am fortunate to have several friends like that.
  • If you are a fighter and tend to explode on people, find a way to defuse yourself when you are getting ready to explode.  You might have to buy a punching bag or just take a long walk to cool off.  Better that than to have to pick up body parts that are left from your own explosion.
  • If you are one who tends to run from situations, force yourself to stay and face it head on.  The problem is not going to just go away on its own.  Putting your head in the sand does not help. Turning to drugs or alcohol does not solve anything.  You have to come to the realization that you either engage the problem head-on and take corrective action, or you will self-destruct at some point.

My hope is that the next time you face your “Mission Impossible,” you act instead of react.  You think before you speak.  You put it in perspective.  You seek wise counsel from a trusted spouse or friend.  And last but not least…you don’t give up hope.  Keep the faith, stay the course, and remind yourself that this too shall pass.  There is light at the end of the tunnel, you just have to keep moving forward.

Shalom!

Dan Skognes

When God Is Silent

Posted in Spiritual

When God Is Silent dan skognes insurance finance motivationa blogger entrepreneur speaker (320x214)

I don’t know how it is for you, but one of the most frustrating times in life is when God is silent…when He is not hearing the cries of my heart.  Where is He?  Why is He not giving me the answers I so desperately need?  Sound familiar?  Am I the only one on this planet that feels this way?  I don’t think so. It seems strange to me that sometimes I can hear God so clearly, and then sometimes it seems God is on vacation.  It is like He is out of touch, like His cell phone is not receiving calls.

Well, we try to look at this logically.  There can be two explanations to this, right?  One is, God is being silent.  The other is, God is speaking, and I am not hearing.  Makes sense at first glance, but there is a problem with this logic.

Let’s look at God being silent.  Why would He choose to be silent?  Why would He not talk back to us?  Isn’t that rude?  Would God be rude?  Is that even possible?  Is that in His nature?  I don’t think so.  God loves us and when we are crying out to Him, He, as our loving Heavenly Father is going to respond.  He is speaking to us even when He is silent!  Wow…that is pretty deep.  How in the world can God speak when He is silent?  It is because He only appears to be silent.  He IS speaking, the problem is with us.

God speaks to us in a variety of ways, and I think He is continually speaking to us.

  • God speaks through the Bible, His inspired Word.
  • He speaks to us through that “still small voice” that we sense in our spirit.
  • He speaks to us though people….spouses, family, friends, neighbors, politicians, news casters, bloggers, strangers, and preachers.
  • He speaks to us through angels.
  • He speaks thorough nature.
  • Sometimes He even comes to us in dreams and visions.

OK, so the logical question is, if God IS speaking, and if He is continually speaking to us through a multitude of ways, why can’t we hear Him?  How could we possibly miss hearing Him?  Well, I don’t have all the answers here, but I can speak personally why I have missed hearing God from time to time.

  • Sometimes I don’t hear God because I don’t take time to listen.  I am so busy with life that I don’t get quiet long enough to hear Him.  I am so busy giving Him my wish list that I don’t hear His replies.
  • Sometimes I don’t hear because there is sin in my life, and sin separates us from Him.  Until we deal with the sin, there is a communication problem.
  • Sometimes it is hearing, but not receiving it because of lack of faith or my own stubbornness.  Haven’t you experienced times when God was speaking but you could not get yourself to accept the answer?
  • Sometimes I realize that I have not even taken the time to read the Bible when I am seeking answers…and that is His instruction manual to us.

When you feel like you are in the wilderness and seeking God with all your heart, don’t lose hope.  God is there and He IS speaking to you.  Ask Him to help you understand what He is saying.  We just have to dial in to His frequency.  His broadcast is 24/7. You may “feel” like you are all alone, but with God…you are never alone.  He is always present.  He is always listening, and He is always communicating His perfect love to you and to me. I don’t know about you, but that gives me hope.

Lord, help me hear you clearly today.  If there is anything standing between you and me, I ask that you remove it.  Help me to hear what you are saying and not to miss it. Restore any communication lines that have been broken. I thank you for your love.  I praise you for who you are.  I love you and look forward to seeing what you have in store for us today. Thank you for not being silent.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Shalom!

Dan Skognes

The Texas Two-Step

Posted in Motivational, Relationships

Texas Two Step dan skognes insurance finance motivation blogger speaker entrepreneur

If you are from Texas or if you are a country music fan, you probably have heard of the Texas Two-Step.  It is a very popular dance.  However, when it comes to life, we may feel like we are doing a variation of this dance…one step forward, two steps back.  Sometimes it feels like whatever we do, we are losing ground, going in the wrong direction.

I know that life can be difficult at times, and for some folks, it can be downright brutal.  Perhaps you have been frustrated in your career.  No matter how hard you try, you just can’t seem to get ahead.  Perhaps you have found yourself digging deeper and deeper in debt and see no light at the end of the tunnel.  Perhaps your marriage is like a merry-go-round and you just want it to stop. Perhaps you are caught up in an addiction and you see no way of breaking the cycle.

This can be both frustrating and draining of our time, energy, and resources.  How do we change the course of our lives?  How do we quit wasting our lives and get it on track?

Have you ever watched Dancing With The Stars?  You know what I love about that show?  They take regular people who in many instances have never seen a dance floor before and show them how to dance.  Admittedly, some of them just don’t have any rhythm, but what I admire is that they are doing something that is not natural for them.  They are stepping way outside the lines and learning to do things they never dreamed they could do.

If you are doing the variation of the Texas Two-Step, let me suggest you learn a new dance.  Life is a dance.  It is a series of moves…give and take.  It is partnering with the right people, and moving in the same direction hand in hand.  When you have the right partner, it can be magic.  It is truly beautiful to watch two people who really know how to dance…and how to partner each other.  Life is the same way. If you have a good partner (marriage or business) that can dance with you…help you, guide you, encourage you, is there anything that the two of you cannot do (within reason)?

My hope is that you learn a new dance.  If you do not have a partner, find one: a mentor, friend, or someone that you love and respect.  Just find someone to help you.  It is never too late to learn to dance as long as you can still move.  And if you are good dancer, you be the one to teach someone the moves.  You be the one to encourage them and help them learn.

I won’t be surprised to hear that you are on the next season of Dancing With The Stars. And if you are, I will be voting for you!

Shalom!

 

Dan Skognes