The other day my lovely wife, Heather, threw me a surprise party – just to celebrate me! Wow! I’ve never heard of such a thing but it was well attended and my friends sure made me feel loved and appreciated. (Even if I did pick up the tab) A good time was had by all. It was one of those things where the surprises just kept coming. It all started with Heather explaining that I must be home on Saturday night because we were meeting some friends for dinner. Nothing terribly unusual there but then a business trip came up. I asked if it would be possible to reschedule our dinner with friends and by her reaction, I knew that wasn’t going to happen. I then casually asked who were going to dinner with again? And she refused to tell me. Her response was something like “I told you before and you just don’t remember, so I’m not going to tell you. You’ll just try to reschedule with them.” She said it in a very loving tone but having been married for a decade, I knew this wasn’t a battle that I was going to win.

Fast forward to the Saturday night. The sitter has come for the children and they run off to play in their room. No big deal, nothing unusual there. But then Heather takes FOREVER to get ready. I mean FOREVER. Down to “honey do these shoes look better or do these shoes look better?” By this point, I’m getting irritated. Did I mention that I had been in bed with the flu for that week? So I wasn’t feeling well anyway and she’s asking me about her shoes? for a routine dinner with mystery friends? To make a very long story a bit shorter, the door bell rings and there is a chauffeur standing at the door and a stretch Expedition limo in the street. Finally it occurred to me that something strange is going on. But true to form, my initial reaction was, “she ordered a limo with a five hour minimum to go 5 minutes down the street?” She lovingly explained that she got a special rate for an hour and we set off in the limo. The kids appeared shortly after the limo driver did, dressed to the hilt. Daughter in party dress and son in suit and tie. The went for a short ride with us in the limo and they instantly started requesting that we buy one. Ha. That’s not going to happen. But it was a thrill nonetheless.

At the restaurant I was surprised by a group of wonderful friends (most of whom I am in a mastermind group with) and we instantly started a mini-mastermind meeting over cocktails. We can’t help it – that’s how we roll. We’re all in businesses that we love and are constantly striving to improve and most importantly – help each other – totally unselfishly. Mastermind groups are awesome.

The last surprise of the evening was just before dinner when Marilyn Monroe appears. She sings me a couple of songs (video below) and then she announces that she has appeared courtesy of the Bisnar Law Firm. My good friend and mastermind partner, Newport Beach, California Personal Injury Attorney, John Bisnar from  really got me that time. I’m going to think long and hard about how to repay him! A great time was had by all. It’s feels nice to have so many great friends.

I posted the video of Marilyn singing to me in case you wanted to check it out. I think the most funny aspect is that I don’t quite know how to react to it! The first few seconds are audio only but the video does start soon.

 

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I am in the bathroom preparing for another day of work when it happens…again. In walks my 5 year old, beaming with pride at her accomplishment of dressing herself for the second day of kindergarten. I tell her she is beautiful.  All the while I’m taking in the outfit on her tiny frame, an oversized bow in her gorgeous hair and beads wrapped ever so carefully around her delicate neck.  My eyes follow her as she bounces from the room and before I can stop myself I say out loud “What happened?  I thought she was five, not fifteen. “

I raise my eyes to meet the giggles that my ears have heard and I see my wife, who has overheard my thoughts so obviously audible. She reminds me I am experiencing fatherhood and I admit to myself, and her, that the instinct is irresistibly strong and deepens as each day passes.  Thank God for the ever deepening love that He allows me to feel for my children as they grow, and the daily reminders to treasure them. Especially for today’s wake up call at how fast my children are growing and how the importance of each day is real. Not just each day but each hour and, in reality, each moment.  Yes, seize the moment!

As my mind wanders through these thoughts I arrive at the importance of life balance. I realize that just as life can slip by so can business opportunities and chances that will never again avail themselves to me if I do not take advantage, now. More importantly, my focus can slip away gradually and so slowly that I may not notice.

Just as our children, successes will slip away, unnoticed, if we do not nurture them and seize the opportunities as they arise.

Today I renew my personal vow to seize the day, to keep focus, and seek balance in my life such that my business successes, opportunities and most importantly my children’s lives don’t pass me by unnoticed.   Today I will open my eyes and I will seize the day(s)!

To your success,

Darrin

I just came upon a great post from a dear friend, Elizabeth Cox. Elizabeth is a “sales” person for a great company called Strategic Coach. I’ve participated in “Coach” for a year now and have just renewed for a second year. Coach teaches entrepreneurs how to get a life and double their income at the same time. The thing is calling Elizabeth a salesperson is really a disservice. She’s more of an ambassador of the company. She calls me regularly and we just catch up with what’s happening in each other’s lives and in my business. There aren’t many companies that devote that type of resource to a sales process that is already complete. I also don’t think there are many companies that could attract as many folks the caliber of Elizabeth either.

Today she sent me a link about a project that she is working on that I think is really important. You can check it out here. I’m participating and I hope you will too. It’s this type of grass roots support that is going to make the planet a better place. I simply don’t think governments effect change all that efficiently or effectively.

For those of you that weren’t able to make the Maverick Day at RoadAtlanta the day before StomperNet Live 8, you really missed out! Driving was incredibly fun but more important were the connections that were made among those of us who attended. I made this short video of our experiences there. The last clip was of me GRINDING the gears on that Formula car. Yeah….I admit that I was pretty lame taking off there. A great time was had by all though.

 

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