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Swatting Flies with a Sledgehammer By Bob Cox When it comes to the critical subject of criticism, chances are good that you’ve run across someone who practices the fine art of brutal honesty. They may even behave like an annoying and obnoxious braggart, declaring how unafraid they are to tell it like it is, anytime, anywhere and to anyone. On the one hand, offering honest and direct feedback can be an extremely admirable character trait, but only when it’s delivered and received in a healthy way. When the stakes are high, the decision to be completely open and transparent by sharing the uncensored version of what you believe, think or feel does require the positive character trait of courage. Unfortunately, it also requires an even greater negative quality: callousness. When you choose the sledgehammer approach to swatting lies like flies, you may get lucky and squash a few, but look at the destruction you’re causing! Also, you’re likely to be seen as a self centered narcissist and that only cares about your desire to express an unfiltered message. Brutal honesty typically leads to an ironic and miserable outcome because the truth-teller may sin-
cerely believe that their misguided approach will build a foundation of trust and respect, when in fact it often destroys it, especially when the motives of the truth-teller are called into question. Case in point: When I was a child, my dad was my hero for a number of very good reasons. At the top of that list was his unwavering commitment to always being honest and expecting no less from me. All those warm and fuzzy feelings evaporated quickly during my 16th year of life. Shortly after being uprooted 400 miles from the home I grew up in, I fell into a spiraling whirlpool of self pity and despair that I believed was caused by being separated from the people and places I loved. After articulating those honest feelings with daily updates about my miserable little life that I blamed him for, dad responded with cold heartedness by telling me that I needed to get a job. While I knew he was being honest, I questioned his motives, believing that he cared less about my happiness and more about his by shutting me up once and for all! Looking back, I can understand the method to his madness. Since I cannot endorse the sledgehammer approach to honesty, do I advocate lying in order to spare the feelings of others? No, because lying is primarily motivated by one of two fears: Either you’re afraid of not being strong enough to handle the guilt of hurting someone else’s feelings or you’re afraid the recipient is too fragile to handle your criticism. Either way, fear becomes the primary motive to avoiding the truth and that fear will become fertile soil for a bumper crop of pain and misery. So, what on earth am I advocating? I believe in tempering the brutal impact of authentic criticism with generous quantities of compassion. One way to achieve that healthy balance is to strive for the Platinum Rule, which is to do onto others the way they (not you) would like to be done onto. To practice the Platinum Rule successfully, you have to be willing to extend generous amounts of time and energy to thoroughly understand the person you’re planning to critique. Once you learn more about the person, then you’ll be in a better position to deliver an honest and compassionate message that builds a solid foundation of mutual trust and respect. Bob Cox is the founder and publisher of Go For It Magazine. He can be reached by phone at (916) 266-3115. His email address is coxrobert@comcast.net. Go For It Magazine is owned and operated in Rancho Cordova, CA. Copyright © 2017.
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RED LINE IS THE BOTTOM LINE By Bob Cox To be completely honest, my mama never told me, “You better shop around”. Fortunately, I’ve heard the soothing and soulful sounds of that old Smokey Robinson song enough times in my life to benefit from those words of wisdom. So, when it came time to replace my tires recently, I did shop around. What did I find? I discovered a gem of a shop that offered me such a great deal; I simply could not refuse the huge savings! That shop is called Red Line Tires in Rancho Cordova. According to Majid Pasha, the President of Red Line Tires, their goal is to provide an excellent quality product and service at a very reasonable price. Customers can choose from a variety of used and new tires, including several popular brands like Michelin, Goodyear, Cooper and more. Red Line Tires offers complete alignment service that utilizes state-of-the-art equipment. They also provide a free alignment check to make sure their customers actually need the service. “We’ve had many customers come in specifically for an alignment and after we put their vehicle on the rack; we often discover that an alignment is not needed. When we tell them there’s no charge, they usually come back because
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they leave so happy”, Majid said. You don’t find that extraordinary level of honesty everywhere in the business world, which is just another reason why I’m so jazzed to have discovered Red Line Tires. They also offer premium quality flat repairs (patch instead of a plug) and tire rotations to all vehicles riding on their new set of tires absolutely free! “We take pride in providing excellent service to our customers. Our associates are very friendly to people and we listen to our customers and find out what they need rather than forcing our will upon them. We also offer nice clean waiting areas and restrooms”, explained Majid. Red Line Tires has four independent shops located in Roseville, South Sacramento, Rancho Cordova and Natomas and they’re planning to open at least three new stores a year. In the coming months, they want to open facilities in Elk Grove, Folsom and another towards the Bay Area. That’s great news for those of us that would prefer to not have to shop around. Sorry Smokey’s mama!
Urijah Faber’s Ultimate Fitness Takes Shape! By Bob Cox Faber and Espley started this out of Whether you’re a fight fan, a fitness the box idea after observing what their fan or both, I have some very exciting group of professional fighters from news. Sacramento’s own former WEC Team Alpha Male (founded by Faber Champion Urijah Faber is opening a in 2004) was doing. Their group trains brand new cutting edge all purpose fitprimarily out of their original facility in ness facility in East Sacramento and it’s downtown Sacramento. Several prosure to be a knock out! fessional fighters have trained under According to Josh Espley, the GenTeam Alpha Male, including Joseph eral Manager of Urijah Faber’s Ultimate Benavidez, Justin Buchholz, Danny CasFitness, there is simply nothing else on tillo, Chris Holdsworth, Chad Mendes, earth that compares to what they’re in Former WEC Champion and UFC fighter Urijah Paige VanZant, the former UFC Banthe process of assembling. Scheduled Faber, who graduated from Lincoln High School and tamweight Champion, and the current to open this April, their 22,000 square U.C. Davis is excited to give back to our community. UFC Bantamweight Champion, Cody foot facility combines the components Garbrandt. of martial arts and fitness with a wide variety of classes to Espley, who is also the CEO for Team Alpha Male explained choose from. how today’s fighters rely on a wider variety of fitness rou“We have several martial arts classes, including boxing, tines to maximize strength, speed, endurance and flexibility. kick boxing, jujitsu, submission grappling and Muay Thai. “We just basically put together what our fighters were doing. As far as fitness classes go, we have everything from yoga, Our fighters are better rounded athletes. Many participate Pilates, advanced based fitness, cardio, boxing cardio, kickin strength and conditioning classes, cross fit classes, funcboxing cardio, MMA programs, cross fit programs, functional fitness programs, cardio boxing and even kick boxing tional fitness programs, circuit training classes and even boot programs. To build endurance and coordination, they’re incamps”, explained Espley. volved in yoga, Pilates, stretch based fitness and even footFor those of you who prefer the solitude of working out work classes, which we also offer here as well”, said Espley. alone, Urijah Faber’s Ultimate Fitness is the place for your The vision for Urijah Faber’s Ultimate Fitness is to evolve fitness routine. “As far as the gym goes on the fitness side, from a primarily fighter customer base at the midtown locawe have functional fitness equipment, we have weights, bartion to more of a family oriented facility in East Sacramento. bells, Olympic dumbbells and high tech cardio equipment as “This gym is really a culmination of putting all of the knowlwell”, Espley said. edge Urijah’s gathered over the years in the fight community Other amenities of this amazing facility include a cafe with and using it to give back to the community he grew up in. a WiFi lounge, clean and spacious locker rooms, saunas and He’s a very humble and down to earth guy, and very apprea kid’s zone that gives all members two free hours of child ciative of everything he’s got”, explained Espley. supervision. There are even fitness programs for kids to help Based on Faber’s extraordinary background and business build their confidence while you work out. “Our youth maracumen, along with Espley’s experience with Team Alpha tial arts program consists of kids striking, kids kickboxing, kids Male and as the former Vice President of a successful supplewrestling and a youth jujitsu program as well. Those classes ment company, I would say it’s safe to say that Urijah Faber’s are run Monday through Saturday, two times a day”, Espley Ultimate Fitness has more than a fighter’s chance of achievexplained. ing incredible success!
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By Bob Cox
Our Palace is Your Palace!
During the Great Recession, millions of Americans endured a variety of financial and emotional hardships. Not only did the housing market experience an unprecedented downfall, the financial industry was in shambles, which forced thousands of businesses to either downsize or go down six feet of dirt. The year was 2008 when Shafika Mangal was laid off from her job. She had no prospects for employment since most businesses weren’t hiring. How would Shafika manage to survive and make ends meet? Shafika reflected on all the hardships she had endured during her lifetime and then on the qualities that helped her persevere. The inner strengths she had relied on would serve her well during those dark days. “I’ve been through hardships many times in life but I’m the type of person that when I fall down, I get up. I don’t quit until I find a solution. Life is good. God gave us life and I am determined to enjoy every minute of it”, said Shafika.
The lack of employment opportunities forced Shafika to come up with a completely different strategy to create a steady source of income. She had nearly 30 years of experience managing five star hotels, so she drew upon her vast number of skills and focused on those experiences she enjoyed most. “I had to do something, so I put everything into it, including my energy, my money and my retirement to purchase an existing banquet hall and catering business”, explained Shafika. Today, Shafika Mangal is the proud owner of The Palace Ballroom, Inc. in Rancho Cordova, CA. She purchased the business while it was in Carmichael and moved it two years ago to its current venue, which is substantially larger. The Palace Ballroom is a stunningly beautiful facility that encompasses nearly 19,000 square feet of luxurious amenities. I spoke with Shafika the other day to learn more about her unique and thriving business. Q: Why did you choose to purchase a banquet hall and catering business? A: Thank you so much for asking me that question. I love what I do and I am a people person. You can run this business if you’re a people person but you have to have the patience, the attitude and the experience to succeed. I’ve been doing this for a long time and really enjoy taking care of my customers. Q: What was it like when you first started in 2008? A: The first job I got, I catered for a group of about 70 people and it was such an enjoyable experience! It’s been growing ever since and my goal is to let this business continue to grow and reach the goal I set for myself. I love coming to work every day and I’m very happy to take care of our customers. Q: Can you tell us a little about your facility and describe the types of events you host? A: We have an international banquet hall and we are open to the public and the business community. We host a variety of functions, including weddings, birthday parties, anniversaries and a number of other celebrations. Businesses choose us when they host meetings, conventions, parties and training sessions. For businesses, we offer a continental breakfast, a cold lunch or hot lunch and much more. We also have a fully functioning kitchen and can serve food to all of our guests. Q: How many people can you host? A: Our capacity is 640 people. We often work with smaller groups, from 100 people on up. The size of the room is
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huge, so for smaller events, we can partition the room to create the ideal environment for our customers. We can make the space any size or shape our customers want to make the space feel more intimate and presentable. Q: What types of cuisine do you serve? A: We can serve any type of cuisine our customer’s want, so everything is on the menu. We are an international banquet hall, so we have hosted events for a variety of cultures and companies, big and small. We are here to serve the public and we are happy to take care of your banquet and catering needs. Q: What sets you apart from the competition? A: I have no competition here locally. I know we all need money to pay our bills, but my mission is making sure my customers are happy and say, “This is the greatest place”. When people come here, they feel our friendly service, they smell our delicious food we serve, they see the nice uniforms worn by our employees and experience our five star service. Those are the things that set us apart.
Q: Do you help your clients plan their events? A: Yes. We start by giving them a site tour and let them know about the different services we offer. They tell us what they need and then we come up with a strategy to make it work. Q: What do you enjoy most about your business? A: Our customers. They are number one. We want to take care of them and we give them real red carpet service, which is an actual red carpet that’s rolled out at the front door for them. If they want to create an upscale function with limousine service and so on, we will make that happen. I’m so happy to provide this atmosphere for our customers and always look forward to meeting with them and our new clients as well! Editors notes: For more information about The Palace Ballroom, Inc., stop by their facility at 11354 White Rock Road, Suite 120 in Rancho Cordova, CA, visit their website at www.thepalaceballroomsacramento.com or call (916) 722-6741.
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CLIMBING ABOARD THE PRO-TRAIN By Bob Cox Q: Chris, how did your background What does a famous millionaire like prepare you for this dynamic business? the starting running back for the Denver Chris: I received my B.S from SacraBroncos, Devontae Booker have in commento State University and studied busimon with a growing number of everyday ness with an emphasis on marketing. I citizens from across the nation? They’ve all was successful in the corporate world and decided to get their nutritional goals on started a few health-related companies as track by climbing aboard the fastest movwell. I have had an entrepreneurial minding train on both sides of the Rockies: Proset since as far back as I can remember Train Food For Fitness! and started competitive bodybuilding The close bond among the three partPro-Train is a thriving healthy meal ners (Freddy Knight, Eugene Thompson when I was in my mid-20’s. I didn’t have preparation company that’s based here in and Chris Wilson) is a big reason for time to make my own meals and I hapCarmichael, California. They are providing Pro-Train’s explosive growth. pened to stumble upon Pro-Train on sotheir customers with nutritious and delicial media and saw that they were doing cious meals that can be shipped directly to their customers at it for a great price. The meals looked amazing but I honestly a surprisingly affordable price. I spoke with two of the three thought it was going to be normal, bland diet-food. The first partners, Eugene Thompson and Chris Wilson the other day bite I took, I was very impressed and I knew I needed to be a to learn more about their fresh and innovative business. part of the company. The meals were perfectly proportioned to my needs and the flavor was amazing! Q: Can you tell us about how you all started Pro-Train? Eugene: I was a chef at the time it when I came up with Q: Eugene, can you tell us about your background? the idea in 2013. I was working out with some professional Eugene: I was a chef at Red Hawk Casino. I didn’t go to athletes, fighters and bodybuilders and I saw that they were school to become a chef, but I started cooking at a young all eating healthy prepared meals that I knew I could do betage. I grew up in wine country, worked in restaurants in my ter. I decided to contact Freddy Knight, who was my friend youth and moved up the ladder. I was also a professional and head chef at the time and told him I thought we should mixed martial arts fighter, so sports and fitness was a big part start a business and offer healthy prepared meals. So, we of my lifestyle. I put my career and lifestyle together and this teamed up and started selling food. Chris Wilson was one of is what I came up with. our first clients. He loved it so much and he quickly became our third partner! Q: What exactly does Pro-Train offer? Eugene: We’re a professional meal prep company. We make healthy prepared meals that are perfectly proportioned and we deliver them directly to your door. We have no processed foods, GMO’s, added sugars, trans-fats or dairy in our meals. You can select the portion size that fits your diet and then those meals are prepared fresh and picked up or directly shipped to you. We also have consultants that can encourage and guide you to help you reach your health and fitness goals. Q: What separates you from your strongest competitors? Eugene: The four things that separate us are our cleanliness of our food, our consistency, our variety and our low price. I believe we have the best prices in California for premium quality food that’s prepared by a chef. Our fresh and
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healthy prepared meals can be purchased in a weekly package as low as $6 apiece, which is incredible, especially when you compare it to the cost and quality of fast food! Q: Where are your meals prepared? Eugene: In our facility here in Carmichael! The majority of our clients are local and some will come here and pick up their meals but most prefer to have their meals delivered. We have an outstanding delivery system and serve the greater Sacramento area. We deliver a week’s worth of meals to our customer’s door steps in the local area by 7am on Mondays, Wednesdays, or Fridays. We also are able to FedEx our meals to customers in a one or two day shipping area. Very soon, we will also be offering meals a-la-carte for pickup and purchase any day of the week. Q: How long does it typically take from the time the order is placed until it’s received? Eugene: We ask for three days, which allows us enough time to purchase the food fresh, prepare it and have it ready for pick up or delivery. Q: Do you offer an automatic weekly program? Chris: Yes, this is also how our customers can benefit from volume pricing discounts! Our customers can change their order up to three days before their order is shipped. They can change their menu, the size of their portions, along with many other options.
Our mission is bigger than each of us! We all come from fitness backgrounds. I was a bodybuilder, personal-trainer and health-coach. Eugene was a professional athlete and outstanding chef and Freddy has been a chef for over 30 years and was running the entire kitchen at Red Hawk Casino. So, we’ve brought all of our talents together and our servant’s mentality to market and I believe it’s what’s helped us achieve continued growth thus far. Q: What have been the biggest challenges and hardships you’ve faced and how have you overcome them? Chris: The biggest challenge was starting up a new business and not having much capital to start. We want to eventually be seen as a true rags-to-riches story. Not quite there yet, but through it all we’ve actually paved the way for other meal prep companies. When we started, no one knew what “meal-prep” was but now it’s becoming a common thing. Eugene: We all had to give up a lot of things in our personal life and it makes it really hard on our social lives, families, etc. We’ve put in a lot of hours, which makes it really hard to balance work and family. We just know that in the end the benefit we bring to society will be worth it.
Q: What’s been your customer’s feedback? Eugene: Feedback has been amazing! The majority of our customer’s feedback is that the food is great, it is such a timesaver and it’s very cost effective. For many of our customers, we have now become their grocer and it’s like they have their own personal chefs. Chris: We have several customers that have lost a lot of weight, some as much as 80 pounds! Some of the best feedback that we have heard is that we are helping to turn the American dietary standards around and ultimately helping to extend and save lives! We have many customers that have been with us for over a year and it just keeps growing. We went with a subscription based model so that our customers could place their order and never have to worry about it again.
Q: How do you both maintain such a positive outlook in spite of all the challenges of a start up business? Eugene: We started a charity with Pro-Train that’s going to be launched next month to feed underprivileged children who aspire to excel in athletics. These kinds of things push us and we’re always going for more. We also lean on each other. There are days when I don’t want to come to work and I can call Chris and he may have some great idea that makes me want to come in and work and vice versa. Chris: I’ll second that 100%! For me, the big purpose in my life is to give back. The more that we’re able to provide to the community and those we love, it’s going to come back. I have a spiritual purpose too and believe that the Lord shall always provide and he has blessed us with our abilities; this drives me every day. There’s a lot of things that I’ve gone through in the past that have brought me to where I’m at and I know Eugene and Freddy feel the same way. What’s really cool is we’ve become like brothers and we’re able to really pull each other up when we need to! We hope to do that for all our customers as well!
Q: Why are you both so passionate about Pro Train? Eugene: We all share the same mission statement, which is to change lives from the inside out. Chris: Our three partners are driven to make this succeed.
Editor’s Notes: For more information about Pro Train, visit their website at www.Protrainf3.com, call (916) 2819339 or stop by their facility at 4747 Manzanita Ave. in Carmichael, CA.
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By Bob Cox how badly she had been suffering from severe Every spring, we experience the wonders of headaches caused by sinus issues. Nothing she nature in full bloom. The days grow longer, the did seemed to help. skies become bluer, our trees fill out and the Dr. Blakely told her that she could help her wild grasses transform into vibrate shades of by using that wonder gun to relieve the presgreen. When the birds and bee’s take a break sure in her sinuses. At first, Kelly was skeptifrom doing what they’re famous for, those little cal as Dr. Blakely applied the gun to her face, honey making marvels get busy pollinating as targeting her cheeks and forehead. However; in much as they can for as long as they can. And a matter of mere minutes, relief came and it acyet, while many revel in the majesty of spring, tually worked! Nowadays, as soon as Kelly feels there are many more that suffer silently from the familiar pressure begin to build in her sinusthe annoying symptoms of allergies. On those es, she makes a bee line to Dr. Blakely’s office. Kelly Matts can now breathe blustery days when the winds from the delta easier, thanks to some Kelly was so impressed, she recommended kick up and spread an assortment of allergens, unconventional treatments. Dr. Blakely to a friend who also endured severe it truly becomes something to sneeze at, again sinus issues. “My friend had suffered really badly and again. from sinuses for years and I finally took pity on her one day Kelly Matts has been an ardent supporter of chiropracafter she came to our house with a horrible sinus infection. tors for many years. Before moving to California, she had Her doctor did everything he knew to do, but could not seen a chiropractor while living in Ohio for a variety of ontake care of the problem. She had been to several doctors going issues due to numerous car accidents. Her chiropracfor years and I finally told her to see my chiropractor. She tor used a specialized gun that helped her agreed and after just one visit, she said she was 75% better! get immediate relief from chronic I now call Dr. Blakely Wonder Woman, explained Kelly. back and neck pain. If you or someone you know suffers from chronic allerAfter moving to the golden gies, put down the box of Kleenex, pick up your phone state, she chose to see Dr. Blakely, and call Dr. Blakely today at (916) 944-1444 today. Your primarily because Dr. Blakely uses sinuses, your doctor and Wonder Woman that very same gun. From that first will thank you! visit over two years ago, Kelly has Editor’s notes: For more information loved her ever since! While also about Dr. Beth Blakely, call (916) 944getting amazing results from Dr. 1444 or visit her website at www.drbethBlakely for her chronic back and blakely.com. neck issues, Kelly told Dr. Blakely
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Transforming Nightmares into Dreams By Bob Cox The faster way: Forget those nightDoes the thought of a “kitchen remodel” mares from your previous kitchen remodel, wake you up in the middle of the night in a when your house resembled a disaster area cold sweat? Perhaps you’ve had the displeafor weeks, weeks that probably felt like years. sure of enduring a lengthy and costly kitchen Granite Transformations will complete your renovation. Remember the bad old days of entire project, including your new backsplash, inhaling clouds of dust while listening to the replace the sink and finish the plumbing in as nails on a chalkboard sound of screeching talittle as one day! They do all the fabrication in ble saws for weeks on end? Shouldn’t there their shop in Rancho Cordova and their instalbe an easier, cleaner and faster method for lation team will arrive early in the morning and you to enjoy the kitchen of your dreams? Well transform your kitchen, usually before you’re now there is and it’s a company called Granite ready to start cooking dinner that night. Transformations. Over the last 13 years, Gran- Chris Barr is the owner of The cleaner way: They do all the messy ite Transformations has helped thousands of Granite Transformations in work in their shop, not in your kitchen or gayour neighbors get what they want while Rancho Cordova. rage. Hundreds of delighted customers have avoiding the things they don’t want. given Granite Transformations glowing reThe easier way: Granite Transformations will simply views about the cleanliness of the entire process. On top of use your existing surface as the sub-top for your new counall that, their customers are consistently blown away by how ter. This is a much less costly and wasteful alternative to the absolutely beautiful their kitchens are upon completion. conventional approach of ripping out and tossing your old The most exciting news of all is you will never have to counters into our overcrowded landfills. Their engineered compromise on beauty to enjoy the ease and convenience surfaces are only one-quarter inch thick, so the height of of a Granite Transformations kitchen. Oh, and did I mention your counters will only be slightly taller. Their gorgeous that all of their products are made in the USA? If you’re lookcounters, made from granite, quartz and recycled glass are ing for an easier, faster and cleaner way to an updated and incredibly durable and completely non-porous, so maintebeautiful kitchen, call my friends at Granite Transformations nance is virtually nonexistent. They never have to be sealed today at (916) 851-9745 and schedule an in-home meeting or treated with a multitude of expensive cleaners, just good with one of their design consultants. The consultation is not old soap and water. only free, it’s pressure free!
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Car Tech Talk Deep Thoughts from Your Neighborhood Pothole By Dave Trux
Wikipedia defines me in rather negative terms. They say I’m a structural failure on a road surface, caused by failure primarily in asphalt pavement due to the presence of water in the underlying soil structure and the presence of traffic passing over the affected area. Water in the underlying soil structure first weakens the supporting soil and then traffic eventually breaks the poorly supported asphalt surface until further traffic ejects both asphalt and the underlying soil material to create a hole in the pavement. I refuse to see myself in such negative and undignified terms, preferring to bask in the glory of successfully destroying the suspension systems, tires and rims of unsuspecting vehicles and the drivers they serve! Oh, my joints are finally loosening. All this rain really helps with that. At first, it’s a joint here or there but eventually the rain helps manifest all of my joints to loosen to the point that my bones begin to crumble. It’s delightful for me to have the cars drive over me.
This simply speeds up the entire process. These cars are clueless as to the impending doom I am soon to reap upon them. More rain. This makes me happy. The more the better I say. My transformation is nearly complete. More cars please; speed up the progression. Finally I am at least a square foot in size and growing. Let the battle ensue! I am ready. Night and darkness are my favorite hours. I lay and wait for my first victim of the night. Here comes one. Hit me, please hit me. Darn. They missed. Wait, here’s another. Man, its dark out here and raining. Here they come. Closer, closer, and WHAM! A direct hit! That had to do some damage. Perhaps a hit to the wheel to the point they bent it. I can only hope I was successful. I didn’t feel a thing; only personal satisfaction. My lifeless soul awaits another and another. Ah, the satisfaction of being a pothole belongs to me and only me! Editor’s notes: Dave Trux is the owner of Valley Motorwerks. He can be reached at his shop, which is located at 11403 White Rock Road in Rancho Cordova, CA. His phone number is (916) 636-9526 and his website is www.vmwerks.com.
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FREE event with great resources for kids and families!
Resourcefulness is ALL you need... You may have heard it said “Seek and ye shall find” or “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear”. Both very true because EVERYTHING you need to achieve your goals is out there. But all the resources in the world mean nothing, unless you have this quality: RESOURCEFULNESS! One definition is “the ability and initiative to find quick and clever ways to overcome difficulties or challenges”. So if we already know the resources we need to overcome obstacles exist, the only thing standing in our way to solve the problem is the initiative to seek them out and engage. I’ve watched a few seasons of the TV show “Survivor.” One of the things that has astonished me is the ability and initiative of some players to find a hidden immunity idol on a friggin’ island without a clue where to look or what it looks like. Now that is initiative, my friends! So there is no excuse (or benefit) for any “woe is me” self-pity. The resources are out there... We just need the initiative to start looking! Helpful hint: be sure to “reverse engineer” what you want to accomplish per last week’s article (www.BobsPocket.com)... Next week, we look at scavenger hunts and teamwork.. * Visit BobsPocket.com for links to these organizations, Bob’s bio, past blogs, and more!
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