Since this is more of my personal blog that transcends life and business, I’m going to wrap up the year with an abbreviated list of my lessons learned or relearned.
1. Faith is still the most valued gift and attribute that will sustain a person in every aspect of life. For me that necessitates my faith in a living God. Through Him, I had the faith that my wife would not die from the complications of her surgery at this time a year ago. Faith that I would gain the wisdom, to properly influence the companies and businesses that I was working with and that I would have the perseverance to complete those tasks that were brought before me with credibility, passion and success. Faith that those talents and personality giftings that I was born with would be enhanced appropriately by the Spirit of God to manage any Murphyism that arose in the course of time. Faith in the King of Kings to know that there is real Hope for the future in all things and that I can then extend real Charity to others in a way that is meaningful to them for that moment. Faith to me is the fundamental of every moment, every breath and every opportunity. It is the essence of truth for me in this past year and will continue to be so into the next.
2. That moral practices in business still require individuals to be wise and virtuous. That there is much that startups and small & medium businesses need to learn about cash flow, co-mingling and financial management. Financial decisions are not made out of desperation but through mentoring, planning and a sustained moral fabric; this way correct decisions can be attained. There are reasons for budgets and the need to adhere to them. That there needs to be a formal strategic plan for startups and that CEO’s still need to listen to the management team, especially in a startup environment. It is still true that in any number of new startups that the CEO is their own worse enemy and that as much as company founders say they have humility, the underpinning of Founders Syndrome can prevail.
3. That our educational system has lost its way and purpose. I can write a book about this and there have been many penned in this regard. But the core issue is that our Founding Fathers intended education to be first and foremost about establishing Citizens and Statesmen of moral principle that could sustain a Constitutional Republic. Although, since the time of Woodrow Wilson education has been about producing workers, developing skills for driving a nationalized economy. Education has forgotten the Declaration of Independence and its fundamental meaning of Liberty. That is because Woodrow Wilson thought the Declaration of Independence to be an archaic and meaningless document. During this year I have re-read the Federalist Papers, Madison’s Constitutional Convention debate notes, the Anti-Federalist Papers, the writings of Samuel Adams (my alter-ego), excerpts of other Founders and a number of writings on economics, including biblical based economics. I like what this Founder, Benjamin Rush, said about education: "[T]he only foundation for a useful education in a republic is to be laid in religion. Without this there can be no virtue, and without virtue there can be no liberty, and liberty is the object and life of all republican governments." On the Mode of Education Proper in a Republic, 1806
4. From all of what I read this year, I learned and relearned that our federally elected officials, for the majority, do not understand the historical fundamentals of our Constitutional Republic and in my opinion, have been taking the nation down a road of destruction with a loss of Liberties for close to 100 years. Since we the people, the electorate, have not learned our lessons regarding true citizenship and Liberty, we have no real idea what these elected people should be doing therefore; we rely on a few to establish laws and even fewer that then can determine what the accountability should be of the elected. As a result of not being informed and educated citizens, we have legislation that is destructive to individual Liberty, which is destructive to small and medium businesses, which then encumbers and enslaves the general population to the whims of those in the Federal Government. What we have today was discussed during the Ratification Debates and written about in Brutus VI of 27 December 1787 and by George Washington in his Farewell Address.
5. I learned that the so-called science of economics is not a science at all. That it began as a bunch of sociologists that could not find their way and they were atheists of a socialistic and communistic bent that had to find reason to define mankind and individual efforts beyond the scope of what was defined by Judeo-Christian beliefs. I learned that this influence has impacted our educational system such that the educational system is set to produce a commodity for work efforts that will cause the ebb and flow of an insolvent monetary system for the benefit of those who consider themselves the guardians of the masses. I learned that business is affected by these academics called economist because they are the greater influencers on legislative policy then are moral and virtues men and women. I learned more than I ever did over the last 35 years that the religion of economics has become dominant over the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution, which establishes Liberty and limits government intrusion in the lives of individuals. With this, I relearned that the Judeo-Christian leaders have run from their responsibility to lead and participate in the legislative process and educating individuals in Kingdom principles, virtue and morality in government and society.
6. Most of all I relearned that individuals of common heart and understanding can and will come together for Liberty based on principle, truth, God defined morality and virtue. That the resurgence of Liberty is a resounding cry of millions that are upset with the political system that has been diminishing personal and societal freedoms. That as in the days of the first American Revolution, one-third of the population is subject to the political elite, one-third are complacent to anything affecting Liberty and Freedom and One-Third are Patriots that will not stand for injustice and political elitism but are willing to stand for Liberty based on our Founding as a Nation and if need be sacrifice all for our posterity.
7. I can attest that true Friends are invaluable. They do stand strong with you in the times of trouble and the times of joy. That those that live to honor the Living God will share of their lives and fortunes to others. That they will petition the Living God with prayer and intercession. I can attest that those in the home group from the congregation I attend are true to their understanding of Faith and Charity by putting it into action.
This past year has been a wonderful year in the midst of personal hardships and business slowdowns. This year has been full of the Grace of God, Friendships and new opportunities. This year has been filled with meeting new people and new opportunities. In all, 2009 has been a fabulous year! I look forward to all that is before me for 2010.
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