World’s first for profit non-profit?

Inside book cover
Is five years enough time (or too much time) to lay a serious foundation?

 

What is this notion of a for profit non-profit?

Preparing to establish Mid Life Celebration, LLC in 2008, retaining an accountant was a top recommendation from other established small business entrepreneurial friends.

My vision was to create something that would raise a lot money and then give it to the folks dedicated to finding a cure for Crohn’s disease.

Calling the accountant, an unusual discovery – he didn’t do non-profits.

Immediately (must be deep Disney creativity) the notion of a for profit non-profit entered my consciousness.

The 10-year plan included five years to create the platform, become a brand, and most importantly, make money.

Four point nine years have passed.

Can I do it within five?

Insight: Dreams come true when we are flexible, creative, and determined to only accept success.

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Is there a secret society of fearless Baby Boomers?

Time magazine's Secret Societies book
Is there a secret society of absolutely fearless people?

 

What is freedom?

A long-time friend (30 years) facilitated an answer from me in a brief conversation at the gym last night.

We can not have fear and be free

Freedom is the absence of fear.

Fear is worrying about losing an attachment to things.

Fear is worry. Attachment.

Freedom is not being attached to things.

Freedom is living in the moment – Zen like.

It was a brilliant bfo (blinding flash of the obvious) that will simmer a while longer.

Fear prompted this epic writing journey (8.5k posts so far), and letting go of fear prompted this post revelation.

Perhaps our freedom isn’t as far away as first thought.

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Guest Blogger Lorie Sheffer: The paved trail

Paved park path for walking and jogging
The paved trail at the Township park – better than nothing (photo: Lorie Sheffer)

 

I know this flies in the face of all that Jeff Noel stands for, but I have got to be honest. I hate to exercise. The minute I set foot into a gym, the distinct odor causes my gag reflex to kick in. I love to swim, but living in the Northeast means there is a definite season for that. Indoor pools = public toilet bowls.

All that being said, there comes a point in time when a decision must be made. We can either keep on ignoring the truth and hope for the best or we can force ourselves into submission. I don’t think there are many people out there who have not heard the benefits of exercise. The same as smokers know that smoking is negatively impacting their health, drinking heavily isn’t doing them any favors and fried cheese steaks with mayo and a side of fries is making substantial deposits in their arteries, we all know that we should try to incorporate physical activity into our life. We KNOW!

Sometimes true motivation comes from desperation. Arthritis has caused me to wake in the night with hip pain and stop wearing anything but supportive shoes. When I turn my head my neck makes the sound of milk being poured into a bowl of Rice Krispies. One day when my ankle was nice and swollen I got some free medical advice from my son. “Looks like arthritis, Mom. You know, dropping a couple of pounds would mean less weight on the joint.”

As I sit typing this post, I can see the park at the end of my street. The Township just paved a quarter mile walking trail around its perimeter. I’ve been forcing myself to go down there (almost) every day for the past two weeks. I walked a mile on day one, not wanting to aggravate my joints. Yesterday I walked two miles. Last night I slept through the night without waking up in pain. I feel like a hamster on a treadmill, pointlessly going in circles around the track. I haven’t bothered to see if I’ve lost any weight. This gal loves her sleep and doesn’t enjoy pain, so I will be heading down there later today, as soon as the rain stops.

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Takes longer to write less – true or false?

Child's 13th birthday cake
Life keeps us busy, year after year

 

Been wanting to write shorter, pithier posts, but just haven’t been able to find the time.

The challenge in midlife isn’t desire, it’s time.

Takes longer to write less.

Seriously.

And that’s the point, no?

The insidious reality is that those that make it look easy have simply accepted that it’s not.

And they push forward, even when afraid, uncertain, ridiculed, embarrassed, etc.

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