Entrepreneur. Coach. Teacher. Designer. Printer. (Among other things.)

Hmmm. Those things describe what I am when it comes to the world of work but who am I really?

I carry many titles in addition to those already mentioned: son, brother, uncle, friend, lover, partner, human.

For just about as long as I can remember I’ve been on a quest. A quest to discover who I am and what I’m doing here. My quest has taken me on a variety of journeys and in a variety of directions. Always searching. Never seeming to find (although I suspect the answers have been with me all along).

Until recently. Things feel like they are really coming together for me.

I don’t think I’ll ever “get there” wherever “there” might be but that doesn’t mean I intend to stop learning nor will I stop trying to live a better life. Every day I’m getting better and better and happier and happier and more content.

I’m pleased that you’ve stopped by this site to get to know me a little better. I want to get to know you better, too. Please visit the Get in Touch page and take a minute to write me a note telling me a bit about yourself. When you click submit, your note will come directly to me.

I’ve done some great work recently that has included some reading and applying new concepts to my thinking that have had a remarkable affect on my view of myself and the the world. I’ve been able to get in touch with some deep-rooted beliefs that I’m beginning to question. Asking if they still serve me and if not, what am I going to do about it?

Through this work I’ve discovered some pretty powerful things about myself. In particular, I’ve discovered what my life’s intentions really are. To remind me of what I’m continually striving to be, I re-read this list every day (sometimes several times a day). I’m offering it here to share with you, but also to give you some idea of what some of your life’s intentions might be, as well.

I’ve not achieved all of these things yet, so that’s why I call them “intentions.” When I’m reading these every day, I generally precede each statement with the words, “I am willing….”

These are my current powerful life intentions (in no particular order):

• To be developing spiritually
• To be a loving partner, son, brother and uncle
• To be a well-respected professional
• To be a successful entrepreneur
• To be an effective teacher
• To be an effective communicator
• To be an effective coach
• To be well-educated
• To be well-traveled
• To be an adventurer
• To be a generous friend
• To be a contributor to my community
• To be a generous philanthropist
• To be physically fit and healthy
• To be financially successful

These intentions of mine came out of giving considerable thought to my Standards of Integrity. I learned from Maria Nemeth that the qualities we admire most in other people are the same qualities that we ourselves possess. Her theory is that you can see these qualities in other people only when you are familiar with them yourself.

So, my Standards of Integrity that I also re-read and do my best to embody every day:

“I am…..

Appreciative, Authentic, Aware, Gentle, Kind, Compassionate, Witty, Creative, Committed, Dedicated, Persistent, Nurturing, Wise, Thoughtful, Loyal, Generous, Truthful, Loving, Intelligent, Supportive, Open-minded, Friendly, Dependable, Grateful, Reliable and Uplifting. I know these are mine because I see them in others.”

Another powerful thing I’ve learned is that our purpose in life really has nothing to do with the work we do. That may be an expression of our purpose, but it’s not the be all to end all.

My life’s purpose, which has, and will continue to change over time:

• To show up in the most authentic way possible.
• To raise my own vibrations—not only to achieve my soul’s desire, but to also help raise the vibrations of all people who come in contact with me so that they, too, may achieve their soul’s desire.
• To recognize and honor the spirit within and my connection to all people I meet so that they feel uplifted and enriched while we are together.
• To smile a lot so that people wonder what I’m up to.
• To laugh a lot and to have lots of fun on this journey through life because if it’s not fun, why bother to do it in the first place?

When I approached the age of 30 I thought that somehow — maybe by divine providence or magic — when I reached that age I would be wise and mature. And that from that time on all the decisions I made would be the right ones. Boy, did life throw me a few lessons to prove otherwise!

And now, as I’ve surpassed the mid-century mark and can see it in my rear view mirror, I’m more grateful than ever for each of those life lessons. For without them I could not have grown in the ways that I have.

It is also my further intention to use this personal website space to share many of the things that I’ve learned on my journey 54 times around the sun so that you and others might benefit from what I’ve learned and perhaps avoid some of the mistakes I’ve made in my own life. Although, if I’m being perfectly honest here, I’ve read about the mistakes a lot of people have made and yet I went right out and not only made many of the same mistakes, but have created lots of new ones on my own.

So, I wonder, do we just have to live through our own stuff and learn our own lessons?

I’ll close here with a quote from one of my favorites authors, Chris Prentiss. Incorporating the philosophy of this quote into my own life has catapulted me light years forward in my growth:

“The events that occur in my life are workout situations. They are there for my benefit so I can become strong and gain wisdom and information by working my way through those situations.”

What are your life’s intentions? Click over to the Coffe Talk page on this site and share your list with the world. It is quite powerful to write them down, it is even more powerful to re-read them every day and to embody them every day, and even more powerful when you share these things with others. So share with us.