Last night?after arriving back in Springfield for another short stint, Amy and I were driving north on Campbell when we passed a tiny restaurant called Jose’s Place. As we drove by, I told Amy, “I wish I would have put the Lazy Susan in that location.” Her immediate response was, “I’m glad you didn’t.”

Jose’s Place is about nine hundred square feet, and was the 49 seat restaurant created by the owner of Ziggie’s to combat the new smoking ordinance.  The name of the restaurant then was Ciggie’s.  After the ordinance was revised, Ciggie’s was closed and the space sat available, perfect for a start up restaurant, for months until Jose’s Place opened shortly after I did.? I could have opened there for about ten percent of what it took to do the brand new place I did in Nixa.  Most likely I would still be open if I chose that location.

If I would have chosen that location, I wouldn’t be in the same situation I am in now, but I would probably still have close to the same amount of debt. None of my habits would have changed, and I am sure our situation would be getting worse by the day.

Today I am beyond the original embarrassment of failure, I am back on my feet, and have been digging out for almost six months.?I have started one new business and have two jobs.? I am looking at starting a second business and am looking for another temporary job.?I also have a house, a truck and a Glock for sale.? It is getting better every day!

Despite the desire to change my past failure, I have to agree with Amy on this.?I’m glad I made all the mistakes I did with The Lazy Susan because without them, I may not have ever changed like I have now. Amy would have not joined the Army, and I would have never looked beyond Springfield. Basically it comes down to a decision anytime something bad happens to you; you can either be a victim and roll over, or you can turn the bad to good and come out fighting.  I have always been a fighter.

In case you have been reading along thinking there is nothing to getting out of debt; this post is to remind you of how hard it really is.?Next Tuesday it will be exactly six months since I read The Total Money Makeover, and changed my life.?Fourteen years of habits have been broken.?There are occasional relapses, but they are fewer and further between.

Since then I have brought in $44,531 from working and selling stuff.?That is not including the $38,000 the bank brought in when they auctioned off all of our equipment.?With that income we have decreased our debt by $66,323.?Interest and living expenses have taken a large chunk, interest more so.

The reason I want to let you know how much I have made is because I have never made more than $46,000 in an entire year; yet this year with focused intensity I have nearly matched that in six months; and it has been very difficult.?I have sold now eight of my original eleven guns with one more going on the market soon;?my house went on the market Tuesday, and I’ve moved my family back into what is for us a one bedroom apartment.

I am now sitting here wondering how I can keep bringing in $7,000 per month like I have been doing when I don’t make that much money.?At best, I make $4800 per month. There is only so much stuff to sell, and so many hours to earn money from a non-career second job.? It definitely won’t be easy, but we certainly will get it done.? This is hard, but it is worth it!

My original Army buddy, Steve Smallwood, wrote an incredible post a few days ago.? To date myself, Steve was my Chaplain when I first came into the Army back in 1992, and I have been fortunate to know him in several roles since then.

Read his post here, and then come right back.

This education versus institution battle he speaks of applies to a lot more than just the church.? I have viewed some form of this battle, and the attempt to indoctrinate in nearly every institution I have been involved in.? This battle can be extremely frustrating at times.

I have been very fortunate in my career to have worked for and with people who engage in critical thinking.? Even so, instinctively we think of what we have always done in trying to consider what we will do.? This can be very dangerous if we do not consider why something was originally done in a certain manner.?

I have to applaud the Army, an institution that traditionally has been very guilty of indoctrination.? Since the beginning of the Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan), they have a lessons learned portal that is accessible by all members of the Army.? In nearly real time, soldiers of all ranks are able to read accounts from recent engagements, and learn from experience.? They also have quickly made wholesale changes in basic training, personnel services re-design, and many other areas.

Twila Edwards is responsible for the words that changed my life and brought me into the world of critical thinking.? Within my first five minutes of class at Evangel, she made the statement, “Question everything.”? Don’t believe something just because someone in power says it; go to the source and verify it.? When you do something, think about why you are doing it.? Think about the purpose of your actions, and if there is a better way.? Don’t go through life as a mind numbed robot.

Something to think about.

That is right; you can now refer to my wife and myself as Lieutenants Maxwell.? Amy was successfully boarded (military jargon) and has been commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army.? I am currently a First Lieutenant, and should be able to continue to out rank her for a few more years.

Congratulations Amy!!

The local NBC affiliate, KY3,?ran a story tonight about banks profits being down 3% because people are paying off their credit cards. I wonder if the over 2 million listeners to Dave’s show have anything to do with this.? Check it out here.

Maybe people are finally waking up and realizing that the banker is not your friend.? I sure have!