Joseph T. Barron, Jr

[Elizabeth McCormick, Motivational Speaker @pilotspeaker]

“Most new jobs won’t come from our biggest employers. They will come from our smallest. We’ve got to do everything we can to make entrepreneurial dreams a reality.” -Ross Perot
#Leadership #Pilotspeaker #Soar2Success

[Fletch17 @RealFletch17]

Morning X

[The Husky @Mr_Husky1]

I lied to a customer this morning. Straight to her face. And I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
I’ve been a mechanic nearly my whole life. My knuckles are always busted up, my back hasn’t stopped aching since the 90s, and I can tell what’s wrong with a car just by the sound it makes pulling in. Around here, I’m known for being fair but firm. No discounts. No drama. Fix it right, charge what it costs. That’s always been the rule.
But around 8 this morning, an old Chevy limped into the lot. It was rattling so loud the birds flew off the power lines. The girl who stepped out was young. Early 20s, maybe. Tired eyes, oversized scrubs, baby seat in the back. She walked up clutching her car keys like they might fall apart too.
“It’s making a weird noise,” she said, almost apologizing. “I really hope it’s not serious.”
It was serious.
Blown hose, leaking oil, belt hanging by threads. I told her the truth. A proper fix would run about a grand.
She didn’t cry. She just stood there, shoulders stiff, eyes flicking between her car and the baby in the backseat.
“I start my first shift at the nursing home today,” she said. “If I don’t show up, I lose the job.”
She turned like she was ready to drive off anyway. Said she’d just pour water in the radiator and try to make it. If the engine died, well, it died.
Now, we don’t let cars leave here in that kind of shape. But in that moment, I didn’t see a customer. I saw my own daughter, years ago, trying to keep everything together with nothing but willpower and coffee.
I told her to leave the keys.
“I can’t pay,” she said, panicked.
I looked her in the eye and said, “Did I ask you for money?”
I told her the part she needed was on national backorder. Would take two weeks minimum. Total lie.
“But how will I get to work?” she asked.
I handed her my truck keys. Told her it was parked behind the shop. Reliable, full tank, ready to go. My guy Tom looked at me like I’d lost my mind. “Boss, that’s your own truck.”
I didn’t look at him. “Put the baby seat in the back, will you?”
She left driving something safe. I stayed behind staring at a beat-up Chevy that reminded me what I used to drive when I had more debt than hope.
Over the next two weeks, I fixed everything. The part she needed cost me 20 bucks. But I didn’t stop there. I rotated the tires, swapped out the brakes, changed the oil, even vacuumed the damn carpet. I wanted her to come back to something that made her feel safe. Something that told her someone cared.
When she came to return the truck, she looked different. Rested. Calmer. She handed me the keys and asked about the bill.
I handed her a receipt with zeroed-out lines and told her it was all covered by a secret manufacturer recall. Factory fault. Didn’t cost me a thing.
She knew I was lying.
She didn’t call me out. She just stood there, tears in her eyes, and nodded. “Thank you,” she said. “I didn’t know people like you still existed.”
I grunted something about store policy and walked back to the office before she saw me get choked up.
I’ll probably be eating sandwiches for a month. But I remember what it felt like to be young and broke and terrified. Wishing someone — anyone — would throw you a rope.
This morning, I got to be that rope.
You can’t take a truck to the grave. You can’t take money either. But you can take moments like this. You can take the feeling of having helped someone when no one was watching.
And that’s worth more than a thousand-dollar repair

Credit - bringer of rain

[Omar Oropesa @OmarSnsd]

Finance doesn’t have to be so complicated.

Need life insurance? Buy the longest term policy w/the highest face amount you can afford.

Want to plan retirement? Invest in a great mutual fund, preferably in a Roth IRA if you qualify.

Need college planing? 529

Not so complicated!

[Elizabeth McCormick, Motivational Speaker @pilotspeaker]

Prepare, work smarter, Learn from your Mistakes. These are the secret to success! - Elizabeth McCormick #Leadership #Pilotspeaker #Soar2Success

[Joseph T. Barron, Jr @JoeBarronJr]

Quote of the Day
“Kind words do not cost much. Yet they accomplish much.”
— Blaise Pascal

[Elizabeth McCormick, Motivational Speaker @pilotspeaker]

If you want to achieve excellence, you can get there today. As of this second, quit doing less-than-excellent work. ~Thomas J. Watson #Leadership #Pilotspeaker #Soar2Success

[Elizabeth McCormick, Motivational Speaker @pilotspeaker]

The best teachers are those who don't tell you how to get there but show the way. #Leadership #Pilotspeaker #Soar2Success

[Giga Based Dad @GigaBasedDad]

Return to Christ

[Elizabeth McCormick, Motivational Speaker @pilotspeaker]

Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. #Leadership #Pilotspeaker #Soar2Success

[Primerica @Primerica]

Congratulations to Primerica CEO Glenn Williams on his recognition by Georgia Trend as one of Georgia’s most influential leaders. He has driven remarkable growth since he became CEO in 2015, including the growth of the company’s licensed sales force to over 151,000 representatives. We’re proud of the success Primerica has seen under his incredible leadership. #PrimericaProud

https://t.co/3Ac9BrHoME

[liminal @Liminal1988]

Most people stay stuck in stage two their whole lives: