I was reading through Seth Barnes' Blog and saw this incredible YouTube video.

It made me think of so many people who dream quietly of doing something radical. Dreaming quietly can work in some cases, but if you want to spread something good, spread your business, you might want to think about being like this guy at the Sasquatch Music Festival.

Sometimes you may start dancing alone, but sooner or later no one knows who started the dance, some don't even know why they're dancing, but everyone is running to join the dance.

( Here is the link for the previous part - Joy In The Journey - Part 1)

So here I was, now 18 years old and trying to figure out what to do with the rest of my life and what to do with God's call.  While not a new Christian, I wasn't used to "following" God.   I was a man with no plan.

Looking back at this stage of my life it's a miracle what actually took place.  As I mentioned in the previous post, I wasn't exactly a sharp precision instrument moving with purpose with my new call to go to Africa.

Lincoln Christian College

After high school graduation, I did what any Christian guy would do who had just had God speak to him - I went to my local community college to get a degree in computers and pre-med (Actually a bit humorous now in retrospect).  I didn't know what I was doing.  I managed to pull off 2 semesters at Lincoln Land Community College with a total of 1 C, 4 F's, and 3 incompletes!  That had to make my mother proud!  The C is still a wonder to me because both semesters I quit going to all my classes after about 8 weeks.  How I pulled off a C in Statistics I'll never know.

What did come out of this first year after high school was a lot of frustration  (Frustration can actually be a good motivator).  Two failed semesters and two miserable jobs at Venture department store and Sears Automotive, and I was feeling pretty low.  Like I said, not exactly a sharp precision instrument slicing my way through life.  So, one night I dropped in on Jeff. 

Jeff Chitwood was my youth minister through high school.  I remember dropping by one night to visit with Jeff and Judy.  I didn't normally drop by, so with the drop by and observing me over the last year, I'm sure he knew something was up.  We began to talk and made our way down to his basement.  We began to race slot cars (a cool youth minister with race cars in his basement).  I don't remember how long we raced cars and what the content of the conversation was up to that point, but what I do remember is Jeff taking me back to what I had been through in high school, my commitments to service, and my commitment to full-time Christian service.

When I met with Jeff, iIt was now the following summer since I had met Mike Nichols (I was now 19).  It worked out to be quite good timing.  High school camp was going on out at Lake Springfield Christian Assembly.  I drove out to camp with one main purpose - I wanted to visit with the camp team from Lincoln Christian College.  For several hours that night, and many more the next day, I chatted with and got to know the 4 members of the LCC camp team about college life and why they decided to go to LCC.

After my meeting with Jeff and my visit with the LCC camp team, the fog began to disapate and a clearer vision and renewed energy began to fill my soul.  I felt like I was back on track. The following day I was in my car, driving to Lincoln, IL and applying to attend Lincoln Christian College.  I still didn't know exactly what I would major in, but I did know that I was now exactly where God wanted me.

The next year of my life was so incredible.  As Bryan Adams sung, "It was the best year of my life."  My best friends for life came out of that year - Matt, Phil, Mark (who introduced me to Texas), Dan, Terry, Dave, and so many others.  I was playing on the soccer team, getting A's and B's in my classes, and soaking in everything that was life at LCC.  It's amazing when you have clarity of purpose how you can turn those F's into A's and B's. 

There were 4 other people that were key people in my life.

The Butlers

Two of my soccer teammates were Greg and Jeff Butler.  Traveling on soccer trips to play other colleges, I had a good chance to get to know Greg and Jeff… and to learn they were connected to Mike Nichols.  Greg and Jeff had grown up in Bukavu, Zaire where Mike Nichols had also lived.  Greg and Jeff would fill me with story after story of life in Africa.  Most of them were UNBELIEVABLE… especially compared to life growing up in central Illinois.  They began to teach me Swahili words and phrases.  I was a sponge soaking up all things Africa.

Another connection was that Greg and Jeff just happened to be the sons of one of my professors, Ron Butler.  Motivated by this African missionary professor, I began to give 110% in that class.  I began to stay after class and ask questions.  It was part way through my first semester at LCC that another milestone was passed.  Mr. Butler (as he was known at that time) had us choose a book from a list to write a report on.  I chose, Through Gates of Splendor.  And my life would never be the same.

Missions to that point in my life was fairly vague and almost "tourist-like."  Through Gates of Splendor changed my perspective of the commitment, the sacrifice, the love, the passion, and the depth of God's love for all people.  Amazingly, in chapel that year, during a missions emphasis week, we would watch the movie, Through Gates of Splendor, as well.  I was changed.

I knew God had been working on me, but there was much to do.  I was a blunt instrument that needed refining, and I was in the right place for that to happen.  Miraculously, God had timed my attendance at LCC with a 2-year extended furlough for the Butler family.  I would spend much more time with the Butlers, visiting with Ron, Carolyn, Greg and Jeff at their house - located about 200 yards from my dorm room.

Ron Butlter became my mentor.  From classroom time, to chapel sermons, to just visiting, to even help coach soccer my sophomore year, Ron was and would continue to be a profound influence in my life.  My sophomore year I traveled to East Providence, Rhode Island on a school trip to work in a small Porteguese church with Ron and Carolyn.  That trip was special because I got to serve alongside them and talk more about Zaire.

The full 4 years at LCC (yes, I did finish in 4 years) would continue to shape me with other professors and friends.  By my senior year I had grown (at least I hope so) and was beginning to dream with greater clarity about the purpose of my life.  Others I had met at LCC, led me to something great after graduating from college.

I also fell head over heals my senior year for the freshman girl who was washing dishes in the cafeteria.  By our third date I learned that her name was Traci (just kidding :lol:  ).  In a whirlwind that can only happen at Bible College, we were engaged before the year was out.  Hey… what can I say… when you know you know!

I graduated from college in May 1988 with my diploma in one hand, my passport in the other hand, and an engagement ring on Traci's hand.  I was heading off on a great adventure, leaving my fiance' behind for 3 months, and finally getting a chance to participate in an opportunity that had been planted in my heart 5 years earlier when I met Mike Nichols.

I left on May 26, 1988 with two other guys to do an internship in Zaire. 

My Response

I am amazed when I reflect on this 5 year stretch of time.  The first year I was wandering around looking for the right path to take.  I was frustrated and I couldn't see the forest for the trees.  I am still very grateful for that night in Jeff Chitwood's basement racing slot cars (I'm sure I let him win), when he had the boldness to help put me back on track.  Thank you Jeff!

The next four years were all very powerful.  A college student arrives with a blank slate.  I am a very blessed man that God timed my arrival with the Butlers to have this family write such important words and messages on my heart.  Thank you Carolyn and Greg!  Ron passed away last year in South Africa.  Jeff passed away in the mid-90's while flying relief trips into northern Kenya. 

The main thing I see when I look at this part of the journey was how hard God was working in my life to shape me and orchestrate events and the timing to meet new friends that would shape and direct my life.   Don't squander the opportunities that God puts before you.  Trust the counsel of godly individuals who have the authority to speak into your life.  Have a spirit that says "Yes."  Be thankful as your reflect on God's goodness!

Here we are, mid way through 2009.  Wow!  I get quite a few emails from people about what some of their best options are for starting a business from home.  There are actually quite a few.  Let me list some of them:

1) Landscaping - For about $1,000 start-up (if you already have a truck), begin making about $100-$200 per day net.  It's hard work, but cutting about 3-5 yards per day can be a decent way to break free from a job.  Getting those jobs is the hard part.  Getting flyers, magnetic signs for your truck, door-to-door, etc. is going to be necessary.  You can branch out and do shrubs, trees, and other landscaping things too.  I really don't know why more people don't do this.

2) MLM Company - Robert Kiyosaki and Robert Shemin are both very big on this.  MLM is good… but you have to get past the hype and all the negative crap that some naysayers will throw your way.  But, let me be the first to say that MLM isn't easy and it isn't for everyone.  I have spoken with many, many happy people involved in MLM.  If you're going to do this, do it right and join a good company.  Don't play around with the fly-by-night companies.

3) Affliate Marketing - In most cases, this is selling other people's items or services and earning a commission for doing so.  Creating websites and driving traffic to those websites is the primary way that this is done.  The hard part is driving the traffic.  It must be targeted traffic an you have to decide if you're going to try and get free traffic by getting your sites ranked high in the search engines (SEO) or if you are going to pay for with something like Google Adwords. 

4) Consulting - Everybody is an expert at something or can learn to be an expert by spending a few bucks on books from Barnes and Noble.  There are all kinds of consultants - home organization, baby, business, sports, baskets, etc.  One of the best ways to get started in this is to go pick up one of those magazines at the book store on Home Businesses.  These are the ones that have 1001 ideas every month for making money from home.

5) Real Estate - Many aspire to do this but few ever go down this road because of the intimidation of putting $100K down for a home.  It really doesn't work that way.  I love real estate, and that is one of my primary goals over the next 3 years is to get several rental properties in my portfolio.  But, I have been learning from Lifestyles Unlimited.  There isn't a better organization that I know of.  Stay away from those companies that come to your town and want to charge you $4-$10,000 to learn their system.  It's a waste of money.

6) Etc.  There are hundreds and hundreds of ideas you can pursue here.  Like the idea above, go hang out at Borders or Barnes and Noble.  Go to the magazines and in the business section, find some of the Home Business, Success, Work From Home magazines and sit down with a cup of coffee and go through them.  There are so many great ideas.  I have a friend who started his vending business with one of these magazines and has a nice business running.

But, what about today?  What would I do today?

Knowing what I know, if I was starting from scratch here is what I would do:

1) Get started with affiliate marketing using the Clickbank Code course to learn how to do it.  Clickbank Code is one of the best courses I've seen in a long, long time to teach how to get up and running and making a decent income with affiliate marketing.  I would put my heart and soul into this and not get distracted by anything else.  One of the reasons I like affiliate marketing more than MLM, Consulting, Landscaping, etc. is that you can truly walk away and go on vacation, take a mission trip, etc. 

Think about it.  Landscaping is great, but if you take a week off, there is no money coming in because you didn't mow a lawn (there are ways to fix this, but you get the idea).  If you are doing an MLM, your cell phone is constantly ringing whether you are home, at Disney World, at the White House, or in the jungles of the Congo.

With affiliate marketing, you can get away more than any other business.  And, if you're going to do this, use Clickbank Code to get started.

2) Real Estate - once I got myself established wiht affiliate marketing, I would use Real Estate to stablize my income and provide long-term, retirement security for my family.  While nothing is perfect, I think real estate is one of the ideal businesses to get involved with.

Anyway, I hope that helps… now… get started with something.  Take some action to get going.

I believe that if you sit down with anyone, you can find that everyone has an incredible story of the journey they have been on in life.  One thing is for sure when you begin reflecting back on life, or listening to someone else's story, you realize that life isn't easy… but if you are honest and can look back and see how you've grown, you would agree with Michael Card in his song, that even if life isn't easy, there is "Joy In The Journey."

I am going to be spending the next several weeks sharing my journey.  Part of this is for my own purpose, to get my thoughts in writing rather than letting them swirl in my head year after year.  Another purpose comes from Rick Warren.  He states in Purpose Drive Life that some of our greatest ministries can come out of our greatest pain.  There are some things I've been through that hopefully can be an encouragement to someone who is struggling with the guilt of quitting (more on this soon).

The Call

My journey begins with my calling.  I grew up in central Illinois going to a mid-size Christian church.  I'm not going to bore you with the details regarding the growing up part - I'm going to jump straight to the high school years.

I don't remember much about high school except these things:

1. I didn't like high school much.  It was okay, but I wasn't really thrilled with the school part of high school.
2. I had great friends at church.  As a high schooler, my life was Wednesday nights with Bible Bowl and Sunday nights with youth group.
3. Everything was pretty normal for a midwest kid with a good home, good friends, and a job at Baskin Robbins.

A very big part of high school was going to Lake Springfield Christian Assembly… summer camp.  I loved camp!  I would spend 2 weeks every summer as a high school camper and another 2 or 3 weeks serving as camp staff for younger age groups.  All aspects of camp were great.  Even the hot, sweaty nights trying to sleep with all the crickets and frog noises from the lake, plastic mattresses, and huge mosquitoes.  One of my favorite parts was the morning missionary time.  We would meet missionaries from all over the world.  Not all were exciting, but they had gone places most of us in the Midwest didn't know existed.

Another important part of high school was the trips to visit different Bible colleges. Our youth group would go to "High School Weekends" up I-55 to visit Lincoln Christian College.  These made a big impression on me.  After several trips I began to open myself to being used by God for whatever purpose He may have in my life.  I didn't know what that meant fully, I was just open. 

As I have grown older, I've come to realize that God tends to repeat his calling as we grow in our faith and as there is greater clarity.  In my situation, God continued to affirm His call through different people and events.

Through a combination of trips to LCC, LSCA, as well as other youth conferences and service opportunities, God was bringing me along and growing a passion within me.  That passion would be defined just after I graduated from high school.

In the summer of 1983 I met Mike Nichols during a week of summer camp at LSCA. Mike was a missionary with African Christian Mission, home on furlough from Zaire, Africa (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo).  In retrospect, I realize now that God had been preparing me for this week.  Little by little there was a passion growing in my heart and God was going to plant a seed in my heart for what Mike would share that week.

By the end of the week, I didn't know how, I didn't know when, and I certainly didn't know what, I just knew that God had called me to be a missionary in Africa.  To some that may sound strange or an "emotional camp response."  But, through the previous 4 years, I believe God was less leading me, preparing me, and also to see if I would have a spirit that said "Yes" to Him.  For the first time (as far as I can remember), God got specific and I said YES!!

I was excited, confused, and at a bit of a loss for what to do after camp.  Mike Nichols was no longer around.  I went back home.  I wasn't sure what to do with that new feeling, calling, excitement, dream, hope, purpose, and desire that I had within me. 

The real world was saying, "Rich, what are you going to do with your life?"  The educational system teaches you to respond with some trite answer about going to college, getting a degree, and then getting a job to make a lot of money.  A calling is different and it isn't something that makes sense to most people when you explain that you're waiting on God.

A calling doesn't always mean immediate action.  God's calling can get brushed aside and damaged in an age of immediate gratification.  Andy Stanley, in one of my favorite books of all time, Visioneering, states that it took Moses 40 years to grow into the vision God had designed for him.  He also says "New visions die easily.  And understandably so.  There is little to go on.  Praying and planning will help you keep your vision alive.  And that is critical.  When your vision dies, part of you dies as well.  So pray."

So, here I was - a high school graduate with a call to go to Africa.  That's about it right there.  God was going to have to put some more meat on that bone.  But, that's where it started.  Had I not been open and prepared, that week of camp with Mike Nichols would have been just another week of camp.  It was the birth of my call.

My Response

I turned 44 last month… ugh.  That summer with Mike Nichols was 26 years ago.  It almost feels longer than that. I believe one of the greatest things that was lacking in my life at that time was guidance.  I left that week of camp and didn't know what to do next.  I didn't know how to pray.  I didn't know what I should "do" in order to be involved in missions.  I was aimless and clueless.  The system I grew up in was not built for people like me.

The system really isn't any better today than it was 26 years ago.  The American educational system does not encourage radicalness, adventure, curiousness, questioning, seeking, or even leading.  The system is all about following the rules.  If I can encourage my kids, myself, and anyone else, it is to pray with a spirit of "Yes" to God and realize that God may lead you to move outside of the system.  Seek and pray for opportunities to allow God to continue to grow His call and purpose in your life.  It may not be time yet to live out that call to its fullest, but it is always time to pray and dream to the point that God has led you thus far.

For those who have been called and are wondering about what to do next, Andy Stanley has this to offer:

We see what we are looking for.  We often miss what we don't expect to see.  Prayer keeps us looking.  Prayer keeps the burden fresh.  It keeps our eyes and hearts in an expectant mode.  Prayer doesn't force God's hand.  But it keeps us on the lookout for his invervention.  Prayer sensitizes us to subtle changes in the landscape of our circumstances.  When he begins to move, we are apt to recognize it.  Praying almost ensures we won't miss opportunities God brings our way.

As a word to Mike Nichols… "Thank You!!"  You never know who you are going to be meeting and what crazy kid or adult you are going to touch.  Thank you for taking the time with an 18-year old who had questions, enjoyed watching your slides, and even in later years gave me encouraging words.  Keep filling those college students with dreams that are bigger than they could have dreamed on their own.  Encourage them to pray.  Encourage them to live in their calling, at whatever stage they are in.

Wow… I've rambled long enough.  The next post will be about where I went after leaving camp and how God continued to orchestrate His call in my life.  It's pretty amazing really that He would care enough to do what He did.

Josh's team ended up 7-4.  Had a blast going to practice and the games.  Here's some footage of the last couple of games.  I missed a lot of footage, naturally, but this will give you a taste of the greatness.

Joshua Playing Baseball from Rich Niccolls on Vimeo.

Blue Rangers Baseball - Spring 2009 from Rich Niccolls on Vimeo.

Sorry about the shaky video.  I'm getting used to my new MinoHD Flip video camera.

I must get dozens of emails per week about following someone on Twitter or joining as a friend on Facebook.   I don't have a Twitter account and I no longer have a Facebook account. 

If you listen to some people, they would say I am stupid, crazy, and insane not to have a Twitter account where I could get thousands of people to follow me. I closed my Facebook account about a month ago.

Why?  Isn't Social Networking supposed to be the #1 phenomenon going on right now?

I'll agree they are big… just look at their Alexa rankings.  But, there are several reasons why I won't be getting an account any time soon:

1) I don't have the time.  I only have so many hours in a day, and if I have to add one more thing to my plate for me to do, I will push the things that are priorities for me away.  I am already busy enough as it is.  I don't want to take 2 minutes and Tweet on Twitter.  Facebook is really cool, but FB actually takes quite a bit of time.  I had about 200 friends before I closed my FB account, and I got back several hours a week.  I don't really think these advances in technology are saving me time at all.

2) I lose focus.  The man who chases 2 rabbits will get none.  I had a friend tell me that back in college.  I was actually going rabbit hunting for the first time.  He told me to focus on one rabbit at a time.  Good advice.  The problem for me is… when I begin to divide my time up between different activities of my business and my personal life, I have come to the conclusion that less is better. 

If I have 4 things I am trying to do, it's not like I carve my time up into 4 nice portions, 25%, 25%, 25%, 25%.  For me, it's more like 20%, 5%, 10%, and 15%… which only adds up to 50% because the other 50% is lost due to lack of focus on one thing.  The more my focus is divided the less productive I am.  I only have to take a look at my monthly income to know when I was laser focused and when my focused was divided among too many things.

Opening up a Twitter account and doing things like Facebook only divides my time up more.  And, I ain't gonna do it.

3) I don't want to put my eggs in the Twitter basket.  I have been marketing online for about 11 years now… which would qualify me as a veteran.  I've been online for 14 years.  Especially over the last 4-6 years, I have seen many things come and go, fads rise and fall.  I am not saying Facebook and Twitter are fads, but I believe their long-term benefit to any energy, money, and time I would give them to better my business is still suspect.  All it takes is a change in the Twitter terms of service as people get in and learn how to manipulate the system that all of the Twitter love comes to an end.

If I am putting my marketing eggs in any basket, it is the things that have proven themselves to be effective over the life of my marketing experience.  That is where I focus most of my energy for building my business and where I will continue to do so.  If Twitter is still going strong in a few years, then maybe I was wrong and it might be something to look into. 

4) Twitter and Facebook = less freedom.  This goes along with #1 and #2.  One of the overall goals of what I do is to give myself and my family the time and financial freedom that would not otherwise be available.  Becoming a master Tweeter and a friend to thousands on Facebook  actually steals some of that freedom I have worked so hard for over the last 6 years. 

5) I'd rather go fishing.  Or go golfing, go to Disney, go on safari in Kenya, feed some of the folks in the cardboard village in Renosa, Mexico, or go walk through Stonebriar Mall in north Dallas with my family.  There are many other things I would rather do than to find one more thing to do on the computer.  I love my computer… but it's not my first love.

Anyway, you get the idea.  Twitter and FB are great things… but right now my life is just fine without them.  It was fine yesterday and will probably be just fine tomorrow as well.  It's not about the money.  For me, it's about quality of life.

I just ordered a new toy for myself - The Flip MinoHD.  It is so cool.  I ordered it from Amazon.  I linked that photo on the right to Amazon if you want to click on the phone it will take you to the Amazon page where I purchased mine.  You can watch a demo there and read more about it.

The main reason I got the Flip is because it was highly rated and recommended from several people, but most notably was when Michelle McPherson used it on one of your sites.  It sold me right there.

It shoots excellent video and has great audio.  I had been looking at HD video cameras at Best Buy, but they were going to cost me somewhere between $800 - $1500.  They were nice, but this HD camera is only about $200, and it is a TON more convenient.

Just shoot, plug it into your USB port and upload.  It holds about 60 minutes worth of video.  It is about the size of your cell phone, so just think all the stuff you could shoot, upload, and promote.

Mine should arrive within the next few days.  I'll let you know how it goes and put some video here on the site.  But, I really don't think you can do better than this.

Anyway, just one of my new toys for 2009! - The Flip Mino HD

I was at 7-11 yesterday before picking up my daughter from softball practice.  Inside the store there were 5 African-American guys all wearing Obama sweatshirts, buttons, hats, and other stuff.  I thought to myself, "Give me a break."  He's just the president. 

I voted for McCain.  I am a STRONG support of President Bush.  I despise and think it is deplorable the way people, the media, and the Democrats have irresponsibily put the blame of the world, 9/11, the devastation from the hurricanes, the war, the economy, etc. on him.  We don't live in a dictatorship where blame can be put on one person.  I still believe McCain was the better choice.

But, as I was checking out at 7-11 with my Coke, I thought to myself, "Maybe Obama ain't so bad."  Look at the way he is unifying things.  If he can bring some sense of unity and a tinge of hope (although it is futile to ever put your hope in a man - there is only hope in Jesus), that's not such a bad thing.  If he can raise the spirits of people who have been beaten down by CNN and the media about how bad things are, then maybe that's not such a bad thing.

Seven years ago the Democrats were in a panic.  President Bush's rating was higher than any other president in history, about 82% I believe.  HUGE!  Think back.  You couldn't buy an American flag anywhere at any store because we were a strong, unified nation.  We were scared, but yet we believed it was time to break the back of the enemy.  We were glued to the news as we cheered on our troops.  Even the media was giddy and subjective as they reported on the progress of the U.S. troops.

But, the Democrats devized a long term plan and slowly but surely they began to break the unity, trust, vision, and hope of the American people.  The media bit the apple, and they were on board.  For the last 3 years, there wasn't anything that Bush could do that was good.  The photos they chose to depict our president on the news and magazine covers were despicable.  Compare those the photos they choose to use of Obama as he always looks regal and stately.

Nevertheless, the past is the past, but history should teach us a lesson.  So here we are in January 2009, a divided nation that is hurting in so many ways.  There is no blame to be put on President Bush.  None.  Afterall, that is the beauty of our government - that is why there is a house and a senate - and the weight of the burden of our economic crisis should rest on the shoulders of Congress more than it should on the shoulders of one man. 

But, for now, we have Obama.  He is the figure head and face of our nation.  And, for now, even though I believe it to be false hope and a unity that is misguided, it is hope and unity nonetheless.  As long as they can stop looking back and blaming Bush, and begin looking forward with both feet in the present, maybe Obama ain't that bad.  His views and changes to abortion and pro-life are nauseating and heart breaking, but if there is any good, and there is, it is that he has given hope to much of our nation and lifted their heads. 

Finally, let me give praise to my new neighbor, President Bush (he's living here in Dallas now).  President Bush chose to absorb the blame, the hate, the criticism rather than fight back, lash out, and call the bluff of empty accusations.  While we were all hoping for it, he kept quiet.  I believe that shows his strength of character and the fact that he lived for 8 years in the White House leading by example and with noble character.  Don't believe what the media has painted.  Lies are exposed eventually and truth always prevails.