Oh how I enjoy writing to you all. Believe it or not after writing this article I will be sitting eagerly waiting to write to you again.

Today I want to share with you some business wisdom. As I’ve mentioned before I lost my job earlier this year. As a result of my displacement from the job market I decided to make use of all the books I’ve bought over the years. The books on how to start a business, how to be a trusted adviser, and how to get out of the rat race.

My journey has been far from perfect. There are moments when I feel like I’m doing the right thing. Then other times when I feel like quitting and going out to get a real job.

When I was an employee of a company I worked X amount of hours then made X amount of dollars. I worked my hours and got paid, guaranteed money.

Now as a business owner I have to find my own clients and work. Basically, I need to fish for my own food.

In my journey I’ve learned some great lessons. The lessons are great because they can be used if you own a business or not.

First of all you must DECIDE to change. I’ve had many conversations with people who disliked their lot in life. They are tired of the extra pounds and dissatisfied with their job.

When it comes down to it, you can think about it and you can talk about it. True change will be birthed when you stand up and say, “I’m sick and tired of my situation!” “I will no longer take it anymore!” Say it and say it with purpose.

The next step is to PLAN. You need a plan. Remember, “A man without a plan is like a ship without a sail.” or “If you fail to plan then you plan to fail.”

You need to first write down where your are in life. Next write down where you want to be. Then write out what it will take to get there. Without a clearly defined plan you will just be floating out in the middle of the ocean.

Finally you need to TAKE ACTION. You see you can decide to go to Hawaii. You can plan out your trip. But if you never buy your ticket and get on the boat, you’ll never get there. All you will have is a dream.

All of the above seems easy enough. Your probably thinking I can do all that. I leave you with one more piece of advice. Get a mentor or accountability partner. Share your journey with others and ask for their help. Not only is it more helpful to have a coach, it is also more enjoyable to share your successes with others.

The big day has come and gone. 26.2 miles completed. My knees and shins are sore and my feet are covered with blisters. Despite the wear and tear on my body, I have to say this is the best marathon I have ever completed.

Was it because I surpassed previous times? Far from it, this is actually the slowest I have ever completed a marathon. The reason I will treasure the 7 hours and 7 minutes is because I enjoyed every minute of it.

I started the race with a goal in mind. Take it slow, enjoy the scenery, and Be the Blessing. I trekked along the course talking to strangers and giving words of encouragement. I met local San Diegans and people traveling as far as Louisiana. Everybody had a different story of why they were running and they were all eager to share.

At around mile 9 I had an overwhelming sense of happiness and joy, a feeling that almost brought me to tears. I remembered why I love to run. I love to run because it is the bond between me and my dad. As a kid I would rush to put on my shoes so I could follow him out the door. As I grew older I would join him on runs around Miramar Lake. Even though I’m a little quicker now I would purposely slow down so I could be around him.

Every year on his birthday and Christmas I would give him running shoes, the same brand and size as mine. When I see him I always ask, “How was your run?” That is our bond and that is why I loving running.

Now that I brought some of you tears it’s time to make you laugh. Around mile 13 I conveniently had a cramp in front of Carl’s Jr. Remembering how badly I wanted a burger in past marathons I strolled in and ordered a cheeseburger; a $6 dollar, bacon, guacamole burger, and 2 large fries. I wasn’t that hungry but I knew I would find a few others that would be starving.

I grabbed my food and rejoined the race. Boy a cheeseburger never tasted so delicious! Many runners got a good laugh watching me eat. I offered food to anyone who crossed my path. There was only one runner who actually accepted some fries. I give props to the rest of runners who resisted temptation.

Around mile 15, I encountered a homeless man sitting by the train tracks just enjoying the race. I walked over to him with the food and his eyes lit up like a child in a candy store. I reached in my bag and handed him the $6 burger. His expression of appreciation was enough to make the day perfect.

I continued on my journey and met Joyce, a state legislator; Ester, a distributer of Mickey D’s transponders; and Derrick, a TV producer. Around mile 18 or so the shirt on back served its purpose. A lady named Joyce, a substitute Catholic teacher and caregiver, inquired about it.  For the next 8 miles I was able to share my story and listen to hers. Joyce if you read this, thank you for making the last 8 miles go by so quickly.

So a quarter of a mile left that’s when I decided to jog slowly through the finish line and get my souvenir photo taken. 7 hours and 7 minutes later my mission completed. Many that finished before me may be able to say, “This was the fastest time ever.” But how many will be able to say, “This was my slowest ever and I enjoyed every moment?”

I leave you with this quote, “Life is a journey not a destination.”- Author Unknown