Knowledge & Networks: Path to Financial Security

I recently came across a post on a LinkedIn group, asking the question "What would make you feel financially secure?" The first thoughts that came to mind were the lessons learned in Risk Management, from over ten years of advising families on how to mitigate risk and manage their resources, subject to their specific circumstances and goals.But then my personal experiences and reality cut through the noise.

Knowledge and access to information is our first defense in becoming financially secure. Being a lifelong learner, willing to adapt and adjust to your environment, is critical. One of the speeches I share with anyone who listens is, "Do whatever you can to put yourself in an ownership position, avoid becoming a borrower." What I mean by this, is to put sweat equity into your life. Learn how to repair the broken washer, a leaky faucet, grow a garden, bake your own bread. Take time to learn important matters, such as tax codes, insurance contracts and legal contracts. Have you read your insurance policy? Have you read your Checking Account Agreement? What exclusions are in your health insurance plan? Don't take someone else's word as the holy grail - read up on the topic. Do some research before you copy & paste another person's nonsense.

How does that lead to financial security? Instead of running to the store every time something isn't working, you may discover that a $50 part and a little elbow grease could save you from buying a brand new $700 washer and then you'll need the $500 new dryer to go with it. And most likely you aren't buying the appliances with cash, but using credit that will cost you more in the long run.

See, the secret to compound interest is having it work for you, not against you. When you buy things on credit, the amount increases over time as interest accrues. Your are in a borrowing position. Other people have control over what you do with your money every payday. On the other hand, money that is earning interest, works for you, as it earns interest and then interest on interest, the longer you leave it alone. Your money is available for you to decide how to make it work harder, on your own terms. So, the next time you are tempted to run to the store, stop and consider if this may be an opportunity to learn.

The second part of this journey to financial security is Networks. Building a network of people that you trust is vital. A healthy community will share their knowledge and work together to help each other live healthier lives. It doesn't mean you agree with everything they believe or do. It means you respect each other's value and strengths. Networks can help share tools, instead of running out and buying a new thing you may need once. Networks can barter, take turns babysitting, put a roof on or build a shed. Each person contributes their own knowledge and interests to the greater good of the whole. As you continue to learn new skills, you become an important part of you Network.

As another year comes to a close, take time to consider what you've learned and what you would like to explore in the new year. Every day presents us with opportunities to meet new people, expand our networks and share our resources with others.

Drafting Your Own Declaration of Independence

Although I usually reserve year-end for reflecting on life, today seems to be just as appropriate. Since I was given the day off from work, today has evolved into a day of contemplation and reflection of where I've been and where I'm headed. Self-evaluations can be very useful when done with sincere thought and intent. What got me started was a book I recently received, Total Leadership, by Stewart D. Friedman. One of the first things he challenges the reader to do is to define what matters most and what you aim to accomplish in life. I've been through similar activities over the years, always finding it refreshing to put my hopes and dreams down on paper. By defining priorities and values clearly during times of reflection, it allows me to better react and take action during a crisis or stressful situation.
As I've been intently writing down my priorities and values over the past few years, my path has become better defined. One of my long term priorities is to declare independence from employment. I look forward to the day when I can earn a living doing the things I am most passionate about, investing in others. Freedom from having to please and impress my employer motivates me to take action. I continue to do my best at my job, while building skills and tools needed for the future. Over the past six years I have paid off significant debt that was preventing me from pursuing my interests. I have also increased my savings and investments. Of course making these choices also means letting go of other things.
Another priority for me is Freedom of time. Such a precious commodity and too much is spent on things I'd rather not be doing. This fits in with my first priority and I've been slowly making changes in this area to bring it more in line with my values. Over the past few years my time has been invested more in developing networks, connecting people and providing workshops and one-on-one coaching for entrepreneurs. I've also  invested more time with close family and exploring beautiful sites across the U.S.
In retrospect, I guess most of my focus is really learning to become more genuine and transparent about my priorities and values. It's about putting things in their proper order of importance on a daily basis and not being swayed this way and that by every passing whim. This is part of a life long process to pursue the path that matters most to me, with the hope that I am able to accomplish what I've set out to do and make a worthy contribution in some small way. May you be successful in Drafting Your Own Declaration of Independence.

Madeline Island

On Madeline Island, I drove to the Big Bay State Park, filled out the self-registration forms and located a good spot to set up camp. After a well needed shower and band aids on my toes, I headed back into LaPointe to find some food. Tom's Burned Down Cafe was closed, I actually chatted with the owner for a few minutes and he gave me a few other suggestions. Evidently after Labor Day, many of the businesses close early during the week - so I was able to have a wonderful burger at the Beach Club, before heading back to camp.

Day 3. September 21, 2009 - The Hike Back

There's nothing quite like waking up to the sound of water splashing on the shore, knowing that this moment is mine to savor. Amazingly, I didn't feel sore or stiff. I sat on the rocks and washed my face with the cold water from the lake. I made myself eat a few more bites of my Clif bar, even though I had no appetite. I had not brought my pan with me, so I sipped a little bit of water, knowing that I needed to ration it for the hike out. It didn't take long to take down the tent and pack up my bag. Leaving the site just as I had found it, I started following the Lake Superior Trail east. According to the map, the trail would follow the Lake and connect back with 107, which then led to the parking area where I had started the day before. I knew that I didn't want to follow the same trail, since it would be all uphill. Fortunately I didn't know what the Lake Superior Trail would be like or I might have started to cry.
I crossed back over Big Carp River, past the cabins and up the bluff. This area seemed to be more prone to being swampy and muddy in the spring. The trail worked it's way around a few rises and then followed the shore for about 2.5 miles. The trail was literally on the rocky shore in several places, so I took advantage and splashed my face to cool off. The trail was pretty rough with many rocks and tree roots. At two different places the trail becomes a boardwalk, two boards across, so only one person can cross at a time. The trees tended to be smaller than the ones I saw yesterday, many birch and tall grasses. I heard a loon call out and then heard the flapping of wings as a pair flew from a nest way up in a tree.
About half way there is a large camping site, good for several tents. I believe this is called Lone Rock and it's the last place to access the lake on this trail. For the next mile, the trail moves away from the lake and starts to climb from the 600-700 ft level up to 1,220 over the next 2.5 miles. The trail was covered with loose rocks and at one point you have to maneuver up sheer rock, maybe 12 feet high or so. The sun was getting high up in the sky and my water was almost all gone. By the time I made it to the crest of the mountain, there was a wooden bench and an amazing view of the Lake and The Apostle Islands, but I dared not stop and kept moving along. The last half mile was back in old growth forest of pine, which was quite refreshing. Finally I made it to the pavement. I dropped my pack and left it on a bench, while I walked on to the parking area - about 1 mile ahead. The last half mile was pretty steep, as the road rises to 1,400 ft. This trail took me about 5.5 hours.
Once I picked up my pack, I felt rejuvenated and headed back to HWY 28, then followed HWY2 west to Ashland, MN then north to Bayfield. From Bayfield I took the ferry across to Madeline Island, the largest of the Apostle Islands. The area reminded me of many small towns that dot the Connecticut shore along Long Island Sound - fishing towns with a rich heritage and lots of charm.

September 20th, Big Carp River Trail

A few days before leaving on my trip, a dear friend gave me some books about Porcupine Mountains so that I could get a better overview of what to expect. Even with all the information, you never know how it's going to be until you get out there and experience it firsthand. I guess life in general is like that...you can talk about it, plan it, study it...but you'll never really know, unless you take the risk, become vulnerable and put yourself out there...
The trail begins at the Lake of the the Clouds parking area, at about 1246' and climbs along the escarpment for about 2 miles, offering amazing vistas and almost a desert like habitat. At 1460' the trail drops off steeply into the deep woods of virgin hemlock. It's about a half mile descent to 1100' in the midst of amazing maple, beech and hemlock. It was cool in the shady woods and quiet. There were old trees fallen over, some crossed the path in places. Around mile 4, the trail meets the Big Carp River where you cross over on a log bridge - See photo above. I stopped here and splashed cool water on my face and arms, it felt amazing. After another mile I came to the crossroads, where the trail meets with the Correction Trail.At one point, the trail descends to a place where you must cross the river. Fortunately this time of year, the water was low enough that I could step on rocks and fallen logs to get across.
Lake Superior was still another 4 miles to the north. I felt pretty good about the time, but I knew that I had pushed myself pretty hard and needed to slow down a bit. I kept doing calculations in my head to determine how much farther I had to go and how much day light I still had, at which point I definitely did not want to still be in the deep woods.
The trail winds down into a low lying area and then ascends the bluffs above the river. I wish that I had more day light and energy at this point, because it takes you to the edge of a steep gorge where you can look up at the Shining Cloud Falls. At more than 800 feet, the falls are the highest in the park. For the next half mile you pass a dozen or more cascades. Another mile down the trail you come to "Bathtub falls", as series of one-foot drops and pools. The trail hugs the edge of a bluff until it finally descends to the mouth of the river. A 6-person cabin sits on the trail and I followed the Lake Superior Trail about a quarter mile west until I finally found a campsite.
The last 4 miles of the trail were beautiful, but difficult. I was tired and felt that I pushed myself so hard, focusing on getting to the end of the trail while it was still day light and making sure I saved enough water to get myself back in the morning. Hiking with a loaded pack for over 9 miles is quite an undertaking for a moderately active person and to do it under 5 hours was quite ridiculous.
I barely recognized the campsite at first. The bear pole was just off the trail, so I knew a camp site had to be close. Then, there it was...right along the shoreline. Fallen trees had been piled to create a wind and privacy barrier for the tent area, as well as the fire pit. The fire pit was made of piles of stones and surrounded by flat stones, made to look like a sofa. A few minutes after arriving, I heard a man and two kids come along the trail. Evidently they were staying at the cabin, but were out checking the area. They were very helpful and collected sticks and branches for me to start a fire. The kids wanted to sleep outside with me, but I told them they could have the place when I left the next day. Once the fire got started, I put up the tent, had a few bites of my Clif hiking granola bar and watched the sun set on Lake Superior. It was breathtaking. Well worth the hike to get to such a secluded spot, away from everything.
After putting my pack up on the bear pole and making sure the fire was dying out, I snuggled down in my sleeping bag and drifted off to sleep, to the sound of water splashing on the rocky shore of the Lake. I slept well for the most part, woke up twice and wondered what I should do if a bear decided to visit me. In the end I prayed for protection and slept through until day break. Absolutely incredible.

September 20th, Day Two

I woke up to a chilly morning in the mountains... dawn had not quite broken through...grabbing a change of clothes, I headed to the showers and enjoyed a nice hot one. Once back to my campsite, I started a fire with wood saved from the day before and fixed some coffee - two scoops of ground java right in the pan - no filter out here. I took down the tent and packed things up, then sat down with my notes and coffee to go over my plans. Although the campground was offering pancakes and sausage for breakfast, I decided to head on down the road - eating an apple I had purchase at Growing Power market the day before.
There are hundreds of waterfalls scattered around Michigan. I had planned to stop at three different ones on my way north, but ended up stopping at two since time started getting away from me and I still had a long hike ahead of me. The first waterfall was at Chicaugon Falls. I had checked out Google Earth before leaving home and had a pretty good visual of where I was going. The path was off the main road a way and poorly marked. After parking the car, I followed a rough path for about 1 mile and came upon it. It was like those falls that are hidden in the country where you would go with friends for a long hike. Peaceful, unmanicured,unpretentious.
From there I continued west on HWY 2 until SR45, where I turned north. Just outside of Pauling is the wonderful Bond Falls. The lake is huge and probably is a popular place for camping and boating, although it was very low at this time. Access to the falls is along a well maintained boardwalk, which makes it nice for people of all ages and abilities.
Finally I was on my was to Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, which sits right on Lake Superior. During the drive I thought about several different options, taking into account time and resources. The trail I wanted to hike most of all is called the Big Carp River Trail, about 9.1 miles long. Initially I thought about setting up camp at the Union Bay campground, which sets at the eastern entrance to the park. I would go hike and come back at night to sleep. As I started doing calculations in my head, I quickly realized that wouldn't work with the time frame I had. The trail started about 11 miles in from the campground, so that didn't make a lot of sense. In the end I decided to load up my backpack with enough for one night and camp along the trail at one of the designated rustic campsites.
Upon arriving at Porcupine Mountains I stopped at the Visitor Center to register for the hike and overnight camping. I purchased a 32 oz nalgene bottle at the store, to carry along with me.
At the parking lot, I loaded up my backpack with all the essentials and filled my water bottle to the brim, after taking a few drinks. The pack looked nothing like the Patagonia catalog or Hudson Trail...nope, this was sure a sight. It was almost 2:30 pm EST when I headed off on the trail.

September 19th, Day One

I woke up to a beautiful day, excited about beginning my journey. After packing up my Mazda 5 with everything I thought I might need I set off. Heading north on I-65 towards Chicago, the fields across Indiana looked almost ready for harvest. The wind farms could be seen for miles away, like a flock of birds across the sky. In Chicago I followed Lake Shore Drive through several neighborhoods, noticing the different ethnic influences and heritage from one place to another. Traffic was never bad, but I ended up catching US 41 to save time. From Chicago to Milwaukee was a lovely drive with some farms and rolling hills along Lake Michigan. Milwaukee reminded me of Saint Louis and Detroit, an old industrial town. My first stop was at Growing Power. http://www.growingpower.org/
I had heard about Will Allen, founder and CEO, a few months ago and wanted to take a tour of his place. Every year they impact thousands of local youth in the community, as well as thousands more across the world as more people use many of his ideas.
After the tour, I continued north to Iron Mountain, MI, just across the border from Wisconsin. The last few hours of the driver were beautiful as the farms faded into rolling hills, that gave way to wooded mountains. I arrived at my destination, Summer Breeze campground around 8 pm EST. http://www.summerbreezecampground.com/
My tent would be the only one in the campground, along with several campers. The campground was decorated for Halloween and they were having games for the kids, along with hot apple cider and treats. I bought a load of wood and got my fire started. Once the tent was set up, I pulled my sleeping bag outside and laid staring at the stars for a long time. The sky was pitch black, since we were far from any city lights and the thousands of stars shone brighter than ever. I wish I knew the different constellations to look for.
As I was laying there resting, I thought about the day and how it was a perfect way to spend my birthday. There were no deep thoughts or revelations, just peace and quiet.

On The Road Again

Hiking is food for the soul. Tomorrow morning early I will be hitting the road - I-65 to be specific - due north. This is quite different as I usually head south, especially this time of year. Tomorrow is my birthday and I will be taking a few days to explore the Upper Peninsula and the Superior Lake Trail.
My first stop will be in Milwaukee. I am really looking forward to visiting Growing Power http://www.growingpower.org/blog/
I've been following their story for several months and look forward to seeing first hand how they incorporate farming, gardening and investing in young people in the community!
Since the woods don't tend to have electrical outlets, I will be sharing my road trip as I can - probably a few days after the fact. I'm hoping to be able to share some great stories and photos.

The Day After Mother's Day

As the Monday morning rush kicked into high gear and routines resumed, I thought again about my Mommy. Never one for melodramatic holidays, she reminded me on the phone that every day is Mother's Day. I must say that perspective has made a huge difference on the way I raised my own two children. Avoiding those unrealistic ideals of the perfect mom of the 50's or the super mom of the 80's, my perspective has been shaped by a loving woman whose ideal resembles more the character of Jesus Christ.

After all the hoopla is over, my Mommy is still there and still the same loving woman I have known my whole life. Her love translates into action on a daily basis. I believe she has lived a life of service with a vulnerable heart, willing to risk being hurt or criticized. That takes alot of courage. At times of pain, instead of hiding and building walls, she has persevered and allowed those experiences to help her connect and understand other women better.

Although my mommy does not seek to be the center of attention and prefers us to "hang out" together, instead of having some big party, I also realize that deep down my mommy is like the rest of us. We all want to know that we are loved deeply. So, I want to shout across the globe to all who can hear "I love my Mommy!!". She is my dearest friend and the only person alive who knows where I've been and what I've done.

Thank you, Mommy! Eu te amo!

Peace of Heaven on Earth

Friday afternoon we arrived in Atlanta. It was fun to drive into the city, admiring the architecture and flowering trees everywhere.

Downtown was crowded and many streets were blocked off due to the recent tornado damage. We went to our hotel and decided to relax, since there were tornado watches and severe storms on the way.

The next morning we decided to head home to Kentucky - to the little Piece (Peace) of Heaven where my parents live. That's where these photos were taken.

So, we accomplished what we set out to do and had quite an adventure along the way. Thank you, Emily, for being my travel mate! I'm already looking forward to next time!

Ah Dahlonega!

As we headed back to our car, it was getting dark and the mist was still incredibly heavy. At the base of the 425 stairs (see next blog) - we were surprised to see a small group of deer grazing nearby - maybe 7 or more...
It was too dark to get a good shot as they blend into the browns and greys of the hillside. It was magical!
Driving back into Dahlonega, we made it to the Crimson Moon Cafe just in time to order food before it was too late.
http://www.thecrimsonmoon.com/
While sipping on hot apple cider and hot chai tea, we enjoyed live music from two favorite local musicians. What a perfect ending to a memorable day!
The next morning, we browsed around Dahlonega - bought some fudge - had one last cup of java and then jumped back into the car to head south to Atlanta.

Down the Stairs

On the Trail

Amicalola State Park

It's 6 pm, we have less than 2 hours of daylight and 8 miles of hiking to go. I thought we would never get here...We booked up the first stretch of the trail in heavy mist...trying to pretend my lungs weren't killing me.

Top of The Mountain

What an incredible sight! Mountains in every direction. I kept thinking about how in the world the pioneers got through this! Truly amazing! This is somewhere around Great Smoky Mountains meets Nantahala National Forest meets Chattahoochee National Forest meets Appalachian Mountains. It's close to South Carolina meets North Carolina meets Tennessee meets Georgia. In other words, I have no idea. Thank goodness I have a road to guide me and a great tour guide/map reader - Emily!

Asheville

After a lovely one-hour ride on horseback, we got back on the road and head through the Smokies. On the southern end we discovered the town of Cherokee. It was after 6 pm, so many of the shops and sites were closing down for the evening. I'm sure that once the season is in full swing, it is quite busy. Here is a link worth checking out: http://www.cherokeeoflawrencecountytn.org/
We drove on winding roads headed east and finally arrived in Asheville, NC after 8:30pm. Downtown is full of shops, local art, museums and restaurants. We headed to Zambra, a great Iberian restaurant - known for it's tapas. I had an amazing pumpkin soup and a spinach salad. The atmosphere was great! Highly recommend!
The next morning, we walked around downtown - enjoying the art and local talent. Stopped in to visit the Black Mountain College Museum. http://www.blackmountaincollege.org/
Then we stopped in the infamous Malaprop's Bookstore and Cafe, where we enjoyed wonderful coffee and browsed the shelves - of course. http://malaprops.booksense.com/NASApp/store/IndexJsp
Shortly after 1 pm we headed out of town towards the Chattahoochee National Forest.

Enter At Your Own Risk

Entering Tennessee, we broke out of the mountains(for awhile) and headed towards Pigeon Forge. I know, I know...why didn't someone warn me!!!
There's a great line from the movie "Brother, Where Art Thou" - where they are sitting in the movie theatre and Pete tries to warn his friend:"DO NOT SEEK THE TREASURE!"
Well, that's my two cents about Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg...DO NOT GO!
It was almost more than I could bare. We found ourselves thrown into the middle of some fantasy land that was becoming more like a nightmare each mile we drove. I started to hyperventilate...wanting desperately to get into the Smoky Mountains, do some horseback riding and get as far away from there as possible. My poor brain was not computing...
All I could think about were the visitors that had traveled from far and wide to see the beauty of the Smoky Mountains and have to drive thru this to get there. Not good.

Stripping the Land

An abandoned, burned out motel that may have once been a haven for weary travelers on their long road trips. A skeleton remains..as I walked towards the windows and looked down, there was a swimming pool - filled with years of decaying leaves and rainwater.
Signs of young life are seen on the spray painted walls. It makes you ponder...
As we continued through the foothills, we began to see mining operations...sucking life out of the mountains...if it is such a good source for the economy, then why is there such poverty?
Beauty of nature in high contrast to greed of humanity. At what cost?

Goodbye Grey Skies

Wednesday morning I woke to a beautiful clear blue sky. As I drove from Indiana to Kentucky last night, I could almost feel winter peeling away and signs of spring breaking free. Brown grass began to be replaced by fresh green, daffodils waved their yellow petals and trees were budding.
We left Berea heading east and took Hwy 421 south. The road winds through the foothills of the Appalachia, passing through towns that time has forgotten. We drove through Jackson county and Clay county, into Leslie county. As we drove through the Daniel Boone National Forest, it felt as though the hills were closing in on us. Before leaving KY we drove through Harlan county. Just south of Harlan is Black Mountain, the highest peak in Kentucky, with an altitude of 4139ft. This is actually privately owned property and an incredible natural preserve.

Heading to the Mountains

After a fairly snowy winter in Indiana, I'm ready to hit the road in search of signs of Spring. After considering several different possibilities, Emily and I decided to head to the mountains.
We will start our road trip at Berea, KY and head south on SR 421 through some beautiful foothills of the Appalachian mountains. In the spring, the morning dew tends to hang in the hills waiting for the sun to get high enough in the sky to burn it away.
Continuing south, crossing into Tennessee, we will head to Sevierville/Pigeon Forge - entering into the Great Smoky Mountains. Before lunch, we hope to do some horseback riding through the woods. (http://www.smokymountainridingstables.com/)
Then we'll enjoy a lazy drive through the Smokies, stopping here and there to catch some great photos. We may stop at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, near Cherokee, before heading over to Asheville, NC.
The following morning we plan to visit Black Mountain College Museum. (http://www.blackmountaincollege.org/)
Emily is writing a contrast paper regarding Black Mountain College and Berea College, compared to the traditional colleges in the late 1800's - early 1900's. These two colleges had a radical vision and mission that departed from the traditional expectations of higher education.
After lunch we will leave the southern tip of the Blue Ridge Mountains and drive south into the Chattahoochee National Forest. We will spend the night in Helen, Georgia - known for it's pseudo-Germanic architecture. (http://www.helenga.org/)
In the evening we'll drive over to Dahlonega, Georgia to enjoy the local arts and music. Maybe even have time to hang out at the Crimson Moon Cafe - www.thecrimsonmoon.com
After a fun-filled evening, the next morning we will head over to Amicalola Falls (http://www.amicalolafalls.com/) for a vigorous hike. This is where the Appalachian Trail begins. During this time of year there are hundreds of hikers that begin their adventure at Amicalola and hike all the way to Maine, following the Appalachian trail from one end to the other! From what I've read on blogs and such, it takes 5-6 months to hike the entire trail - depending on how far you hike each day! Anyone want to give it a try?
In the afternoon we will head down to Atlanta and check out the Museum of High Art, as well as the Dogwood Festival at Lenox Square. More arts, music and food! Atlanta has so much to see - we had to keep it simple this time around.
Finally on our last day, we'll hike up Stone Mountain - http://www.stonemountainpark.org/ - which happens to be celebrating it's 50th anniversary! The forecast is for sunny skies, high of 71F. Hopefully we'll get a great view of the city and surrounding areas. Then it's time to start our drive back to Berea, KY. This time we'll be taking I-75 straight north.
So, check back after a few weeks - we should have some great photos to share!

Until then, happy trails to you...until we meet again...