Fishing is the oldest industry on earth. If we look back in time, we could literally see our ancestors trading their catch for goods and services. Fishermen back then probably challenged their own conventional wisdom by seeking fundamental change. A change that transformed the way we do business today.

When we glance at our current economic situation, the predetermined agenda sits inside our collective consciousness. We often feel like doing business is miserable and unfulfilled. This psychological path is why we are brainwashed into thinking our products and services will sell just by giving it a name. Names are nothing but jargon, and features are only components of the solution.

The fishermen knew of this early on. People had to eat. They expressed the benefits upfront and then ended it with proof. If businesses tell the consumer what they are getting and why it’s the right approach we wouldn’t be breaking communication rules for more sales!

Hurricane Ida made its way through Danville, Virginia and dumped over 5 inches of rain within a 48 hour period. More rain is forecast for the region. The Dan River was at 23.3 feet when this video was taken. It is expected to reach 26.4 feet by midnight November 12, 2009. Water levels are expected to rise even further to 26.4 feet and is 2 feet shy of the record setting flood of 1996 at 28 feet. Flood waters can be seen in places that have never flooded before at this level.

View Video

Can you remember the good old days? A time when everything was perfect in your life?

I remember my good old days of the past. Some days were mediocre, while others were simply fantastic! I lived out the first 18 years of my childhood nearby two major lakes; Smith Mountain Lake and Kerr/Buggs Island Lake. Both are located in southside Virginia.

A forty-five minute drive to either lakeside cabin was a great escape from the daily grind. Since the early 50s, my family owned a little piece of land on the water’s edge at both lakes. Each cabin was built to handle all the luxuries and comforts of home. Each man-made lake still offers superior fishing and boating activities to this day.

I learned to master the art and craft of boating and fishing at a young age. Several members of my family used the cabins frequently to get away, but they never took interest in fishing like I did. I remember fishing at night with family and friends. I tried different tactics on every fishing trip. I eventually got so good at it that people around the region wanted to hire me as a guide service. My love and passion was to get away and enjoy life – not to capitalize on my new found talent!

Recently, a few friends stopped by to visit me. During the conversation, I asked several of the older gentlemen, which are in their 60s and 70s, what do they remember about the good old days. One in particular expressed his own version by saying, “Back when I was a child, things were tough. We had no running water, we walked in a foot of snow to use the outhouse, and nobody had a vehicle. We had to walk for miles to fetch supplies from the nearest country store. These were not the good old days, instead, it was survival!”

Some people say we can only create from where we are. Others say we cannot relive the past. Thinking about the best days of our lives teaches us to be persistent. That is difficult to do in this day and age of instant gratification. After all, if you spend time thinking about positive things, then positive things will occur in your life.