VanBooven.net

2011-07-22T11:09:00.001-07:00

Testing out Google+. Don't have it hooked into my Ping.fm yet so I hope this works

2010-08-19T07:24:00.001-07:00

For those of you wondering abou Farmville, Paul has been the one playing

2010-08-10T05:46:00.001-07:00

On to my second day with SAIC! I'm looking forward to getting my preliminary clearance so I can get over to the clien site.

2010-08-05T14:11:00.001-07:00

Monday I begin my new job with SAIC. I spent time the last 2 days on getting my security checks done. Looking forward to it.

2010-07-07T17:03:00.001-07:00

At New Landings tonight listening to Shawn Kincade on Guerrilla marketing. Man he's awesome.

2010-06-21T08:29:00.001-07:00

I was so excited when I found this online, this is pretty cool.
http://ping.fm/71t67

2010-04-28T08:37:00.001-07:00

I am amazed that people are more likely to believe some load mouthed idiot on you tube than a credible source that must research and confirm facts it's publishing

2010-03-10T18:21:00.003-08:00

Ok 1 hour on the phone, talked to 10 people, set 4 interviews. I love visiting with happy people.

2010-03-10T18:21:00.001-08:00

There is nothing better than visiting with happy excited people. I just spoke with a regional training manager with Pizza Hut tonight, who has been doing that 25 years. She is so fired up, friendly and happy it's contagious.

What people think they know

2010-03-10T09:46:00.001-08:00

It never ceases to amaze me that even adults stick their fingers in their ears and scream "La la la la la" like a little kid to enforce what they think they know even when they are wrong.

In the last 24 hours I've spoken with two people that "think" they understand my business because in the past they spoke with someone that represented the company. The issue I have is they haven't spoken with me and seen how I operate or how I represent the same firm.

I learned not long ago that two people can represent the same thing entirely different ways and based on who someone speaks with have a very different perspective. As an example I have two friends that run Quiznos. One of them has just one, goes in early, stays late, does that six days a week and struggles to get by. The other has 45, never goes in, never stays late, hasn't been to half of them and is worth millions. Would you agree when I speak with them about Quiznos I would get two entirely different stories?

What amazes me is when educated, "open minded people" refuse to discard an invalid perspective for a more relevant one. We prejudge people and places all the time by the stories we tell ourselves, and in some cases blindly hold on to a perspective because of how it makes us look or feel. The idea is called a Paradigm shift.

When I think of Paradigm shift I think back to Steven Covey's book "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People". In it he tells the store of a man boarding a train with his kids. The kids are running amok, yelling and disturbing the passengers and the train, all the while the father looks off into dead space as though he is worn out totally ignoring the kids. Finally one of the passengers addresses the man and his kids behavior, to which the father turns and says "I'm sorry you're right. I've just come from the hospital where their mother's just died. I'm not quite sure how to handle it and I don't think they do either".

I wish people would look harder past their own perceptions to see what is really going on beneath the surface, and be willing to discard their version of "reality" as what it is, their perception of reality.

2010-03-09T11:20:00.001-08:00

Reading the "Magic Power of Super Persuasion"

2010-02-13T08:20:00.001-08:00

My sister is on track for breaking an office record this month! Anyone who talks to her congratulate her and ask her if you can help.

Hard Work Pays off

2010-02-07T19:22:00.001-08:00

I'm on a conference call right now and so excited about my business and the people I'm working with and am training and have trained. My top guy has such a belief in our business that he drives 1 hour and 45 minutes each week to make our training every Thursday and every Saturday with out fail. Winners do it. Why people don't come work with us I still don't understand.

Dan said it tonight, he heard over and over again, "Never go into business with your family, but here they are the first people you want to go to work with and it is a wonderful thing". Everything is so exciting, and our business is so different than everything else that people can not understand it, unless they are in it! It is so awesome.

Tomorrow the company announces the new logo, and I can't wait to get out their and find more quality people like the one's I'm working with.

2010-02-07T19:16:00.001-08:00

Man I am more excited about my business than ever! My top people are having such an explosion it's unbelievable!

2010-02-07T17:25:00.001-08:00

My sister-in-law regrets offering to take my 4 year old home with her. Bridget said Ok, I'll go get my stuff and ran upstairs.

2010-02-01T11:49:00.001-08:00

It is a brand new month with which to compete in. There is no way I am going to let Dan beat me.

2010-01-27T12:19:00.001-08:00

My wife got back home last night from a week long trip to North Dakota for a family memorial service. Now we can get things back to normal.

2010-01-21T10:28:00.001-08:00

My wife left this morning for her aunt's memorial service in North Dakota, I'm praying she and my in-laws arrive safely

2010-01-20T09:43:00.001-08:00

Crazy week coming up. The kids are still in school but my wife and in-laws are going to North Dakota for a funeral so I've got some juggling to do.

2010-01-19T19:16:00.001-08:00

My sister has 15 people committed to our briefing this week. I had 2 interviews today, got 1 commitment and 3 new names.

2010-01-13T07:06:00.001-08:00

People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily. Zig Ziglar

2010-01-12T08:06:00.001-08:00

Yesterday was a great day as I ended up scheduling 2 new interviews and getting introductions to 5 new people in the KC area in my 2 coffee shop visits.

2010-01-11T13:25:00.001-08:00

Once you say you're going to settle for second that's what happens in life, I find. Pres JFKennedy

My Initial Blog

2010-01-08T08:53:00.000-08:00

The beginning of any endeavor is the most important part, and knowing that I realize this first post is no doubt the most important, and yet I know I'm going to either screw it up or spend countless hours deliberating about what to write, so forgive me for that.

I started this blog as my wife and I develop a business and strive to become debt free. This is to log where we are going, what we are doing, and hopefully inspire and motivate the people who are doing the same.

Let's start with where I'm coming from, I just turned 36, we have $23,500 in debt between our van, student loans and credit card, our house needs a new roof, and our van will needs about $1000 in maintenance that is outside our budget. Though it is ambitious, my goal this year is to pay off the debt, put $6,000 into my house, $1000 into the van, 12,000 in our emergency fund, and upgrade our computers and television, and tithe 10% for a grand total of about $50,000 that is currently not in our budget and will have to be earned by other means than my current career.

I currently have a wonderful position in IT, working for a great company that I am not yet prepared to leave. I love my job, and though I'm well compensated for what I do I doubt there is anyway I will receive an extra $50,000 in compensation this year to meet my families goals. I am also not inclined to leave the position I am in and the people I work with, for an unfamiliar position that will pay my current income and that additional $50,000. So my efforts to get out of debt will have to come from activities in addition to my current career.

Over the next few months I will catalog our progress to get out of debt and build a business; however I do not intend to undertake this journey alone. I know there are hundreds... no millions of families out there in the same position, that want to embark on the same journey, and for those of you that are serious, follow along, I would appreciate your story and inspiration in joining me on this trek

For those of you reading this, I intend to provide useful information, regarding our progress, what I learn about business, and networking, and look forward to receiving your feedback if not your help in accomplishing our goals.

2010-01-05T09:18:00.001-08:00

It's 9 degrees here in KC, wow it's cold!

2010-01-04T10:07:00.001-08:00

Had wonderful birthday yesterday. I took my wife and son to see Avatar and spent it with my family.

2010-01-01T16:55:00.001-08:00

I'm beginning the new year by clearly establishing my goals for 2010. This year will be so much better than last, and I want to find those few people to go with me.

2009-12-29T10:13:00.001-08:00

Out at a team outing for one of my coworkers last day. It was great to work with you Yogesh.

2009-12-28T10:27:00.001-08:00

Back to work today, and laying out plans for 2010.

2009-12-24T11:38:00.003-08:00

Everyone have a Merry Christmas

2009-12-24T11:38:00.001-08:00

Roof repair's may require pulling of the entire roof on the north end of the house. I'm not looking forward to that.

2009-12-24T10:03:00.001-08:00

Financial Setbacks, Ugh! Last nights rainstorm exposed a hole in our roof we thought we had patched.

2009-12-22T08:17:00.001-08:00

Testing Ping.fm for the first time to update my status