In the midst of the chaos, the political, economic and social turmoil that appears to be destroying our way of life, I do not see this as a negative, rather a positive. These troubles and pains are signs of change and of growing up.
The world, I believe, is in the the throes of maturation, we, as a whole, are transitioning into adulthood. This is creating, for some, the illusion of destruction, but for others the appearance of great opportunities.
For me it represents opportunity and hope. As an entrepreneur and business owner and at a personal level I find that I need to reinvent myself, my family life and my business. As things change around me I must respond, not react, create what is next and not wallow in blaming the world for trials and difficulties.
I originally started my own company for two reasons, to make a living and to make a difference. This has evolved over the years, mostly in defining what these two core items mean to me, but essentially, I have the same goals as when I started.
The biggest change for me recently is the realization that I have only one goal, to make a difference. The first difference is to provide for my family, those mundane things like paying bills, keeping groceries in the fridge, providing shelter and transportation, these are a big accomplishment and victory for me. A long way from the days of living on the streets, hustling for a meal...
I suppose it is this perspective that drives me. Making a difference for myself and my family is just the beginning, now I have the opportunity to make a real difference in lives and lively hoods of others!
The ultimate motivation for me is to feed the world.
Empowering other to make a difference in their own lives is the highest expression of gratitude I can think of.
Matthew Slaughter Corvallis, OR 1-9-2012
