My Dad grew up in an area where the school system offered golf as a sport. As for the school I attended, besides football, basketball and track, we had tennis. There’s no way we could have had a golf team. The nearest g0lf course was about an hour away! The only golf I played while in my youth was the great game of mini-golf.

I actually didn’t play my first round of golf until I was married with children! Maybe because I hadn’t actually owned my own set of clubs until then. Heck, if I would have known that I could have picked up a nice set from the nearest yard sale, I might have purchased some much sooner!

Why I Love the Game of Golf and Why You Should Too

First off, it’s extremely relaxing.

I don’t know how you like to golf, but me, I’m a golf cart kind of guy. Don’t get me wrong, if I have to, I’ll walk. Heck, I’ll even ditch the pull cart and lug my clubs up and down the fairways. My first set of clubs had a golf bag without a kickstand. So the bag I have now I consider a luxury.

My point is, there’s nothing like a cool breeze in your face, nice green grass, lakes, ponds, streams, fountains and water falls all around you, all while you hang out with your buddies. It’s just a great escape from everything else in the world, even if you have to walk it.

Second, it’s a perfect time to reflect, and brainstorm.

I’m the kind of guy that is a serial entrepreneur. I’m constantly thinking up ideas, new business plans or ways to grow or improve my current business ventures. In addition to that, I’m able to bounce ideas off those I golf with, which are normally people I trust and respect.

If I had employees or business partners, it would be a perfect place to discuss the future of our company. Plus, it’s a tax deductible expense!

And Third, it’s a sport I can play until I’m old and gray!

When the years start adding up, as long as I am able to walk from the golf cart to the ball, I’ll still be playing the sport of golf. And although I may not be able to hit if as far as I used to, I know that it will be straight. At least I hope it would be after 50 years or more of practice!

If I don’t own a home directly on a golf course, I’ll most likely live somewhere like Devonshire at PGA National, where I won’t have to worry about my landscaping and can just enjoy retired life!

In conclusion, golf isn’t for everybody, and depending on where you live, it can be an expensive sport. Even though I may golf fifteen over par today and lose more balls in the water than I can count, I’ll hit one or two shots that will motivate me to come back again and again. Sometimes it’s not the score that matters, it’s where you are and who you’re with.

The uniqueness I’m referring to is the kind defined by what you do every day, your habits.

The True Story of Life

I stumbled across an image that sums up my point. In this day and time, we live in an age of conformity, and for the bulk of the population in this world, that means joining the workforce.

Working a day job isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Most people are lucky to even have a job, right? Well, that’s because that’s they way they feel, and think.

If they were to feel and think differently, what would happen?

The image is attempting to describe the cycle of life pertaining to time, money and energy.

Are You Being Unique?

But it’s only accurate for MOST people…the ones who choose to conform to the masses. I can agree with the child not having money, at least money that he earns. That’s accurate. And yes, the older we get, the less energetic some of us may feel. I get that.

But the middle checklist is the one that can vary the most, depending on our desire to be unique. You see, it’s obvious that the traditional thing to do is to get a job and work your life away until retirement. But by then, according to this picture, we won’t have the energy to truly enjoy the time and money we have! And in today’s society, many people are having to get two or even three jobs, just to make ends meet.

But that’s all because they choose that.

Don’t agree?

You see, I could choose that life, starting today. I could fill out a resume, submit some applications and go to work. And, if that job doesn’t make me enough income to support my family, I could do it all over again and get another job. Then I’ll fit the mold this image portrays. I’ll successfully have no time at all.

Or, I could choose to start a business which has the capabilities to earn money without my direct involvement, allowing me more time freedom.

There’s always a choice. Always.

And yes, there are business models in existence that can provide that. Even for the beginning entrepreneur. I’m in one.

So I edited the image a bit for you unique thinkers. Instead of the typical cycle of life above, which most people enjoy….

There are ways to be unique. There are ways, even while you’re raising your family, to have time and money. We don’t have to choose between them. We just have to choose a course which allows us to have both, instead of conforming to the traditional way of doing things.

Never fall into the poverty mindset, the one that tells you that you have to settle for whatever comes your way. Heck, there are plenty of people around you that will tell you that. You don’t need to tell yourself.

If you have the desire to walk a different path than everyone around you, do it. Start today, and you’ll live a more fulfilling life. Give yourself three check marks down the middle section of your life.

Time is too valuable…especially to our kids. I’ll make sure that this NEVER happens to me.

SON: “Daddy, may I ask you a question?”
DAD: “Yeah sure, what is it?”
SON: “Daddy, how much do you make an hour?”
DAD: “That’s none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing?”
SON: “I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?”
DAD: “If you must know, I make $100 an hour.”
SON: “Oh! (With his head down).
SON: “Daddy, may I please borrow $50?”

The father was furious.

DAD: “If the only reason you asked that is so you can borrow some money to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then you march yourself straight to your room and go to bed. Think about why you are being so selfish. I work hard everyday for such this childish behavior.”

The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door.

The man sat down and started to get even angrier about the little boy’s questions. How dare he ask such questions only to get some money?

After about an hour or so, the man had calmed down, and started to think: Maybe there was something he really needed to buy with that $ 50 and he really didn’t ask for money very often. The man went to the door of the little boy’s room and opened the door.

DAD: “Are you asleep, son?”

SON: “No daddy, I’m awake”.
DAD: “I’ve been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier. It’s been a long day and I took out my aggravation on you. Here’s the $50 you asked for.”

The little boy sat straight up, smiling.

SON: “Oh, thank you daddy!”

Then, reaching under his pillow he pulled out some crumpled up bills. The man saw that the boy already had money, started to get angry again. The little boy slowly counted out his money, and then looked up at his father.

DAD: “Why do you want more money if you already have some?”

SON: “Because I didn’t have enough, but now I do.

“Daddy, I have $100 now. Can I buy an hour of your time? Please come home early tomorrow. I would like to have dinner with you.”

The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little son, and he begged for his forgiveness. It’s just a short reminder to all of you working so hard in life. We should not let time slip through our fingers without having spent some time with those who really matter to us, those close to our hearts. Do remember to share that $100 worth of your time with someone you love? If we die tomorrow, the company that we are working for could easily replace us in a matter of days. But the family and friends we leave behind will feel the loss for the rest of their lives. And come to think of it, we pour ourselves more into work than to our family.

Some things are more important.

Is there any better way to spend your time than with a bunch of screaming, happy third graders?

I think not….most of the time! Occasionally, there are those moments where I wonder if I have any control of them at all.

The important part of being a school volunteer P.E. teacher

When it all comes down to it, I really do enjoy teaching these kids a thing or two about physical education. Most of the time, my activities involve some sort of ball and a lot of running. I think kids these days, for the most part, don’t get enough exercise. So as a P.E. teacher, I like to see most of them breathing hard by the time our thirty minutes is up.

But here’s the most important part of it all, I get to spend time with my daughter…in her element. And not only do I get to have an influence on her during that day, but also my two nieces, who are in the same class.

Now, I don’t know about you, but growing up, in my mind, I was proud to see my Mom or Dad at my school. Not only did I want to introduce my friends to them, but I wanted my parents to see how awesome I was. Even if I wasn’t really that awesome, I was still excited to show them everything I did at school.

Whether you believe it or not, if you can create the time in your life to become a school volunteer, it will mean the world of difference for your kids.

Growing up, my Dad had a job that didn’t EVER allow him to visit me while in school. He attended as many of my sporting events that he could, but his job was also financially restricting and didn’t allow him to travel as much as he would like.

So I am grateful, EVERY DAY, that the career path I have chosen not only allows me to be a volunteer P.E. teacher, but provides the financial flexibility I’ll need to attend events in the future.

(For more info on what I do, fill in your email address below this post and watch the free video.)

Here’s a quick video I recorded while driving back from volunteering at my daughters school.

P.E. Activities for School Volunteers

I couldn’t leave you high and dry, now could I. If you’re also a school volunteer P.E. teacher, here are a few ideas for your P.E. arsenal.

1. Balloon Catch – Kids love balloons. The game they had the most fun at was a hybrid of the old school game of three flies up. I had four balloons and gave them to four students. The rest of the class stood in a group about twenty feet down wind from the four with the balloons. At the same time, they all hit the balloons high into the air. The students who catch the balloons meet up in place of the original throwers. Once they’re all there, they repeat the process. The kids had a blast. This game alone can occupy them for the entire class. NOTE: This game works best outside, with a slight breeze, and on a hard surface which won’t pop your balloons.
2. Kick Ball with over sized ball – Anytime you can escape from the norm, the more fun the kids will have. Kick ball is always a favorite. Except, instead of using a regular kick ball, we use a huge yoga/exercise ball. They can’t kick it as far and it’s easier to contain. NOTE: I always tell the kids that there is no throwing the ball at anyone’s head. It will knock them right off their feet if thrown hard enough.
3. Basketball line game – I split the class into two teams and have them line up ten or fifteen feet from the basketball hoop. I give each team a basketball. When I say go, they pass it over head and under their legs, alternating on every other student. The ball goes all the way to the end of the line and then back. When the first person in line gets the ball again, he shoots a basket and can’t pass the ball off to the next player until he, or she makes the shot. First team to have all students make their shot wins! NOTE: Depending on the age group, you may need to have an adjustable hoop low enough for all of them to make their basket.

Those are the three favorite games thus far this year. I hope that gives you some ideas!

As you probably already know, yesterday was Martin Luther King Jr. day, and because of it, my kids were given the day off from school. So, as a work from home Dad, one of the most difficult things for me to do is to work while my kids are off from school. And you might think that it’s because they’re running around the house like a bunch of monkeys while I’m trying to record a YouTube video or write up a blog post, and that might be part of the reason. But the main reason is that I want to get out and do something fun with them while they have a free day.

So, instead of working, I decided to take the day off!

Our plan was simple….take a drive out to Bonita Creek, have a picnic and do some hiking. After our picnic, we skipped some rocks, explored the area and in the end, finished the trip off sword fighting with cattails!

It was a perfect, seventy degrees outside. We were down in a canyon near a stream, and the cattails were ready to explode. Our kids don’t see cattails very often out here in the Arizona desert, so this started out as Mom and Dad simply showing them how cool it was to whack the cattails against a rock to see them explode.

It then turned into a cattails mess and will probably be one of my families most memorable moments. Because of my decision to work from home, I don’t have an employer that dictates when I do or do not work. I’m not tied down to a storefront or traditional business which requires my time every day of the week.

The home business lifestyle is undeniably the choice for me.

Enjoy the video!

Sword Fighting with Cattails – Fun Activities for Kids