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Lance 

Jim Collins speaks the truth...

"Perhaps society is better off getting rid of organizations that have fallen from great to terrible rather than continuing to let them inflict their massive inadequacies on their stakeholders. Institutional self-preservation holds not legitimate place in a world of scarce resources; institutional mediocrity should be termination, or transformed into EXCELLENCE."
–Jim Collins "How the Mighty Fall"

Think about it...
Lance Cashion
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Do you have time?

How would your day be different if the first thing you did when you got to work in the morning was to spend 5 minutes in prayer and review of your personal mission statement?

How would your day be different if you scheduled 20 minutes of devotional time and meditation while at work?

How would your day be different if you split that 20 minutes in half and set aside 10 minutes before lunch and 10 minutes in the afternoon for personal time?

How would your day be different if you devoted 25 minutes a day disconnecting from your tasks and connecting with yourself and God?

How would your day be different for your team if they saw that you were focused, refreshed and excited?

Would you serve better? Produce more? Be happier?

Do you have 25 minutes per day to devote to this?

No?

How much time do you spend per day on Facebook (social media sites) or reading non-productive emails or "news"?

Can you spare 25 minutes for yourself and your Creator?

Am I saying, don't ammuse yourself for a few minutes at work?  No.  I think it is important to detach every few hours and say hello to an old friend or read a funny email or amusing "news" article.  However, I think it is essential that a couple detachments be set aside for you and God to connect.

Whoever obeys his command will come to no harm,
and the wise heart will know the proper time and procedure.

Ecclesiastes 8:5

Lance Cashion
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Enjoy Reading: 3 Books

I have never been much of a reader. Actually, I love to read but time constraints and a short attention span hamper my attempts to get high volume reading done. Often I find myself reading 3 or 4 books at the same time. I'm sure this perplexes my sweet little wife who can blast through a book in a few days. It takes me months! I'm quite jealous b/c I am aware how much reading helps us learn and enjoy life.


My freshman high-school year at Avon Old Farms School in CT, I had an English teacher by the name of Mr. Clark. Now, Mr. Clark was in his mid-eighties and was reknown for his disdain for nonsense. He was not afraid to publicly call out a young man for acting foolish or being lazy. If he did not like you, you knew it (and so did everyone else on campus). In any event, he was one of the most impactful teachers I ever had in school. When I arrived in CT, I hated reading. After a few weeks into my freshman year, I began to love reading. It changed my life. About a year after I graduated from College. I was in NYC visiting some good friends and I decided to make the trek to Avon to see Mr. Clark. He had since retired and was living in an assisted living center near the school. I called him and we met for lunch. We visited for a couple hours. He had an extensive library and was good friends with the famous American poet, Robert Frost. This had always fascinated me. I asked him about his love of reading. He said, "Cashion, if you learn to love reading, no matter what your situation or you age, you can go anywhere and do anything." I asked for a reading list, he kindly wrote some books down for me and I headed back the NYC. He passed away shortly after. However, not before I was able to take my wife to his nursing home to meet him. He had been asleep, but a friend announced our arrival and he perked up and we enjoyed a short visit.

There is the background and here are books that I have recently read and recommend. I recommend daily reading of the Bible (first and foremost):

1. 
   
   
    Tribes- By Seth Godin
   
   This is a great book! It's about connecting folks around you and leading a tribe. It is about recognizing your potential as a leader who brings about change by marshalling others who believe the same. Most of this is done through the use of the internet. If you have never see yourself as much of a leader, but recognize the fact that you have qualities that can improve your part of the world (work, family, products, ideas, etc), I recommend giving this short book a read.
   
   "Part of Leadership…is The Ability To Stick With The Dream For a Long Time….Long Enough That the Critics Realize That You're Going to Get There One Way or Another…So They Follow."- Seth Godin (Tribes)
   
   
2. 
   
   QBQ – The Question Behind The Question- By John G. Miller
   
   This is another great book! QBQ is a short book about personal accountability. In a culture where blame and cover-your-tail bureaucracy rule the day, accountability is scarce and highly prized. After reading, you'll look at questions differently and you'll begin to see how important your approach to accountability is. It's all about recognizing traits in our own behavior and personality. You begin to ask question with "What" or "How" and use the word "I" rather than the opposite. This is action language. "What can I do to expedite this process or solve this problem?" "How can I help you with this issue?" You get it? Instead of ""Who dropped the ball?" "When is the department going to do their job right?" "When are we going to get more technology?" I've personally fallen into that trap and I have discovered that making the change improves my life. (I still screw up sometimes and blame, but I'm improving). Take responsibility in front of your family and/or team. See how they react when your personal accountability is on the forefront of all that you do.
   
   "From the smallest group to the largest corporation, from the lowest rung on the ladder to the highest office in the land, there's an epidemic of blame going on and no one seems immune. The CEO blames the vice president, who blames the manager, who blames the employee, who blames the customer, who blames the government, who blames the people, who blame the politicans, who blame the schools, who blame the parents, who blame the teen, who blames the dad, who blames the mom, who blames her manager, who blames the vice president, who blames the CEO, and on and on it goes. This is the 'Circle of Blame,' and it would be kind of funny it weren't so true. Blame and 'whodunit' questions solve nothing. They create fear, destroy creativity, and build walls." -John G. Miller (QBQ)
   
3. 
   
   How The Mighty Fall – by Jim Collins
   
   
   
   
   I have about ten pages left in this book and I find it one of the most fascinating books I have read about business. This is a business book for people who hate "business" books. Jim Collins researches once dominant organizations that have fallen from greatness to decline or irrelevance. This book points out the phases of decline and shows you how to change course and/or reverse decline. Interesting thing about organizations in the first stages of decline, they are not aware of the fact that they are in decline. Profitability does not prove that decline is happening. In fact, profitability can fog our vision. Interesting read and well-researched by a great author. Below is an outtake from the book:
   
   Stage 1 is hubris born of success. The company's people become arrogant, regarding success as virtually an entitlement.
   
   Stage 2 is the undisciplined pursuit of more -- more scale, more growth, more acclaim. Companies stray from the disciplined creativity that led them to greatness in the first place, making undisciplined leaps into areas where they cannot be great or growing faster than they can achieve with excellence, or both.
   
   Stage 3 is denial of risk and peril. Leaders of the company discount negative data, amplify positive data and put a positive spin on ambiguous data. Those in power start to blame external factors for setbacks rather than accept responsibility.
   
   Stage 4 is grasping for salvation. Common "saviors" include a charismatic visionary leader, a bold but untested strategy, a radical transformation, a "game changing" acquisition or any number of other silver-bullet solutions.
   
   Stage 5 is capitulation to irrelevance or death. Accumulative setbacks and expensive false starts erode financial strength and individual spirits to such an extent that leaders abandon all hope of building a great future. In some cases their leaders just sell out. In other cases the institution atrophies to utter insignificance.
   

Take some time to research these books. I'll add a few more at a later date! Enjoy!

Lance Cashion
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Debt and Smoking Cigarettes

Debt is like smoking cigarettes. At one point in history smoking was actually considered healthy. We now know that smoking is harmful and can lead to death. Debt was once considered healthy. We now know that debt can severely harm or kill you or your organization financially.  Sure, it may be pleasurable but it's not healthy.   
Why continue to run the risk? Because we are weak! That's right, I said it… WE are WEAK! The debt habit is just as hard to break as smoking.

Have you fully considered unintended consequences of debt on your organization?
-Debt adds stress and unnecessary pressure on your team causing poor performance
-Debt can lead to downsizing (affecting people's lives of those you let go)
-Debt can lead to catastrophic failure of your organization
-Debt causes unnecessary stress on your partners, vendors and customers
-Debt causes leaders to make decisions they would not normally make

Neither your household nor your business can realistically thrive if you have debt. Let's start getting rid of it and build a lasting mentorship for future generations!  If the children are our future and they know that debt is dumb, they might make wise choices when some of them are elected to public office or tapped as president of a large bank.  Think about it folks.

Lance Cashion
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Gadgetry that may be useful: iClooly

As if there was not enough gadgetry for the iphone. I have several junk boxes filled with iphone accessories that I have purchased on a whim and will never get used again. Needless to say, I like tech "stuff" and gadgetry. Most of which is useless after the initial coolness wears off. Several months ago I made a covenant with myself that I would not get sucked into the iphone accessory black hole again. However, I think I may have found what amounts to a "must have" product for the iphone (again). LOL!

The logic behind this decision is simple. I believe that the desk top and conventional laptop are going to be relics of techno-history very soon… like a year or two. The cell phone has been replaced by the smart phone. "Smart phone" is an antiquated label for a VERY powerful personal computing device that happens to be a cell phone (among other fucntions). I'm just waiting for the geeks to figure out how to get a tera-byte of memory into an iphone. Before we know it, the market will provide iphone style device accessories with external ports for fold out keyboards and ultra thin touch-screen monitors that fold and a easily stored in your pocket.



Before the techies produce and market these products, I'm thinking about the iCooly. It just looks neat. I swear this will be that last time I buy an iphone accessory. I promise…. Seriously!

Click here to check out the iclooly

Good day!

Lance Cashion
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Faith: Making Plans without God

I came across this passage when working through a problem at my organization. It brought up some interesting questions. Where are we seeking our advice? Who are we allowing to advise us on our course? Where is God in this process? I've found that Jesus Christ must be right in the middle of it. Here you go…

Woe to the Obstinate Nation – Isaiah 30:1-3
 ¹ "Woe to the obstinate children,"
       declares the LORD,
       "to those who carry out plans that are not mine,
       forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit,
       heaping sin upon sin;
 ² who go down to Egypt
       without consulting me;
       who look for help to Pharaoh's protection,
       to Egypt's shade for refuge.

 ³ But Pharaoh's protection will be to your shame,
       Egypt's shade will bring you disgrace.

 Who and what are you letting direct your steps?

Take care!
Lance Cashion
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Action: The Goal Snowball

New Year's Resolutions are a losing proposition. Therefore, I'm not going to talk about that… we're over the hype. I prefer the Goal Snowball. This was inspired by the "Debt Snowball" made famous by Christian Financial advisor, author, radio host and aquaitance, Dave Ramsey. I'll give you a quick overview of Dave's "Debt Snowball". Then, I'll introduce the "Goal Snowball". I would like to point out that much of this is not new information. I want to present in a different way that engages you in the process and builds momentum.

Basically, the Debt Snowball is psychological vehicle that an individual or family can use to reach their goal of being debt free. You put your debt amounts in order from least to greatest. You relentlessly ATTACK the smallest amount first until that debt is gone. Then you move on to the next greater debt amount. Relentlessly attacking that debt until it's gone. You continue up the line attacking bigger and bigger debts. What is pushing you through this? It is the psychological momentum of achievement, compounded payments and measured results (success record). Rather than trying to pay off four credit cards and two cars all at the same time by making minimum payments and getting NOWHERE, you trim that fat and attack the smallest debt first and knock it out. When that first debt is gone, you feel really good. You want to kill the next debt because you have momentum and resources to get the job done. So you attack the next debt with a vengeance and keeping a track record of paid off debts. A small success leads to a bigger one and so on… for more on the Debt Snowball or Financial Peace, go to Dave Ramsey here.

The Goal Snowball works the same way. Sit down and think about one thing you have always wanted to achieve. Maybe you have been trying to achieve this goal for years. Maybe you want to lose 50 pounds, run a marathon, take your family to Disney World, or read the entire Bible. Whatever it is, write that one goal down. Look at it and see yourself having already achieved that specific goal. If you want to run a marathon and can't make it four blocks, write down "Run a marathon". Close your eyes and see yourself crossing the finish line and seeing your family and friends cheering for you. If you want to lose 50 pounds, look at yourself in the mirror, then see yourself 50lbs thinner. See yourself at Disney with your family, everyone happy and enjoying themselves. You MUST be able to see yourself achieving your goal. What will it look like? What will it feel like? What will it sound like?

Next write down a specific date for your goal. Be honest and realistic. If you have not run a mile since high school, you can't be ready for a marathon in two months. Pray about it.  Ask for God's help and guidence.

This is where it gets fun! You have set this big gnarly goal. Some family and friends will laugh or tell you that you can't achieve it. The worst thing they will do is discourage you! Do not listen to them. Do you know how many people laughed and discouraged the Wright Brothers? Yet on a wind-swept field in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina on December 17, 1903 the Wilbur and Orville Wright achieved the first controlled, powered flight in history. We would not have air travel, space flight, satellites and a host of other technologies had they listened to the naysayers. The reason naysayers behave the way they do is because they envy the fact that you are actually want to achieve something! You are pushing yourself to become a better version of yourself. Funny thing, they will applaud you when you reach your goal. You end up inspiring them.

There are a few things you will need to do to reach your goal. Your process is very important because you want to build momentum. Start out with something you can do today. This is a small goal that you can successfully achieve by 9pm today! This goal must be RESEARCH. Most people bypass this first step. The research step is ESSENTIAL! The interesting thing about this step is how many folks you will come in contact with who may be wanting the same thing or may have achieved the goal you have set for yourself. Not to mention, the amount of knowledge you will gain. You begin to see the big goal you want to achieve for what it REALLY is…a group of smaller goals that lead the way to your ultimate goal. If you want to run a marathon, find out how long a marathon is (26 miles and 385 yds) and use the web to find a training schedule. If you want to read the entire Bible in a year, research the different types of Bibles (King James Version will be more challenging than a New International Version). Use the web to find a reading schedule and plan that suites you. If you want to lose 50lbs, call your Doctor and research diets. Personal Note: When I decided to do my first Triathlon, I made a post on Facebook about it and I was surprised how many people were Triathletes. I received encouragement and tips from these people. Therefore, I started listening to Triathletes rather than naysayers! I noticed shift in my psyche and attitude. Part of this research step is establishing a recording and tracking system/platform. If you have no way to track your success, you won't feel the Goal Snowball's psychological effect. Keeping a record of your progress is essential! There are dozens of tools and platforms to track your success. You may want to start a blog, or join an online community dedicated to your specific goal. Start a record and talk to people. You'll be surprised how many folks are in your camp. Replace the naysayers with these people. It is essential to share these goals with your loved ones. They may try to distract you. But, ask them to help you.

Set another small goal that you must accomplish by 9pm tomorrow. This will be the first step found in your research. If you have chosen to run a marathon, your 1^st goal may be to walk eight blocks. Make sure to track your process. Print out your plan and progress report. Tape it to your bathroom mirror and keep a copy at work. Use regular reminders on your calendar. Set up some rewards for each small goal.

When you achieve a goal, announce it to everyone. "Hey, guys I started training for a marathon a month ago and I ran three miles today!" Then say, "Anyone up for a run this weekend?" Or "Hey people, I want to lose 50lbs by Thanksgiving and I've lost 8lbs in three weeks!" and then say "I found an awesome low-calorie recipe for oatmeal-raisin cookies. I'm making some tonight to reward myself!" Then post or email everyone the recipe. Not only are you making your way to your goal, you are inspiring others, growing and tightening your support group. An unintended consequence may be that someone else starts working toward the same goal. You could be improving several lives while working toward that goal you've always wanted to achieve. I can't stress it enough, SHARE your progress! Keep in mind, when things get tough, the time you spent sharing your progress will make you accountable to others. Now that you have built momentum and people are watching you… You don't want to let them down. Use peer pressure to your advantage. After you prove that you are getting results in your quest to achieve your ultimate goal, peer pressure from naysayers has transformed into peer pressure from supporters who want you to win. So, you gut it out when times get tough and you stumble. Personal Note: When I was a very little boy, my father had a ranch outside of town with some horses and cattle. I learned to ride and enjoyed saddling up my horse and spending hours just riding around the property. One day, our trainer had me saddle a mare named Jackie. She was not as friendly as my horse and I was a bit afraid of her. But, I decided to ride anyway. After leaving the barn, something spooked the horse, she took off and I ended up on the ground. Needless to say, I was scared and in tears. Our trainer ran over and helped me up and dusted me off. After letting me calm down a few moment and figuring out I was not hurt, she led Jackie back over to me and told me to get back on. I thought she had lost her mind. I argued for a while. But, eventually gave in to what had gone from a request to an all-out order from the trainer. It may have been the most important thing I learned as a kid. Get back up and get back on with life. The same goes for stumbling on your path to achieving your goals.

Finally, as you progress toward your goal by building up momentum using smaller goals that make up your ultimate goal, you will feel different. Half-way through the process you realize that what was once unachievable a year ago is within sight. This is the best part. Not only do you have momentum, but you ultimate goal starts to pull you closer. The attraction caused by your realization that your goal is attainable becomes stronger the closer you get. Then, on the day you have marked, you cross the finish line, you look in the mirror, you close the Bible and smile because you have arrived, you have won, you have inspired, and you have overcome. Take a mental picture of that moment and remember what it felt like. What was once a non-realistic dream has become a reality and a part of your personal history.

Aspirando et Perseverando!

Lance Cashion
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Inspire: “If”

Preface: When I was a young boy, I heard this poem every summer at the closing day at camp. The words resonated with me then. As a freshman in high school, my teacher assigned our class this poem. It resonated with me again, but in a new way. As new father, the poem resonates still, in a different way. This proves that words properly used by the creative mind are living and timeless. Enjoy...

"If" by Rudyard Kipling

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!

Take care,
Lance Cashion
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Intel: Healthcare Reform Logic

Many of you have asked me my opinions on Healthcare Reform.  Rather than give you a political rant, I will provide you with insight into how I view and approach problems.  On a side note, thank you to everyone who replied to my Newsletter with questions (Link to opt-in: Click here).  I hope that I have served you well.  If not, you can call me out on my own blog for the world to see! LOL (watch the language... hee hee)

Ok, I said it! "Healthcare Reform!" Some of you have been waiting for me to dive into this one. So I will. And I will do so by addressing the REAL issue, which has very little to do with Healthcare and more to do with Bureaucracy (and function of). We need to look at this for what it is, bureaucracy attempting to solve problems for people/organizations outside the bureaucracy. Solving problems within a dynamic environment like Healthcare/Health Insurance is not within Bureaucracy's skill set. And I'll explain why.

It's like giving a commercial contactor a blank check for a $10,000 home kitchen remodel. Empirical evidence proves that bureaucracies cannot efficiently function to serve outside themselves, much less solve problems outside themselves. By their nature, bureaucracies are self- serving and only interested in self preservation. There are positive and negative attributes. It's how Bureaucracies function and their uses that is important. They behave and function like cement. Cement is not pliable or cooperative. Cement is dense, unyielding and not easily changed or modified. Bureaucracies share these characteristics. The Federal Government is the ultimate bureaucracy. Wanting, hoping, and/or wishing that the Federal Government bureaucracy will behave any differently is at best wishful thinking and at worst ignorant. This is the same in regards to Healthcare Reform. The intention of Healthcare Reform may be good, but we're asking an institution to behave contrary to its very nature.

For example: We can't expect a school bus to successfully execute hair-pin turn like a Ferrari can. We can't expect a 747 Aircraft to bank like an F-22 Raptor. The same laws apply to Government and Bureaucracies, in general. Expecting them to behave counter to their nature is illogical and unrealistic. That said I want you to know that I'm not prejudice against Cement, School busses, 747s, or the Federal Government. In fact, they are essential for the tasks that they were designed for (transport or support of a high volume of people, weight or goods). The Federal Government has its function but expansion into private healthcare is not one of them. It is like filling a fully-functional swimming pool with cement because you found a small crack at the bottom. Filling your pool with cement will fix the crack but your pool is rendered useless. Removing the cement is virtually impossible without expending massive effort (and in the case of a Bureaucracy, it knows this).

You don't rebuild your engine if all you need is an oil change. You don't call a plumbing company to perform heart surgery and you don't call a hospital to install a hot water heater. I guess you get the picture… I like analogies.

I submit Healthcare needs an oil change, not a rebuild or overhaul. Like the media, the Federal Government (particularly Congress) has become adept at the art of manipulating the perception of reality (or portrayal of). Like the artist, Salvador Dali, who painted in a quasi-realistic form called surrealism where the images conjure a sense of the recognizable common object or scene, but is abstracted by placing it in a non-realistic environment or by deforming its shape. Basically, they present a hyper-reality or non-reality when it suites their self-serving nature. It becomes less about the individual's survival and more about the Bureaucracy's survival. I will be the first one to tell you that Bureaucracies are present within the Healthcare industry. However, there is a huge difference when the bureaucracy is sustained by profits (taxes are not profits). No profits, no more insurance company. In contrast, the Federal Government Bureaucracy is self-aware and knows that it feeds itself through taxes which we are forced to pay. There is no incentive for this particular Bureaucracy to do anything but grow larger and become denser, further cementing the environment(s) it comes in contact with, rendering them uninhabitable by anything but the Bureaucracy.

Next week, I'll dive into this subject again and we'll look at it from different angle. I'll try to leave personal politics out of it b/c there is too much emotional charge.

So, you get where I'm going with this? We have a problem in America and it has less to do with Healthcare and more to do with Bureaucracy gone wild. I refuse to get involved with the political minutia because I'm about attacking and curing the disease. I'm about seeing through the fog to what the real problem is. Given, I am one man… what is one man's input worth? Can input from individuals who solve problems for a living penetrate the largest bureaucracy man has ever known?

See you next week on this one!

Lance Cashion
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Admit One... Farewell My Friend

Tommy Welsh was my friend.  He was a man of God and helped me on my walk with Christ.  He encouraged me and led by example.  Tommy knew the Bible and he shared that knowledge.  He was the type of man who was large on persona and spirit.  Always laughing and interested in what you had to say.  He told stories about life, God, and the outdoors.  He was kind.  He liked to get right up in your face when he talked to you.  He would put a hand on your shoulder constantly drawing you in.  He truly engaged people he was with.  Tommy would entertain you. You knew he was there.  He loved his wife, Marlene.  Marlene and Tommy have been like an aunt and uncle to me.  I remember many a Christmas day going to their house for lunch.

Tommy invited me to breakfast one morning at Montgomary Cafe to talk about God and our love for shotguns.  He was not afraid to share.

The last time I went shooting with Tommy was in Aug or Sept.  I had never shot skeet from the towers on a range.  I showed up to Fort Worth Trap and Skeet Club in 100 degree heat in slacks and polo.  Needless to say, it was too hot for slacks.  We bought 3 tickets to shoot 3 rounds of skeet and proceded to head out to the range to meet a friend of his.  I stepped up for my 1st round and really had a tough go at it.  As I worked through the stations, Tommy was pretty quiet as I struggled and missed everything I shot at.  It was quite embarassing and stressful.  I'm a decent shot (or at least I thought I was).

After a humiliating 1st round, we took a rest.  Tommy asked me if I would mind some pointers.  LOL!  Of course I wanted some pointers.  I was filling the sky with lead and clays were getting away.  When we started the second round, Tommy started giving me some instructions.  He showed me where to stand, how to stand, where to position my feet, how to position my upper and lower body in reference to the towers, where to position the barrell, where to look, how to swing through the target... I started busting clays and hitting doubles like nobody's business!  He showed me the process of setting up and how I must adjust my position at every station.  In 2 minutes, I had the mechanics down and having fun.

Right before the 3rd round, my cell phone rang and I had to come home and take care of my son while my wife went on an appointment.  It was hard for me to leave... but leave I must.  As I was saying thanks, good bye and getting in my car.  I remembered the extra ticket in my pocket.  We had only shot two rounds.  I reached in my pocket, grabbed the ticket and handed it to Tommy.  I told him to take it, since I was headed home.  He said, "You hold on to it, we'll come out here again sometime... you can use it then."

I found that yellow "admit one" ticket in my drawer yesterday morning.  I wished I could head out to the range and shoot some clays with my friend.  Just one more round before you leave.  One more chuckle, one more story, one more lesson.  Thank you for saving seats for us at church.  Thanks for ministering to me and helping me become a better man in Christ.

See you on God's golden shores someday.

I think I'll take this ticket to the range and shoot a round of clays and try to remember what you taught me.  Maybe I'll hear some laughing in the wind.

Thomas Neal Welsh, 67, went to be with his Lord and Savior, 
Jesus Christ, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009, after a brief illness.


Lance Cashion
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Lance Cashion 'The Sound' Compilation FREE Download

Music inspires!  

Whether it's your first time hearing The Sound or you remember the Fridays when the radio show warmed you up for the weekend, I hope that you enjoy it… Share it, if you like!

Thank you for a wonderful 2010.  God Bless you and your families!

Below are links to download 'The Sound' Compilation that was released on Proton Radio/Proton Music in 2004. The compilation was released on iTunes in 2005 and was removed earlier this year because iTunes have set their store to be DRM Free, iTunes Plus. The folks at Proton have to re-upload the older content to the iTunes store to make it available again. This has not happened. So, I decided to upload BOTH sets for FREE download. I've provided the tracklisting below as well.

Links:
The Sound-Part 1 (click here for full mp3 download)
The Sound-Part 2 (click here for full mp3 download)

Proton Radio Presents: Lance Cashion - The Sound
By: Simon Jones on 5 October 2004
After over a year of hosting ´The Sound´ on Proton Radio, Lance inaugurates the station´s mix compilation series with a 2CD release shocasing a repertoire of tracks submitted by various artists to support the radio station. This latest venture from the station will be available to purchase online from some of the leading online stores and digital download portals when it is released soon. For more information, including the tracklist, check out this feature and find out how you can support one of the Internet´s leading online radio stations.


"My favorite thing in the world is watching and listening to people react to a piece of music -- I feel most comfortable behind two tables and a mixer... That is where I can be myself - that is where I communicate best with people. Without anxiety, just passion" - Lance Cashion


Lance Cashion has become a leader among DJs in Texas. Now, after over a year of hosting ´The Sound´ on Proton Radio, Lance inaugurates the station´s mix compilation series with a 2CD release showcasing a repertoire of tracks submitted by various artists to support the radio station. Ranging from the early morning sounds of melodic breaks to the deviously twisted beats of progressive house, the compilation features music from industry veterans like Sultan, PQM, and Momu alongside a dozen fast rising stars like Derek Howell, Micah, and Orchid.

In four years Proton Radio has grown to become the internet broadcasting´s gold standard for underground dance music, streaming 24 hours a day 7 days a week. With a steadfast dedication to provide listeners with the absolute highest quality programming and an emphasis on introducing lesser-known talents, Proton has cultivated an audience with thousands of daily listeners from locations around the globe. As a listener supported radio station, all proceeds from ´The Sound´ will go towards Proton Radio´s operating costs, so those who want to support Proton Radio can guarantee the continuation of the station´s broadcast by picking up Lance´s mix.

The Sound by Lance Cashion (Tracklisting)
Released 2004 on Proton Radio/Proton Music
Disc 1:
Dan Portch - Shoreline
Blue Haze - Messy Textures
Relisys - Agenda
Orchid - Transmission 3001
Relisys - With Sexy Results
Medway & John Morgan - Toobin ( Rob Curtis Remix )
Digital Witchcraft - Brindavan ( Momu Remix )
Derek Howell - Western High

 Disc 2:
Pat Foosheen - The Unthinkable
Rob Curtis - Twilight
The Sanctuary Moon - Don't Touch It
Micah - Pale Creatures
Dan Morris & Shylock - Badhatu
Rich D - Sunrise Girl
Ray & Peter - That Moment
Blue Haze - NineTen
Astrid - Rain (Soul Tan Mix)
PQM Project - Aenema (Noel Sanger Mix)
Derek Howell - We're Gonna Be Okay

Review of the compilation from Lunar Magazine:
Lance Cashion - The Sound - Proton Radio
by Smight
Almost 3 years ago to the date I had the pleasure of meeting Lance Cashion at a Quivver gig in Austin, Texas. Since that time I have come to know a man who stands for so many positive things, and leads prestigiously without as much as an ounce of attitude. Lance humbly brings to us, along with the forward thinking crew at Proton Radio, a mixed set that truly stands out as being something special and firm as a pillar amid the thousands of mixes that have been heard on the airwaves in the past 4 years. Taking the future and mixing it together between Internet radio and the digital revolution, this mix serves as the first of many positive contributions to the illustrious underground dance music culture. Selecting artists of amazing talent, Lance has delicately blended things together in all the right places to create a seamless mix of differing varieties of musical taste. The Iron Chef of dance music spoils the par of the average mixed set and wins the prize of covering so many styles across this two-disc set.

Disc 1 drops you into Dan Portch's "Shoreline," which quickly moves your mind to a place where everything is special and warm. From there you drift through subtle, housey grooves and almost at times ambient styles of melodic interaction. The mix moves forward into some more subtle styled and a bit more progressive material that still maintains the balance of the first track but has an elegant progression. From start to finish this mix is a wonderful introduction into Lance's brilliant programming; it's absolutely amazing from start to finish—one that I would put in my top 10 all time mixes.

Disc 2 is a high-octane thriller that starts with the master of eclectic ambience Pat Foosheen's "The Unthinkable," an absolutely brilliant tune that serves as one of the best opening tracks possible. Being a bit more up tempo, Disc 2 has a solid framework, groove, melody, emotion, and excitement. It moves through melodic landscape after landscape which might be compared to the feeling of being in a world that has never been seen before. You feel insight, intellect and aptitude dripping from each mix. Above all, this compilation contains extremely beautiful music that can make the worst day your best. Throughout this mixture is a very balanced use of breaks and 4/4 beats that work so well together—the programming once again being pushed to the highest degree of detail. Both CDs end with productions from the amazing Derek Howell. What a fitting compliment to save one of the hottest new dance music artists for last.

In the history of Proton Radio there has never been a more genuine contribution of love and respect for dance music than that which is demonstrated in this mix. From all accounts, this is by far one of the best mixes of 2004, period.

Beatfactor.net Review here...
Visit Proton Radio here...

Take care,
Lance Cashion
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Action: The Power of the Weekly Report

Let me preface this discussion with the fact that up until November of this year, I have NEVER, ever, ever, ever done a weekly report or any other kind of report since College LOL! I took it upon myself to give my father (also my boss/company owner) a weekly report. I figured that providing a weekly report would do a couple things;

1. A means of Serving my father and team
   
2. Provide production information (ROI, Sales, Expenses, Product/Team Success and Trends)
   
3. Bring attention to any problems (Technical issues, personnel issues, etc)
   
4. Provide insight to my father in regards to the technology side of his business (Most intricate technology is abstract to him)
   
5. Build a culture of accountability (If my team sees my providing reports, they see accountability in me)
   
6. To honor my father's input in areas seen in the report where he can question. provide insight and/or solutions

I am injecting my team with the notion of the power of the weekly report! One of my team members (one of our managers) provides me with a weekly report that gets added to mine before going up the chain. This provided further insight to me and to my father. And I'm getting intel from the troops on the battle field.  I've found that 5 minutes spent reviewing a weekly report can keep the lines of communication open and problems get solved easily. Not to mention, we can applaud those on our team for their efforts, results etc. The report gives us a looking glass into our team's lives. If there is a problem, we know about it and we can assist when needed.

My goal is to have this type of communication through reporting throughout our organization at some point. It's a challenge, but if I do not introduce it somewhere, it will never come to fruition.

Unintended Consequences of the Weekly Report:

1. I found that my reports are probably just as useful to ME as they are to my father and team. For an ADHD guy like myself, the report entries keep me on track and accountable to myself. I used to look back on the week and know I accomplished something for my organization, but sometimes I was so swamped that I forget everything I did. With the weekly report, I can look back and see how problems got solved, how we profited from my efforts and watch my daily process. Now, I can look back over the last few weeks and see ideas that became reality, battles won or lost, and potential clients become trusted customers.
   
2. I GET MORE accomplished by writing a weekly report
   
3. I go home satisfied and happy when I turn in a report
   

Things to know about Weekly Reports:

1. It's not difficult (make it fun)
   
2. Do your reports in REAL Time (when you begin a task, record it. Then record it when you complete the task) *This will bring satisfaction and closure
   
3. Do it for YOURSELF! (see above)
   
4. Do it for your spouse (if you don't have anyone to report to, give a copy to your spouse. They will appreciate it)
   
5. You will gain insight into your process, strengths and weaknesses
   
6. You are writing your own organization's history. (It may be valuable someday)
   
7. Do what works for you and get your team involved
   

For an idea of what I do, please click on the images of my Weekly Reports. (I have Xed out names and figures to protect the innocent. But, you'll get the idea).

Finally, I think I've provided evidence of the Power of the report. I must thank Dave Ramsey for introducing me to this simple but powerful communication tool. It has changed the way I work and my team's perception of me.

Enjoy the journey!
Lance Cashion
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Intel: 5 Things you MUST know when shopping for Insurance

1. Research, Research, Research!
- Do your homework! Is shopping for Health or Life insurance fun? Of course not. However, if you or your family gets a major illness or is severely injured, that last thing you want to worry about how your insurance plan will pay. 45 minutes of research will give you the knowledge to be an Educated Consumer not a buyer. With information at your fingertips, use the Web to gain knowledge. For your family’s sake and your future financial security, make sure you know the nuts and bolts of the product you are buying. You don’t have to be an expert, but you must be educated.

2. DO NOT enter your personal information on random Websites!
    (i.e.: name, SS#, phone #, email address, etc)
- You must know WHO is receiving your information and WHAT they plan to do with it. Many websites capture your info and sell it. Nothing is more infuriating than needing HELP finding an insurance plan and getting 50+ calls/emails from Telemarketers who are not licensed to help you (which brings me to my next point).


3. Speak to a LISENCED Agent (who holds a Resident or Non-Resident License in your home state)
- Speak to a professional. They must have the “Heart of a teacher”. If there is ANY doubt, get their name and license number. Tell them you’ll call them back and call your state’s Department of Insurance to see who this person is.
- Let the agent know what is important to YOU. Of course we all want inexpensive insurance that performs when we need it. A word of caution. Make sure you know what you are getting. Insurance is the kind of thing you may not ever use. But if you do need because you’ve been in a wreck and your family is staring at a $150,000.00 hospital bill and you are not able to work, you better make sure that the policy you have is worth the paper it’s printed on. As my wife always says, “Trust but, verify”.

4. When in doubt-Call the Department of Insurance!
- If you have questions about the Insurance Company or the agent, call the Department of Insurance in your state.
- There are many HIGH-quality, lesser-known Insurers out there who provided excellent service, competitive rates and pay claims properly. That said, just because you have not heard of them, does not mean they are not a good company. You’ll find that SOME of the larger carriers treat you like a number (not all). *For those looking at PPO (Preferred Provider Organization/Network) plans, make sure your Doctors accept the NETWORK. Contact me for more about this if you want*

5. DO NOT wait until last minute.
- If you know your policy contract will terminate in two months, or you are going to get on COBRA (very expensive)…. Start researching immediately. I’ve had folks contact me a week before their policy terminates and we have to scramble to get something in place. This causes frustration and stress for everyone.
- Get to work now before Murphy (Murphy’s Law) decides to join in and cause major problems/inconveniences. From my personal experience, if something bad is going to happen…. It will happen when you DO NOT have insurance. If you are receiving my Newsletter, you are smart enough to figure this out.
- If you are applying for individual coverage, the application and underwriting process take time (sometimes weeks). If you know this going into the process, there is less stress and you can plan accordingly.

I hope that this information is useful. If this is “old hat” for you, that is awesome! Make sure you educate your family and friends. As always, I’ll be happy to answer any questions or review your current policy. Just shoot me an email or reply.

Disclaimer LOL: I sell Health and Life insurance. My goal is to empower you to be an educated and informed consumer. I’ve found that life is easier and more fulfilling when people know how to navigate through the insurance world. At the end of the day, Insurance will be with you for the rest of your life. Better to make friends with insurance now than struggle with insurance later. Insurance is a tool and a life jacket. Hopefully you will not ever need it, but if you do… It MUST work the way you know it will. Your life may depend on it!

Lance Cashion
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Profle of the day: Col. Joshua Chamberlain (The Definintion of Courage)

Col. Joshua Chamberlain
(The Lion of Round Top)
The story how ONE man, made ONE decision that changed our Nation.

"Not a moment was about to be lost! Five minutes more of such a defensive and the last roll call would sound for us! Desperate as the chances were, there was nothing for it but to take the offensive. I stepped to the colors. The men turned towards me. One word was enough- 'BAYONETS!' It caught like fire and swept along the ranks".

VIDEO by Andy Andrews:What Joshua Chamberlain did at Gettysburg
Biography: About Col Joshua Chamberlain

Something to think about
Lance Cashion
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Do you bear fruit? (the measure of a man, woman, organization)

Bearing Fruit
-Do your thoughts bear fruit?
-Do your words bear fruit?
-Do your actions bear fruit?
-Does your work bear fruit?

¹⁵"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. ¹⁶By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. ¹⁹Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. (Matthew 7:15-19)

-What do our actions say about us?
-As Christians, what do our actions say about Christ?

You can measure a man and his organization by the results of his words, deeds and actions. When someone says "Sorry, this is nothing personal, just business", I cringe. This is a complete load of bull! It is always personal because your actions and your organization's actions are an extension of YOU! Bearing Fruit is mentioned throughout the Bible. There are different kinds of fruit; ripe fruit, bitter fruit, good fruit, bad fruit, etc. Everything that I am will manifest a result in my life and the world around me.

¹⁰And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, (Colossian 1:10)

We are surrounded and bombarded by ideas and actions of individuals and organizations that say one thing and do another. This is lying. We must be careful not to rationalize these modern phenomena but call it as we see it. Furthermore, we are charged with the task of building lives and organizations that bear good fruit.
At the end of the day before we fall asleep, can I honestly say that my day was fruitful in a Biblical sense? Sometimes I can't. But the day when I can, my sleep is more restful.

God expects us to be productive.  Our lives are to be a mission.  Our work/business is to be a mission. 

-How can your life and business be made to serve as a mission?

Lance Cashion
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Save Money, Buy an Accident Benefit

Health Insurance is expensive enough today and the process of buying a plan can be very frustrating. A bad agent will only make the process worse. Therefore, I'll offer you some quick pointers to navigate the process with ease. Today we'll look at Accidental Injury Coverage or Accidental Injury Benefits. These are insured benefits that work in concert with your regular health insurance plan (Major Medical, HSA, Employer Group plans).  I encourage you to do the research and feel free to reply or contact me personally with questions. Again, my advice is completely free!  There are links below for more info.

WHAT is Accidental Injury Coverage or an Accidental Injury Benefit?
-These are supplemental insurance policies that pay a benefit up to a certain amount if you (or a family member) are injured in an accident. Many also included other benefits like accidental death and dismemberment but we're focusing on the Accidental Injury value. The probability of an accidental injury leading to an Emergency Room visit and/or hospitalization is much higher than illness.

WHY should I consider purchasing Accidental Injury Coverage?
-If you and/or your family are on a $1500 deductible (or higher) on your Health Insurance plan, you must take Accident Coverage into consideration. The higher the health plan deductible, the more crucial it is to hedge against accident.

HOW much will this cost me per month?
-A $5,000 Accident Coverage should not cost you more than $40 per month for the ENTIRE family PERIOD.

You MUST look for creative ways to save money without substantially increasing your risk. One way to save money on health premium is to take a higher deductible health plan. The higher the deductible, the lower your premium will be. The problem some folks run into with higher deductible is a psychological one. A $3500 or $5000 deductible seem to be a lot to take on, but if your premiums are so high that you can barely afford it, you get creative!

Example: (for sake of simplicity, we'll assume your health insurance plan has 100% co-insurance after the deductible)
Currently, your family has a $1500 deductible health insurance policy and the premium amount is $600 per month ($7200 annually). You decide that $600 per month is breaking the bank. You know that you MUST have insurance on yourself and family. You decide to move to a $3500 deductible health plan and the premium is only $450 per month. You just saved $150 per month ($1800 annually)! You buy a $5000 Accident Injury Coverage policy for $30 per month. You are still saving $120 per month AND you have completely hedged against Accident Risk because the Accident Policy is going to pay all but a couple hundred dollars of your $3500 deductible. Basically, you end up with BETTER coverage than when you started and it costs you LESS. Why give your hard earned money to an insurance company, when you can keep it more important things (like an Emergency Fund)?

(another way to look at it)
Family A: Before hedging with Accidental Injury Coverage
$1500 Health Deductible / $600 per month ($7200 annually)
A $100,000 injury claim costs you $1500!
Family A: After hedging with Accidental Injury Coverage
$3500 Health Deductible / $450 per month ($5400 annually) + $5000 Accidental Injury Coverage / $30 per month ($360 annually) = $480 per month ($5760 annually)
A $100,000 injury claim costs you $250!

Extras:
-Employers: This is a great way to save money while improving benefits for your team!!!
-Folks with pre-ex: This is a good way to curb costs if you cannot move to a new plan. You can always go to a higher deductible to save money
-Parents with kids in sports: I think the value is pretty obvious J

In conclusion, in order to save money on monthly insurance expenses, you must get creative. One way is to use products like an Accidental Injury policy to do that. If you have a hand in controlling the cost of your healthcare, you will sleep better at night.

Note: Do not assume that because you are currently "healthy", you don't require health insurance. Try telling that to a family whose bread winner is in the county hospital with no insurance and bankruptcy is knocking at their door. Lives are ruined by selfish/foolish decisions. Don't be THAT GUY! When someone say's "I'm healthy, I don't need insurance", what they are REALLY saying is "I'm irresponsible, unreliable and short sighted". Personally, I do not associate with people who are of that mindset. Insurance rule, if you CAN pay for it… YOU MUST! It is quite another thing not to be able to afford health insurance. Ask yourself. What is more important, my family's well-being or an extra car payment or boat payment, etc?

Links:
SBA with Accident Benefit- Click Here (Example of the product I have and use)
High Deductible Health Plans (Wikipedia)

Take control

Lance Cashion
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