A Great Man Teaching Life Lessons

I find it fascinating how Elon crafts his story with this writer. As an icon in the world of innovation and fortune. He speaks to the simple people of this world through pain and tragedy. He touches on true human emotion by telling his personal stories and sharing his personal feelings… If all is true, he is a polarized man. One of great fortune when it comes to changing the world, money and fame. While on the other hand one of great sorrow and pain when it comes to family and self. Like a true superhero, he knows no middle ground. like so many of us he works in the polars. The north pole being his extreme successes and the south pole being his inability to nurture emotional intelligence… never allowing him to connect. The more I read and study amazing people doing amazing things the more I see polarization. The more I see clear strength and weakness. The question I keep asking… Does it take your father hating you, beating you (mentally or physically), does it take great loss (loss of parents, loss of wife, loss of children), great pain (the feeling of being alone, lack of self worth, not fitting in) to break the mold. Pushing our human spirit & psyche to a level so great it is forced to decide between good and evil. Like Elon and his father? Once the choice is made each walks their path. While Elon is saving the world… is he destroying
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Don’t Let Kryptonite Stop You — 

“Murph, you misspelled a word in your email yesterday.” My friend Ryan said to me. As I looked through my email I saw the subject line was “Your Are Kidding Me.” I also saw the intro headline was “Mankind Dreams Come True.” Damn!! I said to myself, as I am one who strives for perfection. But, in the next breath I moved on to my next purpose driven mission of developing a magazine for EdinaAdviceGivers.com, scheduling my next interview with Lou Nanne on our podcast, reaching out to my client who is excited about the home they are buying and working on designing our first million dollar home EHRConstruction.com will be building. Later that day I received this message from a friend and past client: That’s a pretty cool story Tim. Keep changing lives! I recommended you to a girlfriend who’s divorcing — though not sure if she’ll sell or not. Definitely won’t use her previous agent she said…horrible. Told her about my experience with you and she was impressed. Will keep you posted. Tracy Handt There is no better feeling than receiving a messages like this from Tracy. Sure, I was disappointed in my spelling mistake. Spelling has been a challenge I have struggled with my entire life. I will never forget… In middle school one of my teachers told my Mom, “Spelling is not one of Tim’s strengths. He will need to carry a dictionary around with him when he gets older.” I’ll be damned she was right. Till this
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Star Student vs. Problem Child

Today, our public education system is broken as we know it. We know it’s broken and they know it’s broken. The real question… What are we going to do about it? Our current system is diluting the imaginative brilliance of our next generation. Sure, we can sit on the sidelines and tell ourselves, “Well, they are the teachers. They have masters degrees and PHD’s. They know what’s best for my child. Hell, I barely got through school.” Deep down inside, we all know it’s not working. We know this system is destroying the unique individual in each of our children. Like it did with so many of us. I believe, each child and each one of us have been given a unique gift. This gift is one we seek. Once found we feel obligated to use it as our tool to serve. It’s from our service we find purpose. Putting our children in schools with systems that treat each child as if they are all the same. Boxing them in, destroying any ability to find their gift at an early age. Taking away our children’s imaginative brilliance… a naive young mind has. How can we continue down this path. Sit here. Do this. Follow my directions. Do as I say, “I’m your teacher.” At a young age most children don’t know any different. Most children are taught to, “Do as I say.” Thinking for themselves… Is not allowed. Our school system today is one built on “A standardized approach.” A
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Strengthening The Chain of Inspiration

“Murph, your newsletter has inspired me to write something of my own.” The words of a good friend who was born to tell stories. On a Friday, sitting in my car, in front of a home I was tearing down for a new construction project we are working on… I get a call. It’s my good friend Charlie. A successful business owner who is always looking for ways to touch his employees and his friends. Charlie tells me, “Murph, we are going to start implementing a newsletter in our company. I love what you do in your newsletter. Can you help me?” My first reaction, “YES! — you know I am always here for you bro.” That’s when the conversation got really good. At least for me because I couldn’t stop talking. You see… When someone strikes a chord with me on something I really believe in. There is a chemical cocktail of dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin that goes off in my brain. My energy level quadruples, I start pacing the room or when sitting my leg starts to bounce. My voice gets louder and passion permeates out of my soul. My first question, “Are you going to be real?” If you are not going to be real and let your audience deep inside Why, How or What you are all about. If you aren’t going to let them see the bad with the good. They will know. “They will know what Murph?” Charlie asked. They will know you are faking it.
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The Inspired Expression Of A Leader

Sitting across the table from Lou Nanne yesterday, as I spoke with him about life, a feeling I will never forget came over me. I was sitting in the booth where we were going to conduct our interview. Taking notes, writing down points I’m going to touch on for the story I wanted to tell. That’s when it happened, something profound struck me. Lou walked up to me, without me knowing… as I was focused on my message. He just stood there. At that very moment a feeling came over me. I can only explain it as an “Energy”. My chest felt heavy, my blood started rushing and adrenaline exploded within me. It’s a feeling I have had around very few people. Nervous… No, Excited… Yes!! But, still — it was something else… I stood up, like a lieutenant in the presence of a Military General. “Hello, Lou!” I said, as I put out my hand to shake his, in all due respect. He shook my hand and looked at me with a look I will never forget. It was a look that pierced deep into my soul. Lou was searching for my identity. The real me. It was at that very moment I knew our interview, this opportunity, was going to be something special. I knew, because his look reminded me of my grandfather. Like my grandfather Ken Murphy, an entrepreneur, who partnered with a good size printing supply company “Litho Supply Depot, Inc.” —  on its last $500 dollars before going
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Seeing The World Through Your Eyes…

Over the last several months I have realized more than ever just how perspective changes everything for each one of you I have conversation with. From the post I wrote about my buddy Charlie Lawson and his brother who suffered severe burns on his body. I received this message from Jenna Colvin: “Tim — I want to chat with you about this . His brother is the type of people firefighters for healing is all about helping …(the board I’m on) …. let’s chat”  www.FireFightersForHealing.com  The story I told in my April newsletter about my good friend Chris Cornelius and his amazing daughter who is battling cancer with a smile on her face. I received this message from Chad Schumacher:  “Murph, Loved the newsletter! I am on the board of a non-profit called Hope Kids. It’s an organization set up for children with life threatening illnesses. They try to offer events for kids and families every day to take their minds off of the treatment schedules and match up families with similar problems. Anyway, you should point her family in this direction………”  www.hopekids.org  My conversation with you on a weekly basis through my emails you continue reading and responding to. I received several responses like the ones from Tracy, Lorrie & Bob: “That’s a pretty cool story Tim. Keep changing lives! I recommended you to a girlfriend who’s divorcing — though not sure if she’ll sell or not. Definitely won’t use her previous agent she said…horrible. Told her about my experience with you and she was impressed.
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Actions Speak Louder Than Words

Every move counts — A true leader, realizes they don’t know everything. When that time comes they seek other leaders with more experience and wisdom. For me, one such leader, is my father-in-law Ron Weinke. A man of few words, it has been the sense of observation, from this great leader, which has taught me so many valuable lessons. The day my father, Mike Murphy, passed away began a lifelong relationship which grows deeper every year. As Ron walked into church, for my father’s funeral, I will never forget the look on his face. This is a man who has been to war. A man who has fought for our country. A man who has raised a family and been forever loyal to his beautiful wife, Betty. As he got closer I could see he was scared. I could see this was a moment of reflection as he was a father to 3 children and one day they would be standing in the same shoes I was on that day. Ron approached me and I sensed he knew there were no words to express his condolences. Being a man of very few words it was not expected. What came next, was all a young man who lost his father needed from the only remaining father he would have to help raise his children in a world filled with adversity and struggle. Ron stood before me, for a moment, wrapped his arms around me and said, “We Love You.” As he backed
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Words Crafted Into Stories…

Create Positive Feedback Loops — 9:25am yesterday morning I received a text message. A buddy of mine who I have not heard from in a while. A successful entrepreneur who I enjoy talking with as we bounce ideas off each other and provide honest feedback for problems we are both trying to solve. Knowing how busy we both are I completely understood why he never read my newsletter, until now. “Time” is a very precious asset we all must cherish and spend wisely. So, when I received this text from my friend the feeling was amazing. It stopped me in my tracks. I parked the car, shut off the engine and read his text message… not once, not twice but five times. Every time I read the words I asked myself different questions: Why did it take so long for him to open my letter… I’ve been sending them for 18 months? What did he read in my letter that would motivate him to send me a text message? Man I wish we could hook up more often and share more stories? How is he doing? I’m so glad I wrote that letter this month to reconnect with him. Sitting back reading this message from a buddy of mine it gave me a chance to reflect on “The Power Of Words” an email I sent out a while back: http://www.timkmurphy.com/whats-on-my-mind/beliefs/are-they-just-words-on-paper-or-do-they-have-power/ As I was reflecting I took into account the emotions a simple little text message like this, from a buddy,
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Everyone gets knocked down in life… The real test — getting up

Bam! She got hit in the mouth and went down… That’s what it felt like earlier this year when we found out our daughter, Ireland, made the “C” team for traveling softball. She worked so hard in the offseason to get better on her throwing, hitting and catching knowing tryouts were a big deal this season. We all kept rooting her on. Then, we got the news. This was the first time we had really been vested in sports and the process of tryouts and making a softball team. I’ll never forget those times when I was a kid. As a parent, it’s 10x more intense. You just want to get out there and do it for them. Ireland was devastated, tears started rolling down her cheek, she lost her breath as she started to gasp for air; then she started crying. As a parent this is the most helpless feeling you will ever have when it comes to parenting. The reality of competition just hit home. That’s when your fight or flight instinct kicks in. “Ireland, you don’t deserve this. You are better than this. There has to be some kind of mistake.” I said. Mom, coach and long time collegiate softball player herself, starts running through all of the players out loud. Trying to determine why Ireland landed on the “C” team. After hours of talking it through we both said to each other, “This is a mistake!” Then I thought to myself, Wow! this is so real.
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Leader, Manager & Operator all at the same time…

“Wow!……… I’m speechless Murph, give me a second.” Scott said, as he looked to the sky, then looked down at the table and gradually put his hands on his head pulling his hair back. You have to know Scott to appreciate this moment of silence. Scott is the type of guy who can walk in a room and light it up. Kind of like Norm when he walks into CHEERS. “Norm!!” everyone shouts as he walks in the door. Scott, is a man who wears his heart on his sleeve, will give the shirt of his back and loves nothing more than a good conversation. Coming from a military family Scott knows what it means to work hard, do the right thing and treat others with respect. His military father instilled these military principles in him. You can just feel it. Quickly, Scott lifted his head to say, “Bro, I knew you wanted to talk today. But, I didn’t know you were going to completely blow my mind.” Scott said, with a passion in his voice that moved me. He then said, “Murph, you need to understand something about me. I was raised by a military father in a military home. He loved me. But, he was hard on me because as a drill sergeant in the military that’s all he knew. Sure, I hated that as a kid. I fought his orders… to my dismay. As I grew older, I became to respect the lessons my father taught me.
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