I grew up in the business world being told that networking your business was the best, most efficient, and most cost effective way to create consistent growth and loyalty. Now after more than 25 years in business I agree with that statement more than ever. You see, I have been working online for the past year in particular. Working to build a network of like-minded people who want to build a core team of business people whose goal it is to create success throughout the group.

However, when I started this journey into the cold, dark waters of the internet world, I found that my greatest thought (along with those I became “friends” with) was primarily self-serving. I wanted to “like, friend, or otherwise connect” with people who wanted to buy my stuff. I wanted to act like I really cared so that they would in fact buy my stuff. I needed to sell them stuff so that I could do what I wanted in life, apart from them and without much concern for their success.

I didn’t really feel too bad about this because they were just trying to sell me their stuff as well. So, I thought, we were both getting what we wanted and everything was okee dokee! That was, until I realized that people who only wanted to sell me their stuff (something I was on their feed) didn’t really want to buy mine and weren’t really interested in me as a person.

That’s when I made a change that is going to put the “social” back into my social network. I blogged about it back in November 2010 under the title, “The 100 Friends Project.” I am writing about it again in January 2011 because it has not been as rousing a success as I had hoped. (As a matter of fact to date it is a dismal failure.)

I am convinced that it can/will work with time, and so I bring it up again! Think about it with me, if we could put of group of 100 real friends together whose purpose was to connect in such a way as to know each other uniquely and care for each others life, family, and businesses, what greatness might follow? We could gather our collective minds from around the world and, as Steve Jobs is attributed to have said, “…make a dent in the universe.”

How cool would that be!!?

Want in? Just go to twitter.com/dwellmanonline and follow me there. Let’s join together to create social network that can change everything!

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I spent the past few days on the road. I traveled this week to Salt Lake City to preach in a Bible Conference for a good friend of mine. While the trip was quick and the pace was furious, the “air” time allowed for a good amount of thinking and planning. What I came up with is going to define my life, ministry, and business for years to come.

When I got back home and back to work yesterday, I found myself at Borders Bookstore between meetings. I was looking at business books and found one entitled “The Innovation Secrets of Steve Jobs.”(Affiliate Link) As I looked at the table of contents I was drawn to the second chapter which spoke about passion. The more I read the more excited I became and the more I realized how easy it is to get caught up in the moment and “sell out” your passion for what makes money.

Combining these thoughts with those I gained during my time at 35,000 feet, I realized again the need to follow your passion rather than the money. Life is too short to wake up everyday and not enjoy and rejoice in the day. Without passion for what you are doing, you are never going to know that joy and rejoicing.

Take some time this weekend and consider what you are doing in/with your life. Does what you do everyday reflect your passion or does it just make you money? All the money in the world cannot buy quiet/peace. It can give you all the excitement you could ever imagine, but it can’t take away the yearnings that we all have for our passions.

Steve Jobs left college after one semester because he did not know what he wanted in life and because he didn’t feel like he could find his passion in the classroom. His success came through times of searching for and finding his passion. I have found mine and I want you to find yours. If the world were full of people living their passions, much more would get done and the world would be a much better, much more productive, and much more innovative place.

Talk more later ….

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I have heard a lot of people in my life time say something like, “I have been broke and I have had lots of money … and I much prefer the latter!” I understand the sentiment, having also been on both sides of that equation.

However, the problem that occurs in a free capitalist society like ours is that money can (and very often does) end up taking on a position of value that can actually harm the life of individuals on both sides of the spectrum. Those without money lust for what they don’t have and those with money waste it on “riotous” living.

What should be the balance? What should we know about money and how should we be training the next generation? I think that there are three basics to the whole discussion of money:

1. Money is not inherently bad. Everyone and every organization in the modern world needs money to survive. If you ask most non-profits what they need to maintain and/or expand their programs, nearly everyone would say, “More resources.” (Code for more volunteers and more money!)

What makes money “bad” is when it becomes the principle thing in life. When nothing else matters but the accumulation of more money and the stuff it can buy. Real balance occurs when people are willing to live in comfort while seeing their wealth as a way to give back to society as a whole. To make the world they live in better and to make the succeeding generations better prepared for the future.

2. Wealth should be the by-product of living a productive life. You know, hard work and all that goes with it! Now I am not saying that everyone has to be out in a field with a hand held hoe, growing his/her own food. What I am saying is that those looking to make their wealth by “hook or crook” should honestly rethink their position.

Long-term success comes from hard/smart work that is rewarded by a loyal customer base. To look for ways to short-cut this effort may provide short term gains, but in the end will force those practicing the short-cut to compromise integrity for money.

3. Money should allow those with it to enjoy the fruit of their labors while also finding ways to bring others along with them! If life is really so great at the top, then why would we not want to do our best to bring as many people as possible with us to the top. Microsoft as a company has produced thousands of millionaires, just as has Walmart. Many ordinary people have been given incredible advantages in life because the founders of these companies sought not only their well-being, but also that of their employees.

While every corporation can be found to have shortcomings in some areas, the ones that hold the greatest value to me are those that do the most for those who work hard and give back the most to back.

Life indeed is more than money. As you strive to build your own success, don’t forget to take time to stop and smell the roses once in a while. Look up and see that the most important element in this world are its people and their relationships with God and each other!

Work hard, be rewarded, but don’t make money the principle thing! Money always wins in those cases and you will always loose way more than you gain.

Talk more later …

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This is what I have been telling myself for the past two weeks! Now, I am taking my own advice and setting my sites on the development of this blog on a full-tilt basis.

My life goals have been in a state of crazy flux the past couple months, but with clarity beginning to reign, I am excited about both my near and extended prospects. I will be writing more and trying my best to help more people. I will also be working hard to create a close-knit group of innovative thinkers who want to share their hearts, lives, and minds with up and coming entrepreneurs.

If you want to join the party just let me know!

Talk more later …..

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Innovation requires people to think! However thinking is one of the practices that seems to be lacking in so many ways in this world today.

People hear, but they don’t really listen. When someone who makes movies for a living, or is a famous sports figure, or a funny stand-up comic says something about life, politics, business, or how the world should work, many people accept their position without any thought. But, when thinking people express a view contrary to the common thought, they are laughed at and even considered mentally imbalanced.

Thomas Jefferson said that America would remain free as long as it remained educated, but that when it ceased to be educated it would cease to be free. Real education makes people into thinkers and thinkers are the real driving force for a free society.

I am looking to associate with real thinkers. I will not always agree with your thoughts and you will not always agree with mine, but real thinkers are still who I want to meet. Will you join me? Will you make my day and ask questions that I cannot answer? Will you stir my imagination and make me think?

If you will let’s get the part started! I will do my best to consider any question, but I will not argue just for the sake of arguing.

Let’s have fun ….

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I have been fooling around a lot with blogging lately and in doing so I have experimented with several of my favorite topics. After some moderate success (at least in my view) I had to ask myself that all important parental question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

This blog is my answer to myself. I have been focused on some very specific things in my first blog efforts. While I enjoyed writing in those specific areas, I much prefer conversation with thinking people than just spewing my opinions with little or no response.

I am going to try to entice every reader of this blog to comment on the topics that they have an opinion or knowledge about. My hope is that when thinking, innovative people get into real and thoughtful conversations that we can all benefit and can make the world a better place! (I know that I am still an idealist and a dreamer.)

So …. subscribe, comment, and help us to make this blog a haven for the truly innovative. It ought to be a lot of fun!

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