Weekly Messages

November 15th is the 319th day of the year. Only Six weeks remain in 2022. 😲   Does that excite you because that means the holiday season is soon approaching or rattle you a bit because that means the holiday season is soon approaching? 😊   I’m just having a little fun with you.    The real question I have for you today does pertain to the final six weeks of the year.    How do you plan to finish it?   Do you have goals and targets yet to achieve. Do you  plan to operate with fierce focus and urgency? Or are you feeling accomplished and plan to take it easy and coast the remainder of the way?    Disclaimer – What I’m about to share does not include the time (few days, maybe a week for some) that we’ll surely slow down, rest, and enjoy wonderful moments with our family and friends.    As of the latest reported number I could find (December 2021) there has been a total of 6,014 different people that have climbed Mount Everest and reached the summit.   To accomplish that incredible feat, was no doubt a pinnacle in their life. An ultimate trophy to be able to say that you climbed the highest Mountain available to mankind.   Very cool.    And none of us have to climb it to understand just how difficult that climb would be.     It is an arduous climb and no doubt requires the very best of you to make it to the top.    A common statement from those that have done it, is that the climb forces you to look deep inside yourself and figure out if you really have the physical as well as the mental toughness to push when you want to stop.    To continually hit your wall and continually breakthrough it.    There are a thousand reasons to turn around and quit and only one to keep going…Because you said you would.   Now, here’s the main fact and lesson of this message.   Get this – all the deaths that have occurred over an 80 year period of time, 73% of them occurred not going up but, coming down.    The descent going down is 4.8 times more dangerous than the ascent going up.    Why?… because when you are climbing up you are fully in the struggle.    The struggle has your full attention and as a climber, you’re forced to focus, forced to dig deep inside yourself,  forced to push yourself.     But on the decent, you can relax. After all, you made it, right? The goals was achieved.    You lose focus.    You aren’t summoning all that you have, and you get lazy.    Your adrenaline is lower and your concentration is less acute.    You let complacency sit in or allow for overconfidence and that is where more deaths occur.    This happens in your life as well.  it’s easy to pay attention to your kids when they’re in a crisis or give your spouse the attention they need when you are hit with the “we have to talk” line.    It’s easy to cut sugar and carbs out of your diet when you get diagnosed with diabetes.    It’s easy to cut costs when you’re a month away from losing your business, because you business is running out of money and can’t make your bills.    If they only kept doing what they did to create the success while they were successful, they’d not only sustain success, but have it multiplied on itself.    What I want to suggest to you hear this morning:   Be as vigilant when times are good as when they are bad. Keep your focus, keep digging deep, keep pushing yourself, Always!   The best time to repair the roof is when it’s sunny outside. When it starts to rain it’s too late, but often that is the only time people wake up to the repair their house.    As Warren Buffet said, “when the tide goes out, you get to see who’s been swimming naked.”    If you are not improving you are falling behind.    Remember, while the ascent is thrilling and adrenaline filled, it is the decent, when the pressure is off, where 73% of people fall to their death.    Stay vigilant. Celebrate and appreciate the wins. But, don’t remain idle or overly comfortable too long.    We are not made that way. We are not called to act that way. The good book provides many references to that very truth.     “Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction. A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man” – Proverbs 24:32 - 34   Don’t allow the good times to lull you to sleep and put a hole in your roof. Be Grateful, but not complacent.    Don’t lose focus and fall off the mountain.   Here’s to finishing the year strong, focused and intentional as if the ‘rent’ is due each and every day.    Because….It is.    Brock    P.S. It’s the season of GIVING, GENEROSITY, and GRATITUDE. Our many chocolate gift options offer a meaningful way to say “Thank you”, provide comfort, and let them know you care. 

Today Is Mighty Important. 🗳🇺🇸   It is a fought for privilege, our constitutional right, and our God, Family, Country and Community loving Responsibility to cast our vote to uphold the values we know and wholeheartedly believe are vital to America’s future.    Our country needs and deserves leaders that believe in the importance of each of those four core and essential values.    That understands that without God, Family, Country and Community we are a nation lost without structure and meaning.    Independent of one another, disconnected, mindlessly living life without rules, laws and only out for personal gain above all else.   Extremely sad, but that reality is showing through in our country today.    Good news is Today is The Day your voice will be heard. I pray the results of our votes will make a resounding statement – loud and clear.    Friday is another important day for all us to know and honor. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸   For without the service and sacrifice of incredibly brave and selfless men and women, that too, love our country, we would not have the opportunities or comforts of life that we have had all of our living years.    Those men and women deserve our best - Always.    Let it not be you or me that overlook or minimize their service. Taking our freedoms for granted. Behaving as if it owed to us.   Excusing people that would dishonor and disrespect what the people in our military services have done and do on a daily basis to protect and defend us; you, me, our friends and family.    Honoring our Veterans is not political. One’s political views should not interfere with the understanding of the tremendous service and price required to do it successfully.    So please join me today being Intentional with your words and actions. Seek out the Veterans you know and honor them.    No matter what branch, where they served, when they served, or if they engaged in battle(s) or not.    Simply tell them Thank You! We love and appreciate the work you have done for the citizens of this country.    Without it, our lives would be starkly different.    God Bless The U.S.A.,   Brock    P.S. Let us Stand Up and make our voice heard.

I’m not sure who this is for, perhaps all of us, but it kept popping up on me the past couple weeks. More than usual, so I believe I have to share it…   Be A Force For Good In Every Room and Opportunity You Walk Into.    If you have been a part of this community for more than a few weeks, you know I’m a pretty passionate, purpose-driven person.    I know growth and comfort can not coexist. Change means discomfort. Progress means disruption.    In today’s world, we will live in a constant state of NEW, Change, Progress.   That’s true and I get it. But, not everything needs to be changed. Not all things cleverly titled as ‘progress’ are really progress, but progressive with the intent to cause harm.    Like the ole saying goes, don’t throw the baby out with the bath water.    There are many foundational truths that need and should remain unchanged.    (Hint) That’s why they’re referred to as “foundational truths”.     At this moment I’m specifically talking about the behaviors and actions we apply towards one another.  The manner in which we should speak to one another and how we treat one another - with dignity and respect.    And we should NOT be tolerant and accepting of anything less than.    For if we ignore or excuse them, choosing to ‘look the other way’ – people will continue to do it and our ‘quietness’ will allow it to continue.    Sadly, I recently witnessed an onslaught of some of the most disgusting and disrespectful behavior of kids ages 10 - 13 in different sport settings. From how they spoke and acted to opponents, kids on their own team, yelling at referees, screaming at parents, absolutely losing their minds when things didn’t go their way.    I can hear and see you now, “Brock, we’ve all seen it. Nothing new. It’s where we are today with many kids.”    But, NO! It’s not okay.     As one item connects to another, like a line of dominos, a great cause to the above mentioned effect, is the outright attack on Marriage and Family.    I remember reading this statement, “If I could put the man and the woman back together, I could put the world back together.’    Marriage and family life are hugely important. They are part of God’s natural order, and are a vital part of the fabric of society.    A strong society depends on strong families and strong families depend on strong marriages.    Pope John Paul II once wrote that family is the ‘foundation’ of society and ‘nourishes’ society continually.   The point I’m trying to share is that there is…   Right and wrong. Good and bad. Light and darkness.    There always has been and there always will be.    However, moral standards, ethical principles, codes of conduct do matter and they are necessary in society to direct appropriate behaviors, support positive change, and guide healthy progress.   Treating people with dignity and respect, and honoring marriage and family will never be outdated. It never, ever should be.    To compromise and modify our beliefs and change our morals is NOT something we need to do.    Regardless of what the world around us is doing, we must decide to stand firm in the truth, even if it means we must put up with being called too traditional and stuck in the past.    And we need to stand strong to defend them appropriately with great fervor.    Let us wake up. Do not go quietly in the night. Keep our head on straight. Strengthen what remains.   Be a force for good,    Brock   P.S. Let us be good examples, doing our best to be our best. 

I can only imagine what a person can accomplish when they apply their full effort into getting better everyday.    When they define what Success means to them, their life, their family, and the positive difference they want to make in the world around them.    The growth, impact, and influence a person can experience with a decided heart committed to progress, not perfection.    Never settling, resisting complacency, finding pain in stagnation, and always challenging themselves to become more.   Blocking out the noise, rejecting excuses, and putting up ‘guardrails’ to eliminate distractions.    I can only imagine the reward that is produced when having a decided heart, and relentless resolve to persevere - without exception.    The joy and happiness that comes from judging the success of a day – based on the seeds you sow, not the harvest you reap.    Fulfillment received adding value to others and helping them find and pursue their greatness.    I can only imagine what can happen when you allow your dreams to inspire you, but your daily work to excite you.    For if one is honest with themselves, focused and Intentional with their giftedness, time, resources, and heart...   Life Will Be MORE than You could ever IMAGINE 💯👊🏼🙌🏼   And is truly worth the price of consistency, commitment, and the hard work required to achieve it.    I know this. Believe it. Promise it!    We are right here beside you – encouraging you and cheering for you every step along the way.    Live life at full strength,   Brock    P.S. I can not only imagine, but am seeing it before my eyes, the Force for Good this community is Together.    P.S.S. Have a most fun and joyful Halloween Weekend. 🎃👻 Be sure to share your favorite dulci sweets chocolates with your neighbors too. 😊

This is a story of two friends out for a long mountain hike.    During the hike, the friends had an argument. One friend slapped the other in the face.    The one on the receiving end was hurt, but without saying a word, wrote in the sandy path - “Today, my best friend slapped me in the face.” 😳   The two friends continued forward until they came to an area where the river had pooled and decided to stop and rest.  As they waded into the refreshing pool the friend that was previously slapped got stuck in the mire and started drowning.    But, his friend saved him.    After he recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone - “Today, my best friend saved my life.”    The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked, “after I hurt you, you wrote in the sand, and now, after I saved you, you write on a stone. Why?”   The other friend replied, when someone hurts us we should write it down in the sand where the winds of forgiveness can erase it away.    When someone does something good for us we should and must engrave it in stone. Where no wind can ever erase it. 🌟   Lessons within:   ✅ It’s good to have a great friend to “slap” you in the face every once in a while. In the moments you weren’t your best and they tell you the truth to set you straight. And that same friend to “rescue you from drowning” in the very same day.    ✅ It would be naive to say the “slaps” don’t hurt. Of course they do. You are human.    However, resentment, hurt, disappointments need to be written in the sand. Don’t etch it on your heart. Let the winds of forgiveness eventually erase the hurt away.    ✅ Make sure to get this straight. A slap…write it on sand. A rescue…stone, not sand.    Many can get this backwards and when they do, it will cause unnecessary strife and possible tragedy.    We have all been wronged by another person – It stings.    Many of us have experienced hurt, setbacks, disappointments, financial struggles, despair, and relationship challenges. No fun in those either.   ✅ But, forgiveness is far more about us than it is those that hurt us. 💯   We must not forget that the enemy does everything to Keep us from our best that God has planned for us.    Forgiveness is a wonderful and freeing example of Faith in Action to counteract the enemies plan to keep us bound.   ✅ Don’t allow bitterness to rob you of your joy.   Sometimes you have to shake it off. You can’t carry a grudge. Let it go.    Let us give the same grace that has been given to us to those that offend/slap us.    With Love and Compassion,   Brock    P.S. It’s a wonderful gift to have a true friend in life that will give you a big hug around your neck and kick in the butt when you need it. Even if in the same day.    P.S.S. Those kind of friends deserve the best chocolates too (hint)😉 Have you ordered the New Crispy Cookies and Chocolate and Caramel covered Stir Spoons? Tis the season. 

Whatever you have in front of you today, you’ve got this.    See the good and add to it.    Be encouraged and grateful.    If you’d like some inspiration, be sure to take some time to stop what you’re doing, push away from the desk, step out of the busyness of the normal, and step in to the beautiful world around you.    The fall season we are entering provides much to see and spectacular reminders of God’s awe-inspiring creation.    The air is crisp and refreshing.    The trees are lighting up the landscape and ablaze with full color.   At sunrise and sunset, the sun’s stunning warmth and shine is on full display as it illuminates the trees on the hilltops.   The night time skies are often clear and beaming with light from a glorious moon and stars above.    Football season is in mid swing. Even better if your team is winning.     Kids outdoor sports are happening in near perfect conditions.   Time with friends and family around the fire pit, quality conversations, s’mores with dulci sweets chocolates, plus the NEW Crispy Cookies, Almond Turtles, and Brock Bites on the side.   A cup of coffee with a dulci sweets NEW chocolate and caramel covered stir spoon slowly melting to make it the perfect cup. Or a terrific glass of wine with your chocolate, if you prefer….   That’s a lot of goodness. And that’s just in a single day, that thankfully can be experienced many times over throughout the glorious fall season.    Are you tracking with me so far? Visualizing your fall scene with great detail.   Pretty gratefully awesome, right?!?    Gratefulness starts in your mind, and resides in your heart. It is fueled by the things we see, feel, smell, touch, and choose to focus on.    There’s no doubt darkness exists in our world. Many things are broken and concerning. But, God Is Good, and there is greater goodness, beauty, light and truth in our world to overcome it.    Just re-read the short list of items above and allow it to ignite your senses to notice it with more clarity, peace, and joy.    It’s not that we’re hiding our heads in the sand; we’re simply obeying the Lord as we focus on what is good, and we display an attitude of thanksgiving/gratefulness in everything.    You and I must turn our eyes toward the good in our lives and away from the foul things that try to hold our focus – and choose to be grateful.    Gratefully here with you,   Brock    P.S. Take a walk today. Disconnect to connect. Be intentional with your focus. Soak it up. Be thankful and share it with others.  P.S.S. Don’t forget this coming Saturday, October 15th is Sweetest Day! A great opportunity to share a sweet lift with a loved one, with the perfect chocolate gift. Bosses and mentors too. Sunday, the 16th is Boss’s Day. A chance to show your appreciation to your current boss and/or anyone who has served as a mentor in your career.   

Question for you - Do you aspire to make an Impact on people’s lives in a positive way?    I imagine nearly every person reading this would raise their hand as an immediate Yes. Of course you do.    After all, you are part of this community and want to be and see the good in this world.    Follow up question though - when’s the last time you did it?    Look at your yesterday and today. When was the last time you did something tangible, that was obvious.    What would the people around you say that you have recently done that made a positive impact?    I’m certain the majority of people want to, but like much in life, the ‘want to’s’ are plentiful, it’s the ‘doing, did, done’ that’s not as readily seen.    Just ‘wanting’ doesn’t get it done. Taking action on wanting to make a difference = Big Impact.   I encourage you right now to look at the opportunities you will have in the next few hours. Where will you be? Who are going to see? What will you be doing?    Now Be Intentional and ask yourself, when I get there what can I say, what can I do that will have a positive impact on those that I meet?   Those two questions trigger an attitude and action that can change everything.    If you don’t believe me, put it to the test…    The next place you go, room you enter, walk into it with the belief, attitude and expectation that you can add value to the people in the room?   Not seeking to gain anything for your own benefit. You are there to serve. To contribute to others beyond yourself.    Using the gifts you have been given to be a light and gift to those God placed before you.    Start by simply asking great questions. When you do, listen. The answers will tell you what you need in order to help and serve them.   And try ending most conversations asking, do you need anything? Doing so you’ll discover more opportunities that will open up to you. Opportunities to make a difference and positive impact that just might make an impact on you too.   Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. — Matthew 5:15   Why would God give you gifts to benefit others and then have you hide them where no one can see them or appreciate them? God never intended for you to conceal your gifts or to hide your influence. He wants your light to shine brightly!   To your positive impact,   Brock    P.S. Be sure to share the results of your - “I will serve” approach with us. Via email or on our FB or IG pages.    P.S.S. Whenever the occasion calls for sweet treats (corporate gifts, meetings/events, weddings, fundraisers) think of us. 

Today’s message is straight from my heart, identified and verified through more than two decades of leadership experience.    Lessons for those just getting started and a reminder for those that are more seasoned.    ….Work on your Desire more than your technique.   If you aspire to do great things in your life and with your life, Desire is a qualification at the top of list of requirements for achievement.    It is without a doubt the chief characteristic needed to survive the challenges of life while serving God with your very best.   If you have Desire (also referred to as inner drive), you will begin to move. You will understand and appreciate the value of imperfect action.    For, as the Good Lord as my witness, when you move, resources that you were unaware of, begin to become available to you. 💯   It’s really easy to get bogged down thinking you have to know more, or have all the answers before you can start stepping towards a goal.  Unfortunately, that’s where most people stay put, and never start.   Another lesson…You don’t and won’t have all the answers, and that’s okay.  But you do need the belief that you’ll find them out as you go.    Do not let the fear of the finish belittle your Faith to start! 🔥🔥🔥   Where there is a strong inner desire, there is a desire that refuses to quit at all costs and continually presses forward to reach new heights.    This is the desire to be all God has destined and created you to be, and it will propel and sustain you even when the going gets tough and you feel like you can’t take another step!   And when you ‘step’ forward, fueled by your desire and faith, know and expect to run into many obstacles in life that no one prepared you to face.     Not matter how much information you think you may have, until you have personally experienced something, you don’t know what you don’t know.    That last part is mighty important, so I’ll repeat it… you don’t know what you don’t know.    You can choose to see that as fear and allow it to stop you. Or you can choose to embrace that truth and remain hungry and humble.    Expecting it to be hard, uncomfortable and not always fun. It’s possible, it will hurt at first too.    But, the fire that burns inside, the faith you possess, and conviction to stay true to the calling, gift, assignment God has given you is stronger than the temporary pain that will surely arrive to test you.  If your level of “desire” to achieve your goal is strong, it doesn’t matter if you’re ill-equipped or uninformed in certain areas: Any obstacle can be overcome. Any challenge can be conquered. Any mountain can be successfully climbed.   Keep this definition of drive with you forever...   Relentless pursuit of PURPOSE over possessions without compromising your character or forfeiting your integrity; fully aware that if it's not protected, it will be taken.   Don't ever let anyone or anything steal your drive! Real leaders have uncommon drive.    And if you think desire if overrated, it will only take a few personal experiences with “desire-less” people to clearly understand…It does take DESIRE to get to the Top! 😊   Before I sign off, I’ve got to be honest with you. This message has everything to do with how and why dulci sweets started, is here today, and has a bright future ahead.    Mike and I had far more questions than we had answers. That’s probably still the case today. Correction - that’s definitely still the case today. :-)   However, we have insatiable inner drive to spread hope, share joy, and shine a light on what is good and positive. And God placed this crazy calling on us to do that by making chocolate and deliver it with the message of His love and hope.   Wild and Crazy, but true. And man is the product Dynamite!!!   People that have ordered some, absolutely RAVE about. If you have not ordered some for yourself and/or as an incredible chocolate gift for someone you appreciate - you should really quit dragging your feet.   To make life easier for everyone, we are thrilled to finally release a new product that will immediately become a chocolate go-to for you and so many others.   We have been waiting for the weather to change to better allow us to ship thousands of these across the country….   Introducing the dulci sweets Crispy Cookies.  A perfectly paired crunch you experience through the outer milk chocolate layer into the creamy caramel center. This trio of cookies are guaranteed to give you the crunch you like, with the chocolate you love.     Get you some. Get plenty to share. Can’t wait to hear from you.   Keep that fire burning,   Brock    P.S. I’d love to hear how high Desire ranks on your list of qualifications for achievement. Send me a message and let me know.

Special Guest Post:  Today's message has been prepared by a terrific friend of ours, Paul Hevesy. Paul is a Believer, Husband and Dad first and always. He is currently pouring his 20+ years of leadership experience into speaking, writing and coaching , and recently released his first fiction book, Operation Redemption. It shares the works and wonders of our creator through four epic stories of  warrior angels, and is available now.   Paul the Apostle in his 1st century letter to the people of ancient Philippi wrote, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, what is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8)   In our society today we are encouraged to do just the opposite. What once our culture believed to be true is now derided while the opposite of truth is celebrated as “brave” or “courageous”.   Being noble means having or showing qualities of high moral character.   A brief scroll of news headlines and your social media feed indicates a culture today that has no use for such an outdated notion of high moral character.   Purity, loveliness, excellence and character that is admirable and praiseworthy are all either under attack or dismissed completely by a culture today that seems singularly focused on erasing thousands of years of Judeo-Christian values and replacing it with the exact opposite.   The result? Suicide, drug overdoses and violent crime are all on the rise in our society with no end in sight. The use of anti-depressant medications continue to skyrocket as people seek out artificial remedies to their depression and pain.   In many ways, as a society with have exchanged what is true about God for a lie and worship and serve created things rather than our Creator. (Romans 1:25).   As a result, we find ourselves adrift. Lost in an ocean of uncertainty and pain. And, just as the Israelites did so many times, in our attempt at rescue we are chasing after the mortal and finite rather than the immortal and infinite.   Just think for a moment on what our culture worships as beautiful these days. We worship technology and the fake beauty of created things like smart phones, advanced robots, artificial intelligence and Teslas.   Our culture encourages us to chase after the “beauty" of changing your gender or the freedom and beauty of promiscuity, fornication, “choice” and “alternative” lifestyles. All of which end in depression, disease, bondage, hopeless, depravity and death.   But we can be a light in our dark world. When we accept the free gift of God’s amazing grace, the power of the Spirit of God resides in us.   When He does we can speak the truth, we can do what is right, we can live a life of purity, we can love and admire the Creator and we can work to be excellent in every task we have been given to do.   After reading this step away from your computer, leave your phone behind. Step out into God’s creation and reconnect with Him.   Take a moment to look around.   He has given us everything we need to think about in His wonderful creation.   The warmth of the sun, the sound of the wind in the trees, the songs of praise from the birds, the bright blue sky, the purity of the clouds, the Creator’s perfect environment all working together to demonstrate His infinite love for us.   He is the Creator, we are the created. He is God. We are not. So today, take in all of His truth, purity, nobility, righteousness, purity, love and excellence and think about such things.   And when you do, your light will shine bright for our dark world to see.   Paul,   P.S. Two main places to order your copy…Amazon or Shopify for a personalized and signed copy 😊

For those of us old enough to remember the horrific attacks that happened on September 11, 2001, two words – Never Forget, immediately takes us back and stirs up many emotions.    It’s hard to believe that 21 years have passed since terrorists hijacked jetliners and attacked the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington. The magnitude of that day can still feel so overwhelming to those of us who lived it.    Even if you did not experience a personal loss of a loved one, Americans across the country felt the emotion, pain, and grief as if you had.    Because we will NEVER FORGET, we still feel the same emotions today that we felt watching the news as the cascading events flowed over us in that dark morning and through that agonizing day.    It’s strangely true and powerful how I remember standing in my apartment, getting ready to leave for the day, and the shock and disbelief that overcame me as I watched on my small tube t.v. the video of the first plane hitting the North Tower of the World Trade Center at 8:46 a.m.    Unsure of what just happened and assuming it was an isolated accident I continued to watch. I called my grandma to check on her and see if she had heard the news. As we were talking, it happened again. At 9:03 a.m. a second plane struck the South Tower of the World Trade Center. And it was revealed the nation was under attack.    The word that comes to mind – unimaginable.   You know what else we remember? We remember the country coming together in the aftermath. The incredible solidarity of All Americans. No matter any differences – We The People, became ONE.    A country UNITED.    United in morning for ALL who were attacked. For ALL whom displayed the greatest courage and came running to their aide.    For the brave that fought off terrorist in flight (Flight 93) choosing to sacrifice themselves and said - “Let’s Roll”.     For ALL the military service men and women that stood up and responded to the attacks with immediate action.    The words Strength, Courage, Resolve, Unity were on full display and on the highest level that I had personally ever witnessed in my young 27 year life.    As the years pass, we are being joined by a new generation of people who are too young to remember or weren't alive on Sept. 11, 2001. In fact, more than a quarter of the people alive today are too young to remember the horror of that day or how the nation reacted in the days following the attacks.    While there is much that has recently happened in our country that I am absolutely disgusted by and do not agree with, it makes me wonder how much of that nonsense is a result on forgetting or not knowing?    Peace, comfort, growth, prosperity can never be taken for granted. In this world, it’s not guaranteed or promised to anyone. And it certainly doesn’t just happen on it's own.    This new generation may not have first-hand memories of 9/11, and they need to be told of the community’s shared loss – and the response.    This responsibility falls to those of us who lived through the experience. The pain, fear, loss can be used to teach and remind them of the things, people, and values that matter most.    That make us great, strong, and united.    Use your power today to talk to a member of this young generation and share how you felt – and how you are feeling.  About this anniversary and how we need to act now to Never Forget that We Are One Nation Under GOD, Indivisible, with liberty and justice for ALL.    God Bless The U.S.A.   Brock    P.S. If not us, then who? Please share this message with someone that comes to your mind to initiate this important conversation. I surely pray that it helps you today. 

Joy is something we all desire in our life. However, I think most of us confuse it with happiness.    Happiness is more circumstantial.  More surface-level dependent.    It’s an emotion that comes and goes.   Is the weather good. Did things go my way today. Was I recognized for my effort.    Conversely, Joy is a gift that accompanies the presence of purpose.  It starts in the heart and resides in the soul.     It’s a calm delight. An inner gladness.   It’s a choice and a decision. The things you see and how you see them. Moreover, how they affect you.   When things don’t go your way or it’s just a bad day - the feeling of happiness can escape you. But, joy is foundational to who you are.    Once we accept that, it can and will last indefinitely.   In a recent conversation I had with a business partner around the many moving parts (operations, systems, equipment),  people (employees, vendors, landlord, clients, etc.), timelines, deadlines, results…   Personal, family, relationships…   The demands are great and the time is short. He asked me, “how the heck do you manage?”   My direct and short answer - Don’t Let It Steal Your Joy!   Do all that you can while making sure to Not Let It (anything or anyone) Steal Your Joy!   Meaning, never lose sight of the gifts, blessings and treasures you do have.    Operate with a sense of urgency! Prioritize - Get The Right Stuff Done.    Eliminate procrastination! If it’s important to your mission, goals and values - Do It Now, delegate or delete.   And as far as hurts, let-downs, disappointments, or failures - be quick to look at yourself first. Be honest with you. What part did your actions or in action contribute to the result?   This will always help encourage you to do you the best you possibly can while lessening the tendency to be upset with others first and overreact.    Knowing that Joy is an inside job, I need to avoid things that limit it. Focusing on the negatives, speaking badly about my circumstances, putting things off, spending time with the wrong people, are toxic and damaging.    So I choose to exercise and release it on a daily basis. Sometimes more than others, but I have become far more aware of it over the years.     Doing so builds stronger habits that help consistently stir up the joy inside of me. Similar to exercise and working out. When I don’t do it for a few days, then get back to it, the first thing I realize is that I feel so much better.    I immediately wonder why I allowed myself to get away from it in the first place.    So do this for the rest of the week…   Look for the things, people, actions (ie. buying Dulci chocolates for you and a friend) that stir up Joy. I guarantee you’ll be better for it. 😊   enJOY,   Brock    P.S. Life is too short not to be JOYFUL, and way too long not to do it Right. 

How do you typically respond when life throws you a lemon? You know, a bad break or disappointment.   This story is a super strong example of how your choice of perspective impacts your emotions and ultimately influences your response.     The difference is night and day. An absolute game changer.   There was an old farmer who had worked his crops for decades. One day, his horse ran away. Upon hearing the news, his neighbors came to visit and sympathetically said, that’s such bad luck.    The farmer replied, “perhaps.”    The next day the horse returned bringing with it, three other wild horses.    The neighbors said, what great luck.   Perhaps, replied the old man.   The following day, his son tried to ride one of the untamed horses and was thrown off and broke his leg.   The neighbors came once again to offer their sympathies on his misfortune, and said, such bad luck.    Perhaps, said the farmer.    The day after, the military officials came to the village to draft young men into the Army. Seeing that the young man had a broken leg the officials passed him by.    The neighbors congratulated the farmer on his good fortune and how well things had turned out.    Perhaps, said the farmer.   The lesson - We’ve all had experiences where the curse turned into the blessing.   The rejection turns into the redirection. And the unanswered prayer is the best thing that ever could have happened to you.    This parable reminds you to take it all in stride.    You never know what begets something else.    Even when people found themselves in circumstances and events that were horrible and painful, ones that you and I would probably say, heck no to trading places with them.    But, when asking them if they wished it didn’t happen to them, they would say with absolute certainty and confidence - they would not trade it for anything.    Because it’s what led to the evolution of who they are now, what they now know, and who they have become.    Upon reflection of the many uncertain and upsetting moments in my life, I have discovered and truly do believe they were priceless teaching moments from above.    At the very top of those lessons learned was and still is; humility, trust, and faith.    Humility to never give yourself too much credit for your success. Yet, not to beat yourself up too much when you fail.    Trust in our Heavenly Father; his word, his way, his love, his mercy, his grace. Not to place it in possessions or prizes of this world.    Faith to believe and know “that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 NIV   What seems like a tragedy can perhaps be the greatest gift of your life.    Stand tall. Say, Here I am. Use setbacks for good and as set ups for even greater things to come.    Make it an amazing week,   Brock    P.S. Opposition provides Opportunity - choose to see those moments as tests.  Use them to share your Hope and Light. 

Let's be real here...   Many more things that we do in life and work is not overly exciting. Fun and games do not make up the bulk of our time.   This is precisely why achievement and success is not easy.    While it can be simple, the not-always-fun stuff can get in the way.    Of course this also is what makes the high moments along the way, incredibly exciting and full of fun that keeps us going forward.   You don’t start a new job or business, show up for a week, and suddenly have all the clients and income you’ve dreamed for.     You don’t expect to do everything right and have every prospect conversation turn into an immediate and life-long sale.     That would be like expecting to drink plenty of water and make better food choices all day, and then look in the mirror just before you go to bed expecting to look like you lost weight. 😬   You can even repeat the process the following day, yet the results in the mirror (and on the scale) will remain the same.   That very same reality and truth applies to everything in life. The work you do. The relationships you build. The skills you develop. 💯💯💯    So do these days even count? Were they worth your time?   Most certainly – YES!    Here’s the MAGIC…🪄   It's the ACCUMULATION of this daily investment that changes you.💡🤯🌟🌟🌟   “A stone is broken by the last stroke of the hammer. That doesn't mean that the first stroke is useless. Success is the result of continuous efforts.” - Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam   Are you picking up what I’m dropping?    Be a master of the mundane, laborious and even sometimes grueling.    I truly love the idea and reality that doing the small and “unnoticed” things, consistently and with excellence, leads to the big things everyone sees and wants.     After all, the people that consistently show up, take action, do the unsexy and not always fun, are the ones that achieve, grow and win!    And while you’re at it, let’s encourage and celebrate a colleague, associate, team member, friend by letting them know you appreciate their attitude and effort to do the same.    Send them a deliciously sweet gift, full of the best chocolates made especially for them. 🎁 It’s a small act that can be a big gift of encouragement to…   Keep Hammering,   Brock P.S. If you resist the monotonous, you will miss the miraculous.   P.S.S. If you are enjoying our weekly messages, please reply and let us know. We always love and appreciate your comments and suggestions. 

What are you worried about?   It doesn’t take much, right?   Heck, personally I can’t believe summer is over and my boys are heading back to school tomorrow.    I find myself asking, did we do enough cool things? Did I work too much? Did I spend enough time with them? Is there such a thing as ‘enough’ time?   As a husband. As a father. As a leader and business owner – what if I can’t get it all done…   What am I going to drop and who is it going to affect?    Or, for you personally, it might be worry of caring for an aging parent.    Asking yourself, are my kids safe when they leave the house?    Is my marriage strong enough to endure this current struggle?   How am I ever going get out from under this college debt?   Will I be able to get a good job?   Am I going to lose the job I have?   Am I going to be able to afford to retire?    Maybe your worry is something entirely different.    Maybe it’s - am I ever going to be able to make a meaningful difference in this world?   For some reading this you’re saying - Brock, I didn’t have any worries until you shared this list. 😳And now I’ve got some worries. 😬   Sorry about that.   Seriously though, I know we all worry. That’s why I felt compelled to write this to you and share a supportive truth that was recently shared with me.   What we worry about the most tells us where we trust God the least.   “Worry doesn’t empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.” - Corrie ten Boom   Ummm - that is so good. I don’t know about you, but I needed that.    Said another way, in the form of a question – will I trust what I can control or am I going to TRUST GOD?   God is Trustworthy. God is worthy of our confidence.    Remember….God has been faithful before! If he’s done it before, he can and will do it again.    God is Faithful today!  The lord is with us…It is in knowing he is with you.    God will be Faithful tomorrow!   “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” — Isaiah 46:4   Pour out your worries, your doubts, your fears. Protect today by embracing the gifts found within it.    Have a blessed week,   Brock    P.S. Free Shipping On Build Your Own Signature Trios Show someone you care (teacher, team member, friend) with a unique gift made especially for them. No special code needed. Offer valid on all Signature Trio orders and only while supplies last.

Within this extraordinary community we talk about, reflect on, and celebrate the good and positive.    The mindset, attitude, and actions that make good things happen.   To know and understand success, we need to study achievement. Conversely, we also need to study defeat.    The mountain tops and the valleys.    The good and the not so good.   Why some Do and others don’t.    Why some Will and others won’t.    This allows us to identify things that can keep us from winning and better prepare to overcome them so they never hold us back.    Think of it like “reverse-engineering”. Starting with the finish in mind, and moving back through each step of the process that you think will happen along the way.    For instance, as sure as the day is long…   As soon as you are about to embark on something GREAT, I can assure you that little voice will try to tell you don't have what it takes - "You are going to fail, so don't even try."   Why is that?    1) History - Past Mistakes: Maybe you screwed up. Things didn't go like you planned. You let others down. You failed.    ➡️Winning Mindset: Failing provides a valuable opportunity to learn, improve, and grow. No Great achiever has accomplished the success we now see without having experienced many setbacks.     Heck, that’s where the great statement - “setbacks make for great set ups”  had to come from, right? 😊   2) Hurt - We’ve all been lied to before.  Probably have been taken Advantage of at some point.  Disappointed by what someone else did or didn’t do. Certainly criticized (fair or unfair).   ➡️Winning Mindset: Be Proud of Your Scars - if this hasn't happened to you, you haven't been trying or living. Which is another set of problems/reasons in and of itself.  Growth and comfort do not coexist. One does not do more or become more staying in the same place, doing the same things. Resistance and risk (while it should be as calculated as possible) commonly creates stress, discomfort, and occasionally scars.    3) Habits - (Physically) I don't exercise. I've never been fit. I eat fast food. Skip breakfast. I Have to have my 3 cups of coffee a day.   "Everybody is in favor of progress, it's the change they don't like."   ➡️Winning Mindset: I understand the things that are easy to do are also easy not to do. Action - I will do today what I can do to enable me to do tomorrow what I can't do today.   Habits - (Emotionally) Feelings of Inadequacy; "Others seem to have it together and I don't".  You Lack Confidence. You feel and "Think" you don't Measure Up.    Thanks social media; filtered images, messages, and highlights 🙄   The truth is the very best of the best have the very same feelings. It’s often called - Imposter Syndrome.    ➡️Winning Mindset: Stop comparing yourself to anyone else. Especially their social media "highlight reel" to your real life. Know and remember, comparison is the thief of joy.     Use it for good. To remain humble. Constantly seek wisdom and learn from others. Never acting like “you’ve arrived”, but never less than anyone either.    Negativity... You Accepted Saying No. No to activities. No to opportunities. No to your kids. No to your self. The dreams you once had have been buried deep.    ➡️Winning Mindset: Get really gut-level honest with yourself. Stop Trying to be Who You Think You Are and Start Being WHO YOU ARE MEANT TO BE.     You have Greatness within you.  It's not too late to change the story you'll tell one day. And it’s a perfect day to start and/or keep writing it.   Make it happen,   Brock    P.S. The world is full of naysayers. Don’t allow anyone to talk you out of the success you desire. Especially, yourself.