Weekly Messages

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. 

Have you ever set a goal that was really important to you, and somehow, someway you lost track of it? Maybe you stuck with it for a week or a month, but ultimately it drifted into thin air only to become a wishful thought?    Of course. We all have.    But did you take the time to reflect back on why that may have happened?    Maybe the answer is as simple as the goal truly was not important to you. Maybe you lacked commitment. Maybe you didn’t believe in yourself. Maybe the noise of the world did what it does best and distracted you.   But, what if the answer is that you went about it all wrong? From day one, your plan, focus and actions failed you from the start?    Can I share something very cool with you today?    NO hacks. No gimmicks. No shortcuts.    When the time comes that you find yourself wanting to make permanent, lasting change; I mean transformational – physical, mental, emotional, relationships, profession, you name it…   START with GRACE!   Three very important reasons why:   1.  Change is an “inside” job.    It’s Truly a matter of your heart. For if your heart is not in it, the positive behaviors will not last. If you simply change your behavior, but not your heart, the behavior comes back.    2.  The outside world will say, “Try harder,” but GRACE says, “Trust More.”   “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.” — Matthew 23:25-26   When you Trust that God always loves you, and his Grace Sustains you…you can be Honest.    You don’t have to show one thing on the outside that is different from the inside.   You are only as strong as you are honest. None of us can correct what we will not confront.    3.  Grace is the free and unmerited favor of God.   The GRACE that Saves you, Frees you, Strengthens you, is also the Grace that Sustains and Transforms You!!   By his Grace you are made New; different, better and stronger.   And the really good news is - it’s available to ALL, and his Grace Is Always Enough!!!   By his grace,   Brock   P.S. Help us Share the Goodness – God, Family, Country, Community, the finest chocolate sweets and positive vibes. Send this to a friend and encourage them to join the community. 

Did you happen to catch any of the World Track and Field Championships that took place over the past two week for the first time on U.S. soil?   It was a spectacular display of athletic performance to say the least. Times that had never been run before. Distances jumped and thrown that have never been seen.   Competitors giving every thing they had lying completely exhausted on the track after crossing the finish line.    Seeing their effort, results and emotions, I immediately thought about the months and years of training.  Day-in and day-out, when nobody’s watching. The dedication applied, challenges faced and setbacks overcome.    Then I thought about you and me.    We have all been given our ‘Race To Run’. Within the grand race, there are countless smaller races to run, finish and win.    There are several qualities that come to my mind that a person must possess to complete their races. And at the top of that powerful list is TENACITY.   Tenacity - is a word like resilience. It means no matter how much opposition and difficulties I face, I will Not Quit!    I will Not Stop.    I will continue in the race.    A person that has tenacity is a person that keeps Showing up.    And they’re not showing up all the time because they’re succeeding.   On the contrary…   They’re Showing Up because they’re Determined. Committed. Driven to become their best.    There is greatness found in ‘becoming’ – it means one is moving, growing. Not still and stagnant.    There is absolutely no shame in struggle.  Actually the struggle can be and most often is how we build our strength.    The best flip that critical, self-doubt, negative thinking with an attitude that says – “You may see me struggle, but you will not see me quit.”    They see the task at hand and the mission they have in their heart is so important they have to Work for it.    They have to Earn it.    They don’t back away from hard work. In fact, it serves as a reminder that they are on the right path.    How you see things drives how you’ll do things.   They have to be tenacious to stay in the game in order to achieve the incredibly important goal they have in their life.    Dignity is gained through facing adversarial forces, pushing past the hard, persevering, and completing the work/assignment you have been given.    This is a Process, Approach, Attitude, Expectation and Action that needs renewed and strengthened Each and Every Day! 💯💯💯   Enthusiasm is common. Endurance is rare.    If you’re not dead, you’re not done.    God’s Got More For You to do.    Fully finish the work God had you start!    “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” — Philippians 1:6   Run your race. See it through. Give all you’ve got.    Be Tenacious.    Be a Finisher,   Brock   P.S. Resident Confectionery Guru Mike has been working in the Dulci kitchen/lab on some super fun and incredibly delicious new chocolate sweets. I believe he’s nailed it on not just one new creation, but two. My my my…be on the lookout for new releases coming soon. 

Family is truly a most valued, highly important part of life. Whether you have children or not, married or single, parents living or passed, all of us know how precious close relationships are.    To have them is a wonderful gift. To be in the same place and time with people that love you unconditionally; that will absolutely be by your side when tough times appear, is surely a blessing not to be taken for granted.   Each day is a gift. Each moment an opportunity to share an experience, learn something new, teach and mentor, love and laugh, support and encourage…   Sometimes big and obvious. Sometimes small and relatively unnoticeable.    Priceless all the same. And quick to pass in a blink of your eyes.   In those moments, why would we choose anything other than to be present with those we are physically with? Family, close friends or even people you occasionally associate with deserve your attention.    Why would anyone bother investing any $$ amount for tickets to a baseball game if they're going to watch the whole thing through their phone?   Why would anyone take their kids to the park if all they're doing is scrolling through the Facebook newsfeed?   I share this with you because my family and I just returned from a little vacation that surrounded my oldest son’s first Nationals Championship Track Meet.    While I’m not excusing myself from this issue and concern - we all do it from time to time, I couldn’t help notice this happening -  a lot!   From a dad missing the chance to help his son grab a foul ball that he never saw to a women repeatedly taking video and pictures of herself at the Atlanta aquarium without any fish or others in view.  Really!?!?   People are more concerned with how many "Likes" notifications they get from strangers, and how the outside world views them, than they are with what and who is right in front of them.    Don’t allow yourself to miss real life being distracted and caught up with other people’s filtered images, messages and highlight reels.   I came across this quote one time...   "Quit obsessing over how your life looks through the digital glass of the outside world."   If you don't, you'll forget how important it is to be present in the reality you're actually in.   And that my friends, is the only one that truly matters.    Let’s not miss the good in front of us. Be here and now. Give your attention and best to who you're with and where you are.    Live life at full strength,   Brock    P.S. Camden had a fun and rewarding experience earning bronze in the 800m and gold running the first leg on the 4x400 relay team. 

In the hands of the current and loud culture, lost is the freedom to disagree and still respect and love one another.   Look at our country right now, it has been turned upside down.  Everyone has their own truth, and if you don’t agree with it, you are labeled as a bad person.     The media wants you to believe that the majority of American’s hate America and they are trying to force us to hate it too.     But what you may or may not see is this is an attack orchestrated by Satan!   Satan is a force of evil as great as you can ever imagine. A force determined to take everything from you.    Masquerading as the “new normal" parading around as acceptance and calling for anyone who disagrees to be silenced, shutdown, cancelled and even hurt.    He is working in and out of the lives we lead pretending to have our best interests in mind while shaping our future right before our very eyes.   Did you know that God warned us how this happens?   In fact, he warned us to be on our guard as Satan prowls around like a roaring lion. Did you catch that?  He prowls around.     How many of you have a cat? Have you watched it lay low in the grass and sneak up on its prey, then at the right moment, he pounces!  That is what the devil does to us - he pounces because we are standing idle, doing nothing.   We cannot afford to sit back and tolerate or accept that which is morally wrong.     Truth that is flawed and allow society to dictate out next steps.  We cannot be afraid to lose business, relationships, or even our job, in the name of “well its just the way it is?”     No it isn’t.  We need to not be idle and act.     What if we blessed someone by telling them the truth.    Telling them they matter, showing them that we are willing to put our money where our mouth is.     What if we took the money from a business that isn’t aligned with our values and supported one who does?    Could it be more expensive? Maybe. Maybe not.    Would it be an inconvenience for me?  Perhaps. Perhaps not.   Would it hurt a relationship? Possibly. Possibly not.   All things we certainly would not like to have to happen, but doing the right things are often not the easiest. Yet, another trick the devil uses again and again to get his way.    But what if a small sacrifice to us, leads someone to a lifetime of truth, hope and love.    Now that’s a great possibility worth moving for.   In my experience God blesses those who sacrifice on his behalf.   If we aren’t willing to sacrifice, be inconvenienced, speak up and act, then maybe we do hate America too.       Your friend,    Mike    P.S. May this encourage you in the choices you make and the actions you take. 

In order to do that right, proudly and honorably, we can’t ignore or wipeout history. We must remember the good and the bad. The horrible and the spectacular.    For they teach of us lessons that provide great wisdom, compassion, and inspire us to be better.    If you don’t study the hurts and mistakes of the past, we are destined to repeat them.    If you don’t study the triumphs and heroic acts of the human spirit, we miss out knowing what is possible and will never reach our full potential.    The next time you’re faced with a challenge, experience a disappointment or setback, and you find yourself complaining how hard it is or how much that sucks - stop and catch yourself.    Look, we all have done this.    And rest assured, we will do it again. But before I let the words – ‘this is unfair’ come out of my mouth, I plan to remind myself of the story of Louis Zamperini.    If you don’t know his story or have not read the book, Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand or seen the movie by the same title released in 2014 – I highly encourage you do as soon as you can.    Louis Zamperini was a real war-time survivor. He was a USA Olympian track star running in the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games, an army officer and also survived three prisoner of war camps in Japan.    The story recounts his treacherous life while sharing his extraordinary will of perseverance and spirit of forgiveness during a life full of unimaginable hardships.    I think I’m pretty self confident and strong, but to be honest, reflecting on what he went through, I don’t think I’d stand a chance to mentally or physically overcome what he did.    So let us not forget. Dismiss or for god’s sake disrespect the many people that came before.    Think on the lives they lived. The struggles they had to endure. The massive sacrifice and price that they paid fighting for you and me.    While we may be facing some real troubles in our world today, and the pain you and I feel is very real, most of them really do pale in comparison to what just a couple generations ago had to overcome; not once, but many times over.    In an interview at the age of 94, Louie was asked what was it, deep down inside, that kept him from giving up?    He immediately responded, “When you overcome adversity, you become more hardy. The more problems you face and overcome the more and more hardy you will be. If you have some truth inside you to survive, you will go all out.”     Asked the follow up question, What advice would you pass down to somebody in the younger generation that is feeling like giving up?   His response - “If they feel like giving up, they don’t have respect for themselves. I don’t see how anyone can back off from a challenge. Take the challenge. Whether you win it or not, you’ll learn from it. You’ll expand from it and become stronger.”   No sugar-coating there.  No here’s a trophy for just showing up.  No blaming anyone else.    Personal Responsibility. Ownership. Grit. Toughness.    And yes, Hardiness. Meaning robust, capable of enduring difficult conditions.    All characteristics found in so many amazing Americans that made, and continue to make our Freedom and Independence possible.    To living and protecting our freedom!   Brock    P.S. Help us Share the Goodness – God, Family, Country, Community, the finest chocolate sweets and positive vibes. Send this to a friend and encourage them to join the community. 

Ever been to Church Camp?   We go every year, well, I shouldn’t include me in that.     I go to work on projects and up until this year, to visit my wife and kids who have been unofficial full-time staff since they were born.   Our family is very involved in a Christian camp.     My wife and her siblings grew up attending (as did their parents) eventually working on staff and then returning to be the staff the last 15 or 20 years now.   I never went to camp as a kid other than camping with the scouts or at the annual jamboree, and that I never cared much for.     But not my wife.  She and her family Love camp. And now my children love camp.  For many reasons I suppose but no matter the reason, they spend most of the summer in a small county in Ohio on a 40-acre plot of land having the time of their lives.     No phones, no internet, and at least once in the summer—no power and no worries.    They click, they bond, the form new and rekindle old friendships and for one week, 6 days, 16 meals, 10 snack times and countless memories, they get lost in relationship with each other and God.    Each week a new age group of students come in while the outgoing group leaves.  Ready and eager to take their newfound energy back to their little part of the world.     But then something happens.     Very soon after they return home, the summer church camp vibe or high, wears off.  What started as I’m so on fire for The Lord, very quickly falls back into the old ways, old patterns, habits, and “normal” life.     For the past 6 days they were in a camp isolated from the world, in constant relationship with each other, doing fun games, worship and prayer together.  Then they go home, back to the real world and get stuck with the same habits the same friend group, playing on your phone, wondering why things didn’t change.     Sound familiar?      It’s not just camp.  Ever been to a business conference and come back thinking you can set your business, or sales or team on fire (not literally) but nothing happens, and your fire doesn’t catch and soon goes out altogether.     Why do we think that we can change the world without changing first the things that get in the way?      You just came from an expo, or a conference or training event or camp, where you were with like minded individuals.  People who uplifted and encouraged you, poured into you and allowed you to pour into them.    You were isolated with them, out of touch from your normal way of life and invigorated with a new way.     So why is it so hard when you return?    Because you haven’t recreated that environment.     You haven’t changed those things that distract, deny, and defeat your goal. You have fallen back into the old ways, expecting things to be different.     That my friends, is the very definition of insanity.    If you are not changing your, habits, your activities, your friends’ groups, or putting down the video games, turning off the phone or the tv and working on the goals you want to achieve, the goals you created with so much excitement, the goals that lit a fire within you – nothing will change!     Not only will nothing change, but it will also seem like nothing you do matters.  And your fire will go out.     So, before I ramble on too much, think of this:  if you want something to change – be the change.     Create the environment!     Find the people who are like minded, who can uplift and encourage you, strengthen you and call you out (in love) when you are being an ass.    Then together create an environment to succeed.     Jesus had his 12 and his 3.  David had his mighty men. Who do you have?  Who can you partner with for your dreams?   When you change your environment, you may just change your thinking and the fire that burns will get bigger and brighter and attract others to it.     Don’t believe me?  Try it! Who knows, you might surprise yourself.   Keep burning bright,   Mike   P.S. Help us Share the Goodness – chocolate sweets and the positive vibes. Send this to a friend and encourage them to join the community.