I had a difficult conversation at the end of last week, and I can’t stop thinking about it.

I won’t mention this guy’s name on my blog, let’s just call him “Bob.” Bob had requested information from my website about what I do for a living. Bob is a baby boomer and has had a very successful career. He’s been a loan officer, is looking to make $150k/year, and, according to his comments is looking to get his life back.

Sound familiar? It should, because there are hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of other people out there that are looking for the same thing.

I know I was.

A couple of weeks ago “Bob” phoned me and we had a short conversation. He indicated that he was still doing his due diligence on my business. That’s cool.

He also friended me on Facebook – good for him (that’s an excellent way to get to know someone).

What started our “difficult” conversation was that I noticed that he was posting rather negative comments about his situation, the government, the economy, etc. on his Facebook page and, of course, I could see them on my Timeline. I figured that he could use some help, so I asked him… “can I help you?”

Here’s his reply:

“You know, at 60 years of age I am no longer a wide eyed hopeful and naive young person. All I see out there are ways to pay more taxes, work for minimum wage, pay more for food, watch a growing Police State, and I have done (insert his list of other businesses), and none of them were sustainable. What a wonderful world.”

I kinda got mad at this because, this lousy thinking is exactly why he is broke.

Here’s my not-so-great reply, )actually, it’s pretty terrible):

“NICE… So… you are the same age as my husband. We’ve opted out of your so-called police state, with wide-eyed KNOWLEDGE that we don’t have to have anything to do with that because we do not have jobs ( I meant self-employed), can live wherever we want and don’t have to build a stupid MLM business.

Even when we were broke.

So you can decide to opt out too, OR you can complain and go back to a job.

Sorry about the “in-your-face” comments.

To which he replied:

Ok, I have no anger left for or towards anyone, so “in your face” comments have no effect on me anymore. Like I said, I have no money to invest, no checking account (tax man grabbed that) and I do not understand this stuff anyway.

Like Bob Dylan said, “It’s not Dark yet, but it’s getting there.”

Lousy Thinking is at the Root of His Problem

I am not usually confrontational. I usually don’t complain, I just “do.” When I need to solve a problem, I just get busy. I like to just be an example of what someone can do/be/have. However, I HATE IT WHEN PEOPLE ARE STOPPED BY THEIR OWN LOUSY THINKING.

The funny thing is that he has this poem posted in his “About” page on Facebook:

“I hold it true that thoughts are things:
They are endowed with bodies and breath and wings;
And that we send them forth to fill
The world with good or ill.
Thast which we call our secret thought
Speeds forth to earth’s remotest spot,
Leaving its blessing or its woes,
Like tracks behind it as it goes.
We build our future, thought by thought,
For good or ill, yet know it not,
Yet so the universe was wrought.
Thought is another name for fate;
Choose, then, thy destiny and wait,
For love brings love and hate brings hate.”

I pray that this guy figures out that he has lost his way. I’ll remain a beacon for him for when he does.