Gordon wrote -

> Some people with children, make the
> children’s LIVES the lifestyle they choose,
> like Rick Smith, the Net Guerrilla who gets
> up at 5 am to get his son to a class at
> church.

Thanks for mentioning that. I do have to admit that sometimes it's difficult to get up before even the roosters are awake. *g* Like this morning for example. Last night I stayed up until almost midnight working on software because I couldn't let go of what I was doing. Well, that 5 AM alarm came awfully early! And driving this morning wasn't particularly pleasant either because NE Ohio was being blanketed at that time with freezing rain. The windshield and windows on my van were solid ice before I pulled out. But I do it because I think it's so important to his long term welfare. I want him to have a foundation that goes beyond the shallow value systems that too many of today's youth have. I truly believe the future is in his hands and the hands of his brothers. And if I want the future to be worth anything then I better take an active part in creating it. Is it tough? You better believe it. Like I said, this morning was certainly no picnic. Is it worth it? You better believe it. Will it provide a better lifestyle for both him and me? Again, you bet it will.

> When you read about what Linda Caroll did at
> that time of her life and how she has chosen
> the path of success it makes it all the more
> remarkable.

That was an excellent story and I agree that it deserves top billing with the other great stories already there.

> I admire people who do not neglect their
> children the first time around, but
> incorporate their importance into the
> lifestyle equation.

I do too. But like I said above, it takes commitment and effort. There are no shortcuts here.

> How can you ECONOMIZE your time to make it
> more effective? How can you LEVERAGE your
> time?

That was the very question I was asking a few months back and it's the same question Mike Wirth asked a little further down the board. Having had the experiences I've recently had, I can tell you that it's definitely possible to both economize and leverage your time. That's one of the side benefits to taking my son to his early class. While he's in the class, I have my notebook computer with me and I'm working on *my* projects. I don't read, (usually), sleep on the couch in the church foyer, (although it certainly would be nice), or waste time. I also no longer let my custom software work encroach on this time. That time is essentially sacred. And it's totally uninterrupted. No phone calls, no e-mail, no one dropping into the cubicle. And as I said in my post to Mike, I have probably completed more work on *my* projects in the last 6 weeks or so than I have in the previous 6 months. I'm not kidding. That's no exaggeration. And it all came about because, with the help of our own Ms. Julie Jordan Scott, I made a slight adjustment in how I used what I previously viewed as a somewhat insignificant block of time. You owe it to yourself to examine your own situation to see if you might do something similar for yourself.

> That is the INTERNET dream, isn’t it? Yet, I
> know that both Ben Suarez and Bill Myers
> have put projects into action, that required
> a minimum of their time, and brought them
> maximum return, all in order to support
> their lifestyles.

Yes. It is. And despite our TNG vs. SOM no holds barred grudge match *g*, it really doesn't matter whether one uses the Internet or offline methods to achieve this end. The end result is what matters. (I just happen to think you can get there with less pain using the Internet. *g*)

> Define your lifestyle. Name it. Then Claim
> it.

In our sessions together, Gordon and I have discussed this topic several times. And we are doing just that. We have decided upon the lifestyle we want and we're structuring our plans to claim what we each defined. Interestingly enough, the methods we plan to use are very much along the lines of the TNG vs. SOM heavy weight match. *g*

Rick Smith, "The Net Guerrilla"