Start Soul Sculpting

We are the sculptors of our souls

1) The leader is the one who prepares himself for the day he is called to take his men to battle.

2) Our main purpose on this earth is to sculpt our souls.

3) Of all the things we plant encouragement is the one the produces the best looking flowers.

4) The three simplest and most useful tools to all of us are a great book, a pen, and a pad of paper.

5) The best rewards come to those who never cease to grow inwardly.

6) We only are old when enthusiasm is no longer part of our being.

7) True fulfillment only comes to those achieving their childhood dreams.

Be blessed and be a blessing to others

Carlos Fontana, President of Phalanx

Co-author of the book Follow to Lead (The 7 Principles to Being a Great Follower)

Author of the book PRICELESS (Sixty-Six Simple Stories of Reflection, Love, and Legacy) 

Thinking about thinking

The quality of our thinking determines the quality of our lives!

Thinking great thoughts is hard; that’s why so few people do it. We become what we think.
How often do you think about your thoughts? How often do you think about what you write? Here are 7 statements to get your thinking going.

1) A leader makes excellence attractive to others.

2) Our success is measure by the size of the obstacles we overcome.

3) Only God can satisfy our hungry hearts.

4) Every child comes to this world with a unique message from God.

5) Blessed are those who forget all they give and remember all they take.

6) The most effective weapons to fight wars are the worthy causes that men are willing to die for.

7) The most underused cosmetics in the world are the connectors of mind and soul.

Be blessed and be a blessing to others

Carlos Fontana, President of Phalanx

Co-author of the book Follow to Lead (The 7 Principles to Being a Great Follower)

Author of the book PRICELESS (Sixty-Six Simple Stories of Reflection, Love, and Legacy)

PRICELESS MOMENTS

LIFE IS PRICELESS

What is the best value you got in your life for about ten dollars? 

Simple question yet the answers are no so simple. The simple question led to great short stories from people like you. Realized value is based on our values. 

Sixty-six simple and powerful stories are found in the book PRICELESS.

Here are 7 questions from the book PRICELESS.

When have you risked your life for others?

What is your favorite and most powerful prayer?

What have you learned from working or interacting with people who are disabled?

What are your best memories from the experiences with your parents?

What is the importance of living a debt-free life?

What have learned about your family heritage and culture?

How can you develop trust and loyalty from those important to you?

Books change lives. PRICELESS is one of those books.

Be blessed and be a blessing to others

Carlos Fontana, President of Phalanx

Co-author of the book Follow to Lead (The 7 Principles to Being a Great Follower)

Author of the book PRICELESS (Sixty-Six Simple Stories of Reflection, Love, and Legacy) 

The Power of Words

How well do you choose your words?

Words carry power with them. Words can move our innermost beings. Words can start profound changes in us.

1) Youth gives us dreams to dreams so we can have memories to savor in our old age.

2) The depth of our love is measured at the moment of separation.

3) We can strive to be like someone else but we cannot seek someone else to be like us.

4) We give little when we give from our possessions; we give much when we give from ourselves.

5) Prayers can have a dissonant power in the silence of our souls.

6) Our children are our message to the world either in the form of loving arrows or flying bullets.

7) True leaders secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our posterity.

Be blessed and be a blessing to others

Carlos Fontana, President of Phalanx

Co-author of the book Follow to Lead (The 7 Principles to Being a Great Follower)

Author of the book PRICELESS (Sixty-Six Simple Stories of Reflection, Love, and Legacy)

What Is Wrong and Right in America?

What went wrong and what is still right in America?

Here is what went wrong with America?

1) Government became too big. Constitutional changes gave government free range to issue, collect, and spend money.

2) Lack of leadership and lack of accountability became evident in most organizations. False leaders became self-absorbed and self-serving.

3) Powerful special interest groups. Politicians primary focus became to serve special interest groups to the point of having them make legislation to be approved in exchange for favors.

4) Detachment. Majority of Americans became detached from organizations and the political process.

5) Entitlement. Drastic increase in government dependence demanded as a birthright.

6) Pleasure. Majority of Americans chose pleasures, comfort and convenience over excellence.

7) Indulgence. Majority of Americans became uneducated and self-indulgent when it comes to body, mind and spirit. 

Here is what is still right with America?

1) America has a strong history of achievement still producing inventions and innovations.

2) American is a resilient and entrepreneurial society grounded on diversity.

3) America is well positioned geographically and resourcefully rich.

4) America can still produce enough freedom fighters to reverse the current of mediocrity.

5) America is a nation blessed by God that is starting its awakening from spiritual poverty.

6) America has a group of rascal entrepreneurs rising to the occasion to lead a movement to break the current societal decay.

7) The divided America has started a much needed revolution. Which route will America go? You can choose to go the route of bloodshed or the route paved with great books and wisdom. America still provides us with the freedom to choose.

Be blessed and be a blessing to others

Carlos Fontana, President of Phalanx

Co-author of the book Follow to Lead (The 7 Principles to Being a Great Follower)

Author of the book PRICELESS (Sixty-Six Simple Stories of Reflection, Love, and Legacy)

How Valuable Are You?

Our True Value Is Hidden Deep Within Us!

What happens when we learn and grow? We unleash the power within us. The habits of reading great books and associating with the right people allow us to get better every day in every way. We discover our purpose, clarify our vision, and live with passion. Here are 7 benefits from learning and growing.

1) We become better problem solvers.

2) We serve as example for others to follow.

3) We increase our value to society.

4) We achieve our goals and dreams.

5) We become bigger than our obstacles and excuses.

6) We become better equipped to deal with adversity and to resolve our life conflicts. 

7) We leave a legacy for centuries to come.

What is important to you? Never let your job interfere with what is important to you. If your current job does not allow you to learn and grow you are in the wrong job. Life is to precious to be doing things that at the end will not matter. 

Be blessed and be a blessing to others

Carlos Fontana, President of Phalanx

Co-author of the book Follow to Lead (The 7 Principles to Being a Great Follower)

Author of the book PRICELESS (Sixty-Six Simple Stories of Reflection, Love, and Legacy)

Who wants to be a millionaire?

Millionaire formula

Simple yet few do it. Why? Is it the lack of hunger, desire, dreams, or discipline? Yes to all and add procrastination to it. Money is misunderstood by most. Information is available to anyone who has the will to learn and follow a simple formula, a simple sequence. How good are you with your money? Those that don’t care for little will not care for much. Who wants to be a millionaire? 

1) Work and keep. Work to learn then to earn. Delay gratification. Help and give to those in need.

2) Live below your means. Control expenses and save. Think long term. Tougher times are coming.

3) Pay yourself first. Make a great decision once. Get the benefit of compounding a great decision.

4) Invest in yourself. Invest in your continuing education. Invest in people.

5) Invest in self-directed Roth IRA. Invest for the long term. Diversify the investments.

6) Fund your 401k or equivalent only to the level to maximize the employer match. Start you regular IRA. Pay your money manager based on asset growth.

7) Start your own business. Find a partner that has been successful in business to bring you on-board  Invest in a business that uses a system to generate income. Help and give to those in need.

Be blessed and be a blessing to others

Carlos Fontana, President of Phalanx

Co-author of the book Follow to Lead (The 7 Principles to Being a Great Follower)

Author of the book PRICELESS (Sixty-Six Simple Stories of Reflection, Love, and Legacy)

How Do We Learn?

A lesson is repeated until ... a lesson is learned!

We learn from mistakes. We all make mistakes and goof ups. The key is to make new mistakes. If there are so many mistakes to be made, why not make new ones instead of repeating the same ones?

Interview yourself. Why not? Take 30 minutes to answer the following 7 questions. It will be time well spent. How can we help others if we don’t know who we are? How can we know where we are going if we don't know where we come from? Just do it, do it now and I promise you it will be the best 30 minutes of your life. Share your questions and answers with family, friends, and others around you. Suggest your friends doing the same and sharing their answers with you. The world becomes a better place once we take the time to know who we are not just what we do.

1) What were the 3 most painful moments of my life? 

     1.                                                             Lesson learned?     

     2.                                                             Lesson learned?

     3.                                                             Lesson learned?

2) What were the 3 biggest setbacks in my life? 

     1.                                                             Lesson learned?     

     2.                                                             Lesson learned?

     3.                                                             Lesson learned?

3) What are the 3 biggest mistakes I made in my life? 

     1.                                                             Lesson learned?     

     2.                                                             Lesson learned?

     3.                                                             Lesson learned?

4) What were the 3 most difficult problems I had to solve in my life? 

     1.                                                             Lesson learned?     

     2.                                                             Lesson learned?

     3.                                                             Lesson learned?

5) What were the 3 most difficult people I had to dealt with in my life? 

     1.                                                             Lesson learned?     

     2.                                                             Lesson learned?

     3.                                                             Lesson learned?

6) What were the 3 biggest failures in my life? 

     1.                                                             Lesson learned?     

     2.                                                             Lesson Learned?

     3.                                                             Lesson learned?

7) Who are the 3 biggest conflicts in my life? 

     1.                                                             Lesson learned?     

     2.                                                             Lesson learned?

     3.                                                             Lesson learned?

Be blessed and be a blessing to others

Carlos Fontana, President of Phalanx

Co-author of the book Follow to Lead (The 7 Principles to Being a Great Follower)

Author of the book PRICELESS (Sixty-Six Simple Stories of Reflection, Love, and Legacy)

Do you know who you are?

We are more than what we do to make a living!

Who Am I?  Do you know who you are?

Take 30 minutes to answer the following 7 questions. It will be time well spent. How can we help others if we don’t know who we are? How can we know where we are going if we don't know where we come from? Just do it, do it now and I promise you it will be the best 30 minutes of your life. Share your questions and answers with family, friends, and others around you. Suggest your friends doing the same and sharing their answers with you. The world becomes a better place once we take the time to know who we are not just what we do.

1) What are the best 3 books that I have read? 

     1.                                                             Why?     

     2.                                                             Why?

     3.                                                             Why?

2) Who are the 3 most influential people in my life? 

     1.                                                             Why?     

     2.                                                             Why?

     3.                                                             Why?

3) What are the 3 main contributions that I have made to society? 

     1.                                                             Why?     

     2.                                                             Why?

     3.                                                             Why?

4) What were the 3 happiest moment of my life? 

     1.                                                             Why?     

     2.                                                             Why?

     3.                                                             Why?

5) What have been the 3 biggest blessings in my life? 

     1.                                                             Why?     

     2.                                                             Why?

     3.                                                             Why?

6) What were the 3 most important turning points in my life? 

     1.                                                             Why?     

     2.                                                             Why?

     3.                                                             Why?

7) Who are the 3 people I have influenced most in my life? 

     1.                                                             Why?     

     2.                                                             Why?

     3.                                                             Why?

Be blessed and be a blessing to others

Carlos Fontana, President of Phalanx

Co-author of the book Follow to Lead (The 7 Principles to Being a Great Follower)

Author of the book PRICELESS (Sixty-Six Simple Stories of Reflection, Love, and Legacy)

What Do Man Look For in a Woman?

What Do Man Look For in a Woman?

The following traits and qualities can be learned by females with a deep desire to become women of strength.

1) Godly woman – faithful to God, her man and her family, loving, graceful and forgiving, intimate, shares her vision and purpose, passionate, loves her work, supports his battles and adventures.

2) Character – has honesty and integrity, respectful, values relationship, trustworthy, mentally tough yet vulnerable.

3) A lady – fit, internal and external beauty, attentive, mature, confident, respects his space, edifies him, refrains from criticizing, complaining and condemning, authentic, no drama or gossip. 

4) Loyal – lover, respectful, emotionally stable and involved, secure, mobile, flexible, interested in speaking his languages, is present.

5) Sense of humor – exciting companion, willing to laugh at herself, positive uplifting attitude.

6) Adventurous – ambitious, loves to share the risks and the struggles, spontaneous, willing to take risks.

7) Friendly – is a friend, have great friends, have long term friendships.

8) Finances – financially responsible.

9) A follower and a leader –  willing to follow and take the lead, gives direction, speaks her mind, expresses her needs, communicative.

10) A learner – values reading and personal growth, intellectual, seeks to improve, creative, artistic.

What would be your top 5 priorities in your woman?

Be blessed and be a blessing to others

Carlos Fontana, President of Phalanx

Co-author of the book Follow to Lead (The 7 Principles to Being a Great Follower)

Author of the book PRICELESS (Sixty-Six Simple Stories of Reflection, Love, and Legacy)

What Do Women Want in a Man?

What Do Women Should Look For in a Man?

There is a difference between what should and what really happens in the instant gratification world we live in today.

Where have all men gone? 

How come society is producing fewer truly great men?

All the following traits and qualities can and must be learned by those choosing to become men. Male by birth, man by choice!  

The two pictures profiled are those of two males that decided two decades ago to become great men. They acted on their convictions and became great men. Their wives, children, friends, and the world is better because of them. 

1) Godly man – faithful, visionary, purposeful, works, provides, protects, responsible.

2) Character – with honesty and integrity, courageous, respectful, values relationships, mentally strong.

3) Sense of humor – ability to laugh at self, is human thus vulnerable.

4) A gentleman – fit, nice appearance, attentive, a noticer, mature, experienced, patient, self-motivated, generous, tactful, with good manners, with good hygiene, can fix things, respects her space, relationship builder, edifier, strong

5) Adventurous – risk taker, loves the chase, willing to fight the battles, ability to carry self.

6) Loyal – a lover, emotionally involved, stable, secure, mobile, flexible, interested in speaking her languages, is present.

7) Good with finances – has track record of results, earns, saves, and invests, gives, altruistic.

8) A leader and a follower – trustworthy, inspiring, can lead, willing to follow, takes directions.

9) Friendly – is a friend, have great friends, willing to learn and share.

Question-ability

How good is your ability to ask questions?

The ability to ask the right questions, to the right person, and at the right time is the most valuable skill one can develop. If you had the chance to interview a wise person, like a parent, grandparent, coach, teacher, mentor, etc, what questions would you ask? A great reference book is Just Ask! by Bill McGrane III. 

Here are a few sample questions to get you going.

1) What can you tell me about the most important person in your life?

2) What was the happiest moment of your life? How about the saddest moment?

3) What words of wisdom can you share with me?

4) What are your regrets in life?

5) Is your life what you imagined it would be?

6) Is there anything you never shared and would like to share with me?

7) Is there something about me you would like to ask?

Now go forth and ask questions bigger than your answers!

Be blessed and be a blessing to others

Carlos Fontana, President of Phalanx

Co-author of the book Follow to Lead (The 7 Principles to Being a Great Follower)

Author of the book PRICELESS (Sixty-Six Simple Stories of Reflection, Love, and Legacy)

The Cycle of Democracy

THE CYCLE OF DEMOCRACY

The cycle of democracy is attributed to Alexander Fraser Tyler. A great book to read is Leadership and Liberty by Chris Brady and Orrin Woodward. A democracy can only exist until voters vote themselves perks they have not earned. The perks come from the public treasure. At this point voters vote to candidates offering the most benefits from the treasury. On average the world’s greatest civilizations have lasted 200 years before a precipitous decline. Let’s look at each step in the case of America and you can come to your own conclusions how close we are to bondage again.

1) From Bondage to Spiritual Faith. Jonathon Edwards led the Great Awakening, a time of spiritual renewal, of the 1730s in the American colonies. His works became the critical step to develop the conviction for man to fear God and not man. This started the revolt against the mighty British empire.

2) From Spiritual Faith to Great Courage. A person who does not stand for something will fall for anything. Our founding families had great courage to stand for the truth against tyranny and oppression for they knew that “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty.” They revolted against the British because of 2 % taxation without proper representation. Imagine that, revolt over 2 % not 20 or 30 or 40 %?

3) From Courage to Liberty. The colonists won because they were fighting for their deeply held principles for which they were willing to risk their life, wealth, and sacred honor. The underdogs won because they had more at stake than the British will to keep on taxing without giving a voice to those earning an honest living. The genius in the American constitution was a precious concept called the Rule of Law. Since then we have taken shots and punched big holes in the sacred document called our constitution. Four major changes were made to allow government directly collect and print as much money as government wants and to spend on whatever government wants. When the government has full control on collecting, issuing and spending money the result is a government so big that is hard to imagine. All of these occurred under our watch in the last 100 years because of our ignorance and lack of involvement.

4) From Liberty to Abundance. The liberties brought free enterprises and limited government; what a blessing to a nation. American ingenuity and innovation brought WWII to an end and made America the wealthiest society. American products went everywhere in the world. At his point the society already started to forget from where our blessings come from. The distorted thinking led to the desire of the state to take the abundance of those that had and give it to those less fortunate regardless of how hard either had worked for.

5) From Abundance to Selfishness. The 1960s brought free love, disrespect for the norms and a drug culture in the youth. It was a revolt against abundance. America moved away from Churches and from God. The biblical roots of the great society started to crumble.

6) From Selfishness to Complacency. In the 1970s America lost its compass and complacency started to set in. The individual pursuit of peace and affluence was the aim. High inflation came.

7) From Complacency to Apathy. The cycle was interrupted in the 1980s by the leadership and convictions of a great president, Ronald Reagan. The church failed to pick up on the opportunity to impart moral strength to a lost generation. The 1990s brought a complete surrender to apathy and personal fulfillment. The internet came and with it many good and many evil things. We got detached to the election process and allowed government to pursue their own personal agenda. Government focused on obtaining their perks then started to cater to special interest groups.

8) From Apathy to Dependency. The 2000 was a decade of complete submission to the government’s incredible power. Americans started to look up to government to provide for their welfare, health care, social security, etc. Can you imagine almost 50% of Americans depending on government for some form of assistance? Our ancestors must be shaking their heads up there.  This was a complete surrender of our freedoms to Big Brother. Most Americans don’t even know their freedoms are being lost because they don’t even know about the freedoms that were passed to them by previous generations. It is easy to lose what we don’t know we have.

9) From Dependence to Bondage. Slaves can never perform the functions of free men and women. We all know that something is not right. Since the churches are not sharing the message of the true messiah the citizens are looking for a worldly messiah. Perceived leaders promise things they cannot deliver. Man cannot save man. With over $15 trillion in debt we are held in bondage. Dependence on government is a form of slavery.

Even a student of history will agree that we are on the last step, moving ourselves into bondage, a form of slavery to a bankrupt Government. Have you ever wonder why this is not being thought to our children? Why don’t you start teaching them yourself? An ignorant society will not remain free for very long. On November 6 we have an opportunity to interrupt the cycle again and fight for our freedoms. Why don't we put our society’s future above our self-interests. This is the most important election of our lifetime. Let’s vote for the candidates that best represent the truth and have the guts to interrupt the cycle of freedom.

Be blessed and be a blessing to others

Carlos Fontana, President of Phalanx

Co-author of the book Follow to Lead (The 7 Principles to Being a Great Follower)

Author of the book PRICELESS (Sixty-Six Simple Stories of Reflection, Love, and Legacy)

GARBAGE IN GARBAGE OUT

How do you control your thinking?

Information influences our thinking and our thinking controls our results in life

We all have a choice of what information we let into our brain. We all have internal and external voices speaking to us; some softly and some loudly. Which voice do you listen to? The information we allow into our minds affects the way we think and our thinking determines what we become. Why so many allow the wrong inputs into the computer running their life. Remember the old computer saying “garbage in garbage out”, the same applies when it comes to the program running our lives. Here are some of the important questions regarding what internal and external voices we listen to.

1) Do we listen to the voice of fear or the voice of hope?

2) Do we listen to the voice of failure or the voice of persistence?

3) Do we listen to those with proven results in life or to those with nothing to show for their theories and rhetoric?

4) Do we listen to the voice of faith or the voice of despair?

5) Do we listen to those that have done it or to those that talk about doing it?

6) Do we listen to those committed, those in the field of battle or to those in the periphery making all the noise?

7) Do we listen to those offering real help or to those like Wal-Mart seagulls?

Why let are you letting someone else’s garbage into your brain? 

The choice is always ours and so are the consequences.

Be blessed and be a blessing to others

Carlos Fontana, President of Phalanx

Co-author of the book Follow to Lead (The 7 Principles to Being a Great Follower)

Author of the book PRICELESS (Sixty-Six Simple Stories of Reflection, Love, and Legacy)

What is wealth?

ARE YOU A WEALTH CREATOR OR …?

How do you define wealth? For most is having plenty of money. For others is having free time and plenty of money. For others is having free time, plenty of money and great relationships. For others is having free time, plenty money, great relationships and excellent health. And for others is having all the above and a great relationship with Christ and living the life He modeled for us to live. No matter how you define wealth, these three principles apply into wealth creation.

PRACTICE LONG TERM THINKING

Decisions compound over time either for the positive or negative. Always ask the questions how will it matter in twenty or two thousand years?

DELAY GRATIFICATION

Have I really earned what I want? If we have not earned something we do not deserve it. Mortgaging the future for short term pleasure is a recipe for wealth destruction.

APPLY THE POWER OF COMPOUNDING

This is the 8^th wonder of the world. Compound is to pay interest on both the accrued interest and principal. A ways to picture compounding is to imagine the ripple effect. Throw a stone in a quiet pond and see the ripple waves on the water surface. Some of the ripple effect we can see but most powerful of ripples are invisible to the eye and to our own understanding. This is where faith comes in. Let’s dive into the power of compounding so we can learn how to benefit from one of the most powerful principles available to anyone who takes the time to learn and apply. The bottom line is that our actions matter a great deal because they compound over time. Initially we may not see its effect; it is only in the long term that the differences are obvious.

1) Compounding of money. Most of us we think linearly when the world is not linear. You know the example of the penny double every day for 30 days.

2) Compounding of relationships. Learn what it takes to grow and prosper in long term relationships. It takes commitment and hard work but the rewards are truly priceless.

3) Compounding of wisdom. Choose the hard life early on and life will get easier and easier. Applied knowledge compounds faster than money.

4) Compounding of friends. Discover the art and science of developing long term friendships. The compounding effect of partnerships is truly amazing.

5) Compounding of freedom. It is a lot harder to achieve it than to lose it.

6) Compounding of love. Discover the art and science of love. True love is a powerful force.

7) Compounding of faith. Compounded faith can truly move mountains. Out of all the above, this is the most important one. Eternity is a long time to be wrong. The entire list can be graphed and improved.

Will you share with others how you define wealth?

Be blessed and be a blessing to others

Carlos Fontana, President of Phalanx

Co-author of the book Follow to Lead (The 7 Principles to Being a Great Follower)

Author of the book PRICELESS (Sixty-Six Simple Stories of Reflection, Love, and Legacy)

Voce Fala Outros Idiomas?

Do You Speak Other Languages?

For every new language a young person knows the income potential increases by one million dollars!

Now more than ever the importance of speaking a second, third, fourth language is more important than ever. I have been blessed with the ability to speak four different languages and travel to over 20 countries. If we want others to understand us, why don’t we learn how to understand them first? First seek to understand then to be understood is one of the habits of highly effective people instilled in many of us by Stephen Covey. What are other compelling reasons an individuals should learn other languages?

1) Create pathways in our brains for faster learning. Improve our cognitive and life skills.

2) Better global understanding and appreciation for other cultures, traditions, customs, and other ways to solve problems. Change the way we view the world.

3)Better appreciation for art, beauty, life, and God’s creations. Learn new ways to approach life issues.

4) Better understanding of ourselves, our own culture by seeing the world from different perspectives.

5) Have more and better friends. Have more enjoyable travels. Have more tolerance for other ethnic groups.

6) Increase our communication skills. Learn different ways to express concepts and ideas. Learn different ways to communicate and learn.

7) Improve our native language ability. Better understand ourselves and our own culture. Improve mind stimulation and curiosity.

Be blessed and be a blessing to others

Carlos Fontana, President of Phalanx

Co-author of the book Follow to Lead (The 7 Principles to Being a Great Follower)

Author of the book PRICELESS (Sixty-Six Simple Stories of Reflection, Love, and Legacy)

IN GOV WE TRUST?

CAN WE REALLY TRUST A POLITICIAN?

1) If you believe politicians will take care of you, you are up for a rude awakening. Why? Politicians will say anything to get your vote and stay in power. You are not the American people. You are you. You have your unique needs. At the moment you expect someone else to take care of you, you give the power to them relinquishing the responsibility for yourself and those around you. Only people can take care of people. Build relationships with family and friends in your community. Communities take care of their people, not politicians.

2) If you believe politicians will take care of your health needs think again. Politicians want us to live in the make believe world of Mr. Rogers and fantasy land. Just take a look at how they system is working. Two of the biggest industries are food and drugs. Have you thought that one provides the goods to create the health problems and the other provides the drugs to treat the symptoms while the populations stays ignorant passing the responsibility to government. If you want a fact based understanding of the big mass in these two industries read the book The China Study by T. C. Campbell and T. M Campbell II.

3) If you believe politicians will take care of your education needs look at their record. Compare public, private and home-school student performance in life. Read the book A Thomas Jefferson Education by Oliver DeMille to get facts about which system is outperforming.

4) If you believe politicians will take care of your retirement needs read the last statement of your social security. Big government does an outstanding job in creating dependence by making people believe that government will take care of them during the golden years. There are no gold reserves left folks. The government is totally broke, way beyond us, the people they are supposed to serve. Would you take financial advice from a completely broke financial adviser?

5) If you believe politicians will fix the economy, boy oh boy, watch out. Most politicians never ran a business therefore they have no credibility with the business world. This is why politicians yield to business people in exchange for influence; I mean money to be converted into votes. Did you know the Federal Reserve is not federal and it has no reserves? The Fed was created to prevent economic recessions. How effective has the Fed been since its creation, 100 years ago?

6) If you think politicians will fight for your freedom, think again. Politicians will fight for your right to be dependent on them. Never forget we are always one generation away from losing our freedom.

7) The rule of law and national security is where the government focus ought to be. The primary role of government is to protect our freedoms and not infringing on them, like property rights, and country infra-structure for businesses to flourish. When government gets into the business of telling how to run businesses, watch out! What big governments have proven to be good at is to create problems and make them bigger and bigger making the public believe the politicians are the ones that will solve them.

Be blessed and be a blessing to others

Carlos Fontana, President of Phalanx

Co-author of the book Follow to Lead (The 7 Principles to Being a Great Follower)

Author of the book PRICELESS (Sixty-Six Simple Stories of Reflection, Love, and Legacy)