A Question of Smelly Feet

Mr. Krabs: "I smell the smelly smell of something that smells smelly."

-- Spongebob

What are the 10 best pieces of advice for impact-driven entrepreneurs?

Do what you love. Do more with less. Work hard. Be focused. Strive for perfection. Customer-first. Employee second. Owner third. Be ethical. Be happy.

What act do you think you would be tempted to do, that is totally against your morals, for the right amount of money, but you believe that you would still not do it?

I would be tempted to do anything, for the right amount of money. Good character and moral ethics, however, still dictate that I would not bring the act to fruition. More’s the pity, as I have many things I’d just love to actually do.

Would you rather never be able to wear shoes again or never take them off?

Have you thought about how rank your feet would start smelling if you could never take the shoes off? I think I’ll opt for being careful where I walk and continue to live in warm climates.

“The boy raised the can to his nose and smelled, his lips wrinkling back as if he'd caught the business end of a skunk.”

-- R.J. Lawrence

What advice were you given that you discovered was so wrong?

After my divorce, in 2000, I was advised not to invest in gold and silver stocks by the people administrating our 401k. I ignored the advice and purchased a massive amount of a particular gold stock for around $3.00 per share. A few years later it topped off at $20 and I sold all of it. A couple of weeks later the mine discovered they had underquoted what it would take to get the mine working. The stock tanked down to around $4.00 per share. I smiled all the way to the bank, and one of our trio, well, put a downpayment on her house.

Are all accomplishments a result of pure luck because human conception itself is an extreme stroke of luck?

Pure luck means no “effort” was exerted. An “accomplishment” requires some effort to be exerted to accomplish something. So, an accomplishment cannot be “pure” luck any more than it can be attained by exerting no effort.

What are some things in this life worth dying for, and why die for such a thing?

God, country, and family. It defines, for me, my sense of good, moral, ethical behavior, and belief. It, therefore, defines who I am to those around me.

“There is no greater love than this: that a person would lay down his life for the sake of his friends.” 

-- John 15:13

What is the best advice that you can give somebody to better their lives, and why?

Keep drama away from your life, and strive to be happy always. Stay out of debt, because debt breeds drama. Work at a job you love (again, no drama). Have faith. Cherish your friends and love like there’s no tomorrow. Do all of this, and you will be rich beyond your material wealth.

What is the first thing you do when you get good news?

Smile! I think smiling is God’s way of saying, “You got the message.”

Should you trust unanimous decisions?

Just because a bunch of idiots makes a unanimous decision, doesn’t make the decision any less idiotic. Why in the world would you trust it? This happens in politics all the time, which is why we have multiple political parties.

“Read, every day, something no one else is reading. Think, every day, something no one else is thinking. Do, every day, something no one else would be silly enough to do. It is bad for the mind to continually be part of unanimity.”

-- Christopher Morley

What area in your life will you never put a timeline on?

My death. It happens when it happens.

What are the perils of being a perfectionist that you have either experienced or witnessed?

Failure. The biggest peril of being a perfectionist is them thinking they’re a perfectionist. There is no such thing as perfection and, soon or later, everyone fails, and fails again. Why? Because everything can be improved upon. The only thing a “perfectionist” can do is the best they can, just like the rest of us, but this will put them so deep in denial as to not be worth the discussion. They will see their work as perfection, and then see an issue, and then have to improve upon it, thus, staving off the inevitable judgment of failure.

How do you exercise patience?

I bite my tongue, look up to God, and tell Him I’m trying my best.

“The two hardest tests on the spiritual road are the patience to wait for the right moment and the courage not to be disappointed with what we encounter.”

-- Paulo Coelho

What piece of advice might you give to someone for whom the act of saving is an afterthought?

Many businesses have 401k savings plans and the money never crosses their hands. Or, with “direct deposit” I think the bank can auto-transfer a set amount from each check to a savings account. Or, they should grow up. Saving your money should never be an afterthought, it should be their first thought.

Where can we find advice on how to live a happy life?

Watch the Youtube videos of Leo Buscaglia, or buy his books.

Who is one person you can count on?

Me. If you can’t count on yourself you have no right to count on other people. You get what you give, and I never let me down.

"You really do learn by example... Especially women, sometimes we think somebody's going to rescue us, or somebody's going to teach us how to do it, when in fact we have to understand that the biggest resource we have is inside of ourselves. I know that I can count on me to take care of me. That's a very important thing to know."

-- Marlo Thomas

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion, in an arena of mutual respect, concerning those opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with the United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world-renowned, Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, and wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteered as a chaplain at the regional medical center.

Feel free to contact Pastor Tony:  tolerantpastor@gmail.com