Good morning gentlemen, I can recall there was a period in my young adult age where I thought I had it all figured out, and if I didn’t I was smart enough to figure it out on my own. One thing that I have come to the knowledge is that a person think they know it all is not only dangerous but unstable. Especially when they feel they don’t need to learn and grow. And learning is not just in education, but in life as well. But here is the reality that can be harder to swallow and digest for a person in this mindset. What you think you know it is not letting you grow? I don’t know who needs to hear this, but you are surrounded by all the information you need to get what you’re trying to go. You’re surrounded by all the information you need to get what you’re trying to go but your blind; but instead of getting information, on what you think you already know, got you looking for confirmation. What you think you already know is just getting in your way. This has you ignoring all the right information. Sometimes you have to just be quiet. Stop listening to comments, stop listening to give your responses, just listen and will become teachable again again. Stop using the same old knowledge, same old beliefs, trying to get different results. Stop thinking you know; nobody knows everything, you have gotten as far as you gonna go on what you think you already know. Especially those of us who have been around for awhile. We used to know everything and it worked for a while, and what we used to win with is not working no more. It is a new day, new time, everything changed so fast, you have to stop and listen. That’s the only way you going to survive these times that are changing, just be quiet and listen. One of our greatest attributes as gentlemen is the knowledge that we do not know everything, and the wisdom and ability to want to learn and grow.

Heading out today with my wife for some errands. It’s sunny going to get up to 60 degrees. Seems like a great day to not have a coat today!! Have a great Saturday my friends!!

Stakes Day (Day at the Races) Hat: Trilby (Stanton) Scarf: Sky Blue Silk (Elizabetta Bontique) Suit: Black Merino Wool (Woolcott Street) Dress Shirt: Black and Navy Blue Winchester (Woolcott Street) Tie: Black (Unknown) Pocket Square: White Satin (Unknown) Ring: Gold Custom Signet (Royal Signet) Watch: Gold/White Tank Dial (Seiko) Socks: Black (M.J. Bale) Shoes: Black Monkstraps (Woolcott Street) Fragrance: Black Orchid EDP (Tom Ford)

Three years ago when my friend Tad Jones the Executive Director of the Will Rogers Memorial spoke to my Rotary Club, I came up with an idea: work concurrently in preparation of the 100 hundred year anniversary of the American Mother Road (Rt. 66) in 2026 to grow our Rotary Club. The Highway was also named the Will Rogers Highway At Will’s passing in 1935. https://oklahomaroute66.com/news/the-will-rogers-highway Tad was starting the process in 2023 to raise $11 million to break ground on the Will Rogers Memorial renovations (he raised $18 million in fact and breaks ground this August). I got the club last year to start a companion club that meets 2X a month in the evenings to support all things Will Rogers Highway. As the official “Membership Dude” (yup that’s my title), this process has increased our club by 50%. One of the things I designed was a bench and brochure under the title The Rotary Initiative: On the Road to Civility. The ultimate goal is to have these benches from Chicago to L. A which is like a “zipper” across the center of the US. God knows we could use more civility. I am most pleased to announce the first bench was dedicated today. I helped a young guy in the troop make its installation and promotion his Eagle Scout project. We had a county commissioner, a state Representative, the UnderSheriff and of course Tad Jones at the ceremony. The Rotary Club members (most of us in club shirts, me included) were there naturally as the first Bench went up at the county courthouse. It’s not about a bench it about the message of Civility along RT 66. Hope it works.