Dear Friends,

Well it has finally happened!  I have succumbed to the technology world and will be “attempting” to become proficient at blogging!  It wasn’t too long ago I didn’t even know what a blog was.  But after much coaching, encouraging and often, much needed, kicks in the seat of the pants by my good friend Whit Gillon (my webmaster), I’m starting a new dimension to my business building and marketing efforts.

As many of you know, that know me, I have a sincere passion for helping people to improve their lives.  Let me begin by first saying that very few of you have been more broke or as deep in debt as I have.   It wasn’t too many years ago that I was in such terrible shape, both financially and physically, that I was just about ready to give up on life.

But a good thing happened one day.  I “had-it-out” with God!  On that date, December 18, 1988 I decided to start doing things HIS way, instead of mine.  I’m sure glad that I listened!

I like to tell people in my seminars and training programs that I have never failed at anything in my life.  Of course they look at me like I’m nuts!  How can a person who was deep in debt, broke, and having very few options not be a failure?  Simple, after the December 18th meeting with God I simply took the word “failure” out of my vocabulary!

What you call “failure” I now call “dumb, stupid, expensive, and painful mistakes!”  In fact, I think I’ve got the first PhD in making dumb, stupid, expensive and painful mistakes.  A few years ago I was tallying up all the dumb, stupid, expensive and painful mistakes that I have made in my life.  What I came up with as 21 MAJOR dumb, stupid, expensive and painful mistakes.  These were just the BIG ones!  There were hundreds of others.  Well, today I have 23!!

Why is this important? Because from this point on, it is part of my mission in life to let people know that it is okay to fail and to make dumb, stupid, expensive and painful mistakes.  Of course I don’t want you to make a career out of this!  But I do want people to know that if you truly want to succeed in life, in all areas of life, that you can’t be afraid to move forward after failing or making “dumb, stupid, expensive and painful mistakes.”  In fact, it is necessary for you to make them fast, make the often and as soon as you can and get them out of your way as fast as possible!

I will tell you this up-front, I consider myself a full time Missionary, but I’m disguised as a businessman!  In future BLOGS I will be sharing with you important information on building successful businesses.  I’ve built three!  I have expertise in only a few areas of business and in many areas of life.  My goal is to help people improve their lives.  All areas of their life; spiritual, family, physically, financially, etc.  I want to see people become successful.  I have a firm belief that everyone is capable of improving their lives.  I know what it’s like to be broke and I know what it’s like to be hungry.  I never want to go back to that life again and I don’t want you to either!
I will be leaving next Monday on a very important trip to the Middle East.  Your prayers for a successful and safe trip would be greatly appreciated!

Larry Ledford
MAN ON A MISSION!