Archive of posts filed under the Mike category.

Turning 40

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When I was in my pre-teens, the pop group Air Supply was burning up the American charts with their string of love ballads. I remember listening to their albums (the black vinyl kind, before CD’s) in my big sister’s room and I thought she was so lucky to get to go to their concert when they came to town. She went with her boyfriend and they probably waved a lighter in the air along with thousands of fans while the Australian duo sang “All Out of Love” and “Here I Am (just when I thought I was over you).” I didn’t get to go. I was too young.

I’m not too young now. I turn 40 today. And on this monumental day

Desperately Searching

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It was the last show of the day, and it finished right at park closing time. My young family along with my in-laws had just enjoyed a theatrical production of The Lion King at Disney World’s newly opened park, Animal Kingdom. We strapped our baby girl in her stroller, gathered up all our bags and trinkets and geared up for the exiting process.

As we made our way toward the exits, a concession worker from a corn dog stand came out and offered the passer-by’s free corn dogs. I love corn dogs! My father-in-law and I scooped up as many as we could for a convenient dinner as throngs of people streamed past us toward the exits.

One for you. Here you go. One for you. One for you. Hey, where’s Caleb? Caleb? Caleb? Has anyone seen Caleb?…

Social Entrepreneurship

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My doorbell rang this morning at 4 AM. I was expecting out-of-town guests to show up at 6AM, and I figured it was them coming early, way too early. I jumped up in my bed-headed and confused state and greeted the three visitors waiting patiently at my gate.

They had just traveled all night in a chartered minivan from the resort island of Bali, which is one island over and 10 hours away from Java, where I live. They came this week to learn from our team on how to start an outsourcing business, something we did three years ago in Java. All three of them have a heart to see people lifted out of drug addiction and the sex trade industry of Bali, and they know that people who escape that degradation need a steady job to stay free. Prostitutes simply don’t have a lot of other job options, even if they somehow able to pay off their debts. They need gainful employment for the long haul. My three new friends are determined to give people like that new opportunities.

Welcome to the world of Social Entrepreneurship.