Real estate investment book & package launch

After a ten-year marathon of inspecting, buying, rehabbing, and selling 53 units of buy-and-hold rental real estate, we’ve written a book about the process & assembled a collection of great tools…. Continue reading

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How to really see a woman. A response to “Seeing a Woman

How to really see a woman. A response to “Seeing a Woman: A conversation between a father and son”, by Nate Pile

I came across an article shared on Huffington Post, about the objectivization of women by men. This post summarized a “planned conversation” that a father promised to have with his son if he ever caught that son looking “inappropriately” at a woman. The article should still be linked here: https://natepyle.com/seeing-a-woman/

I believe this article had fantastic intentions, that being to help elevate a young man’s view of women as equal human beings, and not objects to be leered and whistled at. But I think a little differently about all this and I’d like to share it here for your thought… Continue reading

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Gratitude or pride?

At fifty-one years old, I own three businesses, have written three books, played in an award-winning country band, and am blessed with having more “enough-ness” than any man could ask for. Rewind fifteen short years ago, and I was down and out. “Scarce-ness” was the watchword of the year. My wife asked me once, “Don’t you feel proud of all you’ve accomplished, considering where you were back then?” I didn’t really know how I felt until she asked me. But I do now…. Continue reading

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Choosing the path with heart: Being ourselves

Many of us fantasize about what we’d do if we could go back to an earlier age, but retain our current memories and knowledge. I think I’d work on some skills, habits, and character traits (after buying a certain list of stocks of course.) One character trait that I really wish I had now is the ability to be myself completely. To be and act 100% from my core personality without worrying about what people think. The term “being yourself” has always sounded a little “fishy” to me; a bit gray and undefined, but I still find myself wishing I could be more of that “kid” that didn’t fit in when he was a youngster. Continue reading

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Lack and Limitation: Our Drug of Choice?

As seekers, we often use the tools of exposing commonalities–common denominators or underlying similaritie–as a means of uncovering the “truth” about “things.” What do A, B and C have in common? What always happens after X,Y, or Z happen? What does this tell us? Continue reading

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‘Honey Do’ list for a man for his marriage

If you’re anything like me, you stop and wonder every so often what your “job” is as a husband and how you’re measuring up at that job. Can I do more? Am I doing too much? Am I becoming too domesticated?? Do I still wear the pants in the family or am I whipped beyond recognition? (Hint: If you think “wearing the pants” is sexist, you’re probably whipped beyond recognition). Being married to a woman is tricky. Just when you think everything’s running on all cylinders, she seems unhappy about something. And being men, we tend to think it’s something we did–or didn’t–do, and need to fix. Again, if you’re “anything like me”, the ONLY way you know the answer to the question “how is my marriage doing?” is by asking your wife! So what follows is a sort of “checklist” of things to do in your marriage or long term relationship so that you know whether you’re doing your job or not. Let’s get started… Continue reading

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Some things a man needs to do before he gets married

Before any man gets hitched, ties the knot and settles down, there are a few things and man should be, do or have before he does so. These “pre requisites”, in various forms, can be found throughout the earliest societies on earth. Continue reading

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Are you a feminized man?

What is feminized behavior in a man? It’s often misunderstood to mean “feminine” behavior but there’s a distinct difference. My personal definition of feminized behavior is any “thought, word or action implemented by a man in a style usually displayed by a woman”. Continue reading

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Law of Attraction F.A.Q.

I had some questions a few months back about the law of attraction and just how it “all worked” – here’s some of that conversation below: Continue reading

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A man’s REAL value to other men.

What purpose do you serve in other men’s lives?

Friendship? Competition? Watch each other’s back? Continue reading

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How to be a Class Act (or at least not a complete classless oaf)

My grandmother used to have a great expression that I don’t hear much anymore: Handsome is as handsome does. Essentially it means that what makes a person attractive or admirable is their character (and resulting actions) vs. their looks, performance or how “cool” they are. That is to say, matter how suave, gorgeous, charming or sexy a person is, if they don’t have a good moral character, they’re not worth suffering. Continue reading

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Merry Christmas 2020!

Merry Christmas Everyone,

Most of us are young and lucky enough to have lived our entire lives without any overwhelming cataclysms like world wars and pandemics. Especially for those of you who’ve been born and raised in rural Maine, the worst we typically endure is a bad snow storm, blackflies and a big mud season. So it’s easy to get a little unsettled when something like a pandemic comes to town. The biggest source of fear is the unknown, and we’ve had a big fat dose of unknown this year. Continue reading

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Jimmy Carter Energy and the National Goals – A Crisis of Confidence

Good Evening:

This a special night for me. Exactly three years ago, on July 15, 1976, I accepted the nomination of my party to run for President of the United States. I promised you a President who is not isolated from the people, who feels your pain, and who shares your dreams, and who draws his strength and his wisdom from you. Continue reading

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Military-Industrial Complex Speech, Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1961

My fellow Americans:

Three days from now, after half a century in the service of our country, I shall lay down the responsibilities of office as, in traditional and solemn ceremony, the authority of the Presidency is vested in my successor. Continue reading

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A case for getting away with things once in a while.

I believe that life is only worth living if we have a certain amount of personal freedom to weasel our way out of an indiscretion once in a while, break an ordinance or two, maybe even buy something we’re not supposed to buy. We need a world where we can continue to “hone our chops” of craftiness. Let me explain… Continue reading

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Short Story: James and Alice by Ken LaVoie

This is a short story I’m working on. Love to hear your feedback, and suggestions.

Chapter 1 – Hijacked Hearts

It was six years ago that Alice hijacked James’ heart. There were no demands, no ransom, but he would have given her the world. Instead, he promised her Paris in September. Only a piece of the world–half a world away–but one of its crown jewels; at least it was in the movies. Only the best for Alice. It’s funny how women have that effect on us men. One look, one hook into the meaty part of our hearts and we’re emptying our pockets or pulling out our swords. Continue reading

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Urging Governor Mills to life moratorium on evictions & her response

I’d like to address the issue of the executive order regarding evictions. For the most part, rental units in our communities (and especially here in Kennbec County and more rural areas) are owned by “salt of the earth mom and pop” types who own a handful of rental units and earn less in salary than some of our tenants. Continue reading

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To Governor Mills regarding “Stay Safer at Home” plan during COVID-19

First, I want to commend you on standing up and doing what you feel is best. I know it’s not easy, in these times of heightened divisiveness to rise above the insults and vitriol from all sides and stay the course. I lean conservative in my views but I also understand that socio economic issues are multi-layered and complex and not easily or quickly solved. And so I’ve struggled to offer these suggestions as succinctly as possible. I know you’ve got a lot to do and I won’t waste your time with too much prose and only a little personal agenda. Continue reading

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Merry Christmas 2018

My underlying mission here is always the same: Excavate & dust off some “bit of God” that’s become buried under our bustling lives. Illuminate something about Christmas that explains why it’s so much more powerful than just another hour at Mass or another bedtime prayer…. Continue reading

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