On September 11, 2001 I was consulting to a furniture company (turn around) when my friend Gavriel Sanders in New York called me to let me know what was going on. Like many of you, I was glued to the television. For the most part, all but the most necessary functions within our company stopped. The horror, the service, the sacrifices that were made should have been and I sincerely hope are lessons for us all.
At the request of clients I drove across America (you couldn’t fly) to New York in 53 hours and 20 mins. When I arrived, my first view (from the Jersey shore) of the downtown skyline (in the daytime) was overwhelming and even now, it’s hard for me to write this.
For the past 17 years I’ve been a fan of General Motors. I’m an even bigger fan of keeping jobs here in America and that’s why we buy American made automobiles. Yes, we know they have some foreign parts. Supporting America is also important.
While I lead a global company, my heart, my family and my home is here in America where I was privileged to grow up.
Thank you General Motors for commissioning this work. Well done.
God Bless America and the men and women that sacrificed for us all, each day. Thank you!
Another July 4th has come and gone. There have been 235 of them, so far. Will there be more?
How much would it take for us to lose the freedoms we enjoy? The point could be illustrated this way:
One of our C4 executives and I were having a conversation about the recent email that showed the American Flag being abused (again) and the state of Arizona’s flag was as well. The comment was, if they (the protestors) dislike the policy, why don’t they leave?
There was a line in a movie once that went something like this: It’s difficult to be an American citizen. You have to know that freedom isn’t free and that a symbol of your freedom (the flag) is what makes you free, it’s what you do. It’s what we do. Freedom is always a work in progress. It can’t be static. It’s not a one size fits all as countries and policy changes all around the world.
If we object to the protestors point of view, it’s up to us to insure that they message isn’t the only one or point of view being heard.
Over the years, in my lifetime, I’ve been a witness to the activity (or lack thereof) of the great “silent majority.” Today, we have the largest group of seniors coming of age of any previous generation. What will we do. Will we build a bridge by insuring our freedoms or sit back and watch show.
Many of us voted for President Obama and others because we wanted change. Putting two polar opposites into a room will not produce change. It will not solve problems. What we need (my opinion) are men and women that are prepared to negotiate for solutions. Our country needs men and women that will work for peace within our own country. We need to rebuild. Not the same America that existed in the 50’s, 60’s or even the early part of this new century. We need today’s America with all of its complexity but for the betterment of its citizens. That seems to be what’s missing. The minority point of view wins, the hard lines are drawn and the internal battle lines are drawn. Congress and the Senate seem to have forgotten what it means to meaningfully negotiate.
A pencil maker told the pencil 5 important lessons just before putting it into the box:
We all need to be constantly sharpened. This parable may encourage you to know that you are a special person, with unique God-given talents and abilities. Only you can fulfill the purpose that you were born to accomplish. Never allow yourself to get discouraged and think that your life is insignificant and cannot be changed and, like the pencil, always remember that the most important part of who you are is what’s inside of you, and then allow yourself to be guided by the hand of God.
Whose guiding you?
Husband, Father, Grandfather, Son, Brother, Uncle, 32 Degree, K.C.C.H. Mason, Serial Entrepreneur, Possibilist, Chairman & CEO, Leader, Speaker, Philanthropist, Veteran, and Friend.
A successful entrepreneur with 23 companies to his credit, Mr. Rawson is focused on solutions that provide sustainable answers to domestic and global issues. 
