GOD BLESS AMERICA

With the 4^th of July week coming to a close I was thinking today how lucky we are to be living in a country where we can be what we want to be.

Imagine if instead of being Sales Reps we were forced to work in a factory because that is what our government wants us to do. Now imagine working in the factory and no matter how hard you worked or how good a job you did you made the same amount of money as everyone else because that is how much the government said you will make. No imagine not having the opportunity to advance, make more money, or ever change your occupation because the government doesn’t allow it.

Sounds awful don’t it? Well that is exactly how many people live everyday of their lives.

As people living in a free country (and for my international audience free countries all around the world) we are the fortunate ones who have the opportunity to not only do what we WANT to do but EARN what we want to earn and LIVE the lifestyle we want to live.

The price of this great freedom, as the saying goes, isn’t free. First let’s thank all the men and women who serve our countries in the armed services that protect us and keep our freedoms safe. It becomes especially apparent on the 4^th of July how important you are to us all and the debt we owe you for being the front line of freedom. Next let’s thank all the people we love to hate, the politicians. YES I said it, it doesn’t matter which side of the aisle you are on or if you sit dead center of the aisle, someone needs to be our voice in government. Always remember, our government may not be perfect (or even close to perfect) but it is still the best in the world. Now let’s thank all the risk takers that started the companies we work for large and small. It may have been centuries ago or yesterday but every company we represent started with an idea and a person or a few people willing to put it on the line and try something new.

With all her problems, AMERICA is still the land of opportunity. With all her issues, AMERICA is still the place where the world looks for ideas and progress. With all her mistakes, AMERICA is still the place with more prosperity and wealth than any other country in the world.

As we look back on this 4^th of July week 2011, even with all our troubles Americans have still lead the world in charitable donations to countries that have had disasters. Even with our own troubles, Americans have never stopped helping people at home and abroad in their times of need. Most important of all, even with our troubles we never falter in our beliefs in freedom and human rights.

We are fortunate to live where we can be what we want to be and pursue the career of our choosing. We are fortunate to live where the only limitations to our success are the limitations we impose upon ourselves. We are fortunate to live where competition drives the economy and the better we are at what we do the more successful we can become.

I hope that you and your families had as grand a 4^th of July week as my family and I have had.

Lorin