My second recollection of Chris was in our first semester of GMI-EMI, when I sat in front of him in our history class. I heard a young man behind me speaking boldly about the steps he had planned to climb the corporate ladder and achieve his goals and dreams. My first thought was: What 18-year-old already has his life plans laid out in that detail? Curiosity got the best of me, however, so I turned around to see who was speaking. Looking at Chris, I knew I had seen him before, but couldn’t recall where. One things was for sure. I knew then that Chris, at 18 years of age, was focused on moving ahead in life and leadership.

In truth, Chris Brady has been a dreamer and doer for as long as I have known him. For example, when I was working a full 12 week assignment in Wichita Falls, Texas, I lived in an apartment provided by the AC Rochester plant (one of the reasons I agreed to go to Texas, since I was dead broke.) Chris was assigned to Wichita Falls for a six-week term to help launch a new product. Since the plant was already paying for an apartment, Chris crashed with me and several other students during his time in Texas. It was my six weeks with him in Texas that solidified by belief that Chris was different from the rest of us students. Specifically, when comparing his purpose and vision to the rest of ours. Simply put, I had never met anyone so young who was as driven to break free from mediocrity as Chris Brady. His determination and confidence was scary for a low self-esteem person like I was at the time.

However, with that said, his boldness and direction intrigued me as much as it intimidated me. Why did this guy believe so strongly in his purpose? How did he achieve this magical elixir so young? Whatever it was, Chris’s drive led to massive achievements throughout college. In fact, he finished second in his 1990 graduating class at GMI-EMI (not too shabby considering it is a school filled with brains.) More impressively, after graduation, he qualified for the coveted GM scholarship program. GM selects only a few of the elite graduates for an all-expenses-paid masters program. Chris chose the prestigious Carnegie-Mellon Institute and graduated with a masters in manufacturing systems. Little did Chris know, however, that beyond his degree, he would gain something much more valuable – the love of his life, Terri (Estes) Brady, whom he met at Carnegie-Mellon.

Chris and I went our separate ways after graduating from GMI-EMI. Basically, it wasn’t until after I began seeking another career path to success that we were reacquainted. In truth, I was not planning on contacting Chris for my community – not because I didn’t think he could do it, but rather, knowing his drive and mission, I believed he already had his path to his dreams. Providence, however, intervened. Thankfully, when I began community building with another engineer, he strongly recommended we share our plan with Chris. He said he could line up lunch together for the three of us.

When Chris and I met for lunch, it didn’t take five minutes for Chris to begin dream building me on the possibilities of getting out of corporate America. Hold on a minute, I thought! I am supposed to be dream building Chris on our options, and instead, he has me imagining flying around the Caribbean, talking about owning a local island business, and living the high life. What gives? I was so discombobulated, that I never showed him anything. Only later did I realize that Chris had recently returned from his honeymoon, and no longer wanted to sell the best 50 years of his life working for someone else. Corporate America’s rose-colored glasses, in other words, had been cracked for both of us. Eventually, Chris and I had another lunch appointment that formed the foundation for a life-long business partnership.

Even though our businesses didn’t grow that fast, our friendship and trust for one another did. To be sure, we worked hard, but we never seemed to get the growth we expected from working so hard. Indeed, after nearly five years of tireless effort, both of us combined could barely gather 200 people within our community. Those were less than overwhelming results, to say the least – especially compared to our business today, since we recently had a brand new couple accomplish more in fifteen months than the Brady’s and Woodward’s did in five years! This couple went from zero to over 300 people in their personal community, achieving the RT level in just fifteen months. In Chris’s and my defense, however, it was a different era. We had to deal with overpriced products, an under-rewarding compensation plan, and a meddling myopic management team.

Our businesses may not have grown, but we did, both personally and professionally. We both came to faith in Jesus Christ during our five-year desert experience. It is immeasurable the impact this has had on both of us in all areas of life. Actually, looking back, I am thankful our businesses didn’t grow during this time, because if they had, we might have been inclined to take the credit. Instead, we struggled for years, building and replacing groups repeatedly. The lessons we learned about ourselves and others, realizing not all people follow through on what they say, were essential for our future success. In reality, many people start in community building with selfish motives, but over time, if they stick around, we see them change and grow into servant leaders. Chris and Terri chose the change and growth route, becoming top servant leaders.

Stay tuned for Part II. Sincerely, Orrin Woodward

Oliver DeMille’s soon to be released book gives the background story of the founders intentions and the fatal force shifts that hinder our freedoms. In truth, the four force shifts described in DeMille’s new book are painful enough on their own, but disastrous when combined:

1. The general welfare clause
2. The Federal Reserve bill
3. The income tax amendment
4. The democratic election of senators

America must turn back from the precipice and return to the path of freedom. DeMille’s book is a torch to carry on freedom’s path. Western Civilization needs more leaders like DeMille who are willing to learn, live, and share their stories of freedom. This book is essential reading, a primer of freedom or anyone desiring to live free. Let me close with one final thought from President Woodrow  in his 1913 book The New Freedom:

Who have been consulted when important measures of government, like tariff acts, and currency acts, and railroad acts, were under consideration? The people whom the tariff chiefly affects, the people for whom the currency is supposed to exist, the people who pay the duties and ride on the railroads? Oh, no! What do they know about such matters! The gentlemen whose ideas have been sought are the big manufacturers, the bankers, and the heads of the great railroad combinations. The masters of the government of the United States are the combined capitalists and manufacturers of the United States. . . The government of the United States at present is a foster-child of the special interests. It is not allowed to have a will of its own.

Is this as disconcerting to you as it is to me? Is it really safe for our government to be an orphan in the hands of Big Business and Big Banks? DeMille’s new book will share a path out of the maze. Sincerely, Orrin Woodward

Nonetheless, despite the many warnings on the dangers of fiat money, in 1913, the Federal Reserve was created. The name “Federal Reserve” is a misnomer, since this privately held company isn’t federal and doesn’t have reserves. In truth, because the Federal Reserve is a private company, it, unlike our government, is designed to make money. It accomplishes this by loaning money to our federal government for fees plus interest. However, in order to ensure the interest debt was serviced promptly, the income tax amendment, not coincidentally, was passed in 1913 also. By permitting direct taxation on a citizen’s income, the income tax amendment erased one of the last checks (proportional taxation of states) remaining upon government’s nearly unlimited avarice. The founders, by regulating the taxation with the State populations, tied the federal government’s hands, ensuring the individual citizen’s wealth was free from government expropriation. Sadly, with the passage of the income tax amendment, this federal constraint was removed. Since 1913, individual citizens, instead of the respective citizen’s state, have had the unequal task of squaring off against the federal government (IRS) whenever a tax dispute arises. This was not the intention of the founders.

It’s time to educate ourselves on our history, or we are doomed to lose our birthrights. Leaders must arise and educate communities around the world. Sincerely, Orrin Woodward

Are you a hungry leader? Are you humble enough to know that you don’t know everything? Are you willing to read, listen, and associate with other leaders in a community in order to improve yourself? The LIFE community is what makes LIFE’s leadership better than any other leadership company. LIFE’s leadership materials supply people with topnotch leadership teachings, but even more importantly, it’s the LIFE community that provides the environment in which to apply the leadership principles daily.

LIFE, by having a compensated community, has a competitive advantage on the rest of the leadership companies. Here is a short video describing the importance of learning for leaders. Sincerely, Orrin Woodward

Surprisingly, the biggest success is typically the one who has been willing to fail the most. For the faster a person can go from principle understood to principle applied, the faster he or she becomes a leader. Indeed, what makes the LIFE community so valuable is the fact that people can learn leadership principles and then apply them within the community for immediate feedback. In other words, the greatest principles of leadership are practically worthless unless a person has a community in which to apply them.

LIFE provides both the leadership principles and a community in which people can practice application.  If a person does his best and fails, it isn’t an issue, since everyone is failing and learning continuously. Do you have a community that provides a grace-filled environment in which to apply your leadership principles?

LIFE provides a safe environment to listen, apply, and fail, so a person can ultimately learn how to succeed. What are you waiting for? Aren’t you ready to stop avoiding failures and start learning from them. Here is a video segment describing the process.  Sincerely, Orrin Woodward

Tim, when he started his community, struggled with reading. In fact, his elementary school teacher had told him that he would never be able to read because of his early struggles with comprehension. Thankfully, Tim’s dream was bigger than his dyslexia and he changed the alleged facts. Tim is now an avid reader and voracious learner.  Moreover, through sharing his story, he has helped thousands of men step up to lead their families.

Amy struggled with low self-worth, leading to severe eating disorder. Indeed, there were days where she didn’t eat at all. However, by God’s grace and a loving community, Amy has overcome her eating disorders, becoming a true servant of others. She has become  one of the most respected and in-demand speakers in North America, connecting with men and women going through their own personal challenges.

Tim and Amy’s courageous leadership catapulted them to TEAM Policy Council in 31 months! This is the record for the fastest growing community building in the TEAM’s history. Although the Marks’ business grew at a torrid pace, it’s their character that is the most impressive. This couple does the right thing because it’s the right thing period. It’s easy to partner with a couple of this caliber, since one will always know where Tim and Amy stand based upon principle.

For example, during the middle of the Team’s freedom battle from our former supplier, the Team community dropped from over 16k people attending events to less than 8k. The drop in numbers put massive financial stress upon the leaders, not to mention the added millions spent on legal bills.  Nonetheless, Tim volunteered 100% of his Team profit sharing for over two years, in order to help fund our legal team. Without this selfless act, there would be no LIFE Business today. Few people would sacrifice personally to this extent. Thankfully, Tim and Amy are part of that few.

In the middle of these stressful times, the PC tapped Tim with a huge additional assignment. Our All Grace Outreach (AGO) CD and book series and the AGO charity were in serious trouble financially. While the TEAM lost half of its numbers, the AGO series lost significantly more. The PC sought a leader who understood the TEAM community’s needs and could help select the speakers and books to provide the spiritual nourishment for the community enduring its desert experience. Tim stepped into the gap and launched an amazing turnaround of the AGO series and charity.

Leaders make decisions based upon data. Tim applied this principle to the AGO series through the saying, “In God we trust, all others must have data.” The data called for change and Tim’s leadership turned around the program. Although the overall TEAM community has grown rapidly, moving past 16k people attending events again, Tim’s leadership of AGO is even more impressive. The AGO series is ten times larger today than it was when Tim assumed the All Grace Outreach helm! Author Jim Collins has a famous saying, “Get the right people on the bus and the wrong people off the bus.” Assigning Tim Marks for leadership of AGO was one of the PC’s best decisions, especially when one considers that 100% of all AGO series corporate profits are given to the AGO non-profit charity. The AGO non-profit ensures crucial operating funds for many worthwhile Christian organizations.

Tim and Amy have grown into one of the top leaders in LIFE and are Quad-PCs in TEAM. They deserve a huge thank you from the LIFE TEAM communities for their sacrificial leadership and commitment to excellence. Moreover, Laurie and I count our friendship with Tim and Amy Marks as one of God’s invaluable gifts to us. Indeed, many times, through the crushing pressure and stress of war, it was Tim and Amy’s encouragement and Christian love that kept Laurie and I moving ahead.

Laurie and I extend a heartfelt congratulations and sincere thank you to Tim and Amy Marks for being people of character, honor, and excellence. The Marks’ family has earned every single financial blessing they have today. They live in a stunning mansion in the Cape Coral, enjoying their financial freedom with family and friends. They are truly a modern day success story and a couple worth modeling.

Tim and Amy give hope to every person in LIFE, that through character, hard work, and perseverance, nearly any dream is achievable. The LIFE community eagerly awaits the release of Tim Marks’ first book, The Voyage of a Viking, in which he shares life lessons learned from his dreams, struggles, and victories.

Laurie and I are honored to have Tim and Amy as LIFE Founders and friends. Sincerely, Orrin Woodward

Ed, Jill’s older brother, happened to be my engineering mentor and best friend. Ed and I worked together on multiple engineering projects. When I started listening to CD’s on community building, I realized the potential and shared this with Ed. Ed agreed, driving 10 hours in the same state (that’s how far into the backwoods the Guzzardo’s lived!) to share the idea with George and Jill.

Jill was interested immediately, George however, was another story. He ignored Ed,  watching the hockey game as Ed shared the concept with Jill. I remember Ed sharing his thoughts, saying, “Jill is excited, but George is going to take some work.” This is a common response. Inside of everyone is a dream pilot light. Sadly, though, most people’s dreams have been rained on so much, they believe it’s safer to bury their dreams than risk further disappointment.

Thankfully, George loved Jill enough to check it out. After reading his first book, he became a man obsessed with the idea of getting free. True, the odds were stacked against him in so many ways, having isolated himself in the backwoods where there were hundreds of trees for every person. Moreover, George and Jill were already extremely busy between jobs, hobbies, and raising their son. But, when a person wants something bad enough, the obstacles must give way.

The Guzzardo’s are champions today, not because everything was easy for them. On the contrary, if I were to define the Guzzardo’s with just one of my resolutions, I would offer Adversity Quotient because everything was a struggle for them. With that said,  nothing keeps this couple down! Several times, in the early days (before team approach), they would start groups and lose them. On top of this, Jill’s brother, and my best-friend, died suddenly of a pulmonary embolism, blocking oxygen into his lungs. This was a tragic loss of a great man. Most people would have become bitter, instead, George and Jill, became better.

Laurie and I had front row seats watching the transition of this couple into the leaders they are today. When the Guzzardo’s made mistakes, they read more, listened more, and applied the principles to grow. Many will listen to CDs, less will read consistently, but only the few will apply the principles learned. The Guzzardo’s were part of the few. I watched George go from barely reading to reading mighty tomes on history, theology, and government. This is on top of his personal development reading and listening! In fact, the rest of the PC refers to George as the professor for his amazing ability to read and comprehend the classics.

As the Guzzardo’s began to grow personally, they also grew professionally. Despite driving several hours or more to share the opportunity, the Guzzardo’s teams grew. Their teams spread quickly into Wisconsin, eventually across the USA and Canada. Today, the Guzzardo have thousands of people attending events across North America and George and Jill reside in a beautiful house in Tuscon, Arizona. They are living their dreams – the same dreams shared many times to Laurie and I as they were growing on their way to victory.

Reflecting back, one of my proudest George Guzzardo memories was during our costly litigation with our former supplier. I watched the Guzzardo’s propose surrendering their dream property, rather than surrender their involvement with TEAM. This is nothing short of modern-day heroism. In today’s pragmatic world, where nearly everyone does everything for their own perceived advantage, I watched the Guzzardo’s voluntarily sacrifice for the good of the community. This story, thankfully has a happy ending! As it turned out, with the TEAM’s settlement of all disputes, the Guzzardo’s were able to retain their dream property in the mountains overlooking the Tuscon valley.

Laurie and I are proud to have George and Jill Guzzardo as life-long friends and LIFE Founders! Their commitment to growth, change, and leadership is nothing short of inspiring. By setting the example for their team, the Guzzardo’s have attended many job-optional parties across North America. There are many blessings from our business, but in my opinion, by far the greatest rewards are the relationships formed with true leaders like George and Jill Guzzardo.

Thank you George and Jill for having the courage to become better when others became bitter. Thank you for setting the pace and cutting a trail for others to follow. Here is to a blessed future together. Sincerely, Orrin Woodward

A simple definition of meritocracy would be the democracy of opportunity, providing everyone with an equal opportunity to advance based upon, paraphrasing Martin Luther King Jr., “the content of one’s character, not the color of one’s skin.”

However, as I noted in the first two articles (Middle Class Squeeze and the Idle Rich & Idle Poor), Jefferson’s dream is certainly not today’s reality. When a person is confronted with this sobering truth, he can respond in one of three ways. His character is revealed by the path chosen.

Three Responses to the Middle Class Squeeze
The first option is to deny the bitter reality. The person continues to keep his head down, refusing to question the increasing financial and opportunity squeeze suffered by the middle class. This choice reminds me of the Matrix movie, where people live in a coma-of-complacency. Sadly, unlike the movie, the brutal reality will eventually jolt people awake, typically through a business failure or job loss.

The second option is when a person recognizes the reality of the middle class squeeze and plays the victim card. These perpetual victims run around crying to anyone who will listen (fewer and fewer do) until they have swallowed enough poison to poison everyone around them. Every person who associates with these embittered victims hears a monotonous refrain about what could have been, or who is to blame, or what a heavy burden they have to carry. What a waste of potential! No matter what has happened, why surrender the future to the past? If a person is still breathing, then he has hope!

The third option is to turn injustice into education. Since bitterness isn’t a viable option for leaders, this, in truth, is the proper response. Every person suffers injustices at some point in life. However, leaders turn injustices into education for growth, while losers turn them into justification for failure. This group perceives the challenges, but instead of whining about them, they begin working on solutions to win. Winners, in other words, choose to be part of the solution, not part of the problem.

Why the “Idle Rich” Dislike Leaders
The “Idle Rich” fear effective middle class leadership. Why? Because leaders challenge the status quo, generating change that can threaten the “Idle Rich” and their special deals. The wealthy elites train the middle class to be followers, not educated and effective leaders. Indeed, the middle class are like sheared sheep, tirelessly working to support the lifestyles of both idle groups. If the middle class were to get a true education, not just training, they may ask too many questions and catch on to the real game.

In fact, if the “Idle Rich” had to choose, they would rather have a middle class person fall further down the food chain (this is happening more and more), ending up as part of the “Idle Poor,” versus become a leader and get free. Serfs won’t cause trouble for the elites, but leaders can and do. The Founding Fathers were a middle class group of leaders that broke open the special deal mercantilism of the British Empire. If America hadn’t had leaders like Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Henry, Hamilton, Madison, etc, there simply wouldn’t have been a revolution.

Where are the Middle Class Leaders Today?
Middle class leaders are Missing In Action (MIA) or more accurately, (MII) Missing in Inaction. The elites have worn down the middle class through excessive taxation and regulations, making the temptation to surrender to handouts look more appealing daily. One of the most shocking facts about the rigged game is the “Idle Rich” want and need the “Idle Poor.” For without them, the “Idle Rich” could not put the squeeze on the working middle class.

Before I go further, let me explain who the “Idle Poor” are and who they are not. They aren’t those without a job, but are still looking. They aren’t people who receive unemployment, while still searching for ways to support themselves. No, the “Idle Poor” are different. They have totally given up on the idea of self-responsibility, expecting others to provide for their lifestyles. Since there are no free lunches, the government must burden the working middle class even further to now support the “Idle Poor.”

If only people understood that this plays right into the hands of the “Idle Rich.” The “Idle Poor,” in other words, are stooges for the “Idle Rich.” Indeed, without the “Idle Poor,” who swallow their pride, decency, and self-respect for endless handouts, the Big Business/Big Government partnership could not maintain the squeeze play on the middle class. Why? Simply because the “Idle Rich” don’t have enough votes by themselves to continue charade parade. They must recruit people into the “Idle Poor” class, building the democratic majorities to maintain the middle class squeeze.

How Can LIFE Help?
The LIFE Community is a group of men and women who have freely chosen the third option. We are a group who of men and women who are sick and tired of being squeezed by Big Banks, Big Business, and Big Government. We refuse to bury our heads in the sand; we refuse to become embittered; and lastly, we refuse to sit back and do nothing! What if we created communities across North America, teaching personal development, leadership, and teamwork, that people refused to join the “Idle Poor?” This fact alone would create a revolution, ending the middle class squeeze!

We must raise up leaders across North America similar to the founding generation. LIFE has formed leadership communities throughout North America to do just that. Our goal is to educate hard working people on the crucial leadership principles necessary to lead their own lives, rather than be led by the “Idle Rich.” A tough assignment? Of course, but leaders don’t ask for easy, they ask for worth it. This is a worthy endeavor, one that brings out the best in leaders.

Because LIFE is a meritocracy, we expect to receive criticism from the victims within middle class society. What else could leaders expect from a group who demands perpetual handouts from others? Even so, we will never surrender the leadership principles involving character, task, and relationship in a meritocratic community. Only leaders and learners, who love a pay for performance community, will be excited about the LIFE opportunity. Therefore, not coincidentally, that’s exactly who we desire to partner with.

Leadership is a luxury in short supply in Western Society. We are not looking nor expecting everyone to be interested in LIFE. A person doesn’t have to be a leader to join the LIFE community; however, he must desire to improve himself through associating with other hungry leaders. I believe its time to Launch a Leadership Revolution. No matter how bleak it looks, there is always hope. Truthfully, there are no hopeless situations, only hopeless people in situations.

We can and do play a part in the future of our country. Remember, America was formed on the efforts of millions of small farmers, farmers who owned their own land and were rewarded based upon their own efforts. Aren’t our families worthy of having a dream for? Aren’t they worthy of going through some struggles for? Finally, aren’t our future generations worthy of persisting onward to victory for freedom’s sake?

I vote yes on all three questions above. The Founders of the LIFE have created a plan to restore Western Culture. Instead of just having a business with a purpose, we went one better. We are building our purpose on business. By combining the foundational principles of leadership, community and meritocracy, we believe we have the right mix to achieve this audacious assignment.

Other companies may play politics, make special deals, and pay based upon seniority, but in LIFE, a person’s pay raise becomes effective only when he does. LIFE doesn’t pay based upon your family name, your past background, or your past results. Instead, LIFE pays monthly based upon one’s monthly performance. Leaders love the LIFE business while posers hate it. Why? Because communities grow only when true leaders are present. In other words, this business exposes the posers.

The game of LIFE has started, are you on the playing field? Or, are you allowing past defeats to prevent your future victories? The choice is yours. All we promise is a level playing field and an aristocracy of leadership based upon achievements as Jefferson envisioned. We have combined all the ingredients necessary for success into the business of LIFE. All, that is, except one – your work ethic. This is what you must add to join the aristocracy of achievement.

Read and watch the LIFE Testimonials for yourself. You will discover that LIFE is a group of average men and women who have chosen to be un-average. LIFE is a community that has chosen to get better, not bitter, when faced with the middle class squeeze. Finally, we have launched the leadership revolution to fulfill our LIFE’s purpose.

What will you do? Remember, destiny favors the bold! Sincerely, Orrin Woodward

There are some truths so hard to face, so ugly and so at odds with how we imagine the world should be, that nobody can accept them. Here’s one: It is obvious that a class system has arrived in America — a recent study of the thirty-four countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development found that only Italy and Great Britain have less social mobility. But nobody wants to admit: If your daddy was rich, you’re gonna stay rich, and if your daddy was poor, you’re gonna stay poor. Every instinct in the American gut, every institution, every national symbol, runs on the idea that anybody can make it; the only limits are your own limits. Which is an amazing idea, a gift to the world — just no longer true. Culturally, and in their daily lives, Americans continue to glide through a ghostly land of opportunity they can’t bear to tell themselves isn’t real. It’s the most dangerous lie the country tells itself.

Everywhere I looked, I was exposed to this bitter reality. The middle-class is in the big squeeze. This isn’t my opinion the data is available to all and is irrefutable. On one side of the squeeze is the aristocrats. They have their special deal monopolies (which raise the prices on all consumers), courtesy of our government. The “idle rich” enjoy non-competitive life of leisure because they are “too big to fail.” (How much money do you put in your gas tank weekly?) Since there aren’t any free rides in life, the perks are provided by the government at the expense of the middle class.

However, in order to maintain the special deal for the “idle rich” the government must find another segment of the population that benefits from the current state of affairs. This they achieved through creating a new class – the “idle poor”. Our government created and funds the “idle poor” as an insurance policy to protect the “idle rich”. Do you really think the elites care about the poor when we can see how they treat the middle? Could an alternative explanation be that this group is necessary to maintain their special deals in the rigged game? The poor are treated like they are “too small to win,” but it’s a lie. The poor, in a free enterprise, nonstatic-class environment, can win in the game of life. Sadly, it’s easy to get people to volunteer for a “something for nothing” program, even though these people end up losing the most – their own self-respect.

The politicians (of the left and right persuasion) promise handouts to enough groups until they have their precious majorities for re-election and can continue the squeeze on the middle class. On one side, the wealthy elites squeeze the middle class with monopoly positions promised by government politicians elected with elites excess cash. On the other side, the poor squeeze the middle, receiving hand outs courtesy of our government taken from the middle class. Only the idle on both sides win in this scam. The rich through monopolies and the poor through handouts, both with little to no effort. All the while, the middle class runs faster on the gerbil wheel wondering why they never seem to get ahead.

Please don’t misread my point. I love free enterprise and competition, but that isn’t what is occurring in the USA or Canada. Sadly, our government has created a class system more diabolical than Thomas Jefferson’s worst imaginations. I want our countries to be free and to have all people everywhere have the ability to win through their willingness to work and grow. But this demands an end to the hypocrisy of class system built on top of the American Dream ethos. In order to fix this mess, it must be called what it is – an aristocracy in our midst. Stephen Marche elaborates:

In the United States, the emerging aristocracy remains staunchly convinced that it is not an aristocracy, that it’s the result of hard work and talent. The permanent working poor refuse to accept that their poverty is permanent. The class system is clandestine.

Perhaps if enough of the working class unite together, we can end the middle class squeeze. Call me a dreamer, and idealist, or even a nut case. I don’t care. A man with experience (success over time) is never at the mercy of a man with an opinion (and no results.) I know the middle class squeeze to be true in several ways. First, I have witnessed the workings of the “idle rich” class, watching second generation wealth attempt to secure it through special deals. Second, I have thousands of people joining LIFE who have been squeezed by these very forces at work. I will not sit by idly and watch my country fall without doing something. The West needs a resurgence of freedom and an end to the class system protecting the “idle” on both ends of the spectrum.

I (and my fellow founders) formed the LIFE business as a dream for meritocracy, developing merit based leadership communities around the world. LIFE is a level playing field where a person is rewarded based upon his contributions within the community. Do a little, receive a little; do a lot, receive a lot -  just like my experience in competitive sports. May the best man or woman or team win based upon performance. No class system, no special deals, just an opportunity to win based upon one’s results.

When discussing meritocracy there are two main reactions. On one hand is the group who gets excited and thankful, realizing that they finally have an opportunity to win based upon their own efforts and results. On the other hand is the group who gets upset and bitter, realizing they will no longer be able to hide from the scoreboard of life, since they have been exposed by their lack of effort and results. I was involved in community building for 5 1/2 years with little to show for it, but I never blamed anyone else. In fact, you only become a loser when you blame someone else. Don’t fall into pity parties or you will never experience the victory parties.

Regardless of the rhetoric of either side, meritocracy is simply just. For meritocracy ensures that everyone is given an equal opportunity and playing field. Imagine playing a game of King of the Mountain where everyone has a right to enter the game and battle their way to the mountaintop. New participants join the game with the goal of running to the top and knocking off the current King of the Mountain. This is an analogy of a true free enterprise system. Anyone can enter and compete, but if you don’t perform, don’t come crying to mommy. People can enter as individuals or teams, but no group gets a special deal. The King today may be knocked off tomorrow by better ideas, strategy, and people. The referee (government) is supposed to be neutral (justice), ensuring everyone plays the games by the rules.

Imagine the travesty if the current King of the Mountain buys off the referees, forcing all new participants to carry a 50 pound bag on their back (extra regulations.) Even if the King has to carry the bag also, it’s much easier to be on top with the 50 pounds than run up a mountain side with it. The more government rigs the game, the less free enterprise it becomes and the more a class society results. Western Civilization is at a crossroads because Big Banks and Big Business do not like to lose and believe they are “too big to fail.” They have rigged the game, ensuring “idle rich” stay on top, while the rest of us run around wondering why no one seems to knock off the Kings of the Mountain anymore. Government must stop playing the paid off referee and go back to the neutral umpire it’s supposed to be. Either this changes or the West, as we know it, will die.

One might be wondering how Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, etc made it to the top of the mountain. In truth, nearly all of the new big league entrepreneurs made it to the top of a new mountain with no established hierarchy of entrepreneurs at the mountaintop. In other words, since the old mountains are closed by the unethical partnership of Big Business and Big Government, the only opportunities for hungry entrepreneurs is to innovate into the new fields where the mountaintop is still vacant. Innovation and competition is fantastic on the new mountains, but imagine how much more innovation would occur if Western Society opened up all its mountaintops, like a true free enterprise system should and competitive sports does?

For example, can one see how perturbed the established energy companies would be if some crazy innovator developed a way to convert water into workable energy? Does a person think the established order would support the new innovator or attempt to quash his (or her) ideas because trillions of dollars are on the line? Regretfully, squashing the new entrepreneur is the modus operandi in Western economics. Everyone, except the few with the special deals, are hurt here. For without innovation an economy stagnates and declines.

Here is a quick video describing the economic malaise damaging the West.

What if leadership communities, groups who educated themselves and others on historic leadership and liberty principles, joined together and formed free communities for real change? In my book, RESOLVED: 13 Resolutions for LIFE, I talk about Arnold Toynbee and his thesis of “Challenge and Response.” We are going through one of these critical periods where the West has serious challenges to respond to and it takes leaders to respond. Throughout the West history, citizen leaders have stood up to tyranny whenever the need arose to right the wrongs. Today’s issues demand courageous leaders who will respond similarly, standing up and fixing them, doing what is right because it is right. Do you see the challenge? Are you ready to respond? I am and that’s why I committed to LIFE for life. Sincerely, Orrin Woodward

When I was a young, growing up in Columbiaville, Michigan, I loved watching sports. The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat taught me so many lessons that I applied to life. In fact, I believe the lessons I learned from watching, playing, and modeling my favorite athletes helped form who I am today. Furthermore, because of my sports heroes, I became an avid reader of sports biographies, learning many of their secrets to success.

I had no idea how instrumental the hundreds of books read of my sports heroes would affect me. In truth, it wasn’t until I began teaching leadership for a profession that I realized what an impact my early reading had on my life. The numerous stories of young men who dreamed, struggled, and persevered until they had their victory, taught me that anything is possible in life if one is willing to work hard enough and endure through the expected setbacks.

Perhaps I was naive and should have known better, but my meritocratic world-view was shaped by playing, watching and reading about competitive sports – one of the last remaining bastions of a performance based meritocracy.  In other words, in the competitive arena of sports, no points are given because of your previous record, your family’s background, or your ability to talk smack. Each game has pre-defined rules, an impartial referee, and competitors who begin equal with the right to become unequal based upon their performance as individuals and as teams.

In high school, I suffered from severe low self-esteem, constantly viewing others as better than myself. In many ways they were better, however, I carried it to the extreme, typically defeating myself before the competition even began. It’s hard to hide from the scoreboard, especially when you are a runner and wrestler. All eyes are upon you and you cannot blame anyone else for a lackluster performance. The scoreboard provides the facts for both victories or defeats.

Although starting late in both endeavors (junior year), I rapidly improved through hard work, great coaching, and experience, ultimately receiving several awards – most improved wrestler my senior year  (losing 5-2 to the national record holder for pins in a high school career),  All-Genesee County in Cross-Country, and anchoring the 2 mile relay that set the school record.  I say all of this, not to relive high school sports, but to share a key principle learned. It’s only through the willingness to endure painful experiences, persistent practices, and constructive feedback that a person can separate himself from the crowd. Simply put, meritocracy demands performance.

With my foundational principles formed along with a Manufacturing Systems Engineering degree from GMI-EMI (now Kettering), I boldly entered into my professional career. I believed through the application of the same principles that had helped me achieve success in competitive sports, that I would quickly rise to the top at GM. However, nothing could have been further from the truth.

It’s not that my career didn’t start well enough. For in less than three years of working full time, I had received four patents, was in the process of winning a national technical benchmarking award and received a 19% raise. Additionally, my division committed to covering all my tuition expenses for the #2 nationally ranked MBA program though University of Michigan. I was living the life I had dreamed, being on the fast-track at General Motors and developing a tight relationship with the Director of Engineering of our multi-billion dollar Delphi division.

So what went wrong?

One of the most painful moments in a person’s life is when he realizes there is no port of call for the ship of his dreams. In other words, even people who work hard, waiting for their ship to come in, will find they waited their life away. The old plan of working hard, getting good grades, going to college, and getting a good job with benefits is DEAD! In fact, it’s rotting corpse has been buried for years.

My personal realization of this fact came when Laurie was pregnant with our first child. Naively, I went to my boss and explained to him my dilemma. Laurie was working as an accountant, but we both wanted her to be a stay-at-home mother to raise our family. I asked my boss what I needed to do in order to be promoted to 8th level and receive a company car. I knew it would take this level of income to fulfill the plan of having Laurie home.

One can imagine my shock when I was told that I was only 25, and no matter how hard I worked, or what I accomplished, I would not be promoted until at least 30 years of age. Moreover, our division had over 100 extra 8th levels already so being promoted at 30 was a long shot. Talk about a bubble being burst! This was a blow below the belt that I was completely not expecting. I felt like a rat in the proverbial rat race, running around the maze as fast as I could with dead ends everywhere I looked. I vowed to get out of the rat race, no matter how difficult or painful.

Do you have a story to share of your middle class squeeze? Part II of mine tomorrow. Sincerely, Orrin Woodward