Sometimes, the need to get things off of my desk makes cheap and quick appealing. However, focusing on doing jobs well — or at least to the best of my ability — almost always leads to better results.

That being said, aren’t there times where cheap and quick is good? In other words, aren’t there projects that are only done well if they’re done cheaply and quickly?

Creek Flowing Over a Brick Floor in a Tunnel Outside Lexington, VA | Jeb Brooks

I was nearly run over while taking this picture. It was inside a tunnel I probably shouldn’t have been in…

Since my feet stopped growing a long time ago, I don’t outgrow shoes anymore.  Even so, I still buy new ones every now-and-then.

In fact, even though I don’t outgrow the old ones, I buy my new shoes from a guy named Elwood who I really trust and like. He’s been selling shoes to my family and me for a lot of years. I trust him because he always puts me in comfortable, good looking shoes. I like him because he’s friendly and — even though more than a year might pass between shoe purchases — he remembers me every time. He knows his customers and he knows his products. And, in my book, that’s a big part of what makes a great salesperson.

I never get tired of well-penned, inspiring, and clearly intelligible phortune cookie filosofy. However, this is not that. I don’t even know what it means. Maybe something got crossed at the printer? What’s a heavy desire?

Hello! This is my 100th post. And, surely enough, it’s another turn of the page on the road toward knowledge. Even though there’s neither rhyme nor reason to the posts that have preceded this one (kind of like the mixed metaphors in this fortune cookie message), each has been a step along an interesting road…

Here’s to the next 100!

Let’s hope.

As many of you know, despite the fact that I’m a third year law student, I have decided not to practice law. Instead, I’m looking forward to returning to TBG on a full-time basis after law school (I’ve been working there throughout law school). I should say that, when I decided to apply to law school, I had every intention to become a full-time practicing lawyer.

I have changed my mind.

Napoleon Hill’s book “Think and Grow Rich” teaches its readers to identify and pursue a “Definiteness of Purpose.” Mine is to help other people solve their problems. And the opportunity to work at TBG provides me that chance more immediately than working as a lawyer. Also, there’s something pretty special (sorry for the kitschy word) about working for your family’s business.

And the question all of my law school comrades like to ask: “So…what about the Bar Exam? You gonna take it?”

It’s a good question because the decision about whether to take the Bar Exam has been a more difficult one than I’d anticipated. I’d sure like to get cracking full-time on my work at TBG. And taking the bar means all-but completely forsaking my work for eight-or-ten weeks…

I have been waffling about what to do, but as one person told me,

“Going to law school and not taking the bar exam is like running a marathon and quitting in mile 22.”

And, because I think that’s right on, I will sit for the Bar on July 27th and 28th in Raleigh.

I’m using the sage (fortune cookie-based) wisdom that “It’s easier to go down a hill than up it but the view is much better at the top” as I approach this summer’s bar-preparation. It’ll be like climbing up a long, high hill nonstop. But I’m sure it will feel good at the top…

Can’t wait for July 29th!

I never want to be in a position where I look at the past and say, “That was a better time, I wish I could go back.” Instead, I want to always look forward with gusto and enthusiasm for what’s to come. That being said, it’s vitally important to look back on previous accomplishments to realize the successes that lie ahead. In that spirit, here are a few things that happened to me over the last decade…

• Graduated High School;
• Worked for Federal, State, and Local Governments;
• Worked on a number of political campaigns at every level of government;
• Visited Iceland, France, Switzerland, Greece, Italy, and Germany;
• Was accepted into a top-tier College;
• Served as Editor in Chief of a century-old newspaper;
• Won seven Virginia Press Association Awards;
• Led a student organization with a budget of nearly $200,000.00;
• Was a dorm counselor;
• Served as an officer in my fraternity;
• Served as an officer in my University’s student government;
• Graduated college in four (entirely too-short) years;
• Became a Virginia Landowner;
• Was hired by the Chairman and CEO of a multinational human resources consulting firm;
• Moved to and lived in Phoeniz, AZ;
• Accepted the Stevie Award for Best Consulting Sales Organization on behalf of my Family’s Business;
• Was chosen as one of two people to lead the creation of an entirely new division of an international consulting company;
• Bought real estate;
• Lost my Father;
• Lost my Grandmother;
• Was inducted into the Sons of the American Revolution;
• Started Law School;
• Flew my first (and second) solo flights;
• Worked for a Law Firm;
• Served in leadership capacities for several nonprofit organizations;
• Began revising a book for a major publisher;
• Returned to my Family’s Business;
• Found my passion;
• Learned more than I’ll ever be able to relate…

I’m enthusiastic about all that’s yet to be accomplished!