Jack Hornsby

02/24/2026

Feelings Are Your Friends! - - Robert Rohm

We all experience a variety of feelings every day of our lives - good ones, not-so-good ones, happiness, sadness, fear, joy - the list goes on and on. And, sometimes we do not know what to do with them. If you are like me, you have probably been told that you should ignore your feelings and never listen to them OR you should listen to them and follow what they tell you. I believe the truth is found somewhere between those two extremes. In fact, I believe our feelings are our friends.

Feelings are a lot like the lights on the dashboard of a car. They are indicators. If you are driving along in your car and the red oil light comes on, it is for the purpose of letting you know that something is going on that needs your attention. After the oil light has come on, it has done its job. There is nothing else the light can do other than warn you that something is not right. It would be foolish to pull into a service station and ask an attendant to disconnect that light because it is bothering you. The purpose of the warning light is to help you; not to hurt you. In most cases, after you put some oil in your engine, the red light will go out.

I have discovered that when a negative feeling light comes on inside of me, it is simply an indicator to let me know that something needs to be corrected. The feeling is trying to call my attention to something that needs my attention. I cannot rely upon the feeling itself to do the job that needs to be done. Once it has given its warning, it is then up to me to act on the information that I have received.

I have also discovered that feelings usually follow information. If I have information concerning a situation, oftentimes my feelings will follow what I have learned. For example, if I find that I have said something or done something to hurt another person’s feelings, I feel bad about it. I then try to correct the situation. If I have information about something that makes me feel good (like a grandchild’s upcoming birthday), then I can do something good in accordance with that information as well. In other words, information helps give some direction to the feelings that I experience.

At some times in our life we have all hurt another person’s feelings. Hurt feelings do more damage in families and business than perhaps anything else. We all make mistakes, but we can learn from them. Hurt feelings are usually related to either a task or a relationship. If a mistake is related to a task, it may be possible to correct that task. But if the situation is related to hurting someone’s feelings, then that is a different story. When feelings get hurt, we not only have to correct the hurt feelings, we also have to correct the error in the task as well. In other words, it becomes twice as hard.

One feeling that many of us experience in the morning is that of being tired when we wake up. There are typically two things that feeling is telling me: 1) that I probably went to bed too late, and 2) that I ate something too late. Although my body may have slept on the outside, internally it was working overtime to digest the food I had eaten. It is no wonder I wake up feeling tired! If I listen to that feeling, next time I will not eat late and I will go to bed early enough to get a good night’s sleep. Then I will wake up feeling rested and alert.

A great number of us fight the feeling of guilt daily for not having gotten enough done. But guilt is simply another warning light indicating to us that we have gotten off-track and need to make a course correction. Or it may mean that we need to work differently within our own personal values.

Finally, let’s look at the feeling of fear, which is the opposite of faith. Fear overwhelms us by telling us that life is simply a random experience and everything depends on our own abilities. However, faith reminds us that we are being led and guided through life and that we are part of a divine plan. Our life is important and we do count. We make a difference! Faith is based on knowledge that we have received about a situation and it creates the feeling of peace in our heart.

This thing about feelings is tricky. It is important to pay attention to what we are feeling because it gives a good indication of what is going on inside of us. When the “feeling light” comes on, it should not be ignored. It should be looked at to find out what information may need to be changed or understood in a different way. If you feel like something in your life is wrong, that probably means something IS wrong! When we make the correction and deal with the situation, the “warning light” will go off because things are normal once again.

I am so grateful that I understand this process. Although, not working with it perfectly, I have made great strides in getting in touch with my feelings. I am no longer running from or ignoring my feelings, but listening to them and recognizing that they are truly a part of life meant to help me.

This week it might be a good idea to look at the different aspects of your life and see how you are feeling about each one. And, it would be a good idea to have a pen and paper handy so that you can jot down the ideas that come to your mind. Feelings are a huge part of daily life. Feelings are our friends! Be grateful for the feelings that come your way. They are meant to be part of the process of helping to guide you in the right direction. Learn to listen to them. You will be glad you did!

Tip: Feelings are your friends!

Have a great week! God bless you!
Dr. Robert A. Rohm

01/20/2026

Get In The Game! - - Robert Rohm

I have told you before that when I graduated from high school in 1967, I went to a military school called Gordon Military College. It was a rude awakening to my lazy, lackadaisical life! I did not know what self-discipline truly was all about. As a matter of fact, I don’t think I knew much about any kind of discipline! Sometimes it takes a rude awakening to get our attention before we learn very much. Well, military school certainly got my attention and did it quickly! From the moment we got up in the morning until we went to bed at night, someone was either yelling at us or blowing a whistle in our ears. Even though it was difficult, it taught me a great deal.

One of the disciplines I learned while attending that school was how to study. Each night from 7:00 until 9:30 p.m., we had a mandatory study hall in which we were required to sit at our desks and study. Someone patrolled the hallways to make sure that we were doing just that!

One night, I decided that since I had to sit there for 2 ½ hours, I might as well study! (Sometimes I’m a slow learner!) Anyway, I started reading a book called Get in the Game, by Bill Glass. Mr. Glass was a former pro football player for the Cleveland Browns. He impressed me so much because he was such a strong, outstanding individual and a real man’s man.

In the book, he emphasized the importance of participating in the game of life. He pointed out that life is not a sideline sport. It is something that we must get involved in and play with all our hearts. He said that if we expect life to have any meaning at all, we need to play with “reckless abandonment.”

That phrase, “reckless abandonment,” caught my eye because many coaches used it when I was growing up, playing sports. They often told us that if we played half-heartedly, there was a good chance that we would get hurt. In other words, we were to play with all our hearts. We were told that an athlete will never be very effective if he is afraid of being hit or tackled. It is necessary to play the game with 100% effort!

Glass’ book applied that same concept to playing life at full speed. He said that you can not half-way do a marriage, or half-way raise children, or half-way work in a job for yourself or someone else. if you expect to have good results and succeed.

That book made a profound impact on my young heart and mind at the time. I understood what he was trying to communicate. I understood that regardless of what I planned to do with my life, I would have to do it with all my heart and with all my might. I began to live by that philosophy and found it to yield good results in my life.

Several years later, I came across that same book, and I remember my heart leaping in my chest because I recalled how much it had meant to me early in my life. Since my first reading was so long ago, I decided to read it again.

I read through the book, hoping to get everything out of it that I had gotten the first time, but this time was strange. The book seemed to be flat. It seemed to be uninteresting; maybe even boring. I could not understand what had happened. How could a book that had changed my life so much many years earlier now have basically no meaning to me at all? It was indeed a strange occurrence! I thought maybe something was wrong with me. It wasn’t until years later that someone was able to shed light on what had happened.

You see, the first time I read the book, I had very little understanding of self-discipline or how to get involved in the game of life. And, I had very little understanding of what it meant to live life with reckless abandonment. However, over the next few years, I had employed those concepts in my life; they had become part of me. Therefore, the information now was no longer foreign to me. Because it had already become part of my life and was no longer brand-new, the book had lost its impact. It had already done its job, and its work was complete. I was no longer disappointed in the book. I was grateful that I had learned the principles in it and had started using them in my life!

That understanding helped me to realize why it is important to learn and grow. As we do, the very thing that we once knew nothing about becomes part of our lives. It becomes part of the very fabric of our soul. That is what happened with that book. The concepts in it had become so much a part of my life that I did not realize why they did not mean as much to me the second time I read it. Instead of just learning how to play the game of life, I had grown into an active participant. Again, I was so grateful!

Now, one last thought - please do not get me wrong; I am not a perfect player! I still make mistakes at times, just like everyone else. And sometimes I fall, or a penalty flag is thrown, but I sure am enjoying playing the game! I don’t want to sit on the sidelines. I want to play the game, giving it one hundred percent. I don’t want to arrive at the end of my life and be left wishing that I had done some things that I was simply too afraid to try. No, I want to play life with “reckless abandonment.” I want to be part of every activity that I can and to learn from my mistakes and failures. I find it is more exciting to live life as a winner and a participant than it is to simply play it safe as a casual observer.

You and I are only going to live once. I hope that you will play life at full speed and with reckless abandonment, striving to win and achieve in all that you do! It truly is the best way to go!

Tip: Get in the game!

Have a great week! God bless you!
Dr. Robert A. Rohm

12/22/2025

Make Your Exit Different Than Your Entrance!
Robert Rohm

Here we are again at Christmas! It is the time of the year when we are all buying gifts and hopefully thinking about others. It is such a wonderful time of year because we have the opportunity to show love to family members and friends. I have never met anyone who did not like Christmas. I am sure that they are out there somewhere, but so far, I have been able to avoid them. What in the world could be wrong with caring for other people and going out of your way to buy them a present or do something nice for them during this special time of the year?

When I think about Christmas, I am reminded of its true meaning. All of us know that we recognize Christmas as Jesus' birthday.

A couple of years ago, I watched the movie called The Nativity. It has been done through extensive historical research to give us a good understanding of what it must have been like in the first century. As you know, life was complicated, and people living at that time experienced many hardships. I have often been very thankful that I did not live during challenging times like those. I prefer running water, electricity, air conditioning, and airplanes over things like traveling on a donkey and drawing water from a well. But that is another story.

I hope you will bear with me for just a moment. There really is a good point to this Tip, but you have to wait until the end to get it! One thing that amazes me is that nowhere in the Bible are we ever told to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Now, don’t get me wrong, as I mentioned earlier, I love Christmas, and I am grateful for it, but the Bible does not put that much emphasis on his entrance into this world. Nowhere are we instructed to remember his birth. However, much emphasis is placed upon his exit from this world. During the forty days after his crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus was seen by many witnesses. And we are conversely instructed to “remember his death and resurrection.” He talked to his disciples and taught them much about the kingdom of God. Then he was taken up into heaven while they stood watching. Two angels spoke to the disciples and said that just as he went into the sky, he would one day return. I know that may seem like a fairy tale to some people, but there is just too much historical data for me to dismiss it as nonsense. However, even that is not the point of this Tip. I realize that I am rambling, but I hope that you will give me the time it takes to read this Tip as your Christmas present to me this year! (Or, maybe my Christmas present to you this year.)

The thing that amazes me more than anything else about the Christmas story is that Jesus was born to two impoverished people and laid to sleep in a manger. I am sure he cried at times, as all babies do. Yet, when he left this earth, he was taken up into the clouds by angels and seen by many witnesses. That had to be the all-time most incredible victory rally! His exit was very different from his entrance! At that point, I am sure he was filled with joy and smiling!

A few weeks ago, I was reading a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson. He said, “When you were born, you were crying, and everyone else was laughing. Live your life in such a way that when you die, you will be smiling and everyone else will be crying!” THAT IS WHAT THIS TIP IS ALL ABOUT. It is not how we were born that really matters. Since we are all going to be dead a lot longer than we will be alive, the more critical issue is our exit strategy.

Though these are uncertain times, I can assure you that one thing we are all going to do someday in the future is die. At the end of your life, will you have lived it in such a way that people will miss you, or will they be glad to see you go? I am sure you would prefer them to miss you!

As we come to the end of this year, it is a great time to reflect on our own lives to see how we are doing. We should strive to be the kind of person that everyone will sorely miss one day. It is not that we should live only for the applause and accolades of others. It is just that we should strive to contribute to others in ways that make a significant impact on their lives. We are “difference makers”. At the end of the journey, we should all want to look back and see that our lives contributed to the health and well-being of others. I know I want to be that kind of person, and I am sure that you do, too!

So, Merry Christmas, and keep on keeping on!

Tip: Make your exit different than your entrance!

Have a great week! God bless you!
Dr. Robert A. Rohm

Send a message to learn more

10/01/2025

Confusion Creates Problems and Expense! - - Robert Rohm

It never ceases to amaze me how some things that are so simple can get mixed up so easily. Whenever there is a little bit of confusion at the front-end of a situation, it always leads to bigger challenges and problems on the back end.

Imagine a plane flying from Atlanta, Georgia, to Los Angeles, California. If that aircraft is off its course three degrees when it leaves Atlanta, that won’t be much of a problem initially, but by the time it gets to California, it will be a huge problem. As a matter of fact, being off by those three degrees in the beginning will keep that plane from ever finding the L.A. airport! That is a simple illustration of what this Tip is all about.

I know I have said before that it only takes an extra minute or two to go over things one or two more times to be clear, but it bears repeating. Just a few weeks ago, we had a situation that drove that truth home to me once again.

A while back, we ordered twenty cases of books from a company in Miami, Florida. We needed the books by a certain deadline. In trying to determine the best shipping method, we consulted our UPS shipping chart and found that it should only take two days for the books to travel from Miami to Atlanta, Georgia.

When we placed the order, we were asked how we wanted the product shipped. We said that we needed the product in two days so they could just ship all the boxes of books to us by regular UPS Ground service. However, the person on the other end did not hear the words “regular UPS Ground” - they heard the words “two days.” Therefore, they shipped all twenty cases of books to us 2-day Air! Do you know the cost difference between UPS Ground service and 2-day Air service from Miami to Atlanta? Instead of it costing $20 per box, it cost $60 per box! You do the math! Looking back, it would have only taken a minute to ask the individual to review our order with us before we hung up the phone.

Because of this situation and others like it, I am learning to use two sentences that I have developed in order to reduce as much confusion as possible. The first sentence is this: “Could you please repeat back to me what you heard me say so that I can be sure I was clear?” That puts the responsibility on me for communicating clearly, but it politely asks the other person to explain back to me what I said so that I can be sure I communicated clearly and was understood. The other question is one I use when someone has given me some information or instruction. I ask: “May I repeat back to you what I think you said so that I can be sure I understood you correctly?” Again, that puts the responsibility for clarity upon me.

You can see how we failed to use either one of those sentences in dealing with the book order. But we will learn the lessons that this experience taught us. We will take our “licks,” pick up the pieces, pay the bill, and just keep going.

Sometimes people may get irritated with you for going over things a second time, but I promise that if you will practice using those two sentences, it will eliminate a lot of confusion from your life!

These Tips are designed to help your life be better, and I know for a fact that this is one of the most valuable lessons that I can apply in my everyday life. It saves me time, money, and frustration, and in the long run, it will do the same for you!

Tip: Confusion creates problems and expense!

Have a great week! God bless you!
Dr. Robert A. Rohm

09/09/2025

Success Is When Preparation Meets Opportunity! - - Robert Rohm

I know it is not original with me, but perhaps at one time or another you have heard some version of the quote, “Prepare yourself and one day your opportunity will come!” Usually it is credited to Abraham Lincoln, but he gets credit for saying a lot of things he probably never said. But that’s okay. He could have said it!

Most people who go to college do so because they want to prepare themselves for more opportunities in life. I do not think that an educated person is “better” than another person, but I do think they may have doors of opportunity open to them that perhaps would not have been opened if they were not properly educated.

Think about the preparation of the Olympic athletes. Their dedication and commitment are beyond anything most of us can even imagine. When President Reagan was in office, he spoke to the U.S. Olympic athletes in 1984 and reminded them, “You, ladies and gentlemen, perhaps more than anyone else, understand that the will to win pales in comparison to the will to prepare to win.” What was President Reagan saying? He was simply telling them that they had prepared, and soon the opportunity would present itself for them to use all of that preparation in order to win a medal for their country.

It is sad, but true, that many of us miss opportunities because we have not done our homework - we have not prepared ourselves. If we simply invest the time, effort, and energy to focus on the preparation, opportunity will come sooner or later.

This principle works not only in positive circumstances, but in negative ones as well. Let me give you two examples.

Two of my heroes are John Wesley, founder of the Methodist church, and, as previously mentioned, Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth president of the United States. Both men changed the course of human history to a large degree. However, there is an interesting fact about that perhaps you did not know. John Wesley and Abraham Lincoln had extremely difficult marriages.

Wesley was an itinerate preacher who rode his horse from city to city, where he would preach in open-air meetings. His wife would sometimes follow him to some of those meetings where he was preaching and would shout from the back of the audience, “Don’t listen to him. He is a liar! He doesn’t tell the truth. Don’t pay any attention to him!” Can you imagine being in a church service where the pastor’s wife stood in the back of the room and shouted out those kinds of words?

Once, when he was asked why he didn’t pastor one particular church, he said, “The world is my parish.” But I have a sneaking suspicion that John Wesley was simply going from town to town to get out of town or to get away from his wife!

Then there is Abraham Lincoln. He was an attorney who traveled all over the area conducting business and legal cases. And it is a well-known fact that his wife was very negative towards him as well. She may have even been mentally ill. The reason he stayed gone so much was because he just could not handle the difficulties at home.

Although I do not know all the details concerning the married lives of these two men, I do know that neither one of them gave up on their marriage and that, despite their difficulties, they continued to focus on their preparation. When the opportunity arose for John Wesley to preach or for Abraham Lincoln to practice law, they were each well prepared. I am not saying that theirs was the best way possible; I am just pointing out that this principle works, regardless of your circumstances, whether they are good or bad.

What is your situation today? Are things going great for you? If they are, then I am happy for you. Are you experiencing some difficulty in your personal life or business? If so, then I hope things will get better. But, in either case, do not give up on your preparation. Your “mess” will one day become your message! Sooner or later, an opportunity will present itself, and because of your experience and what you have learned through your preparation time, you will be equipped and ready to take the next step forward.

We cannot control when the opportunity will arise, but we can control the preparation part. Most of us would prefer everything to go smoothly, but remember, even if it doesn’t, the circumstances should not prevent us from continuing to prepare ourselves.

You will always be the winner in the future by preparing yourself today!

Tip: Success is when preparation meets opportunity!

Have a great week! God bless you!
Dr. Robert A. Rohm

08/17/2025

Commitment or Quit ... It's Up To You - Harvey Mackay

A chicken and a pig were walking down the road together when they came across a sign for a local charity breakfast that was raising money for a good cause. The sign read, “Ham and Eggs Breakfast: Help Us Raise Money!”

The chicken turned to the pig and said, “Hey, we should contribute to this breakfast!”

The pig thought for a moment and replied, “That's easy for you to say. For you, it's a contribution. For me, it's a total commitment!”

The humor in this story highlights the difference between being involved and being truly committed. While the chicken can simply lay an egg and move on, the pig must give everything for the breakfast. It serves as a reminder that true commitment often requires going beyond the surface level and fully dedicating oneself to the cause at hand.

Walter Cronkite, the legendary evening newsman, said, “I can’t imagine a person becoming a success who doesn’t give this game of life everything he’s got.”

In the pursuit of success, be the pig, not the chicken. Total commitment is where the real impact lies.

Fortunately for us humans, we don’t need to make the same commitment as the pig to be successful. But if a project or a goal or a promise is worth achieving, true commitment will likely require some tough decisions and sacrifices. If something is worth doing, resolve to do it well.

One of my closest friends, Lou Holtz, the Hall-of-Fame college football coach, believes there are four things any person or organization needs to be number one. The first he says, “you have to make a commitment to excellence.” When you are interested in doing something, you do it when circumstances permit. However, when you’re committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results.

Commitment is a prerequisite to success. Commitment is the state of being bound – emotionally, intellectually or both – to a course of action. Commitment starts with a choice and is sustained by dedication and perseverance. Actions speak louder than words.

Have you ever seen a team run on the field yelling, “We want to be number two?” Everyone wants to be number one. Those who actually achieve it are those who are committed enough to put the blood, sweat and tears into their effort.

Commitment in the workplace is a crucial element that drives both personal and organizational success. When employees are committed to their work, they are more likely to be productive, motivated and aligned with the company's goals.

Here are some key aspects of encouraging employee commitment:

Ownership and responsibility. Employees who are committed take ownership of their tasks and responsibilities. They are proactive in seeking solutions and are accountable for their actions.

Engagement and passion. Committed employees are genuinely interested in their work. They find meaning and purpose in their roles, which fuels their passion and enthusiasm.

Continuous improvement. A commitment to work often includes a desire for personal and professional growth. Employees seek opportunities to learn, develop new skills and improve their performance. As managers, it is important to provide development opportunities. Offer training and development programs to help employees grow and advance in their careers.

Alignment with organizational goals. When employees understand and align with the company's mission and values, their commitment strengthens. They see their work as contributing to a larger purpose. Organizations need to ensure that employees understand the company's goals and how their work contributes to them.

Resilience and persistence. Committed employees demonstrate resilience in the face of challenges. They persist through difficulties and remain focused on achieving their objectives.

Teamwork and collaboration. Commitment also involves working well with others. Employees who are committed to their work often foster a collaborative environment, supporting and encouraging their colleagues. Create a supportive and inclusive workplace culture that values employee contributions and well-being.

Recognition. Acknowledge and reward employees for their hard work and achievements to reinforce their commitment.

Set the example. Recognize that commitment starts at the top. Employees can tell the difference between a boss who is just as devoted to the mission and a boss who takes credit while others do the heavy lifting.

In typical form, comedian Bill Murray highlighted one notable exception to this advice when he quipped, “Whatever you do, always give 100%. Unless you’re donating blood.”

Mackay's Moral: Commitment is the fuel that drives the engine of success – nurture it and your organization will thrive.

07/12/2025

It's Hard To Beat Someone Who Never Gives Up - - Harvey Mackay

Tim decided to take up jogging to improve his health. He was determined to run a marathon, even though he had never run more than a mile in his life.

On his first day of training, Tim donned his new running gear and set off with enthusiasm. However, after just a few blocks, he was already out of breath and ready to quit. But Tim was extremely persistent. He thought, “If I can't run, I'll walk.”

So, Tim kept at it, day after day. He jogged and walked through his training sessions. His neighbors would often see him out and about, huffing and puffing, and they'd cheer him on with shouts of encouragement.

Finally, the day of the marathon arrived. As Tim lined up with the other runners, he felt a mix of excitement and dread. But he was determined to finish, no matter what. And finish he did – albeit several hours after the winner crossed the line.

I know exactly what Tim was feeling, having completed 10 marathons in my lifetime and several half-marathons. Perseverance might not make you the fastest, but it will get you to the finish line with a story worth telling!

U.S. President Calvin Coolidge, never a person to waste words, said there was one main ingredient needed in our lives to ensure success. Perseverance.

In business, prospects may seem darkest when really, they are about to turn. A little more perseverance, a little more effort and what seemed a hopeless failure may turn into a glorious success. There is no failure except in no longer trying.

Perseverance is an incredibly important skill set both professionally and personally. It separates the winners from the losers. Those who persevere understand that luck is something only failures believe in. Perseverance is stamina, not intensity. It is continuous work over a long period of time. It serves as the backbone for achieving long-term goals and overcoming the inevitable obstacles that life throws our way.

Perseverance is crucial for career growth. Whether you're aiming for a promotion, starting a new business or tackling a challenging project, the ability to persist in the face of setbacks can set you apart from others.

In the workplace, problems and challenges are commonplace. Perseverance allows you to approach these issues with a mindset geared towards finding solutions rather than being deterred.

Many successful innovations result from persistent efforts to improve or create something new. Perseverance fuels the drive to keep experimenting until you find the right solution.

Whether it's learning a new skill, getting fit or pursuing a personal passion, perseverance helps you stay committed to your goals despite the challenges you might encounter.

Life is full of ups and downs. Perseverance helps build resilience, enabling you to bounce back from failures and continue moving forward.

The journey of personal development often involves stepping out of your comfort zone. Perseverance helps you continue to grow and evolve, even when the path is difficult.

As I often say, “Those who endure, conquer.” Perseverance enables you to push through adversity, much like the stories of Michelangelo painting the Sistine Chapel or NASA's repeated attempts to reach space.

Perseverance can help you build a legacy of achievements, muscling through when faced with numerous challenges on the path to success.

Perseverance is the fuel that powers the engine of success, both professionally and personally. Keep pushing forward, and you'll find that the journey is just as rewarding as the destination.

One day two frogs were hopping in and out of a watering hole and accidentally hopped in an extremely deep hole. They tried to leap out, but had no success, so they began to yell and croak until other frogs heard them and came to help. The other frogs said the hole was too deep for them to help, but both frogs kept leaping up the sides of the hole. They leaped for hours and one of the frogs just gave up and died. The other frog in the hole kept leaping, even though the other frogs kept yelling at him to stop and give up.

Finally, the frog leaped so high that he was able to leap to the top of the hole and used his back legs to push himself up out of the hole. The frog that got out of the hole thanked the other frogs for egging him on. The other frogs didn't know that this frog was actually deaf.

Mackay’s Moral: Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after another.