About Me
I don’t think anyone really likes talking about themselves (well… I can think of a couple of exceptions along the way), but in all fairness you may be wondering who I am. If so, you deserve to know a little about me.
I’ll give you a quick bio, but would rather focus on my personal values.
This is going to be quick…
I grew up in Kansas City, Missouri in a great home with wonderful parents. Honors in high school and college, where I majored in engineering. Served in the Navy as a Civil Engineer. Got a few decorations and awards. Picked up a Master’s in Engineering that the Navy paid for (it’s not just a job), and got licensed as a Professional Engineer in Virginia.
Yada, yada… a nice life by all respects.
It does not matter where you come from or what your education level is. It does not even matter what you’ve done or accomplished. Life is not about fancy cars or big houses or how much money you make. Those things can be a trap.
There’s nothing wrong with having nice things. Please don’t get me wrong. I like nice things. Given a choice between an old beat up Ford and a new Lexus, I’ll take the Lexus. But they are both just a car. Life is more than things.
Life is something to enjoy and to share. Friendships, caring and helping others… these are accomplishments to be truly proud of. My greatest rewards have not come in the form of medals, or awards, or plaques or other honors. But in the sincere gratitude when someone says “Scott, thanks for what you did.”
This blog, this “system”, these ideas and tools are for you.
I started blogging in November 2006 after retiring from engineering. It was the beginning of a project I created for myself. I’m including a couple of posts from that blog so you don’t have to go find them on an old site. These are edited slightly just to keep them a little shorter than they were.
What I wrote then is still true today.
Here’s the first…
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Who Is Scott Douglas?
Please let me introduce myself…
I am a successful engineer who holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering and a Professional Engineering license.
The majority of my career was spent working as an engineer and successful consultant to government agencies where I designed and implemented management policies and strategies. My skills as a problem solver, innovator, public speaker, seminar leader, and trainer have been sought after in local governments, and on a national level in Washington circles.
My life has been built on a belief system that I was raised with…work hard, get a good education, treat others fairly, get a good job, live happily ever after…
Two years ago that changed.
I envisioned more from life and knew that my abilities were worth more than a guaranteed salary as an employee. I dreamed of working hard and serving others while spending more time on personal hobbies and giving back to the community. I wanted to transition my life from working to living.
After 20 years of serving the government, I walked away from my job and began living my dream. Today I am building my life on service to others.
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This last one was originally two posts that I’ve condensed below about my purpose and chosen mission in life. Thanks for letting me share…
Friday, November 03, 2006
My Purpose in Life
Core Values and Beliefs
For a few years I struggled over the “meaning of life.” Who am I and why am I here? Something about the personality of an engineer makes them ask a lot of “why” and “how” questions. It’s in my nature.
I think at some point we all ask ourselves these questions. It’s not just engineers that search for the meaning of life…we all do. The answer to my question is based on my core values and beliefs. The Christian, Jewish, and Muslim faiths all share a common belief in a Creator of the universe and everything in it. I share this belief, that there is one God and he created me for a purpose. What is that purpose? Why did he create me?
“The Lord has told you, human, what is good;
he has told you what he wants from you:
to do what is right to other people,
love being kind to others,
and live humbly, obeying your God.”
- Micah 6:8
Experts of the Old Testament law asked Jesus this question to test him: “Teacher, which command in the law is the most important.” Jesus said to them that the most important command is to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.” He then added a second command like the first: “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.”
Each of us, as a unique individual, has the free will to decide what we are going to do with this life. We can choose to believe whatever we want. We can refuse to believe there is a God, and decide to live entirely for our own pleasure and self-fulfillment. Go for the gusto! Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die.
As for me…I choose to believe in the Lord of all creation. This is NOT simply a blind faith or positive thinking on my part. I have been blessed in that God Himself has touched me in the deepest parts, and I KNOW by EXPERIENCE that He is Lord. This is the truth that set me free. I am not god…He is. That is true freedom. Knowing this, how can I not serve Him?
My Purpose
Why did I spend so much time talking about my core beliefs? What does that have to do with my purpose, mission and strategic plan? Everything. As you will see, all the rest of the pieces begin to fit with ease. Life makes sense and things start to fall into place without so much chaos and confusion.
My purpose in life is simply to do what God requires of me…
Love God and love my neighbor.
There you have it… my “secret” to a successful life. If my tombstone can read “He loved God and his neighbor,” then I will have been successful.
My Mission
A great deal has been published on the topic of finding one’s mission. Much is built on the idea that your mission is “out there somewhere” and you have to find it.
Have you ever been told that God has a specially designed job just waiting for you? That may actually be the case for some people. However, in the stories that I have heard regarding this, God has made it very clearly evident to those people exactly what and where the job is. I personally have not seen any “writing on the wall” or audible commands to “go to Nineveh!”
More often God places our mission or “calling” within our hearts. We are born with unique gifts, abilities, and desires that come together in a career path that is most suited to us. The answer is not “out there” but inside each of us. That is where I have looked for my answer. A small voice inside of me asked, “Scott, what do you want to do with your abilities?”
I now have a great many possibilities in front of me, so long as they satisfy my purpose in life. My past is full of a variety of missions, projects, and jobs that I have undertaken with varying degrees of success. Some I enjoyed, others I certainly did not enjoy. The point is that there have been many, NOT JUST ONE MISSION. Even if God sends you on a specific mission, it may not be your life-long mission.
So I have CREATED a new mission to set out upon. No one else said, “Scott, go do this!” It is something that I have designed for myself, to satisfy my purpose and fulfill my God-given desires.
Part 1 – The Need
In the past, I have set out more than once on a mission to start a home-based business to earn extra income while helping other people. In each instance, I successfully reached friends and family with the good news and mission of the company I represented.
I also quickly ran out of prospects. I became part of a well-known statistic that 70 to 80% of people who get involved in network marketing quit after about three months. My mind could not comprehend why something that looked so simple on paper could be so difficult or seemingly impossible to achieve.
Compounding the problem, the internet is flooded with “Success Systems” and “Secret Formulas” that take advantage of the uninformed looking for an “easy way” to riches. These tactics have given the industry a bad reputation.
Word-of-Mouth advertising by non-professional marketing teams are a proven effective method for a corporation to build a large client base and “sales” force. However, as the statistics show, most individuals are left disillusioned and frustrated in their efforts.
The reality is that in any network marketing or multi-level marketing organization, solid and profitable growth can only be achieved through proper marketing techniques. Advertising and marketing are the keys to effective sales, and people must put forth the effort to understand and use sound practices.
Part 2 – The Vision
To help create a new generation of Network Marketers who understand the fundamentals of sales and marketing. The “secrets” of how Network Marketing actually works will be available for anyone, not just the top insiders. Those who truly have a desire will have the knowledge required to be successful in the industry. The people who fail will only be those who do not work to succeed.
Part 3 – The Mission
Expose the Network Marketing industry. Educate people on how it truly works so they no longer feel like they were tricked, scammed, or taken advantage of. Help Network Marketers think “outside of the box”. Teach people the real market forces behind success or failure in sales and marketing.
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NOTE: That was written before I read “Stop Being a Victim” or was introduced to Dave Gray and the $5 Franchise. Perhaps this post has shed some light on why that book is what I’ve chosen to base my business plan on. Sharing Dave’s book has become part of my mission. Teaching other people how to market and sell that book fulfills my mission.
12 Comments:
Scott. Your life has been a distinctive one and I admire more and more what I am coming to know about you.
Thank you for letting me know who I’m dealing with; and thank you for the opportunity to share your vision and mission, for I too, see the need that you see, and have the same desire that you have to satisfy it.
Thanks
Alex Wilson
Hey Scott,
While reading your post, I realized that you were talking my mind, my concerns, and my feelings. You did what I always wanted to, but never could take one step towards it.
instead of being able to help others, I myself was much in need of help. I am thankful to God that he guided me towards you. The kind of God awareness you possess is inspiring at the least. I joined to make money but now I am proud to be associated with you. bravo!! regards,
Hi Scott,
I don’t often post back on these type of blog things! but I just had to let you know what an inspiring guy you are.
I’m still really getting set up with your system and I picked it over dozens! I myself am very thorough in what I do, defeat isn’t an option I like to consider, I just know that I will be guided by God in everything I do. If I get things wrong help is always there because I know there ARE people like yourself out there that have done the work to create the genuine article to help others, and I know I’m going to find them.
Your comments are really helpful and ‘Stop being a victim’, as you said, is the most poignant piece of reading I have done for a few months.
Your system and your whole philosophy on life go hand in hand and I’m sure are going to be an inspiration to help thousands more become successful in their quest.
I for one will help you spread the word.
All the best.
Thank you for sharing your philosophy with me and letting me be aware that as new as I am, I will succeed and will also be enabled to help others do the same. I have always known that I am here to help others but first, you must help yourself. Your guidance is so appreciated. God bless you!
I just got signed up here today and after you telling us about yourself and what your core values are I appreciate being here all the more. I share your core values in every way as far as I can see so far.
I believe that the one true God put each and every individual here for a specific purpose and that purpose is that we eventually become like Him. No wonder we are to love Him with all of our hearts, our souls, and our beings and also to love our neighbors as ourselves.
Life consists of much more than how much money we can make, it also consists of how much we can do to help others!
May God bless you in your efforts as you continue to be a blessing to the rest of us!
J.V.
Scott, this is the first time I’ve read your blog. I had a good feeling about you just from the way you present the teprofits and the fact that you are working with Dave, who I also admire very much. But now…all I can say is it’s good to know you Brother.
I honestly believe that we’re all put here on this earth for one reason and that’s to help others and to share in the responsibility.
I’ve often heard it said that great minds think alike or GMTA. But I think it’s more like GMTU – God’s mind through us.
God bless you!
Becky
Very good indeed, I love the way you approach this
Anthony
Thank you so much Scott for revealing yourself and sharing with us. I have shared many of these thoughts but never really got around to committing it to writing.
A lack of focus and direction has forced me to deal with so many needless challenges. I see now that my most pressing need is to solidify my foundation.
It has become quite apparent that I have been building my business from the outside-in instead of the other way around. No wonder I have been so frustrated.
God has planted within each of us a ‘Seed Of Greatness’. It is up to each of us to find the seed, nurture it and let it bloom for the benefit of others. That is what I usually think about when I wonder about ‘How’ and ‘Why’.
Bill
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Thanks, Bill. In my older age (LOL) I have come to a place where “because God made me that way” is the best answer to some of those ‘How’ and ‘Why’ questions. A little introspection goes a long way. :~)
Scott
Mr. Scott,
I’ve just joined. It is very encouraging and heart warming to know that i am with people who know their God and the purpose why they do something. The more i am inspired to work on what is needed to be done for me to be able to also share my life to others.
Thanks
Elmer
Hi Scott,
Thank you so much for sharing to us your core values and beliefs , also your needs, vision, and mission. This will inspire us to promote your mission to help others do the same so that everybody will be happy with your ideas by following and doing them.
Excellent!
Jessmond
Wow. I didn’t know. I was checking out some lead-generation systems, to see which one I should use, as I get ready to finally start marketing online as a not-for-profit social entrepreneur, after a year and 7 months of distractions and delays.
And I think God led me to your About Me page. Partly to show me what kind of person’s running TEP and who’s behind you in your efforts, which to me is very encouraging.
And partly to remind me that I need to let my light shine in this industry plagued by cynicism and greed by some and frustration and disappointment by others, and show them a better way, both financially and spiritually.
But also that I need to encourage myself and other believers to remember, in the midst of a busy day, what we’re here for. And the importance of starting each day by spending quality time with God, as failing to do so negatively affects us and those with whom we come in contact, for that whole day. Trust me, I know.
Thank you, Scott, for TEP, for letting your light shine and for reminding and encouraging us to remember who’s really in control and what really matters in these exciting, yet troubling times.
That the misery caused by affluenza is never worth it. Only a life of loving service to others, guided by our wise and caring Father.
Brent Ashworth
P.S. If this is a very sore subject for you, because you have trouble seeing God that way, wondering “Where was God?” during your or a loved one’s darkest times, or “Where is God now?” during disasters, or when you’re dealing with divorce, the loss of a loved one, the loss of your job, maybe also your home…
…a persecuted refugee in Bible times said, from personal experience, that in his case, even then God was leading him, even then, He was holding and comforting him. To hear why others with similar experiences agree, I encourage you to listen to the video on my website.
Thank you so much for sharing of yourself, Scott. I think also Brent Ashworth’s comment says it all for me too.