mentor who do you think of chances are they have something you need not
they have something you need not
they have something you need not materially but they can offer you
materially but they can offer you
materially but they can offer you something in a way that no one else can
something in a way that no one else can
something in a way that no one else can often at a time when you need them most
often at a time when you need them most
often at a time when you need them most I’ve had many mentors some I met and
I’ve had many mentors some I met and
I’ve had many mentors some I met and some I haven’t but their actions have
some I haven’t but their actions have
some I haven’t but their actions have inspired me to think bigger and be
inspired me to think bigger and be
inspired me to think bigger and be better and create more you may know them
better and create more you may know them
better and create more you may know them Oprah Jim Rohn Maya Angelou my parents
Oprah Jim Rohn Maya Angelou my parents
Oprah Jim Rohn Maya Angelou my parents and Yoda because the force is definitely
and Yoda because the force is definitely
and Yoda because the force is definitely with me but there has been one special
with me but there has been one special
with me but there has been one special unexpected mentor that ultimately
unexpected mentor that ultimately
unexpected mentor that ultimately changed the course of my life that
changed the course of my life that
changed the course of my life that mentor has four legs and her name is
mentor has four legs and her name is
mentor has four legs and her name is cotton in 2005 I began a successful
cotton in 2005 I began a successful
cotton in 2005 I began a successful career in real estate in Houston Texas
career in real estate in Houston Texas
career in real estate in Houston Texas but after a few years houses became more
but after a few years houses became more
but after a few years houses became more difficult to sell and money definitely
difficult to sell and money definitely
difficult to sell and money definitely became more difficult to keep
became more difficult to keep
became more difficult to keep overwhelmed by the market crash I fell
overwhelmed by the market crash I fell
overwhelmed by the market crash I fell into this depression and hopelessness
into this depression and hopelessness
into this depression and hopelessness that seemed to swallow me whole but in a
that seemed to swallow me whole but in a
that seemed to swallow me whole but in a moment of clarity motivated by pain I
moment of clarity motivated by pain I
moment of clarity motivated by pain I found the courage to ask for help but
found the courage to ask for help but
found the courage to ask for help but even as I was getting back on my feet I
even as I was getting back on my feet I
even as I was getting back on my feet I still felt lost misdirected and often
still felt lost misdirected and often
still felt lost misdirected and often thought is this all there is I was
thought is this all there is I was
thought is this all there is I was working at a law firm
working at a law firm
working at a law firm bored and unhappy and one day a woman
bored and unhappy and one day a woman
bored and unhappy and one day a woman brought a box of puppies to the office
brought a box of puppies to the office
brought a box of puppies to the office they were tiny emaciated and covered in
they were tiny emaciated and covered in
they were tiny emaciated and covered in fleas I picked up the one with the black
fleas I picked up the one with the black
fleas I picked up the one with the black patch on her eye and I decided she was
patch on her eye and I decided she was
patch on her eye and I decided she was mine
mine
mine go straight to the VAT where they told
go straight to the VAT where they told
go straight to the VAT where they told me that she may not make it but with
me that she may not make it but with
me that she may not make it but with lots of love and care she survived and I
lots of love and care she survived and I
lots of love and care she survived and I realized when I looked at her that I
realized when I looked at her that I
realized when I looked at her that I would survive too as cotton grew I
would survive too as cotton grew I
would survive too as cotton grew I watched her vet behaviour very closely
watched her vet behaviour very closely
watched her vet behaviour very closely and in a very simple way those behaviors
and in a very simple way those behaviors
and in a very simple way those behaviors started to teach me exactly what I
started to teach me exactly what I
started to teach me exactly what I needed to know when I found power in the
needed to know when I found power in the
needed to know when I found power in the words I don’t know it was where the real
words I don’t know it was where the real
words I don’t know it was where the real learning could begin let me share with
learning could begin let me share with
learning could begin let me share with you five lessons that I learned from my
you five lessons that I learned from my
you five lessons that I learned from my mentor cotton number one see it one
mentor cotton number one see it one
mentor cotton number one see it one night I was out walking cotton it was
night I was out walking cotton it was
night I was out walking cotton it was really dark and probably too late at
really dark and probably too late at
really dark and probably too late at night and we were walking along and
night and we were walking along and
night and we were walking along and suddenly she stopped
suddenly she stopped
suddenly she stopped she’d crouched down and she started to
she’d crouched down and she started to
she’d crouched down and she started to growl under her breath I was petrified
growl under her breath I was petrified
growl under her breath I was petrified and felt confident it was a murderer so
and felt confident it was a murderer so
and felt confident it was a murderer so I tugged on her leash to get her the
I tugged on her leash to get her the
I tugged on her leash to get her the heck out of there and not five steps
heck out of there and not five steps
heck out of there and not five steps later did I almost step on a snake okay
later did I almost step on a snake okay
later did I almost step on a snake okay maybe it was an armadillo or possibly
maybe it was an armadillo or possibly
maybe it was an armadillo or possibly just an adorable black cat I’m not
just an adorable black cat I’m not
just an adorable black cat I’m not really sure and that’s not the point the
really sure and that’s not the point the
really sure and that’s not the point the point is that cotton could see something
point is that cotton could see something
point is that cotton could see something there that I couldn’t see it wasn’t too
there that I couldn’t see it wasn’t too
there that I couldn’t see it wasn’t too long after that night that I had decided
long after that night that I had decided
long after that night that I had decided to start my business I told everyone
to start my business I told everyone
to start my business I told everyone about my idea and I did not get the
about my idea and I did not get the
about my idea and I did not get the reaction that I expected some people
reaction that I expected some people
reaction that I expected some people discourage me from even trying some
discourage me from even trying some
discourage me from even trying some people laughed and some people told me
people laughed and some people told me
people laughed and some people told me it was just flat-out stupid see because
it was just flat-out stupid see because
it was just flat-out stupid see because of cotton I had decided to make dog
of cotton I had decided to make dog
of cotton I had decided to make dog treats for a living
treats for a living
treats for a living I started out selling them for 50 cents
I started out selling them for 50 cents
I started out selling them for 50 cents apiece at farmers markets making about
apiece at farmers markets making about
apiece at farmers markets making about 20 bucks every Saturday I was really
20 bucks every Saturday I was really
20 bucks every Saturday I was really raking that in but I still knew that
raking that in but I still knew that
raking that in but I still knew that Cotton’s cafe would be way more than dog
Cotton’s cafe would be way more than dog
Cotton’s cafe would be way more than dog treats not only would they be good
treats not only would they be good
treats not only would they be good enough for us
enough for us
enough for us to eat but they would also support local
to eat but they would also support local
to eat but they would also support local farmers
farmers
farmers it would give jobs to good people that
it would give jobs to good people that
it would give jobs to good people that had made some bad choices and hopefully
had made some bad choices and hopefully
had made some bad choices and hopefully it would allow me to help other
it would allow me to help other
it would allow me to help other entrepreneurs just like cotton seeing
entrepreneurs just like cotton seeing
entrepreneurs just like cotton seeing that snake like armadillo with the
that snake like armadillo with the
that snake like armadillo with the cattail I didn’t need others to see it
cattail I didn’t need others to see it
cattail I didn’t need others to see it for my dream to be there you know I’ve
for my dream to be there you know I’ve
for my dream to be there you know I’ve heard it said there are those who make
heard it said there are those who make
heard it said there are those who make things happen those who watch things
things happen those who watch things
things happen those who watch things happen and those who don’t know what
happen and those who don’t know what
happen and those who don’t know what happens and I could see it so clearly I
happens and I could see it so clearly I
happens and I could see it so clearly I was gonna make Cotton’s cafe happen
was gonna make Cotton’s cafe happen
was gonna make Cotton’s cafe happen number two
number two
number two catch it cotton loves to go to the dog
catch it cotton loves to go to the dog
catch it cotton loves to go to the dog park and she loves to play frisbee and
park and she loves to play frisbee and
park and she loves to play frisbee and when I’d throw it for she plans to catch
when I’d throw it for she plans to catch
when I’d throw it for she plans to catch it every single time
it every single time
it every single time but her average is a bit like Babe Ruth
but her average is a bit like Babe Ruth
but her average is a bit like Babe Ruth she strikes out as often as she gets the
she strikes out as often as she gets the
she strikes out as often as she gets the home run but I promise you when she
home run but I promise you when she
home run but I promise you when she misses she doesn’t look at the ground
misses she doesn’t look at the ground
misses she doesn’t look at the ground and think it’s the only frisbee that
and think it’s the only frisbee that
and think it’s the only frisbee that will ever be thrown her way again she
will ever be thrown her way again she
will ever be thrown her way again she doesn’t roll around and self-doubt and
doesn’t roll around and self-doubt and
doesn’t roll around and self-doubt and wonder if she could have done it better
wonder if she could have done it better
wonder if she could have done it better and she doesn’t look around at the other
and she doesn’t look around at the other
and she doesn’t look around at the other dogs in the park to see what they
dogs in the park to see what they
dogs in the park to see what they thought of her performance she simply
thought of her performance she simply
thought of her performance she simply picks up the frisbee brings it back and
picks up the frisbee brings it back and
picks up the frisbee brings it back and looks for the next opportunity I
looks for the next opportunity I
looks for the next opportunity I recently made a deal with a national
recently made a deal with a national
recently made a deal with a national retailer to put our treats in 1,700
retailer to put our treats in 1,700
retailer to put our treats in 1,700 stores I was ecstatic I told everyone
stores I was ecstatic I told everyone
stores I was ecstatic I told everyone about the deal and I even walked around
about the deal and I even walked around
about the deal and I even walked around in a hat with their company logo on it I
in a hat with their company logo on it I
in a hat with their company logo on it I was committed to it but right before the
was committed to it but right before the
was committed to it but right before the order was placed they told me that they
order was placed they told me that they
order was placed they told me that they had decided to go in a different
had decided to go in a different
had decided to go in a different direction I don’t know if anyone else
direction I don’t know if anyone else
direction I don’t know if anyone else has ever heard those words before but I
has ever heard those words before but I
has ever heard those words before but I was devastated not only had I made a
was devastated not only had I made a
was devastated not only had I made a significant financial investment but I
significant financial investment but I
significant financial investment but I was embarrassed and disappointed it felt
was embarrassed and disappointed it felt
was embarrassed and disappointed it felt like a really good time to quit and just
like a really good time to quit and just
like a really good time to quit and just hang it all up but then I thought of
hang it all up but then I thought of
hang it all up but then I thought of cotton and I knew I needed to get ready
cotton and I knew I needed to get ready
cotton and I knew I needed to get ready for the next opportunity
for the next opportunity
for the next opportunity so I shrugged my shoulders and I got
so I shrugged my shoulders and I got
so I shrugged my shoulders and I got back in the game I knew if I continued
back in the game I knew if I continued
back in the game I knew if I continued to go for it over and over again I would
to go for it over and over again I would
to go for it over and over again I would eventually succeed number three
eventually succeed number three
eventually succeed number three dig it okay I will have you know that
dig it okay I will have you know that
dig it okay I will have you know that cotton is a very avid hole digger and
cotton is a very avid hole digger and
cotton is a very avid hole digger and she does it with passion and it’s all
she does it with passion and it’s all
she does it with passion and it’s all because of a certain resident mole that
because of a certain resident mole that
because of a certain resident mole that decided to make our backyard home so the
decided to make our backyard home so the
decided to make our backyard home so the weekly routine was cotton digs hole
weekly routine was cotton digs hole
weekly routine was cotton digs hole Janet Phil’s hole and the mole stays on
Janet Phil’s hole and the mole stays on
Janet Phil’s hole and the mole stays on patrol and ravit so this went on for a
patrol and ravit so this went on for a
patrol and ravit so this went on for a while until one day cotton actually
while until one day cotton actually
while until one day cotton actually caught the mole so I beg and bribing I
caught the mole so I beg and bribing I
caught the mole so I beg and bribing I convinced her to drop the mole in my
convinced her to drop the mole in my
convinced her to drop the mole in my hand and that mole returned the favor by
hand and that mole returned the favor by
hand and that mole returned the favor by biting me on the hand which was quickly
biting me on the hand which was quickly
biting me on the hand which was quickly followed by an ER visit and a tetanus
followed by an ER visit and a tetanus
followed by an ER visit and a tetanus shot but one day I got smart I decided
shot but one day I got smart I decided
shot but one day I got smart I decided instead of simply filling the holes I
instead of simply filling the holes I
instead of simply filling the holes I would plant something in each one this
would plant something in each one this
would plant something in each one this resulted in no more mole less holes and
resulted in no more mole less holes and
resulted in no more mole less holes and a lovely dog design landscape by my dog
a lovely dog design landscape by my dog
a lovely dog design landscape by my dog cotton you know some of the most
cotton you know some of the most
cotton you know some of the most inspirational people I know are magnets
inspirational people I know are magnets
inspirational people I know are magnets for success and what they all seem to
for success and what they all seem to
for success and what they all seem to have in common
have in common
have in common just like cotton is perpetual passion
just like cotton is perpetual passion
just like cotton is perpetual passion well that wasn’t really my experience in
well that wasn’t really my experience in
well that wasn’t really my experience in the beginning of creating Cotton’s cafe
the beginning of creating Cotton’s cafe
the beginning of creating Cotton’s cafe I had passion enthusiasm determination
I had passion enthusiasm determination
I had passion enthusiasm determination motivation is great but as time went on
motivation is great but as time went on
motivation is great but as time went on the problems kept presenting themselves
the problems kept presenting themselves
the problems kept presenting themselves and the obstacles just seemed
and the obstacles just seemed
and the obstacles just seemed insurmountable and I began to lose my
insurmountable and I began to lose my
insurmountable and I began to lose my passion and I comfortably rested hiding
passion and I comfortably rested hiding
passion and I comfortably rested hiding in between fear of failure and even fear
in between fear of failure and even fear
in between fear of failure and even fear of success and suddenly I had developed
of success and suddenly I had developed
of success and suddenly I had developed the disease of complacency but the only
the disease of complacency but the only
the disease of complacency but the only way to change was to remember that I
way to change was to remember that I
way to change was to remember that I needed to find my mole I needed to catch
needed to find my mole I needed to catch
needed to find my mole I needed to catch my mole and what that looked like for me
my mole and what that looked like for me
my mole and what that looked like for me was remembering all the people I was
was remembering all the people I was
was remembering all the people I was helping
helping
helping more importantly remember all the people
more importantly remember all the people
more importantly remember all the people that were helping willing to help me it
that were helping willing to help me it
that were helping willing to help me it was only then that I could see that
was only then that I could see that
was only then that I could see that there was a greater purpose to all that
there was a greater purpose to all that
there was a greater purpose to all that we were doing so then I could dig in
we were doing so then I could dig in
we were doing so then I could dig in take some action and remember that
take some action and remember that
take some action and remember that passion number four okay
passion number four okay
passion number four okay curl it please don’t make fun of me but
curl it please don’t make fun of me but
curl it please don’t make fun of me but I am a doggy cam owner all right I’ve
I am a doggy cam owner all right I’ve
I am a doggy cam owner all right I’ve got his shoes but anyway I love to keep
got his shoes but anyway I love to keep
got his shoes but anyway I love to keep an eye on my dog when I’m working or
an eye on my dog when I’m working or
an eye on my dog when I’m working or traveling and nine times out of ten
traveling and nine times out of ten
traveling and nine times out of ten she’s just curled up in a 70-pound donut
she’s just curled up in a 70-pound donut
she’s just curled up in a 70-pound donut asleep on her favorite chair but
asleep on her favorite chair but
asleep on her favorite chair but occasionally I will catch her running in
occasionally I will catch her running in
occasionally I will catch her running in her sleep and she’s just pawing at the
her sleep and she’s just pawing at the
her sleep and she’s just pawing at the air nine times out of ten she’s probably
air nine times out of ten she’s probably
air nine times out of ten she’s probably chasing squirrels or frisbees or even
chasing squirrels or frisbees or even
chasing squirrels or frisbees or even her brother coconut but what’s clear to
her brother coconut but what’s clear to
her brother coconut but what’s clear to me is that she knows when to rest and
me is that she knows when to rest and
me is that she knows when to rest and she makes it a priority in her day for
she makes it a priority in her day for
she makes it a priority in her day for me I can often become overwhelmed by the
me I can often become overwhelmed by the
me I can often become overwhelmed by the demands on my time this results in an
demands on my time this results in an
demands on my time this results in an emotional implosion or worse
emotional implosion or worse
emotional implosion or worse explosion affecting everyone around me
explosion affecting everyone around me
explosion affecting everyone around me and then I’m stuck with a perspective
and then I’m stuck with a perspective
and then I’m stuck with a perspective problem but I’ve heard it said if you
problem but I’ve heard it said if you
problem but I’ve heard it said if you change the way you look at things the
change the way you look at things the
change the way you look at things the things you look at change in order to do
things you look at change in order to do
things you look at change in order to do this for me
this for me
this for me often that meant I had to get some rest
often that meant I had to get some rest
often that meant I had to get some rest get grateful and get centered when I did
get grateful and get centered when I did
get grateful and get centered when I did that I knew that I needed the rest
that I knew that I needed the rest
that I knew that I needed the rest and the world would seem like a better
and the world would seem like a better
and the world would seem like a better place number five lick it
place number five lick it
place number five lick it okay I probably need to explain this
okay I probably need to explain this
okay I probably need to explain this word a little bit but one day I was
word a little bit but one day I was
word a little bit but one day I was outside it was a beautiful day warm and
outside it was a beautiful day warm and
outside it was a beautiful day warm and sunny and I was trying to meditate and
sunny and I was trying to meditate and
sunny and I was trying to meditate and feel that calm in the midst of the storm
feel that calm in the midst of the storm
feel that calm in the midst of the storm but rather than feeling calm I felt
but rather than feeling calm I felt
but rather than feeling calm I felt overwhelmed by fear of the future and
overwhelmed by fear of the future and
overwhelmed by fear of the future and regrets of the past and tears started to
regrets of the past and tears started to
regrets of the past and tears started to stream down my face from 20 yards away
stream down my face from 20 yards away
stream down my face from 20 yards away cotton could see
cotton could see
cotton could see that I was upset she came running at me
that I was upset she came running at me
that I was upset she came running at me full speed she lifted her eyes to mine
full speed she lifted her eyes to mine
full speed she lifted her eyes to mine and she began to lick the tears off my
and she began to lick the tears off my
and she began to lick the tears off my face I was astonished at her level of
face I was astonished at her level of
face I was astonished at her level of compassion and then I began to wonder if
compassion and then I began to wonder if
compassion and then I began to wonder if compassion were a natural instinct for
compassion were a natural instinct for
compassion were a natural instinct for my dog was it also a natural instinct
my dog was it also a natural instinct
my dog was it also a natural instinct for me
for me
for me had it been buried by mistakes regrets
had it been buried by mistakes regrets
had it been buried by mistakes regrets and lack of trust the answer was yes I
and lack of trust the answer was yes I
and lack of trust the answer was yes I hate to admit this but compassion had
hate to admit this but compassion had
hate to admit this but compassion had become almost non-existent in my world
become almost non-existent in my world
become almost non-existent in my world but in order to change I had to learn to
but in order to change I had to learn to
but in order to change I had to learn to be compassionate with myself first and
be compassionate with myself first and
be compassionate with myself first and that included letting the tears flow
that included letting the tears flow
that included letting the tears flow making room for forgiveness moving from
making room for forgiveness moving from
making room for forgiveness moving from the feeling of undeserving to deserving
the feeling of undeserving to deserving
the feeling of undeserving to deserving the best and to get into acceptance of
the best and to get into acceptance of
the best and to get into acceptance of my perfect imperfection and get grateful
my perfect imperfection and get grateful
my perfect imperfection and get grateful for the woman I was becoming it was only
for the woman I was becoming it was only
for the woman I was becoming it was only then that I could offer this to other
then that I could offer this to other
then that I could offer this to other people
people
people what if compassion were the lens that we
what if compassion were the lens that we
what if compassion were the lens that we looked through to see the other people
looked through to see the other people
looked through to see the other people in our lives now I’m not saying we
in our lives now I’m not saying we
in our lives now I’m not saying we should lick each other on the face every
should lick each other on the face every
should lick each other on the face every day but what I am saying is if we pay
day but what I am saying is if we pay
day but what I am saying is if we pay close attention to how others feel and
close attention to how others feel and
close attention to how others feel and try to see where they are coming from we
try to see where they are coming from we
try to see where they are coming from we could very easily develop a culture of
could very easily develop a culture of
could very easily develop a culture of compassion
compassion
compassion so rather than leading with stress worry
so rather than leading with stress worry
so rather than leading with stress worry anxiety that seemed all too common in
anxiety that seemed all too common in
anxiety that seemed all too common in our world today what if we lad with a
our world today what if we lad with a
our world today what if we lad with a hug a smile or even a kind word I
hug a smile or even a kind word I
hug a smile or even a kind word I believe if we do these little things we
believe if we do these little things we
believe if we do these little things we could change our world in a big way I
could change our world in a big way I
could change our world in a big way I remember the day that I took cotton home
remember the day that I took cotton home
remember the day that I took cotton home she was tiny she weighed one pound
she was tiny she weighed one pound
she was tiny she weighed one pound I had never owned a dog
I had never owned a dog
I had never owned a dog by myself before so I was scared to even
by myself before so I was scared to even
by myself before so I was scared to even hold her so I had her wrapped in this
hold her so I had her wrapped in this
hold her so I had her wrapped in this big towel and I kept her close to my
big towel and I kept her close to my
big towel and I kept her close to my chest I didn’t know what to do so I just
chest I didn’t know what to do so I just
chest I didn’t know what to do so I just began to talk to her I don’t remember
began to talk to her I don’t remember
began to talk to her I don’t remember everything I said that day but I do
everything I said that day but I do
everything I said that day but I do remember saying thank you thank you
remember saying thank you thank you
remember saying thank you thank you because I could feel my heart begin to
because I could feel my heart begin to
because I could feel my heart begin to beat again thank you because I knew she
beat again thank you because I knew she
beat again thank you because I knew she was gonna save me from this broken life
was gonna save me from this broken life
was gonna save me from this broken life and broken heart but most of all I
and broken heart but most of all I
and broken heart but most of all I remember saying thank you because I felt
remember saying thank you because I felt
remember saying thank you because I felt hope you know a mentor can come in many
hope you know a mentor can come in many
hope you know a mentor can come in many shapes and forms mine just happens to be
shapes and forms mine just happens to be
shapes and forms mine just happens to be a dog now I don’t expect you to go home
a dog now I don’t expect you to go home
a dog now I don’t expect you to go home and stare at your dog until they do
and stare at your dog until they do
and stare at your dog until they do something inspiring but what I do hope
something inspiring but what I do hope
something inspiring but what I do hope is that you keep an open mind stay open
is that you keep an open mind stay open
is that you keep an open mind stay open to unlikely mentors that can change your
to unlikely mentors that can change your
to unlikely mentors that can change your life
life
life I hope what I learned from cotton will
I hope what I learned from cotton will
I hope what I learned from cotton will inspire you to see all the opportunities
inspire you to see all the opportunities
inspire you to see all the opportunities around you and catch them I hope you dig
around you and catch them I hope you dig
around you and catch them I hope you dig in with your passion and you curl up and
in with your passion and you curl up and
in with your passion and you curl up and rest when you need to but most
rest when you need to but most
rest when you need to but most importantly I hope that you lead with
importantly I hope that you lead with
importantly I hope that you lead with compassion be kind be gentle be loving
compassion be kind be gentle be loving
compassion be kind be gentle be loving when we realize these natural instincts
when we realize these natural instincts
when we realize these natural instincts are who we really are our success in
are who we really are our success in
are who we really are our success in life is guaranteed thank you
”
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