Yep, I'm 40!

On September 4th I turned 40 years young! 40 is a scary number for a lot of people. For me, I think "really?"

Growing up you think of 30 and 40 being old. You think of it as looking old. You think of it as you can't do anything.

For me, 40 is a rebirth. It's the start of
a lot of new things in my life. Lots of possibilities. I'm a brand new dad. I'm still a new husband. I just got a new job. I'm also looking to make my speaking into something big.

I completely understand what people mean when they say that "age is nothing but a number." I've had 40 good years do far, but I'm looking to make the next 40 amazing!

Thank you everyone for all the emails, phone calls and Facebook posts.

Enjoy the pictures of the cake Kelly made for me and lunch I had with Kelly and some friends! I had 3 other friends who share the same birthday with me. I had lunch with 3 if them and congratulated the 3rd, who just happens to be a new dad too. Funny how life works

The BAD BAD Apples Facebook page!

To learn more about my speaking and to get even more inspiration, be sure to follow our facebook page too!

https://www.facebook.com/BADBADApples

My other blog!

Did you know I've got two blogs? I have a blog for my BAD BAD Apples speaking. With my friend Rodger Campbell, we travel the country encouraging people to grow personally and professionally. I don't have any hair on my head or neck, but if I did, the work I do with BAD BAD Apples would make the hair on the back of my neck stand up. It's my passion!

They're is a lot of great information on the blog. When you're looking for a little extra Education, Inspiration, and Entertainment to be "Something Else" take time to read out blog!  

http://thebadbadapples.blogspot.com/

Inspired by Movies

 

 "42 - The Jackie Robinson Story"

"Wreck-It Ralph"

My sister recently gave Kelly and I a great gift. She gave us a date night. Being new parents, we haven't had a night where it was just the two of us since Elijah was born. Spending time together and knowing that Melissa wanted to help with Elijah was inspiring.

Melissa even gave us a Gift Certificate for dinner. After dinner we went to see the movie "42." The movie is about the life of Jackie Robinson. I do recommend seeing the movie.

That same week, we rented the movie "Wrek-it Ralph." I also recommend seeing this movie too. 

After watching the movies, I came away inspired. Both movies had great morals. The movies focused on what society expected the main characters to be. You witnessed the characters wanting to be something else but realizing that what made them different made them great.

Our life is our movie. We are the stars of the show. The movie doesn't need another star or actor to play our part, it needs us. We need to believe in who we are and what we can do. We have to stay mentally strong. 

In life, we often wish we were someone else. Why would you want to be someone else. Stop worrying about other people and worry about who you are and what you can do. Think about what makes you special.

I love this line from "Wrek-it Ralph." 

I'm bad, and that's good. I will never be good, and that's not bad. There's no one I'd rather be 

than me.

Go live a great life. To do that, focus on the last part of the line form the movie. There's no one I'd rather be than me! When you do this amazing things will happen. When you focus on others, you can't do anything to make you better and live your life.

Vision

I recently published my third book. I wrote with my friend and speaking partner Rodger Campbell. When you write a book,  you have to read it so many times during the editing process that you can get a little sick of your own words.

This book was different.  Every time I re-read the book, I did get sick, but it wasn't why you would think. The book is designed to inspire people to live the lives they "in-visioned." I was sick, because I wasn't following my own words. I told myself "You're not living your vision."

In the book, we have the comment that reads "Share the Vision live the Dream." It should read "Share the Vision...Live the Vision."  Rarely does a vision come true if you don't share it with someone. If you keep the idea only in your head, that's probably where it will always stay. When you don't see it happen, you will get sick.

That's me. My vision is to change people's lives in a positive way. I'm going to do this by speaking, entertaining and writing. I'm told I'm a confident person. Friends and Family tell me, "When you say you're going to do something you do it!"

That's where my problem starts. Lately, I haven't mentioned my vision or I just talk about what I want. I need to put my into positive and affirmative words. I shouldn't say "I want to do....." I need to say " I will do..." That my sound arrogant, but it's not.  You're saying to the world what you're going to do. You are sharing your vision. You're being clear and concise. People will believe in you and help you achieve it when they know you have the confidence to believe in it.

So, to my readers...I will blog more...I will turn my speaking and inspiration "hobby" into a adventure that more than provides for me and my family...I will educate, inspire and entertain people around the world...I will do this because I want to creative the positive environments everyone desires to be in...I will do this to help make the world a better place.

Happy Birthday Mom

The biggest fan of this blog is my mom. She has reminded me lately that I haven't been posting much.

She told me how much this blog inspires her and keeps her going in tough times.

That put a big smile on my face. Thank you mom for inspiring me all these years.

Good times are coming soon!

Happy Birthday Mom! Wish we could be the to celebrate with you!

Hope you like this picture of your Grandson with your favorite number.

Who is Frank Kitchen?

Today is July 1st!

It's the middle of the year! 6 months ago I blogged about all of my goals for the year. 6 months later, I've accomplished a few of my goals and there are more that I am way off on, or won't have a chance to accomplish.

I could give up, but that's not what life is about. Why bother living if  you're going to just quit or give-up on things that are important to you.

Half the year is gone, but half the year is left. I'm refocusing, reviewing the goals I set and rewriting what I'm going to accomplish the next 6 months.

It's one thing to set a goal, it's another to set the goal and make a plan for that goal to happen.

One of my goals this year was to read more. To read one book a month. I am actually keeping up with that goal. One of the books I read was the "4:8 Principle - The Secret to a Joy Filled Life" by Tom Newberry. The book focuses on the bible verse Philippians 4:8. In short the verse and the book says we must feed what we focus on. If you focus on the negative, negative things happen. If you focus on positive things and things you want to happen they will. What you reap is what you sow.

One of the best parts of the book is the chapter that talks about motivating ourselves. It says we need to stop comparing ourselves to others and compare ourselves to only one person and this is our self.

That chapter has been a HUGE motivator for me lately. It's easy to quit on your goals when you compare yourself to someone else. You can make a long list of excuses of how someone else is better than you. When you compare yourself to you, watch what happens.

The book suggests you write down a list the things you do best and add the things that you want to do well. Then you look at that list everyday. This list is who you are. When you look at this list, you're seeing everything you want to be. You're seeing what you want to sow. It's amazing.

Here is the list I made for myself. If I'm not currently doing what is on the list, I work harder each day to be that person...ME!

1. Frank is healthy mentally, physically, and spiritually
2. Frank is a loving and supportive husband to his wife Kelly
3. Frank is a loving and supportive father to his son Elijah and future second child
4. Frank does what he says he will do!
5. Frank has no debt and is financially independent
6. Frank gives back to the community
7. Frank lives a mostly vegan lifestyle
8. Frank is a successful Entrepreneur 
9. Frank has multiple business ventures including several with his wife Kelly
10. Frank will have over 10 published books
11. Frank is a well known and sought after professional speaker, entertainer and fundraiser
12. Frank weighs 170-180 pounds
13. Frank is world traveler with a passport full of stamps
14. Frank and Kelly  get to make their own decisions and aren't forced into them
15. Frank owns a house with his wife Kelly
16. Frank finds opportunities to work with people and not for people. Win-Win Situations

That's my list. 16 is a special number for our family, so the list is great there. The list is who I want to be. It's a list I need to look at everyday to make sure I make my dreams and goals come true.

New BAD BAD Apples Video

Gearing up to fall. Looking tor speaking calendars and the first way to start is to produce new videos. Here's the first of several to come over the next few months. Enjoy.

Goals

Earlier this year I was asked to speak at a program at work called Bible and Brown Bag. It was going to be my first time speaking/teaching at Bible Study. I was excited and scared at the same time.

Like many people I put off working on the class until the last second. I really started to think about the class when I was flying back from I Leadership Retreat I was presenting at in Pennsylvania.

The class became a motivator for me because, I found the notes recently and they helped me focus on the goals I've set for 2013 and beyond.

Here are the note/talking points from the class that I taught.

Bible and Brown Bag Notes

Today is February 26, 2013.

We are 57 days into the New Year

Did any you set any New Years Resolutions?

Did any of you make goals for the year?

How are your goals and resolutions coming?

A Franklin Covey Study said 35% of New Years Resolutions are broken by the end of January. The same survey said that only 23% of resolutions made are kept.

One of my goals this year is to strengthen my relationship from god. This means speaking with him more, learning from his words and paying attention to what he teaches me.

I like to call these God’s breadcrumbs. He won’t do things for me, but he’ll lead me in the right direction if I pay attention.

A week ago I paid attention to the bread crumbs presented by god. I was with my friend Rodger. He began talking with me about how he was reading Psalms and needed to read more and talk with god more. Then I was in the airport and found this book, "Bible Promises." I said I wanted to read his words this year. This books lays out God's words in organized themes. It make things pretty easy for me.

One of the first sections I turned to was on Goals.

I read Corinthians 9:24

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.”

The passage reminded the marathon I completed. People in the race had the same goal to finish the race. They all got to the finish line at different times and and different ways. It wasn’t about the physical prize.  Bread crumbs... People ran the race to achieve their goal. Everyone couldn't get a physical prize, but they could still run like they would get one.

Then I read Matthew 6:33

Jesus, said, “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Another goal of mine is to encourage people to grow. Helping others grow also helps me with my goal to grow spiritually and mentally this year. I was reminded of this when I received this letter from a student named Ashley.

Hey Frank and Rodger,
I wanted to say thank you for the leadership retreat today. I know it was supposed to remind us of why we are leaders and how we influence others, but it reminded me of so much more.
I am senior and my best friend graduated last semester. It has honestly been pretty miserable here for the past month. Your leadership retreat made me realize, it's miserable because of me.
I forgot how easy it is to smile and to laugh and to be silly. You guys really have a way with words. Your lessons were felt today. They gave me back the little bit of spunk I was missing for awhile there.
I honestly thought going into it, oh boy, another person preaching.
However, you didn't preach. You taught. You reminded. You impacted. You gave me back my value.
So as I sat here and wrote down a grocery list, I remembered the littlest things and the major things, and I just wanted to make sure that a thank you to the both of you was included.
Thank you for helping me find the BAD in me again,

Ashley

Next I read 2 Timothy 2:15

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth."

We have to be honest about our goals and dreams and share them with people around us. "Share your vision, live your dream," is what Rodger Campbell always says to me.  I was out of work last year. My goal was to get work to help pays the bills. I could have been ashamed to admit that, but I wasn’t and shared my goal with several friends including my friend Kara. She directed me to several employers or which one hired me.

You can’t be ashamed of your goals and keep them to yourself.  If you are not proud of your goal, you can't believe in it and you will have a difficult time ever living it.

What is a goal you’re working on this year?

Colossians 3:12 was next on the list

"As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."

In the book, I read a quote from Billy Graham

“God still loves us, He yearns to forgive us and bring us back to himself. He wants to fill our lives with meaning and purpose.”

We set lots of goals, but when we achieve them they fill our lives with meaning and purpose. God doesn’t just make things happen, we have to work to make things happen. He uses our talents to build his kingdom.

Things happen at the right, place at the right time for the right reasons. God’s plan.

It’s up to us to pay attention to the bread crumbs he leaves out for us to direct us down the right path.

I truly hope attending bible and brown bag today is that bread crumb the inspires you to continue working towards your goals. We are only 16% of the way through the year. What will you do with the other 84% to build God's kingdom.

We often close with prayer, but I would like to close with the video called the Gospel. It will inspire you with the artists talent but the word too.

Here is a link to the video. G.O.S.P.E.L.

Thank you!

We're about half way through the year. It's time to regroup. Just because you haven't hit your goals yet, or you're not on the pace you set, it doesn't mean you stop working towards your goals. FOCUS on the prize and get back to work. Share your ideas with people closest to you. Pray or meditate and remember their is no EASY button in life, you have to work for everything you earn.

Daddy Time

Been enjoying all the experiences of being a parent (being drooled on, peed on, spit up on, pooped on, cried at, smiled at, begged for and slept on) Spending time with Elijah and Kelly has been my number one focus lately and it makes me feel so good and it drives me to do everything possible to make our dreams come true.

My blogs have been slacking lately, but as everything in life, my time management has become a great learning experience

I'll be able to share these blogs with Elijah in the future.

Thank you for your patience everyone as I spend quality time with my family.

Are you living life?

"Get busy living, or get busy dying." - Shawshank Redemption 1994

The quote about is from one of my favorite movies, "Shawshank Redemption." Recently, the movie being played over and over again on TV.

I liked the movie so much, I used to practice lines from the movie in my acting classes. One of my favorite lines is above.

I often hear people say,  "I don't get to live life." I often wonder what stops them. When, I'm down and things aren't going the way I want them, I realize the thing stopping me from living life is me.

I've had two major points in my life we're I felt I wasn't really living life. One was the 9+ months I spent managing a store for KB Toys. The second time was just after I moved to Arizona. I stopped living when the economy crashed and I "settled" for any job I could find.

Every time, this happened, I had to face myself in the mirror, stop blaming others and ask myself..."What are you going to do?" My answer, "Live Life!"

When you truly "Live Life" amazing things happen. You're getting the full experience, and it all starts with you. It's about what you do and what you stop doing!

I know what you're asking,  "What do you do to live life?"  My simple answer is this. You have to stop doing 5 things.


Stop Lying!
Stop Trying!
Stop Caring!
Stop Worrying!
Stop Waiting!


What does that mean? I'll tell you.

#1 Stop lying!

You have dreams, some come true and others don't. Why aren't your dreams coming true? Why aren't you living them? Do  you make excuses when they don't become reality? Do you blame other people? Stop lying to yourself! When you don't live the life your dreams, you get angry, depressed and start to doubt yourself. You lie to make yourself feel better. You lie to protect yourself. You lie to justify why your dreams aren't coming true. The truth is, every time you lie, you are preventing yourself from living life.

It's one thing to lie to other people, but when you lie to yourself, you are hurting yourself. If you are not achieving the dreams you want to live, you need to be honest with yourself. You have to change your thinking. You can't blame other people, you must take personal responsibility. You have to ask yourself are you doing what it takes to make your dreams come true. You need to set a goal. You need to make a plan. You need to follow through on your plan. You MUST BE HONEST with yourself and others.

#2 Stop Trying!
What are your dreams? What do you want you want to do? Don't live the dreams of someone else. Live your dreams. Don't try to be someone else. It's hard enough being you. Be yourself.
Stop trying to be something that you're not. 

Don't be the next (Instert Name Here), be you!

People spend too much time trying to be something there not. I love what Yoda says in The Empire Strikes Back, "Do or do not, there is no try." 

What makes you happy? What will make you happy? Write those thoughts down, make them into goals, put together a plan to make them happen and go out and do what it takes to make them happen!
    #3 Stop Caring!
What do you care about? Who truly cares about you? Stop caring about the thoughts and opinions of people who don't care about you and your dreams. This doesn't mean you surround yourself with a bunch of "YES PEOPLE." You want to be around people who CARE for you. People who COMMUNICATE, APPRECIATE, RESPECT and EDUCATE you. People spend to much time worry about the thoughts and opinions of people who don't CARE about you or your dreams. You need to CARE about the people who CARE about you.

#4 Stop Worrying!
 Once you stop caring, you can stop worrying too! Stop worrying about things you can't control. Worry about the thing you can control. You can't change the weather, but you can decide the appropriate clothing to wear for the weather. You can check the weather report. You can stay inside.

When you worry about things you can't control, you become stagnant.  Your worries can paralyze you. Your worries prevent your dreams from coming true. Worry more about what you can do, versus what you can do. Worry more about what can go right versus what can go wrong. Worry about what you can control.

Worriers are Fears. FEAR is FALSE EVIDENCE APPEARING REAL.  When you worry about what you can control, you are doing research.  You are searching for the truth. You are focusing on what is possible.

#5 Stop Waiting!  
I hear people say "I hope this happens." "I'll get to it tomorrow." "When "X" happens, then I'll do "Y"! "My dream will never come true." "I don't have the time." "I don't have enough money." "People will laugh at me." "I'll try another time."

Tomorrow isn't guaranteed.  All of the excuses above are made by people waiting for something to happen. The main difference between people who successfully achieve their dreams and people who don't...the successful people make things happen, they don't wait for things to happen.

You can't win the lottery if you don't play! 

If you're dreams are truly important to you, you need to show a sense of urgency. The dream doesn't have to come true right now, but you can start working on it right now. Weather you start writing down or typing the idea, you share the dream with a friend, you make a plan, or you do research on your dream you are not waiting, you are doing.

Be a person of action. Make your dreams come true. Be honest with yourself,  be yourself, seek out the support and advice from people who care about you, don't let your worries stop you and make things happen.
 
"The more you dream about your dreams, they further away they get." Frank Kitchen
 
If you want to live your dreams you must change your thinking! Stop lying, trying, caring, worrying and waiting so you can start living! 

My other blog!

I'm actually managing two blogs this year. If you're looking for more inspiration, please read the BAD BAD Apples Blog too!

The BAD BAD APPLES BLOG (CLICK HERE)

Where are the blogs?

Hello everyone, my computer glitch turned out to be a computer death! My friend of 7 years is no longer with us. I spent the last few weeks trying to revive it with no success.

No computer makes blogging a little difficult, but that won't stop me.

My mom teased me in a text last night that there's nothing "Fresh in the Kitchen." She is so right. She's making sure I hit my goal of blogging weekly.

I always tell people life it's about what you have, not what you don't. I could say I don't have time. I could say I don't have a computer. But that would be the easy way out.

I do have my wife's computer and I do have my cell phone with the blogger app in it. I actually made time to type this blog on my phone.

Morale of this story...if you want something bad enough and it's important to you, you'll find a way to make it happen look for lots of blogs the next few days to make up for the lack of blogs the past few weeks. Until then, have a great weekend.

Frank

Technology wreaks havoc on me

There's nothing worse than your technology breaking!

I sat down tonight to start posting new blogs and took a break to spend time with my son and wife. When I came back to continue my work, I was the victim of a frozen computer screen. So, I did what any person would do, I powered down my computer. When I went to turn my computer back on...A blank white screen. So, I did what any person would do, I powered down my computer. When I turned it back on.. A blank white screen stared back at me.

This process continued about five times, with no success. This is why I cried out "Why!!!!!" I tried to back my computer up last week, but it didn't want to work.

So, tonight, I sit here typing on my wife's computer, praying that I haven't lost everything that I've typed in my computer for the last few months.

Please send out your cyber prayers to me. I'm hoping the the blank white screen doesn't mean that my computer has gone into the light!

Arizona Foothills Magazine

Last November, I went to a charity event. At my table was the marketing director for a local magazine. After learning about my speaking and book writing, she invited me to be in the magazine's "Trendsetter" section.

Here is a link to the article about me and my passions in the Arizona Foothills Magazine.

Arizona Foothills Article (Click Here)

He's here!

Kelly and I are happy to announce the birth of our son Elijah Duran Kitchen.

He was born Wednesday morning January 30, 2013 at 4:12 AM.

He measured at a healthy 8 pounds and 4 ounces and 22 1/4 inches long.

We can't explain how excited we are to start our family! There will be LOTS of pictures on here in the future.

Super Bowl MVP

Their are times in our life where we have the chance to meet famous people. Sometimes we meet people before they become famous.

This past weekend, the Baltimore Ravens won the Super Bowl. Their quarterback, Joe Flacco, was named the Most Valuable Player of the game. 

While watching parts of the game I started to think about the day I met Joe Flacco.

I was returning home from a speaking job and had to change flights in Houston. I got on my plane for Phoenix. The plane was packed with people heading to Arizona from Houston. I had just boarded the plane and was looking for my seat. You can imagine how happy I was when I found my "middle" seat towards the back of the plane. As each passenger walked past the empty seat to my left, I kept praying I'd be able to move into it. I wanted more leg room.

Just before the door of the plane closed a tall man who looked like a basketball player walked aboard the plane and headed directly for the seat to my left. He sat down and squeezed himself into the seat. He had to be at least 6 feet 6 inches tall. I jokingly asked, "Do you have enough leg room?" He looked at me with a smile. I told him the planes aren't built for tall guys.

To my right was another tall gentlemen who told me that he was six foot 4inches tall. We pretty much had a basketball team in our row. None of us had any legroom. When the plane took off, the flight attendant came on the overhead and made the announcement, "It is safe to recline your seats." That's when the man infront of us reclined his seat all the way back into the legs of the man to my left.

We were all too uncomfortable to sleep, so we started a conversation. I had to ask the obvious question, "do you play basketball?" The man to my left said no, I play college football. I asked, "What college do you play for?" He responded, "The University of Delaware." Being a big football fan, I asked "Are  you Joe Flacco?" He said yes. That's when I told him I had just read an article about him in the USA Today.  We spent the next two hours talking about football and the Philadelphia area, because we both grew up there. He was headed to the Super Bowl to compete in some competitions and get ready for the draft. He wasn't quite sure when he would be drafted or what team he would go to. During our conversation the gentleman to my right joined in. Turned out he was a cameraman traveling to Phoenix to work the Super Bowl.

When the flight landed, I wished Joe good luck and told him that his agent needs to work on getting him better seats the next time he flies. He said the same to me. I never asked him for an autograph or photo. As I got to the airport exit, I saw people lined up, hoping to get autographs of celebrities and pro-athletes getting off the planes. I just smiled, because I knew I got something better, a two hour experience.

Fast forward five years...There are news reports that Joe Flacco was just named the MVP of the Super Bowl and was not in line to potentially sign a contract for $20 million a year. The same guy I sat next to on a plane from Houston to Phoenix.

Coming Soon!

This weeks posts will be delayed as Kelly and I await the birth of our first child. We are waiting patiently in our hospital room for our little guy to arrive!

Be on the look out for more posts and pictures next week!

Unexpected Baby Gift

On Saturday, Kelly and I went out for dinner at one of our favorite restaurants. Kelly and I were talking about how dinner would be one of our last dinners as a couple. Our little boy is a few days away from joining us. Once he's born, we'll be asking for a table for three versus a table for two.

Kelly and I were seated and we ordered one of our favorites off the menu. There we two ladies enjoying dinner at the table next to us. The server came over to ask, "would you like dessert tonight?"

Kelly and I looked at the ladies and said, "dessert sounds good." The ladies responded with, "I'm sure you're little one would like that." The ladies asked Kelly when the baby was due and went back to enjoying their dinner and dessert.

Their dessert of macaroons and ice cream looked really good. I suggested to Kelly that we order the same as a treat to ourselves.

When we finished our meal, we were all ready to order our dessert when a cake and ice cream appeared. The manager told us the dessert was from the two ladies who sat next to us.  We thought that was really nice until we heard, "Dessert and dinner are on Mary." Mary was one of the two ladies, told the manager that dinner and dessert was her baby gift to us.

I was able to talk to Mary's friend before she left the restaurant. I gave her a note to share with Mary. I said, "Thank you from Kelly and Frank."

That was just the start of a good night for me and Kelly. Before we left the restaurant we asked the manager to call us next time Mary visits.

Mary's act of kindness put us in a great mood the rest of the night. We were kind to every person we met the rest of the night.

New Year New Look

Jim Rohn said "You are the average of the five people you spend most of your time with"

I feel the quote means, "You are a reflection of the people you surround yourself with."

 

If you surround your with positive people. You will be a positive person. If you're around negative people, you'll probably be in a negative mood most of the time or have negative experiences.

 

I'm a positive person and the person I spend the most time with is my wife. That's her in the picture above. We don't always agree on everything, but there are a lot of things we do agree on. To be honest, Kelly says a lot of smart things that I don't agree with right away, but after I think about it, I let her know she's right.

 

I'm a reflection of her encouragement, ideas and drive. As I type this blog, we're not so patiently waiting for the birth of our first child. We're going to be the people he's around the most. We want him to be a reflection of us. We have to be the role models. We have to practice what we preach and project the behaviors we want him to display.

 

Kelly made a comment to me last year that some of my advertising didn't reflect who I was. She told me that my speaking partner Rodger and I are very energetic and positive people. She said we have colorful personalities and speeches. Then she asked the question..."Why is your advertising in Black?" It was a great question. The color black can be seen something negative, not colorful, and just lack personality. We changed our promotional items to red and instantly people started talking about how fun our materials were!

2013 is going to be a positive year for me and my family. My blog needs to reflect that. This blog was black and very lifeless. That needed to change. So, with Kelly's thumbs up, I changed the layout and color of the blog tonight.

I looked up the color red on the internet. Here's what I found.

Put some red in your life when you want:

• increased enthusiasm and interest
• more energy
• action and confidence to go after your dreams
• protection from fears and anxieties

The words above are great examples of what I want this blog to exude. I want this blog to be a reflection of me and the people I surround myself with. I love being around enthusiastic people with interesting stories. I love people of energy, action and confidence. I love listening to people who live their dreams. I'm really inspired by people who don't let their fears and anxieties prevent them from making their dreams happen.

 

I'll be blogging a lot this year. I'll be adding a lot of red to my life and sharing my life with you!

 

Have a great week! 

Sister Page

I'm actually running two blogs now. This blog (Fresh From the Kitchen) is my personal blog. I also have the blog "The BAD BAD Apples" to expose people to the BAD BAD Apples philosophy I started with my good friend Rodger Campbell.

We encourage you (people) to grow in creative ways. The blog is a way for us to help people grow personally and professionally. Be sure to check it out! Click the link below to check it out!

The BAD BAD Apples Blog

Inspiration

I was talking to my mom this weekend. And one of the things she she said to me was, "Don't forget to post a blog this week." That was inspiring to know my mom enjoys reading my blogs. She tells me they inspire her.  I'm going to thank her for her inspiration by posting 2 blogs this week!

Inspiration can come at unexpected times from unexpected sources.

Tonight I was inspired by a young lady. Her mom is a former student of mine and a friend. Rosanna posted a story on my Facebook page that is giving me the energy to stay up late to post this blog and work hard on making things happen in 2013.

Here is the story from Rosanna

Alexia's statement today. Mom there have been 3 important men in our lives that I looked up to and always joked they could be my dad. Frank Kitchen, Isaac Jams and Daniel Langfellow the carpet man. 

Me, what made those men impact you so much in a positive way? 

Alexia, they were funny, helpful, genuinely showed their personality, treated me with respect, showed value in hard work, never hurt or questioned me, supported me, each taught me something and made you laugh too. Thanks to my good friends for being 3 of the 5 positive men in her life! I wish there were more. 

All I can say is wow! I met the little girl when she was 3 and now she's a teenager. Never forget the impact you can have on peoples lives. You're action can inspire people and those people can inspire you!

2013....The year of "I will..."

Welcome to 2013!

Another year! Another new start for many of us! The chance to wipe the slate clean and start anew. The opportunity to push the restart button.

Did you remember playing a game or video game, you make the wrong move and lose or you see the words "Game Over"? Then it happens again. Before it happens again, you push the restart button or say "lets start over." You do this, so you don't experience failure again. That's life for many of us. Life is one big learning opportunity with the chance to start over and try again. The new year is  your restart button, but the key is to learn from your mistakes, change your thinking and apply what you've learned.

Do you remember saying, "this won't happen again!" You tell yourself, "I will........"

This is what you need to do with your life. Make a new start.

My biggest new start this year will be fatherhood. I will be a father! But the question is, what kind of father will I be? I can talk about being a good father, but that's just talk.

I will be a good father! Just those changes of words makes all the difference in the world. When we say we will do something, our mental state changes. When we say we want to do something, thing could happen or they may not. But when you say they will happen, the likely hood of what you said happening will.

I'm  good at setting goals, but what I want to do is achieve my goals. This year, I will be sitting down with my wife and writing down all of the things I WILL DO in 2013. Not what I'm thinking about doing or would like to do, but what I WILL DO!

This little change in attitude will make of the difference in this being the year I in-vision 2013 being versus the year I hope 2013 to be. I don't want to hit the restart button in 2014 saying, time to try again. 2014 will be a whole new game.


I had set the goal to type 100 blogs in 2012 and I didn't hit it. This year I will post 52 Blogs. That's one a week. This will be an achievement I WILL succeed at. Why? Because 2013 is the year of  "I WILL!"


Happy New Year!
Frank