Jeremiah 6:16 was a part of the message from Sunday's service at Church of the Highlands. It reads, "This is what the LORD says: Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls."

As soon as I read that on our "notes page," I knew I'd be incorporating it into my next blog post.

I'm currently standing at that crossroads.

When I was working for the radio station, while in my 20's, I made responsible financial decisions. I resisted the urge to waste my money on expensive material things. I still shopped at Walmart and Marshall's, and I always purchased generic brand items.

Even though I had saved up enough money to purchase a new Mercedes Benz or BMW (with cash), I elected to purchase an efficient (nice-looking) used Volkswagen Jetta.

When I chose to purchase my motorcycle, I went with the less-expensive Suzuki Katana. It's about $4,000 less than the more popular GSX-R models. In my mind, it still served the same purpose, and it was a sharp looking bike.



However, I had an extra $4,000 in my bank account. And that was worth the few jokes that my biker buddies projected for buying the Katana. Plus, my bike is more girl-friendly — it has more room for their curvaceous buttocks on the back.  :]

True financial wealth isn't about the amount of money you have in the bank. True financial wealth is about how long you can sustain yourself without having any income.

When I left the radio station back in 2007, I had saved enough money to pay all my bills for at least two years.

And that's what I did.

I moved to Alabama in February of 2000, and my salary was $23,000 per year. In 2007, when I left the radio station, my salary was $38,000 per year. I did, however, earn more money doing appearances. My best year was 2006, in which, I earned a total of $91,000. That was my salary plus appearances.

The radio station received roughly $2,000 per (my) appearance. Three appearances per week equals $6,000. Multiply that times 52 weeks in a year (they were annual guaranteed contracts), and you get $312,000. Needless to say, my club appearances were generating significant revenue for the radio station — and the sales reps.

I started thinking to myself, "Self, if your appearances are generating $6,000 per week, and you're only receiving $750 of that, who's getting the other $5,250 per week?"

Myself responded, "Hmm. Great question, Self. Maybe you should bring that up during your next contract negotiation. You should also mention the fact that they didn't keep their promise (from the negotiation two years earlier) to move you to Morning Show Host."

So that's what I did.

In my next negotiation, I asked for $83,000 per year. After all, in 2006, my club appearances alone generated roughly $312,000 for the radio station. And that was before I even cracked the mic to do my show. I thought my offer was more than fair.

Not to mention, just before my 2007 contract negotiation, my Thursday night appearance became available and a bidding war broke out between area clubs. I contacted the winning club manager, and he said they bid $3,500 each week for my new Thursday night appearance. Multiply that times 52 weeks in a year, and you get $182,000 for that one night.

I asked for $83,000 per year, they countered with a $40,000 offer. That was the typical 3% raise that everybody was offered.

Math has never been my strong point. I was always a verbal guy. However, even with my low mathematical IQ, I knew those numbers didn't add up.

Long story short, I stood up for what was fair, spoke my truth, and parted ways with the radio industry in a warrior-like fashion. We both had our positions. It was nothing personal — just business.

I tried to leave on professional terms, but when they pulled a deceptive, cowardly tactic, I used the airwaves to disclose what happened. That was my final night on air.

My show was successful because it was so real. I always spoke my truth. That's how I went out.

However, because of my truth-telling disposition, I was blackballed from the radio industry. I'm too scary. Corporations have too many secrets, and guys like me make corporations uneasy.

Just look at my scary face.



With that being said, I just received notice in the mail that I'll have to vacate my house by March 1st, 2010. I haven't generated any substantial income since I left the world of radio — two and a half years ago.

Back in June, I found a buyer for the house, submitted all my paperwork and we kept trying to get our short-sale approved. The buyer and my agent called the Chase Home Finance representative assigned to our case daily. They left voice-mail after voice-mail with no response. We requested a new agent; they said we'd get one within seven days.

It never happened.

After finally speaking with a representative who was empathic enough to take serious action, he emailed our representative's supervisor, and she finally sent me an email — on December 3rd, 2009. She told me to resubmit everything again. We had already dealt with this runaround before. My buyer withdrew her offer back in November — after living in her boss' basement for four months. I didn't blame her.

Keep in mind, all my paperwork (including a written offer from my buyer) was submitted on June 24th, 2009. I was ready to move back to Virginia then. I sat around waiting to hear back from Chase Home Finance. Apparently, a lot of Chase customers are dealing with the same lack of organization/incompetence. Click HERE for similar stories.

I'm just glad I finally have a resolution to the situation. Yes, my credit has been destroyed, but I have a back-up system in place. I talk about that in Chapter 48 of Your Truth Will Set You Free. Everybody's situation is different, and I'm satisfied with my decisions during this process. I did everything I was supposed to do from my end; Chase Home Finance simply dropped the ball on their end.

I'm done trying to do business with an organization that lacks competence. They can have the house. It's a beautiful house. Although, they could've already been done with it, had they returned our numerous phone calls and faxes.

I'm ready to start generating new income. My best chance to do that is in Virginia. Plus, my cost of living will decrease significantly.

One of my best friends from high school just got transferred to Richmond, and has already found a house that he wants me to rent with him. It becomes available on February 1st, and I told him we could look forward to a March 1st move-in date. One of our mutual friends owns a very successful company with several government contracts at Fort Lee, VA, and talks have begun for me to join their crew.

Since I've finished writing both books (minus the few typos I'm finding and will have to fix), I'm ready to start working again. I miss the feeling of waking up every morning with something to do.

When I was in the radio industry, I was secluded in a cave for ten years. By the time I went to work at night, everybody had left the building. It was a very isolating experience. Plus, it was hard trying to establish "working friendships" with people who saw you as a "celebrity." In fact, my favorite job to this day was changing tires at Sears and Sam's Club. I liked cracking jokes with the fellas and just being a "normal" guy.

I'm excited to return to that normalcy. I'd like to find a girlfriend and maybe move in together in about a year. And that's a big step, because I've never lived with a girlfriend before.  :]

I'll keep slinging books on the side. I'm fully aware that all it will take is one touch of God's favor to create substantial revenue off my books. I'll follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit, in regards to what outlets I should send copies to. If I can just manage to sell 5,000 copies of each book, I'll be a very satisfied young man. In the past couple of years, I've been planting quality seeds, and I have a feeling it's my time to reap an abundant harvest.


The last time I tried to leave Alabama, I still had my house on the market, and I had a love-interest that kept my thoughts in Alabama. This time, I won't have either of those things on my mind.

I moved to Alabama at the age of 21, on February 20th, 2000. My first night on air was February 28th, 2000. Remember when I played Britney Spears' "You Drive Me Crazy" from 6 pm until 11 pm that night? We staged that, by the way.  :]

It seems fitting to make my final move from Alabama on Saturday, February 20th, 2010.

Exactly ten years later.

What I'll miss most about Alabama is Church of the Highlands. I've really grown to love that place. I'll continue to attend Wednesday and Sunday services in the meantime. After my departure, I'll continue to watch online.

I'll also miss my pal Jenny and my BFF Grandpa Bill.


It's been a good run, Alabama. My time in Alabama is likely what led me to discover Christ. Being a part of the "Bible Belt" has served a very powerful purpose in my life — all the lives I touch — and will touch in the future. I'll take the Southern Hospitality and overall niceness projected by Alabamians with me on the rest of my journey.

You have served your purpose well, Alabama.

You're a great place. You have wonderful people. Your ways-of-being should be modeled all over the world.

And if I have anything to do with it — they will be.  :]