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About 20 years ago I began working on a process of becoming. At first, I was engaged in working on my own dreams and discovering how I could become my very best. Then I began sharing my process with others. Helping people become their very best became my lifetime pursuit.

Three years ago, I began to focus my process on the second half of life. It was incredible to discover how much this process fit with my thoughts on making the transition from ambition to meaning. Everywhere I went I began to see why the process I was creating and devoloping would become so important to others. The process helps bring next level awareness and behavior in four critical areas: Heart (Relationships With Others), Might (Spiritual Intelligence), Mind (Career and Individual Talent Development), and Strength (Physical, Emotional and Mental). 

I tested the process first with a small group of close friends. The results were amazing. I then moved to a group business acquaintances who were willing to give it a try. Some of the people in this second group I didn't even know before we began. The level of intimacy we developed, and the focus on creating growth in a rewarding and meaningful way was incredible. We became very close group and we supported each other and helped each other to find greater meaning and balance in this hectic world.

It was amazing how we began and where it went from there. We knew that we needed to share this message and process with as many people as we possibly could. We began by building the Game Room where this process could occur. As we developed the process, I asked Stacy, my beautiful and talented wife to create an artistic logo to depict the process. The vision of what I wanted was in my mind, and I communicated as best as I could what was in my mind and then turned it over to her. At the time, all I wanted was a graphic for a t-shirt back and the front of our opening day work book.

Stacy took it from there and began drawing different designs. We both have an affinity for banyan trees and we learned as she was studying the way the trees looked that the Hindu people regard the Banyan tree as a symbol of unity and wish fulfillment. It seemed perfect for what we were working on so she incorporated it into the design. She inscribed the words Heart, Might, Mind and Strength on the branches. And came up with a very beautiful and interesting finished product.

This logo became the symbol of this process that we call Legacy Quest – The Ultimate Game of Life. It has inspired many so far and we are certain that it will inspire many more successful people who are searching for a way to create harmony between their personal and professional lives. These people want to live and they want to take their life to the next level. They are not satisfied with entry level work. They want to raise the bar all the time.

As I mentioned, this is a very intimate process. We only play the game with ten people at a time to insure that everyone is involved and that everyone's voice is in the room. As we thought about the game room we knew we needed a special table. We considered several designs. We wanted something where we could feel unified in our efforts. Something that would be memorable and unique. We were unable to find anything that met our expectations. We knew that game table had to convey the feeling of the process. We wanted it to be something more than just a standard conference table from Ikea or some other conference table warehouse. It needed to be big enough to comfortably sit 10 to 12 people.

Nearly 15 months ago, I woke and said to Stacy, "we need to find somebody who can make a table for us and carve your design on the top of it." She said I was dreaming and that there would be no way we could find somebody who could do such a thing at a reasonable price. I said, "I like to dream big and I will find somebody who can do it. Whatever it costs, it will be worth it."

I started listing all the people I knew who might be able to create something like this or even might know someone who could do something like this. I contacted everybody I knew and no one seemed to be willing or able to undertake such a big project. 

I grew up in LaPorte Indiana. We lived in a home that was over 100 years old and had historical significance in our little town. Our friend, Jerry Hatton carved a replica of a fairly significant piece of the wooden decor on the front our home that had decayed over time. When it was finished you could not tell the difference from the original piece. He also carved several original frames for us, so I thought I would give him a call to see if he could handle a project of this size.

His initial response was that it was too big. He didn't have a shop that was big enough to build something like what I wanted. With a little coaxing and assuring from me that it was something that I really wanted, he agreed to the project. He later said that he knew he could build something like this, he just didn't know how to do it. The project was so big, it consumed his whole garage.

In March of 2008, he carved a sample section and sent it to me to make sure that I approved of the design and that I really wanted him to do it. I approved the design and he began carving in June of 2008. As the table began to take shape, Jerry sent me updates so I could see what was being carved. If you are interested, you can see all of the pictures as it progressed from start to finish.

Jerry is a master carver. Not a single power tool was used to build the table. It was all carved by hand. It is truly a work of art and we are delighted with the finished product which was delivered to our office over the weekend. The game room is now complete. We have a most unique table to to inspire us and others. The work that he did is truly awesome.

I enjoyed talking with him about the process he used to create the table. He spoke of several times when he was stuck and didn't know how to proceed. One example he gave was that he did not know how he was going to flip the table over after he installed the legs. The table is very heavy and he knew that if he tried to stand it up right, it would snap the legs right off. 

The table is 12 feet in diameter. Figuring out how to build it so we could get it out of his shop and into our building was also a challenge. He also needed to figure out how to carve it since he could only reach about two feet in at a time. As you look at the pictures you will see just how he solved these problems. 

How he solved them, the process he used is not what interested me. How he discovered the process was what really caught my attention. He said that most of the answers to the many problems he faced with constructing this table came at 2 o'clock in the morning. He would go to bed thinking about the problem and then wake up with the answer. I recognized that process because I have experienced it myself. Those moments are the moments of true creative genius.

Our creative capacity is much bigger than we think it is. We can create anything we want if we are willing to focus and pay the price. If we give up, or tell ourselves we cannot do it, then we will be right. Of course there will always be limits. Creative people do not overcome all their limits by themselves. They find a way to use whatever other resources are available to them so that they can shatter their limits. 

I have known very few people who have not experienced flashes of inspiration or creativity. Sadly, though many have experienced those types of thoughts, too few act upon them. You can see the fulfillment of one of my dreams in this post. I shared with you how it began and you can see it completed. I feel incredible at this moment. This table, is now a part of my legacy. It is a part of Stacy's legacy. It is a part of Jerry's legacy. Each one of us played a part it making it become a reality. This table will be around long after all of us are gone.

Life happens quickly. Carpe Articulum! 

You ain't seen nothin yet!

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