Why another web site focused on personal development when there are already so many out there?

Because I want to.

Because I feel an obligation to try to pass along what I know, what I’ve learned, and even (or maybe especially) my questions. You definitely won’t find all your answers here. But maybe by having an open mind and receptive spirit you can start to question your limiting beliefs and see that there really is no limitation on what you can have, do, or be. Maybe it’ll be enough to start you on your search for your own answers.

Because one of my passions in life is to help people. Help them to see that there is more to life, if they’ll only reach out and claim it.

I’m going to tell you this right up front: I am not super-wealthy in material things, I can’t make mice levitate over the heads of cats, and I can’t make dollars appear out of thin air.

I’m not an expert in the personal development field; I’m not an uber-authority. Far from it. I learn, I practice, I learn some more, practice some more. Many times I fall down. I backslide every once in a while.

I’m in my mid-40s, and I’ve been in business for myself for the last 10 years or so. I’ve worked in a variety of fields, and have a wide variety of interests. Until 3 years ago, I owned and operated a commercial paint and industrial coatings application business. I tired of the hassles of contracting, and opened Sawtooth Internet Development, a full-service web site development company.

Much of the inspiration for starting this site comes from conversations with my good friend Taughnee Stone, principal of Endeavor Creative and a fantastic designer and blog guru, despite the fact that she resides in the wilds of Alaska.

The Fast Lane is all about encouraging you to be the best you can be. The best you can be changes every day—it isn’t a fixed destination. It is about encouraging you to search for the tools and inspiration to turn a bad day into a good one. It is about, above all, recognizing that you, like every human being, has the potential — an untapped potential, maybe — to be whatever and whoever you want to be. There are no limitations, except within yourself. If I can help you to believe this for yourself, then I’ve accomplished my purpose.

My motives are not completely altruistic, however. The Fast Lane is a source of income for my family. If you find what you read here to be of value, a donation would be sincerely appreciated. Just use the ‘donate’ button at the bottom of the sidebar to your right.
My main business endeavor is Sawtooth Internet Development, which is a full-service web design and development company. Our specialty is CMS site development, from small blog sites to full-blown content-rich corporate sites. If you have a need for any type of web site, I encourage you to contact us to talk about the possibilities.

This site is built on the WordPress blog/cms platform. It is an amazingly versatile system, highly customizable, and last, but not least, free. You can learn more about it if you wish at http://www.wordpress.org. The actual design, coding, and graphics are my own, but I really must give credit for inspiration to Peter Flaschner at peterflaschner.com.

A final note: I also want to give mention to and thank someone I consider to be my personal mentor, Melissa Miller-Harris, one of the most fantastic people I know. You know, the most important thing you can do to effect change in your life is to surround yourself with the people you most want to be like. Melissa is one of those people. Thanks, Melissa. You don’t know how much I appreciate you!