9/11, North Dakota, and K.I.S.S.

September 11, 2013

I want you to take a moment and remember what you were doing 12 years ago today. What is your story? How did your story change that day?

Every year, with the exception of today, I showed the HBO documentary "In Memoriam" to my students. Every year each group of students were younger when they remembered the day. "I was in 3rd grade," "I was in 2nd grade" and so on. Most were too young to understand what happened. What am I saying? As if I understood? I still don't. There were a few things I remember clearly about doing that. One was that they appreciated that I showed them the film and most shared it with their parents. I remember I would cry every time I watched it and each year I would cry less and less. I also remember asking if they did anything in their other classes related to 9/11. Most of the answers were "no" or "they didn't even mention it." I was different. I believed it shouldn't be ignored or forgotten.

I am learning and changing daily. Sometimes it happens many times a day. The environment here is so alive and active. It is like a daycare. The energy is everywhere. I have been working with many different people to solve problems that this environment creates. I have decided I need to work on my own, on one thing and have a business partner who has the same goals. There are many simple ideas that just need action to be successful. Well, not only action. Money and action. I hear stories everyday in North Dakota about entrepreneurs who started with almost nothing and have built their business to a point of financial freedom. Again, these are simple ideas. I am going to share two business startups in Williston owned by women.

I met John today at the restaurant. He is a chef from Alaska. When I was paying for my kick ass salad he asked about me and what I was doing in North Dakota. When I mentioned I was heading to Williston, he said, "Really?" I said, "Why? You need a ride?" He replied, "Yeah. I'm outta here." I assumed it was the end of his shift. Apparently he quit. On the spot. That is what it's like here.

On our way to Williston, he told me he had another job as a taxi driver. He said the woman who he works for started a year ago with one car. Now she has grown to seven cars and a 14 passenger shuttle bus. She created a system, marketed it, and duplicated it. This is what every successful business does. Warren Buffet first did it with pinball machines. He bought a pinball machine for $25. When he made enough money, he invested in a second. Then a third until he had several streams of cash flow into his business. The owner of Mr. Kab in Williston did the same. 

Next up is Nyssa Grey, owner of Boomtown Babes Espresso. Here is an article from the Williston Herald. I know this chain is going to expand and be successful. If the owner chooses good locations, this will be a gold mine in oil country. I met the owner briefly on a visit and plan to pick her brain on details of her failures and success. She loves what she is doing and it shows.

After being out here, I also discovered a simple need that will help people who are living in RV campers. In the winter, it can get as low as -50F with the wind chill. The space under an RV or 5th wheel, needs to be protected or "skirted" to keep the pipes from freezing and help keep the camper warm. When Kelly and I built our house back in 2001, we used structural insulated panels or "SIPs." I thought that the panels can be used to skirt the thousands of campers out here that use very inefficient skirting techniques. It will be more efficient, more durable, and easy to install and maintain. I made a video and a Craigslist ad to have a web presence, help with SEO, and start to generate leads. I am sort of selling it before it exists. The product just needs to be fabricated. If you read the Tim Ferriss book "The 4 Hour Work Week," you understand this technique. If you have any interest in learning about starting a business in this connected society, read this book. 

Keep it simple, silly.

Until next time,

Ken

North Dakota And The American Dream

Good evening. I am writing this from the Bakken Base Camp, near Alexander, ND. I have so much to talk about, it is mind numbing. I am amazed every day by something new as I meet the people here in North Dakota. I am learning new ways to create wealth. I am hearing stories from people, real American people, that are simply unbelievable. Tonight I am going to write about one person I met about two hours ago. His name is Trey.

I checked into the Bakken Base Camp yesterday. It is like a college dorm for men who work in the oil field for Goliath Industries, LLC. In North Dakota, and other places in the oil industry, it is called a "Man Camp." When I pulled into the parking lot, I saw a guy carrying a guitar get into a vac truck. These are called "Supersuckers." That's a picture of an HDX. This is a very manly invention, to say the least. Moving on. 

I was excited to see a guitar! I got to my room and he was in the room next door to me. I asked him about his guitar. "It's an Ibanez." Nice. I strummed a few chords and started my unplanned interview. I love talking to people. Actually. Let me rephrase that. I love listening to people. I know I have said this before but everyone has a story. Everyone wants to tell their story to someone who will listen. I listen. It is something that I learned somewhere. Or maybe it's just in me. Look back at my Facebook updates and you will find one that says something like, "If you want to meet the most interesting person you've ever met, just talk to them." I would now add, "and listen."

While I was waiting for a call from Jon to finalize building plans, Trey and I started talking about North Dakota. I mentioned to him that I was here helping George build some structures to enclose water pump units that are used for fracking. (Click here for Wiki info on hydraulic fracturing.) is s He said "George is my dad. I'm actually George The Third. That's why they call me Trey," he replied in a thick Texan dialect. It was unreal. We laughed. 

He told me more about the Supersucker. The machine can be used to excavate land. It can pick up a rock about 8" in diameter. He said that during training, they showed videos of someone who got their arm sucked up the hose. Basically, all the blood in a person's body swells into the arm and then it comes off. I am pretty sure it is a fatal accident. They use it on oil rigs to clean out overflow pits. Trey is 22 years old and started working for Goliath right out of high school. Last year he made $110K. We talked about the business opportunities out here. It almost doesn't matter what you do. The American Dream is here in North Dakota. There are shortages of everything. Want to work at Walmart? No? Starting pay is $19.50 per hour. That's for an overnight stocker. I have met people from all over the world here. Plates from just about every state too. I am sure people fail out here too. It is not for everyone. 

You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.

Until next time.

Ken

Father Forgets

I discovered this and wanted to share it for all parents and parents to be. I know I am guilty of criticizing. I am like you, human. Now that does not excuse it. But I want to be better. I want to help others be better. I want to be a better person, a better parent, and live a better life. This story of course goes for daughters as well as sons. Thanks for reading.

Like, share, and enjoy.

Ken  

Father Forgets

"Listen, son: I am saying this as you lie asleep, one little paw crumpled under your cheek and the blond curls stickily wet on your damp forehead. I have stolen into your room alone.  Just a few minutes ago, as I sat reading my paper in the library, a stifling wave of remorse swept over me. Guiltily I came to your bedside.

There are the things I was thinking, son: I had been cross to you. I scolded you as you were dressing for school because you gave your face merely a dab with a towel. I took you to task for not cleaning your shoes. I called out angrily when you threw some of your things on the floor.

At breakfast I found fault, too. You spilled things. You gulped down your food. You put your elbows on the table. You spread butter too thick on your bread. And as you started off to play and I made for my train, you turned and waved a hand and called, “Goodbye, Daddy!” and I frowned, and said in reply, “Hold your shoulders back!”

Then it began all over again in the late afternoon. As I came up the road I spied you, down on your knees, playing marbles.  There were holes in your stockings. I humiliated you before your friends by marching you ahead of me to the house.  Stockings were expensive-and if you had to buy them you would be more careful! Imagine that, son, from a father!

Do you remember, later, when I was reading in the library, how you came in timidly, with a sort of hurt look in your eyes?  When I glanced up over my paper, impatient at the interruption, you hesitated at the door. 'What is it you want?' I snapped.

You said nothing, but ran across in one tempestuous plunge, and threw your arms around my neck and kissed me, and your small arms tightened with an affection that God had set blooming in your heart and which even neglect could not wither.  And then you were gone, pattering up the stairs.

Well, son, it was shortly afterwards that my paper slipped from my hands and a terrible sickening fear came over me. What has habit been doing to me? The habit of finding fault, of reprimanding-this was my reward to you for being a boy. It was not that I did not love you; it was that I expected too much of youth. I was measuring you by the yardstick of my own years.

And there was so much that was good and fine and true in your character. The little heart of you was as big as the dawn itself over the wide hills. This was shown by your spontaneous impulse to rush in and kiss me good night. Nothing else matters tonight, son. I have come to your bedside in the darkness, and I have knelt there, ashamed!

It is feeble atonement; I know you would not understand these things if I told them to you during your waking hours. But tomorrow I will be a real daddy! I will chum with you, and suffer when you suffer, and laugh when you laugh. I will bite my tongue when impatient words come. I will keep saying as if it were a ritual: 'He is nothing but a boy-a little boy!'

I am afraid I have visualized you as a man. Yet as I see you now, son, crumpled and weary in your cot, I see that you are still a baby. Yesterday you were in your mother’s arms, your head on her shoulder. I have asked too much, too much." 

-W. Livingston Larned

Can you see me?

Can you see me?

The end of this blog could have happened yesterday. The picture above was taken about a minute after I avoided being hit by someone who couldn't see me. I know, right? I was walking with my bike on the sidewalk and there was a car about to leave the Family Video parking lot. He was taking a right onto Main Street so he was looking left, for an opening. I was going to walk in front of the car but decided not to.  I was looking at him and said out loud (to myself) "Do you see me?" I could see he didn't see me because we didn't make eye contact. I waited and he took off when the road was clear. 

I know this is common sense for some of you, but I believe that a lot of accidents with pedestrians, bikes, and motorcycles could be avoided if drivers payed attention and were aware of their surroundings on this more personal level. In my world, everyone would get their motorcycle license to better understand what it's like on a bike or motorcycle or as a pedestrian. 

I think the bigger lesson here is to not be invisible. Get noticed. Be seen. Do something that makes people think you are insane. Google Dean Karnanes. Here's his site: http://www.ultramarathonman.com/web/index-mobile.shtml

One of his accomplishments might seem impossible. 50 marathons, in all 50 states, in 50 days. Insane. 

Can you see me? Can you see yourself? Go out and change your world. 

Like, share, enjoy. 

Ken

Anniversary, Failure, Business

I know. It's been too long. Plans do not always go "according to plan" for me. I'm not going to dwell on it. Here is the latest "Make My Ex Famous" post. Thanks. Ken

Anniversary
We all have them. The ones we remember. The ones we forget. The good, bad, and the ugly. This past June 30th, 2013 marked what would have been mine and my ex's 13th Wedding Anniversary. Since the divorce was finalized on February 29th, 2008, it was a regular day, sort of. I really liked that date, 6/30/2000, and I could just ignore it but it is part of my past. Part of my history. Your past got you where you are today. Don't ignore it. Accept it and move on. I'm not going to slam anyone here. I don't think this is the place. I easily could be the place for some people, but not me. It has been a rough five years. I would not wish a divorce on anyone. It is far worse than anything I have been through. The reason I wanted to mention it is because of the anniversary, I had this dream that night and remembered what it was like being happy together. In this dream, we were nice to each other. It was a memory I wish I could have in real life. I hope to get back there. At least to a point where we understand each other. I do believe it is possible.

Failure

Failure is part of life and it is a part of business. Sure, I have failed at marriage. I guess you could say I failed as a teacher. I have failed in a lot of ways. While failure does have stigma and negative connotations, I believe failure should be embraced. It should be a stepping stone for improvement. It should be taught in school that it is okay to fail. Life is full more of failure than of success. We all have heard of how long it took to invent the light bulb or the airplane. Failure was part of the solution. One story that motivates me is the story of how Sylvester Stallone made "Rocky" a reality. Here is part one:

Here is a link to Tony Robbins retelling the story. I think Tony Robbins tells it a little better than Stallone does. You decide. How do you view failure?

Business
This makes me think back to my previous blog post, Opportunity. I mentioned opportunity and branding. I believe in business and the business opportunities the internet provides. I want to create and support businesses that helps people. A business that helps people get what they need and want. What I believe some people don't understand is that the purpose of business is to make money. That often puts an evil tone to the conversation, right? Even non-profits make money. They don't make a "profit." Or show a profit. Schools make money from property taxes, right? What do you do? Do you get paid for what you do? Chances are, you work for a place that makes money and pays you to do something that helps create that cash-flow. You also help other companies make money every time you "Like" or "Share" something on Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube. You probably don't get paid for it but you should and possibly in the future, you will. We are all walking billboards. What you post, wear, say, and do, is part of the unique brand that is YOU. I believe in people and I believe when people I know recommend something, I should at least check it out. It might not be for me. Or it could be life changing. Hopefully, for the good. The social media world is changing and it is here to stay. I endorse companies I believe in. Companies that are so good at what they do, other people want to be involved. I look forward to supporting and creating business that helps people.

Like, Share, and enjoy.

Ken

Opportunity

I was inspired after reading something that lead me here. I am changing it up a little. I am going off my gut. My instinct. I changed the title to just one word "Opportunity." I'm not doing a video today. I am just writing. Direct from my mind to yours. I am still going to discuss three things. Continue reading.

Opportunity

Incase you haven't noticed, the internet and the way we use it and connect to it and with it is changing faster than we are. YouTube uploads 100 hours of video per minute, everyday. Think about that just for a second. It is mindblowing. There is a lot to look forward to like quadcopters, artificial intelligence, and 3D printing, but with that there is opportunity like never before. Why do we keep doing the same thing when there are these opportunities available? There is a world of infinite opportunity. Infinite possibilities. Just watch "What the Bleep Do We Know?" There are opportunities with Google products, Apple products, and YouTube. There are opportunities with Amazon, eBay, and Craigslist. There are opportunities with Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin. There are opportunities to improve your life like no other time in human history. Endless possibilities. Do something. Create.

Your Brand

With this opportunity, you have the ability to stand out. I know, just like everyone else. I think it is more than that. You can like or not like anything you want. You can follow this blog or ignore it. Like it or dislike it. You can care or not care. All of this is part of your own personal brand. You define yourself by what you say and don't say, do and don't do, post and don't post, like and don't like. It is always changing. The power is incredible. Some people don't understand this power. Fuck. I don't understand it completely. Who does? How can you? I do have beliefs and theories about the power of your brand on the internet. I believe direct negative comments about other people do more damage than good. I believe your brand should be protected like your bank account. I believe your brand is more powerful than any other brand in the universe. Yes, the universe. You just don't know it yet.

The Future

I believe the future will have even more opportunity to make your own brand and share it with the world. Companies are fighting for your attention. They are fighting to be part of your personal brand. Coke, Cheerios, and Nike are only a few loyal brands that come to mind. The future will shift this. You will be the brand. I support and share what I believe has value. Am I occasionally wrong? No. Just kidding. Of course. I like and share what I believe could help someone, has value, or is simply funny. I want to make a living helping people get what they want out of life.  That is really it. Eventually this will all come together and I will be able to share my knowledge, skills, and ideas with more people. I want to create. I want to inspire. I want to enjoy life. 

The future is yours to create. The past is the past. Learn from it. Move forward. Be positive. Speak up. Make a statement. 

Create your own brand, your own opportunity, your own future.

Like, share, enjoy.

Thanks,

Ken Morris

sirromnek@gmail.com

1-920-624-2818

Focus, Fun, Fat

Not a lot of text today. I will post a link to the video below. I think "Focus, Fun, Fat" will be a reoccurring motif on the "Make My Ex Famous" blog. 

FOCUS

I vaguely mentioned what I'll focusing on in the video. I am going to name names here. Click if you want for more information. Or leave a question in the comments.

1800FairOffer- Local Home buyer

AvedTrader- Real Estate Consulting

Schwag- Mountain Bike Store

Extreme Structures- Structural Insulated Panels Green Builder

FUN

For fun, I create fun where I go. Affect peoples' reality. Have fun.

FAT

I talk about my weight problem, how it affects me, and what I am going to do about it.

LINK

Make My Ex Famous Episode 8 VIDEO LINK HERE

Thanks.

Like, share, and enjoy.

Ken

Feedback? Why? I Thought You Don't Care

Feedback? Why? I Thought You Don't Care

I want feedback. Yes. I said I don't care but it is more complicated than that. I don't need it because I don't care. Like I have written before, I don't know where I want this to go. I know people are viewing it. The global list is growing. I don't know if they are reading it. I can assume you are. I mean you just read that and you are reading this, right? I am not uncertain with what I'm doing, I want to create interesting content regularly. I'll just say, my blog and YouTube is open to comments. You know that. I might write about the comments or I might not. RIght now, I want a glass of water. 

Like, share, and enjoy.

Ken

Intervention, Minecraft, and The American Dream

I hate Times New Roman. That's better. Hello and welcome to the Make My Ex Famous blog by Ken Morris. I had an incredible day, which is nice after having a shitty one. I didn't get a chance to write about the above title when I wanted to but that it's all good. Since I waited, more writable events came forward. So let's get to it.

It was recommended by my daughter's teacher and her mother that Linnea take "Math Intervention" to get her ready for 6th Grade Math. Linnea did not want to take it. She said last summer did nothing to make her better. Why should she have to take it again? But why listen to a kid. Teachers and parents are always right. I was more bothered that another activity was planned without my knowledge or agreement. From my point of view, it is lost time, which, again, from my point of view is the exact intention. So, she scored "Basic" on WKCE. So what? She won't be a mathematician or an accountant. One thing (there are many) that bothers me about the school system is they seem to focus so much time and attention on weaknesses, that students forget their strengths. It's no wonder they are bored. Why does it seem creativity is completely thrown away after kindergarden? Why can't students choose a path that interests them? Better yet, why does it have to be one path? I imagine that a very small number of you reading this when to school and have been doing the same job since. Where are the computer programming classes or the entrepreneur classes? The system needs to change. It is not my daughter who needs an "intervention" because she is "basic" at math. I believe that the school system needs the intervention. 

Not sure if you remember the districts choice to purchase 3000 netbooks last year. Yeah, they sure were cute, weren't they? I'd like to know what they were thinking when they purchased them? Where was their intervention? I don't think my daughter is on the path to waste $1.5M tax dollars without an intervention. I can imagine, because I'm creative. It was probably something like this:
"We are on track to lose another 1000 students to better districts like Ashwaubenon and Howard-Suamico. What should we do?"
"We need more technology!"
"But what about integration?"
"Ain't nobody got time for that!!! Order 3000 netbooks."

There are much better ways to integrate technology than buying netbooks. No, Tom Milbourn, netbooks are not new technology. They are crap and I think time has proven this. I doubt they will continue using the netbooks for their one-to-one initiative. They would have better results integrating the technology they have with them. Mobile technology is the future. The ability to access, create, and manipulate media using their smart phones, will help them more than just handing them a netbook. Training staff and determining need wouldn't hurt either. From my understanding, the computers were rarely effectively used in class, damage was rampant, and they were all "unlocked" within a few hours. I know students were playing the FPS game Halo on them. In other words, they knew more than they thought.

If they really wanted to help students learn and integrate technology, Minecraft would be a wonderful way to math and other forms of problem solving. Ask Sharin Tebo. She spent two years teaching in Bangkok and knows how amazing of a teaching tool Minecraft can be. I see what my daughter create in this world and it is incredible. If you have been living in a mine, you might not know what I am talking about. Here's the Wikipedia. Please don't tell me I need to let you know what Wikipedia is. Let them play. There is potential. Be open to it and if you're really adventurous, try it yourself. 

The American Dream is my final entry. I am going to keep it simple. My original plan was to explain what it's not but I believe a positive outlook is a better take. To me, my American Dream, is to be happy. And as I continue on that journey with my girls, I want to affect the lives of as many people as I can. Since the time is right, I will leave you with this.

Share, like, and enjoy.
Ken

Dirty, Mexicans, and The Bridge Part II

Hello there and thank you for reading this. Again you don't have to but apparently you want to this isn't just out in the open, like a post on Facebook for example. 

Screenshot of the video. Yeah, I hear
it adds like 100 pounds.

This is the Mexican family I met.
You might say I crashed it. I say
I was invited. Well, I was. :)

So today I went from a mountain bike ride with my snow bike. I knew it had rained so I knew it would be muddy. When you get really muddy on a mountain bike it's annoying when you have clothing on. So I just wore shorts. I was riding pretty fast and the bridge was coming up. I thought to myself "Let's do this! I'm going to redeem myself." I got up to the bridge and slammed on my brakes. I couldn't do it. I yelled, "Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! You fucker!" at the bridge. It did say anything. It didn't feel right. Like I wasn't ready. Or "What if I fell and broke my arm?" I thought. I'd die, in the woods, with a broken arm. I took the other, safe bridge, and kept riding. I think it was okay to play it on the safe side today. I have to go back. I will go back. 

Mmmm. So good. 

Three Milk Cake. The cake is
soaked in milk. Delish.

As I continued on my ride, I recognize trails I hadn't been on in 15 years. It was peaceful and fun. Then I heard this sound. A pounding. Boom! Boom! Boom! Ba boom boom. It was faint but as I rode it got louder. I have to find where this sound is coming from. I was riding all these different trails. At times I was riding straight through the forest. No trails at all. It was getting louder and louder. It started sounding like Bob Marley. Then a mariachi band. When I came to the clearing, I saw that it was a party at a park. A Mexican family of about 20 was having two First Communion celebrations. They saw my bike and started asking me questions about it because the tires were so big. I said "Here. Ride it." They loved it. I told them I work at a bike store. One really big guy wants a bike that will work for him. He weighs 340lbs. I told him I'd figure out what we can do. Then they gave me a really good Mexican beer. And another one. And a third. They were dancing, eating, and singing. One of the men looked familiar when he told me what he does, I knew. It was Juan Curiel, the owner of Taco Burrito, Mexican Restaurant. Then he invited me inside to have some food. Authentic Mexican food. Between the music, the beer, and the food, I actually felt cytolysin next couple. (That last sentence was Siri's problem. Let me try again.) Between the music, the beer, and the food, I actually felt like I was in Mexico. It was delicious. I wish I had another taco right now. I told Juan that I would write about this on my blog and I asked if he do a promotion. He said "Sure." The promo is "Free soda with the purchase of a burrito." Just mention this blog or show it on your smart phone. I was sitting talking and laughing as I watched Juan dance, and his brother came over and said, "You see? The whole family very happy?" Yes, I said. It was heartwarming. 

Finally, as you can see from the photographs, I got dirty today. Now, it doesn't have to mean dirty with dirt or mud. And it doesn't have to mean mean or evil. To me it means just go for it. Do something you've never done before. Try it. You might like it. 

Like, share, and enjoy. Ken

Signs, Transparency, and Fiction

(Shoutout to sponsor 1800FairOffer.com. See link here or below for more info. Thanks for your support!)

note before reading: there are some words i didn't capitalize or spell right. i'm fine with that. i am going to fix them. it's siri's fault anyway. there's nothing directly about my ex either. you can go back to surfing the web for shoes if that's all you want.

I'm gonna talk this one out. I just talk out an email using my iPhone 4S with Siri. Email it to myself. Copy/paste. Done. (Not really. I'm fixing her stuff now.) I just don't feel like typing right now. It's so late it's now becoming early. I'm working a lot of different things at different times of the day and night. Friday was a great day and just how it all turned out I felt like there were signs. Certain things that were so unbelievable you almost can't imagine to make them up. Timing of different things, the people I met at different times, everything that led to where I am today. It's a crazy web of connections. 

First day of work was great. We had a little foot traffic in the store but most of the sales were online. The opportunity for online sales is ridiculous. It's all mathematics. If you have something to sell, how many people need to buy it? That's correct! Just one. If foot traffic is Green Bay, online traffic is LA. The message goes out to more people, there's more interest and everybody loves the deal. It's that simple. Anyone can do it. You have most likely bought or sold something online. If not, wow.

I started writing a blog earlier talking about asking what you would want to read. And I thought about it for a while and had it typed up and still have it in draft form. I mean I was going to ask "what do you think about this? how do you feel about that?" and not to get, I don't know "pats on the back" so to speak, but I really did want feedback which would be fine. I guess maybe more constructive criticism but I don't need it. And I felt that I needed to keep it transparent. I'm doing this because I want to do it for me. it's okay. no big thing. I'm not even gonna go back and fix those capitalized letters. So there. I'll keep it real, sort of. 

Which leads me to my third and final part of this blog, fiction. Everyone creates their own fiction. Sometimes it's not our fault. sometimes it is.  sometimes we don't know whether it is or isn't. Our own mind plays tricks on us. You see, our mind wants to be right. When you tell yourself something over and over again your mind, it's purpose is to do things correctly so it makes things happen. "I'm never going to pass this test or I'm a horrible driver or I can never remember names." Your brain be-all like "okay. here you go." It makes it happen. So let's try something new this time around. Let's tell our mind to do positive. But there will be some fiction in here. You might not know it. I might not even know it. Because part of it, I guess, is perception. 

Be amazing. 

Ken

Nationwide sponsor serving counties of Brown, Outagamie, and Winnebago. Allowshome owners to get a cash offer on their home within 24 hours.

The Pitch, George Michael, The Rule of Three

The Pitch, George Michael, and The Rule of Three

I just realized that today marks the 6th Month Anniversary of my last day as a teacher in the Green Bay Public School District which was on 12/21/12, the end of the world. It's not the end of the world. 

A day to celebrate. I was on Facebook this morning and saw a post from a place looking for a sales position. Responded. Start tomorrow. Nailed it. More on that later. Thank you Facebook! 

My big appointment for the day was at wisnet.com, LLC, a website developer in Fond Du Lac. I connected with the owner, Rick, via Linkedin. He reached out to me via email, I told him about an idea I had for a mobile app and we set up an appointment. It was almost like a mutual job interview. I pitched my idea and vision. He never heard of Prezi, but liked its simplicity and functionality. My presentation went well and then he told me about his and how I could help. It came down to what I am doing right now. It is about content creation and staying relevant. I am going to be working with him to expand on his idea and create and grow mine. He even knew Robert Scoble and gets data through RackSpace. Cool. Thank you Linkedin!

After I left wisnet, I stopped at Schwag, in Appleton. Met with Roger, the owner and he told me one of his sales guy is leaving and offered me a mixed position in sales and internet marketing. We have a very similar idea of how a business should work. He told me he'd get me a new iPhone for business. Score. 

In Tim Ferriss' book, The 4 Hour Work Week, he talks about doing business with people who willingly pay for something because it has value. You shouldn't have to beg people to buy a product or service. It should be a win-win relationship. That is why both people, the seller and buyer thank each other after the transaction. If you haven't read the book, I recommend it. A game changer, inspirational, and genius. 

I told Roger about my pitch at wisnet and he told me about someone he knows who is working on an app. Her name was Neo, which I thought was pretty badass. Her app helps promote events at bars and other venues. Very good idea for small places who want to promote a band. She is looking for an investor and sales people. The app could sell itself. It's a no brainer. All three of us, Neo, Roger, and I, are Italian. So there was some mutual understanding of how we all behave and think. It was funny. It was about 6:00pm and neither of us had eaten all day. Of course, we went to eat at Wise Guys Pizzeria and Pub. I love pizza.
Are you waiting for me to mention George Michael? Well, I was shaving this morning after getting out of the shower, and playing in my head, as if it were playing on my George Michael Greatest Hits CD, was "Faith." 

"Cuz I gotta have faith, faith, faith, 
I gotta have faith, faith, faith, ahh! BABY!!" 


It was a faith of just being confident that everything was going to work out. And I don't just mean for what I was hoping for today. I gotta have faith that my girls are doing fine despite all the bullshit they have to deal with. I'm not perfect. I can admit that. I have to have faith that someday I will be treated like something other than a criminal or an idiot by my ex. I'm not hurt by it. I am just tired of it. I love my girls. They love me. That's it. That is all that matters. To even attempt to remove a parent who loves, cares, and wants to be in their lives is wrong. It has happened once. I still can't believe it. This was two years ago. After my lawyer read the decision, he was confused. Even the "Findings of Fact" were a complete joke. How can the Brown County Court System operate? I have to return to faith. There are only a few more years before it won't matter nearly as much. Faith. 

This is the third and last part of the blog, The Rule of Three. Three is my favorite number. It is everywhere. Jokes have three parts. The Three Musketeers. Three Stooges. The list goes on. Today I had one appointment that turned into three. I got three different places that I am going to be working. I will be able to work on my own time for myself. This is what I wanted and what I need. Not just for me but more importantly, for my girls. The three of us. No more work that interferes with school concerts or games. If you want the same thing, I believe it is possible. With the internet and social media, the possibilities are endless.

Today was an amazing day. 

Ken

The Reveal, Conflicts Of Interest, and Thanks

Hello everyone, or no one. How are you? Great. Moving on.

I wanted to say something about the title of my blog and why I chose it. I had this idea about what brings people to seek out content. It has to be interesting and worthwhile. So instead of a blog that is a completely negative slam, I wanted to simply tell my story. Now I do not want "Make My Ex Famous" to be a manipulating title which it probably seems to be. I guess I am asking you to be patient. There are ebbs and flow to this and you have to trust me that there is a lot I haven't told you. This is evolving. I don't know where it is heading. The idea also stemmed from thinking about how people want to be famous for the wrong reasons. I'm doing something different. Flipping it, so to speak. If you saw the movie "Catfish," (trailer here) you know how long the reveal takes. This blog can be about my ex but I'm not going to say it always will be about my ex. Does that make sense? Good. I don't care. 

As I mentioned in the video, wanted to talk about conflicts of interest. A couple examples I want to talk about real quick I don't want going to detail because it's two in the morning  and I have a presentation tomorrow. Actually I'm gonna talk about one that's current. I'll bring up the other one another time when I talk about another issue. 

As I mentioned in the previous post, one of my daughters is in "Math Intervention." I make fun of the name because it sounds negative, but that's not my point. But here is: my daughter got Basic on the math section of WKCE which is why she was "recommended" to take "Math Intervention" summer school. No, it was not required. It was "recommended." I asked who recommended it and the teacher said a group of teachers recommended that it would be good to help her get ready for sixth-grade math. I didn't want her to go because it's summer and it's their summer time with me. My time during the school year is very limited. So it bothered me. 

What bothered me even more was when I found out the person who recommended it, is also the person teaching it. Very convenient. No better way to guarantee you have a job in the summer than to recommend students to be in your class. That was a conflict of interest. At least to me. (It also seemed a little fishy. That is another story. Stay tuned for district stories.) 

Not to mention it was inconsiderate to schedule something that I didn't agree with during my time. Not cool. This is not the first time this kind of thing happened. It's happened before, but that is another story. Am I saying "that's another story" too much? I really do mean that that's another story. Usually people say that because they aren't going to tell it. I will. Anyway, I'm tired of it. It's not fair to my girls. That's all I'm going to say. 

I have a few more hours of work to do yet. Don't worry I'll probably do in the morning. Wait. It is morning. Shit. I'll do it a little later. I'm going to Fond du Lac to pitch a business idea that I've been building and building. It will lead to some work for me. My ex would call it a "business venture/misadventure." I laugh.

(NO TRANSITION AVAILABLE)

Below are some screen shots of the first page of Google and the page views from this blog. This is an example of what can be done in a short period of time. This is not difficult to do. Takes some time and some clever media manipulation. That's about it. I use my iPad for the video upload to YouTube, my MacBook Pro to do a few tag updates on it, I use my iPhone to dictate some of the writing, email it to myself, then copy/paste it here. Oh, a big thing that is easy and fun to use is Skitch. That's how I get those awesome screenshots with nondestructive manipulation. Just like my blog title. 

Thank you. I hope this helps. But to me, here's the absolute truth: 

If this helps just one person to change, or inspire, or do something that they never thought possible, then it is worth it. If that one person is me, even better. If that one person is my ex, well that... that is a whole 'nother blog.

Cheers,
Ken 

Two day traffic. Not bad.

First page of Google when "Make My Ex Famous" is searched. pwned.

Red Light/Green Light, Crazy Developments, and Make Noodles in a Rice Cooker

Thanks for all the people following this blog. I will thank you again later. I just didn't want to forget. If I write it here, I will see it again to remind myself...Okay. I'll shut up.

I went to visit the girls today at summer school. Linnea is in "Math Intervention" (yes. the class is called "Math Intervention." you would think it's for kids addicted to math. i will talk about that in a different post, then come back and link it.) and Stella is taking a dance class. No. It is not called "Dance Intervention." At least I don't think it is.

Anyway, I was driving from the east side, over by UWGB, and I was coming up to a stop light. The light was red so I started to slow down. As I got closer, I realized the light was not red but it was green and it was green the whole time. I am slightly color blind but I can tell the difference between red and green (please don't point to something and say "what color is this?").

It made me think about perception. "What are you waiting for?" said the green light. I have waited to long to do something like this, just for me. I really like that some people read this, but I don't need you to. I don't. And I don't care if you are offended by me not caring. I'm not even going to ask you if that makes sense or is okay. Watch Oprah's 2013 Harvard Commencement Speech you'll get what I mean, or don't. I don't care.

Back to the Red Light/Green Light and the crazy new development. I got a letter from Brown County Family Court Commissioner, Phoebe A. Mix (list of all of them) and in it was a copy of a letter from my ex that states her wish to withdraw her petition to modify placement of the girls. This petition asked for no time for me during summer, no over nights on school nights, and supervised visits. I have mentioned this to other people and they alluded that I would have to have multiple felons, be a drug dealer and/or addict, and have multiple cats. Okay, I made up the felon part. It is stopped for now. I do not think this blog had anything to do with it.

It was an absurd petition aside from the fact that I want to be in their lives. I feel horrible for kids who don't have a parent or a mentor who can help guide them through life. The fact that the court system even considers that could be in a child's "best interest" is ridiculous.

So this is good news. I am glad but as I said on Facebook, I am cautiously optimistic. You can follow me there. You probably got her from a link from a YouTube video that I posted on Facebook. I have 10 subscribers but I think I am creating interesting enough content that my numbers should go up. I had 78 page views the first 24 hours. That is not viral, but respectable. Here's a screenshot:

So my last little tidbit for today before I head off to school is "make noodles in a rice cooker." Also known as "BE CREATIVE." Don't say you've tried everything. You have not. The world is filled with millions and millions of opportunities. Just give it a go, even if you think the light is red. 

Thanks again for reading my blog and watching the videos. I have a lot of interesting and exciting projects I am working on. This is a hobby for now but I believe it is turning into something more. I can feel it.

Comment below if you have a question or would like a shout-out. Or you can email me at sirromnek@gmail.com or click here for a direct link. Stalk me. I don't care.

Cheers,
Ken

Make My Ex Famous Blog by Ken Morris

Make My Ex Famous
A Blog
by Ken Morris

Hey. Welcome to my first blog for the "Make My Ex Famous" brand. I have a vague idea where this is going but I have no idea where it will take me.

My initial idea came to me while I was washing the dishes this morning. I fucking hate washing dishes. Why do I hate washing dishes so much? I think I may have figured it out. My first job was washing dishes. Fourteen years old for $2 per hour cash. See the above photo. This was back in the late 80s when I was actually washing dishes. I was the dishwasher. I had a former student contact me yesterday asking if I would be a reference for him for a job as a, you guessed it, dishwasher. Of course I said I would, and told him that my first job was a dishwasher. I didn't tell him that by his age I already bought my first car, a 1965 Chevy Impala, from washing dishes and moving up the restaurant chain.

Then I was thinking about other things in my life that I just can't stand. I know you think I am going to say "my ex" because that is the title of the blog. It is not my ex, per se. It is how she treats me and how she behaves. I have stories that are completely unbelievable but true. My blog will tell my version. To me her one goal is to remove my daughters from my life. You know how problematic and detrimental this would be. She considers me a loser, a failure, and a "moronic idiot." Yes, that is a quote. They involve all the stuff that makes a great drama or documentary. Will you look at that? I have another idea. I actually could care less if anyone reads this. That attitude will make this blog even better. I will use this blog as my outlet for ideas.

Back to my original idea about the "Make My Ex Famous" brand. Here is what I suspect to be true: She will not want me to do this. That will create more content. I will start by telling the history and background, lead to stories, quotes, emails, voicemails, and so on. Literally thousands of pages. The content is already here to be created. It is in my head. It can't be deleted nor destroyed. So I hope that this will help me create a level playing field by reducing the likelihood of consistent bullying. Some of you might think that this blog is bullying. I disagree. I am standing up to the bully. This is nonviolent. Words. I am telling the bully that I will not take your bullshit. Remember that video of that kid from Australia? What did he do? Did he get bullied again? I doubt it.

As far as the internet marketing, use this formula to drive traffic to this content and close with other sponsored content or business ventures. That's it.

Ken