Corey Stokes

The best Pinewood Derby Car in History!

Cub Scout Pack 519 2015 Pinewood Derby

This year, my son and I set off on a journey to build the best pinewood derby car that has had ever presented in the history of the Pinewood Derby races! At least, his best car that he had ever presented. We worked tirelessly, to stay focused and complete the car that he would enter. With our eyes on the gold medal, we spent many of weekends of sanding and cutting wood, painting and repainting… Oh, and you can’t forget the weights (which I almost did). But when it was all said and done, we had done it! He called it Enigma, named and mirrored (color scheme) after one of his favorite Skylander trap team characters, and it was the best car that he had built.

The day of the race, after some last-minute adjustments, because the car with weights on the bottom would not clear the track, the races began. Even though his car was not the fastest car in the race, it was the fastest car that he had built-in his four years of participating in the pinewood derby. Reaching his top speeds of 151 miles per hour, out of the four races he competed in. Nolan’s car and his joy throughout the event made each moment spent building this car worth it. Way to go #TeamNolan!

After it was all over, although my little man was upset he didn’t take first place, he realized that it was a step in the right direction for him. The top speed for a car during this race was 168 mph, but that was experience doing the driving. Next year, we build for speed!

Don’t just read for the sake of reading

It really doesn’t matter how much information you have. What does matter is what you do with the information that you do have. While I am asked several times per day who am I reading. My answer is always circular. I’m rather reading someone motivating and inspirational, or re-reading someone who has inspired me to achieve. I don’t just read a book and put it down, I read it, re-read it, and read it again to take notes. The fact of the matter is I study the books that I read. If you want to achieve, act on the information you read, don’t just read it.

Recently I heard Darren Hardy say, “It would be better to read 1 great book 32 times, ” instead of reading 32 books 1 time.

If you need a suggested place to start, here are the books that I’ve studied over the years. Choose one, study it, and welcome the greatness that the information will help you unlock.

Interview with Alissa Gittens

From basic financial knowledge to creating a system that is self-sustaining, how you manage this area of your life is arguably the most important step in your lifestyle management process. I recently spoke with Alissa Gittens, a trained classical musician who is creating the life that she wants through music and her other entrepreneurial endeavors.

In summary, you can create the life you want to live. Here are some of the key actions that Alissa and I spoke about.

Don’t just focus on your skill, if you want to be in business for yourself you also need to understand how to manage your money as well. Basic financial literacy helps in life and in business.
Monetize and live now, how to automated the talents that you have and find opportunities to create the life you want to live.
Secure your financial futures by knowing yourself. Be aware of your spending habits and set goals to get you where you want to be.
Invest in yourself!
You are going to fail, Learn from your failures and try again.
Don’t read just for the sake of reading. Try to apply the principles to you life.