Here are the things I learned from the Larry H Miller autobiography that was just published. Some things are direct quotes and others are lessons I indirectly learned from reading about his life. I really enjoyed the book and the honesty of the both Larry H. Miller and his wife Gail.

- Intensity and focus will make reality out of dreams
- The more wealthy you are the more service oriented you need to be
- A healthy and happy person will enjoy wealth longer
- Happiness is found for the rich the same way it is for the poor (family and non family relationships, service, hard work)
- You can get more done by having a routine
- I think frugality is an ingredient for happiness (the richer man then in some respects must fight harder for happiness than the poorer man)
- To diffuse an argument- ask a lot of questions, listen, then repair.
- Make a habit of writing down and digesting life’s lessons. You will progress faster that way
- Stop and ponder
- Money will change you unless you work at it not changing you
- Keep promises (as an employer) to your employees
- The turning points in Larry H Millers life were when he married Gail
and when he started paying tithing
- It takes big risks to achieve big things.
- As people approach death they dwell on relationships not their
possessions
- After difficulty or contention with someone it is important to go to great lengths to reach out and make things right.
- Write letters to your friends and family
- Learn how to delegate
- If possible don’t go into personal debt. Stay out of it, when you get out.
- “Don’t change your standard of living as your income increases”
- If you love possessions, you will be made captive by them.
- It is important to sit back a few times a year and wonder what it all is for?
- Learn how to keep the passion
- Go to work everyday and do what needs to be done
- “Life is way too short to spend it all at work” – Gail Miller
- It is usually the challenges that help us grow the most

Larry H Miller’s Business Suggestions
- “Don’t expand too fast, protect the base”
- In negotiations- go early, inspect value, curb excess desire, learn what other wants and don’t assume, do whole deals, think on your feet, negotiate for self.
- Ask lots of questions
- “Even more important than the will to win is the will to prepare to win.”
- “You don’t have to blow out another’s candle to let your own shine”
- “Don’t make a bad deal just to make a deal”
- “Keep money in perspective”
- Be patient
- “Play to your own strengths”
- “Trust your instincts”
- “Manage business at the level of business you are actually doing; not at the level you wish you were doing”
- “Learn not to confuse the elements of motion and progress. Progress always requires motion, but motion isn’t always progress.
- “Accomplish more by not caring who gets the credit”
- “If you want extraordinary results, you must put in extraordinary effort.”
- “Don’t assume people see problems as clearly as you do.”
- “Let the fires burn all around you and fix one problem at a time.”
- “You can’t do it if you aren’t there”
- Create a reputation of doing what you say you’ll do
- “In negotiations try to give the other person what he wants”

Last week we were fortunate enough to go on a helicopter ride over Temple Square and see the Salt Lake Temple and the conference center all lit up from the Christmas lights. It was an amazing site and I posted the video below for all to enjoy. Michelle and I were there with my mom and dad and Josh and his son Sam. It has always been one of my dreams to fly in a helicopter and it was amazing to be up there. I felt safer in the helicopter than I did during the takeoff of an airplane. I wonder which one is safer. The opportunity came because we do IT work with Classic Aviation and we have a good friend there that invited us to go to whom I am extremely grateful. It was about a 15 minute ride and has been one of my favorite things we’ve done this Christmas season.

From Helicopter video

He looks like a pilot