"Give us a buck. We'll plant a tree" was our original slogan. Today, Plant-It 2020 is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit foundation that performs worldwide tree-planting, donates fuel-efficient cooking stoves to needy families, and provides forestry, soil, and biochar education. Our services not only help reforest the world's cities and forests - they provide direct humanitarian aid by reducing hunger, thirst, malnutrition, poverty and indoor pollution while increasing the sustainability of not only the world's forests but also its people.

Originally went to Japan with the promise "come here, set up a company as an independent contractor, leave in 90 days and we'll pay you for a year." Turned out to be a 12 year stay and founding ARC. We created training centers in 7 Japanese cities; 2 in Taiwan; then Hong Kong; The Philippines; Korea (a complete wreck -- lost over US$500,000 through betrayal); and Sydney. In 1984 we opened a corporate culture training operation in Jacksonville, FL (later moved to Denver, CO.) Our products were high-impact experiential learning events for individual's personal growth and executive leadership trainings for corporate culture change. Individuals served: over 500,000. Corporations served: 1,800. Both with our clients and internally, we always included fun, a contribution highly valued by clients and it turned out to be highly profitable.Personally I grew to love Japan, became socially proficient in Japanese and traveled extensively. In 1986 I transferred my personal office and home to first Castle Pines, CO and then in 1988 to a semi-retirement in Aspen, CO. Built a 14,500 sf home, bought a jet, served on multiple non-profit boards, skied 60-80 days a year and traveled with the late John Denver presenting environmental education events. My wife and I had two birth children and adopted two special needs kids. We had LOTS of fun!

Designed and delivered high-impact experiential leadership training with over 500,000 graduates and over 1,000 corporations served.. Founded in Tokyo and expanded throughout Asia and then the USA. Branded personal growth experiences as Life Dynamics.

After my graduation from the MDI seminar I enrolled family, friends and colleagues into the training. Unpaid volunteer effort because I noticed that the training improved their lives and thus our relationships. I didn't understand the training -- just knew it "worked" and certainly didn't know anything about the company.While working as a sales manager and trainer in NYC, the founder of MDI Alexander Everett phoned me, introduced himself, thanked me for the support and asked me to visit him in California -- the ticket he sent me was for my first experience of First Class! Yay! Ten days after that I accepted the position of President of MDI and moved to Sausilito, CA.Spent about a year better organizing the USA business then started following Alexander's promotional trainings around the world by setting up foreign subsidiaries. Got the invaluable career assist of forming companies in England, Italy, Germany, Denmark (for Denmark, Sweden and Norway), Finland and Australia. The one country I said "no" was Japan: too expensive, translation very difficult and we were stretched out too far by growth. The Japan "no" turned out to be supreme irony because they kept after me monthly for years and I ended up there.After the death of Alexander's business partner he sold his share of MDI to the estate of his late partner. They needed and wanted access to our cash to settle the estate. It went from a great job to a horrible one almost overnight so I resigned and launched Lifespring Inc.

A one month consulting engagement to discover if I wanted to accept founder Werner Erhard's offer of the CEO role for this fast-growing training company. Wonderful experience however it was "not for me." Wanted to continue my entrepreneurial journey.

Organized and funded this start up. Sold to staff who expanded company nationwide with over 700,000 graduates of personal development seminars.

Great learning experience but somewhat disappointing, even painful "ending." Failed to get my early team focused, aligned and committed so sold the company to staff. The classic "no money down and forever to pay" arrangement and, as often happens, they took longer than forever to pay! Today in my Mentoring, Consulting and Training roles with executive clients and teams, I regularly use what I learned from what then appeared as a major personal and leadership failure.

Recruited, trained and managed a skin-care sales force of 30. Starved at times .... eventually became an award-winner (cars, trips, recognition) and did sales training for my region one week a month -- first in Milwaukee then New York City.

Started as Outside Collector in Green Bay. Transferred to Milwaukee in 1963 as Assistant Manager then in 1964 became youngest Branch Manager in company history. Made small loans to individuals; solicited sales contract businesses in auto and direct sales; and recruited/trained/managed a team of 6-10. Put on my shirt, tie and suit plus wing-tips every day -- teased as "Bob Business" by my family. Kept part-time jobs in radio then part-time sales jobs during this period.

Ran "the Board" for a succession of DJ/Announcers from 6-9 AM weekdays before dashing to high school. Did the same on weekends. Great learning experience.

I learned later in life I had been acting out an underlying purpose of "I refuse to be poor." I did everything I could to make money and left out above picking beans and strawberries and cleaning milk cans for tips. After my Father's death in 1958 from my earning as a DJ and personal appearances, I essentially supported my family -- my Mother and three younger siblings.