All our lives are living “lessons.”

And,

Do these lessons cost…

Each and everyday we make choices.
Each choice does the life experience make.

Each of us can know either automatically or by slowing down everything and replaying the day we just lived,

Whether we did mostly “good” today,

Or just kinda skirted thru it without really getting anything done.

So, are you really committed to this progress stuff?

You know already.

So, go on with it then…

Get ahold of your life

Call it what it is,

Simply this: A Big and Complex Business,

Yep,

For
Lack of saying it any better:

The Business of Life.

And you’re conducting this business of life right now.

Everyday.

And at the end of even this year,

You should have done better,

Someway making it, What…

Easier
More painless
More free
Not having anyone that says anything to you that makes any of the above “appear?”

And what would be more nice than

Say,

The Debit Card Always Works…

Hmmm,

Wouldn’t that be nice?

You know

The Life of a Proverbial Rock Star

Maybe, not really…

But,

Sure would be good, huh.

Do your business as you see fit

Make it Big

Make it Simple

Make it Whatever you Want

Just don’t let People Get in your way.

And They Will if you let them.

Then there are those decisions you make everyday.

Wow what a mess, huh.
Those decisions that are permanent
And life changing.

The goal is to make as smart as a decision you can by being armed with whatever knowledge you can muster up so you know all the “angles.”

But I shoot from the hip a lot and I miss a lot…

So is the life of:

Knowing Where You’re Going.

Here is A Big Problem:

People can’t keep up…

They don’t like Change,

Beware when you see IT…
Get real light on your toes if you’re around someone who has IT…if you want to keep up.

Might be a nice ride to go on tho.

Probably sure to be “memorable.”

It…

What is It?

Determination is IT…

Or worse

Intense Determination, which is almost a Loner guy, because he’s out of control (I ain’t mentioning anybody particular)

If you have IT…

You have seriously launched an unstoppable train.

(Made a pretty big decision in your life, so to speak,)

Then there’s The most powerful tool or weapon in the world:

The Tongue

Choose wisely your use of it.

It can set in motion things that change your eternity…

Yes, even THAT BIG…

I think the tongue is the most dangerous weapon or tool there is in man alive.

Wow, do I fall for “words”
Man, do they shape your thinking,
How easily, too.

And those words do slide right in So Fast…

Without even thinking…

These Word are Hard to catch, too.

Could be lies,
Probably are

So watch out you people.

Be ye armed and prepared and pray all you hear is good and true.

Over-n-out

Mike

I picked up an old habit/hobby/semi-employment, (meaning getting paid),

For:

Well,
What Was It?

Mine was guitar playing.

Always said I have a mean 8 seconds.
Well, maybe you havent thought about it much during daily life, but 8 full seconds of flat out blazing on a guitar is a really Loong time..

8 full seconds of Pretty fast guitar strumming finger moving movements…

Get the picture?

No you dont.
Not unless you really like guitar.

Gary Moore who I bothered to count (makes a guitar sound like a helicopter)
Plays 25 licks a second (funny…typed while Gracie my dog is actually licking me on the side of my face off the back of the couch…)

Well back…
Had to take Gracie “Outside”…Funny life is…

Gary Moore, just this “one” guitar player….25 notes a second.
First heard it, made me mad.

Could hear all of it, each and every note he played…couldn’t play it….

So, I “strive” …
nah, not really, just having fun with something I enjoy.

I can’t play Gary Moore helicopter licks for even 2 seconds without “much” effort, but I “like it” I guess…

That which we do…

Hmmm

Another subject…

I Do have the usual “signs” of a hobby tho,

like doing stuff without actually thinking about doing it??

Like Natural Baby as Tony would say.

What’s Your Hobby?
Huh?
Well, then,
Get You One, Man.

Heck,
Get you Two,

Nothing wrong with that.

It may even be one of those classes I spend time with

showing you your next move in the fab bizness, as they say…

Man, I tied “that” right in, didn’t “I,”

Can’t help “it.”

So,
Think about it.
Your hobby

Could it be?

Get..your hobby equipping info and yourself here, in Rog-Vegas…Amen Motorcycles, lots a stuff to look at, and more than you want to learn.
Guaranteed.
Over-n-out
Mike Brown
Guitar Slinger (literally).
That’s another (3 minimum) stories…

Classes are “humming” right along.

At Amen as we go thru stages of fabrication just like every shop does…

We work on different things, and

There are lots of cars here…

The most normal is below, but I sure can use it to blow the interstate miles away in custom kool style, save that motel money on the drive to splash around fun money when I arrive,

So here we go…

I Love Astro Vans
Old School, out of Favor now
And
I have
A Kool One
So and While
In the gas tank building phase of the week…
We’re stretching a bunch of small fun metal “patterns” that will really be used,

and not just bent sheet metal junked in the trash just to prove you could “stretch” metal.

Well,

That’s Easy

And fun,

That Shrinking Part , bending steel “in”, so to speak, is sometimes a real b itch.

You’ll see.

So,

The machine next inline is an Ex Show Car: an ’89 Astro, chopped suicide on bags and 20’s. Bought that way, instead of laying out the big bucks for a Full size Chevy conversion van.

Being chopped with the windshield laid back, it really had a good Look to Start the project I had in mind.

I immediately cut it up.

Clear cut out the inner fenders so if a bag failed it would still “roll.”

Installed an Escalade Front end.

Then bought another Astro, a drive in and sell, at the junk yard for $400.00

It WAS a Conversion Van, do I immediately cut the conversion roof off (half thick,) and put it on the Chop van

Man, what a change, perfect look.

Will look factory, and this thing looks Waay smaller than a normal Astro.

With those 20’s (pretty much a real major amount of work would be needed for anything larger, and no need, really)
It looks Matchboxy which makes me happy enough.

History,

Already have an ’87 Panel I drove to Shows early on, me and a bike in the back, front tire is my new arm rest.

I had it down too,
(2) 2×10’s would join together with this tube the same size, made me a big long ramp.
I could load a bike in 2 minutes then tie it down in another 2-3, very convenient for what I was doing.

Well, it had a 350 Chevy in it. I ran tall gearing and it Idled Down the highway.
(Tony just got back from a business trip and got……24.9 mpg, wow that’s good huh)

So … We have a race car motor here,
Came from Matt from Iowa, a Student from last school,

Well, I’ll have to stop now.

I’ll go introduce you to Matt.

Till I get back…

Mike

If you haven’t called in or signed up, be sure to not miss this 3 in 1 set of class sessions beginning this month (January) the 23rd.

I am looking forward to meeting and getting to know each of you and “let it be” 24 hour a day Motorcycles, just as it should be.

This will be the first class with my Buddy Tony here, too.

And Boy, Can He Cook.

And,

A Lot of it,

And

Real often,

So get ready for the best hands-on instruction money can buy.

Insights and real cost savings tips,

Design and work-arounds

Set-ups showing Formal Fixturing and How to Not have to Have it.

Plus Metal Stretching (easy) and Shrinking (Hard )…

Plus, mechanical set-ups and Build a Bike, (the Discovery Channel Great Biker Build-off Get er Done).

Plus, stay here at the factory/shop/home, look out each morning thru the windows of the 2 story skyscraper where you have just slept.

And

Tony, cooking all that food.

Life’s good.

See ya here

Mike

423-272-6000

You have made the decision…
You’re going for it…
Whatever IT is.

You feel Great.

Finally made that commitment,

Going for it,
(because you have decided this is something very exciting to you, otherwise you wouldn’t be doing it…moving out of that complacent comfort zone you’re in.)

All is Good,

For a while, even for a couple of days…

Then,

You get uneasy,

Then you start to doubt,

Or even before that:
You begin to not Think its the right time to be making this decision
Or
Trust you can do it.
Or
Trust the decision you made is a Good one.

These things we commit to…

Even after we’ve done it,
Can become stressful.

It just depends on on, get this:

How you think…

And
Most times (me)

I just tend to throw a wrench in it,
And stop it cold right on the spot.

Wow, how dumb, and I thought I was Smart.

Just goes to show how Fickle and Weak we can really be if we do not keep a check on ourselves.

By controlling ourselves and keep our courage up long enough to “get in to it.”

Then we get:

A potential life changing blessing,
For sure, A new direction,
A commitment you made that may make your personal or business life much more rewarding and enjoyable.
And
Much more enjoyable than you can probably think of.

Well,

I seem to have to keep more check on myself than usual these days,

maybe it’s because I’m getting older,

Or

I think it’s because we have to make our decisions really count these days,

To make the best decisions we can make, now that we have an economy like we have.

These potential decision making mistakes could cost a lot of money,
And time,
And time really does count.

Even More so now, in our lives.

That used to not be the case.

Being cautious is good,
Even smart.

But

You cannot be scared of changes you have decided to make.

You cannot let “your mind control you” and stop you.

You have to make yourself have a reason to be a “little scared,” because change in its self is a little scary.

Or if you’re really gutsy, go for a commitment that is a bit more “big scary”

Like if you’re going for,

Say,

A Donald Trump sized Deal.

I like this reason tho It rarely rattles around in my mind as a “reason to use” but it has returned while writing this piece tonite:

So here it is:

I like what Naomi Judd said:

“The Best Revenge is Living Well.”

So, I say:

Go and Do what you want.

In doing so, you have a better chance at “Judd’s Living Well” attitude…

Beats the alternative as the boss says,
while you’re reading this…

“Quit dickin off on that computer phone and get yur ass back to woik.”

Over-n-Out for now,

Mike

Announcing the next set of Sessions and Classes here in Rogersville, scheduled for January 23, 2012.

These highly successful classes and pretty much non-stop Sessions were very successful last time we held the classes in November.

The New Live-in Format…

No Motel Needed While Here…

Really brought us close, so we could spend a greater number of hours getting specialized information to the guys who attended.

All this in the comfort of the house/kitchen/2nd story sky-scraper we have here.

I know of 2 of the guys who have totally went a different way in their lives after attending.

You will see and be part of a non-stop 24 hour Everything Custom Experience
while here.

Here is an overview of what we are doing:

6 Days and Nights of Training, covering all aspects of Motorcycle Building and Fabrication.
No Motel Fees, Stay here at the Home/Shop.
Food provided.
Come Build the Discovery Channel Great Biker Build-Off Bike, The Get Er Done.
Hosted by Industry Veteran Mike Brown, Owner of Amen Design and Engineering (Amen Motorcycles).

The sessions are:
Gas tank fabrication,
Stretching and shrinking metal and understanding why, and what the metal is trying to tell you.
Complete the spot welded tank, done, throw it under your arm, carry it home.
“not bad for 3 dollars worth of steel” I say at the end of that class.

Next:
Frame fabrication
Every town has a place to teach Welding.
Nobody teaches complex suspension design and fabrication of motorcycle frames and chassis, except here at Amen.
And,
When it’s all over (frame class) I tell you how to do it all with a trick that don’t cost you the 600k I spent.

Next:
Assembly Class, 2 days.
Ins and outs of every technological development and a complete background history of everything custom

Along a complete 2 day hands on assembly class building the actual Tv bike off the Discovery Channel Great Biker-Build off. Unheard of, and never done before.

Includes complete chopper wiring explained, and many secret fabrications techniques opened up to see on this machine.

These highlights in a few sentences in no way cover the “every couple of minutes nuggets” of hints, helps and insights that will save you a bunch of Time And Money

Things you can go on with and do the day you get home.

This will help you make a new start, doing what you really love…

getting paid for it is a really nice bonus, too.

So, get yourself ready and try to come to this one.

It might be a while before I get to hold any more sessions for a while, as we are getting the shop ready to open the doors here to the public for the first time.

I know there have been a lot of people who have been trying to get in here for years.

So,

Now that time has come…

The Signature Handmade Bikes are bring loaded on Display Tables…

Formal Seating and Entertainment is next,

The VW Pusher out for all to see…

A Top Secret Build going on in my room for everyone to try to get a “peek”

Plus Lots more soon.

Should be a very exciting time here…

So,

Get ready
Or
Get left behind.

Come be a part of these classes beginning January 23.

Mike

Call or write for more information

423-272-6000
Precisionguesswork@yahoo.com

You know, I catch myself saying that a lot. Saying that is akin to doubt, which I really try to avoid thinking even exists.

So if doubt doesn’t exist with me, then why say the “if I had.”

Some I say;
If I had the money
If I had the help
If I had not… Fill in the blank here
If I had just…
If I had known…

That’s a “sampling” of the thoughts a man can have while making his way thru this thing we call life.

I made the decision to catch myself when I say the “If” thing.

Today is today,

And “right now” is what you have to work with.

I want to see progress and forward movement in our lives.

You yourself are the tool, you have all you need…

You have 24 hours to think your way thru anything.

I take it farther as sleep is optional to me when I need to really hammer on a design, a goal, a “thing” that would make me move forward some way.

Remember too, you are in direct tune with the Almighty who can make a change in your life in a New York Minute.

So, here it is;

Be about your business, even if you are only thinking about it, dreaming of a result and developing it with thought…

Be sure to know that even doing that which you think is small and holding you back is as if you are keeping your nose on the grinding stone, so to speak.

And demonstrating a substantial commitment to yourself, that You Are In Control, and not about to let any outside influence stop you.

Control what goes in your mind, from outside sources, too.

Control what you think…Always

You will make progress like maybe never before.

Guaranteed

Mike

The thing about having a goal and getting it done is…

You need to have a little help.

That can be in the form of a real physical person,

Or

Help that comes by way of getting instruction on how to do whatever it is you have to do to get that goal you have. done.

Well, I just got back from West Palm Beach Florida where I have picked up my friend Tony.

Tony is an Amen bike owner.

He actually has two of them. (1) is a very early model 1999, with a 230 tire and may be one of the handmade rims that I used to catch in the lathe (while still turning) as I cut the wheel center off the rim.

His (2nd) bike is the crazy one-off Extended everywhere Savior 360 with the motor centered left drive (5) bearing jackshaft bike/frame rolling assembly.

Tony is here to make Amen be managed and reinvented to enable me to begin building the wild stuff again.

More crazy design motorcycles from Mike Brown…

The stuff that makes a real difference to people that see them, so they believe that they really could and decided they can…do what they wanted to do on their bikes…

After seeing the crazy designs coming out of here.

So, Announcing tonight, Tony Salmon is the first of a small group of hand-picked members I have decided to pull in to enable Amen Motorcycles and Mike Brown to begin a new chapter of business life.

Just wait.

I Can’t stand the wait.

I’m So ready to get started.

Going to be an exciting time here.

Classes in late January too…

More later,

Mike

Well, I’m thinking what the next level of work we did.

Review:

Day 1 tank class…in one day instead of two.

Reflecting upon it, we will be using 2 days to build the tank per normal.

This class was a bit more exceptional in that they were 1st and foremost more experienced “weldors” than the normal class.

But 2 days it is next time, as it really “takes” it.

Day 2 was the beginning of the frame class. Brought out the fixtures and set them up on the jig table.

Lots of measurements, angles, explaining…

Show the short method they could use in their business, instead of doing it the long and hard and expensive way, too.

A couple of really important tooling and coping inventions was shown.

Then, the “secret” to Frame fab that you have to come here to get.

Guaranteed to set you up in the business in a smart and efficient way once you see it.

Sal (who came back from a class 9 months ago) has set up a complete shop with the tooling built for his jig and (4) bikes/engines and lathe and mill set-ups, done with nothing but determination and no help since he left. Setting up a Powdercoating operation next. (Were showing and teaching a short, fast fact filled couple of hours so they can get an idea if it is something they want to get into.)

Next day (3) we built the complete drivetrain set up modified of course for the new Underslung project I am working on.

Bent some tubing, smoked a few cigars.

I told the guys they would have a part in a legacy build. (Specials of one off construction I build, which I have not done in a pretty long time for several reasons.

Being smart, I told them what they should say about their involvement in the build;

They should say they helped fabricate the experimental drivetrain set up in the Underslung project.

Sorry no pictures tho they were taken and promises made to keep them private.

Its going to be a bad machine.

I can’t wait to begin on the chassis and front end.

We broke out for a day trip (day 4) the next day as George needed to “see” a real tool store as he thought Walmart was really something, eat Wendy’s his favorite I guess then taco bell at the evening end.

This special trip was to help George get his shopping done while he was here with the tools he would need back in Vensuala.

We held lots of personal goal and direction talks while in the car driving probably 225 miles that day.

The evenings were open for anything and everything and was primarily aimed at putting a direction on what we all seen as strong points of each one of these guys. And talking about the ins and outs of getting started by making money from the beginning of the start up.

A real good set of sessions other than learning not to feed the cat unlimited amounts of milk, man can she make a mess when she gets the runny poops started.

I’m going to break away from class for a blog or two.

Got something on my mind.

It might pop up and out of mind here shortly.

Gone thinking…

Mike.

Well, I’m sitting in the car, listening to XM, blowing off some time to reflect…

And I can say this: It was The Best School I’ve put on yet.

I believe it was because we stayed, eat, slept everything motorcycles non-stop for a whole week.

Not having to leave, run to a motel…

That’s what did it. Everybody made them a place, their part of the house that they set up for sitting/sleeping and the nonstop time we had together let us really have an effective set of sessions and after hours talks.

The beginning I decided was to be Gas Tank Fabrication, normally a 2 day class…Get the Hard Work done early.

Wow,

These guys beat and built/welded 4 complete tanks…

Get this:

In (1) Day.

We started about 10:00, we quit about 6:30 probably.

Matt stayed down an extra hour (maybe) and finish welded his And Ground It Down Smooth too.

Dang if it wasn’t a sight to see and hear, hammering/shrinking/grinding/shrink some more, on and on until they finished.

Sal (from the last school came down from New York, and did all the shopping (on his dime, too!!) and took care of setting the house up for the guys when we were finished, plus talked while I needed breaks for drinks and bathroom.

Bo from Texas was a more quiet type that took right to the school and made the most amount of notes and finally showed us a picture of his beautiful bike he completely built, including hand tooled leather and body work that included a killer airbrushed design he done himself, and had never done any of it before!! A good hand. a good motor man, too.

Sean Lee, man what a kool dude, got it figured out, has a wonderful and profitable business with the attitude I Want Everyone to have. He can go Anywhere, begin where he is standing and make his good money, and do this anytime, anywhere. Was a natural and mechanical talented too at the school, “teachable” he says of his self, and he was. Got 2 bikes, a Vette and all the toys you want and need in your life…such is what work is for.

George Tauil, well what can we say… from Vensuala and Spanish speaking. Made him some money by winning a Fricken Gold Medal in Speed Skating and funded the complete tool and fab of custom choppers in his country, where chops are not even legal. Next, he and his family are moving to America, as his heart is here. We all enjoyed George’s company. I will have to re learn to speak in complete sentences now that George is gone, as we all talked constantly in short sentences trying to give him info so he would be equipped to cut up a bad frame he has and correct it so he can go on with his plans. Black Rose Choppers…AMD Championship Bound.

But Matt scared me the most, at first, young, won’t listen, driven, got to have it now, going to finish that tank, even if the shop was closed…

I got to know him well during the time we spent together and I know now he is just a young “me.”

So I’m inviting him back so we can do a couple of “things.”

And Get this part…

I want each and every one of These Guys back as man, I’ve found me some friends.

All because we got this sleeping thing going on at the shop/house (same thing).

Massive Good food was served
We all cooked
Mom and Dick delivered a beef stew on Wednesday night and we all just over did it that night.

Ron came by with his Amen so we could run all the electrical circuits on his bike as the Discovery bike has only (2) Wires total, so I want to thank Ron.

I’m sure I am missing a lot of details and more that could be said and typed here.

Maybe later.

Time to Do Nothing.

Mike