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Who is Jim Mikel (AKA "SPIRIT") ?

I'm the guy that wants to change the world through LUV in my old age!

I'm not perfect, that is for sure.

This is a brief overview of my life.
(far from perfect, btw.)

I was born in Pasadena, Texas on August 11, 1965.  Yes I'm old. HA  I excelled in school, making straight A's most of my life.  (a few B's and C's along the way).  

My luv for radio waves and technologies began as a grade-schooler in San Angelo, Tx. My father bought me a CB Radio. It had a two story antenna next to our house, and I would practice "Breaker 19", you got a smokey on your trail, and my love for technologies began. I have since worked in my spare time on antennas, technologies, inventions, etc.  .At Christmas that year, in 1971 I fell in luv with the Jingle Bells Dogs singing.   My first 45 record my Dad bought me that year
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wa4DCp6cl2U


At Christmas that year, in 1971 I fell in luv with the Jingle Bells Dogs singing. That was the other 45 record my Dad bought me that year https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSEBFlBtyIE

I ran away from home at 13.  I was living in Colorado, and made it to Texas, eventually landing in Waco, Texas.   I began my LUV of making people smile and helping others as a young man. I started a Mylar Balloon Company in the 1980's in Waco at Richland Mall  (Balloons Unlimited).

My family history includes some important entrepreneurial advances. My family owned the Ingram Hotel in the 1800's. My uncle Nuke started the Bell telephone stores, with the first one in Abilene, then expanding. My grandparents owned a funeral home in Clarksville, Tx. One of my great uncles started the 5 & Dime stores, and my father, Tilden, started what is now Jiffy Lube. Back then it was Jiffy Automotive Centers in the late 70's. I am told through family (my sister in law has researched extensively) that my DNA includes a Royal Guard at Buckingham Palace, President Eisenhour, and even Daniel Boone. I'm a mut, but a cool mut. LOL.  I never saw a penny from any of my family's money.  I had to use my own ideas and my DNA of my ancestors to realize the gift within. It is better not to be born with a silver spoon in your mouth, in my opinion. It is easier for a Camel to get through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter Heaven.

I was the student body President at Connally High School in Waco, Tx. and President of the Creative Writing Club. My nickname was "Fearless Leader". I attended McClennan Community College in Waco, Tx. and was the Vice President of the student body.

I have been to several colleges in my life, and continuously read, and study. No, I'm a grad of Princeton or an Ivy League school. I chose to study what I wanted to do throughout my life, not just one focus. (probably due to my short attention span). I have studied business, economics, real estate, energy efficiency, HVAC, Business, Finance, Construction, Culinary, Music, Choreography, Accounting, Web Development, Robotics, Drones, Theology, and many other things over the years, including Morse Code & Russian.   I have read and studied the entire set of encyclopedias front to back, several times.

I moved to Austin in the mid 80s. I did the 80s thing, and partied, but I worked hard as well. I worked in the banking industry for over 20 years. I created one of the first online mortgage applications while working at Temple-Inland/Guaranty Bank. In 1998, while using the internet in my office for banking leads, I was told "the internet is a fad, like the Hula Hoop". I quit that day, and decided to create the first online mortgage lending company - which quickly grew from a four person office (with my Mom answering the phone), to 150 employees in 3 states and became one of the largest mortgage banking firms at that time.

During that time, I adopted my son.  He is now in his 30s. It was the greatest blessing of my life.  I saved him.  He saved me.  

Unfortunately, at that time, 20+ years ago, one of my executives in the company I owned was scammed by people representing themselves as investors for the company.  A "Nigerian 419 Fraud" I thought at the time.  20 years later most of those fraudsters have been found, or are in the process of being located by law enforcement and convicted.   

During that time in my life I was lost.   My wife and Mom had cancer and passed away.  I turned to writing, and studying - and cooking.  I wrote several bills for the 111th Congress, including a work-release Act for incarcerated individuals.  I  spent time studying energy and creating a 500 page business plan, a gift, in my opinion from the universe to help others.  I continue to work privately for justice and truth in worldwide and climate change prevention through energy efficiency, as well as continue creating and writing, as time permits.

In the "Missouri Years" I began my creative side of life.  I began working with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and collaborating with the U.S. Department of Energy with the Home Energy Score Program, announced by then V.P. Biden - and attended college.  I was reborn in my life.  Missouri awakens the soul.  The beauty of the trees, the people, the history.

As an older student at Jefferson College in Missouri, most students thought I was the instructor.  LOL   I created several courses and traveled throughout Missouri teaching WAPTAC auditors about mold and mildew, as well as the HEScore Program with DOE. I continued for several years educating energy auditors, home inspectors, as well as working with Wounded Warriors at Walter Reed, WW San Antonio, and WW hospital SD,  returning from Afghanistan.  I was trying at the time  to figure out how a Wounded Warriors could be employed easily in the energy field and become a Qualified Assessors.  I thought automation may help them get a new career after their service to our country and new disability changed their life forever.  It caught me.  I so wanted to help them.   At that time I created several educational programs  but soon learned it was a long process to create jobs and work with Workforce and others.  It is a very difficult process to say the least.  Not everyone wants to help you help others.

I fell in love with robotics during that time. It changed their life getting a robotic prosthetic, but the technology amazed me. This was close to my heart, as my father was in a car accident when I was in HS and had one of his legs amputated. I can only imagine if he had a robotic leg back then! His was wooden, and kept in the hall closet.  When one of my friends would come over, as a joke, he would ask them to get his leg out of the closet. HA.  Sure do miss his jokes and humor.

I continued my education by attending Missouri Baptist University, and worked with the University of Missouri on energy efficiency.  At that time I was asked to be an ESME at Mizzou, and created energy courses on their continuing education Moodle platform.  I gave speeches at several conferences, including CTE in Tampa and several other Energy Efficiency conventions.  

At the University of Missouri, I tested a new LED bulb with their Ag department and LED Living Technologies in PA.  The new LED was a new reddish color that deterred bugs and increased growth.  Plants grew faster.  It worked. At that time LED Living Technologies owner, Oliver Zeto and myself, visited the White House together. https://www.ledlivingtechnology.com/news/led-living-technology-white-house-visit/

I returned to my home,  Austin, in 2013, and worked in several industries since then - LED Lighting, HVAC systems, Construction, Concrete, Manufacturing, Sales.  I assisted Austin Energy with energy efficiency as well.  Yes, I tried it all.  People didn't always like me, and people will always say bad things about me. 

In 2014, I was working with a company in NYC designing a new Gold colored LED, like my grandma's house. We added an antenna in the LED. It allowed us to turn off the light from Germany and NYC, as well as speak through it. This was the start of "internet of things" that we use daily. I had witnesses that day, and one picture. No one cared at the time. LOL Now, that technology is used worldwide.
The most interesting thing about my life is that in 2022 the people that stole money from my company 20 years earlier were people close to me.  Lies were told to my face for 20 years.  I forgive them, as it changed my life for the better.  God opened my eyes.  It was a difficult year, to say the least.

In 2020 I had a massive heart attack, and a quadruple bypass.  I returned to work in 90 days, only to find someone else much prettier than me in my office.  I was basically replaced because I now had coronary artery disease, during Covid.  I asked for a transfer to an area that could accommodate me and I was not out walking in 100 degree heat on huge jobsites.  They would not accommodate, so I quit and decided there is no better time than now to finalize all I had worked on for 13 years.

I created the Licensed Unmanned Vehicle Pilot Certificate, a U.S. Department of Labor National Apprenticeship - training individuals with basically most of learning over the years, and the technologies that will assist with reducing climate change. 
https://www.climatechangecorps.com

This journey has not been easy.  I have had many haters along the way that would do anything for a few likes on social media, or their website. Some were just greedy and wanted money. Some were professional fraudsters.  Some were jealous.  Some were greedy.  Some were religious hypocrites.  Some were liars.  Some were just flat out mean and hateful.  Some were bullies.   Even though this was their easy way out of their horrible life, as they thought they could lie, cheat and steal and hurt anyone they wanted along the way, but God had a better plan.  A perfect plan.  

Now, in my old age, I love robotics, and have become one of the world's only robot choreographers.  I love to see smiles on faces.  So long during Covid so many faces covered up.  I wanted to see smiles again.  The robot dog makes smiles.  I can hardly wait to help people that want to learn, and those that are wanting something other than what they have right now.  I'm not talking money, but a different future - one that relies on Americans, USA made, technologies, education, and lots and lots of LUV.  

My Mom instilled in me, "Wake up each day, give your day to the Lord".  I try to live this way, most days.  I would suggest the same each morning, and think of your death.  It makes you think about your day, and what is truly important.

Remember, there will always be bullies, people that want you to look bad (so that they can look good and cover up their bad deeds), but keep going forward, show the world what you have in your soul! LUV.

God has a plan, not me.  FROG = FULLY RELY ON GOD.

I am sorry you wasted your time reading this.  You could be outside with nature right now, but thank you for your time and thoughts.


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