Larry Frank

Biography

Who is Mr. Prepared? When I was a little kid, I had 3 brothers and 2 sisters. Wow!! That’s 6 kids. My mom and dad worked hard to feed us and keep a roof over our heads. What would that look like today? That was the late 50s and early 60s. You know the Beatles, Rolling Stones– can’t get no satisfaction? They worked hard, paid bills and bought food. You see, we were like the all American family, struggling like most of the families with that many kids.

I started working a paper route when I was 13 to learn how to take care of myself. My Dad always said if you are going to do something don’t do it half way, if you are going to do it give it 100% or don’t do it at all. Made sense to me! I was little, didn’t know any better, and it stuck to this day. My mom would say put away your clothes, make your bed, keep your room clean– with 4 boys in one room with 2 bunk beds, 2 girls in another bedroom and Mom and Dad in the third bedroom it made for a tight squeeze so keeping things in order helped out a lot! We lived in an average 3-bedroom home in Pontiac Michigan (you know where the Pontiac cars are made). My Dad worked at the factory, my Mom at a restaurant. As a kid, I was in a group called the Royal Rangers at our Church, then boy scouts– you know the motto “be prepared.” With my parents up-bringing and my boy scout training I was always thinking “be prepared,” could be useful some day I thought. I would get up in the morning shave, shower and “get prepared” for the day.

Most people would think get ready? Not me, I would think “get prepared!” Get ready – get prepared. Same thing isn’t it? No not really. I would think through the process, whereas most people would not. Be ready, what if…??? Why? I don’t know? You see, to this day, that is who I am. I don’t live in “what if.” I just mean I think a little about it. If people would take just a little time to think through things in general, they would probably make better decisions.

Fast forward 30 plus years, I spent 30 years in the factory, Ford Motor Company, good job but I wasted 30 years there. Can you relate? I retired in 2002 after 911. I don’t know about you, but it scared the hell out of me! One thing is for sure I am glad I live in the USA. We all should kiss the ground that we live on.

Before I retired, my wife and I and our 3 kids started buying run down houses and fixing them up to sell them to make extra money. It was easy. Over the next 5 years we fixed up over 40 houses before I retired. That is the only reason why I could retire. We also had to learn creative ways to market the houses we had to sell because it seemed like everyone was doing it. You know you start doing something and you think that you are the only ones doing it only to find out everyone is doing it. Can you relate? Enough said!

Back when I was young, 18 or 19, I started becoming concerned about what would happen if I was in an accident. How would EMS, Police or Firemen know who to contact? Assuming, I was not able to talk, so I thought about it. Get the picture? I came up with writing my emergency information on a piece of paper: name, address, telephone number and who to call in case I was hurt. All those years I updated this card regularly in my wallet until I decided to make a card called “My Emergency Card™” in early 2000. I think it is a good idea for everyone to carry an emergency card, just in case. You can’t be too prepared right? Think about it. All of this led to Mr. P – “Mr. Prepared” – and this is who I am today, all those years later. Retired from the first half of my life and starting the second half, not giving up.

Really folks, I truly believe we should start thinking more about being prepared than we have been in the past. With all the natural and man-made things going on here on our planet, you never know what’s going to happen – and this is the only planet we have right now, isn’t it!

Mr. Prepared is constantly asking his kids:

• Are you prepared for school?
• Do you have your lunch ready?
• Do you have extra water bottles?
• Do you have money in your locker?
• Do you have snacks in your locker?
• Do you have your phone?
• Did you forget your homework (just in case!)?

As for my wife, I ask her:

• Do you have enough gas in the car?
• Do you have extra clothes in the car in case you need to change for a last minute meeting?
• Do you have enough money?

Oh yeah, can’t forget the pets! Every day I ask my daughter: Did you feed the 3 cats and clean out the cat boxes? I ask my son: Did you feed the fish? Did you feed the dog and clean up the poop in the yard? I am preparing them to be responsible for their families. As second in command in my head of my household, we all know whose first in command, I am keeping my family safe and prepared, just in case of an emergency!

So navigate through my website, at www.mrprepared.com and click on the links for more information and resources to better prepare you and your family for emergencies. If you have any questions or suggestions, contact me at ASK Mr. P. I would love to hear from you.

Dedicated to keeping you safe and, of course, prepared.

Be Smart Be Safe Be Prepared – This is Mr. Prepared Bringing Awareness to Preparedness.

Larry Frank a.k.a. Mr. Prepared.