Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Tony Robbins, Sly Stallone and overcoming obstacles
You think you might have had it rough? Have you known difficult financial times? Well, if you've never sold your best friend for $25 and been rejected after being rejected, you've had it easy compared to Sylvester Stallone. This clip shares the story of how the iconic movie Rocky might never have come to pass, and the passion, persistence, and determination that went into making Sylvester Stallone a success rather than a failure. 10 minutes of time that will make your life better. You deserve the investment...
http://www.wimp.com/sylvesterstallone/
Friday, April 13, 2012
We Are What we Repeatedly Do
You’ve heard the axiom before, I’m sure:
“You are what you repeatedly do. Excellence, then is not an act but a habit.”
Another one I really like says:
“Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action; reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character reap a destiny.”
If these two quotes tell us that we are the sum of our daily habits, then surely our habits are important. Everything from brushing our teeth and a morning cup of java, to internal criticism of a colleague or watching TV every night after work, surely must matter.
Thanks to inspiration from a friend, my wife and I have undertaken a 100 Day Burpee Challenge. First, for those of you who don’t know, a burpee is a physical exercise where you start in a standing position, squat down and thrust your legs back and do a push-up, pull your legs back into a squat and then jump into the air. That’s one. The 100 Day Burpee Challenge inspires participants to do one burpee on day one, two burpees on day two, three burpees on day three, and so on, until you reach 100. And of course, there’s a catch; if on say day 75 you neglect to do your burpees, on day 76 you are expected to do 75 burpees from the day before and 76 for your current day.
Our Burpee Challenge systematizes a daily exercise habit. For 100 days, we are accountable to perform this exercise on a regular basis. And frankly, the benefits trickle down. I’ve noticed a difference in how I feel, and the level of energy I have. On nights when I go out with friends for a drink, I moderate my consumption actively, because I know that once I get home I’ll have some burpees to do.
Successful people will tell you that one of the things that contributes to their success, is the sum of the daily habits they have created for themselves. The legal thriller author, John Grisham, began his career as a writer by committing to write one page a day, before getting started on his legal work for the day. Eventually he produced a book and sell millions of novels around the world.
John Grisham is not the only one who purposefully bakes a habit into his daily routine. A recent study of CEOs revealed the following:
• Almost 80% wake up at 5:30 or earlier
• More than 70% exercise in the morning and only12% admitted to not exercising, regularly
Coincidence that the similarities are so high? Likely not.
So if we should develop habits to improve our lives, what areas should we focus on? I’ve come up with a few:
1. Exercise – Our bodies are the temples for our spirit. When it feels good, so do we. Develop a HABIT of taking care of it.
2. Mentally – In today’s fast moving world, if you’re not moving forward you’re falling behind. Learn something new everyday.
3. Spiritually – At least once a day find something in your life that your thankful for and genuinely give appreciation for it as though you will lose it tomorrow.
Our daily habits define us and our lives and affect those around us. If we don’t actively and mindfully manage them we risk falling short of our potential and achieving our goals in life.
What are some the regular habits in your life that improve the quality of life? What are some of the ones that might inhibit a better life?
“You are what you repeatedly do. Excellence, then is not an act but a habit.”
Another one I really like says:
“Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action; reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character reap a destiny.”
If these two quotes tell us that we are the sum of our daily habits, then surely our habits are important. Everything from brushing our teeth and a morning cup of java, to internal criticism of a colleague or watching TV every night after work, surely must matter.
Thanks to inspiration from a friend, my wife and I have undertaken a 100 Day Burpee Challenge. First, for those of you who don’t know, a burpee is a physical exercise where you start in a standing position, squat down and thrust your legs back and do a push-up, pull your legs back into a squat and then jump into the air. That’s one. The 100 Day Burpee Challenge inspires participants to do one burpee on day one, two burpees on day two, three burpees on day three, and so on, until you reach 100. And of course, there’s a catch; if on say day 75 you neglect to do your burpees, on day 76 you are expected to do 75 burpees from the day before and 76 for your current day.
Our Burpee Challenge systematizes a daily exercise habit. For 100 days, we are accountable to perform this exercise on a regular basis. And frankly, the benefits trickle down. I’ve noticed a difference in how I feel, and the level of energy I have. On nights when I go out with friends for a drink, I moderate my consumption actively, because I know that once I get home I’ll have some burpees to do.
Successful people will tell you that one of the things that contributes to their success, is the sum of the daily habits they have created for themselves. The legal thriller author, John Grisham, began his career as a writer by committing to write one page a day, before getting started on his legal work for the day. Eventually he produced a book and sell millions of novels around the world.
John Grisham is not the only one who purposefully bakes a habit into his daily routine. A recent study of CEOs revealed the following:
• Almost 80% wake up at 5:30 or earlier
• More than 70% exercise in the morning and only12% admitted to not exercising, regularly
Coincidence that the similarities are so high? Likely not.
So if we should develop habits to improve our lives, what areas should we focus on? I’ve come up with a few:
1. Exercise – Our bodies are the temples for our spirit. When it feels good, so do we. Develop a HABIT of taking care of it.
2. Mentally – In today’s fast moving world, if you’re not moving forward you’re falling behind. Learn something new everyday.
3. Spiritually – At least once a day find something in your life that your thankful for and genuinely give appreciation for it as though you will lose it tomorrow.
Our daily habits define us and our lives and affect those around us. If we don’t actively and mindfully manage them we risk falling short of our potential and achieving our goals in life.
What are some the regular habits in your life that improve the quality of life? What are some of the ones that might inhibit a better life?
Thursday, April 5, 2012
The circle of futility – and wear your undershirt
I was recently having a conversation with a friend who’s engaged. He’s super excited, but his wife is stressed and feels out of control. He explained that her biggest fear is letting others down and people having a critique about what she’s done.
The conversation evolved as we agreed that you CAN’T worry about others’ opinions, especially on your wedding day. I shared an example of times where I had tried to please others and how it created a circle of futility. One day I was in the office of the CPA firm I was with at the time and was talking with an older manger. As he took stock of my attire he felt compelled to opine; “You’re wearing a crew neck undershirt!” he blurted out. “What the hell’s the matter with you? They look terrible. I can see it you know? Why don’t you wear a V-neck?” he went on. I didn’t know how to react. I had just been jolted by a verbal stun gun. And, I had just always worn crew neck undershirts. I thought that’s what you’re supposed to do.
Heeding the comments of the older and supposedly wiser manager, I switched to V-neck shirts. I felt proud of my new style change. I was a modern man in my young 20’s! That was…until a few months later. My brother spied me one evening and caught sight of my undergarment. “What is that?!” he questioned. “You’re wearing a V-neck? Ha. Why would you do THAT?” he continued as he grimaced. “Oh no!” I thought. “I’m letting down my own brother!”
Before that incident if you had asked me if undershirts would one day serve as a vehicle for a powerful life lesson I would have said “no.” I would have been wrong. This experience taught me, in no on uncertain terms, that it really doesn’t matter what you do. Someone will be able to find fault with it and critique it. You have a choice of going through life as a ping pong for other people’s opinions, or you can take a stand, embrace who YOU are, and DAMN THE NAYSAYERS. Clearly half of them have it wrong anyway! Today I continue to stick with my V-necks (I find them more comfortable) and don’t care what people in the crew neck camp have to say about it. Meanwhile, my friend’s fiancé needs to pick an undershirt, and embrace it.
Taking my undershirt life lesson leads to my next thought which has to do with Burpees. But for now, I’ll let you try these thoughts on for size.
The conversation evolved as we agreed that you CAN’T worry about others’ opinions, especially on your wedding day. I shared an example of times where I had tried to please others and how it created a circle of futility. One day I was in the office of the CPA firm I was with at the time and was talking with an older manger. As he took stock of my attire he felt compelled to opine; “You’re wearing a crew neck undershirt!” he blurted out. “What the hell’s the matter with you? They look terrible. I can see it you know? Why don’t you wear a V-neck?” he went on. I didn’t know how to react. I had just been jolted by a verbal stun gun. And, I had just always worn crew neck undershirts. I thought that’s what you’re supposed to do.
Heeding the comments of the older and supposedly wiser manager, I switched to V-neck shirts. I felt proud of my new style change. I was a modern man in my young 20’s! That was…until a few months later. My brother spied me one evening and caught sight of my undergarment. “What is that?!” he questioned. “You’re wearing a V-neck? Ha. Why would you do THAT?” he continued as he grimaced. “Oh no!” I thought. “I’m letting down my own brother!”
Before that incident if you had asked me if undershirts would one day serve as a vehicle for a powerful life lesson I would have said “no.” I would have been wrong. This experience taught me, in no on uncertain terms, that it really doesn’t matter what you do. Someone will be able to find fault with it and critique it. You have a choice of going through life as a ping pong for other people’s opinions, or you can take a stand, embrace who YOU are, and DAMN THE NAYSAYERS. Clearly half of them have it wrong anyway! Today I continue to stick with my V-necks (I find them more comfortable) and don’t care what people in the crew neck camp have to say about it. Meanwhile, my friend’s fiancé needs to pick an undershirt, and embrace it.
Taking my undershirt life lesson leads to my next thought which has to do with Burpees. But for now, I’ll let you try these thoughts on for size.
Friday, March 23, 2012
And I need some work...
Yup, clearly I'm an amateur, at least when it comes to producing videos. But I take a few seconds to reflect on what that means. In this video I think I'm intending to reference Voltaire and say that Perfection is the Enemy of Good Enough, which is not in contrast to Good Enough is the Enemy of Great. (can't we all just get along - no enemies?) And my comment about my age, well, I think that's just a realization that I have some catching up to do of what I want to accomplish and believe I'm capable of accomplishing.
I'm ba-ack!
Like the Terminator promised, I'm back. I'm taking that first step(yet again). But, persistence is the key, right? So I'm back to posting here. The people I'm following on Twitter, and blogs, and so forth have been really inspirational and I think I'm taking their messages to heart. So, I think the best homage I can pay them is to spread the word...
Monday, September 19, 2011
Do not go gentle into that good night
Sometimes you just have to bust out the classics:
by Dylan Thomas
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
by Dylan Thomas
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Are you devout in your worship of a god?
Taking a brief tangent from my typical business related posting here: I came across this quote today and absolutely love it!
"Live a good life. If there are gods and they are just, then they will not care how devout you have been, but will welcome you based on the virtues you have lived by. If there are gods, but unjust, then you should not want to worship them. If there are no gods, then you will be gone, but will have lived a noble life that will live on in the memories of your loved ones" - unknown
I think this hits the proverbial nail on the head about religious practice, the fear of falling short in devotion to a God that drives so many people to a house of worship on a regular basis, and the whole "what if there is, what if there isn't a God" debate.
Unfortunately, this quote falls short on the definition of what is a good life. Various cultural norms, differences in moral standards, you're life experiences (including how you were raised), and much more, all contribute to an individual's standard of what is a "good life." The best guide I've come across that transcends these challenges comes from the Buddha: All sentient beings suffer and therefore you should show compassion to them all.
Compassion - seems like such a simple word, yet in practice, it's amazingly complex.
Any thoughts?
"Live a good life. If there are gods and they are just, then they will not care how devout you have been, but will welcome you based on the virtues you have lived by. If there are gods, but unjust, then you should not want to worship them. If there are no gods, then you will be gone, but will have lived a noble life that will live on in the memories of your loved ones" - unknown
I think this hits the proverbial nail on the head about religious practice, the fear of falling short in devotion to a God that drives so many people to a house of worship on a regular basis, and the whole "what if there is, what if there isn't a God" debate.
Unfortunately, this quote falls short on the definition of what is a good life. Various cultural norms, differences in moral standards, you're life experiences (including how you were raised), and much more, all contribute to an individual's standard of what is a "good life." The best guide I've come across that transcends these challenges comes from the Buddha: All sentient beings suffer and therefore you should show compassion to them all.
Compassion - seems like such a simple word, yet in practice, it's amazingly complex.
Any thoughts?
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