Chasing Daylight

If you were told you only have 100 days to live what would you do?

This was Gene O'Kelly's reality.

Go buy this mountain moving book to find out from a Type A, Fortune 50, hugely successful CEO what he did and wants to teach you...


I read this 4 years ago and just re-read it again. It changed my life and maybe you too...

Uncertainty

What if we would not resist, but actually embrace uncertainty? Yes embrace uncertainty!

I think the results would be amazing!

Give it some thought.

Right Wrong

The right place often seems like the wrong place. And the wrong place often seems like the right place.

Don't Slack on the Lack

Don't Slack on the Lack.

The Lacks can will cause chaos in our business and lives. Let's focus and put intentionality to your Lacks.

Some common Lacks:

• Lack in planning
• Lack of motivation
• Lack of systems
• Lack in time management
• Lack of cash
• Lack of focus
• Lack of inspiration
• Lack of creativity
• Lack of proper behaviors

What's yours?

Stop being slack on your lacks. But rather pay attention and fix the Lack in your business and amazing results will happen.

NBA Playoffs

Here are my predictions for the NBA playoffs:

First Round:
Cavs over Bulls
Heat over Boston
Atlanta over Bucks
Orlando over Bobcats
Lakers over Thunder
Utah over Denver
Suns over Blazers
Spurs over Mavs

Semis:
Cavs over Heat
Orlando over Atlanta
Lakers over Utah
Spurs over Suns

Conference Finals:
Cavs over Orlando
Lakers over Spurs

NBA Champion:
Cavs...LeBron gets his first ring!

Get On With It!

Last week I was feeling down and out. I was an emotional mess...in a funk. I was having "one of those days" that actually turned into a couple of those days strung together.

But when looking back, a major part of the my problem was caused because I was the center of attention. Basically, I was having a pity party. And there is never a positive outcome when you host a pity party.

Here is what I did to break out of this self absorbed slump. It's a two prong formula:

1. I took the attention off of me and back to my missions...shift attention to my sons Teddy and Tate, my wife, my work, my family, and some fun.
2. I got back to producing...back to execution of the most important producing activities.

So if you are in a funk, I want you to know I understand. I get it. And I want to share with you that there are options to get out. Today, you can break free by shifting the attention from the short term..you...to the long term...your life's mission. And second, Get on With It! Pick yourself up, dust off, and let's rock and roll!

No Weak Goals

The goal of life can't be just to arrive at the finish safely.

Below are common words when I ask people to tell me about their life goals:

• Comfortable
• Safe
• Steady and Easy
• Things and Stuff
• Good
• Predictable
• Enjoyable

That is just too weak. We can do more.

Here is my list:

• Uncomfortable
• Amazing
• Blazing fast
• Depth from experiences
• Focus on eternal
• Messy
• Crazy
• Coo-Coo...You are nuts
• God inspired
• God sized

2010 Baseball Predictions

The great American past time is back. It's baseball season and here are my predictions.

American

East: Yankees

Central: Twins

West: Rangers

Wildcard: Rays

Champion: Yankess

National

East: Phillies

Central: Cardinals

West: Rockies

Wildcard: Braves

Champion: Rockies

World Series: Yankees vs Rockies

2010 World Champion: Yankees

Growth hurts

Growth stings and sometimes is very painful. That's the part that nobody tells you.

But in order for me to improve, it involves some bumps and bruises along the journey...even some broken bones can be expected.

Flat out...growth hurts.

I remember having growing pains as a kid. Man, there were some nights that I couldn't sleep because my legs hurt so much. I hated those nights. But in the end, I made it through it all and grew because of those growing pains.

Same is true with my soul and emotional life path. In my growth process, some days sting and hurt. But it's all part of the process to get better. In order for me to improve as a person and become a better human being, I am going to have to continue to grow...and that means continue to be messed up from time to time.

Get It

A Rock your Face Off Book!

Go Get It....

Nicely done Mark...I am jumping on a plane in 2 weeks to get see Mark do his thing live in DC.

What's most important?

What's most important to you? Clearly defined? Do you work on this? Do you constantly check on this?

2 sub-questions:

1. Does your time reflect this?
2. Does your money reflect this?

WIT

How about you?

• Are you all in for an amazing 2010? (no...seriously....all in?)
• Have you pushed all your chips to the middle of the table or are you holding back?
• Are you willing to get messy in 2010 in exchange for amazing? messy to amazing
• Winning Matters! Nothing is better for the human spirit than winning...Are you winning now? Do you have a plan to win in life?
• Do you have the courage it takes to live the life you want to live?
• Are you being bold in life?

I'm in!...whatever it takes!

Question...

I had a great question asked of me yesterday by Tim Hamilton who designed our website.

If you need a website, call Tim at Astonish Designs! Great dude.

Question: If you were 100% more bold, what you would do?

I love that question and have been really thinking on it. Answer to come after I digest it.

What about you?

Strike Now

Strike while the iron's hot!

For me:

• Take Vision and turn into Actionable Items!
• Then do them..
• Passion and Energy
• High Payoff Activities only (never do $10 per hour work)
• It's Go Time! (Don't wait...)

My 5 year old son Teddy and my conversation on a race car he wanted to buy with money he earned:

TT: Dad, we can't wait we have to go now.

Me: Just give me a minute and wait a little bit.

TT: Dad, why wait?

Me: I have no answer for that!

Really....why wait? Strike now for me.

3 R's with my adversity

I was taught and want to share this mountain moving stuff.

With my pain and adversity, God will:

1. Redeem: God takes my most dreadful pain and does good with it. I don't always see it or understand it, but awesome good comes out of my pain. God will never make me suffer pointlessly.

2. Restore: God will restore my dignity. God always has the last word and the last word with my tough times is always Good! My adversity is not fun to go through but God will make me better because of it.

3. Remember: God always remembers my deepest pains. He never forgets me. God will wipe every single tear from my face.

Checklist

Do each day all that can be done!

• Focus on the right activities...the high payoff activities
• Avoid waste at all costs (law of inertia...keep moving forward)
• Don't get ahead of ourselves. Do today's work today and tomorrows work tomorrow
• It's not about how many things you do...it's about how many meaningful things you do
• Never do $10 per hour work
• It's all about choices...make good choices (no luck involved)
• Don't like your results, then change your behaviors
• Don't ever settle
• Be patient...success takes time
• Avoid distractions
• Track progress to stay on track

The list above represents some of my checklists to take our life (and business) to the next level. The good news, it works. The bad news, it's hard work. But the payoff is well worth the hard effort to achieve some meaningful progress.

I don't know...

It's not what you know that is important. Real maturity is knowing how much you don't know.

I have to keep things really simple.

• Don't do meth
• My kids shouldn't use a chain saw
• Being on stilts is never a good idea

That's about all I really know.

Outside of this, there is so much I don't know! But the pursuit continues....

Sunset in the ATX!

There are amazing things right in front of us every single day.

I have been working on this and certainly still am working on: Pay Attention!

So many we speak to and work with tell us the struggles of daily life. They are running around a million miles per hour...rushing here and rushing there. And when you live in this havoc pace, you can't live in the moment.

We have been working on:

• Slow Down
• Less is more
• Pay Attention
• Conscious Living
• Pay Attention
• In the moment moments
• Stop and smell the roses
• Stop and pay attention to the sunset on Lake Travis in Austin TX!

It's completely opposite as society tells me...but it's the right path.

Clarity

Clear Thinking?

With all the noise and chaos around today, I need to make sure I don't fall captive to all those distractions. I need to make sure I have clear thinking.

I seek clarity:

• Clarity of thought
• Clarity of focus
• Clarity of priorities
• Clarity of time
• Clarity of strategy
• Clarity of relationships
• Clarity of vision
• Clarity of marketing
• Clarity of purpose
• Clarity of my business

It doesn't come easy. To gain clarity, it takes hard work and being very intentional.

But the payoff is huge. And when I have clarity, it's like clear blue water. Amazing!

What about you?

Do you have clarity? Or do you need to work on it? Spend some time on seeking clarity, because the return on this investment is unbelievable!

Inventory

Managing inventory is a huge issue in the marketplace. Those that can get the most r.o.i out of their inventory have a huge competitive advantage. Organizations, the good ones, spend tons of hours managing inventory and it is a absolute focus.

But what our in our lives?

Do we take inventory?

Do we make sure we have the right inventory (priorities)?

Do we make sure we are getting the best r.o.i. out of our life?

Here is my inventory:

• My relationship with Jesus Christ and My Faith
• My wife Kelly and our marriage
• My boys Teddy and Tate
• My work and company
• My relationships
• My impact and serving others
• My time and my money...are they in line with the above?

Not even close to where I want to be but on the journey nevertheless...