Jimmy Skizm

Forever, ever?

2013-04-26T12:43:00.001-07:00

The things we have on this earth are here for us to enjoy and appreciate for only a certain amount of time. Don't be tricked into thinking that anything is yours forever. Good or bad, it's all temporary. If we could come to terms with this fact then maybe we would give a little more thought on how we treat each other and how we choose to spend our days.

A Pep Talk from Kid President to You

2013-01-30T11:13:00.000-08:00

Sharing the good.

We all need a little encouragement every now and then. Kid President, knowing this, has put together a video you can play each morning as you wake up or to share with your friend who needs a kick in the right direction. Take a moment and spread some encouragement. "It's everybody's duty to give the world a reason to dance."

Thank you to SoulPancake for posting the video.

Check out their youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=SoulPancake

Caught On Camera!!

2012-11-19T09:19:00.001-08:00

So it's been awhile since I have been able to post something. I'm new to fatherhood so I decided to take time off to focus all of my attention on my child. Thank you for your understanding.

I came across this neat clip this morning and just had to share.

I guess you can call it the brighter side of big brother. With all the negative stuff that's been displayed by security cameras it is cool to see some of the good things happening around the world as well. This made my morning. Hope you enjoy. Cheers.

Advertiser: Coca-cola

Executive Creative Director: Martin Mercado

Creative Director: Martin Goldberg

Art Director: Damián Garofalo

Copywriter: Silvio Caielli

From Cubicles to Craft Brews

2012-07-27T13:12:00.004-07:00

Are you living the life you always wanted? Here is a story about two best friends who drop everything to find their happiness. Thanks for the inspiration, Cheech and Kevin.

In the debut episode of EX-PATS, host Savannah Buffett follows a day in the life of Cheech Vyas and Kevin Chipman, owners of St. John Brewers. The pair, friends from the University of Vermont, describe their transition from office jobs to living on a Caribbean houseboat to owning the first microbrewery on the island of St. John. For more from EX-PATS, subscribe at www.youtube.com/ReserveChannel.

RESERVE CHANNEL, a new original channel on YouTube, provides access to some of the most extraordinary people and places life has to offer. Read more below, and watch and subscribe at: www.youtube.com/ReserveChannel

Action > Knowledge

2012-07-05T11:41:00.002-07:00

When it comes to most important things in life, we pretty much know what to do but we don't always do what we know. It's funny how that works. I'm guilty of this as well. In my opinion, it's about self-awareness. Here's a anti-smoking PSA that the Thai Health Promotion Foundation put out not too long ago that gives us a great example of what I'm talking about.

Sure we know that certain things we do are not good for us. But why do we continue to do these things? How come we're so quick to point out the wrong doings of others but yet we fail to acknowledge our own missteps and bad decisions? Before we start looking far and wide for the answers to these questions, maybe we should start by looking within ourselves. I've come to realize that there's an entire universe in my mind that is mostly unexplored. I now believe that the better I can understand myself the better I can understand my actions and hopefully control them.

The lesson that I get out of this video goes beyond the subject of smoking. It's not what you know that matters the most, it's what you do.

Mel Graduates. Patrick Walks.

2012-06-14T11:23:00.000-07:00

I went down to San Diego to attended Scripps Ranch High School's commencement ceremony this week to watch my little sister graduate (we're 12 years apart). Our family cheered after her name was called and our hearts were filled with pride as we watched her walk across the stage to accept her diploma. It was a great moment in our family's history.

Just as we finished cheering I thought to myself, "Well I saw what I came here to see, time to stop paying attention." Then the next kid's name was called, Patrick Ivison. And the crowd went nuts. I'm talking standing ovation. I looked towards the stage to see what the fuss was all about and I see.... well here's a video that pretty much sums it up:

You see, Patrick was just 14-months-old when he was run over by a stranger's car while walking with his mom. The accident back in 1995 left Patrick with a spinal cord injury that paralyzed from the waist down. Three years ago he made a vow to walk across the stage at graduation. His story is pretty damn inspirational. Learn more about him at www.HelpPatrickWalk.org

I witnessed two remarkable things back to back that evening. The culmination of Patrick's hard work and dedication and also my little sister's first steps towards the real world. I can't help but to remain optimistic about the future. Congrats to both. Mel, your big bro is very proud of you.

Keep Calm and Carry On

2012-06-06T16:24:00.000-07:00

You've probably heard of this popular phrase. You may have even seen this poster.

Now you can learn more about it's origins in the brief yet interesting video below.

Here's The Story of Keep Calm and Carry On

To find out more about Barter Books visit http://www.barterbooks.co.uk

Film Info: A short film that tells the story behind the 'Keep Calm and Carry On' poster. Its origins at the beginning of WWII and its rediscovery in a bookshop in England in 2000, becoming one of the iconic images of the 21st century. Film, music, script and narration by Temujin Doran. http://www.studiocanoe.com/index.php?/profile/ Concept and production by Nation. http://www.wearenation.co.uk/

Real. Life.

2012-05-01T11:12:00.000-07:00

While doing some research on religion online, I stumbled across this Buddhist monk who is an Englishman living in Australia. He is referred to as Ajahn Brahm. Here is a talk he gave a few years ago on his take on getting real with yourself. As an American who's primary language is English I thought it was neat to find a Westerner who can help me understand the views of Theravada Buddhism without the language barrier that I've struggled with before.

People who know me on a personal level know that I consider myself more spiritual than religious. I always try to keep an open mind when it comes to any sort of religious teaching. I feel that when you take away all the superstitions and radical views of certain sects in most religions you essentially have the same core messages across the board. With that said, please understand that I'm not trying to push Buddhism or any religion on anyone because I myself am not fully subscribed to one particular belief. I'm simply sharing some insight that has inspired me to challenge and examine my own ideas and assumptions about life on a daily basis.

This full talk is an hour long so grab a snack and cozy up to your viewing device.

Learn more about Ajahn Brahm here.

See more videos from the Buddhist Society of Western Australia here.

Warren Buffett for the Kids

2012-04-09T19:47:00.002-07:00

What if you had easy to understand business and finance lessons from Warren Buffet when you were younger? Think it could have helped you in your adult life? I wish I had something like Warren Buffett's Secret Millionaires Club cartoon series when I was growing up.

Here's a sample episode:

About the Show

After four smart 14-year-olds get schooled on money and life by financial sage Warren Buffett, they form a club to give practical financial advice to people around the world. To reach as many as possible, they use the Internet to do research and find business owners or other kids who could use financial advice. Meanwhile, thanks to their own adventures and the advice of celebrity guest stars, the four SMC members keep learning their own lessons. Rating : TV-Y7

You can watch the episodes on YouTube here.

You can check out the website for the show here.

Nobody Special?

2012-03-16T11:55:00.002-07:00

I used to think that I was nobody special. Then one day I looked around and realized that there was no one quite like me.

When I was younger I never expected to live to see the age of 21. I guess that was why I acted the way I did back then. I didn't see the value in my life. All I saw was a lost kid that didn't really belong. Sometimes, well a lot of times, I didn't feel comfortable in my own skin. I didn't think like most of the kids I hung around with and I always felt like I had to prove myself to them.

It turns out that I ultimately needed to prove something to myself. There was some sick and twisted stuff going on inside of me that I needed to work out. I felt like I wasn't good enough to be successful and that I didn't deserve certain things in life. I had to go on a journey to find my own worth. I felt alone with no direction, cause, or real purpose. Then one day it just hit me like a ton of bricks. I wasn't just one person destined to live his life in sub-par fashion. I'm different but that's a good thing.

I'm one little brush stroke in the painting of life. This tiny smudge of color combined with other different smudges made something beautiful. Each stroke, each tiny detail of a painting serves a purpose and it's absence from the canvas will greatly affect the outcome of the bigger picture.

I would often get caught up chasing external things thinking it would complete me or help me fit in somehow. Come to find out all that chasing would get me nowhere. I started searching within to figure out who I was and who I wanted to become and I started on this journey of self awareness. I stopped being a spectator and stopped playing the victim in my own life and started changing the things I had control over. I realized that the important things in my life have been right in front of my face this whole time but I was too busy looking elsewhere for answers. Certain things in my life are becoming more clear now but I know that awareness is a lifelong journey and I'm at peace with that. More importantly, I'm at peace with myself.

So I made a list. A list of all the roles that I play in this life. A list that finally gives me a bigger sense of purpose in this world. A list that helps me understand that my actions affect more than just me. A list that I still add on to and read when I need a reminder of why I do what I do.

My name is Jimmy and I am a:
Son, husband, brother, grandson, cousin, friend, coach, mentor, business owner, leader, consultant, God father, college graduate, motivator, future father, warrior, foodie, helper, blogger, Muay Thai practitioner, student, teacher, decent cook, drinking buddy, designated driver, blood donor, volunteer, lover, fighter, optimist, realist, human being, and a person who deserves the good things in life.

What's on your list?

Khan Academy

2012-02-22T12:58:00.000-08:00

The Khan Academy is a not-for-profit organization founded by Salman Khan with the mission of providing a world-class education to anyone, anywhere.

The website supplies a free online collection of more than 2,800 micro lectures via video tutorials stored on YouTube teaching subjects such as mathematics, history, healthcare and medicine, finance, physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy, economics, cosmology, organic chemistry, American civics, art history, microeconomics and computer science.

Here is a video of Mr. Khan speaking about Khan Academy and it's philosophy at TED 2011.

What an awesome idea.

Feel free to visit them at www.khanacademy.org

Single Awareness Day

2012-02-10T12:55:00.000-08:00

Chin up, my single friends. There's always next year.

The Official Music Video for S.A.D. (Single Awareness Day)

Directed by: Casey Chan

Music Producer: Dean Parra (Hilltop Studios)

Presented by Catch Adventures

Music and Lyrics: Joseph Vincent

Check out Joseph's site for more of his music.

http://www.josephvincentmusic.com

The Fun Theory

2012-02-02T09:35:00.000-08:00

What if we turned something we HAVE to do into something we GET to do?

How can we take mundane tasks such as exercise or recycling and turn it into something we look forward to doing? The folks at Volkswagen had some ideas to share with us when they launched the fun theory initiative back in 2009.

Video description: ”Take the stairs instead of the escalator or elevator and feel better” is something we often hear or read in the Sunday papers. Few people actually follow that advice. Can we get more people to take the stairs over the escalator by making it fun to do? See the results here

Video description: Many of us return our plastic bottles and cans. Noticeably fewer recycle their glass. Maybe that's because we don't get any money in return, as we do for cans and plastic. Can we change this attitude by making recycling glass fun to do? So you are not just rewarded with a good conscience, you also get a smile. See the results here.

How can you apply the fun theory to your life?

Hardcore Princess

2012-01-19T11:10:00.000-08:00

Sometimes you just wanna crank up some metal and punch some people in the face. But sometimes you just wanna crank up some metal and express your love for your pets. Thank you to Juliet for reminding me to not take this life too seriously. Extra props for the I heart Phuket t-shirt. Rock the eff on, little lady.

Video description: 8 yr old Juliet teamed up with the hottest producer ROB SHARPE this school holidays and smashed out this BRUTAL track.. Juliet takes you on a journey of her love for her dog, Robert and how her pet fish stink even tho Juliet has zero sense of smell. The Australian Hardcore scene will never be the same!!

Be Selfish Be Generous

2012-01-18T09:51:00.000-08:00

A little something for you to think about.

People Are Awesome

2012-01-04T10:06:00.000-08:00

Here's a couple of videos of people doing some pretty amazing stuff. There are some intense stunts in the videos but they kinda help you rethink the possibilities in our world. There's something in these folks that take their mindsets from "This can't be possible." To "F**k it, I'm gonna give it a shot!"

Maybe your ambitions aren't as extreme as the people in the videos. Maybe you just wanna lose weight, eat healthier, quit smoking, make more money, find the right career, fall in love, move to a different city, etc. What kind of limiting beliefs are stopping from making it happen?

You are allowed to be happy. Don't you want to be happy? I'm not talking about this superficial, instant gratification, get drunk and worry about it tomorrow kind of happy. I'm talking about deep down, sleep better at night, and wake up excited about life kind of happy.

How do you get to that state of mind? How do you cast your fears aside and take a leap of faith? Well there isn't really a universal answer to give. But here's a start, figure out what's gonna make you happy in every aspect of your life and get as clear as you can about this. Look at the core issues and be honest with yourself. Then make some goals, create a plan for each goal, and TAKE ACTION. If you can't do it on your own right away then get help. If you follow a strategy like this one I'm willing to bet you'll be happier in three months than when you first started.

Like I said, it's a start. There's no telling where life will take you but if you don't take action then I can guarantee you'll be stuck in the same reality that you're in right now. Take a chance on yourself and you may be delightfully surprised at what you're capable of. The title this post is "People Are Awesome" and that includes you. Now get your awesome ass out there and live life. All the best, my friend.

106 Excuses That Prevent You From Ever Becoming Great

2011-12-29T13:32:00.000-08:00

My friend Pete Ulatan shared this article on Twitter and I had to pass it along. I've been guilty of using more than a few of these excuses. Time for a change!

This following is a guest blog post on chrisbrogan.com written by Tommy Walker.

Be honest. How often do you sabotage yourself?
On any given day, you have tasks you’d like to finish because you know they’d positively impact your business, and tasks you actually do.

You trick yourself into thinking that keeping up with industry news, and reading the latest “10 tips to ______” post is “working”.

You know better, but some part of you believes that simply reading the article will help you move forward.
That having a deep understanding of all things online marketing will better position you when the time is right. When that time comes, you’ll be the supreme ruler of the internet, because you’re so well studied.
But that time doesn’t come.

Something is holding you back, and you can’t quite put your finger on it. So instead of moving past it and taking action, you make an excuse. You justify your reasons for staying put.

You may have one excuse; you may have several.
What follows are 106 of the most common excuses you might tell yourself.

You don’t have the knowledge.
There’s one word kicks this excuse right in the teeth.
“Google.”
If you can’t find a ton of free information on Google, find a book on Amazon.If Amazon doesn’t work, hire a coach.
Information is more accessible now than any other point in history, and most of it is free.
Spend time to find it.
Commit to learning it. Be equipped to tackle your challenge.

You can’t get the education required.
Maybe you don’t have internet, not everyone does (how are you reading this?)
In any case, there are these buildings with a number of books on a variety of subjects called libraries.
They’ll be thrilled to see you, and eager to help.
If you invest the time, a near college level education awaits you.
No it’s not as convenient as the internet, but learning anything worthwhile is seldom easy.
Also reading books will help to fortify your attention span, which is vital to your success.

You don’t know the right people
Like education, people are more accessible than ever before.
Nearly anyone you need to know can be found on Twitter, Facebook, or Linkedin.
Be on a mission they can’t resist being a part of, and you’re half way there.
With a little patience, and an awesome personality, you can connect with the right people.
It won’t happen overnight, but it certainly will happen if you want it bad enough.

You don’t have the money
Finances are a sensitive issue.
You might not have the money right now, but there are plenty of ways to increase your income.
If you have to scour freelancer sites to aquire a hundred dollars here and there, do it.
Any money you make freelancing, save it to put towards your dream project.
Can’t afford to do that?
Create a strict budget, and set aside a portion of your income.
Don’t believe what the news tells you, money is everywhere, and people spend it every day.
Right now, someone is hiring someone just like you.

You can’t afford to take a risk right now.
If not now, then when?
This excuse is fear of the unknown.
The reality is, you can’t afford not to take a risk right now.
If an idea really benefits people, pulling on the reigns doesn’t just inhibit your progress…it prevents people from improving their lives.

It’s too hard.
Anything worth doing is hard.
When was the last time “easy” had a huge payoff for you?

You don’t learn that way.
Babies all learn the same way, trial and error.
They try, fail, and try again until it becomes second nature.
Anyone with an infant learning to stand, walk, or crawl right now will tell you their kid won’t stop, regardless of the number of times they fall on their face.
Babies don’t get the luxury of learning via webinar, audio, or having the process of written out.
They see others do it, and try it themselves.
As a former baby, I can say being receptive to any and all learning will greatly improve your ability to do anything you want.

Someone else is already doing it.
Which came first, Copyblogger or Problogger? Dyson or Hoover? Groupon or LivingSocial?
Does it matter?
Not really.

You don’t know where to begin.
The human brain isn’t designed to process information in a linear fashion.
This is why when you dream, it doesn’t start “at the beginning” and you only remember how the dream ended, but never how it began.
If you’re looking to pick up a new skill, usually “the beginning” will make itself apparent, regardless of where you start.
Even better, because the way you process information is unique to you, your “starting point” could help you form a very unique perspective that people love.
Also consider the other people who “don’t know where to begin.”
By simply picking a place and chronicling your journey, you can inspire others to learn with you.

You’re afraid of what your customers will think.
It’s true, some changes should be gradual.
But if you a drastic change is what you need, your customers are probably already bored and looking for alternatives.
Do you think Apple feared their customer’s opinions before entering the Mp3 player market?
Didn’t think so.

You’re afraid of what your colleagues will say.
Peer validation is rarely the deciding factor in any entrepreneurial story worth hearing.
If you’re concerned with what your industry peers will think, don’t worry about it.
Sometimes disruption is exactly what your peers need.

Nobody will buy.
If people will buy the “Pet Rock” people will buy what you’re selling.
You just have to figure out how to position yourself, and why they need you.

Nobody will care.
You’re right, nobody will care, IF you’re doing something for the wrong reasons.
Are you creating a product because you need the cash?
Nobody will care.
Are you promoting others simply to make yourself look good.
Nobody will care.
Are you sucking up to big names so they will promote your stuff?
Nobody will care.
Authenticity can’t be faked, and selfish motivations can be sniffed out from a mile away.
Be on a mission to make an impact.
Somebody will care, because they share your mission.
Now it’s up to you to find them.

Better to be safe than sorry.
Imagine waking up tomorrow on the verge of death.
All your life you played it safe.
You stayed at your job, and did what you were told.
Sure you got promotions, but at your peak you still only made $60,000.
You had ideas, and watched them came to fruition… at the hands of someone else.
They created memorable products; you’re on your deathbed with nothing to show.
You’re unsure how you’ll pay for your funeral. You’re leaving behind a mound of debt, and you never figured out how to just get ahead.
Feel sorry yet?

There’s no politically correct way to present the information.
Realistically, that’s ok.
If people like Naomi Dunford and Johnny Truant are allowed to play, so can you.
Politically correctness isn’t always the most effective form of communication.
Sometimes the non PC person is exactly the breath of fresh air the world needs.

People aren't ready to hear this.
It’s true, not everyone is ready to hear everything.
But if you’ve thought it, chances are you are not alone.
If you believe in it enough, one person at a time, you can build a following.
Truthfully, it’s usually the things people aren’t ready for that make the biggest impact on the world.

You can’t question the authority.
Nations were founded on questioning the authority.
Countless Rock stars, celebrities, and political leaders made their mark by disrupting the establishment.
If you start a business to free yourself, then dare not oppose the “powers that be”, you undermine the very spirit of entrepreneurship.
Question the authority! Break the rules!
Just make sure you have evidence to support your cliams, otherwise you’re just being a punk, and not in the cool way.

You haven’t done it before.
This is my favorite excuse, because it’s such a cop out.
Let’s look at some of the common milestones in your life that you got through just fine
You went to school (hadn’t done that before)
Had your first kiss (hadn’t done that before)
Learned to drive a car
Took up a new hobby
Learned to read
Or really anything beyond lying on your back and flailing your limbs uncontrollably.
You hadn’t done anything before you did it. It’s simple, but it’s true.
This excuse is rooted in fear of the unknown.
Now it’s perfectly fine to be afraid, but “inexperience” is by far one of the worst excuses.
Life is built on a series of “firsts” and making the choice to limit your experiences only leads to dissatisfaction.

You’re not that good.
There are plenty of things people aren’t good at.
Either;
A.) Learn and get better or
B.) Find someone who is good and have them fill that role.
You don’t have to do everything alone. The best joint venture projects are simply two people with complimentary strengths.
So if you’re not that good, get better, or find someone who is.

You don’t have anything nice to say.
Just like challenging the authority, being brash is sometimes exactly what people need.
Too many people try to “do it right”, so do it wrong just to stand out.
There are plenty of people who make a career out of saying the wrong thing.
Just make sure there’s substance behind your message.

Other people are more lucky.
Pure “luck” is a myth.
If someone is “lucky” they are doing stuff behind the scenes you’re not seeing.
Taking action and simply doing something instead of making excuses will do wonders for your “luck”.
Besides, other’s luck doesn’t directly impact you.

You can’t, you were raised differently.
Obviously, follow your moral compass. Going against that isn’t what I’m suggesting.
What I will suggest is to seek alternatives that don’t oppose your belief systems.
If a company like Hebrew National can make kosher hotdogs, you can find a way to do what’s holding you back.
But if you’re using this excuse to stay in your comfort zone, I need to ask, “How much are you holding yourself back in the name of something else?”

Your gender won’t let you.
Gender roles are increasingly less relevant.
There have been women CEOs and male nurses for years. Men can start a daycare and women can start a design firm.
Blaming your gender simultaneously speaks poorly for your gender, and empowers those who refuse to fit a mold.

Your kids won’t let you.
No doubt, balancing kids with business is tough.
At the time of this writing, I’m a newlywed with an 11 month old son, my own business, and a new house. It’s a balancing act, but it’s doable.
It requires discipline and maximum use of “productive time”.
At the end of the day you may feel shattered.
Keep it up, you’ll build endurance.
It doesn’t just make you a better business person; it allows you to enjoy family time that much more.

Your spouse won’t let you.
Now I’m not one to give marital advice, and you have to respect your spouse, but open communication can go a long way.
It’s important to communicate your passion. Get to the core of why it’s important to you and really open up.
Be willing to have multiple conversations about it, and really hear their reservations.
Come up plan for”worst possible scenario” together and keep your spouse informed on your progress.
Be prepared to let go of some ideas.
But dig deep into the important ideas, it’s a lot better than “Honey, can we do this…?”

Your parents won’t let you.
…really? How old are you?
Ok, regardless of age, people have complicated families, I get it.
Sometimes parents aren’t as rational, or supportive, or open to new ideas as we’d like them to be.
This is no reason to sacrifice your success and happiness.
If your parents require you to show your respect by giving up on your dreams, then maybe you need to weigh the consequences of giving up versus going your own way. (Hint: we each only get one life, and this one is yours.)

Your disability won’t let you.
Josh Blue is a hilarious stand up comic with cerebral palsy, which most noticeably affects his right arm.
Nick Vujicic is a world-renowned preacher and motivational speaker who doesn’t have any arms or legs.
Kyle Maynard doesn’t have arms or legs either, and is a wrestler, MMA fighter, owner of a gym, a student, and a motivational speaker. Oh, and he’s 25 years old.
I’m 25 and have a rare brain condition, and I’m supporting my family and growing my business.
There are artists who create with their mouths, runners who win races on artificial legs, brilliant writers who’s fingers never touch the keyboard and a host of successful individuals with learning, cognitive, and emotional disabilities who refuse to let their situation hold them back.
Need inspiration? Check out The Badass Project at the website and on Facebook to learn about individuals who refuse to let their “disability” hold them back.

[Industry leader] says it won’t work because…
…because they haven’t found a way to make it work yet. Honestly.
Google was a search engine with a silly name back when we were using Lycos or Ask.com.
But they learned, grew, and evolved into something that has completely astounded us.
It’s weird to think that at one point industry leaders said Google wouldn’t work, isn’t it?

It’s not financially sound.
I would never encourage you to gamble, but it’s rarely financially sound to strike out on your own.
Maybe you’re afraid that once you’re a Big Name and the money is rolling in, that you will get a few good years out of it before eventually fizzling out.
Do you realize that’s a possibility regardless?

There’s no R.O.I
R.O.I is one of those funny acronyms people throw around without fully understanding it’s meaning.
To fully measure your R.O.I you need more funny acronyms called K.P.I’s (Key Performance Indicators).
These metrics help you gauge whether whatever you’re doing is working or not. Common K.P.I’s are more comments, more sales, increased traffic, and higher conversions. Each K.P.I is measured individually, and the number of factors that influence a Key Performance Indicator should be controlled to make testing easier.
Not having a Return On Investment is a perfectly sound reason not to do something. Just make sure you are using the term properly, and really looking at the whole picture before you pull that card.

The market conditions aren't right.
This one is tricky, because there are two schools of thought.
A.) Market conditions don’t really matter, just do it better than everyone else (Apple iPod)
B.) Market conditions are everything.
Not surprisingly there are also two types of people in the world. People who have money, and people who don’t. If the market conditions aren’t right for marketing to the people who don’t have money, create an offer and market to the people who do.
Don’t let your business fall victim to only one portion of the market.

You’ll never get the right exposure.
Teenage pop stars are breaking into the cutthroat entertainment business via MySpace and YouTube.
If your exposure isn’t handed to you by the merit of your work, create your own opportunities using the tools available to you.

There’s no point.
Not with that attitude, there isn’t.
The point is that you’re helping people. The point is that you’re doing something. The point is you’re being productive and taking action.
The point is you’re not living in premature self defeat. You are taking an idea from concept to actualization.
You’re bringing your ideas to the world.
Even if no one sees it, you can have the satisfaction of knowing you did something you believed in.

It’s not important enough.
If it at some point you believed there was a need, there probably is.
Does it take too much to do it? Is it not convenient?
Is it important enough to let it keep creeping up and nagging at you?
Just do it already.

You’ll get to it later.
No you won’t. You never do.
Get to it now, or at least schedule it to get done.
Then do it.
You’ll be a lot more satisfied when you’re finished.

You don’t want to be boring.
What’s boring to some is addictive to others.
People process information differently. If you skew towards boring it’s entirely possible to still find the right audience.
However if you skew towards boring, and you don’t want to, find ways to become more interesting.
Take an improv class, do some live Q&A’s, go bungee jumping… spice it up.

If you can’t get it right the first time, why bother trying?
Perfection is a myth.
Nobody actually “does it right”. That’s why there are so many grocery stores, soda brands, religions, and blogs.
It’s not about “doing it right” so much as it is doing it to the best of your ability.
Giving it everything you’ve got, regardless of the outcome, that’s the only way to do it right.

You’re not ready for that level of success.
This is my personal favorite, and one I’ve used on multiple occasions.
If you say it, it’s true, you’re not ready for that level of success… right now.
Success is an iterative process, every step leads to the next step.
Every “Overnight success” will tell you the path to success was long, winding, and full of obstacles.
By the time you’re an “Overnight success”, you will have endured so much, overcoming challenges will be second nature.
Only one thing is guaranteed, it doesn't actually happen overnight.

If you succeed, people’s expectations will change.
They absolutely will, and they should.
If you’re positioning yourself as someone who changes lives, expect to play recurring role in the lives you’ve changed.
When you rise up to meet great expectations, you become great.
Of course, you have to manage expectations too. You can’t do everything all the time.
Push yourself to be more but never at the expense of what is most important to you.

If you succeed, my responsibilities will change.
Not only to your customers, but to your personal life as well.
This isn’t a bad thing.
New responsibilities that improve people’s lives is a good thing.
Remember, it comes incrementally. It’s up to decide when to say yes and when to say no.
But don’t not do something because you don’t think you can handle the responsibility.
Give it a shot.
If it doesn’t work, be responsible to enough to find a suitable replacement.

You don’t like what success did to _______
You’re not them.
View their story as a cautionary tale.
If you see where they went wrong, you can do it differently.
There are learning experiences everywhere, and seeing someone lose their way can be one of the best.

You fear what you might become.
This excuse is a little deeper.
For some, success can unleash some pretty nasty inner demons.
Proceed carefully.
Watch for the signs, and ask loved ones to keep you grounded.
For some, myself included, success can go the your head real quick.
Being reminded to do the dishes, taking out the trash, or cook dinner go a long way for me.
Remembering success in business doesn’t mean I’m above menial chores keeps me grounded.
Take it a step further and volunteer for a soup kitchen, or an animal shelter to disconnect from any superiority complex you might develop.
Help people without judgement and watch as they enjoy the person you become.

Failure would destroy you.
Anyone who’s ever “made it” will tell you they’ve failed more times than they’ve succeeded.
Being destroyed by failure is a choice; the choice is to quit.
If you fail, fail.
Give it everything you’ve got, and let it become a disaster.
Watch it burn.Let it destroy you.
Then recoup, learn from your mistakes, and rise from the ashes.
Failure never completely destroys you, only the parts that weren’t doing you any good.
With every catastrophic failure, hindsight allows you to see where you went wrong.
When you rebuild, you’re that much closer to perfecting the system.

You’re afraid of being a 1 trick pony.
This is one I’ve used many times.
It is possible to be a 1 trick pony, if you don’t strive to dig deeper.
Your messaging has more substance than it’s surface meaning. Draw inspiration from yourself.
Read old blog posts, listen to old interviews, dig for deeper meaning.
Don’t just look for what works, explore why it works, and contemplate the reasons why.
Soon you’ll be digging into the psychology of your customers, and creating content that resonates on levels you could have never imagined.

You can’t commit right now.
Fair enough, you have a lot on your plate.
But when can you commit?
Don’t use this excuse to push something aside, if you don’t want to invest the time.
If it’s genuinely interesting, look at your calender and ask “when can I commit?” and put yourself on a productive path.
And if you don’t want to do it, be honest and admit you’re not interested.
People will always respect honesty over being strung along.

You have too many things on your plate.
See above.

You can’t commit until you've seen all the steps.
The road map to successful outcomes isn’t always available.
Granted, sometimes all of the steps are necessary.
More often than not, this excuse is to avoid risk.
If you’re presented with a coherent process that makes sense to you, and you still say no…then what?
Do you really need a formal business plan? Not always.
Some of the greatest products started as ideas that just evolved over time.

You’re not a details person.
Neither am I.
So look at the big picture, and find a “details” person.
Between the two of you, you’ll see the overall journey, and the little steps to take to get there.

You’re not a big picture person.
Totally understand, not everyone is.
But you’re vital to the execution of any plan.
If you don’t see the big picture, find someone does; and rule the world together.

Your best ideas escape you.
Notebooks, smart phones, voice recorders, and napkins are wonderful tools for idea trapping.
Capture your best ideas, and revisit them later.
You will train yourself to better distinguish the good ideas from the bad, and your ideas will improve over time.
It’s amazing how much stuff you retain once you take the simple step of writing it all down.

You can’t commit to a schedule/calender/ etc.
I’ve used this way more than I should.
First, Failure to commit to a schedule condemns your days to be cannibalized.
Second, when you’re successful, people want a piece of your time, all the time.
Your “schedule” doesn’t have to be super segmented. Just plan for some “production only” time, if you want to get anything done.
Without a schedule, you’ll find you’re often double booked, which makes you look terribly silly and unprofessional.

You’re a better thinker than a doer.
This excuse enable’s you to be lazy.
Do something, anything.
Take action on your ideas, or stop talking about them.
If it gets people pumped, it’s viable.
So do it.
Otherwise, stop getting our hopes up.

You’re a better doer than a thinker.
Every thinker needs someone to keep pushing them forward.
If you’re a better doer, find a visionary and collaborate.
There are too many great ideas, and not enough people to execute.
Find a great idea, then help it move forward.
While you’re at it, motivate the “thinker” to start doing stuff too.

You don’t have the certification/ credentials.
Sometimes it’s an obstacle. Mostly it’s just a cop out.
Employers asking for certification are really looking for the piece of paper that proves your dedication.
If you lack proper certification, but know you’re the most qualified, stop at nothing to get yourself in the door.
If it’s important to you, and you’re that good, get certified.
Go to the institution you need, ask about the prerequisite programs for certification.
Then take all the final tests.

You’re not creative enough.
Not everything needs to be creative.
Sometimes there’s so much creative crap, all the world needs is cut and dry information.
Not everyone responds to creative and there’s always a need for black and white information.
If you need creativity, find an “ideas” person. They’ll know a creative person.

Too many obstacles.
Tell me one epic story in which the protagonist doesn’t overcome too many obstacles.
To save the princess, you must travel the land, sail the ocean, answer the riddles of the old man at the bridge, and bring an offering to the king.
Only then can you slay the dragon.
It’s going to be difficult, but trust me, the princess (your freedom) is worth it.

You tried before and failed.
Dust yourself off, pick yourself up, and do it again.
Obviously you can’t go about it the same way, so find a new angle.
If it’s important to you, realize defeat is temporary.
With every loss, you gain the experience you need to win.

Your idea is too far ahead of it’s time.
If the technology doesn’t exist, and you’ve done the research to verify that, chances are, you’re lying.
This excuse is given by pretentious lazy people.
Timing is important of course. If your idea really is “too far ahead of it’s time,” prepare the market, and be ready to launch at the right time.

You’re too creative & nobody understands you.
Learn to be a better communicator. Stop thinking so highly of yourself.
When people can’t understands you, you’re either a bad communicator or talking to the wrong people, or both.
There are more unmotivated creatives than the world knows what to do with.
Creative and driven on the other hand… now that’s a rare combination.

You don’t have a website.
There was a time businesses existed before the internet.
No matter the industry (including online marketing) websites are only tools , not the business itself.

You don’t have a good website.
Believe it or not, there are plenty of businesses who are still profitable with terrible websites.
Counter intuitive, I know. But it’s true.
If your website needs a redesign, hire someone to redesign it.
If it’s a matter of money, look back at excuse number 4.
If it doesn't really require a redesign, stop making excuses and start moving forward.

Your customers aren’t on [insert platform of choice]
My customers aren’t on Facebook. My customers don’t watch Youtube. My customers don’t use Twitter. My customers don’t have a phone. My customers don’t get snail mail. My customers don’t watch television. My customers don’t shop at that store. My customers don’t drive on that highway. My customers aren’t human. My customers don’t breathe air.
You’re not doing enough to learn about your customers.

You don’t want to spend too much time away from the family.
This is another one of those really sensitive excuses.
Obviously (hopefully) if you have a family, you don’t want to leave them for long periods of time.
If you can, make arrangements for them to come with you, or find ways to attend long distance events virtually.
If virtual isn’t an option, be sure to keep an open line of communication, and make every effort to stay connected.
When you return home, commit to distraction free family time.
Explore all of your options, and don’t hide behind your family as an excuse to get out of something you don’t want to do.

You can’t until you have _______.
Money, desk, tools, website, secretary, bank account, more influence or any other number of outside factors.
Make every attempt to acquire the bare essentials quickly.
Plot out your steps and create milestones.
Missions and objectives do wonders for progress.

You don’t have the proper thinking space.
Find it.
Go for walk. Listen to music. Go outside. Go inside. Hide in the shower. Hang out under your bed.
If you really need the perfect thinking space, learn how to meditate.
Then no matter where you are, you’re always in the right place.

You need absolute silence.
Noise cancelling headphones: $29, Soundproof earmuffs: $26.95, Earplugs: $0.10.
The piece of mind that comes from uninterrupted work: Priceless

You need more noise.
Fire up Pandora, go to the coffee shop, or listen to this collection of background noises. That should be more than enough to get you in the proper head space.
If you want to be more productive, listen to any number of the webinar replays collecting dust in your inbox, or re-listen to paid training you’ve taken in the past.

You don’t have the right words.
There’s no such thing as “the right words,” only the wrong people.
If you didn’t have “the right words” the people closest to you wouldn’t be able stand you for more than 5 minutes at a time.
Maybe you are an unfortunate soul that nobody can stand talking to, but it’s unlikely.
Stop searching for “the right words”, be exactly who you are.
Of course, learning how to structure headlines, format posts, and write killer closings doesn’t ever hurt though.

You’re too tired.
Put yourself on a schedule, structure your day, and get more rest.
If necessary (and possible) take naps when you can, and remain productive.
Productivity sparks energy.
If you’re chronically tired, improve your fitness, and increase your vitamin intake.
Sometimes a vitamin supplement is necessary, and sometimes you need to suck it up and get it done.

If you do this, what else do you have to do?
Whatever comes next, but you’ll never know until you start making progress.

You can’t stop doing [unproductive habit]
Every day is a choice.
That doesn’t mean it’s easy, in fact it can be quite difficult.
But you choose to smoke, you choose to eat unhealthy foods, you choose spend 10 hours a week on Youtube, and $1 a day on lottery tickets.
Breaking habits isn’t easy, but it is doable, especially when you start looking at everything as a choice.
Last year I quit smoking and now I’m cutting back on caffeine. I choose to drink water over Coca Cola.
Granted cutting back on bad habits don’t appear to make a huge difference at first.
But saving $7 a day on cigarettes, and $1.69 on soda, and using that $60.83 a week for paid ads has been a more positive use of the same money.

It just doesn't “feel” right.
Instinct or excuse?
Does it not “feel” right because it really isn’t right for you, or is it simply not convenient?
Be honest, say you don’t want to.
Don’t blame your instinct. Eventually your instinct will go cold, and your gauge for “good” and “bad” will disappear.
An entrepreneur’s deadliest weapon is instinct, so keep your’s sharp.
Don’t blame it for things you don’t want to do.

You did everything you could.
Did you really?
Did you see where you went wrong?
Try again.
Who knows, you might be successful next time.

But the other guy…
…yeah? What are they doing?
Why you watching them make moves and not making your own?
Furthermore, are they watching you? Are you doing anything worth watching?

You’re just not Chris Brogan.
Or Brian Clark, or Sonia Simone, or Jon Morrow.
These names only have weight because they hustled to make sure you remembered them.
No you’re not Chris Brogan, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be influential.
In fact, Chris and Brian and Sonia and Jon all give advice that will help you do just that.
Start taking action on the stuff they’re talking about and pay attention to their business models, then adapt it to yourself.

You’re just not confident enough.
Confidence is a learned behavior.
A long time ago someone told me to repeat to myself “I am the Sh*t” 100 times a day.
Eventually, I started to believe it. There’s a ton of advice on how to be more confident.
You might also take comfort in knowing that 99% of online persona’s are text and images. If you need to create a character to be more comfortable, be who you want, (just be careful not to lie to yourself)

You’re not a leader.
It’s not as black and white as “Leaders” and “Followers”.
Every leader needs a B-team, so even if you’re not the face at the front, you can still lead the people behind them.
A president doesn’t become president all on their own, there are always people leading the charge that get them to office.

You don’t like to be lead.
So you don’t work well under someone else? Me either. In fact, I am terrible at it.
Want to know the truth?
Sometimes “being lead” is exactly what you need to advance..
Think about it.
Someone with more experience can show you the way. Don’t you think it’s worth telling your inner rebel take a back seat?

You quit once already, you couldn't possibly try the same thing again.
Shame is a powerful opponent, but it’s all in your head.
Even if people tell you your nuts for trying again, go for it.
If you really believe, who are you to let your past failures dictate your future victories?
Yes, you quit before, you didn’t have the knowledge or experience you do now.
This time will be different, but don’t you dare give up.

You don’t have a support system.
Been there, and it’s hard no doubt.
The reality is, if you’re perusing something you truly believe in, give it everything you’ve got.
Fight with every ounce of your being and every fiber in your body.
Your support system will appear.
Others rally for ideas they believe in, and the people who champion them.
Show the world you refuse to accept defeat, and the world will give you the support you need to continue.
You don’t have a plan B.
All the reason to fight more.
Fallback plans are for those who plan to fail.
Truth is, “Plan B” is usually better mapped out than “Plan A”.
It’s no wonder it also usually works out better.

You can’t compete with big names.
If you can’t compete, collaborate.
If you can’t collaborate, discover what their customers hate, then do that better.
You might not go toe to to, but you can do small portions of their business better.

You don’t want to start another thing you’ll never finish.
Say no, or schedule it for when you can see it through from start to finish.
Commit.
Don’t stop until you’re done.
And be sure to reward yourself when the task is complete.

Your friends/family will think you’re crazy.
If your friends/family think you are crazy, you’re likely to have a good idea on your hands.
The world was made on experimentation. If everyone’s loved ones understood all the insane ideas people come up with, we’d never have innovation.

It’s too selfish.
What’s more selfish; not helping people with a problem because you think it’s too selfish, or making money for solving a problem?

You don’t deserve it.
You’re right, you don’t.
You earn it.
Rewards that come from hard and smart work you absolutely earned though.
Remember to always enjoy the benefits of your success.

You don’t know what your passion is.
Understandable. Not everyone is there, yet.
However if you want to do something, you just can’t figure out what, go to the bookstore and see what section you gravitate towards.
If you cook a lot, start a cooking website or a Youtube channel. If you’re religious, document an exploration of your faith.
Do some soul searching to determine what you’ll forever be passionate about.
Write about that.

You can’t think of a niche.
Next time you’re at the bookstore, spend some time flipping through the magazine rack. You’ll find all sorts of niches that are ripe with readers.
If there wasn’t a market, there wouldn’t be a magazine.

You deserve a break.
Only if you’ve reached an acceptable goal for yourself.
If you’re not hitting your marks, you haven’t deserved anything.
If you want to say “BUT I’m tired…!” see I’m tired further up on this page.

You do enough.
See above.

The “timing” isn't right.
Market timing and personal timing are important.
If the timing doesn’t coordinate with your personal life, find time in your schedule when it is.
If the timing isn’t right for the marketplace, help push the market forward towards the “right time”.
This could mean exposing new problems, pushing competitors to innovate, or releasing products that support a bigger idea.
Obviously you don’t want to scare people, so getting them gradually prepared can make them more receptive and likely to buy.

You don’t work well on a team.
You’ll only going to get so far on your own.
At some point if you want to “level up” you’ll have to work on a team.
Online entrepreneurs are especially guilty of having the “I have to run the show” complex.
But some ideas require many minds to come to fruition.
You’ll have to learn when to compromise, and allows others to show their strengths.
I know it’s tough.
But once you’ve mastered the group dynamic, you’ll wonder how you ever did anything without your team.

Nobody understands what you’re trying to say.
Become a better communicator.
Look for resources on remarkable communication and persuasive writing.
If people still have moths coming out their ears when you talk, record yourself speaking, and play it back.
What we say makes often makes total sense, until we hear it from someone else’s perspective.

There’s nothing you can contribute.
At the very least, your perspective is unique.
Even when you’re covering the same thing as 5,000 others, your perspective makes you valuable.
Learn as much as you can, then share what you’ve learned, in your words.
Apply what you’ve learned, and share your experiences.
These two things are incredibly unique, and if that’s all you can contribute, it’s a much better than doing nothing.

The system has already been perfected.
No it hasn’t. You’re just not pushing it to it’s limits yet.

You’re not saying anything new.
Very few people actually are.
How many copy writing classes are being taught the world over?
How many people do you think are teaching persuasive writing, or headline techniques, or conversion tactics?
Hundreds? Thousands? More?
Yet Copyblogger media is a 5 million a year company, teaching principals that have been taught since the 1920′s.How is that?
Even if you’re not saying anything new, your experience, your perspective, and most important, your personality come together to develop something worth watching.

It’s nothing they haven’t heard before.
People are learning new things every day.
If you’re showing up in the searches for what they’re looking for, you might be the one to change their life.

You can’t teach something if it’s common sense.
Common sense is in short supply these days.
What is intrinsic to you is the bane of someone else’s existence.
No you can’t teach common sense, but you can teach what you know.
Be patient with your customers. If they don’t “get it” open the dialog and really listen to them one on one.
It may turn out that you’re not communicating clearly.

You learned ______ before, you can’t learn anything different.
Cop out.
Pick it up and learn it. If it’s counter to what you learned before, see if you can integrate approaches.
If not, decide which paradigm is more suitable to you.
You can learn anything at any time, regardless to what you’ve learned before.
Be a little more flexible, otherwise you’ll just end up broken.

You’re too old.
No you’re not.
Age and willingness to learn only go hand in hand if you let them.
Your life experience gives you a valuable perspective that many others might not bring to the table.

You’re too young.
No you’re not.
Age and willingness to learn only go hand in hand if you let them.
Your youth allows you to see things from a fresh perspective that the older generation may have missed.
Let your youth be more most valuable weapon, not something that holds you back.

You don’t understand [insert platform of choice here]
Google.com will do wonders for finding resources to help you with that.
I’m no good at [ insert platform of choice here]
See above.

By the time I get there, the industry will have changed.
So don’t take forever.
Keep up with the current industry while learning the founding principals.
This is almost always the best way to break in. When so many people are focused on doing advanced strategies, that they forget the basic principals (which often times work the best).
Document your journey from the starting point and share what you’re learning.
Network and ask a lot of questions.
Whether you realize it or not, you just might be helping the industry shift by doing these few simple things.

You’ll never catch up.
Don’t worry about it. Just do. Focus on doing.

“You are in the middle of your day today, and you're caught up in the sandstorm of thoughts, feelings, to-dos, meetings, readings, and communications of this day.
Pause. Breathe. Let all of that fade.
Now focus on doing one thing, right now.”
~Leo Babauta zenhabits.net

You don’t have time.
Seriously? You just read (or at least scrolled through) 106 excuses, 106 debunks and nearly 7,000 words. You have time.
In fact, you have all the time, resources, and knowledge required to be great.
Being great, no, being excellent, is a choice.
It’s a choice to never stop. It’s a choice to view yourself as limitless. It’s a choice to stop at nothing until everyone knows your name.

Without a doubt, you’ll encounter many obstacles on your journey. That’s a given.
So what are you waiting for?
Go.
Be great.
Overcome your obstacles, or make excuses; it’s as simple as that.

Tommy Walker's site is http://tommy.ismy.name/ and the full post can be viewed at http://www.chrisbrogan.com/106/

Do Good. Feel Good.

2011-12-20T21:28:00.000-08:00

Sometimes giving is better than receiving. I donate money to non-profit organizations every now and then but I always wonder how much of the cash actually goes directly to the people in need. That is why I prefer to do things like donate blood or volunteer. One of my favorite things to do is cook so I was stoked to find out that there was soup kitchen close to where I live. When I have some free time on my hands I volunteer at Someone Cares Soup Kitchen in Costa Mesa, CA.

Someone Cares Soup Kitchen was founded by Merle Hatleberg, and has served more than 300 meals per day for over 20 years to those who are in need. The soup kitchen provides a daily meal to the homeless, unemployed or under-employed, working poor families, senior citizens, the mentally and physically challenged, and children. Basically anyone who needs a meal.

In addition to the meals, they also help have an academic tutoring program for school children. The staff is really nice and very passionate about their work. I enjoy volunteering there and it makes me feel good knowing that I'm helping to brighten someone's day.

Below is a video I found on YouTube about Someone Cares. To learn more about the soup kitchen check them out at www.someonecareskitchen.org and www.ocsoupkitchen.org

I encourage you to go out there and do some good in your own special way. Do whatever moves you. Volunteer, dontate, help an old lady cross a street, or simply send some good thoughts to people in your life that need it most. Just make an effort to give a little and you may soon discover that you get so much more in return.

Put Pocketing

2011-12-15T08:54:00.000-08:00

We've all heard of Pick Pocketing, but how about Put Pocketing: sneaking money INTO people's pockets and bags.

Ex-pick pockets using their powers for good. This video was made in the UK in 2009 but it would be cool to see people in the U.S. take up this hobby today.

What skills or talents do you have that you can use for good?

Regrets of The Dying

2011-12-06T14:48:00.001-08:00

This has been shared by many people and I felt I had to do the same since it really spoke to me.

The following is a blog post by Bronnie Ware from Australia. Her website is www.inspirationandchai.com.

For many years I worked in palliative care. My patients were those who had gone home to die. Some incredibly special times were shared. I was with them for the last three to twelve weeks of their lives.

People grow a lot when they are faced with their own mortality. I learnt never to underestimate someone's capacity for growth. Some changes were phenomenal. Each experienced a variety of emotions, as expected, denial, fear, anger, remorse, more denial and eventually acceptance. Every single patient found their peace before they departed though, every one of them.

When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced again and again. Here are the most common five:

1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made.

It is very important to try and honour at least some of your dreams along the way. From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it.

2. I wish I didn't work so hard.

This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children's youth and their partner's companionship. Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.

By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating more space in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your new lifestyle.

3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings.

Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.

We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although people may initially react when you change the way you are by speaking honestly, in the end it raises the relationship to a whole new and healthier level. Either that or it releases the unhealthy relationship from your life. Either way, you win.

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.

Often they would not truly realise the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.

It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip. But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds the true importance for them. They want to get things in order more for the benefit of those they love. Usually though, they are too ill and weary to ever manage this task. It is all comes down to love and relationships in the end. That is all that remains in the final weeks, love and relationships.

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.

This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called 'comfort' of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.

When you are on your deathbed, what others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying.

Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly. Choose happiness.

Based on this article, Bronnie has now released a full-length book, titled The Top Five Regrets of the Dying.
Here's a link to the original post

Still Thankful

2011-11-29T10:23:00.001-08:00

In the U.S. there is at least one day out of the year when you'll think about the things that you are thankful for. But now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, I wonder how many people keep those things in mind on a daily basis. I learned a long time ago that there is always something to be thankful for. Many of us decide to focus on the negative stuff because we were programmed to.

Don't believe me? Go turn on the news, read your timeline on Twitter, check out the status updates of your friends on Facebook. I'm willing to bet that a good chunk of what you'll come across is straight up negative. We all have complaints. We all have bad things happen to us but that doesn't mean we should dwell on them. I've learned to acknowledge the negative for what it is, allow myself to process it, and move the eff on. What's done is done and we have no choice but to figure out how to fix the situation and continue on with life.

Here's an exercise that may help reprogram your thinking. For the next 5 days, when you come across something negative in your life I want you to just take a breath, acknowledge it as something bad, and allow your mind to process it. Once you've processed it then challenge yourself to think of two positive things that you are thankful for. This will help you move your focus away from the bad stuff and bring some attention the good things in your life. Don't be a grumpy b*tch and just give it a shot. Just do it in your head and no one will even know what you're up to.

5 days is all I ask. If it doesn't help you at all then you can write me an email cursing me out about how big of a stupid head I am for wasting your time. If it does help you then thank yourself for taking a tiny leap of faith. I know you have it in you. Cheers.

Rethinking Your Surroundings

2011-11-17T09:30:00.001-08:00

Meet professional stuntman, gymnastics coach, and free runner, Damien Walters.

Activities like free running, tricking, and parkour have been around for many years but it still amazes me when I see super talented guys like Damien Walters do their thing. These guys see their surroundings differently. Where us regular folk would see a brick wall simply as a brick wall, these dudes see it as a platform do to crazy twisty backflips off of.

Seeing all of the creative ways that Damien jumps and flips in this video inspired me to think about how I can apply this idea into my own life. I don't mean me doing crazy flips but using the idea of rethinking my surroundings and working with what I already have to get a positive new outcome. Taking an item or a resource from my daily life and using it in a way that is out of the norm.

Can you think of a few creative ways to rethink your surroundings? Shoot me an email if you come up with something cool you'd like to share.

If you would like to see more of Damien's videos please check out his YouTube page.

Using The Right Resources

2011-11-10T11:51:00.001-08:00

Two friends running an $800,000 a year business working part time?

It sounded unbelievable to me at first but when I found out who these guys were I was floored. It turns out they were personal friends of mine from back in high school. I did my research and I was quite impressed.

Quoc Bui and Michael Moon were two guys that I attended high school with many years ago in San Diego, CA. They are just as genuine and kind hearted as I remember them to be. Today they are in the iPhone app business and their company is raking in roughly $800,000 a year. The crazy part is that they didn't do the programming or the graphic design work on their apps. They just had an idea and they found a way to make it happen.

Quoc and Michael didn't have the specific skills to create apps themselves so they outsourced the work and leveraged the talents of other people to produce what they wanted. Bravo, gents. That was genius thinking. How can you relate this to your life? What kind of things can you give someone else to do while you focus on more important things?

Their story is a true inspiration to me and being that they're from my own backyard makes me believe that anyone can make it. I am very proud of these guys not just because they are super successful in the iPhone app business but also because they are paying it forward.

Quoc and Michael wrote a book that will show you step by step what they did to be successful in the app business. They are basically giving you the blueprint to their $800,000 a year business. When was the last time a successful person offered to show you how they came up in life?

I want to thank Quoc and Michael for being an inspiration and for staying grounded. They'll be the first ones to tell you that it's not about the money. It's about the passion for living life on your own terms.

If this story interests you at all then please checkout their site and buy their book.

Mastering The Pimp Walk

2011-11-07T15:01:00.000-08:00

Inspirational speaker Josh Sundquist tells stories about bull tipping, smuggling soda into movie theaters, and how he made the Paralympics.

This video is from 2008 but it's still awesome. Since then Josh has gone off to do even more amazing things and has inspired countless others, myself included. Thank you, Josh. Keep up the excellent work.

Josh's Bio:

Josh Sundquist a bestselling author, motivational speaker, and Paralympic ski racer. He has spoken across the country to groups ranging from Fortune 500 companies to inner city public schools to the White House.

Josh's journey began at age nine, when he was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer and given a fifty percent chance to live. He spent a year on chemotherapy treatments and his left leg was amputated. Doctors declared Josh cured of the disease at age thirteen and he took up ski racing three years later. He trained for the next six years and in 2006 he was named to the US Paralympic Ski Team for the 2006 Paralympics in Turino, Italy.

Josh served a two-year tenure as the National Spokesperson for the Combined Federal Campaign, an effort that raises over $300 million dollars a year for charities. He has been featured on the back of Doritos bags nationwide for being the founder of LessThanFour.org, the world's largest social networking website for amputees.

All New Everything

2011-11-01T15:21:00.000-07:00

When I ask people how their day is going I sometimes get this response:

"Same sh*t different day."

It's interesting because they're either not interested in having a conversation with me or there really isn't any progress in their life that's worth mentioning. The former I'm fine with but the latter concerns me. So you're telling me that there is nothing going on in your world that you're enthusiastic about? Wow. My clients learn quickly not to give me this type of response. If there's nothing special about today then why are you alive to experience it?

No two days are ever the same. It's a new month. A new beginning. A new you. Yesterday may have sucked but today doesn't have to. Just like the diagram in one of my previous posts, change what you don't like and start over. This is the perfect opportunity to start appreciating each new day that greets you in the morning. Seize the moment. Check another item off your to do list. Make that call that you've been putting off. Send that text message that you've been meaning to send. Celebrate the small victories as well as the big ones. Keep moving towards your goals. Not because you have to but because you GET to. Victory is just around the corner. New sh*t new day. Can you think of a few new things to be thankful for today?

Sunrise at Beach in Sydney by Yuri Pokopenko

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,

When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,

When the funds are low and the debts are high,

And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,

When care is pressing you down a bit,

Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,

As every one of us sometimes learns,

And many a failure turns about,

When he might have won had he stuck it out;

Don't give up though the pace seems slow--

You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than,

It seems to a faint and faltering man,

Often the struggler has given up,

When he might have captured the victor's cup,

And he learned too late when the night slipped down,

How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out--

The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,

And you never can tell how close you are,

It may be near when it seems so far,

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit--

It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

- Author unknown