What you just told yourself is:  Geez, come monday (reminds me of a Jimmy Buffett song) life is going to suck and I will no longer be able to have fun.

Can you really put off fun and gratification?  No, otherwise you would already be right where you wanted to be and not reading about getting there!

IIWII Reality: Find a small change that you know you can make permanently and start right now!

All that said, I conclude that simply saying “exercise more” is not the solution to our growing obesity problem amongst children and adults.  We must look at what motivates you to exercise or what hinders you from exercising.  I don’t need to tell you that exercising will benefit you.  What I want you to do before your next ‘exercise kick’ is to do a little soul searching and ask yourself:  “Why is exercising the answer for ME?”

IIWII Reality: It is not exercise itself, but what is in your head that leads you to exercise daily!

“But, I have bills to pay” – yes, that is a reality.  Notice I say making a life – you can design, plan, and take real steps before you get to check things off of your bucket list.  Making is the act of being proactive instead of reacting to what life is dishing.

Tell me something that is on that mental list?  Great, now due to that fact it was the 1^st thing that came to mind, I know it has been there for years.  You will most likely not do anything this year to change that.  Why?  You haven’t thought about the real steps that need to happen before you check that off your list.

Doubt the realness of writing down your goals?  Tell it to this lady!

IIWII Reality: Unless you get it out of your head and on paper (or your phone/computer), think about the real steps you can take now, and then develop that in your head – you will always be making a living.  I say go make a life!

If there were betting odds for media day for the use of “it is what it is”, the following players have a good chance using it in their conversations with the media:

PACKERS:

Donald Driver – Driver is in his 12th season.  As a 6th round pick in 1999, he was a long shot to even make the team.  Heck, he wore #13 during training camp that summer; and WRs wearing uniform numbers in the teens was not an “in” thing 12 years ago.  Driver grew up in Houston, Texas and with the Super Bowl being in Dallas this year, the signature smile on his face just got bigger after the win over the Chicago Bears in the NFC Championship game (kind of hard to believe that his smile could get bigger!).  Driver has bounced back from adversity from his days growing up, barely getting drafted and getting knocked out of the playoffs numerous times when the team had a good shot at the Super Bowl.  If the Packers win on Sunday, I would bet that he wouldn’t change anything.  BTW – Want to go to the big game on Sunday courtesy of Donald Driver?  He’s doing a raffle to benefit The Donald Driver Foundation (entry deadline is 11:00am EST Wednesday, February 2, 2011).

James Jones – In my opinion, if it weren’t for the drops, James Jones is easily a #2 WR on the majority of teams in the NFL, and some teams could probably make him their #1.  He has dropped the ball at few inopportune times this season, as well as had some fumblitis throughout his career.  He’s in the Super Bowl and has a chance to shine on the biggest stage and for the catches I’ve seen James Jones make, I know he can bounce back from the adversity.  Jones inscribes “NTAF” on his autographs – Never Think About Failure.  If you are a Packers fan, you have to like that.

Aaron Rodgers – As one of the most talked about players in this Sunday’s game, Aaron Rodgers will probably get the most questions and media hype during media day.  Even though Packer Nation knows he is no longer in the shadow of Brett Favre with his play over the last three years, the national media thinks Rogers needs to win this Super Bowl for him to be “the guy” in Green Bay.  Winning three playoff games on the road as a sixth seed has just started writing the story of Aaron Rodgers’ legacy, and a Super Bowl win will make his Wikipedia page look that much sweeter.

Tramon Williams – From being a walk-on at Louisiana Tech, to an undrafted free-agent by the Houston Texans in 2006, Williams has had to work to get to where he is at.  A Super Bowl ring and being “da man” in Wisconsin and Packer Nation for the rest of his life I’m sure is much more gratifying than getting selected high in the draft, but going to a team that can never get over the hump.

Charles Woodson – Heisman Trophy (check), National Championship (check), Defensive Player of the Year (check), Super Bowl Ring (missed opportunity in 2002; has another chance this week), Hall of Fame (not a lock, but a win on Sunday would give him the key).  Charles Woodson has had several opportunity slip through his fingers in his NFL career to get to a Super Bowl and win a Super Bowl when he was with the Oakland Raiders in 2002.  He said recently “Perfection is having guys who are able to block everything out that’s happened Monday through Saturday.” On Sunday, Woodson will be blocking out those missed opportunities and focusing at the task at hand.

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STEELERS:

Maurkice Pouncey – What a ride this kid has had for his rookie year.  The Steelers selected Pouncey in the first round from the University of Florida and he has been their best offensive lineman this year.  He went down with an ankle injury in the first quarter of the AFC Championship game and did not return.  He arrived in Dallas yesterday on crutches and is listed as doubtful.  Even though he probably won’t play on Sunday, odds are he’ll be back in this position before his career is over.

Ben Roethlisberger – If you follow the NFL, you are well aware of the problems that Big Ben has brought upon himself over the past few years.  He was suspended by the commissioner for the first 4 games of the 2010 season and has been scrutinized by fans, players, and the media.  We all make mistakes in our life and some are more magnified than others.  On January 1, 2011, I was driving home from the movies with my 4yr old daughter and had my Sirius Satellite Radio on – Channel 66.  I remember a story being told by the lead singer of Tenth Avenue North about how Roethlisberger was driving in his car back in June 2010 and had the radio on and heard the song Get Back Up by Toby Mac (definitely listen to it if you haven’t heard it), and the words of the songs hit him so hard, he pulled the car over in tears.  If I wasn’t a Packers fan, I’d be pullin’ for Big Ben!

James Harrison – Harrison has Super Bowl experience and arguably one of the greatest plays in Super Bowl history with his 100 yard interception return in Super Bowl XLIII.  But a Super Bowl ring doesn’t pay the fines.  Harrison has been fined four times in 2010 for $145,000.  I’m not sure he has learned his lesson and like it or not, officials are biased against #92.  With it being the Super Bowl, I think Harrison will have a chip on his shoulder and not leave any ounce of effort behind, which is enough to keep the Packers offensive lineman lose a little sleep this week.  If the Steelers do win the Super Bowl, that $83,000 bonus will sure help offset those fines.

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The NFL popularity is at an all-time high and there is no bigger game than the Super Bowl.  It is my hope that the owners and players can figure something out sooner than later to protect the integrity of the game.  Any lengthy lockout would be a traveshamockery!

Enjoy the game and the commercials!

Packers 27; Steelers 23

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What if it doesn’t work? Should I start by redoing my web site before I start marketing? How will my employees react?

March, I say. Begin at once. Little by little. When you screw up, admit it loud and clear. March, I say. As you move you will see different views of the mountain and more of your employees. Who is marching with you and who is not. This is valuable insight for you. You will see different responses from your customers – good and bad (both are great). You will soon be making better decisions because you will have more information from the marching you have already done. You will be building stronger relationships with the employees who want to march!

March, I say. Do it with a smile. Show your employees that it is fun to march. Marching will create some excitement. This may require you to beg a superior for some permission to try something new with you team, but make it happen. It will be fun for your team and soon they will go home and say to their significant other, “I like work more than I used to. We have fun and people generally care about each other”. Congratulations, you just saved your company money in employee retention, happy customers, and made a difference in the quality of life with an employee you are responsible for. All because you marched and did stuff….little by little.

That was you. What about your employees? Let them march. Many gurus call this empowerment. Whatever. Allow them to march without you telling them exactly how to do it. Resist the temptation to be so brilliant to tell them what to. That is exactly how you kill their excitement. Yes, mistakes will happen. Lets learn and talk about them.

New employee: “Oh yeah, I need to make as much money as possible and will take as many hours and whatever hours you can give me. I appreciate it very much.”
Boss: “Great, we have plenty of work and will keep you busy. I appreciate your flexibility.”
Employee: “Today is my little girl’s birthday, so if there is any way I can get out a bit early tonight, I would appreciate it.”
Boss: “Okay, I will be able to use you some additional hours later this week.”
Employee: “Great, yea I can work as much as you need me the rest of the week.”
Boss: “Today is very busy, you can get some extra hours.”
Employee: “Aww man, I totally would, but my cat is sick, so next time.”
Boss: “Hmmmn, k”
Employee: “Whatever you need for the last day of work this week, I am your guy”
Boss: “Alright, you can work some serious hours today and make up some ground you lost this week”
Employee: “Yeah dude, I would, but I am certain my dog will probably get hit by a car tonight during happy hour and I need to be there for it!”

The job starts at 7 am every day. Ron shows up after 8 am everyday. After a few days of this, John is quite annoyed and tells one of his guys to come get him when Ron finally shows up. Exact conversation between John (the boss) and Ron (the chronically late employee).

John: “Ron, you know that work on this project starts at 7 am every damn day”
Ron: “Yes I do”
John: “Then why in the world don’t you get here on time”
Ron” (dead serious) “How can you expect me to be here at 7 am when I don’t wake up until 8 am?”

John was speechless, and simply walked back into the job trailer and told another guy to fired him. This story is dead true and shows what many people have to deal with employees. Do you have any good “It Is What It Is” employee stories?

Man, no matter how much you earned in the last five years, how big your house, or shiny your car – if you live a life with disparity between who you really are and who you think you are supposed to be, you can not experience success. Sad, but it is what it is.

On the flip side, if you get on the roof top of your elegant house (in my my case, my cheap apartment) and shout “I am going to show the world the real me”, success will be a byproduct of this decision. Some call that authenticity, we will just call it LIVIN’!

Next time you are celebrating that new deal you and your co-workers just closed, maybe your salute sounds like this “Here’s to us be real and the business following”.

1. Your taxes have to go up. I am not debating tax policy, I am adding some common sense to a large spending problem. We must pay for all this money we have spent and continue to.

Conclusion that affects you – If you work for someone, your paycheck will become smaller. Getting ahead will become harder than it has ever been and most of us never got ahead when the times were good (we live outside of what we can really afford). You must find a second income and it should be within your own business so you can take advantage of legal write-offs and supplement your income.

2. Employment will never be like it once was. “Company loyalty” is a thing of the past, so those of us who choose to work for someone else typically do so for the security of having a steady paycheck. Yet, everyone of us knows someone personally who lost their job who was a great worker.

Conclusion that affects you – You need to invest in starting your own business while having a steady paycheck to provide any security for yourself. With the technology tools out there, this is easier then it has ever been. It will mean you must invest in a new skill set on how to start and run your own business. Even if your first micro venture does pan out, you will have learned skills for your next one.

3. There are good times ahead – I am not talking about the economic seasons (or cycles), but I am clearly stating that there is a tremendous amount of opportunity that exists today. Follow me for a second. We agree the Internet is a game changer. Check. We agree that because of the Internet, a small company called Facebook is also a game changer. Check. We agree that when the automobile came along, it was a game changer. Check. Well, how many companies, jobs, millionaires were created to service the automobile? You get it. AND NOW WE ARE PLAYING IN AN GLOBAL ARENA!

Conclusion that affects you – Get involved in some venture and build your skill sets and you will start to get ahead. It is not easy, but there is payoff.

Sitting back and hoping that things will get better for you is a bad strategy.

So that’s what we’re working on here.  Just a couple of every day dudes who have a vision to make a brand out of “It Is What It Is”.  The first task is to build up a site that can express, promote, and evolve that brand.  In the coming months, the site will be designed, developed and launch the the fourth quarter of 2010 (November / December 2010).

Until then … stay tuned!