January 2012
1 post
“You don’t set out to build a wall. You don’t say, ‘I’m...”
– Quote by Will Smith pulled from this video post.
February 2011
9 posts
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“The humble resemble a rock. Even though the rock lies downward, it is...”
– St. Augustine
4 Hour Work Day
Its amazing how much life as you know it really does change when you have a baby. Pre-baby and pre-marriage, I was known to be in front of my laptop for business and/or personal reasons pretty much until I went to bed at night.
After-marriage and pre-baby, I decided to make a conscious effort to put the computer and work responsibilities away by 7pm at the latest. Obviously, if I was...
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Human Spirit
Matthew Kelly is one of, if not my favorite author and speaker. If you scroll through these pages you will see numerous references to his book, The Rhythm of Life, (my all-time favorite) along with quotes and nuggets I have pulled from his work. I’m currently reading another book of his, Rediscovering Catholicism, and came across this passage today that resonated with me.
I am more...
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The New Normal?
A lot has happened since my last blog post. Of course, that is not saying much really. 10 year old kids have graduated college in the time gaps between some of my posts over the past year - only a slight exaggeration. Re-commitment to consistent blogging is one of my goals this year (ever heard that one before?). I digress.
In all seriousness, there have been some pretty significant life and...
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“The most effective messenger is the one who lives the message. Let your...”
– Matthew Kelly
January 2011
2 posts
1 tag
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December 2010
11 posts
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“You can gauge the limitations of a person’s life by the size of the...”
– From The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson
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True Freedom
“The free man or woman is quietly confident and peaceful. Aware of both his strengths and weaknesses, he seeks self-analysis to improve himself. She is a woman of integrity, and her word is better than a signed contract. His mind is constantly filled with gratitude, appreciation, and all matter of positive thoughts. She is a leader who is prepared to take the initiative. He is a man of...
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Rework - Inspiration is Perishable
I just finished reading Rework on my back patio this afternoon (weather is unbelievable today). Great book - ultimate page turner. Its 250+ pages but very short chapters and many illustrations keep the content concise and impactful. Rather than drone on with a long review about the book and what impact it had on me, Im just going to sum it up with the short “conclusion” chapter from...
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“Genius is the ability to capture complexity with a simple vision. Simplicity is...”
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“Some people achieve their dreams and for others they always seem out of reach....”
– excerpt from The Rhythm of Life by Matthew Kelly
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On Passion
At the risk of sounding geeky and maybe a little bit weird, Im going to write this post anyway.
I’m not the most musically inclined person. I have never pursued an instrument (though I wish I had), I have never sung in a choir, taken lessons etc…
Now, I do admit to watch American Idol when it gets down to the final 16. But, the thing that bothers me a bit about the show is that...
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“The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss...”
– Michelangelo
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The Power of Thinking BIG
I just so happens that I read The Answer by John Assaraf and Murray Smith this time of the year (or at least the last two years). I just finished compiling my notations and highlights this morning and I wanted to share. This is from the chapter on “Big Thinkers.” It is essentially a summary of the common characteristics that Big Thinkers share. Hang with me, its a big lengthy but...
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“Goals are the mileposts along the road of life; purpose is the direction that...”
– From The Answer
November 2010
8 posts
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The Paradoxical Commandments
People are unreasonable, illogical and self-centered - LOVE THEM ANYWAY
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives - DO GOOD ANYWAY
If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies - SUCCEED ANYWAY
The good you do will be forgotten tomorrow - DO GOOD ANYWAY
Honesty and frankness will make you vulnerable - BE HONEST AND FRANK ANYWAY
Big People with even...
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3 Saturdays & a Sunday
Even for someone who loves football of all varieties, 4 straight days of non-stop college and NFL football is about all that I can handle. I suppose I could have taken a half day break here and there, but where’s the fun in that. It was a wild weekend of comebacks and overtime thrillers.
I enjoyed my time away from work over the holiday but Im ready to get back into the swing of things...
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Successful people remind themselves of their goals every waking moment of every hour of every day.
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Pretty Unbelievable Feat
I just checked one of my fantasy football teams in a league that I dont really pay that close of attention to. I set my lineup each week with the best possible players but I dont have any, ahem, “investment” in this league so its not a big deal.
However, can you believe this? I lost to a guy who has not one, not two, three or four but FIVE guys on byes in his active lineup! And...
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“… . .From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded. And...”
– Luke 12:48
October 2010
3 posts
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The Lesson
If somebody gave you a bucket of oysters and told you that there was a valuable pearl in one of the oysters, wouldnt you be inclined to open each one until you found it?
So it is in life. We are each handed our own set of talents, skills and a bucket of oysters. Sometimes that bucket seems huge and it takes a lot of time to find that lucky oyster. But it is always there.
The key is...
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Neglected
So its now late October and looking at this blog, I realize that I havent posted anything in a couple of months. Before that, it was probably a month or two as well.
Blogging is a discipline for sure. Its like working out. The longer you go without doing it, the easier it is to neglect and the harder it is to get back into shape. Its not from lack of desire to do so, it just becomes (more...
August 2010
6 posts
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Focus
I’ve been feeling a lack of directed focus for quite a while now, maybe as much as 2-3 months. It started when I was really busy for a couple month stretch and I think a bit burned out. Its not so much that I cant get anything done. Rather its the feeling that Im staying busy but not necessarily productive. More focused on the mundane details than the activities with long term...
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“You will never change your life until you change something daily. The secret of...”
– John C. Maxwell
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P80X
Yesterday marked 11 days in the program and with two workouts left this week, Im almost through the cycle twice over. Im much less sore than I was this time last week and my muscles are somewhat getting used to the daily routine.
With only 11 days under my belt, I cant say that I see any real physical changes yet. And, while I have been food conscious, I am not following the P90X meal plan in...
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“If you want to have more, you have to become more. Success is not something...”
– Jim Rohn (excerpt from The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy)
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P88X
Today was day three of ninety. Yeah, a long way to go. Today was shoulders and arms. Again, it was one of two workouts that I am familiar with from having done it before. In my opinion the shoulders and arms workout is one the easiest ones that I have done so it was a bit of a welcomed break.
Thank god too, because after doing the Plyometrics workout yesterday I dont think I could have handled...
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P90X
Friday afternoon I opened the mail box, peeked inside and saw the white P90X package. I took it home and opened it with mixed emotions. On one hand I was/am excited to start the program. On the other hand I know what starting the program actually means. I either have to commit and follow through for a 90 day period or risk the guilt (that we all know well) that comes from starting something...
June 2010
1 post
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Timeless Advice
I did a Google search on Warren Buffet for something else I was doing and I came across this excerpt of a Q&A that he did with some graduate students a couple of years ago. While I’m sure his answers to the investing questions were wise, (admittedly I care less about that) his insight into life in general is what drew me in. Here is an answer to a particular question that I found...
May 2010
2 posts
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April 2010
6 posts
“When you waste a moment, you have killed it in a sense, squandering an...”
– Menachem Mendel Schneerson (via fancyhands)
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Choose
I am almost done reading Linchpin by Seth Godin (20 more pages) and I have to say, its another masterpiece. I think that he has hit back to back home runs with Linchpin and Tribes. Both are books that I will more than likely read a number of times in the years to come. This morning, I came across a passage in the book that I really liked. It is actually written by one of Seth’s cohorts,...
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“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man...”
– From President Theodore Roosevelt. This is one of my favorite quotes of all time. When I was in College, I used to have this quote framed and in my room. Admittedly, I haven’t always taken these words to heart. Its about time to post it back up on the wall.
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“Its a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you...”
– Somerset Maugham
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Opening Day
Today will be the fourth Spring since I ended my baseball career. Four full years. On one hand that is hard to believe since for every Spring from age 5 to age 26 I was on a baseball diamond. On the other hand it seems like its been longer than that. I feel like I dont have that connection that I once had. I have moved on to different endeavors.
Still, sitting here watching the Opening Day...
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“To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the...”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson’s definition of success. I’ve read through it multiple times and I agree 100%. I don’t know that there is anything that I could add to make it more complete. Perfect.
March 2010
10 posts
1 tag
