If The Man Is Right, The World Is Right

A couple days ago, I decided to pick up a new audiobook, "Success Through A Positive Mental Attitude". I highly suggest either the audiobook or regular book, whichever is better for you. I am getting into audiobooks because they are easy to incorporate into itunes and listen during work commutes. Self-development and improvement is essential, and we must always keep learning. This book contains guidance to exactly what the title states, and there is a story I'd like to share from it. Please read this story, get inspired, then check out the audiobook at www.audible.com!

One Saturday, a minister was trying to finish writing his sermon under difficult conditions. His wife was out shopping, it was a rainy day, and his son was restless and bored with nothing to do. Finally, the minister picked up an old magazine, thumbed through it, and found a brightly colored page with a map of the world on it. He tore out the page, tore it into bits, and threw the bits all over the living room floor. "Johnny, if you can put this all together, I'll give you a quarter." He thought this ought to keep Johnny busy for a long time. But after just 10 minutes, there was a knock on his study door. The minister was amazed to see the pieces of paper neatly put together and the map of the world exactly as it had been. "Son, how did you put that back together so quickly?" the minister asked. "Oh," said Johnny, "it was easy. On the other side of the page was a picture of a man. I just put a piece of paper down, put the picture of the man together, put another piece of paper over it, and flipped it over. I just figured if I got the man right, the world would be right." The man smiled and gave his son a quarter. "And you've just given me my sermon for tomorrow."

If the man is right, his world will be right. Have a great, positive day and thanks for reading!

Dark And Early

Well, today is day one of my official "floor shifts" at the gym. The weekly schedule for me will be much different as I will be working some mornings, some mid-day, and some evening shifts to get a feel for the gym's members and business. Monday and Tuesday I am scheduled starting at 6 so today I got up a little after 3. I like to give myself a little time to get ready, have my Shakeology, and write a blog among other activities. I just feel more comfortable not rushing. I realize it's so early that the sun hasn't even come out yet. But like any successful person, I must do what I have to do now to do all the things I want to do later, and I must strive to maintain a positive mental attitude. It wasn't hard to get up. I'm very excited for things to come, and I feel that every day will present a new challenge and it is my duty to face and overcome any obstacles to reach my goal. After all, that's what I'm going to get paid to do--help people overcome their obstacles to reach their goals. What a great opportunity to empower others!

Anyway, what challenges do you face on a daily basis? Monthly? Annually? Think about today and what small adjustments you might make to improve. Also, when faced with adversity, maintain a positive mental attitude and think about what you can do to battle through and reach your desired goal. The only limits that exist are the ones created in our own minds. Reach for the stars people...whether morning or night stars! Have a great day everyone, and thanks for reading!

Programming Language

My brother-in-law, Victor, is a computer engineer and right now he works for a growing company in charge of developing software to handle disaster recovery, which is pretty awesome I feel. This kid has always been very intelligent and great at finding solutions, especially when it comes to electronics, computers, or anything with technology really. He has great attention to detail which most would call "anal" but I have recently exchanged that term with "extreme discipline". Anyways, we have discussions here and there and what's kind of funny is that both of us have found each other bartering services with one another. I am proficient in using a computer and several professional types of graphics and imaging software, etc, but when it comes to the technical stuff, it's like reading hieroglyphics to me. With Victor, he has learned a lot as I have through home fitness programs such as P90X and Insanity, but he has recognized as many do now that I am a fitness professional, and though I am still learning as I always will be, he has come to me for advice and solutions for his situations such as dealing with work and travel scheduling, working around minor injuries, and surgery recovery. The funny thing is that though we both are in totally different professional fields, we are both "programmers" of sorts. He programs software in order to deal with economic problems, and I program fitness and nutrition schedules to help people improve their health. We do the same thing, just use different languages really. I realize this is lighter content in terms of my usual blog, but I wanted to share some insight into my family life today. Have a blessed Sunday everyone, and thanks for reading!

Job vs. Career

It's official. I've just finished my last week of the last "job" I will ever work. I'm not retired, though, but I am starting my career. What's the difference? Well, in my own words, I'd have to say that I've finally found something that I can say "I am". As far as trades go, I've been a bartender, a banker, a graphic designer, a fast-food worker, and a pizza delivery guy. I also taught myself to cut short styles of men's hair in high school and know how to cut my own fade pretty well. I've learned a lot from every single job and from the relationships created from them, as you who are reading this should have learned from your experiences as well. Though I have been quite successful overall as an effective employee and have even won awards and a trip to Maui from my past sales performance, I never felt in any of these jobs the sense of "I am". As I described once to upper management at the bank I worked at, "I feel as though I am trying to be a banker, but I don't feel like I am a banker." Of course, I went on to continue working there and the next year in 2007 I won that Maui trip because I had qualified for "premier club". Add to the fact my wife put in a lot of overtime as a nurse, we got married in Vegas, bought a condo, and enjoyed the greatest financial year to date. However, it's been a rough few years since, and I know I'm not the only one that has faced adversity.

Jim Rone said something like, "In life you'll experience difficulty mixed with opportunity." What I've found and am still learning is that by maintaining a positive mental attitude and becoming obsessed with my own personal development, I have been able to turn my health and my life around. If you would have told me two years ago that I'd be a home fitness coach and a personal trainer in 2010, and would feel ambitious and positive for a great future, I'd probably shrug it off, drink a beer and smoke a cigarette. But that was the old me. I've outgrown those tired old shoes and have strapped on some great-feeling new ones. At the bank, my manager who was an arguably difficult person to work with although a remarkable salesperson, told me at my interview, "You are still finding yourself." I had no idea what he was talking about until recently, and now I lly appreciate it. I have found myself and am poised to build a long career based on helping people improve the qualitiy of their lives. I believe it, and am anxious to get started. I hope you who read my blog have either "found yourselves" or will do so, because the ambition and appreciation for your life will greatly improve when you are passionate and believe in what you do so much that you will live, eat, breathe, and sleep it. Great things will happen, but it starts with you and your positive mental attitude. As Zig Ziglar puts it, "It is your attitude not your amplitude..." Have a great weekend everyone, and thanks for reading!

Intensive Care

Many of you may or may not know that my wife works as a nurse in the medical intensive care unit at Illinois Masonic Hospital. She has been a nurse for a handful of years now, and I've heard some pretty interesting stories relating to situations, conditions, and the status of people's health in general. Jasmine is committed to helping people which makes her one of the special people cut-out for this industry. Jasmine and I both are really passionate about health and fitness and truly believe that living healthy is of the utmost importance. In the medical ICU in particular, she sees a variety of patients needing round-the-clock specialized attention, and she definitely sees many people who don't need to be there, such as obese individuals in the hospital as a result of being obese and living a sedentary lifestyle. Of course, that isn't an ailment, but it leads to a high percentage of illnesses and medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and others. This morning as we both got ready for the day, we were discussing the Dr. Oz show and what an awesome educational and exciting show it really is. We agreed that there is a wealth of knowledge from Dr. Oz, the audience participant activities, and from the guests on the show. Jasmine told me that she tells her patients, "Watch the Dr. Oz show!" as one of her suggestions. She also shares with these people the importance of making tweaks to their diet and working in fitness to help them get healthy and stay out of the hospital. "I don't know if other nurses do it, but I do it," she said. I am so proud and inspired by my wife. She makes me want to live better and help more people which is a great reason I have become a personal trainer. I tell her now, "You are helping the people get better while they're in the hospital, and I'm trying to keep people out of the hospital!" Kind of funny, but absolutely true. Here's a tip straight from the nurse:

"The most important thing you can do is take your medications, and eat healthier foods. Stay away from fried foods, and when it comes to breads and pastas, 'If it's white it ain't right!'" 

That last bit is kind of funny, and actually she says she got that from a guest of the Dr. Oz show. A simple but great way to start eating better. Aim for 100% whole grain when choosing breads and pastas, and instead of fried foods, substitute with grilled and baked items. Is this the "cure-all" for your diet? Not hardly. But it is a great first step. Please feel free to comment below and/or contact me with questions or tips of your own. We are all here to help each other! Happy Friday, have a great day and thanks for reading!