Moving On

Today while still recovering from this bacterial infection that has kept me inside for the whole weekend, I took the time to collect myself, come to some realizations, and move on. Let me explain.

First of all, I am very grateful to my mother-in-law and my brother-in-law for taking care of me and Jasmine while we were sick and taking charge of walking Lola and picking up the groceries, cooking meals, etc. This gave us time to rest and focus on recovery. That said, I took advantage of this time to read more of "Think And Grow Rich" and get some office work done, although I will admit this sickness has really taken a lot out of me. Today I was feeling the best of all days, and I think I'm about at 75% or so, optimistically. So I showered early, and took a few hours cleaning my office, which is located in the rear of my bedroom. This is a task that has been pushed back further and further, and today I was determined to get it done. Initially, I had set up my office for Crucial Graphics, Inc., my graphic design business. I had started to take on a few customers and had done some package design among other projects in the summer of 2008, before my home was flooded, but it was far from "taking off". My work is good, and I enjoy most of all working with my best friend who is a D.J. and producer, "Uncletone". However, now that I have been growing more and more as an Independent Beachbody Coach and helping more and more people to get healthy and working to make a living out of it, I have definitely sacrificed many of the things I have known in the past.

For a couple months, Yahoo has been sending me emails regarding my renewal of www.crucialgraphics.com. Recently, they had sent a final notice, and I made a decision to let it go and move on. I have been known to wear many hats, and now I have found something that I know that is consuming more and more of my time, and I need to do it to help more people reach their goals. In order to keep making this happen and grow even more, I have realized that I must give up things that have been a part of me, even if some of these things were good and somewhat promising. So today, I have cleaned and rearranged my office to reflect my coaching business and have moved the graphics-related things out of that area, and indeed, it is less cluttered and more set up for coaching success. As I told my wife the other day, "I need to organize my office because it is a reflection of how I run my business and how I run my life." Even if that is only slightly true, I should now see more of an improvement in how I work and grow as a coach. I'm ready. I hope you who are reading this can relate and may see some "loose ends" that you may need to cut before you can move on and grow further in your profession and improve your life even more, too. Thanks for reading, and enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Winter Games

I don't know about you, but the nights these past two weeks which I have gotten a chance to witness these winter games have been extraordinarily enjoyable. I have really been able to appreciate the athleticism, grace, and the seemingly impossible journeys to greatness realized by all of the competitors and families involved. So many sacrifices made, so much commitment, as well as so much faith put into the promise of success has driven these athletes to the very top of their performing abilities. I have also been able to appreciate the beauty, art, and elegance of events like figure skating and ice dancing. I feel as though my mind and even my mode of thinking have changed and are still developing, and I feel as though while I continue to challenge and become more myself, so can I appreciate the accomplishments of others more. That's all, I guess, for tonight. No tips, no tricks, no instructions. I just wanted to leave a note or two about my feelings. I hope you all can appreciate the spirit of competition and how it is so essential to human success in health, in wealth, and in life. Thanks for reading, everyone!

Doctor's Orders

Today I was forced to stay home due to a high fever and severe illness symptoms. Jasmine wasn't feeling great either, and we were able to make appointments at the doctor's office right away, which was great. I had been meaning to go in to see my doctor for an annual physical, but this came first obviously. The last time I was there was for a physical back around late jan/early feb of '09. It was around that time that I had lost my first 30 lbs from my heaviest of 225lbs from the previous visit in 08, when the doctor initially told me, "If you want to avoid future health problems, you should get your weight down..." I knew that this visit was sure to start a conversation also, and I decided to take advantage of this opportunity.

I weighed in with my clothes on at 153, so I have gained a few healthy pounds since finishing the Insanity program and starting P90X+, which is ok, and is mostly muscle. Anyways, when updating my information, the nurse saw the alert on the screen, and let me just say we had a pleasant and positive conversation regarding the weight loss and health improvement. The doc came in, and we had a chat as well before assessing me for my ailments. I told him,

"Doc, I did what you told me to do!..."

He was impressed and seemed a bit shocked as to how I lost so much weight, and also had quit smoking since jan 1, 2009. I have completely changed my diet and eating habits and really only drink on special occasions now.

After my assessment which was I have some sort of bacterial infection that should clear up with the antibiotics he prescribed me (thanks doc!), I mentioned that there are probably other people that he has made recommendations for weight loss to, but may not know how or think it is even possible. I asked him if I could leave some materials for him to review and I also left a stack of business cards for him to give to some people that are in the condition I used to be in that have no plan or idea of how to lose weight and live a healthier lifestyle. He agreed, and I left the stuff there with him. Now, will he pass those on? I don't know. Will those people contact me or even care enough about themselves to look into it? I don't know. What I do know is that I have nothing to lose by offering my help, and the potential patients have everything to gain by accepting and looking to me for help. If there is even the slight chance that I can help one more person, then all of my efforts are well worth it, and that is exactly how I feel about it. Thanks for reading and happy friday everyone!

Support Is Why It Works

Today at work, a friend and I were discussing her decision to purchase the Slim In 6 program. I gave her instructions to set up a profile on my coach site and to buy the program from the store and start getting familiar with the features and tools available as well. She asked, "Can't I just buy the program?"

Folks, as you know, I have undergone a dramatic transformation in my appearance and health. Likewise, I am currently witnessing the same types of things happening with friends and family and other co-workers as well. More so than even many gym members we see coming and going (I work in a restaurant in Equinox Fitness Club). Is this the first time I have tried to lose weight? Is it the first time these other people have tried to get healthy? No. The reason why it works is support.

Support is not a new or novel idea. How do people quit smoking? Drinking? How do people cope with the loss of loved ones? The same way that people succeed with Team Beachbody. Support. I am a huge advocate of doing what works and what duplicates. If I didn't have or use the support systems in place, would I have reached my goals? Maybe, but probably not. The people that I have attempted to mentor and have not taken my advice by setting up a profile and doing the little things that will really help have had a harder time sticking with their programs. Conversely, the people that have done what I did and just followed directions, have learned more and stuck with their programs and are succeeding. The proof's in the puddin' folks. It's all about support. Take a small step, and set up a free profile by clicking on the title to this blog and clicking "join" at my coach page. Check it out! All you have to lose is pounds and inches! Thanks for reading everyone!

Using Adult Language

I have been known to have what you might call a "dirty mouth". I would tell you that I learned this from my father, and that is partly true. I didn't really think a lot of it, and I basically blew it off as something harmless. More and more, especially recently, I have been more conscious of this habit, and through repeated suggestions by my mom, mother-in-law, and just talking to people in general, I will admit that I do have a sincere desire to "clean up" my language.

Day by day also, I have been reading and listening to personal development literature and presentations, and I am maintaining my student mentality and constantly working to improve myself as a person and a professional. I will paraprhase Jim Rone here, but I believe he said something like, "Don't underestimate the power of your language." This is true, and thinking in terms of communication, I have been working to minimize my hesitation words and maximize each word in each sentence and the emphasis of my speech to make my conversations more meaningful. Today, I listened to a Zig Ziglar podcast called "Using Adult Language." It was extremely insightful, and Zig talks about "adult language". It is the thinking that adult language should include foul swearing and vulgar content that is where we are in the wrong.

"...I'm guilty of using an enormous amount of adult language. Words like honesty and responsibility and optimistic and discipline and commitment--they're all adult language words. Decisive, dedicated, competent, dependent, consistent, punctual...I don't know where they ever got the idea that filth and vulgar words were adult..."

"...I use also...a tremendous number of four-letter words...like hope and care and love and good and team and warm and free..."

-Zig Ziglar

How did you feel when you read that passage? I know when I heard it I got all of these optimistic thoughts. Hopeful feelings. Whole-hearted, adult emotions. I love feeling those things, and I believe those are more meaningful, so I will pledge today to work to adjust my language and convert my poor choices in words to powerful, meaningful decisions on diction. Thanks for reading everyone!