Monthly Archives: May 2013

Remember the toaster?

The thing that lived on your kitchen counter? That kitchen appliance that greeted you every morning? Back in the day, did you know anyone that didn’t have one? Anyone that didn’t use it to make the same thing nearly every day?

At that time, did you know anyone with a Vitamix?  Maybe, but mostly just early adopters. Getting the benefit of a nice blender meant going to brunch and ordering a drink.

Today, the kitchen appliance world is upside down. Pretty much everyone has a blender and many use it every day. And with so many people being (mostly) gluten free, the only time the toaster gets to work is when you’re out to brunch. And it’s because you chose toast instead of pancakes.

Is your computer slow?

Does it take an extra few seconds to load?  Well, you have two choices.

  1. You can patiently, or frustratingly, wait for it to load.
  2. You can use the extra couple seconds of downtime to do something that benefits you.  Finish your glass of h20 and get a refill.  Lean over and stretch your hamstrings.  Or, maybe just send a text message to an old friend.

Which will you choose?

Ask.com didn’t ask

Their toolbar just showed up on my browser without my permission.  Why?

These days, Ask.com survives on strategic trickery.  Their toolbar lands in places it’s likely to stick.  Old folk’s desktops.  Foreigners laptops. Or in the office of a small-business person who is simply too busy to deal with the annoyance.

Ask.com never would have done this ten years ago. People used to came to them to asking questions.  Now, people come to them asking them to go away.

When you land your first job at a Big Four consulting firm

You should be thrilled.

You’re going to travel and see new places.  You’ll be responsible and accountable for your work like never before.  You’ll make new friends and tons of memories.  Best of all, you’ll learn a ton.

It’s a lot like you’re undergraduate college years, really.  Enjoy it.  Work your hardest.  And cherish every moment.

But after your fourth year doing the same stuff that used to be new, exciting and rewarding, you need to graduate.  Just like college.  Move on.  Start your life. Because the people that stay in Big Four consulting past four years are just like the people that stay in college past four years.  Suckers.

Are you a sauce man (or woman)?

Or you just a ketchup kind of guy (gal)?

Either way, here’s some tips on getting sauced:

Bottom line: Sauces are great and it’s cool if you love ketchup. Maybe see how you feel with a different variety? Just don’t choose one of Heinz’s 57.

Good things,
Lenny

P.S. Here’s my Black Olive Sauce on Tilapia  Good on chicken.  Good on fish.  Excessive on olives.

 

My Fitness Pal

More like My Fitness A-hole.

What kind of pal makes you count your calories?  Or tells you you’re not allowed to have that banana.  Or makes you feel cranky cause you’re always hungry.

My fitness pals make me happy.  My girl, my dog and my Vitamix.  Together, we eat a lot, eat often and eat well.

Moral of the story: Find some pals to help you with your goals.  I know that a pal is a pal and will make you 10x more likely to succeed. But, you might find the best ones aren’t a-holes.

Good things,

Lenny

P.S. If you’re currently using the My Fitness Pal app, you’re personally invited to be my pal.  Instead of putting you through the PAIN of entering your meals to count calories, I take a different approach.  Snap a pic of your food and email it to me. You’ll get motivation and lots of positive reinforcement from me.  Like a good pal. (Read more details…)