Category Archives: Change

Mostly because he was a 1st round pick

1st round picks are 1st round picks forever. 2nd round picks, the same.

1st round picks make more money. They’re given more opportunities. And the benefit of the doubt.

Being a 2nd round pick is not a choice. But staying in a situation where you’re labeled a 2nd round pick is.

Downsizing for success

If you have an hour to write an email, you’ll write it in an hour.

If you have a large suitcase to bring on your vacation, you’ll fill the large suitcase.

If you have a big plate at the lunch buffet, you’ll fill the plate.

Yes, getting more done, being less cluttered, and eating less can be quite the internal battle. But why fight it? Downsizing is so much easier.

They were focused on the problem

Focus on the problem, not the people. Any scholar in negotiation will tell you that.

A vendor at the flea market is an unkind bastard. But if you need some art and he is trying to sell you his, you discuss the problem and try to make a deal. Another piece of perfectly fine art is available at the next booth.

Your boss is cheap. But if you need a raise and they are trying to keep you on their team, you discuss the problem and try to make a deal. Another perfectly fine, better paying position is available down the street.

A belligerent regime runs a powerhouse in the Middle East. But if you want their nuclear weapons program scaled back, you focus on the problem and try to make a deal. Weapons grade uranium is bad in the wrong hands.

If you want to negotiate to mutual interest, you focus on the problem, not the people.

For someone trying to defend the US’s recent nuclear deal with Iran, this would be their argument. They were not focused on the untrustworthy, Israel-hating, terrorist loving regime. They were focused on the problem.

Lenny Gale was a CPA; The American’T Dream

This the 6-minute video made my day, woke me up and inspired me. It echoes stuff I write about. Stuff I talk about. Stuff I think about. It’s called The American’T Dream.

The American’T Dream is a poem about making an impact. Redefining success. Doing something with your life outside of the 9-5.

My favorite lines:

  • Look who’s laughing now.
  • Successful people take a course of action that coincides with their belief or passion.
  • There’s nothing wrong with making an honest living. But are you really living?

Of course, this isn’t for everyone. If you’re working your butt off at your job to pay your mortgage, your children’s’ student loans & weddings and your retirement fund, be proud. You’re appreciated more than you know (Dad).

But if escaping the 9-5 is or ever has been on your mind, check out The American’T Dream.

The best quarterbacks

Work backwards. Figure out where the ball needs to be. And exactly when it needs to get there. Then, given the defense, the exact path for the ball is clear.

And so the last step is easy. Put the ball on the path. Because if it starts in the right place and stays on that precisely defined path, there’s only one place it can end up.

At the end of the path.

Diet Coke Addiction

If you ever thought you had a Diet Coke addiction, you’re not alone. The other good news is that it’s not your fault. You probably don’t have a choice. Thank your brain.

Your brain is the one that’s addicted. Not so much you.  It’s your brain that doesn’t take no for an answer.

Part of it is the caffeine, sure. It’s the #1 addictive drug in the world. Your brain hurts without it.

The other reason for being addicted to Diet Coke? It’s there. Everywhere. Down the hall. Across the street. In the fridge.

A tired brain is a stubborn brain. And a stubborn brain wants instant satisfaction. When your brain knows an ice-cold Diet Coke is within reach, there’s no stopping it.

Want to end your addiction to Diet Coke? Just hide it. Better yet. Toss it out completely.

You won’t miss it.

My “Where you want to be”

This job? That job? This project? That project? This marketing tactic or that one?

No worries about that “how I’m going to get there” stuff. I’ve figured out where I want to be.

I want to be an influential leader in the American Health and Wellness Advocacy community.

That’s it.

Notice there’s no “doing verbs” like change or sell or build. That’s all “how you’re going to get there” stuff. That’s all stuff I’m doing, but most of it is getting me “where I want to be.” Anything not getting where I want to be should and will stop.

Want the formula? Fill in the blank: “I want to be a ________ (adjective and title/impact) in the _______ (specific community/niche).”

Some more examples:

  • I want to be a well-respected trial lawyer for personal injury plaintiffs in Illinois.
  • I want to be an innovator for the women’s apparel business in the Midwest.  (Hi, Mom.)
  • I want to be an active, present, and retired grandfather to my family.

Your “where you want to be” can and will change. For a while, mine was a “calculated risk-taking entrepreneur in the road-warrior consultant world.”  Now, it’s “an influential leader in the American Health and Wellness Advocacy community.” Later, it will be different.

But, I like where my “where you want to be” is now.

How about you with yours?

Career Advice

Lately, I’ve been giving the same advice. It’s not specific to food or fitness. I’ve found myself giving career advice. And the advice has turned out to be pretty good.

My career advice is a consulting buzzword. Actually, it’s probably more of an aphorism. Here it is:

First, figure out where you want to be [hand gesture]. Then figure out how you’re going to get there [hand gesture].”

Figuring out where you want to be, or what you want to is gold. To a hiring manager, it can explain four jobs in four years. It makes you valuable and attractive. It makes you seem more honest and trustworthy.  More employable.

But the best part of figuring out where you want to be? The “how you’re going to get there” part becomes very clear. You’ll hardly ever be lost.

It’s time to figure out where you want to be. Me included.

The One Thing

If you woke up this morning without an agenda, it’s okay.

You might not be as productive.  You might not feel satisfied later. You might even be a little stressed trying to plan your day on-the-fly.

But feel good about this one thing.  This one thing you can put on your calendar.

This one thing will make you more productive today.  This one thing will make you more satisfied tomorrow.  And this one thing will cut stress from planning your day on-the-fly.

Schedule a time for the end of today to make your agenda for tomorrow.

That’s the one thing.

TGIDST: Daylight Savings Time and the Fortunate Few

Daylight savings not just so farmers have an extra hour of sunlight in their workday.  It’s not just based on needing to use less candle light (energy).  Daylight savings time helps some other people, too.

What about the bar owner who can serve Jager bombs for an extra intoxicated hour?  Daylight savings time helps him make more money in the fall.

What about the posturing apartment manager who can leave a memo on the elevator reminding us to set our clocks back and have a pleasant weekend? Daylight savings time helps him look like he’s doing a good job.

What about the fortunate ones like me who never set an alarm, but choose to wake up with the sun? Daylight savings helps us get started earlier.

But since very few people can empathize with a shrewd bar owner, or an incompetent apartment building manager or a guy who proudly quit his day job, why are we still doing daylight savings time?  Studies show it actually causes a 1% increase in energy consumption a decrease in public health.

What if daylight savings time was a choice? But instead of setting your clock back, how about just scheduling breakfast back an hour?

Could there be an easier way to decrease energy consumption and improve public health?

I bet there are several lobbyists out there who have some ideas.