Mar 04 2015
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Successful Kids

What Are You Doing For Spring Break?

College Students – What are you doing for spring break?

My 2 middle sons (Aaron/22 and Ethan/20) are in their final semester towards the completion of their degrees in Exercise Science and are working as personal trainers at a local gym. They were recently discussing the upcoming spring break.

They mentioned how many fellow college students talk about going to Florida – to party.

Instead, Ethan asked my advice about attending a training seminar: How to Win Friends and Influence People – in Business. Aaron quickly jumped on board.

You can imagine how excited and proud I was to hear this!

The reason. They realize the value of interpersonal management skills. That is, to develop new personal training clients and manage their existing clients they need to be extremely effective at engaging with and influencing people of all ages, backgrounds, professions (blue and white collar) and levels (individual contributors to corporate executives).

More importantly, they are willing to invest their own money to attend this high-end training! Because this seminar happens to be in San Francisco there are 5 days of travel-related costs. So, this is not an inexpensive endeavor. However, it is a significant investment in their future.

So, after a couple of days discussion (and only a little help from me 🙂 ) they are signed up and ready to go!

To ensure they don’t miss out on seeing a little of the San Francisco area they are staying a day beyond the seminar’s completion. I’ve suggested they visit Half Moon Bay which, if you haven’t visited, absolutely blows the mind with its magnificent views, vistas, cliffs and beaches. I hope they get a chance to experience that!

In closing, college students…You are encouraged to strongly consider how you invest (or burn) your time for spring break. Yes, it is important to take a break from the grind (a.k.a., the same ole same ole). Investing in a training program that will quickly catapult you to the next level in your career is a great alternative. The sooner you develop critical skills (that aren’t typically covered in college) the more quickly you’ll realize the income you desire which results in increased flexibility to experience the many opportunities through-out the world.

Reminds me of a quote…

Do what you MUST as quickly as possible, so you can do what you WANT for as long as possible.

Mixing in a little travel to a new destination is icing on the cake.

p.s. If you are in need of a personal trainer, and you live/work in Southern NH / Northern MA, contact a professional: one of my son’s. You will not be disappointed.

Aaron Bailey – Fitness by Design 603-718-2269

Ethan Bailey – Choice Fitness 603-545-9870

Mar 01 2015
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Inspirational

Do We Feel The Rain, or Just Get Wet?

In a prior post the topic of Managing Our Own Worst Critic was covered, reinforcing the reality that we influence the outcomes in our lives based upon our inner dialog (good or bad).

Building on the above…My wife and I attend an adult Sunday School class which recently began a series based on the book: Give Up Something Bad For Lent.

In a nutshell, when most people (myself included) think about giving something up for Lent they consider things like: dessert, smoking, drinking, pizza, coffee, etc. And, for some, these may be exactly the right things to consider. That said, this study suggests that we give up negative attitudes and behaviors. And, not just for Lent, but for good!

In the first chapter it is suggested that we consider giving up:

  • Bitterness – anger and disappointment at being treated unfairly; resentment.
  • Apathy – lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern.
  • Discouragement – a loss of confidence or enthusiasm; dispiritedness.

What struck me, during our recent class, was that a comment was made, something to the effect of: “I don’t think these things can be given up, because they happen to us.”

First, let’s reinforce the fact that we’ve all adopted one or more of these attitudes or behaviors at some point in our life. However, it isn’t the attitude or behavior that “happened” to us. It was a situation, circumstance or drama (real or imagined) that happened, which resulted in us “taking on” these attitudes or behaviors.

And, while these attitudes and behaviors may be a normal human response, we need not carry this baggage around with us for more than a short period of lamentation (if at all) after the event takes place.

We must realize that there is only one person controlling the thoughts in our powerhouse mind. That is the person we see in the mirror. If we fill our mind with negative thoughts (including continuously regurgitating past hurts or unfortunate experiences) we will continue to hold negative attitudes and behaviors. If, on the other hand, we CONSTANTLY fill our mind with positive thoughts (our goals and dreams, for example) we will experience more positive situations and outcomes in our lives.

This does not mean that bad things won’t happen to good people. Far from it. However, things typically aren’t as bad as they seem. And, it is our chosen attitude and response to real-life situations, that we ALL must deal with, that absolutely influences (I dare say, controls) how things turn out.

As I was sharing this with one of my sons (Aaron), he responded with: “Yeah, bitterness, apathy and discouragement aren’t like rain that just falls on us.” He then recited a quote from a world-renowned philosopher 🙂

Some people feel the rain. Others just get wet.

~ Bob Marley

In closing, it is important for us to feel (experience) the situations and circumstances in our life. However, let’s not just sit there soaking wet (with negative attitudes and behaviors). Let’s get up, dry ourselves off and move on! If we are on this earth we still have a purpose.

Never give up, or give in to negative attitudes and behaviors!

Feb 15 2015
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Personal Success

The Addiction – We Must Look Up!

During our recent trip to Puerto Rico it became clearer than ever, to me, that people everywhere have a common addiction.

Grandma is doing it, while sitting by the pool. The youngster at her side is doing it. The corporate executive, spending vacation with her husband, is doing it. The workers trimming trees along Avenida Isla Verde in San Juan are doing it. And, of course, I do it…

You likely have the addiction and/or know others who have it too!

What is the addiction?

Constantly spending time looking into our smartphone (or laptop).

It is simply amazing to see these devices constantly in peoples’ hands or within arms-length distance…

During this post I’ll be speaking (actually writing) out of both sides of my mouth 🙂

Here we go…

First, as individuals, we must balance all the things we can do with all this technology (productivity vs. mere time-consuming distractions) realizing that it is critically important to put it down so that we pay attention to the people and world around us.

Now, to talk (write) out of the other side of my mouth 🙂

Make no mistake, we are only at the beginning of where technology is going.

A very simple example…

In preparation for our return from Puerto Rico I called a car service for a ride from Logan Airport to our home in New Hampshire. After completing the transaction the representative said: “Once your plane arrives you will receive a text message from your driver, from the Glympse app, which will tell you exactly where to meet him.” Wow, sign me up 🙂

Since this was the first I had heard of Glympse I had to learn more. Turns out it is an app that allows you to temporarily share your current location (vs. Find Friends which allows constant viewing of your family and friends’ locations) so that the person you send this to can find you.

A few observations here:

  1. Where there is a problem, there is an app / solution. If you’ve ever visited Logan, or any other large airport, you know that finding someone can be a hassle. Making it easier and quicker is a big deal. Glympse makes it simple.
  2. If you have an idea for an app you are encouraged to do something with it, now! If you don’t someone else will!
  3. The rep in the above scenario never asked if the phone number I had provided was my cell. This is now assumed.

Bottom-line: If you aren’t invested in this addiction (I mean revolution), you are missing the boat.

Investing in this revolution involves:

  1. Getting on board – If you don’t yet have a smartphone (the most important tool for communications and productivity of our time) it is time to get one. My recommendation: the iPhone.
  2. Incorporating it into your life (for productivity) – As outlined in several prior posts there are numerous ways to incorporate this amazing tool into our life so that we have the world at our fingertips. That said, as outlined in the first half of this post – we must use it in moderation!!!
  3. Considering how much of our investment portfolio should be allocated to companies (directly via their stock and/or mutual funds) in this industry. Apple, for example, is up over 60% since last year at this time!

In closing, the continuous (never-ending) expansion of technology is a double-edged sword.

It is an incredibly powerful tool, that the world will continuously and increasingly adopt. Therefore, it behooves us to be invested in it, in all regards. If we don’t, we will be left behind.

While it is an incredibly powerful tool (with yours truly an example of the purest of addicts) we must use it in moderation. As such, join me in putting down our smartphone (or laptop) and spending time with our family. That’s what I’m now going to do 🙂

Have a GREAT day!

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