“Today is a new day. Don't let your history interfere with your destiny! Let today be the day you stop being a victim of your circumstances and start taking action towards the life you want. You have the power and the time to shape your life. Break free from the poisonous victim mentality and embrace the truth of your greatness. You were not meant for a mundane or mediocre life!”

                                                                                       - Steve Maraboli

 Are you being a victim or are you an owner?  

I first heard this question posed several years ago by super coach, Steve Chandler when I was attending one of his great seminars.  

The concept is really quite simple. 

As best we try, we may not be able to control what happens to us in our lives, but we can always control how we respond to it.  The choice is ours; we can live as if we are victimized by our life circumstances or we can own each of them and use the lessons they teach us to prope...

“If people are good only because they fear punishment, or hope for reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed.”

                                                                                             - Albert Einstein

There is a classic story of Beatles legend, John Lennon as a young school-boy.  His teacher had assigned the class an assignment to answer the simple question,

“What do you want to be when you grow up?”

As expected, as his classmates shared their answers, typical careers emerged from the imaginations of young primary schoolers of that time, policeman, nurse, teacher, fireman, etc.

It then came time for young John to share, and the teacher asked, “John, what do you want to be when you grow up?”

Without hesitation, he promptly answered,

“Happy!”

Legend has it that his teacher was not amused with his answer, even threatening punishment, unless he changed his response.  He declined.  Perhaps this was the beginning of his challenging the status q...

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

                                                                                  - Mahatma Ghandi

Today, many would say that we are living in a deeply divided society. 

The anger, irritation and resentment that comes from others not seeing the world the way we see it, can permeate our everyday life and is fueled by the constant images and reports we see on news and social medias.

So much of our frustrations come from wanting others to act, speak or think like we do.  If not in the absolute, at least in a willingness to listen to us and consider our point of view in a civil and empathetic way. 

But what about us?  Are we willing to do the same?

This reminds me of a story.

A young man arrives in a new town knowing nobody.  As he is walking down the street, he sees an elderly gentleman sitting on a rocking chair in front of the general store and asks him

“Hey, old man, I’m new in town. What are the people lik...

“I would visualize things coming to me. It would just make me feel better. Visualization works if you work hard. That’s the thing. You can’t just visualize and go eat a sandwich.” 

                                                                                               - Jim Carrey

Visualization combined with inspired action can be one of the most powerful tools in the Champion’s toolbox for success and happiness. 

When you look at elite-level athletes, you will notice that the difference between them in athletic talent is oftentimes so minuscule it is almost non-existent.  It is the person who creates the trifecta of combining the power of their body, mind and spirit that will experience the greatest probability of powerful performance and victory.

If our hearts are the source of our desires, and our bodies are the vehicles to enact them physically, then your minds are the sculptors that help to make them a reality.

Visualization is an incredibly powerful ...

"If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed."

                                                                                       - Admiral William H. McRaven (retired)

One of my favorite books that I read/listened to in 2020, was Make Your Bed by retired 4-Star Admiral William H. McRaven. 

McRaven retired from the Navy in 2014 as the highest-ranking Navy Seal or “bullfrog” in the corps and was the commander in charge of the missions that felled both Osama bin Ladin and Saddam Hussein.

The book is based on his now famous commencement speech that he delivered to the graduating class at the University of Texas on how to change the world (check out an excerpt from the speech here, but then please come back and finish reading this blog.)

In his speech, McRaven explains that undertaking the simple task of making one’s bed in the morning will set the tone for success throughout the day.  Accomplishing one task, leads to accomplishing another, and then a...

"Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do."

                                                                                            - Pele, Soccer Legend

Recently, I had an old friend, martial arts student and training partner ask me if I could use the platform of this weekly blog to comment on the concept of sacrifice

It seems to me, in our instant gratification society, which often times provides us the means of getting things the moment we desire it, that sacrifice has become a lost art. 

However, in my experience, the times when I really had to sacrifice my time, energy and even money to achieve something, are the occasions when those accomplishments have meant the most to me.

I couldn't help but reflect that the word sacrifice had at its root the word sacred. 

When we think of something as sacred, we draw images of the things most precious and impor...

“No matter how busy a man is, he is never too busy to stop and talk about how busy he is.”

                                                                                         - SearchQuotes.com

Busy-ness. 

When you think about it, it has really become an obsession for us in our culture - a badge of honor, so to speak. 

The next time you are in a conversation with a friend or business associate, be aware of how many times the conversation begins or includes your expression of how busy you are.  

Busy-ness can become a driving force in our lives, particularly when we identify with it strongly or allow it to dictate how we show up in our professional and personal relationships.

Interestingly enough, super-coach, Steve Chandler often quips,

"Busy-ness is the surest sign of laziness."

He explains this by saying that most people focus on the mundane, unproductive tasks of their lives to appear being busy so they can avoid taking on the projects or tasks that...

“In the study of truth, we talk often about the power of words.  It is important to put into words only the verbal statements you want to see manifest in your life.  For instance, the word ‘problem’.  You say, ‘I have a problem.’ A much better word to employ when referring to some sort of challenge is ‘project’.  Note what happens when you say, ‘I have this project.’  It makes all the difference in the world.  The word project suggests a positive endeavor of development…..We tackle a project with vigor and imagination and with the conviction that it will be done.”

                                                                                                    - Eric Butterworth

It had often been said that it is not what happens to us that matters, but the meaning we put to it.

Each of us went through our own unique set of challenges in 2020.  For many of us, this was the most challenging year we can remember, with several of our most difficult trials continuing into the new...

“You are imperfect, permanently and inevitably flawed. And you are beautiful.” 

                                                                                    -  Amy Bloom

There are times in our early lives that can have a profound effect on us and continue to impact us into our adult years. 

One such instance happened to me when I was about nine years old and led me to create a self-image, I would carry with me for most of my life.  

I was at my cousin’s house playing with a group of six other kids.  We were being led in our play by my cousin’s neighbor, Johnny, who was a year or two older than me. 

Johnny was slender, with brownish-red hair and freckles.  He was also extremely charismatic.  Everybody loved Johnny and wanted to be like him.  He was always the ringleader of our activities.  Parents loved him, too, and he would often be seen doing his stand-up comedy routine for a circle of delighted adults during social gatherings.

I really loved being with Jo...

“Hope is a start.  But…hope needs action to win victories.”

                                                                      - David J. Schwartz

A new year is upon us.  I don’t know about you, but I am very happy that 2021 has arrived. 

Recently, I was speaking to one of my coaching clients and shared with him that I am usually not overly excited about the beginning of a new year, but this year I certainly am.

It is an understatement to say that 2020 has been a difficult year for all of us, and I am personally filled with hope for what lies ahead for the upcoming year.

Hope can serve as an incredibly powerful force in getting us moving and breaking through the barriers we face in difficult times.  It is also true that having a vision of hope for what we want to change, accomplish or experience in a new year ahead is not a new phenomenon. 

In fact, each year, millions of people across the globe will create New Year’s resolutions to make tangible and impactful c...