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Are You Practicing Your Basics? (Part 2) - 3.0

Sep 25, 2023

“Master the basics.  Then practice them everyday without fail.  Small disciplines repeated with consistency everyday lead to great achievements gained slowly over time.”

                                                                                                         - John C. Maxwell

 

Last week I shared the concept of how in martial arts, a Black Belt is nothing more than a “Master of the Basics”. 

 

When we bring the principle of “practicing the basics” into our everyday lives, we can find that it serves us greatly in creating mastery and success in everything we do.

 

I discussed in detail how the practice of my first three of six basic...

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Are You Practicing Your Basics? (Part 1) - 3.0

Sep 17, 2023

“Success is neither magical nor mysterious.  Success is the natural consequence of consistently applying the basic fundamentals.”

                                                                                          - Jim Rohn

 

I believe consistently and diligently practicing the basics is the key to success and mastery in any endeavor. 

 

In the Martial Arts, instructors consistently share with their students the following......

 

Black Belt is nothing more than being a master of the basics.

 

 

  

From early in my martial arts career, I have a vivid memory of my first martial arts instructor talking about the importance of practicing the basics.  He equated the basics as the...

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50 Years and Still Kickin'

Sep 12, 2023

“I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve.”

                                                                                                                                                                      Albert Schweitzer

 

On September 13, 1973, I took my first class in the martial art of Tae Kwon Do.

 

I clearly remember this day as it was my brother Danny’s 5th birthday, and I had a begged my mom to let me miss...

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The 1% Solution to Getting Out of Comfort Zones

Sep 05, 2023

"Gritty people train at the edge of their comfort zone. They zero in on one narrow aspect of their performance and set a stretch goal to improve it." 

                                                                                      - Angela Duckworth

 

Comfort Zones.  How many times have you heard you need to get out of your comfort zone(s) to achieve the results you desire? 

 

Authors, coaches and teachers have told us for decades that in order to really realize our dreams, we need to go beyond our comfort zones.

 

I totally agree. 

 

In fact, when I think of my own life and when I experienced my greatest results and feelings of satisfaction, it was always preceded with moving out of one of my comfort...

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Reframing Challenges as Blessings

Aug 23, 2023

“Sometimes you never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.”

                                                                                                   - Dr. Seuss

 

I originally wrote this blog in 2021, in the Las Vegas airport, awaiting my connecting flight back to Denver as I am coming home from my 40th High School Class Reunion in Wisconsin (just to be clear, I was only 2 years old when I graduated).

 

It was an amazing time, reconnecting with so many friends, many of whom I have known since 1st grade, reminiscing about memories of old and laughing about the times we shared together. 

 

While physical appearances had changed, many miles were between us and years...

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Vision Without Action is Merely a Dream 2.0

Aug 20, 2023

“Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world.”  

                                                                                           - Joel A. Barker

 

I believe we are all born with a vision for what we want in our lives inside of us. 

 

Just think back to when you were child and the numerous visions you had for what you wanted to be in when you “grew up”.  Your imagination was boundless.  I personally wanted to be a cartoonist, a doctor, an astronaut and a super-hero (Actually, when I was 5-years old, I WAS Batman).  

 

I believe these visions are set inside of us so that we have a path...

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Process is Primary

Aug 14, 2023

“It’s only when you make the process your goal that big dreams can follow.”

                                                                                      - Oprah Winfrey

 

While dreaming about victory can bring feelings of exhilaration and pleasure, champions understand that one cannot achieve success just by focusing on the end result. 

 

Rather, it is focus on properly enacting and completing the key steps along the way that leads to victory.  True champions understand that to experience success, the process is primary.  

 

In his book, With Winning in Mind, Olympic olympic gold medalist and author Lanny Bassham shares the amazing story of how he coached professional golfer, Ben Crane to his third...

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Victim, Victor or Visionary? The Choice is Yours

Aug 05, 2023

“Erase the victim mentality.  Remember you are capable of achieving greatness; if you’d only believe in your abilities to overcome.  You are victorious.  Celebrate the victory.”

                                                                                          -  Amaka Imani Nkosazana

 

Throughout the years, I have had several meaningful conversations with my good friend, Theresa Byrne. 

 

But none brought the clarity and impact of a recent conversation when she shared her distinction of how our choices in responding to challenges can be broken down into three distinct ways of being that I will call the “3 V’s”….

 

Victim, Victor or Visionary

 

The concept is...

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"How Do I Do It?" vs. "Can I Do It?"

Jul 29, 2023

“(A) process orientation (versus outcome orientation) . . . asks ‘How do I do it?’ instead of ‘Can I do it?’ and this directs attention toward defining the steps that are necessary on the way. This orientation can be characterized in terms of the guiding principle that there are no failures, only ineffective solutions.”

                                                                                       - Ellen Langer, Mindfulness

 

Think of the last time you faced a major challenge in your life.  You may be at that place right now as you read this. 

 

How many times are we caught up in the mind game of whether we can successfully tackle a challenging situation?  Our minds can go in all types of...

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Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Goals

Jul 22, 2023

“Stemming from the Latin for "inward," intrinsic goals relate to "goods of the soul," like personal growth, close relationships, and physical health. Stemming from the Latin for "outward," extrinsic goals relate to "worldly goals," like money, status, or fame.

                                                                                         - Harvard Business Insider

 

In in their book, From Me to We, brothers Marc and Craig Kielburger create a powerful distinction between Extrinsic versus Intrinsic Goals.

 

Specifically, Extrinsic Goals are those we strive to achieve outside ourselves like career status, financial achievements, and personal possessions.  

 

Intrinsic Goals ...

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