New Year's Resolutions: I'm Not A Fan

It started today. I walked into 24-Hour Fitness at 6:04 AM and to my amusement saw a very good crowd for early Saturday morning. As expected, the place was filled with new faces. The regulars were there too, all with those knowing looks on their faces. We know we'll be "The last man standing."

It happens like this every year. New faces in the gym during January and maybe the first two weeks of February. Then POOF! They're gone. Never to be seen again. Their New Year's Resolution is just a memory.

I'm not a big believer in the New Year's Resolution. Too much pressure. Instead, I do take some time, this time of year, to reflect on last year. Often times this results in some goal setting, but rarely do I "resolve" to do something in the coming year unless it's very specific.

I'm not planning to lose weight, work less, or read more. But I am thinking about those next 10 pounds, closing the office up at 5:30 every day and making time to finish at least one book a month. We'll just have to see.

I'm guessing this year's blog posts will continue to be a pretty good way to record how I'm doing on accomplishing whatever it is I come up with for 2014.

Wishing you all a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous 2014!

I Am The Master Of My Fate --- R.I.P. Nelson Mandela

While incarcerated at Robben Island and Pollsmoor prisons for 27 years, Nelson Mandela was known to recite Invictus (Latin for "unconquered"), a poem written by William Ernest Henley, to the other prisoners. In our world, filled with so many challenges and unknowns, this is an empowering message. "I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul" is something I absolutely believe. Or, as my long-time friend Scott Friedman is known to say, "The best way to predict the future, is to create it."

Out of the night that covers me,

      Black as the pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

      For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

      I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

      My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

      Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

      Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

      How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate,

      I am the captain of my soul.

How's Your Elevator Speech?

I've had many opportunities to hone my "Elevator Speech." Networking events, leads groups and Rotary Clubs are great places to hone that speech. Unfortunately, I've never really succeeded at this effort.

But today I really saw, up close and personal, why this is so essential to the success of any entrepreneur. I witnessed someone giving his Elevator Speech and watched as he hit his sixth or seventh sentence and the eyes of his listener glazed over. It was truly remarkable and I'm so glad I witnessed this event.

Now, if only I can do it better the next time.

It's Not As Easy As You Think

Some people are still amazed I actually charge money to manage Facebook and Twitter pages for individuals and businesses. They think it is such an easy task that takes no time at all. Maybe this quote from Abraham Lincoln helps explain:

I'm sorry I could not have written a shorter letter, but I didn't have the time.

Not long after Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address in under three minutes and in just 10 sentences (272 words) he wrote a long letter to a friend and included this apology.

Lincoln knew then what I try to explain to prospects all the time. It's much harder than you think it is to write a really great 140 character tweet that includes a link!

Pets And Dying With Dignity

I've had this theory for awhile. When it comes to death (and pretty much everything else), I think we treat our pets better than we're permitted to treat ourselves or our loved ones.

When our pet's quality of life diminishes we put them down, allowing them to die with dignity and suffer as little as possible.

When a loved one's quality of life diminishes we put them in "Assisted Living" and let them suffer until their systems fail and they die, often having no quality of life for many many years.

Though we live in a nation filled with many freedoms I appreciate, choosing to die with dignity isn't one of them.

Seems like there's something wrong with this picture. I suppose I can hope to come back in my next life as a dog.

Best Friends

Spending an hour on an airplane going through email seems so productive. Love it! I've been saving up all week for this hour.

So I'm off to Vegas for three days with friends I've had since about third grade. The five of us went all through school together. We all went to different colleges and then, eventually, ended up back in Denver.

Just about every month we all get together for lunch and every couple years we go on a trip together. This is one of those trips. We'll have some great fun! Seeing Elton John tonight and then who knows.

Thinking about how lucky I am to have these boyz in my life.

Thinking how lucky I am to have had these friends for so many years.

Thinking how lucky I am to have this support system in place and to offer my support when it's need.

Thinking about the truly special relationships we have with each other even though we are all in very different places in our lives.

I'm a very lucky man.