W I T.......

About a week ago I was checking into a hotel and I must have this connection with valets. Being a former one I have a huge spot for them in my heart. Let’s face it people are very fond of their cars and entrusting them to a stranger can be a bit daunting. The first person to greet me at the hotel was one of the valets and he was full of energy. I thought this will be a good hotel if the staff was as energetic and friendly as he is. I proceed to check in, not I have been in town for already two hours so honestly I am friendly however a bit tired on this night. I handed the person working the desk my membership card and he sees how long I am going to be staying at the hotel was for almost two weeks and I proceed to say that yes he is correct but more like two months. I am then asked for a credit card for incidentals, I then say no worries there won’t be. Without blinking he now has to get the manager for the situation. I explained that normally we work long hours and well he does not need my credit card, well he still needed to get to the manager. Ok I am now a bit upset, tired from the trip and just need to get to my room. Long story short the manager will not let me check in without the credit card, I say fine and end of the story.

I was getting out of the car on Friday back at the hotel. The valet opened the door and I noticed on his uniform there was a ribbon on it with W I T on it. I had seen them on the staff but had not asked what it all meant. He said that it stood for “What IT Takes” meaning what does it take for us to make the customer happy. Ok I then told him that the front desk staff needs to pay better attention to that. Then today it kind of hit me like a Saints line men going after Brett Favre (little football humor). Are we following the W I T philosophy in our daily lives? Are we doing what it takes to succeed in life? What do you need to do make everyday a What It Takes kind of a day? Do you need to look at your goals again and ask are you doing what it takes to figure out the necessary steps to make them happen?

What it does take sometimes is maybe just a step back or a different view of our lives to figure things out. For me personally I like to mimic something that both Thomas Edison and Albert Einstein did and that was just to sleep on ideas. Other times a good walk or jog will help put things in a better perspective. What it takes for all of us to be successful is as simply just asking what I am willing to sacrifice to make “IT” happen.

I truly hope that you are working daily on your goals so you can do what it takes to move your life in a better direction. I am in the process of becoming a member of the National Speakers Association; so far I am maintaining my “B” average for school and most importantly have worked harder to spend more time with my son Connor. I know what it takes for me sometimes to make sacrifices to achieve my goals. I would enjoy hearing from you and letting all of us know what will it take for you to achieve your goals in life.

Now I know what it takes to tell a front desk person that they don’t need my credit card, one of my co-workers asked the manager a head of time to wave the policy for him and they did. All you have to do is ask, huh where have I heard that before?

Life is getting in the way.

UGH!! I hate to say it but I need more time in my day or less stuff to do in my life like work. I am in California working, trying to stay on track with school and did I mention work?? Time management is hard for me because I would rather not be doing what I should be doing. I have not worked out this week, plus there are not one but two papers I need to be writing. Then there are the fans of the blogs, you want me on the keyboard (trying to do tie in to the movie "Few Good Men") typing away, you need me on the key board.

I know what needs to be done and there are times where we would rather just "NO" to getting stuff done but we would rather (I would) watch a hockey game. Well then there are the times we need to put our big boy pants on and do what needs to be done. I am running out of time to get things done and that is actually OK. It is OK since I recognize what I need to get done and it just boils down to setting up my day. Even if it means to sacrifice and yes get up early to get things done. With that said I have home work to do or where you not paying attention.



My thoughts out to my friend Chris who had to put his dog down this week. Please check out his blog from mine and read his thoughts.

...And Thats When the Fight Started

Today is Thursday and does this really mean anything to you? Not sure but if today is your so called Friday then you and I are kindred spirits. I received an email from Connor’s teacher on Monday to inform parents that my son Connor will be getting an award. One of my goals for 2010 was to spend more time with Connor and this was an opportunity I did not want to miss. Since just before Christmas I have been advised from the company I work for that they will do what ever it takes to see me tossed off the project I am currently on and will never work for them ever again. What could I have done to get such a response not only from a VP of the company but the threatening phone call from the owner herself? I am ashamed to admit this however as you might know I put a lot of my personal stuff out there to help us both grow. Please sit down for this since I can not be there to administer CPR or inform the fire department. Ok here is the terrible most out of line any employee can do to the company they work for ever do, and I warned you. I asked to for an earlier flight so I could do what? That is correct so I could spend time with my son. Well I was told no and to top it off the weather heading into the East coast was to be bad around that time.

While going to school at Columbia College in Chicago I had a news writing class with one of the classiest ladies who in turned offered me an internship. Her name is Karen Hand and while growing up and listening to the radio in the 80’s Karen was the news person for B96. When she asked me if I wanted to be her intern (Hey now this is not like former President Clinton) I said yes and it did mean that I had to be at the radio station around oh 3 AM. Yes in the morning. I went to the gentleman who was in charge of the radio department’s internship process. Well let’s just call him “Chuck” and Chuck informed me that in his class I was not one of his favorite students (shock since most of us in his class were not fans of him) and internship will be denied. I told this to Karen and she asked me if I really wanted the position to find a way to go around the road block. Long story short I did not only find ways around the road block but with her help and a few others that internship helped me launch my 10 year radio career.

I now have a road block and I was either going to go through it or around it. I decided the safe way (so I thought) was to go around and speak to the project manager for the company we are working with. I explained to her that I wanted to leave early so I can get home to see my son. WOW she understood and said what ever flight I needed to get home in time she will approve. I sent the email to the travel coordinator to inform her of wanting a early flight. Well as a running joke (will explain some other time) our training class had “That’s when the fight started.” The VP called to not only to yell at me about going behind his back but in the process he hung up on me. I tried to explain that I did not go behind his back and not only did I speak to him about it he had the same information in an email (part of the reason he hung up). Then later on that day the owner of the company left me a very “UN-professional” voice mail. I have been asked by several of my co-workers to see about making the voice mail my ring tone. What I did to some might have been a wrong way to of handled the situation, however dealing with the current company I work for and knowing that they do not have ethics I did was I felt was right for my situation.

In my wacky opinion the day the Boston Red Sox’s traded Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees is when sports became a business. I can not tell you in all of my years as an adult working not only in the radio business but in other jobs I have had that the there is no current company (yes I am aware of these economic times) that treats employees like, oh what is the word I am thinking of, yes the word is “PEOPLE.” That is why if you have read my goals for this year I will write up a business plan so I can be my own boss and who knows maybe next time I ask my boss to fly home early he will say yes and I am 100% sure of it. Happy Thursday, have a great weekend and if you have Monday off enjoy I know I will because I got to go home early to see Connor get an award.

WHY NOT ME (YES I AM YELLING)

I had my “A HA” moment today on the rental car bus ride and I don’t know how to really act on it. Other then saying I want to do this idea what steps can we take to make this happen? Well there are times when we want to act on something and then a little voice gets in your head to say “you can’t do that” or “why would you want to try that?” Well here is a novel idea “Why not me?” Why not you? Listen we all want to be the person we should be and are you really doing what you want to be doing?

Have you already had your “A HA” moment and don’t know how to take the steps to make this a reality? I would recommend to break down the “How’s” to make it all come true and like I previously wrote, try and find a mentor someone who is doing what you are doing. That is what I did today by contacting someone in my field of interest. If you want to be what you want to be (where have I heard that before?) then mimic what other successful people do so you can do what you were meant to be doing.

My moment came and I am now so driven to make my goal a reality and the best part is going to be the planting of the seed and watching it grow to who I am going to become sooner rather then later. Please reach out to the people and if they are good people like Jon Gordon who I have been reaching out to, they will want to help you by telling you how they did it.

Now take this tiny little phrase and do me a favor, make it your mantra now and forever. Your new mantra is “WHY NOT ME?” We all were placed on this Earth for one reason, a talent of some sort. Now just ask yourself “WHY NOT ME?” Come on now we know you want better in THIS life time. Stop with the doubting self talk and find your passion, what is it that makes you willing to break down walls so you can become your true self? Personally I don’t mind when I tell people that I want to start my business as a professional speaker because I know what to say to those people who want to doubt me and you know what I am saying to them right? RIGHT!! Ok in case you are not sure here is the answer to those so called ‘haters” and that is “WHY NOT ME?”

Gotta Want It..

SO I have to first say it is great to be back at Planet Fitness the gym here in Shelton Connecticut that I go to when back in town. Normally I work out in the hotel gyms and there is just something missing that you can not get in the hotel gym. It is strange but there is a great motivation and just the energy with a group of people working towards the same goals. As I was looking around I felt really fat, but I am not upset about my weight (ok maybe a lot) because just being in that environment inspires me. Then I start thinking as I was amongst the beautiful people. I want to be in better shape, better job, and more time with my son Connor well something popped in my head and it was “Gotta Want It” I know great English. But it is true; I am not going to stay on the hamster wheel of life. You really feel empowered when you control your life VS life controlling you. For example I am back in school, I jumped off the hamster wheel and took control of my education but sure I am selfish to be back in school so I can get a (gasp) better job.

A wise man holding a Scotch we will call this man “Coach” and he once said “You can’t motivate people they can only motivate themselves” and the more I thought about it I thought well he is right but I like to think I try to help push people. And people all I want to say is “Gotta Want It!” Don’t we all want our lives a little, just a little bit better? If you can not motivate yourself to make your life better then what can we do to fix this? I have always told you that this is my journey and I want you to come with me, so what is it that you want and how are you going to get it?

I want a better body so folks I am off to bed because my alarm is going off at 5:30 AM so I can sweat off some fat to fit in a pair of dress pants that I bought last year. You know why I am getting up so early you know why I GOTTA WANT IT. Have a great weekend.

What if......

One of my current favorite bands these days is Nickleback. They have a current song out and there is a line that just hooks me “What if today was your last day?” What about it! I remember listing to a Zig Ziglar tape many years ago dealing with goals. The question that he posed was if you were able to go on a trip, however you had to leave the next day how would you be able to accomplish what you needed to get done before leaving. So my question to you is this, what if you had 1 year left on Earth?

We tend to forget that each day is a gift and we only have one life to accomplish so much! I can not tell you how great 2009 was, really it was. I finally felt a major weight come off my shoulders as each day came. For example I met a great girl, moved into my town home in July, Connor and I went to Chicago for his first trip to Chicago. Just to name a few highlights of the past year. However I know my life can be so much better with the goals I have set forth for 2010. I just finished my first week of school and yes it will be a challenge at times but I do have my eye on the prize. Let me now ask you where do you see yourself for 2010? Please don’t blow off not writing down your goals. That is easy ways out of not living a great life by simply stating if you don’t write it down you don’t have to stick to a plan.


I remember listening to a motivation tape many years ago and the speaker had a great concept “Success is the ultimate revenge” and that is a powerful principal. I really do want all of you to be successful in your life and yes it does take hard work and dedication but you won’t know unless you start by writing what you want down. I get excited every day sitting at my temporary desk in Connecticut and looking at my goals for this year, knowing that I am going to accomplish them I AM GOING TO BE SUCESSFUL. I also get fired up when I am home and look at my goal poster of things I want to achieve in my life time.

Now think about what you can accomplish this year, think about what you want in life, break it down and stop the hamster wheel of just being. To quote Jon Gordon from his weekly letter “Focus on “Get to” VS “Have to.” Each day focus on what you get to do, not what you have to do. Life is a gift not an obligation.”

Back to my question to you and what if you had only one year? 361 days to go.