Thought For the Day - Pain is Weakness Leaving the Body

I saw this slogan on a USMC T shirt on my shoot in Quantico, VA. Maybe a little extreme but it contains a truth especially in the area of fitness. Sometimes we allow minor pain or weakness to hold us back from pushing past it to achieve what we are capable of. Of course we should not ignore real pain or injuries but like the slogan " No Pain, No Gain" it points us in the direction of pushing beyond what we think we are capable of.

Thought For the Day - Give 100%, Get a 100%

This is a real simple one. You get back from life what you give. Give a 10% effort get a 10% return. Give a 100% effort get a 100% reward. Life rewards those who play full out.........

Thought For the Day - Be a Team Player

Everybody wants to ride in the wagon but no one wants to pull it..
Be a team player and pitch in and do whatever it takes. Life is a Team Sport.

Thought For the Day - A Goal with a Plan

"A goal without a plan is just a wish"
--Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Thought For the Day - Empowering Metaphors

What is the Metaphor for your life? Have you ever thought about it? Metaphors can be empowering or disempowering depending on the one you choose. If your metaphor is "Life sucks and then you die", chances are you have a pretty messed up life. I have adopted a few different metaphors for my life at different times to propel my self forward. My metaphor for life is summed up in my blog "The Glass is 3/4's Full". Looking at the world that way focuses my on the opportunities not the problems or challenges.
I look at my life as one of " Walking through New Doors' and " Turning Many Corners". I see the story of my life as either
a " Running Against the Wind" story or the image of the "Phoenix Rising out of the Flames." story combined with the music of "Against All Odds".
We are all the creators and story tellers of our own lives. I suggest you choose to create empowering metaphors and tell stories of victory not victimhood.

John Duffy

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 2 - Linda Ronstadt

Blue Bayou

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 1 - Phil Collins

AGAINST ALL ODDS

Inspiration - I Cannot Be Who I Am Not. I Can Only Be Who I Am

I've seen him on the 3rd St Promenade in Santa Monica painting and always watched him with amazement as he painted with his nose. Yesterday I was taking my daughter for a haircut and his paintings were for sale on a greeting cards. I bought a couple and read his story, went to his web site and share his story with you. He puts life in perspective and challenges us to rise up to the greatness that we have inside us. Enjoy his story, get inspired, buy his art, and create the masterpiece that is your life.......




Gille Legacy was born in Bathurst, NB, Canada.
He was the sixth of eleven children. Afflicted with
cerebral palsy since birth (his doctors performed
last rites at that time), Gille has no use of his
arms or legs.

What he does have is an incredibly talented nose.

When he was eight years old, Gille noticed some
paints and a coloring book a sister had left
open in his room. He scooted over to
the paints and started to dab his nose into
the various colors and onto the paper.
To his delight, he soon realized there
was red paint on his nose, and a
painting of a bird in the coloring book.

The artist inside Gille had emerged!

For over forty years, Gille has created beautiful
impressionistic paintings using the tip of that
very talented nose. He has painted with oils, acrylics
and water colors. He originally painted on canvas,
but the surface was too rough on his nose.
He now paints on ultra-smooth masonite surfaces
of various sizes. Smoooth.

Gille's work has gained international recognition.
He exhibited in 2004-2005 at the Heron Bay Gallery,
Shediac, Chemin du Monde (Acadie 400)
Nova Scotia, Moncton Public Library, St. John Arts Center
and the McCainGallery in Florenceville, Canada.

Gille was awarded the Paul Harris Fellow Award in
January, 2005, Rotary's highest honor, for his work
with school children.

Gille has also written and published four books
of poetry and short stories. They are all typed
on his computer. With his nose.

In mid-2005, Gille moved to Santa Monica with
his Muse and soon-to-be wife, Sandi. They established
the "Nose Boutique Gallery." It is open to visitors who
make advance reservations at gille@manwhopaints.com
Gille also demonstrates his nose painting skills and exhibits
his work on Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica.
Contact Gille at his email address for the dates and times
of his appearances.

Gille and Sandi have given motivational presentations to
various groups and organizations, including schools in
Canada, and most recently, at the Coachella Valley
Rescue Mission in Indio, California

A great deal of artwork is made by hand.

Few are made by nose.

http://manwhopaints.com/

Saturday Story - Tom Hill's Eaglezine

One day, there was a blind man sitting on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet and a sign that read: "I am blind, please help."

A creative publicist was walking by him and stopped to observe that he only had a few coins in his hat. He dropped a few more coins in his hat and without asking for his permission took the sign, turned it around, and wrote another announcement. He placed the sign by his feet and left.

That afternoon the creative publicist returned by the blind man and noticed that his hat was full of bills and coins. The blind man recognized his footsteps and asked if it was him who had re-written his sign and he wanted to know what he wrote on it?

The publicist responded: "Nothing that was not true, I just rewrote your sign differently."

He smiled and went on his way. The blind man never knew, but his new sign read: "TODAY IS SPRING AND I CANNOT SEE IT".

Change your strategy when something does not go your way and it will probably be for the best. Have faith that every change is best for our lives.
From Tom Hill's Eaglezine....

http://www.tomhillwebsite.com/

Thought For the Day - Leadership Is Influence

"He who thinks he leads, but has no followers, is only taking a walk". If you can't influence people then they will not follow you. And if people won't follow, then you are not a leader. That's the Law of Influence. No matter what anyone else may tell you, remember that leadership is influence - nothing more, nothing less.
John Maxwell

Thought For the Day - No Limitations

A 71 year old woman in Oregon showed us that the only limitations are the ones we set for ourself.

Kazuko Renes of Creswell decided she wasn't going to let her age or handicap get in the way of completing a lifelong dream of skydiving.

Renes lost her sight when she was in her 20s, and while her blindness used to discourage her, that's not the case anymore.

"I want to prove to everybody, handicapped people and old people, if you start thinking positively -- everything, you can do anything, even if a blind, handicapped forever," she said.

Renes jumped and made a perfect landing.

What are you capable of?

Thought For the day - Personal Development

Personal development challenges you to make decisions based on the person you seek to become. "The highest reward for a person's toil is not what they get for it, but what they become by it."
John Ruskin, 1869.

Thought For the day - My Philosophy # 1 Daily Improvement (DI)

"Commit to Daily Improvement (DI)"

John Duffy

I have adopted the philosophy of Daily improvement (DI). I first started to apply it in my workouts. I track and monitor my workouts and challenge myself daily to increase the weight or repetitions every time I work out. I came up with the concept of DI as acronym for my internal "Drill Instructor". I also attempt to apply the philosophy of DI to all the key areas of my life:

1. Fitness/Health
2. Relationships/Family
3. Finances
4. Career
5. Contribution/Social involvement
6. Growth/Stretch/Improvement

Little Miracles

Today I am praying for a big miracle for someone very dear in my life.

Thought For The Day - Words Matter

Words matter. The words you use determine the way you feel. Call some condition a "disaster" and that will create a completely different emotional response that defining it as a "learning opportunity."

Every word creates a consequence (whether you realize it or not).

Do you speak like a victim? Is your daily language the Language of Blame. Do you suffer from the dreaded disease of victimitis excusitis? :)

Or do you speak like a Leader Without Title. Whose words inspire and energize and help people move from where they now are to where they've always dreamed of being?

Robin Sharma

Choose your words to empower yourself and others......

.

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 2- Bob Marley

Books I'm Reading - July 12th 08 - Leadership

Just returned from filming a project with the U.S. Marines in Virginia. Spent a week observing the training of leaders in the context of the USMC officer's training program. I met some impressive leaders and some college student candidates committed to becoming leaders. My experience this week feeds into my passion for studying and improving my leadership skills.

I've been a student of leadership for the last fifteen years so I picked up another book on leadership on my return. The book,
The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership - John Maxwell will make another contribution to my study of leadership

I"m also finishing up two other books on influence and leadership "Influencer" and "Predictably Irrational". I will be writing reviews of all three books in the next couple of weeks.

My takeway is to step up in life as a Leader and an Influencer and be a student of both,

Thought For The Day - Give Credit to Others

"Credit is infinitely divisible. Give it away every chance you get, and there's always plenty left for you"
Dr. Don Berwick

Thought For The Day - Commitment

"There can be no great results without great commitment."
Robin Shawma

Thought For The Day - Health is Wealth

Health is Wealth. Be Thankful to Have Your Health.
Lou Ferrigno

Thought For The Day - Hard Work

Hard works Pays Off in the Future, Laziness Pays Off Now, But the Size of the Payoff is Different.....

Thought For The Day - Power of Gratitude

"Learning to Be Thankful is the Greatest Secret of Success"
Charlie " Tremendous" Jones

Blessed - Can You Feel the Love

Yesterday I was packing for a week long trip to VA for a filming project. I walked out of the bedroom and when I walked back in my 10 year daughter was inside my luggage. She didn't want me to go and she cried and I tried to cheer her up. I took some pictures of her in my luggage and tried to make her laugh. It's never easy leaving even for a week. She cried again this morning when I left. She gave me a book to take with me to read to her on Ichat. She gave me a piece of gum to chew at the same moment she was chewing hers right after calling her from the plane. So she created a magical ritual to link us. I feel so blessed to be loved that much by her. I'll always try to live up to that love in her eyes and am so touched by the sensitivity she has. I am truly blessed and I know it.....

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 2- Somewhere Over The Rainbow

Another selection from my daughter. I really like this.... Funny it reminds me of both Ireland and Hawaii two of my favorite places. What a journey my life has been.....Who would ever think a boy from the South Bronx would be listening to this.

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 1 Wild Horses

Today selections are my daughters two favorite songs. She turned me on to them....

Books I'm Reading - July 5th 08

I just picked up two new books and started reading them. Both of them deal with similar subjects but from different vantage points. The books are:

Influencer

Predictably Irrational

I have been studying persuasion, influence, change, behavior, psychology, marketing and transformation for over 15 years and feel these books will expand my understanding on these topics. I will write reviews of them when I am finished and share my takeaways from them.

One sentance in "Influencer" is an immediate takeaway. Choose to be an Influencer in life. I would add that we all are unconcious Influencer to all family, friends, community etc but we need to step up and be conscious Influencer's and study how to be effective in this crucial area of our lives.....

Life Comes at You Fast

Today, three billion out of the world’s population of 5.5 billion people carry a mobile communications device.

Real American Stories

Check it Out.... Rediscover the greatness of America again.....

http://www.realamericanstories.com/

Freedom Baby!!!!!


And What Kind of World Do You Want


http://www.whatkindofworlddoyouwant.com/

Thought For The Day - Lead From The Front

I just got back from a location scout at the Marine's OCS Officer Candidate School in Quantico, VA. I am going to be headed back for a few weeks of filming there. We met some dynamic and inspirational leaders there and got to learn about their leadership training for their lieutenant candidates.

They stressed their 5 Pillars of Leadership
1. Mindset
2. Martial Spirit
3. Mental Agility
4. Physical Fitness
5. Tenets of Leadership

My take away lessons:

Lead From The Front
Be a Servant Leader
Lead By Example
Be Exemplary
Be Courageous
Be Ethical
Be Honorable
Be Noble
No Better friend, No Worse Enemy

The Marines provide an example of exemplary leadership in uniform and in life as they move into other careers.

Below is a video of boot camp graduation at San Diego Camp Pendelton. I was there last year as part of an educators workshop and we had a chance to film the training and graduation of the recruits as well as following the educators as they learned about the Marines. A special form of leadership to learn from this 4th of July

The video below is a posting from someone on YOUTUBE

Thought For The Day - A Classic... Seed of a Great Benefit

"Every adversity, every failure and every heartache carries with it the seed of an equivalent or greater benefit".
Napoleon Hill

Thought For The Day - Use Pain To Motivate Change

"Nothing changes until the pain of remaining the same is greater than the pain of changing.".

This principle is called getting leverage to make a change.