Personal Ramblings - Books

Just had a friend from NY visit. He asked me for a book to take back on the plane. I gave him. 'Make the Impossible Possible".
I previously turned him on to "The Billionaire Who Wasn't", and "The Man Who Stayed Behind". All of them are fascinating books and if you haven't read them I recommend them.

I was writing in my journal today at the Self Realization Gardens and thinking about books and writing. I have had a love affair with reading and books ever since I dropped out of high school at age fifteen. I have read thousands of books over the years in every fields. Reading is clearly one of my passions.

Veteran's Day

Donate to Wounded Warriors Project

https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/

Thought for the Day - Daily Agenda

"The secret to your success is determined by your daily agenda -
by the daily decisions I make, and the daily disciplines I practice" -
Dr John C. Maxwell

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 2 - Mi Gente

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 1 - Latin Jazz Alliance

My best friend Willie Everich from the Bronx plays Conga with the Latin Jazz Alliance.

Warriors... In Their Own Words" - Event

Yesterday evening I attended an event at The Skirball Center, "Warriors.. In Their Own Words". Actor Kelsey Grammer was the host.

Many of the stars of the film and book, the warriors themselves, joined Mr. Grammer, who narrates the film, at the premiere. There was a cocktail reception, a screening of the film, followed by a brief auction, dessert, and book signing.

It was a very moving evening and movie honoring our "Warriors" who volunteered to serve our country. The stories of these soldiers were impressive and inspiring. I had the honor of meeting them and having them sign their stories in the book I purchased.


The Warriors project includes a special DVD and coffee table book that use compelling interviews with soldiers, current and retired, to take people inside the heart, mind, and soul of a warrior. The San Diego-based Lives Out of Combat Foundation (http://www.looc.org) produced the DVD and book as a way of honoring the men and women who have fought for our country by letting them tell their stories in their own words. The powerful interviews on the DVD and the stunning photos of each warrior make for a somber yet uplifting look into the guys (and gals) behind the guns—the human beings beneath the helmets.

Warriors...In their Own Words—The Book can be purchased for $29.99 from the Lives Out of Combat Website

Warriors...In their Own Words—The Movie can be purchased for $19.99

Or both for $46.99

Proceeds from then DVD and book will go to benefit "Freedom Is Not Free", a group that helps wounded veterans and their families.

I recommend you buy a few and give them as Christmas and holiday gifts.

http://www.freedomisnotfree.com

http://youtube.com/watch?v=NwYhuIZW1x0

http://www.looc.org

Thought for the Day - Possibility Thinking

"Positive Thinking asks the question "Is it Possible?" Possibility Thinking asks the "get ready to get going" question, "How can I make it happen?"
Rev. Robert H. Schuller

Thought for the Day - Creating an Environment For Success

" How do we create an environment where everyone knows that no matter how great the past was, it will never compete with the future?"
Nancy Ortenberg

Historic First - Congratulations

A Historic first for America
Congratulations to President Elect Barack Obama
Let's wish him the best because we wish the best for America

Thought for the Day # 2 - Election Day - A Contrarian POV

I know I said my blog wouldn't deal with political topics but today I will make my one and only exception.

If you voted Democrat great
If you voted Republican great

No matter who you voted for or who wins and who loses America can be proud of a lot of things today.

We have a vibrant democracy with two major parties and we have a real choice every four years to pick the person and party we want to represent us unlike countries where there is only one party and no choice like in Cuba and North Korea. We have a system that the winning candidate and party is guaranteed that if they get the most electoral votes they will win unlike countries where even if you win the vote the ruling party can prevent you from taking over like in Zimbabwe.

Economically even in these difficult time the US still leads the world. Any family in America who makes over $50,000 is in the top 1% income bracket globally. We are truly a blessed nation,

We always have been and continue to be the country where everyone wants to come to and the American Dream is as strong and alive as it always has been.

Today we have choices that will offer us either the first African-American president or the first female vice-president. Either choice will be historic.

Today is a day to celebrate our greatness and our democracy. Today is a day to celebrate our right and freedom to vote.

"America is worth fighting for" - John McCain
“There Is No Red State, There Is No Blue State — There Is Only One United States Of America” Barack Obama

While there are great differences between us and between both parties visions I can agree with the underling messages of both quotes above and this is what unites us today as Americans.

Tonight one candidate will make a victory speech and one will make a concession speech. Both will probably find a way to be gracious and call for us to move past our divisions and disagreements and attempt to work together for a better America.

Hopefully that sentiment will carry further than one night.

VOTE

Thought for the Day - Managing Your Emotional State

It's not what happens but what meaning you give it that determines how you feel or your emotional state. You can choose to find an empowering meaning for anything that happens in your life. Of course it is easy to feel great when you win but the challenge is to feel good when you lose. Sometimes losing can be the best thing that happens to you if you draw the right lessons from it.
So the goal is to find the silver lining and find a way to manage your emotions and empower yourself no matter what life throws at you.

Thought for the Day - Change

"Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself."

--Leo Tolstoy

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 2 - Blue Suede Shoes

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 1 - South Carolina Shag

This goes out to Tony B in Aiken, South Carolina.

Thought for the Day - Life Metaphors

"Approach life as a game with growth as the objective. If you do you"ll put yourself in the right frame of mind to engage in and enjoy the adventure, whatever it brings."
Dan Sullivan

Thought for the Day - Raise the Bar

" A funny thing happens when you raise the bar. People find a way to get over it, once they realize it's expected. Human beings can do amazing things - if they are asked to."
John Powers

Thought for the Day - Resourceful Mind

"The more positive your system of beliefs, the more overall belief you will have in you ability to control your destiny. Likewise, the more you believe you have the power to control your destiny, the more expansive your mental paradigm will be; the less you are imprisoned by preconceived notions. What all this leads to is a "resourceful mind", a mind that is willing to consider virtually all possibilities."
Robert J. Ringer

Thought for the Day - Attitude

"Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms - to choose one attitudes in any given circumstances, to choose one's own way."
Viktor Frankel

Thought for the Day - Accept Responsibility

"The willingness to accept responsibility for one's own life is the source from which self-respect springs."

--Joan Didion

No Excuses.......

Thanks to Tom Hill's Friday Eaglezine.

http://www.tomhillwebsite.com/

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 2 - Sade

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 1 - The Bottle

Thought for the Day - Contribution

"Everyone has the need to contribute. It is one of the six human needs. If you give from your heart, it will come back to you tenfold."
Anthony Robbins

Thought for the Day - Perspective and Blessings

I'm reading a book " Fist Stick Knife Gun", a sociological memoir by Geoffrey Canada about growing up in the South Bronx. Mr Canada grew up in the South Bronx around the same time I did. He tells a story of a crooked finger he got around 1964 and he writes... " The slight deformity is such a small price to have paid for growing up in the South Bronx. So many others paid with their lives. Many who are still alive are addicted to drugs or are in jail, or have AIDS, or are debilitated by mental or physical injuries - all traceable back to the South Bronx. I feel so lucky to have only a part of one finger as the toll I paid to make it out. But I don't want to forget what life was like. There was a time when getting out of the South Bronx was a distant dream, one you kept in the back of your mind. Fear and the struggle to survive were ever present realities."

Very true. I recently heard about a friend I grew up with in the South Bronx who just died from an OD. It puts things in perspective and makes you appreciate your blessings. I guess given where I came from I especially have a lot to be grateful for.

Geoffrey Canada has went on to be a role model for education reform and continues to change the lives of young people. He is the CEO of the Harlem Children's Zone. Look at the great work he does.

http://www.hcz.org/what-is-hcz/about-geoffrey-canada

Thought for the Day - Learn From Mistakes

"It's all right to get your fingers crushed in the door, but don't let the same door crush them twice."
T Boone Pickens

Thought for the Day - My Personal Philosophy

I have developed my personal philosophy and beliefs for life the hard way. Some I have borrowed, some I have made up. Some of my key core principles are:

Make Your Life a Masterpiece
The Glass is 3/4's Full
DI - Daily Improvement
CANI - Constant and Never Ending Improvement
Maybe Yes, Maybe No
It's not a Problem, It's a Challenge
There's Always a Way and Always a Solution
Be Grateful
Adopt Empowering Beliefs
Develop a Phd in Results
Use Common Sense
Use Street Sense
No Excuses
No Whining
Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway
KISS - Keep it Simple Sammy
Treat others the way you want to be treated
Be Respectful
Step Up
Be a Leader

These and a few others guidelines support me in how I try to conduct my life.

Thought For The Day - Life isn't Things

Life Isn't Things and Things Aren't Life.

That's important to remember in this time of financial uncertainty. I know what it is like to have nothing. I've been there for a lot longer that I liked. But at my lowest point where I had less than $10 to my name I learned the best lesson of my life. I learned that even in that moment I was very fortunate. I had my health, I had hope, I had dreams and I had the possibility of turning it around and I did. Now I have a lot more than I had then and today while I value and promote prosperity I also understand life is much more than things and possessions.
Life is about what you accomplish, who you love, what you give back and what legacy you leave behind.
So today I chose to focus on what I can do not on what I lost in the economic downturn.

Book Review - The Drinking Life

I just finished reading Pete Hamil's "The Drinking Life", a memoir of his life growing up as an Irish- American kid in Brooklyn.
I remember reading Pete Hamil's columns in the New York newspapers when i was in my 20's. I used to enjoy his writing at the time and appreciated how he worked his way up from his working class roots to be a journalist. I remember that Pete Hamil and another journalist Jimmy Breslin stood out for their working class style of writing and and their Irish roots.
Reading the book triggered a lot of my own personal memories growing up in the South Bronx. Pete's book brings to life his Irish-American experiences in Brooklyn and his struggle of being torn between two worlds, the working class world of Brooklyn and the middle class world of Manhattan. He also struggled with two identities, one the neighborhood guy vs the educated artist guy.
Of course his biggest struggle is summed up in the title "The Drinking Life". Well for most of his life he just gave in to alcohol and was "Living in the Bottle" as Gil Scott Heron used to say. Yet he reached a turning point and made a decision at that moment to change his life and he did. How he changed from a drinker to a non- drinker is different and I know a few people in my life who did the same.
The book is a very good read and also give the reader a historical context to his life. His story is a fascinating story in how he built a life and how he life spiraled from dropping out of high school to working in the Navy Yards, going to art school, joining the Navy and finally becoming a journalist and a writer.
One story that stands out for me is when he took his father back to Belfast Ireland in 1963 for the first time since his father left in 1932. The description of hearing the news that John F Kennedy was shot on the TV in Belfast was a powerful moment. It also crystalized his life long struggle and relationship with his father.
A lot of this book has a very personal connection to my life. Growing up the son of Irish immigrants in the Bronx, I went through a lot of similar struggles and a few different ones. I was from the next generation after Pete Hamil which brought some unique challenges for my life. I had to construct a successful life with no role models and no idea of how you achieve it.
I will be sharing a lot of these stories as I embark on my writing project this year.
If you are interested in memoirs I suggest you read Pete Hamil's book....

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 2 - Flashdance

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 1 - Living in America

And Then There's Magazines

Right now I subscribe to and read the following magazines:

Success
Fast Company
Wired
INC
MovieMaker
DV
UP3Date
Markee

and I also read a few other magazines that I don't subscribe to. Too much to read too little time....

Books, Books, Books - Scratch Beginnings

My passion for reading started with Marvel comics when I was a kid. It accelerated when I dropped out of high school at age fifteen. It continued when I finally went on to college ten years later and continues to today. I once said that my image of heaven is a huge bookstore and I get to read every book ever written.

So I Just added another book to my reading list. It's a really long list and I know it just keeps growing and I'll never finish reading all the books on it. But I'll enjoy the journey.....



"Scratch Beginnings" seems like an interesting story of a young student on a journey to see if the American Dream is still alive. He starts out with only $25 and the clothes on his back and sees if he can work his way out of homelessness in a year. I'll review it after I read it.

Thought For The Day - Point of View

How do you see the world? Are you like a frog in a well or an eagle?
How you see the world comes from the perspective you have. It can come from either your personal experiences or how much you learn from others experiences. try to expand your perspective and point of view. Learn to see things from many sides not just one.
Choose a perspective that allows you to see things from above with the broadest perspective possible. Be an eagle not a frog.

Thought For The Day - Do it

"there is no try, there is only to do or do not."
Yoda

Thought For The Day - Lead Don't Follow

It is in times of turmoil, crisis and challenge that leaders and leadership are needed. Leaders are the ones that keep their head in the middle of the storm. They keep things in perspective and look to find solutions. Everyone of us has the potential to be leaders in our families and in our lives. Think and act like a leader and not a follower. Step up.

Thought For The Day - Feel the Fear

"Feel the Fear And Do It Anyway"
Susan Jeffers

Courage is not an absence of fear but the ability to acknowledge the fear and act in spite of it. This is a lesson that I have had to apply many times in my life and I anticipate I will have to apply many more times in the future.
I wasn't a big risk taker or outgoing as a youth. Outwardly I'm sure people couldn't tell but I lacked the courage to overcome a lot of the obstacles in my life. It was only when I pushed myself forward in spite of the fear did I begin to grow.

Every achievement and growth I made was accomplished because I moved through my fear to act.

I remember the first time I spoke in public, I was shaking so bad I could not hold my note cards to read them. Somehow I get through it. I continued to push my self pass my shyness and fear of public speaking and went on to act in theater and in murder mysteries and learned how to become not only comfortable giving speeches but actually enjoying doing it.

I've taken the lesson from this area of my life into all the other areas as well. So I encourage you feel the fear and do it anyway....

Thought For Day - Power of Crisis

Today we are facing great challenges and crisis. How should we react and respond. We need to respond to fear and uncertainty with courage, faith and action. Here is an interesting website that offers a community to help people face and overcome any challenges they face.

Tony Robbins

http://thepowerofcrisis.com/?ec=136580_2

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 2 - You Can Do Magic

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 1 - Knock You Out

Memoirs and Novels - Personal Ramblings

I just committed to a outrageously large goal of writing a first draft of a memoir in sixty days. I used this strategy before to write a script in thirty days and I achieved it. I'm in the process of laying the ground work for my writing by outlining the chapters and brainstorming different ideas for my book. As part of this process I am reading a bunch of memoirs and urban novels before I get started to just inspire myself and to think about how others have told their stories. I've read many memoirs and novels over the years and I plan on immersing myself in them to focus my writing over the next few months.

Some of the memoirs and novels I intend to reading over the next couple of weeks are the following:

Tis - Frank Mcourt
A Drinking Life - Pete Hamill
All Souls Day - Michael Patrick MacDonald
Honky - Dalton Conley
Bodega - Ernesto Quinonez
Sleeping Arrangements - Laura Cunnigham
Fist, Stick, Knives - Geofrrey Canada


Some of the books deal with life in the Bronx, some deal with the Irish American experience, some deal with the New York experience and all deal with the urban experience. I can see pieces of my life in all of them which is why I've chose to read them before embarking on my own writing.

I am determined and committed to having a first draft by the end of 2008. Let the writing begin....

Thought For the Day - You Fix You

"...You need to remember that you need to take control of your life. ...YOU are in charge of your destiny. YOU are in charge of your life....YOU have to fix you!...Go be somebody....."
Dave Ramsey

Thought For Day - "From Jail to Yale"

It's All About the Choices We Make

Last night thanks to a good friend Eileen I attended a performance of "From Jail to Yale" with Charles S. Dutton. You probably know him as "Roc". Mr Dutton shared his story of how he went from Jail to Yale's drama program. A fascinating and inspiring story. I later got a chance to meet him and share stories. It was a enjoyable evening of theater as Mr Dutton performed parts from playwright August Wilson's plays.
Charles story of how he accidently took a book of plays into solitary confinement and after reading it made a decision to change his life is inspiring. I know from my life growing up in the South Bronx and dropping out of HS at age fifteen how the choices you make or don't make determine the life you live. I learned to make better choices later on in life.
And we all have the power to make choices no matter where we start out.
Charles Dutton's life is an example of the power of choices and becoming a positive role model. The Dramatic Arts Education Fund is starting a new and innovation dramatic arts education program inspired by Charles Dutton to reach 1 million "at risk" junior and senior high school students across the country.

For more info, to donate or get involved.....

http://www.actorshalloffame.org/

Thought For Day - Get Your Finances in Shape

"Who's responsible for your financial situation? You Are. No really, You are."

Now is a good time to commit to getting your financial house in order. Here are two online resources.

http://www.daveramsey.com/

http://www.suzeorman.com/

Thought For Day - Power of Questions

"Always make Your Questions Bigger Than Your Answers"
For some people, their entire sense of security and self-image depends on having all the answers -- on never being wrong. As a result, these people try to understand everything in terms of what they know. But all growth lies in the territory of the unknown. What we already know is in the past. What we have yet to discover is the future. Always make your questions bigger than your answers, and you'll keep drawing yourself into a bigger future with new possibilities.
Dan Sullivan

Thought For Day - Attitude is Everything

I received this from my cousin Sharon who is facing some rather large challenges. Yet she always has a smile and a word of encouragement. She is a ray of sunshine on a rainy Irish day.
She really exemplifies the message of this post. So I share it with you....

Attitude

There once was a woman who woke up one morning,
looked in the mirror,
and noticed she had only three hairs on her head.
'Well,' she said, 'I think I'll braid my hair today.'
So she did and she had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up,
looked in the mirror
and saw that she had only two hairs on her head.
'H-M-M,' she said,
'I think I'll part my hair down the middle today.'
So she did and she had a grand day.

The next day she woke up,
looked in the mirror and noticed
that she had only one hair on her head.
'Well,' she said, 'today I'm going
to wear my hair in a pony tail.'
So she did, and she had a fun, fun day.

The next day she woke up,
looked in the mirror and noticed
that there wasn't a single hair on her head.
'YAY!' she exclaimed.
'I don't have to fix my hair today!'

Attitude is everything.

Be kinder than necessary,
for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle .

Live simply,

Love generously,

Care deeply,

Speak kindly......Walk with God

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...



It's about learning to dance in the rain.

Just Another Day in Paradise - Personal Ramblings

Seventeen years ago I made a big decision to change my life and I drove cross country from New York to California to start a new life. The change was dramatic although it wasn't easy. I arrived with less than $100 in my pocket and had to scramble quickly to survive. With a little help from my friends I survived and strived. Yet no matter how hard it was and it was, I felt like I had gone on a permanent vacation. Maybe it was the weather or the feeling of possibilities I got from the open spaces, the ocean and the mountains but whatever it was I still feel that sense of being on vacation after all these years.

Every day seems like another "Day in Paradise". Now part of that is what I've chosen to focus on and appreciate.

Yesterday was an example. I started the day participating in and cooking at a a Father's Day Breakfast at my daughter's school. The day started with some light showers and turned out great. We had a great time, Later that evening we went to a BBQ at a Horse Ranch where my daughter takes riding lessons. They had a fun Murder Mystery that reminded me of the ones I acted in when I first arrived in California, It was a great day.

So life is good and I feel grateful for the life I have and I know it all started because I overcame my fear seventeen years ago and took a big risk to move to California and go out on a limb to change my life. I have no regrets and hope to be able to always call on the courage to take the future risks I need to take.

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 2 - Hope You Dance

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 1 - Haddaway

"Life"

Thought For Day - Larger, Brighter Future

'Always Make Your Future Bigger Than Your Past"
Dan Sullivan

This philosophy is the opposite of "Glory Days' and living in the past. Your job is to create a brighter compelling future for yourself that will surpass your past.

Thought For Day - Entrepreneurship is the Way to Go

As the father of a young daughter it's great to read the following,

"... the latest statistics show women own almost half, or 10.1 million, of small businesses nationwide, and generate about $2 trillion in revenue."
Entrepreneurs and women entrepreneurs are major driving forces in our economy. Things have changed a lot in my lifetime in this regard.

Thought For Day - Nothing is Simple

"Nothing is Simple"
JD

Just when you thought Soy was the wonder product research is showing the some serious problems with it. Some of the negative reviews are not that new. So is it good or bad? Time to do a little research and make the decision for yourself. Everyone has something to sell but it's up to you to do the work and decide do you want to buy it and is all the hype just that hype.
Life is complex. Educate yourself and be critical. It's your life....
So nothing is simple don't you be simple....

http://www.parentdish.com/2008/07/28/eating-soy-linked-to-lowered-sperm-count

http://www.electroherbalism.com/Naturopathy/Therapies/Diet/Soy/NewestResearchonwhyYouShouldAvoidSoy.htm

Thought For Day - Gratitude - A Daily Habit

"Make Gratitude a Daily Habit"
JD



I've made it a regular habit for a while now to take the time every day to be thankful and grateful for all I have in my life. Recently I received the Irish/Celtic bronze stone as a gift from my cousin and I use it to remind myself every day of all the blessings in my life especially being reunited with my family in Ireland and Europe. I try to share this attitude of gratitude with my daughter as well.

I know there are those who believe that we attract that which focus on and I would say it seems true in my life. But even if it wasn't true it is still worthwhile to put things in perspective and recognize all that is great in your life every day.

Today given the financial challenges the country is facing might be especially a good day to remind ourselves of what we do have and recognize that there is always a spring after a cold winter.

So what are you grateful today? Maybe it's your family or friends or health or so many other things. So take the time and make it a habit.

Thought For Day - Keep Your Priorities In Order

"First comes my God, second comes my wife, third comes my kids and fourth comes my job. I know if I lose a football game on Sunday I have a lot left over."
Dallas Cowboy's Coach Tom Landry
Are your priorities in order?

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 2 - Led Zepplin

I remember this song from a "People's Concert" we sponsored in Poe's Park in the Bronx. it was played by a local band and that night I hooked up with my first girl friend. Long time ago.... colorful memories......

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 1 - Gypsy Kings

Thought For Day - Time

Don't be fooled by the calendar. There are only as many days in a year as you make use of. One man gets only a week's value out of a year while another gets a full year's value out of a week."

- Charles Richards

Rumba & Street Music Blogs - A Colorful History of the Bronx and New York

My best friend who I grew up with in the South Bronx is sharing his 35 years as a conga player and his experiences with Rumba and percussion music on a couple of new blogs.

It's a fascinating history. I look forward to reading his stories. looking at his pictures and listening to the music videos of Rumba, Salsa and Latin Jazz on the blog site.

The blogs are taking us back to some some very colorful times and a colorful life....... The blogs are the work of a few lovers of the music. Check them out I'm sure you'll enjoy them.......



http://streetlevelproductions.blogspot.com

Rumba / Folkloric percussion site

http://sentimientomanana.blogspot.com/2008/09/rumba-university-of-streets.html

Thought For Day - Broad Shoulders

"Ask not for a lighter burden, but for broader shoulders. "
Jewish Proverb


Now is a good time to have broader shoulders and an understanding that better days are still ahead of us. Keep working to find the opportunity in the middle of difficulties.....

Thought For Day - Run Hard

"Run Hard When No One Is Watching"

"I try to apply this lesson to everything I do in life. I try to always behave as I would if people were watching"

Harold Ford Jr.

Support the Success Foundation

Check out Success for Teens Book



http://www.successfoundation.org/book.html


Support the Success Foundation


http://www.successfoundation.org/foundation.html

Thought For Day - Never Too Late

“It is never too late to be who
you might have been.”
— George Eliot

Thought For Day - Your Past is Not Your Future

Your past does not not equal your future.

Thought For Day - It's Up to You

“Life is ten percent what happens to you and ninety percent what you do with what
happens to you.”

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 2 - Against All Odds

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 1 - Blind Faith

Recommendation

If you're not a subscriber to Success Magazine I highly recommend you subscribe.

Click on the link to subscribe

https://sfsdata.com/SUCCESS/subscribereg3.aspx?key=9SMH

Thought For Day - Time for Departure

"there is a time for departure, even when there is no
certain place to go."
Larry Agresto

Hmm. Interesting thought makes you go Hmmm. I guess sometimes in life you have to depart and leave the old or comfortable behind even if you haven't worked out your final destination. Or it's like that quote about jumping off the cllff and hoping you'll fly before you hit bottom. Taking risks are necessary to get to the next level. Where or what do you need to leave behind?

Thought for the Day - Be the Change

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world."
Gandhi

Be that Change!

A lot of people quote this but how many carry it out and walk the talk. Think about this one long and hard. If you can't walk in someone else shoes and learn to listen before you talk. If you can't respect those you disagree with not just those who you agree with. If you can only be comfortable with those who are just like you but not with those who are different. If you demand others to change but think you have nothing you need to change. If you feel superior to others with different points of view then you might want to check yourself out a little deeper. Or you might not be so quick to throw this quote around. So think about your actions not just your words....

Thought for the Day - Put Your Ideas Into Action

Put your ideas into action. "Success is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration. I don't care how good you are, how many good ideas you have-a great idea on the back of a napkin is worth the price of the napkin. A thought has zero value without execution behind it. You've got to start putting the pieces together. It's the middle of the sandwich that makes the sandwich what it's worth. The bread is the ideas, the concepts, how it looks from the outside. The inner workings differentiate true winners."
Dr Oz - Success Magazine

Thought for the Day - KISS & DI - Daily Improvements

I'm a big fan of KISS, Keep it Simple Sammy. I know you might know it with a little cruder word but the meaning is the same. We all have a tendency to complicate life rather than find common sense solutions and strategies.

I came up with DI short for Daily Improvement as a simple strategy for all areas of my life. The first and main area where I use it is in my fitness program. I realized that it was easy to fall into a comfort zone and sense of complacency regarding fitness and health. So I decided that I needed to find a way to challenge myself on a regular basis. So I applied DI to my work outs. Every time I work out I must raise the bar and either do more repetitions or add more weight to every exercise every time I exercise. The result is I am always getting stronger and fitter and never falling into a comfort zone or plateau. Now it doesn't matter what your level of fitness is today if you are willing to keep doing just one more repetition, walk 1 more minute, lift 5 more pounds and over time you will see the positive results.

You can apply it to your diet, your finances, your relationships or any area of your life. Keep raising your standards, keep raising the bar, keep doing just a little more, a little better and the simple application of DI - Daily Improvements will lead to a better life.
So join me in challenging ourselves to make the Daily Improvements that will keep us on the road to a more satisfying life.

So Keep it Simple..... and adopt a strategy of DI.....

JD"s Fifteen Rules to Master Your Life (or at least make it better than it is now)

I decided to recycle these and renew my earlier post of them. They are a reminder to myself as well as my blog readers of some suggestion on how to master your life.

1. Solutions, Solutions, Solutions. Okay, I heard the problem
now what’s the solution? There’s always a way and an answer.
Your job is to find it.

2. Daily Improvement (DI) - Decide – Resolve – Act. Everyday do
just 1 more thing to improve.
What if you improved 1 thing every day?

3. Take Action and then takes some more. Get in the game.

4. Never Quit. - Promise yourself you will never give up.

5. Be A Leader. Step Up. Life needs more leaders not followers.

6. It’s all about Choices. You always have choices, make the right ones.

7. Gratitude, Gratitude, Gratitude and then some more Gratitude.
We all have so much to be thankful for.

8. You can either get Results or make Excuses. You can’t do both. Your choice.

9. Put everything in Perspective. Things can always get better and
they can always get worse. So no whining, just make it better.

10. Laugh at life, laugh at yourself. Life ain’t all that serious until it is.

11. Celebrate Success. Don’t follow the culture and knock the successful.

12. You are responsible for your life, so take responsibility.

13. Go for your Dreams. No, I mean REALLY go for them.

14. Understand Life is not Fair. So what, just more challenges
to overcome. The stronger the wind the stronger the trees.
Be Strong

15. Master the 3 F’s (Family, Fitness & Finances) and the 1 C (Career)
and you”ll get an A at Life. And life will reward your effort.
So, Just Do It!!!!!!

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 2 Buena Vista Social Club

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 1 - Spanish Harlem

Can I Borrow $25

A man came home from work late, tired and irritated, to find his 5-year
old son waiting for him at the door.

SON: 'Daddy, may I ask you a question?'
DAD: 'Yeah sure, what is it?' replied the man.
SON: 'Daddy, how much do you make an hour?'
DAD: 'That's none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing?' the
man said angrily.
SON: 'I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an
hour?'
DAD: 'If you must know, I make $50 an hour.'
SON: 'Oh,' the little boy replied, with his head down.
SON: 'Daddy, may I please borrow $25?'

The father was furious, 'If the only reason you asked that is so you
can borrow some money to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then
you march yourself straight to your room and go to bed. Think about why
you are being so selfish. I don't work hard everyday for such childish
frivolities.' The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door.

The man sat down and started to get even angrier about the little boy's
questions. How dare he ask such questions only to get some money? After
about an hour or so, the man had calmed down , and started to think:
Maybe there was something he really needed to buy with that $25.00 and
he really didn't ask for money very often. The man went to the door of
the little boy's room and opened the door. 'Are you asleep, son?' He
asked. 'No daddy, I'm awake,' replied the boy. 'I've been thinking,
maybe I was too hard on you earlier' said the man. 'It's been a long
day and I took out my aggravation on you. Here's the $25 you
asked for.'

The little boy sat straight up, smiling. 'Oh, thank you daddy!'
He yelled. Then, reaching under his pillow he pulled out some crumpled
up bills. The man saw that the boy already had money, started to get
angry again. The little boy slowly counted out his money, and then
looked up at his father. 'Why do you want more money if you already
have some?' the father grumbled. Because I didn't have enough, but now
I do,' the little boy replied. 'Daddy, I have $50 now. Can I buy an
hour of y our time? Please come home early tomorrow. I would like to
have dinner with you.'

The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little son, and he
begged for his forgiveness. It's just a short reminder to all of you
working so hard in life. We should not let time slip through our
fingers without having spent some time with those who really matter to
us, those close to our hearts. Do remember to share that $50 worth of
your time with someone you love.

If we die tomorrow, the company that we are working for could easily
replace us in a matter of hours. But the family & friends we leave
behind will feel the loss for the rest of their lives.

Can I Borrow $25?

Brett Noel

"California's Success Coach"

Glass is 3/4's Full - What it is and What it Isn't.......

Glass is 3/4's Full Blog:

My life and identity is a Melting Pot, a Gumbo, an Eclectic Mix,. All American with Irish roots, throw in a pinch of Salsa, a dash of Soul, a shake of Rock, a little old school , a little common sense, a little street sense, a little ghetto, a little success, and some common ground,

it's New York, the South Bronx, Hollywood, Puerto Rico, Ireland and mix it all up and shake...

It's writing, and learning and acting and film making and business and friendship and parenting and overcoming all obstacles and a whole lot of motivation.

I've turned a lot of corners... recreated my self many times, walked across hot coals and through the fire. I've explored my life and I attempt here to share it with family, friends and anyone who is interested..... I feel like I've lived at least four lives already.... if reincarnation was true I think I'm trying to get a lot of my lifetimes covered in this one

Glass is 3/4's Full Blog - What it's about:

Motivation - Personal Growth - Transformation
Positive Thoughts for the Day
Book Reviews
Sunday Eclectic Music Videos
Film Production
Entrepreneurship
Ireland & Irish American
Fitness & Health
Financial Management
Personal Journal & Personal Journey
Contribution and Giving Back
Parenting
Cutting Edge Ideas
Life Coaching
Promotion of Friends work
Links and Resources for good books and good ideas
And wherever my curiosity will take me....

Glass is 3/4's Full Blog -What it isn't :

Negative
Political
Cynical
Whining
Defeatist

Thought For The Day - Challenge Yourself

" The measurement of a personality is not in conditions of comfort but in conditions of challenge."

Sept 11 - 2001 - Never Forget

Sept 11, 2001, My city New York and my country America was attacked. I took it personal as I believe many of us did. It changed me forever. I came back to New York City and visited Ground Zero that December and I felt the incredible loss and pain but also saw the strength and resilience of my fellow New Yorkers. Hard to believe it has been seven years ago......
I will never forget and hope we always remember....

Tribute to all the victims of 9/11

Sunday's Eclectic Music Video -# 2 Down in the River to Pray

Sunday's Eclectic Music Video -# 1 Paul Simon

Be World Class - Robin Shawma

Thought For The Day - Keep Learning - Keep Growing

"Keep Learning - Keep Growing"
JD
Watching my daughter standing excited outside her school this morning waiting for the gate to open I thought about my experience as a kid. I wasn't as excited about school when I was her age. It took some hard knocks some growing up and some changing before I gained my passion for learning that i am lucky to have passed on to her. So it's never too late to keep learning and keep growing.

Thought For The Day - Never Give Up

"Never Give Up"
Dr. Ben Carson

Hope is knowing your best days are still ahead of you. So never ever give up.

Thought For the Day - Hang with Winners

"Who you hang around and who you learn from will have a profound affect on your life."

Promotion - Paul Jackson - Production Designer

It's always good to promote the work of others who do great work. I highly recommend him.

If you are looking for a Production Designer for a feature film, commercial, music video etc check out Paul Jackson's web page


http://www.pauljacksondesign.com

Thought For the Day - Masterpiece

"Make Your Life a Masterpiece"
Anthony Robbins

Thought For the Day - Aim High

"Most people don't fail in life because they aim to high and miss, but because they aim too low and hit."
Les Brown

Sunday's Eclectic Music Video - # 2 - A Man's World

James Brown & Pavorotti

Sunday's Eclectic Music Video - # 1 - You Raise Me Up

Sunday's Eclectic Music Video - # 2 - Lesson's Learned

Sunday's Eclectic Music Video - # 1 - Mercy

Duffy

Heaven and Earth

I gave my friend Cookie this cassette when she was very sick. She told me she played it all the time and it made her forget her pain and it made her feel like she was flying in the Heavens...........

It's been a long time since she passed on. She'll always be missed and I hope she is flying in the Heavens....

Goodbye My Friend - Cookie

Dedicated to Nilsa "Cookie"..... 1990

Your life was too short. I know you have a special place in heaven. There's a book that's entitled "The Five People You'll Meet in Heaven", Cookie will be one of them. I'll always remember her and what she taught me about appreciating life.



This is line I wrote for a performance called "Goodbye My Friend". I acted out the story of Cookie's life and mine in a play called "Real Life" and also performed it for runaways at Covenant House in Hollywood.

From the play, Cookie speaking to God....."What's with the harp music. Put on some salsa, this is heaven ain't it?......

Thought For the Day - Leadership

"Enlarging others makes you larger"
John C. Maxwell

Happy Birthday My Little / Big Angel Sofia

I still remember the day you were born and I held you in my arms in the hospital. My life changed for ever that day. It was the greatest thing that ever happened to me and it helped me grow, mature and step up in every way. You always tell me I am the greatest dad in the world and those words from you are my greatest success in life and I will always attempt to live up to those words. Every day I say thank you for having you as my daughter and I wish you a Happy Birthday and may all your dreams come true and always know I will always love you.

Thought For the Day - Get It Right

"Life is like a parachute jump, you got to get it right the first time"
Eleanor Roosevelt

Sunday's Eclectic Music Video's # 2 - Eminem - Lose Yourself

Sundays Eclectic Music Video - # 1 - Many Rivers to Cross

Jimmy Cliff

Back from Ireland

I just returned from another family reunion in Ireland. Excellent trip, fantastic country, great relatives, lots of craic (fun) but limited Internet service. So my blogs has been dark during those two weeks. I'm back and will be blogging about Leadership this week. Just finished reading "21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership" by John Maxwell on the plane ride to and from Ireland. I highly recommend this book.....

Sunday's Eclectic Music Video #2 - Falling Slowly

Sunday's Eclectic Music Video #1 - Carry You Home