Every week I will share a book that I've read that expanded my world and suggest you add it to your reading list.
# 2 "100 Ways to Motivate Yourself" - Steve Chandler
Following up on last weeks book "The Greatness Guide", here is another book that offers 100 chapters/stories about ways to motivate yourself. Some of the them you will be familiar with and some are common sense and some will give you some new tools but the book is a constant reminder of all the ways we can motivate ourselves to achieve more in our life if we take repsonsibility for the outcomes we create. Worth reading again and again....
John Duffy
Monday, May 23, 2011
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Friday, May 20, 2011
Thought For the Day - Pain is Fear Leaving the Body
"Pain is Fear Leaving the Body"
-- USMC
I'm on a roll this week about challenging yourself physically but mentally and this is a belief the Marine Corp instills to help overcome the physical pain of some incredible tough training. In life many times it will help us to reframe a situation so we don't give up or push beyond the comfort level of what we think is our limit but never is if we just push harder. I attempt to use this when I work out and it's a good reminder that we are capable of a lot more than we think....
John Duffy
-- USMC
I'm on a roll this week about challenging yourself physically but mentally and this is a belief the Marine Corp instills to help overcome the physical pain of some incredible tough training. In life many times it will help us to reframe a situation so we don't give up or push beyond the comfort level of what we think is our limit but never is if we just push harder. I attempt to use this when I work out and it's a good reminder that we are capable of a lot more than we think....
John Duffy
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Thought For the Day - The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday
"The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday."
--Navy Seals
This quote is true in many parts of our lives but it is also a call for us to challenge ourselves every day and raise the bar. We shouldn't seek the easy road but the challenging one that forces us to grow and become better. I apply a version of this in my life and also during my workouts where I apply what Tony Robbins coined CANI or Constant and Never Ending Improvement. It's about always demanding more of yourself. Both of these ideas are worth adopting in your life....
John Duffy
--Navy Seals
This quote is true in many parts of our lives but it is also a call for us to challenge ourselves every day and raise the bar. We shouldn't seek the easy road but the challenging one that forces us to grow and become better. I apply a version of this in my life and also during my workouts where I apply what Tony Robbins coined CANI or Constant and Never Ending Improvement. It's about always demanding more of yourself. Both of these ideas are worth adopting in your life....
John Duffy
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Thought for the Day - Stand Fearless in the Face of Adversity
"We stand fearless in the face of adversity and bring it every single day"
-- Dwayne The Rock Johnson
Sometimes we need to summon up every once of courage we have to face our fears. It's in moments of adversity and challenge we discover what we are capable of and who we are. We are always stronger than we think. I really dig this quote. It ain't easy but it's worth it to face life with this belief...
John Duffy
-- Dwayne The Rock Johnson
Sometimes we need to summon up every once of courage we have to face our fears. It's in moments of adversity and challenge we discover what we are capable of and who we are. We are always stronger than we think. I really dig this quote. It ain't easy but it's worth it to face life with this belief...
John Duffy
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
Book of the Week # 2 "The Greatness Guide" - Expand Your World
Every week I will share a book that I've read that expanded my world and suggest you add it to your reading list.
# 2 "The Greatness Guide" - Robin Sharma
Thought for the Day - Empowering Life Metaphors
"Life is a challenge - meet it. Life is love - share it. Life is a dream - realise it. Life is a game - play it. "
-- Courtesy of Chiao Kee Lim
-- Courtesy of Chiao Kee Lim
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Friday, May 13, 2011
Thought For the Day - Suffer Now
"I hated every minute of the training, but I said, 'Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion."
-- Muhammad Ali
-- Muhammad Ali
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Thought For the Day - You Can Do Anything You Want to Do in Life
"You can do anything you want in life, if you have a fierce belief in yourself, a strong will, a big heart, and some role models to inspire you."
-- Tyrone "Mugsy" Bagues 5'3 smallest player in NBA
-- Tyrone "Mugsy" Bagues 5'3 smallest player in NBA
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Thought For the Day - Impossible
"You look them straight in the eye and say , 'Don't tell me it's impossible until after I've already done it.'"
-- Pam Lantos
-- Pam Lantos
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Thought For the Day - I Would Rather Be a Failure
" I would rather be a failure at something I love than a success doing something I hate."
-- George Burns
-- George Burns
Monday, May 09, 2011
Book of the Week # 1 "Unstoppable" - Expand Your World
Every week I will share a book that I've read that expanded my world and suggest you add it to your reading list.
#1 "Unstoppable" - Cynthia Kersey
"45 powerful Stories of Perseverance and Triumph from People Just Like You"
Here is a book I've read a couple of times. I can't recommend it highly enough. You must read this book if you want to be inspired, motivated and uplifted. The book shares stories of purpose, passion, belief, preparation, team, creativity and perseverance.
One of the stories is about the deceased writer and producer Stephen J Cannell who I had the honor to know and work with. His life was truly inspiring.
It's conclusion sums it up, "Your Legacy: A Bold Unstoppable Spirit."
I challenge you to be Unstoppable.....
John Duffy
Thought For the Day - Make No Little Plans
"Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood... Make big plans... aim high in hope and work."
-- Daniel H Burnham
-- Daniel H Burnham
Sunday, May 08, 2011
Saturday, May 07, 2011
Friday, May 06, 2011
Thought For the Day - Make it Happen
If you want something to happen, make it happen. Or another way to look at it is, If it's to be it's up to me. Success comes from taking action every day and at times massive action. So Make it Happen......
John Duffy
John Duffy
Thursday, May 05, 2011
Thought For the Day - To Be or Not To Be; To Do or Not to Do
Each of us has two distinct choices to make about what we will do with our lives.
The first choice we can make is to be less than we have the capacity to be. To earn less. To have less. To read less and think less. To try less and discipline ourselves less. These are the choices that lead to an empty life. These are the choices that, once made, lead to a life of constant apprehension instead of a life of wondrous anticipation.
And the second choice? To do it all! To become all that we can possibly be. To read every book that we possibly can. To earn as much as we possibly can. To give and share as much as we possibly can. To strive and produce and accomplish as much as we possibly can. All of us have the choice.
To do or not to do. To be or not to be. To be all or to be less or to be nothing at all.
Why not do all that we can, every moment that we can, the best that we can, for as long as we can?
Jim Rohn
The first choice we can make is to be less than we have the capacity to be. To earn less. To have less. To read less and think less. To try less and discipline ourselves less. These are the choices that lead to an empty life. These are the choices that, once made, lead to a life of constant apprehension instead of a life of wondrous anticipation.
And the second choice? To do it all! To become all that we can possibly be. To read every book that we possibly can. To earn as much as we possibly can. To give and share as much as we possibly can. To strive and produce and accomplish as much as we possibly can. All of us have the choice.
To do or not to do. To be or not to be. To be all or to be less or to be nothing at all.
Why not do all that we can, every moment that we can, the best that we can, for as long as we can?
Jim Rohn
Wednesday, May 04, 2011
Thought For the Day - A Classic - Seed of a Greater Benefit
"Every adversity, every failure and every heartache carries with it the seed of an equivalent or greater benefit".
-- Napoleon Hill
Of course you have to search for it, find it and grow it. It doesn't happen magically. Adopting a mind set that allow you to look for what's good, or what you can learn and grow from in each adversity and setback will allow you to turn a negative into a positive. I have had many opportunities to do this in my life and it is truly an empowering belief to adopt...
John Duffy
-- Napoleon Hill
Of course you have to search for it, find it and grow it. It doesn't happen magically. Adopting a mind set that allow you to look for what's good, or what you can learn and grow from in each adversity and setback will allow you to turn a negative into a positive. I have had many opportunities to do this in my life and it is truly an empowering belief to adopt...
John Duffy
Tuesday, May 03, 2011
Thought for the Day - Become Addicted to Who You Can Become
"Don't be attached to who you are, become addicted to whom you can become."
--Stephen Pierce
This isn't an easy one especially the first part. We all get caught up in our Identity and don't realize we created it and can recreate a new and better Identity if we choose. Yet we can detach from our Identity and move towards becoming more. Looking back on my life I would say I have become addicted to growth and I am so glad I did. My original mentor for that was Tony Robbins who opened up a door that I have walked through...
John Duffy
--Stephen Pierce
This isn't an easy one especially the first part. We all get caught up in our Identity and don't realize we created it and can recreate a new and better Identity if we choose. Yet we can detach from our Identity and move towards becoming more. Looking back on my life I would say I have become addicted to growth and I am so glad I did. My original mentor for that was Tony Robbins who opened up a door that I have walked through...
John Duffy
Monday, May 02, 2011
A Great Day for America
As a former New Yorker and an American I join everyone in recognizing that this is a indeed a great day for America and feeling great that Osama Bin Laden has received the justice he deserved . I wish I could be at Ground Zero today.
Thank you to all those who finally brought justice for all those who lost their lives on 9/11 and since fighting Al Qaeda and terrorism world wide. Special thanks to the Navy Seals who carried it out. I wish this would close the book on this period of our history but unfortunately the terrorist have not been totally defeated yet.
Today is a great day for America and the world in it's fight against extremist Islamic fundamentalism and groups like Al Qaeda.
At least the death of Osama bin Laden will help to bring some closure and sense of justice to the 10th anniversary remembrance of 9/11 this year.
John Duffy
Thought For The Day - Reject Cynicism
"It is very easy to be cynical. Cynicism is an enemy of happiness."
-- Dennis Praeger
Many years ago I read a book "Happiness is a Choice" by Barry Neil Kaufman during one of the most difficult periods of my life. It put a lot of things into perspective for me. I decided to embrace that idea and choose happiness no matter what I was experiencing in life. I'm glad I made that choice. It is truly easy to be cynical and I would say unhappy. It has become a default response for too many people. I would suggest you reject cynicism in life.
John Duffy
-- Dennis Praeger
Many years ago I read a book "Happiness is a Choice" by Barry Neil Kaufman during one of the most difficult periods of my life. It put a lot of things into perspective for me. I decided to embrace that idea and choose happiness no matter what I was experiencing in life. I'm glad I made that choice. It is truly easy to be cynical and I would say unhappy. It has become a default response for too many people. I would suggest you reject cynicism in life.
John Duffy
Sunday, May 01, 2011
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
Thought For The Day - Willingness to Fail
"One's ability to succeed is proportional to one's willingness to fail."
-- Unknown
I saw this today on the ticker running across the gas pump at my 76 gas station. Unusual place to encounter positive messages but why not. I welcome it and their decision to post messages like this.
The message is very true. It's hard to push ourselves beyond our comfort zone and risk failure but it is necessary to succeed in life.
John Duffy
-- Unknown
I saw this today on the ticker running across the gas pump at my 76 gas station. Unusual place to encounter positive messages but why not. I welcome it and their decision to post messages like this.
The message is very true. It's hard to push ourselves beyond our comfort zone and risk failure but it is necessary to succeed in life.
John Duffy
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Thought For The Day - 2nd Wind
"Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find they have a second.."
-- William James
-- William James
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Thought For the Day - Pessimist Don 't Make it Happen
"No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars, or sailed to uncharted land or opened a new heaven to the human spirit."
Helen Keller
Helen Keller
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Thought For the Day - Make it Happen
If you want something to happen, make it happen. Or another way to look at it is, If it's to be it's up to me. Success comes from taking action every day and at times massive action. So Make it Happen......
John Duffy
John Duffy
Monday, April 25, 2011
Thought For the Day - Power of Decision
The decisions you make will shape your life. Decide wisely.....
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Saturday's Motivational Video - IronMan Sara Reinertsen
Inspirational People - Inspirational Stories
Friday, April 22, 2011
Thought For the Day - Do Good Not Look Good
The Goal is to Do Good, Not Just Look or Feel Good. It's Action and Results. It's not about how you feel or how you look.....
John Duffy
John Duffy
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Thought For the Day - Stop Shoulding All Over Yourself
"Stop shoulding all over yourself" - Just Do It........
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Thought For The Day - To Do or Not Do
Each of us has two distinct choices to make about what we will do with our lives.
The first choice we can make is to be less than we have the capacity to be. To earn less. To have less. To read less and think less. To try less and discipline ourselves less. These are the choices that lead to an empty life. These are the choices that, once made, lead to a life of constant apprehension instead of a life of wondrous anticipation.
And the second choice? To do it all! To become all that we can possibly be. To read every book that we possibly can. To earn as much as we possibly can. To give and share as much as we possibly can. To strive and produce and accomplish as much as we possibly can. All of us have the choice.
To do or not to do. To be or not to be. To be all or to be less or to be nothing at all.
Why not do all that we can, every moment that we can, the best that we can, for as long as we can?
Jim Rohn
The first choice we can make is to be less than we have the capacity to be. To earn less. To have less. To read less and think less. To try less and discipline ourselves less. These are the choices that lead to an empty life. These are the choices that, once made, lead to a life of constant apprehension instead of a life of wondrous anticipation.
And the second choice? To do it all! To become all that we can possibly be. To read every book that we possibly can. To earn as much as we possibly can. To give and share as much as we possibly can. To strive and produce and accomplish as much as we possibly can. All of us have the choice.
To do or not to do. To be or not to be. To be all or to be less or to be nothing at all.
Why not do all that we can, every moment that we can, the best that we can, for as long as we can?
Jim Rohn
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Thought For The Day - Success for the Daring
"Excuses are for the weak, Apathy for the lazy, Action for the motivated, Results for the determined, Success for the daring."
-- Thing Big Blog
My life has been a journey and there were times in my life I was all of the above. I had to make conscious choices to get from there to here and from excuses to success.
John Duffy
-- Thing Big Blog
My life has been a journey and there were times in my life I was all of the above. I had to make conscious choices to get from there to here and from excuses to success.
John Duffy
Monday, April 18, 2011
Thought For The Day - Friendship
"The sincere friends of this world are as ship lights in the stormiest of nights."
--Giotto di Bondone
--Giotto di Bondone
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Friday, April 15, 2011
Thought For the Day - Adjust the Sails
“The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist ADJUSTS the sails.”
—William Arthur Ward
I am an optimist but I am also a realist so I would say I'm an optimistic realist. I believe it is not enough to be optimistic. You need to make a realistic assessment of the situation, your options and the chances for achieving your outcomes. The most important thing is to take action and adjust your sails or tweak your actions until you reach your destination or goals.
John Duffy
—William Arthur Ward
I am an optimist but I am also a realist so I would say I'm an optimistic realist. I believe it is not enough to be optimistic. You need to make a realistic assessment of the situation, your options and the chances for achieving your outcomes. The most important thing is to take action and adjust your sails or tweak your actions until you reach your destination or goals.
John Duffy
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Thought For The Day - Make Empowering Choices
"You are the person you are today because of the choices you have made..."
-- Unknown
This is so true. Every aspect of your life is determined by the choices you made and continue to make. Of course things happen to you that are out of your control but you always have a choice in how you respond to them. Grasping the idea that I am 100% responsible for the good, the bad and the ugly in my life was a turning point for me. It allows me to live a life without blame or excuses. It is is to be it's up to me is a great quote that sums it up.
John Duffy
-- Unknown
This is so true. Every aspect of your life is determined by the choices you made and continue to make. Of course things happen to you that are out of your control but you always have a choice in how you respond to them. Grasping the idea that I am 100% responsible for the good, the bad and the ugly in my life was a turning point for me. It allows me to live a life without blame or excuses. It is is to be it's up to me is a great quote that sums it up.
John Duffy
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Thought For The Day - Think Big
"Think big. Start small. Begin now."
-- Robin Sharma
What clear, concise advise. Life isn't as complicated as we make it. Dream big, chunk it down and take steps towards your dreams and just do it NOW!
John Duffy
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Thought For the Day - Change Your Story - Change Your Life
"Change your story, change your life. Whatever your story is it becomes the shaper of all your perceptions. What you will try or not try, do or not do. Problem is most people are so addicted to telling that story that it becomes their prison."
-- Tony Robbins
We have the ability to change our story anytime we want just like a scriptwriter. We can create and tell stories about our life that paint us as victim or hero. We can tell stories about how we overcame or stories about poor me to elicit sympathy. The stories you tell others are the same ones you tell yourself. You can create your own mental prison. Stories and metaphors are very powerful. I would suggest that you choose stories that empower you....
John Duffy
-- Tony Robbins
We have the ability to change our story anytime we want just like a scriptwriter. We can create and tell stories about our life that paint us as victim or hero. We can tell stories about how we overcame or stories about poor me to elicit sympathy. The stories you tell others are the same ones you tell yourself. You can create your own mental prison. Stories and metaphors are very powerful. I would suggest that you choose stories that empower you....
John Duffy
Monday, April 11, 2011
Thought For the Day - Rekindle the Flame
"Sometimes our light goes out but is blown again into flame by an encounter with another human being. Each of us owes the deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this inner light."
Albert Schweitzer
I just experienced this last week when i received an email in response to my blog. The email rekindle my flame and inspired me to step up even more to be a light that can rekindle others flames.....
John Duffy
Albert Schweitzer
I just experienced this last week when i received an email in response to my blog. The email rekindle my flame and inspired me to step up even more to be a light that can rekindle others flames.....
John Duffy
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Saturday, April 09, 2011
Saturday's Motivational Video - Nick Charles Faces Death Embraces Life
Inspirational People - Inspirational Stories
Please watch this...
http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/04/06/nick.charles.facing.death/index.html?hpt=C1
Please watch this...
http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/04/06/nick.charles.facing.death/index.html?hpt=C1
Friday, April 08, 2011
John Duffy's Personal Ramblings - Hiatus Over
It didn't take long to get an answer to my question of the value of continuing this blog. I received an email the next day after my post and I hope to share some of that in the next few days. Suffice it to say for now I got the answer loud and clear and I will be continuing this blog and hopefully improving it. Stand by...
John Duffy
John Duffy
Thought For the Day - Pay the Price
"Happy are those who dream dreams and are ready to pay the price to make them come true."
-- Leon J. Scenes
-- Leon J. Scenes
Wednesday, April 06, 2011
John Duffy's Personal Ramblings - Hiatus
I have taken a hiatus from this blog as I try to figure out the purpose of it and how to both create something of value but also minimize the time it takes me to maintain it. I have been posting my daily quotes and some "Inspirational People - Inspirational Stories" videos daily on my Facebook page. You are welcome to friend me there to read my post.
I am trying to figure out the best use of all the tools available including this blog, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and also how to not duplicate and waste time and effort.
I just read a short article in Success magazine on the difference between communicating and connecting that made some great points. Am I just communicating for the sake of communicating and not connecting?
I lead a very active busy life that is filled with film projects, writing, reading, family and friends and I keep adding more to my plate and agenda but I need to be clear why I am doing things.
So I will be continuing the hiatus on this blog for a while longer as I work out the purpose and objective of continuining it.
Feel free to weigh in and let me know what you think....
Thanks,
John Duffy
I am trying to figure out the best use of all the tools available including this blog, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and also how to not duplicate and waste time and effort.
I just read a short article in Success magazine on the difference between communicating and connecting that made some great points. Am I just communicating for the sake of communicating and not connecting?
I lead a very active busy life that is filled with film projects, writing, reading, family and friends and I keep adding more to my plate and agenda but I need to be clear why I am doing things.
So I will be continuing the hiatus on this blog for a while longer as I work out the purpose and objective of continuining it.
Feel free to weigh in and let me know what you think....
Thanks,
John Duffy
Sunday, March 06, 2011
Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 1 - Another Brick in the Wall
A contemporary take on Pink Floyd. A call for freedom....
Saturday, March 05, 2011
Monday, February 28, 2011
John Duffy's Personal Ramblings - A Role Model
At a time when we are bombarded with the ongoing tales of Hollywood dysfunction represented by charlie sheen and lindsay lohan, t's refreshing to stumble upon a different story about someone who is polar opposite the self absorbed, privileged, spoiled children that populate Hollywood.
This story is about a young man who is truly a role model of greatness and possibility. Capt. D.J. Skelton age 26 was pummeled by grenades in Fallujuh, Iraq. His injuries were so bad he he shouldn't have recovered but after 60 operations and seven years he has recovered and now age 33 is headed back to rejoin his military company.
That's amazing in itself but here is the mind blower. During those seven years of operations and recovery Capt Skelton managed to teach himself Mandarin Chinese, graduate from West Point military academy, complete a Harvard University fellowship, and write a book — a caretaker’s guide for wounded service members. In addition, he served as a military adviser and co-founded a non-profit organization to help physically disabled individuals participate in outdoor sports.
Now in his own words he puts it best, “I can either dwell on what happened and be miserable and pissy and complain or I can look at what I do have left and figure out how to make the most of my new life… how to make what I have work while always looking for creative ways to make up the difference,”
What a contrast to the narcissism and selfishness too often displayed nowadays especially in Hollywood. It couldn't be clearer. Who represent's the best? A charlie sheen or a Capt. Skelton? Hope you don't need a lifeline call to figure that one out but call me if you do.
Capt. Skelton is clearly a example of courage and inspiration and truly a role model of possibility. charlie sheen on the other hand is.... well I'll leave that description to you.....
John Duffy
Thought For The Day - Think You Got Problems
"Advoid falling into the trap of thinking you're the only one with problems. Everyone has problems! If you threw your problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, you'd grab yours back in a heartbeat."
-- LTM
-- LTM
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
Thought For the Day - Broke But Not Poor
"I've never been poor, only broke. Being poor is a frame of mind. Being broke is a temporary situation."
-- Unknown
Well I was poor for a long time growing up. And for a long time I had that frame of mind and felt I was a victim in life. When I realized that I was 100% responsible for my life and could take action to create my reality I was freed from that mind set. So I can never be poor again but only broke. What a freeing mindset to adopt.
John Duffy
-- Unknown
Well I was poor for a long time growing up. And for a long time I had that frame of mind and felt I was a victim in life. When I realized that I was 100% responsible for my life and could take action to create my reality I was freed from that mind set. So I can never be poor again but only broke. What a freeing mindset to adopt.
John Duffy
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Thought For the Day - Get Up
"It is not how you fall, it's how you rise from the fall that sets you apart from the rest."
-- Vince Lombardi
-- Vince Lombardi
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Thought For The Day - Fight the Good Fight
Here is a link to a great post about Fighting the Good Fight...
http://thedirty30sclub.com/blog/2011/02/the-three-symptoms/
http://thedirty30sclub.com/blog/2011/02/the-three-symptoms/
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Thought For the Day - Steps to Success
"The steps to success might be tall and they may be long and both up and down ... but they are well worth it ..."
-- Bradley J Sugars
-- Bradley J Sugars
John Duffy's Personal Ramblings - Bucket List # 2 - Where I've been
This is a repost from last year to remind myself and set a fire under my a...
JD - Life's Bucket List Done To date
This is a work in progress that I will keep updating. I did it to look back to see where I've been so I can see where elese I want to go. It's not complete but it's a snapshot of my life.
Some Highlights - Moments in my Life - A Story of who I was, who I became, turning points, forks in the road and what I've done. Cha Cha Changes.......
Growing Up - South Bronx:
Grew up in Mott Haven section of South Bronx - "One of the poorest areas in America then and now"
Almost got thrown off Willis Ave Bridge between Harlem and Bronx @ Age 13
Dropped Out of High School at age 15
Studied Kung Fu Wu Su @ age 15. became student instructor
Designed and created own pants styles @ age 15
Had a gun put to my head 5 times - never shot
Lower East Side
Lived on 4th St and Ave A in Lower East Side in the 70's
Killed a rat with a stick in my Lower East Side Apartment
Observed the Blackout in 1977 on LES
Education;
Dropped out of HS at age 15
Received GED - General Education Diploma at age 24
Graduated Empire State college with a BA
Attended two years of MA program @ CCNY
Radical Years;
Became a leader in a Maoist Party @ age 25
Led a youth tour to the People's Republic of China in 1978 at age 25
Walked on the Great Wall in 1978
Became an ex-Maoist @ age 28
Working Life:
Worked 1st job as delivery boy @ local grocery @ age 13
Worked in Paint Factory as shipping clerk in the South Bronx
Worked in Chinatown as a shipping clerk
Worked in Post office as a Mail Handler for five years
Worked as a substitute teacher in the Bronx for 3 days
Worked as an Oral History interviewer for Lehman College
Drove a gypsy cab in the Bronx for 1 week - the summer that there was a wave of murders of gypsy cab drivers in the Bronx
Drove a truck for one week
Trained as a phone installer for NY telephone company
Wrote as a Youth Organizer in the Northwest Bronx
Worked as aerobics instructor and salesman for Jack La Lanne for 1 year
Worked as anti-arson organizer with The People's Firehouse in Brooklyn
Worked as a Research interviewer
Worked as a loan office for mortgage company in LA
Worked as a counselor for runaways @ Covenant House in LA
Worked as a overnight counselor at a mental health home
Worked as a counselor at a Food Shelter in South Central LA
Acted in theater, murder mystery dinner theater and films
Worked as a production manager on rap videos
Worked as a rep for music video directors
Worked as a line producer on feature films
Worked as a producer of feature films
Oral History;
Worked as an Oral History Interviewer with Bronx Oral History Project @ Lehman College
Conducted over 12 interviews that are part of Bronx Oral History Collection
Interviewed Oral Historian Studs Terkel
Was interviewed by Studs Terkel and interview appeared in his book "The Great Divide"
Acting;
Acted in Murder Mystery Dinner Theater in LA and Palmdale
Acted in 10 Theatrical Plays in New York and LA
Performed in play based on interviews conducted entitled "The Bronx Speaks Up"
Wrote and performed autobiographical piece entitled "Goodbye My Friend" in honor of friend/girlfriend Cookie who died of AIDS @ LA theater
Acted in over 10 feature and short films
Filmmaking:
Created, Produced and Hosted 12 Public Access Show's "Take Two"
Created, Produced and Hosted 10 Public Access Show's "Bronx to Hollywood"
Filmed and directed documentary "V" about Puerto Rican female basketball player from Far Rockaway, NY
Produced/Line Produced 15 features, 4 shorts, 8 music videos, 2 commercials and training videos
Filmed feature films in South Carolina, Georgia "Who's Your Caddy?" and New Mexico "Unspeakable".
Line Produced a series of training videos with US Marine Corp @ Camp Pendelton, Beuford SC and Quantico VA
Motivation:
Walked across hot coals over a dozen times @ Tony Robbins' Fire-walks
Attended 2 week Tony Robbins Seminars in Maui 2 x
Writing:
Wrote monthly article for Bronx radical newspaper "White Lightning"
Wrote Drama Screenplay "Waiting for Fidel"
Wrote autobiographical theater piece "Goodbye my Friend"
Wrote short film "Goodbye My Friend"
Created and wrote a daily Motivational Blog - "The Glass is 3/4's Full" since 2007
Created and wrote a Irish-American Blob " Duffy Square"
Wrote 1st draft of my memoir "Black irish - Not Your Average White Boy"
Wrote and created Doc series and Non-Fiction Book "American Dreamers'
Family:
Got married in Long Island NY 17 years ago
I held my daughter in my arms and cut her cord when she was born
Attended many Mommy and me groups with my daughter
Rode horses with my 3 year old daughter on top of Hollywood sign
Vacationed with family in Maui
Vacationed with family in Santa Fe New Mexico
Had snowball fights with my daughter in Santa Fe on her first encounter with snow
Attended family reunion in Foxford Ireland St. Patrick's Day 2008
Rode horses with my daughter thru Ashford Castle and the standing sets from John Wayne's "The Quiet Man" 2 separate times.
Read to my daughter almost every night since she was little
Created and wrote in a series of Journals for my daughter that capture the Magic
Travel:
Walked on the Great Wall In PRC in 1978
Traveled and visited the following States: 1. Oregon, 2. Hawaii 3. Nevada 4. New Jersey 5. Connecticut 6. Mass 7. South Carolina 8. Colorado 9. Vermont 10, Mich. 11. Illinois 12. New Mexico 13 Georgia 14. California 15. Penn 16. Utah 17. Texas 18. Ohio 19. Florida 20. Virginia 21. Maryland 22. Indiana 23. Wisconsin 24. Washington and Wash DC and Puerto Rico
Traveled and visited the following Countries: 1. China 2. Yugoslavia 3. Dominican Republic 4. Mexico 5. France 6, Bahamas 7. Canada 8. Ireland 9. Northern Ireland 10. Malta
Visited friend in Dominican Republic and stayed at Casa del Campo Resort
Rowed a row boat in San Francisco Harbor
Vacationed with girlfriend in Puerto Rico
Vacationed with girlfriend in Quebec
Went on Helicopter ride in Maui
Went Scuba Diving in Maui
Scouted for movies in the Bahamas, Eleutria, Tijuana Mexico, Puerto Rico and Vancouver Canada
Stayed @ El Convento Hotel in Old San Juan Puerto Rico
Visited parent's country Ireland 2 times in 3 years reuniting with my Irish family from 5 countries
Stayed in Presidential Suite @ Ashford Castle, Cong, Ireland
Reading:
750 -1,000 Books on
Acting
Film
Memoirs
Fiction
Empowerment/Motivation/Success/leadership/Entrepreneurship/Business
Non-Fiction
Theater:
Saw numerous plays on Broadway and off Broadway including some of the following:
Glen Garry Glenn Ross
Cuba and His Teddy Bear starring Robert Diniro
Contribution:
Volunteered @ Anthony Robbins Foundation Youth leadership Camp
Volunteer @ Operation Gratitude
Public Speaking:
Overcame extreme shyness
Gave 1st public speech in 1970's in Chicago
Spoke of Filmmking Panel for Flash Forward
Gave warm up speeches for sales seminars for Tony Robbin's reps
Joined Toastmaster and gave 3 speeches
Like Helen Keller said "Life is a Daring Adventure or It Is Nothing". My life has been a Daring Adventure and the adventure continues as I continue to create and recreate myself
JD - Life's Bucket List Done To date
This is a work in progress that I will keep updating. I did it to look back to see where I've been so I can see where elese I want to go. It's not complete but it's a snapshot of my life.
Some Highlights - Moments in my Life - A Story of who I was, who I became, turning points, forks in the road and what I've done. Cha Cha Changes.......
Growing Up - South Bronx:
Grew up in Mott Haven section of South Bronx - "One of the poorest areas in America then and now"
Almost got thrown off Willis Ave Bridge between Harlem and Bronx @ Age 13
Dropped Out of High School at age 15
Studied Kung Fu Wu Su @ age 15. became student instructor
Designed and created own pants styles @ age 15
Had a gun put to my head 5 times - never shot
Lower East Side
Lived on 4th St and Ave A in Lower East Side in the 70's
Killed a rat with a stick in my Lower East Side Apartment
Observed the Blackout in 1977 on LES
Education;
Dropped out of HS at age 15
Received GED - General Education Diploma at age 24
Graduated Empire State college with a BA
Attended two years of MA program @ CCNY
Radical Years;
Became a leader in a Maoist Party @ age 25
Led a youth tour to the People's Republic of China in 1978 at age 25
Walked on the Great Wall in 1978
Became an ex-Maoist @ age 28
Working Life:
Worked 1st job as delivery boy @ local grocery @ age 13
Worked in Paint Factory as shipping clerk in the South Bronx
Worked in Chinatown as a shipping clerk
Worked in Post office as a Mail Handler for five years
Worked as a substitute teacher in the Bronx for 3 days
Worked as an Oral History interviewer for Lehman College
Drove a gypsy cab in the Bronx for 1 week - the summer that there was a wave of murders of gypsy cab drivers in the Bronx
Drove a truck for one week
Trained as a phone installer for NY telephone company
Wrote as a Youth Organizer in the Northwest Bronx
Worked as aerobics instructor and salesman for Jack La Lanne for 1 year
Worked as anti-arson organizer with The People's Firehouse in Brooklyn
Worked as a Research interviewer
Worked as a loan office for mortgage company in LA
Worked as a counselor for runaways @ Covenant House in LA
Worked as a overnight counselor at a mental health home
Worked as a counselor at a Food Shelter in South Central LA
Acted in theater, murder mystery dinner theater and films
Worked as a production manager on rap videos
Worked as a rep for music video directors
Worked as a line producer on feature films
Worked as a producer of feature films
Oral History;
Worked as an Oral History Interviewer with Bronx Oral History Project @ Lehman College
Conducted over 12 interviews that are part of Bronx Oral History Collection
Interviewed Oral Historian Studs Terkel
Was interviewed by Studs Terkel and interview appeared in his book "The Great Divide"
Acting;
Acted in Murder Mystery Dinner Theater in LA and Palmdale
Acted in 10 Theatrical Plays in New York and LA
Performed in play based on interviews conducted entitled "The Bronx Speaks Up"
Wrote and performed autobiographical piece entitled "Goodbye My Friend" in honor of friend/girlfriend Cookie who died of AIDS @ LA theater
Acted in over 10 feature and short films
Filmmaking:
Created, Produced and Hosted 12 Public Access Show's "Take Two"
Created, Produced and Hosted 10 Public Access Show's "Bronx to Hollywood"
Filmed and directed documentary "V" about Puerto Rican female basketball player from Far Rockaway, NY
Produced/Line Produced 15 features, 4 shorts, 8 music videos, 2 commercials and training videos
Filmed feature films in South Carolina, Georgia "Who's Your Caddy?" and New Mexico "Unspeakable".
Line Produced a series of training videos with US Marine Corp @ Camp Pendelton, Beuford SC and Quantico VA
Motivation:
Walked across hot coals over a dozen times @ Tony Robbins' Fire-walks
Attended 2 week Tony Robbins Seminars in Maui 2 x
Writing:
Wrote monthly article for Bronx radical newspaper "White Lightning"
Wrote Drama Screenplay "Waiting for Fidel"
Wrote autobiographical theater piece "Goodbye my Friend"
Wrote short film "Goodbye My Friend"
Created and wrote a daily Motivational Blog - "The Glass is 3/4's Full" since 2007
Created and wrote a Irish-American Blob " Duffy Square"
Wrote 1st draft of my memoir "Black irish - Not Your Average White Boy"
Wrote and created Doc series and Non-Fiction Book "American Dreamers'
Family:
Got married in Long Island NY 17 years ago
I held my daughter in my arms and cut her cord when she was born
Attended many Mommy and me groups with my daughter
Rode horses with my 3 year old daughter on top of Hollywood sign
Vacationed with family in Maui
Vacationed with family in Santa Fe New Mexico
Had snowball fights with my daughter in Santa Fe on her first encounter with snow
Attended family reunion in Foxford Ireland St. Patrick's Day 2008
Rode horses with my daughter thru Ashford Castle and the standing sets from John Wayne's "The Quiet Man" 2 separate times.
Read to my daughter almost every night since she was little
Created and wrote in a series of Journals for my daughter that capture the Magic
Travel:
Walked on the Great Wall In PRC in 1978
Traveled and visited the following States: 1. Oregon, 2. Hawaii 3. Nevada 4. New Jersey 5. Connecticut 6. Mass 7. South Carolina 8. Colorado 9. Vermont 10, Mich. 11. Illinois 12. New Mexico 13 Georgia 14. California 15. Penn 16. Utah 17. Texas 18. Ohio 19. Florida 20. Virginia 21. Maryland 22. Indiana 23. Wisconsin 24. Washington and Wash DC and Puerto Rico
Traveled and visited the following Countries: 1. China 2. Yugoslavia 3. Dominican Republic 4. Mexico 5. France 6, Bahamas 7. Canada 8. Ireland 9. Northern Ireland 10. Malta
Visited friend in Dominican Republic and stayed at Casa del Campo Resort
Rowed a row boat in San Francisco Harbor
Vacationed with girlfriend in Puerto Rico
Vacationed with girlfriend in Quebec
Went on Helicopter ride in Maui
Went Scuba Diving in Maui
Scouted for movies in the Bahamas, Eleutria, Tijuana Mexico, Puerto Rico and Vancouver Canada
Stayed @ El Convento Hotel in Old San Juan Puerto Rico
Visited parent's country Ireland 2 times in 3 years reuniting with my Irish family from 5 countries
Stayed in Presidential Suite @ Ashford Castle, Cong, Ireland
Reading:
750 -1,000 Books on
Acting
Film
Memoirs
Fiction
Empowerment/Motivation/Success/leadership/Entrepreneurship/Business
Non-Fiction
Theater:
Saw numerous plays on Broadway and off Broadway including some of the following:
Glen Garry Glenn Ross
Cuba and His Teddy Bear starring Robert Diniro
Contribution:
Volunteered @ Anthony Robbins Foundation Youth leadership Camp
Volunteer @ Operation Gratitude
Public Speaking:
Overcame extreme shyness
Gave 1st public speech in 1970's in Chicago
Spoke of Filmmking Panel for Flash Forward
Gave warm up speeches for sales seminars for Tony Robbin's reps
Joined Toastmaster and gave 3 speeches
Like Helen Keller said "Life is a Daring Adventure or It Is Nothing". My life has been a Daring Adventure and the adventure continues as I continue to create and recreate myself
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Thought for the Day - Mental Attitude
"Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude."
-Thomas Jefferson
-Thomas Jefferson
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Sunday, January 09, 2011
Saturday, January 08, 2011
Friday, January 07, 2011
Saturday, January 01, 2011
Happy New Year 2011 - Make This Your Best Year Ever
A Happy New Year to all my family in Ireland, England, Australia, Canada, Germany and the United States, and to all my friends, colleagues and to everyone who reads my blog. Best wishes for a happy, successful, productive and prosperous New Year.....
U2 - New Year's Day
U2 - New Year's Day
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Merry Christmas - Happy New Year
I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and a Wish for Your Best Year Ever........
Friday, December 24, 2010
Thought For the Day - May the Best of Your Yesterdays
"May the Best of Your Yesterdays Be the Worst of Your Tomorrows".
-- From Forever Young CD
-- From Forever Young CD
Thursday, December 23, 2010
NY State Of Mind
I'm finished filming the movie "Beneath the Darkness" in Texas and I'm headed to NY for the Holidays and I'm in a New York State of Mind......
Thought For the Day - Get Committed
"There's a difference between interest and commitment. When you're interested in doing something, you do it only when circumstance permit. When you're committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results.”
--Elving J Dowling
--Elving J Dowling
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Thought For the Day - Be Willing
"Be willing to do the things today others don't do in order to have the things tomorrow others won't have".
-- Les Brown
-- Les Brown
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Thought For the Day - Lives Touched
"Measure the success of your days by the lives touched vs the hours passed."
--Robin Sharma
--Robin Sharma
Monday, December 20, 2010
Thought For the Day - Be Bold and Daring
"The greatest mistake you can make in life is to continually be afraid you will make one. It is from our
mistakes that our greatest learning comes from. So be bold and daring onyour journey ... life is waiting to help you succeed, and you will."
-- John E Regan
mistakes that our greatest learning comes from. So be bold and daring onyour journey ... life is waiting to help you succeed, and you will."
-- John E Regan
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
Thought For the Day - Expect Trouble
"Expect trouble as an inevitable part of life, and when it comes, hold your head high. Look it squarely in the eye, and say, "I will be bigger than you. You cannot defeat me".
-- Ann Landers
-- Ann Landers
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Thought For the Day - Written Goals
"People with clear, written goals, accomplish far more in a shorter period of time than people
without them could ever imagine."
— Brian Tracy
without them could ever imagine."
— Brian Tracy
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Thought For the Day - Holiday Wishes
"May you have all that you want, and more than you need."
--Chiao Kee
--Chiao Kee
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Thought For the Day - Strain Your Potential
"I will strain my potential until it cries for mercy."
— Og Mandino:
— Og Mandino:
Monday, December 13, 2010
Thought For the Day - Shine Like a Rainbow
"I went and stood on a mountain
and I had a little talk with the sky and it showed me a rainbow
and it said...
You got to shine like that rainbow for everyone to see....
I got to shine like a rainbow for everyone to see"
--- Sonny Rhodes Blues Legend - Smithville Texas
and I had a little talk with the sky and it showed me a rainbow
and it said...
You got to shine like that rainbow for everyone to see....
I got to shine like a rainbow for everyone to see"
--- Sonny Rhodes Blues Legend - Smithville Texas
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
Thought For the Day - Be Extraordinary
"Overcome the notion that you must be regular. It robs you of the chance to be extraordinary"
-- Uta Hagen
-- Uta Hagen
Thursday, December 09, 2010
Thought For the Day - Wish for More Skills
"Don’t wish for fewer problems, wish for more skills. Don’t wish for less challenges, wish for more wisdom. "
- Earl Shoaf
- Earl Shoaf
Wednesday, December 08, 2010
Thought For the Day - Don't Dabble
"One reason so few of us achieve what we truly want is that we never direct our focus; we never concentrate our power. Most people dabble their way through life, never deciding to master anything in particular."
--Tony Robbins
--Tony Robbins
Tuesday, December 07, 2010
Thought For the Day - Do What You Can Do
"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do."
-- John Wooden
-- John Wooden
Monday, December 06, 2010
Thought for the Day - Life is a Journey
"Life is not a trip; it's a journey. And the difference between the two is this: a trip is predictable, a journey is not."
-- Tony Robbins
-- Tony Robbins
Sunday, December 05, 2010
Saturday, December 04, 2010
Friday, December 03, 2010
Thought For the Day - Walk Boldly Through Obstacles
"Most of our obstacles would melt away if, instead of cowering before them, we should make up our minds to walk boldly through them."
—Orison Swett Marden
—Orison Swett Marden
Thursday, December 02, 2010
Thought For the Day - Surround Yourself with Friends Who Have Your Back
"Surround yourself with people you can trust to take your worst days to the grave, and your best days to the streets.
People who are brutally honest with your best interests at heart.
People who will tell you the things that you don't want to hear & show you the things you don't want to see.
And make sure these people always start with love, not schemes, with curiosity, not judgement.
Choose well."
--Peter S. Parker
People who are brutally honest with your best interests at heart.
People who will tell you the things that you don't want to hear & show you the things you don't want to see.
And make sure these people always start with love, not schemes, with curiosity, not judgement.
Choose well."
--Peter S. Parker
Wednesday, December 01, 2010
Thought For the Day - Join a Crowd with High Standards
"Don't join an easy crowd. You won't grow. Go where the expectations and the demands to perform and achieve are high."
-- Peter S. Parker
-- Peter S. Parker
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