Happy Humpday Wednesday - Black Friday Frenzy

We’re just a few hours short of dedicating a day to giving thanks for all the wonderfulness within our lives.  We normally like to promote the positive to its fullest, but in this instance would could not resist mentioning another day!  Yes, we are anxiously anticipating the Black Friday frenzy that will quickly follow Thanksgiving Day! Let’s talk about the day dedicated to the Wackadoo Freak Show Shoppers of the world (us included)!  

***Men, let us begin by offering our condolences to you.  Putting it nicely... you look like you’ve just been run over by a dump truck :)! It’s not long before you’re sanctioned to the middle of the mall to stand like a statue or if you're lucky enough to find your place among an uncomfortable bench. But we give you kudos for giving it a go. Innocent bystanders placed in the line of fire, YEP, that’s what you are! Your primary purpose is to be expert valet parkers, who can turn that wheel or put the grocery-getter in reverse on the drop of a dime. Finally, we hope you’ve been pumping iron, the loads of bags and coats you get stuck with are enough to substitute your P90X workout for the day.

Now, here’s a little snippet of our past experiences and observations! 

1)      Remember preparation for these Wackadoo Freak Show Shopper began well in advance of Thanksgiving Day. (Thanksgiving is only used to go over the detailed game plan).

*       Deals have been identified, routes are planned, and the shop ‘til you drop mentality is emphasized by the Wackadoo “Leader.”   

2)      This is a great opportunity to catch everyone in their finest moment. 

*      4 A.M., comfortable clothes/shoes, no makeup, hair slicked back (slick rick style), and above all else…coffee breath in full effect!  Fortunately, keeping your distance from dragon breath Debbie should be easy; half of the people you recognize try to do a 2 step past you in order to save face.  This is perfectly fine because not only do you look just as terrible, but more importantly time is of the essence on this day—saying hello could cost you!

3)      Don’t you find it a little odd when parents decide to bring the kids?  We do too! 

*       Some parents have a valid excuse; others knowingly use kids as a decoy for cuteness and a roadblock to the best deals.  Better yet for the parents, screaming babies can potentially drive the competition away. If you’re shopping…don’t be fooled, spot the kids and there’s always a deal right around the corner!

4)      Watch out for other teams (typically working in pairs)! Grandma usually serves as a secret spy and Mom turns into a monster.

*       Never…we repeat NEVER try to take something away from a MOM (especially if there's a thin layer of upper lip sweat--she's been working hard)!  Talk about walking into the Lion’s den. A) It’s not worth it unless you want to see Mama Bear’s protective instincts B) It’s probably the number one item on precious little Timmy’s list to “Santa,” --the odds of an amicable ending is not likely C) Most importantly, what’s that small shadow behind mom? OOPSIE…That’s no shadow, yep you got it…Grandma is bearing that sweet innocent smile but don’t be fooled she’s definitely got a weapon (purse) in hand.  

After celebrating the Black Friday Frenzy it's okay and perfectly normal to feel like you've witnessed a soon to be released episode of Hoarders.  Please share because we’d love to hear your experiences too!  

Firework or Fizzler?!? Which are you?

It’s a tough world out there and it's more competitive than ever! In these conditions being confident is key to your success.  But how can you maintain your confidence when other people are doubting you and your abilities?  Worse than that, at times, you doubt yourself.

Typically, negative and mean comments can cause us to question ourselves.  Has your more timid, less confident, less radiant self made an appearance at times?  HELLO, yes...  we've all been there! Whether it's from a coach, boss, parent or peer we've learned the hard way that  hurtful comments can be fueled and further encouraged when acting like an insecure jackwagon.  Unfortunately, whatever causes your lack of trust in yourself,  there's only ONE person to blame if you believe it --- for the answer --->  just look in the mirror!  In these instances we challenge you to bring out your inner competitor.  Your attitude needs to be " BRING IT ON      (insert name or bad word....or both )   !" 

There is one small caveat, however,  ALWAYS remember THE most important ingredient is showing what you have inside...being the best YOU, that YOU can be.  Don’t get so caught up in REVENGE that you become distracted!  Instead, you must work your game plan to achieve your life goals!  Reaching those goals is the sweetest reward and the ultimate payback to the skeptics trying to pull you down.

Always hold your head high and set those shoulders back to let the world know you have worked for everything you have in your life and you're not about to stop. A bad day, a bad game can't set you back. Don't whine and don't cry, just continue to give it your best. Just like the song says:  You’re a Firework!

Here are a few quick tips for success:
*Put yourself in opportunities to prove your value
*Never let what others think get in the way of your dreams
*Let the doubt of others serve as the fuel to your fire
*Trust in the truth! The truth always reveals itself

Now let's ignite the light...and let it shine!  Stay tuned for some exciting news next week. T minus 9 days (: SHHHH :)

Happy Friday!!!

Happy Friday!!! We know most of you have been working/practicing for the weekend (some of you may even be working or playing this weekend)! We hope that this video can provide a little mental relief during your Friday and serve as a little extra motivation for you to do something incredible this weekend!

The video features a group of guys known as Dude Perfect who are constantly stretching the limits and proving what is thought as IMPOSSIBLE to be POSSIBLE. It's a little long but we encourage you to at least watch a little and try to do the same within your life---stretch the limits with something you're passionate about! Whether its proving doubters YOU CAN win a 4th state Championship (GO LENAPE!) in a row or building your own Photography Brand beyond what anyone believes, it's time for you to take action and DO IT---GO AFTER IT! Why not?! What a PERFECT OPPORTUNITY before the Holidays! :) We too plan to work this weekend and will be sharing something exciting with you soon!

Also, a special thank you (we know its corny..but true) if you are reading our posts, we hope you can find at least 1 thing to be useful in your life!

Playing not to lose? You’ve already lost!

OH BOY, here we go again! We can guarantee that anyone who’s participated in or been a fan of athletics has witnessed the playing not to lose paralysis.

Nothing is more frustrating from a fan’s perspective then when the dreaded “uh oh” look appears on the faces of a team that’s letting the lead slip away. They’ve allowed the momentum to switch to their opponent, and now they look SCARED! For whatever reason, people seem to take on a minimize mistakes mentality and become risk-fakers instead of risk-takers. They’ve stopped performing to their potential and have been paralyzed by the fear of losing!

Some teams/players seem to have made it a reoccurring habit; essentially driving their loyal fans insane (DA BEARS!). What those fans, who are so critical of the teams they follow may not realize, is that they may be doing the exact same thing in their given profession. Playing not to lose in life is no way to live. So how do we avoid setting the cruise control, and instead, PLAY to WIN as athletes and professionals?

1. Willing to take risks allows you to put yourself ahead and the opponents away for good. Ever heard the equation big risks=big rewards or fortune rewards bravery?

2. Ignore the negative (“here we go again” “I hope we don’t blow it”) thoughts from creeping in. If you feel yourself   tensing up change your thoughts immediately! The power of positive thinking is crucial to maintaining an advantage. You must always believe in yourself and prove the doubters wrong!

3. No surrender, do not let up and keep the pedal to the metal.

 

Roots

Roots, Roots, Roots! Think of roots in terms of your foundation, strength and the very things that keep you grounded when all else fails. Take a moment to reflect on the history of your roots…the experiences you’ve had and ancestors of your past. Where did you come from and where have you been? The experiences that come along with where we’ve come from and where we’ve been tend to have a way of shaping us, without even knowing it.  Often times, our past can give us the strength and courage as we embark on new challenges of the future! There can be instances of beauty even in some gnarly and twisted experiences. Those times when you’ve thought, I will never to be like that…or I promise not make the same mistakes ____ did!  Most importantly, be thankful for your roots, for they have shaped all that’s wonderful about YOU!

We couldn’t help but think of roots as the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree from 2010 was being hoisted from its home. Can you imagine the roots once attached to this 74 ft. tall Norway Spruce J

11-11-10

Happy Veterans Day! Courage is not only marked by the words we speak, but by the actions we take. In life, this may mean standing up for someone who is being bullied.  In sports, this may mean stealing home plate when your team is down by a run. But let us always remember that the ultimate test of courage resonates with past, present, and future Veterans. 

"This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave."  -Elmer Davis

If you haven't done so already, please be sure to take a moment and give thanks to the special Veterans in your life! Thank you Dad, we love you!

I've Got GOALS...and Soul

There is 1 important commonality in many instances of success. Any guesses? Think back to a time when you worked hard to achieve something that meant so much to you or your team. While you were working toward that special something, you had in mind or could visualize what it was going to take to get what you desired, call it a plan. Whether it was an A on a paper, a team award, a promotion for a job, or as simple as losing 10 pounds ---YOU were driven to get exactly what you wanted, and I can bet it was quite fulfilling when you finally did.

Those end results are what we would call GOALS (yes we are so profound) and everything that is worth anything in life requires setting goals. Whether it is being that successful athlete, successful coworker or building a successful family you must have the ability to dream up something magical (THE GOAL) and work diligently until it becomes reality (SUCCESS). Here is our recipe for GOAL setting:

G+O+A+L=S (success)


Go big or go home! Always shoot for the stars when it comes to setting your goals.
Organize a plan. How will you attain your goals and what do you need to do to get there? Think small incremental steps and picture the end result.
Assess. Take time to reflect and re-evaluate your goals. It’s okay to make changes to your plan, but never give up!
Love what you do. You’ll be willing to do whatever it takes to make your goals become reality.
SUCCESS, Cherish and enjoy the moment, then get back on the GOAL trail.