Frank Sinatra Didn't Tune Pianos

What?

That's a quote that a really good friend and mentor shared with me recently. I'm not sure who originally coined that phrase...

Here's the point though.

Ol' Blue Eyes was an absolute master. The Chairman of The Board. Simply the Best.

Man oh man... I absolutely love the man's body of work. There's just something about his music that is timeless and beautiful. He was a great artist.

I'm sure he could tune a piano if he had to. He had the God given talent and an ear for musical notes. He may have even liked to tune a piano every now and then- I don't know.

But, he didn't. Why?

He was a singer and a legendary performer.

As a singer and performer, he obviously LOVED his craft.

My friend was trying to get the point across that if you focus on your strengths, and more specifically, focusing on doing what you love, your passion, enthusiasm and committment can lead to greatness.

When you settle on doing what you like, rather than what you love, you diminish your value on many levels.

As a piano tuner you can make $25 an hour maybe.

As a truly great singer you can make $10 million dollars a year.

Think deeply about that. When you do what you love, the better part of you shines through.

I know it does for me.

When I do what I like rather than what I love, mediocrity rules supreme.

Ouch.

Just a thought. A pretty important thought at that too.

Men's best successes come after their disappointments.

That's a quote from Howard Ward Beecher. He was a 19th century clergy man and philosopher.

Of course, that quote is applicable to all people.

Both men and women can fit into that assertion.

Think about it deeply though.

When I look back on my life, I realize that any real progress happens consistently after disappointment.

Its kinda funny, but, the bigger the disappointment- the bigger the progress.

Why?

I'm not sure.

I think part of the answer lies in the fact that results don't lie.

When I am faced with a result that really sucks, and I am willing to act like a grown up (very rare hahaha), that means I will take responsibility for the results that are happening. And, if there are strong emotions attached to whatever result I am confronting, my motivation increases ten fold to make things right and to move on to better things.

I think that experiencing failure and disappointment provides a humilty that is probably lacking, and the accurate and real feedback that is necessary to succeed for the next attempt at success.

Very interesting quote. Very true.

Who You Hang Out With Has Huge Influence- On You!

It's kinda obvious. And its getting repetitive too. But it is vital-- I believe it is very true.

Who I hang out with, who I associate with, has huge influence on me.

It quietly steers the way I live, the way I think, my moods, and the way I behave.

What a no brainer. It only took me 40 plus years to figure that one out.

I have found consistently that if I hang out with physically fit people, I become fit.
When I hang out with happy folks, I am usually one happy son of a gun.
When I associate with financially successful people, my bad debt reduces.

Pretty effortlessly too. Why is that?

I'm not certain. It just is.

Sadly, the opposite is true too.

It doesn't take much to be miserable when I am around those who are miserable.

Take extra effort and use healthy discretion with who you choose to associate with.

It really matters.

Why Is Anderson Silva Such A Knob?

The answer is simple.

He showboated like a cocky fool and mailed in a mediocre performance at UFC 112. He had absolutely no consideration for the millions of folks (including myself) who spent their hard earned money to watch this pay per view nonsense.

This was an historic event for the UFC promotion as it was their first show in the middle east. The sport of MMA is growing into a world wide phenomenom and UFC president Dana White and Zuffa went to great lengths to put on this show for all the world to see. The location they set up in Abu Dhabi is incredibly breathtaking.

Why would Anderson Silva pull such a stunt? Arrogance? Stupidity?

It makes absolutley no sense.

He is the most freakishly talented fighter in the world of MMA. Mr. Silva is the best. Period.

It (as Joe Rogan has often said) appears as though Anderson is "operating in another dimension-its like he's in The Matrix".

This event was meant to be a set up and pre cursor for Anderson Silva to meet Canadian Georges St. Pierre in the welterweight division. Dana White has made it clear that Anderson Silva doesn't deserve that opportunity.

Dana is right.

Nobody and I mean nobody likes a showboat.

What a knob.

186 lbs and counting! Wooohooo!

That's 30lbs. 30 lbs of unhealthy flab. Gone.

It feels good.

Since making a public committment back in February, I have slowly and methodically lost the weight.

Very Simply Too.

More water rich foods. More physical activity.

That's it.

Most importantly, I have made a committment to mimic and model those folks I know who are physically fit and remain at their ideal weight.

No diets. Barf.

I firmly believe that if there is anything you want in life, just find a mentor or role model that is achieving those goals and behave as they do. Think as they do.

You will likely get what they get. You will likely have what they have.

Pretty cool.

Celebrity Rehab...Puhleeeeeeeze!

I don't get it.

I would like to think that Dr. Drew means well.

There's no doubt that he speaks with authority and comes across as having extensive experience in treating individuals with health issues related to addiction.

But something doesn't seem right.

The challenge with this programme is that it is exploitive in its very nature.

Its like watching a train wreck.

Celebrities who have achieved measurable success in the past are paraded across the small screen as they attempt to get their wrecked and messed up affairs in order (for millions of people to see too).

It leaves little dignity to those celebs who sign up for this circus.

And, I'm sure there is little sympathy among many viewers who witness individuals who have had it all- money, health, fame, and successful careers- flush it all down the toilet.

I suspect that if the participants were serious about getting things in order, they would do so privately and with conviction. Not by showcasing their self imposed challenges on broadcast television.

Maybe Dr. Drew's intentions are sincere. I can't quite place my finger on it, but something is amiss.

In any case, its not pleasant to look upon.

Ratings would suggest the opposite is true.

My guess is that the success rate for those participants might be close to zero.

It makes for dramatic tv though. Don't it?

Jesse James...Dude, What Were You Thinking?

Man oh man.

I just wanna say a couple of things.

And by the way, I'm not jumping on the band wagon and kicking a man while he's down.

We are all human. We all have the potential to make foolish and tragic blunders. We are all fallible in one respect or another.

Lord knows I've done more than my share of really stupid things in the last 40 plus years.

But Jesse, what were you thinking?

I mean c'mon... It's Sandra freakin Bullock!

Dude. Really?

I think the perfect metaphor is this:

It is just like someone getting a cheap cheezeburger at the local greasy spoon, while having filet mignon prepared by a world class gourmet chef waiting at home.

Now there is nothing wrong with cheezeburgers. I understand the appeal. Sometimes it can really hit the spot. If you know what I mean.

But it doesnt make any sense if you got the filet mignon waiting at home. No sense at all.

It appears that Sandra more than went to bat for you in many instances. She is adorable, grounded, and a true gem. I can't imagine her thoughts right now.

I don't think this situation is fixable.

Ouch.