What makes some people so successful in their career or life’s pursuits where it seems that everything they touch turns to gold?  On the flip side, how come a lot of other people we know seem to struggle and toil over the same issues time and time again?

Let me propose to you that the first person knows something or has something that the second person does not.  Would you agree with that?  I think most of you would.  So what is it?  That’s the million dollar question.  If you could just find out what that thing is and how you can get it, that would be the real solution to all your struggles in life.

I’ll pose a few scenarios to you;  And since this site is really about fitness, the first one will be about that …Why is it some people never manage the time to stay in shape, while others run a few miles each day even though their lives are just as busy?  They have the Slight Edge!  It’s there in your life whether you know it or not.  It’s either working for you or against you.  Your health is the most prized possession you have.  Yet many people don’t give their prized possession the attention it deserves. You wouldn’t expect to eat a double cheeseburger for lunch and then keel over with heart attack from it.  Not today and not tomorrow.  But a lifetime of that type of eating will certainly put you on that path.  So it’s not the 1 junk food meal, it’s the thousands over a lifetime.  Eating fresh fruit, complex carbs, lean protein and such will give your body what it needs. It’s easy to eat right and it’s easy to not eat right.  Both are easy, but in the long run they have dramatically different outcomes.

The same is true for exercise.  Not doing a bit of exercise for a week or so, won’t put your body in sad shape, but a lifetime of no exercise will certainly put the pounds on. A few workouts a week, twenty minutes here doing a fast walk or run, doing some resistance exercises here and there, all add up to what your body needs.  Both of these examples show the slight edge in our life.  A little bit each day will either reward us, or put us on the wrong path.  Yet the day we do it, just that one day in time doesn’t have much of an effect.  The days add up and the slight edge has worked for us.

The second example is finances.  It’s the same story a lot of you have heard.  Two people age 24 talk about retirement and how to invest to make a million bucks by age 65.  One takes steps, small as they are and invest 2,000 dollars a year for 6 years.  The other just meanders through life not giving much thought to retirement and then meets his friend again at year 7.  He asks his friend how he’s doing and how are his investment plans going.  His friend says ‘I’m all done!”  At age 65 by the magic of TIME his friend will have a million dollars even though he doesn’t have to invest 2 cents more here at age 31.  So the friend who didn’t start investing wants to be in the same shape and starts his trek towards the million dollars at age 65.  The only difference is, he now has to invest 2000 dollars a year until he’s 62 to reach that mark.  His procrastination cost him 33 years!

So the slight edge in life can have a profound effect.  But it’s never to late to start.  It’s not simply “Will Power” that will get you there.  All it is is TIME.  Do a little each day, regardless of the goal and you will achieve it.

So get off your (you know what) and get on the “Slight Edge” of life and succeed!

If you enjoyed this post and hopefully found it useful, please take a moment and click “SHARE” below and give it a little Tweet up top.  Thanks!

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Motivational Monday’s

I came across this book and it’s leadership techniques when I was out in California at our annual Coach’s Summit.  Our team are so motivated to help people reach their fitness and nutrition goals AND to help other coach’s along their path to fitness, fun and financial freedom that we focus a lot on leadership and development.

The principles found in this “must read” book 212 Degrees by S.L. Parker and Mac Anderson are designed to help get you on the right track to success.  You can apply these thoughts and principals to just about any area of your life and that’s why I wanted to share this quick video with you.  Should you care to get a copy of this book, please visit their site at “Walkthetalk“.  I’m not an affiliate and I receive NO financial benefit from this referral.  My ONLY goal is to help you reach what ever goal you set for yourself.  And if that means I do it for free and you succeed, I count that as a win in my book!

Also, if you need a few other resources to help you, check out an earlier post, “Self Help Books To Get You There“.

Enjoy!  (And don’t forget to click on “SHARE” at the bottom and then a little “Tweet” up top).

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Hi There!

No Push-ups, No Sit-ups, No Lunges, No Cardio ….No Sweat!

Just letting you have a peak into my typical weekend morning waking up with Sam!

Well, I just wanted to bring you into my “Mr. Rogers Neighborhood” so to speak, so I got my camera out this morning, whistled for my loyal buddy Samson, leash in hand and off we went.  Just a quick walk out the door to the dock and a view of my neighborhood that I wake up to every morning.  Well usually I’m out the door at O’Dark thirty, but you get the drift as I see it on weekends.

I’m still a little sleepy as I describe the view, but I hope you enjoy seeing the water, hear th birds and see what beauty is all around us, even my very furry friend “Samson”.  Enjoy…

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My Weight Loss Story

I’ve been wanting to write this for some time now but never really got around to it.  So, pen in hand…uh…keyboard at the ready, …here I go.

I can’t say that I was overweight, unless I go by the CDC center’s guidelines on obesity which says that my BMI greater than 30 I would be obese.  Well then, maybe a tad, but you never would have known it for the golf shirts.  The start of my weight loss journey found me in a hotel room in Atlanta, GA, lying on the bed, eating a doughnut while flipping through the TV after a hard day at work.  Feeling lethargic would be saying it mildly.  I came across the at home workout program, P90X infomercial.  I was amazed at what I saw.   Those guys on TV were moving, jumping, doing pull ups, push ups and things I never knew existed.  It looked hard, it looked like a killer workout but it looked like it got results!  Now this was truth TV.

I never knew you could get results by doing a workout at home.  I’ve never been one to workout at home with a DVD either.  Now I knew there was no magic pill to weight loss, but seeing this P90X workout made my mind say, “Here’s the magic pill”.  I picked up the phone, ordered it and haven’t looked back since.

The P90X workout came in the mail that week and I eagerly opened it and read all the material.  I set my workout journey to begin on the following Monday with doing my “fit test” on Sunday.  My wife watched while I was doing my fit test and laughed a few times.  How encouraging was that?  Actually it pushed me harder and helped to cement my resolve.  I threw the mental switch in my mind that I was going to do this, stick to it and get in shape, “the BEST shape of my life”!  Part of the fit test included doing pull ups.  Easy right?  Wrong!  Wide grip, overhand I did an amazing 1 and ¾.  Very embarrassing.

Monday morning 4 am came bright and early,…well not so bright, but early.  My at home workout with P90X started by popping in the DVD “Chest and Back”.  So what do you think I did?  Lots of push ups and lots of pull ups.  Well, lots of attempts anyway.  I logged all of my results on a P90X workout sheet .  All throughout the P90X workout, Tony Horton kept telling me to “do my best and forget the rest”.  That’s what I did, my best.  I couldn’t do near as many as everyone on the workouts, but I  felt a great accomplishment at having started the ball rolling and moved past the inertia keeping me in a life of unhealthy living with no exercise.  And guys, playing golf riding in a golf cart doesn’t count as exercise.

So I’m not going to go through all of the 12 DVD’s that come with P90X at home workout like Chest and Back, Plyometrics, Shoulders and Arms, Yoga, Legs and Back, Kenpo, Stretch, Core Synergistics, Chest shoulders and Triceps, Back and Biceps, Cardio and Ab Ripper but to tell you that it is a 90 day at home workout program that will absolutely change your life.  How did it change mine?  I’m glad you asked.

I went from weighing 187 lbs. to 162 lbs. in 90 days!  Now that’s true weight loss! You can see my before and after photo here.  Did I change or what?  Does it work or not?  Pictures don’t lie,…well if I photo-shopped them they would, but I’m NOT that smart.

I believed in this program so much that I clicked on one little button on my online website that Beachbody gave me when I ordered P90X and I became “A Coach”.  Now I get to encourage others to start their at home workout journey just like me and see success in weight loss, just like me.  And I get paid to do it.  Now that’s just icing on the cake… not that I’m eating it mind you

So there you have it.  Lots of sweat left on the floor, lots of fat burning and fat loss and I’m on my way to being in the best shape of my life.

If you think this article was helpful, please take a moment and “Share it” using the button below so some other “lethargic, doughnut eating, hard worker” can discover the same “magic pill” that I did.

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Motivational Monday’s

Patience, patience,….patience………….Come On Already!!!!!!

That’s how we are in life right?  It seems that we lack the one thing that will help us to lead healthier, calmer, less stressful lives.  Or am I the only one that finds himself looking at the traffic light waiting, counting the seconds until it turns green?  Then pushing that car in front of me off the white line with my mind?  Sheesh, you’d think they’d be ready for the green light just like me and hit the gas.

Then there’s driving on the highway.  Why can’t we be satisfied with being “behind” someone?  We want to get around, pull in front and be the leader, regardless if we’re speeding.

Or what about that phone call you’re waiting on?  You’ve planned for this all week, scheduled the call and as you wait for that clock to tick to the appointed time you pace back and forth trying to occupy your mind with anything other than watching the clock.

Take a look at my little Samson in the picture.  He’s patiently waiting on his master.  My wife actually.  She’s in the bathroom doing things that only women know about.  You know guys, the things that make them the most beautiful women in the world when she opens that door and asks “How do I look”?  Samson is waiting, and waiting and waiting.  He knows that when she comes out, the harness will go on and he’ll be able to walk around out in the world “reading his newspaper” enjoying that morning walk he looks for every day.  He doesn’t complain, or moan, or gripe, but when that door opens he springs to life all happy, wiggly and running in circles.

As I walk out the door this morning, I’m taking his example and making a point of slowing down, not rushing through life, enjoying what comes my way and basically letting some things just happen in the normal course of time.  why rush?  Life seems to pass by way to quick anyway.  Especially since I just hit #49 with the candles to prove it.  Maybe by doing this, I’ll have less stress today.  I’ll let ya know!

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Motivational Monday’s

Do A Brain Dump

What gets you up in the morning? What things do you look forward to, or who do you have on your mind that you want to go see?

Waking up and getting started to a brand new fresh day is something we should all look forward to. I know that at times in our lives we all have some things that are troublesome, fearful or downright dreadful that we have to contend with each day. But for the most part, we generally have a day in front of us that we can make it what we want it to be.

I recently sat in front of Darren Hardy who at the ripe age of 18 was earning a 6 figure income and is now Publisher of Success Magazine. He brought many great and new insights into our conversation, encouraging me in ways that I have never thought possible. Just being around him made me feel like a new person. Drawing upon his strength, wisdom, knowledge and experience was truly a once in a life time occurrence. (unless I get a special invitation some time in the future to see him again).

One of the things that he said to me was an analogy of how our lives can be compared to a glass of dirty water. Picture a glass filled with the dirtiest, muckiest muddy water you can think of and then apply that to how our mind and brains are at times. We so fill our lives with stuff, junk and issues that are so unimportant, irrelevant and useless that our brains and mind are like this glass of dirty water. Good for nothing.

So how do we purge that crap from our minds? With the glass of dirty water we could just dump it out, wash it and refill it. But we can’t do that with our minds. But what we can do is take that glass of water, set it under a tap running with fresh clean water and let the glass be purged of the dirty water by the constant flow of fresh, clean, life giving water flowing into it.

That’s what we can do with our minds and our lives too. We can start introducing new things that help us rather than hurt or hinder our lives. For example, it’s been said that we are most like the 5 people that we surround ourselves with. Who are those people in your life right now, not contributing to a good healthy you? You might just need to consider making new friends who will help you succeed in life instead of those who are holding you back or keeping you trodden down. Examine all the things in your life this way, regardless if it’s friends, food, fitness or whatever. Do a little today, a little tomorrow and slowly purge that crap from your life and eventually you’ll look back and see that you’ve changed tracks and now are on the path to freedom, success and a more rewarding life.

So wake up today, grab a new handle on life, create new habits, meet new friends, eat a more healthy meal, exercise today and see if what I’m telling you won’t make an improvement in your life! Guaranteed!

Decide this today, Commit to it, and experience Success!

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Motivational Monday’s

Second Chances

Have you ever gone to the dentist for a routine cleaning and come away feeling refreshed and new and like the slate has been wiped clean? (no pun intended) Well the other day I had my regularly scheduled visit and I felt just that way upon leaving the dentist office. It wasn’t that I had a bad report or anything, on the contrary everything was great.

But later that night I had the time to reflect a bit on my teeth being cleaned and how great they felt right at that moment. Now I regularly brush, do the oral hygiene bit and all, but I could be better at some of the things that go the extra mile. Like using the water pick every day. My decision that night was to take this second chance since my teeth were primed and ready to receive the royal treatment each and every day. So I feel good about having a second chance.

What about eating right or exercising? I always know in my mind that if I don’t succeed one day with eating healthy foods or doing that exercise, then I have a brand new day the next day. My second chance. Life is great that way. We can wake up and know that today is a new day, starting out fresh to make things happen right.

How about at work? You’ve struggled with that co-worker over the week, or put off doing that project or task. Again, today is your second chance. Meet that someone at work and before any work related business happens, tell them “Good Morning, How are you today?” Start the day off right with genuine concern and cheerfulness towards others. Eat that frog of a task. You know the one. It’s been lying on your desk for weeks. Go ahead, take a big bite and like the comedian says “get’er done”.

So what’s your second chance today? Write and comment below and let me and others know what it is. When we share our life struggle, they don’t seem as hard to take, so share away!

Decide, Commit, Succeed!

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I recently met a new friend, Kim, who was walking by and noticed that I was reading a motivational book.  Asking what I was reading, I responded that I was reading “Eat That Frog” by Brian Tracy.  This led to some good conversation about inspirational and motivational books to help you.  I truly believe from that encounter that Kim is going to become a good friend.  You can look at person and tell very quickly that they have a heart that cares for others, a drive that moves them forward in life and a DNA, or “Determined Natural Ambition” that sets them apart from others.

We met again and enjoyed some great conversation and also talked a bit more about books that help us to grow.  I was trying to recall some that I had recently read, but I’ve read so many and started and stopped others only to pick up another one, that I could only name a few at that time.  Inspired by our conversation, I came home and looked on my bookshelf.  I have over 50 at a quick glance.  I decided that I would grab a few of my favorites off the shelf and just put them here as a recommendation for you to read at some point in your life.  They’re all great and I’ll add to this list at a later time, but for now here’s a few to get you started…

• EAT THAT FROG by Brian Tracy – His sub title of “21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time” truly fits what’s inside the cover.  From planning your day to focusing on results to motivating yourself into action are just a few of the topics covered.
• SPARK by John Ratey – is a great book to read about how the mind and the body interact to help keep us healthy and strong.  Our brains are much like muscles that can grow with use or wither from inactivity.
• FAILING FORWARD by John C Maxwell – What makes achievers excel?  Why do some people skyrocket while others plummet?  These are just some openers that John speaks to in this book.
• WHO MOVED MY CHEESE by Spencer Johnson – How we deal with change in our lives so that we can enjoy less stress and more success in our work and our life.
• THE MAGIC LAMP by Keith Ellis – “Goal Setting for People Who Hate Setting Goals”.  This book was originally recommended to me by my good friend joey Petri and I’ve found that this book is very helpful for me in gaining momentum.  there is a process to the madness called “L.A.M.P”, but I’ll save that for you to find out what it means.
• GO FOR NO by Richard Fenton and Andrea Waltz – OKay, in a nutshell “Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones, but “No” Can Never Hurt Me”
• MADE TO STICK by Chip Heath and Dan Heath – My friend Tony Horton (author of the famous workout P90X) recommended this book to me.  Why do some ideas thrive while others die?  And how do we improve the chances of our worthy ideas?  This book is AWESOME!  Thanks Tony!
• TRIBES by Seth Godin – Do you want to be a leader or a follower?  Tribes are all the rage these days, but someone has to lead.  Surprisingly that could be YOU!
• THE SLIGHT EDGE by Jeff Olson – My good friend Judy Zavislak has shared this book with me and I must say it’s one that has really made a huge impact on my life.  The slight edge over time will make me into a person that I cannot even fathom today.  Doing the right thing albeit ever so small, each and every day will help me to succeed in those dreams.
• THE RICHEST MAN IN BABYLON by George S Clason – Take a journey back in time to learn economic tips and tools for financial success that are still applicable today.

All of these titles can be found quickly by clicking on my Recc Books.  But if you are anyone like me, you might already own these treasures.  Just dust them off and give them a read.  Please check back here after you do and share with me and others your comments on these books…or others.

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Some years back I had the great opportunity to visit the country of Bolivia. We were there at the request of some Quechua Indians to help them in building their church. Needless to say we offered other ministry assistance too. But the story here is what I found out about myself.

We could have just stayed home in our little small town America, but we chose to put boots to the ground and show just how committed to the people there we were. Now the grunt work of the trip required that we help with the construction of the building. Most of it was complete except for the stucco interior. Now you have to picture the building. You can see from the photo of the little town of Chayanta that the buildings are mostly adobe brick with a stucco over them.

Now what’s the stucco made of? I’m glad you asked…rock, sand and cement. They mixed it all up into a lot wetter slurry then I would have it I was doing it, but hey…It’s their house. Now one of the component parts of this mixture was the rock and sand. Luckily we had a ready source of this material all around as you can see from the photos. But to get it, we had to take wheel barrows down this little dusty road to a dry riverbed. Shovel in hand, we dug and dug, filling the wheel barrow full. Now the really fun part begins. If any of you have ever put rocks in a wheel barrow, moved it across your front lawn, you know that you’re glad to reach the other part of the yard and be done with it. So up the road we trekked.

Did I fail to mention exactly where we were? OK, to make amends…here it is. Bolivia, home of the Andes’ Mountains with heights of 13,000 feet. We were all around and generally at an altitude of 12,500 feet. Now it’s HARD to breathe up there.

Now after only a few yards, I was ready to give out. My body just could not take it. Walking was one thing, pushing a fully loaded wheel barrow of sand, gravel and rock was another. The little children all around were laughing and giggling. They took the handles from me and off they went up the road to the church. Whew…was I ever thankful.

Now I know that the altitude had a large part to play with it, but I was out of shape. So what is it that’s getting you winded? Walking up the short flight of steps? Washing the car on the weekend, bending over to clean the lower side, gasping for air when you stand back up? Doing that spring yard work, finding out not only has the season changed, but you’ve added a few years and packed on a few pounds.

So what are you waiting for, a kick in the pants? Take this little story of mine (all true) as that kick. Take control of your life, start eating better, do some exercise that matters and get on that dusty road to success! I’m there with ya!

Decide, Commit, Succeed!

PS….on the edge of the road there, it’s many thousands of feet below and we scraped the side many times in our vehicle….YIKES!

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Some times we just need a little help.  A helping hand or a shoulder to lean on. A gentle nudge along the correct path.  A few kind words at just the right moment to change the course of our day.  How many times have you felt this way?  I know that I have and when it happens, it makes all the difference.

As I was thinking of training wheels, you know, the ones on our bikes when we were just learning to ride.  We haven’t learned the balance thing yet.  We need those tiny little wheels on our left and our right to help hold us up.  Honestly they’re probably not holding much of our weight or the bikes, but what they provide in stability and guidance are invaluable to us at that moment.  Just when we needed them.  Then that scary day comes along when our Dad grabs the wrench and starts to remove those wheels.  Our heart starts beating like crazy, and we have a great sense of trepidation over what might happen without our little friends.

But dad doesn’t just let us take off on our own.  He’s right there with us, holding the back of our seat, jogging lightly along side us all the way.  Up and down the street we ride, gaining strength from that feeling there are no wheels.  Now Dad is sweating up a storm by now, but he doesn’t let go yet.  He’s still there.  Solid as a rock.  Somewhere during the whole event he knows just the right moment to let up on his grip.  Lightly holding the seat feeling through the vibration and steadiness of our riding that we’ve become well balanced.  He let’s go and we’re just chatting away as if he’s still there.  Nope, he’s stopped.  And we’re doing it!

We need more Dad’s in our lives like that.  It seems we’re always learning new things, experiencing more that life has to offer.  If we’re lucky, we have those few people in our lives that we can say are the rocks that we can lean on, or the compass when we’re off track and need guidance.  I’ve found that I need training wheels when I’m learning something new.  It helps.  But over time, I gain that confidence and strength to take off on my own.  My mentor watches proudly from the sidelines.  I find success in that thing I’m doing and feel good about it.  All of these things happen to me and I get the joy of being able to share that with others as I gently hold the seat they’re on.

Be someone’s training wheels tomorrow.  Guide them along as they need it, or steady their course.  You’ll find more joy in the day when you’ve given this gift and stand back proud of that person’s success.

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