Fitness Bootcamp for Lent

Those who have read my blog for a long time know that I get serious about a commitment for Lent each year.  I try to give up something difficult and this requires that I find unusual discipline to succeed. 

In 2011 I went Vegan.  This remains my hardest Lent adventure (until this year).  I even wrote a separate blog about the experience, 40 Days Vegan, which continued with a part-time "Vegan Leaning" lifestyle for several months after Lent ended.

2012 came with my giving up all alcohol.   This was only hard as SXSW, my wedding anniversary, and St. Partick's day all fell during Lent, but I survived with ease.

Processed sugar was my target in 2013.  This one was hard because they sneak it into everything (Catsup, etc..).... so while I was not always as successful as I hoped, I did manage a fairly successful Lent sacrifice.

This year I decided to go a different direction.  Instead of giving up something, I added something difficult that will require sacrifice, dedication and an unparalleled commitment.  I joined an early morning fitness bootcamp program.  The 7:00 AM class takes place near downtown three days a week, and if I am not traveling, I am present with the trainer, who is working me harder than anything I have ever experienced.

Two weeks into Lent (I admit it - I started a few days late because of SXSW) I am doubting the logic behind this choice, but there are moments when I am enjoying this festival of pain.  I am sore, exhausted, and feeling the burn in muscles that have never been worked ever.... but I will be back out there next time.

Ryan Nail is the owner of Corefit Training in Austin.  He has been holding these morning workouts for seven years, and he has a great combination of compassion and Drill Sargent. He works each person in the class based on their level of fitness and experience, but he requires each person to give 100% for the hour they are in his charge.

While I have never been much of an athlete, I feel improvement in just a few sessions.  

Along with my commitment to the workouts is also the dedication to making better food choices.  I have been using the My Fitness Pal app on my iPhone since January and tracking all my food and drink choices.  It has become like a game to not go over the calorie recommendations, while still eating healthy.  Turns out the sweets and other crap we snack on are all wasted calories.  The combination of  selecting the right foods and exercising (which started before the bootcamp) is already showing in my belt.  

I look forward to completing my 2 months in the fitness bootcamp for Lent.  Heck, I might even stay involved longer.  

If you live in Austin, TX.... and want to know more about Corefit... check out Ryan's website http://traincorefit.com/

Have A Great Day

thom singer

Create Your Own University

Do you study at the feet of others in your industry?

I am not talking about literally sitting at their feet (yikes, maybe their shoes smell bad!), but I am serious about studying how others are achieving their successes. Knowing who they are is not enough, you must observe and learn.... taking the parts that will work for you and importing them into your own life.

This does not necessarily mean you have to personally know all the "industry giants" and meet with them face-to-face. I know lots of people who stalk industry leaders and hope they will magically lift them to the next level. The reality is those who are on top of the heap are busy, (and some are jerks who do not want to help you - even if they had the time) and too many up-and-comers are jockeying for their attention. Expecting them to invest in teaching you is not realistic.

If you want to be at the top of your field, but do not know how to get there, you need to become a student of success. Do not expect a miracle or lucky break, as those rarely happen in the same way they do in the movies. It is not about meeting a famous success story and copying their life, but rather seeing all that is happening around your industry and interpreting how to use what you have learned to construct your own victories.

I suggest you create your own university and always be learning. Everyone in your industry (and beyond) will instruct you how to succeed. They do not even need to know they are teaching you. We always can learn from others, whether they know it or not!

Over a decade ago I became fascinated with the business of "Professional Speaking". Long before I was ever paid to talk I studied speakers. Everything they did helped educate me for my future in the business. I enjoyed watching anyone who presented (professionals and others) and started to study how people utilized the spoken word to inspire, educate and motivate audiences.

I called this "Speaker's University", and the student body was one.... ME!

But the faculty was unlimited. Professional speakers, authors, entrepreneurs, politicians, preachers, coaches, co-workers, entertainers, sales professionals, etc... Anytime someone spoke to an audience I took copious notes on as much their speaking style as I did the information they were sharing with the audience.

I have watched all the Democrat and Republican National Conventions on television since 1992 with an eye for how each speaker chose their words. At every business convention I have attended my ear was tuned on the vocal inflections of the guru's. In church the priests manner of relating to his flock was observed. Annual State of the Union Address: Extra Credit!!! Everybody who was on stage was my "Speaker's University" professor.

I joined speaking organizations and read everything I could get my hands on about the industry (the National Speakers Association's "Speaker Magazine" is a great resource, and you do not need to be a member of the organization to subscribe to the publication).

I also spoke to any and every audience I could find. I set a goal to speak 50 times a year, as much like Malcolm Gladwell's 10,000 hour theory (did you read Outliers?), I knew that doing was what would make me great, not just studying! In 2008 I gave 48 talks. 2009 it was 53. In 2010 I will top 65 presentations. I have give close to 500 presentations, teleconferences, and webinars in total.

Does this make me a better professional speaker? YES IT DOES! Many people who speak at conferences and other events have never invested five minutes in thinking about the real art and science that goes into creating meaningful connections with the audience. They are on stage for a variety of reasons, but it is often not because they honor and admire the industry of speaking. I love working in this business and will continue to study at "Speaker's University" for the rest of my life. There is no graduation ceremony!

If you set out to learn the ins and outs of your industry, and the people who work in the business, you will become great. Do not limit your study to the top tier industry leaders. I have learned a lot from lousy speakers! (and not just what NOT to do, everyone has something good inside them that can contribute to your education). Training yourself be an enthusiastic and open minded student will bring you more success.

Avoid being critical of the people you observe. There are many paths to success and when you discredit your peers for how they are navigating their careers (as long as they are being ethical) you are missing out on valuable lessons that could help you reach your own goals. You need not adopt every idea, concept, action or practice that you uncover.... but you should try to understand how and why those items are working (or not working) for others.

Being a student means you have to check your ego at the door, as it is admitting you do not know all the answers. No matter your personal levels of success, you can still learn. The best of the best that I have ever seen are always stretching and growing. Be open to the great supply of knowledge that others in your industry can impart into your life.

Create your own university and learn all you can every single day.

Have A Great Day.

thom

22 Random Suggestions For A Better Life

22 Random Suggestions For A Better Life in 2010

1. Do something BIGGER than you have done it before. Go big and whatever you do in a spectacular fashion. Make a mark on the world. Do not be timid.

2. Break ties with people who are holding you back or not supportive of your goals. You are influenced by those around you and your success is linked to the character of the people with whom you associate.

3. My brother Bob says his motto for 2010 is "Have Fun!"--- wow, simple but powerful. Embrace the idea of "have fun" everyday and allow it to guide your decisions!

4. Read more books. Read something educational daily (even just 20-30 minutes a day will get you through over 12 books) and you will expand your view of the world.

5. Bring the joy of the holiday season with you all year round. We spend so much time smiling and wishing others well during December.... do that all year long.

6. Remember we are all "works in progress". Take a second look at some people you discredited in the past and give them a second chance. Too often we judge the people in our life based on observations that are no longer relevant.

7. Monitor if you are a person who supports others ideas, goals, hopes and dreams... or if you are the type of person who is quick to criticize. Don't fool yourself about the answer. Many critical people lie to themselves while knocking others off their path. Be one who encourages others and you will see people do the same for you.

8. Reach out to a long lost friend and say Hello. You will touch their heart to know that you really care about them.

9. Let your friends know that you're always available if they need a shoulder to cry on or a friend to lean on. Then the hard part.... NO MATTER HOW BUSY YOU ARE... actually be there for them when they need you.

10. Embrace a new technology. Don't hide from the new new things.

11. Take more naps.

12. Eat at restaurants you have never been to before... And try new a variety of ethnic foods!

13. Know in advance who are the ten people you would most like to meet and spend time with in your extended community. Also know know what you would ask of them when given the chance to have a conversation.

14. Make people feel smart, they will remember you for it. Too often people try to make themselves look smart, and thus they bore the people around them. Take an interest in others unique knowledge of the world and you will find them liking you more.

15. Send a minimum of two hand written notes a week to honor others or to say "thank you" to those who impact your world. The small investment of time to write these notes equals 104 positive touches you will make on people. Who is to say one of them will not be so impressed by your gesture that they will send you an opportunity?

16. Do not step over $100 bills as you pick up pennies! Too many people nit pick the small stuff that they miss the real opportunities.

17. Find a way to help another person achieve their life's goal or dream (just because you can). It will make you feel amazing inside just knowing you have the power to impact someone in that way.

18. Love.

19. Forgive others who have annoyed you and look for fresh ways to create work on a project with them. Accept the the faults of others.... as we all have faults and our success depends on other people forgiving us for ours.

20. Praise others more often and openly for their successes. Look around and say "wow" to the people you see doing really great things in this world.

21. Entertain more often. Inviting people into your home creates a stronger bond. You need not be the worlds greatest cook to have a wonderful gathering of enlightened souls in your home.

22. Drink better wine.

Have A Great Day.

thom

Social Media, Web 2.0, Changing Communication Styles and The Great Flood

Much of the focus in the business world is moving away from the organization and toward the individual. With this I am perplexed as to if the individual can handle this power.

Not any specific individuals, as there are amazing people in all organizations (corporations, non-profits, religious, political, social, etc....), but there are also many lost souls who look for direction from others. I wonder if our moves toward a decentralized model leave many people on the sidelines looking for guidance. Are the haves and have nots no longer just divided by economics, but also by their ability to embrace the changes that the digital world is bringing into our lives?

Those who are natural leaders and entrepreneurs are seeming to thrive in this new transparent environment. Many of the people I know are striving to excel in the new online social media world that is now finding its way out of the fringes and into more traditional industries. You see them writing and reading blogs, active in social media (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and beyond), while creating new opportunities for themselves and their employers all at the same time. These people are out front into this brave new world.

Yet where there are leaders, there must be followers. But in this case I see much of the movement being in an individualistic parade. All the leaders seem to simultaneously be following each other.

The blogosphere and Twitter are a great example of the leaders all linking together. People have power that has never existed before to build their personal brand in exciting new ways. They do not need to have the platform of a larger organization to succeed. They self-select the community and bathe in the circular adoration.

This allows many to express themselves and cultivate a persona that extends beyond what it says on their office door or their business card: A business professional can turn their hobby into a side career. An entrepreneur can be a philanthropist and build both a company and discover ways to impact those in need. Anyone can make their own version of art and share it with the world. People who create a following have a voice that transcends the noise of Web 2.0.

But what about the rest of the people who have not the drive or the clarity of self? Those who do good work when given direction, but will never use their internal initiative on their own, are left to languish on the sidelines while the corporate and political structure of society shifts.

I am not here stating that online social media in of itself changes the infrastructure of the planet. However, it is not a fad that will soon fade away. The new methods of communication are having an impact on people. As the younger generations grow up to assume their roles in shaping our society, there will be drastic changes.

The differences between the campaign infrastructure and communication styles of the Barak Obama campaign and that of John McCain are just a scratch on the surface of things to come (and not just in politics). A new area is being ushered in and regardless of if you are 15 or 50, you need to be conscious this or you will be left behind.

We are being swallowed up by a great flood of information. Everyone is bombarded by choices like not other time in history. Many are looking for ways to embrace and capitalize on the massive amounts of information. Others are ignoring the rain and assuming the sun will come out tomorrow. Yes, there will be sun, but it will shine on a different world.

I don't have the answers, but I do suggest we all look at the questions. This is a time for the "Big Tent Thinkers" I have referenced in past blog posts. Do not close your small tent to new ideas. Allow all perspectives to be put in front of you for observation and contemplation. Look beyond what you know and welcome the future.

Have A Great Day.

thom

Hey! What's The Big Idea?

Visa Small Business has a commercial running on television that talks about how "small businesses" have "BIG IDEAS". I love it...as it is those whom have big ideas that get results. The people I know who dream big, and couple that with taking actions, are the ones who never stop having new achievements.

In an oversimplified way, this is what has made America great. The Declaration of Independence is an example of a "BIG IDEA". Sure, the United States has made mistakes and our government continues to have faults,.... but it is the grand thought that we can do more good for people than has ever been done before that inspires so many. The founding fathers had huge dreams for the future. We need to continue to be on the outlook for giant opportunities.

My grandfather boarded a boat from Ireland to New York in 1900 at age sixteen. Both his parents were dead and he was responsible for his four younger siblings. He never looked back. His "BIG IDEA" was that his siblings, children and grandchildren would have a better future in his new country. While his life was hard and far from perfect, but his goal was achieved. I hope I live my life in a way that honors his.

I want our political leaders to challenge their constituencies. I want to know that they have a vision and a goal for what can be accomplished if they win the election. I want to see and feel that dream, but more important, I want to believe that they will work to achieve it. Too often our politicians say one thing when they run for office and then get caught up in the whirlwind of partisan politics and their own desire for legacy when they govern. I want their "BIG IDEAS" to be beyond themselves and their political party. I want them to commit to a real plan.

I see this spark in the eyes of the entrepreneurs that I know. While our current financial market situations are certainly serious, entrepreneurs are optimists by nature (thank God). They do not see the sky as falling, but instead know that success is always around the next corner. If we roll over and kill our ambitions, there is no future. In every down market there are people who succeed, and do so ethically. These are the people with "BIG IDEAS". These are the people who have a plan. Sure, some fail, but that risk is what it takes to discover real victory.

How about you? Do you have big ideas? I bet that you do, even if for some reason you keep them hidden from the world. Our current political and financial uncertainties cause many people to pull in their hopes and dreams. I think that you should do just the opposite. Pour the water of hope on your desires and sprout your ideas. Have a plan. So what if you don't achieve it exactly how you intended. Many of my most successful friends have had their wins come in ways they did not script, but instead discovered something new while enroute to another success. Sitting still brings nothing.

Nobody can predict the future, but your safety net to recession proof your career is to be open to all possibilities and to have a vision for what you want to accomplish. Expand you network and meet new people who might hold unforeseen opportunities for you. Identify those who work in and around industries that excite you. Meet them now, before you need them. Ask them questions and learn. Create real relationships and you will find amazing opportunities.

Ask yourself "what is my BIG IDEA?". Think about and let the seeds grow and find where it takes you. And do not forget to enjoy the journey. You don't need to have an idea....but isn't life more fun when you have something you desire and work toward? Better to strive than to just let things happen to you.

Have A Great Day

thom

What Is Your Perception of Me ????

In a follow up to my last post about about challenging yourself, if you want to improve, you must understand the value you bring to others.

As humans we all have a self-images and egos that can cloud our perspective and limit our ability to create real relationships. A true desire to grow and bring about positive change requires you to step outside of the fear of hurt feelings and understand how others see you and what you bring to the world.

Thus I ask everyone who reads this to respond to my question:

WHAT IS YOUR PERCEPTION OF ME?

As I am committed to challenging myself to make more of an impact, this question is important. Your response can change my world.

You can answer this in the comment section or by email (thom [at] thomsinger [dot] com). Anonymous is okay. It need not be nice, just true.

thom

Challenge Yourself

Do you surround yourself with people who encourage you? Are you challenging yourself?

I have always been fortunate to have friends who see more inside of me than I sometimes found visible in myself. They have consistently pushed me (or carried me) to higher levels.

I am at my best when I am challenged to push myself to to new heights.

I work for a dynamic company that is growing. Being part of this team keeps me excited to succeed. Working at vcfo allows me to encounter the most inspired entrepreneurs who operate the companies that we serve. These companies are outstanding examples of inspiration and success...and having the opportunity to observe these business leaders stretches me even further. Working for a great company makes everyone better.

Writing books and giving speeches is something I am passionate about. I always feel the huge responsibility to my audience and want my words to touch others while helping them in some manner. At my core I desire to deliver something of value. Having a purpose makes everyone better.

Even strangers challenge me. I received the following email from someone I just met in the past two weeks. He is a well respected thought leader and business legend in Austin (and beyond), and I look forward to getting to know him better. I can tell that he is one of those people who come along at just the right moment to help clarify the path.

Our first correspondence include this challenge to me:

I want to stretch you to begin thinking about how do you create a business network that impacts business today. How companies grow networks to impact their bottom-line today! These are the areas I work in as well as dealing at the highest trust levels in global business. How do we impact countries and people in crisis!

I know we will become great friends, but I definitely want to stretch how you view relationship building.

Wow. Not many people would so positively, yet bluntly, challenge a stranger to expand their horizons following an initial encounter. It is people like this who make me challenge myself to become better. Taking my career, writing, speaking, community service, networking, family, spirituality, and all areas of my life to a higher level is the goal. Having others believe in you makes everyone better.

Are you challenged? Are you taking steps to grow as a person or are you just going through the motions? Whom do you have in your life that you can turn to for those friendly nudges that make you check your personal ego at the door and contemplate how to set up your game. Athletes do this all the time. Their coaches actively help them find their weakness and build their strengths.

We all need to challenge ourselves. Embracing personal growth makes everyone better.

Have A Great Day.

thom