As most of you have heard by now Steve Jobs passed away at age 56 from cancer. It may be hard to see now, but he is the Thomas Edison of our time. A true innovator of technology that will have a profound effect on history for the next 100 years. He is a true inspiration to me for many reasons. I like that he is a Buddhist but that is not why he inspires me. His beliefs on life are exactly how I strive to live and that is why I view him as an idol. Steve once gave a speech at a Stanford graduation ceremony and there were three eternal truths I think everyone can benefit from hearing.
First, follow your heart and what you do today will have a profound effect on your future. Most of us can look back in life and connect the dots to a turning point that resulted in some great accomplishment we achieved years later. The majority of the time it is something small that we thought was inconsequential at the time. For me it was quitting my job to try to start a business. The business idea failed miserably, but as a result of starting down that path I fulfilled many goals. Since I failed in business I have passed the CPA exam, lost 20lbs, ran a marathon and landed a job as the controller of a small business in less then a year. I am convinced I would not have completed the first three items I listed without theoretically jumping off a cliff. It is amazing though how I can now connect the dots to where I am today just as you can as well. As Steve puts it, "Believing that the dots will connect down the road will give you the confidence to follow your heart even when it leads you off the well worn path."
Secondly, sometimes life is going to hit you in the head with a brick, but don't lose faith. Learn from every setback in your life and make yourself stronger. Most importantly love what you do in life and don't settle.
Finally, the most important truth is about death. Steve says, "If you live each day as if it is your last someday you will most certainly be right. Everyday you should look yourself in the mirror and ask this question, "if today were the last day of my life would I be happy doing what I am about to do today?" If the answer is no then its time you changed your life until that answer is yes. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked there is no reason not to follow your heart."
I am about to attempt to follow my heart and make a real difference in my community. It is thanks to people like Steve Jobs that truly inspire me.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Inspiration: Testing my limits
By now most of you know I recently completed the Rochester marathon in 4 hours and 23 minutes. Honestly, the time doesn't mean anything to me. However, the fact that I crossed the finish line means everything. I would like to share two things that I took away from the race this past weekend. The first is what true inspiration really is, and the second thing is why I ran the entire race.
First off, inspiration is different for all of us, but I feel when you run a marathon you experience a variety of causes. Here are the top 10 things that inspired me during my marathon (in order of the race).....
1) Running behind a beautiful brunette name Brittany for miles 2 - 5 and enjoying the scenery the entire time. Then seeing her friends and family cheering her on about 6 times all over the course and remembering how hot she was. I almost stopped to give her friends my phone number and tell her to call me.
2) The guy wearing the kilt at mile 7 that told me he wasn't wearing anything underneath. I am pretty sure that is the worst chafing you could possibly get ever!
3) The 60 year old man at mile 12 that was keeping up with the 4 hours 15 minute pace bunny. I can only dream to be his age and in that good of shape to run a marathon. If he can run a marathon you really lose any excuse you might have to not finish.
4) The cute girl at mile 18 that was bent over stretching her muscles providing scenery for everyone running by.
5) The spectators with motivational signs all over the course.
6) Seeing my sister-in-law and nieces at mile 22 and remembering why I was running the marathon.
7) Rocking out to thunderstruck at mile 24 and thinking of all my friends who were probably at the Bills game playing drinking games to the same song.
8) The bracelets I wore on each arm in honor of my mother and best friend Shawn.
9) Michael Jackson's Billie Jean coming on my ipod as I saw the 1.2 miles left sign on the course
10) Knowing as I came down the final home stretch that I got to share the day with friends and family and champagne was waiting for me to celebrate.
Like I said inspiration sometimes comes in weird forms, but these little things helped me finish.
My original goal for the marathon was to finish at all costs regardless of injuries, but as I got through it I started to realize I might be able to run the entire thing. Now first of all I would like to share a disclaimer. There is nothing wrong with walking during a marathon. In fact, everyone walks through the water stations unless you are an idiot or trying to win the marathon. Most of the people I know walked a significant portion of their first marathon for various reasons. However, I fortunately did not hit a wall until mile 20. I say fortunately, because had I hit the wall any earlier I am not sure I would have been mentally tough enough to run the entire race. There were two things that got me through the final 6.2 miles. The first inspiration was seeing my nieces at mile 22. I am convinced had I not seen their faces at mile 22 I would have given up and started walking. The reason they inspired me is because I wanted to prove something to them when they grow up. I wanted to show them that there are no limits in life and anything is possible if you work hard enough. When they grow up I can honestly tell them that I ran an entire marathon despite originally thinking I would never be able to (I just assumed I would have to walk a few miles). To often in life we try to inspire people with words, but most of the time they are nothing more than that just words. I figured by acting out what hard work really is I would always have a concrete example to show them in life. Looking back I honestly do not know how I ran from mile 22 to 26.2. Every fiber in my body was screaming at me to stop and walk. I had absolutely no energy left, no calories to burn, and no adrenaline to rely on. It came down to my will power to succeed versus my body. My sister-in-law played a huge part in my ability to finish as well. After I saw her at mile 22 she drove to mile 23 and beeped the horn for encouragement. As small a gesture as this was it reconfirmed my drive to set an example as an uncle. In the end I didn't leave anything on the table to finish later. If you ever want to really know how mentally tough you are I suggest you run mile 22 to 26.2 of a marathon, because after that you will have a good idea.
Six months ago I couldn't even run 2 miles. Do not ever doubt your own abilities. Limits exist only in the mind.
First off, inspiration is different for all of us, but I feel when you run a marathon you experience a variety of causes. Here are the top 10 things that inspired me during my marathon (in order of the race).....
1) Running behind a beautiful brunette name Brittany for miles 2 - 5 and enjoying the scenery the entire time. Then seeing her friends and family cheering her on about 6 times all over the course and remembering how hot she was. I almost stopped to give her friends my phone number and tell her to call me.
2) The guy wearing the kilt at mile 7 that told me he wasn't wearing anything underneath. I am pretty sure that is the worst chafing you could possibly get ever!
3) The 60 year old man at mile 12 that was keeping up with the 4 hours 15 minute pace bunny. I can only dream to be his age and in that good of shape to run a marathon. If he can run a marathon you really lose any excuse you might have to not finish.
4) The cute girl at mile 18 that was bent over stretching her muscles providing scenery for everyone running by.
5) The spectators with motivational signs all over the course.
6) Seeing my sister-in-law and nieces at mile 22 and remembering why I was running the marathon.
7) Rocking out to thunderstruck at mile 24 and thinking of all my friends who were probably at the Bills game playing drinking games to the same song.
8) The bracelets I wore on each arm in honor of my mother and best friend Shawn.
9) Michael Jackson's Billie Jean coming on my ipod as I saw the 1.2 miles left sign on the course
10) Knowing as I came down the final home stretch that I got to share the day with friends and family and champagne was waiting for me to celebrate.
Like I said inspiration sometimes comes in weird forms, but these little things helped me finish.
My original goal for the marathon was to finish at all costs regardless of injuries, but as I got through it I started to realize I might be able to run the entire thing. Now first of all I would like to share a disclaimer. There is nothing wrong with walking during a marathon. In fact, everyone walks through the water stations unless you are an idiot or trying to win the marathon. Most of the people I know walked a significant portion of their first marathon for various reasons. However, I fortunately did not hit a wall until mile 20. I say fortunately, because had I hit the wall any earlier I am not sure I would have been mentally tough enough to run the entire race. There were two things that got me through the final 6.2 miles. The first inspiration was seeing my nieces at mile 22. I am convinced had I not seen their faces at mile 22 I would have given up and started walking. The reason they inspired me is because I wanted to prove something to them when they grow up. I wanted to show them that there are no limits in life and anything is possible if you work hard enough. When they grow up I can honestly tell them that I ran an entire marathon despite originally thinking I would never be able to (I just assumed I would have to walk a few miles). To often in life we try to inspire people with words, but most of the time they are nothing more than that just words. I figured by acting out what hard work really is I would always have a concrete example to show them in life. Looking back I honestly do not know how I ran from mile 22 to 26.2. Every fiber in my body was screaming at me to stop and walk. I had absolutely no energy left, no calories to burn, and no adrenaline to rely on. It came down to my will power to succeed versus my body. My sister-in-law played a huge part in my ability to finish as well. After I saw her at mile 22 she drove to mile 23 and beeped the horn for encouragement. As small a gesture as this was it reconfirmed my drive to set an example as an uncle. In the end I didn't leave anything on the table to finish later. If you ever want to really know how mentally tough you are I suggest you run mile 22 to 26.2 of a marathon, because after that you will have a good idea.
Six months ago I couldn't even run 2 miles. Do not ever doubt your own abilities. Limits exist only in the mind.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
I JUST FELT LIKE RUNNING
Looking back it is kind of ironic that Forrest Gump is my favorite movie. Most people can pinpoint a reason or moment in their life when they started running. I have absolutely no reason much like Forrest didn't. One nice day at the end of March I looked outside and decided to strap on my sneakers and go for a run. I wasn't running for world peace, breast cancer, or to change the world, I just felt like running. A few 100 miles later and here I am getting ready to run a Marathon.
Why the Marathon you ask? Here are a few reasons, to test my limits, to see how much pain I could endure, to become as strong as I could, to enhance my sexuality, to experience god, to transcend my body, to let go of fear, to undo my own weak flabby body image, to become the athlete at 29 I couldn’t be at 20, to do something few others would ever come close to, to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming, to meet my inner demons, to know what it’s like to plan, complete, and implement a significant project all on my own, to be cool, to figure out how my body works, to see what else was out there, to become a role model, to strengthen my intuition, to find out what they never taught us in school, to learn what it means to say, “I did it because it was there.” There is a little bit of truth in everything I just said, but there are two other main reasons, or should I say people in my life.
The first person would be someone that wouldn't surprise you my mom. As most of you know she passed away two years ago from a bacterial infection to her brain. Sudden, unexpected, and a moment in life when you realize your own mortality exists as well. She always encouraged my siblings and I to do our best as all mothers do and she batted a 1,000 on her children being successful in life. She always gave everything of herself and even more then most people will ever realize. She taught me there are no limits in life and truly inspires me when I am running. When I ran my first 5k she was there, when I hit 6 miles she was there, when I finished my first half-marathon in practice she was there, and when I went for my longest run 17 miles she was there the entire time. In her honor I made a bracelet that reads "Mary - My Guardian Angel," which I will wear on my right arm the entire race.
The second person is someone that most of you have never met. Despite a lot of you knowing me very well you don't know my best friend. His name is Shawn and I have been best friends with him since high school. Shawn was born premature and as a result had altercations with his heart from the onset of life. When Shawn was younger doctors told him he wouldn't live past 20 and live a normal active life. The doctors couldn't have been more wrong. Shawn is the most persistent, active, and successful person I have ever met in my life. Shawn is a guy who follows his dreams when everyone else in the room tells him its impossible. Despite being denied from job after job because of his heart condition he has become a licensed boat Captain and drives 175 foot yachts on the high seas. Growing up fishing with him I have to say he fulfilled his dream. He is the exact opposite of lazy and is always accomplishing some goal or project. Regardless of Shawn's ambition he is unable to run because of his heart. Even running a 5k could result in his death because of the stress it would put on his heart. It is because of all this I run for him when he is unable to. In honor of him I made a bracelet that reads "Captain Shawn - My Blood Brother," which I will wear on my left arm the entire race. I wear it on my left arm because it is closest to my heart and although I have a healthy heart it cannot compare to the inspiration that Shawn provides.
There are many other people who inspire me, but these two people hold a special place in my life. I leave you with one last reason I am running a marathon from my favorite movie, "that day, for no particular reason, I decided to go for a little run. So I ran to the end of the road. And when I got there, I thought maybe I'd run to the end of town. And when I got there, I thought maybe I'd just run across Greenbow County. And I figured, since I run this far, maybe I'd just run across the great state of Alabama. And that's what I did. I ran clear across Alabama. For no particular reason I just kept on going. I ran clear to the ocean. And when I got there, I figured, since I'd gone this far, I might as well turn around, just keep on going. When I got to another ocean, I figured, since I'd gone this far, I might as well just turn back, keep right on going." Just remember that you can accomplish anything in life. Start with small goals and eventually those small goals with turn into something awesome.
Why the Marathon you ask? Here are a few reasons, to test my limits, to see how much pain I could endure, to become as strong as I could, to enhance my sexuality, to experience god, to transcend my body, to let go of fear, to undo my own weak flabby body image, to become the athlete at 29 I couldn’t be at 20, to do something few others would ever come close to, to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming, to meet my inner demons, to know what it’s like to plan, complete, and implement a significant project all on my own, to be cool, to figure out how my body works, to see what else was out there, to become a role model, to strengthen my intuition, to find out what they never taught us in school, to learn what it means to say, “I did it because it was there.” There is a little bit of truth in everything I just said, but there are two other main reasons, or should I say people in my life.
The first person would be someone that wouldn't surprise you my mom. As most of you know she passed away two years ago from a bacterial infection to her brain. Sudden, unexpected, and a moment in life when you realize your own mortality exists as well. She always encouraged my siblings and I to do our best as all mothers do and she batted a 1,000 on her children being successful in life. She always gave everything of herself and even more then most people will ever realize. She taught me there are no limits in life and truly inspires me when I am running. When I ran my first 5k she was there, when I hit 6 miles she was there, when I finished my first half-marathon in practice she was there, and when I went for my longest run 17 miles she was there the entire time. In her honor I made a bracelet that reads "Mary - My Guardian Angel," which I will wear on my right arm the entire race.
The second person is someone that most of you have never met. Despite a lot of you knowing me very well you don't know my best friend. His name is Shawn and I have been best friends with him since high school. Shawn was born premature and as a result had altercations with his heart from the onset of life. When Shawn was younger doctors told him he wouldn't live past 20 and live a normal active life. The doctors couldn't have been more wrong. Shawn is the most persistent, active, and successful person I have ever met in my life. Shawn is a guy who follows his dreams when everyone else in the room tells him its impossible. Despite being denied from job after job because of his heart condition he has become a licensed boat Captain and drives 175 foot yachts on the high seas. Growing up fishing with him I have to say he fulfilled his dream. He is the exact opposite of lazy and is always accomplishing some goal or project. Regardless of Shawn's ambition he is unable to run because of his heart. Even running a 5k could result in his death because of the stress it would put on his heart. It is because of all this I run for him when he is unable to. In honor of him I made a bracelet that reads "Captain Shawn - My Blood Brother," which I will wear on my left arm the entire race. I wear it on my left arm because it is closest to my heart and although I have a healthy heart it cannot compare to the inspiration that Shawn provides.
There are many other people who inspire me, but these two people hold a special place in my life. I leave you with one last reason I am running a marathon from my favorite movie, "that day, for no particular reason, I decided to go for a little run. So I ran to the end of the road. And when I got there, I thought maybe I'd run to the end of town. And when I got there, I thought maybe I'd just run across Greenbow County. And I figured, since I run this far, maybe I'd just run across the great state of Alabama. And that's what I did. I ran clear across Alabama. For no particular reason I just kept on going. I ran clear to the ocean. And when I got there, I figured, since I'd gone this far, I might as well turn around, just keep on going. When I got to another ocean, I figured, since I'd gone this far, I might as well just turn back, keep right on going." Just remember that you can accomplish anything in life. Start with small goals and eventually those small goals with turn into something awesome.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Attitude and Happiness - The Cup is Half Full
I recently read this online, "The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to us and 90% of how we react to it." I truly believe that the attitude we bring into each day determines our happiness in life. It sounds so simple in theory but in reality it is extremely difficult. Have you ever had someone tell you to "relax?" How did that make you feel? If your human it probably had the opposite effect on you. However, have you ever met someone that was unaffected by life's ups and downs? I challenge you to see the bright side of every circumstance no matter how grave and let that lead your attitude. Try not to let other people affect you with their negative thoughts and actions. I think we can all agree about the importance of attitude on life. The question is, in a world full of pessimists and complainers what attitude will you bring each day.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Ground Rules
I have never considered myself a writer as I have always been a numbers guy. I was not born with a 200 IQ and I have never won the Nobel peace prize. Despite all of this I possess something far greater than either of these things can provide. I was born with optimism and a positive attitude you cannot scratch with the sharpest diamond. I believe there are no limitations on life and that how we react to things determine our enjoyment out of everything. My goal through this blog is to share what I have learned through my few years on earth. I am in agreement with the old saying "opinions are like assholes everyone has one." I know what I do not know, but at the same time I have developed beliefs over the years that I consider rock solid. The reason for this blog is because I am to lazy to write a book, yet I think I have much to share with the world from things I have learned. When many see the world in a recession, full of weather threats, and dangerous I see opportunity, mother nature creating life and obstacles to overcome. Our lives are beautiful if we just open our eyes and look.
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