17 Years at my Correct Weight: A Look Back

September 24, 2011 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

As a 17-year-old, I dropped almost 100 pounds, becoming thin for the first time in my life.

By 22, I regained most of it. During that period, I avoided attending meetings, which had worked so well, and therefore suffered the consequences. Funny, isn’t it? You’ll do everything you can — except the one thing that gets you the results you want. Contrary creatures, we humans can be.

Finally returning, I sat in a meeting, embarrassed, ashamed, and sad; a thin, middle age woman addressed the assemblage. “My name’s Betty,” she said, holding up her “before photo,” “I’ve maintained a 100 pound weight loss for ten years.”

“One hundred pounds,” I thought. “I couldn’t even do that for half that time; no way I’ll make it.” It seemed the impossible dream.

This week (Tuesday, 9/27/2011), I am celebrating 17 years at my correct weight, after losing 70 pounds. (I had not regained everything I lost in earlier years; some lessons do stick.)

In these 6,200 plus days since I achieved “goal weight,” I’ve learned much. Space doesn’t allow for everything, yet, there’s room for a few observations; provided in the interest of helping others achieve the success I have been fortunate enough to experience. [Read more…]

Running to Stay Still: Way Too Much to do

September 21, 2011 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

I don’t read much.

Well, that’s not accurate. I read the program guide that slides across the television screen. I scan the mail in order to shred the 6,382 credit card offers. I follow microwave instructions on boxes. And, when I eat too much, I read myself the riot act.

However, I’m too overloaded to read “just ‘cause.” (I did purchase a tome on how to organize myself; I just can’t find the time to read it.)

So, please note with awe that I finished a book! (Insert triumphant angelic choir please.) Alas, the book is not a “fun book” transporting me to far away planets in future times, or dropping me deep into the exciting, glib dialogue of Spenser, my favorite PI. Unexcitingly enough, it is yet another guidebook on how to enhance one’s career.

One would think that at my age, my livelihood would be solid as the castle keep. One would lose one’s shirt should one wager on that. The average person will have four careers in his lifetime. Should you have only one, feel no pressure; I am the teeter to your totter. I have had enough vocations for you, your family, and several neighbors. Says my therapist; “You’re creative and intelligent, so you get easily bored and constantly attempt new ventures.” Sure, why not? It’s more appealing than saying I cannot focus.

Hmm, where was I? Oh yes… book on sales. Sorry, lost focus…

Imparting desperately needed wisdom to “serial entrepreneurs,” the author asserted,

“A successful work day starts the night before.” Stated alternatively, “If you wish to thrive, start today’s work yesterday.”

Work therefore bleeds from day to day, lacking ending or beginning, void of all boundaries. Work is all, everything, constant, consuming. It is a throwback to “arbeit macht frei,” placed at the entrance to concentration camps.

[Read more…]

Getting More Done

September 19, 2011 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

The only way in which we are all identical is that we each get 24 hours a day.

Some people just use it better – but no one gets any more time.

Those of us who are more successful simply better utilize our time.

One way in which we do that is to realize that even if we can’t carve out enough time from a hectic schedule to get everything done, we can squeeze in a few moments here and there.

For example, if you’re trying to be more fit, start holding in your stomach right now. Keep it that way while you search the web or read your emails. It takes no more time but helps you accomplish much more.

In other words, it’s better to get up and walk a block today, than to swear you’re going to run a mile tomorrow and sleep in. Remember, “Small steps done regularly generate more results than large steps done intermittently.”

What can you do RIGHT NOW to feel more successful? (Go do it.)

Note: Every Monday, a new motivational memo is posted. Subscribers to ThisTimeIMeanIt.com’s coaching service get this – and many more benefits – sent to them directly. If you’d like to know more, follow this link.

What Could You Do in One Lifetime?

September 7, 2011 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

In one lifetime, what can be accomplished?

If there were neither barriers nor obstacles from birth until death, what could one person truly do in his or her time on Earth?

Over one person’s lifespan, he could build understanding between countries, generating bonds among millions. Should he choose the healing arts, one soul could cure millions on multiple continents, elevating especially the elderly and the young. One man, or one woman, could raise populations from poverty, or tutor multiple generations to read, enlarging possibilities well beyond his days. In one lifecycle, great inventions will be created, political movements will be forged, wars might be averted, and peace could take root. One person, one lifetime, with so much possibility…

Yet, what if there was but one decade?

In ten short years, what could one person do?

[Read more…]

How to Decide When You’re Ready for Marriage

September 1, 2011 by Featured Author

Exchanging rings with my fiancé was one of the happiest moments of my life.

I showed off my new bauble to family and friends, which often brought up their own engagement stories. Before long, marital advice started pouring in and not all of it put me at ease. The unsolicited commentary made me realize that I needed to evaluate if I was ready for such a big step.

Be prepared

Due to personnel changes in her company, my best friend got transferred to a satellite office across the country for a year-long assignment – two months after she got married. Though she and her husband made it work, my friend was quick to tell me how lonely she’d been and hinted that the same thing could happen to me. Wondering if my soon-to-be marriage could survive a similar strain, my fiancé and I looked at our work schedules over the next several months. Though it’s impossible to be prepared for everything, we were able to talk about upcoming events we knew about. At least now we knew when we’d be apart for training or conferences. As a precaution, I started paying attention to the cost of plane tickets and we each set aside a little extra money each paycheck to specifically cover the cost of travel. In the event of a transfer, we wouldn’t have to panic that we couldn’t see each other due to lack of funds. [Read more…]

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