Really Cool “Resolution” Idea

January 1, 2013 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

One of my dearest friends, an excellent speaker, and the founder of the Double D Diner (a charity to which I regularly contribute) is Rich DiGirolamo. He puts out a bi-weekly newsletter. If you’re interested in attitude, change, morale, or just want something to make you think – subscribe to it. It’s free. However, if you do not, I am reprinting – with permission – today’s newsletter on a really clever “resolution” idea for this year. Let him know what you think.

It starts here:

For those of you who have been with me for a while you know my views on New Year’s Resolutions. We all know the statistics. We all have failed and not met the goal. We all have set the same resolution year after year. I gave up resolutions years ago. After resolutions I chose a word or phrase to hold onto as an anchor to dictate decisions and actions. It was a fun approach. Then my Shiny Bright Object Syndrome kicked in and I got bored with that.

This year I am taking a different approach to accomplish some of the things I want to get done. But most importantly the approach I am taking is about changing the way I work and creating some new habits.

Two weeks ago I wrote 2013 on a piece of paper and sat staring at if for a while. Then I got up from my desk drew a line down the center. I don’t know why I did this. I just did. I sat down. I stared some more. And then I realized something.

How many of you reading this get bored easily? Distracted? Find yourself looking for the next thing to move onto? I’ll bet a lot of you reading this are shaking your head. My attention span to most things, probably is about 20 minutes.

And then it hit me. Today I offer you:

20 Minutes. 13 things. And make the New Year Happy!

It’s pretty simple. I’m committing to spending 20 minutes each day doing these things:

Write – A blog entry. A portion of your upcoming newsletter. A thank you letter to a client or a vendor. A poem. A diary entry. A proposal. A few paragraphs of your book. Just spend some time writing.
Play – A game. A sport. Color. Draw. Do arts and crafts. I keep modeling clay on my desk. Maybe you should too! You’d be surprised how playing stimulates the mind and creativity.
Exercise – twenty minutes to clear your mind, stay in shape and give yourself that pat on the back that we all need!
Market – people often tell me they forget to market their business. I remember a woman many years ago telling me she hates marketing. So every day she spends the first 30 minutes of her day doing the thing she hates most – marketing. Now as I am going to share in an upcoming Marketing Teleseries (geared for Parks & Recreation peeps, but good for everyone!), marketing when made fun will make you look forward to the task.
Review & Implement – You’ve read books; and even took some notes. You’ve attended seminars and planned on implementing some of the ideas. All these notes and ideas got filed somewhere. Pull out several resources that really excited you. Review them and start implementing. Today. Every Day.
Share your story – If you’re like me you probably don’t tell enough people about your work. But I’ll bet you’re world is full off narcissistic, me, me, me types. You know the ones. Make it a point every day to spend time telling people what you’re doing and working on. This can be done in person, via email, on your social networks, however. Just commit to telling people what you are doing. Just don’t be arrogant about it.
Ask for help – Perhaps this one and #6 should be chunked together. We all need help. We all have a personal or business challenge that could use another set of eyes, ears or brainwaves. Ask and you’ll usually receive. And if the narcissist starts making it about them and not you, be bold and tell him or her that today is your turn.
Research – What interests you? What about your work is important. Maybe you have an interest in painting? Car repair? Thai cooking? In 2010 I knew nothing about the charity/nonprofit work when I founded The Double D Diner; The World’s Only Virtual Diner Fighting Hunger. I’m still learning about nonprofits – mainly because I want to do just the opposite; to break the jello mold on boring and depressing approaches to charitable work. Spend 20 minutes per day researching a fun interest or business related topic and watch how fast you become an expert or acquire a new hobby. Great way to suck up to the boss too!
Read – Magazines. Books. Articles. Not Facebook posts. Fiction. Non-fiction. Children’s books.
Dream – You’ve got dreams. I do. We all do. Spend 20 minutes each day dreaming about that vacation, relationship, new business idea. Get a journal and jot down the ideas. Create a dream/vision board. Update it. Spend some alone time with it. Try to make your dream bigger, better and more outrageous each day.
Be of Service – There are so many ways to volunteer. In person. Virtually. Joining discussion groups and just offering assistance. Do it from the place of seeking nothing in return.
Clean up a mess – It happened. Again. Those piles on your desk. The last 20 minutes of my day, every day is going to be about cleaning up the pile of open messes that accumulated during the day. Will be nice to sit down at my desk and not experience anxiety as the pile grows.
Celebrate your success – And who says 13 is an unlucky number? Each day celebrate an accomplishment. Throw a party for yourself. Go out for a cup of coffee. Buy a small gift. Or just spend some time acknowledging that you’re moving forward.

Don’t know where this is going. Don’t know what it will deliver. But I’m excited because I see the potential and possibility. l see a new (fun) method of keeping me on task.

Can you do more than 20 minutes?

Of course? Do you need to do all 13 things every day? Of course not? But above is 4 ½ hours of time spent well. And that’s not a bad way to start a new year.

What do you think? Wanna join me? Change the 13 if you need to do so. Align them with your life.

Happy New Year!

See you in two weeks.

Rich

Did you know that Rich gives 10% of his speaking fees back to a hunger relief agency in your community?

Rich DiGirolamo
http://richdigirolamo.com

Is your organization ready for a “Recess” from a so-so employee experience? Employees first; customers second. Cuz if employees ain’t happy; no one is!

Keep yourself engaged. Subscribe to Rich’s Bi-Weekly Newsletter
Rich DiGirolamo ● PO Box 584, Marion CT 06444 ● 203.470.3388
Web: http://richdigirolamo.com
Twitter:@richdigirolamo and @RecessAtWork
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Keep Falling In Love…On a Budget

October 30, 2012 by Featured Author Leave a Comment

It doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from.

Whether you’re a kid, teenager, or adult…..you love someone. I don’t care if it’s your mother, brother, best friend, boyfriend, girlfriend, whoever, there is someone out there that you love to have fun with. Now I also don’t care if you’re making six figures or living paycheck to paycheck. I know you’re probably on some type of budget, and that my friends, is why I’m here to help. I promise you can find many ways to have fun during this gorgeous Fall season with the person you love even when your pockets are sort of empty.

Everyone’s been in this boat at least once or twice, and if you haven’t, well someday all your riches will be gone and you’ll have to figure out how to have fun by going for a walk or jumping in a pile of leaves. Ok, I’m kidding. Your riches probably won’t be gone, but you should still try to enjoy the little things in life.

Keep reading to discover some different fun activities to help keep you falling in love. I’ll help you get started. [Read more…]

There is Always Another Choice

August 27, 2012 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

There is always another choice.

We might not like the choice. We might not be immediately aware of the choice. it might not even be the best choice. But we are never stuck with only one option.

The key is to ask ourselves, “How” do we change this, not “Why” are we here.

Once you answer that question, the alternative(s) will give you power.

[Read more…]

Three Types of Dieters…

August 22, 2012 by Scott "Q" Marcus

There are three types of people in this world: those who are good at math, and those who are not.

Okay, it’s an old joke, but I always get a chuckle out of it.

There are three types of dieters.

We shall begin with the “Planners.”

Similar to accountants, engineers, and folks who have to make sure all the “T’s” are crossed, and all the “I’s” are dotted, I assume these folks are proficient with project management software, budgets, contracts, and run a tight, well-organized ship at home. They tackle weight loss with the same fervor and methodology they would build a bridge: detailed efficiency and a clear eye on the goal. They determine how many pounds must be shed by which date, divide by number of weeks, calculate average weight loss, establish the necessary “additional calorie burn” per day – and plot a path to the end point.

“Planners” will have detailed food journals (“three and half ounces of chicken, baked at 350 degrees; long-grain rice, one half cup; broccoli, steamed – with a 1/8 teaspoon of olive oil”). They will often proudly also share a graph of their progress coupled with spreadsheets projecting future trends with appropriate predicted goal dates. Planners schedule their lives to hit their objective, and by golly, they’ll do it.

Planners — and their willingness to rearrange day-to-day living to achieve what matters to them — impress me.

I however, would not receive that moniker.

I reside much more on the right side of the brain, falling within the “Modifiers” label.

Although some might call us “unorganized,” I take umbrage at that descriptor, as I am quite orderly. I simply find it difficult to stick with one task from beginning to end without breaks along the way. I get things done — and at the risk of being immodest — I am told I do them well. However, I’m not a “black and white” kind of guy. Don’t weigh me down with details and specifics. Tell me where you need to be and I’ll get us there; just let me figure out the roads we take, and I assure you, we’ll both be happier.

We are artists, philosophers, and motivators. [Read more…]

How to Motivate Yourself to Do “Something”

July 27, 2012 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

by guest author Alesha Wilson

How many times have you promised yourself that you will do something but ended up postponing it and doing something less productive? How many times have you promised to go to the gym to lose some weight but have backed out of the plan when the day arrived? Having cold feet is normal, but sometimes you have to brave the waters and do what has to be done–in this case, exercising to avoid being obese is a priority.

The statistics are overwhelming.

Take a look around you and you will see that many people are turning obese. But you do not have to be one of them. As long as you set your mind to that necessary change, you can save yourself. So how do you motivate yourself to change your ways? Apart from exercising, you can also use the steps listed below in other tasks that you might be having problems doing.

Find a partner. It’s easy to be discouraged when you are going to the gym alone. Instead of being intimidated by the stares given to you by other people at the gym, ask your best friend to go with you. It will be just like your bonding sessions, except this time you are not dining out but burning unwanted fats. Anyone will do–your sister, your officemate, your neighbor–as long as you have a good relationship with that person. It’s even better if you make new friends at the gym so that you will look forward to seeing them every time you visit.
Set a goal each week. You don’t have to lose all those unnecessary pounds in a few days. Go for a slow, but sure process. Set your mind to target at least five pounds a week. If you see that you are losing bigger than this, you can set your target a little higher. This way, you won’t be pressured to lose an unachievable number.
Give yourself a reward. Make yourself work for something. What’s the use of following your exercise routine religiously if you don’t have something to look forward to, right? Tell yourself that you will buy that dress in size 0 when you achieve that weight. Thinking about the reward you will get after losing weight will surely make you want to work even harder.
Keep tabs of your progress. If you are already losing weight, you need to know when to stop. By listing down the number of pounds you lost in one week, you will have an idea of when you can graduate from the gym. After that, your next move is to make sure that you still have enough exercise to avoid all the fat from returning.
Prepare nutritious foods that taste great. To make sure that fats are lost, you should avoid eating meals that are rich in them. But you also do not have to punish yourself by eating foods that do not taste great at all. Rather, find easy to follow recipes of great-tasting meals with reduced calories. These are all over the internet these days, and they do taste great!

After reading the tips listed above, you hopefully are more motivated in getting “something” done. Just make sure that you enjoy the process and the outcome will be worth it.

About The Author: Alesha Wilson writes for various online publications including RockwellNutrition.com – leading online supplier of Whey Cool.

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