Eat Your Frogs

July 22, 2013 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

Every day do one thing that makes you uncomfortable – but helps you reach your goals.

Do it before you do anything else.

As one of my mentors says, “Winners do what losers won’t.” (Of course, we’re not talking about weight loss here!)

He refers to it as “eating a frog.” After all, if you had to eat a frog every day first thing, everything you did after that would seem so much easier. When my wife (whose also self-employed) and I compare notes at day’s end, we actually say, “I ate 3 frogs” or “I ate 2 frogs;” meaning how many things we did that we had delayed.
Delaying unpleasant tasks does not make them go away, it simply lowers your attitude, making you less productive the entire day.

Eat a frog every day. It keeps you motivated and keeps away depression.

[Read more…]

Is it Really That Bad?

May 22, 2013 by Scott "Q" Marcus

Spoiler alert: This seemingly negative rant has an upbeat ending. Don’t think I’ve driven off the grumpy cliff until you reach the conclusion.

Having stated that, I am so very sick of fog, grey skies, cold wind, and dampness.

Last week, I was speaking in Eastern Washington. One evening, my lovely wife and I walked to a restaurant. You know what? We didn’t have to wear a jacket, and no, we weren’t shivering, not a twitch! Nope, just a nice leisurely stroll; holding hands, wearing shorts and donned in short sleeves no less. The temperature was 75, the sky was postcard blue, a light breeze caressed our skin and in the distance, the setting sun was beginning to cast the most beautiful blood-orange red pattern behind marshmallow clouds.

Where I live, even in the spring, so much of the time you cannot go outside at night (let alone during the day) unless you’re wearing a parka, gloves, wool cap, and scarf. (Okay, that’s a slight exaggeration – but not much.) It would be so wonderfully enjoyable to relax on our deck during the evening and not shiver.

Like I said, I grow weary of dreary.

And now that I’ve got my cranky pants yanked snug, I’ve also grown tired of people throwing garbage on my property during the wee hours. Many mornings I come outside for the first time (wearing parka, glove, and wool cap) and find discarded on my lawn is someone else’s trash. It could be a fast-food bag or a soda bottle. Once I found soiled diapers. Are you kidding me? I don’t get such self-centered mentality. Are there herds of self-absorbed oblivious garbage automatons who amble the dark hours randomly tossing crap on other people’s property? I mean, how hard is it to walk the extra five feet and put it in our garbage can? I give you my permission. I want my yard to look nice; this isn’t helping – and I get grumpy about it.

[Read more…]

Video: Tim Gard Talks About How to Get Past Being Overwhelmed

March 22, 2013 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

This is the fourth in a series of Friday Motivational videos with successful people discussing with Scott how to get past what holds you back. In a hallway meeting at a conference, Scott “Q” Marcus asks Tim Gard, nationally recognized authority on stress reduction through humor how to laugh more and get past that feeling of being overwhelmed.
[Read more…]

One Telephone Pole at a Time

February 28, 2013 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

It was painful to watch her try to walk; albeit not as painful for me as it was for her.

“Sit down,” I suggested, pulling up a chair, wanting to relieve her of her burden.

She stared at it, shakily supporting herself with her metal cane, the type with four rubber-capped legs that stands on its own. “Do you have a chair without arms?” She asked, referencing her size with a flick of her bulky arm. “It’s hard for me to fit in this type of chair.”

I scurried away and returned with the requested model, placing it behind her. She sluggishly lowered her heaviness on to the seat, all the while leaning weightily on the cane for support. After placing herself, she exhaled a strained sigh of exhaustion, took a moment to regain her composure, and said, “Hi, I’m Sheila. I need to lose weight. I can’t live like this anymore.”

I’m always interested in what triggers us to finally take action. After all, weight doesn’t come on overnight. We fight it for years, constructing excuses, living in denial; until eventually we cross a line that drives us from needing to do something to actually doing it. It’s at that nexus where I enter the scene.

“What brought you here today?” I asked.

“I can’t get my mail.”

“Tell me more,” I said, looking for clarification.

She exhaled again, attempting to catch her breath. “My mailbox is at the end of the driveway, which is up a hill.” She rested. “Well, it’s not really a hill, it’s more of an incline, but I can’t walk that far anymore. I needed someone to bring me the mail yesterday.” Another deep exhalation escaped her lips as she steadied herself on her cane, relying on it to steady herself while sitting. “That’s no way to live. I have to do something.”

That was how we met.

Unfortunately, after a few months, she got a new job and moved away. We lost contact.

Not long ago, she resurfaced, visiting family in town. I did not recognize her.

“You look fantastic!” I exclaimed, upon realizing who she was.

“I’m down 163 pounds – and I walk every day.” [Read more…]

Surprise! Being Fit = More Opportunity; Here’s Why

February 14, 2013 by MikeTremba Leave a Comment

A healthy body is the gateway to a sharp mind, and a sharp mind is the key factor to landing and excelling at the job of your dreams.

Now, going to the gym twice a week won’t immediately merit a raise at the office, but getting your health on track will improve your quality of life. People who lead happy lives are proven to succeed more in their professional endeavors. Here’s why.

How you carry yourself = how people view you

And I don’t just mean you’ll get more phone numbers at the bar on Friday night.

It’s a known fact that a rocking body will give you more luck with the opposite sex. But more importantly, it will make you think more highly of yourself. This is absolutely key in gaining the respect of others. Confident people are statistically more likely to request a raise at work, apply for advancement opportunities as they arise, or be offered promotions by their superiors.

But being confident means creating the version of yourself about whom you can feel confident.

How do you do that? [Read more…]

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