Today Can Be Your January 1st

“Today can be your January 1st.”

This morning, as I was waking Kaleb, I was reminded of a conversation I had a few years ago with Che Brown.

I remember him sharing with me how he has been able to transform any day into his January 1st.

Such a simple, yet profound concept.

Instead of waiting for the beginning of the year to make changes, no matter how big or small, choosing to make them today.

Choosing to have the same attitude, energy, enthusiasm that the beginning of a year brings, today.

Someone once asked me, “What kind of impact has the Overcoming Odds Podcast had on you?”

I replied, “I leave every conversation - as a different person.”

My conversation with Che Brown is a prime example of this.

A 45-minute dialogue that has had a profound impact on the way I approach my day.

Don’t wait, make today your January 1st.

Your Life is Full of Opportunities

Life is full of opportunities.

The other day, I was having a conversation with one of my family members when this thought came to mind.

I remember him sharing with me how he was able to secure his most recent internship position.

The story of what appeared to be a “random” conversation on a flight back home, months later leading to an interview.

His story reminded me of the numerous times such has happened to me.

The time of panic, rushing through the crowded airport security lines, thinking, “There’s no way I’ll make this connecting flight.” Yet, moments later, finding myself on that flight seconds before the doors closed, sitting next to somebody who ends up helping me solve the next piece of my life puzzle.

The time I was asked to step aside due to not having the proper mask to board the bus to the airport in Italy, then sensing a light tap on my right shoulder, “Here you go. I don’t usually carry extra masks, it must be your lucky day.”

The time I needed a ride from Manhattan to Brooklyn, but not having the means to order a ride. Turning to a complete stranger for help, seeing him open his door and not charge a penny in return.

Life has proven to me over and over again that opportunities are everywhere.

Much of this has been possible due to the following:

1. Be open, aware and willing to seize the moment.

2. Challenge your own expectations of how things “should” be.

3. Give it time. Not everything happens as fast or slow as you expect them to.

Great Things Can Happen to You, Too

Anything can happen to anyone at any point.

The other day, I was sending a batch of emails to universities to be invited to speak to their students on different ways to use #curiosity as a tool in rewriting their #story.

Seconds before I hit “send”, a strong feeling came over me.

The feeling of uncertainty.

I am by no means a stranger to it.

I’ve experienced it thousands of times before.

The questions of, “What if they don’t hire me? What if they don’t respond?”

I chose not to react.

Rather, I sat there, in silence, and observed what I was experiencing.

Moments after the initial thoughts, a different thought had entered my mind.

It was a memory from a distant past.

Words of a friend from one of our many conversations.

“Great things can happen to you, too.”

Simple, yet powerful.

His words helped me transform much of my uncertainty into opportunity.

I repeated them out loud.

I noticed my mood change, instantly.

I felt empowered.

Great things can happen to you, too.

Be the Sun, Not the Salt

“Be the sun, not the salt.”

A few days ago, I came across a book by an author I had once virtually crossed paths with.

I was intrigued by the title, the metaphor of the opening page.

A part of me couldn’t wait to see what was inside.

I picked up the book and made my way through the opening chapter.

Half way through, I couldn’t help but think about the author’s message.

Are you the sun or the salt?

I immediately thought of the times throughout my life when I was the sun or the salt or a bit of both.

The times when I provided nourishment, encouraged growth.

The times when I put others down, made them feel less than.

Harry Cohen’s book reminded of an important life principal, the power of choice.

A choice I often times forgotten.

I get to choose whether I am the sun or the salt in any given situation.

Simple, yet powerful 🙏

Just Keep Swinging

No matter how tough it gets, you just have to keep swinging ⚾️

A few days ago, I watched the LA Dodgers play the San Diego Padres.

Halfway through the 5th inning, the announcer started talking about the difficulty of hitting a baseball.

He mentioned how some days you may be “hot”, meaning you hit everything that comes your way, and other days, you won’t see the field.

The common denominator between the two was the players swinging.

His remark stopped me dead in my tracks.

It got me thinking about how applicable his analogy was in everyday life.

Some days, you’re “hot”, meaning everything is going your way.

The phone doesn’t stop ringing.

Clients are coming in by the hundreds.

Other days, nothing but 🦗

The ☎️ doesn’t ring a single time.

No new clients or prospects in the pipeline.

The only thing that can be done in order for the tables to turn is for you to keep swinging.

Next time you’re going through a tough time, just remember to keep swinging.

Nothing is permanent, everything is temporary 🤔

Don’t Underestimate the Power of a “Thank You” Note

Don’t underestimate the power of a simple “Thank You” note.

This morning, as I was writing a “thank you” note to one of my speaking clients, I was reminded of this.

It has been nearly 15 years since I was introduced to the concept of “thank you” notes.

I still remember writing the very first batch.

I was at the dinner table with a pile of blank thank you cards in front of me and a list of people to thank to the right.

At the time, it felt tedious to express my gratitude in writing to those who I’d be seeing the following day.

I didn’t understand the value of expressing my gratitude to those who chose to attend my birthday party.

7 years later, I was reminded of the concept again.

As I made my way through the Entrepreneurship Lab, a mentor of mine asked, “Have you written your thank yous yet?”

“Not yet,” I responded.

The thoughts of having to go through a tedious process reappeared, front and center.

Now, I view the process differently.

I have learned the value of an intentionally written “thank you” note.

The kind gesture has allowed me to challenge my own assumptions about what I thought others felt. It has taught me that most people don’t know how I felt about what they’ve done and the impact they have had in my life.

The gesture has allowed me to see the value people put on such things. I’ve witnessed some tape the notes onto the refrigerator next to their other meaningful moments. Recognizing their good deeds helped create additional meaning in their lives.

Don’t underestimate the power of a simple “Thank You” note.

Change The Way You Look At Things

Change the way you look at things and the things you look at will change.

The other day, I was asked, “How do you change the negative events in life?”

I thought, “That’s a great question!”

The more I thought about the question, the more I began to realize the following:

👉 The past is the past. Nothing can be done to change the events that already took place.

👉 All events are neutral. The difference between a “positive” and a “negative” event is the meaning I choose to assign to each one.

👉 All events can have multiple interpretations.

These three things helped me realize that much of the answer to the initial question depended on how I chose to interpret the events.

How do I want to see the negative events in my life moving forward?

What do I choose to focus on? The pain? The suffering? The lessons learned? The skills gained?

Change the meaning of the life event by changing your interpretation of it.

Be Proud of the Work You Do, the Person You Are, and the Difference You Make

Be proud of the work you do, the person you are, and the difference you make.

For years, I associated being proud as being arrogant.

I avoided the term at all costs.

When my friends did well, instead of being proud of them, I disregarded their accomplishments.

When I graduated from college, instead of being proud of the moment, I didn’t choose to acknowledge it.

When someone thanked me for my work, I dismissed their remark.

It wasn’t until a few years ago that I became curious of the story I told myself about the term, “proud.”

It was then and there I realized that a different story can be written.

I started rewriting my story the same way I’ve advised others to, by looking myself in the mirror. Reflecting, daily, on a piece of legal pad, what “being proud” meant to me, ways to show acknowledgment or admiration for my life’s journey.

I practiced saying “thank you” every time I heard somebody acknowledge the impact my actions have had in their lives. I consciously stopped dismissing their remarks.

Today, I am especially proud of all the people that I’ve been able to help rewrite their story.

I am proud of the people they’ve become.

Vibrant.

Adept communicators.

Purpose-driven.

Mindful.

I am proud of the person I’ve become in the process.

I am proud of the decision I made six years ago, to become the client of my own work.

To embark on a journey to better understand my own fears, obstacles, and discover a better path.