Beyond Hoops, Lebron James Keeps Winning

Oh, what a difference three years can make.  When Lebron left Cleveland, just three years ago, he was one of the most impossible professional athletes to respect.  Not only did he publicize his “Decision” to sign with the Miami Heat like a fourth grader showing off their art project, he lacked self-confidence, was a traitor to his hometown, and was still ring-less.  In January 2010, Lebron’s Q score (which is a measure of public popularity) proved that his approval rating was hovering around 14%.  Nobody really liked Lebron.  He was lost in Michael Jordan’s illustrious shadow, yet donned his number “23” like he deserved the right to be considered one of the best yet.

Yesterday I saw this new Nike commercial with Lebron James, and thought to myself, damn, I love this guy.  I’m not the only one.  A 2013 ESPN poll noted Lebron as the most popular player in the NBA right now.  Why the change? Over the past three years, Lebron has won over the hearts of many fans, and here’s why:

1) He started wearing #6- After Lebron’s seven year tenure with the number 23 he decided to become his own man.  Ever since Lebron was in high school, the sports world was super horny about him becoming the next Michael Jordan.  Deep down, I think Lebron probably wanted to walk in his footsteps, too.  When he ditched number 23 for 6, he finally understood the importance of creating his own legacy.

2) He apologized the right way- Some athletes really suck at apologizing (see Alex Rodriguez, Ryan Braun, or Lance Armstrong).  Bottom line, fans what to see star athletes speak candidly.  They don’t want to hear a manufactured, I’m-really-not-that-bad, apology that was probably written by a PR professional.  They want to see self-deprecation.  Look at a guy like Andy Pettitte.  You probably don’t even remember his steroid use, do you?  That’s because he was candid about the problem.  He faced the national media himself, looked us all in the eye, admitted he was an idiot, and moved on.  Lebron did the same thing.  He laughed at the 2010 production of “The Decision,” and admitted that it was over-the-top.

3) He is faithful to his wife and kids- When you’re a superstar athlete, there is temptation everywhere.  Lebron has remained loyal to his long-time girlfriend, even though his celebrity status probably allows him to “play” women like Derek Jeter.  They were recently married in private, unlike Kris Humphris and Kim Kardasian.  When he’s away from basketball he’s a family man.  He’s proud of his kids, and understands his role as their father.

4) He has stayed out of trouble-  Think about it.  People are breathing down this guy’s back constantly.  Everyone is watching him.  See if you can come up with one situation where Lebron has had issues with the law?  It’s like the guy lives on the moon, and nobody can get to him and bring him down.  He knows better.  He understands what the consequences will be if he screws up, even a little.

5) He put in the work- No one ever questioned the fact that Lebron James was a freak athlete.  Hell, he’s probably been the best athlete in the world for the past ten years.  But when he humbled up and decided to develop some of his weaker skills, a snowstorm became a blizzard.  He’s never been satisfied with his game, even after gold medals, MVPs, and NBA Championships.  There is always something he is trying to improve.  He’s not a baby anymore.  He’s a basketball junkie with a high IQ, and he’s willing to learn from greats like Hakeem Olajuwon to further evolve his game.

6) He made the United States proud- Team USA basketball was pretty embarrassing in the years prior to Lebron James.  Lebron has been our savior in the past two Olympic Games, leading the team to Gold Medals in each.  Most importantly, it was evident that Lebron wasn’t just there because he had to be.  He played with fire.  He worked his ass off, and made us all cheer for him.

7) He lets us in on his life- One thing that’s refreshing about Lebron compared to guys like Jordan, Kobe Bryant, or Tiger Woods is his willingness to let us see who he really is.  He uses social media the right way, makes public appearances, and he understands his responsibility to maintain the face of basketball.  It’s cool to see a basketball player wearing a football uniform.  It’s honorable to see a man speak from his heart at the ESPY’s, like any other human being.  Most importantly, it’s refreshing to see a guy that understands his place as a role model for people that look up to him.  I don’t know if this is something I could have said three years ago.

8) He started winning- Above all else, Lebron has proven himself over the past three years to the tune of 2 Gold Medals, 2 World Championships, 2 League MVPs, 2 Finals MVPs.   He used his failure and public disdain as motivation to become more mature.  He’s a winner now, but he’s a pretty good human being, too.  Maybe he can sit down with Richie Incognito for a few minutes.

With all this being said, Lebron’s just needs to enter the dunk contest now.

Oregon Football Reminds Us To Be Different

A good reminder from the Oregon Football program about the importance of adapting.  If you want to succeed, you can’t be too afraid to leave your comfort zone and be different.

Make every day a little bit different.  Find the courage to leave your comfort zone at least once every day.  Be bold.

Courtesy of dailyemerald.com

Oregon spent years being average.  Until Joey Harrington came along, they endured about a 50 year time-span where they failed to win a bowl game.  College football is so rich with tradition, that big-time programs are often too afraid to change.  Dormancy leads to mediocrity.  Oregon has this figured out.  Their “tradition” is largely their adaptability.   As a result, they are one of the most attractive programs in the country right now.

A little extra cash from Nike doesn’t hurt either.

Image Case Study: 50 Cent vs. Savage

Image matters.

The way you look, the way you act, and the people you surround yourself with speak volumes about you as an individual.

You haven’t heard of Savage? It’s because he’s overweight and a one hit wonder.

Swing is hot. Everyone gets down to that song on the dance floor. Then you see the music video. There is a reason he’s a one hit wonder. He does not invest in himself or his entourage.

Now look at Fifty.

He is ripped, and he associates with winners.  You can find 50 in da club because he’s got mentors. Eminem and Dr. Dre back him, and he surrounds himself with sexy women.

The entire premise of the video shows why he succeeds and Savage does not. 50 Cent works. He puts the time in at the gym and the studio, and he earns his party time at the club .

Savage has a pool party with chunky friends and women who the camera guys are afraid to show close up.

Takeaways

1. Get Fit.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk

You discount your reputation when you don’t take care of yourself. You don’t have to be cut up like 50 Cent, but you shouldn’t be testing the weight limit on roller coasters either.

2. Find a mentor.

Find someone who you admire and follow their lead. 50 Cent could not produce a video with 170 MILLION views on his own. Get advice and learn from rock stars in your field.

3. Choose your friends wisely.

http://www.canvas101.co.uk

 

The people you roll with impact your image. Look at 50’s crew compared to Savage’s. Who works more? Who spends more time cultivating their brand?

4. Don’t wear plaid shorts.

They look bad, especially if you’re over 300 pounds.

5.  Hustle.

Fifty got shot 9 times  as he ascended from drug dealer to the rapper and entrepreneur he is now. Do what it takes to succeed.  Don’t let anything stop you.

Want to Kick Ass Today? Make Your Freakin’ Bed

Disclaimer: I forgot to make my bed this morning.

Last week we talked about the importance of giving yourself ten minutes to relax and have a cold glass of water every morning.  With sheer laziness, distractions, and time wasters, sometimes we completely screw ourselves in the morning!  If you want to “win the day” you have to win the first hour that you’re awake.

When I was just a little dude, my mom would constantly ride me about making my bed.  Just about the time I was balls deep in my Froot Loops, she would always come around the corner and hit me with those three terrible words.  “MAKE YOUR BED!”

Little did I know, my mom was actually on to something.  A recent study of nearly 70,000 people showed that about 59 percent of us avoid making our bed in the morning.  But wait, here’s the crazy part: 71 percent of those that make their bed every morning consider themselves happy, while 62 percent of those that don’t consider themselves more frequently unhappy.  Those that made their bed are also more likely to own a house, workout, find happiness at their job, and they often feel more rested after their night’s sleep.  Stats can be kind of quirky sometimes, but I think this one might be on to something.

Success can be broken down into tangible pieces.  If you want to become more successful, you often need to simplify.  You don’t need to be Betty Draper to make your bed in under two minutes.  I don’t know if there is a more simple/tangible way to set yourself up for a disciplined day.  Here’s what else you have to gain:

• You’ve taken control of the day.  You’ve proven that you’re above the usual, Oregon-Hurry-Up-Offense, rush that is so often associated with mornings.  You’re beating the morning, instead of letting it conquer you.

Your room probably isn’t this cool, but you can still make your bed every morning

• The sheer satisfaction gained by actually completing a task, immediately after you wake up, might be all the momentum you need to set the tone for a successful day.  You have become psychologically balanced, and your discipline will likely spill over into other areas of your life.

• When you return home from work, school, or practice and see that your bed is made, it will remind you of your discipline.  You will feel accomplished and motivated.

• Your habitat will instantly become more manageable.  Also, you can use the flat surface to set out important items that you need to remember, in spot where you can see them more easily.  Kind of like this hoss…

• Chicks dig a made bed, man.  It’s not over-the-top.  It doesn’t suggest that you’re Christian Bale in American Psycho, but it shows that you’re a disciplined, well put together, kind of guy.

If you’re still lost, see the above video, where an extremely attractive women will teach you how to make your bed like a boss.

Attack Life Like Charles Tillman

Charles Tillman wants the football, and he takes it. It’s simple. He does not ask for it. He punches it away from the receivers and gives it to the offense.

Learn a little something from the man who has the Chicago Bears at a +7 turnover ratio.

1. Don’t wait for anyone to hand it to you.

Once in a while, a ball might fall into your hands if a receiver like Niles Paul is carrying it, but most of the time, the defense makes it happen.

Be proactive in everything you do. Set goals. Make a game plan. Do something that moves the ball forward.

2. Work.

The best don’t get to the top without sweat and tears. Tillman didn’t wake up one day and magically become a turnover machine. He spent hours practicing the “peanut punch,” and he’s known for it. Find something that is worth working for and chase it.

photo credit profootballnetworks.com

3. Fail at Full Speed.

Tillman doesn’t cause a fumble on every play. Even juiced-up Barry Bonds didn’t hit a homerun in every at-bat. You’re going to make wrong decisions. BUT mistakes should not happen because of a lack of preparation and effort. Mistakes should be from circumstances outside your control. If you’re attacking a goal and you don’t reach it, evaluate your failure and modify your process. Failures are opportunities for growth.

photo credit outsidethebeltway.com

4. Grow a pair.

photo credit izismile.com

Big bonuses and hot dates go to the courageous few who have the guts and the confidence to play the game. Create opportunities for yourself by asking for them. Ask the big dog to coffee. Make the first move. The worst answer you can possibly get is no. Don’t leave a door closed because you were too scared to open it.

5. Make it happen.

Be the guy who plans the tail gate. Be the guy who calls first. Be the guy who organizes the flag football team. Be THAT guy because you are improving your quality of life. Maintaining strong relationships takes time and effort, and someone has to initiate the conversation. It might as well be you.

Don’t settle for second best. Don’t take no for an answer. Don’t watch life go past you. As Tim Riggins would say, “No Regrets.”

Conquer Your Mornings – A 10-Minute Ritual That Will Make You A Morning Cowboy

Mornings are a cold-hearted-maniac, even if you’re among the mentally toughest.  “Experts” tell us to change our routine.  “Go to bed earlier,” they say.  “Cross your legs and meditate on your living room floor,” they suggest.  “Eat a hearty bowl of steal cut oats with goji berries and Persian walnuts,” they prescribe.

Who are these idiots?  We all know that when the clock strikes 6:30, and your phone alarm howls, not even a breakfast date with Kate Upton could pull you away from the warm arms of your bed.

“Hey wake up, you idiot!”
-Courtesy of celebpop.com

Realistically we all lead demanding lives and it’s impossible to master the game of sleep.  It’s just a reality.  Time and again we go to bed telling ourselves that we will jump right out of bed in the morning.  We think, “Nobody’s going to stop me tomorrow, the snooze button won’t get touched!”  Then that fickle jerk known as morning rolls around and turns us into a sleepy little princess.  Suddenly, we prolong our laziness.  We become late for work, school, or practice.  We get anxious, negative, and begin to rush through our routine.  Our day begins like we are running the Oregon Football team’s offense.  You’re become morning version of De’Anthony Thomas.  A blur.

We shouldn’t make our mornings more complex and difficult than they already are.  You don’t need a bunch of fru-fru meditation exercises and a Bobby Flay cookbook to make your mornings more inspiring.  If you want to start your day more positively, we suggest that you start the first ten minutes of the day with this ritual:

10 Minutes of Thought and a Glass of Water – 5 Easy Steps

Step 1- As soon as you put an end to that ACDC cell phone alarm, pour yourself a glass of water.

**Why Water?  Essentially, you dehydrate yourself for about 8 hours every night.  When you wake up, your body is begging for water.  Drinking water in the morning, before putting anything else into your system, will instantly change the way you feel.  Try it tomorrow, and I guarantee you will feel your body loosen up and feel more lively about ten minutes after you down a full glass of water.  Water speeds up all of your body’s processes to give you more energy.  One glass of water speeds up your metabolism by about 25%.  If you are working out, water will help your body produce new cells on top of the ones that you beat to a pulp the day before.  Also, water helps flush out your body’s nasty toxins that make you look like an old man.  A glass of water each morning will make your skin look glowing and clear (“Hey, ladies”).

Step 2- Find a quiet place.  Remove yourself from noise, your cellphone, Sportscenter, or any other distractions and just sit (even if it’s in your bathroom).

Step 3- Reflect.  Determine your attitude.

**Why Should I Reflect?  We are so prone to waking up and instantly hitting the gas pedal  We make our morning routine even more difficult when we hit our snooze button six times and scroll through 8 hours of our Twitter/Facebook pages before we even get up and moving.  We put our minds on anxiety-autopilot mode for our morning routine, and we blur through the first hour of the day, before we even really use our minds.  Stop doing that!  Take control of your day by first becoming aware of why the hell you woke up in the first place.  You don’t really have to organize your reflection, but at least ask yourself these three questions:

•                 How can I overcome what I don’t want to today?
•                 What do I have to look forward to?
•                 How can I be the person I want to be today?

Step 4– Take the deepest breath you possibly can and remember that you are still alive.

Step 5- Finish your glass of water.  Own the day.

I challenge you to give this ritual a try for 2 weeks.

Train Like Ali – 8 Reasons Why You Should Be Jumping Rope

Here’s a fun fact: Muhammed Ali never touched a single weight.  Can you believe that?  One of history’s most explosive athletes never touched the squat rack…never maxed out his bench press…..and never even slipped in “curls for the girls.”  Some of us probably haven’t picked up a Jump Rope since we were forced to participate in “Jump Rope for Heart” during fourth grade.  If you’re not supplementing a jump rope routine into your workouts, you’re making a big mistake.

For about 20 minutes, everyday, Cassius Clay trained on the jump rope.  If you’re looking to break up the monotony of your weekly routine, here are 8 reasons why you should give a jump rope a whirl.

8 Reasons Why You Need to Start Jumping Rope

1) It’s not boring-  Jumping rope is like throwing a party-for-one at the gym.  If you’re a runner, putting in a lot of miles can quickly become a huge drag.  Try supplementing a jump rope routine into your workouts twice per week.  Less than 10 minutes on the rope ultimately equates to about 20 minutes spent jogging.  You can also pop in your headphones and jump to the beat of your favorite jam.  (Try this tune for a five minute warm up (NSFW) – Kendrick Lamar)

“Sweetness” Walter Payton swore by his jump rope routine

2) Convenience-  You can store one of the greatest pieces of exercise equipment ever created in your briefcase or gym bag.  You can jump rope anywhere- your driveway, your basement, the garage, or maybe even next to that hot girl at the gym (better make sure you don’t suck at it though).  You can even take it with you on vacation.

“Hey, look at that guy jumping rope. I bet he has nice calves. Wonder if he’d go out with me?”

3) Fat Burning Pyromania-  Jumping rope is like cardio on steroids.  If you’re looking to get your heart rate up and shed calories in a hurry, it only takes about ten minutes with a jump rope.  According to research, jumping rope for ten minutes is equivalent to performing these exercises:

• Playing tennis for 90 minutes
• Jogging for 30 minutes at a moderate pace
• Swimming 720 yards in 30 minutes
• Cycling 2 miles in 6 minutes
• Playing racquetball for 20 minutes

4) CHEAPNESS–  You can find a durable, gets-the-job-done, jump rope at Wal-Mart for $2.57.  That’s right, you can completely change your body for less than cost of that Pumpkin Spice Latte you had to buy your girl at Starbucks.

5) It will turn you into Reggie Bush- Ok, maybe not, but jumping rope provides a full body workout that improves agility, speed, quickness, and muscle tone.  Jumping rope also engages your abdominal muscles, and aids in bone density development.  If you’re looking to become a more explosive athlete, the jump rope works your fast-twitch muscle fibers, and trains your nervous system to better control the muscles related to balance, coordination, and agility.  Hell, after a few weeks you might even be juking defenders for touchdowns, or doing push ups with Kim Kardashian on your back.

Reggie Bush jumps rope, too. I Swear.

6) Low Impact-  Compared to running, jumping rope significantly lessens the impact on your joints.  The impact of each jump is absorbed by both legs.

7) It quickly warms your body-  There is nothing worse than trudging through a boring warm up at the gym.  If you’re getting old, and it’s taking you more time to get your body warm, look no further than the jump rope.  A 5 minute warm up with a rope loosens your arms and legs, raises your heart rate, and burns nearly 100 calories.  Most importantly, your body becomes warm, your circulation starts to flow, and you’re ready to start beating on your muscles.

8) It will make you a better dancer- The rhythmic nature associated with jumping rope trains your muscles to react much more rapidly.  Basically, your muscles will be trained to react quicker to what your brain is asking them to do.  It’s highly unlikely that your jump rope routine will turn you into Chris Brown, but you can count on feeling more in tune with your body on the dance floor.

“Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” – Muhammed Ali, the greatest that ever dun-it

Real Life Forrest Gump – The Most Inspiring Guy You’ve Never Heard Of

Looking for a little shot of inspiration this afternoon.  Look no further than David Goggins.  If you do anything today, spend some time getting to know his name.

10 Reasons Why David Goggins Is a Hero

1) He once ran around a 1-mile track for 48 straight hours.  He completed 203 miles.

2) He holds the World Pull-Up Record.  In 24 hours, David completed 4,030 pull-ups.  When he was done, his hands looked like this (those are third degree burns):

3) He completed the 135-Mile Badwater Ultra-Marathon (which takes place in the lower-level of Death Valley).

4) In his spare time, David Goggins is a U.S. Navy Seal.

5) Goggins often runs 15-20 miles before eating breakfast, and then bikes 25 miles to his “desk job” as a Navy Seal.

6) David isn’t a workout addict.  He isn’t crazy.  He competes to raise money for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.  This foundation provides full college tuition to military children of Special Ops personnel that were killed in the line of fire.  He has raised nearly $500,000 for the organization.  Oh, and he also builds handicapped accessible homes for veterans.

7) He was once nearly 300 pounds, and had never run for more than 20 minutes in his life.  In fact, he still “hates” working out.  Funny, because he looks like Ray Lewis and runs like a damn Kenyan Marathoner.  His resting heart rate is in the neighborhood of 32 beats per minute (that’s 40 less bpm than normal).

8) He has had two operations on his heart.  A few years ago, David discovered a hole in his heart the size of a poker chip.  And yes, he was competing without ever knowing it existed.

9) In the near future, he plans to compete in cycling and extreme mountain climbing competitions.  Woah.

10) David found his competitive motivation after a brutal tour in Afghanistan.  He lost a lot of his closest friends in a “mission gone bad.”  He vowed to help the families that lost their husbands and fathers.  He isn’t much of a car wash or bake sale kind of guy, so he Googled the world’s ten hardest physical feats and decided to complete some of them as a charity for his fallen comrades and their families.

This guy deserves a lot of respect.  I’m pretty glad I get to live in the same country as him.  One of the best and brightest.  Take that, Kenyans.

6 Ways to Kick Perfectionism – Write Drunk, Edit Sober – Become a Completionist

We are all perfectionists at times.  How about a definition…

Definition of Perfectionism- The practice of demanding oneself or others a higher quality of performance than is required by a situation.

Well, what the hell’s wrong with that?  Is there something wrong with overachieving?  Absolutely not.  Some of the world’s greatest athletes, musicians, and artists are self-proclaimed perfectionists.  I want to discuss the toxic effect that perfectionism can have on your ability to get things done.

6 Ways to Kick Perfectionism, Become a Completionist, and Get Stuff Done

1) You’re not procrastinating, you just care– Stop confusing procrastination for laziness.  When we procrastinate, we actually have extremely high expectations for ourselves.  That’s why we call it procrastination and not laziness.  Have you ever noticed how active you keep your brain when you know you’re procrastinating?  There’s a certain level of anxiety that we keep in the back of our mind.  That’s because you care.  When you feel anxiety take over, bring it into your awareness.

2) Write drunk, edit sober– A lot of times, we wait to start something because we are scared.  We judge ourselves, and it ends up crushing our productivity.  Live your life like you’re on liquid courage (minus the sloppy texts to your pals and trips to Taco Bell).  Let loose on a task, and do so without continuously judging the product.  Later on, polish, polish, polish the details.

3) Plan less, adjust later–  Naturally, perfectionists are “task-to-completion” oriented.  The problem is, we spend so much time planning, organizing, and perfecting that we’re not getting anything done.  Just get started.  Focus on the ride instead of the final destination.

“An object at rest, tends to stay at rest.” – Issac Mother-Loving Newton said that

4) Use the “Big Mo” more often–  You can’t be productive all the time.  Aside from a few aliens out there (guys like Kobe Bryant, Nick Saban, and Jay-Z) it’s virtually impossible for human beings to enjoy workaholism.  In reality, I think a lot of us would admit that it’s tough to stay on our game for even 40 hours per week.  When we are mentally in-tune, and we see tasks to completion, use the momentum that you have.  Keep going while you’re going.  Ride the wave of productivity.

5) Stop hating on yourself–  Becoming your own toughest critic is extremely dangerous.  Expecting a lot from yourself is a healthy attitude, but when you get down on yourself for not accomplishing everything you want, the negative self-talk can be debilitating.  If you’re continually beating yourself up for failing to reach your goals, you might want to re-evaluate.  Break your goals/tasks into more achievable pieces, so that you experience more success and build more confidence.

6) Daily “hour of power”–  Take one hour every day to get away from yourself. Get away from your tasks, don’t think about your goals, and get off your grind. Dumb it down, have a beer, play some Madden. It’s important that we humble-up and turn our brain off for a while every day. You always need to balance out. Make one “hour of power” a priority in your life. Schedule it into your day, and it will serve as a reward for your hard work and intensity.

How To Get The “It” –Even If You’re Not Peyton Manning

7 Ways to Get More “IT” 

-At Work, in the gym, and on the playing field-

The “it” factor.  This ever-elusive descriptor has always baffled me.  A term used by musicians, coaches, trainers, and fans.  But what does it mean?  I think too many of us see the “it” factor as some sort of esoteric trait set aside for the few super-talented aliens that we see on TV.  We believe “it-factor” is innate, so from a self-improvement standpoint, the idea of improving your “it” seems impossible.  Like, “that’s some Peyton Manning-type stuff.”  Don’t buy into this.  Here are 7 achievable transformations that will have your employers, coaches, and trainers notice more “it” in you.

1)  Stop Complaining-  Complainers reek of weakness.  This is something you can control.    Here is something to try–  For one week, see if you can go a full 24 hours without making  one single complaint.  Notice how the energy around you changes, and the way others respond to you.  No seriously, this will change your life.  You can even trick your brain out of stuff like headaches and tough workouts if you conquer your complaints, first.

2)  Become a Savage-  Make it a point to put yourselves into situations that make you uncomfortable.  Do what everyone else hates doing, and become mentally tougher than those around you.  It can be as simple as parking your car in the most distant parking stall, or seeing how fast you can get out of bed the first time your alarm goes off.

3)  Sleep Tight-  As a psychologist, I am certain that sleep is the ultimate wild card.  Make sleep a priority and watch your life change.  Focus on 7-8 hours each night.  It’s the ultimate energy drink.

4)  Be More Coach-able-  Coachability IS NOT a static trait.  It bothers me when leaders make this assumption.  If you want to become more coach-able, be more humble.  When your being instructed:

• Maintain eye contact
• Listen, confirm what you heard, ask questions
• Show an interest

5)  Understand Confidence-  One of the biggest misconceptions we have about confidence is that it you can turn it on at a moment’s notice.  It is IMPOSSIBLE to simply “be” more confident.  Coaches make this assumption especially often.  In order to become more confident, you need to make something happen and experience success.  Confidence is a reward, not a magical light-switch that you can flip on and off.

6)  Show Some Guts-  Take risks, fail, and show those around you that you can handle it.  So much of the way people perceive you is determined by how you react to failure or defeat.  When we maintain our composure it shows that we are strong.  When we live our lives on impulse, and constantly react to negativity, our competitors know that they can eat us alive (Tiger Woods right now).

7)  Reflect Every Morning-  Spending 20 minutes each morning reflecting on your day is an extremely powerful habit.  Don’t wait until 2:30 in the afternoon to define the purpose of your day.  Here are 4 questions you should ask yourself every morning:

• What can I realistically accomplish today?
• What will be my distractions today, and how can I avoid them?
• What are TWO risks that I can take today?
• What rewards are out there for me today?