An "Impactful" life.

I know. .. Impactful is not a real word. It is coming up on everyone's spellcheck alert, but it is the most concise way of describing today's message.

I found out this morning, while listening to the Howard Stern Show, about the death of one of my life's icons, Jack LaLanne. Those who know me, are expecting me to blog about this. Those who REALLY know me, are expecting me to be very hurt by this, as if I have lost a family member.

Truth is, just like in life, his passing has inspired me. Unlike Mister Rogers, who I never had the opportunity to meet, I spent three days with Jack LaLanne, at a time in my life that I was approaching a crossroad. We spent three days eating healthy, talking about fitness, and more importantly, the impact we have on others. It is a happenstance meeting that had a great impact on how I continue to live my life.

I told him my story of the educator-turned struggling producer, and my dream of helping make the world a better place. He patiently listened and asked questions, then said to me "You are doing the right thing. All my life I have just worried about helping others, and the rest has fallen in place." He said that with an earnestness and sincerity that brought a calm over me, at a time where I was doubting the craziness of what I was doing.

Five years and four Emmy nominations later, I find myself at the same crossroad. As always, I have several irons in the fire, and work and live at a pace that must be very tiring to watch (although it is invigorating to live) or for my wife to live with (a real saint). I have so many things I still want to accomplish as an educator, as a family man, as a creative producer, as an American.

I see the problems plaguing our education system, and I have a real plan for how to fix it. I see the problems in our governmental system, and I also have a real plan of how to fix that. I see garbage on TV and feel that there has to be a wholesome alternative that people want to watch and experience. Most importantly, I have an AWESOME wife and two daughters and want to experience every minute of their lives with them. So you see why I am always running so hot.

So I take pause today to remember the words of the man I was so fortunate to have met - and experience his energy firsthand. It makes me think of a quote from Jackie Robinson: "A Life is not important, except for the impact it has on others." Jack LaLanne preached that we should all "Work and Live Vigorously," and he did so in an "Impactful" way - a way that left a great impact on how I, as well as others live our lives.

So I will continue to dream of leaving a legacy like Jack did, and maybe someday I will be given the opportunity he had to affect global change. Maybe someone will really, truly want to make change and I will get the opportunity to implement my plans for education, entertainment, or for government. In the meantime, I will continue to try my hardest to have an impact on the most important passion in my life - my wife and my girls.

Thank you Jack for having an impact.

Your presence might be missed, but your spirit will live on.

Who will YOU impact today?

Living like an Underdog

Birthday's are another great excuse/opportunity to re-evaluate yourself and your life's direction (like I ever need an excuse to do that). As my loyal readers would attest, I always encourage self-evaluation and the consistent check into your progress towards long-term and short-term goals. I also encourage constant "tweaking" of said goals. If something isn't working, change it. No need to keep a molded strawberry in the refrigerator, if you know you will never use it. Throw it out and go buy some more fruit.

This week was my 43rd birthday. On the morning of my birthday, I took the family dog, Holly, out for a long walk. With the weather being so cold and snowy, we have been taking shorter walks or I'ver been letting her out in the backyard to "do her business." January 11, however, I decided to bundle up and go for a walk in the 15 degree morning air. I ran into a neighbor, whom I regularly exchange the latest news and sports talk with, and continued on our way. We discussed the amazing weekend of NFL playoff games and how the underdogs won 3 out of the 4 games. The Seattle Seahawks beat the defending Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints, after being 10 point underdogs going into the game. That got me thinking.

Nobody gave them a fighting chance to win, but they showed up and did just that. They believed in themselves and their chances for victory, and it didn't matter what the rest of the league thought. Sure their fans showed up and were making all kinds of noise, but I would have to think that they were just thrilled to have their 7-9 team hosting a playoff game. This game was gravy to them. . . but not to the players.

I think that there is a lesson there that can apply to our daily lives and the reaching for our goals and dreams. Saints fans must have been blow away by the fact that this team, who only won 7 games during the regular season, vanquished their reigning champions.

This is a big build-up for a simple lesson that I would like everyone to think about. I believe the day you wake up and do not have the fire of an underdog, the desire to become better than we were the day before, the confidence to move forward when the rest of the world may not be paying attention to you (or seeming doesn't believe in you), that is the day you will begin your decline - your spiral toward the end. . . when your life will have "Jumped the Shark" so to speak. Just look at Mike Tyson's life after he took Buster Douglas for granted, and believed he was no longer an underdog - believed his own reported invincibility.

The old saying is that "Everyone loves an underdog." I believe that is true because the underdog has the spirit, energy, and drive to continue to move forward and create something unexpected.

Live like an underdog, and expect the unexpected.

Peace,

Randy

Don't Resolve - EVOLVE

It is resolution time again. People are pumped up and motivated to change their lives, better themselves, and take on the world. For the next week we will see people eating better, maybe being nicer, walking around sore (because they resolved to exercise more and are feeling the effects of an inactive 2010) or actually showing up to work on time. Many of us claim "This is the year when ______".

Invariably, this does not last. People are creatures of habit and will soon grow tired or overwhelmed by their new resolutions and fall back into the same routines they were dissatisfied with the previous years.

There is a way to break this cycle, and that is to NOT make a resolution. Resolutions are so absolute that they are unrealistic in their actual attainment. Also, when you do veer off your resolution, you are most likely going to say "Well, that was that - good try on my part" and fall back into the old habits and eventually become disappointed in yourself. A vicious cycle that seems to repeat itself year after year.

The solution is simple - don't resolve. . . evolve. Take your goals not in absolution of a resolution, but in smaller attainable goals, allowing you to take baby steps over the period of the year and bank positive actions. Not unlike the recovering addict - Alcohol, food, drugs, etc. - live your life one day or period at a time. If you are trying to lose weight, take it one meal at a time. Trying to get fit? . . .one day at a time. Trying to read more. . .one page at a time. Before you know it, you will have attained a collection of positive actions and if you miss a day or two, you can easily start again.

Subscribe to this evolution process - slow growth over time - and before you know it, you will have demonstrable growth.

Last year, I had "resolved" to write more and blog. I started out strong and petered out in the end. When I reflected on my year, I was pleased to see that I had shared 31 blogs - some insightful, some silly, and some a bit out there. Nonetheless, that is 31 more blogs or public writings than I did the year before. I am proud of myself for that achievement - not disappointed over the frequency. This year, I will try to do it more frequently.

At the very least, this is entry number one. Next time I have something to say, I will then write again. . . no pressure. . . just progress.

Happy New Year.

Randy

Happy "New" Year?

Hello Friends,

It is September. New Year for those of the Jewish faith, a new school year for those still obtaining knowledge (I hope that is all of us), and a good time to get back into the swing of blogging.

After a fun summer with the family, even through the continually struggling time in our economy, I feel motivated to continue to stay focused on the important things in life.

I was speaking to an old friend regarding peace and happiness, and thought it would be a good way to look at the "new" year.

It is funny how I have conversations like this, when I myself have no financial success to show.

It might be how my wife and I deal with our "poverty" that draws people to look for our secret to peace and happiness.

My views on this and life are simple.

Speculation, Jealousy and Regret are three wasted mental actions.

You can't control what was, what could have been, and what might never be.

You can only control what IS.

If we continue to spend our days (or interactions/experiences) with the sense of what is and with a view on what has brought us here, then we can better orchestrate our desired results from that day/interaction/experience.

Granted, that end result we are attempting to achieve may not be realistic or (unbeknownst to us) be in the best interest of us and our family (you discover this later in reflection).

There will be results of some sort (or a plan of action), and we need will respond in kind to IT! - not to what we hoped or thought the outcome would be.

Keeping that focus on the REALITY of the situation allows us to maintain control - whereas speculation, jealousy, and regret have us theorizing on uncontrollable situations. Viewing the world in this manner will allow us to stand strong and grow from life's ever passing vignettes.

Waste no time on the "what if I". . ."I should have". . . "They didn't. . . " types of dialogue/monologues.

Instead, say. . ."OK, I am here. My next move is in "THIS" direction (or "these" directions), which may have outcomes of x,y, or z. . . but I won't worry about them until I get there."

The world is not static. It is always in a state of evolution, as are we. It is this reason we do not waste time on Speculation.

Your day will go as it was meant to go. Your performance within it will dictate how you come out of it.

There are no negatives, just backwards positives waiting for a mirror to turn them around.

Breathe, Observe, React authentically, and observe some more.

Someone told me "You have two ears and one mouth. . . listen more. . .talk less. . ."

Good advice, that is difficult to remember at times.

Hope this is helpful, and not too preachy. It is not meant to be.

I won't worry myself over whether or not is was received that way. That would be far to Speculative, and lead me to be regretful. . . =)

Peace,

Randy

How You See Yourself

Happy July 1 everyone. The beginning of a new month and a perfect opportunity to act on the question I asked in my previous entry - "What do you want to be when you grow up?"

I know, a silly question to be asking an adult, but in reality, we are always growing and we are always learning. As I often say, "Every day is a school day." I used to say that to my students when I was a teacher and to my teachers when I was a principal, and I truly believe that you can learn from everyone you come in contact with, regardless of the perceived position he/she or you hold in relation to each other. Each day I learn from my children, and I hope they learn from me =). I still learn from my parents (sometimes how NOT to act, but that is still learning nonetheless).

It is all about having the confidence and strong self-esteem to recognize that you do not have all the answers and that the only person who matters with regards to judging you, is YOU. How you perceive the world and see yourself as a part of it, dictates the way you handle situations, interact with others, and answer questions seemingly as simple as "What do you want to be when you grow up?"

Since we continue to grow and evolve, I should rephrase the question to, "Now that you have accomplished _____, what challenge do you want to conquer next?" or "Since the latest outcome in your life has resulted in ________ (losing a job, breaking up with a loved one, earning a new position or coming into a lot of money), what will be the next move you make to make your life richer and therefore richer for those you care about?"

It is all in how you look at things, especially yourself. Edison never failed, he just discovered ways that didn't work to the standard he was hoping. If you are at a crossroad in your life, or a time where you are questioning "What it all means?" then this is the perfect time to answer my question.

When answering it, view yourself how YOU want to be viewed, not how you think others view you. Remember, you are looking back at yourself in the mirror, and your life and actions are a reflection on you and you alone.

Some readers of my blog, as well as advisors of mine, feel that sometimes I am way too serious. Those who know me in life realize that although I am a bit intense and goal driven, I am one of the sillier people around. However, when it comes to living the life you were meant to lead, I find it to be a serious manner, and if viewed that way, you will be able to live the carefree life of a person who is more than pleased with the path his life is taking.

Notice I didn't say "content," for contentment breeds complacency, which will lead you back to the place of "What is it all worth?" Live each day as a challenge to be more fun, more full, and more enriching than the one before and contentment/complacency will never be an issue, because you will be living a truly happy life.

On the subject of how you view things, I came across this FUNNY. . . .yes FUNNY video that effectively demonstrates the idea of perception. Your perception is fact to you, as other's is fact to them. Enjoy this video and begin looking at yourself the way you want other to see you.

I am still waiting for your answer?

Peace,

Randy

P.S. Also, as an artist, I LOVED this person's clever work.