I Challenge You

The 30-second drill was one of my favorite parts of basketball practice.  Those of you who have been tortured with the 30-second drill during a sports practice are probably raising an eyebrow and quietly saying to yourself, she is crazy, but I’m not.  I liked the 30-second drills because I knew that I just had to last 30 seconds and then it was over… or at least I got a break.  So when I joined gold gym and they introduced me to 30 second circuit training I really enjoyed it, because once again I did an exercise for 30 seconds and then I was onto another exercise that worked another part of my body giving the part I just worked a break.

I decided to challenge myself by taking the 30-second concept and making it 30 days. I have heard that if you can do something for 30 days you have the ability to make it a habit.  I did a little research and found out that 30 days to create a habit is a myth that came from a psychological article in the 1960’s.  However, even after the research I decided to test the 30-day challenge.  I began with the 30-day ab and squat challenge.  And guess what?  I finished it and I felt great.  I was able to successfully complete the 30 days because like the 30 second drills I knew that I only had to do x amount per day for 30 days and I was done. 

We can all do something for 30 days if we put our minds to it, but will we go past that designated time?

Day 31, I woke up and instead of getting up and doing my squats and ab work, I slept in because I finished my goal.  I was done and there was no need to continue. However, on day 32 I resumed my squats and ab work not because it was a habit, but because I began to see a difference.  To me what makes a challenge stick is not just doing it day after day, but doing it for a deeper purpose.  Yes I wanted defined and toned lower half, but the bottom line is I really want is to be healthy and if abs and squats are a part of that then so be it. So, I guess you can technically say it became a habit because I am still doing it, but my intensity is not as strong because there is no deadline.

I believe that we can all make something a habit and that a challenge is a great way to kick start it, but the challenge has to have a deeper purpose or we will either not finish it or not continue it after the challenge is over. 

I challenge you today to find something you want to change in your life to make your brand better and do it for 30 days, but only if there is reason that resonates with you beyond the challenge.

Just Walk Away

Are you willing to walk away…

        If the deal is not right?

        If the relationship is not what you want?

        If you are not being fulfilled by your job?

We often settle for things that are less than what we want or deserve because we are comfortable or they meet at least one need.  We have to think better of ourselves and change our mindset to one of excellence and start waiting for the thing, the person or the situation we are dreaming of.  You only have one life…STOP settling and start DEMANDING what you deserve.

I am in the market for a new-used car and I found the exact one that I have been dreaming about for the last several years(yes it is on my vision board).  The minute I saw it I imagined my sweetie pie and I taking weekend road trips.  I was in love…It met all of my qualifications:

• It was in my price range (Check)
• It was black (check)
• It was under 50k in mileage (check)
• It only had one owner (check)
• It was immaculate inside and out (check)
• Tires were new (check)
• It only had to pass one last requirement… my mechanic. 

My mechanic treats me like his daughter and he is skeptical of everything.  If it is not perfect he will not give his stamp of approval and since he takes care of all of my cars, I want his ok.  I said a little prayer while driving it over to his shop and as I stepped out of the car, he smiles and says… “Angela it looks nice” that makes me smile, because I feel like I am one-step closer to my dream car.  He checks out the inside and shakes his head in approval.  He pops the hood and starts to investigate. Then the words I was hoping not to hear, came out of his mouth “Angela this car is not good” I am screaming NOOOOOOOOOO extremely loud in my head as he shows me the well hidden water damage. 

I am CRUSHED. As I get back in the car to drive it to the dealer, I say to myself… I am getting this car no matter what he says. I want it, I deserve it and most importantly I am paying for it.  BUT after sitting in Atlanta traffic reality sets in… this man has been taking care of your cars for over 10 years.  He has never steered you wrong. If this car is not the best then he will end up fixing it and you paying for it.  I was so sad on the rest of the ride.

 

I got back to the dealership turned in the keys and just walked away.

I did not walk away with an attitude or even knowing there was another car waiting for me at a dealership down the street. I walked away with a smile and excitement knowing that when I do find MY car, it will be the best option for ME.  Not only will it meet my requirements, but it will surpass them.

If I am building my brand on excellence then I have to walk away when the thing I want the most that is being presented to me is not the best for me.

Are you willing to walk away?

Behind Writing Stats and Situations

I have been playing baseball for over 25 years, and I have experienced many great memories from the game. I would never forget the years playing with my Little League teammates. I still believe that my high school baseball team was probably the funniest team ever. The years at "the U" and going to the College World Series (twice) were awesome and rewarding. Calling and telling my mom that I made it to the major leagues was unimaginable. And even in playing independent baseball, I never had more fun being on a losing team than I did with the Newark Bears.

But through all the memories, good and bad, that I experienced from baseball, I came out a wiser man. Yes, I had some great coaches, but the game itself was my biggest teacher. It taught me humility, it gave me perspective, and it showed me how to handle success and adversity. I learned how to not allow my emotions to be too high or too low. It taught me how to interact with all types of people from many different backgrounds and how to handle the attitudes of the hundreds (if not thousands) of teammates that I have had.

As I compile all of my years of playing baseball and the many things that I learned, I realized that baseball offered more than just the cliché lessons of life - overcoming failure, striking out in life and teamwork. So, I decided that I would extract more life lessons from the game that everyone could learn from.

Why did I write Stats and Situations: The Game Plan to Success?

I wrote Stats because it is more than just a game. I tell people that if they show me a game of baseball, I will show them a lesson. And this is what I did with this book. I wanted to give people another way of looking at the game.

What is the premise behind the book?

Baseball is filled with many situations and statistical categories (hence the name). I decided that I would break down the real in-game scenarios and stats in a two-part book and show how they correlate to life, as well as, how we can use these lessons to better and be more successful in our lives.

Who is the book for?

You may think this book is just for the baseball fan but it is for you too. Yes, baseball fans will relate to this book, but Stats is enjoyable for baseball buffs as well as people not as familiar with the game. The half baseball/half life format in each chapter gives an in depth explanation of how the two complement each other.

Are there any personal anecdotes throughout the book?

Yes. Throughout the book, I introduce each chapter with personal stories of my experiences in the game and in life.

Why this book and this topic?

Sometimes baseball can get a bad rap for being too boring or slow, and I wanted to give people an opportunity to understand the game better and gain an appreciation for the game that has given me so many great memories.

Where can you purchase a copy?

You can purchase a copy at www.statsandsituations.com.

Brian D. Barton is a professional baseball player, author and speaker who teaches lessons of life through his experiences as an athlete. He also focuses on leadership, team building, team management for students and corporations. To book visit www.brianbartonaccess.com.

This weeks post is from guest blogger Brian D. Barton, who demonstrates a great way to expose your brand and your product in your own words. Brian does an excellent job of selling his book (Stats and Situations) without actually selling, but simply telling the reader about it.  First he acknowledges, why he is an expert in the sport of baseball (25 years playing baseball) and then he discusses the basis for the book (which is a synopsis of the life lessons he learned). All sports fans love to have a deeper insight into their favorite sport and  player.  Brian's book gives you a birds-eye-view of baseball and what he learned from the game.

The one thing Brian did not mention in this post that I garnered from the book is how much the novice baseball fan can learn from reading it.  I had a general idea of inter-workings of baseball, but Brian was able to creatively break it down even more. Stats and Situations goes one step further than most baseball books by showing us how baseball is similar to life experiences and it is through these analogies that he drives home the intricacies of baseball.  When I watch baseball games now, I recognize a lot of the things that Brian highlighted in his book.  After you read Stats and Situations you will have a clear understanding of baseball(if you didn't already) as well as how it relates to your life and your business.

We have to continue to find new ways to expose our brand - Kudos Brian!!

God Bless

A.Mayartis.J

Brand My Kindergartener???

You didn't get the job because your Twitter account showed some questionable post …

You lost your college scholarship because of the alcohol in the picture of you on facebook …

The interview didn't happen although you were qualified for the job….

Now, your sitting at home scratching your head and asking yourself…WHY?????

Why am I not getting the job, the scholarship the interview that should have been mine without question?   Although there could be several possible reasons hindering you from your desires, one reason that people don't consider is… YOUR PERSONAL BRAND.

Your brand or your perception of your brand can help or hurt you in attaining the things that you have been working really hard for.

QUESTION…

If your brand is the key to getting into the school, company, club or organization that you desire; when should you start to developing and managing your brand?

ANSWER…

The minute your parents put the first picture of you on FB, Twiter, Instagram or any social media sites.

 It goes without saying that your brand begins the day you are born, but unfortunately many of us do not start focusing on it until we are considering college or in search of a job.  By the time you reach college it is way too late begin brand development at this point you should managing and enhancing the brand you have in place.  Schools, companies and other organizations will not accept you or interview you until they do thorough research on you (Online and off line).  What does that mean?

To sum it up…they are looking at everything you did from the time you signed up for your first social media account and any problems or accolades that followed you throughout your physical life.

Long story short the earlier you begin to think about your brand and how it will effect your future the better off you will be in attaining your dreams.

God Bless.

A. Mayartis J.

How to become a Millionaire after the NBA

On this first night of the 2014 NBA draft as prospective players see their dreams of signing a multi-million dollar contract and acquiring a lucrative bonus come to fruition or slip away without warning, I want to tell you about an NBA player who made his millions outside of the league.  Can you guess who?  The first NBA superstar that probably comes to mind is Earvin “Magic” Johnson, because he built an empire after leaving the league, but it is NOT Magic.  Maybe you are considering Michael Jordan, who many call the best player who has ever played the game, but you would be wrong again.

Junior Bridgeman (Ulysses Lee) is the player and incredible businessman, who joined the millionaire club at the conclusion of 12 seasons in the NBA.  Many of you may not of heard of Junior, but he played with the Milwaukee Bucks and the LA Clippers.  After getting his degree from University of Louisville, in 1975, Junior was drafted in the first round as the 8^th overall pick to Lakers, but before he could suit up and play with the Lakers, they traded him to the Milwaukee Bucks for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.  Over the span of his career (1975-1987) his highest salary was $350,000, which is a lot to many of us, but quite small in comparison to today’s massive salaries.

Sports illustrated reported that 60% of NBA players go broke within 5 years of retiring, but Junior not only beat those odds he exceeded them by becoming the second largest owner of the Wendy’s Franchise in America.  Junior loved the game of basketball, but he understood that his NBA career would not last forever and that he needed to prepare for his life after the sport. During the off-season while other players were enjoying breath-taking vacations, he purchased a Wendy’s franchise and worked there in order to learn the business from the ground up.  By the time he retired from the league he owned 3 Wendy’s locations and today he owns well over 280 restaurants (160 Wendy’s and 120 Chili’s).  Junior is worth over $400 Million today which is $380 million more than Kareem Abdul – Jabbar’s $20 million. 

Junior Bridgeman understood the premise of Parallel Career Metamorphosis that I discuss in detail in my debut book Brand Legacy, which is the process of using your personal brand to help you accomplish all of the goals you have in your life.  We all have other talents outside of the one that helped us begin our first career; we just need to create plans to make them come to fruition.

Junior believed in excelling at everything he was involved in hence his ability to do extremely well on the court, while he worked on the other goals in his life.   Junior has created a legacy not only financially, but also a history that should inspire other athletes to mirror.

As the NBA prospects sign multi-million dollar contracts over the next few weeks, I hope they work hard to excel on the court, consider ways to give back to the community because they should never leave it they way the found it and lastly begin consider the story of Junior Bridgeman  - start thinking about their other dreams and how they can begin accomplishing them by utilizing their brand.