Bueller.......Bueller.......Bueller

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

                                              - Ferris Bueller

Ferris said that in 1986, what would he say today?  The 24 hour news (and sports) cycle, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr , and so many faces permanently staring at screens, has life moving faster than ever. 

We NEED to take a break. Sometimes in my car I actually turn off the radio / CD / podcast or whatever I’m listening to and enjoy the silence.  Shocking.

The other night I came home and left the TV off. That never happens. Granted I was on the computer, but still its progress.

A few years ago I did some digital detox Saturdays, where I stayed off line for at least 12 hours, sometimes even longer. It was fantastic. Now I didn’t purge all electronics, but there was no checking Facebook or Twitter, no worrying about emails. It was fantastic.

Try it.  Maybe this Saturday. But try it. We all should.

That’s all I got. Thanks Ferris.

……….You’re still here? It’s over!

Get in the Game

One of my favorite TV shows was Sports Night. It was a “kind-of” comedy that was on ABC in the late nineties. For many people it was their introduction to Aaron Sorkin and his style of show – “walking scenes,” rapid fire dialogue, and usually a multi-layered message, that would become famous on his next show “West Wing.”

It was the first series I ever purchased on DVD, although I don’t pull them out to watch very often.  Recently it has been airing on the FXX network in the mornings, and I once again find myself drawn to watch while eating breakfast and getting ready for work.

Yesterday morning the episode “The Quality of Mercy at 29k” was on. The dual story lines are about an expedition to ascent Mt. Everest, and Dan Rydell’s struggle to decide on charitable contributions.  This is my favorite exchange in the entire series:

Natalie Hurley: Two guys have ascended five miles into the sky. They walked up a wall of ice, and are preparing to knock on the door of Heaven itself. There's really no end to what we can do. You know what the trick is?

Dan Rydell: What?

Natalie Hurley: Get in the game.

I had that exchange posted on my office wall for a long time, and it still hits me “right there.” We all have to be reminded from time to time to “get in the game”  If you are in sales, it’s time to make more calls; as a volunteer, to engage deeper; as an athlete or artist, fully commit to our craft; or as a parent, parent the best we can.

That’s what the Your Turn Challenge is, a chance to get in the game. I doubt most of the participants will keep blogging on a daily basis like Seth does; but I bet that most of the people involved will go on to tackle that project or prospect that has been sitting on the back burner.

What are you going to do to “get in the game”?

This post is part of the Winnie Kao / Seth Godin “Your Turn Challenge” to blog seven days in a row.

I cooked. I shipped.

I cooked tonight. Well, sort of.

As I approached college graduation in December I found myself saying a couple times “after I’m done with school, I should learn how to cook better.” 

My cooking repertoire has been limited to spaghetti, some grilling, and cooking a mean frozen pizza.  I don’t plan on ever being on Chopped, Iron Chef or one of those shows, I just want to be able to assemble a nice meal that doesn’t come out of a box or wrapper.

When I thought about cooking better, it was coming up with new types of burgers, or something different to throw in the crock pot.

Tonight, my wife is working out of town and my son is staying late at robotics to build something. As I pulled away from work, I was thinking – “what drive thru can I hit easily and get home” but then I remembered “pork chops.”

There were some pork chops pulled out of the freezer, “Smoky Apple Pork Chops” to be precise. I can make those. I think.  And we have some red potatoes too.  Instead of walking in the door and plopping in front of the TV, I went to work in the kitchen.  Found the potatoes, cut them up, drizzled some olive oil on them and found some seasonings that I thought might work. 

I was so clueless on how to cook everything that I texted a friend. She didn’t reply.

Here we go – the chops and potatoes went in the oven – and about 50 minutes later they came out cooked and tasty.

I cooked. I shipped. 

This post is part of the Winnie Kao / Seth Godin "Your Turn Challenge" to blog seven days in a row.

The Journey Is More Important Than The Destination

I’m sure this is a famous quote by someone important, but I have no idea who.  We’ve all heard “Success is a journey not a destination”; this is just another twist on that statement.

Back in December a friend of mine who runs a middle-school robotics program posted on Facebook that one of the parents called for a “do over” in a competition.  As a parent who has been involved with middle-school and high school robotics for over seven years, the line “the journey is more important than the destination” came to me and led me to craft a response based on that principle. It was well received by those who understand the program.  Still stunned a parent would do that.

The robotics program, FIRST, is about so much more than the robot. It’s about shipping, and learning, and frustration. Each season I’ve been involved as a parent, coach, or mentor, I’ve been excited to watch young people grow right in front of me.

Last week, when Seth and Winnie posted about the Your Turn Challenge I was excited. I’ve blogged in the past, more as a personal journal than anything else, and had just posted in my blog for the first time in nearly a year (Over three years since regularly posting.)  But as Monday crept up, I started thinking, I have some meetings this week, I’ll be too busy, and so on.  However, Seth’s message of shipping kept echoing in my head.

As the day went on, I started reading posts that others had done, and was stunned. My lizard brain kicked in, “I can’t do that.”  “What do I have to say that others will want to read?” I had the title for the post in my head, but the lizard was strong. So strong I tweeted saying I wasn't sure I could do it.

 

Thankfully, within 7 minutes, someone I don’t know encouraged me to do it anyways. Minutes later other chimed in. Collectively within 30 minutes they helped me kick the lizard brain to the curb.

Personally, I’m not sure where my journey will take me. I just finished my Bachelor’s degree, a mere thirty years after I started. Where the destination is, I have no clue.  I just keep hearing President Jeb Bartlett from West Wing saying “What’s next?”

What Have I Done

I stepped on the scale yesterday morning - 278 pounds. OMG.

I knew it was bad, I new my "fat" shirts were now tight. Last night I saw some photos (side shots) that were taken at an event on Wednesday.  I look horrible.

Everything the last year(s) has taken a toll on me. Geoffrey leaving, finishing school, the stress of MIL next door. Just not caring.

I have to change.

I've been trying to convince myself that I can lose one pound a week - take it off slowly - and that I will eventually get back to where I want to be.  Can I wait that long?

What if I upped it to 1.5 pounds a week? Is that doable?

I know what to do:

- Eat better
- Drop soda, drink water
- No fast food
- Have a plan
- Exercise

I have to pull the trigger. Can I?

What am I afraid of?


It time to move from survival to significance - in my body, in my career, in my relationship with God.  The first steps are the hardest.

Time to go sign up for 5k.


Look out - fat man running.

It's time.....

I think it's time to capture my thoughts here again.

Here we go again

272.5 - That's what the scale said last week. I knew it was bad. Pants too tight, shirts too tight, I feel like crap.

240 - That's what my drivers license says. It needs to be renewed at my next birthday - 22 weeks from now.

32.5 pounds, 22 weeks = 1.5 pounds a week.  I should be able to do that.



Biometric screening on Feb 6th. - can I get to 259 by then?


Plan for December is nothing dramatic.  I'm calling it WWP.

W - Walk.  Shoot for the 10,000 steps a day.
W - Water. At least 40 ounces a day. 60 would be better.
P - Produce. Five servings a day.