Month: February 2008

How Can I Not?

I remember in 5th grade I had to write a note to myself that was going to be buried in a time capsule. We are supposed to dig it up in the year 2020 (I think). (Does anyone who went to Walt Whitman Elementary School remember?)

Anyway, the sealed letter was about how we hope we’d turn out. I remember so clearly writing about how I’d be happily married with kids and have a wonderful and thriving business that was very well known. I had no idea what kind of business but I just knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur.

I guess that’s from my father. Since I was a little kid, he has always told me, “If you want to make a lot of money, you have to work for yourself,” among many other things like, “If you put your mind to something, you can accomplish anything you want!”

But I think there’s one major difference between my generation and his. I believe his generation only cared about making money.

Michael Gerber, one of my favorite business authors, (and somehow I happen to be on the same list as him!?) wrote in this interview with Tim Ferris:

“Today’s entrepreneur is more likely to be interested in meaning rather than money. Money that comes with the absence of meaning is too big a price to pay for the new entrepreneur. Understand, I’m not saying that everyone I meet today has the question of meaning in mind. But, when I begin the conversation about meaning, more people I meet today are interested in having the conversation than ever before.”

Interestingly enough, I care way more about meaning than money. My ultimate satisfaction will come from helping millions of people not from becoming a millionaire many times over.

My meaning occurs when I get praise like this and this and this and this and this, etc., etc. That’s what it’s all about. I’m not saying every entrepreneur cares about meaning. Many don’t. I’m also not saying I’m running a non-profit.

I do want to make money but how I make it and the impact I’m having is far more important to me. I measure my success (and impact) on how many people we’re helping. The more money we’re making, the more people we’re helping…and that’s what it’s about.

I think the older generation would just say, “I want to make more money.”

I constantly say, “I need and want to be helping more people!” This pressure that comes from within keeps pushing me forward because I know I can help people. I almost feel like I have a responsibility…it’s this weight on my shoulders that’s very hard to describe but it comes from the fact that I truly believe MyBodyTutor can help anyone with any sort of health and fitness goal.

Going back to the title of this blog post, today is February 29th. There won’t be another February 29th until 2012. 4 years is a long time away. Your life could be completely different. You may wish for it to be completely different but you have no idea how you’re going to get there.

“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase. Just take the first step.” -Martin Luther King, Jr.

I’m going to go back to what my father always tells me: If you put your mind to something, you can accomplish anything you want!

You just have to start!

Shooting a gun is a lot like launching a business

Several weeks ago, I went Sport Clay shooting in the Dominican Republic. I was very excited but also a little nervous because holding something that can blow someone’s brains out is very odd.

If you have never shot a gun before it’s pretty crazy. There is a definite kick back and if you don’t brace yourself it hurts a little bit. It’s also really loud!

In Sport Clay shooting, there is a guy that launches these clays into the air and you have to aim and pull the trigger and hope to demolish the clay into a million little pieces.

I think there are some definite parallels in business and in Sport Clay shooting that all lead up to the same objective.

In business: If you have a solid foundation you’ll have a much greater chance in succeeding. Those who take the time to learn the skills necessary have a big leg up. Reading everything you can get your hands on is a great starting point.

In shooting: If you don’t have a solid foundation then you’ll miss the target every time. You must have your legs planted firmly or else there is no chance for success.

In business: If you try to be everything to everyone you’ll never succeed. You must find your niche. Focusing intensely on your target market is the best way to go.

In shooting: If you let your eye off that target for one second you’re done. The chance for success is zero. Focusing on your target is not only essential; it’s the only chance for success.

In business: Once you have your foundation in place, and your target market lined up, it’s time to package that message in a bullet and deliver it as succinctly as possible to the people who you feel would benefit tremendously from your company.

In shooting: Once you have your foundation in place, and your target lined up, it’s time to hit that clay!

Here is where shooting becomes a lot easier!

In business: If you hit that target, you’ll get very interested leads. It’s then your job to turn those qualified leads into clients. The more you hit that target, the more leads will come your way and the more clients you’ll have.

In shooting: If you do everything right, you’ll get instant feedback and see that clay demolished into tiny little pieces right before your eyes.

In business: It takes a lot longer to get feedback. It takes a lot longer to blow that target up (or saturate your target market). It’s also a lot harder to find out what you’re doing right and wrong. In business, your scorecard is how much money you make. Adjust your position accordingly.

In shooting: Not only do you get real time feedback (pictured below is Juan critiquing me) but you also can adjust your position instantly and your scorecard is based on how many clays you hit.

In business: Ultimately, the market decides how you’re doing.

In shooting: Ultimately, you control how you’re doing.

And in both business and shooting, great entrepreneurs and shooters thrive on competition!

I think Pat Benetar said it best: “Hit me with your best shot! Fire away!”

Boom.

How to tell what someone really cares about (How to tell if someone is full of shit, Part Deuce)

A lot of people always talk about what they want to do, what they want to accomplish, what they meant to do, their intentions, how they want to change the world and on and on and on.

It seems as though everyone has intentions of doing big things. Clearly, sadly and unfortunately, that’s not the case. Most people are talkers, rather than doers. Let’s face it. It’s a lot easier to talk than do.

It’s the people who actually follow through on their intentions that get the glory in this world. But some people believe that there is no relationship between what a person is and what a person does. This is bull shit. Unless you are schizophrenic, you become your actions.

I wrote a post entitled, “How to tell if someone is full of shit” and I think this new approach is even more accurate.

In a world where people are moving a million miles per minute how can you actually tell what someone really cares about?

Look at their calendar! It’s that simple.

Your calendar never lies. All we have is our time. The way we spend our time is our priorities, is our strategy. Your calendar knows what you really care about.

Do you?

If someone says exercising is so important to them, do they make time for exercise? I tell my clients all the time – you won’t find time to exercise, you have to make time.

It’s the same thing with everything else. I never understand people who work 20 hour days yet preach about how important their family is to them. Really?

People who are always busy like to be busy. That’s important to them. If they are not busy, they go crazy.

People who are always unhappy like to be unhappy. If you spend your time, your precious time, being unhappy then evidently you like to be unhappy, whether you realize it or not.

I’m not saying there is anything right or wrong with these. How you spend your time is your business. It’s your life.

I just think it’s fascinating to figure out what’s actually really important to you (compared to what you say is really important) whether you realize it or not.

My bet is you don’t even realize it.

All I need is one mic: Radio Interview on Saturday

In an effort to help as many people as I can, I’m always looking for ways to spread the word!

On Saturday, I’ll be doing a radio interview on Newstalk 1220 at 3:32 P.M. (Got to love the attention to detail!) in Sarasota, Florida.

Interesting. I wonder if my Grandma will be able to listen?

Anyway, if you’d like to listen, you can check it out via their website. It’ll be streaming live. Just click on the ‘Listen Live’ link.

Oprah – We’re on our way, we’re on our way!

“Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together.” – Vincent Van Gogh

The Two Greatest Days of My Life So Far…

I started searching for a web design and development company in June. I felt it was (and has been) time to redo my website and make it look like the company it is thankfully becoming. My number one rule in business is to only work with people who are very passionate about what they do.

I want to work with the best. And of course, the best are very passionate. When you are the best, you are also able to command a premium for your services. And I have no problem paying a premium for tremendous work.

So, I began my quest.

In mid-June I thought I had met my guys: Two brilliant kids that go to NYU. One was an amazing designer and the other was an even better programmer. They both oozed passion.  They gave the most perfect response to every question I asked. And they asked me questions about my vision, strategy, etc.

At the end of our three hour meeting we shook hands and I agreed to pay the premium they wanted. That same night, I received an email from them basically stating that they didn’t want any money. They wanted equity in MBT. They told me they’ve never met anyone with so much passion, energy, enthusiasm, drive, belief, conviction, determination and that they fully believed I could and would make this the company I spoke of.

One of them wound up getting an offer he couldn’t refuse and moved to London.

I met with three other great firms this past summer and early fall that I was seriously considering. The same thing happened with these firms! They said it was something about the way I spoke and how my eyes lit up. I was amazed at what was going on. I was just being me. In the end, I just didn’t think it was a good match.

I just got off the phone after a one hour conversation with what could be a nice win for MBT if it pans out the way I hope it does. Again, the same type of awesome feedback. “I have no doubt in my mind that you will take your company to where you want it go. You convinced me within the first 30 seconds, Adam. I truly believe in you and what you do, etc., etc., etc…”

I’m trying to figure out what is going on and I think I figured it out.

There are two great days in a person’s life – the day we are born and the day we discover why.

I live for helping people reach their fitness goals, and I live to help and inspire people. The day I came up with the idea for MBT is the day I discovered why I was born.

**

I’ve never been one of those, “I can sell ice to an eskimo” type of people. In high school, I briefly sold Cutco knives. I was awful! I quickly realized, I have to believe in what I’m offering 100%, otherwise, I’m terrible. However, if I believe in what I offer, the sky is the limit. My conviction (and confidence) in MBT is a direct result of how many people we’ve helped. I sincerely believe MBT is the best program out there for anyone wanting to get (and stay) in amazing shape. And it’s not just because I believe or say it is. It’s based on the incredible results we’ve been able to get for our clients so far. It’s based on what our clients have tried before MBT, and what they’re telling us. Getting to do what I do every day is the real reward.

Why people become alcoholics

Evidently, I’m touching on a huge nerve when I write about happiness. I’m getting a lot of email and comments from my happiness posts.

Here are some scary numbers:

*Less than 30 percent of people report being deeply happy.

*Twenty-five percent of Americans and 27 percent of Europeans claim they are depressed.

*The World Health Organization predicts that by 2020, depression will be second only to heart disease in terms of the global burden of illness.

I believe all unhappy people make themselves unhappy because true happiness has to come from within. No person or material thing can make you happy because as soon as you have that person or thing, you’re going to want that next person or thing.

I know several highly successful people who have done 10 or 15 day silence/meditation retreats. That means there is absolutely no TV, music, internet, and of course, talking for 10 or 15 straight days.

It’s just you and your thoughts.

Many people I know can’t even be alone for more than 10 minutes. They are constantly busy going from one job to the next or one friend to the next or one TV show to the next so they are never alone with their thoughts until bed time and by that time they are totally exhausted.

Walk around NYC and you’ll see most everyone is listening to their iPod. People much rather listen to their music than their thoughts.

But, if you saw a person talking to herself, you’d think she was crazy. In reality, the only difference between us and that ‘crazy’ person is that we aren’t talking out loud. Many people can’t stand their thoughts and they resort to alcohol which calms or stills their mind (or thoughts).

The opposite of calming your thoughts is rising above your thoughts. Being able to rise above your thoughts is another word for being enlightened which is very, very difficult.

Let’s think about this: Your friend says to you, “I’m making myself crazy!” My friends say it all the time, I say it all the time; we all do. But what does that mean?

How can you be making yourself crazy? If you say that enough times, you’ll realize you aren’t your thoughts. There is YOU and then there is your mind/body. We’ve been so conditioned to think that we are our thoughts. Our thoughts define us.

Essentially that is what our ego is. Our ego is our self-constructed self in our mind. I might define myself as a creative and ambitious entrepreneur among many other things. But that’s not what I really am. That’s my thoughts defining who I am.

The big question to spirituality and enlightenment and inner peace and ultimately true happiness is to figure out who and what you really are…

(FYI: No one knows that answer. And the experts who do can’t explain it. Apparently, you can just feel it.)

And if you can do that, you’ll never have to rely on drugs, alcohol or anything else to make you happy.

Pretty, pretty, pretty cool!

Why Bloomberg should be President (Let’s talk politics)

The December 17th issue of Time had some startling statistics on voters. According to Time, Democrats picked ‘good judgment’ 33% of the time and Republicans picked it 21%, when asked what the most important quality of a candidate is.

The other choices were leadership, character, experience and caring about people.

Call me crazy but how is good judgment not the top choice by a landslide regardless of what party you’re affiliated with.

If you have bad judgment experience means absolutely nathan. A person with good judgment would consult with people who have experience. Clearly, judgment is more important than experience.

Leadership and caring about people are fairly silly concepts that have little to do with presidential job performance. Obviously you don’t want a wimp or a sociopath in the White House but I think the bar is already set low. And all of the candidates clear it with room to spare.

Character is important in exactly the same sense that good health is important. You need a minimum of both to be a suitable president. But the bar isn’t set that high for either health or character. You can have polio, or be a liar, and it doesn’t seem to have much impact on job performance. All of the current candidates have enough character, and health, for the job.

So don’t you think good judgment should be the most important quality in a president? But how often do you hear someone say that a candidate has good judgment?

Which brings me back to why Bloomberg should be President.

You would think the strongest quality a successful business person has to offer is good judgment. In most cases, if you start with a little money, and end up with a lot, you have to make a lot of good decisions along the way.

As mayor of New York City, Bloomberg has gone after smoking in public, and Trans fat in restaurants. Smoking and bad diet kill more people than any other cause.

That’s a real leader.

And Bloomberg could fund his own campaigns. He wouldn’t owe anyone anything!

Bloomberg for President!

Are you in?

The Pursuit of Happiness is flawed…

I just need sign up 10 businesses. Okay, let’s sign up 25. No, I can do better. Sign up 50. Wait, I forgot those last 15 businesses. Now I have a dynamite product. It’s go time.

I just need to print my discount cards. That’s too expensive. I can get a better price. Keep negotiating!

I just need the University Bookstore, Mando books and Book Bridge to sell my cards. Now, get as many sororities and fraternities as possible to sell your cards.

I just want to break even so I don’t lose money. I can do better than that. I just want to sell 500 cards so I make a little bit of money. Alright, let’s just sell 1000 cards. Forget that, let’s really kill it. I can do better. Sell 1500 cards. And don’t quit until you do.

If only I can partner with Student Advantage. Keep calling until you get the CEO…

One day I hope to find an amazing woman and create an extraordinary life with her. I will build MyBodyTutor into a leading global health and fitness company. I’d love to be able to buy my dream car one day. I can’t wait to have (at least) 2 – 5 kids who are child prodigies from excessive training. Building my dream house is going to be thrilling. Going to sporting events and playing sports with my son(s) is going to be a blast…

What is the point of everything we do in life?

To be happy right? Everything we do is to make ourselves happy whether we realize it or not.

There is a major flaw in this thinking though. A person or a thing can’t make you happy. Only you can make you happy. Happiness MUST come from within.

For example, if I believe that I’m going to be so happy when I meet the girl of my dreams I’m doomed.
That means I’m putting my happiness in the hands of someone else. My dream girl, whether she knows it, or not, is responsible for my happiness.

That’s crazy! That means every time she does something I don’t like, I’m going to be unhappy. That’s why most relationships fail in my (very!) humble opinion. People expect their partner to make them happy. But only you can make you happy.

If you aren’t happy by yourself then expecting a car or a person to make you happy is ridiculous. And unfortunately, most people believe that a person or a dollar amount in the bank or a car is going to make them truly happy.

Every human being has one HUGE thing in common and that’s the desire to be truly happy…and I wonder if you’re constantly pursuing happiness in the form of cars, money, etc., when will you ever be happy?

The Patriots and the price of boring!

Unless you live under a large rock you know that the Super Bowl is this Sunday. You also know that the New York Giants are playing the perfect 18-0 Patriots. And if you didn’t know now you do.

There is a problem with being perfect though: It’s boring!

Here’s why.

When you go to that very fancy restaurant with the four star reviews and they’ve got the fine linen and the coordinated presentation of dishes, it costs hundreds of dollars to eat there.

But it’s okay, because they’re perfect.

Which is a problem.

Because dinner consists of not much except noticing how imperfect they are. The second course came six minutes later than it should of (ten, even!). The salad was really good, but not as perfect as it was last time. And the valet…you had to wait in the cold for at least thirty seconds before your car came. What a let down.

A let down?

The place is a gift in a world filled with compromise. And all you can do is notice that it’s not perfect. I think it’s more productive to focus on interesting.

Interesting is attainable, and interesting is remarkable. Interesting is fresh every day.

The Giants are interesting. And they are going to be even more interesting when they beat the New England Patriots this Sunday!

I can see the headline already, “18 Straight Wins and 1 GIANT Loss!”

Let’s go Blue! Let’s GO!

P.S. I’m doing boxes with my lucky brother-in-law!