Tag: Stay Healthy Stay Strong

Rise, Learn, and Grow

It’s essential to rise one more time than you fall. But let’s be honest: growth doesn’t come from simply getting back up—it comes from learning from the fall.

For years, I used to dwell on my mistakes through the lens of embarrassment and regret. I’d replay what I did wrong, questioning myself: What was I thinking? How could I mess up like that? This cycle of negative thoughts didn’t lead to growth—it kept me stuck.

Lately, I’ve shifted my perspective. Instead of obsessing over what I was thinking, I asked, What did I learn? After all, I’m an imperfect human—sometimes more human than I’d like to admit.

This change in mindset has been transformative. Rather than spiraling into negativity, I’ve begun to embrace the lessons from my mistakes. I’m growing, not just getting back up but moving forward.

And let me tell you—it’s made all the difference.

Why not give it a try? The next time you stumble, focus on the lesson, not the regret. Growth might just surprise you.#JustBeBetter
#StayStrongStayHealthy
#IOwnTheMorning
#WWKDD

Happy Holidays!

The holiday season is a wonderful time to reflect and recharge. It’s a time to:

  • Celebrate the moments that matter
  • Share the joy with loved ones
  • Practice gratitude for all we have
  • Look ahead to new possibilities

Take this time to enjoy, relax, and refocus. As we prepare for a new year, let’s embrace opportunities for growth and strive to be the best version of ourselves.

Wishing you a joyous holiday season and a fantastic start to the new year. Let’s keep pushing forward together!

#JustBeBetter

#StayStrongStayHealthy

#IOwnTheMorning

Learn from the Past

Life has a way of testing us, often when we least expect it. But the key to resilience is simple: get up one more time than you fall.

Mistakes are inevitable, but they’re also opportunities in disguise—if we choose to see them that way. For years, I didn’t. When I made mistakes, I would let embarrassment and regret take over. I’d dwell on what went wrong and beat myself up, replaying the question, What was I thinking? This negative cycle kept me stuck. I wasn’t learning or growing; I was just spiraling.

Recently, I’ve shifted my mindset. Instead of focusing on what I was thinking, I now ask myself: What did I learn? This change has been transformative. I’ve accepted that I’m an imperfect human—sometimes too human—and that’s okay. By embracing my flaws and using my mistakes as stepping stones, I’ve started growing in ways I never thought possible.

The difference is night and day. When I stopped punishing myself for being human and started looking for lessons, my confidence, resilience, and sense of purpose grew.

I encourage you to give this approach a try. The next time you stumble, don’t focus on the fall—focus on the lesson. See how it feels to grow instead of spiral.

Stay strong. Stay healthy. Keep improving.

#JustBeBetter
#StayStrongStayHealthy
#IOwnTheMorning
#WWKDD

Be Prepared #9: Lessons from Thanksgiving

Last week, I enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with my family. Since most of our family members were out of town, we decided to skip the usual home-cooked meal and chose a restaurant near my parents’ house. It was a fantastic spot with breathtaking views of NYC—a perfect choice for the occasion.

As always, we prepared for the experience:

  • We reviewed the menu beforehand and decided what we’d order.
  • We checked traffic to ensure we’d arrive on time.
  • We even made sure to get there 15 minutes early, as requested.

But despite all that preparation, I overlooked one key detail: parking.

When we arrived, we discovered the restaurant offered valet parking—for a fee. We opted to find a self-parking facility instead to save a little money and get some steps in. After following the signs, we ended up paying the same fee for parking, but with added inconvenience. To top it off, we didn’t know the quickest route from the parking lot to the restaurant.

The lesson? Being prepared is important, but being totally prepared is vital.

In hindsight, I should have anticipated the parking situation and decided on the valet option ahead of time. While we did get our steps in, having a clear plan for parking would have been more efficient and less stressful.

Preparation isn’t just about ticking off a checklist—it’s about thinking through the full experience and anticipating potential challenges.

💡 What’s one area where better preparation has made a difference for you? Share your story!

#JustBeBetter

#StayHealthy, StayStrong,

#IOwnTheMorning

#BePrepared


Everyday is an Interview: Smart Shopping Tips for Sale Seasons

This is a revised version of my blog (Don’t Fall for It), published on 11/27/23

The holiday shopping season comes with enticing buzzwords: Cyber Monday, Black Friday, and Holiday Sale Extravaganza. These are crafted to draw you into spending, often on things you don’t need. Resist the hype and stay in control of your finances with these practical tips for navigating the season’s sales:

1. Buy Only What You Need

Sale events are designed to make you purchase more than planned. Before heading to the store (or clicking “Add to Cart”), define what you actually need. Stick to that list.

2. Avoid Impulse Buys

If you hadn’t considered buying an item before the sale, don’t let a flashy discount tempt you. Sales events often highlight products you don’t need but suddenly want. Stay focused.

3. Plan and Stick to Your Budget

Establish your spending limit before shopping. If an item exceeds your budget, let it go—no exceptions. A deal isn’t a deal if it causes financial strain.

4. Know the Cost Upfront

Be wary of hidden fees or unexpected costs. Research thoroughly to ensure transparency. Step away from the transaction if you uncover surprise charges—it’s likely not worth the risk.

5. Your Budget Is More Important Than the Sale

Salespeople may try to convince you that a purchase is essential, but it’s not. Your financial stability takes priority over any discounted item.

6. Track Pricing Cycles

Avoid paying full price for items. Pay attention to the sales cycles throughout the year, and plan your purchases when prices are at their lowest. I use the Honey Extension/app to do this. It works great.

Budgeting Is a Year-Round Process

Smart holiday shopping starts long before November. Prepare for gifting by identifying what you’ll need to buy and saving steadily throughout the year. By doing so, you’ll have the funds ready when it’s time to shop—without the stress of overspending or running into debt.

Careful planning can make the holiday season joyful and free from financial worries. Remember these rules, and let your budget guide your decisions, not the sale signs.

#Just Be Better

#Stay Healthy Stay Strong

#IOwntheMorning

Letting People In: The Dangers of Stopping to “Be Nice”

I’ve touched on this topic before in “Don’t Be Nice: Driving #3,” but it’s important enough to revisit. Too many drivers make the mistake of trying to help others by letting them into traffic—but in doing so, they often create more problems than they solve. Stopping to allow someone to merge can cause accidents, disrupt the flow of traffic, and make the roads more dangerous for everyone.

Why Stopping to Let Someone In Can Be Dangerous

The most common reason people stop to let someone into traffic is simply to be polite or helpful. However, this gesture can lead to severe consequences. When you stop to let another vehicle merge into the traffic flow, you disrupt the momentum of the cars behind you. This creates a chain reaction where drivers are forced to either slow down suddenly or make evasive maneuvers. This is a major cause of rear-end collisions—one of the most frequent types of accidents on the road.

What You Don’t See: The Danger Behind You

It’s crucial to remember that when you’re on the road, you’re responsible for what’s in front of you and what’s happening behind you. When you stop to let someone merge, you’re not only putting yourself at risk but also endangering the drivers behind you who expect the flow of traffic to remain constant. In many cases, those drivers may not have time to react, which could result in a crash.

I’ve spoken with numerous police officers about this behavior, and they all agree: Do not stop traffic to let someone merge. It’s a misguided act of kindness that ends up causing harm. If someone is trying to get into traffic but you’re unable to safely allow them in without blocking the flow of cars behind you, it’s better to keep moving. They can merge after you pass, and no one will be put in harm’s way.

So, What Should You Do Instead?

  1. Stay in Motion: Keep your vehicle moving at a consistent speed, even if someone is trying to merge. Allowing them in could disrupt traffic and lead to accidents.
  2. Signal Your Intentions: Use your signals to indicate when you are moving over or changing lanes. If the traffic behind you allows it, others may be able to create space for the merging vehicle without you needing to stop.
  3. Let Them Merge on Their Own: If you see a car waiting to get into traffic, don’t stop to let them in. If you’re moving at the proper speed, they can safely merge in after you pass.
  4. Stay Aware of Your Surroundings: Always monitor the flow of traffic both in front of and behind you. By being aware of what’s happening around you, you can avoid making sudden decisions that could jeopardize the safety of everyone on the road.

Final Thoughts: Just Be Better

Ultimately, the key to safer driving is awareness and responsibility. It’s not about being “nice” or trying to make other drivers’ lives easier—it’s about not causing unnecessary risks for others on the road. If everyone kept traffic flow moving smoothly and safely, we would see fewer accidents and a lot less road rage.

As drivers, we owe it to ourselves, our passengers, and our fellow road users to be mindful, stay alert, and be better drivers.

Just Be Better

Stay Healthy, Stay Strong

I Own the Morning

Balance

There is much talk about achieving and maintaining a work-life balance. I do not believe in work-life balance. Work is part of my life. Over the years, I have determined when it should be a priority. I also know when it should take a back seat. 

Each person struggles with balancing their priorities. I need to be prepared for any situation. At the same time, I strive to be a minimalist and not take more than I need. I do not like bringing more than I need to an event or task. But I also hate being unprepared. One reason for my minimalist approach is that bringing backup supplies starts a chain reaction. I end up with too many things I do not need. 

Here are some examples

I have a gig where I need a guitar, a pedal board, an amp, and cables. I prepared the packing list. Before I knew it, my car had four guitars, three amps, and two pedal boards. Despite all of the gear, I will end up using one guitar, one pedal board, one amp, and some cables.

The same thing happens when I go on vacation or play golf. I over pack and end up carrying things I do not need. It is one thing to have an extra pair of socks. Having an extra suitcase or golf bag you will never open is another. Also, I should never bring extra “toys” to golf until I learn to hit the ball straight. At that point, I will not need the “toys” anyway.

I preach the minimalist approach to my private students. Only take what you need to take a high-stakes test. There is no need to bring large equation sheets when three equations will solve over 95% of the problems. A large equation sheet will not finish the quest for the other 5%. One can only achieve such success through meaningful practice, AKA preparation.

How do I find balance? I review everything I need and do not need after each event. I am ruthless. Did I bring something I did not need? Did I forget something (once is human, a second time is unacceptable)? What challenges occurred that I was not prepared for? In doing so, I developed running lists for different events. These include an extended vacation and a short vacation. Other events include a beach trip, golf with my friends and family, small gigs, and practice. This ongoing process has allowed me to balance being a minimalist and being prepared.

Balance is an ongoing process. You have to work on it. It must be important to you. You must learn from what you do. Good luck with your balance.

#Just Be Better

#Stay Healthy, Stay Strong

#Be prepared

#Iownthemorning

Know Where You are Going

Few things are worse than getting stuck behind a driver who does not know where they are going. They break at every intersection, trying to figure out if this is the one they need to turn. They are in the wrong lane when making the turn. They are dangerous to everyone else on the road, including drivers, passengers, and pedestrians. They are frustrating and challenging to contend with.

This problem can be solved if people are willing to take the time to prepare themselves for where they are going. It is pretty easy to do. Any search engine can provide you with directions and a map. Review them beforehand and be safer on the road.

#Just Be Better

#Stay Healthy, Stay Strong

#Be Prepared

#iownthemorning