Getting outside our comfort zone is one of the hardest things to do.  But when we extend ourselves the rewards are the best.  There are many things that I am not comfortable with and need to extend myself on.  But it is interesting that as I ask my own students to work on this the pressure to do the same and to admit that I have created these limitations on myself is a good pressure.  

I have found myself at time getting bogged down by what I have to do or should do, so much that nothing gets done.  When I write down what I am going to accomplish this day, being sure that there is enough time to do so, and then just start doing it, the pressure is relieved and things get done.

I remember one of the posting by Charles Chi about the biggest hurdle many times is the first step.  That is what I work on now taking the first step.  Many times the rest of it falls into place.

I have changed some of my eating habits over the last 2.5 months that before I told everyone about I thought that I should be sure that they are working for me.  I have always thought that I ate fairly healthy, but after attending a seminar I was forced to re-evaluate.

Here is part of the basis of the thinking.  The earth is made up of 70% water, our bodies are made up of 70% water, our lungs even more and even our bones are 20% water.  Yet the average persons diet is made up of 15% water.  What that basically means is that the majority of us are dehydrated most of the time.

My way of eating has changed so that now quite the majority of the food I eat now is water based.  Vegetables, fruits, salads.  There are still solids of course.  Fish, and other proteins as well as carbohydrates.  There are nuts and other sources of oils and fats that are good for you too.  

The results have been awesome.  More strength, endurance, energy and I believe I am even thinking clearer.  I have learned about how to pair foods so that the digestion of the foods is done in harmony with the body.  Simpler eating - no caffeine - virtually no alcohol.  Finally after all the years of thinking I am doing it right it now is starting to feel right.

For the last couple of weeks there have been all sorts of highs and lows.  There has been the highs of being awarded Business Partner of the Year with the Board of Education and our county Chamber of Commerce.  We have been recognized for the contributions to many schools with our programs designed to enhance education and to communicate to our teachers how much we appreciate them.

I have learned the value of partnerships with other community organizations.  When we partner with others it demonstrates our desire to be a community builder and to use the skills and influence we have with our martial arts training and schools to do good in our home towns.

On the other side as many people in the spring I deal with all the allergies and it has brought my energy level down at times.  But this have given me the opportunity to practice discipline and be sure that my eating habits and exercise routine is solid.  So I have worked on this and just this week have started working with a personal trainer in strength training.  I have not done this for a number of years.  But this time I believe I have found a trainer that has an approach that really fits my needs.  More on this to come.

It so interesting that the hardest part of me in UBBT 1 was the physical part of the test.  The reason was because I did not have any teammates to work out with on a weekly basis.  Now this time I have 5 individuals that I work out with on a regular basis.  Who you bring with you is so important.

 Now I have the other parts of the test to concentrate on.   It has been more difficult at the beginning of the year as I have been dealing with allergies/ pollen type stuff that inhibits the thinking - but in reality I need to focus on this part of the journey.  

 So the best thing I can think of to do is to publicly state that the 'I am' project must be at the top of my list.  I will focus on that and encourage my teammates to do the same.

Can you believe that one third of the year is passed us.  That is what life does if we do not focus. 

Recently I completed reading a book that has brought together for me some thoughts and removed some myths that were playing out as reality in my mind.  The book is Outliers, written by Malcolm Gladwell.  You may recognize the name from his other books that are also pretty mind opening, Blink and The Tipping Point.  

The lesson learned in Outliers though is that success follows a very predictable course and it is not that the brightest or the strongest or most athletic are the ones that go to the top of the heap or are the most successful.  Nor is it just the decisions and efforts we make on our own behalf.  Rather it is a gift.

Those who reach the top of the game, who are outliers, are those who have been given opportunities - and have had the strength and presence of mind to seize them.  

Now the point of the book is that beyond all the lessons demonstrated, what as a society we should be looking at is how instead of arbitrary advantages and lucky breaks that today determine success, how can we provide the opportunities to a greater segment of our society.

How does this apply to UBBT and Live Like a Champion?   For me personally, this is my opportunity, my lucky break.  I was not born in the right circumstances, month of the year or any other number of things.  I did not start training till I was older and am not particularly talented.  But the UBBT has provided an opportunity for me to hang out with the best,  inspired me to be my best and to keep getting better.  

The book documents how the individuals who rose to the top of their game, no matter whether that was in sports or in computer software - all spent the magic number of 10,000 hours working on their craft.  If we are to reach the goal of being our best we must devote the time to that goal.  Now we have been given the opportunity and the circumstances to do just that.

The UBBT and in 2010 the Live Like a Champion program is our opportunity to impact our own lives, broaden our circle of influence and affect the world.  Seize this opportunity.  Your world will be so much richer than the world others that have settled for.

Yesterday after our workout with some of our students we were discussing how we were doing with our journey and what some of our goals were. I was asked a question no one has asked me before.   We have said many times that in this journey we are going through this year is about mastery.  It is about becoming better teachers in fact "master teachers".  

The question I was asked - "What are you trying to master this year?"    

I did not have an answer that flowed off my tongue with confidence and with no hesitation.  What does that mean for me?  I know as well as anyone that if I have not made that goal specific then there really is no goal and therefore there will be no quantifiable results.  How can I go through this year meeting and doing all of these requirements without a quantifiable result?

My answer I gave as we sat there was general and not specific enough.  "I wanted to become a better motivator of groups of individuals to improve their lives."  Not specific, no time frame, --just talk.  For me I must meditate on this and decide.  What is it that I would like to master this year?

This past weekend many of our farmers markets had their opening weekend.  I have so been looking forward to this and so took advantage by going to one on Saturday here in Annapolis, and then on Sunday we went to one in Washington, DC at Dupont.  This is by far one of my favorites, though we bought some unbelievable eggs at the one here in Annapolis.

Recently I have been tweaking my diet to more vegetarian meals.  In the vegetarian meal I have been trying to get more water based foods in my diet.  The reason is that as we look at our bodies, we now that they are made up of 70% water - so it just makes sense that our food intake should replicate that.

The results have been very interesting.  More energy, less feeling of being bloated, and just generally feeling very good.  Getting fresh vegetables from the farmers is such a privilege and something that I really appreciate.  There are some foods that are only available in the spring that are fun to try too.   I highly recommend that if you have not tried a farmers market that you do so.  It is good for you and the environment!

Teammates are so important to us.  We are now 3 months into our journey and there are some parts of the the test that are going very well and some that I need to improve on.  One thing has been consistent.  That is the push I receive and give to the students in the school who have joined with me in the journey.  They come to the school sometimes when they are not feeling the best, or are tired from the rest of the day.  There are times when we as a group have completed the requirements for the day and sometimes not.  

Whatever the situation we find the way to get our work done and encourage each other to complete our tasks.  We always leave with a smile and a feeling that we are getting better at being a team.  Our team at the school is diverse in age and rank.  But we are each growing.  Now as we grow we are learning to expand our sphere of influence.  It is a process that cannot be rushed if we are gong to get the long term results.  

I have signed up for the Live Like a Champion year in 2010.  I am so happy to have done this, because it will give me another year to practice my new skills of motivating and training others in leadership and in being a master of their life.  Already 2 of the team this year in our school have agreed to take part and I am sure that we will demonstrate our progress in a way as the year continues, so that many others will want to join with us too.

 Check out My Journey and the first 3 months results!

To be brave means to have courage or to show courage.  Sometimes when we show courage we do not even realize that we are.  We may not think consciously, This is brave or courageous.  As I sit and think about this word I think about starting my construction company in the middle of a recession in the late 70's.  Was I brave?   At the time I thought I had found an opportunity to better myself.  At the time I was scared of the possible consequences.  

Being brave you must have confidence and believe that you will persevere and do what is necessary to create the vision you have.  You may or may not have support for your idea or plan from your friends or relatives in the beginning.  To be brave you must be committed to doing the right thing, not just the convenient thing.  

I was brave when I started my construction company.  I was brave when I retired from that same company.  I was brave when I started taking martial arts.  I was brave when I started Balanced Life Skills.  I am brave every day I step on the floor to teach, write in a blog, make a decision that may not be popular, speak to someone about a sensitive subject, ask for support for a cause that I believe in, walk into a room where I know no one.

While there are many fears that I have, I am brave to face those fears and move forward despite them, to achieve my goals. 

I believe that all persons desire to be happy and want to avoid suffering.  Yet all of us feel pain and sometimes are less than happy.  What I have learned though is that the more concern I have for others, and the more I work on the well being of others, the less I feel pain and suffering and in fact the happier I am.   

I am concerned with the welfare of others.  Not just my friends but with those that I do not know or have any reason to know.  When I walk down the street and see a person who no longer has a home, I have learned not to look away, but rather to look, speak to, smile with that person.  Recognizing the pain and allowing it to soak into me creates more compassion.

I am looking for ways to serve others.  This may be family, students, parents, teachers.  It may be from listening to the needs of a group or a cause.  I have learned that there is no results gained by complaining, only be serving.  When I am able to serve others I am demonstrating my compassion.

I am smiling at others.  My goal is to make many genuine friends and to make others feel like they are my genuine friend.  It seems to me that when I can cooperate with others and support them with honesty and sincerity,  when I can be open with them and them with me, and have interactions that demonstrate my strong desire to soften the pain another person has, that is compassion.  The ability to smile with genuine warmth at our children, our friends and family, even to strangers create the warmth and understanding that I am compassionate, with only the best in mind for you.

I have learned that when you have the best in mind for others - then I benefit also with less pain and suffering.

Life Art Peace