When I was a kid all I wanted to be was RICH! (Chris Rock’s voice and going forward anytime you see RICH, it’s in Chris Rock’s voice.)

Big house, nice car, lots of money…RICH!

My parents say that when I was just five years old we walked into a restaurant and I proclaimed, “Ooooh, this place is expenssis (how I said expensive back then)” as my eyes lit up with joy! (btw, it was Quincy’s haha, not so high end, but what did I know?  I was five!)

That childhood wonder and fascination with wealth followed me through my adolescence and early adulthood.

I was gonna be RICH and successful!  I had to be.  I remember being a teenager and watching the movie Pretty Woman starring Richard Gere and Julia Roberts, with my parents.  I knew then, that’s the guy I wanna be! (minus the hooker of course)

He was RICH!  He was successful!

That was going to be me!

Fast-forward to where I am today and the truth is I’m extremely blessed and beyond thankful for all that I have.  I think most would say that I’ve achieved some level of success, at least if they viewed success in the limited manner in which I once viewed it.

I learned something though, from those wonder years to my current profession of wealth management…being RICH (Chris Rock’s voice, don’t forget and I’m not btw) doesn’t make you successful.

What Makes Someone Successful

Throwing the baseball or football with your son after an all I want to do is sleep 65-hour workweek.

Buying a wide-eyed dreamer a pair of shoes (Jordans) that cost more than the last four pairs you owned yourself combined.

Taking the word “can’t” out of a kid’s vocabulary so early on that it’s one of his oldest memories.

Attending every basketball game, no matter the distance, even though the one you’re there to watch barely plays.

Putting up with the constant peppering of the orange Spalding ball against the driveway as that same kid worked his ass off to get better.

Giving up the living room television on odd weekday nights and weekends, no matter what you had planned on watching, so that your two sons could watch their hoops heroes.

Instilling a belief that all things are possible so deeply in the minds and hearts of those you helped raise.

Lending an ear and actually listening as long as a rambling kid can talk.

Offering sound advice with a sense of confidence that would make any person march forward!

Dropping everything to help plant bushes, hang fans, install lights, fix plumbing, assemble furniture, and even move.

Being available, ready and willing.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY…Making sure that your two sons now 34 and 28 have felt loved every single day of their lives.

That’s success.

That’s my Dad, the most successful man I know.

Happy Upcoming Father’s Day Dad! Love ya!

You (and Mom) are the reason I am the believer and dreamer I am today!  Thank you!

(Note:  For inquiring minds, in the picture above my Dad was 32 yrs old, I was 7 and my brother was just 1. :-D)

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Me vs. Gebru! (THIS SUNDAY!!)

This Sunday it’s test time.  It’s time to see if I’ve improved since Garfield Blair and this time the test is going against 6’4” Andy Gebru (see video below), who prior to this past season had a workout with the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs and currently plays professional hoops in Brazil.

Everyone I run into that knows of Andy tells me the same thing, with that did you loose your mind face, “Andy’s really good!”

I just smile.  I know he’s going to be great!  That’s why we are playing.  There is nothing ordinary about this journey of mine to play Michael Jordan.  Not one thing!

me vs. MJ…time to put on that game face!

Video of Andy Gebru playing in Brazil:

Go to 1:56 to see him posterize a guy with the game on the line!

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdkfRfgvvaE

[If you’re reading via RSS/Email, Click Here to see video]

31,536,000

That’s how many seconds are in each calendar year.

Now, now, now, now, now…a few more gone, sprayed like they’ve been released from an automatic weapon, past your life never to be captured again.

You’ll probably chew up over 240 just reading this post.

If you don’t mind me asking, exactly how old are you right now?

How many seconds or moments have you already spent?

Do you feel time is of the essence?  Or is that just another empty saying, like the powerful four letter word love, that people regurgitate because they think it’s the thing to say.

Do YOU mean it?  Seriously? Do you?

This isn’t a feel good post.  This one isn’t going to make ya feel warm and fuzzy.  It’s time to get down deep and search.

It’s time to lose that BIG BUT.

The BIG BUT

I would but I just don’t have the time these days.

I really wish I could but I’ve got too many responsibilities now to be doing that.

I would but I just don’t make enough money.

I’d run, I’d blog, I’d write, I’d sing, I’d dance, I’d travel, I’d play, I’d do this and I’d do that, BUT I’ve told myself I’m limited.  I’ve told myself it’s too much.  I’ve told myself it’s not for me anymore.

You’ve told yourself a LIE.

The LIE is Hungry

Are you mad at me for calling you out?

Do you want to stop reading now?

Do I just not understand YOUR situation?

Do you want to share your EXCUSE with me?

The lie is so hungry.  It wants to eat your dreams.  It wants to keep you right where you are.   The lie doesn’t want to see you progress.  It doesn’t want you to shine.  The lie doesn’t want people emulating your success.  The lie wants to be spread.

You must not continue to feed the lie.

An Overwhelming Response

Life can be so overwhelming.   Maybe you work hard at a job you don’t feel passionate about, to make money to support yourself and your family.  A family that by the time you get home, you’re almost too tired to really cherish.   You do this over and over again, year after year.

Now, now, now, now, now…more time is gone.

You used to dream big things for yourself.  HUGE, INSPRING THINGS!

BUT how can you possibly still even attempt to follow your passion when you can barely get through what you’re doing now?

I hear ya…it can be overwhelming.

How to eat away at the But one bite at a time (Something My Dad Taught Me)

I bought my first home right after I turned 24 years old.   I wanted to invest in the market, but my Dad advised, no he made me, buy a house.  (Note:  Had I invested at that time (pre 9/11), I would still be living at home…haha.  Thanks Dad!)

For the first few years of my banking career I also had a second job writing the sports section for a local newspaper.

I had a girlfriend as well, and all what comes with a relationship.

I was busy.

I worked 40-45 hours a week at the bank, nights and all weekend on the paper, and the rest of the time I would squeeze in some hoops, time with friends and family and time with the girlfriend.

I wasn’t making a whole heck of a lot of money at the time either.  That coupled with the fact that I have two of the hardest working people ever as parents, meant I took care of the yard work and everything else that goes along with being a homeowner.

When I bought my first home, two retirees had owned it prior.  They had flowers growing in places I didn’t even know you could grow flowers.  It was immaculate.  The curb appeal was sky high.

That appeal lasted for awhile, but then I was overwhelmed.   I just didn’t have the time needed to maintain the lawns pristine appearance, rather it wasn’t my priority.  So the weeds started growing.   The bushes went months without trimming.  My grass wasn’t edged along the sidewalks and driveway.   About the only thing I did keep up with was the mowing of the grass.

My parents would pass by, call me and drop hints, but I just couldn’t see how I would ever be able to maintain it all.  It stressed me.  You have to understand I have two parents who plant things for fun, who landscape and mow and enjoy it.

I told my Dad one evening, I just couldn’t do it.  It was too much.  I didn’t care.  I was beyond frustrated!

He listened and then he taught.

He said, if you look at every single thing you have to do and clump it all together, it will seem overwhelming.   It will appear to be too much.

He went on with, but if you break it down in to bite size pieces.   If you take one section at a time and put a little time in each evening, you’ll slowly start chipping away at it.

He continued, don’t try and kill yourself with doing it all in one day.   Spread it out, because it’s not going anywhere, but get out there and start.  Before you know it, you’ll have it done!  I’d be more than willing to come help!

I have used that life lesson over and over again in my life.

Whenever I begin to feel overwhelmed and stressed, I try and take a step back and figure out how to chip away one bite at a time.

I’m no Judge

I wear no black robe.  I own not one gavel.  I’m not here to judge.

I’m here to inspire as others, like my Dad, have inspired me.

Life will always present you with an obstacle.  The lie will forever be hungry.

Though, no matter your individual situation, there is always another pushing through.   Another who cut ties with the lie long ago and instead chose to LIVE!

What you do with your life is your choice.

Now, now, now, now, now…more time is slipping by.

Are you ready to lose your BIG BUT???

Get Out There and Start!

I hope that my story in some way helps you to get back on track.   To realize that nothing is impossible, impossible just take a bit longer.

As cliché as it sounds, it really does all begin with one step.  There is so much to be had in life.   All the things you dreamt about.  The things you still keep deep inside for no one else to see anymore, can be had.

I know your situation may seem like it’s too much, but please try bite size pieces.  I think you’ll be amazed at how quickly YOUR curb appeal returns.

Now, now, now, now, now…the seconds keep flowing.

It’s time to say goodbye forever to that BIG BUT!