On November 11, 2011, I will attempt to become the only person in history to swim across the Mississippi river while handcuffed, shackled, and blindfolded.
I hope to show people who have been wounded and injured in combat, those with a chronic illness, and anyone who has ever thought they couldn't do something, just what is possible.
You can follow my training, donate, and see what it really means to be unstoppable by heading to Swim For The Warriors today. Thanks so much!
"The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor."
~ Vince Lombardi ~
Oftentimes we look at someone who has achieved greatness in some area of their life with a slight bit of envy. We think to ourselves how much we would love to be in their shoes.
They make what they do look so effortless that it can be easy to forget what it took for them to reach that point.
All the hours and hours of practice, doing without now, so they can have what they want later, etc. But, it's actually something even more than that.
People who have achieved true greatness in some way have "burned their ships in the harbor," as the following story, which was relayed to me years ago, illustrates.
A general was to land on a foreign island with several hundred soldiers. Their mission was to seize the beach and hold it until reinforcements arrived the next day.
The enemy, however, were known to be a fierce and ruthless adversary who’d never lost a battle.
As the soldiers were departing their ships, the general heard some of them telling one another that if the going got too tough, they’d simply retreat to the ships and sail away.
Upon hearing this, the general ordered that all the ships be burned in the harbor. His men, with nowhere to retreat, won the battle and held the area.
That story really says it all. It gives the key to achieving your goal in any area. All you have to do is follow the example and there is no telling what you can accomplish.
Sadly, however, most people aren't willing to "burn their ships." They (like the soldiers in the story) want them there in case things get too hard they can use them to escape with.
But that’s not the way of true commitment. No, if you really want to achieve all that you're capable of then you must follow the general’s example, and do what you must.
I’m a firm believer that all people who’ve made a mark in this world have been willing to commit themselves this way.
People like the young musician who moves to Nashville, against the advice of his friends and family;
Or the actor who goes to Hollywood, in hopes of landing a big movie role;
Or the business person who risk his or her life savings to fund their business start-up.
I’m not saying those types of decisions are for everyone. But, we all can learn from their example.
Maybe for you, it’s committing yourself to your marriage, to remain together, for better or worse, and really meaning it.
Or maybe it’s a commitment to graduate from college, or to stop smoking.
Regardless of what it may be, the principle remains the same. You have to be willing to keep going, no matter how hard you’re hit.
When things get tough, you must remain committed to your decision. You must be willing to give it your all. Because if you do, you can’t be stopped.
Well, that's it for now. Until next time...
Keep reaching,
Jay
P.S. I would love to hear from you! If you have a comment on this post, please leave it in the comments section, so I can respond to you and others can read it as well. Thanks!
"Goals are the fuel in the furnace of achievement."
~ Brian Tracy ~
Goals can unlock your true potential which is why I'm such a big proponent of their use in moving you forward. I believe that without them most people never achieve all they could.
Unfortunately, as effective as they are, I would say the vast majority of people don't know how to set them. It is simply not something that is commonly taught.
If I've just described you, don't fret because I have some really great news. Setting goals does not have to be complicated to be useful. The key is to set them the "R-SMART" way.
R-SMART is based on a goal setting method that's been around for a long time, with a few changes on my part. Simply use each letter to remind you of what makes a effective goal.
R - The R reminds us to make sure our goals are "recorded," or written down.
S - The S reminds us to make sure our goals are "specific," as opposed to something general, like a wish.
M - The M reminds us to ensure our goals are "measurable" in some form or fashion.
A - The A reminds us to make sure our goals are "actionable," or something we can actually take action on.
R - The R reminds us to be sure our goals are "reachable." Not doing so is just setting yourself up for failure.
T - The T reminds us to be sure our goals are "timed," so each one has a time frame attached to it.
And there you have it. The R-SMART system for setting goals. Give it a try. I bet you'll be glad you did.
Well, that's it for now. Until next time...
Keep reaching,
Jay
P.S. I would love to hear from you! If you have a comment on this post, please leave it in the comments section, so I can respond to you and others can read it as well. Thanks!
"We must all suffer one of two things:
the pain of discipline, or the pain
of regret or disappointment."
~ Jim Rohn ~
For me, the above quote by Jim Rohn pretty much says it all. Quite simply, if you don’t discipline yourself now, you are just setting yourself up for disappointment in the future.
And in the quote lies a truth that some people won’t tell you. If you want to succeed in life and achieve all that you're capable of, there will be times when it’s not all fun and games.
You are going to have to be self-disciplined enough to do what you must do during those times, especially when you don’t want to do them.
It sometimes means saying "no" to those things that you may want, or saying "yes" to things that you don't want. All in the name of achieving what you're "really" after.
Still, while self-discipline is most certainly a powerful attribute to have, I'll be the first to admit that it can also be a challenge at times to obtain.
Fortunately, there are some specific strategies that you can incorporate into your daily life so you can become a master of self-discipline and stay on task.
With that in mind, below you will find five techniques that you can put to work immediately to begin building your "self-discipline muscle" and making it one of your greatest assets.
1) Hold yourself accountable.
Accountability is crucial. If you don’t do what you said you would or vice versa, it's vital that some sort of discipline be imposed. Continue holding yourself accountable long enough and you'll eventually develop the self-discipline you're seeking.
2) Accept no excuses.
There is nothing easier than to come up with an excuse as to why you didn’t do something. Become someone who does not accept excuses from yourself or anyone else. Simply put, you can have excuses or results, but not both.
3) Be patient.
Psychologists say it takes up to thirty days of conscious effort before you are able to act in an unconscious manner on something you're learning. This means that for awhile you'll have to consciously think about it, but at some point it becomes part of your new behavior at an unconscious level.
4) Invest the effort required.
Let’s face it: learning to control yourself through self-discipline is not easy. Chances are, it is going to take a sustained effort before you see the results you are looking for; but I can assure you that it is well worth the effort.
5) Talk to yourself in positive ways.
Use self-talk to program your mind for the results you are looking for. Tell yourself the following ten times per day until you begin to know it’s true: "I am a highly disciplined person. I am totally in control of my own actions."
Well, that's it for now. Until next time...
Keep reaching,
Jay
P.S. I would love to hear from you! If you have a comment on this post, please leave it in the comments section, so I can respond to you and others can read it as well. Thanks!
"Dogs' lives are too short. Their only fault, really."
~ Agnes Sligh Turnbull ~
It's been almost a week now since Jake (my 13-year-old black Lab mix) died. I miss him so much, and always will. I know if he were here, he'd be curled up beside me, watching over me.
Rather than simply missing him, however, I'd like to share some of his qualities we'd all do well to emulate. Something all dogs have, I'm sure. I was just able to see them first hand in him.
1) Love unconditionally - Jake loved me even when I made mistakes, when I was in a bad mood, when I didn't deserve it. Why do we tend to "love" someone only as long as they meet our criteria then?
2) Don't hold grudges - Jake didn't hold grudges. Mistreat him and he simply shook it off. He didn't dwell on it. So, why is it that I tend to forever remember wrongs?
3) Find the good - Jake had a great way at looking for and finding the good. Whether it be a person, a place, or a situation, he'd find it. I feel ashamed at how often I do just the opposite.
4) Enjoy the small things - It didn't take much for Jake to enjoy himself. A new treat, a long walk, or a ride in the car. All these things would get his tail wagging and a big smile on his face. Why, then, do I require something really big to get me excited?
5) Don't judge a book - If you looked at Jake, without knowing him, you'd think he was a mean dog. Some of that was because he had that look. But, as I've described, he was as sweet a dog as they come. Reminds me to not be so quick at judging others.
I could go on, but I'm sure you get the idea by now. I loved Jake. He was a great dog and friend, and I really believe we could all learn a lot from him. I hope my words will help you do that.
Well, that's it for now. Until next time...
Keep reaching,
Jay
“Unless commitment is made, there are only
promises and hopes; but no plans.”
~ Peter F. Drucker ~
I was just finishing up a 5 mile run, in the rain, when a blue van pulled up beside me. As the driver side window eased down a bit, I could see it was my neighbor from up the street.
In a rather sarcastic voice, she said to me, "Don't you know it's raining out here? And they're calling for more." I just smiled and replied, "I know. I know." I then continued on my way.
Her comments got me to thinking though, and so now I want to ask you. Do you do it in the rain? Well, do you?
Please don't misunderstand my question. I realize I have been talking about running here, but "doing it in the rain" could be a lot of things. Anything that you say you really want.
I don't know your answer, but can tell you that most people do NOT do it in the rain. On a nice sunny day, sure. They are committed then. But not on the days when it's nasty.
How about you? Do you do "it" when it's not comfortable, when you don't feel like it, when it's raining outside? Your honest answer will tell you a lot.
So, what's the answer if you're not willing to "do it in the rain"? It's something that I've said before, and will say again I'm sure. It's that important.
Here it is: You have to have a compelling reason why. A why so strong that you are willing to do whatever it takes, for as long as it takes. Once you do, you will be truly unstoppable.
Well, that's it for now. Until next time...
Keep reaching,
Jay
P.S. I would love to hear from you! If you have a comment on this post, please leave it in the comments section, so I can respond to you and others can read it as well. Thanks!
"To every disadvantage there is
a corresponding advantage."
~ W. Clement Stone ~
I can vividly remember the day I went blind in my left eye like it was yesterday, even though it's been nearly 25 years ago now. It happened early one Saturday morning, just a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving; one of my favorite times of the year.
Autumn was in the air; it was cool, but not quite cold, and I was looking forward to going home for the holidays. I was standing outside, and bent over to pick up a pebble. When I stood up, something strange happened.
The vision in my left eye was now blurry and I could see dozens of black, wavy lines floating all over the place as I looked out. This set into motion a three-week hospital stay, with me being poked, prodded, and tested until I thought I would break.
Then the diagnosis. It was a condition called von Hippel Lindau syndrome. The eye was only the first of many things to come. Later, I'd have that eye removed which taught me a lot about language, of all things. Check it out here, to see what I mean.
So, why am I telling you all of this? That is a fair question. It is certainly not to get you to feel sorry for me. I accepted what I have a long time ago. And there are many who have it much worse off in life than I do. I know that. So, why then?
It's this. My hope is that I can inspire you to begin looking for the good in bad situations. If I've learned anything from my trials and tribulations, it's that. There's always something good in any bad. Although, sometimes, you have to look hard to find it.
That's certainly been the case for me. Although I wouldn't have asked for it, this condition has made me who I am today. I see things in ways I never saw them before, and have empathy for others I never would have had without going through this.
That is not to say I didn't go through a dark period. For years, I was angry that this had happened to me. I pushed people out of my life and suffered more than I needed to. But I have learned my lesson, and hope to spare you from the same.
My suggestion is that you get into the habit of looking for the good when something goes wrong. Ask the question, "What's good about it?" even when things seem at their worst. Then be open for the answers that eventually will come your way.
Sometimes they're fast, sometimes they are much slower than you'd hoped. But, if you hold on, and are willing to look for them, the answers to the question, "What's good about it?" will come. Sometimes when you least expect it.
Well, that's it for now. Until next time...
Keep reaching,
Jay
P.S. I would love to hear from you! If you have a comment on this post, please leave it in the comments section, so I can respond to you and others can read it as well. Thanks!
"He who has a why to live can bear almost any how."
~ Friedrich Nietzsche ~
On November 7, 2005, I did what most said couldn't be done. I swam from Alcatraz Island to San Francisco with my hands and feet tied, becoming one of only three people to have done so.
Swimming in such a manner is not something I recommend. I'm a water survival expert, trained to swim in such a way, and was able to do the swim, in large part, because of that training.
Having said that, I know that many (or most) of you reading this wouldn't want to do such a swim anyway. You may even think I am not all there to have done so. That's cool.
But let me ask you something. It's a question that I ask of my audiences when I speak, clients that I coach, and now of you. Here it is. What's your Alcatraz?
See, I believe most everyone has an Alcatraz type of dream. Something they'd do if only. If only things were just right, if only they believed in themselves more, if only they weren't afraid.
I don't know what it is for you, but I do know this. Chances are you do have something big that you'd like to accomplish. Maybe you're in the process of doing so, maybe you're not.
Regardless of that, I want to give you a tip. A secret if you will. So here it is. The surefire way to ensure you achieve your goals, particularly the big ones, is make sure you have a big why.
What is the real reason why you do what you do? Why do you want to accomplish your goal? Tie it into something you really care about and you are well on your way to achieving it.
For me, my Escape From Alcatraz swim was a huge part of my accomplishing a goal that I set many years ago. It is a part of a goal that I continue to work on daily.
After being retired from the Marine Corps for no longer being fit enough to be a Marine, I was down, depressed, and devastated. But I knew I had a major decision to make.
I could either go home and fade away as had been suggested to me, or I could fight back. I decided on the latter. To show the world that this condition I have will not keep me down.
I would do what seemed impossible to most. Things that most healthy, capable people wouldn't attempt, and certainly not a one-eyed guy with a brain tumor.
That's my why. It's why I do the things I do. What about you? What's your Alcatraz? Find that and you will be unstoppable. Nothing, and I do mean nothing, will stop you.
Well, that's it for now. Until next time...
Keep reaching,
Jay
P.S. I would love to hear from you! If you have a comment on this post, please leave it in the comments section, so I can respond to you and others can read it as well. Thanks!
"Success is journey, not a destination. The doing is
often more important than the outcome."
~ Arthur Ashe ~
What does success mean to you? If you posed that question to 100 people, you'd invariably get a variety of answers, right? Or, would you? Unfortunately, I say the answer is no you wouldn't.
See, the sad truth is, most people don't ever define success for themselves. Instead, they simply conform to whatever someone else says success should be for them, and then go with that.
But I don't buy that! Not even for a second. And in this post, I am going to show you five time proven steps you can take to achieve success on your terms.
The bottom-line is this: Success can be defined in any way that you wish. Achieving it, however, does require some effort. And it begins with a knowledge of what's most important to you.
Questions To Ask Yourself:
Take a few minutes with the following questions. Look at your answers not as the be-all and end-all, but rather as a start to your gaining an understanding of what success means to you:
• How important is financial wealth to me?
• If I could do anything in my life, what would that be?
• Is having a family the most important thing in my life?
• Are there certain skills or gifts that I would like to master?
• When I die, what sort of legacy do I want to leave behind?
Your Definition Of Success
It does not matter how you choose to define success; it could be becoming a millionaire, living on the beach, being a teacher, or having a large family. It could be anything you choose.
The most important thing is that you come up with a definition of success that means something to you. Make it one that you can truly get behind.
Your next step is to form a plan on how to achieve your definition of success. It may take a lifetime, but the only way you're going to get there is with a plan!
Action Is Everything
While planning is certainly important, don't get stuck there. To succeed, it is going take a lot more than just having a good plan. Ultimately, you're going to have to take action!
Remember, for most of us, success doesn't just fall into our laps - it usually takes plenty of hard work to get there. But it's so worth it!
Step By Step
Most peoples definition of success typically will include a lofty, multi-year goal, which can be a very intimidating and daunting task if you allow it to be.
The secret is break down your goal into small, day by day, manageable steps. This will allow you to make progress toward your goal a little at a time.
Dealing With Setbacks
It's common to run into setbacks in life. Things are not always going to turn out the way you want, but that's just part of the journey to success!
It all comes down to mindset. Commit now that when you do hit a bump in the road, you will just pick yourself up, change course if necessary, then drive on.
Success Is A Journey
Every once in awhile, it's important to take a step back and reflect on your life. Are you enjoying it, and the path you're on? If so, then you've got more than you might realize.
Remember: All we really have is the present moment. We might not have the next. And if we can be happy where we are, and where we're heading, then success is already ours!
Well, that's it for now. Until next time...
Keep reaching,
Jay
P.S. I would love to hear from you! If you have a comment on this post, please leave it in the comments section, so I can respond to you and others can read it as well. Thanks!