Monthly Archives: April 2013

Cowboy Up

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“In rodeo, to ‘cowboy up’ means to suck it up in times of adversity and carry on when you are injured or down and the prospect of doing whatever you’re about to try is so bleak that the best you can hope for is to live through it.” ~ Tuff Hedeman, World Champion Bull Rider ~

For our Pink Nation Marathon Training Team, our mantra is “All Go, No Quit, Cowboy Up”. We use this phrase when faced with adversity in our lives and when we head out for training runs and races. When one of us has a tough road ahead, team members shout it from the roof tops (well comment on Facebook and other forms of communication, but you get the point). In a way, it is comforting knowing that when you are feeling beat up, there are people out there who know just what to say to make you suck it up and keep pushing ahead. They know what to say that makes you not quit.

Do you have a phrase that keeps you going? What gives you the kick in the butt you sometimes need to “get through it”?

Desire: Give it some thought.

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Desire:a sense of longing for a person or object or hoping for an outcome. The philosopher, Thomas Hobbes maintained that human desire is the fundamental motivation of all human action. How badly you desire something will determine how motivated you are to obtain your goal. So, to me, the question is not only what do you desire, but how badly do you want it?

This time of year, aside from the New Year’s resolution rush, fitness facilities across the country will see an increase in memberships because people desire to be healthier, skinnier or more fit. Bathing suit, boat and beach season is in the near future. For many people this is a reason to start a new work out program. But, the desire to be healthier, skinnier and more fit can not be achieved solely by joining a fitness facility or purchasing the latest home gym/workout craze videos. Nutrition plays an important part in achieving your goals. But, desire (the deep down in your gut kind of desire) is the most important factor. Wanting to be skinnier is one thing, but what is the real reason behind your desire to achieve this goal? Are you unhappy with the way you look and/or feel? Are you tired all of the time? Are you unable to do the things you want because of your current level of health? You need to ask yourself what is the true emotion behind what you desire.

No matter what it is, take some time to examine the real reason behind what you desire in your life: job, love, family, wealth, possessions, health, etc. I believe unless you understand and know what the real motivation is behind your desire, you may never achieve your goal. Yes, there are other factors that you can not control that can affect the outcome. However, if you don’t set yourself on the right path with an understanding of and answer to the age old question of “Why?” you may never be able to achieve what you desire.

When you write your “bucket list” of desires for the upcoming months, I urge you to also examine why they are important and write it down. Then, paint a clear picture of what, why and how. What do you desire, why do you desire it and how will you achieve it? Post your list where you will see it all of the time. I have posted mine on my bathroom mirror with a dry erase marker. I see them every morning and every night. It is a constant reminder of what I desire.

So, what do you desire and why?

Eat the Frog

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Well, it’s Monday morning. Are you happy about it or are you dreading it? I don’t know about you, but I have about 100 things I must accomplish today (a little exaggeration, but it feels like 100). Some of the items I like doing and some I would pay thousands of dollars if I could have someone else do them. So, the question is what order should I do them in?

A couple of things I need to do today I equate to shopping. You see, I absolutely loathe shopping. It is by far my least favorite activity. So, needless to say, there are a items on my to-do list today that I really do not want to do, but must. Time to Eat the Frog!

Yes, I said Eat the Frog. There is an old saying that “If the first thing you do each morning is to eat a live frog, you can go through the day with the satisfaction of knowing that that experience is probably the worst thing that is going to happen to you all day long!” Your “FROG” is the one you are most likely to procrastinate on if you don’t do something about it now! It is also the one task that can have the greatest positive impact on your life and results at the moment. What do you do if you have two frogs or more to “eat”? Eat the ugliest one first, of course! In other words, start with the biggest, hardest, most important tasks first. Once you get these tasks out of the way, your day will become immediately easier.

Here is an excerpt from Bryan Tracy’s book, “Eat That Frog” to help you get started.

“1) Set the table (p7-12)

RULE 1 — Think on paper!
Step 1 =Decide exactly what you want
RULE 2 — One of the very worst uses of time is to do something very well that need not be done at all!
Step 2 = Write it down!
Step 3 =Set a deadline on your goal
Step 4 =Make a list of everything that you can think of that you are going to have to do to achieve your goal
Step 5 = Organize the list into a plan
Step 6 = Take action on your plan immediately!
Step 7 =Resolve to do something every single day that moves you toward your major goal
Clear written goals have a wonderful effect on your thinking. They can motivate you and galvanize you into action. They can stimulate your creativity and release your energy. They can help you overcome procrastination as much as any other factor. Think about your goals and review them daily. Every morning when you begin, take action on the most important task you can accomplish to achieve your most important goal at the moment.

Once you start moving, keep moving! Don’t stop. This decision, this discipline alone, can make you one of the most productive and successful people of your generation!”

I encourage you to pick up a copy of this book. It will guide you to becoming more efficient and learn to stop procrastinating so you can become more productive and reach high levels of performance.

EAT THE FROG!

Jennifer Mott

Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG)

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imagesCAUWY9S5 “A true BHAG is clear and compelling, serves as unifying focal point of effort, and acts as a clear catalyst for team spirit. It has a clear finish line, so the organization can know when it has achieved the goal; people like to shoot for finish lines.”

—Collins and Porras, Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies

A BHAG is a strategic business statement which is created to focus an organization on a single medium-long term organization-wide goal. However, it has the ability to spark thoughts on setting goals in our personal lives as well.

This past weekend I ran the Monument Ave. 10K in Richmond, VA with 3 very good friends and 39,000 other friends. Participants ranged from never completing a race to those who have not run a race in years to those who participate in several races a year from 5K’s to marathons (26.2 miles). No matter which group people fell into, they all had one major thing in common. Everyone set a Big Hairy Audacious Goal (although for some it was more audacious than others). We had a clear finish line. For me, this was the 1st of 4 goals I have set for this year in terms of races. My BHAGs for this year are as follows:
April 13th – Monument Ave. 10K (6 miles) in Richmond, VA

May 19th – Marine Corp Historic Half Marathon (13.1 miles) in Fredericksburg, VA

Sept. 22nd – Adirondack Distance Festival Marathon (26.2 miles) in Schroon Lake, NY

Nov. 16th – Anthem Richmond Marathon (26.2 miles) in Richmond, VA

In the week leading up to the 10k I had an injury that could have kept me from reaching the first of my four goals. I had a muscle tear in the back of my left hip which caused a tremendous amount of pain in my back, hip and into the outside side and front of my left leg. Utilizing acupuncture, my TENS machine, good old fashioned ice, rest, and anti-inflammatory medication, I was able to run the 10K on Saturday. One thing I kept thinking about all week was if I missed this race, I would not have a chance to hit my 4-race Big Hairy Audacious Goal for the the year. So I did everything I could to make sure I was healthy enough to run the race and not do more harm. My friends and I saw the finish line and we proudly crossed it.

So to you I ask, what is your Big Hairy Audacious Goal? Have you set one for the year yet? What about the next few months or just this month or this week? Take the time and set some S.M.A.R.T. goals (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-targeted). Do you strive to be better, stronger, faster, healthier, etc.?

Today I challenge you to set some goals. Make sure they are measurable and you have a clear finish line. Mark it on the calendar and circle it with bright, vivid colors. Set your plan of attack and go after it.

What is your Big Hairy Audacious Goal?

Jennifer Mott

The 5th and final question.

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Today we have the final question in. Thank you all for your comments and following my blog. I hope you return often. If you have suggestions for my blog, please pass them along. So, let’s review the first four questions.

  1. If you could make a 30 second speech to the entire world, what would you say?
  2. If you were at heaven’s gates, and God asked you, “Why should I let you in?”, what would you say?
  3. If your life was a novel, what genre would it fit into, what would be the title and how would your story end?
  4. What small thing could you do to make someone’s day better?

Here is our final question.

5. What is the most important thing to teach a child?

Thank you again for visiting my blog. Come back again… and again… and again…

Jennifer Mott

Question #4 (of 5) for you. You could brighten someone’s day.

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Thank you once again for your awesome comments and for sharing my posts on your social media sites. Today we have the 4th question in our series. Let’s review the first three questions.

  1. If you could make a 30 second speech to the entire world, what would you say?
  2. If you were at heaven’s gates, and God asked you, “Why should I let you in?”, what would you say?
  3. If your life was a novel, what genre would it fit into, what would be the title and how would your story end?

Another great series of comments on yesterday’s question. I encourage more comments on the previous questions, as well. Today’s question is simple. After giving it some thought and sharing your ideas, I urge you to act on it.

4. What small thing could you do to make someone’s day better?

Let’s make someone’s day better!

Jennifer Mott

A very FUN Question #3 (of 5) for you.

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Thank you once again for your awesome comments and for sharing my posts on your social media sites. So today we have question 3 for you. Let’s review the first two questions.

  1. If you could make a 30 second speech to the entire world, what would you say?
  2. If you were at heaven’s gates, and God asked you, “Why should I let you in?”, what would you say?

I continue to welcome your comments on this question and look forward to what you have to say about the other questions, as well. So here it is. Today’s question has 3 parts:

3. If your life was a novel, what genre would it fit into, what would be the title and how would your story end?

Looking forward to some great answers to this one!

Jennifer Mott

Question #2 (of 5) for you?

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I had some terrific responses to yesterdays question. Thank you to those who commented and shared it through your social media sites. Let’s review. Here is yesterdays question.

  1. If you could make a 30 second speech to the entire world, what would you say?

I continue to welcome your comments on this question and look forward to what you have to say about the other questions, as well. So here it is. Today’s question is:

2. If you were at heaven’s gates, and God asked you, “Why should I let you in?”, what would you say?

So, what say you?

Jennifer Mott

My 5 Questions for you… 1 at a time.

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I have 5 questions for you, but will ask one a day for 5 days. They are designed to make you take 5 minutes (maybe more) out of your business, crazy day to think, reflect and share. Some questions you may like and some you may not. It’s okay if you don’t like one of my questions, I can handle it. If you have a question for everyone, please feel free to include it in your comment on this topic.

I look forward to reading your comments. So, I will get right to the first question.

  1. If you could make a 30 second speech to the entire world, what would you say?

So? What say you?

Jennifer Mott

Here’s a cactus. Tell me about it.

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Image An applicant to the Biological Sciences program at Oxford University sits down in front of the Tutor (interviewer) and is given a cactus in a pot and a close-up photo of its surface. The Tutor states, “Here’s a cactus. Tell me about it.” What would you say? Would you talk about the large sharp spines, surrounded by lots of small hair-like spines? Would you address the problems faced by plants and animals in dry habitats? When I first saw the question, it made me think about how we see things. What do we really see when we take a hard look at something?

It’s no big secret to those who know me that I have a 6 year old black lab that is my absolute best friend and my world revolves around her. Last night, as she was asleep, I watched and wondered. What was she dreaming about? Why was her back left foot twitching? How do I explain the whimpering sounds she makes when she is asleep? What does it all mean? I’m sure I can read up on all the dog psychology and come up with an educated explanation. However, I would rather use my imagination and come up with my own story. But, what about other things? What about the bubble that surrounds our lives?

I challenge you to take a hard look at something in your presence that is simple and describe it; explain it. We all have a junk drawer. Open it up, pick out something, and take a good look at it. Give some deep thought to what it is, why do you have it, what is it’s purpose? Think about the child that keeps asking why over and over and over again. The child is forcing you to give it more thought and to keep coming up with another answer to satisfy their curiosity. Be that child and keep asking yourself why over and over and over again. With the warmer, nicer weather approaching, take some time to sit outside and observe your surroundings. REALLY look at everything. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, listen, then open your eyes. What do you hear, smell, feel? Can your explanation of all of it satisfy a child enough so they stop asking why?

Tell me about the cactus.