The Only TV Reality Show That Matters

Reality TV has taken over the television airwaves these days from the show “Survivor” that I believe started it all to the latest one on NBC this holiday season, “Clash of the Choirs.” I hate ‘em all, except one.

For the last four years my wife and I consistently tune in to NBC’s “The Biggest Loser.” That, IMHO, is the only reality TV show that really adds to the quality of anyone’s life. Other’s can debate that with me and since I don’t watch any of the others I will not be able to defend myself against my claim very much, but I have to belief if you look at the concept of “The Biggest Loser” and how it works and what its purpose is, compared to “Dancing with the Stars” or “Big Brother” or some other such concoction, there is no contest.

For the uninitiated, NBC-TV’s “The Biggest Loser” takes overwieght and obese adults and puts them through a weight reduction and fitness program that is grueling and inspiring to watch.  The person who loses the largest percent of their body weight wins $250,000 after six months.

Although I haven’t researched the contestants from the early shows on the surface the transformation on TV the contestants make is tremendous. On the show last night two twin brothers competed and each won their respective competitions, one winning $100,000 and the other “$250,000.

But the cool thing was that out of the 16 or 20 contestants, the two grand prize winners were far from the only winners. Everyone who competes on that show and shows up at the end is a winner as all end up losing a significant amount of weight and seem as though they have a completely new mindset and lifestyle when their time on the show ends.

These contestants are put through the ringer by two top notch personal fitness trainers and are placed on very strict nutritional diets. When they are sent home after their time at the ‘compound’ after their first 90-days they are continually supported and monitored on their path to a successful conclusion.

It is truly inspiring to see the physical and mental transformation these people go through and for my money it is the only Reality TV show worth anyone’s time. On New Year’s Day they are starting another round with couples working together to get in shape, check it out.

Time to Get Serious About Business Results Again

Tonight I am preparing for my annual Holiday Weekend (Labor Day in the United States) excursion to New York City for a full weekend of tennis action at the US Open Tennis Championships.  This is the fifth consecutive year my wife and I have spent the entire weekend in Manhattan with two full days, Saturday and Monday, watching the best tennis players in the world compete for a Grand Slam Title.

As I get set to shut down business operations for this weekend I am looking forward to helping my business coaching clients finish the year strong.  Today marks the end of the second one-third of the year and starting next Tuesday the focus will be back on making things happen again.

So many business people check out for one to two months or more once the nice weather comes, especially those who fool themselves into thinking there is no business to be closed during the summer months. For me, the summer of 2007 has been one of my best ever, so I know there can be significant business written during the summer.

For those that checked out, and for those like me who maintained focus, Tuesday, September 4th is a time to reconnect to the business goals we set for the year and to recommit to effort to ensure their achievement.

Take some time this weekend to evaluate the first two-thirds of the year and decide what you need to do to finish the year strong. If you’d like some help e-mail me at Info@WeismanSuccessResources.com and we’ll work on it next week when I get back from my tennis weekend.

Yoga Progress Leading to Better Business Focus

Yesterday morning I got up early and did something I haven’t done much of recently. I did my own private yoga session in my front patio from 6am - 6:30am. It was an awesome way to start the day. I know that and still don’t do it enough.

I had a breakthrough, too. The last couple of poses I did before my meditation were balancing poses where you stand on one leg in various positions. I selected two balancing poses (the tree and the standing bow).  For the first time in my almost ten years of practice, yesterday’s session was the first time I felt as though I could hold the balanced pose as long as I desired.

I was amazed. I wasn’t wobbly or buckling at any point. I focused on one spot on a tree across the street from where I was positioned and just kept breathing, it was so cool to be in control of that.  I can’t wait see how long I can hold the pose, yesterday in each pose on each leg, I held it for a count to 100.

There is nothing better for practicing focus than doing yoga and breathing exercises. I’m getting better every day. What about you? Want to learn how to create greater focus for greater business results, click this link?

So Much To Do and Only So Many Hours in a Day

As I write this it is almost 11:30pm on a Sunday night. I’m already prepared for my week. I did my 45-minute FOCUS hour to get ready, and for the last two hours I’ve been writing. If you look at the posts below you’ll see that.

I once read an article by productivity expert David Allen titled, “You Can Do Anything, But Not Everything.”

It was one of those breakthrough articles that really connected with me. It’s helped me be a better coach, consultant and person.  Because so many of us are trying to do it “all.”  Someone, I’m not sure who, tried to sell us all a bill of goods that we could ‘have it all” and “do it all.” Unfortunately, that is a lie.

All of us must pick those precious few things that we think will make the biggest difference in our lives at the time, and let the rest go for another day.

Here are all the things I want to do that I’m struggling to fit into my schedule:

1) become proficient at playing the guitar;
2) get to a higher level of mastery in my yoga practice;
3) improve my focus and meditation to the next level:
4) write and publish book;
5) practice creative writing;
6) take an acting class;
7) improve my tennis game; improve my golf game;
9) reading books;
10) learning to speed read.

Each of those takes time. Being a solo-entreprenuer in the business of speaking, consulting and coaching and in the stage of still building a brand, its a challenge to fit it all in. And, my wife and I don’t have any children. It’s all I can handle balancing and maintaining a loving relationship and taking care of our cat, Sage.

Some thing has to be put on the back burner. As much as I’d like to do it all, I can’t.  So, I’m picking my top three things to focus on for the next few months, my guitar, my yoga and meditation, and tennis.

Each of those three will get significant attention each week. My guitar I’m committed to practicing at least 30-minutes a day, my yoga I’m committed to attending a minimum of two classes a week and practicing two other days at home for a minimum of 30-minutes and meditating a minimum of 15 minutes a day.  I want to practice my speed reading program at least 5 of 7 days for which I will need about 45 minutes. As for tennis, I want to practice at least two hours a week.

The only way to make this work is to schedule it in and give up wasting time in front of the idiot box (TV). Usually I don’t just sit and watch TV, I’m usually doing something on my laptop while the TV is on in the background, I believe that has to change for me to achieve the above outcomes, its worth it!

The rest is going to have to wait. Although I still think I can start creating the book concept and outline in my spare time. I’ll keep you posted on my progress as we move along. Wish me luck.

 

Yoga

Just got back from my Saturday yoga class.

I realized recently that September, 2007 will be my 10th anniversary since I started practicing yoga.  It’s been a relatively constant part of my life ever since.  As with most activities of this sort I don’t do enough of it at home on my own, as I prefer the environment and atmosphere of my local (35-40 minute drive) yoga studio.

I could go to a yoga class closer to my home, maybe as close as 5 minutes, yet I choose to drive 35-40 minutes on a good day with no traffic to my traditional yoga center (www.EliteYogaAcademy.com).  I’ve been with the director of this center since day 1 and even coached him as he was transitioning his practice from a small college town to a larger center in the heart of a larger metro area.

I practice formally at the center anywhere from 2-3 times per week, usually Saturday mornings (7:45am our advanced class begins), Monday evenings and if I can get away I will also do a Wednesday or Thursday night class as well. 

Physically and mentally I can tell a huge difference in the weeks I go to the mid-week class and the times I do not.  You would think that because of the impact that mid-week class has that in the weeks I can’t get there I would slice out 30-45 minutes to do it on my own, but alas, I rarely do.  I need to get better at that as well as doing more meditation outside of class.

Hmm, maybe that’s a commitment I should make and let you know how it goes. I have to say I have been better doing some home yoga practice since May when the season began to transtion from spring to summer type weather and I’ve been able to set up my yoga mat in our enclosed front porch. But, I’m still not happy with the consistency of my private home practice, something I can and must get better at.

Even my wife can tell a difference when I’m practicing regularly and she even has kicked me out of bed early on Saturday morning’s or thrown me out of the house for one of those mid-week sessions when she can tell I need it to re-center myself.