WordPress TouchPad Didn’t Work
Bummed a rather rich blog post I’d created with my TouchPad never posted or even ended up in drafts. Frustrating. OK looking for alternate “blog portability apps” for my upcoming trip… That or I’ll take a week long blog break… we’ll see!
Life is Often about Restartings…
The best part of awareness is the capacity for change. I often look at my life with the opportunity to rewrite and reshape to align better towards goals. With Yom Kippur around the corner and just being at a different place in life than I was a year ago I’m focused on realigning my capabilities and goals better as always. The road sign on the left is to represent the 87 days left in 2011 and help me stay focused on goals as there’s really no time to screw around. The 100 days is here and now!
For 25 years I’ve made a point to “write the next chapter” of my book of life as so many people seem to follow the cards they’ve been dealt without playing them as well as they could. I’ve learned that goals shift and our focus must follow as well. This video shares a lot of thoughts on this important topic and I hope it helps you to focus as well.
Froggie Went A – Courtin? Nope…
above froggie picture taken by me today of my frog hanging out in their vivarium.
I’m unsure what the Froggie went a courtin’ song is even about or where it came from but outside of muppet inspired musicals I can’t think of any good frog songs.
Guessing the froggie went a courtin, thinking of the lyrics are about the frog, who went to propose to Miss Mouse, but she insisted he was approved by her uncle rat…
Actually it’s giving me a good idea. Not to marry miss mouse, but on the contrary and avoiding dating during the 100 days. It’s something fun but it’s also time and money and right now I’m focusing 100% on financials and business growth so this time needs to be focused otherwise. Let’s see how well I keep this one but realistically I’m thinking this is the wisest decision to add so far this month. No woman, no cry – right?
Checking In On Fitness Thing…
When I started this blog it was about improving both health and wealth. The wealth part I think is very easy – avoid time sucking behaviors like telephone, meetings and email (in that order) and embrace newer technologies like Twitter, Video and Blogging. Seriously, one thing I rock at is business. The rest of my life needed more balance and as I began to embrace more health, the wealth faucets began to flow smoother too.
I found that I’d allowed my own boundaries to crack towards end of year too and realizing that every single day I will always make a complete health double-check before ever entering email (or the Godforsaken phones, Skype and other time draining activities) as I recognize I allow and permit these activities to be traded for workouts and sleep. I passively for years allowed others to direct the urgency of my attention. Heading into 2011 I’m patching up these holes as they come up – for instance, if any behavior or person disrupts my Ch’i I have two paths – end that relationship or that activity. Everything is symbolic and I best flow when following passion, disrupted.
Realizing my ‘how to deal with’ may sound harsh, I’ve instilled a one-year review clause. Time moves FAST and if a relationship even appears unhealthy – I’m putting on the PAUSE button. This will be executed without exception. I’ve struggled with my life on pause for others for 3 years and this next one is for me.
I digressed as I usually do – point was my health. I’ve been strict on P90x and in week 5 now without a single day skipped. I’m feeling much better than I have in years not only due to this but to overall healthier lifestyle choices with relationships, dieting, fitness, fun, music, etc. Weighing in at 203 – more to move…
Taking The 1st Two Weeks Off
I’ve been trying to figure out where I’m heading with this blog heading into the new year and decided I’ll make a post end of year – on December 31st with a video share and then take off for two weeks while I focus on getting my other neglected blogs focused on and then likely jumping back. This way the blog will lead with a fun video and I’ll reflect on how well this exercise has helped me to get focused and more successful.
Since a year includes a few “100 days” I think this will work nicely. I’m also thinking of avoiding telephones except once a month (well, except mother, father, grandfather, brother, daughter, Goddaughter) and just pick some date, like the 14th that will be phone day – I know people may think I’m crazy (maybe I am) and that’s OK – I’m just realizing for the first time in a long while that I have more control over success when I eliminate unnecessary hurdles. I doubt Warren Buffet’s days are eaten up with unplanned phone calls and other idiocy, nor that I want to necessarily be him. Notice how we find some common stereotypical celebrity to compare references to? I mean people will refer to someone of high intelligence as an Einstein when Reggie Jackson had a similarly high IQ. I want to schedule my life more like Reggie Jackson!
Thinking of a Phone Break
Since I’ve registered PhoneBreak.ORG, IHatePhones.com, PhoneVacation.com, NoMorePhoneCalls.com and others I’m thinking subconsciously or passive-aggressively that I’m feeling some type of weird anti-phone energy. I’m sure it’s from bad people who corner me in private for mental, emotional and psychological abuse. Yes, I do have a large amount of normal and awesome friends, but I also have a small handful of total jerks I somehow have allowed into my life.
So – I measured over 2000 phone calls, noted sentiment, personal/professional, % of callers, etc. and was SHOCKED (not at ability to pull this data – I do this well) but at the fact that some people sucked up to 10% of my total phone time and how the same “toxic callers” took up the majority of my time (mostly to bitch they don’t talk with me enough) – I made a short list of who I would always want to talk to and another short list of who I’d never want to – this should help. If you want to learn more of my struggles, see the above mentioned blogs.
An operator will be with you shortly, your call is important to us. Not 
Month of Super Greatness!
OK I realize now I have one month left to achieve total excellence. Yeah not too much pressure. I’ll admit, this daily accountability has really helped me to keep super focused. I think my ADD may be dropping by the wayside a little too – just increasingly aware that I have so much control over my life when I disallow others to step on this.
Been sad that one friendship I do greatly value may be toxic – my friend, every time we talk reminds me I’m unsuccessful in his mind for not taking his career path (not mentioning name but he is high up at DELL and more on my personal Darren Williger blog here) – and this isn’t something worth hearing from anyone I respect. It’s just disturbing when I share how happy I am that some people close to me tell me I’m on the wrong life path. Maybe I have the wrong friends. I am going to learn to disconnect from phones and other places I’m terrorized at some point soon.
Relationships Review
I’ll admit – This year has been the “relationship toxic cleanse” for me more than anything. I’ve not had this many relationships shift, end or grow than the past decade combined. Mostly an awareness of unhealthy folks (more on my main blog) and working towards embracing only healthy relationships. It’s been amazing how many relationships for me were defined electronically – it’s weird but somehow symbolic I’m sure – either way not worried about the symbolism as much as I’m worried about only embracing the good folks around me as life is too short. I set a goal of reaching out to family members even who have been nothing short of jerks for years to either improve or abandon these relationships.
Old and New Roundabout
I ran into an old friend (well, she’s not that old) – I worked for this woman in a professional capacity about a decade ago as her brother has been a client since the early 1990′s. We both were delighted that although a decade had passed, our passions for helping others and vision for future forward technology were so similar. OK I’m getting slightly vague – but was excited to connect with another amazing mind and looking to explore more.
Getting Head Back in Gear
Realizing that a life lived for others is awesome but you must first take care of yourself. Been reflecting back on this year and realizing where I can be stronger and how to better help others and myself. I realize that a very small number of people take advantage of my generosity, leaving me less resources for the rest – learning to draw dividing lines.
Hardest Steps To Take Sometimes
It’s very clear to me now – Please read this aloud with me – “We will get more of what we want when we avoid others who don’t ‘get’ what we want” – WOW. This year has been very challenging in that most of my necessary personal progresses has involved terminating an unhealthy relationship that has been shadowing my success and ability to enjoy my life to its fullest. The more I do this the better I get at it but it’s not an easy process by any means. I’m so blessed for this year’s clarity.
My upbringing seems to have encouraged some allowance for acceptable relationship toxicity and I am learning to unravel this horrible process. My parents taught me that love comes includes abuse. It’s taken me 40 years to understand that life exists so much better without this. I have to look at toxic relationships like this – think of a swimming pool, now think of having 100 friends over to a party and 3 are known for peeing in your pool, wouldn’t it ruin everything? OK maybe not my best analogy but I prefer keeping my emotional pool pee free! My realization is that I have very few people who for reasons aware or not are getting in the way of my success and happiness – it’s hard to end relationships, yet once I terminate these toxic ones, I feel an almost immediate opening for more greatness. I’ve been so lucky, I have awesome friends – and a few jerks, including relatives who I’m learning to avoid like the plague…
I Don’t Deserve a Job, Dammit!
AWESOME day became a dark place when I was encouraged to abandon my dreams. I have a friend who is a HNWI (High Net Worth Individual) and assesses his life value by his net worth, I assess my net worth by my life value. Living my life dreams keeps me smiling. I live my life with purpose as it’s the only way I know to be happy – each day I live my dreams, I’m grateful for the blessings and opportunities that surround me.
When hurdles arise, and yes of course – just like everyone, they exist – I embrace these opportunities to improve and be better for possible future ones. I deserve these hurdles they’re mine! I’m mixed, I recognize my friend comes from a place of care (and sold with me at Dell, part of his desire to bring me back), yet I’m not inspired purely by dollars. If I were – I’d not be doing what I do. Every day I get to learn new things, be creative, engage with others, and have a lot of fun. Why the hell would I change?
The ramblings of a crazy man? Possibly...
This is Darren Williger and I am taking a look at what I can accomplish in the next 100 days, both personally and professionally.
September 2010 I had this thought - WOW there\'s just over 100 days left this year. Then I realized all my annual goals, professionally and personally - and said \"Darren, it is time\". A GoDaddy coupon code encouraged me to pull the trigger on this new domain and had the site up in minutes.
December 2011 seemed like an awesome time to do this exercise again! Over the next 100 days I will be taking a more serious look at my health and wealth, learning to focus more on what\'s important, and scheduling everything in my life for maximum productivity. I\'ll share details here, mostly to hold myself accountable and track my results on achieving greatness!
I\'m totally immersed in my new career and focused on learning more daily. It\'s been an incredible shift these past few months. On the side I\'m going to be exercising, writing, making more videos, photographing meals, tweeting, speaking and eating. Looking to minimize unproductive time sucking activities.
I\'m limiting my side business focus to weekends as I ramp up my new career. New blog coming soon, appropriately named Saturday Night Marketing. I\'m very excited!
It has been one helluva year so far - many challenges, and some frustration sweat and tears along the way - additionally, many net new opportunities have unfolded as several old ones fall by the wayside. Seems this pattern has repeated in life relationships as well.
I am so excited and grateful for all the incredible opportunities I\'ve been afforded and ones I will continue to create for myself. I\'m not going to allow anyone or anything (including myself) get in the way of the success and greatness I deserve!
Thanks for joining me on this journey!