The Rabbit Hole Of Modern Living

The Rabbit Hole That Is Facebook

"It time be of all things the most precious, wasting time must be the greatest prodigality."...Benjamin Franklin

I remember when I first joined Facebook. It was awesome being able to reconnect with old classmates and catch up.  It was like a cyber class reunion!  Within a few short weeks I caught up with literally dozens of childhood friends and others who I lost track with over the years.  It's a remarkable thing.  Instantly we were able to share pictures of our children and family and recall memorable stories and talk about sports and so much more.  Absolutely incredible.  But nobody warned me about the rabbit hole that is facebook!

I know you know what I'm talking about! Along with the ability to reminisce came all the other posts that suck you in...the politics, the funny animal videos, the news stories...and of course the 999 comments that go along with all these virals posts. You can get on Facebook, and if you're not time conscious and disciplined before you know it you're running late for work or school or any of a number of important things.  Not good.

I was reading an article not too long ago that said that many kids are getting sucked into the rabbit hole of modern living also. Many kids, because they can't even relate to a world without the technology that many of us saw the invention and advent of, find separating from their smart phones an anxiety filled situation. Personally I had to make sure my sons didn't have their phones in their rooms with them when it was time to hit the sack.  Between texting, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and other social media sites I'm not even in the know about, it can be a real problem! So yeah...the rule in the Kiussis household is no phones in the bedroom when it's time for bed.  Sleep is very important. 

Some of us, when we were kids, use to love reading.  That was our rabbit hole.  At night time we would use a flashlight to read a book under our covers if we were that engrossed.  I'm sure you remember that.  Good times.

Recently I deactivated my Facebook account.  Just too much noise and distraction.  Plus I missed reading books. So I made a concerted effort to begin reading again in whatever downtime I have.  I have to tell you it's been great! Seriously.  But it was not easy.  It took about three days before the urge to log into my Fb account and see what was happening in my newsfeed waned.  I think I even had a slight withdrawal from it lolol! Seriously. There's definitely an addiction component to it!

So now I will go forward with the strategy of jumping on at a set time, or set a time limit on how long I will stay on.  I'm still working it out.  The one thing I know, however, is that my love for books will never disappear, and I will never let the rabbit hole of modern living come between me and a good book ever again.  Not going to happen!  I'll keep you posted.

Until next time...
#YouMatterTremendously
#GoldenRuleLifeStrategy
#LiveYourLifeWithPurpose

Check out this video.  You'll find it very interesting if you've ever wondered why we are so attached to our technology.

  

          

How To Be More Productive

The Power Of The "To Do" List

"If we boost productivity, we can improve economic growth."...Tony Abbott

Without a doubt the very best way for you to become more productive and more efficient is to incorporate a daily "To Do" list. You hear a lot of talk concerning time management related to the discussion of productivity.  The reality is that you  cannot manage time.  We all have the same twenty four hours in a day to work with. It goes by at the same speed as everybody else's does.  What we can do...what we do have control over...is activity management.  And the power of the "To Do" list is THE time tested method for mastering activity management.  This is the first thing to master in learning how to be more productive.

Personally I prefer the old school method of pen and paper when creating my to do lists.  But in these modern times you have plenty of options.  You can create your daily "To Do" list on your phone or tablet, and yes there are even apps that you can check out if you're so inclined.  The choice is yours.  The important thing is using a method that you're going to stick with.

We can't trust our memory to get things done.  You'll disappoint yourself.  Believe me I've done it a thousand times.  Too many things pop up during the course of our day that compete for our attention, time, & energy.  Distractions galore!  Having a "To Do" list allows us to stay on course...to be organized...to have a game plan on how we are going to attack our day.  After utilizing a daily list for any stretch of time you'll find that you're getting things done.  And it's a great feeling checking things off of your "To Do" list!  It gives you a sense of accomplishment.

I personally like to create my "To Do" list towards the end of my day. Everybody has a different style and approach.  Some prefer to make theirs in the morning before they begin the day.  As you begin to utilize a "To Do" list with regularity, you will soon see that you can strategize your day better by giving certain "high importance" activities priority. 

It's also important to realize that you don't have to be a slave to your daily "To Do' List.  As a matter of fact it's best to just prioritize your list by the activities that create the most impact for you...the ones that "pack a punch"...if you will.  Many advocates of "To Do" lists only advocate putting a few, no more than three, high priority activities on your list.  Personally I feel that's for the individual to decide. Some have a lot more energy and less demands on them throughout the day than others.

At the end of the day it all boils down to the fact that "To Do" lists help you manage your activities better...in a more efficient manner. Properly utilized you'll create more time for yourself and be way less stressed out.  It helps you honor your committments and stay on top of things.  As we all know well focus is everything. Click here for an article that can give you more insight on the benefits of using a "To Do" list.  

Until next time...

#YouMatterTremendously

#GoldenRuleLifeStrategy
#LiveYourLifeWithPurpose

The Power Of Being An Optimist

As You Think So Shall It Be

"Optimism is essential to achievement and it is also the foundation of courage and true progress."...Nicholas M. Butler

Being an optimist gives you an undeniable edge in every facet of life. It's rooted in belief and faith, both in oneself and in the world in which we live.  The power of being an optimist is that when problems or setbacks occur, as they eventually will, you have the understanding that "this too shall pass" and can see past the momentary obstacles.  As you think so shall it be.

Our history books are filled with accounts of optimism.  Often there is a strong leader associated with these events whose unparalled optimism can give courage and hope to an entire nation of people. Winston's Churchill's leadership during World War 2 is a fantastic example of this.

Imagine a world without unyielding optimism.  Doesn't sound like a lot of fun does it?  I'm a big believer in the fact that optimism can be cultivated...even if you've been a total pesstimist your entire life. I would suggest trying to be more aware of your overall attitude. Whenever you catch yourself caving in to a pessimistic thought pattern try to replace it with an optimistic positive thought.  Mental "spin control" so to speak.  Give it a real go for a substantial amount of time because replacing ingrained thought patterns won't happen in a day or two.  But I can speak from experience that the more you practice maintaining a mindset of optimism and positivity, the easier it will become AND the better you will be for it.

Also...safeguard your optimism.  Recognize quickly the people who have a "woah is me" attitude and pessimistic out look on everything. Gravitate towards people who are upbeat and enthusiastic about their life.  People who exude a confident, positive, optimistic vibe. It's all about the Law of Attraction people!

Until the next time...

#YouMatterTremendously
#GoldenRuleLifeStrategy
#LiveYourLifeWithPurpose

Why The World Will Miss Prince

Prince Was Authentic

"All these non-singing, non-dancing, wish-I-had-me-some-clothes fools who tell me my albums suck.  Why should I pay attention to them?"...Prince

If you spent the better part of the Eighties in your teen years, like I did, then without question you know exactly what I mean when I say Prince was authentic.  An original.  One of a kind.  He exploded into national recognition with a visual and musical style that was unique and unapolegically his own. 

Sure the Eighties were characterized in general by a kind of excessive look...big hair, parachute pants, etc...and sure other huge stars like Madonna and Michael Jackson were also pretty wild looking and unique...but nobody...and I mean nobody...owned that persona more comepletely than Prince.

That's what, aside from his lyrical and instrumental genius, made him so successful in being able to have crossover fans like myself. Sure, I was mostly hard rock and heavy metal, but there was no denying the immeasurable talent and charisma that Prince had. What teenage boy who watched Purple Rain...the smash movie that really made him famous...couldn't relate to the angst that he suffered in regards to his music, his gorgeous girlfriend, and his relationship with his father.

His was a unique story.  A tremendous career and individual whose hallmark was just being himself.  The man, and his unlimited musical creativity, will be missed.  

There is something very special and powerful in finding...and then being...your most authentic self.  It seems that the people who are able to reconnect with that part of themselves are the happiest on Earth.  I say reconnect because I am of the opinion that most of us go wayward somewhere in young adulthood.  There is nothing more enviable to a grown up...trapped in the grind of a lifestyle that is killing them slowly...than the unadulterated freedom and self expression of a young person not yet robbed of their dreams.

What would your life look like if you had of never gave in to the conformity of working that 9-5 that you stumbled into, all because you wanted to please other people?  Isn't it possible that with a little more grit and determination...with a little more resiliency and a little less fear...you might have been able to tap into the true talents and abilities that you have within you?  Perhaps you are doing exactly what you wanted to be doing when you were a child.  If so congratulations because you are a successful person!  But if there is a passion that you have repressed...a talent or ability that you've been keeping within you...then chances are the world hasn't been exposed to the most authentic version of you that there is.  That's food for thought. 

RIP Prince...and thank you for your authentic brilliance.

Until next time...

#YouMatterTremendously

#GoldenRuleLifeStrategy
#LiveYourLifeWithPurpose

Clink here to see today's video and watch Prince rock 100,000 people and 1,000,000 total around the world.  He was totally in his element...the Purple Rain.    

Your Habits Make You Or Break You

We Are What We Repeatedly Do

"Excellence is an art won by training and habituation.  We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do.  Excellence. then is not an act but a habit."...Aristotle

There are two things that determine who we are and what type of life we live in life.  These two things are...drum roll please...the thoughts that we think and the habits that we have.  

Since we are cerebral life forms, there should be no doubt that the quality of our thinking, and what we are thinking about, are the Alpha and Omega of it all.  But once the thoughts are in place in our brain the next crucial step to these thoughts manifesting into anything real and tangible is action.  And ultimately our actions are rooted in the habits that we have.  The difference between good and bad habits make all the difference in the world in what we achieve and who we become because what the great Greek philosopher Aristotle said is 100% true..."We are what we repeatedly do." 

My two sons are wrestlers.  My oldest started much earlier than my youngest, and so going into high school he had a huge advantage in terms of what he learned since he began and the habits that he already established.  He won an Ohio Youth State Championship in sixth grade, a Jr. High State Championship in eight grade, and as of this writing, is a three time State Runner Up in three of the toughest weight classes in high school!  As you can imagine his Mom and I are extremely proud of him.  Google "Nick Kiussis wrestling" and check him out if you're a wrestling fan.  

My youngest son Kevin started later than Nick, and it took awhile for him to grow a true liking for the sport.  He started and stopped but is working hard in middle school and trying to develop the habits that are necessary in becoming a top performer.  We are very proud of him also.  It's one of the toughest sports in the world.

The point I'm trying to make, using them as an example, is that a lot of disciplined, hard work goes into becoming successful at anything in life.  They are in the habit of going to practises.  They are in the habit of strength training regularly.  They are in the habit of eating right...at least a fair amount of the time.  They are in the habit of going to bed to be properly rested.  You get the picture. These things are not easy for young boys and men in today's society.  These are good habits that they, and all their top fellow wrestlers, either have developed or are in the process of developing.

Dear old dad here fell out of the good habits of eating healthy and regularly working out.  I started being too casual about my food choices and going to the gym.  Eating too much and not going to the gym are bad habits!  And as a result I've got my work cut out for me to get back in shape.  No worries dear readers of this blog I'm on it! Reestablishing habits.  My point is that your habits make or break you in ALL areas of your life.  

One of the best things you can do on a regular basis is take a good hard look at the results you've been getting in your life.  Think carefully and deliberately about your habits and whether or not the habits that you currently practice are in line with your goals and the vision of who you want to ultimately become.  Perhaps you will identify a bad habit or two that, if replaced by a healthy more productive habit, could give you the push you need to take yourself to the next level.  This is an ongoing project...like life itself.  No need to beat yourself up about anything, but when it's time to regroup it's time to regroup!  

This is the essence of personal development.  Constantly learning how to become the best version of yourself.  Keeping a positive, growth oriented mindset and establishing habits that produce the actions to be congruent with that mindset.  On paper it might sound easy...but if it were then I wouldn't be here blogging about it.  All I know is that you're worth it and whatever it is you desire can be achieved.

Until the next time...

#YouMatterTremendously

#GoldenRuleLifeStrategy
#LiveYourLifeWithPurpose

        

Live For The Experience

This Isn't A Practice Run

"It is only in adventure that some people succeed in knowing themselves-in finding themselves."...Andre Gide

I'm just a few short months from turning fifty. The "Big Five O". And I would be less than honest if I said there wasn't a certain amount of apprehension associated with turning fifty.  I don't know if it's simply because I'll be qualified for the AARP or what.  All I know is turning forty didn't phase me in the slightest. But fifty will start you thinking.  After all, this isn't a practice run.

Perhaps it's because when I was much younger I thought I'd have a lot more things accomplished than what I have thus far. I mean at one point I wanted to be President.  That was in second through fourth grade.  And at a different point I wanted to be the lead singer of a rock band. That was probably 6th through 9th grade if my memory serves me right.  See you know you're getting up there when you start saying "if my memory serves me right".

All I know for sure is that no matter who we are, we all at some point are going to have to face our own mortality.  With both of my parents having passed away...as well as many of my other older relatives...I guess fifty is as good a point in my life as any to think about how I want the remainder of my life to play out.  Which I'll certainly do.  After all, with the miracles of modern science and the breakthroughs in the field of medicine being what they are, perhaps I'll be able to reach that glorified centurian status!

It's really important for us all to live for the experience.  "The experience of what" you might ask?  The experience of everything that can cross your mind and that isn't in conflict with your value system or harmful to anybody else.  There is so much to experience in this remarkable world that surrounds us.  I had a sociology professor who once said something that I've never forgotten.  He said "there are over 2,000 ways to be human."  Thank you Dr. Krebs.  Being a kid raised for the most part in suburban Cleveland that struck home with me. It fascinated me.  The fact that us humans can...and do...live in every type of environment, and that our cultures can differ so tremendously is just amazing to me. I know that travel is definitely going to be a big part of my bucket list.  

Life is short.  We should all strive to live the life of a brave explorer or adventurer.  Without a doubt life should be fun and exciting and we should wake up each and every morning with some type of compelling reason to attack our day.  And while we may not have the ideal job or circumstances to do Indiana Jones type things at this present moment, just the goal of being able to in our future should give us all the incentive we need to work hard to design the life we want.  Are there going to be setbacks along the way?Bumps in the road?  Heartache?  Bumps and bruises?  Yep.  You can count on that.  But never despair that they are things that you can't overcome.  Without question you can...and will.  And then you're back trying to live for the experiences that uniquely challenge and satisfy you! 

Perhaps life after fifty won't be so bad after all.  With the right attitude it could be the best years yet!  Wow.  Now I'm looking forward to it.  It's all a matter of perspective, isn't it?

Until the next time...

#YouMatterTremendously

#GoldenRuleLifeStrategy
#LiveYourLifeWithPurpose

Friendship

The Wonderful Gift That Is Friendship

"Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light."...Helen Keller

Humans are social beings.  We always have been and we always will be.  We thrive on interacting with each other; indeed our very survival as a species has been dependent upon this fact.  Our social groups are how we identify and relate to each other.  Outside of the family that we are born into, our friends play a pivotal role throughout the course of our lives, and have much to do with how we perceive and experience life.  

I have a few life long friends.  One of these fellows is Mike Mennozi. I've known Mike ever since kindergarten.  When you're 49 years old and you've had a friend since you were 5 years old...well...that's special.  People who have known you for your entire life know you in an entirely different way than somebody whose only known you for the past couple years.

That is not to say that Mike and I talk every single day...or that we have weekly visits.  We do see each other a few times a year still and make sure that we have a good conversation whenever one of us picks up the phone to call the other.  The conversation flows naturally, laughs ensue, and that is enough to sustain our deep rooted friendship.  I think all who have these types of long standing friendships should consider themselves fortunate.

Throughout the course of our lives, through shared experiences like school, college, the military, careers, etc...we meet people and bond with those who we have the most in comon with, who we find interesting, and who we admire and respect.  We should all "keep on the lookout", so to speak, for good quality people who we can develop friendships with.  One of my good friends, Jimmy Fields, is a terrific guy I met through both of our son's participation in the sport of wrestling.  At this point, because of our son's involvement in wrestling, we talk and see each other much more than my friendship with my childhood friend Mike, but that's not saying that one is more important than the other.  All friendships have their unique properties, and they do not have to parallel or be in competition with each other.

And then there is my best friend...my wife Pam.  Lucky are us men who would otherwise be set adrift to the currents of life if not achored down by the sensibilities of a good woman!  She is the greatest gift ever bestowed upon me and gave me two wonderful sons to focus my life's energies on...two equally great gifts who are sure to be my running mates in just a few more years.  One can hope!

In this day and age of Facebook and other social media friendships, when a persons "friends list" can number in the thousands, it is important to recognize, cultivate, and value the different types of friendships that we have.  Friendship can be the best therapy in the world for someone who is down in the dumps.  Friendships can encourage us to see the potentialities within ourselves that may be difficult, for whatever reason, for us to recognize.

Friendship truly is a wonderful gift and the following advice are things that I have both heard throughout my life and have found to be truth:

1. Pick your friends carefully.  You are judged by the company you keep.
2. "Wishing to be friends is quick work, but true friendship is a slow ripening fruit."...Aristotle
3. To have a friend you have to be a friend.

Until the next time...

#YouMatterTremendously
#GoldenRuleLifeStrategy
#LiveYourLifeWithPurpose

Here's the irrepressible Brendon Burchard. Terrific video on the subject of friendship.