Motivation

Mondays

I can remember when I was working as a vice president
at a major bank. I made great money. I was very popular.
And I was miserable. Why? Because I was not doing
what I love. Mondays became so horrible to face because
I was waking up to go somewhere I hated.

I took a leap of faith and decided that I would dedicate
my life to helping other people become their best.

I have been unbelievably blessed in my decision.
Is there something that is calling you?
Have you not aswered the call because you are afraid.
Eventually bridging the gap from where you are to where
you want to be will require a leap.

Sometimes you have to jump and grow your wings on the way down.

I leaped and Mondays aren’t so bad anymore.

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Oprah Embarrassed

An embarrassed Oprah Winfrey says she’s “fallen off the wagon” of healthy living and has ballooned to 200 pounds. In January’s “O” magazine, Winfrey, 54, details her recent struggles with an out-of-balance thyroid and how the condition made her develop “a fear of working out.”
She says she’s gained 40 pounds since 2006, when she weighed 160.
“I look at my thinner self and think, ‘How did I let this happen again?’” the talk-show queen says in the article provided early to The Associated Press by Harpo Productions.
“I’m embarrassed,” she says. “I’m mad at myself.”
Winfrey told AP last week that she has yet to choose a gown for President-elect Barack Obama’s inaugural ball next month.
She should consider StatenIslandBootCamp.com

Most people can’t afford the luxury of private chefs and trainers.
Oprah obviously can. However, I remember when she had her trainer, Bob Greene on a year or so ago. She stated that she was training her herself and would not need his help. He looked her right in the eye and said something like “What happened to you. You are going to need some help.” She bashedly look back and said,”I am considering working with you again.” Imagine the most powerful woman in show business, a Billionaire looking bashful on her own show. Weight issues can do it to you.

You don’t have to be Oprah to get the assistance you need. Boot Camps are a fun and very inexpensive way to start launching yourself toward your goal. Stop thinking about it and start being about it. Make 2009 your year to shine. (hey that rhymes.)
StatenIslandBootCamp.com

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My Boy My Passion

There is little more that can get your passion going than your children.
My son Antonio can spark emotions in me that laid dormant for all
my adult life. No one who knows me would question that I am a passionate
guy. However, when it comes to that little boy it is just something else.

Well on Thanksgiving morning we had to take him to the hospital
and he was admitted to the intensive care unit. I pride myself on being
under control for the most part and even a bit of a tough guy.

I survived a cardiac scare 20 years ago, a pipe to the head at 12 years old and
motorcycle wreck. However, when the doctor told me my little guy was going to ICU
I cried like a baby. I stayed with him all night and let me wife go home to rest.

He was breathing at only 33% capacity and you could see his little body retracting,
working for every tiny breathe of air. I don’t think I have prayed so much. The had
to stick him 5 times before they found a vein they cold use. This morning he is a bit
better. He was being treated all night long.

When something happens to your business or career your family means everything.
When something happens to your family your business or career means nothing.

I am thankful to my family friends and clients for there prayers and understanding
I believe my little monster will be OK. God Bless.

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Choose to Believe

I normally don’t go into a rant unless I am talking about someone deceiving the public through false claims. However, I do feel the need to address something that has been really disturbing to me. That is the continued sense of hopelessness that has been bombarding this consciousness of this great country of ours.

Everywhere you go all you are hearing about is how bad things are. Don’t get me wrong I am not some kind of “Polly Ana” hippie over looking the true of the situation. I left a career in bank to enter the fitness industry so I understand what’s going on. I have also seen how my business has changed in the last 2 months. Yes, the conditions are real.

However, individually as well as collectively we have to remind ourselves of how powerful we truly are. The circumstances are not bigger than us. We are bigger than the circumstances. We are obviously at a major turning point in our history. The world will never be the same. We have a new symbolic and inspirational leader and whether you voted for Obama or not, is irrelevant. He the president elect and means the times call for him being placed there.

Although the government policy will affect you they won’t determine the state of your future. You will determine that. Only you will make the decision to move forward despite what you are facing or will succumb to the pressure and say “Why bother.”

Life is for enjoyment. Life is for dong something. Life is for contributing. How can you do all of those things to the best of you ability if you are focusing on the negative and how hard things are. I have personally chosen not to participate the economic crisis. I have chosen to rise above. Once again I am not naïve when I make this statement. I am not saying I am unaffected. I am not say that I am not concerned. I am not saying that I not sympathetic to those who are experiencing extreme hurt right now. I am saying that I am not going to focus on it. I am focusing on what I want.

There is a saying that goes “the obstacles are what you see when you take your eyes off your goal.” It’s true. So if you are scared do something about. Fear cowers in the face of courage. If you are in fear of losing your job start hunting for a new one. If you are in fear of losing clients start networking. If you are concerning about anything that may affect negatively confront it boldly and deal with it. It is not easy. I am challenged with running as well, but now is not the time for fear. Now is the time for courage. Feed your fear and starve your doubt.

Take control of the things you can. Clean your house. Take control of your paper work. Take control of what you eat. Now is the prime time to get into your best shape ever. After all, you will need your energy to be at its highest level to accomplish all you have set out to do.

And please don’t stop dreaming. Yes dreams are still coming true. The American dream may have changed a bit, but it is certainly not dead. Wake up everyday focused on what you want to be, do and have and don’t let anything steer your focus away. The news reports with their doomspeak are only distractions. You may not be able to totally avoid them, but do not give them major amount of your time. You don’t have that kind of time because all of your resources of time, energy and passion need to be placed where you need them most… on the achievement of your goals.

I was recently watching an episode of one of my favorite shows, “The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch”. His show is normally very inspirational, but recently he has become fixated on the economic situation. He had a guest on recently who shared nothing in common with me. We have opposing politics, philosophies and attitudes. I was sitting yelling at the TV for this guy to shut his mouth. Then he talked about the mustard seed. I sat up in my chair and moved forward. I said, “You have to plant that mustard and nurture it with your faith and allow it to flourish. That is what is required now.”

The story of the mustard seed is a biblical passage that translates to this: “I tell you with certainty, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”
This is truly about faith. Not in the religious sense necessarily, but in the sense of faith your possibilities.

And how do you plant that mustard seed… with faith. You must choose to believe. Belief is a choice. In the face of challenge you have a choice to make. You can choose to back away and cower or you can choose to belief. I choose to believe… won’t you join me?

Your first step to nurturing that seed is to give thanks. Now matter where you are or what you have or don’t have you have a reason to give thanks. I am thankful for my wife, my son my entire set of family, friends, my home, my clients my list could go on for days. Be thankful for what you have because you have been the recipient of an over flow of blessing just to be here.

My hands are shaking as I write this because I so believe in everything I shared with you. So my hope is that my little rant here will help you step forward with courage to come a bit closer to doing, being and having what you want.

God Bless

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Battle with the Mind

Find more videos like this on 90 Day Dream Quest

I just heard this recording this morning
I love it. I have grown up on Jim Rohn.
The music is hypnotic and gives you
a chance to absorb what he is saying.
It is true that that the biggest battle is from within

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More adventures with Antonio

My boy must be watching me. This is funny
and little scary at the same time.

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The Keys to the Future

Here I am with my wife and son in the
New Studio space. Its humble, but
oak trees grow from acorns.
Wish me luck

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Tickling Antonio

Barbells, Dumb Bells, Kettlebells. All this
fitness stuff is all about living a good
life in order to enjoy moments like this.
Enough said.

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roll up your sleeves

I heard this quote on Donnie Deutche’s show, The Big Idea.

“No one ever lost their shirt with their sleeves rolled up.”

I nearly fell to the floor when I heard that one. I hope the you take
that statement and let it sink into your heart.
Take a look at your situation. If its good make it better.
If it’s challenging stare it right in the eye and say “I’m gonna find a way
to master you.”

Its that kind of mind state that creates miracles out of
challenging circumstances. And the good news is you can do it.

Books

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Up coming Protege’

Here is the new improved Tony “Books”. I became a daddy 40.
These means only that I have a whole lot of more living to do.
I look at this with no fear. I am simply committed to teaching
my son a lot of things like my favorite sport basketball.

I am a little nervous because at his first attempt, he is pretty good.

That’s my motivation. Are you committed to staying in shape for the
long run? What gets you going to commit to remaining healthy and
energetic? If you have yet to find it, take time out and make something up.

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