Just One Joey

Wednesday, August 24, 2016

The Downfall Of The NFL

I love football.

The start of the new season feels like Christmas morning to me.

I love everything about it. It’s the smartest, most physically taxing sport out there. Execution is everything, just like life. You need to outsmart your opponents. You need to out-work your opponents. It’s a complex and beautiful thing.

For the record, I am a die-hard 49ers fan. I can’t wait to see what Chip does. Anything would be better than last year, so my expectations are pretty low.

As much as I love it, I realize it has weaknesses. It could be the next baseball. Using TV contracts to fool itself into thinking it is still as relevant as ever. Live sports are the only thing television stations can hold on to (nice work on that one NBC with your Olympic coverage, #poop). Of course baseball will get huge contracts, it’s all TV has right now. But the numbers don’t lie. Less kids are playing. Less people are attending (even with a million games during your season). They don’t get it. Maybe they never will.

Will the NFL be the same?

They are certainly more proactive than MLB. They know how to create stars, excitement, and own the media throughout the year.

But do they have an Achilles heel?

Concussions, health, and safety, right?

Less kids will play because of the inherently violent nature of the sport.

That’s the downfall of the NFL, right?

I say no.

To me, it will all come down to money.

The average career of an NFL player is 3 years.

During those 36 months, at any point, their contracts can be nullified, and they are out of a job. Based on what? Whatever the team wants.

With the new NBA CBA, NFLers are looking like a bunch of suckers. Basketball players are making more than ever. MLB has guaranteed contracts. Hell, Bobby Bonilla is still getting paid by the Mets and he hasn’t hit a baseball in almost 20 years. In the NFL? Your favorite player could get cut tomorrow. Bye bye.

Why would world class athletes put up with that? They are world class. Football is not all they can do.

Why not play baseball? Why not play basketball, soccer, anything else?

It will be easier on your body, and your career could be twice as long.

It’s not healthy being as big as these guys are, pro football sized. They are too big for their bodies and then play a game where they are slamming in to someone else every Sunday that is too big.

People are not supposed to be 300 pounds. I don’t care if you are big boned or not.

Linemen in the 80’s are the size of linebackers in the 90’s are the size of running backs in the 00s. It’s crazy, and it’s unnatural. That is not easy on your body. That is not good for long term health.

So why play for relative peanuts? In an unhealthy environment? With the stress of being let go at any point?

I think the next CBA is going to be huge for the NFL.

Ramon Foster has it right, “Save your money for the 2021 lockout.”

It’s going to happen. And if the players don’t save their money, and get desperate, they will be right back in the situation they are in now.

Owners make a TON of money. A TON.

And in case you are wondering, I don’t think college players should get paid anything.

People are too caught up in money, and not enough in value. College players don’t make the schools, or make the programs, coaches do. Get your degree, or not. Play for a nationally relevant school, or not, and then go pro, or don’t. Getting paid to be put on a national stage, with a chance to get an education, is payment enough. Look to value, not dollar signs. Don’t be so short sided.

On the flip side, there is a whole lot of money being collected by the NFL, and the players do make the league. You can pick one or two players that change the whole dynamic of any team. Put all those guys together, and the league changes without them. What if Brady played baseball? What if Tony Gonzales played basketball? What if Terrell Suggs was in the WWE? Where is the NFL? These are intelligent, world class athletes we are talking about. Football is not all they can do.

What happens when they decide to do something else?

It won’t be because of concussions.

They slam their heads all day. They know it’s dangerous. It’s like smokers. You can’t really sit there and tell me you thought it was good for you. Seriously? They know. We know. And they choose to do it. More power to them. Which is why injuries will not hurt this league. But money will.

If the NFL is smart, they will start to remedy this sooner rather than later. And by later, I mean 2021.

The money is there. The NBA is making you look bad. MLB is making you look bad. Pro soccer (outside the U.S.) is making you look bad.

In America, football is king, and the players are the peasants.

Do what is right.

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

The 60 Second Recharge

Need a little boost in your day?

Don’t have enough energy?

Feeling a little down?

I have a 60 second light switch.

Start your day with it. Use it after the gym. Use it before a meeting. Use it if you have a little too much “funk” in you day. It is almost a universal remedy.

I use it every day, twice a day. In the morning to start the workday on the right foot (along with meditation and coffee), and after my workouts, to reset my system.

What it this magic remedy?

A Cold Shower

That’s it?

Yup.

But that is so easy! I have a shower at home! One at the gym! One at work!

I know! That’s the best part! It’s accessible. It’s cheap. It’s effective!

It’s perfect!

A List Of Benefits

1. It Will Make You Happy: Cold water activates the sympathetic nervous system and increases the blood of beta-endorphins. What do endorphins do? They make you happy! They allow you to feel pleasure and a sense of satisfaction. Want to know something really crazy? Of course you do!! You know all those drugs that people take, then they get addicted, then they fall apart and it ruins their life? Heroin, codeine (sizzurp), morphine, oxy? They are all basically endorphin releasing agents! Crazy, huh? A cold shower will allow your body to release endorphins in your body the same way hardcore, addictive drugs can! Without your life falling apart!! Yipee!!

2. Increases Blood Flow: When your body is cold (specifically for this article, when you are standing in a freezing ass shower), your body redirects blood to your vital organs. Why? It thinks you may be dying (April Fool’s body!! I’m not really dying! Gotcha!). But you aren’t, obviously. It forces your heart to pump more efficiently, pushing blood harder through your vessels to make sure your “guts” are protected. The increase in blood flow also means you are getting oxygen and nutrients pushed throughout your body, and more importantly, to vital parts. Increased circulation means a healthier body. Already workout? Good for you, then this is just another way to make you even better. An increase in blood flow will help you with: fatigue, headaches, high blood pressure, and in extreme cases, heart attacks and strokes.

Are you in the shower yet?

Need more?

Jeez Louise.

3. A Reset Button: Remember the “reset” buttons on the old Nintendo? Am I dating myself too much? Dang it. Anyways. If I am being honest, the only time I would ever use that button is when things were not going very well for me in: Super Mario Bros (1–3), Contra, Bases Loaded, or Tecmo Bowl. It was a gutless move, especially when I was playing someone else. They never appreciated it. Oh well. But if you are in a funk, there is no shame in hitting the reset button. Forget tomorrow is another day, you can flip that switch and change everything in the next few minutes. Cold showers reset your nervous system. Actually, the shock turns on your autonomic nervous system (fight or flight), then your parasympathetic nervous system kicks back in afterwards, relaxing your nervous system.

Are you sold now?

Some other benefits to cold showers, besides recharging your body: tightens skin, pushes out toxins in the body because your body constricts in cold water, pushing them out, activates fat burning, increases testosterone and fertility, improves hair and skin heath, and increases your immunity!

What else do you need?

Happy showering!

Friday, August 19, 2016

30 Days Of Genius Blog: Sir Richard Branson

One of the most famous business men in the world. He started Virgin Records, Virgin Atlantic, and now Virgin Galactic. He lives on an island, is worth $5.1 billion, and seems as down to earth as your neighbor. What better person to get advice from.

I have taken his interview on 30 Days of Genius with Chase Jarvis, extracted the information, and used it to answer common questions by readers just like you, who are looking to take their lives to the next level, or at least a different level than the one they are on.

Please enjoy.

What Is The Best Way To Start A Business From Scratch?

The most important thing to ask when starting a business is, do I have a great idea? I don’t care if you are single, married, 10 kids, no kids, mortgage or rent. Do you have a great idea? Can you find other people that believe in your idea? Then, can you find great people to work with?

There is a thin line between success and failure, but the satisfaction of building something on your own is immense.

Need an idea? I feel the best businesses come from a person’s bad experiences. Have you had a bad experience? Of course you have. Can you create something that would alleviate a similarly bad experience for other people? Start there.

Don’t like that?

Find a business that is working in another city, state or country. Can you recreate that where you live?

How can you make it better?

Even better, what are your passions? I think it is foolish to not become an expert in the things you are passionate about. You will enjoy learning about it and give it your all. Isn’t that the way it’s supposed to be? Don’t forget that your life is what you make it. If you treat something as impossible it will be.

Once you have a great idea, and put great people around you, think about how you can protect the downside. Take chances, but don’t put everything on the line, especially if you have a family, home, etc.

How Do I Lead a Business Once It Is Started?

Remember the great people you have surrounded yourself with? Use them to handle things that they do better than you, as well as the day to day operations, so you can focus on the big picture.

A good leader needs to be a listener and a learner. Feed off of other people. Learn and help each other as much as you can. Get your hands dirty, focus on even the smallest details. It’s the details that end up making the picture perfect in the end. You are never too big to learn from someone on your team.

Remember that.

The Most Important Thing You Can Do

Try to live with a smile the best you can.

Quotes

“Screw it, just do it. It’s a lot more fun than not screwing it and not doing it.”

“If no one takes notes, nothing is going to get done.”

“Failure means being able to pick yourself up, learn from the struggles and move on.”

Sir Richard Branson Links

Virgin

Facebook

Chase Jarvis Links

Joey Links

Success In School At Any Age

Kindergarten to senior year.

Undergrad to a doctoral program.

This is for students of any age.

This is for their parents.

The Key To Success In School.

Act as if you never went at all.

Aaahhhh, me squeeze me?

Aah, bacon powder?

(Wayne’s World quote. I’m 37. If that wasn’t obvious by the reference.)

That’s right, I said it.

Act like you never went to school.

I am not talking about after you graduate (although that will work too), I mean DURING school.

Act like it never happened.

Act like it is not happening.

The Problem With School

The biggest issue in education is the students’ mindset. Well, it’s the parents’ mindset that gets transferred to the kid and becomes their mindset.

Still with me?

Moving on.

Is education is the most important thing to develop en route to success? Me thinks yes. At least top 3.

Is school education? Yes and no.

This is where the mindset issue comes in.

School gives you a baseline of information, but Education (capital E) is much bigger. It is everything you learn in order to live, earn money, and thrive. My point? College gives you a piece of paper that says you have been successful in retaining information and regurgitating it at least at a 70% level. 60% level if it is out of your major in some schools. Once you get that piece of paper, the thing your parents have been focused on since you were 3 years old in preschool, you can do anything, right? It’s the key to your future, right? This piece of paper has been the goal of your life up to this point.

Now you can go earn a living, right?

How many of you college graduates went “Holy s***” while still in your cap and gown?

Me too!

This is not to say that school is not important. Until companies figure out how to filter through applicants based on abilities and potential instead of pieces of paper (at least initially), it will remain necessary. (On a side note, if you are part of the 0.01% that can be ultra-successful without getting your foot in the door with a degree, more power to you. I am not.)

For the 99.99% of us:

The Solution

If you act as if you didn’t go to school, then you will focus your attention on learning things on your own. You will make it a point of connecting with people in your potential profession, and pick their brains on the steps necessary to become a professional x, y, or z. This is how it used to be done. Go directly to the source to get all the info you need.

Most of them will tell you is school. You can say, “No duh, I am talking about everything else. I want to learn about the profession as a whole.” That is where the real knowledge will come. The more people you talk to, the more you research on your own, the more you learn, the more ass you will kick once you get the piece of paper saying you are now free to kick ass.

School is school.

Education is all up to you.

Imagine if you were in middle school or high school, and instead of waiting for the knowledge to come to you in school, you went out and got it? Instead of picking your butt, or building up your Musical.ly following (unless that is your business, and you are already monetizing it, then more power to you) you went out and met people? Started building up a rapport with professional adults?

Making connections, learning in a real world sense of the word? You could be killing it by the time you learn how to drive! Imagine that!

Think of a college student that spent all four years in college studying for their degree, but meeting professionals in their potential field at conferences, during coffee meetings, or internships so when they graduated that had a crystal clear understanding of what that profession is and how to be successful at it. They will have a goal, a game plan and a clear course of action.

While everyone else is moving back home, being confused, getting a job they could have gotten out of high school, you are dominating.

Wouldn’t that be amazing?

I know!

That was basically a rhetorical question. If you said “no” I would have puked.

For Parents And Students

It doesn’t matter how old you are. This can be applied at any age. I tell my daughter all the time, the way to be successful is to learn more outside of school than you do in school. Education is key, but school is not “that” key. It will get you in to the arena, but you are on your own from there.

You are the only key you will ever need. It’s best to learn that now.

Think of it this way:

Have you ever heard of a graduate from any top school (NYU, Stanford, Yale, Harvard, etc.) get handed a bag of money when they walked out of graduation ceremony? Exactly! Why? Because that’s when the real education starts, the real work. No one gives a f*** what school you graduated from if you suck at your job. Harvard graduates work next to UCSD (go Tritons!) grads, that work next to Middle Of Nowhere Texas grads, all at the same company. Your real job is to kick ass. I don’t care what your title is.

But what if we started it earlier?

What if we started today?

What if the future was now?

What if we looked at school for what it is, a “normal” factory (which is what they used to call it, because it was designed to create “normal” people to work in factories, remember that), and looked at every hour outside of school as the real learning time?

What kinds of experiences could we have?

What kind of knowledge would we gain?

How much more prepared for life would we be?

I don’t care how old you are, start learning. Start educating yourself. Interview one person a week that works in a field you may want to work in. Contact companies, ask them about skills that they find important, then start practicing them.

Nothing can stop you except for you.

(This will help you get over your fear: article)

It’s time to look at school like it never happened and elevate your success. It all starts with you. It all starts with looking at yourself as the one that will get you to your best. No degree will do it. No college will ever guarantee success. That’s all on you.

Ever wonder why so many people try to get in to the top schools every Fall? Because the individuals that went to those schools kicked ass once they got out and made it look good. Was it the school? Hell no. Maybe a couple teachers here or there helped guide them, but it is the individual that makes the difference. The graduates make the school. Don’t forget that.

You make the difference.

Get out there and start learning.

Right after the bell rings.

Thursday, August 18, 2016

Be Your Own Victory Story

Hello?

Are you there?

Of course you are.

You Are Still Here

Have you ever had a bad day?

Ever been devastated?

Think back on the three worst days of your life. I am sure there were points during that day when you saw absolutely no way out. As much as you tried to see the positive, tried to gather some meaning from whatever you were going through, you just couldn’t see it. You were in a dark place. Pitch black. No way out.

But you are still here.

As much as it felt like it would never come, you made it to the next day. You felt like you were going to die, but you opened your eyes, and it was a new day. The sun was up. The stars were gone. And you were still here.

You Are The Victory

We like to look to others for motivation.

“If they can do it, I can do it!”

What we need to realize is our own stories should be all the motivation we need. All the positive we need when we are trying to pull ourselves out of the darkness.

Why?

Because you have already done it. In fact, you have done it over and over, yet you still doubt your strength and resilience when the next issue arises.

You ARE the victory. You ARE the story you should be telling yourself. The one that picks you up when you are down.

Why?

Because you CAN do it.

How do I know?

Because you ALWAYS do it.

As long as you keep pushing, keep fighting, and keep grinding, the darkness will break way to light. It always does. As long as you keep digging, you will get there. The same way you did it last time, the time before that, and most importantly, the next time.

Remember

The next time you feel down. The next time you are having a bad day and can’t see the silver lining, remember who you are. Remember what you have been through. How you have persevered. How you have gone from darkness to light when there was no hope. No one else did that for you, you did that yourself. It was your will, your heart, and your strength that pulled you out. You don’t need the motivations of anyone else, you have it all within yourself.

I would tell you to be the victory, but you already are. You just need to recognize it.

Take a look.

It’s a beautiful thing.

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

30 Days Of Genius Blog: Brene Brown

This interview has been the most difficult to write. There is so much tangible information I had a difficult time deciding what to leave out. Here is the link to the podcast. I pieced out the information for entrepreneurs specifically, but she has so much wisdom for life in general, you should do yourself a favor and check it out.

I have taken her interview on 30 Days of Genius with Chase Jarvis, extracted the information, and used it to answer common questions by readers just like you, who are looking to take their lives to the next level, or at least a different level than the one there are on.

Please enjoy.

How Do I Win?

The most important aspect of winning is making sure that you are not losing. Sabotaging is the easiest way to not only lose, but to feel like a loser.

You need to learn how to sift through your emotions, let go of the thoughts and feelings that are

holding you back, and push through.

The sooner you push, the sooner you break through, the sooner you win.

Storytelling

This is not the kind of storytelling where you sit around in a circle and no matter what happens, everyone lives happily ever after. This is a conspiracy theory type of storytelling, and you are the main character. The good thing is, you are also the author of this story, and you are the one that chooses the ending.

There are two things that happen when we storytell: we get emotional, and we fill in information that we do not have. After that, we react to the situation where we filled in information as if it were fact, and it’s not.

See how that can work against you?

What was that look? What did they mean by that? Are they being sarcastic? They hate me. I’m not good enough. I suck.

Sound familiar?

It should. We all do it, until we learn not to.

Rising Strong

Remember this: You WILL fail.

Expecting something more positive?

I bet you did.

But I would rather be honest and realistic, because that is what is going to help you. If you are truly putting yourself out there, truly engaging in work and life, you will fail. If you are not failing, you are not trying hard enough.

I want you to have an honest and realistic perspective. You can get that by asking yourself a few tough questions: 1. What am I feeling? 2. What is the story I am telling myself? 3. What facts do I ACTUALLY have? 4. What information do I still need?

Turn directly to your storytelling self, listen to what you have to say, acknowledge the feelings, then look at the situation and the information you REALLY have.

After you ask yourself those questions, ask the people you are dealing with questions. Ask for clarification, maybe even go so far as to let them know you are telling yourself a story based on your interaction and you want clarification.

Show them you have the balls to ask tough questions.

They will have more respect for you because you are showing that you have respect for yourself. You will not allow yourself to storytell, you would rather know the truth. Bravo to you!

Dealing With Discomfort

One thing I found consistently with people that are able to recover faster and rise stronger are the ones that are able to endure discomfort the most.

Will it be uncomfortable clarifying a point with your boss? Probably.

When you don’t get the outcome you want at a business meeting, will it be uncomfortable to go back and possibly get beat up digging deeper in to where you went wrong? Absolutely.

But after those tough discussions, after the discomfort, you will have a crystal clear view of the situation and how to handle it. You will learn about them, you will learn about yourself, and you will be better for it.

Keep reminding yourself that it will be ok. You will get through it. How do I know? Because when you keep pushing through the darkness you eventually get to the light, every time. Think back on other difficult times in your life, other difficult situations. How did you feel at the beginning? Awful, I am sure. Well guess what? You are still here. And you will be after the next one. It will be hard, but you keep pushing. That’s how you win.

Quotes

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” Theodore Roosevelt

“Unused creativity. Creativity that has been disowned, is not benign. It’s painful, it metastasizes and turns in to dangerous things.”

“When you own the story, you get to write the ending.”

“Your ability to rise should never be predicated on other people.”

Brene Brown Links

Webpage

TedTalk

Author Page

Chase Jarvis Links

Joey Links

Happy Anniversary

Every day, I think about the day you chose me.

The day you saw through the mess. Sifted through the ashes. Dug down to the core, and chose me.

You knew me before I ever even knew myself.

Our 8 years together have been a rollercoaster. Let’s be honest, I am the rollercoaster, you were just along for the ride. When people got off, you stayed on. You knew. You could see past the turmoil.

You knew me, even when I didn’t know myself.

Thank you.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Thank you from the deepest part of my soul.

I still can’t believe you are the very first and last thing I see every single day.

I recognize it, I appreciate it, and I value it above everything else.

My drive and ambition is to show you every day that you were right. I am worth it. I am not defined by my mistake. I have something amazing inside me that needs to come out, that gets a chance to come out every single day, because of you. That’s why I work as hard as I do, to build my business, myself, and our life. You ask me to take a day off, to take it slow, but you know I can’t. There is too much to do, and you absolutely understand that. You know my dreams, you know they are going to materialize, and you believe in me.

Now I know myself.

I know my strengths.

I know my weaknesses.

I know my purpose.

But you knew me first, and you are the driving force behind everything I do. You are my power. I spend my days proving you right. Letting you know you made the right decision. Letting the world know you made the right decision. You chose correctly when it would have been so much easier to walk away. I am in awe of your strength and resilience. There is no me without you.

As we enter in to our 9th year of matrimony, know that it is only going to get better. We have big dreams, and every single one of them is going to come true. We are a machine. Running stronger than ever. Nothing can stop us.

Me and you. You and me.

Forever and ever.

Love,

Joey