We all know the routine well. We all are OR we all were young at one point. A hellacious work week leads to a weekend of “letting loose”. It usually involves the excessive consumption of various cocktails, maybe a little dancing, some good music, sexy people and several more cocktails. That was the routine for me practically every weekend from 17-22. Don’t ask me how I got into the bar or why I was even drinking before I was 21. Wait, you can just call it COLLEGE. I was not as innocent as I look. 
It was fun from what I can remember. I would not trade it for the world. Would you?
Time For a Divorce? You Become Who You Surround Yourself With
[like]
July 8, 2009 By 11 Comments
Your mom told you in high school, “Billy down the street is bad news. I don’t want you hanging around with him.” My response to this one was “Ma, you don’t even know him.” My parents didn’t even want to hear me complaining when I had to explain cleaning desks in detention for clowning around with “Billy” in class. I guess our parents had some insight after all.
Reflecting back when I was 22, starting my first real business, I would make continuous progress only to be offset by my old routine of late nights drinking beers with my best buddies. Don’t get me wrong here, the friends I grew up with are amazing people who I will cherish our memories until the day I die. The challenge many of us face is that the typical conversation doesn’t change while you are changing. It sounds something like “My job sucks…I met this hottie at the bar last night…man the Cubs sucked yesterday…did you see American Idol?”
Which Road Will You Take?
[like]
July 6, 2009 By 13 Comments
Jet ski’s, a tornado protruding from the sky, kids covering me in wet sand, barbecues and family fun. The 4th of July weekend lives up to it’s promises once again. We have made the near four hour family excursion to my families lake house countless times for many occasions. And history could not have repeated itself more perfect when my Dad said “we better hit the road early because we’re going to hit the holiday traffic.”
My dad and I hop in his car with my pup and head back to the land of never ending construction and plentiful tollways. About and hour in, as expected, we come to a dead halt. The ever-so slow moving holiday parking lot, otherwise known as I-90, was flooded with it’s northbound weekend warrior Chicagoans.
So, I said to my pops, “why don’t you hop off here and we can take highway-12 and bypass some of this traffic.”
What Inspires You? Do *THAT* Every Morning…
[like]
June 13, 2009 By 12 Comments
What is the first thing you do in the morning when you wake up? No, really…take a second to reflect what you do in the mornings from when you wake until noon. Is it a vicious cycle of checking email, feeding your Facebook addiction and Tweeting? You say, “alright I have so much to do today, and it is going to be a productive day.” Then four and a half hours later you look at the clock on your computer and see you indulged in a half day of “social networking” and severe anxiousness sets in. Another day wasted, but tomorrow’s another day, right?
The Most Powerful Word in an Entrepreneur’s Life
[like]
May 21, 2009 By 29 Comments
We all have challenges as entrepreneurs. Sometimes we see money as the solution to our problems. 
But, as the Notorious B.I.G. emphasized is his lyrics, “Mo money, mo problems“. Did he just quote a rapper? You better believe it! There are life’s lessons to be learned everywhere. Even the most successful business owners in the world are facing similar challenges as you, just on a WHOLE different level.
After a recent phone conversation with one of my friends/mentor, I was able to address some of the challenges in which I was facing. Then I started to see more. And more… And more until I realized, damn I am pretty messed up! It actually became a bit overwhelming. I started digging into why I struggle with discipline, which was justified by the juggling of several projects at once, which in turn was in result of my lack of focus. It turned into a big snowball effect.
Two Critical Keys to Success for Young Entrepreneurs
[like]
May 5, 2009 By 1 Comment
While driving somewhere in Tennessee, heading back to Chicago wrapping up the Go-Giver Tour, I was having a deep 
conversation with one of the winners of the contest, Emanuel. We spoke on topics ranging from prospecting to spirituality. One question he asked me stuck with me and fueled this blog post. “What do people need to become successful?” he asked. I paused…
Of all the success books I read, what advice can I give this young entrepreneur that he has not heard before to help guide his journey. I am rattling off a list in my mind starting with goals, persistence, self-education, capital, vision, enthusiasm, etc… I quickly hit the breaks on my thoughts. I realized all of these things stem from two attributes: DISCIPLINE AND DESIRE. So that’s what I told him. He paused analyzing my words as I began to reinforce my decision.
