Tyler Jorgenson

Completing and Remembering 2008

Last year I shared a document that I borrowed from a friend of mine and it was well received so I thought it would be good to share again.

When you are setting your resolutions remember to set goals that are SMART.

Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Relevant
Time Bound

An old adage: “A Goal Not Written is Merely a Wish” comes to mind. Print out this document and prepare to create some great goals so that 2009 can be your best year yet.

Happy New Year!

(and since I always like having a picture in each post. Make it a goal not to be a competitive jerk in 2009.)

Rules for a Perfect Day
Author: Tom Hopkins

Just for today…

I will try to live and delight in the reality of being alive. My past is forever gone, my future an uncertainty, so I will be happy and thankful for each moment.

I will not allow negative input into my mind…happiness is a choice and I choose to be happy.

I will be thankful to God for my health, my loved ones, my business, and my country. I will also be thankful for any pain in crisis that helps me grow because God has said, be thankful in all things.

I will take care of my body, realizing the importance of the words moderation and balance, knowing that as I bring my flesh under control, how much easier it will be to control my will and my actions.

I will treat everyone I meet today the way I would like to be treated. I will strive to have them like themselves better when they’re with me.

I will avoid gossip, jealousy, and negative thinking. Most people don’t think about what they think about. Today, I will make a conscious effort to hold loving and beautiful thoughts in my mind.

I will write down my priorities; thinking of my loved ones and my responsibilities. I may not get everything done, but I will do the most productive thing possible at every given moment.

I will strive to humble myself before others, controlling my ego and making other people feel important.

I will spend time in study, learning how to better serve my fellowman. I know my growth in all areas is in direct proportion to the service I give to others.

I will not take rejection personally. I am first and foremost in the people business and, thus, realize they can only reject my proposal and not me. I will keep on keepin’ on.

I will spend time in prayer, asking God to let others see the light of His shining love through me.

©Copyright 1976 Tom Hopkins International, Inc.

Thanks to websites like Facebook, MySpace and LinkedIn I have been able to reconnect with many of my friends from ages past. These sites are also good for meeting and networking with new people, but I particularly enjoy the reconnecting part. Blogs have become more popularized over the past few years and there aren’t too many of us guys out here. One of my friends from the past, I think we trick or treated together in 1989, is Deyl. Deyl and his wife Paige have issued a challenge to the blogosphere… make them give until it hurts.

Deyl and Paige are going to donate $10 to Opportunity International for every comment on their post titled ‘Make me give ’til it hurts’ before the first Thursday in November. Go to his site and tell him Tyler sent you. Just follow the 3 steps he outlined… spread the word… change the world.

Thanks Deyl and Paige… you guys are inspirational.

But it’s been a LONG time since I’ve been able to run a 4:47 mile like I did in College. My hot wife made me do a little run with her while we were in Capitola this past weekend and apparently she thought I did OK so she signed us up for the Disneyland 5k on August 30th. I’m going to have to do a little training, since I don’t want to be too embarrassed by my time having been a runner in High School.
I stepped on the scale on the 4th of July when we had to take our kids to the Dr. and I was down to 178lbs. I was amazed. I had been up to about 215lbs less than a year prior and although we did start eating better I think we pinpointed the weight busting source… a bigger house with 3 active kids. We’re chasing our kids around up and down stairs, around the house and yard and even jumping on the trampoline. Combine all of those extra calories burned with consuming fewer calories and you get a Tyler that is 37 pounds lighter.

Tanya told me while we were running that she didn’t really notice how fat I had gotten before, but now that I’ve thinned up a bit she likes it. One of my co-workers even complimented me today (thanks for making my day April).

So, I guess I’m getting back into running thanks to my wife. I have to admit I’m looking forward to getting back into shape.

The way I lost the last 25 pounds, in reverse order.

3.  Get really sick so you can’t eat for a week.
2.  Enjoy a lot of anxiety in a changing real estate market.
1.  Eat This Not That

Tanya and I really started trying to eat better.  We didn’t really eat horribly before, but we made some small changes.  At dinner Tanya would make the lower fat or lower calorie versions of the meals, and 90% of the time they actually tasted just as good or better.  If we have to eat out we don’t order french fries, even the kids want the fruit cups at Chick-Fil-A.  I stopped eating a bag of tortilla chips with cheese dip every week.  I had no idea how bad those were.  Tonight I had carrot sticks with fat free blue cheese dressing and a few slices of cheddar cheese on low sodium saltines.  It’s not very scientific, and I am no nutritionist, but it’s been working for Tanya and me.

Recently I found this great site and have loved the blog posts from the author of the book ‘Eat This, Not That’.  Here’s a link to the most recent post, and a brief excerpt.  In this post he gives 7 great snack foods.  #6 was the one that destroyed my favorite on the go breakfast.

6. When You Need to Wake Up and Go…

Eat This:
Eggs and Whole-Wheat Toast
Eggs are a great source of protein, and having them for breakfast sets you up for a perfect day of eating. Saint Louis University researchers found that people who eat eggs for breakfast consume 264 fewer calories the rest of the day than those who eat bagels and cream cheese.

Not That!
Bagel and Cream Cheese
At 500 calories and 20 grams of fat, this deli disaster is one of the worst ways to start your day. Sixty grams of fast-burning carbohydrates will cause a dip in energy and a spike in hunger, long before lunchtime. The same goes for croissants, danish, donuts, and pancakes.

I have never been too big of a donut fan, but I love Bagels and Cream Cheese.  I always got the low fat Cream Cheese so I thought it was pretty healthy.  Most bagel store bagels are at least 250 calories plain… so it’s just not a good start.  Tanya recently made eggs for breakfast for the kids and they loved it, so I think we’ll have to start doing that more.  Whole Wheat English Muffins are REALLY good tasting too… maybe I’ll go get some for breakfast tomorrow.

Now that I’ve lost a bit of weight I need to get into shape.  As the world will see on July 29th, I am VERY out of shape.  I am preparing for the mocking.

http://jorgstyle.blogspot.com/2008/06/wipeout-update.html

When I was on WIPEOUT I made a couple of political comments. Apparently, they’ve leaked out quite a bit and it’s created quite a buzz. I first heard about some online forums that were talking about the forward thinking ideas I shared and their positive impact, but then I heard about some serious talk. Anyways, a friend forwarded me this video and I was stunned.

Gone skydiving? Traveled to Hong Kong? Been on Safari? Helped a stranger for the better?
My beautiful wife rented The Bucket List for us to watch. I’m not much for writing movie reviews, but all in all it was a good flick. It made me think a little bit about my life’s goals and aspirations. In the movie Morgan Freeman’s character has a nice family life (but a stale marriage), a modest job and a traditional home. Somehow he ends up sharing a hospital room with Jack Nicholson’s character (sorry about the Lakers in Game 4 Jack) who is an extremely wealthy man, but with no family ties to speak of. Both characters get to impart a bit of their views to the other through the movie and end up better people in the end.

The first thing I thought of was my amazing family. I have three ridiculously amazing children and a super star wife. If I were left desolate in a shack in Tulsa (the Paris of Oklahoma) but I had my family then life would be alright. The next thing I thought about is that I want to see some stuff while I’m on this earth. I’ve been lucky to chase giraffe in Africa and I am very grateful for my time there… but I want to see Machu Picchu, sing to my wife in Italy, tour the Holy Land and climb Kilimanjaro.

While I was in South Africa I read some words in Afrikaans that have stuck with me.

Many of you know it’s Latin counterpart, Carpe Diem. Both say the same thing so both are obviously good but Gryp Die Dag, said in a gluteral and milataristic voice full denotes expedient and forceful action. Carpe Diem is so much more poetic and light.

That being said, two questions to think about?

1. What is one thing you feel you MUST do before you kick the bucket?

2. What is the most rewarding thing you can do TODAY?

My thoughts after watching the movie are in line with Baird’s poem:

Time flies on wings of lightning;
We cannot call it back;
It comes, then passes forward
Along its onward track;
And if we are not mindful,
The chance will fade away;
For life is quick in passing.
‘Tis as a single day.

Life your life with a sense of determined urgency. Reap while the sun shines.

Entertain me and leave a comment with your answer to question #1. Maybe there’s a prize for whoever leaves a comment with the most original answer.

I don’t think I’m supposed to publicly talk about how well I did, but yesterday I filmed an episode of ABC’s new show WIPEOUT. It was awesomely brutal and I was humbled and encouraged to get back into shape.

The course I did was a bit different than this one, but it was VERY challenging. The other contestants were all awesome and great to hang out with all day in the blazing heat. Stay tuned, I’ll let you know when my episode is going to air.

Post your score in the comments. Don’t be shy.

I rarely read email forwards, but for some reason I watched this video that was forwarded to me today. I’m really glad that I did, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Thank you for being a part of my life.

I’m currently reading a few books, and have finally finished a couple. When I read a novel I usually finish it within a day or two of starting. Fiction books are a quick read as I can analyze the text and enjoy the character development while continuing to read. My downfall is on non-fiction books. I really enjoy reading self-help type books. It started about 5 or 6 years ago when a good friend told me to read Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki. That one was an easy read, but it got me started on a different type of reading. Now I read with a notebook and pen in hand. I don’t want to miss one ounce of life enriching wisdom that the author is trying to impart, so I squeeze it like a thirsty man squeezes an orange and suck out the last drop. Here are some of the books being juiced now (I like that… juice your books):

1. Sharing The Wealth – Alex Spanos (owner of The Chargers)
2. The 5 Lessons a Millionaire Taught Me About Life and Money – Richard Paul Evans (Gift from My Sister)
3. How To Master the Art of Selling – Tom Hopkins
4. The Richest Man Who Ever Lived: King Solomon’s Secrets to Success, Wealth, and Happiness – Steven K. Scott

So that’s my current list. I also read I Am Legend recently and give it a 2 out of 4 stars. It’s much shorter than anticipated.

What’s on your reading list right now? What books do you recommend I read this year? What books are a ‘must read’ in your opinion?

Pain or Pleasure?

A friend of mine has a great post about motivation. His friend is building a mansion in Santa Barbara as a speculative investment and is considering moving in rather than selling, even though the market is hot enough to sell, so that the mansion will motivate him to achieve greater goals. Deyl asked: Do you think there is anything wrong with a material thing like a house being a motivator to work hard and smart? He has received some great responses so far.

What I find interesting about choice is that all of our choices in life come down to our desire to gain pleasure and our need to avoid pain. Think about it. From the very simple decisions in our lives to the most complex those two factors are at the root of our the choice we make.

Example

Ask a woman why she spends hour(s) every morning applying makeup and doing her hair. The answers are likely to be either because doing so makes her feel pretty (pleasure) or because not doing so may garnish some ridicule (pain).

You can go through any choice and break it down to these two factors. When the light turns red you stop to avoid pain. Even if you are certain no cars are coming you don’t want the pain of having to pay for a ticket and the serious agony of sitting in traffic school. If you give to charity, what is your motivating factor? Is it because you want the pleasure of helping somebody? Do you not want the pain of higher taxes and want the pleasure of a nice write off?

Understanding these two principals is helping me understand what drives me and what influence the decisions I make. I am currently in the middle of a few real estate deals that are generating a bit of stress, but the idea of the payout and the pleasure it will bring motivates me to make the deals work.

Just because we are driven by pleasure and pain doesn’t make us bad people. If the things that we associate pleasure to are being able to contribute back to society then that’s a good thing. If you get pleasure from knowing that you are providing for your family, creating employment, promoting commerce, etc then building a nice house for you and your (6) kids is a great thing. Especially if it’s going to motivate you to take on more ventures that are likely to continue the cycle even more. So, Deyls’ friend, build on and love your home. Enjoy the pleasure that comes from the sense of accomplishment and knowing that you are living in something that you envisioned from a bare lot and a bunch of sticks.

So often in life we create our own limitations. Interestingly enough our limits are self imposed or conditioned by others who feel inadequate. When we are born we are nearly fearless (the fear of falling and the fear of loud noises are with us from birth) but we learn to fear failure through being teased or ridiculed. I got this little glimpse into my 1 year old daughters limitless perpective on life and loved it. She’s just doing what she sees her 3 year old sister do… so why couldn’t she be able to do the same? Look around you and see if there is somebody that has attained goals you would like to attain and ask yourself if you believe that you can achieve the same levels of success. Too often we don’t give ourselves enough credit, or have enough faith in our own ability to achieve greatness. Raise the bar.

-Posted From My Treo –

I hijacked todays post from a Trump email. I think it speaks for itself:

With the Right Mindset, You Can Overcome Any Problem

My wife and I just moved our family to a new (bigger) house. Along with trying to get everything unpacked, organized, decorated, etc there is also the issue of meeting new people. We have a couple of friends that moved here before us but there are a host of people that we are get to meet. In meeting new people I am always trying to remember everybody’s names. I know that I feel good, important even, when someone remembers my name after just one introduction and I want people to know that I think they are important by remembering their names too. I found a website with a few name remembering tips. Here’s a sample:

Commit
Begin by making a commitment — a conscious decision — to remember people’s names.

Don’t let yourself off easy, blaming a “bad memory.” Forgetting names is due less to a bad memory than to a lack of application. Tell yourself — because it’s true — that you can remember names if you want to and if you work at it.

Next time you’re in a business or social setting make it a point to remember names, it makes people feel special.

I am a big fan of eliminating vices out of our lives. It was great to see articles pop up about Ben Affleck telling Oprah that he had finally quit smoking. An interesting part of all of this is that both he and Matt Damon used hypnosis to help them quit. Affleck mentions that the “guy just sat there and told me nicotine is poison.” Hypnosis allows us to change our neuro associations more rapidly, and so under hypnosis Ben was able to make the changes to his mental perspectives on smoking. What vice in your life could you cut out simply by thinking of it as a painful and negative experience and associating greater pleasure to abstaining? If you’d like more information on how to make changes rapidly, let me know and I’ll post more on the topics of NLP and Hypnosis.