Soupornuts is moving!!!

July 19, 2007

In an effort to have complete control over my blogging platform, I am moving to soupornuts.com. If you go there, you will see that I have been posting my recent articles in both places for a few days in an effort to work out all the bugs.

My plan is to slowly move my existing posts (about 1–2 per day) over to the new soupornuts site. So if you see something that you’ve read before, this is why.

Check out the new site and let me know what you think and how I can improve it. If you visit and it looks different the next time you are there, it is because I am experimenting with different themes. If you see one that you prefer, let me know.


Week 1: Weightloss progress report

July 16, 2007

If you are going to commit to a project, it helps if you put yourself into a postion that requires you to post your progress. The following are my stats to date:

  • Initial weight – 200 lbs
  • Today’s weight – 197.5 lbs
  • loss for the 1st week – 2.5 lbs
  • overall loss – 2.5 lbs

O.K. This is a good start, but it’s only a start. We have 14 more weeks in which to average a two pound weight loss each and every week. Let’s all keep up the good work. If you have any questions, put them into the comments sections.

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Reconstructed site and a new blog

July 8, 2007

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soupornuts is moving!!!  In order to have more control over my blog (how it looks, plugins, etc.) I have decided to move soupornuts.wordpress.com to soupornuts.com.  When you come to soupornuts.com, you will see my new postings along with updated and edited versions of most of my old articles.  Don’t panic if the site looks different the first couple of times you visit.  I am trying different themes to see which I prefer.

Today is Sunday, July 8 and my partner and I have been working for two days to get the Rotater site up-to-date and functional. Plus, we have created a blog ( Shoulder Performance & Rehab ) to help us spread the word about our revolutionary shoulder rehabilitation device. Click over and let me know what you think.

We were very encouraged by the response that we received at the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) conference in Denver last week and hope to continue to get positive responses.

There is a lot of work left ahead of us, but I feel that we can accomplish our dreams. Besides, I just can’t give up. It’s just not in me.

MEDIOCRITY IS NOT ACCEPTABLE!!!

 

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My best Father’s day ever

June 18, 2007

The article will begin below this paragraph

soupornuts is moving!!! In order to have more control over my blog (how it looks, plugins, etc.) I have decided to move soupornuts.wordpress.com to soupornuts.com. When you come to soupornuts.com, you will see my new postings along with updated and edited versions of most of my old articles. Don’t panic if the site looks different the first couple of times you visit. I am trying different themes to see which I prefer.

I had a great Father’s day. Probably the best ever.

  • My wife and two daughters cooked me the most fantastic breakfast of bacon, eggs and cinnamon rolls.
  • I was able to go see my father and spend some quality time with him.
  • I was able to visit my father-in-law and let him know how much we all care about him. (on Saturday)
  • I took my wife and girls to see the new “Nancy Drew” movie. We all enjoyed it.
  • We went for an ice cream cone and then sat outside to eat it.
  • I received some “special” news just before the day ended. I’ll let you know more later.

Everything was absolutely the greatest – except for one thing. When we were getting into our vehicle after the movie, I saw a scene between a father and son that literally broke my heart.

The situation was obvious. A son, who no longer lives with his father, had come to see him and spend Father’s day with him. It was apparent that the day had come to an end. I witnessed the son making sure that his dad had the card and gift he had brought for his dad. All the while, the son was crying and hugging his dad. I guess the son was about 9–10 years old. You could tell that the father was miserable with the situation as well. The scene ended with the son getting into a truck with his mother and her friend while the father left in another car. I almost cried.

I have come to realize that I am truly blessed.

  • I have a loving and devoted wife who makes sure to let me know how special I am in her eyes.
  • I have two daughters who think that I hung the moon.

Thank you God for my wonderful life.

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What are you selling and is anybody buying it?

June 16, 2007

The article will begin below this paragraph

soupornuts is moving!!! In order to have more control over my blog (how it looks, plugins, etc.) I have decided to move soupornuts.wordpress.com to soupornuts.com. When you come to soupornuts.com, you will see my new postings along with updated and edited versions of most of my old articles. Don’t panic if the site looks different the first couple of times you visit. I am trying different themes to see which I prefer.

 Have you ever thought of trying to make your living by selling? If you are very good, your income potential is unlimited. But, you must have thick skin. That means that you must have little or no fear of failure and you must be able to absorb rejection without taking it personally.

Few realize it, but everyone is a salesperson. That’s right. Everybody is selling something. Does that sound like a broad statement to you? It is a fact that is so obvious we tend to overlook it. Want proof? Consider these examples:

  • A suitor tries to sell himself and his attributes to his potential bride.
  • A wife sells her husband on the idea of taking a Disney vacation before the children become too old and are no longer impressed by the magic.
  • A child tries to sell his/her parents on the idea of going to a party that “all the kids are going to.”
  • A teacher sells his/her students on the need to and the joys of learning.
  • Bosses sell increased production, higher efficiency, fewer accidents and less scrap.
  • Preachers sell religion.
  • Bankers and credit card companies sell money.
  • Entrepreneurs sell ideas, products and services.

Everybody is selling something to somebody. It’s called the art or science of persuasion. You are trying to persuade someone to believe in you, believe in something you can do, believe in something you can provide or believe in something that you believe in.

Here are a few ways to increase your persuasive ability:

  1. Believe in yourself. This is the number one prerequisite for selling anything. If you don’t believe in yourself, no one will believe in you. Without a strong faith in yourself, you lack conviction. Without conviction, you will not be taken seriously.
  2. Believe in what you are selling. This is implies that you must have a good working knowledge of your product. There are very few people who cannot recognize B.S. when they hear it. If you don’t believe in your product, you will not be able to convince anyone else to believe in it.
  3. Create a pleasant atmosphere. Don’t be pushy. No one likes to be sold. Simply speak plainly in laymen’s terms. Describe the product or service, make the benefits known and explain why they need it.

I’m sure that there are more or better techniques, but this is my short list of no pressure persuasion tips and these seem to work for me.

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Two great sources for free software and software reviews

June 15, 2007

 The article will begin below this paragraph

soupornuts is moving!!! In order to have more control over my blog (how it looks, plugins, etc.) I have decided to move soupornuts.wordpress.com to soupornuts.com. When you come to soupornuts.com, you will see my new postings along with updated and edited versions of most of my old articles. Don’t panic if the site looks different the first couple of times you visit. I am trying different themes to see which I prefer.

Do you ever find yourself needing software? Of course, the answer is yes. Did you know that there are sites where you can download both free trials and free software?

Download.comthis site offers a huge assortment of software along with some reviews by both the site and people who have downloaded the software. I have downloaded a couple of software packages and have been pleased with their performance.

SnapfilesThis is another site that offers a very large assortment of software. It’s worth your time to go and look. You might find something you can’t live without.

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Six obstacles to your success

June 12, 2007

The article will begin below this paragraph

soupornuts is moving!!! In order to have more control over my blog (how it looks, plugins, etc.) I have decided to move soupornuts.wordpress.com to soupornuts.com. When you come to soupornuts.com, you will see my new postings along with updated and edited versions of most of my old articles. Don’t panic if the site looks different the first couple of times you visit. I am trying different themes to see which I prefer.

What is holding you back? Why haven’t you achieved your potential? Simple questions – not so simple answers. Here’s a short list of obstacles that prevent you from achieving greatness:

1. You are scapegoating through life.

All of your problems are caused by someone else or something else. Everything (at the very least, most things) are beyond your control.

Man, it depresses me just to write this stuff down. I can’t imagine how someone who truly believes this must feel. Napoleon said, “I create the circumstances that affect me.” This is true. Stuff happens to everybody – You are not special in that sense. The universe is not picking on you. Crap hits everybody. Make up your mind to deal with it and then deal with it.

Accept responsibility for your actions or more likely your inaction. Decide that you are not going to take it anymore. Then don’t take it anymore. The simple fact that you are reading this is evidence that you are searching for direction. Here it is: You have every right to be successful in life. Make it your quest to soar above your present situation. Once you make a decision, begin to search for answers and the help you need will be revealed.

Decide to be the master of your destiny or relegate yourself to being pushed around by circumstances beyond your control. It’s really up to you.

2. You are self-absorbed.

You know who you are. You get bored when someone else is getting the attention. You have the best stories (we’ve heard you one-up everybody). It’s always all about “you”.

Here is a wake up call: You are boring and dull. The only reason we listen to you is because either we are too nice to walk away or we realize that the politics of the organization we are a part of would be violated.

Your potential is diminished because you don’t understand that you cannot influence others when it’s obvious that you don’t care about them. Zig Ziglar said, “You can get anything you want, if you help enough other people get what they want.”

In order to help yourself, you must help others. There’s no better long-term strategy to achieving your success. As Dr. Phil would say, “It ain’t about YOU!”

3. You allow others to make your life decisions.

You know how it goes; someone (Mom, Dad, or whoever you deem as influential) says you should do “this or that” with your life. Why? How do they know what you want? Or how you feel?

The family needs you to become a lawyer, or doctor, or accountant, or football star or whatever. If you want me to pay for your college, then you’ll major in what I tell you to major in.

To some of us, this seems absurd, but it happens. Really. Here’s a secret, if you are not happy, then you will not be able to make anyone else happy. The only thing that is sure is that by compromising you desires for someone else you will be filled with resentment and hurt.

Eventually, those emotions will be revealed. Why not cut to the chase and deal with it now? You’ll be happier in the long run and probably save a heap of money in psychoanalyst fees.

4. You are filled with subconscious self-doubt.

You are filled with doubts and thoughts of inadequacy. You feel undeserving. If you don’t believe in yourself, then why should I? Or anyone else?

The short answer is that no one will believe in you. Therefore, by the simple act of thinking, you have defeated yourself, regardless of your abilities.

Everyday, average people just like you and me have fantastic, original, creative thoughts and ideas. But just as quickly, they are dismissed and discarded for the simple reason that they must be of no value if a simpleton like you thought of them.

People tend to overestimate the talent, ability and intelligence of others and then compound the problem by underestimating their own attributes.

Read “The Power of Positive Thinking” by Norman Vincent Peale. It is a classic and deserves to be. Learn some meaningful affirmations and use them. Become a true believer – in yourself.

5. Your are afraid.

I am not even going to attempt to list the wide variety of fears that hold people back.

You must think of fear as the fence that keeps the herd in the pasture of mediocrity. You were not built for mediocrity. You are unique and you have unique abilities – use them.

6. You have no clear goals.

At least you are not alone. Studies and statistics that have been repeated many times prove that only 3–5 percent of the population have a tangible, written set of goals. Remarkably, this is the same percentage of financial independent people in the U.S. and world.

Do you think there is a correlation? It’s a no-brainer. Write down your goals and go over them daily. It will change your life.

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Great Customer Service Lives at Best Buy!

June 10, 2007

The article will begin below this paragraph

soupornuts is moving!!! In order to have more control over my blog (how it looks, plugins, etc.) I have decided to move soupornuts.wordpress.com to soupornuts.com. When you come to soupornuts.com, you will see my new postings along with updated and edited versions of most of my old articles. Don’t panic if the site looks different the first couple of times you visit. I am trying different themes to see which I prefer.

It’s great to be the recipient of great customer service. If you follow soupornuts closely, then you’ve noticed that my posting schedule has changed. That is due to the fact that my computer has been down.

It all started innocently enough. Out of the blue, about once a day, my computer would shut down and reboot. At first, I just assumed it was a glitch, but the episodes became more and more prevalent. Eventually, my computer was rebooting about every 30 minutes.

My father in law owns a computer consulting business and is quite adept at hardware issues, so I gathered up everything and went to see him. After working on my system for about 4.5 hours, we thought that we had found the issue. I came home and reinstalled my computer tower and went to bed.

The next morning my glitch was back. This time, I decided it would be more convenient to take my system to the Geek Squad at Best Buy. I was ready for the worst but hoping for the best.

The results: after running a diagnostic program, it was determined that there were no hardware issues with my computer. Fantastic, but what is causing the problem? There was a device driver for the dvd/cd rom that was not working properly. (My father in law had found this issue, but could not figure out how to approach the problem in the short amount of time that we had.)

After down loading a patch, I am back in business. Thanks Geek Squad.

Morals of the story:

  1. Keep a back up of your hard drive. My father in law introduced my to a drive cloning software by Acronis. I will be purchasing it soon.
  2. Glitches don’t go away. They are signals to get ready for problems. So get ready. Save your data and get help.
  3. The Geek Squad is good great! My thanks and appreciation.
  4. Treat the Geek Squad with respect – they deserve it and they can save you a lot of headaches (as in how do you replace all the info and programs on your hard drive?)
  5. Computer system failure will affect you sooner or later. Have a plan.

Finally, the Geek Squad only charged me $59.00. This is there standard fee for running a diagnostic check of your system. The actual repair was gratis (free). I guess that’s the Secret in action. (If you are not aware of the Secret, I will be doing a review of the book in a later posting – check back in a couple of days, you won’t regret it.)

True customer service in not dead. The Geek Squad and Best Buy have repeatedly impressed be in the past thirty days. Kudos to them.

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Learn web programming and development with these two web sites

June 7, 2007

The article will begin below this paragraph

soupornuts is moving!!! In order to have more control over my blog (how it looks, plugins, etc.) I have decided to move soupornuts.wordpress.com to soupornuts.com. When you come to soupornuts.com, you will see my new postings along with updated and edited versions of most of my old articles. Don’t panic if the site looks different the first couple of times you visit. I am trying different themes to see which I prefer.

It seems that everyone wants to know more about the internet. How do I use it? How can I take advantage of it? How? What? Where? There are definitely more questions than answers – especially for the newbie or novice.

If you are interested in learning a little or a lot about the HTML, XML, PHP and all the other “languages” then go to W3Schools. This web site has quite a few tutorials on the various programming languages as well as web site development. Even if you are not interested in learning how to program, it is still worth a look. There may be some info here that you need at a later date, so bookmark this site – or you can always come back here because it will be in my blogroll.

W3Schools is easily navigated and straightforward. From the list, click the topic that you want to learn about and a it will take you through a tutorial. Easy.

Another site that may interest you is DevGuru. This site also offers programming help, resources and some tutorials. But it does seem to be devoted more for the experienced web developer. Take a look and see what it can do for you.

Remember, if soupornuts can find it, I’ll tell you where to go to get help for all your inspirational, motivational, and educational needs as they relate to fulfilling your potential.

Did I mention that these are free sites!!!

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Unlock your potential with these 4 “key” skills

June 5, 2007

The article will begin below this paragraph

soupornuts is moving!!! In order to have more control over my blog (how it looks, plugins, etc.) I have decided to move soupornuts.wordpress.com to soupornuts.com. When you come to soupornuts.com, you will see my new postings along with updated and edited versions of most of my old articles. Don’t panic if the site looks different the first couple of times you visit. I am trying different themes to see which I prefer.

I have a friend who is a character. You know the type; smart, witty, comical and loud. Loud in an obnoxiously funny sort of way. If you don’t know him very well, then you don’t know whether to take him seriously, or not. But above all, he has the gift of gab. He can grab your attention and hold it.

My friend has had the opportunity to return to school to pursue his degree and as such, has had to take many liberal arts classes that seem to offer very little to an adult already living in the business world. During a recent discussion, he commented that he had to take a public speaking class and did not see the relevance. He asked me what my opinion was and what classes did I feel were important to a student’s future success.

In my opinion it is not necessarily certain classes you must take, but classes that increase your skills in certain “key” skill areas. So, any class that can increase your competence in these “key” skill areas are classes that you should enroll in. The following is a list of the “key” areas that I think are important.

1. Public speaking

I know that no one wants to hear that, but it is true. If you are to succeed in your future adventures, public speaking will almost certainly play a role. If you work for someone else, then at some point, your boss will look to you to make a presentation about some concept, new product or service, how to cut costs or something as equally boring. If you are self-employed, you will almost certainly have to present your goals to a group in order to secure financing for the growth and development of your business or to sell your ideas.

It is to your advantage to do whatever is necessary to overcome your inhibitions and fears of speaking to a crowd and dive into developing this skill. Most people ( the majority ) have this fear. For some it is paralyzing, but it can be overcome.

As a high school student, I was terrified. If I could get the teacher to go along with it, I would take a lower grade to avoid this misery. Later, I realized that in order to convey my message, I would have to develop the ability to stand before a group and explain to them the thoughts and ideas that I had. With much practice and encouragement, I was able to rise above my fears. If I can do it, anyone can do it. That’s a fact!

2. Writing skills

Along with being able to speak in public, you must be able to outline and explain yourself through the written word. Being able to write well enables you to spread your message to people that you may never meet. Perhaps your company has an office or interests on the other side of the world and you need to inform them of some new agenda. How well you write can help you or it can hurt you.

If you are well read ( you read a lot ), then writing is a skill area where you are probably proficient. Most people who read a lot write very well. So, one way to increase your writing ability is to read more. Of course, you can take classes. It is up to you.

3. Human relations

How you deal with people in one-on-one situations is what I consider to be human relations. I guess it can also encompass how you present yourself to a group. Whatever your definition, how you deal with people is probably the most important skill area affecting your ability to reach your potential.

In conversation with others, what is your demeanor? Do you listen well? Do you pay attention? While they are talking, are you preparing your response? Are you ready for them to shut up so you can get to the “important” stuff? Are you empathetic to the speaker? What is your body position? Does it matter?

Most of the time, how we act and react to others will determine the extent of our successes. If you are a “people person” then you will be more highly thought of by your peers and subordinates. This translates into: support for your ideas and projects, help with problems and people speaking to others about you favorably.

You cannot spend too much time or effort in developing your people skills. You can read and/or take classes, but by simple observation, you will learn more than in any other way.

Choose to watch people that you know have excellent people skills. What do they do that is different than what you do? Then watch people with poor people skills. Those people with excellent people skills will show you how to inspire trust, hope, hard work and dedication in others. Observing those with poor people skills will teach you how to develop contempt, anger, distrust and a lack of cooperation in those you deal with.

Become a people watcher – the dividends can be unlimited.

4. Computer skills

There is simply no way around it. If you are to succeed, then you must be comfortable and proficient with your computer. You must know your way around a computer and the internet. You must know how to use computer application software. You must keep up with emerging computer technologies and how you may exploit them.

Fortunately, computer technology and computer application software is becoming more and more user-friendly. This translates into shorter learning curves. Usually, the biggest holdup is our own apprehension. Dive in and get started. You can always reboot and start over if all else fails.

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