Today's Musing: Learning from the Best

People always want to learn from those who are at the top of their game. They ask their friend with the voice of an angel to teach them how to sing, they ask their friend who played college basketball to teach them how to ball, they ask the super-fit guy in the gym to workout with them, they ask the high-achiever in their class to be in their study group, they ask the gifted write...r to help them with their college essay.

But here's what often happens next: they find out that the singer practices 12 hours per week, and the basketball star is on the court at 5am, and the super-fit guy trains HARD every day, and the high achiever is studying when everyone else is partying, and the gifted writer hasn't watched TV in months but reads profusely and writes prolifically...

What they find out is that those at the top of their game work extremely hard to stay there, and if they expect to be apprenticed by them they must do the same. But that's hard to do, so many, many fall away because it's easy to say, "I can do what they can do" without understanding the totality of their sacrifice. You must understand and respect their sacrifice and be willing to go as hardcore as they, because it's not a game to them, it's a lifestyle.

So, if you're about a quick and easy return, don't waste your time going to a pro, because they will recognize your b.s. and be offended that you take so lightly what they hold most dear.

Randomness: Today's gym-inspired musings

1) Zumba people are hilarious- with their Cherokee Indian war cries, and their paraphernalia, and their well coordinated Zumba-wear, these folks are really hard core about some Zumba; so hard core that after every class they have to discuss how great Zumba is for 10 extra minutes, delaying all other classes without fail. 
 I get it- Zumba makes you feel like you're in... a hip-hop video and that excites you, but I don't appreciate how ya'll cut short my Yoga class every week. Please take your hype to another room...

2) Speaking of Yoga, shame on me for giving my 70 year-old Yoga instructor the side-eye the first time I took her class, because that lady has me feeling like I've been hit by a linebacker after every class... I swear she was secretly laughing at my struggle today, but as far as I'm concerned she get's mad respect all day long. NEVER judge a book by its old, weathered cover...

3) Another thing... who works out in lace? Isn't that taking "breathable fabrics" to whole other level? Maybe it's that hot-body trainer she's paying $180 for (on top of $60 monthly fees) that has this woman laced-out like Victoria's Secret up in this gym, but I guess I shouldn't judge- if Serena Williams can play tennis in lace then this lady can work out in lace too, right? Besides, if I was paying $180 for that same hot-body trainer, I'd probably be showing up in that black cat suit Serena Williams' wore at the 2002 U.S. Open...

4) Final thought- We are getting closer and closer to that time of year when the New Years Resolution people start dropping out of the gym, freeing up the machines and "keeping the fees low" (as the gym rats are so fond of saying) for the people who work out all year long. To my Resolutioners- do not let the meatheads and gym rats clown you. Keep at your goals and get your money's worth. Your body will thank you and you can thumb your nose at those folks who were actively or inadvertently anticipating your failure.

 

Get (and stay) fit in 2013!

A Quick Word: Tighten Up in 2013

If you're an able-bodied adult blaming all of your problems on someone else- your parents, your spouse, your boss, the President, the people who didn't love you enough, the people who weren't there for you, the folks who never gave you a chance, the loved ones who died too early- then it's time for you to tighten up. Make 2013 the year of personal accountability. Stop talking about what others did and did not do for you, and how they weren't there for you. Those people don't owe you anything; God doesn't owe you anything; the universe doesn't owe you anything, but you sure do owe it to yourself to get out of that rut you're in.

Today's Professional Tip

Write and perfect your professional biography. Make changes to your bio as you add to your credentials so that your bio is always ready at a moment's notice. If you have a full page bio, create a shortform version that is no longer than one paragraph so that requestors of that document are not left to determine which information should be deleted in the event that space ...is limited. Do not hesistate to ask whether a long or short bio is preferred.

If you are called to speak at a conference or conduct a workshop or engage in any other way that requires the submission of a bio, DO NOT send a resume or bullet points. It is not the duty of the event organizer to create a bio for you. Do this yourself and you can always ensure a quality representation of who you are and of your most noteworthy accomplishments.

Django Unchained Movie Review

So… I saw Django Unchained and I have to say, I enjoyed it immensely. Although Jamie Foxx's speech pattern was super inconsistent, Leonardo DiCaprio was genius, reminding me of why I love him in everything, as was Samuel L. Jackson. Sam was the perfect, self-loathing Uncle Tom- I swear I've run into the non-caricatured version of this same personality in my everyday... life (haven't we all). The score for the movie was awesome, but I always love Tarantino's soundtracks. He knows how to connect his audience with the emotion of the moment (what would “Kill Bill” be without those psychedelic fight scenes?) and he did that from start to finish.

I must say that the “n” word was used pretty liberally, but who can take such a period piece seriously without it? I haven’t seen “Lincoln,” but I’m guessing they probably don’t say the “n” word nearly enough in that movie to be anywhere near historically accurate, but who’s counting and who’s really expecting the solemn execution of a Tarantino film? I do understand how some people would take offense to the trivialization of the black American holocaust, but I think Tarantino was trying to create an entertaining movie about a fictional hero who did what we all secretly wished Kunta Kinte would have done- got on a horse and shot his way through as many slavemaster’s and oversees as necessary until found Kizzy.

By the way, the man I sat next to in the theater said he’d been watching the “Roots” miniseries all week long to prepare for this movie, but he’d have been just as prepared had he watched a combination of “Boyz in the Hood,” “Blazing Saddles,” and any Richard Pryor live comedy recording….

I know many folks will watch this movie and either love or hate it, but I loved it. And while Tarantino will face his usual criticism (Inglourious Basterds anyone?), I’m just glad that Tyler Perry is not making historical fiction, because "Madea Unchained" would have been the death of me.