Welcome back P90x…. with a few additions! First off I want to start by saying this will once again be a committed round of P90x with a hybrid form. I will run through what will be taking place in a little bit. Lets just say for right now day one kicked the heck out of me! I’m ready to start back up mainly because I’ve been eating semi unhealthy lately and haven’t worked out a whole lot over Christmas break! But here we are again starting a new round of P90x!

Goals for this round:
Current weight 165
Current Body fat (according to a scale that I’m skeptical of because sometimes my body fat fluctuates about 5% from day to day):12%
Main goal: Put on 15 lbs of mass

How this will be accomplished?
Weights will increase by 10-15 lbs from what I left off at and reps will be only 8-10.

Nutrition: Also will play a role as I will resume my healthy style of eating(more on this and what I eat in later blogs)

Also I’ve been tempted to try creatine but really I might just see the results of this round and take it from there.

Next- I plan on purchasing a post workout drink from NutriShop preferably AfterGlow or Pro5(Both Great Selections!)
(Also the reason I might not go with AfterGlow is because it does contain small amounts of creatine)

___________
So, with that all out of the way, I’ll start off by saying the progress I’ve made from day 1 on this very same workout almost a year ago to what I am at now is pretty amazing.
I remember the first time doing this workout it was about 4 pullups max and I wouldn’t even be able to do any pullups by set 3! Also I remember starting out at a consistent 10-20 pushups for each workout(meaning round 1) but round 2 was something in the ball park of 5-10)
ALL OF THESE NUMBERS HAVE TRIPLED!

So as always remember to write down your numbers and track your improvements! ( It creates a mental image of success which also leads to satisfaction and creates the desire to want to workout more!)

__________________
Next a basic overview of what is going to take place throughout the next 3 months.

I’ll first start off by saying I do plan on doing every yoga session this time around because in my opinion it’s one of the best workouts for you in P90x.

Next I recently just received a Nike + ipod chip for running for Christmas and also will be working that in. It’s actually a pretty cool device that tracks your calories, stride length, distance traveled, and so on all to the tee!
__________
So, make sure you check back every day to track my progress and I also will provide pictures as well throughout the way!

Lastly– my products page isn’t working right now because I currently am not a beachbody coach because I could not afford the investment early on. This deadline of 3 months I have leads up until the next time I will pick back up on being a coach. But if you have any questions about any of the programs please feel free to email me!

Blaine

Here i will be Listing the Strongest Playable Characters On naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm on the PS3 This is Chosen on My experience on The game and Only my Opinion.

I’ll be making a List of the TOP 10:

• Naruto Kyubi Nine-Tailed Fox Form
• Sasuke Curse Mark 2
• Itachi
• Kimimaro
• Jiraiya
• Shikamaru
• Gaara
• Kisame
• Kakashi
• Orochimaru

Tell me what You Think of This Comments are Appreciated.

It’s just another year that has almost gone, while I’m still here and waiting in silence… But I know why, and it’s ok, I’ll try to pull myself together…………………… And wait for that day……!!! I SWEAR I’LL BE THERE!!!! I SWEAR!!!!!!!!!

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Hey! Who are you callin’ a pipsqueak?

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Written By: – Poonam Pandey

New Delhi: Boys…have you shaved? If not, then you might just be tagged as lazy. At least those women can do so who are listening to Bollywood actresses Mugdha Godse, Neha Dhupia and Minisha Lamba. In a new ad campaign started by Gillette, the multinational brand of safety razors, these beauties are appealing to women to encourage their men to shave and also that those men who do not shave daily are lazy.

This ad campaign has hit many a men and they have started a crusade against it. An organization by the name of All India Men Welfare Association (AIMWA), has started a protest against this ad campaign, terming it anti-male, not only in India but in the US as well. They have demanded an apology from the multinational and if no response is received in the next 4-5 days, then AIMWA will make complaints to the ministry of Information and Broadcasting and other appropriate forums.

This ad campaign was launched by the name of “Women against Lazy Stubble” on November 7. As per the ad, men do not shave only because they are lazy. It also shows the women on warpath against their non-shaving lazy husbands. All India Men Welfare Association has started email and blog campaign against this on the internet.

Even their American counterparts have started a protest there, saying that the Indian division of Gillette is running a gender biased ad campaign in India. As per Virag Dhulia, founder member of All India Men Welfare Association, company’s president expressed displeasure over phone and assured that the ad campaign would be stopped after 14 December however, the ads are still running. “Merely, on the basis of whether a man shaves or not, he cannot be tagged as lazy. It is a matter of choice for men.” Dhulia added.

Interestingly, a woman’s organization, All India Forgotten Women’s Association, is also supporting the protest.

By now, you’ve probably guessed that Coach Dave is a big fan of cinema. (Yes, I just referred to myself in the third person….and it felt great!!)  I am especially a fan of independent (“indie”) films. Why? The endings in independent films are so random. The allure of indie film lies in the freedom characters have to respond to challenges.  These are not cookbook characters, confined to traditional Hollywood scripts. Independent films resemble real life.  Some have happy, somewhat predictable endings. Some indie flicks have very depressing endings, where the hero does very little to resolve conflict.  The very best indie films have unexpected endings, in which the characters evolve. They overcome adversity by transforming their very nature.

Why do we love it so much when a  character in a film transforms? Why are we so deeply moved?  After all, a movie is  just a two-dimensional image on a screen. Why do our eyes well up with tears (just admit it) when our hero finally figures things out?  We experience these emotions because we know we have the same potential within us.  We want to change for the better too.

I the last segment of the Tough-Smart Blog, we talked about The Wall. It’s a harrowing, frustrating, challenging time when our Call to Action may seem  in jeopardy. What to do when: despite your inspiration, despite your knowledge, despite the solid advice of your mentor, despite your incredible hustle, you fall flat on your face? Most people choose to quit. They become victims. The blame bad luck or unfair circumstances. They run out of gas. You, however, are not most people. You are Tough-Smart. When faced with the difficulty, fear and uncertainty The Wall presents, you will Make it Your Own.

The Make it Your Own Phase is the difference between having “But Then” or “And Then” as the ending to your story:

I answered my call to Action. I studied. I prepared. I listened to my mentor.  I really hustled…

“but then, I had some bad luck.”

“but then, no one would give me a chance”

“but then, I ran out of money“

“but then, I got hurt”

“but then, I got burned out. It just wasn’t fun anymore.”

I answered my Call to Action. I studied. I prepared.  I listened to my mentor. I really hustled. For a while I hit The Wall…

“and then, I came up with the most amazing idea.”

“and then, I met someone who made the difference.”

“and then, my journey turned into something completely different, even better than my original Call to Action.”

“and then, most random thing happened that changed everything.”

“and then,  I took 100% responsibility for my journey. I knew the time had come for me to make some changes.”

The Wall is the central conflict in the movie you call your life. You can produce any kind of movie you want. If you desire a mundane, depressing ending to your Call to Action, so be it. There is no law against it. Personally, I feel like I wasted my $7.50 when a film ends like that. For my journey, I prefer a quirky, unexpected, even bizarre ending that is far better than the ending I envisioned at the start.

Throughout  the Smart Zone I emphasized learning a world-class system and following the advice of your coach. During the Hustle Phase, I suggested to stick to this system, even when you had doubts. I told you the time for innovation would come. When you hit The Wall, the time for creativity is NOW!  The advice of an expert, world-class as it is, can only deliver you to the threshold of success. You are not a carbon copy of your mentor nor is your Call to Action. Putting your personal stamp on your journey is exactly what will get you past The Wall.

During the course of  your journey you will probably think, “If I was doing things my way I’d do this.”  In fact, you’ll probably think it a thousand times. The key to success with Tough-Smart is to take note of these little epiphanies. However, wait until the proper time to apply them. Ride the advice of your mentor until the last possible minute. Anticipate hitting The Wall. Then, when The Wall comes, go for it! Evolve. Improvise. Make it Your Own.

My favorite Make it Your Own story is that of John Smith. This legendary Oklahoma State wrestler lost a heartbreaking match in the 1985 NCAA finals. After this loss, Smith took a “red shirt” year away from college competition. He trained harder than ever before. He reexamined his wrestling style. He innovated.  Finally, Smith invented the Low Single Leg Takedown or “Low Single.”  This technique, a unique and new approach to attacking an opponent’s legs, became Smith’ s signature move.  Smith became unstoppable.  The low single revolutionized wrestling and led John Smith to two NCAA championships, four world titles and two Olympic Championships.

John Smith winning an Olympic Gold Medal

The Make it Your Own phase is when you take 100% responsibility for everything in your movie. During this phase your approach may have to change, the nature of your journey may have to change, YOU MAY HAVE TO CHANGE!! This does not imply failure: not doing exactly what you set out to do. It implies tremendous success. When you Make it Your Own, you re-invent yourself and redefine success.

As always, I welcome your Tough-Smart stories in the comments section.

Peace begins with me,

Coach Dave

I used to be a wuss, I can’t deny it. I’m not sure exactly how to explain myself; I’ve typed and deleted about 4 sentences already. Let me try anyway. It’s like this, if I can’t see myself repeating an activity often enough to become proficient, and proficiency in said activity is necessary to prevent frequent injury or embarrassment, I’m unlikely to try. Also, I rarely found myself in situations where toughness was required, and if I did, there was always somebody tougher present who could handle it.

Hmmm…don’t know if any of the above gave you any idea of what I’m talking about. Most likely you’re just thinking, ‘what a wuss’. If so, I guess I did get the point across.

When I was 18-20, I saw my first action as a labourer. There wasn’t a whole lot of it, but suffice to say that I didn’t see myself pursuing a trade anytime soon. There were maybe two days as a brickie’s labourer (a mate), several days doing renovation cleanup (another mate), and two whole weeks of installing insulation. The latter was known thenceforth as ‘Worst Job Ever’. I was not much of a lad, but from day 1 my boss was yelling at me to go faster. It was the most horrifying two weeks of my life, and yet at the end of those two weeks I was proud that I’d managed to survive. After that, every job that I landed was seen as a pushover (from a physical perspective, anyway). I also saved enough to buy my first drum kit (which I still own). I swore I’d never work in insulation again.

Ten years later (this year), I worked in insulation. Plenty. When I lost my job in freight forwarding, it became necessary to seek work, any work. Aside from some days at a mate’s waterproofing business, installing insulation was all I could come by. Once the government’s rebate came into effect, it was actually really good money, more than I’d ever made. In the meantime, I’d done it, I’d toughened up.

I can point to a couple of factors: one, I’d grown up. I was a late bloomer of sorts, but by your late twenties, if you ain’t growed up, you ain’t never growin’ up. Married, two kids, some years in full-time work under my belt, responsibility, etc.

Factor two, married with two kids. Need money. It can be hard when you’re single (esp. when still ‘living at home’) to find the motivation for the hard yards. Just do somethin’ else, mate! These days, I needn’t look very far for reasons to knuckle down.

I’ve also done some things in recent years that I would never have tried had it not been for my wife. We tend to push each other to do ‘the hard things’:

• One year on my birthday, my then-girlfriend surprised my with an afternoon of rock-climbing! Did it.
• If I got my manual license (yeah, yeah, settled for an auto initially) then we’d have the use of a work ute. Did it, with wifey’s help.
• “What, you’ve never done a forward roll before?” Did it. Not as bad as anticipated.

This leads me to lately. I quit crawling around roofs at the end of November. It was just too hot, and the 6am starts weren’t great for kicking the day off as a family. I went looking for work, and after an absolutely pathetic showing by one recruiter (one day’s work in 3 weeks – huzzah!), I’ve found something regular leading up to Christmas – unloading shipping containers. I spent the last two days lifting 25kg bags, and figured that I must have moved over 20 tonnes.

Toughness doesn’t necessarily mean one must be incredibly strong, just strong enough to stick it out.

- Dad

Men Stand up for their Stubbly Chins

An MNC can’t make fun of masculinity

Gillette is breaking families

If you’re new to Australia and are having a hard time making friends and asserting yourself as a dominant male, nothing, absolutely nothing will aid you more than riding a dirt bike.

Dirt bikes are off road motorcycles. Most aussie blokes like to use them to go trail bike riding on off road tracks, moto x and for picking up chicks.

If you ride a dirt bike other aussie blokes will assume you’re tough, you love the smell of petrol as much as they do and you like to spend your weekend doing exactly what they do (ride and talk about dirt bikes all the time)

If you don’t ride a dirt bike, get one and ride it, otherwise you pretty much have no chance of impressing anyone, getiing invited anywhere or becoming a top aussie bloke.

Helsinki`s own Lifesaver provided some records today, very amped on this laid back groove!

Geo B better recognizeeeee

I will be back..

In cinema, sequel movies are typically a disappointment. Granted, Rocky II was awesome (especially when Rocky finally caught that chicken). Come to think of it, Rocky III was amazing too (Clubber Lang invented trash talking ). However, these films are exceptions to the rule. Rocky IV, Rocky V and Rocky VI all stunk in typical sequel fashion. In general, we must agree, sequels almost never reach the creative peak of the original movies that spawned them.

Yo Adrian! How does this apply to Tough-Smart? More specifically, How does this apply to your Call to Action?
Let me walk you right through the subtleties of my Stallone reference:

You decided Life as Usual was not for you. You answered your Call to Action. You enjoyed the N.E.R.D. Phase enough to Find a Coach/Mentor. You Hustled your *ss off. Then, the funniest thing happened.  After some initial success, your Call to Action halted in its tracks.

Your journey has taken an unexpected turn.  Perhaps it has even taken a few steps backward. You have encountered adversity that no one could have predicted. You have endured criticism (sometimes constructive, sometimes not) from places you never would have expected.You’ve been frustrated at times. You have doubted yourself and questioned the very system that  got you to where you are. You now realize that your Call to Action will definitely not proceed the way you planned.

Great job!! You’ve hit The Wall. Consider yourself in élite company. John Elway lost three Superbowls in humiliating fashion before becoming a two-time World Champion. Dana White and the Ultimate Fighting Championships (U.F.C.) almost closed shop before becoming one of the premier entertainment companies in the world. Albert Einstein languished in obscurity before his theory of relativity revolutionized modern physics.

Hitting the wall is a natural part of any great endeavor. That’s the anatomy of success. Now that you have hit The Wall, you must ask yourself the pivotal question of your journey: “What would the hero in MY movie do.” Would Neo pack it in when the Oracle told him he wasn’t “The One.” Would Superman become a victim when Lex Lugar chained him to kryptonite.  What would Rocky do? (WWRD?)

Remember, YOU are the hero in your movie. (You are also the producer, director and projector. We will get to that later). What’s more, your movie is not a cheap sequel. It’s a blockbuster original.  You are not a carbon copy of your mentor. You are unique. You talents are unique. Your journey is unique.  The Wall is the phase where most people’s Call to Action ends.  They become frustrated, disillusioned, burned out. They quit. You, however, are Tough-Smart. This offers tremendous advantages: 1. You knew The Wall was coming. 2. You know The Wall is a sign of impending success. Anticipating and even welcoming The Wall  allows  you to respond proactively, with a sense of creativity.

There’s no telling how long The Wall phase will last. Evolution can be a slow process. Here are some tips to help you stay on track:

1. Stay Cool Like Fonzi – Hitting The Wall is natural.  Your movie would be totally boring without it.

2. Stay hungry – Every day, remind yourself why you love what you are doing

3. Inject certainty – The Wall is an illusion. You will succeed. It’s simply a matter of when.

4. Stay tough – We will talk at length about the Tough-Zone.

5. Show gratitude – Constantly be thankful for what you do have. Constantly be proud of how far you have come.

6. Keep hustling – Anyone can hustle when things are going great. Tough-Smart people hustle no matter what the conditions.

I know many of you are hitting The Wall as you read this. In the next edition of Tough-Smart we will talk about how to get past this scary and strenuous phase. In the meantime, stay Tough-Smart.

Peace begins with me,

Coach Dave

You are here: Home / Car News / Solid end to a tough year for MercedesSolid end to a tough year for Mercedes

December 8, 2009 by Tim Beissmann

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Mercedes-Benz is enjoying a strong end to a difficult year with a global sales increase of 19 percent in November.

The result came as no surprise to Mercedes’ head of sales and marketing, Joachim Schmidt, given that fourth-quarter volume in 2008 fell by 22 percent.

“As expected, in November we built on October’s positive development and once again significantly increased sales worldwide.

“Additional sales momentum will be generated over the next few weeks by the new E-Class station wagon, which reached the [overseas] dealerships on November 21 and has been a big hit with customers,” he said.

But combined with sister company Smart, sales are down 11.8 percent through the first 11 month of 2009, currently standing at 1,021,700 vehicles.

The story is a different one in China however, with Mercedes’ 11-month total of 62,200 sales 59.8 percent above the same period last year.

November sales skyrocketed to 8900 (including Hong Kong), up a massive 224 percent, giving Mercedes China general manager of sales and marketing, Bjoern Hauber, confidence that 2009 targets would be easily reached.

“Given the first 11 months’ figure, I think full-year sales will be more than 65,000,” he said.

Mercedes Australia is also finishing on a strong note with November sales up 22.8 percent to 1867 new vehicles.

Sales of the E-Class sedan were up more than 330 per cent and have increased 34 percent year-to-date to top 1500 units.

Total sales are down just 1.7 percent this year – compared to the industry average of 9.3 per cent – on the back of strong performances from the C-Class Coupe, CLK and the M-Class.

(with Automotive News)

CHUCK NORRIS
… would not look badass in a pince-nez.  But Teddy does.  Tells you something about Teddy, doesn’t it?

(Theodore Roosevelt)

And he was a great president

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Hey guys, I’ve started work on a new game that is still in the testing/concept stage. Titled “Skilled”, my own mix of skill and killed, it’s going to be a retro style action platformer that will be very difficult. Very. 10 tutorial levels (very simple ones to teach the basics) and 40 actual levels will make up the game. Each level has a point you can try to get (optional) and a door you must also get to. Although the levels themselves are not very long, the game has some unique platforming features, whichs includes: wall jump, speed fall, double jump gems, grip (grab surfaces), and a special unlockable jump (codeword: gnome).

Once you’ve completed the entire game, you will unlock the speedrun which randomly generates a level (sometimes the level you just beat even) with a random difficulty. The point is to survive as long as possible on only 3 lives. BUT, for every 5 points you get (you must beat the level with the point) you will recieve an extra life.

I’m trying to go pretty retro style here, but the game still has color. The music and sound effects all are 8 bit, so they fit the game great. Unfortunately, I’ve been experiencing some lag problems in recent tests, so I’ll have to work that out.

-Nathan Wood

Having been on my new university course for 3 months now, and having made some really close friends who are generally a few years older than me (my closest friends on the course are 33 and 35), I’ve really been able to see how far I’ve come as a person.

Looking back at myself even 4 months ago when I had only started writing this blog, I knew myself, but myself was unsure and nervous.  I felt as if I was in a rut professionally after graduating with a good degree from a prestigious university, personally I had had “friends” who turned out not to be friends at all slander me and accuse me of things (theft, bullying) that I had and have never done, and would never do in a million years.  I took it all on the chin and just had faith that things would get better, but I knew in my heart that I didn’t know what would happen.  Would this careers guidance course be the right decision for me?  What was going to happen to me?  Had I peaked already in my life?

The answer to that last question, now I see, is an emphatic NO! Obviously I was only 23 (now 24) and to paint myself as an underdog who had it all and then lost it was more than a little unfair to myself.  I now know that I have so much going for me, so much to offer, and I am not an ugly or stupid person no matter how much certain people may endeavour to make me feel that about myself.  I deserve the best, and with this new qualification, new friends who seem to value me for me from the jump, and new confidence, I feel that I can get the best.  Once again, I’m back on track, and more than anything I’m so relieved.  I may paint myself as confident and assertive – and I am those things – but underneath I still get nervous and insecure.  Now, I finally see that I really am worth more.

I guess it’s a part of natural evolution.  I’ve grown up a lot, and although it took pointing out, I am older than my years.  I don’t feel out of place hanging out with 30-year-olds, because we have the same mentality and experiences.  People generally have trouble guessing my age (I still get ID’d for buying cigarettes on the one hand – which makes Mike LOL and envious at the same time!; on the other hand, a couple of people on my course originally thought I was late 20s because of the fact I can articulate myself and hold my own in discussions), but although I may tease my colleagues at university about receding hairlines, wrinkles and old age, I don’t feel any difference between us.  Aaliyah really had it right – age ain’t nothin’ but a number.  Usually it correlates to maturity, but not always.  At the end of the day, people are people, and we are all human.

These are things that I already knew to be true, but having them held up in front of me has forced me to accept these things as positives about myself.  It’s finally really sinking in.  And the truth of who I am as a man, as a human being, is finally coming out.  This is what I wanted to write about really, but it took the backstory above to get there! (Sorry… but I always give you the main course – no snacks here!)  I thought that I was an adult after university (by which I mean my undergraduate degree at Oxford), but it took me a bit longer.  Working at the Perfume Shop gave me a taste of the hard grind, working for not enough money and being treated like I didn’t have a brain (the saving grace was superficially decent friendships and getting to work with fragrance and deepen my knowledge of it).  My newer job at the hospital has made me see how people can be valued in their work, both monetarily and in terms of being treated like an intelligent human being.  My new course at university has helped me see what I really want to do, and now having that thrust forward has completed me and erased some of my doubts (not all, but some is certainly a step forward) about my future and my life’s purpose.

As things around me have been moving in the right direction, so I’ve been able to spread my wings and become more of who I am.  I love smoking – I’m not a moron and I know it’s not good for my health nor my voice, but I enjoy the feeling from it, the fact it kills time, and the socialising aspect of it – I think it goes hand in hand with being confident and conversational, as you often get approached by people who want a light / spare fag, and you end up conversing with strangers because you share an appreciation of nicotine!  In turn, smoking has reduced my hunger (allowing me to stick to my no-evening-snacking policy) and I’ve dropped a waist size – people at uni have christened me “good looking”, “pretty boy” and lots of other complimentary things referencing both my physical looks and my fashion style. I feel more confident in and out of my clothes – although I’m such a perfectionist that I’ll never be satisfied!  But looking at my vanity and my past issues with my own body and self-esteem, I’ve come a long way.  I feel happier in my skin physically as well as emotionally – and I’m feeling more confident to express the edgier, darker sides of myself which set me apart from others.

After years of deliberation, changing my mind and refining my ideas, I’m finally set on getting tattoos!  One is a stylised A, which you can see here; the other will be above my left collarbone mirroring it, and will be a gun.  I’ve been inspired by Rihanna’s gun tattoo, but I want it because to me a gun is a symbol of strength and power, of aggression and conflict, of edginess and darkness.  These are all things that I embody – I am tougher than some people initially assume, and I want an emblem of that grit and fire.  I feel it’s applicable to me, and also quite exciting and sexy.  And whereas before I might have balked at the permanence of a tattoo like that, now I feel mature and comfortable enough in myself to be able to wear it and pull it off.  This is me – maybe I’m a good boy gone bad, but I still have a good heart; I have just spent too long in my life pleasing others, and now I’ve finally lunged for myself with this course and am reaping the rewards much more than I ever did listening to other people’s opinions on what was best for me, I believe in my own capacity to make decisions.  I’m not an angel, I’m not a good boy, and I’m tired of portraying that.  I am me and I have a good heart and an intelligent mind, but sometimes I enjoy being provocative or sexy or pushing the boundaries.  That is just as valid a part of me, and my new friendships embrace that part of me too and love me for it.  My infatuation with a married man who has become my best friend and is actively ok with my affection and flirting and actively returns it has been a revelation to me.  We understand each other, we can control our affections (he feels the same way about someone else) and be mature adults, but we also have fun with it – we accept each other and I never felt so comfortable to be able to be so emotionally honest with someone I knew would accept me for who I am. From him I learned what it is to be a good father, a good husband, a good man, and also that whatever I’m feeling, I am a rational person and I should never feel guilty for my feelings.  I should never feel stupid, and the sign of a good friendship is being able to admit how you’re feeling and that other person accepting you for it and not telling you it’s wrong or silly.  Again, these are things I superficially knew, but feeling and living them is a whole other revelation.  I hope that my friends can one day think of me in the same way.

So my embracing my dark side instead of being afraid of it; my becoming edgier is a natural emancipation, a natural evolution of me.  I am free to be who I am, and I am proud of who I am.  I’ve felt ashamed, even in small doses, for too long.  It took a long time to get here, and I’m sure in the future I will still make mistakes and waver, but hopefully I can come back and read this post and remember my feelings right now, and that’ll keep me going.  Once a good boy goes bad, we’re gone forever – but I wish I’d gone sooner and I look forward to where I’m going and whom I’m going with.

Happy holidays and God bless, Tough-Smart Nation. Let’s continue our tour through the Tough-Smart System by expanding on the Smart Zone. In Step 3 of The Smart Zone, we moved out of the N.E.R.D. Phase and found a world-class mentor/coach. As I mentioned, your mentor will compel you to work harder than you ever thought possible. He/she will also introduce you to a world-class system, which will allow you to work efficiently.

Step 4 in the Smart Zone is to Hustle; to make hay while the sun shines; to push yourself; to bust your butt. Whatever you choose to call it, Step 4 in the Smart Zone is about maximum effort. Executed correctly, The Hustle phase should not differ vastly from the N.E.R.D. Phase. It should still be fun.  After all, your are directing your hard work toward your personal Call to Action, your passion.

Unlike the N.E.R.D. Phase, the Hustle Phase is about producing results. If your Call to Action is to open a business, the Hustle phase is when you open up your doors and start producing revenue. If you are an athlete, the Hustle phase is when you start  having an impact in competition. It’s time to take the training wheels off. It’s time to keep score.  Your efforts now count.

During the Hustle Phase, it is vitally important to do things exactly the way your mentor taught you. Trust the system you’ve learned. The time for innovation will come later. In The Hustle Phase, focus on doing everything possible to enhance your chances of success. If your world-class system calls for you to practice something 100 times, then practice it 1000 times. If your mentor asks you to learn a new skill, then learn it so well that you could teach it to a 4-year-old. During the Hustle Phase, be obsessive/compulsive. Pay attention to detail. Go overboard.  By the way, questions are the bane of the Hustle phase.  Save them for later. The mantra of the Hustle phase is “over-prepare and under-think.”

In the N.E.R.D. Phase, living in the Smart Zone was sufficient. Your focus was solely on enjoyment. Starting with the Hustle Phase, living in the Tough Zone pays large premiums. In future chapters we will talk in-depth about Defining Success, Overcoming Ego, Overcoming the Victim Mentality and other “Transforming to Tough” principles. Suffice it to say for now that the Hustle Phase is NOT the time to: 1. Feel sorry for yourself. 2. Worry about what you are getting out of the process. 3. Take a vacation 4.Come up with your own grand plan.

There is no greater example of Hustle than Charlie Lewis Jr.(aka “Mask”). In 1997 Mask and his associate Dan Caldwell founded Tapout, a clothing line targeted at the mixed martial arts community. The Tapout crew hustled in legendary fashion, initially selling their gear out of the back of their car. Wherever and whenever there was an MMA competition, Tapout was there. They relentlessly pedaled their clothes, their brand and their image. From a gross of $30,000 in 1999, Tapout’s earnings rose to $100 million in 2008. Tapout also has a reality show, a video game and a popular magazine bearing its name. Tragically, after inspiring so many, Charlie “Mask” Lewis died in the Spring of 2oo9.

Just Hustle. Pursue your Call to Action with tenacity. Surprisingly, not many people know how to truly push themselves. In the Hustle phase, rise above your natural inclination to take it easy. See how good you can really be. Remember your Call to Action isn’t just about you. You are sharing it with the World… and the World deserves your best.

R.I.P. Mask.  You inspired and energized me

Peace begins with me,

Coach Dave

tough

mengembalikan jati diri bangsa

Ini adalah kedua dalam serangkaian artikel yang akan meningkatkan kesadaran Anda tentang Pencurian Identitas. Menurut penelitian ada sekitar juta Amerika pencurian identitas korban pada tahun saja. Itu adalah tahun yang lalu. Anda dapat mengharapkan jumlah telah bangkit selama bertahun-tahun.

Orang yang menemukan diri mereka sendiri mengembalikan jati diri bangsa menjadi korban kejahatan jenis ini akan mengalami banyak penderitaan. Bukan hanya mereka kehilangan identitas mereka mereka mungkin telah kehilangan secara finansial juga dan mereka akan juga harus bertahan dengan sabar berjam-jam berusaha keras mereka membangun kembali memperoleh peringkat kredit.

Sejak Kebangsaan Identitas Pencurian tidak menunjukkan tanda-tanda baik yang memperlambat atau bahkan dihentikan segera deteksi dini adalah satu-satunya solusi yang tersedia bagi Anda jika Anda ingin menghindari risiko menjadi korban Pencurian Identitas.

Bagaimana amp quot pencuri amp quot memperoleh informasi pribadi Anda cukup mudah. Hal ini dapat dengan mudah sebagai orang nelayan melalui thrash khususnya membuat lebih mudah bagi mereka oleh pemerintah kota yang menyediakan amp quot Blue Box amp quot atau serupa itu untuk memungkinkan Anda untuk mendaur ulang kertas Anda seseorang mengawasi Anda menekan nomor pin Anda di mesin ATM atau Debet card reader atau mengirim email yang sah yang Anda merespons.

Setelah pencuri memperoleh informasi pribadi Anda mereka dapat mengubah alamat penagihan Anda. Anda tidak akan menyadari hal ini sampai Anda menyadari bahwa Anda tidak lagi tagihan yang dikirimkan kepada Anda.

Berikut adalah tanda-tanda yakin bahwa Anda atau akan menjadi pencurian identitas korban. Bangsa

Setelah memeriksa Jati Diri laporan kredit Anda Anda menemukan bahwa ada beberapa kartu kredit baru yang dikeluarkan oleh perusahaan Anda tidak tahu apa-apa tentang. Anda mungkin tidak memperhatikan kesalahan pada Bank Statement atau Pernyataan Kartu Kredit karena Anda berpikir bahwa bank Anda hanya melakukan beberapa kesalahan dalam penagihan dan mereka akan diperbaiki kemudian. Anda terima tagihan kartu kredit baru untuk account yang Anda tidak terbuka. Pada banyak kesempatan account ini dibuka oleh pasangan jadi sangat berhati-hati. Anda menerima panggilan dari pemilik usaha tentang item yang mereka bilang kau membeli tetapi Anda sebenarnya tidak punya Mengembalikan Jati Diri ide tentang. Utang mulai muncul di laporan kredit Anda dan Anda menemukan diri Anda ditolak pembaruan Card atau pinjaman. Jati Diri Bangsa

Ingatlah untuk tetap mencermati aktivitas kartu kredit Anda. Kartu Kredit Anda tidak selalu diperlukan untuk melakukan pembelian melalui telepon atau melalui internet.

Ini adalah fakta yang dikenal mayoritas pemegang Kartu Kredit tidak memeriksa tagihan mereka setiap bulan. Hal ini membuat Jati Diri lebih mudah bagi pencuri identitas untuk lolos dengan ratusan atau bahkan ribuan dolar dari Kebangsaan pembelian di kartu Anda.

Identitas pencuri Mengembalikan Jati Diri mungkin tidak hanya akan menghabiskan semua uang Anda mereka mungkin juga akan menggunakan kredit Anda yang tersedia untuk membeli item dan barang dagangan. Intinya adalah bahwa mereka tidak hanya mendapatkan uang Anda telah bekerja sangat keras tetapi mereka juga menghancurkan peringkat kredit Anda telah berusaha keras untuk membangun dan memelihara.

Langkah lain untuk mengambil Jati Diri Bangsa sehingga Anda tidak akan menjadi korban pencurian identitas adalah untuk melakukan pembayaran di tempat yang aman. Dengan pencuri Anda tidak pernah tahu. Mereka mungkin tampak sebagai pengamat mengurus bisnis mereka sendiri tetapi yang benar-benar mencari erat ketika Anda mulai menuliskan informasi pribadi menggunakan kode pribadi di mesin-mesin dan bahkan ketika berbicara di Bank penghitung atau staf di bank.

Menjadi salah satu langkah di depan mereka dengan memikirkan apa strategi lain yang dapat mereka gunakan dalam mencuri identitas Anda. Berhati-hati terhadap orang-orang di sebelah anda saat berbelanja dan ketika membayar tagihan. Anda mungkin mengambil keuntungan di sana dan kemudian.

Meskipun mempercayai orang lain Bangsa adalah suatu keharusan Anda hanya perlu memilih orang-orang yang sangat hati-hati kepada siapa Anda akan mengembalikan jati diri bangsa memberikan kepercayaan Anda. Anehnya banyak pencuri identitas orang-orang yang Anda percaya seperti keluarga teman dekat dan rekan kerja.

John Ritchie

 Divisions within OPEC have eased as the dual threat of the global economic crisis and climate change talks force oil producers to be pragmatic and unified, analysts said on Sunday.

Two years ago, when oil prices soared to nearly 100 dollars a barrel, the oil exporters cartel, which includes both allies and foes of the United States, was severely tested.

The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries was then torn between price hawks like Algeria, Iran, Libya and Venezuela on one side and nations like Saudi Arabia which wanted moderate prices in the interests of consumers.

But the stance of the price hawks has since lost support, leading to a convergence of positions within the bloc.

OAPEC Secretary General Abbas Ali Naqi (L) and Egyptian Oil Minister Sameh Fahmi attend the 83rd meeting of the Organisation of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) in Cairo on December 5.

Less than three weeks ahead of the next OPEC meeting in Luanda, Angola, the group’s oil ministers agree that quotas must remain at their current level of 24.84 million barrels per day (bpd).

Even US arch-foes Iran and Venezuela support that view.

Although the price of oil is trading at around 75 dollars a barrel, nobody is daring to ask for 100 dollars.

Observers say this unity has come about largely thanks to pragmatism instilled into producers by the events of 2008: an unprecedented price surge to 147.50 dollars a barrel, followed by a plunge to 32.40 dollars in December.

“What happened makes you think. An oil price of 75 dollars is higher than they could have hoped for. Even the most hawkish nations are finding it hard to ask for more,” said Francis Perrin of the Oil and Gas Journal.

This turnaround came about because producers were afraid of another price collapse, according to Julian Lee, analyst at the Centre For Global Energy Studies in London.

“They still have a big fear of oil (prices) falling … They haven’t entirely lost that fear,” said Lee.

Another reason for the appeasement of the hawks was that the countries which traditionally call for high prices have proved less than effective in implementing decisions taken by OPEC.

At a meeting in Oran, Algeria in December 2008, OPEC pledged to withdraw 4.2 million bpd from production from the start of 2009 in order to stabilise the market.

However, the bulk of the sacrifice was provided by Saudi Arabia, while Iran did not implement the agreed cut in production.

“The influence of the hawks is limited” because “if somebody raises the issue of higher prices … he will be told to comply more,” said David Wech, an analyst at JBC Energy.

Finally, while the impact of the global recession is still being felt on oil demand, another key challenge for producers looms in the shape of measures to reduce carbon emissions.

Such a deal could be signed this week in Copenhagen during landmark UN-led talks on tackling global warming.

“When you see in the OPEC bulletins the rising concern linked to climate change, you can see that producers are closing ranks,” said Perrin. “In the hardest times in its history, OPEC tends to stick together.”

Measures to reduce the share of fossil fuels in total energy consumption directly threaten the interests of oil producers.

OPEC’s decision last December to cut production by 4.2 million bpd officially brought down the total output of the 12-member cartel — excluding Iraq — to 24.84 million bpd.

On Friday, crude prices tumbled in volatile trade, succumbing to a stronger dollar following an improved US jobs report picture.

New York’s main contract, light sweet crude for January delivery, fell 99 cents to 75.47 dollars a barrel. In London, Brent North Sea crude for delivery in January dropped 84 cents to settle at 77.52 dollars a barrel.

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