Expert in the Rough, Brian Monahan

It’s almost Momentum Monday and I have been doing the BeachBody.com Insanity DVD workout and diet for 1 week.

I think a “WAHOO!” is in order.

My wife and I were chatting on the way to dinner with my parents tonight about what I was going to eat. We were going to one of Cincinnati’s classic pizza joints, “Larosa’s.” Larosa’s has great food but lets get real pizza is the only reason to go to Larosa’s.

I had a dilemma, “pizza or a grilled chicken hoagie,” I asked my wife.  She said; “Today is your cheat day, right.” I had an out, even though I chose for Saturday to be my cheat day, I had decided to eat healthy on Saturday any way and my wife was giving me an out to cheat on Sunday. Let’s get honest, “I HAVE BEEN FAT FOR TOO LONG!!”,

I DON”T need a cheat day, and oh, by the way, I am not sure there is even such a thing listed for this workout and diet plan.

I hope to inspire you to amp it up in the pursuit of some goal you are chasing.

Jim Quinn a mentor from my past always said, “99% commitment is a bitch, 100% commitment is a cinch!”

The “Insanity” workout plan I have committed to is over a 9 week period but I am realizing it is really just one day, one hour and one choice at a time.

I choose thin and healthy!

I choose thin and healthy again!

I choose thin and healthy again and again!

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What is Your Story?

As many of you approach the new year you might be inclined to take on a tradition suspect in its  success… “New Year’s Resolutions.”

I am a huge fan of the “MashUp” and thought we could team up a tradition with a technique.

The art of storytelling is a technique of master public speakers.  Just as pictures are worth a thousand words a story or a tale is worth a thousand graphs and bullet points.  A story allows us to relate to a message and data.

So I propose a new tradition .  A New Year’s Story.

I challenge you to take your resolutions, your dreams, your goals and write a story about how you want your life to look in 2010 and beyond.

Get vivid! Include people, places, plot lines and drama.  You might include some dialogue about telling your boss off and/or a Disney like musical scene with singing birds and public displays of song and dance.  It is your story you can make it what you want.

I challenge you to take some “creative liberties” just like those “based on a true story” movies you get inspired by every year.  This is your life and have a little fun with it.

Of course, no story is complete if kept to yourself.  Be sure to share it with a trusted confidant.  Feel free to share in the comments area scenes and chapters from your story for 2010 as you feel comfortable.

Once Upon A Time………………………..!

"START" Watch

So many talented people I know wait until they are ready to start something new.

My question is how can you be ready unless you start?

It’s the proverbial chicken before the egg question.

My belief is the only way you will be ever ready to start is if you actually take the plunge and start today.

Starting today allows you to build confidence, experience and momentum.

Not starting today builds fear and stagnation.

You will never know the doors that will open for you by being in the flow of starting on your dreams today.

On Your Mark, Get Set, Go!!!

Besides 1 Million and a Google you just can’t beat the number One Hundred. Did I forget about Ten.  Ten is alright but it doesn’t have any where near the number of nicknames as 100.

AKA a Hondo, a Benjamin, Century, 10 Squared and C for my Roman subscribers.  However you say it 100 is cool.  In fact 100 is so cool people are intimidated by it.  Just shy of 100, 99 over the years has given 100 a run for its money but I must say 100 always comes out on top.  If you dare to argue.  Its simple math.

Some famous 100 Brands:

• Billboard Top 100 Hits
• Fortune 100
• Audi 100
• 100% (110% gives 100 a run for its money)

I am not sure why 100 is so special, all I know is it’s a universal starting point.

I started my blog in late may.  My goal was to post 3 to 4 times a week.  For the most part I have been on target for this goal.  Now that I have 51 posts under my belt, I feel pretty confident I am sticking with this blogging thing.  I now have a goal of reaching 100 blog posts by 2009.

On my way to 100 here is what I have learned:

• Blogging is not easy
• I could have easily quit at 10 and nobody would have known the difference (except me)
• What I find interesting does not always translate into an interesting post as a novice writer
• People are really freaked out by Grammar mistakes (Can I get an editor?)
• Patience is a virtue.  Write multiple posts and save one for a rainy day.
• A budding blogging habit does not mix well with well with a day job.
• A pregnant wife needs more attention than an email subscription to my blog feed
• When I get to 100 I will be 99 posts better than when I started.

100 is a great number,  before I get to my goal of being a best selling author, a keynote speaker to thousands and  surpass 3000 blog subscribers I can find great joy smelling the roses at the Special number 100.

Momentum Monday Assignment.

Create a 100 Goal.  Everybody is doing it!

My favorite desert is Pumpkin Pie.  After a very challenging week, I was happy to see Frisch’s Big Boy a Cincinnati, OH restaurant chain was again offering their seasonal award winning desert.

As I indulged in this Cincinnati delicacy I was thinking maybe it was time to reward you for your hard work.

I have been publishing Momentum Monday’s for nearly 3 months and it’s time for you to stop and smell the pumpkins.

This week is about celebrating.  Reward yourself with a favorite desert.  You deserve it.

Last week Mark Hayward over at My Tropical Escape posed the question “What are your goals for the week?”

I listed 3 goals:

1. Create a Fitness Plan
2. Work on a Birthing Plan with my Pregnant Wife
3. Clean the basement

A simple but powerful exercise.  I publically posted my goals on his website.  What was interesting is over the last week I noticed I was naturally drawn to action on these goals.  In fact on Thursday I ran on the treadmill in the basement and proceeded dripping in sweat to clean the basement.

I have been studying personal development for nearly 20 years and this simple blog post might incorporate two of the most powerful factors for success.

The first is writing down your goals.  I did not write these goals on paper but yes I created a concrete list.  By having a list of goals you now actually have a tool to prioritize your activities for the week.  Should I attend join the Cincy Tweetup or clean the basement.  Should I take a nap or should I lace up my running shoes.

The second is accountability or peer pressure.  I love to publicly proclaim my goals.  Sometimes it comes off cocky but somebody generally asks me about my progress.  I now have an option.  I can be a person who keeps my word or I can be a person who becomes known as all talk or (blog).

I must admit, occasionally I don’t deliver on all my proclamations but more often than not I follow through with my goals.

Your Momentum Monday Assignment:

What are 3 things you need to accomplish this week?

Who are you going to announce it too?

My 3 Goals for the Week!

1. Get company internal blog online and operational.
2. Run 12 Miles.
3. Finish painting the baby’s room.

Blog it, write it, tell a friend.  Success is waiting.

Labor Day ironically is a day of rest for most of us in the United States.  If you are fortunate enough to have the day off today besides the rest take some time to be grateful.

Momentum Monday Assignment:

List the fruits of your labor.

Here is my list.

2) Almost new cars

1) lovely house on a quiet street near a beautiful park

1) Basement & Garage full of junk which at some point I was excited to purchase.

1) Lifetime of food & entertainment

Many dates & vacations with my loving wife Megan

Health insurance and doctors visits which will lead to the healthy birth of my first baby.

Experience and Knowledge

Of course my blog/website hosting service BlueHost

If you want to make a great movie “Show Me The Money” is a good mantra, but if you are looking to start a business Guy Kawasaki, famed venture capitalist and former Apple Brand Evangelist will demand that you “Show Me (him) the Meaning.”

I was watching a Google Video of Guy Kawasaki over the weekend where he presented his Top Ten list for budding entrepreneurs.  Number one on his list was “What is the Meaning.”  Not how much money can I make or how will I make money, but the meaning, the benefits or how you will change the world.

While I was watching this video I realized, I don’t believe I have ever mentioned making money on my blog.

I just want to clarify a few things.  My belief is follow your heart, provide something of value and the money MIGHT follow.  Many people will tell you otherwise.  In fact Marsha Sinetar has a book titled “Do What You Love and The Money Will Follow.”

I think the books title is a slippery slope.  We all have the ability to have subconscious agendas and by tagging on to the end of affirmation such as “Do What You Love” you subconsciously are looking for a payout.

I say “Do What You Love” because you love it.

I believe that has Meaning!

Momentum Monday Assignment:

Make a Top Ten List of what you love.

Extra Credit: Be sure you have all ten items on your calendar in the next 30 days.

STOP Right Now and write down one thing that is nagging you!

Have you written it down yet?  I am not going to move forward until you write it down.

OK, now write down one thing that is nagging you that can be fixed within the next 24 hours.   This could be dirty dishes, paying bills, a phone call to Mom.  You get the picture.  The key is you must be able to complete it in the next 24 hours.

I am going to let you continue reading only if you promise you will complete this item within the next twenty four  hours.  Otherwise, come back when you are ready.

In 2001, I when I was training to become a Personal Life Coach, I was introduced to this simple but effective assessment called the “Clean Sweep Program.”  It’s 100 items broken up into 4 categories including physical environment, health/emotional balance, money and relationships.  The goal of the program is to clean up loose ends and lighten your life increasing energy and balance.

In starting my blog Expert in the Rough, I have found when I have lots of loose ends it is hard to write.  I think anytime you are trying to make a transition in your life the negative loose ends are like the parachute on a drag racer, it slows you down.  Your goal is to eliminate that drag.

Your Momentum Monday Exercise is two fold:

Take take the Clean Sweep Assessment.  You can download a pdf copy by clicking here.

Second to complete your 24 hour assignment.  Feel free to use the assessment to come up with other items.

Note: Not all items are going to be applicable to all people. If you feel something is unrelated cross it out and add your own.  It’s the spirit of the assessment not the items listed.

Use this tool anytime you feel stuck.  I think it’s good to take the assessment quarterly and check your progress.  I will be sharing some more advanced assessments in the future but have at this one.  It can be a very powerful tool to create momentum in your life.

If you are “blogged” down with too much content, RSS, is your answer.

You have surely seen the letters “RSS” or the “Feed Icon” around he internet.

RSS Feed Button

If you’re a “Web 2.0 Expert” you can go ahead and skip this post but for those of you who are still getting your feet wet; this is they key to filtering the muck without blowing up your spam filter.

I have had various explanations of what RSS stands for but the most common reference is Really Simple Syndication.

Basically speaking an “RSS Feed” is a broadcast or reference which allows a “RSS Feed Reader” to know when a blog or website is updated.

This is beneficial to both the publisher and subscriber.  The updates are automatic and come in various formats.

My favorite part of subscribing to a RSS Feed is it allows me to keep track of my favorite blogs without actually having to visit each and every website to check for updates.  It’s a huge time saver. You might be tempted to say, “I could just bookmark my favorite sites” but remember your bookmarks will not tell you if there is new content. (Some browsers may be able to provide this information)

My favorite feed reader is Bloglines. It allows me to create folders and publish a public list of my feeds.  I like the public feed so you can see the blogs I read.  I think it’s a great way to share where my opinions are influenced.  You can see the feeds I subscribe to to the right listed as “The Blogs I Read.”

I also recommend Google Reader.  Its easy to use and allows for sharing of your feeds with other Gmail users.

All About RSS, BlogOhBlog (Great Overview of RSS!)

RSS Wikipedia Entry

Ed Dale YouTube Video On Bloglines

Your Momentum Monday Assignment:

Set up a feed reader account.  If you don’t want to use Google Reader or Bloglines there are a number of other options.  Do a Google Search and pick the one that fits you best.

Now that you have your feed reader set up.  Subscribe to the Expert in the Rough Feed on the top right.

Extra Credit:

Send me your public list of feeds in your reader via the comments section below.