I almost forgot about my challenge. That’s how serious it is, folks.

But here I am. Sticking to my guns. I really need to set some alerts to make sure I get something together a bit sooner than bed time.

This is day three where I am scrambling to deliver a piece before midnight. I am obliterating my Amish hour. By the time I publish, I’m so exhausted I immediately hit the hay.

I have some interesting topics to cover. I cannot wait to edit the pieces and get them in the queue. Hopefully, one of them will incite discussion. I think that is going to be my sign of success. So far, I have received only a simple “like” on Tumblr so far. It is early though.

I think I will keep this short and regroup. This challenge requires some systemic fixes. Alerts need to be put in place. A calendar needs to be produced. If you are reading this and hoped for an opus, #KanyeShrug.

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• 30 day challenge
• writing

10/12/2015 - It is in my best interest to get my head out of my ass. I spent the last two days feeling sorry for myself, because I have weird relationships and no one has offered me a new job. Boo hoo!

We all know if I wanted a job, I would truly have one. Who talks themselves out of a leadership role? How do you expect to stay on top of mind without follow­up? Thing is, I am not in control. I am allowing things to happen to me. Granted, there needs to be more fo a balance. I cannot be in control of everything, but those things you cannot control,  you should not put too much on them.

Basically, I should not put my fate in someone’s hands, unless we have very little to lose. If we won’t lose everything, then it is okay to invest in a unstable operation.

This week, I need to get my act together. Stop feeling sorry for myself. Do the work. It is time to get that tough love. I should spend a few dollars on groceries, but that’s it. No more eating out, unless it’s sponsored.

The focus should be on staying on top of opportunities, first and foremost. Second, make sure all client work is in tip­top shape. Third, make sure you seek new opportunities. Fourth, begin work on Ghetto Hedge Fund. Take the small steps to getting that project off the ground.

Last, but not least, keep my money in my pocket. I do not need anything other than food and shelter at the moment. If I want entertainment, go for a walk. Exercise. Read. Write. Record a podcast. There is so much that needs to be done. There is no time to be morose. Well, that isn’t true, but at this very moment, it isn’t a healthy mood to be in at this time. Somber moods do not help build strong businesses. It make make for great poetry, but that is not what I specialize in.

Actually, I need to continue working on my routine. I also need a bathtub. LOL!

But yes, let’s continue to work­out. Stay on the walks. Continue to write at least five days a week. Read your books. STRETCH.

Let’s try to hit Shine On once or twice this week, ay?

I love my pep talks to myself. 

Okay self, thanks. So weird.

I should also try James Altucher’s “10 business idea” activity. I know it will be hard to start, but I think it would be quite fruitful. I have been doing a better job of capturing my ideas. I need to archive them somehow. I am thinking a spreadsheet.

ooh, I need to damn it.

I do not understand how ideas vanish that quickly. I am sure what I was thinking will come back to me, but damn. It is almost the thought of possibly forgetting is the bleach that white­washes it.

At some point, I want to buy an arm­band for the iPhone and the Samsung S4 mini. I should re-download Moves on the Android too.

Face­washing ritual.

Shave every day.

Lemon water or apple cider vinegar and honey water.

Drink lots of water. Research the appropriate amount for a guy like me.

• Tags
• 30 day challenge
• writing
• pep talk
• journal

I have decided to adopt the Chris Brogan “three words” practice this year. There have been some common themes floating in my head and I want to make a point to keep them in mind. My three words will be: SIMPLICITY, DYNAMIC, and CONSISTENT.

2015 was a challenging year for me on all levels. I was reeling from a significant life event at the end of 2014. The impact of the life event led me to make sure I took care of myself. Everything about 2015 was about getting better, faster, and stronger. Finding strength in my recovery was truly the name of the game.

I can proudly say I came out of the life event better than I can ever remember. Tooting my horn, I’m rad. In 2016, I want to keep the momentum going. That will require a lot of focus. For me to focus, I need clarity. That is how I came to my first word.

SIMPLICITY

SIMPLICITY speaks to the opposite of how I have been. Not too long ago, I thought I wanted to be a serial entrepreneur. A friend of mine once embarrassed me at a meeting by responding to me identifying as such by saying, “sounds like someone who gets nothing done.” Granted when I heard that, I was hurt. I actually grew to loathe my friend for a while. That was until I realized how I was pretty much running in place as none of my projects were progressing.

SIMPLICITY shall be applied not just in business though. I want to think less about minor items, so I can double-down on my goals. I plan to simplify my life in areas like fashion, my workout regimen, and my diet. I should not spend 20 minutes figuring out what I want to eat. I just need to eat and keep it moving. Fretting about what to wear is not hot. What am I worried about? I look good in clothes. I will establish a uniform of sorts and stick to it.

I have realized I operate like a Stoic. SIMPLICITY fits right in with this. Stoic like to focus on what matters most. I cannot care about everything and everyone. I have a certain set of friends, a finite amount of family. That is all I need. I have a business. I may have a job again. I need to spend more time tending to what I currently have, not adding more stuff to it.

DYNAMIC

Next is DYNAMIC. I want to make the most of what I am doing. DYNAMIC, for me, just speaks to doing things with gusto. For example, my workouts will be incorporating more explosive movements. On leg days ,I’ll do things like box jumps. On upper body days, I’ll do plyo push-ups.

As I work to be DYNAMIC in business, I will look to be more assertive. In the world of digital marketing, there is a lot of guessing that happens. That is fine. I am smart and humble enough to know that I should not act like I know everything. Yet I want to be confident in the educated guesses I make. I take a scientific approach to my work. If my hypothesis doesn’t work, oh well! Let’s try something else.

I also plan to be more DYNAMIC as a personality. I feel I hold back, because I worry I will upset people. Screw that! I’m awesome, dammit! All laughter aside, I don’t see the point anymore in trying to make everyone like me. I need to test the real me. The guy who feels he says asshole-ish things in the confines of my home.

Actually, I haven’t thought that last part all the way through. Maybe I’ll regroup and refine later. :)

CONSISTENT

Last is CONSISTENT. It is pretty easy to understand. I want to stick to what I set out to do. I wrote a lot in 2015. I was fairly consistent. I missed many days though of not writing. I would like to cut those days down.

I have been very CONSISTENT with my physical fitness. I can proudly say I only missed training a total of five weeks. And three of those were rest weeks, due to small injuries. I hope to continue with this in 2016 as I have learned about “deload-ing,” which has proved quite beneficial.

There are several routines I have been trying to develop. For instance, I have been striving to have a proper “turn down” routine when I go to bed to help my mind calm itself for better slumber. My goal in 2016 is to be CONSISTENT with these routines, so they become commonplace. I want to feel like I am doing something wrong if I don’t do them. That includes ending all use of electronics an hour before I attempt sleep. And stretching first thing when I rise.

So there it is, my three words for 2016: SIMPLICITY, DYNAMIC, AND CONSISTENT. They are pretty basic. I am sure I am not blowing any minds, but this, like my writing challenge, is for my fortification primarily. Sorry. :)

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• writing
• 30 day challenge
• 3 words
• three words
• chris brogan

If you are reading this, you are either following me here on Tumblr or you found a link on Twitter. However it is you managed to land here, welcome. Hopefully, this interaction is the beginning or the continuation of a solid relationship. Let’s get to it then!

I am looking to get back into the act of publishing my writing online. Years ago, I actively blogged on a site called Frying in Vein. You can also find pieces of mine on various sites, including Crain’s Detroit. 

Blogging used to be a regular activity for me, but I have long kept my writing to myself. Actually, I stopped writing for a while, because, Life. It is time to get back to it though. There are goals to reach and blogging is one of the tactics to be used to get me there. To get back in the groove, I am planning to publish one piece of writing every day for the next 30. Today will be post number one.

In the coming days, you can expect writings related to:

• my mindful acknowledgment of being a Stoic,
  
• highlighting the difference between living a life of abundance versus one of excess,
  
• the plight of the ambitious upstart seeking financial independence,
  
• the perilous pursuit of finding like-minded AND like-dutied individuals 
• and quite a bit more.
  

Hopefully my writing is decent out the gate. The last year or so, I have been making writing a regular practice. I just haven’t published much. The plan is to use my existing work and punch it up for public review. So the next 30 days, editing hopefully will be my main thing. 

The goal will be to produce enjoyable, engaging, and potentially helpful pieces. If you are still reading this (word to Drake), I hope you will hold me accountable and provide feedback on my future posts. Thanks in advance.

I am more worried about figuring out how to efficiently be an engaging member of the blogging community. Back in the day (LOL), I used to go “all city” with my blog commenting and sharing. I developed a decent rep in the blog streets, which I let die. Laziness was the primary reason. The other reason was lack of purpose. Fortunately, I have purpose now. It’s time to get busy.

If you have gotten this far, imagine me blushing. No, it will not show on my brown skin, but my eyes and mouth would reflect it. Anyway, I thank you. Please take the time to shoot me a message in the comments, Twitter, or email. I am looking to build real connections, so if that’s your aim too, let’s chat!

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• hip hop
• relationship building
• writing
• 30 day challenge