Too Much Coffee?

Date: Weds, 3 January 2007

Happy New Year!  I hope you have a great 2007.  I hope you achieve your goals, and help others do the same.

A good friend of mine once told me he figures you don't need to be a genius to do well in life, you just need to avoid major screw ups.  I agree.

Here's an example.

About an hour ago I saw a fellow turn a very bland situation into a major screw up.

I was standing in line at the Post Office and some guy at the front of the line was having a problem with his mail.  The manager came out to help him.  The manager was very polite.  The customer was not.  For about the next ten minutes the customer jabbed his finger at the manager and cursed.

The manager finally threw him out, but the funny thing is, during the entire exchange, the customer never explained what the problem was.  He cursed, became indignant, interrupted, claimed victimization, said he was "above" the manager, and was generally rude, loud and offensive.  Even some people standing in line began to take the manager's side.

(I didn't, having taken an oath not to interfer in human affairs lest I change the course of history ;-)).

Anyway, when the customer left he hadn't achieved his goal, was banned from the premises, and may end up speaking with the police.

I suspect there's a better way to get things done, and I'm sure we can all find it each day in the year ahead if we stay cool, speak calmly, and remember to listen twice as much as we talk.  Smiling helps too.

If this seems like simple advice, try following it when things start to escalate . . . because that's when you'll need it.  And remember, as martial artists, mental control is supposed to be part of our training.

Want more mental control?

Then here's another easy assignment:  spend 30 seconds in a deep squat hands over your head every weekday morning before breakfast for the next week.  Only for one week, only for 30 seconds.  That's 210 seconds of mental control.  You can do it.

By the way, if you've set some larger goals for the New Year - like getting in kick ass condition, I'd like to help.  Until January 10, 2007, you can order my Kung Fu Conditioning 2 DVD set for $69.00 and get my Tai Chi Toning 2 DVD Set ($69.00 value) as a free bonus.  That's buy 2 DVDs and get 2 free.

Simply call my 24 hour secure order line at (703) 997-2585 say you're a subscriber, and mention my New Year's Special.  I'll ship pronto and by March 1st  you'll be feeling, looking, and moving better than you ever did in 2006!!

Take care and train like you mean it.

Rob LaPointe