More...Party of 1 please...More... Party of 1.

Do you remember being a kid and the incredible anticipation that went with waiting for the arrival of that new toy that you had wanted for what seemed like forever?

And then flash forward a few weeks...and that toy was in "the bin" with the rest of the previously anticipated treasures of time gone by.

What is it with the human nature that makes us want something so bad...and when we finally get it, the novelty wears off so quickly?

My take...I really believe that as a general rule of thumb a lot of what we "want" is, simply put, yet another thing that we see someone else has...and once we finally get it...we lose interest quickly.

It's because "that new thing" wasn't really new. It was for the original owner...but truth be told the majority of the reason we wanted it in the first place was because someone else had it. It never had anything to do with the fact that it was designed for us to have at all.

SO...HERE IS MY CHALLENGE TO YOU...

You can take hold of the comfortable/easy thing right in front of you and settle...or reach out a little further for the kind of opportunity that is loaded with risk/possible failure.

Anything that is worth anything at all comes from hard work. If it were easy...it would have been done already. And if it was done already...it was never your's to begin with anyway.

Please...leave the easy stuff on the shelf...you were made for more.

And if your more is all tied up in everyone's else's past stuff...

It'll end up being as the old saying goes...

Same crud...different day.

Make today different...but do it by being different...being you...not someone else.

You were made for more.

With Expectancy,

The Zuke

Control Freak?...OK...Read On.

I heard a comment today as I was passing through an office...

"Stuff I can't control, I don't like." Short, sweet, and to the point.

So why are you still sitting there thinking of all the things you don't like?

Chances are...

YOU CANNOT CONTROL THEM.

So do yourself a favor and stop...because all you are doing is let them control you.

With Expectancy,

The Zuke

John Deere Mower, Shower, Toilet, and Church...

Life can be really hard.

I know...that wasn't exactly an earth shattering news flash of a comment. But I got to thinking as I was riding on my John Deere...mowing my mother in laws lawn today. Anything worth thinking about is thought of while in 1 of 3 situations.

1. Riding a John Deere

2. The shower

3. Well...lets say it this way..."Doing paperwork in the office, sitting on the white chair".

Oh...I need to add a 4th...Church. I have had some revelations there. Nice pun huh.

But I digress...

If life is hard...how can we make it easier?

Near as I can figure we make a conscious choice, everyday, to make it easier or harder.

Making it harder is when we choose to surround ourselves with people that tell us what we WANT to hear when we need people around us that will tell us what we NEED to hear.

How does life get easier?

Flip that statement on it's head.

Be around people that will speak truth into your life...who are willing to tell you things you may not want to hear... but you need to hear.

Life has plenty of distractions.

Stop creating more of them by putting yourself in a world where the noise meter is at it's highest...and there is no substance to the noise.

If it's gonna get loud...let it come from the voices of people that will help you get to where you need to get going...not ones that will tell you warm, fuzzy feel good stories when you need a chapter read to you from...

The book of "No more buts for your butt...Get it moving".

With Expectancy,

The Zuke

Speaking up...It's your legacy...whether you do or don't.

So...as our 4 yr. old is recuperating from being sick, we have been playing board games. His theory today was that there is a difference between "real cheating" and "fake cheating".

"Real Cheating" is when one person cheats during the game and the other person(s) does not. That is real because one person is breaking the rules that everyone else is playing by.

"Fake Cheating" is when everyone playing the game is cheating. Everyone knows that everybody else is cheating...so in essence because they are all agreeing to cheat on some level...well then, it's not real...it's fake.

The lesson in all of this?

We all have a relatively easy time picking out the cheat if they are the only one doing it. None of us likes it. Sometimes they get away with it...sometimes not. But either way it leaves a bad taste in our mouth when we see someone trying to pull a fast one over on us.

Where the water gets muddy is when even though there are rules in place...everyone agrees to look the other way.

Sometimes it comes down to one person who is strong enough to speak truth into a situation that desperately needs it.

Being right isn't the point as much as it is clearly knowing when you don't want to be wrong.

Don't rob yourself out of the opportunity to be a difference maker...for positive change in the environment you are in.

It's your legacy.

However, in the end...it's really not just you that ends up getting hurt if you remain silent.

But you already knew that.

With Expectancy,

The Zuke

Busy vs. Productive

Ever been around someone who was actually too busy to be productive? They spread themselves so thin that exhaustion is about the only thing they manage to produce?

I am reminded of a childhood friend that set aside other hobbies to focus on the one he enjoyed the most. He became very talented at the hobby...and as a result, was rewarded with a scholarship for college.

Today...we look at that and say he won't be well rounded...missed out on opportunities...and putting all your eggs in one basket is too risky.

Uhhh...

You know what is too risky?

Not realizing that being busy just for the sake of being busy distracts you from something you could be so focused, talented and great at that you miss an opportunity to change the world around you...significantly.

Have some fun today...do yourself a favor...take a step back and look at your world from the outside in, and make a great choice to focus in on being the person you were created to be.

It's not too late.

Who knows...

You may be right on time.

Don't be so busy that you race past your moment.

With Expectancy,

The Zuke

"I'll deal with it tomorrow"...

How long will you wait to deal with "that thing"?

You haven't yet because...

It is too big...too small...doesn't affect anyone else but me...affects everyone around me...I don't like learning new things...I want to focus only on new things...

There is no shortage of excuses...err...I'm sorry, would you prefer to call them "reasons"?

The fact of the matter remains that there is no better time than right now to move forward...otherwise you will convince yourself that the following 5 words are actually good advice...

"I'll deal with it tomorrow."

Thats fine...just know that none of us are guaranteed tomorrow.

We are all in the same boat...

Fix, heal, move past, embrace, exhale...

It's the best way to make the "right now" truly be something significant.

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Why are you still here?

Go get er done.

With Expectancy,

The Zuke

Java and Bathrobes...In Public?...YUP.

So, I had to share this with you...probably one of the most hysterical confirmations that customer and brand loyalty matter more than ever.

I was leaving a certain coffee establishment this morning...you know, the one with the big green logo.

As I was walking to my car I looked up to see a young lady rapidly approaching the drive through, 2 hands firmly gripping the top of the steering wheel as she eyed her destination.

Not odd...UNTIL...

I notice, as she passes, she is wearing a bright blue and white polka dotted bathrobe..and a very stern focused stare.

2 points of observation...

1. Seems as though brand and customer loyalty does matter after all.

2. Do you have customers that would be willing to drive around in their bright colored, polka dotted bathrobe because they had to have your product...and nothing else...right now?

People can blast the place for having a cup of coffee that costs as much as a meal at the place across the street all they want.

But I wouldn't do it in front of the polka dotted bathrobe lady...or any of her closest friends...

Just Sayin.

I think you'll lose the argument.

With Expectancy,

The Zuke