Quotes of the Week from Me:

“Be a big part of something bigger.”

“Work harder.”

“Reflection and growth have layers. Learn from the past. Be with the present. Get inspired by the future.”

A short conversation to have with yourself:

Me: “Everything will work out.”

Me: “Well, what exactly is it that will work out?”

Me: “I’m not really sure, but it doesn’t matter because whatever it is, it will work out. And some of it has already been worked out.”

Me: “Ok. Let’s keep it rollin’.”

Quotes of the Week from Others:

“Ok, y’all ready for a lecture?

We talk about the importance of nothing. You get up every day, you’re entitled to… nothing. Nobody owes you… nothing. You could have talent, but if you don’t have discipline, if you don’t execute, you don’t focus, you get nothing. If you’re complacent, and not paying attention to detail, what does that get you? Nothing.

So, nothing is acceptable but your best. Everything is determined by you trying to be your best. There should be nothing else but that for everybody.” – Nick Saban, Head Football Coach at Alabama in a recent interview with the media.

And my initial reaction to Saban’s wise words, “Everything comes from nothing. Nothing is your starting point and starting from nothing requires nothing but your best. Needless to say, it got me pumped up for another week.

Quick Optimism:

DREAMS

Dedication

Responsibility

Education

Attitude

Motivation

Success

Full Newsletter:

No day like Monday for a brain exercise. Let’s let the creative out. It might be more challenging for some of you than others. Depends how you think. Depends how often you think how you think (the way you think).

This exercise also represents a very accurate depiction of how I think my mind works. So indirectly, you are getting to know me better too.

Take 3 minutes to think of everything and anything relevant that comes to mind when you read the word below. Or come up with your own random word. Something like window, car, banana, sky, toothbrush. Completely random.

Set a timer for 3 minutes and type/write/think of a list. It could mean many things. I think it has to do with storytelling, memories, your lifestyle, and above all, how you think.

Word: Brick.

Broken window.

Building.

Red.

Stacking.

Missed basketball shot.

Sidewalk.

Decoration.

Crumble.

Concrete.

Heavy.

Dry.

Chalky.

Wall ball.

School.

Wall.

Basement.

Wrecking ball.

Construction.

House.

Neighborhood.

Clicking.

Rectangle.

Pinched finger.

Masonry.

Old Brick Store.

Lines.

Neat.

Hard.

Rough.

Durable.

Long-lasting.

Low-maintenance.

Painted.

Try to associate words, phrases, and experiences with other versions of themselves. You may or may not benefit from a less concrete way of thinking. For some people it is relaxing. It creates space for more thoughts and creativity. For others, they may not see the correlation between “brick” and everything else on our lists. For others, it is stressful when things don’t have their own place, with their own limited options and/or outcomes.

I think both are good. And I always enjoy exploring the random ideas that come to mind when I interact with people or places, old and new.

Make it an associative, thought-filled Monday.