Last Saturday, 01/28/2012, I was asked to put together a team and help clear ‘New Peak’ in Red Springs during a search for a local missing hiker.  (Was a search organized by civilians and friends of a missing hiker, not anything ‘official.’)  My team and I were asked to ascend the south face of the mountain, and proceed to clear all sides while pushing Northwest towards Turtlehead Peak.  It was a bit ‘tricky.’  Although we didn’t find any trace of the missing hiker, all 8 of my guys and I got home safe and we accomplished our task, clearing a very large portion of somewhat ‘technical’ terrain for the search organizers.

Decided to get some film footage.  Here is a quick recap of the ascent.  (Hopefully you don’t get motion sickness – the GoPro was on my head and I tend to look around a lot while climbing!)

I’ve made it no surprise that for quite awhile my life revolved around money, power, girls and status.  I wanted a powerful job title at a powerful company that struck fear into my subordinates and made my friends drool with envy.  I wanted a bank account that allowed me to buy ‘trophies’ and material possessions that outdid others, and illustrated the fact that I had lots of money.  I wanted ‘rapper’ money.  For example, a long time goal of mine was having a wrist watch that cost five times the average mortgage payment.  Relationship wise, all I wanted was a girl that looked good on my arm, and didn’t mind spending my money.  Everything else was just noise and obstacles to overcome.   That was me as recently as early 2010.

Over the last year all the false, materialistic, self-centered goals and drive in my life have virtually disappeared.  I recently got over it completely.  All I needed to do was watch strangers dying.

Let me explain a bit before you write this off as a “Dana’s lost his mind and gone emo, emu or whatever” post…

This June I started EMT classes.  Becoming an EMT was not something I ever imagined for myself.  If anything, my behavior and actions were designed to keep EMTs in business.  Part of Clark County’s requirements for becoming an EMT state that you must do a 12 hour ER rotation at a hospital, as well as a 12 hour ambulance ride-along.  Beyond showing up and leaving on time, you’re pretty much able to do whatever you want for those 24 hours.  You can sit around and watch all day/night, or jump in and get dirty with whatever is within your scope.  (Under strict supervision by doctors and nurses.)

Most people would agree that they’d rather never spend any time in an ER or an ambulance.  It ranks as being slightly worse than going to the dentist or the DMV.  However, when you show up in one of these places as ‘the help to the help,’ it takes on a different feeling / role.  I wasn’t providing primary care to patients like the nurses or doctors were, so at many times I was able to take a step back and look at things as an outsider, while still being engaged.  (Keep in mind I live in Las Vegas, a place where your daily experience is pretty much defined by how much money and stuff you have.  ER Rooms are about the complete polar opposites.  )

What I saw during those shifts was absolutely eye opening.  All these strangers were in bad shape.  They were in their darkest hours, scared, confused and hurting.  Years earlier all I saw was Movados, Mont Blancs, BMWs/Benz’s and blondes.  Now I was staring face to face with a teenage suicidal girl who never even had a chance at life, a married couple that after 41yrs was making the most of their remaining time together, and a dedicated son doing everything he could to make his ailing mom comfortable as she passed.

Worse yet, I saw people completely alone and in pain, with no one to comfort them.  I saw people mentally altered, who had no idea where they were, who these ‘strangers’ were or what was happening to them.  I saw people talking and behaving fine one minute then completely crashing the next.  A split second and the game changes completely for one person.  I saw combative patients who had to be restrained because they were physically attacking the RNs and doctors who were only trying to help them.  I saw it all, but the honest to god, most powerful thing I saw were people close to death only wanting a hand to hold; stranger, family, EMT, rescuer, whomever.  Confused, hurting, scared and dying, with their remaining strength reaching for someone’s hand.

The first time I saw it was a few months ago, and whether it was the rush of adrenaline, the energy of the event, or just me being pathetic, it spun my world and almost brought me to tears.  It was an elderly person, who maybe had an hour before hypothermia put them down for good.  I’d never met this person, nor will I ever meet him again, but I was there to help, and hold their hand when they needed it.  This person now has at least another Christmas to spend with their children, grand-children etc. and a chance to hold more hands.

That day I realized it doesn’t matter the hand you hold, it doesn’t matter if it’s got a $40,000 Patek Philippe watch on or if it’s holding a $1k Mont Blanc Pen.  Cufflinks don’t matter nor whether it’s manicured or moisturized.  Whatever steering wheel the hand was on prior to getting to you doesn’t matter, nor does whatever property that hand holds keys too.  When it comes down to it, it probably doesn’t even matter how many fingers the hand has so long as you have that human touch comforting you.  It’s the most important thing.

I know I’ve had people in my life look up to me for the material possessions I’ve acquired, the amount of money I make or whatever girl I’ve had on my arm.  Hell, I’ve looked up to people like that as well and at times that’s all I personally cared about.  However, I’m telling you today all that stuff is garbage, none of it matters.  It’s nice to have things, and it’s nice to live comfortably, but what matters most is your personal relationships, marriages and families.  The people you help and the people who will offer you their hand to hold before you even need it.

The simple fact is people hold hands all the time, and most of the time it’s an afterthought.  Start considering it more than that, because I can promise you that one day it will be the absolute most important thing to you.  When you go to bed tonight, think about who’s hand you’ll hold, or who might hold your hand.  If you can, make sure those people know how special they are to you.  Sometimes, it’s all you need to survive.

You’re overqualified.  You’re not a good fit for this company or position.  We don’t have anything available right now.  Thanks for coming in, but we’ve decided on someone else.

Ever heard this?

We all have.  Everyone gets rejected when applying for jobs, regardless of capabilities or talent.  Einstein would get rejected from Einstein’s Coffee.  Mark Zuckerberg would get turned down by the Best Buy Geek Squad.  Donald Trump wouldn’t stand a chance at Century 21.  Here’s why.

If you get a face to face interview, the organization already has a good feeling you’re qualified for the job.  You’ve passed the HR Screeners, and are now getting a chance to back up what you’ve put in black and white.  All that hard work you put in to this point has a chance to pay off with a shiny, new career.  They want to meet you, and interrogate you.  This is why.

Putting a Face with a Name
Quite frankly, ‘Joe Interviewer’ is only mildly interested in your qualifications.  He doesn’t care about the hard work you put in, how many late nights you spent studying, or what your teacher gave you on a report.  Unless you went to a big name college, you might as well be accredited by Supercuts.  Hell, prior to this day, he barely knew you were alive.  All he knows is that you passed the HR screeners, and that MAYBE, you’re a fit for the position… then again so are the other 50 people he’s having to interview amidst his already busy work schedule.

So congrats on having a resume, congrats on having a cover letter, and congrats on having fresh breath, but your future boss doesn’t really care about any of that.  As they stare at you across whatever desk or table they’re sitting at, this is what they’re thinking…

#1 – Do I want to spend 40 hours a week with you?
Are you personable, or are you a friggin’ robot?  Do you do human things?  Do you have human emotion?  Are you funny or pleasant?  What types of activities are you involved in, that I like or am interested in.  Do I like talking to you?  Can you even talk?  Can you be social?  Are you going to scare my Secretary?  Are you going to scare my wife?  Are you generally a fun person to be around?  Can you interact without freaking everyone out?  Are you a hermit?  Do you enjoy life?  Do you have interests?  Do you sound like the person who did perform what they claim in their resume?  Do you possess a character in line with your credentials?  In 30 years, am I going to want you at my retirement party?

Even more important…

#2 – Will You Make Me Look Good?
Do you look for opportunities, or do you wait for instruction?  How likely are you to do something that will get me in trouble?  Do you figure things out, or do you wait for someone to help you?  Are you capable of independent thought that creates value?  Are you able to take a simple command, expand it, and make it better?  Am I going to have to spend time looking over your shoulder and managing you?  Are you going to benefit this place, or is this place going to benefit you?  Are you promotable or are you going to be the forever mail boy?  Is there a chance that you’ll excel so well, it’ll make me look like a genius for ‘discovering you?  Is hiring you going to benefit me?

Harsh as it may seem, everyone wants to appear smarter and better than they are.  Getting hired is more about a playground game of Dodgeball than the ‘Gold Stars’ you got in XYZ class.

I’m Kind of a Big Deal…
So many mock interviews I’ve conducted with recent / upcoming college grads are narcissistic diatribes about all their wonderful SCHOOL accomplishments.  I got an A in this class, I was IT student of the year, I was ranked this in my class.

Quite frankly, nobody gives a sh*t.

Nobody is ever going to ‘high-five’ you in an Interview.

What I really want to know is what you did outside the syllabus or curriculum.  There were 10-100 other people in that class doing the exact same thing as you, where did you find opportunity to use and develop your skills without being asked or ‘assigned’ by your teacher?

Real Life Example:  “I see you worked at a funeral home while in college?  Interesting.  How did they track their customers, burials or whatever business related information they require?  Word Document, really?  You, being the IT student of the year, how come you didn’t build them a database?  Do they have a website?  No?  I see on your resume you’re capable of doing a website, why don’t you have any?”  Burn.

Want to know what outdoes a Masters degree and a 4.0 GPA?  Pure, raw, f*cking talent.  Charisma, capability and creativity will land you the job over any Masters accredited 4.0 grade-wielding cardboard college cut-out.

Final Ra-Ra-Zip-Boom-Bah
Unless you’re Doogie Howser, you’ve been around long enough to know that ‘personal interest’ drives damn near everyone in decision making.  Think it’s any different in Corporate?  It’s not, and you can bet your shiny new college grad butt that drives their hiring decisions.

So Stand out amongst the masses.  When you arrive on interview day, come prepared, and bring killer examples.  Bring a portfolio.  Bring ideas.  Bring personality.  Bring more than the other interviewees.  Outdo your competition, and they’ll no longer be your competition.

1. Look for Beauty
   An attractive smile.  An elderly couple holding hands.  The sunrise.  Look for beauty, and you’ll eventually see it everywhere, in everything.  Just don’t start abusing adjectives with airy-fairy tweets and status updates.
2. Forget Road Rage
   If you take an analytical look at your driving, chances are you’ll commit the same rage inducing behavior within 10 minutes of witnessing it.  We’re all sh*tty drivers from time to time.  If you disagree, you probably haven’t been checking your blind spot for the people you’ve been cutting off.
3. Go Outside
   You’re never going to look back and wish you spent more time inside.  Get a breath of fresh air and some natural Vitamin-D.  Don’t hate the daylight.  Roofs are lame.  Go annoy nature.
4. Get Sweaty
   Whether exercise or the anxiety of trying something new.  Sweat is good for the soul.  Get nervous or get busy.  That’s what they make deodorant for.
5. Make Someone’s day
   One of the best ways for you to have a good day is to make sure someone else has one.  Compliment a stranger, or a friend.  Hold open a door.  Be polite.  Thank a soldier.  Leave a ridiculous tip.  Then feed of the person’s joy like a friggin’ happiness vampire.
6. Stop Judging
   Don’t assume or judge someone without knowing why they’re behaving or look a certain way.  Drama stems from judgment and god knows if you judge enough, someone you know / love will end up on People of Wal Mart.  Look for and celebrate the imperfections of others, only if it’s because their screwy ways are a lesson in what not to do.
7. Make a ‘Story.’
   Attempt something crazy.  Try something new.  Go somewhere strange.  Put something weird in your mouth.  Double-Dog Dare yourself.  Life is about making experiences, and not being lame.
8. Laugh at Yourself
   Do something stupid.  Mispronounce words.  Allow yourself to be embarrassed.  Get awkward.  Just make sure it’s not hurtful to anyone, or that you don’t make the evening news.
9. Create Something
   Write something, draw something, build something.  Your ideas are brilliant.  Innovate, create, and make them happen.  You’ll never know if you have the next ‘Shake Weight’ until you start gluing Popsicle sticks to rocks.
10. Reward Yourself
    Reward yourself for being awesome.  You make the rules.  Bask and celebrate in your own awesomeness.  A gallon of ice cream, a new toy or a fat steak.  Go nuts you big superhero.
11. Project Love and Admiration
    Love people, love cars, love everything.  Admire the guy at Burger King that thinks Ketchup is food group.  If you project love, you’ll disarm and receive it in return.  Just no groping.

Notice there’s actually 11?  Well you’re breaking rule #6, don’t judge me.  Now go do some pushups.

There I was, sitting in a luxurious boardroom in Ludwigsburg, Germany.  I was surrounded by C-Level executives and senior management.  I was the only one who didn’t speak German, I was half the average age of the fellow attendees, and they were all there to meet me.  I had hit their global radar as a ‘mover and shaker,’ and I was now in the ‘celebrity’ seat.  It was very much an interview as it was about the technology solutions I was developing.  I laughed, one year outside the undergraduate Fraternity and I was actually being ‘hazed.’

If you would have been there, you would have seen me leaning back in my big comfy meeting chair.  I had a slight lean to my left as that leg was casually crossed over the top of my right.  My body language was pure self confidence.  I was rocking a power suit, complete with a squared pocket handkerchief that brilliantly matched my tie.  A $400 Mont Blanc pen rested in front of me, ready to be wielded.  My Movado watch was peeking every-so-slightly from underneath my starchy, crisp dress shirt as I held my chin, conveying interest in what my German colleague was saying.   My black leather padfolio in front of me shined just as bright as my black leather shoes.  Freshly cologne’d, freshly shaved and freshly styled hair.  I was complete GQ porn.

I was 23.

It was everything I wanted for myself and my budding career.  Boardrooms, fancy meetings, international travel and powerful business leaders at my attention.  The IDFR train was right on track.

Next Stop!!!

Fast forward 8 years, I still work corporate but am a shadow of that 23yr old GQ centerfold.  My once adorned suits are collecting dust on the Oak Hangars I purchased for them.  I realized last night I have no idea where my Mont Blanc pens are.  I’ve given 80% of my ‘business wear’ to my cleaning lady, who donates them to her church.  I wear a Casio pathfinder digital watch, with a giant, gaudy compass ring.  I haven’t gelled my hair in over a year.  I now shave about once a week, wear T-Shirts and am not afraid to admit that I wear the same pair of jeans for about 2 weeks straight.  (I have my girlfriend ‘smell test’ them.)  I know, that’s pretty gross but it’s honest and I think its one of the best ways to clearly illustrate my transition.

So what happened?

I got over myself.

It all began about two years ago.  I sat on a couch with Erin Pavlina and Vicki Kallman, and spoke about how I wasn’t happy with my life.  From the outside, it looked like I was happy and in control of everything, happy with where I was headed.  I wasn’t.  I was stressed, I was unhappy, I wasn’t myself.  It sucked.

Deep inside I was actually in pain.

It hurt.  It was always on my mind.  It kept me up at night.  It was causing me to drink.  It was causing me to try and be something that I wasn’t.  It literally was tearing me apart from the inside, and all the ‘life duct-tape’ I had applied over it wasn’t holding it in.  I could no longer tolerate the pain of the incongruence within my own life.  I tried to compromise.  I tried to form an identity that mixed both the ‘pretend’ Dana with the real Dana.  It was never going to work.  One had to go, and Dana was tired of acting.

The ‘Act.’

Up until that point I had fancied myself of becoming this big, powerful, worldly CEO guy.  Business first, money second, family etc. last.  I’d have oodles of cash, power and influence, and I’d be successful.  People would fear and respect me.  I’d be responsible for world-class decisions, and of course… a world-class paycheck.  All that delicious CEO money would give me endless options, and solve all my problems.  I was playing to win, wanting to have more than others, be better than others, and teach others the lesson of how to win the game of life.  Money was going to be essential.  He who has the most toys, wins.  Besides, with all that money, how could I not be happy?

If you can’t tell at this point, the problem was I was only really doing it for the money.  Plain and simple.  I wanted money, and I wanted a business title that would guarantee me that money.  Everything in my life would be better if I could just earn more money.  Money, money, money.    More money equals more happy.

It wasn’t me.

Following that course lead me into trying to be something I wasn’t.  I was so focused on money, power and success; I forgot that which had always made me happy.  I was good at playing the money part, walking the walk and talking the talk, but it wasn’t me.  And deep inside, ‘me knew it wasn’t me.’  It was driving me insane, and all the money in the world couldn’t pay for the amount of duct-tape my soul was gonna need.  I knew that if I kept up this ‘act,’ as I lay on my death bed; I would be full of confusion and regret.  I’d see the real Dana looking at me from across the room, an image saddened by the lost possibilities of ‘what if.’

The ‘Act’ is Over.

All the ‘props’ I had added to my life were just that, props.  Meaningless items that decorated a false stage I had set for myself.  It wasn’t necessary, and the maintenance of these props was scaring off who I really was inside.

I was afraid to be myself because ‘myself,’ wasn’t who I wanted to be.

Ferris Bueller Yourself.

In regards to life, Ferris Bueller famously says, “If you don’t stop and look around once in awhile, you may miss it.”  I finally did that.

In a way, I was always looking around at my life, but I was looking at the ‘stage’ I had created for my life.  I was viewing my life as an audience member, judging my life based on my performance.  A sick, twisted ‘Improv’ version of it.  I realized this, and I finally took Ferris’ advice.  I stopped, and I looked around.  I finally looked at my real life, not the ‘Act.’

What I saw was a great life.  I had a great network of friends, a great family, and a buttload of great experiences.  I had been extremely well blessed.  In fact, reviewing where I was at, and seeing / feeling the love and support I had all along, almost made me cry.

You see, who I am is just a happy go lucky momma’s boy from Chico California, who vacations in Wisconsin, and who happens to have a wild imagination only outdone by a penchant for mischief and trying new things.  Not a money driven business leader who relies on an Org-chart to command respect.

Oh, and about the money?  Most surprisingly, the instant I began ignoring money, is the instant I realized how much of it I already had.

The old Dana was shocked, and the new Dana just kicked his ass off the IDFR train.

Maybe you’re already happy, and content with who and what you are.  Maybe you figured out long ago what it is you want to do with your life, and maybe you’re already doing it.  If so, I’m very happy for you and can’t wait to see you change the world.  However, maybe you’re like I was, putting on an ‘act’ because you think it’s what you’re supposed to do to get what you want.  If this is you, I beg you to stop and look around.  See what you already have, and take the costumes and masks off.  Ditch the ‘props.’

I consider everyone that reads this a friend, and a person I care about – stop wasting your potential and talent on duct-taping your real self inside your guts.  Let the real you bust out, and barf awesomeness all over the world.  It’s Go Time – choo choo!

I pulled the plug on an old friend this weekend.  I got rid of my cable TV package.  Primarily because Oprah’s show was ending… j/k… well, maybe… 

The End of My Cable TV Life
It was Saturday morning and my girlfriend and I were watching ‘Americas Best Dance Crew.’  I don’t even know why.  I have no desire in that show, nor had I ever watched it.  Maybe because ‘AC Slater’ and his dimple-ish face grabbed my attention amongst the 100+ channels I was getting.  Damn him and his tractor beam dimples.

Then it happened.

With Hollywood director timing, my cable went out right before they announced the season winner.  My girlfriend freaked. “It’s gone, its all over!  No more cable!”  She was kidding, but inside I was a bit scared as well.  What would life be like with no cable?  I’ve always had cable, it goes with living just like electricity and water.

The Motive
I had called a couple days earlier to cancel my Cox cable ‘bundle.’  It was running me about $160 a month, about $100 a month for just cable alone.  (The other $60 was internet, which I’m happily keeping.)  Nothing against Cox, I just really sucked at watching cable.

It started with analyzing my TV watching habits…  I really didn’t have any.  I had a few shows I watched religiously, and the rest of my cable time was spent flipping channels and settling for, in my honest opinion, extremely ‘sub par’ content.

‘Sub Par’ by my own definition.  Keep in mind I watch COPS and Swamp People pretty religiously, so you be the judge of my content critiquing ability…

Each time I scanned my Facebook feed, I knew I wasn’t getting my money’s worth.  Other than watching ‘The Soup,’ I never had any idea what contrived BS was happening amongst ‘Reality’ shows.  Not to sound like a pretentious d*ck, but I was busy doing things I felt were more productive.  Things that felt like they would have a bigger, better impact on my life than what catfight Holly Madison was in this week or who ‘got a rose.’

I don’t watch either show, but let’s agree it’s kind of sad that Jersey Shore has produced bigger stars than any talent from American Idol.

I digress…

The Push
This all stemmed from a conversation I had with a friend a couple days earlier.  I had already thought many times about cancelling cable and just buying the shows I like to watch, but couldn’t bring myself to make the jump.  Having no cable seems scary.  It would feel foreign, and naughty.  Un-American even.  “This is ‘Merica, and cable is our god given right.”

The Plan
My friend was going with a Hulu / Netflix / iTunes / Roku setup.  It actually seemed perfect for me.  Hulu and Netflix at $16/mo vs $100?  I was already a Netflix subscriber, and it looked like Hulu had the other shows I liked to watch.  The one exception was ‘The Soup,’ but that was available via iTunes at around .99c an episode.  No biggie.  One problem though – what the hell was this Roku thing?  Sadly, I knew more about the damn Kardashians.

The Roku
It’s tiny, it’s small, it’s inexpensive.  It’s even kind of cute.  It’s black with some purple ribbon on it, Prince would love it.

Basically, it’s an internet device that connects to your TV, and streams content.  It’s not locked to Apple services.  Off the bat it comes with Hulu, Amazon On-Demand, Netflix and Pandora.  There are even several custom channels you can add for free.  A google search for ‘roku private channels’ will yield great results like FunnyOrDie, YouTube, JustinTV etc.   Best of all, its starts off around $60 and once you buy it, you own it.  Install / Setup is a breeze.

My Setup
I don’t want to watch only on my laptop.  I have 3 TVs in my place, 2 with connected Xbox’s.  One of those Xbox’s still needed some sort of hard drive, which I solved by using a 4gb USB Flash Drive I got at a workshop last week.  Because the Xbox handles Hulu and Netflix, those TVs are ‘juiced’ and ready to go.  The other TV was in my bedroom, which had nothing.  Hello, Roku!

Bonus – I also have a Linux box running a Twonky client that can share my iTunes / Digital Media to all three.  Yay inexpensive technology solutions!

The Awakening
After my cable went out, I spent some time watching internet streamed TV / Movies.  Sadly, it was Memorial Day weekend and having the choice of what I wanted to watch, I think I watched more than I ever have.  It was gorgeous weather in Vegas this weekend, and I was glued to my new Roku toy, and it was amazing.

I never realized how much crap cable content I settled on until I could choose what actually wanted to consume.  I didn’t have to scan through channels filled with whores and douchebags.  I didn’t have to settle on something because nothing else was on.  I watched virtually no commercials, and the ones that did play were the savvy, witty, Superbowl-esque types.  It was great.

The Judgment
Is getting rid of cable right for you?  I don’t know.  My decision was pretty black and white.  Why pay $100 / mo for shows I can get for $16 / mo.  True, getting rid of cable is very scary.  It’s something we had the luxury of growing up with, it’s been a trusted friend and a staple of our society.

Do you still need it?

Worst case scenario, I’m sure the cable company would love to have me sign back up.

“In 35 years of doing this sh%t, I’ve seen things that neither Science, nor Medicine, nor Jesus F*’n Christ could explain.  Sh*t that will make your head spin.  Absolute ‘No win’ scenarios that people walk away from.  Impossible odds, and they survive.  And here’s the deal folks, the one thing you need to know about this gig, we don’t save people’s lives.  We don’t.  If you think you’re here to be some hero and save people, you’re F%’n wrong.  All we do here, our only function as a unit, is to provide that extra 10% people need in order to save themselves.”

This was a particularly impactful lesson from a veteran SaR instructor while going through my Mountain Rescue Basics class.   It’s been 7 months since I heard him say this, and it still resonates with me daily.

“You’ll come across people stuck on the side of a mountain, 500ft in the air, who have damn near attached themselves to that rock with only their fingertips.  They’ve been holding onto that cold rock for 5 hours, and they could easily hold on for another 5 hours, but the second you wrap that victim harness around their waist, they’ll crumple into your arms.  Once they get that feeling of being saved, be ready to own them completely. “

The extra 10% for them was their rescuer.  So, what’s your 10%?

“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close to success they were when they gave up” – Thomas Edison

Apply the wisdom to your life.  How many times have you been close to ‘saving’ yourself, only to let go?  Did you hold on 10 hours, or 10 seconds?  Why did you let go?

Do or Die
Now imagine yourself in that grave scenario.  You’re hanging onto the side of a mountain.  You’ve got yourself completely “invested” in a risky situation.  You’re scared, you don’t know how long you’ve been holding on but it feels like forever.  You can’t go up, and you can’t go down.  You’re at a crossroads and your mind is starting to play tricks.  A thought enters your soul… you tell me which one you’re going to listen to.

#1 – Well, at least I came this far.’ Albeit a dire situation, I still did climb pretty far… I’ve accomplished quite a bit on this climb.  I mean, at least I showed up.  Most people would feel sorry for me.  I tired, and I’ve climbed some stuff before anyways.  This is far enough.  I’m too uncomfortable, I’m too scared, too weak, and I have XYZ problems.  This isn’t for me.  Maybe even that thing the Scientist / Doctor / Jesus said is why I can’t do this.  I have excuses as to why I can’t do this.  I’ll just let go…

#2 – F*ck it, I’m doing this.  Screw this mountain; it’s not taking me down.  Neither Science, nor Medicine, nor Jesus has anything on me.  I got napalm in my gut and I aint letting go, for whoever’s sake or whoever’s excuse.  I came here to make this mountain my b%tch.  Plenty of people have accomplished this or a helluva lot more, why not me?  I’m a big, fat, shiny ball of awesomeness – Does this mountain know who I am?!?!   Go time!

The Mountain I Fell Off
A few years ago, I fancied myself becoming an Internet Marketer.  I read everything I could about it.  I joined forums like WickedFire and contributed to several discussions.  I printed out volumes of information on Landing Pages, Google Quality Score, etc.  I started buying snazzy domains via proxy so nobody could track me.  I even bought a special domain and installed Propser202 so I could watch all my traffic, clicks etc. in real time.  I subscribed to 100s of RSS feeds from ‘Super Afilliates.’  I completely emersed myself in the Internet Marketing culture.  Even set up several Excel sheets that I could use to further analyze my Internet Marketing data.  I could see myself speaking at Affilite Summit in the future, I was gonna rock this market!

I didn’t.

I never even started one Google Adwords campaign.  I couldn’t start.  I had completely paralyzed myself with too much information, and moreover, I didn’t want to spend money testing offers etc.  I was too scared.  It was too risky, too uncomfortable.  Of the hundreds, maybe thousands of hours I had already committed into learning the industry, I wasn’t willing to spend even $100 to start testing something; I wasn’t willing to do the extra 10%.  I let go of the mountain.

PJ’s, SEALS and Rangers
Ever see the training these guys go through?   They get the sh%t kicked out of them.  They get pushed to the brink of sanity, and they overcome.  How do they overcome?  They hold on.  Watch interviews of these guys, they all say the training is mostly mental.  You overcome the limitations your brain puts in front of you, and you succeed.  Fear, pain, weakness… ignore it.  Press forward and hold onto that mountain.  For example, there’s an interview with an Air Force PJ talking about drowning during the dreaded water exercises – ‘Well, things just kinda go black and next thing you know you wake up on the side of the pool.’    In order to become a PJ, these guys get comfortable drowning.  How’s that compared to your 10%?

My Next Climb
I really want to be a better endurance runner.  I can run forever if I run .5 mile sections, mixed with 2-10second breaks.  I average about a 9 minute mile this way.  9 minute miles aren’t gonna win me a trophy, but I think most would agree that’s not too bad.  However, if I run 1.5 miles with no breaks, I’m pretty much tapped out.  I don’t like that.  I don’t want to run marathons, but I definitely think I should be able to do 10 miles no problem.  Moreso, I’d really love to average a 7 minute mile.  Even better, if I can whip myself into a sub 21 minute 3 Mile, I’d probably cry with joy.

I know what I need to do.  The 10% for me will be to start surpassing my 1.5 mile plateau.  It’s going to take lots of sweat, heavy breathing and who knows, maybe even some puking, but I’m going to crash forward and do it.   It’s gonna totally suck, but sometimes you have to embrace the suck.  Sometimes holding on sucks, but my rescue will come.  I will live.

Executive Non-Mountain Summary
Darren Lacroix, a mentor and good friend is famous for saying ‘Always fall forward – because even though you fell, you’re still further than where you started.’

While falling is pretty much the complete opposite of the mountain analogy I’ve been using this entire post, Darren’s advice in it’s simplest form is completely solid.  “Don’t quit.”

Closing Rescue
Quitting is easy.  Easy is never as rewarding as hard.  Whining is easy, sweat is hard.  A little sweat and fear is good for your soul.  So hold on, get sweaty, and be a story that confounds experts.

When they think back to what you’ve accomplished, neither Science, nor Medicine nor Jesus Christ will be able to explain it.

It’s Monday Morning and I really don’t feel like being at work.  I mean, I REALLY don’t.  Sometimes I’m okay with going to work, knowing I kinda have to, and I actually have a pretty decent job.  But today isn’t the case.  I’m very anti-work this morning.  I’m sure many of you feel the same.

Who’s Fault

I blame the Fox5 Weatherman.  You see, on this particular morning, it’s overcast and dark.  (Rare for Vegas.)   I can smell rain, and I like that.  My friends and family in Chico apparently got dumped on last night, and usually I can expect whatever hit them, to hit me the next day.  Weather Application on phone said 40% chance of storms today.  The stupid news program had clips of rainstorms hitting the Vegas valley.  Bunch of jerks rubbing it in.  Rain is as rare in Vegas as the .99 cent Shrimp cocktail.  I miss rain.  I love rain.  Moreover, I love my REI raingear…

I can’t focus.  I already ate a Cliff Bar for breakfast, and made my cup of Starbucks VIA.  Not even sure caffeine would help at this point.  Nothing really helping at this point.  I need a distraction.  Let’s ruin some office supplies.

It’s arts and crafts time folks!

1. Take a 3×5 Card.
2. Turn it lengthwise.  (Landscape for you directionally challenged folks.)
3. Write ‘My Happy Card’ in the upper left.
4. Draw a line down the middle.
5. On the left hand side, under ‘My Happy Card,’ list everything that makes you happy.
6. (Optional) – On the right side, write down everything you hate doing.
7. Fold right side behind left side.
8. Prop up and admire your handy happy card, ignoring the unhappy things.
9. Rinse, repeat.

This won’t change the fact that I have to be at work the next 10 hours, but it gives me something to look at instead of my computer monitors and the dark, gloomy weather I love.

If you think it’s lame to cheer yourself on, you need to put down the Wayne Dyer and go do something kick-4ss.  Being awesome is awesome.

Your Biggest Fan
In order to be awesome, you need to have one very critical fan – yourself.  If you’re not cheering yourself on, or not in the mood to root for yourself, you probably need to go back to bed and stop reading my overly optimistic awesome writing.  Alternatively, if you are a fan of yourself and your awesomeness, stop reading this post and continue awesome punching the world.  But, if you’re on the fence about your awesomeness, or just need a little encouragement, stay tuned.  I possess the formula to get you all awesome’d out.

WTF… You Egotistical Jerk…
You see, this post is more of a ‘Happy Narcissistic Kick to the Buttons,’ and is intended to fire everyone up to make 2011 the best year of their lives.  Screw resolutions, forget plans and goals, and forget intentions.  Let’s get awesome.

I’m about to present a formula.  It’s my formula.  It’s what I use to get myself pumped, and I’m about to share it with you all.  Here goes…

‘I’m’ + [ Insert Your First Name ] + ‘F#!king‘ + [ Insert Your Last Name.] + ‘.’

In my case, it’s “I’m Dana F!#king Richardson,” or simply, IDFR.

Point of reference – you’ll see I ended mine with a period.  A simple period is more my style.  Feel free to end yours with a smiley face, or go the Samuel Jackson style and add a few exclamation marks.  The only thing not allowed is a question mark.  You don’t even have to use my model exactly; it’s just what works for me.  But have a model you use, that you can easily abbreviate.  For instance, my friend Erin Pavlina was one referred to as “No Ordinary Mortal” by a journalist.  So now her battle cry is EPNOM, which stands for “Erin Pavlina: No Ordinary Mortal.”

Call it your mantra, motto, foundational phrase, battle cry, cheer, slogan, jingle, ditty or catchphrase, but use it… constantly.  Say it repeatedly in your head and constantly encourage yourself.  Embrace your inner, healthy narcissism and get all up in the universe’s face.

IDFR In Action
About to attempt something that makes your insides misbehave?  Sensing any doubt, lameness or unsubstantiated fear?  Bang out your IDFR.    (Notice I said ‘unsubstantiated fear’ – don’t go wrestling a bear or crime-fighting in a green unitard.)

Accomplish a large goal?  Triumph over a task?  Simply happy that you did something right?  Grab some pom-pom’s, and repeat your narcissistic battle cry, because you rock!

IDFR Bonus Tip: Create a calendar reminder that goes off every day when you wake up and have a biblically awesome day, every day.  Every morning, 5am its “IDFR Go Time” until I go to bed.  My day barely knows what hit it.

Heck, make a fashion statement and get some T-Shirts printed.  My first IDFR fashion line coming this fall, fully designed by Microsoft Paint and Arial Bold.  100% of the sales expected to be made to Dana Richardson of Las Vegas, Nevada.  (If you’d like your own limited edition rare mint-in-box IDFR shirt – contact me here http://danamrichardson.com/contact-dana/send-a-message/ or on http://www.Facebook.com/DanaRichardson.)

Low Calorie, Healthy Narcissism
A healthy sense of narcissism is a very good thing, as it gives you confidence.  Everyone has done amazing things with their life, and I hope that continues.  As you evolve, you grow.  Grow while being yourself.  Be proud of what you’ve done.  Recognize that you’ve done some very special, uniquely awesome things to date!  It’s awesome!  You’re awesome!  Never forget that!

Humble Pie Binge
Never make a single accomplishment your identity, or overly celebrate.  Remain humble.  For once you concrete one accomplishment as your identity, you ‘Bobby McFerrin’ yourself, aka become a One-Hit-Wonder.  (For our younger readers, ‘Don’t let the Dogs out’ on one accomplishment…)  Accept awesomeness, and move on to your next awesome endeavor.  All while shouting your battle cry!

It’s Go Time
Continue raising your awesome bar, and continue rooting yourself on.  Create a healthy sense of narcissism based on the things that make you proud – and use your IDFR / Battle-Cry to remind yourself.  Say it constantly.  With you as your biggest fan, you’ll never know what you’re capable of.  Better, your other fans are waiting to see what you can do!  Hell, even Superman is still figuring out what he’s capable of!

Now go forth, and be awesome!  IDFR!!!!!!!

–D

Thank god I don’t know Dr. Drew otherwise I’m sure he’d stage an intervention between my phone and I.  It runs my life.  As I’m usually on the move from 5a – 10p, I rely heavily on the technology a good phone puts in my hand.  Since retiring my trusted Nokia 9300 in Oct. 2008, I’ve been dedicated to the Android Mobile OS.  As such, I’ve come across some killer apps and setups that keep me a deadly mobile ninja.

May I introduce ‘Settings Profile.’

Taken from the ‘Settings Profile website – www.probeez.com – ‘Settings Profile’ is an Android application that allows you to:

• Automatically activate profiles based on battery conditions, locale, or rules
• Automatically start programs or tasks
• Manage wireless communications and display to save battery and increase power life
• Control volume for media, mp3, notifications, and phone ringer
• Set ringtones, touchtones and vibrate
• Autopilot Airplane mode, Toggle Network, Wifi, Ringer, Bluetooth, Brightness, Silent, Screen Timeout
• Conditions for Time, Day, Location GPS, Battery, Calendar, Incoming Call, Missed Call, Headset, Car/Desk Dock, Unread SMS/Text, Scheduled Period

The P.A. to My P.A.
My phone is my Personal Assistant, and I basically consider ‘Settings Profile’ as a Personal Assistant, to my Personal Assistant.

What You Need to Know
Based on very flexible rules and conditions you create, ‘Settings Profile’ will automatically adjust all sorts of settings on your phone for you, without need for your attention.  I do this for several reasons. Mainly, it’s for ‘tactical’ reasons such as increasing battery life, but it also performs several ‘convenience’ tasks for me, such as synching up my RSS feeds.

Once you install the Settings Profile application on your Android device, you’ll have the options of creating as many Profiles, Rules and Locales as you want.

• Profiles are collections of settings.  (E.g. Wifi on, Bluetooth off, Screen timeout after 30 seconds etc.)
• Rules are conditions that determine an action.  (E.g. If it’s between 10a-11a and the phone is plugged in, run XYZ application.  .)
• Locales are Geographic locations, based on GPS, proximity of Cell Towers etc.  (E.g. Phone is near local Starbucks, near home, at work etc.)

The Execution
Setting up your different Settings criteria is extremely straightforward.  Through a combination of the above mentioned Profiles, Rules and Locales, ‘Settings Profile’ automatically gets your phone to do the stuff you want it to, without any effort from you.  You don’t need any idea other than how you’d like your phone to perform, and a couple minutes to create the setup.  For examples, here are some of my critical setups -

• Default Profile
  This profile is activated once the phone starts ‘discharging,’ aka unplugged.  This shuts off synch, Bluetooth, and unneeded services.  It changes the display to timeout after 30 seconds, and sets the brightness to ‘Auto.’  (All this is to improve battery life.)  I don’t have it adjust GPS, as I keep this on at all times.  (I’m constantly in Google Maps searching for things, or tracking my position via GPS.  Too much of a pain to switch on / off.)  I also keep data on as I manually check Facebook etc. often.  (If I were to have it kill data, battery life would be even more amazing.)
• Charging Profile
  If ‘Settings Profile’ detects a power source plugged into my phone, it immediately activates everything and cranks it to 11.  (Spinal Tap reference.)  Since the phone is plugged in, who cares what type of drain I’m putting on it, or how bright my display is.  Fire on all cylinders!  (Note – This automatically kills the ‘Default Profile.’)
• Synch Profile
  Once an hour my ‘Synch profile’ activates, which background synchs all my apps / data.   (Gmail, K9 Mail, Facebook, Tweetdeck etc.)  This saves a ton of battery and more importantly keeps my phone from beeping every 5 seconds due to the 24/7 Push notifications.  My ‘Synch’ profile is allowed to run for 5 minutes before ‘Settings Profile’ app kills it.  If it doesn’t finish synching everything in that 5 minutes, after another hour, Synch will activate again for 5 minutes.  (Note – because my background data is active, I can always manually synch/refresh the apps when I like.)
• Home Wireless
  When ‘Settings Profile’ detects certain cell tower ID’s around my home, it automatically activates my Wireless profile, which auto connects me to my home network via Wifi, increasing my data speed and saving some 3g bandwidth usage. (T-Mobile throttles me after 5gigs.  Yes, I use 5+ gigs a month of bandwidth to my phone…)  Note – in order to get this to work properly, I had to create a ‘Wireless On,’ and a’Wireless Off’ profile.
• NewsRob RSS Synch
  I used NewsRob for my RSS feeds, which as far as I know is the only RSS reader that has built in features for ‘Settings Profile.’  (NewsRob is actually what led me to ‘Settings Profile.’)  If the phone is plugged in, and the time is between 4am and 4:30am, the phone will automatically synch all my RSS feeds which I can peruse throughout the day.
• Clock
  This turns my phone into a bedside digital clock at night.  If phone is plugged in, and it’s between 11pm and 5am, it will activate a fancy little clock I can look at while I sleep.   (Default Android Clock.)  Once phone is removed from power source, clock application gets killed and I’m automatically placed at my main home screen.

One thing to note, with the exception of my ‘Default Profile’ and ‘Charging Profile,’ all these different rules / conditions work together and are complimentary.  For instance, if my ‘Default Profile’ is active, the ‘Wireless Profile’ or ‘Synch Profile’ gets activated on top of the ‘Default,’ and won’t screw anything up when Wireless or Synch profiles end.  This is important to note as I had some competing profiles when I first began my setups. Once you start creating profiles, ensure you’re not creating competing rules/settings, and always ensure you’re not activating / killing something you don’t want.

Settings Profile is available in the Android Market, and last I checked it was $3.95. You’ll earn this tenfold within the first month of a properly configured Android device!

Stay Tuned for more D-Tips, and Activate Your Charging Profile!

–D