The Pseudochiatrist Is In

When having a pretty deep conversation with a friend, I was able to actually pull a few things away from it that I found relevant to a few things I have been dealing with recently. I think this is some Food for the Soul we can all enjoy.

1. Know Yourself. 

You are the guiding force in your own life and no one knows what direction you need to go in but you. Your body is a biological GPS and it WILL guide you to where you need to be.  As it's helpful to have advice from friends and family, at the end of the day, YOU have got to be satisfied with what YOU are doing and where YOU are going, no body else. Be honest with yourself. It'll save you a lot of trouble.

2. It's okay not to live up to societies standards.

We're the TV generation. We're raised on being told what a man is supposed to look like and what a woman is supposed to look like and all of that is just bullshit. We're not all meant to be models, millionaires or business people. We're human and we're meant to be just that. Not perfect. We aren't and we never will be. And that's okay. The things we do need: Love, Acceptance and Purpose, all come from within first, externally second. Remember that.

3. You won't know until you feel how hard rock bottom is. And it'll be the best thing that has ever happened to you.

This is a HUGE lesson I believe a lot of people missed growing up(and especially in their adult years) . We need to feel how hot the fire is so we know what we're dealing with. I believe this is the most important lesson in life. This is the moment that can make of break you.  This is the catalyst that creates the person you were meant to be. No one can save you , you got to want to save yourself. No one can help you, you got to want to help yourself.

And as always  .......

4. What are you really afraid of?

Ask yourself this and be honest.  What are you really afraid of in life?  Because unless it's directly in front you or happening to you,  there is nothing to be afraid of. 

Seriously, if I could workout, eat, play video games, travel and help people all over the world for a living, I would. Actually, I plan on doing it.

SeanB

Food and Drink. The International Language.

Now days you can purchase a device than can translate any language into your own and vice versa in seconds.  While that is helpful, especially when you're a certain super hero traveling all over the world being awesome, it lacks passion.  Such passion in the languages of love like French, Spanish or Italian being spoken in a weird robotic dialogue.

If you aren't rolling in mounds of cash to be able to purchase this, or don't have the patience to learn it, there is another way to communicate with passion. From ocean to ocean. The phrase is called "International Delicacies."

Food , and drink,  is a language of love.  A wide spoken verse that can bring men and women of all culture and background to the same table in harmony. I believe it does this with love "cooked" in your food, brewed in your coffee, and added to your desserts.

I can remember a time during my past relationship, my ex was making a specialty of hers (Her Italian was out of this world.  Next to her Greek) and I'm getting excited as the smell starts filling the kitchen, the wine starts to pour and the salads are being served.  The main course comes and, at first bite, everything changes. It didn't taste like anything! I've never had food that tasted like nothing!  She knew it was off by my reaction as I wasn't floating on cloud 9 holding my belly with a smile on my face.

Calmly, because you know you're in the danger zone when you begin to criticize the cooks food, I simply ask,  "are you alright? The food's off." (Because I'm that smooth)

After a conversation that was smooth as sandpaper dipped in honey and rolled in broken glass, we came to a mutual understanding, ate what we could, finished the wine and ordered a pizza with a B-movie night to follow. 

I believe to become well verse in this international language is to explore the world of delicacies. Try new foods, try different coffee blends, try new wines from different countries.  If you can't explore the land physically, use your taste buds. I also believe your cooking is a reflection of what's inside you.  Yes, fresh ingredients and a method does help, but it's the love inside you that will make your delicacies taste like that of an executive chef.

Bon appetite y'all

Sean

Paper Burns and Fire Dies

As children, I believe we all took those fairy tale stories our parents read to us a little to literally, but, then again, what did we know? right? How were we supposed to understand what we heard and believed was just that ... "Make believe"?

Unicorns and Prince Charmings don't really exist and, for those who are legitimately looking for a legit person in their life, it sucks. It sucks bad. It actually almost makes you want to elbow drop whoever came up with such bullshit. It lead us to believe that in our life, eventually, our fairy tale will come true. I think this is more for girls, as for guys it's more like "Where's my porn star hot ass wife who will never get fat, old or ugly?? * well, most guys at least. I say this because I was once like that. Sue me.*

Here's the truth, when our parents and grandparents were in the dating scene, there REALLY were such things as Unicorns and Prince Charmings. The Unicorn, or the perfect woman in a man's eye, and the Prince Charming, or the perfect man in a woman's eye, all walked amongst each other and married, actually stuck to their wedding vows and made a home for their children and all that fun stuff.

Now, fast forward a generation or two, and the dating world has slipped into a Post-Apoctalyptic pile of Brontosaurus shit * Enter Jeff Goldblum in Jurassic Park* and the previously mentioned mythological creatures are rarer than rare can get. In fact, they're so rare I heard big foot claimed he had photos of such bizzare mentions. Who knows, and who wants to argue with someone called big foot anyway.

But, as we do not have our mythological creatures, we have a new problem in our selfish generation of independent men and women and the leeches they support. We cannot seem to either stick to a single commitment, let alone a vow, and we can't seem to decipher what we want and what we need.

I've been through a little, so let me break this down for you. You have two people in your love life that you will run into. You have your fire, and you have your paper.

The paper is that individual you meet that, on paper *get it*, is the perfect ideal person for you to commit to. They have a great job, make great money, can take care of you, come from a great family, they seem like the "ideal" candidate for you to spend the rest of your life with. But, on paper, that's all they have. These are usually the type of person you marry for security because you don't make enough money, are tired of working or just a leech. The relationship lacks anything outside of conformity and acceptance of where you are. Don't be surprised if this one ends in a divorce *much like everyone's marriage now-days it seems*

The fire. The fire burns, yes it does. This person is the person you know is just trouble. No matter how you look at it, no matter what red flags come your way and no matter who you meet after, before or during. This person will constantly occupy your desires, your mind and ignite your senses into a flurry of roundhouse kicks and tequila shots. This is the person you desire and think of most while maintaining your mundane and melancholy existence with your paper match. They can't offer you as much as your paper, but they do more for your spirit than you paper would even conceive.

I believe it's our own personal duty, being in this selfish generation, to know who you are and what you want before you, unintentionally or not, ruin another persons life with your ignorance because here is a fact I'm gonna throw at you:

Unicorns DO indeed exist and they are rare. They are rare because some asshole bagged a unicorn, killed it and bragged about his exploits to his other asshole friends.

Prince Charmings DO exist and they are also rare because they fell for the wrong woman and she ruined him.


Whatever you seek, your Charming or your Unicorn, they will possess BOTH your passionate fires while maintaining your life on paper as well.

So I guess my final question is ....

Why settle?

Sean

Adios' San Antone

Heat beats down on the back on my neck, as if I owed it money for something, while the soothing sounds of George Straight and Willie serenade my senses as I see the city of San Antone in my rear view mirror. Slowly disappearing ever so slightly by the mile.

Adios good ol' San Antone. Until we meet again, happy trails to you.

I cruise through these familiar highways and streets being reminded of where I came from and what I've experienced during my short time here. Four years doesn't seem like a long time when you can remember, as if it was yesterday, you in your old car hitting the road, running your own business and  writing for a prestigious local magazine ( Shoutout to San Antonio's NFit Magazine).  But even though everything seems familiar, it seems, it couldn't be any more unfamiliar.

Things change, people grow up and/or apart, and energies move on.  During my time there, I felt as a stranger wondering around in a strange land. Familiar faces turned strangers, old friendships turned questionable, and, for some reason, I can't help but accept this.

Even though I'm long out of the reach of the 1604, I can't help but reflect a lot on myself and my idea of what friendship really is.

I've only shared this idea with one other friend who, at the time, was my best friend and, ironically, my ex. We both shared this belief that we could be the best of friends and maintain a connection, regardless of how often we communicated or saw each other. As time goes on, I've  shared this with another one of my friends, but this isn't exactly a common thing I'm finding.

But even as people I've known have changed, maybe it's not so much them, it's me. I've changed and I know I have. Things I've valued four years ago are so different now, I can't seem to ignore it. I once valued progression measured in attainable assets that I could put on a display, in a way. Whether it was where I lived, what I owned, what I accomplished, etc.  You get the picture.

Now, I find myself valuing anything that cannot be purchased or displayed. I value conversational depth, food for my soul, vibes and energy from the environments and people around me. I've even developed this idea of, "Get Something. Give Something." mentality where I find myself giving things to those who gave me something I have value in now. Whether it was precious pieces from my travels or acts of labour or work to help someone out with something.

The small crossroads of Junction grows nearer as I'm speeding down the highway at damn near 90mph. In a rush to get nowhere. And as the sun kisses the skies goodbye, I look back on those who were there when the dust settled when this huge life change happened. They know who they are, and even though I'm focused on the road, my thoughts are always with them, as are my prayers.

Loyalty is everything now. Friends, family, coworkers, opportunities, words, or anything else are nothing without loyalty behind them. I find loyalty to be the bitter pill of honesty. Everyone wants it, none can give it nor can they take it. Because who really wants to hear how badly one if ruining their life? I guess only those who want to change for the better.

Home is only 30 miles away at this point. Dusk hugs the horizon, the music is just right and I'm okay with it all. My opportunities are few, but I trust in the process of life. I have a few things in the works, and I know I'll be taken to the right road to where I need to be. Trust in the process of your life because if you're on the right path, you'll get to exactly where you need to be at the right time.

Don't let them try to satisfy you with just words and don't take anything at face value. Dig deeper because that's where the treasure is.


Sean

My Eyes are Grateful

In an effort to describe the feelings that arise from the time our eyes have met would mean to die and come back with your second breath

No, my mind has not been forsaken to darkened planes and hopeless being

It is simply this feeling

How amazing!!

To feel such passion for another,
Lacking the reciprocation yes,
but a gift is to be cherished.
To receive is not an expectation

Yes, her sight blazes the very essence of my spirit that flows like a vicious stream down the falls

But what scares me most is that I thought it could endure such a blow, yet her charm melts me as snow in a summers glance with just a smile, bestow

Alas, if I am to die, I'd rather die happy than remain not to ever know such beauty

You bid me farewell as your admirer

as if it was your duty

Overqualified: The Oxymoronic Myth of the Working Man.

Have you ever tried finding a job? If you're lucky you won't have to look too long, but it seems that now days, you have to watch how you are presented to an employer. This is the age of the self made and, yet, so many of us are still swimming in shark infested waters trying to get a piece of the proverbial pie. In any given moment, our lifeline could get pulled at any time with the remark of, "well, we may not be what you're looking for." I.E. "We don't want to pay you that much." It amazes me that so many companies are searching for quality, yet only think quantity. Let me explain what I mean.

I'm an entrepreneur looking for a job in today's market. Yes, just as Michael Jordan tried to hit a home run, I realized this isn't for me. Yet, it took this situation to get it through my head. I recently went through a two week ordeal with a local gym owner who, himself, was an entrepreneur. I saw that he was looking for a Membership Sales Director for his gym and the pay was within the $24-$27k/year range so I applied. Naturally, I got a call immediately given the extent experience my resume showed. We marveled in hour long discussions regarding business, customers, marketing strategies and so forth which, in all honesty, I loved yet felt I was short changing myself by giving away all of my insight for free. If Tony Robbins can charge his rate for his insight, why can't I? Right? Well .... Maybe that was a bad example. However! What did the Joker say? "If you're good at something, never do it for free!". Better example.

This particular gym owner informed me that he was so impressed with my knowledge and experience that he decided he wanted to actually create a position specifically for me. Think of Boss/Leader all rolled into one. I was to help with: Marketing/Events, Promo, Sales, Personal Training and bringing value to the brand and emphasizing the experience. Now, I'm not against working but I wasn't interested in working for cheap either. I've had the pleasure of working with a different gym owner and his lovely wife who understood supply and demand a little better than the latter. (To which I am incredibly sorry I let him and his wife down. I wasn't in the right head space for that job and I wish things had went differently, but the experience was worth its weight in golden knowledge. And for that, I thank you.)

So, after he went as far as to say I was the most qualified individual he had spoken to regarding employment, like symphony of hesitancy, his tone changed dramatically when we got to discussing compensation. In case you didn't know, the fitness industry is shifting it's payments from lump sums to monthly drafts from your account. Which means the gyms don't get that huge sum of money monthly from PT. So the pay scale changed a lot for management. Now, keep in mind, before we mentioned pay, I DID apply for a job that pays in the ballpark of $24-$27k a year. I simply stated I wanted a consistent salary that is negotiable(within his range) and I wasn't interested in bonuses/commissions, etc etc. He was startled at this, but with a lot of doubt in his voice, he let me know that he didn't know if that would work. 

So fast forward a few days, they ask me to "Secret Shop" their class to offer my opinion (I do know people get paid for this job). I agree, and oblige the G.M. with my thoughts and feelings regarding the class. Ironically, this convo turns into another interview for this Hybrid position that doesn't even exist. After explainimg the details of my past experiences, the previous job offers I've been given and offered and turned down, we end the convo with a conversation regarding boxing, sports etc. Not even 6 hours pass and I get a phone call from said G.M. informing me they will NOT be hiring me and will be looking for someone else due to the ASSUMED financial offers been given to me by other potential Assistant Manager and Fitness Manager jobs that I've turned down in the past. It actually came down to not wanting to pay me a non disclosed, non-negotiated compensation which they NEVER offered me.

I was left dumbfounded, yet understand this reason in entirely. There was also a Dr in Dallas who wanted me to help him with marketing, work his front desk, help sell a new age remedy of therapy for his office yet only wanted to pay me a very insufficient amount(nothing one could live off of) with the reasoning of, "you don't have enough office experience for me to pay you more." So, in short,

EMPLOYERS WANT "QUALITY" EMPLOYEES YET REFUSE TO PAY THEM A QUALITY PAY RATE.

All I can say for your company, is that you get exactly what you pay for. Employers and customers alike.

As I've been saying, this is the age of the self made.  We as working men and women have been given a choice and the line was drawn in the sand long ago. Either make your own future, or work to make someone else's future. I have found a new fortune in having faith, not only in myself but faith in the universe/divine/god or whatever you believe in. Education is soon being discovered in long conversations with intelligent individuals as well as archives and in the shelves of libraries and your traditional 4 year diploma is soon going to be worth only the price of the paper it is printed on.

Success at Rock Bottom: Influence When It's MOST Needed

What's that age old saying? The one people always tell themselves when things aren't going bad?

"Money isn't everything."

Yeah, sure. Money isn't everything but it's a lot easier to be in bad mood with some serious cash sitting in your bank account than it is when you're flat bloke. In fact, EVERYTHING is much easier to deal with when you can look at your bank account and it looks like a phone number.

But what if you DIDN'T have that? (Which most of us are there anyways, so we can all relate) What do you think the most important thing is to have when you've hit rock bottom? I.E.

• You're flat broke and can't even buy food
• Your self esteem is totally shattered 
• You don't have a friend who's willing to lend a hand (Seriously, who hasn't been in that situation)
• You have no job
• You feel completely alone and isolated

Congratulations, you've reached Rock Bottom. The real Boulevard of Broken Dreams where Heartbreak Hotel houses more potential ideas than a cemetery. What do you do now? How can I get out of here?? How did this happen? (This is the most common question)

Every single successful individual regardless if you're thinking of: Churchill, Schwarzenegger, Cardone, Gates or Jobs, has walked a path in their lifetime and discovered they have come to a crossroads. Something they had acted like a "Map" and that something took them to where they were now. (No, it wasn't money)

They had a vision. A vision that led them exactly where they needed to be. With that vision they had a purpose which acted as a flashlight to keep them focused on their vision. Apart from the latter, they had something as unique as the previous. They had MOTIVATION!! I'm here to help you find your tools to success. (Aren't you glad this wasn't another boring blog relative to some 10 step program or a spiel for Advocare?) 

To me Motivation, Purpose and Vision are the only three things you need to achieve absolutely anything you have ever wanted to earn. Notice the key word, EARN. I am here to help you. Not give you all the answers, but to purpose you analyze the questions proposed to you so you may find your own personal map, flashlight and unique drive to achieve something because I assure you that Arnold didn't have the same vision, purpose and motivation as Jobs or Churchill did.

Vision::

We are visual beings. Perception is everything and, unfortunately, that works against us. We take what we see too seriously and thus shape our existence around it and accept it. That's why the broke stay poor and the rich stay rich. You have to be so mentally strong that you must undo all of your upbringing to believe and accept what you see as reality. You MUST force your mind, body and spirit to refuse to accept where you are and believe you are going somewhere better and you DESERVE it. If you don't already have a vision in your mind of where you see yourself and what you see yourself doing, you must write it down. You MUST write it down until it is chiseled into your subconscious and that is all you think about. Your vision will soon become your obsession and, only until it's an obsession, it will become a reality. 

Purpose::

Were you really meant to be here to tuck yourself in a cheap suit jacket, sit in a cubicle all day and pay bills until you finally die? Were you really meant to slave away for 50 years until you are finally able to live but are too old and far gone to even enjoy it? Far too many of us are going through the motions in life with NO PURPOSE! It's a ball and chain that's wearing your soul down and stifling your flight. We were all born to do SOMETHING special and unique because, like life, nothing, "Just Happens." You don't just happen to be a good painter, a good writer, a good designer, a good whatever you are. We each have a calling and to discover that is to discover what your purpose here in life is. It's not to just life, it's not to work your entire life, it's not to conform or comply. We have been raised to conform, comply and go along with the heard. This is the generation of the Self Made man (and woman, of course) and it's becoming more and more apparent. What do you love to do? What are you good at? Got it? Good, you have found your purpose. Let it guide you to your success via your vision.

MOTIVATION::

Let's face it, money's nice. Car's are nice. Flashy stuff is cute but it's worthless. It literally pales in comparison to the value of having motivation to pursue what truly makes you happy and what your true calling is for. What makes motivation so valuable?? Because no matter what you purchase in your life, you can never BUY motivation. Motivation is that fire that burns inside you to go an extra mile, work an extra hour or put that extra project on your plate. Some people love to say they have it, but when things start going against them, they lose it. Which , in my book, means they never had it in the first place. Truly having motivation is having the ability to continue the pursuit even if you had no logical reason to. Your excuses aren't a logical reason, that's just you being a bitch. Logical reasons are them saying, "You're working out for a show? you aren't ready and you may not even place buddy." and you replying, "Doesn't matter if I place or not, I'm still going to try and I'll be even more prepared for the next one." 

Them: "Hey bud, it's quitting time! Why are you still here?"

You: "I wanted to get a head start on this project and stay ahead of the game. This is really important to me and my career"

Them: "You'll never make it as a writer"

You: "Oh? Watch me."

If you aren't so pumped by the end of this then I don't know what to tell you! That was awesome!! I'm ready to go hit the weights again! Walk the dogs, AGAIN! Write , AGAIN! Everything again but bigger and better! Bottom line, stop being such a bitch and take a hold of your life with BOTH hands and own it! You only get one so you might as well life this one up ! If not, you'll end up working, buying or investing into someone's passion who did live it up and , for that, we thank you