2017 Holiday Solipsistic Recriminations
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| Armani peaked lapel, Pendleton camel overcoat, tie by Ted Baker, D-Bag by yours truly. |
We end the year 2016 name-dropping -- Sniff! -- had a nice little meeting recently with actor/producer Will Smith jumping in at the end that was about a friend/client's product. Nicest guy, like, ever. Could be cool if it gets traction. We'll see. Not even close to being the most important meeting for 2016, but it was cool for my pal-client to be sure. Actually, have a fairly important product/project that involves Quincy Jones that is fairly significant, scalable, and salutary ... if it comes through. Mos def keep you all posted on that one -- I just said "Mos def."
And, because it's the end of the year everyone's making lists (and checking them twice), I figure ole Fats should get in on the craze. So, here goes. If a half-way successful business fella, with several king-size (okay, regular type) failures does it for ya, I present 11 random points that will sound oh-so-self-important!
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No. 1 -- Double-down on good things, and eliminate the unproductive things. 45 mins each morning on email is too, too much. That goes for relationships, too. Spend time with friends and business partners who appreciate you rather than hanging out with "the right" (folks you think are cool) people that you probably won't talk to in 18 months (or who can't be bothered to talk to you).
No. 2 -- Take ownership of the "total shite" things you've been putting off. Make them A's or 1's on your to-do list and get them crossed off. They say endorphins kick-in for Type-A personalities who know about getting things done. They literally get off getting things off of their (oft-crushed) lists. Go and do likewise, my fine friend who listens to less-than-successful types making lists of eleven!
No. 3 -- Make the "good-enough now" your freaking arch-nemesis of the "perfect one year from now." Just get sh*t done, bud; perfect it later. It's called iteration, so iterate as you go, on-the-fly like, brotha.
No. 4 -- As I always tell my reps and my sons and my friends. "Activities drive opportunities!" Don't wait around for things to come to you (never be an order taker), make it happen (be a chef cookin' things up, not a waiter taking orders)!
No. 5 -- If you don't A-S-K, you don't G-E-T. It's not just a truism, maxim, or promise, its a bloody curse because believe me, someone else is asking out your future wife, getting the money for your project, and landing that dream job. What?! Tell me I'm wrong, people. Seriously, is a "no" going to kill you?!
No. 6 -- Make a list of the "giant goals" in your life right now. Those goals you'd love to have accomplished, you know the ones you talk about and your friends go, "oh, sure!" dripping in sarcasm: Marathons to run. Books to finish/start. Scripts to write/pitch to studios. Dream houses to build in your future/fave state or country. Now ... focus on the ONE thing that you cannot imagine LIVING without if you were on your death bed and staring down into your end-of-life bucket list. What isn't there that is truly bumming you out right about now? What would embarrass the hell out of you if your friends/family were there going, "yup, she never was going to accomplish that restoration of the ole McPherson Estate. She was such a dreamer, not a doer." Screw that noise! Get pissed off. Let shame and anger work their pokey little fingers into your crawl and make you good and uncomfortable and DO something about it.
No. 7 -- Live within your means. Be debt-free. Life is just better when that debt-free goal is indeed your reality, pal o' mine. I hate that there is any debt hanging over my fat, pudgy face and bald head like some Damocles Sword and she ain't pretty, and sleep, she ain't sweet with that drama all up in my business. Trust.
No. 8 -- Tell your kids, parents, friends, and loved ones you love them. Often. Hey, Dear Reader, I've only known you since 2009, but ... uh, um, I love ya. "I don't know if a "ya" counts as an official "I love you" but I'll take it." (name that Nancy Meyers movie!)
No. 9 -- Be grateful. I just sent a letter to a friend who did me a major solid, like, ten years ago. Changed my life. Each Thanksgiving I send such letters to folks to remind myself and them what their largess did for me and my family (Ben Stein was one such fellow one fine day in Malibu -- still need to write about that).
No. 10 -- Write a journal. Keep a diary. Make a record of your life and share it with your family. Chronicling your family history or even simply tracing a narrative of your personal life stories can be a gift for the next generation. I double-dawg dare you.
No. 11 -- When you're about to go out with friends, and then some creepy little voice tempts you to cancel, excuse-make, LIE, or call an (Omaha!) audible like Tom Brady... tell that little soul-sucking creep to piss-off and GO OUT with your friends or family. Events, happenings, concerts, museums, trips to the local landmark are what memories are made of ... not hugging a piece of the ole sofa on a Saturday morning or Tuesday during must-waste-my-life-tv! We miss you when you cancel on us. We'll see you out there on the court, at the movies, or at Bible study.
That's all for now. Let's both of us commit to live life to the fullest for 2017!
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