Posts Tagged ‘Monday Morning Mojo’

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Change or Die?!

By Tom Tognoli | January 30th, 2012 0 Comments

What if a well-informed, trusted authority figure said you had to make difficult and enduring changes in the way you think and act?

If you didn’t make those changes, you would die soon. A lot sooner than you had to.

Could you change when change really mattered?

Yes, you say? Try again. Most likely you wouldn’t change.

Don’t believe me? Let me share with you the odds – 9 to 1. That’s 9 to 1 against you.

Do you realize a SMALL percent of the population consumes the VAST majority of the health care budget for diseases that are very well known, and by in large behavioral? We are sick because of how we choose to live our lives, not because of any environmental or genetic factors beyond our control. They say it could be as much as 80% of our health care budget is consumed by these behavioral issues – smoking, eating, drinking, stress and lack of exercise.

Could behaviors be driving issues in more than one area of our lives? Could we ultimately be in control of the aspects we felt were a product of conditions outside our control?

Do you want some more proof of the challenge we all face in change?

There was a study done back in 1995 of people who went through bypass surgery (open heart surgery). Of those studied, within 2 years from surgery 90% went right back to their old unhealthy lifestyle. So, if the fear of DEATH doesn’t initiate change – is there any hope? More importantly how do we get our stubborn brain to stop resisting change so tenaciously. Why do we fight it even when we KNOW if we don’t it will kill us?

Well, knowing that motivating people with the fear of death wasn’t the right approach because 90% went right back to where they were before, the study tried a different approach. They decided to change the patients focus. Have any idea to what? The joy of LIVING.

The study took 300 patients and put a 100% daily effort into focusing their minds on all the daily things that make life great. They coached them on their mindset, their attitude, their daily habits, and surrounded them continually with the RIGHT influences. It was this change of focus – taking it away from the fear of death and into the joy of living – that allowed 77% of the patients to sustain the lifestyle changes.

What changes do we need to make? Where is our focus – in fear or in joy?

It’s time to make some changes now!

Download and read Alan Deutschman’s complete Change or Die article, my inspiration for today’s Mojo. It’s an eye opener – definitely worth taking the time to read.

Make is a GREAT week and a GREAT life!

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Morning Mojo: Defying Gravity

By Tom Tognoli | January 23rd, 2012 0 Comments

He was a physically active, healthy, and positive person growing up. He played sports and was always very active right through college. Even after college he would play pickup games of hoops, go for an occasional run and talk about all of the great things he was going to accomplish in life.

Then it all started to happen. Like it does for so many people, it did not happen all at once, but gradually over time. One day he looked at himself in the mirror and did not recognize the person he saw. He had gone from being this positive, ambitious, fit and healthy young man who was going to conquer the world and turned into this normal middle aged, overweight, cynical guy with slumped shoulders, horrible posture and a frown on his face. Heck, he did not even take the time to trim that hair growing out of his nose and ears…he just did not care anymore. You know the kind of person I am talking about. It may even be you. We see it all of the time…unfortunately, it is actually more normal that not. It is called the gravity of life. Reality of it is it is also just plain old gravity itself. Keeping fit and healthy in the equities of our life does not get easier as we get older, it gets harder. There are the aches and pains, the responsibilities, lack of time, and hanging out with our other people who are letting gravity suck them to the ground as well that helps us justify in our own minds it is okay. Well, I am here to tell you it is not okay. People, just taking it easy is why we have so much obesity, alcohol and drug addiction, poverty, money problems and divorce. The most important stuff in life requires hard work.

Gravity is what keeps us on the ground physically, but it is also what can pull us down in all the areas of our lives. And, if we let it, gravity will pull us below the ground. I have talked with my trainer, Brad, about this for years. The mindset of most people as they get older is all about working hard at life until we can take our foot off the gas and chill…get the house paid off, kids through college, retirement…

“Ah…How sweet it is going to be…lazy days, vacationing, fine wine and food, and doing a whole lot of nothing”

Well, I am here to tell you we all need to change our mindset. I know firsthand things don’t get easier as we get older; they get harder in many ways. We actually need to work harder at all the equities of our life because there is no such thing as a status quo life. Either we are getting better or we are getting worse, but we are never staying the same. And, if we aren’t working at getting better every day, gravity will suck us into the ground. We can’t just set off into the sunset. It is not easier to keep off the pounds, it is harder…it’s not easier to keep your blood pressure and cholesterol under control, it’s  harder…it’s not easier to keep connected with our kids once they are out of the house, it’s harder…it’s not easier, it’s harder in all the areas of our life.

My challenge to everyone is every day you wake up make a commitment to make at least a small improvement in all the areas of your F5 (faith, family, friends, fitness, finance) and Defy Gravity. It may require some short term pain, but I promise the long term gain is worth it!!!!!!!

Defy Gravity!!!!!

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Morning Mojo: EXPANSION!!!!!!

By Tom Tognoli | January 9th, 2012 0 Comments

Every quarter when a company reports their earnings, the analysts talk about the company’s earnings as a factor of top line growth or expense reduction. Is the company expanding, innovating, and doing more business so it can thrive in the years to come or is it just cutting and slashing expenses, holding on for dear life, to hit its profit numbers for investors? During any crisis or recession all smart companies will cut expenses and become more conservative, however, the best companies know that to succeed in the years to come it is about being innovating and doing more…not less. Actually the best companies not only know how to survive in challenging times, but they know how to capitalize on them and propel them to even greater long term success. They know the best time to expand is when everyone else is contracting.

This does not only apply to business but it really applies to everything in life. So, my question for you as we get 2012 rolling is do you have an expansion mindset or a recession mindset? Are your fired up about the possibilities or terrified about the “what if’s?” Over these last few years of uncertainty and recession I know firsthand, the natural instinct is to hold on and become much more conservative about everything in life. The term hunker down and take cover comes to mind. And although when we are in the midst of attack we need to be smart and do whatever we can to survive and not get slaughtered, we can’t stay in the proverbial bunker forever. At some point we need to take what we have learned from the struggle then get back on the horse and ride it again. Because as we all know the longer we wait the harder it gets. The economic and world turmoil we have experienced these last several years has really taken its toll on so many people’s physique, confidence, health, families, friendships, faith and of course their pocket books…mine included. I see so many people still completely paralyzed…people are literally afraid to make a decision and do anything because they are so focused on the worst case scenario and not the potential opportunities. Unfortunately they did not get back on the horse soon enough and now years later even the sight of it causes them to sweat.

Look…I know…I am not sitting here on my soap box telling you that I have not experienced some of this myself. I have had many sleepless nights these last few years…lying in bed staring at the ceiling running through all of my potential disaster plans and how I would survive if this happens or that happens. But if you have not shaken it off by now and gotten back to being focused on the possibilities and become expansion minded, now is the time. We can’t simply hold on to what we have and think that is good enough. Things never stay the same in our F-5 (faith, family, friends, fitness, and finance)…either they are getting better or they are getting worse. Life does not stand still and the only way it will get better is if you get back in the game of life and start taking some risks and really GOING FOR IT!!!!!!! Kind of like your New Year’s resolution to lose weight and exercise more…right? If we don’t do anything we know what will happen. No action really means negative action.

Get in action NOW!!!!!!!!

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Morning Mojo: Merry Christmas

By Tom Tognoli | December 19th, 2011 0 Comments

Can you believe it? Christmas is only six days away.

I would like to wish all of you a Merry Christmas and thank you for the wonderful gift. Thank you for the gift of opportunity to share Monday Morning MOJO with you.

By having to think, research and create ideas to share every week it has forced me to reaffirm what is important to me in my life.  By writing Monday Morning MOJO I have also attracted into my life more of the things which are important to my family, my friends, our company and me.

As we have discussed in past Monday Morning MOJO’s, one of the best ways to get more of what you want in life is to help others get more of what they want. I hope I have been able to help you do just that – you have certainly helped me. You have been my best accountability partner in 2011.

So, don’t forget to get more of what you want next year – help others get more of what they want. You have to give to get!

So, what do you want Monday Morning MOJO to provide you for Christmas?

I have been sending out Monday Morning MOJO now for nearly a decade and I thought I would ask you what you are struggling with in life, what breakthroughs are you wanting to accomplish but just can’t quite seem to make it happen? What questions do you want Monday Morning MOJO to help with? Do you have an inspirational story to share – one that you think can make a difference for the thousands of people who receive Monday Morning MOJO?  It’s the stories of real experiences that truly make the difference and have the largest impact.

My gift to you today for Christmas is MOJO. What exactly is MOJO you ask?

MOJO defined is:

  • A magic charm or spell
  • The art or practice of casting magic spells
  • An object, as an amulet or charm that is believed to carry a magic spell
  • MOJO is me sending you success, health, and happiness.

Merry Christmas!!!!!!!

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Morning Mojo: Get it!!!!!!

By Tom Tognoli | December 12th, 2011 0 Comments

The hustle and bustle of the holiday season. I don’t know about you, but this time of year with so many things to do I sometimes feel like I am one step behind and can’t keep up…holiday parties, Christmas shopping, packed malls, yearend projects, etc.  I can become impatient. Remember as we go through the holiday season what it is all about. Also remember sometimes things and people are not as they appear.  Check it out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TINwByhK2v4&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Happy Holidays.

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Morning Mojo: 21 Gun Salute

By Tom Tognoli | December 5th, 2011 0 Comments

People measure success by the money they make, houses they own, cars they drive, toys they have, or title on their business card. The true measure of success is none of that stuff. The true definition of success in life is how much you have loved and been loved.

He was a great leader, father, and friend to many. With hundreds of people in the room he was honored with tears, smiles and laughter. One of his best friends, Roger Malech, gave him what he called his 21 gun salute at the memorial. He shared with us the 21 most important things he taught him. Based on the number of people in attendance at his memorial I think he taught them to us all. This past week we honored the life of one of Intero’s original Founders, Kevin Moles…a man who defined success. Kevin unexpectedly passed away at the age of 55 a few weeks ago, this is his 21 gun salute.

1.      Cowboy boots go with anything – even a Tuxedo.

2.      It’s okay for a man to smell good, I mean really good. No man smelled as good as Kevin. I remember more than once my wife would come home and I would say, “Why do you smell like men’s cologne?” and she would say “I saw Kevin today and he gave me a hug”

3.      There’s no situation so bad that a little Beach Boys won’t help.

4.      A party is not a real party unless Hank shows up. And we all know he was talking about Hank Williams Jr.

5.      It is possible to pass another car on a freeway on-ramp. I learned this first hand because I was with him when he passed Kristi Pritchard on the Leavesly on-ramp.

6.      The top speed on 101 between the Dunne and Cochrane exits is 130 MPH.

7.      It’s completely acceptable to take 2 hours off in the middle of the work day and see a movie, even if it’s just the movie “Joe Dirt” and it’s playing in Kevin’s family room.

8.      The best way to solve a problem is to start by putting your feet on your desk.

9.      The worst day selling real estate is better than the best day picking strawberries. Kevin had this fantasy of loading up all the agents on a bus for a mystery play day. He wanted to take them all to a strawberry farm on a summer day and have them pick strawberries for 4 hours. He was convinced that this was the way to stop the whining about how difficult selling real estate was. We never did that but I can’t pass a strawberry farm to this day without being thankful that I am in the business I am.

10.  In the term “Independent Contractor”, the word “Independent” is greatest, by far.

11.  You never know what the tide will bring in. This is from the movie “Castaway” and it references when Tom Hanks is hopeless and can’t get off the island but is looking out to sea and notices a piece of an old port-a-potty floating in the surf. He eventually uses it as a sail to get off the island. When Kevin would tell me “You never know what the tide will bring in”, he was offering hope. It was his way of saying keep going. Keep looking to the surf. Don’t give up. Life may give you a port-a-potty but you can use it to sail to freedom. Kevin really believed that.

12.  The most important recruiting technique is to keep the people you have happy.

13.  The second most important recruiting technique is to be attractive to other agents.

14.  If you treat a group of people with respect and love, give them what they need, and then leave them alone, they will follow you anywhere. This was proven 9 years ago when 42 of us left the company we worked for and joined the first Intero office here in Morgan Hill. We didn’t know what Intero meant, we didn’t know what to expect, and we didn’t even know what our commission splits were going to be. None of that mattered because we wanted to be with Kevin. Last week I was talking to Ira Marshall, a financial planner that Kevin used. He told me that every time he met with Kevin, Kevin would share concerns about the agents. He would talk about them by name and asked Ira if he could meet with them and help them. Ira told me “Kevin had a love affair with his agents. He really did care about them. It wasn’t just about business.”

15.  If the term “generous to a fault” were true, Kevin was the faultiest man I’ve ever known.

16.  Real men can kiss and hug each other.

17.  Real men can say “I love you” to each other. Often times, including the last time I saw him, Kevin would ask me “Who loves you baby?” I would say “Ummm you?”

18.  Real men admit their mistakes. One day, after his divorce, Kevin and I were having a heart to heart and he said “I really screwed up Rog. Tesha is the best woman I’ll ever know.”

19.  Yesterday is a cancelled check. Tomorrow is a promissory note. Today is legal tender, spend it wisely.

20.  God can use us, however flawed we might be, to have an incredible impact on others. I am not the same man I was as before I met Kevin. He was a friend, a brother, and a mentor. He will not be forgotten because I feel like I owe him a debt that can never be re-paid. He was instrumental in helping me get sober 15 years ago and I dedicate the rest of my days of sobriety to him.

21.  You can’t outrun God. Kevin wrestled with God his entire life and we had many discussions about spiritual things. The last time I saw him it was very evident that his wrestling was over. He had made peace with God and told me He had committed his life to Jesus and had been baptized. That doesn’t mean his troubles were over but it does mean that I will see him again. I look so forward to that and I can’t wait until we can both share a glass of wine (without the burden of addiction) with Jesus and I will hear those familiar words “Who loves you, baby?”

We love you Kevin and we will see you in Heaven.

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Morning Mojo: Get Comfortable with Change

By Tom Tognoli | November 28th, 2011 0 Comments

Does any of this sound familiar?

“…sounds like a great idea, I will get started tomorrow.” Yeah right…like that is really going to happen…just like the last thousand times he said “I will start tomorrow.”

“Wow, I can see how that will have a hugely positive impact on my life, but I just don’t have time to deal with making the necessary changes right now…I will try and implement that next month when things settle down.” We all know things never “settle down.”

“Why is it that no matter what I seem to do…not matter how much I work or how hard I try, I can never get ahead in my F5 (Faith, Family, Friends Fitness, Finance)? I am trying hard every day, but there just aren’t enough hours in the day.”

Here is the first thing we all need to get real clear on…no matter how hard we try, if we continue to do what we have always done, we will continue to get what we have always gotten. So, to get more of what we want in our lives, the key is not doing more of what we are currently doing harder, but doing different…changing the way we look at things….the way we do things. Sounds easy…right? NOT!!!!

Getting comfortable with change does not happen overnight…it is something we need to train ourselves to get comfortable with. Most of the things we do in our life and our thoughts are a routine that have been engrained in us over YEARS. So, we plow on, mindlessly doing the same old things in the same old way. Whether these routines or thoughts are good or bad, like a drop of water which continuously hits on a rock, our habits create a hole or a rut. And the longer the drop of our habits hit the rock, the deeper the hole. Over time as that hole gets deeper and deeper, the harder it is to get out of the rut when we want to make a change.

So, why haven’t we forced ourselves out of the rut before now? Most of the time we don’t change because we are afraid…it makes us uncomfortable…makes us feel exposed…or we are just plain lazy. And the older we get the harder it is to make changes because we tend to become less and less flexible. And because we have been doing things one way for such a long time, the hole in the rock becomes the size of the Grand Canyon. So, the key is to train ourselves to get comfortable with change…someone who actually embraces change…someone who actually gets a rush from being innovative and doing it different.

Start challenging your routines. Stop running into the brick wall. Pause…Think. Find a new way that goes around the wall, or maybe over it. Rest assured, the new way is there. It does exist. Changing your habits can itself become common place. The first time you defy “your way” and climb out of your rut it nearly kills you…the second time, it’s real tough…the third time, it’s merely hard. And eventually, it becomes, if not easy, then reasonably comfortable. Your confidence grows, and the tyrant loses a large part of its hold on you. Then, the magic of having a life that is unbelievable pure magic starts to unfold!!!

Make it a powerful week!!!!!

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Morning Mojo: Are you ready for some football

By Tom Tognoli | November 14th, 2011 0 Comments

At the beginning of the NFL football season every team has the same goal…win the Super Bowl. Leading up to the season there is countless hours, days, weeks, and months that go into planning, strategizing and putting together a winning formula. They don’t just show up on opening day and wing it. We all know what would happen if they did.

Life and sports have so much in common. When we start our year we really need to approach it just like a new season in football, with the goal of winning our Super Bowl. The definition of winning a Super Bowl may be different for everyone, but the steps it takes to give us the best chance at accomplishing our goals is the same. We need to plan, strategize and take the time to put together our winning formula before the new season starts…don’t just show up on opening day and wing it. If we do, we are going to get CRUSHED!!!!

In Business this means putting together a Business Plan…in Life it is putting together a Life Plan. It is about taking the time to put together a plan for all the areas of our F-5 (Faith, Family, Friends, Fitness, and Finance). So many of us wait until the New Year before we take time to even consider what we are going to do to Win. I am here to tell you if we wait until then, we are winging it and we are going to get CRUSHED.

One of the things we encourage everyone to do at Intero is to create their Business Plan in October…yes 3 months before the New Year. We know this will not only help them kick off the New Year on fire, but it will help them finish this year strong. For a copy of the Intero Business Plan click here. Even if you are not in real estate there may be some ideas you can take from it in creating your own plan.

Don’t wait until the end of the year and do what most other people do…don’t wing it. Don’t wait until the end of the game when you have to throw up the Hail Mary in desperation. If you wait until then it is pretty much hopeless.

As you put together your plan remember the following:

  • A play = your day
  • A touchdown drive = your week
  • A game = your month
  • A season = your year
  • A Super Bowl = your life

Take the time to visualize your Super Bowl Winning Strategy. Then put together your plan for winning the Season (F5 Plans). Then set goals and strategies for each month. Then take those goals and strategies and put them in your calendar. Then show up every day and execute on every play (what your schedule tells you to do) with all of your effort and focus. Do this and you stand the best chance at winning a Super Bowl.

Touchdown!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Morning Mojo: My life is in a rut!!!!

By Tom Tognoli | November 7th, 2011 0 Comments

“I’m stuck in a rut…I’m just not happy with where I am in my life.”

We can feel this way about our health, our relationships, and our job. We can feel like we are stuck in a rut, good or bad, about anything in life.

So, how do we get out of the bad ruts?

The bad news is it takes a lot of work to get out of them. The good news is when we are in good ruts it’s also hard to get out of them. I call them the ruts of life.

Look at all the equities of your life – your F5 (Faith, Family, Friends, Fitness and Finance). What kind of ruts are you stuck in – good or bad? Often our ruts can include being happy or sad, inspired or uninspired, purpose driven or purposeless, healthy or unhealthy, motivated or unmotivated, in good relationships or bad relationships. I think anyone who answers how are you with “I’m okay” or ”I’m fine” is in a bad rut and in denial. They just don’t know it and/or don’t want to admit it.

In life we can’t live between the ruts, it’s just too hard, it’s like trying to balance on a tight rope for our entire life – eventually we get tired and fall to one side. Unfortunately if we don’t make a conscious decision typically we’ll fall into a bad rut. So, we have to accept the fact we are going to get stuck in one of the two ruts – good or bad. In the book The Purpose Driven Life it says, “Nothing shapes your life more than the commitments you choose to make.  Your commitments can develop you or they can destroy you, but either way they will define you.”

Let’s make the commitment today to scrape and claw our way out of the bad ruts. Once we’re out, just roll over and fall into the good rut.  There will be short-term pain with getting out, but it will pass and then you will experience the long-term gain of living life in the good ruts.

Get stuck in the good ruts and make it a GREAT week!!!!

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Morning Mojo: Everything expands to meet the resources available

By Tom Tognoli | October 31st, 2011 0 Comments

MONEY…WORK…HEALTH…YOUR WEIGHT…LIFE – everything expands to meet the resources available. Have you ever noticed how that works?

  1. It’s the day before you go on vacation. How is it you can get all that stuff done you haven’t been able to get done for months, the day before you leave on vacation? Because we have a deadline.
  2. It’s April 15th and you get your taxes done just in time. How is it we can get our taxes done and dropped off at the Post Office the evening of April 15th, but could never seem to find the time the three and a half months before. Because we have a deadline.
  3. You ever notice when you go on a diet and lose all that weight you can’t seem to keep it off. Next time try burning all of your old clothes so you can’t expand back into them. Because if you have clothes that will fit when you put back on the weight, guess what? You will. Remove the option or at least make it expensive if you do.
  4. Have you ever noticed that no matter how much money you make it never seems to be enough? It’s because your expenses are expanding to meet your income. Watch out for this one…it is a killer!!!
  5. Why is it at the end of a football game with only 2 minutes left a team can score, but they had not been able to score the entire game before the final 2 minutes? The deadline is 2 minutes away and either they win or lose…they have no options.

When we have deadlines we are forced into action – no more procrastination – you just do it because you have to. Somehow we need to figure out a way to create our own self imposed deadlines, get ahead in the game early and not wait until the last 2 minutes.

Isn’t it funny, that no matter where we are in life, we always feel like we don’t have enough time? In high school…in college…starting our career…after we get married…after we have kids. Not only can we seem to get more and more done at each stage in life, but when we reflect back, we wonder what we did with all that free time we had in the previous stage of our life. It’s just because the amount of time it takes to do things will expand or reduce to meet the amount of time you give it.

Operate from a schedule and create mini deadlines on everything and then let someone you know, who will hold you to it, about the deadline. It is called accountability – that other word we all hate. For most it is almost like the word death. But the reality of it is, if you want to have freedom and success you need to have accountability and discipline.  Sorry about that.

Make it a GREAT week!

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