Instant Inspiration: Jimmy V

As someone who has struggled with psoriasis, I often find inspiration and motivation from those who struggle with chronic diseases of their own. Being employed at The James Comprehensive Cancer Center reinforces the struggles, pain, and losses ones can experience in battle with disease, and reinforces it everyday.

Part of my breakthrough in 2013 has been finding a treatment plan that works well for me and that I can easily incorporate into my life (home phototherapy treatments); this is often the case for anyone with a chronic condition. As with cancer, there is no treatment for psoriatic disease, but an excellent treatment plan can bring about “remission” of the disease – basically an eradication of the symptoms and side effects in this case. Because there is no cure – that’s only a portion of the battle.

Another part, sometimes the biggest and most complex aspect of “remission”, is recovering on the emotional and mental side of things. To do so, I believe it is important to heed the advice of inspirational epicenters – one of them being the late coach, James “Jim” Valvano. I am a huge fan of sports, so this name is a common one for me. For those who aren’t, Jim Valvano won the 1983 NCAA championship at North Carolina State before succumbing to cancer some decade later at the too-young age of 47.

Before his passing, he gave one of the cornerstone speeches in sports. Aching, ill, and with cancer having metastasized all over his body, he gave his motivational “Don’t ever give up” speech at the 1993 ESPY Awards. His mettle during one of the worst imaginable circumstances one can ever be presented with should give pause to us all – persevere no matter the situation, and not to ever give up.

“To me, there are three things we all should do every day. We should do this every day of our lives. Number one is laugh. You should laugh every day. Number two is think. You should spend some time in thought. And number three is, you should have your emotions moved to tears, could be happiness or joy. But think about it. If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that's a full day. That's a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you're going to have something special.” – Jim Valvano

We all have our struggles, and will encounter situations that create anxiety, stress, melancholy, pain, and turmoil. No matter what, I urge you to always handle them with class, with dignity, with humility, and with the mindset that things will improve with time, patience, and dedication.

Six things we can take away from Jimmy V’s speech to not only help us live unconquered, but to live life in general –
 

§                                      Remember where you come from

§                                      Know where you are headed

§                                      Enjoy your life, and the precious moments

§                                      Keep your dreams alive in spite of hardships, pressures

§                                      Work hard to make your dreams a reality

§                                      “Don’t give up, don’t ever give up”

Full Jim Valvano ESPY Award Speech

L | u

J. Junior II

Even In Defeat

I want everyone to know that you can win even when you lose. Victory can be had out of a defeat. It’s all in how you view your setbacks. Know that for every setback you suffer, there are numerous victories to be had.

#1        Don’t ever be discouraged.

#2        Let your setback strengthen your resolve.

#3        Carefully review your setbacks; do a full analysis.

#4        Once your analysis is complete, go over it.

#5        Take your analysis and mold it into a lesson learned.

#6        Stay prepared for the future.

#7        Construct a fail-proof game plan.

#8        Don’t let outside forces dictate your journey.

#9        After any setback, be sure you’re on a team with winners.

#10      If you find that #9 isn’t the case, realign yourself and your motives.

Let’s go through those steps one by one…

#1        Not letting yourself get down is the hardest part. Setbacks can be a blow to your pride more than anything. Here’s the bright side – pride is a sensitive son of a gun anyway. Pride is too superficial for you to put much stock into it – focus on your character. Character is more of the true you and it gets a giant boost every time you get beaten down.

#2        Strengthen your resolve and purpose. You can tell yourself, “yes I was defeated in this particular situation, but next time I’m going to come that much harder”. I’ve always used defeats to my future advantage; aka used a past stumble to mold the road to a future triumph. If you’re determined not to be held down, you won’t be. It can take longer than you’d like sometimes, but let your resolve and determination lead the way when your patience is non-existent.

#3        Time for a full comprehensive review. Be honest with yourself. Why did you fail? Did your environment hasten your defeat? The team you’re surrounded with? Outside forces working against you? While there are often adversaries working to suppress your goals, focus on self. That means taking accountability whenever possible. Don’t bemoan it too much; it’s perfectly fine to admit hey, I screwed up.

#4        Review, review, and review once more. Be sure your analysis is both accurate and honest. If you’re angry, depressed, shocked, or indifferent about your recent failure – revisit the analysis for a second look at a different time. Once your emotions have settled you will more than likely have a different outlook and opinion.

#5        Alright so you’ve went over your analysis and now you’re sitting and wondering what’s next. Time to mold that failure into a roadway for the future; that means learn from your mistakes and let them guide an easier path for your future. Often times, a failure is really meant to alter your focus to where it really needs to be versus where you think it should be. Change your priorities during this time if the need exists.

#6        You always need to be prepared for what lies ahead. Life goes on once you’ve stumbled; have a plan for what you do after the dust settles. This ties into #5 and building a roadway for the future out of your gaffe or setback. But in this particular instance, you not only need to learn from your mistakes and let them guide your future, you need to have your eyes on the horizon and ready for what comes beyond it.

#7        Use the analysis you created in step #3 to construct as close to a fail-proof game plan as you can. Be humble, precise, and rational; being a strong choleric personality I can tend to create a plan out of irritation, stubbornness, and sometimes being hell bent on revenge. Don’t do that, you are automatically setting yourself up for another failure if you do (TRUST me). Implement patience and intellect in any game plans you create; plans developed in foolishness and developed rashly will ultimately cause you to falter.

#8        While I always preach accountability I know that even if you’re 110% responsible, outside forces will sometimes be against you. You can be doing everything right and to the best of your ability and still fail. Unfortunately, we live in a world full of those who are miserable, who abuse their power, and who will shun you just because they can. All you can do is dust your self off, maintain your integrity, and try your hardest to put yourself in a position where outside forces (those above you, those around you, your environment, past actions, etc.) don’t directly affect your game plan(s). This step takes time but can be done with careful planning and keeping yourself enveloped with a winning team (aka the right people).

#9        Speaking of that winning team – examine yours everyday. Be around people who promote, are honest, support you, and are there during your down times to assist you. Be around those who would rather constructively criticize you than sugar coat the truth. Be weary of those who smile in your face but leak acid behind your back. One of my biggest flaws can sometimes be wearing my emotions on my sleeve as a choleric; but I feel it’s important to be honest and upfront on how you feel about situations (it’s all in your presentation; mine can suffer at times). That being said, always aim to present the most truthful presentation (this doesn’t mean be abrasive or condescending), be respectful, be open minded, and be welcoming no matter what. This will draw the winning teammates you desire to you without you even trying.

#10      So you’ve examined your team around you. This step involves making the necessary changes to both the team and the environment you’re in. I strongly believe that you cannot win in an atmosphere that promotes stagnation – no matter how hard you try. So if you’re in stagnation, indifference, suppression, or pessimism – chart a course and move yourself out of it. I’ve had to do it many times, and will many times more in the future. You cannot expect to win surrounded by losers and in a losing atmosphere; nor can you complain about it if you haven’t actively tried to relocate yourself. Don’t let fears of change deter you; don’t ever be scared of starting over if you need to. Sometimes that move could be just what you needed to get your fail-proof game plan underway.

Know that all of these steps won’t apply to everyone. Everyone’s case will vary except for completing an analysis of your situation. Sometimes this will be the first step, and you can then move into the other steps as you determine necessary.

My mindset on failures is that they are the coal to fuel your engine. Think of yourself as a locomotive – stumbling eventually results in you gaining steam down the road if planned carefully and properly. Be dedicated, motivated, and determined all the while realistic, rational, and knowledgeable. If you are, while it might take some time, you eventually won’t be able to help but live unconquered.

J. Junior II

April 24^th, 2012

Motivational Tid Bits

Just a few thoughts and "tid-bits" to get your fall started right...

> First and foremost, life is never about the mistakes you make, have made, or will make way down the road. It's about the lesson(s) you take from them, and the journey they place you on. If a mistake placed you on the road to destruction, know that while mistakes can't be changed, the actions and/or results in/ of their aftermath can be altered. You write your own storyline. Plan and choose to write a successful one.

> Maximize your potential as an individual. Scan over your dreams, your hopes, and creative desires that you have. Don't let any hidden talents escape, and worse yet don't let any hidden talents sit unused. Your hidden/ unused talent(s) could be the things that bring you forward into a brighter era within your life. Don't be afraid to hone and fine tune your talents either. Everyday should be a day of betterment. Train yourself and your talents if necessary, give them the soil they need to grow.

> Know the different types of motivation and adjust accordingly. There are two general branches - intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsic motivation refers to the motivation driven by the interest in, or the enjoyment of the activity itself, rather than external pressures. Extrinsic is just as it would sound - a motivation that is derived from the external environment of an individual. For example; rewards, coercion, threats, prizes, and recognition. While not all extrinsic motivations are bad in nature, try to focus on the things that come more natural, and thus are likely intrinsic to you (internally based).

> Plan out a realistic timeline for your future, whether short-term or long term, and stick to it. This can give you internal motivation to accomplish whatever goals or complete whatever projects you have out there. This can also serve as a source of optimism if you're lacking.

> Always enable those who surround you if you plan to succeed yourself. You cannot have constant success if your growth stymies those around you. Growth should be done in conjunction. Growth amongst your surroundings will lend itself to more growth; whereas you growing yet breeding a stagnant atmosphere around you lends to your eventual upending.

> Remember that your struggles are polishing you up for a better place. Don't get distracted, distraught, or disorderly when things don't work out as they should. Unfortunately, they never do. With anything, expect the unexpected but don't let it bend you out of shape. Maintaining a positive attitude even in chaos usually makes the struggle not so bad, and makes it pass you by just a little faster. Keep your mood together and push forward.

> Comprehend, communicate, achieve, succeed. And as always, live unconquered despite your circumstance, not conquered because of.

- J. Junior II
9/21/2011

"Weathering The Storm" Timeline

As I push forward with my new manuscript project - which will carry the same name as this blog - I was excited to get an update on Weathering The Storm, which will allow me to offer a pretty firm timeline on it's production course.

Currently, WTS is in the copyediting phase, which will last about a month. Afterwhich, it will go through a three month period of conceptual editing. To kick off the new year, a cover will be designed, followed by two months of layout design. As spring nears, the book will be finalized, afterwhich I can begin the preliminary distribution of copies. While WTS won't yet be on the full market, books will be available through me and at any various events I hold (book signings, etc.). The book goes into a 90 day marketing phase, in which I work with the Publisher (Tate) to find my niche, build support, and ready all the markets for the "official release date". This gives Tate time to have copies ready for distribution once sales go mainstream. At the end of those ninety days, the book is officially released, and available in all major markets.

---------------------------
Here's the timeline in a date format...

Copyediting - currently through the end of September.
Conceptual Edit - Phase I - October
Conceptual Edit - Phase II - November
Conceptual Edit - Phase III - December
Cover Design - January 2012
Layout Design Phase I - February 2012
Layout Design Phase II - March 2012
Book Finalized - on/ around April 15th, 2012 (copies available via me and/or my events such as book signings)
Book Marketing/ Preparation Phase - on/around April 15th, 2012 - July 15th, 2012
BOOK RELEASE DATE - on/ around July 15th, 2012
---------------------------

These dates are not exactly set in stone, but a general timeline that will flex and flow as the production process moves forward, and give you a general idea of the "what/when" process for WTS. It may seem like a long time off, but I'm sure the time will fly by, especially as WTS nears its "birthday".

In the same time, I have also developed the timeline to complete the manuscript for "Live Unconquered", which will be the follow up to WTS and follow the scheme developed by this blog. I'm working now to draw out a frame for Live Unconquered, which could take a month or so. Afterwhich, I'll start filling the frame with the selected material, and give the manuscript a clear concept and message, all the while serving as a sequel to WTS. I'd like for the whole process to be done by the end of January, 2012. Once the manuscript is complete, I will begin the process of finding and selecting an appropriate/ compatible publisher (more than likely Tate) - and the production process will start all over again.

It'll be a lengthy but rewarding process, and I already can't wait for it to be complete. I'll keep working hard until that day...

JJR II
Keep Living Unconquered
9/8/11

A Time To Review - Part I

While I take a quick "sabbatical" to move, create my back cover for my book, and round up interviews for a new position at Ohio State, I thought I would take the next two weeks to review previous postings. To make points stick home, it's always best to keep things fresh in your mind - otherwise they get placed in your brain's disposal.

The Introduction - Use this time now to start anew. You can start writing a new chapter everyday, the power of that pen (of life) lies in your hand. Use it wisely, and be smart. It doesn't matter what your past has, why let the storm clouds of yesteryear linger into next year.

Attitude Checks - I have to preach this one to myself all the time. You will always come in contact with people whom you could do malicious things to. Don't lie to yourself, we all know that person. Instead of wanting to get somebody -  get anybody, stay positive. As my co-worker always tells me - don't let someone else still your shine. In the same token, don't let circumstances and situations be a detriment to you, who you are, and what you stand for. Move forward, and accomplish big things.

Rising Above - Stay above the fray. Keep your name and your reputation out of debauchery. Don't knell down to those who thrive in idiocy. Repel those who speak blasphemy, and who desire nothing more than for you to participate in their games of ignorance. Life is too short; don't make a mess of everyday...

Move >, Move ^ - Don't take steps backwards. If you feel like for every step you take forward that you end up taking two back, evaluate yourself. Something needs fixed. Press forward whether you're going 1mph or 95 mph. Never fall into the trap of thinking you always need to go 95 mph either, try to adhere to life's speed limits. Or at least, within an acceptable range over...

"Weathering The Storm" - I can't wait to distribute signed copies... Early 2012, mark it down on your calendars! Soon enough, I should be able to give a solid "release" date. And announce my next book project....

Those Seeds You Sow... - We all reap what we sow. If you are continuously throwing around negative "seeds", they will take root, sprout, and destroy your environment. Promote positive things, and positive things will come to pass onto you. It might seem like you're having unending bad times no matter the good you do - but don't be deterred.

Watch What You Do... - ...because your enemy is watching too, and plotting. Don't ever put yourself in vulnerable situations and circumstances. We have enough day-to-day problems to manage, why bring unneeded trouble your way? All the while, your adversaries are watching and waiting for what fuel they can get to bring you down. Don't let it happen. Do what's right, don't cheat, don't lie, and make yourself a trustworthy person. Stay above the fray!

"Most of the shadows of this life are caused by our standing in our own sunshine." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Until next week, keep striving to leave a legacy. Every little thing you do matters in the grand scheme of things. Let your clouds loose, get them out of the way of your sunshine, and live unconquered.

JJR II

7-26-11

Let A Healing...

Last week I spoke about ushering in a new era in your life, and that to do that, you have to let your past go. What happens sometimes is that we let the past go, forgive others and ourselves, and move forward. Yet, we still feel hollow. More than likely, it’s because you’ve forgotten to let a healing in; not uncovering your wounds so they can get air and heal. Remember that you can only keep band-aids and bandages over a deep wound so long; it needs to be exposed to sunlight and air to properly heal over. Deep wounds do tend to leave a scar regardless, but you’re in a better place if you have a blemish than a wound that is continually reopened in your life. 

Letting a healing occur isn’t always easy, and everyone has different methods of completing this process. Sometimes conversing with someone you trust (and who is trustworthy) helps, whereas some individuals have to seek out counseling. Some of us can heal ourselves as we take a step back and soul search, whereas some need to introvert themselves to recover. Do whatever you need to do, but open your mind and let yourself recover. You can only be the victim of your circumstance for so long, and in this era there isn’t much empathy from others to go around. Always ask yourself – what problem or circumstance has the empathy from others ever conquered?

If you don’t allow a healing – whether it’s physical, mental, or emotional – your “scars” can slowly create permanent and lasting damage in your life. Your circumstance and situation can continue to stagnant and then deteriorate, until you find yourself in a place that you don’t know how to escape. Letting “scars” fester and not heal can pull you into depression, create addictions, and perpetuate bad habits. “Scars” in life are almost as “potholes” in your foundation. Leave them unattended and they can spread, start spreading cracks through your whole foundation, and ultimately lead to your destruction. You cannot not allow that to happen; let a healing happen…

The theme remains the same, be sure that you’re in a positive environment. You will heal much faster when you are in conditions conducive for growth. Don’t get in the mindset of thinking you’re broken beyond repair, because you aren’t. This mindset can lead you to settling for less than you deserve; it’s not selfish to desire the best for yourself no matter your circumstance or situation. Keep the faith, keep pressing forward, open yourself up to be healed, and then be sure to let a healing begin for you immediately…

6/20/11

JJR II

The Dawn of a New Era

There are times in life where things can get so bad, that the best option can be to start over. While you should never find yourself creating new “starting points” all the time – every so often is necessary to maintain sanity and sanctity. Before you create a starting point – you should ask yourself these questions…

Where am I now? (and be honest with yourself)

Where do I want to be? (set realistic goals)

How do I get there? (don’t take the easy routes)

Am I willing and ready to put in hard work? (you will need to)

Who will be affected by my changes? (know your environment)

Before starting anew, you will need to envelope yourself with positive environments and individuals – otherwise your plan to “renovate” yourself won’t succeed. You will need daily encouragement and motivation for your new beginning to take root. This applies whether you’re escaping a bad relationship, abuse, an addiction, a bad job environment, or financial plight. You need to set a standard, and you need to stick to it. Be aware that things may get worse before they get better once you’ve decided to begin anew, and you cannot toss in the towel. Be sure that you have the courage and tenacity to tough things out. Don’t let fear of starting over hold you back – sometimes you only make your circumstances worse by not just moving on. Avoid letting empathy be a barrier to future opportunity and the chance for a fresh change of pace.

- A New Beginning -

- A Fresh Start -

Track your progress, don’t isolate yourself, and don’t smother others in the meanwhile. Maintain your focus and discipline, and know there is no situation or circumstance that you cannot escape. You might feel like you haven’t made it back to where you may have once been, but you need to understand that your life is what you make of it. You can always attain maximum satisfaction with what you have in the present day if you have true appreciation and focus on the positives in your life. Always avoid using your past to determine where you should be in your future, because unfortunately life does not work in that manner.  For you, make this the dawn of a new era. The past print in your chapters can't be changed, but after today they should have no bearing on what you "write" for your future. Closing the doors on the old will assist you in ushering in the new, and get you a step closer to living unconquered.

6/13/11

JJR

The Seeds of Life

To be in the land of the living, is to continuously be a farmer of sorts. You are always planting seeds, and you are always harvesting those seeded in the past. The planting of your seeds is involuntary; everyday you exist, you lay down kernels that for future harvesting – another process that’s involuntary. Your goal should be to lay down as many positive grains as you can, because when they come to fruition, you don’t want to have an entire crop of spoil goods to reap. Misery loves company, and some people go through life with seemingly no other purpose than to lay down as many germs of malevolence as they can. Don’t be that person. Dedicate yourself to a greater cause than bestowing your misery upon others – because in due time that same desolation will be reaped upon you if you do (and usually to a greater degree).

Examples of negative seeds include stealing, lying, cheating, killing, co-mingling in drugs, prostituting yourself, excessive drinking, arrogance, self-absorption, greed, envy, and drama just to name a few. Lay down these and they will come to past, even once you have decided to clean yourself up. Negative seeds act as a ghost, because they always seem to show up when things are going better for you or you’ve decided to change and clean things up. Because of their “longer lifespan”, you have to be even more diligent to avoid bringing them into existence. A negative seed can lie dormant for eternity, waiting for opportune moments to besiege your reputation. A negative lifestyle can often be the one of glitz and glamour in the short term, but be unsteady in the long term. Stay away from the vacuum of a so-called “high life”, and opt for the longevity and security of a “good life” instead.  

Seek to be an optimistic and industrious seed planter. Be honest, hard working, morally just, benevolent, judicious, a leader, encouraging, loving, and caring. Stay away from bad habits such as drugs, gambling, and alcohol. Avoid bad environments such as strip clubs, bars, and pool halls – because bad environments usually are a precursor (and harboring place) for detrimental situations. Just being seen in an off-putting location can tarnish your reputation. Stay clear of debauchery, and surround yourself with people who maintain a constructive lifestyle. Humans are naturally sponge like, and will slowly absorb the things they surround themselves with.

If you’ve laid mostly nonconstructive seeds in your life, take the time to vow for a change, and change your sowing patterns today. All of your past crops may come to roost and still put you down, but remember it takes time to clean your act up. It is not an overnight process, and you have to be willing to work. Sometimes, it will be a struggle in itself to better your life, but don’t let that challenge scare you into maintaining ignorant ways. Start today on the quest to live unconquered…

Until next week, avoid the heat.

J. Junior II

06/01/2011                 

"W. T. S." Project Groundbreaking

After a pretty hectic, back-and-forth type week, it is with great excitement that I announce I have signed on with Tate Publishing to bring my manuscript into print. This project (code name "W. T. S.") is of the inspirational and motivational genre, and I am glad to see the work put into it come to a fruition. When the idea was first developed a year and a half ago, I would have never known then that in 18 months, I would be a first-time author.

There are many who I owe credit to completing the “W. T. S.” manuscript. While I the idea did come to me a while back, I didn’t complete the bulk of the material until this year, which is where many thanks do come in.

First, there’s my supervisor Alicia Coats, who helped me through many a rough day and gave me tremendous knowledge into becoming a better and well rounded person. Instead of letting me move backwards, she forced my hand and kept me moving in a forward direction and in The James Comprehensive Cancer Center. I cannot say how much working there has opened my eyes and gave me new insight to life in general.

Next up would be my “culturally unfroze” mentor/ coach (and mentee at times) Cheryl Jackson. She has always served as a “check-and-balance” in keeping my attitude on a positive level, which kept me focused and helped me get “W. T. S.” completed. Need I mention she has served as my personal assistant in the last week as I worked hard to get everything I needed to ground break my first book.

Last would be what I would call my “inner-circle” – friends, family, loved ones – who have all supported and boosted me during the process. They served as an injection of “new life” whenever I got down, and helped me proceed forward even if I wasn’t up to the task. There aren’t enough words to express my true appreciation for everyone who has helped during this time, and it is the start of a new era in life, not only for me, but I hope for countless others as well.

Next blog topic – “A New Beginning”
Until then, keep moving forward & live unconquered
J. Junior II
May 22, 2011

Moving ^ and Moving >

Good evening everyone. Sorry for the delay in the posting, a little late getting it up due to problems with the Blogger log-in. The theme for this week is moving up out of the bad, so you can move on and move forward with the good in your life...

Moving ^ and Moving >

To have a positive attitude (two weeks ago) and to rise above ignorance (last week), there is one thing that you have to do in life, and that's move up, and then move on. More often than not, negative attitudes can dwell from past perceptions, actions, or events in your life. The best step to having success today is to let yesterday (and anything else beforehand) go. Letting go doesn’t mean you necessarily forget, but you forgive, which in turn allows you to move onto bigger and better things. Feeling scarred from bad friendships or relationships in the past? Move yourself up, and then move on. Annoyed about being undermined or stabbed in the back? Let it go and move forward.

Another thing you want to ensure is that you aren’t moving in reverse. Whether you’re moving forward at a snails pace, or at the speed of light—there is never a day in life that you want to say you lost progress. You should never take one step forward only to take two steps backward. Be sure to do a thorough analysis and ask yourself these questions if you feel like things aren’t progressing for you…

1). Why am I in a stagnant place and not growing/ developing?

2). What can I do to improve my situation without suppressing others?

3). Am I surrounded by a positive, encouraging, and winning team?

4). Have I become a victim of my environment?

5). Am I putting my best effort forward no matter the circumstances/ odds?

6). Are there negative things in my life that need removed?

7). Are there any antagonists/ anchors weighing me and my goals down?

8). Have I forgiven and let all my past ill-wills go?

9). What work do I need to done in order to surround myself with positivity?

10). Have I worked to empower those around me, or do I act as a suppressor?

You have to be aware of these in order to know what needs fixed, and begin your forward progress. Create a “starting point” today, and move forward from that point every day. It’s never too late to have an epiphany, whether you’re 25 or 75. It’s not the years in the life, but the life in the years. Be sure that you move on with your life and start the ball rolling on a forward moving path, and you’ll be one step closer to living unconquered…

Start living your legacy TODAY.

J. Junior II 5/16/11

Rise Above Ignorance

Last week I spoke of having a positive attitude, and this week I'll talk about rising above ignorance. You have to these days in order to maintain an attitude. Throughout the week, the average person faces more than their share of ignorance and ignorant type behaviors. First, practice the two wrongs don't make a right theory. Having an ignorant response to an attitude you don't like with only make situations worse. Be the better person, and keep it moving. Don't waste time and energy on waging senseless battles, or holding grudges over situations most everyone else had forgot about. If you have a grievance, say something and try to resolve it in a civil and adult manner, don't internalize it and have it to stew on some months down the road...

A big point to remember in rising above ignorance is to not empower an "ignoramus". This is someone with idiotic ways, behaviors, thought processes, beliefs, actions, and personas. Often someone you would think of as immature, shady, uneducated, and irrational. An "ignoramus" feeds off of anarchy, disorganization, disagreement, and strife. Cut their food supply off at the source. Don't buy into their schemes and childish ways. An ignoramus lives just for elevating your blood pressure and getting under your skin, but they can only do this if you let them. Strip them of their power; ignore them. Build your "dynasty" on stilts, to stay above the choppy waters an ignoramus can stir up. Remember - they travel in flocks. So if you find yourself surrounded by a herd of ignoramus...

More often than not, you'll find yourself around someone who lives off the glow of others, instead of going out and making their own glow. Don't let others steal your shine and glow, but don't think you always have to call them out on it. You should always remember that fool's gold will be proved false under both examination/ pressure. It may pass the eye test in the beginning, but whether given a more thorough screening or put under pressure, it will not hold up. True 24k gold will endure. It won't crack, weather, fade, peel, flake, or turn you green...

Take this week, and prepare a plan for making yourself a better all-around person. Call it your "Top Tier Candidate Program" - TTCP. You want to be the best candidate for whatever you're going to apply yourself for, so be sure to take this week to make a plan and lay out how you can do just that. Whether it's getting back in shape, furthering your education, repairing relationships and networking, etc. Call it your spring cleaning if you need to; your goal is to further your growth, and move closer to living unconquered...

Until next time,
J. Junior II  5/9/11

A Positive Attitude

It's another Monday, and I hope everyone is approaching it with the positive Monday attitude I spoke about last Monday. They aren't the best of days, especially when it's raining out, but you've got to keep the "it is what it is" attitude and push forward (especially as far as the weather is concerned).

In regards to being positive, you really shouldn't just focus on a certain day, instead focusing to stay positive 24/7/ 365 (or 366). You should have so much positive in your life that you dream it, keeping it going while you sleep. With that - one of the big things with keeping a fresh attitude is to not let someone sink your state of mind. People with idiotic ways feed and live off the bad moods they can tend to put you in - just remember most do it with the intentions of lifting themselves out of their own melancholy. What a sad way to gain a better attitude, right? Two wrongs won't make it right either. Sometimes, you will have to defend yourself and "check" certain people, but don't get bent out of shape and let it torpedo your whole day/ week. Don't be rude, attacking, or vindictive if you do have to "check" someone, and don't go around thinking everyone needs "checked"; sometimes you'll have to "check" yourself first then proceed with caution...

Don't let the moronic ways of your life's antagonists change your mood, your way of thought, or your actions. Keep doing what you do, do it with optimism and positive intentions, and things will work out for the best. You may lose some battles in life, but don't fear a defeat. Just because you lose the battle doesn't mean you've lost the war. Sometimes, you can even attain victory out of a defeat. Your enemies and antagonists might laugh, but with life - everyone will get theirs soon. Don't be the person who is laughing at someone else's trials and tribulations because they could one day be in the crowd laughing at and rooting against you.

Your nay-sayers will come in many forms, including the form of friends, lovers, and family. Keep open eyes, and use intellect in deciding who to surround yourself with. Maintain a winning team (which will assist in keeping a positive attitude and way of life). Try to avoid petty actions, envious behavior, and jealousy, especially in an attempt to even the score. This will do nothing but devalue your own stature in the mind of others. Be honest, have integrity, be genuine, and try to associate yourself with those who do the same. There is nothing worst than someone who presents their self as a saint, and then when you're not around have the actions and behaviors of a demon. Some will stop at nothing to bring you down, especially when things are going good for you (this is why the fight of life never ends). Deflect insolence and those who wallow in it. Rise above ignorance, and do everything that you do (whether a small task or a large project) to the best of your ability. Never cease in your pursuit of excellence, and use every day that you are blessed with life to grow and learn, and then be sure teach and lead. It'll help in your goal of living unconquered...

Until the next time,
Be real & have success.
J. Junior II - 05.02.2011

The Introduction

"The Dawn of a New Era"

A Word to Those in Need - The Beginnings

The purpose of this blog will be to help all, and give you the confidence and foundation necessary to "Live Unconquered" - to live prosperously, happily, confidently, free of stress and worry, focused on what's important and ignorant of negativity. Don't stress, just shake off the "mess".

I'll kick start my first blog off by asking a favor from everyone. This week, I'd like you to go out of your way to meet someone new, or strengthen a current relationship that's in your life. On top of that, show someone important to you appreciation, especially someone close to you who may feel unappreciated in regards to you. We tend to focus more on the negative than showing appreciation for the positive - and the first step to being positive and having a positive life/ outlook is to show examples of it. You never know, you could make someone's day by saying "Hey, I appreciate you and what you do". Even more, if you know someone who has been working hard (and doing a good job), let them know. "Job well done", or "Excellent work", - it only takes a couple of seconds.

 Today was another one of those dreaded Monday's, and worse yet, the Monday following a holiday. For those of you who returned to work today (myself included), we all know how it can be. We dread the return to normal, our bodies are soggy with candy, food, and liquid, and we're a little sleep deprived. As much melancholy as Monday can bring, I implore you to change it around. Try to start Monday with the same attitude as you do Friday (and my apologizes to those with unorthodox work weeks). Start positive, end positive. The beginning of the work week is a detriment to most, but try to serve as the up-lifter for those with a "case of the Mondays".

Relax, don't worry over what you cannot control, and maintain perspective for what you can. Everyday isn't going to be a piece of cake, but don't make things worse by harboring a negative attitude about yourself for everything that goes wrong. Do what you can to fix what you can, but not at the expense of your own sanity and safety. Try to stay within the ethical and moral boundaries that guide us, and always put your best foot forward in whatever you do. Success for you is right around the corner, no matter your situation - just keep working hard and doing what's right. "Live Whole..."

Last but not least - don't ever bow into someone else's pessimism. Maintain a radiant glow about yourself - stay out of drama and gossip (keep your head above the fray) - and be someone that's approachable and level-headed. Avoid being pompous, arrogant, and a person that talks down/ belittles others. Everyone's ideas, thoughts, and opinions are important - even if you think they're laughable. If you're in environments that lean toward the negative side of things - be the positive example. People will gravitate toward you, and you will slowly find that your positivity will take root and spread among those around you. Be a leader in all that you do, it's one of the many steps in living unconquered.

Be prosperous,

J. Junior II (4/25/11)

Live Unconquered