The Man in the Glass.

When you get what you want in your struggle for self
And the world makes you king for a day,
Just go to the mirror and look at yourself
And see what that man has to say.

For it isn’t your father or mother or wife
Whose judgment upon you must pass.
The fellow whose verdict counts most in you life
Is the one staring back from the glass.

You may be like Jack Horner and chisel a plum
And think you’re a wonderful guy.
But the man in the glass says you’re only a bum
If you can’t look him straight in the eye.

He’s the fellow to please-never mind all the rest,
For he’s with you clear to the end.
And you’ve passed your most dangerous, difficult test
If the man in the glass is your friend.

You may fool the whole world down the pathway of years
And get pats on the back as you pass.
But your final reward will be heartache and tears
If you’ve cheated the man in the glass.

kaiona

did i mention that i'm a hula dancer? probably not. for the last few months, i've been preparing for our ho'ike, which is a formal presentation of knowledge. today i learned the translation of a song that's pretty relevant for me. here it is:

kaiona by keali'i reichel

hawaiian:

thanks Ashton Kutcher.

i'm blown away by a recap of a story that (believe it or not) Ashton Kutcher retold. to sum it up, the story tells of a girl who lost her younger brother on the way to Auschwitz. the last thing she told him was that he was stupid, an idiot; she never found him again. he closed with the similar phrase:

"Everything that you say should have the value of the last word you speak."

can i just say WOW!!! unbelievably powerful. as people, we sometimes forget the power we have. i have a flood of emotions running through me, and it'll take forever to go through it all. i'll bullet point some of it:

- effect on relationships

- legacy: what's yours?

- how and what are you talking about on a daily basis?

- how are you adding value and enriching lives of others?

WHAT WILL YOUR LAST WORD BE?

i've become a fan of Ashton. it used to be embarrassing to admit, but since i started following him on twitter, I've come to learn that he is an incredible person. there's depth in those hollywood hills. i'd also like to ad that demi moore is amazingly beautiful. seriously.

that's it for now. i look forward to writing and exploring this topic heavily.

from john c maxwell

"People don't change much.  Don't waste your time trying to put in what was left out.  Try to draw out what was left in."

"I can make you more than you are, I just can't make you something you're not."

today i will make a difference.

Today I Will Make A Difference

Today I will make a difference. I will begin by controlling my thoughts. A person is the product of his thoughts. I want to be happy and hopeful. Therefore, I will have thoughts that are happy and hopeful. I refuse to be victimized by my circumstances. I will not let petty inconveniences such as stoplights, long lines, and traffic jams be my masters. I will avoid negativism and gossip. Optimism will be my companion, and victory will be my hallmark. Today I will make a difference.

I will be grateful for the twenty-four hours that are before me. Time is a precious commodity. I refuse to allow what little time I have to be contaminated by self-pity, anxiety, or boredom. I will face this day with the joy of a child and the courage of a giant. I will drink each minute as though it is my last. When tomorrow comes, today will be gone forever. While it is here, I will use it for loving and giving. Today I will make a difference.

I will not let past failures haunt me. Even though my life is scarred with mistakes, I refuse to rummage through my trash heap of failures. I will admit them. I will correct them. I will press on. Victoriously. No failure is fatal. It's OK to stumble...I will get up. It's OK to fail...I will rise again. Today I will make a difference.

I will spend time with those I love. My spouse, my children, my family. A man can own the world but be poor for the lack of love. A man can own nothing and yet be wealthy in relationships. Today I will spend at least five minutes with the significant people in my world. Five quality minutes of talking or hugging or thanking or listening. Five undiluted minutes with my mate, children, and friends.

Today I will make a difference.

the triplets.

you'll be terribly missed.  let us know where we can find you.

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the people you meet affect your life.

Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there…to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson or help figure out who you are or who you want to become.  You never know who these people may be but you lock eyes with them, you know that very moment that they will affect your life in some profound way. 
 

And sometimes things happen to you at the time that may seem horrible, painful and unfair, but in reflection you realize that without overcoming those obstacles you would never realize your potential, strength, will power or heart.  
 

Everything happens for a reason.  Nothing happens by chance or by means of luck.  Illness, love, lost moments of true greatness and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul.  Without these small tests, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere safe and comfortable but dull and utterly pointless.  THE PEOPLE YOU MEET AFFECT YOUR LIFE.  
 

The successes and downfalls that you experience can create who you are, and the bad experiences can be learned from.  In fact they are probably the most poignant and important ones.  If someone hurts you, betrays you or breaks your heart, forgive them because they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious 
to whom you open your heart. 

 

If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because they love you, but also because they are teaching you to love and open your heart and eyes to little things.  Make every day count.  Appreciate everything that you possibly can for you may never experience it again. 
 

Talk to people whom you have never talked to before, and actually listen.  Let yourself fall in love, break free and set your sights high.  Hold your head up because you have every 
right to.  Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don't believe in yourself, no one else will believe in you.  Create your own life and then go out and live it!" 

Share this with anyone whom you believe has made a difference in your life.

timing the universe.

or is it the universe and it's timing? it's really hard to explain, right? here's my most recent experience:

yesterday, i add an application that post Good News stories only. then in my web design class later that afternoon, my brain starts churning ideas about how to spin it into another business. i brain storm about social media outlets, blogs, iphone apps, etc. i make a mental note to contact chris hughes, one of my business and personal development mentors to bounce some ideas off of him.

today, he is randomly in los angeles for business and comes to an event, unscheduled. we don't get much of a chance to talk, but in a quick phone conversation we learn that we've had similar ideas. we discuss positive, pd related ideas online. it turns out that last night i tried to search similar website domains that he owns. he even tells me that he follows a guy's personal development blog. this person is steve pavlina, at www.stevepavlina.com. the kicker? i used to teach steve pavlina tae kwon do years ago!!! i ran into his blog and messaged him a while back. we then agree to possibly discuss some ideas down the line...a little more brain storming, which is awesome!

see how the universe works? i definitely need to follow this through. seriously.

i figured it out. i'm a super hero.

i figured out a minute distinction about how i work. it's amazing when you come to one of those "aha" moments. you ask yourself, "is this really it? yeah!!! i can't believe it!" then, suddenly you're hit with a multitude of flashbacks proving that same "AHA" theory.

for anyone that knows me, i've been categorized as the nice guy. I like to give --- a lot. and i used to believe that it was for the sake of giving (which i whole heartedly believe in). but, in my relentless acts of selflessness, i find that there tends to be some remorse. now, don't get me wrong; i am not remorseful about giving. it's one of my strongest values. moreso, it's the ACT of giving. i tend to be lazy at times. and to be honest, sometimes i just don't give a damn. i'd rather wallow in my own crap, smell it and just let it be --- crap (i'm working on that, lol)

so here's my distinction: i truly give and make something a priority if i feel i'll make a difference. if the extra thought, small action or shared experience will make a difference in the other person's life, i feel compelled to give --- to act. that's when i feel powerful.

it's like i'm a super hero. i am a super hero.

idt workshop flyer

was inspired by another event flyer. it even shares similar color schemes.

single awareness day

in honor of cupid's holiday, i'd like to remind you of justin's hysterical cameo that reflects some of the women out there...


Beyonce and Justin Timberlake SNL Skit (11/15/08)

2 great things today.

1. i bought 4 coffees at starbucks and utilized their coffee stoppers. these stoppers are amazing! whoever thought about the idea to create something to prevent a spill while driving is even more amazing! but what's even most amazing is the fact that the stoppers only block it coming out of a lid. IT DOES NOT STOP COFFEE FROM SPILLING IF YOU BREAK HARD AND ALL YOUR DRINKS POP THEIR LIDS OFF AND ROLL AROUND IN THE NEW COFFEE BATH ON YOUR CAR FLOOR!!!!

2. i was on stage tonight laying the foundation as the new charity representative for the LA Core Training charity events. looks to be fun and exciting. i just gotta make it work

TED Talk - ole ole

ashton kutcher

i follow the guy on twitter. here's a quote he posted:

"It's not how much you love when you love some one, but how much you love when you hate."

Pretty good, huh?

beware of dog...

especially if it's a $60,000 trained attack dog.

so today, i witnessed one of my business partners and friends train their newly received dog. this german sheperd will listen to your commands, protect you and tear shit up. seriously.

i watched him attack one of the trainers as he protected the bedrooms. hammer, the dog, barked ferociously at the "intruder," and even more violently as he approached.



at about the 3rd step from the top, hammer would attack on command, and release on command too.



who ever thought a dog would cost $60,000? but even moreso, what is mark smith, a millionaire with his new expensive puppy, really thinking?

i have self-respect.

it's amazing how a short life time ago, i couldn't 100% believe that to be the truth. but tonight proved that i've grown.

short story, but tonight i had a verbal argument with a cousin (my cousin's husband) at Father's Office in Culver City. basically, he put me down about my physical appearance after i turned him away from eating MY FOOD FOR THE 3RD TIME!

i firmly countered his demeaning statements with "you do not disrespect me!" and though a physical fight was instigated, i regained my composure and avoided the bigger scene.

both mentally and emotionally i found myself standing up for me. that was an amazing feet. but the greatest shocker was the fact that he was family. over a handful of years, i've carefully selected my friends and influencers. i am not going to have my family and friends put me down. you're associations are as almost important to your success in life as your attitude.

all is good on my end. i'm not too sure about anthony, though. he tends to hold grudges against people. in this incident, i did nothing wrong except calling him out in public. it was necessary, though.

i hope that everything will be a-okay in the future.

oh yeah.....and HAPPY 30TH BIRTHDAY EARL!!!!!

restaurant week and the foundry.

in honor of restaurant week, Samantha, Cristina and I headed over to a new restaurant in WeHo. amongst the many choices featured in DineLA, we ended up The Foundry on Melrose. executive chef eric greenspan comes from Patina, one of the top and well known restaurants here in los angeles.

decor was nice. to me, it appeared to have an elegant industrial feel with blacks and earth toned colors throughout mixed with simple modern designs.

because it's a winter season, the outside patio was covered. it would be nice to have the bare night sky, but i prefer comfort over environment, usually.

on the prix fixe menu, i chose:

• first course: albacore tuna tar tare
• main course: hangar flank steak with potatoes
• desert: honey creme brulee with candied apricots and a melon frozen yogurt
• cocktail drink: the Tennesse _________ (fill in the blank), consisting on jack daniels with peach nectar and ginger.

food was pretty good. adult beverage of choice was excellent. biggest complaint: timeliness of service. we were at dinner for over 3 hours. and yes, it was 3 courses, but man did we wait for the food to come.

i will say they did offer delectible pastry-like appetizers. we had biscuits two ways: one with a guava, balsamic vinegar gravy and another with garlic butter. also, we had an amazingly cheesy miniature parmesan toast that looked similar to a cinnamon roll. what trickery....but it was great nonetheless.


(object is smaller than appears)

overall, it was a good night. though it did seem more of a reunion for cristina and samie, i can't complain. i was with some of my oldest friends, and it's great to see people reunite, even if it's over "girl-talk."

would i go there again? yes, but i doubt it'll turn into a regular spot.

my best friend's wedding

no opinion about the actual movie (it is funny, though. there. that's my opinion). i literally have my best friend's wedding in 6 months. it's great and all, but i'm starting to get a little nervous. why? because i'm the best man!

people say that it's such an honor. i totally agree. what they don't say is that it's such a responsibility. i know i have two obligations:

1. bachelor party
2. speech

am i supposed to shell out thousands for the party? and the speech. Jesse, my best friend, circle of influence are people that are professional speakers. they know how to carry a room. they motivate. they narrate vividly. and now i have to speak in front of them too.

i need to start on the speech soon. no lagging on this end.

networking.

i firmly believe that networking is the famous quote, "Help others get what you want and eventually you will get what you want," in action.

why do i network? it's simple. i can't do everything on my own. but specifically, i network because it's just another way to do a little more than the average in your relationships. i actively network for others because it adds value. if i hear something, and it pops another person in my head, i'll go ahead and ask for them. i'll be the usher to their future success. now, don't get me wrong, it's not my job. but, it doesn't hurt me to have short conversation.

also, we tend to learn more about another person. i find that many relationships (outside of close family and friends) tend to be flat, very one-dimensional. we see each person in one light. with networking, you tend to ask more questions. you get depth in knowing who they are, what they do, and what they're all about.

for me, networking is a necessity. yeah, i also market through my network and look to grow it daily, but it's a physical example that shows that we're not alone in this world. we're all connected, six degrees here and six degrees there.

artwork dedicated to shoe thrower

Iraqi officials share a laugh as they unveil a bronze shoe monument representing the one thrown by Iraqi journalist Muntazer al-Zaidi at former U.S. president George W. Bush.

BAGHDAD -- When an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at George W. Bush last month at a Baghdad press conference, the attack spawned a flood of Web quips, political satire and street rallies across the Arab world.

Now, it's inspired a work of art.



A sofa-sized shoe statue was formally unveiled to the public today in Tikrit, the hometown of the former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

Baghdad-based artist Laith al-Amari described his fiberglass-and-copper work as a homage to the pride of the Iraqi people.

The statue also has inscribed a poem honoring Muntadhar al-Zeidi, the Iraqi journalist. Al-Zeidi was charged with assaulting a foreign leader, but the trial was postponed after his lawyer sought to reduce the charges.

some good things

1. Raise the BAR

• Belief
• Associations
• Responsibilities

2. "Sometimes it takes someone you know to show you who you are, but someone you just met to show you who you can be."

burning room

i gotta say, one of the best dances i've seen is wade's choreography to "dancing in a burning room." yeah, it was featured on SYTYCD last season, but Ben and Pam's version is so much more human. it's raw, it's in the moment. it's not dance, it's an experience. i feel like we've captured their humanity, expressed in movement, as a voyeur to the emotional breakdown that people often go through.



and though i'm mostly a hip-hop dancer, i've found a love for lyrical and contemporary. it's there where art can really shine. i've never pegged myself as an artist, but i do have many qualities. i guess it's a core part of who i am.

we'll make it out of here.

Here we go....again.

I'm not really sure why I choose to start blog version 3.0 after all this time.  It seems the idea of capturing thoughts electronically is a good idea.  It seems that it's a good way for old and new friends to stay connected, to see what's really going on upstairs.  But then again, isn't that why I have Facebook, Myspace, and now Twitter?!?

Well, here's to being consistent.  Here's to being able to manage my life.  And here's to this and all the internet has to offer not distracting me from what I'm really supposed to do.