Survivor: Character Counts!

Survivor: Character Counts!

For this week's last blog entry I wanted to share a few more thoughts on some things that I saw as part of this most recent season of "Survivor" which came to an end this past Sunday night.

I've already talked about Pavati's excuse of, "I had no choice!" in trying to defend her alliance with Russell - the most vile of the villains - when she realized that her decision to do so was starting to cost her in her bid to win the $1 million prize.

And that's exactly what it is - an EXCUSE!

Have you bought into that excuse in your own life? Have you decided that it's easier to give up any responsibility in and for you own life by claiming that you have no choice? Please don't!

There is ALWAYS a choice. Always. 100% of the time.

The choices that we have may not always be wonderful choices, fun choices or even choices that we particularly want to make, but there are ALWAYS choices and we make them every single day.

Deciding to do nothing, to wave the white flag of surrender and proclaim, "I give up! I have no choice" is a choice in itself. Please understand that it is a choice that will never lead you forward closer to your dreams and your goals.

The excuse, "I have no choice" is like a ball and chain tied around your ankle that will always weigh you down and keep you where you claim that you don't want to be.

Free yourself, take responsibility and open your eyes to the many choices that surround you each and every day!

Now on to the second part of today's discussion - CHARACTER COUNTS!

As I mentioned, Russell (in my opinion and apparently in the opinion of those that played with him and against him) was the most vile of the villains. He lied to anyone and everyone and told them whatever they wanted to hear. He continuously would tell someone one thing and then turn around and tell another person something completely different. He tried to threaten and bully everyone else because of his perceived "ultimate power and control" of the game.

He did well! He got all the way to the final three contestants - as he did in his last appearance on the show - who had a chance to win $1 million. And, just as it was the last time he was on the show, he really thought that he was the clear winner and that he would be rewarded the money.

Wrong!

Not only did he not win, he didn't even receive one vote from his peers deeming him worthy of the prize. Russell was shocked.

Really? Yes, really!

He felt - and even said - that those on the "jury" that he had helped kick off of the island and lied to (he had lied to each and every one of them) would respect (he actually used that word) the way that he played the game and that they would vote him in as the winner.

Wow. I don't believe anyone could ever be more "off" in their opinion and that of reality.

But, you see, this is one of the things I absolutely hate about this show. People have begun to believe that the phrase, "Outwit, Outlast, Outplay" means "Always Lie" in the process of the game.

That really bugs me! In my opinion, if you really want to see someone "outwit, outlast and outplay" then let's see someone do so WITHOUT lying! That, my friend, would be a person deserving of the $1 million!

But back to the main point - CHARACTER COUNTS!

Russell found out that, to his surprise, even in a game full of lies, CHARACTER COUNTS.

And, for those that follow the show that phrase does seem a little odd when talking ABOUT that show!

So many people live their lives conniving and scheming to get ahead and try to excuse their actions by saying something along the lines of, "Oh, that's just the way of the world!" and "If I don't do this I'll get chewed up and spit out!".

And yes, sadly, many people do get ahead in our world by living lives of dishonesty. (By the way, one thought I had about Russell was this - would you want to do business with him in the "real world" after watching how dishonest and conniving he was?).

But even when it may not seem to be so, please understand and stick to the belief that CHARACTER COUNTS!

It counts in defining who you are! It counts in defining your legacy that you will leave behind! It counts in what your children see in you - part of that legacy.

When you live a life of dishonesty and deceit you will always be living a life of discomfort and distrust. After all, if YOU are dishonest and deceitful then likely the people that you have around you are the same way. Watch out for that proverbial "knife in the back"!

However, even though those that live lives of character do not always see the immediate "reward", know this - YOU WILL ALWAYS BE BLESSED BY LIVING IN SUCH A WAY!

Yes, you will. Your life will be blessed with TRUE and HONEST friends - people that you can count on and are willing to be counted! You will find people ready to help you at a moments notice regardless of the need or when the need arises. You will live a life of contentment knowing that you have done your best to live a life worthy of the "Golden Rule" - "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

Hey, that may sound corny - but it's true.

CHARACTER COUNTS!

And I encourage you to live that way today even if it seems that those who live otherwise are the ones "getting ahead".

Let's get to the finish line and THEN take a look around, agreed?

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

Survivor - Choices Matter!

Survivor - Choices Matter!

This past Sunday the latest "season" of the television reality show, "Survivor" came to an end with someone receiving $1 million as a reward.

The interesting thing about this season' shows was that the producers pitted "Heroes" vs. "Villains" and it was quite an entertaining series.

Now, even if you HATE this show or if you don't know anything about it - PLEASE KEEP READING because I believe there is a very valuable point to be made. (I'll be talking about some other things that really DO bother about the general make up of the show - so you'll like that if you don't like the show!).

One of the things that EVERYONE in the show does is the development of alliances that they may - or may not - stick to in order to have a "team" that will all help each other. This usually doesn't happen because, hey, when there's $1 million dollars involved people go crazy!

Anyway, one player, Parvati, chose the worst of all villains, Russell, to be her main ally. Yes, this got her down to the final three to remain but, as she soon found out, this decision also worked against her as those that had already been voted off would now decide who would receive the $1 million prize.

Here's the thing...while Parvati used her alliance with Russell to get her through the game, once she realized that the "jury" was against her due to that connection she told one jury member, "I didn't have a choice! I had no choice but to ally myself with him!"

Wrong.

Whether you are playing Survivor or the game of life - you ALWAYS have a choice! ALWAYS!

I know I just went a long way to make a point - but it was so powerful to see (at least to me) how once Parvati knew it was working against her she decided to use the excuse, "I had no choice!"

What about you today?

Have you allowed yourself to fall back on that weak excuse, "I have no choice!"

Not only is it a weak excuse, it is a LIE!

No, I'm not calling you a lie, but I am saying that you have fallen for a lie and have CHOSEN (there's a choice in iteself) to use it as an "excuse" for whatever is not as you would have it in your life.

Take the time to think about it and honestly ask yourself how many times and for how many different situations in your life have you allowed yourself to use this as an excuse (you may even think of it as a legitimate reason)?

Many times when people give up they cry out, "I didn't have a choice!" or "What choice did I have?".

What about you?

I will be continuing on with this thought process and, between now and then, I ask that you really take a close look at this and discover what areas - if any - in your life that you have allowed this lie to be used.

You might be surprised.

Until next time, whatever you do, be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

What Adventure Are YOU Ready For?

What Adventure Are YOU Ready For?

In the March issue of Success magazine, Jeff Probst (host of "Survivor") makes the following quote that I used for the "spring board" for today's discussion: "The adventure you're ready for is the one you'll get!".

Are YOU approaching life as an adventure? Are you LIVING life or are you merely "existing"? These are some things I'd like you to seriously consider as we go through this discussion. I do encourage you to read the article that I've mentioned. I have posted it on the FYU fan page on Facebook but, for your convenience, here is the link:

http://www.successmagazine.com/jeff-probst-a-survivors-perspective/PARAMS/article/987

This article will challenge you and, I believe at the same time, inspire you to approach each and every day with a little bit different outlook - AN ADVENTURE!

Another quote that I used from the article was this - "I'm here for an uncertain amount of time and I want to get the most out of it."

Hey friend, what Mr. Probst says is true for us all! We ALL have an uncertain amount of time here - so what are YOU doing with YOURS?

I've shared thoughts before on the movie, "The Bucket List" in which two men make a list of things that they wish to do before they die. We should ALL create such a list! MTV also ran a show with a similar theme ("The Buried Life") featuring a group of young men that were setting out to check off items on their list while helping people along the way complete something on their own list. Likely, we all get inspired by such things but, does it change us or inspire us enough to actually DO something?

Tell me, friend, what do YOU do to keep your days from becoming a monotonous routine if you do the exact same thing every day for years at a time? What do YOU do to keep from taking your days from granted? What do YOU do to squeeze the adventure available out of each and every day?

You don't have to become a contestant on a show like "Survivor" or "The Amazing Race" to enjoy and experience the joy of life right where you are! It's not always easy to do, but isn't that part of what makes it such an adventure?

You see, just like everything else I talk about - this is a choice and it is YOUR choice!

How you approach your day is YOUR choice. You either choose to dread the day and go through it merely "existing" OR you can choose to anticipate the day with excitement and attack the day (yes, along with it's problems) as the adventure that it is and retire at the end of the evening feeling that you have, indeed, lived an adventure!

It's up to YOU!

Now, this takes a little "advanced training" in the area of "adventure - living" but it's something to strive for... each and every problem that comes your way is an adventure waiting for you! If you will allow yourself to develop a mindset that will help you approach even your problems and your struggles in this way then you will also begin to live a life of "adventure" while others simply go through each day griping and complaining about the problems in their lives.

This DOESN'T mean that it is always fun! Most adventures involve some hardship and some times that just aren't fun...BUT that is part of the adventure!

To be able to push yourself physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually beyond your perceived abilities is what makes life such an adventure!

"Wow, I didn't know I could do that!" is a much better way to live than to always wonder IF you could have or what MIGHT you could have done "IF ONLY".

So, friend, what adventure are YOU ready for today?

I'd love to hear from you on this one. I'd love to be inspired by YOUR story and YOUR adventure of life. Please share with me anytime by dropping me an e-mail at: mike@futureyouuniversity.com

And, as we live this life of adventure, be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

I don't usually answer this, but I will today....NO ONE!

Mike