Brilliant or False Advertising?

I pass a nursery on the way home that has a "U Pick Pumpkin" sign out.  I know what a U Pick is.  You go into the field where the pumpkins grow and pick your own pumpkin.  This one is hilarious though.  The U Pick is you go into a parking lot and choose from the dozens of sorted pumpkins.

Perhaps the grocery store should have a sign "U Pick Bananas" because the same theory applies.

The place does a huge business so I stopped - always fascinated by successful businesses.  There - I saw a poster that bragged of "No Admission".  Why on earth would a U Pick charge admission.  I guess on the other hand, Costco seems to get away with it.

They also offered hayrides.  The hay bales were in plastic bags!

Anyways - I thought the whole thing was funny... and genius.

Live for Today

 I tend to be a "live in the future" type person.  So the following story had impact.  It came from a book - Finding Your Road to Success - How to get their without getting lost by Daniel Patrick.  It is not his story (and he attributes it but when I search his attribution it does not come up.

Life is short. Enjoy every moment!

My brother-in-law opened the bottom drawer of my sister's bureau and lifted out a tissue-wrapped package. "This," he said, "is not a slip. This is lingerie." He dis- carded the tissue and handed me the slip. It was exquisite; silk, handmade and trimmed with a cobweb of lace. The price tag with an astronomical figure on it was still attached.

"Jane bought this the first time we went to New York, at least 8 or 9 years ago. She never wore it. She was saving it for a special occasion. Well, I guess this is the occasion."

He took the slip from me and put it on the bed with the other clothes we were taking to the mortician. His hands lingered on the soft material for a moment, then he slammed the drawer shut and turned to me. "Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Every day you're alive is a special occasion."

Finish Line Thinking

One of my friends, Nicky Billou wrote a book - Finish Line Thinking - How to Think Like a Champion.   I know Nicky to be creative, driven and a real person.

From the dust cover:

Champions engage in what author and high performance guru Nicky Billou calls Finish Line ThinkingTM. What is Finish Line ThinkingTM? It's the science of how to think and win like a champion. Packed with his trademark insight, and his years of experience in working with Olympic Champions, world record holders, business champions, and thought leaders, and backed by the research of Dr. Anders Ericson and Dr. Angela Lee Duckworth, Finish Line Thinking lays out the 13 Principles of How to Think and Win Like a Champion. These principles will change your life, if you take the time to learn and apply them.

Finish Line Thinking involves 13 Principles of Success.  I like books that simplify and clarify so I love this list.

He hooked me on his first 2.  His first 2 principles are eat right and exercise daily.   Being healthy supports success.  Of course you know I embrace these.  I like to work out first thing.  These dark early mornings (like pitch black today at 5:30) do not inspire me as much as light in the morning.  So lately I have been using one of my mantras "successful people do tough things"

Other Principles include things like.  Expect to win.  Surround yourself with good people that will help you get to where you need to go. Set big goals.  And be willing to do things you have never done before.

He is big on daily habits which is also in sync with my thinking.   This is his 13th principle and the one he says is most important.

He is a coach (actually has coached Gold Olympic athletes) so he really believes in coaching.  "A coach will hold you accountable". 

Loved the book.  Seems like he took most of my good ideas (which is awesome).

This quote from the book sums up what finish line thinking is:

It’s keeping the finish line in mind, every day. Champions know what their finish line is.

There is a good video interview of Billou here.

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And Victoria "enjoying" applesauce.