How Can I Help You?

23 comments

in Health & Fitness, Taking Action

“It’s a GREAT DAY to be ali…..”I woke up to my alarm this morning at 4:30am as planned, however, just as I was reaching over to turn off my phone I heard a voice.  “Just a few more minutes, just a few more minutes…..”  We’ve all heard this voice before trying to lure us to the “dark side.”  What was I to do?  As much as I detest snoozing the voice was quickly affirmed by a self-serving justification:  “I can sleep 10 more minutes and still make it to bootcamp on time.”   Sold! I rolled back over in the comfortable mess of pillows and blankets (which can be a double edge sword some mornings) and took 10 more minutes to charge the battery!

After 10 minutes of bonus time, I popped out of bed at 4:40am with a renewed sense of urgency to get my a$$ to bootcamp! Go! Go! Go!

I hopped out of bed, did an abbreviated version of push ups, crunches, and affirmations,  and raced downstairs to find a plate of freshly sliced melon and a PBJ sandwich ready on the counter (prepared by my wonderful mother). Poured myself a quick cup of freshly brewed coffee and headed out the door to bootcamp amidst the darkness.  Time 4:56am.

As I pulled into the empty parking lot at 5:11am, it dawned on me, snoozing an extra 10 minutes actually put me into hyperdrive getting ready, which turned out to be a good thing!  Turned a N to a P!   As I listened to my “morning motivation” cd sitting in the empty, still, dark parking lot, the headlights of the other cars pulled in one by one.  Game time!!

do you have what it takes?

We had an astounding THIRTY SEVEN BOOTCAMPERS this morning for the 5:30am class!!!  WOW!!  THANK YOU to all the 5:30 bootcampers for the inspiring turnout this morning!!  Now, perhaps some of you 5:30′ers deserve to sleep in and come to the 6:15am class next time and balance out the #s a bit….ha ha ha, I’m just saying :-)

Let’s look back at the morning…..This is proof that even though we’re not always “high on life” and don’t always start the day on the right foot (as evidenced by my double dose of snoozing this morning), exposing ourselves to positive stimuli can get us back on track in a hurry!  The only question is how long it takes you to turn an N to a P.

The blog is almost a month old now and like any time I set out on something new, I think it’s important to look back and reflect about what’s happened and where to go from here.

“Successes”

  • Readers have commented on the blog (THANK YOU – feedback is the breakfast of champions)
  • This blog was shared on multiple social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Digg)
  • Good feedback from people I’ve seen face-to-face and I’ve even heard the words in this blog have inspired and motivated people which makes me smile 8-)
  • Over 2,000 people have read this blog
  • I remembered to write every Tuesday- ha ha

“Room for improvement”

  • Blog could be shorter and more concise (THANK YOU – noted!!)
  • Blog could be released at the same time every Tuesday (working on this one).
  • Build a greater sense of community (this is a work in progress)
  • Provide more value – let’s try and address this one RIGHT NOW!

My good friend Dustin encouraged all his blog readers to do something that makes them a little nervous, so I’m excited and slightly nervous to see where this goes….

HOW CAN I HELP YOU?

If you’re bold enough to leave a comment with details of how I can help you, I’m bold enough to support any worth cause you leave in the comment section to the best of my ability.     Since I’m not sure where this is going to go and how many requests I’ll get (this is the part that makes me a little nervous) if you want to “volunteer” to be a “helper” (in the event I get hundreds of requests) please leave that in the comment section here as well.

“Successful people are always looking for opportunities to help others.  Unsuccessful people are always asking, “what’s in it for me?” [Brian Tracy]

Have a wonderful week, looking forward to helping those of you who post in the comment section!

Book of the week:  Check out “Crush It” by Gary Vaynerchuk It’s an entrepreneur’s dream – how to use technology to moentize your passions!   My goal is to read 52 books this year and this was book #20 so I need to shift into overdrive on my book reading the last three months of the year to accomplish my goal.

Motivational Quotes of the Week:  “Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important that any one thing” Abraham Lincoln

Other Links You Will Love:

  1. Motivational Quotes – add your favorite(s) to the list!
  2. Dustin Maher Fitness – free health & fitness tips from my friend Dustin, one of the country’s top fitness instructors
  3. My Motivational Facebook Page – nuff said.

Tagged as: abraham lincoln, bootcamp, find success, Health & Fitness, helping people, how can i help you, joe sweeney blog, joe sweeney bootcamp, Motivation, motivation for, motivational, service, success

thejoesweeney

Article by Joe Sweeney

Entrepreneur, living a life of happiness, health, and gratitude, while helping and serving as many people and businesses as possible along the way. Take the time to work on yourself - develop your talents, increase your self-esteem, improve the lives of others and take at least a few moments of gratitude every single day

Joe has written 104 awesome articles for us.

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  • kathy maurer

    Hi Joe- Just a quick note to let you know how much I’ve enjoyed your involvement in the McFarland boot camp. I find myself looking forward to the days you’ll be leading us. You, Dustin and Will each bring something different and wonderful to camp- but I see something different in you. The way you interact with ladies who are struggling a bit more… how you join in with the exercises, how you’ve run beside someone who needed a little extra encouragement, how you push us further than we think we can go, and your enthusiasm! (It’s contagious)
    Thanks for making us part of your early morning routine :)

  • Lara Gotto

    Ok Joe I’ll take you up on this offer. Not sure if this is the type of thing you were looking for but I’ll ask my question anyways. I think you were aware of my sprained muscle in my side (affects my right arm lifting movements and core stuff) that happened July 31. Each time I think it’s healed up (no pain for a week or two) I go back to bootcamp, I have a successful and pain-free workout, but then later in the day it becomes painful again which lasts several weeks until it’s better. How do I know when I can safely go back without re-injuring it? I am afraid to go too long without working out because I can feel my motivation slipping away. (I’ve struggled with staying motivated to exercise in the past.) I feel I could do lower-body exercises like running, squats, lunges, wall-sits, etc. but I know at bc I feel the pressure to do what everybody else is doing (lifting with arms/core). What do I do? Should I come back and just modify the workout or stay away a few more weeks until I can do everything? How many weeks should I be feeling good before I go back? If you don’t know the answers to that it’s ok. You may have been wanting a different type of question so I apologize if this is not what you had in mind.

  • Gregg Salkovitch

    Hi Joe! First, I love the articles and am reading all of them (even if I don’t comment on every one). I always get excited when I get the message in my inbox.

    I want to ask a question and would be happy to be a “helper,” preferably not for my own question……ha ha.

    I’ve read, “Eat That Frog,” which I thought was great (thanks for getting it for me again). However, I want to do everything and still sometimes struggle with prioritizing. I want to do everything and do it 100% but there are just not enough hours in the day. What do you do to prioritize things in your life, both work related and socially?

    Thanks Joe!

  • http://thejoesweeney.wordpress.com Joe Sweeney

    Kathy! Thank you for the encouraging words – you’re the best!! Sometimes I think I get more rewards out of teaching bootcamp than the bootcampers themselves!!! :)

  • http://thejoesweeney.wordpress.com Joe Sweeney

    Lara, I’m open for any and all requests so we’ll see where this goes. To answer your question directly, keep coming to bootcamps and do what you can! Be smart about the exercises you can do and where your pain areas are and ONLY do the exercises that you can do comfortable (ie. pain-free). We try and motivate everyone to do everything but obviously injuries and extenuating circumstances are a way of life so please come back to bootcamp and do your best and limit your activity to the exercises you can do pain free! Myself, Dustin, and Will are all happy to recommend modified or alternative moves and exercises to make sure you get a good workout and feel part of the group!! Did this answer your question? Thanks for the comment and looking forward to seeing you at bootcamp again soon!

  • http://thejoesweeney.wordpress.com Joe Sweeney

    Gregg, YES “Eat That Frog is a great book,” glad you enjoyed it! For those of you who haven’t read it, here is a little bonus — a link to my notes from the book. http://www.jdsconsultinggroup.com/BookSummaries.html

    How do I prioritize things in my life? That’s a wonderful and complicated question. For me, step one is identifying your purpose. What are you best at? What do you enjoy doing the most? If you found out from a doctor, you were going to be in perfect health for the next 6 months and then drop dead with no possible cure for your ailment….what would you do? Who would you spend that time with?

    Answer that question honestly and that should clue you in as to your true priorities. From there, the “what to prioritize” question become much easier (at least they did for me). What’s your purpose? My purpose has changed a number of times since I began writing it down, which is perfectly fine with me. Today as I type this, my purpose is “to humbly serve and inspire others to be, do, and have more than you ever thought possible.” That is my compass in all facets of my life and in addition to that I prioritize in a positively selfish way spending time my family, my health, and my happiness above everything else.

    On a day to day basis, I make a to-do list with the six most important things I want to accomplish each day. Not 10 or 20….six.

    Does this answer your question? Is there something specific you are struggling with to prioritize? Let me know and I’m happy to help in as much detail as needed.

    Finally, thank you for offering to be a “helper.” I’m not sure how many requests for help I’ll get or what they will entail I’m open to any and all (genuine) requests and I’m prepared to do my best to help any and everyone who responds. Nice to have you onboard! YES!

  • http://www.joshuakosnick.com Josh Kosnick

    As always my bff, I’d be happy to help if you need or want it!

  • Jennifer Heaton-Amrhein

    Since Lara went first, I’ll follow her lead and bite too. First, I am not a regular bootcamp attendee (they don’t work with my schedule), but I have been several times and I absolutely LOVE your positive attitude and energy. Your positivity there, on your Facebook page, and through this blog has made me really change how I think about life and I’ve really tried to stop complaining about silly little things and just be more positive. It’s a good way to live life. I’m not perfect, but I’m trying!

    That said, I would really love it if you (or someone else with the same positive attitude) would offer some smaller (as in 6 -8 people MAX) bootcamp type sessions in the McFarland area either earlier in the morning (no later than 5 am. . .can you believe anyone wrote that?) or later in the day/evening. I really don’t like the big bootcamp groups, but I do like having a supportive group, and I’m willing to pay to have someone force me to exercise. Also, I would be interested in some sort of workout or series of workouts that could be done while walking a dog 2x a day, 30 to 45 min at a time. Thanks!

  • http://thejoesweeney.wordpress.com Joe Sweeney

    Josh – thanks for your support, you’re a good man!!

  • Kathleen Larsen

    First off, you have NO idea how much you have single-handedly changed my life in the last month or so. Your genuine & outrageous “UMPH”, wisdom, guidance, and words have reshaped my entire world. You’ve changed how I manage my own mind, my kids attitudes, how I interact with everyone, how I view the “hard stuff”, and how to truly look forward to starting the day at 5:30 am (I’m a slacker here huh? ha ha)
    How you can help me (thanks so much for offering!!!) is regarding others. How do I get others “on board” to change their thinking, but most importantly DO something about REALLY negative situations (work, health & family). And I’m referring to people really close to me (immediate family and dear friends) so it’s not as if they are people I can just limit my contact with. I only offer advice when I really believe that I can help, but more importantly because I don’t want them to suffer. But most of it seems to go in one ear & out the other, and they just continue complaining. If you need specifics I am happy to send them your way, but not on such a public blog. :)
    Believe me I know when to just nod and empathize, but when it directly involves such big issues with those so close to me, I am in need of advice.
    Many, many thanks!

  • http://altheadotzourphotography.com Althea

    Hi Joe,

    I’ve really enjoyed reading your new blog. Congrats on a month down! And great work with out super-sized bootcamp this morning. That was a lot of people to lead…solo! I really enjoy the energy and attention you bring to our mornings. Thanks!

  • http://thejoesweeney.wordpress.com Joe Sweeney

    Hi Jennifer: Thanks for leaving a comment and for the kind remarks! Congrats on the changes you are making in your life and I appreciate your support!! We see what we look for in things, so expect the best and begin to make subtle changes in the way you think and what and who you surround yourself with and the results will be exponentially positive over time and well worth it. Remember, it’s a marathon not a sprint and the soundest path is small but constant improvement everyday.

    I would be happy to do my best to accommodate your request to run a smaller bootcamp. In a perfect world what time would you like this 6-8 person bootcamp to be? If we can find 6-8 people to join the class and find a time and location that works for everyone, I’d be happy to teach it. Plan B, I’d be open to do some private training with you one on one. Drop me an email at josephdsweeney@gmail.com and we can work out the logistics.

    Here is a simple 10 block workout you could try while walking the dogs alternating exercises every block:

    Walk, jog, walk, high knees, walk, butt kicks, walk, lunge walk, walk, sprint

  • http://thejoesweeney.wordpress.com Joe Sweeney

    Kathleen:

    I’m floored, THANK YOU for the kind words and I’m honored to have had such a powerful impact in the month or so we’ve been working together! You are a champion keep in up!

    To answer your question, “How can you get others on board to change their thinking?” As they say on an airplane, secure your own oxygen mask before assisting others. A positive attitude takes time to develop, personally I committed myself for an entire year EVERYDAY to develop a positive attitude and I still work on it every day for multiple hours.

    There is a book I found very valuable during my transition from N to P called, “Jeffrey Gitomer’s Little Gold Book of YES! Attitude,” which I read every single day for a year. Pages 138-139 are the two pages I spent the most time on. In addition to reading the book, I purchased about 125 copies of the book and passed them out. I bough one for everyone of my employees, for my doormen, friends, family, and I’d even pass them out to strangers on the street. Some people read it, some didn’t. I didn’t follow up with those who didn’t, as there’s not enough hours in the day to spend them with negative people. For those who read it, (evident by the text messages and voicemails of “YESSSSSS” I was receiving and I even had one of my traders go as far as to tape a paper plate to a tongue depressor with YES written on it in giant letters – JL you know who you are) it helped me build an army of like-minded people I could make positive associations with. I’d order the book immediately if I were you and commit to reading it every day for a year and paying special attention to page 186 – “the rule of everyday.” Here is the link to buy a used copy on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Little-Gold-Book-YES-Attitude/dp/0131986473. Maybe buy an extra copy or two for a friend or family member you think is willing to buy into adopting a positive attitude.

    As far as “giving advice” (especially to negative people) I do my best not to. I’ll happily give advice to people who ask but offered up advice is rarely taken. Notice the difference between these two approaches to buying someone a YES book!

    #1:
    “I just read this book and have noticed some wonderful things happening in my life so I bought you a copy because I think you would really like it too.”

    VS

    #2
    “You’re attitude is terrible, trying reading this book, this is our last hope for you.”

    If you’d like to discuss in more detail, I’m happy to help, contact me anytime. Here’s my email — josephdsweeney@gmail.com

  • http://thejoesweeney.wordpress.com Joe Sweeney

    Althea: Thanks for the comment!! YES we had a HUGE class yesterday at bootcamp with fantastic energy — what fun!! For those of you who don’t know, Althea is an amazing photographer – check out the slide show she did for our bootcamp http://cart.altheadotzourphotography.com/bootcamp/slideshow

  • Jill

    Morning Joe – thanks for a great workout this morning. (Mount Horeb, Bootcamp). After bootcamp I kept thinking “What could Joe help me with?” …. Thinking… Thinking. Not that there isn’t a million things that I want for myself, but after thinking it over I would like to ask for help for my sister.
    She is a beautiful, loving, wonderful sister – friend – wife and mother. She has two small children (2 year old and a 5 month old) and then a 10 year old stepson. Obviously busy. She is a very important part of my life and sometimes we are even teased that we share a brain. Now – what kind of help does she need… I bet you are thinking a babysitter…. NOPE, I would like her to experience some personal positive training from you. All mom’s know that after having a baby you just can’t always loose the baby weight as fast as you want or you don’t feel the greatest about yourself. I feel like if she would work with you individually you could help give her some positive motivation on exercise and eating right that would help jump start her into feeling like a Hot Momma again. Unfortunately she lives in Sauk City (Prairie du Sac) bootcamp is not offered there so that is why I am asking that you to work with her personally. I think she just needs that extra push for a few weeks to get her pumped up and feeling positive again.

  • http://www.biojam.com Marcus Cook

    Joe:
    Great blog. Just a few things I’d like to comment on. 1. Just hearing you and the participants talk about the bootcamp has inspired me to get back on my 5:30 am workout routine. I fell off badly but this reminds me how important it is to start the day off right to wake up the mind and body. 2. You also remind me in your most recent blog that if you start the day off on the wrong track its no excuse to keep it that way. All it takes is a little positive stimuli to turn a N to a P. 3. Lastly, two blogs ago, I love the advice of saying the positive affirmations throughout the day and making a short goal list every day. I truly believe that ideas become words, words become actions, actions become habits, and habits become character. Yes! Glad I read your blog this morning. This is going to be a great day!

  • Anastacio Martinez

    My friend you are getting better and better every day. People from Puerto Rico are loving it. Let us know how can we serve your needs.

    Keep posting positive, uplifting and tools to take us to a better and more meaningful life.

    I appreciate all your work and disposition my friend.

    Voy a ti…

    Best,

    Anastacio (TASO)

  • Jennifer

    Hi Joe,

    Awesome bootcamp workout again in Mount Horeb! THANK YOU!!
    Thanks too for being such a positive influence and motivator. I agree with the other posts that say how contagious your enthusiasm and P energy is!! I’m looking forward to turning some N’s into P’s!!!

    I am going to ask for some help with my daughter Molly. She is 7 and in 2nd grade. She is doing well in school, has great friends, has a very positive, helpful attitude toward life. However, she has a health issue that she has been working through. We are trying to help her as best we can. I believe that if she has the chance to speak with you (or workout for a bit?) just 1 time, I think you could help her in such a positive way! She thrives when she has something special in her life (like a chance to volunteer or have 1-on-1 attention!!). It will be like you are talking to a mini-Jen b/c she is told she looks just like her mom! She plans to do a kids triathalon next year too!!

    I know we joked with you about babysitting our kids so we could go out……that’s not what I’m looking for – only to meet with Molly! Megan and Zach will just have to sit this one out!!!

    Thanks again for all of your positive influence…..it’s really making a difference!

  • http://thejoesweeney.wordpress.com Joe Sweeney

    Jill: I accept the challenge and am honored to have opportunity to work with your sister! I will commit to driving out to Sauk City spending some time with her on positivity training, combined with a workout she can do at home, and I’ll keep her accountable for a few weeks (via email, FB, and/or phone calls) until she’s running on autopilot!! How selfless of you to request help for her — she’s fortunate to have such a wonderful sister! Send me an email @josephdsweeney@gmail.com and let’s work out the logistics. YES!

  • http://thejoesweeney.wordpress.com Joe Sweeney

    Marcus / Taso — thank you both for the comments – you are both champions I have seen successfully implement many of the techniques I write about in my blog. My relationships with you both are very positive associations in my life so THANK YOU!!

    Is there anything I can help with?

  • http://thejoesweeney.wordpress.com Joe Sweeney

    Jennifer: Your efforts at bootcamp are INSPIRING!! You showed up Monday morning for a workout fired up and ready to go – AFTER doing a triathalon last weekend! What more can I say……

    YES, I’m happy to take this on and Molly sounds amazing! Let’s pull out our calendars and find a time where I can come out and spend some fun and quality time with Molly in the near future!!

    Looking forward to it!! YES!!

  • http://www.PlatinumRule.com Scott Zimmerman

    Joe,

    I haven’t known you long, but I’m good at reading people and I’d like to share a few observations I have about you…

    First, you totally get the Aristotle/Socrates/Plato model! These guys knew they were growing regardless of if they were teaching or learning. They removed “levels” of mastery and benefited both ways: receiving and sharing knowledge. I see this in you.

    Also, you have come full circle regarding your view of suffering. You now embrace the wisdom you received while God was tempering you and removing distractions from you. This only accelerated your success journey; you can look back and see this with clarity and gratitude. One of my favorite quotes (I wish I could remember where I stole it): “Learning comes from reading. Knowledge comes from failure. Wisdom comes from suffering.” You have figured this out at a young age… kudos to you!

    Lastly, you have a burning desire to give and help. Truly awesome! You will always read about how this will come back to you magnified in the Bible, in “How to Win Friends and Influence People” and in most everything Zig Ziglar publishes. Zig always says, “If you help enough other people get what they want, you’ll always get what you want… and more!”

    You’re a man wise beyond your years and I’m glad to have met you.

    The legacy you will leave behind will not be in terms of wealth, property or material things. Your legacy will be found in the people that have been built up by other people who were built up by the people who met Joe Sweeney.

    God speed, my brother from another mother!

    Peace,

    Scott

  • http://altheadotzourphotography.com Althea

    Hi Joe,

    It’s me again:) I’ve been thinking about your post a lot this week. It’s inspired me to think more carefully about how I can use my photography abilities to help lift up and inspire others. I’ve been mulling over ways that I could provide photo sessions to bootcampers who could use the validation of just how beautiful and amazing they are. Or for people who have overcome challenges or met goals and could use a feel-good reward. Maybe we can talk more.

    I’m also thinking about my plans for growing my photography business ( ). I stay home full time with my kids and work on photography as I’m able. I’ve thought through some tw0- and four- year plans (in four years, I plan to have grown my business where it can provide income comparable to what I would be earning elsewhere), but I don’t have much written down. Being an entrepreneur is exhilarating and great, but I’m seeing that I could use more of a network of people to help hold me responsible for my plans. Is this the kind of thing you’d be interested in talking about? I have a sense that a conversation with you would be highly motivating!!

    Thanks again, Joe!

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