Kevin W. McCarthy

Are You In The Midst Of A Tough Shift?

 

A Tough Shift™ happens when we're not able to make a smooth transition. Do you find yourself fretting, fearful, or discouraged?  Take heart! 

Tough shifts are events such as career changes, starting a business, having a baby, retiring, getting married or divorced, a death, a move, a job change -– they're all around us. Some are smoothly managed, others are not. That's when we need help (scroll to bottom for help).

As a kid, I remember learning to drive a stick shift in an ice blue 1962 MG Midget that our family owned.  This car made today's Mini Cooper look big.  It was basically a tin coffin with an engine and wheels and a removable lid.  It had paper-thin doors, slide on windows, a pull starter, and it was absolutely the most fun car in the world to tool around town in.  (I can't believe I found a photo online of one that looked just like it!)

My digression into my '62 MG Midget past is about learning to shift gears.  I remember the first sounds and feel of that gearshift in my hand as I attempted to sync the clutch, the gearshift, and still steer the car.  I find myself driving two-footed every now and then with one foot on the gas and the other on the brake. Growing up in the "South Hills" of Pittsburgh meant I needed to master it all fast, lest I drift into the car behind me at all stops!  Today, driving a stick is still second nature thanks to what I mastered at age 16.

Tough shifts in life are similar to my learning to drive a stick shift experience.  They can be difficult, noisy, rough, clashing, and damaging with the threat of even worse things happening.  On the other hand, once mastered, the ability to make what used to be a tough shift becomes an opportunity to efficiently go places.  The skills are transferable to other "vehicles." The lessons learned stay with us.

Do you need help making your Tough Shift?  Join me in a new six-week On-Purpose Leader Experience starting on Wednesday February 1, 2012 at 12:05 PM Eastern.  For your convenience all webcasts are recorded and available for replay at our private website where you can also post questions and interact with other participants and me.

Enroll today for this amazing life transforming experience designed to enhance the personal leadership of your life.  Enrollment is just $147 single or $227 for two.  Register today for The On-Purpose Leader Experience!  Shift into high gear for life!

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On-Purpose Profile: Hugh MacLeod of GapingVoid.com

permissions granted for use of the above cartoon by Hugh MacLeod

In spite of my classic business education and conservative ways, I have a deep appreciation for artists who tear into the essence of the human condition to challenge the traditionally held views of society.  All is not right since that one bite in the Garden of Eden.

A recent post I saw in Copyblogger.com by Hugh MacLeod inspired me to dig into his story.  His artwork brought a smile of irreverent recognition for the prevalent challenges with so many in the workforce.  Hugh's website, GapingVoid.com, includes a number of edgy "Cube Grenades" that he fiendishly lobs into the lives of his corporate captive audiences.  Take a scroll around his cartoon log. Be sure to subscribe to his daily cartoons for an emotionally explosive reminder of how your work can be a noble expression of your purpose... or not! 

If you're a fan of the hit TV show The Office, then for sure, Hugh's artwork will curl your lips upward.  A bit of parody mixed with a dose of purpose may be just the recipe for prodding you to be on-purpose.

Hugh provides us with a great example of a person with a love and talent for something that doesn't fit the mold of what's expected.  Instead of compromising who he is to become someone he isn't, he's growing who he is in order to be more of whom he can become.  Sure, he's working hard at it!  Sure, you're working hard too.  Hugh provides yet another profile of a person building a life where the inner work and outer work are aligned and integrated in a productive and profitable manner.

Thanks Hugh for your Cube Grenades that blow holes in the facade of living with contented, unexamined mediocrity.  You're encouraging us all to step into the boldness of being on-purpose:  Be Yourself> Prosper> Make A Difference.

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What If You Knew You Would Live to Be A Healthy 100 Year Old?

 

I'm finding far too many seniors are succumbing to the popular notion that age defines attitude.  Who says you can't start a new business, begin to learn new things, or be adventurous when your decades number five or more? 

Don't be down if you are up in age.  Longevity centers in your spirit, not your chronology.  Resist popular culture's notion that 65, the retirement age, is the end of your useful life.  Retirement from a job doesn't mean your life is over.  It is simply a time for a new beginning.  Let purpose define your life not your age and you're closer to the truth.

Who is the oldest person you know or have ever known?  What did he or she tell you about the ups and downs of longevity?  Please share your lessons or comments learned in the comment section.

My Grandmother McCarthy died at age 97.  Sure other people lived longer than Grandma, but few have had such a quick soft laugh and sense of humor - even after death. 

A funny discovery came out at Grandma's funeral.  She lied about her age.  It all began when she met my grandfather.  She was older than him by three months and she wanted him to think he was older.  Her whole family was in on the scam.  She was the eldest of eleven Kuhn children.  Her youngest brothers and sisters (my father's aunts and uncles) were actually younger than my father.  They're the ones who told my father at the funeral that her date of birth had the wrong year - she was born in 1900, not 1901.

At her 95th (96th!) birthday celebration, I remember her telling me, "If I had known I was going to live this long, I would have done things differently."  She never did tell me what things, but I sense she had some regrets.

Along these lines, here is a quote on aging sure to get your crow's feet showing!

"If you live to the age of a hundred you have it made... because very few people die past the age of a hundred."

            George Burns

One the great benefits of grey hair, is that the older I get the more I see the hand of God at work in and around me.  Of course, I'm asking for help regularly and am, therefore, expectant.

Dr. Wayne Andersen, Medical Director of Take Shape For Life, helped me learn new Habits of Health to not just prevent disease, but to move away from disease and toward health.  Being at a healthy weight is essential to longevity.

One of the Gold Sponsors at the Central Florida Christian Chamber of Commerce is Florida Hospital.  Penny Jones, their board representative, heads up the Healthy 100 program.  Bravo to Florida Hospital because they're promoting the message that we can live to be a Healthy 100.  Listen for the optimists and live a longer and healthier life.

I've found messages and the means to support my decision to live to be 100 years of age and healthy.  I don't fret the small stuff because I have time.  How about you?

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Rejoice In Your Christmas Present!

  

For more On-Purpose messages, please click here to sign up for The On-Purpose Minutes for a gift of inspiration you receive twice a week.

Merry Christmas

Kevin

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When Chemists Laugh

 

Cartoon by Nick D. Kim, used with permission: Check out his talent at: http://www.lab-initio.com

Everyone's sense of humor is quirky and unique.  I have to say, however, that Nick D. Kim's cartoons makes me think Gary Larson's of The Far Side fame is compounded with a brainiac chemist to produce offbeat cartoons that bring science alive with humor.

Candidly, I had never heard of Nick D. Kim, but now I think he is maybe one of the most famous chemists of all because he's bringing chemistry to cartoons and that's cheap medicine for the soul.

Be sure to visit his web site.

Be On-Purpose!

Kevin

Do You Have A Business Blunder To Share?

Image by BryanPerson via Flickr

Now and then we're inclined to suffer by inserting our foot in our mouth with negative consequences!  In the world of business, these gaffes can cost you a sale, a client, an account, a job, or, heaven forbid, your business. 

Hopefully, however, you can look back with a sense of humor as I can in this On-Purpose Business Minute.  Some blunders can be tragic and it really isn't a laughing matter.  Regardless, every blunder holds a lesson (or two or three).  Some may even hold blessings when we search long and hard enough and the healing is complete.

As you'll see in my video, time tends to lend perspective and insight that pays dividends later in our life and career.  After watching this On-Purpose Business Minute, please use the comment section below to share your business blunder and the lesson(s) you learned.  You will help us all by not being off-purpose.

Be On-Purpose!

Kevin

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Kevin, How Did You Lose Weight And Keep It Off For Two Years ?

Many people have asked me to reveal the secret to my success with losing my weight and keeping it off.  This On-Purpose "Minute" gives you the skinny on the keys to my weight loss, keeping it off, and staying at a healthy weight. Warning: this "Minute" is a bit different from what you might be used to seeing.

After watching the video, keep reading as I share my update and a surprising residual insight to this whole healthy experience.

OK!  So I had a bit of fun there with you in this On-Purpose Minute.  Hey, it's the summer so it's time to cut loose a bit.  Did you watch it all the way?  Hopefully, you hung in there with me and learned my many "secrets."

From March to July of 2008, I lost 50 pounds.  Candidly, about 10 pounds have crept back on me here on my 2nd anniversary.  I'm in much better shape so I hope some of it is muscle weight - or is that a rationalization?  The tips I gave you work amazing well, if you apply them.

More importantly, I've learned a few things about myself, too.  Keeping a healthy weight isn't nearly as hard as I imagined it to be.  Certainly my behaviors and habits are much healthier, yet there is still this unnecessary and unhealthy desire - call it an occasional lust - for sweets.  It isn't a physiological need, but an emotional longing of some sort.  But what?

Some unmet need, hurt, frustration, or anger causes me to run to my drug of choice.  I'm working on understanding what the heck is happening and the pattern.  It mostly rears its ugly head at night.

Thankfully the weight loss and new habits have given me a margin of health, a fresh start, and a clearer mind, but there's more work to be done on good (not so old) old Kevin.  By stripping away a pile of fat-boy producing habits, I'm getting to the root of my issue(s).  It is all good!

My prayer would be that you, too, get on a journey of healthy on-purpose living.  Your personal insights refine and enrich your life if you will go to them instead of running from them.  If you have a health coach, then work with them.   If you need a health coach, then please contact Judith McCarthy at judithmccarthy@cfl.rr.com to learn how you can do what I did.

Are You A Fathead?

Dumb decisions come from dumb people or fatheads, right?  Wrong!  We're all subject to making stupid choices, but would you knowingly diminish your brain capacity?  Of course not!  Hm-m-m, then again...

What if a series of particular choices over time are making you especially susceptible to being a fathead?  What if those choices were within your control and could help prevent you from the compound effect of one bad decision after another?  Would you be interested in learning how to improve your decision making and to stop the waist?

At the risk of offending, this On-Purpose Minute challenges you look down on yourself for the answer to the question, "Am I a fathead?"   You'll know immediately if you suffer from this condition while watching this video - 70% of us do.

BTW - This is the confession of a recovering "fathead."

 

Do you need help getting your waistline to a healthy size?  I have an affiliation with health coaches across the USA who will gladly help you get your thinking clear.  Email me for a referral. They will help your life, health, and style of living be more on-purpose.

Watch this funny Geico advertisement featuring an all Too Honest Abe Lincoln and his greater than 32-inch waist wife. 

Some great quotes:

A waist is a terrible thing to mind.   - Tom Wilson

The one way to get thin is to re-establish a purpose in life.   -  Cyril Connolly, The Unquiet Grave

Never eat more than you can lift.    - Miss Piggy

Does this make me look fat?

Every guy has to chuckle at this Geico ad featuring Abraham Lincoln in a real dilemma with his wife. 

 

Authorship: Making Yourself Write

Image by brainpop_uk via Flickr

About once a week a would-be writer approaches me to ask for my pearls of wisdom for how to write a book.  The answer is simple: start, finish, edit, rewrite, edit, share, rewrite, and stop short of being totally satisfied.  (Tip: You will never be completely satisfied.)

The first step, "Start!" is the most difficult.  After that the Finish step is the most difficult, followed by the edit step... you get the picture.  Writing is work folks. 

I stumbled upon 50 Strategies For Making Yourself Work, an article by Jerry Oltion.  It offers great advice for getting the writing process started.  These 50 strategies are accurate and spiced with humor.  

So read (oh, yes, and apply) Jerry Oltion's advice.  Surely, there is at least one of these strategies to get your book started sooner rather than later.  So now you know how to write a book - easy wasn't it? 

How to sell a book?  First, the writing is the easy part.   Need I say more?

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