M&M's: All or Nothing Day-July 26th

All or Nothing Day - July 26th
You're probably wondering what the heck 'All or Nothing Day' is about. Have you ever heard that expression 'Today is the first day of the rest of your life?' This is the day to give something your all or don't even bother. It's the day to take a chance for once & do something you've always wanted to do, but haven't. Even if it goes wrong or you end up failing - at least you tried! It's the 'day' you live like it's your last.

How to Observe it
So what are some of the things you should be giving your all? Take a minute to think about the things you would regret not doing if you were gone tomorrow. It's the day to say, 'I love you,' apologize or forgive an old friend & smile. Spend more time with your family, wear pink or practice like you've never practiced. Do something nice for someone, express yourself, don't deny your feelings & follow your heart. Today is all about you. Some things might hurt, like letting down your guard for the day, but in the end it's worth it. Who knows what tomorrow brings. Most of all, enjoy the day.

Do you have any goals, dreams or wishes you want to accomplish?
The Bucket List is a 2007 film starring Academy Award Winners Jack Nicholson & Morgan Freeman. The main plot follows 2 terminally ill men on their road trip with a wish list of things to do before they 'kick the buckey'
Make your OWN Bucket List.

Risk-Taking Quotes
'Risk more than others think is safe. Care more than others think is wise. Dream more than others think is practical. Expect more than others think is possible'
-Cadet Maxim
'Do one thing every day that scares you'
-Eleanor Roosevelt
'Trust your own instincts. Your mistakes might as well be your own, instead of someone else's'
-Billy Wilder

Pros & Cons
Pros & Cons are arguments for or against a particular isse. Pros are arguments which aim to promote the issue, while cons suggest points against it. The term has been in use since the 16th century & is a shortening of a Latin phrase, pro et contra' which means 'for & against.' Considering the pros & cons of an issue is a very useful way to weigh the issue thoughtfully & reach an informed decision.

COLGATE COUNTRY SHOWDOWN!!!

Thanks to everyone who came out for the 29th 2010 Colgate Country Showdown!!! It was a great success!!! Cannot believe how hot it was!!!

Picture Number 1 - from left to right: 1st place, 2nd place & 3rd place


Picture Number 2 - Here is our winner 15 year old Colton Pack!!! He moves on the state competition in Parkersburg

M&M's - July is National Cellphone Courtesy Month

July is National Cellphone Courtesy Month – an event Jacqueline Whitmore, an author & etiquette expert, founded in 2002 with the intent to encourage the increasingly unmindful cellphone users to be more respectful of their surroundings by using some simple cellphone etiquette principles.

“It’s important to educate people about the proper way to use these devices so that they’re still in touch but not annoying those around them.”

Wireless phone users can take these steps to avoid offending others:

1. Be all there. When you’re in a meeting, performance, courtroom or other busy area, let calls go to voicemail to avoid a disruption. In some instances, turning your phone off may be the best solution.

2. Keep it private. Be aware of your surroundings and avoid discussing private or confidential information in public. You never know who may be in hearing range.

3. Keep your cool. Don’t display anger during a public call. Conversations that are likely to be emotional should be held where they will not embarrass or intrude on others.

4. Learn to vibe. Use your wireless phone’s silent or vibration settings in public places such as business meetings, religious services, schools, restaurants, theaters or sporting events so that you do not disrupt your surroundings.

5. Avoid “cell yell.” Remember to use your regular conversational tone when speaking on your wireless phone. People tend to speak more loudly than normal and often don’t recognize how distracting they can be to others.

6. Follow the rules. Some places, such as hospitals or airplanes, restrict or prohibit the use of mobile phones, so adhere to posted signs and instructions. Some jurisdictions may also restrict mobile phone use in public places.

7. Excuse yourself. If you are expecting a call that can’t be postponed, alert your companions ahead of time and excuse yourself when the call comes in; the people you are with should take precedence over calls you want to make or receive.

8. Send a message. Use Text Messaging to send and receive messages without saying a single word.

9. Watch and listen discreetly. New multimedia applications such as streaming video and music are great ways to stay informed and access the latest entertainment. However, adjust the volume based on your surroundings in much the same way that you would adjust your ringer volume. Earphones are a great way to avoid distracting others in public areas.

Friends of Coal Auto Fair Platinum Sponsor Photo & Media Day!!!

That's me on the far right ... (in the red shirt!)

The 7th Annual Friends of Coal Auto Fair: July 16th - July 18th
The Legend himself 'Charlie Daniels' & Power Country's Houseband 'Taylormade' will be taking the stage Saturday July 17th at 7pm ... for more info visit http://www.friendsofcoalautofair.com/

M&M's - Embrace Your Geekness Day - July 13th!!

Embrace Your Geekness Day is a great day to be a Geek. Or, to know a Geek.

A geek is an individual who is highly intelligent (brainy) & technically oriented. They are most often associated with the computer & computer systems world. A geek is usually formal, studious & into his technical world, often to teh exclusion of all else. A geek is closely related to a 'Nerd'. A nerd, may or may not possess technical expertise.
Some people view the term 'Geek' with a negative connotation. Are they jealous of your knowledge & skills, perhaps? We certainly think so!

Enjoy Embrace Your Geekness Day to the Fullest! Spend plenty of time with your computer. Talk computer lingo & jargon. If you are geek, stand tall & proud! Isn't it great to be so brilliant & gifted!!!

OFFICE SLANG INCORPORATING GEEK LANGUAGE
404 - Someone who is clueless. From the Web Error Message '404 Not Found' which means the document requested couldn't be located ...'Don't bother asking John. He's 404'...
Alpha Geek - The most knowledgeable, technically proficient person in an office or work group ...'I dunno, ask Jim. He's our Alpha Geek' ....
Batmobiling - putting up emotional shields. Refers to the retracting armor that covers the Batmobile as in 'she started talking marriage & he started batmobiling'
Chips & Salsa - Chips:Hardware, Salsa:Software ...'First we gotta figure out if the problem's in your chips or your salsa
Egosurfing - Scanning the Net, databases etc, for one's own name
Mouse Potato - The online generation's answer to the couch potato
Seagull Manager - A manager who flies in, makes a lot noise, poops over everything & then leaves!

PRACTICAL TIPS FOR LIVING THE GOLDEN RULE
1. Practice empathy: Make it a habit to try to place yourself in the shoes of another person.
2. Practice compassion: Once you can understand another person, & feel what they're going through, learn to want to end their suffering.
3. How would you want to be treated: When you put yourself in someone else shoes, ask yourself how you think they want to be treated.
4. Be friendly: When in doubt, follow this tip. It's usually safe to be friendly towards others.
5. Be helpful: In general there is a tendency to keep to yourself, & ignore the problems of others. Don't be blind to the needs & troubles of others.
6. Be courteous in traffic: There are few times when we are as selfish as when we are driving. We don't want to give up the right of way, we cut people off, we honk etc. We certainly don't act that way in person, most of the time. So try to be courteous in traffic
7. Listen to others: Another weakness: we all want to talk, but very few of us want to listen. So take the time to actually listen to another person, rather than just wait your turn to talk
8. Stop critcism: Hold back your criticism, and instead learn to interact with others in a positive way.
9. Don't control others: When you get the urge to control, put yourself in that person's shoes. You would want freedom, and trust, wouldn't you? Give that to others then
10. Send yourself a reminder: Email yourself a daily reminder, to live your life by the Golden Rule, so you don't forget
11. Rise above retaliation: We have a tendency to strike back when we're treated badly. This is natural. Resist that urge. Does that mean you have to be a doormat? No .. you have to assert your rights but you can do so in a way where you still treat others well & don't strike back just because they treated you badly first.
12. Be the change: Even if the world doesn't change, at least you have

The New Relics - IN STUDIO! - check out the video here!

MARS VS. VENUS - MEETING DAD

Every guy, at one time or another, has to meet his girl's father for the first time. A new girlfriend's dad is frightening because he knows what your motives are. Here are a few rules to make a meeting a little less stressful.

- Keep it brief: Meet the parents in a neutral environment. Dinner at a restaurant is good - it's over with quickly & provides opportunities for easy conversation.

-Control your tongue: You're trying to make a good impression. Don't talk about yourself all night - steer the conversation back to her parents' interests

-Treat his daughter like a goddess: He will be watching you very closely for any real or perceived slights against his child. Pull out chairs for her, pick up the tab & compliment her intelligence.

M&M's - Workaholic Day!

Workaholics Day - July 5th
July 5th is Workaholic Day. It recognizes the guy, or gal, who works all of the time....... even during holidays. While just about everyone is enjoying the Fourth of July holiday, the Work-a-holic is off working on some project.

Oftentimes, the realization of being a workaholic comes with repeated comments from others or through self-awareness of how your work schedule differs from that of others. Working hard to achieve a goal that is very important to you is OK. What is not OK is neglecting yourself, your loved ones and feeling that the decision to do so is no longer a conscious one you have control over, but is a habit that you can no longer control.

In order to avoid letting your business drive you mad, incorporate the following 5 tips into your busy life:
1. Exercise regularly and stay active. It is far too easy to avoid exercising because you have to do more work. Instead, make you physical health your top priority. Exercise is an ideal way to tap into your inner genius and solutions hidden in your subconscious mind. Take a jog and mull over an issue that you've been having in the workplace.
2. Eat and drink healthily. Working until the wee hours of the morning can cause you to have the late-night munchies. Reach for a stick of celery or some baby carrots instead.
3. Get enough sleep. When you find yourself nodding off at your desk, or day dreaming and losing focus, you are no longer productive. It's better to get a full night's rest and be fresh in the morning than to stay up late and work inefficiently.
4. Spend time outdoors. This can be combined with lesson 1. Fresh air does wonders for your mental state, and spending time with nature can bring out creativity which leads to great ideas that increase your bottom line.
5. Take some quiet time each day. Staring at the computer, talking on the phone and writing hundreds of emails everyday can wear your brain out. Find ten minutes of everyday and have some quiet time for yourself. Meditate, close your eyes and zone out or just listen to some soothing music for ten minutes a day.

By incorporating life enhancing practices into your everyday routine, you can become more productive and produce a better quality of work, and this increases the longevity of your personal and business health.