There is much we can learn about poise and leadership from one of the greatest shortstops of all-time – The Captain of the New York Yankees, Derek Jeter. Thanks for the memories DJ!
GYST #24: Be a Leader (like Derek Jeter)
Avoid Complacency Like the Plague
When you look up the word complacency in the dictionary you’ll learn the following meaning: self-satisfaction or smug satisfaction with an existing situation or condition.
So whatever you do in life, AVOID it like the plague! Because in order to improve upon your existing situation – or physical well-being, for that matter – it’s always best to “stay hungry” for perfection so you can better yourself and your condition. And never be smug about it!
Regardless of your situation, always strive to better yourself and seek the higher ground.
As a kid growing up in a poor Sicilian family, my parents taught me to always strive for perfection and to believe in myself in whatever I did. Whether it was playing baseball on my unbeaten 12 year-old All-Star team, or attending auditions in the “nobody makes it here world of Hollywood”. I do my best and never get complacent with my abilities or achievements.
That’s why over the past six years since I arrived here in February 2007, I’ve been creating and innovating as much as I can. Like my more than 100 free Yoga & fitness videos posted to the Internet and new Audio-book for my memoir, Simply Between Millions: From Wall Street to Hollywood. I didn’t just settle with the paperback and digital versions. No. I wanted to make my life’s wild and inspiring journey about pursing my Hollywood calling and persevering against the odds – however great they may be against you – available on all platforms, including Audio.
So in two weeks I’ll be the proud father of another creation narrated and produced by me. Here’s a preview of what’s to come:
Enjoy – R
Memoirs – Coming Soon!
After two months of trying to attract the right publisher – or any publisher for that matter – I’ve decided to take the plunge! That is, take the plunge into self-publishing my memoirs with Amazon’s independent publishing company, CreateSpace. And I must say, thus far I’m quite pleased with the process and my CreateSpace team. By the looks of it, the book will be available in late January, and to say the least, I’m really looking forward to it. And for anyone not familiar with my 45 years of rather colorful stories, here’s a preview of Chapters 11-20 in, Simply Between Millions: From Wall Street to Hollywood.
At age nine I watched the 1969 classic, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. From that point on, I became fascinated with Hollywood’s “world of make-believe”. So Chapter 11, Hole-in-the-Wall Gang, is aptly named after Robert Redford’s gang of bank robbers, and sets the stage for my dreams of becoming “the Sundance Kid”. Chapter 12, The Belt, touches upon the cycle of domestic violence and the abusive grandfather I never knew and met only once, while Chapters 13 – 15, All-Stars, Going to PENN, and Just Say No, explain my early teenage years and how baseball and my parents’ “Sicilian parenting” impacted my life and set the stage for the next 30 years. In Chapter 16, Sweet 16, I unofficially become of legal drinking age and recall my not-so-virginal romance with a gal stricken with Anorexia Nervosa – a horrible disorder that rears its nasty head time and time again (as well as in my film, Boulevard Zen). Chapter 17, Jersey Shore, is quite amusing with tales of adolescent debauchery that I’m sure you’ve seen on the popular reality show of the same name, albeit, without the scripts and cameras! In Chapter 18, The Game, you’ll experience the best High School baseball game of all-time – all 20 innings worth, while Chapter 19, Dear Olde PENN, introduces you to one of the best colleges in the world, The University of Pennsylvania, as well as the gritty bars of Philadelphia in the early 80’s. As for Chapter 20, Two Minute Drill, no, it’s not about the final two minutes of a football game. Rather, imagine what it’s like drinking 8 beers in 2 minutes, and then imagine what it’s like seeing 400+ wild and crazy gals hooting it up at the hottest Ladies Club in town – with your best friend as the lead attraction!
Good stuff that makes for some fun reading! So, like I said earlier, I’m really looking forward to self-publishing my colorful memoirs in the coming months. I hope you are too. Have a wonderful day – and don’t forget to get your workout in! – R
Simply Between Millions: Chapters 6 – 10
It’s November 1st and New Year’s Day is fast approaching. You may ask yourself, where did 2011 go? It’s interesting how time seems to pass more quickly as the years pile on. Just the other day I was this six year-old boy learning Sicilian cultures and meeting all sorts of storybook characters you’ll find in my colorful memoirs, Simply Between Millions: From Wall Street to Hollywood. Like Goobata Sal and the myriad of essentials that “fell off his truck”. There’s also my love of learning and fitness with Baseball, Push-Ups & Math Games, and my understanding of the Sicilian concept and tradition of “Representing the Family”. In Chapter 9, I explain Acceptable Behaviors and why we make the choices we make, then recount some exciting times at the YMCA.
So take a moment to remember your childhood today, and don’t forget your daily workout. Because before you know it, you’ll be making that resolution to lose that 10 pounds you’ll gain in the next two months. And if you’re new to a daily fitness program, then start with my 5 Minute Fat Burning Workout #85 – Chair Twists. Enjoy – R
Persevere like Jackie Robinson
Today, Major League Baseball commemorates the 64th anniversary of Hall of Famer, Jackie Robinson, for breaking the color barrier as the first black player to play in MLB since the 1880’s. He was also the first black television analyst in Major League Baseball, and the first black vice-president of a major American corporation (Chock Full O’Nuts in 1957). In the 1960s, Jackie helped establish the Freedom National Bank, an African-American-owned financial institution based in Harlem, New York. This, from a man born into a family of sharecroppers. Jackie Robinson is definitely someone who overcame substantial obstacles, including death threats and horrific slurs from racially charged fans. But he persevered and won a World Championship ring when the Dodgers beat the Yankees in the 1955 World Series. So if there’s anything in your life that needs more perseverance to get you through, think of Jackie Robinson and stay the course. And do so with beautiful thighs & biceps with today’s 5 Minute Fat Burning Workout #51. Enjoy – R
Thank you Manny Ramirez
About 20 years ago my father showed me a baseball card of a rookie he said would become one of the greatest. His name was Manny Ramirez. My father was right. In 19 years in the majors, Manny hit more home runs (555) and drove in more runs (1,831) than Mickey Mantle. As a long time New Yorker and Yankee fan at heart, this means something. And with a lifetime batting average of .312, not to mention his ability to intimidate opposing pitchers by just stepping into the on-deck circle, he’s a Hall of Famer in my book. What I remember most about Manny was the way he electrified the city of Los Angeles and led the Dodgers to the National League Championship Series in 2008. The energy and excitement was something the whole city felt, whether at Dodger Stadium or Venice Beach. Yes, he violated baseball’s drug policy (2 times), and yes, there was always Manny being Manny. Yet he played with such confidence and poise that it inspired everyone, especially his younger teammates. Love him or hate him, he was the ultimate baseball warrior. Thank you Manny Ramirez. My best always – Rich
And don’t forget today’s 5 minute workout #45 – because we all could use some Balance!
Gotta love ‘Opening Day’
As a child, my brother and I used to play baseball for hours on end with my tireless father hitting us popups and grounders until the sun went down. To this day my father and brother coach kids of all ages from childhood through high school. My two nephews are also following in our footsteps, becoming quite the ballplayers we knew they would. So of course I’m a huge fan of ‘Opening Day‘. The smell of freshly cut grass, the sounds of the crack of the bat, the pop you hear when the pitcher fires one past the batter right into the catcher’s mitt. Hmmm, hmmm, good! There’s also that feeling of a new beginning. Because once the season starts, nobody cares about last year, let alone what happened yesterday. Everybody gets a fresh start – something we all can use from time to time. So if you’re a baseball fan like me, take this time to start something new. Like a daily fitness program. Because just like ballplayers forgetting their past seasons, you can forget about the workout you didn’t do yesterday and start anew. Why not? It’s Opening Day! Have fun getting terrific triceps with my 5 minute fat burning workout #36. Let’s play ball – R
Be reverent
I was speaking with a friend today about the concept of being reverent vs. irreverent. Sometimes, the only way to succeed in a particular situation is to be irreverent. To be disrespectful of your opponent, confident in your abilities to get the job done. Like a baseball hitter who’s irreverent toward the Cy Young winning pitcher staring him down, all the while knowing he’ll get a hit. On the other hand, when it comes to working out every day, one should be reverent. That is to say, it would be wise to respect the power of a daily fitness program because of its proven, healthy, long term affects. So be reverent with your workouts and enjoy soft leg squats in my 5 minute Workout #29 – R
One home run doesn’t make a home run hitter
That pretty much says it all for any sport, business or hobby where doing it once or twice doesn’t earn you the title. Just ask Babe Ruth. But a dozen times, now we’re getting somewhere. Hopefully you’ve been following along with my 5 minute fat burning workouts – today is day 12. If not, no worries. You can combine any 2 or 3 workouts and get caught up pretty quick. But hurry, because the days sneak up on you just like the passage of time. So get your fitness groove-on today…and enjoy your workout! R
It gets in your head
Yesterday I spoke with an old college buddy and former baseball player like me at the University of Pennsylvania. He recently started the 15 Minute Fat Burning Workouts and simply stated he really liked them because “It gets in your head”. What does that mean you might ask? Well it means that each 15 minute workout not only incorporates detailed instruction on how to maximize the efficiency of the exercises you are doing, but also has a short intro and outro that reinforces the concept that fat burning doesn’t end on the mat. Quite frankly, it gets in your head. It’s something you take out into the world as you consciously – and subconsciously – make good choices about the foods you eat, the liquids you drink, the movements you make, and the thoughts you chose to fill your mind with throughout your daily life. Just like the great Jack LaLanne believed it’s all about self-control, there’s no question that once you ingrain the concept of healthy choices into your subconscious you’ll be well on your way to burning fat every single day. As long as you accompany those healthy choices with some sort of physical fitness – everyday – you will see results. Enjoy your workout – R