Tools & Resources

Daily Intentions
What are you going to do with today? I am not asking what busy work, honey-do list, or random everyday tasks you have to complete. What will you do today to reach your boundless potential and progress towards living your best life? Benjamin Franklin would start every day by asking himself this question:
What good will I do this day?

Goal Setting For Success
What are the dreams and goals that you want to accomplish in this lifetime? They can be small objectives or big hairy audacious goals but take the time to think of three specific goals; one for your personal life, one professional, and finally, one family or community goal. It's essential to select balanced objectives instead of only choosing all business/career goals to balance your life. If one area of your life is struggling, it will eventually impact the others. Take the time to ponder what are the most critical goals to accomplish in the next 90 days. It's essential to think about goals that can be completed at that time because, as humans, we tend to lose focus and momentum after three months. If a goal is going to take longer, break it up into smaller milestones that can be completed in 90 days.

Goal Setting
An enlightened Buddhist monk took one of his students on a walk to share one of life's greatest lessons, having clear goals. The monk was a master archer, and his student had never seen him miss the bullseye in practice, even at a distance of 300 yards. To show his student the importance of having clarity of vision, the monk placed a flower on a side a tree and took ten paces away. He then did something surprising. The monk took out a small white cloth and tied it as a blindfold while his student watched in anticipation.

The Power of Laughter
Laughing is one of the best parts of being human. From a small giggle to a deep belly laugh, it's hard to argue that this small act has a significant impact on our happiness, mental fortitude, and even our physical health. It's also too easy to lose this simple joy in life as we grow older. This can be exasperated for entrepreneurs with the challenges and stress that come with the responsibilities of running a business.

The 4:00 AM Secret
What time do you get out of bed every morning? Is it the same time each day or does it fluctuate? One of the consistent traits of those that achieve more is that they wake up before most. From entrepreneurs to elite athletes, the most successful individuals have the discipline to start their day consistently before the sunrise.

3-2-1- Zero Email Hack
I wanted to share a life hack that helps me keep my email manageable in less than one hour each day (on average I receive between 150-220 emails in 24 hours). My technique is called 3-2-1-Zero and it breaks down like this:
3 For a 30-minute block of time
2 Twice a day
1 Read each email only once
Zero Get your inbox down to zero emails (not zero unread, zero in your inbox)

Building Your Discipline
Why do some people seem to have more willpower and discipline than others? Those individuals aren't' born with different tools than the rest of us, but rather they have built their willpower the same way a bodybuilder develops his biceps. Willpower is something that you can develop over time and continue to strengthen through exercising it and it's essential to living your best possible life. Remember, the only limit you have in this life, are those you put on yourself.

The Four 7’s
What really matters in life. Where do you put your priorities? I wanted to share a tool that helps provide clarity into how you will define success and riches at the end of your life. This exercise came from the lessons that hospice providers learned from their patients in the last days of their lives. When the time comes to transition out of this life, it isn’t the money we have accumulated, the car we drive or the houses we live in. The Four 7’s will help you find that same clarity when you still have your entire life ahead of you. Get out a piece of paper, pen and get ready to find clarity in your life.

5 Self-Care Techniques in Self-Isolation
Now more than ever, it's essential that you take the time for self-care. Everyone is facing unique challenges, with our lives and businesses being changed overnight, and we are all struggling to survive in these uncertain times. That's why you must take the time to care for yourself in these five areas of your life: Mindfulness, Your Physical Body, Growth, Creativity, and rest.

A chip & a chair - the true story of overcoming adversity
Lately, I have been thinking about an old poker saying that seems relevant in these challenging times. With so many of us facing the unknown, I thought this true story of being down but not out, only to rally and overcome insurmountable odds to emerge victoriously could inspire someone facing new challenges.
The phrase is "a chip and a chair."

Leading & Accountability with a Remote Workforce
How do you lead a team remotely when it's new to your company? With the Covid 19 virus changing our world overnight, it's essential that all employees that possibly can work remotely, begin doing so immediately. This new landscape creates different challenges for many leaders that have never managed a virtual workforce. Without the right tools and techniques, it's easier for things to spiral out of control in a virtual workplace. Here are some of the methods that have a proven record of consistently, innovation, and profitability.

5 Tricks to Finding Creative Inspiration
Do you ever find yourself staring at an email, trying to get your fingers to type what's fumbling around in your mind, unable to articulate the concept? For most people, being creative on-demand is challenging, but it's a learnable skill. I have compiled a few of the tricks that some of the most imaginative individuals utilize to do everything from designing corporate brands to solve complex statistical problems.

10 Happiness Habits for 2020
There is no silver bullet to be happier that works for everyone. Each person's current situation and previous life experiences make up their unique perspective and station in life. With that in mind, I have selected ten scientifically proven habits you can experiment within your daily routine to see what works best for you.

the OAK Journal Method
I developed the journal to share over 20 years of collective experience that will empower you to accomplish whatever you set out to do. In this book, you will find the best parts of the most significant business books from the last 100 years. I worked to combine the best processes and habits to help achieve even the loftiest goals.

Why all top performers journal
Journaling is proven to provide benefits from boosting creativity and increasing happiness. That's why it's the final step in the 10.10.10 morning routine in the OAK Journal methodology. Here are just a few of the proven benefits from a consistent practice.

10/10/10 - The best way to start your day
How we start, each day is paramount to how successful we will before the day is over. You don't just roll out of bed late, eat some leftover cold pizza and end up curing cancer that day. Accomplishing your goals and performing to full potential requires intention. In studying entrepreneurs, world leaders, and enlightened beings, they all have something in common.

Creating a meditation practice
“I don’t know how to meditate” isn’t an excuse to skip this step. The other unacceptable excuse is “I don’t have time to meditate.” With apps like Calm or Harmony, you can start meditating in minutes. Transcendental Meditation (www.tm.org) has the most scientific studies documenting the benefits, but just by quieting your mind daily it begins to unwind the stress we carry in our bodies.

Fanatical discipline - building your willpower
Good habits are foundational for happiness — you need willpower. It’s easy to give credit to willpower when you successfully build a new habit, but it’s also equally obvious to chalk up a failure due to a lack of willpower. Regardless of your thoughts on willpower; it is a real thing. It should be continuously strengthened, and it does have a direct impact on your ability to build a new habit.
