I watched a documentary on Warren Buffet today on CNBC, and although I learned a lot, there were two things that impressed the hell out of me:
1- He said "In business, you don't need to know what's coming, but you do have to know what's going"- So he was saying that you have to know when your industry, your habits, your attitudes, whatever- no longer serve you successfully. He was saying that furniture manufacturing was LEAVING the US, so he had the stuff from one of his companies go to China. However, now the Vietnamese have even LOWER labor cost, so now it's time to move there.
2- Again, referring to the furniture business he owns part of, here is the the 3rd wealthiest man in the world, and yet the furniture in his house comes from the LOW-PRICE furniture company he owns. ANYONE would understand if he had the finest, most expensive furniture n his home, but in order to show his support for his business, he has the furniture from it in his home. WOW.
I watched a documentary on Warren Buffet today on CNBC, and although I learned a lot, there were two things that impressed the hell out of me:
1- He said "In business, you don't need to know what's coming, but you do have to know what's going"- So he was saying that you have to know when your industry, your habits, your attitudes, whatever- no longer serve you successfully. He was saying that furniture manufacturing was LEAVING the US, so he had the stuff from one of his companies go to China. However, now the Vietnamese have even LOWER labor cost, so now it's time to move there.
2- Again, referring to the furniture business he owns part of, here is the the 3rd wealthiest man in the world, and yet the furniture in his house comes from the LOW-PRICE furniture company he owns. ANYONE would understand if he had the finest, most expensive furniture n his home, but in order to show his support for his business, he has the furniture from it in his home. WOW.
To everyone, but especially to the rappers of the world,
I get it.
It rhymes with trigger, bigger, and "figger", as in "I 'figger' we'll go have lunch, Margaret"
I had heard it a few times when I was younger, and knew that it wasn't to be said, knew it wasn't to be heard, and certainly wasn't to be put to music.
So what happened?
I freely admit that not everyone feels the same way I do about "the N Word", and in the comedy world, in looking for a punch line, one might forget the murder, dismemberment, rape, torture, attempted genocide, drownings, brandings, whippings, tear gassings, church bombings, baby manglings, animal attacks, mental, physical, emotional and spiritual evils committed by people with "The N word" on their lips.
But for some reason I stopped laughing. And stopped singing along. And stopped allowing it in conversation around me.
2 weeks ago, I was on the train reading "Martin Luther King Jr. on Leadership" when some high school kids, middle school kids, and elementary school kids came on laughing and talking with each other. Girls flirting, boys trying to impress-
But all I could hear was that word.
Almost like it was the only thing they were saying.
I didn't do anything that day- but I am now. Now I AM doing something. And I'm asking for your help.
I had some buttons made that say: TooProudForTheNword.com
and would like the website and the buttons passed around.
Anyone know a publicist who wants a story? How about a leader in the Black Community? Anyone visible whom I can get a button (or 100) into their hand? This is my partial list:
Oprah Bill Cosby Dennis Kimbro Les Brown Dennis Kimbro Jesse Jackson Al Sharpton Will Smith Barak Obama Spike Lee Dave Chapelle Eddie Murphy Al Roker Russell Simmons P. Diddy Common Magic Johnson
and the only two white guys: Quentin Tarantino and Stephen Colbert.
I am not looking for more names, I am looking for introductions, invitations, or direct contact info.
You may feel this "isn't your problem", and you may be right. So what.
"All evil needs is for good people to do nothing"
http://www.TooProudForTheNword.com
Let Your Light So Shine Before Men, Bones Rodriguez- 917-450-7925
"One mind awake can awaken another, The second awake can awaken their next door brother. Three awake can awaken the town By turning the whole place upside down. Many awake can make such a fuss That they finally awaken the rest of us."- Helen Kromer
To everyone, but especially to the rappers of the world,
I get it.
It rhymes with trigger, bigger, and "figger", as in "I 'figger' we'll go have lunch, Margaret"
I had heard it a few times when I was younger, and knew that it wasn't to be said, knew it wasn't to be heard, and certainly wasn't to be put to music.
So what happened?
I freely admit that not everyone feels the same way I do about "the N Word", and in the comedy world, in looking for a punch line, one might forget the murder, dismemberment, rape, torture, attempted genocide, drownings, brandings, whippings, tear gassings, church bombings, baby manglings, animal attacks, mental, physical, emotional and spiritual evils committed by people with "The N word" on their lips.
But for some reason I stopped laughing. And stopped singing along. And stopped allowing it in conversation around me.
2 weeks ago, I was on the train reading "Martin Luther King Jr. on Leadership" when some high school kids, middle school kids, and elementary school kids came on laughing and talking with each other. Girls flirting, boys trying to impress-
But all I could hear was that word.
Almost like it was the only thing they were saying.
I didn't do anything that day- but I am now. Now I AM doing something. And I'm asking for your help.
I had some buttons made that say: TooProudForTheNword.com
and would like the website and the buttons passed around.
Anyone know a publicist who wants a story? How about a leader in the Black Community? Anyone visible whom I can get a button (or 100) into their hand? This is my partial list:
Oprah Bill Cosby Dennis Kimbro Les Brown Dennis Kimbro Jesse Jackson Al Sharpton Will Smith Barak Obama Spike Lee Dave Chapelle Eddie Murphy Al Roker Russell Simmons P. Diddy Common Magic Johnson
and the only two white guys: Quentin Tarantino and Stephen Colbert.
I am not looking for more names, I am looking for introductions, invitations, or direct contact info.
You may feel this "isn't your problem", and you may be right. So what.
"All evil needs is for good people to do nothing"
http://www.TooProudForTheNword.com
Let Your Light So Shine Before Men, Bones Rodriguez- 917-450-7925
"One mind awake can awaken another, The second awake can awaken their next door brother. Three awake can awaken the town By turning the whole place upside down. Many awake can make such a fuss That they finally awaken the rest of us."- Helen Kromer
That's what the guy asked me. He was at least 6' 4", and I could tell he meant it, and was waiting for an answer.
Thing is, before he asked me that, I thought we were getting along really well. I was asking him about spiritual practices, and how I could make more money come into my life.
Even though I'm an actor, I learned that you oughtta get some sales skills if you want to be a rich and successful person. Not that I wanted to be a salesman, but let's face it- when we were kids, we did a good sales job on our parents around Christmas time, right?
I REALLY NEEDED that G.I. Joe Jet Plane with the ejectable seat.
So when I asked this 6' 4" guy for some of his advice on how to make better sales, and how to make more money come into my life, I was surprised by his answer.
"Wanna punch in da nose?"
"Um.... no?" I said, unsure of my feelings on the matter.
"Well then don't give one" he said.
I didn't get it. I had no intention of giving anyone a punch in da nose, much less this guy who was towering over me.
"If you want something, you gotta give it first." he said, "If you want a punch in da nose, you should give one to someone. If you want more money, you should give some to someone."
Oh, I get it. The old "Tithe and Get Rich" idea. The math I was taught in school didn't really jibe with that idea. The way I see it, if you have two apples, and you gave away one, you only had one apple left.
"I can see you're skeptical" he said "I was too- but then I tried it- Why don't you try it?"
I thought about it. What did I have to lose?
So I punched him in da nose.
and he punched me back.
I was convinced that the principle worked! We both had sore faces, and I learned a lesson.
See, what the math I learned in school didn't take into account was the other things that happen when you give away the apple.
Sure, when I gave away one of the two apples I had, I ended up with only one apple, but I ALSO ended up with something more valuable- a GRATEFUL FRIEND.
Unless the friend didn't want an apple to begin with.
So, here's what I took away from this now very long story:
When you want something, you have to give it away- TO THE PEOPLE WHO WANT IT.
When you give away the awesome opportunity we have, sometimes in our enthusiasm we'll give it to people who don't want it- people who are happy being where they are.
However, if you give it to someone who WANTS it, two things happen:
1- You'll see that giving it away doesn't take from your own supply of it, and 2- You'll gain a GRATEFUL FRIEND.
Sounds like a bargain when you think about it like that, doesn't it?
Give it away, feel good, make friends. Or, put another way:
That's what the guy asked me. He was at least 6' 4", and I could tell he meant it, and was waiting for an answer.
Thing is, before he asked me that, I thought we were getting along really well. I was asking him about spiritual practices, and how I could make more money come into my life.
Even though I'm an actor, I learned that you oughtta get some sales skills if you want to be a rich and successful person. Not that I wanted to be a salesman, but let's face it- when we were kids, we did a good sales job on our parents around Christmas time, right?
I REALLY NEEDED that G.I. Joe Jet Plane with the ejectable seat.
So when I asked this 6' 4" guy for some of his advice on how to make better sales, and how to make more money come into my life, I was surprised by his answer.
"Wanna punch in da nose?"
"Um.... no?" I said, unsure of my feelings on the matter.
"Well then don't give one" he said.
I didn't get it. I had no intention of giving anyone a punch in da nose, much less this guy who was towering over me.
"If you want something, you gotta give it first." he said, "If you want a punch in da nose, you should give one to someone. If you want more money, you should give some to someone."
Oh, I get it. The old "Tithe and Get Rich" idea. The math I was taught in school didn't really jibe with that idea. The way I see it, if you have two apples, and you gave away one, you only had one apple left.
"I can see you're skeptical" he said "I was too- but then I tried it- Why don't you try it?"
I thought about it. What did I have to lose?
So I punched him in da nose.
and he punched me back.
I was convinced that the principle worked! We both had sore faces, and I learned a lesson.
See, what the math I learned in school didn't take into account was the other things that happen when you give away the apple.
Sure, when I gave away one of the two apples I had, I ended up with only one apple, but I ALSO ended up with something more valuable- a GRATEFUL FRIEND.
Unless the friend didn't want an apple to begin with.
So, here's what I took away from this now very long story:
When you want something, you have to give it away- TO THE PEOPLE WHO WANT IT.
When you give away the awesome opportunity we have, sometimes in our enthusiasm we'll give it to people who don't want it- people who are happy being where they are.
However, if you give it to someone who WANTS it, two things happen:
1- You'll see that giving it away doesn't take from your own supply of it, and 2- You'll gain a GRATEFUL FRIEND.
Sounds like a bargain when you think about it like that, doesn't it?
Give it away, feel good, make friends. Or, put another way:
That's what the guy asked me. He was at least 6' 4", and I could tell he meant it, and was waiting for an answer.
Thing is, before he asked me that, I thought we were getting along really well. I was asking him about spiritual practices, and how I could make more money come into my life.
Even though I'm an actor, I learned that you oughtta get some sales skills if you want to be a rich and successful person. Not that I wanted to be a salesman, but let's face it- when we were kids, we did a good sales job on our parents around Christmas time, right?
I REALLY NEEDED that G.I. Joe Jet Plane with the ejectable seat.
So when I asked this 6' 4" guy for some of his advice on how to make better sales, and how to make more money come into my life, I was surprised by his answer.
"Wanna punch in da nose?"
"Um.... no?" I said, unsure of my feelings on the matter.
"Well then don't give one" he said.
I didn't get it. I had no intention of giving anyone a punch in da nose, much less this guy who was towering over me.
"If you want something, you gotta give it first." he said, "If you want a punch in da nose, you should give one to someone. If you want more money, you should give some to someone."
Oh, I get it. The old "Tithe and Get Rich" idea. The math I was taught in school didn't really jibe with that idea. The way I see it, if you have two apples, and you gave away one, you only had one apple left.
"I can see you're skeptical" he said "I was too- but then I tried it- Why don't you try it?"
I thought about it. What did I have to lose?
So I punched him in da nose.
and he punched me back.
I was convinced that the principle worked! We both had sore faces, and I learned a lesson.
See, what the math I learned in school didn't take into account was the other things that happen when you give away the apple.
Sure, when I gave away one of the two apples I had, I ended up with only one apple, but I ALSO ended up with something more valuable- a GRATEFUL FRIEND.
Unless the friend didn't want an apple to begin with.
So, here's what I took away from this now very long story:
When you want something, you have to give it away- TO THE PEOPLE WHO WANT IT.
When you give away the awesome opportunity we have, sometimes in our enthusiasm we'll give it to people who don't want it- people who are happy being where they are.
However, if you give it to someone who WANTS it, two things happen:
1- You'll see that giving it away doesn't take from your own supply of it, and 2- You'll gain a GRATEFUL FRIEND.
Sounds like a bargain when you think about it like that, doesn't it?
Today Robert Kiyosaki spoke at the Marble Collegiate Church, in front of a pretty small group of people who donated to WLIW Public Television. His wife Kim kiyosaki and Ken McCarthy spoke too.
Of course, I was RIVETED.
I have heard Robert and Kim so many times, and yet I learn something almost everytime I hear them. It's amazing how just ONE SENTENCE can actually be worth thousands.
Wondering what that sentence was?
Well, maybe I'll tell you in a bit, but for right now, how's this:
"People will spend THOUSANDS on new golf clubs, but won't go buy golf LESSONS".
I liked that one. It's truee that the part we try to skip is the learning. Everything is about skipping the mearning, but learning is so much fun!
He also mentioned the value of making mistakes and going forward, EXPECTING to do it wrong. "If you don't start, you don't get smarter".
He mentioned what he thought was the BEST investment for the little guy right now, and BE SURE that I'll be taking his advice on that. Wanna know what it is?
You should donate to WLIW and find out!
But I've made you wait long enough for the Thousand-dollar sentence, so here it is:
"Our objective is to always go to INFINITE leverage"
That is SO heavy if you understand it.
He means that they are always investing in order to get their money back out, as quickly as possible. No, I've heard that before, and I even practice it often. But the word "Always" is what made the difference today.
Always.
That means that even in my businesses, I should be looking for INFINITE leverage; not just in MONEY, but in TIME too- does that make sense?
GETTING THE TIME BACK is the ultimate leverage, right?
"Our objective is to always go to INFINITE leverage"
I just got this email about someone I know, who I haven't spoken to in a while:
**************************************************************************** This is an urgent call to help my brother ***.
I have intercepted his emails because my brother has full blown AIDs and is dying from his Crack drug addiction. My sister and I tried to have an intervention for our brother but it has failed. He's gone on the streets again and god knows where he is. He's homelss and doing god knows what from the drugs.
*** is extremely addicted to Crack Cocain and needs to be in a treatment facility. If you happen to see or hear from him be do not enable him. He lies and will manipulate whomever will allow him the opportunity.
My name is ******** I can be reached at
**********
Please help me try to save his life.
His sister, ******** ********************************************************************
He was a talented dancer, and was looking forward to how his life was going to unfold. We occasionally talked about principlesof success, and spirituality, and we kept each other appraised of our progress. He had choreographed a few dances, and really seemed on the road to somewhere.
There but by the Grace of God....
What happens when someone gives up like that? Did the AIDS make him give up? I don't know how I would handle that news; I may have done the same thing. I can't help but wonder, maybe if I had talked to him more often, or maybe if I gone to his shows, or maybe SOMETHING.
How can I reach MORE people with the message?
What's the message?
The message is- IT'S YOUR LIFE; YOU CAN DO IT.... something like that.
Can't help but wonder about the friends I haven't spoken to, the friends who are "in danger", the friends who made a different choice. Can I really make a difference? What if I can't?
I just got this email about someone I know, who I haven't spoken to in a while:
**************************************************************************** This is an urgent call to help my brother ***.
I have intercepted his emails because my brother has full blown AIDs and is dying from his Crack drug addiction. My sister and I tried to have an intervention for our brother but it has failed. He's gone on the streets again and god knows where he is. He's homelss and doing god knows what from the drugs.
*** is extremely addicted to Crack Cocain and needs to be in a treatment facility. If you happen to see or hear from him be do not enable him. He lies and will manipulate whomever will allow him the opportunity.
My name is ******** I can be reached at
**********
Please help me try to save his life.
His sister, ******** ********************************************************************
He was a talented dancer, and was looking forward to how his life was going to unfold. We occasionally talked about principlesof success, and spirituality, and we kept each other appraised of our progress. He had choreographed a few dances, and really seemed on the road to somewhere.
There but by the Grace of God....
What happens when someone gives up like that? Did the AIDS make him give up? I don't know how I would handle that news; I may have done the same thing. I can't help but wonder, maybe if I had talked to him more often, or maybe if I gone to his shows, or maybe SOMETHING.
How can I reach MORE people with the message?
What's the message?
The message is- IT'S YOUR LIFE; YOU CAN DO IT.... something like that.
Can't help but wonder about the friends I haven't spoken to, the friends who are "in danger", the friends who made a different choice. Can I really make a difference? What if I can't?
Excuse me, but why do we celebrate LABOR DAY? > >Doesn't LABOR hurt? > >When I was little, and I did something wrong, like >throwing paper airplanes around the house, my mother >would say things like "I did NOT spend 20 hours in >LABOR just so you could almost burn down the house!" > >(Oh- I forgot to mention- before I threw the planes, >I lit them on fire) > >Wait a second- we're celebrating the OTHER >kind of labor? > >Wait- like WORK??????? > >WE'RE CELEBRATING GOING BACK TO WORK???? > >We're celebrating that summer is OVER, >and that the girls are going to start >dressing "conservative" again? > >We're celebrating the season where girls STOP going wild? > >We're celebrating the thing that you do for >8 hours a day, 50 weeks a year? > >We're celebrating that thing that wakes you up, >tells you where to go, what to eat, what you can afford >to wear, schools to go to, and TITLE you have? > >Just THINKING about LABOR gives me pains! > >Why not celebrate FINANCIAL FREEDOM instead? > >Tune into our FREE "Health and Wealth" webcasts- >from now until Sept. 19th. > >If you want an appointment, just go through here: > >http://www.elevenfreakinthousand.com/Quit.asp > >Create Wealth >Have Fun >Help Others > >Join the discussion, Join the movement, >Lead the revolution. > >Let Your Light So Shine Before Men, >Bones Rodriguez >http://www.BonesRodriguez.com >212-978-1453 >Entreperformers
My name is Bones Rodriguez, and I met Laura Valpey doing improvisational comedy in New York City. We were friends first, fell in love, and had been living together for two years when I had to start deceiving her.
We had so many funny conversations that I had made some of them into short sketches, and even turned one of them into a book- "Captain Kirk's Guide To Women", due out in February from Simon and Schuster.
I told her I wanted to perform seven sketches during my birthday party that year- which was to be held 3 weeks AFTER my birthday.
That was a lie.
I also told her that my mother was coming up to visit because she had a reunion that weekend, and she would come see the show- just to spend time with us.
That was another lie- and it just snowballed after that.
All of the friends I invited to the birthday party had to lie to her too- they all knew the truth, but were sworn to secrecy. The comedy group we were in together had to lie- they all memorized lines, and produced a show all built around the same secret:
I was going to propose to her that night.
In fact, I had written all seven sketches just to set up for the fifth one- the one where "the couple" (we played ourselves) discusses engagement rings, and the unskilled guy needs tips from the girl.
We performed sketches about looking for the TV remote, sketches about internet dating, and sketches about sex. The audience started out nervous- they were all waiting for me to pop the question, but after a while the laughter came and they seemed to forget why they were there.
But I couldn't let it go; The entire night I was unfocused, stuttering, and forgetting my lines left and right. My poor girlfriend had to keep feeding me my lines, but she just figured I was nervous because I had written the entire show.
Then came the "ring sketch", and the audience stopped laughing.
You could hear a pin drop as we went through the scene, a chuckle here, and stifled laugh there. About 2 minutes into it, they loosened up, and they laughed easily again. I was playing the incompetent guy, not knowing how to look for a ring, classify a ring, or buy a ring. Laura said her lines about the weight, color, and style. She mentioned that it would "make a good investment", and I landed a killer joke about it only being an investment if we break up and she pawns it.
I knew the big moment was coming, but I could not remember what led to it. She fed me my lines again- and I remembered "Well, yeah- it's not that I'm even thinking about this now, I mean, it would be a WHILE before-"
Then Laura's interruption line came: "I wanna be surprised"
Unbeknownst to her- this was my big moment. This is why I had written these sketches, and this is why I was onstage. This was why 50 people were in the audience, and why my mother flew up from Miami. This is the moment when I could stop lying, hiding and misleading.
I went off-script, and delivered a different line than she expected- nonetheless the only line I remembered correctly: "Are you sure?"
Since we're both trained improvisors, and she had been feeding me lines all night, she just went with me:
"…yeah..?"
But then she could see the look on my face when I called my best friend over to the stage:
"Ok… Hey Rick…."
The laughter stopped as the audience held their breath, and Rick brought the ring he had been holding in his pocket all night- the ring that I had bought months before, the ring I had hidden in a piece of furniture after staying up late nights doing "work".
That's when it hit her.
A sketch about looking for engagement rings? A birthday party three weeks after my birthday? Calling her parents to tell her all about the party and inviting them? She hid her face in her hands as I got down on one knee,
And asked her to do me the honor of becoming my wife.
And the best part?
She said yes!!
-And we got it all on video. As my girlfriend-now-wife says in the video, I AM a show-off, but I initially got the proposal on video because I knew we'd want to remember it forever. I also figured family members all around the world would like to see it too; Laura's family is in Seattle and mine is scattered throughout Florida.
Watching it on video two years later, I still get the same butterflies in my stomach now as I did then. I was so happy, and so thrilled with that moment, I just wanted to share it with as many people as possible. I even made a website www.BonesLovesLaura.com just to let cyberspace share in it too.
What I didn't expect were for so many people to pass it on to each other- and then the comments! So many people have written in and the comments are so wonderful. Many of them are married people, or engaged people who were looking for innovative ways to propose, or just wanting to know what other people have done.
Our video is one of the most popular REAL proposal videos. There are some companies that have tried to copy our success by putting "rejected proposal" videos, but they're all just bad advertising, and in my opinion, in bad taste. Why ruin such a nice moment?
I think people like to see other people happy, and that's why "feel-good" shows like Extreme Makeover Home Edition and Oprah do so well. Strong emotions bring us all together, and tears of joy are the best!
I do a lot of things; I write, I act, and I have online businesses, but this is far and away the best thing I have ever done.
My name is Bones Rodriguez, and I met Laura Valpey doing improvisational comedy in New York City. We were friends first, fell in love, and had been living together for two years when I had to start deceiving her.
We had so many funny conversations that I had made some of them into short sketches, and even turned one of them into a book- "Captain Kirk's Guide To Women", due out in February from Simon and Schuster.
I told her I wanted to perform seven sketches during my birthday party that year- which was to be held 3 weeks AFTER my birthday.
That was a lie.
I also told her that my mother was coming up to visit because she had a reunion that weekend, and she would come see the show- just to spend time with us.
That was another lie- and it just snowballed after that.
All of the friends I invited to the birthday party had to lie to her too- they all knew the truth, but were sworn to secrecy. The comedy group we were in together had to lie- they all memorized lines, and produced a show all built around the same secret:
I was going to propose to her that night.
In fact, I had written all seven sketches just to set up for the fifth one- the one where "the couple" (we played ourselves) discusses engagement rings, and the unskilled guy needs tips from the girl.
We performed sketches about looking for the TV remote, sketches about internet dating, and sketches about sex. The audience started out nervous- they were all waiting for me to pop the question, but after a while the laughter came and they seemed to forget why they were there.
But I couldn't let it go; The entire night I was unfocused, stuttering, and forgetting my lines left and right. My poor girlfriend had to keep feeding me my lines, but she just figured I was nervous because I had written the entire show.
Then came the "ring sketch", and the audience stopped laughing.
You could hear a pin drop as we went through the scene, a chuckle here, and stifled laugh there. About 2 minutes into it, they loosened up, and they laughed easily again. I was playing the incompetent guy, not knowing how to look for a ring, classify a ring, or buy a ring. Laura said her lines about the weight, color, and style. She mentioned that it would "make a good investment", and I landed a killer joke about it only being an investment if we break up and she pawns it.
I knew the big moment was coming, but I could not remember what led to it. She fed me my lines again- and I remembered "Well, yeah- it's not that I'm even thinking about this now, I mean, it would be a WHILE before-"
Then Laura's interruption line came: "I wanna be surprised"
Unbeknownst to her- this was my big moment. This is why I had written these sketches, and this is why I was onstage. This was why 50 people were in the audience, and why my mother flew up from Miami. This is the moment when I could stop lying, hiding and misleading.
I went off-script, and delivered a different line than she expected- nonetheless the only line I remembered correctly: "Are you sure?"
Since we're both trained improvisors, and she had been feeding me lines all night, she just went with me:
"…yeah..?"
But then she could see the look on my face when I called my best friend over to the stage:
"Ok… Hey Rick…."
The laughter stopped as the audience held their breath, and Rick brought the ring he had been holding in his pocket all night- the ring that I had bought months before, the ring I had hidden in a piece of furniture after staying up late nights doing "work".
That's when it hit her.
A sketch about looking for engagement rings? A birthday party three weeks after my birthday? Calling her parents to tell her all about the party and inviting them? She hid her face in her hands as I got down on one knee,
And asked her to do me the honor of becoming my wife.
And the best part?
She said yes!!
-And we got it all on video. As my girlfriend-now-wife says in the video, I AM a show-off, but I initially got the proposal on video because I knew we'd want to remember it forever. I also figured family members all around the world would like to see it too; Laura's family is in Seattle and mine is scattered throughout Florida.
Watching it on video two years later, I still get the same butterflies in my stomach now as I did then. I was so happy, and so thrilled with that moment, I just wanted to share it with as many people as possible. I even made a website www.BonesLovesLaura.com just to let cyberspace share in it too.
What I didn't expect were for so many people to pass it on to each other- and then the comments! So many people have written in and the comments are so wonderful. Many of them are married people, or engaged people who were looking for innovative ways to propose, or just wanting to know what other people have done.
Our video is one of the most popular REAL proposal videos. There are some companies that have tried to copy our success by putting "rejected proposal" videos, but they're all just bad advertising, and in my opinion, in bad taste. Why ruin such a nice moment?
I think people like to see other people happy, and that's why "feel-good" shows like Extreme Makeover Home Edition and Oprah do so well. Strong emotions bring us all together, and tears of joy are the best!
I do a lot of things; I write, I act, and I have online businesses, but this is far and away the best thing I have ever done.
Yesterday, we had a SUPER SATURDAY in New York, and you won't believe the way it ended.
A Super Saturday happens around once a month, and it's when some of our leaders come in to speak to the larger team. This month we had:
Les Brown
Radio & T.V. Personality; Author of the best seller– “Live Your Dreams.”
Also:
Eric Worre, in his 1st year in the business, is earning over $114,000 a month
Antonio Adair, former postal worker, Now a Million Dollar Earner
Vice President
Mr. Brent Jensen
It started LATE, but Antonio did a FANTASTIC overview of the business- really funny, down-to-earth and informative.
Laura and I got to come up for a testimonial- I was good, and Laura was great.
Then Brent Jensen told us about some of the things that are coming up for Agel- New Products like Pre-natal vitamins in Gel form, Omega-3's, and some others.
LES BROWN told us all how "You got to be HOWNGRY" and that "It's Possible"
and Then ERIC WORRE came up.
For a man who makes over a million dollars a year in RESIDUAL income, he seemed awfully relaxed.
I think I would be jumping up and down all the time, but he was extremely humble about how and why he built his business.
And then he told us the key:
100 QUALITY Exposures.
QUALITY Exposures.
100.
He said if you do that in one year, you'll have a good business. If you did it faster, you'd have a better business.
QUALITY Exposures.
Not "I got into this THING, and I think maybe..." Not "I get one, and then you get one..." Not "Hey- watch this and call me"
But making appointments, following up properly and giving good information. If you can do 100 QUALITY Exposures, you can set yourself up to be FREE for LIFE- and you'll help OTHER PEOPLE do the same.
But I haven't gotten to the best part yet.
He gave us specific scripts to use, and exactly HOW to Invite- he gave us the PSYCHOLOGY behind it.
Then it was over- and MOST PEOPLE left and went home.
But not Me, Laura or my MOM (who flew up from Miami to see Eric and Les speak)
No- we stuck around- just to see if Eric wanted to go to dinner.
and he did.
Along with Brent Jensen.
Laura, Mom and I went to dinner with the Vice President and with Eric Worre.
That's it.
No one else came.
We held them hostage for 2 hours.
And picked their brains.
We told them about our webcasts, and how people are excited and growing. We told them about how we find them online, but then bring them to events, and how we CAN'T WAIT for AGEL WORLD in October.
Then I realized they was making US talk, and we chose to SHUT UP and ask them questions-
They told US about the OTHER STUFF they didn't get to say at the meeting- like what countries are coming on board, and what products are going to completely change the game, and HOW ERIC IS SPONSORING NEW PEOPLE RIGHT NOW.
He says he has NO patience for whiners and people who don't go to events.
He said that people who don't go to events don't grow.
He said that even though he makes over a MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR, some people STILL don't get in the business with him. Can you IMAGINE that?
We talked about Network marketing and how it's grown over the years, and how he wants to put together a book on what he's learned and what he wished someone had told him ten years ago.
Just the five of us, at the Hilton Hotel restaurant, and Brent picked up the check! How great was that?
So, if you thought I was on HYPER-DRIVE before, WATCH THE FREAK OUT- I am on Super-Duper-Transwarp-Hyper-Mega-Tachyon-Particle DRIVE NOW!!
I'll be adding some training videos to our website so we can invite people to the webcasts with the SAME PSYCHOLOGY that Eric taught last night- We are DOING IT- are YOU coming?
On Thursday night I stayed up ALL NIGHT through the morning putting some finishing touches on my FIRST DRAFT of My Star Trek Book- "Captain Kirk's Guide To Women".
I sent it in Friday morning, and I was delirious... I dunno if it was funny or not, but to me it was HILARIOUS... and SERIOUS... maybe it was just me!
On Thursday night I stayed up ALL NIGHT through the morning putting some finishing touches on my FIRST DRAFT of My Star Trek Book- "Captain Kirk's Guide To Women".
I sent it in Friday morning, and I was delirious... I dunno if it was funny or not, but to me it was HILARIOUS... and SERIOUS... maybe it was just me!
Yup- I got a call and they wanted me to come in for a little sketch. So, I played "Thug #2", and got thrown out of a window by "Conando". Pretty funny sketch. I got to meet Iris, and Joe; we had a bunch of fun, and made some people laugh.
I was kinda nervous just because we were taping in front of the live audience. I was actually having a hard time remembering the TWO lines I had- just nerves. But, I was of course BRILLIANT, and made some choices the writers hadn't thought of. A Funny idea, and a funny sketch- well done Jose (the writer)!
Yup- I got a call and they wanted me to come in for a little sketch. So, I played "Thug #2", and got thrown out of a window by "Conando". Pretty funny sketch. I got to meet Iris, and Joe; we had a bunch of fun, and made some people laugh.
I was kinda nervous just because we were taping in front of the live audience. I was actually having a hard time remembering the TWO lines I had- just nerves. But, I was of course BRILLIANT, and made some choices the writers hadn't thought of. A Funny idea, and a funny sketch- well done Jose (the writer)!
WOW- I was SOOO HAPPY with how funny and great the Simpsons Movie was. It seemed so effortless, but thinking back, they had to be very deliberate about so many things. It wasn't just funny, it was well written, and carried it's legacy with it.
WOW- I was SOOO HAPPY with how funny and great the Simpsons Movie was. It seemed so effortless, but thinking back, they had to be very deliberate about so many things. It wasn't just funny, it was well written, and carried it's legacy with it.
I am a DEVOTEE of Robert Kiyosaki- here's a great article from him:
Network Marketing—It’s an Asset, Not a Job By Robert Kiyosaki
I am sometimes asked, “Why do so few people make it to the top of their network marketing system?”
The truth is, the top of the network marketing system is open to everyone—unlike traditional corporate systems, which allow only one person to reach the top of the company. The reason most people do not reach the top is simply because they quit too soon. So why would someone quit short of the top?
Most people join only to make money. If they don’t make money in the first few months or years, they become discouraged and quit (and then often bad-mouth the industry!). Others quit and go looking for a company with a better compensation plan. But joining to make a few quick dollars is not the reason to get into the business.
The Two Essential Reasons to Join a Network Marketing Business
Reason number one is to help yourself. Reason number two is to help others. If you join for only one of these two reasons, then the system will not work for you.
Reason number one, means that you come to the business primarily to change quadrants—to change from the E (Employee) or the S (Self-employed) quadrant to the B (Business owner) or I (Investor) quadrant.
This change is normally very difficult for most people—because of money. The true E or S quadrant person will not work unless it is for money. This is also what causes people to not reach the top of the network marketing system: they want money more than they want to change quadrants.
A B quadrant or I quadrant person will also work for money, but in a different way. The B quadrant person works to build or create an asset—in this case, a business system. The I quadrant person invests in the asset or the system.
The beauty of most network marketing systems is that you do not really make much money unless you help others leave the E and S quadrants and succeed in the B and I quadrants. If you focus on helping others make this shift, then you will be successful in the business.
As a B or an I, sometimes you don’t get paid for years; this, a true E quadrant or S quadrant person will not do. It’s not part of their core values. Risk and delayed gratification disturb them emotionally.
Delayed Gratification and Emotional Intelligence
One of the beauties of network marketing is that it focuses on developing your emotional intelligence as well as your business skills.
Emotional intelligence is an entirely different matter from academic intelligence. In general, someone with high emotional intelligence will often do better than someone with high academic intelligence but low emotional intelligence. That explains, in part, why some people do well in school but not so well in the real world.
The ability to delay gratification is a sign of higher emotional intelligence. In a recent study of emotional intelligence, it was found that people who could delay gratification often led more successful lives than those who could not.
This is why the educational system inherent in a good network marketing opportunity is so important. It’s the emotional education or emotional intelligence aspect of their programs that I find so valuable for people.
Many people write me and tell me they loved my book, Rich Dad, Poor Dad, but I fear that many of them don’t get the most important point of the book: Lesson #1, “The rich don’t work for money.”
Once I have built or bought an asset, that asset works hard to make money for me. But I will not work for money—I will work only to build or buy assets. Those assets make me richer and richer, while I work less and less. That is what the rich do. The poor and middle class work hard for money, and then buy liabilities instead of investing in assets.
What Kind of Asset is a Network Marketing Business?
Remember, there are two reasons required to be successful in network marketing: to help yourself, and to help others. Reason number one means helping yourself get to the B side of the quadrant. What about reason number two?
The beauty of most network marketing systems is that you don’t really make much money unless you help others leave the E and S quadrants and succeed in the B and I quadrants . If you focus on helping others make this shift, then you will be successful in the business.
If you only want to teach yourself to be a B quadrant and I quadrant person, then a true network marketing system won’t work for you. You may as well go to a traditional business school, which focuses only on your becoming a B quadrant person.
The beauty of a network marketing business is that your goal is to create assets, which are other B’s working under you—and their job is to create other B’s working under them. In traditional business, the focus is for the B to have only E’s and S’s working for them.
The type of business I was taught to build is a business with me at the top and E’s and S’s at the base. I really don’t have room at the top for many other B’s, which is why in my businesses, I strongly recommend that all my employees look into network marketing as their own part-time businesses.
The traditional corporate system really is a pyramid, because there are a few B’s and I’s near the top, and more E’s and S’s at the base. A network marketing system is a reverse pyramid: its primary focus is to bring up more and more B’s to the top.
One type of pyramid, the traditional type, has its base on the ground; the other type has its base in the air. It’s a pyramid that pulls you up instead of pushing you down. A network marketing business gives everyone access to what used to be the domain only of the rich.
Laura and I have been cleaning out the apartment of all our junk, and reorganizing stuff. Something just told us that the apartment was too cluttered, so we got to it.
As I was cleaning out old tapes- yes, TAPES, I found a tape set called "Do it Now- How to cure Procrastination and Achieve your Goals" by Edwin C. Bliss. It is so old, I couldn't even find a picture of the tape set online. This is the book cover.
Anyway, I was putting it in the "give away" pile because it's in great condition, since it's never been used.
Laura and I have been cleaning out the apartment of all our junk, and reorganizing stuff. Something just told us that the apartment was too cluttered, so we got to it.
As I was cleaning out old tapes- yes, TAPES, I found a tape set called "Do it Now- How to cure Procrastination and Achieve your Goals" by Edwin C. Bliss. It is so old, I couldn't even find a picture of the tape set online. This is the book cover.
Anyway, I was putting it in the "give away" pile because it's in great condition, since it's never been used.
I heard this movie was great, but I didn't believe it. I went anyway, because my friend told me I had to, and I SO grateful I did.
The movie is Fantastic!!! The action is exciting, the jokes are funny, the storyline is wonderfully put together. Not too crazy, not too grounded in reality.
From the preview I knew that the mouse was going to "marionette" the kid into cooking (Is that a word?), and I thought that was silly, so it kinda took away my desire to see it. However, watching the movie, it just seems like it's aLMOST possible, and after some prctice montage, it works!
Peter O'Toole is Phenomenal, and I now want him to do as many voice-overs as possible!!
Freakin' Pixar is amazing.
By the way, the short that comes before the movie is great too.
Please go see this movie, it is probably the best film of the summer, but now it's between Die Hard, Knocked Up, and this.
I heard this movie was great, but I didn't believe it. I went anyway, because my friend told me I had to, and I SO grateful I did.
The movie is Fantastic!!! The action is exciting, the jokes are funny, the storyline is wonderfully put together. Not too crazy, not too grounded in reality.
From the preview I knew that the mouse was going to "marionette" the kid into cooking (Is that a word?), and I thought that was silly, so it kinda took away my desire to see it. However, watching the movie, it just seems like it's aLMOST possible, and after some prctice montage, it works!
Peter O'Toole is Phenomenal, and I now want him to do as many voice-overs as possible!!
Freakin' Pixar is amazing.
By the way, the short that comes before the movie is great too.
Please go see this movie, it is probably the best film of the summer, but now it's between Die Hard, Knocked Up, and this.
When we begin our Network Marketing businesses, sometimes it feels weird to TALK. We are given scripts and exact words to duplicate, and it can feel fake, foreign and phony. Eric Worre said in his training:
"After they see the DVD, just say 'Did you get it?', and see what they say. If they say 'yes', then you say 'Great- are you ready to get started?' if not, then lead them to the next exposure."
It seems Unnatural.
Even as an actor, I actually HATE memorizing scripts, and would MUCH rather be improvisational about my acting AND my business. But then I thought about it differently.
We have franchises; personal franchises. When you order a burger at a burger franchise, someone will ask you "Would you like fries with that?" immediately.
It is fake, foreign and phony. And it works.
Since we have our own personal franchises, why not just use the scripts, just like they do at McDonald's?
I guess from now on, I'd better brush up on my lines- Thanks Eric!
I went away last weekend to ORLANDO for our big "MASTERMIND" weekend, and I had a blast! Not only did I learn SO much, but I met with and partied with a whole big group of people!
And as you now, I like to party.
Here's a pic of me at the 70's party.
I figured I can go shirtless for a little while longer- I AM 35 now... Laura came with me, and I think she NOW understands why I am so excited. I have been writing my Star Trek Book, but I keep thinking about this business when I'm not writing.
Anyway, here's the plan:
1- Show them the DVD 2- Get them to an online event 3- Get them to a ABB or a local event.
