Hugh MacLeod – Our Potential

“What determines who we are? Is it that we settle? What is good enough? Do we find happiness? How do all of these things shape who we are?

Our “potential” is infinite. As endless as the cosmos. We are endowed with the power, ability and opportunity.

What gets in the way of our potential? Lack of drive? Lack of interest? Distractions? More likely: Not knowing what you really want.

More than ever, we live in a world where on a personal level, nearly anything is possible. We ARE the sum total of our choices, and these choices should lead us to happiness. I’ve always thought that a key to happiness is aligning what you want with what you are willing to do to get it.

We’re not talking morality, we are talking your appetite for 16 hour work days, travel, ass-kissing, office politics, screaming kids, etc. If you can live in that sweet spot of doing and getting what you want, you are living your potential.

And, your potential is all about being happy.

God Bless.”

Are you happy?

Hugh MacLeod – Be Spontaneous

“Spontaneity is one of life’s great joys. It is a way of breaking out of a daily routine that can seem like drudgery.

It is a way of being playful, bringing joy and embracing possibility. It is one of the gifts that free will offers.

Try it today. Turn right on the way home, instead of left. Do something, anything, that you haven’t tried before.

See how a little thing can make a big difference to your quality of life.
Some people have turned complaining into a science. We see that some cultures have a greater propensity to complain. Coffee’s too hot, food’s too cold, boss is a jerk, Starbucks double half caf mocha frapaccino wasn’t quite frappy enough?

We all know people who do it. It validates. It lets people vent, but is it the right thing to do? In my experience, complainers are generally hard to be around. Their complaints usually fill the narrative gaps of what they feel are flaws in their own lives.

After all, why be successful when you can sit around and complain about everyone else who is?”

100 thousand million percent agree.

Rock on!
Hydle

DODOcase – Clean Shaven Patrick Buckley


[YouTubeUlar] <— 182

“As the winner of the Green Side of Business program, presented by GOOD and UPS, San Francisco’s DODOcase was awarded $10,000 to to invest in sustainability efforts. Learn more about what they did to change how they do business.”

Congratulations Patrick Buckley and DODOcase for winning the Green Side of Business Award and being a part of this nice little production.

Back in September Lance Atkins, aNt Rogers and I had a pretty fun night hanging out with the DODOcase crew in San Francisco. This random night included beer, football, more beer, ping pong, lots of ideas, amazing views and even lasers.

Thanks for the hospitality Patrick – but don’t forget you still owe me a DODOcase from our first annual DODO vs. Blackbox Case ping pong tournament.

Rock on!
Hydle

HYDLE – Steamboat


[YouTubeUlar]

So after a massive dump in Steamboat… Drew Stachnik, Brian Goldrich and new friend Eric Bojan and I decided to rally like 12 year olds. It’s always good to visit your childhood roots.

I’ve never heard of this band “Big Gigantic” before we took a little warming hut rest in the yurt above the Pony Express and some guy popped it on the donated stereo. It is hard for me to say what their boulder following is all about, but it was good enough to edit to.

Just remember… two dudes in a hot tub – is okay – if it’s in the day.

Rock on!
Hydle

Music: [Rise and Shine – Nocturnal]

Get the entire album for free by signing up for their mailing list at http://www.biggigantic.net

Sarah Burke – Winter X Games 2012 Tribute


[YouTubeYouTube] <— 9,399

“The brave do not live forever, but the cautious do not live at all”

There is a pure, unadulterated joy we all experience when we do something we love.

An infectious happiness that is impossible to deny.

Sarah Burke learned that at an early age, and would spend all of her energy trying to teach the rest of us.

Her triumphs on skis always brought us to her our feet.

Her willingness to help competitors defied our expectations. Her determination to grow her sport took it to new heights, and brought us along for the ride. And her smile, her smile could brighten even our darkest hour.

In her 29 years, Sarah taught us many things: How to persevere, how to overcome, how to succeed.

But Sarah’s true lesson and her greatest gift was showing us all… how to live.

This is Country Music

We had an amazing time at the Brad Paisley concert in Denver last night. I don’t know what this country music thing is all about, but after meeting Brad and getting the opportunity to see such a “large performance” show like this with such good company — my cowboy hat continues to come out.

As my country inspiration from Montana – Jesse Alberi states via the Facebook

“Just keep wearin the hat and boots and the country will find you. I Just watched on youtube what you saw live last night… jealous bro.”

It was an incredibly entertaining show with Scotty McCreery, The Band Perry and even Tim Tebow. Watch this as the Band Perry drops for the most epic Tebowing of all time while Brad Paisley and Tebow sang “I’m Still a Guy.” Saying it got loud… is an understatement.

[YouTubeUlar] <— 0 Surprisingly, The Band Perry did NOT sing "Walk Me Down the Middle". Katherine was the proud winner of a Brad Paisley guitar pick. I learned about dog-tags of fallen soldiers. Brad's dad Doug is a story teller. It was a sold out show. Katie + Ryan + Trista... thank you for such a fun night. Here are some highlights.



After getting back to the internets to research some of this country music thing, I found a direct explanation from Brad Paisley’s 3.6 million strong Facebook page. This is Country Music. Pretty cool.

Enjoy.

[HYDLE RAW – Brad Paisley + Tim Tebow]
[9News Story]
[Ryan & Trista – The Proposal] <— 351,080

Hugh MacLeod – I Found Joy

“Sometimes being happy is just a choice. It’s just what you look for every day. In your work, in love, in friendships.

It’s really about how you view your place on earth. You look for joy, and that’s what you’ll find.

We all know people who make the ‘other’ choice. Nothing is good enough. They find fault everywhere. Their default mode is discontent.

For a lucky few, they eventually reach the abyss. The point at which being confronted with the dire-ness which is their life, becomes transformative.

Instead they choose joy.

Everything becomes better.

It takes nothing more than changing an attitude.

Today, take the hand of someone who you think should choose differently.”

Who’s up for a few Golf Jokes?

A husband and wife are on the 9th green when suddenly she collapses from a heart attack! “Help me dear,” she groans to her husband.

The husband calls 911 on his cell phone, talks for a few minutes, picks up his putter, and lines up his putt. His wife raises her head off the green and stares at him.

“I’m dying here and you’re putting?”
“Don’t worry dear,” says the husband calmly, “they found a doctor on the second hole and he’s coming to help you.

“Well, how long will it take for him to get here?” she asks feebly.
“No time at all,” says her husband. “Everybody’s already agreed to let him play through.”

—————————————————————————————-

A gushy reporter told Phil Mickelson, “You are spectacular, your name is synonymous with the game of golf. You really know your way around the course. What’s your secret?”

Mickelson replied, “The holes are numbered.”

—————————————————————————————-

Police are called to an apartment and find a woman holding a bloody 5-iron standing over a lifeless man.

The detective asks, “Ma’am, is that your husband?”

“Yes” says the woman.

“Did you hit him with that golf club?”

“Yes, yes, I did.” The woman begins to sob, drops the club, and puts her hands on her face.

“How many times did you hit him?”

“I don’t know — five, six, maybe seven times…..just put me down for a five.”

—————————————————————————————-

A golfer teed up his ball on the first tee, took a mighty swing and hit his ball into a clump of trees. He found his ball and saw an opening between two trees he thought he could hit through.

Taking out his 3-wood, he took a mighty swing. The ball hit a tree, bounced back, hit him in the forehead and killed him.

As he approached the gates of Heaven, St. Peter asked, “Are you a good golfer?

The man replied: “Got here in two, didn’t I?

—————————————————————————————-

The bride was escorted down the aisle and when she reached the altar, the groom was standing there with his golf bag and clubs at his side.

She said: “What are your golf clubs doing here?”

He looked her right in the eye and said, “This isn’t going to take all day, is it?”

Kelly Sildaru – Freestyle Skiing Progression

[Vimeeeeo] <— 39,000 The future of women's freeskiing just popped up in the form of 10 year old Kelly Sildaru.. And where was this facility when I was growing up?

Who wants to open a freestyle training facility like this here in Denver? We weren’t allowed to play play play like this in gymnastics as a kid. We’ll call it Scorphy Raddogs.

Hugh MacLeod – I Cannot

This is really about leadership. Leaders understand, often innately, what it takes to inspire action.

Inspired action is a much different animal than top down directed action.

Inspired people will walk through fire to achieve their goal. Directed people are in it for the paycheck.

It was the difference between the Roman legions and mercenary adversaries.

It is why so many businesses these days are focussed on finding their true purpose, and why we spend a lot of our time helping companies communicate that purpose.

Purpose allows for inspired action with amazing results.