Strength for Life

My no iPhone Experience: From Raving Fan to Just Raving

I love my Macbook. No big thing until you consider I used to think macs were for artists. I was an engineer, wrote code, never liked Windows but knew how to make a PC work, low-level. So Macs were not my thing.

Then I got one—a new one—and loved it. Still, I miss a few things about my PC’s but overall, no comparison. It’s all Mac, all the time for me.

All good. Then I finally decided to get connected, to get the new 3G iPhone.

Being a busy guy who values my time immensely, I waited until the rush was over. I think it’s way cool (like as in "nuts" cool) that people will stand in line for days to get a phone but don’t think for a moment I’m going there.

Now way, no how.

So, I wait… and wait… then it looks like things are easing up. And it’s my birthday and my wife, Angie has given me a gift certificate to get one a new iPhone, so off the APPLE world I go.

Here’s the really, really short version of my ravingly bad experience. I walk in… no one talks to me. Perhaps I look too old? Who knows… I walk and walk. No one. Then I spot a random, unlabeled line in the center of the store. More people my age standing there. I ask. Yep, this is the iPhone line.

Just 4 people ahead of me. No big thing, right?

32 Million Examples of How... Awareness Changes Everything

$32 million is a lot of money.

Imagine in your pocket you hold a winning Powerball lottery ticket ready to be redeemed for $32 million.

There’s just one catch, you don’t know it’s there. You have no (ZERO) idea whatsoever that in your pocket at this very moment is more wealth than you can imagine.

Will you reach in your pocket and discover it? Maybe something will spur you to remember you purchased this ticket. Or perhaps you’ll toss your pants in the wash and it will become just some meaningless scraps of paper in your laundry.

At this moment your life is as it was in the moment before. Nothing has changed. You’re facing the same struggles, battles, worries and challenges as five minutes ago and pretty much the same as yesterday, last week and even last month.

Yet, you and I know that this imaginary “you” is sitting on what may very well be the key to your freedom, joy and happiness. All you have to do is become aware of it.

Sure, this is a dramatic example but then again is it? What if we are all just one epiphany away from uncovering the key that will set us free. Perhaps it’s all really as simple as becoming aware of that which we don’t know we already have. 

:: List to My Live Seminer: The Strength of Awareness ::

Could it be that the key to your fitness freedom, to your best body and more importantly to your best life—a life of happiness, joy, love and freedom is both as difficult and as easy as becoming aware of it.

I subscribe to this oft quoted undeniable truth that awareness changes everything—and if you’re read my book, Strength for Life, you already know this.

Tim Russert: Big Man, Big Loss (and 1 in Half a Million)

As you know by now, we lost Tim Russert last week. A sudden, tragic and painful loss, he will be missed by his family, friends and so many millions.

Tim was a brilliant man with a huge heart whose authenticity and values were clear to see. I appreciated him, along with millions of others, for who he was and the job he did for all of us.

Like all lives, it’s sad when they end but Tim’s passing is further reaching than most for he impacted so many. The good news is he made a difference the bad news is that means all the more people will feel the loss.

[As tragic as Tim’s passing is, it’s important to note what Dr. Oz said: “Of the 450,000 people a year who die of heart attacks in this country, probably half of them never knew they were at risk of a heart attack.” That means Tim, as special as he was in many ways was just 1 in nearly half a million each year who die from heart disease. That seems like too many to me.]

In every major life event, such as death, there are life-lessons to be learned: Allow me to share a few that come to mind in this case.

The first and most obvious is you never know how long you have. Thus it’s wise to avoid things that lesson your odds of seeing tomorrow—like ignoring your health and wellbeing.

Walking the Tightrope of Health?

I'm Back...@ Full Strength

Happy New Year!

I'm looking forward to a Great-08 on many levels and hope you are as well.

Before I get on with the business of starting this new year strong, I feel compelled to confront my rather obvious absence. I shudder to even think just how long it's been since I've blogged. I'm wearing the brown-bag of blogging at the moment.

Yes, it's been many months--the better part of a year to be frank. And pray tell, where have I been?

Wow! Happy New Year?

Pardon me... for not saying "Happy New Year!" to everyone.

I can hardly believe it's mid-January already. What the hell happened? I've got no idea. Well, that's not entirely accurate - I am clear that since my last post I enjoyed a snowy Christmas, a snowy-er new year's eve and have been besieged by weather eveery week since.

For the first few Fridays is was snow and more snow. At my house we've enjoyed nearly 7-feet of snow in about three weeks. Then the winds came -- and with all that snow it shut everything down.

It's been a wild new year... welcome! Sorry to be out of touch at such a critical time of year but I'm looking forward to a terrific, transformative 07 and I hope you're feeling the energy as well.

Here's to Starting Strong in 07!

A Colorado White-Out Christmas…

I love Colorado…even when the weather unloads on us like it has for the last 24 hours.

When you grow up here, as I have, you develop a real soft-spot for the occasional “big-one.” Yes, it’s a mess and certainly dangerous but it’s also a great adventure. And I truly enjoy driving in the snow – it’s fun, really. One need only fear some of the other drivers on the road.

Unfortunately, our business doesn’t close like a school – no “snow day” for me. Darn it.

Actually, no one could get in to the office today and I spent the majority of the day digging out but still there’s much (so much) to do. What a time of year to be stranded. I worked from home on the breaks from shoveling and yes, one or two runs down the sledding hill. :-)

It’s easy to forget that the rest of the country is moving along, business as usual, when you're stranded like this.

If you’re any where in the US you’ve likely heard about the blizzrd here. The Denver metro area and most of the front range is shut down. The Governor declared a state of emergency yesterday. The national guard has been out rescuing people from stranded cars. Nearly every business is closed – yes, even the shopping malls! Imagine that… three days before Christmas and every mall is closed for two days!

Speaking of closed, the US Mail stopped yesterday, UPS is not running and even FedEx is closed. What you expect I guess… given the airport has been shut down for nearly two full days! That’s got to be a record.

Myself, I’m waiting for the delivery of some precious gifts so it’s a bit disconcerting. And speaking of precious gifts, I want to apologize to all those who are waiting for their regular shipment of Full Strength – as you’ve likely assumed by now there’s no strength leaving our office yesterday or today.

Personally, as much as the holidays are a time we often relax our healthy eating practices, there are few times where I find Full Strength more empowering. At the very least, I make sure I start every day with my Full Strength and it sets me up for success. Heck, even 10 hours later I’ll find myself eating dinner with less cravings and in more control than I could have dreamed of.

And talk about FREEDOM! There are few definitions of freedom more appropriate than the feeling of being 100% free from my sweet tooth this time of year. Sure, I like a few treats but when I’m running on high-octane nutrition I just don’t get the craving spiral going – and I find I can easily eat in moderation; even the most decadent of foods.

Well, I’m heading back out to grab my shovel and put a few finishing touches on the driveway before the sun sets. It’s been a stressful few days but I’m very happy about knowing we’re now guaranteed a truly white Christmas.

My your holidays be bright!

(follow the link below for more photos of the great blizzard of 06)

There's No Limit to the Things You Will Do For Your Children

Alert the media… Shawn Phillips is now a proud owner of a MacBook!

Okay, so owning a Mac isn’t exactly news these days but if only you knew… you see, I’m a tried and true PC guy. Heck, I’ll go one better (or worse); I didn’t exactly welcome Windows. You see I was a programmer and loved working in Dos.

What’s that? A few of you may recall that good ol’ DOS > prompt. Well, that was my friend. Reluctantly I left it behind and went to Windows. Then for years I continued to write code now and then and do many things which felt to be uniquely PC centric.

So I stuck with them.

I have to be honest, I would ogle my friends Macs… and not just the look and feel but I loved watching their eyes light up when they talked about their pride and joys. If you’ve ever seen it, you know that Michael Dell can’t even pretend to get that excited about his finest PC.

For the last year my inner dialogue was growing increasingly loud. I felt incongruent with my principles… here I was creating the world’s first and only true premium nutrition shake, emphasizing experience and excellence while continuing to plug away on a technological relic.

Yet ignore it I did… continuing to put off the inevitable switch with every excuse you can imagine. Later, later…later… so it went.

Then… one day it all became crystal clear to me. In a flash it hit me! My son, Nathaniel, was coming of age and he'd be on a computer before I knew what happened. I could see had Nathaniel heading off to high school carrying his "PC pancake" - and it didn't feel good. I could imagine the ridcul he would face, a virtual land of exile for being the only PC nerd in school.

You got it... I promptly logged on and purchased my first MacBook.

And guess what? Yep! I love it!

Now I’m one of those raving fans – who can’t help but share my joy about the machine at every chance.

I’m more certain than ever that there’s simply no substitute for excellence! When you have the option to choose between “good enough” and “out-freaking-standing” do the right thing. You’re worth it! And every time you choose excellence you send a message to yourself and the universe – that you deserve all the best that life has to offer.

How I Plan to Eat Everything I Want and Still Feel Great!

First let me say, I don’t plan on losing one single pound this Thursday and I sincerely hope you don’t either. Your body, as is your life, is a reflection of what you do consistently, day in and day out, not the exceptions.

For me, the idea of testing my strength and willpower against a holiday of such abundance as Thanksgiving is nonsensical. It’s like wrestling a tiger - should one live, it’s a great story to tell your grandchild but let’s face it, the odds are with the tiger.

My Thanksgiving Day Schedule

~ 6:30 am ~
First thing I’m going to do after I awake is workout. I know many people like to take holidays off but I find them the best days to train. This is especially true for Thanksgiving. It's a great day for energizing your body and mind with exercise as it invariably turns into a long day with a lot of eating and sitting. It helps to be clear and focused for the day ahead.

If you train at a gym you may not be so eager to take the drive – I understand that. Although when I was growing up the holidays were the best because so few people would come to the gym we felt like we owned it. It was nice. But that was then. If you can’t make the gym, then start with a brisk walk… just get at least 20 minutes of movement in. Do some pushups, sit-ups, deep knee bends or even some yoga to get your body moving.

~  7:30 am ~
After training I’ll set my day up for success and start strong with my favorite breakfast, a nutritious delicious Full Strength. This is my insurance policy for the day. Rather than pretend I’m going to be on a diet or even worry about what I will or won’t eat, I’ll have a Full Strength first thing in the morning. As a result, I’ll enjoy total freedom and still eat less without effort.

I know when I start with a Full Strength I effortlessly eat less all day. Maybe it’s the satiating power of the ultra-premium proteins, the lasting energy of the sustained release carbs, the cognitive boost or the full spectrum of nutrients or most likely the perfect synergy of all the above but what I know is that it delivers a new level of freedom. After starting my day with one Full Strength I simply don’t eat as much throughout the day nor do I crave sweets.

When I start my day with a Full Strength I can actually eat ALL I WANT freely because I simply want less. I eat from a rational place and feel in control. If you've tried it, you know. I not, you've got to feel the difference.

There’s ample science that explains how the premium blend of nutrients provides a boost of energy and such phenomenal lasting satiety but what’s even more amazing to me is the feedback I just received from a few hundred regular Full Strength’ers. When asked “What food did Full Strength replace in your day?” the #1 answer was:

“None… I simply eat less of everything when I have a Full Strength every day.”

I know this is absolutely true for me. And if you’ve never experienced the remarkable lift and sustained energy Full Strength provides, now is your chance. We’ve just received a new vintage and that means we have FREE trial samples in again.

~ 8:00 am and Beyond... ~
With my workout in, my energy high and fully fueled with a Full Strength, I’m ready for a terrific Thanksgiving. From this point out it’s no-holds-barred holiday. At this point I refer back to my opening post about how to enjoy the holiday, A Day of Thanks and Freedom. Having set myself up for success, I won’t worry about trying to control or limit myself – I can fully and freely enjoy the holiday, food, family and all.

However you choose to enjoy your Thanksgiving may you have a warm, wonderful and memorable holiday with your family and friends.

Richard Branson Goes Sub-orbital to Meet Joe Polish!

My friend Joe is…

-    Unique
-    Unequaled
-    Extraordinary
-    Astonishing
-    Incomparable
-    Astounding
-    Tremendous
-    Outrageous

              …and that’s scratching the surface. More than a prized friend Joe's the poster-boy for life -in-action. He's always moving forward. You might say he’s Full Strength going at Full Force!

Yes, that’s Joe in the photo above – if you're wondering, the other guy's name is Richard Branson. Not sure what his story is but Joe said it was something to do with Virgins? Sounds exciting. Good for him.

Joe’s connected, and that's a little like saying, "Michael Jackson is weird." Knowing him makes “six degrees of Kevin Bacon” seem like a million light years – for it seems he's no more than two or three degrees from nearly every person on earth.

I appreciate Joe. I can barely begin to list the people who are my friends and associates, on whom I confide, rely, depend and grow with and to whom my connection I owe to Joe.

And what does Joe do? Well, he helps to inspire and educate the very nicest people who come to clean your carpets - helping them to become successful, wealthy, valued business people. And he is amazingly succesful at it. His collection of success stories and the major league Boot Camp events he holds are legendary.

Of course, he’s a lot more than just a guru to the carpet cleaners – he’s a marketing genius, a speaker, hosts a world famous monthly interview show with some of the biggest names on the planet (www.geniusnetwork.com) and helps people make more money with less effort and less time with his patented Easy, Lucrative and Fun programs for massive success, now.

Well, that’s a (very) little about my friend Joe. He sent me this photo tonight and I felt inspired to share it with you. I'll tell the same thing I told him: I’ve met a lot of people (and I do mean a lot of famous people) but Richard Branson… now, that’s another stratosphere!

As always, I'm looking forward to the next update from Joe. And no, I don’t even try to imagine whom might show up with Joe.

What's Really At The End of The Rainbow?

Another Sunday...just like any other Sunday one year after the loss of a father.

Yesterday friends and family gathered for a celebration at the unique (much like the man himself) home my father, BP, had designed and built to live his life out in. Unfortunately, he never moved in. Yet the home is now complete and being enjoyed by his wife, Beth.

It was a gorgeous day to enjoy seeing many friends and sharing memories - and telling "BP'isms." My sister Shelly and I cooked food for all - serving some of BP's favorites including his home-made hot-sauce recipe, home-made taco shells (both flour and corn cooked in heavy oils! Yummm!), chicken enchiladas, tamales, and guacamole. Hey, it was a free day, right?

We cooked and I only burned myself a few times on the hot oil while turning the taco shells. We successfully overserved nearly all who came by -- not the least of all myself, as I am still suffering the overload today! (Ah, give me some strength! Full Strength, that is!)

As we enjoyed the BP style Mexican feast and savored a few "cold ones" we enjoyed a soundtrack of his most memorable music selections. So fitting and moving...

When we finally put a wrap on the day, packed the cars to head home we walked out front of the house to see a rainbow arching overhead. The two last ones standing (as in remaining) Beth (dad's last wife) and I stood on the driveway and just stared at that rainbow.

You couldn't help but feel that dad's energy was near... as we're left pondering the question: What is truly at the end of the rainbow, the arch of brilliant color we call LIFE.

(photography courtesy of my brother, Bill Phillips)