I bet you a dollar, Gregg Lederman

The economy is apparently on a steady rise and so is the motivational speaking industry. What last year seemed like a gloomy, desolate, ghost town - is now a pumping urban metropolis. Bookings for experts, authorities, and motivational speakers seem to be in great demand this year as our country slowly emerges from economic rehab; companies are in need of that caffeine jolt, that extra jump to get their focus and fervor back. For those that may not know, sometimes I trade my chef coat, for.......................? Well, whatever a motivational speaker is supposed to wear. It's only January and I have 32 bookings already for 2011! However, I am no expert and no authority on anything. I simply share my experiences and what I have learned from this roller coaster ride, I call my life, and hope that just one person-if that-in the audience is moved by it, and maybe just maybe- their life might be turned around. In the words of the great Maya Angelou, I believe it is our responsibility as human beings to learn as much as we can, love as much as we can, and accomplish as much as we can, because at our very best, we are teachers. And that is the only way for progression of the human race.

Earlier this week I had the privilege of sharing the stage with renown speaker, Gregg Lederman. He is the guy that everyone calls when they want to "take over the world", when they want their company to surpass every other company, when they want their bank accounts to quadruple. He is the author of " 10 truths you must know to increase company profits" and has branded himself as being driven by a relentless desire to help people. Upon shaking his hand on Monday morning, as we met for the first time, 5 minutes before showtime, he said, " I'm Gregg Lederman and I have made it my personal mission to dramatically improve people's lives by increasing their company's profits."

"WTF!!!???" as my stomach turned. This is exactly the prototype of public speaking I am against. Perhaps, that is why I am the black sheep of the industry? I went on to introduce myself and asked what business he owned; what made him an expert in this field? The answer I recieved was astounding as much as it was not surprising. Afterall, most "experts" answers are much like his. I couldn't blame him. The answer was "none. I have a speaking business." He went on and on about how he can make you a millionaire, how your money problems can dissappear, how having a lot of money makes you happy, etc. etc, etc. My stomach continued to turn and I just had to say something right before we went on, "Mr. Lederman, I bet you a dollar that if you tell those people out there a little bit about your life, your successes and failures, and what you have learned from everything, you might help them more than if you try to portray a profit guru. You might just say those few words that will motivate them to open up that store, to learn a foreign language, or to join that group that builds homes for the poor overseas. I bet you a dollar, Sir. Then, your relentless desire to help people might become real." I stood there on the black metal steps that led to the stage, two steps below him, and looked him straight in the eyes. I was secretly thinking, " Oh no! what did I just say to a this man who's made a career of this for 20 years?" I was getting cold sweats as I assumed my little outburst to Mr. Lederman would cost me any future bookings with FiveStar. " How could I have said this? I usually just swallow the crap people say. This isn't my first rodeo...ahhh!" I was in a silent panic. And then there was a pause.....and I realized that every single person out there deserved better than that. So if this was going to be my last booking with FiveStar, than it better be the best I've got. I took three steps more and was on stage, mic check...1....2.....3.........

I went from side to side, and then into the crowd as I entertained them with what I've earned, learned, what I've lost, the risks I've taken, the rewards I've obtained, my triumphs and failures. After all, how many people can say they've accomplished what I have? How many have been where I have been? Bad or good? How many have lost what I've lost? Losing has taught me what life may be. I've been to the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. It's a wonderful story to share, really. I find myself getting better at sharing it every time. I love my crazy roller coaster ride and I wouldn't trade it for a boring wake up every morning to make someone else money type of job, and I'll take it with all the sacrifice and extra stress it may bring. In the end, I can say I took the chance! I did it while you dreamed it!

You want to say the same? How bad do you want it?

Then, you have to be willing to lay it all down on the line. You have to go now, experience, dream, risk everything. Close your eyes and jump. Enjoy the free fall. Choose exhiliration over comfort, the unknown over predictability. Choose potential over safety. Wake up to a magical everyday life. Trust your intuition. Discover the beauty of uncertainty. Go with your gut instincts, they are always right. Know yourself fully before you make promises to anybody else. Make a million mistakes so that you will know what you really need. Know when to hold on and when to let go. Love hard and often without reservations. Seek knowledge, keep yourself open to possibilty. Keep your head high, your heart open, and your spirit free. Embrace your darkness along with your light. Be wrong every once in a while and admit it. Awaken to the brilliance of ordinary moments like seeing the sunshine when you wake up. Own your reality without apology. See goodness in the world, believe in God, and kick some ass. Be bold, fierce, and ambitious. Remember that nothing was ever written about the average normal person. Be grateful for every minute you are alive and breathing, because every minute is another chance to do something you haven't done.

And if you don't do this, the only reality you will own is one of which is one of the greatest truths ever told, " In ten years, you will regret more what you haven't done as opposed to the things you have done. " The time is Now!

I looked at the faces of the crowd, they were overwhelmed with emotion, it was amazing! I knew at that very moment someone, at least one person was walking out of there earger to do something, to make something happen, to change their current situation.

I didn't give them a formula to become rich, I didn't advise them to take over the world. But " I bet you a dollar, Gregg Lederman, someone is walking out of here rich."

Someday Syndrome ( Someday is only for kids)

" Someday, I want to be a big girl!" says a little girl.

"Someday I want to be a big boy!" says the little boy.

" Someday I want to grow up and go to college!" say the children.

Then, the children grow up and go to college and say, " Someday, I'm going to be a successful............(insert career). Then, they go to college, graduate, and say, " Now, I graduated. Someday, we're going to get married, buy that nice house, and that's it!"

A couple years go by and nothing happens but you still hear, " Someday."

Now you have this young couple recently married, with a new house, a mortgage, and says " Someday, when we're doing better finiancially, we will........ (insert dreams)."

A couple of years later and a couple of kids later, now that couple says, " Well, when the kids get older and get this place paid off, we will..... (insert dreams)" The kids get older, and then, "Well, now the kids have to go to college and that's expensive so I guess, when the kids move out and go to college, we will..... (insert dreams)"

By this time, the couple that once had the world in their hands and a lifetime ahead of them, is now saying, " Someday, when we retire, we're going to buy that motorhome and travel the US. We're going to see all those places we've wanted to see."

And then one sad day, on their way to the grave, they place their hand over their forehead and say, "My gosh, we've spent our whole life planning for Someday and forgot about today. We forgot to live while life was here."

You see, someday only sounds good when children say it full of hope. As adults, someday, is full of fear, procrastination, and inaction.

There is not one person that has a contract that garauntees they will have tomorrow. There's not one person that can bring back yesterday. What we have is today.

ARE YOU PLANNING FOR SOMEDAY? OR Are you taking the right steps, surrounding yourself with the right people, and making the right choices? so that your Today is nothing less than amazing.

Catch the rest tomorrow January 10, 2011 at University of Miami

One in Millions but One in a million

'Tis the season to................ It's Christmas everyone! If you haven't noticed the change of weather, the big sale storefront signs, and the decorations everywhere, 'tis the season to be grateful for what you have and show that special someone that they're the reason you work so hard all year round to give them all their heart desires.

To the teller at the bank, they're just another checking account. To plumber or the guy that fixes the air conditoning, they're just another house. To the waiter at the fancy restaurant, they're just another tip. While that might seem like one in millions, that person is one in a million to me. And I consider myself the luckiest person in the world to have spent a year trying to show a very special person they are one in a million to me.

Speaking of one in a million, this reminds me of my junior year of high school, I took A.P. Economics, and my teacher opened a class by saying, " Almost any man can learn to earn money, but one in a million knows how to spend it." Back then, it didn't resonate with me. It really didn't make a difference. I simply remembered it because of how I tried to make sense of it . Back then, I wondered if it meant proper investing, wise monetary choices, buying stocks, etc. These days it makes complete sense and it has nothing to do with buying stocks. It has to do with your heart. That day, my teacher closed the class by saying, "A racehorse that consistently runs just a few seconds faster than another is worth millions of dollars more. Being willing to give that extra effort is what separates the winner from the one in second place."

Almost ten years later, that class lingers in my mind, and I'm glad it has. You see, it doesn't matter if you make one dollar or you make a million dollars. What matters, is if you spend what you can, from your heart. Give it a backbone, give it some deep rooted meaning. For most of us, we get a pay check, we go to the mall, and we buy Christmas gifts. My hope for this holiday season is that we all give our "one-in-a-million" that extra effort. I hope that we don't go for the Big Sale storefront signs and the long lines, don't narrow down the giving to Christmas Day. A flower doesn't cost much, and a wild flower doesn't cost anything, leave a little note on the refrigerator. And if you want to break the bank on them, do it. Buy the diamond. Afterall, they are the reason you work so hard day in and day out.

The places I've visited today, and the decorations I've seen everywhere, have all made me think it's Christmas time! But more so, it reminds me how much I have to thank God, for my "one-in-a-million" And that's why, I will do my best to make this Christmas... "One-in-a million." 'Tis the season to MAKE IT COUNT.

Birds and Thanksgiving

It's Thanksgiving...literally, the day of Thanksgiving and it's been about a month or so that all we hear about is the bird (in regards to the turkey). The bird in the stores, the bird on tv, the bird on front covers of consumer magazines; making us obsess over making the perfect bird, or craving that perfect bird. Bird! Bird! Bird!

In retrospect, that got me thinking about birds in general. There's so much to say about birds; a little bird told me, birds of prey, birds of paradise, giving someone the bird, that's for the birds, the birds and the bees, birds eye view, birds of a feather flock together, early bird catches the worm, and my favorite from the movie - The Notebook - "If you're a bird, I'm a bird."

Speaking of movies, I do a live segment on Los Angeles's KIIS 102.7 fm where we feature a movie, combine it with a life lesson, and allow callers to tell us all about how they relate. It's just a way of getting out a positive message to younger listeners. One of the upcoming movies is the movie Restless by Gus Van Sant. There's this amazing scene about this beautiful songbird who thinks its going to die every sundown and in consequence, wakes up singing this magnificent song because its so grateful to still be alive. Bird lovers across the globe know this bird to sing the most beautiful song of all humming birds or songbirds. Something about this scene really struck a note in me. Gratitude is instilled even in birds, and that's what Thanksgiving is all about. Gratitude, thankfulness for the abundance we have in our lives.

Today, I don't want to be simply thankful for my family, our health, my friends, etc. I'm thankful for the wonderful things that have happened to me, and I'm also thankful for the horrible things that have happened to me, because they have made me the person I am today. I'm grateful for all the doors that have closed because each time, a window with a better opportunity has opened; for uncertainty and trying times, because it has given me fortitude and deliverance of faith; for hard work because it has given me endurance and dedication; for the things that have fallen apart beyond my control, because better ones have come together; for meeting all kinds of people, even bad ones, because that has made me feel lucky to meet the right ones; for every healthy day because it has given me priority and possibility; for the appreciation of art, because it has given me whimsical understanding; for serendipity because it has given me the assurance that there's no such thing as coincidence; for those days when things go wrong, because it has made me ecstatic when they go right.

Its Thursday, literally the day of Thanksgiving, November 25, 2010, and I feel like that songbird every morning when I wake up. Perhaps it's because I'm the luckiest person in the world to be able to say it in my heart, "If you're a bird, I'm a bird."

Thou shall not wear Khaki Pants...ever!

There are some days where you ask yourself, " Does it get any better than this?" and then, if you're lucky, there are days where you just know that it doesn't.

I still don't know how my head hasn't exploded from an overdose of all things astoundingly beautiful. I'm talking about a day where everything just falls together effortlessly, simple, undemanding, and yet the end result is a masterpiece. This day was in fact a masterpiece.

It began midday with a light patio lunch on the 15th floor, overlooking the prestine biscayne bay. We sat sandwiched between a couple of other gorgeous high rises, nestled in a small marble table sipping on some Purple haze, as we discussed menu items and why I was wearing khaki pants.

Yes, we were debating my fashion sense and how I looked like a billboard for GAP, as I sat there in my black tshirt from Banana Republic and my Khaki cotton pants. Clothes never make me feel self-conscious but debating my fashion sense definetely gets a good laugh out of me, I do admit to overstepping the boundaries of boring and common sometimes - hence the GAP comparison. After a few bites of great guacamole, a shortrib tostada, and an incredible sushi roll, substituting my unexciting khaki pants seemed like the only logical thing to do....actually, substituting my entire outfit seemed like the only logical thing to do. Off to the mall we were! We had a couple of hours to kill before dinner reservations at a well sought out restaurant.

Giving the task to someone to dress you while you watch them choose all the different articles, could be a pretty entertaining thing. It's funny to see the things they'd choose for you, things you'd never choose on your own. I think this shopping process shed some light on my fashion sense. I was able to see that I was attracted to exactly the same type of clothes all around...black, grey, dark green...no ruffles, no strange patterns, no wild colors. It's not that I don't like them, it's just that I'm simply more quickly drawn to those other colors rather than something bright or vivid. After a really good time people watching, trying on clothes, and picking just the right outfit for dinner (afterall "khakis were a big no-no) , there was only one thing left to do before our reservaton. Change our clothes in the car! I felt like a couple of outlaws, a scene from a Life Less Ordinary, or something just as sketchy but exhilirating at the same time. We were all set for a fabulous dinner but had no idea what was in store...

One of my favorite parts of a dining experience anywhere is the element of surprise. Some places you know exactly what to expect. You know what you're going to get and how you're going to get it. Most places fail to deliver the WOW factor and even though I am always eagerly searching for it, I rarely find it. This time would prove to be one of those rare occassions.

Stepping into this restaurant, you are immediately fascinated by its nautical design - it almost has a Hamptons, northeastern feel to it. Being ten minutes early for our reservation, the hostess politely guided us to the bar and suggested a couple of cocktails before our table would be ready. One strawberry-candy like drink and a mojito. I love watching bartenders make drinks that actually require real fruit and extracting flavors by muddling, squeezing, and stirring - not just pouring and mixing. As the bartending was slicing berries and sqeezing lemons and limes, I was tasting the drink in my head. A couple of sips, and I was a happy camper. The hostess quickly took us to our outdoor table...and there it was....the WOW factor. A corner table at the very edge of the terrace of the hotel overlooking the ocean as the sunset approached. There is something eminently magical about a sunset. Maybe its the way it outlines the tall palm trees, maybe its the way it makes the ocean sparkle, or maybe its the way it signifies the day is ending; ending with hopes that you did it right, with hopes that this day was great. Maybe it the closing of a day, but the beginning of so much more that lay ahead. I tell you...something about those sunsets.

As for the meal, have you ever had a meal where sparks fly? I find it difficult to put into words how amazing this meal was. Luscious, creamy burratta Mozzarella, crusty bread with eggplant capponata, mascarpone butter, and a rustic Italian olive oil. Exuberantly, I awaited the next dishes hoping they'd be better but thinking that wouldn't be possible as this first course held its awesome status. The next dish was delicate and astounding beef tartare with a quail egg and shaved Alba white truffles. The Excutive Chef himself came out to our table to shave the white truffles onto our tartare dish. It was a jaw dropping experience as the aroma from the white truffles perfumed the ocean breeze. It was at that very moment as I sat there while the truffles glided through the air onto the plate ever so graceful, with my glass of wine, in this picturesque setting, and I thought to myself, "I really don't know how my head hasn't exploded from experiencing these outrageous larger than life moments. Sometimes I feel like I'm on ecstasy." Next, was this polenta that was cooked for 8 hours in milk that deserved a standing ovation. I didn't know if I was eating a creamy cheese or a corn product. It was silky, indulgent, and most definetely the kind of food you close your eyes to catch yourself for a moment....Or maybe you need a cigarette after (kidding I don't smoke). Each and every dish that followed was just as wonerful keeping my state of bliss at a steady nirvana. Speaking of bliss, after a couple of handcrafted pasta dishes, we couldn't skip dessert. I never order dessert but how could we skip dessert at a place that exceeded all expectations? A semi frozen pannacotta with a guava soup. Refreshing. Perfect. Soothing. Just what you need after meal made for kings and queens.

As the night concluded with a happy stomach and a good buzz, I realized a couple of brilliant things. Thou shall not wear khaki pants! and the other thing is to be grateful for those days that turn out to be masterpieces...Those days where you ask yourself, "Does it get any better than this? " and then, if you're lucky, there are those days where you just know that it doesn't." Cheers to the masterpieces!

In the words of the Veronica's

So they say that Lyon and Rome have a couple of things in common. One of which is that they are both full of temperamental gourmets eternally engaged with the never-ending search of that imaginary, perfect, unknown, little backstreet bistro where one can dine in the style of Louis the XIV. While I don't consider myself a temperamental gourmet, I have to admit I am fully fascinated by the idea of sharing a bottle of wine, a couple of impeccable dishes, and just sitting there enjoying the company. I've taken my share of mediocre-poorly made dishes with a grain of salt so I find it perfectly natural that I would get uber-excited over a fantastic meal.

Today, it all began by a meandering car ride, to a place I had already been to, and well, I couldn't remember I was there once, much less what I ate when I visited, so that speaks for itself. However, that mistake or blissful indifference lead me to ponder something, I asked myself one of the most common thought-of questions ever---- "What's for lunch?" And after a long list of "been there, done that" places, one restaurant stood out above the rest. This is a place where you can order a few, exquisite dishes, a superb wine, and enjoy an eclectic artsy atmosphere. Don't go for people watching, it seems as though the people that were there forgot their personalities at home, they seemed blase, apathetic almost. Were they just bored of lunch, or bored of life? Okay, so forget people watching; make sure you go with someone who mirrors your passion for food, and you'll be sure to be in a foodie-paradise.

I don't know about you, but one of my favorite foods in the world is a very high quality mozzarella called Burratta. A rich, creamy indulgently smooth cheese, idealy paired with a dense balsamic reduction, throw in some braised red onions, fresh tomatoes, a housemade pesto, and you're in heaven. I paired this with a glass of Lagaria, an Italian reisling, and this combination was a gourmet hyperbole all around. You couldn't help but smile from the first bite, the first sip. The two together was definetely love at first bite. A couple of other dishes consisted of swordfish carpaccio, scallops with preserved lemons, marinated artichokes, and few slices of artisan Italian bread accompanied by a fruity and pungeant olive oil with a light sprinkle of sea salt. Simple, fresh, clean food , a delicious wine, and the company of someone who cracks you up.... really....does it get better than this? I love visting places that grant me the priviledge to say "The best I ever had." In this case, this restaurant allowed me to have the best mozzarella I have ever had anywhere. I guess I can scratch that off my bucket list.

Next time, you're thinking of heading to your local chain restaurant to fill up your belly, take time to think about where you're going. Make it special because dining, is one of the best things that we share as human beings. It should be a wonderful time of sharing, getting to know people, and getting to know yourself. You'll discover new things you like, things you might obsess over for a little while, and things you'll never want to taste again. Take time to actually enjoy sitting in your chair, embrace the atmosphere, and stare at the person across from you, take a mental picture, because in the grand scheme of things - it is a blessing that they are sitting there with you. Pay attention to what they enjoy, their reactions to certain things, and simply take in the dining experience. You'll get to know them a little bit better each time, something I believe my generation lacks of. We often fail to dedicate ourselves to getting to know someone, really. Real conversations, real meals, real time. After all, Bacchus had something right, " In a lot of good food, and good wine, there's a lot of truth."

Lyon and Rome can play host to those in search of the of the perfect, imaginary, little, unknown backstreet bistro where one can dine in the style of Louis the XIV. As for me, today, I consider myself priviledged and lucky to have found a place where I dined in the style of Louis XIV. Next time you go out to eat, I encourage you to find a place that offers a special exquisite item, check out for yourself if its the best you've ever had, order a glass of Lagaria if its available, take a mental picture of who's across from you, enjoy their company to the fullest, and take in the experience. I garauntee you'll be saying in the words of the Veronica's " I could get used to this."

A rock and a hard place

People (including myself) are often unreasonable, irrational, self-centered; forgive them ANYWAY. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Be kind ANYWAY. What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create ANYWAY. If you find happiness, others may be jealous. Be happy ANYWAY. The good you do today may often be forgotten, do good ANYWAY. Give the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best ANYWAY. In the end, it was between you and God; it was never between you and them ANYWAY.

While I am used to my erradic, fast-paced lifestyle, there has been few weeks in my lifetime as uncomposed, spontaneous, and poignant as this week. I've been put in all types of positions where I've had to use my judgement, my conscience, and my heart. I've even been asked to play Dr. Phil or cupid by a suprise person. It's been a week of fantastic news, bad news, realizations, and what I like to call U-turns. The funny thing is that in all this sentiment, I've never had more interviews, photoshoots, charity conferences, radio segments, and television shoots all in one week while the restuarant has been off-the-charts busy. Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining because I consider myself priviledged to be doing my work, its just been fabulously chaotic.

I am sure you've all heard of the saying " a rock and a hard place." Well, maybe that would be the theme of this week. I believe we are put through tests in life, and its how we react, and overcome them, that makes us the people we are today. I also believe in fate- and that you can't cheat fate so it's up to us to make the right choices along the way, to make it a good journey. We'll arrive to where we are supposed to the easy way or the hard way so we must make the best of it.

Imagine for a second that you have a strong dislike for chocolate (hypothetically), through the years, you and chocolate have nothing in common, in fact, you don't see eye to eye on alot of things. You don't like all that chocolate stands for and what chocolate consumes its time with. You don't even like the few conversations you've had with chocolate. All of sudden, chocolate comes to you for help. What do you do? Do you turn your back on him? Or do you swallow your pride and lend a helping hand? Do you advise him exactly as you would yourself (from the heart) or do you keep it simple and brush it off?

Imagine for a second that a person who made your life miserable in high school, now crosses paths with you professionally, and their job depends solely on your decision to be part of a business organization or not... do you go with "eye for an eye" or do you turn the other cheek, and take on the business opportunity just to salvage their job?

Imagine for a second, there's a lady selling sunflowers on the corner of a busy intersection in the sweltering hot summer heat every single day. You see her day in and day out covered in sweat, holding her sunflowers trying to make an honest living. You reach for your pocket to buy the flowers...you take out a $20. Do you insist on the change that you'll blow on something stupid or do you opt for giving the small gift that might put a meal on her dinner table?

That was just a little bit of the chaos...lol. So in a time where it's easy to brush off someone, turn the other cheek, or seek and eye for an eye, or just use the excuse that we are too busy to help someone. This is what I found to be utimately true and what I live by everyday, even when you are between a rock and a hard place: " People (including myslef) are often unreasonable, irrational, self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway. If you find happiness, other may be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today may often be forgotten. Do good anyway. Give the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway. In the end, it is between you and God, it is never between you and them anyway.

And if you're curious about the choices I made....I helped out the chocolate as best as I could. I took on the business opportunity, and I didn't ask for the change.

Afterall, to me, it's about making it count....