RUN THE POINT

4 Days at Coffee Planet

2011-02-09T08:56:00.000-05:00

Ambassador Bruny's 2010 Year in Review as Told Through Pictures

2011-01-03T22:09:00.000-05:00

Ambassador Bruny's 2010 Year in Review as Told Through Pictures

Helped raise money for Haiti through a blog following the earthquake

One of my biggest accomplishments this year is completing 365 days of Hip Hop Affirmations on www.hiphopaffirmations.com

Completed an awesome 10 month Leadership program through the Coaches Training Institute (CTI)


Got connected to the social media site: Brazen Careerist


Went to my 1st Entrepreneur Magazine Growth Conference (Miami,FL)

My wife caught video tape of my performance at Framingham State (I created my first video snippet)4min48sec

Keynote at the student leadership conference at MCLA (you can guess the theme)

Met Bryon Hurt at Bryant University in R.I. (Creator of: Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes)

Finished paying for my MacBook Pro aka "Little Macky"

Spoke at my Grad. school Alma Mater (UMASS, Amherst) "Funny because when I took this shot I had a caption in mind that would read: Thru these doors walked Jack Welch and Mike Bruny" LOL

Spoke at Boston College (twice) and it was the first time a family member(besides my wife) saw me speak(my cousin was a senior there)


Was part of Keith Ferrazzi's 10wk Pilot program (Very cool and power stuff when it comes to networking)

Sold books at Stanford. Tarik (on the r.) helped make it happen. And no we did not really know each other before that day. We met on Brazen Careerist.

Went to Andre Taylor's Bigger Deal workshop in NYC. This guy is the master of crafting big deals

Co-created a workshop and presented in the Netherlands


Got styling tips from the good folks at The Brooklyn Circus (Learned the importance of fit)

My 1st professional photo shoot

My 1st Garage Sale


Started working on the Ambassador Bruny logo

Was on a panel at Berklee College of Music

Babson Entrepreneurship Conference where I met Donna Fenn (author of Upstarts)

Attended the Bigger Game Workshop in Boston

Created my first ebook

Your Ambassador, Mike Bruny
Let's stay connected and make things happen:
website: www.runthepoint.com
blog: www.hiphopaffirmations.com
video: www.youtube.com/ambassadorbruny
facebook: www.facebook.com/ambassadorbruny
twitter: @runthepoint , @hiphopaffirms
Tumblr: www.ambassadorbruny.tumblr.com

Coming in 2011...The Seth Godin Book Club [You're Invited]

2010-12-20T22:49:00.002-05:00

I'm going to read all of Seth Godin's Books in 2011...Do You Want to Come With?

I'm inviting folks who are interesting in marketing and growing their causes (make more money for yourself and others) to join me on a monthly adventure to read all 13 of Seth Godin's books in 2011. Who is Seth Godin you ask? He is a marketing guru with a kick-ass message about taking charge and making change. After reading one of Seth Godin's books, "Tribes: We need you to lead us", listening to another and checking out his blog I decided to start a virtual book club in 2011 that will focus on his 13 books. You can get a flavor of Seth in the TED talks video below.

What You Need to Know (I'm working out the details and have some people who have already expressed interest):

When: The book club will take place the last Sunday afternoon of every month (we'll use a conference call number.) Duration = 1hr
What: We will read 1 book a month using a systematic approach for those who need it (just look at the number of pages in the book and divide it by the number of days before our meeting and you'll know how many pages to read a day)
Where: We will use an online space (TBA) to jot down notes and who knows at the end of the journey we could create a book review of all his work.
Next Steps: I will hold an interest and details meeting next Monday, December 27 at noon and 7p.m. at the following conference call number: 712-432-1680. pin: 592654# --Tell someone who you think may be interested.

"If knowledge is the key, then just show me the lock, " ~Q-Tip from A Tribe Called Quest

If you have any Questions send me an email or drop me a line: 617-302-6227

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny
Let's stay connected and make things happen:
website: www.runthepoint.com
blog: www.hiphopaffirmations.com
video: www.youtube.com/ambassadorbruny
facebook: www.facebook.com/ambassadorbruny
twitter: @runthepoint , @hiphopaffirms

"I'M Focused Man" Ebook focused on the Lyrics of Jay-Z

2010-12-07T05:30:00.001-05:00

"I'm Focused, Man"

41 Hip Hop Affirmations to Change Your Life

Inspired by the lyrics of Jay-Z

(The Free ebook)

http://bit.ly/focusedman1

I recently created my first ebook and I want to make sure you have a copy and make sure your friends have a copy. You have to check this out and it won't cost you a thing. It's pretty cool and a great quick piece of motivation for you whether you are a hip hop lover, a Jay-Z lover or a motivational quote and affirmation lover. The goal is to get to 1000 downloads and impact that many lives as quick as possible (of course that's just the beginning).

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny
Let's stay connected and make things happen:
website: www.runthepoint.com
blog: www.hiphopaffirmations.com
video: www.youtube.com/ambassadorbruny
facebook: www.facebook.com/ambassadorbruny
twitter: @runthepoint , @hiphopaffirms

A Piece of Classiscal Music and Leadership

2010-11-10T14:20:00.000-05:00

A Piece of Classical Music and Leadership

You have to love TED videos. Every so often I'll share some of them with you. Here is one that moved me especially at the 16:50 (jump to that point if you are pressed for time) mark; If you have even less time jump to 17:30 (It will change the way you look at things...an Ambassador Bruny Promise)

Ambassador Bruny's Notes:

This guy really captured me towards the end of his TED talk. As I am creating my new logo and trying to pull all the things that I have going on: speaking, writing, hiphopaffirmations.com, run the point.com, projects, etc. I am striving to make it all fit into a coherent brand. The truth is that I/we are so much more then just one thing. I am hip hop, I am my collection of bow ties, I am into fitness so I can look good, I am interested in men's fashion, I am a life coach, I want to make a difference and I want to make 1.3 million dollars or more with my business. The alignment of all of this has not been an easy task, but I am up to the task. The following words from this video sums up what I am trying to do with all my work and I think you will find it helpful:

"The conductor of an orchestra doesn't make a sound. He depends for his power on his ability to make other people powerful..My job is to awaken possibility in other people. You know how you find out? You look at their eyes. If their eyes are shining, you know you are doing it. If the eyes are not shining, you get to ask a question? "Who am I being that my players' eyes are not shining?

Success= How many shining eyes I have around me!

I can't help but think, the tagline to go along with my new Ambassador Bruny logo lives someone in the statement above.

What's possible for you, with a little support?

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny
Let's stay connected and make things happen:
website: www.runthepoint.com
blog: www.hiphopaffirmations.com
video: www.youtube.com/ambassadorbruny
facebook: www.facebook.com/ambassadorbruny
twitter: @runthepoint , @hiphopaffirms

Networking Will Never Be the Same; I Promise! Introducing Networking Roulette

2010-11-09T07:00:00.002-05:00

Networking Will Never Be The Same; I Promise!

Introducing Networking Roulette By Brazen Careerist

I've been tons of networking events, hosted a few and have even taken elements from some of the best events and added them into my workshops. But nothing, I repeat nothing, is like Networking Roulette by Brazen Careerist. You may have heard me refer to www.brazen careerist dot com before. They are a very active social networking site like none other (they've helped me get to Stanford U. to sell my book, they've connected me with folks who guest blog for me and I have a strange feeling this is just the beginning). What I love most about the people they attract to their site is that they are truly dedicated to helping others. I have noticed several notes on Facebook that would be followed by the quote, "Is anyone listening" due to lack of responses. This does NOT happen on Brazen Careerist and that's why I love it so.

If that wasn't enough reason to love it, they decided to kick it up a notch...Bam! In comes Networking Roulette. Picture speed networking where you are physically at an event and they give you say 1 to 2 minutes to talk to a person then move on to the next; great concept except you are geographically limited. You only get to talk to the people who are there. What if you could be connected with people from around the country, heck, around the world and do the same speed networking? You can.

Networking Roulette is online speed networking. Participants are randomly matched with other professionals after answering two simple questions: “What are you looking for?” and “What are you providing?” Next, participants have up to 3 minutes conversation to determine if the person on the other side can help their network. After, participants choose who to follow up with through their network dashboard.

What the dashboard looks like when you are networking (shout out to Ryan who is in the Pic)

I was fortunate enough to be part of a group invited to test out the system before it went live to the rest of the public. It was amazing. Since everyone already filled out what they had to offer and what they were looking for, there was no need to repeat that information. I was open to jump right into the networking. As many of you know I have a hip hop affirmation blog and quite frankly felt there weren't too many other folks out there using hip hop lyrics as inspiration. Within minutes of someone finding out what I did they connected me with a friend of theirs who runs www.hiphopinspires.us. Now that is what I call networking baby! I invite you to do 3 things:

1. Check out the Brazen Careerist site

2. Tell a friend who is looking to network, find new ideas or share new ideas about the site

3. Check out the short video below that tells you a bit more about Networking Roulette

Networking Roulette Video

The only down side is I wish I would have thought of it first! See you at the Roulette wheel.

Keep Running the Point from where you, are with what you have.

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny
Let's stay connected and make things happen:
website: www.runthepoint.com
blog: www.hiphopaffirmations.com
video: www.youtube.com/ambassadorbruny
facebook: www.facebook.com/ambassadorbruny
twitter: @runthepoint , @hiphopaffirms

Creation of the Ambassador Bruny Logo. How to get from Point A to B

2010-11-08T11:59:00.001-05:00

I thought creating my logo would be a quick process. I would just get any photo I like and presto change-o, the Ambassador Bruny logo would be created. Not so fast there buddy. I started by taking a piece from the cover of my book, Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations To Change Your Life.

I sent it out to the people to get some feedback. That included my people on Twitter, Facebook and Brazen Careerist (check out this site. It's one of the best kept secrets). Some felt it was motivational, some thought it reminded them of the black power movement, some thought it was a silhouette of President Obama or a silhouette of myself (Gotta love having your silhouette compared to that of the President).

I had a logo contest and had a couple of cool images sent in, but nothing that totally moved the crowd. I went to my trusted designer friends at The Brooklyn Circus to give it a shot. I started by showing them what I was working with--the man above. It made them think of the black power movement (not judging, just knowing how diverse my clientele is it was/is something important to take into consideration). They came up from NYC to spend some time with the Ambassador, to get a sense of my essence and what I am trying to accomplish as a life coach, speaker and writer. The 1st round brought the following:

I reached out to my public for feedback and thoughts. The picture which represents a flame and the motivation that I bring to my clients reminded me of a tulip and honestly felt a little bit too soft for me. Remember it's a process! I had a great follow-up conversation with Ouigi aka "The Bearded Man" at the Brooklyn Circus and we spoke about the idea of what I do as Ambassador Bruny is helping folks get from point A to point B. It was a perfect point (pun intended) for us to move into the 2nd Round:

We are working on a way to clearly express the idea of helping my clients and public get from point A to point B in their lives. With that being said, which of the 6 is your favorite? That is right Ambassador Bruny needs you to help him get from point A to point B in this process. Be on the look out for the 3rd Round.

Keep Running the Point from where you, are with what you have.

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny
Let's stay connected and make things happen:
website: www.runthepoint.com
blog: www.hiphopaffirmations.com
video: www.youtube.com/ambassadorbruny
facebook: www.facebook.com/ambassadorbruny
twitter: @runthepoint , @hiphopaffirms

Entrepreneurship & Innovation at Babson College (Nov. 13 event)

2010-10-29T05:02:00.000-04:00

I just signed up to be part of this event on November 13th and I think you should do the same. If you have the slightest bit of interest in entrepreneurship, then you are going to want to be here. I signed up and even made it so I can get a special promo code for my people. The promo code "Ambassador" will get you a discount when you order your tickets. Check out the information below:

On Saturday, November 13th the Babson campus will be taken over by 4 keynotes, 30 speakers, and 600 guests. Will you be a part of the biggest event of the year?

Don’t miss out on the 9th Annual Babson Forum on Entrepreneurship & Innovation. It’s the event that everyone will be talking about all year long.

This event sells out ever year. Purchase your tickets by Friday, November 5th and be entered to win an iPad.*
http://babsonforum2010.eventbrite.com/

Babson’s Next Big Idea Competition
Do you think you have the Next Big Idea? Enter to win $2,500 by Friday, November 5th with a 2-minute YouTube video.

Featured Speakers From:
* Google * Small Business Administration * Inc. Magazine * P&G FutureWorks * New York Stock Exchange Group * Rue La La * Johnny Cupcakes * Chesapeake Bay Candle * IDEO * Legal Sea Foods * Highland Capital Partners * Boston Business Journal * MassChallenge * Hubspot * HealthCare Ventures * Cloud Technology Partners * TechBridge * Gemvara * Racepoint Capital Group, LLC * Village Forward

www.babsonforum.com

*iPad Raffle: Any individual who purchases a ticket to the forum between September 1, 2010 and November 5, 2010 at 11:59pm will automatically be entered to win a iPad.

Keep Running the Point from where you, are with what you have.

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny
Let's stay connected and make things happen:
website: www.runthepoint.com
blog: www.hiphopaffirmations.com
video: www.youtube.com/ambassadorbruny
facebook: www.facebook.com/ambassadorbruny
twitter: @runthepoint , @hiphopaffirms

A Day at Berklee College of Music

2010-10-12T23:45:00.001-04:00

Last Monday I had the opportunity to spend the day and part of the night at Berklee College of Music. No, I wasn't taking piano lessons, but I was giving lessons on how I use hip hop as a tool of empowerment for young adults (students and professionals). My day there began as a panelist on what they called a "Dine and Discuss." The main focus was on hip hop and it's role in different parts of society such as education, social justice, etc. I had a great time with my co-panelist, Mike Trammel who runs a great program for high school students called High School Jamz. I must give a shout out to my girl Darcie Wicknick for making all this happen.

From L to R: Ed Woods, Joi Pitts, Leonard "L.B." Brooks, and Sharon Heyward

Later that evening I had a chance to take in powerful information on the business of hip hop and urban music from executives in the music business. The panelist on hand included the following: Ryan Leslie, Ed Woods, Joi Pitts, Francesca Spero, Leonard “L.B.” Brooks, and Sharon Heyward.

Below are my notes and key takeaways that are applicable to more than just folks interested in Hip Hop and music in general.

We will start off with Ryan Leslie who is a recording artist, composer, producer, etc. He has done an excellent job of staying connected to the people through social media and his videos, which can be found on his website. For those who don't know Ryan Leslie or "R-Les" as he is known in the music biz, he is a Harvard Grad. An interesting piece of information is that he was admitted into Harvard at the age of 15 and graduated at 19. Did I mention he delivered the Harvard oration at the commencement ceremony? I could go on but I'll let you read this article in New York Magazine for more on his background. Before we jump into what he had to share, let's put it into context as R-Les did. He reminded us that he was in Boston when he was first starting his career and he remembered going to tons of conferences and listening to a lot of people, but he rarely walked away with something he could go and use right away. He wanted to make sure things were different for this crowd. Here are some of what he had to share with us:

Have a tireless work ethic
Keep creating and releasing
Ask yourself the question: What are you providing that is valuable?
You have to have a desire to create something that is real and tangible
Think about how you spend your day. How much of it is in creation and how much is on evaluation and connecting
You have to put out content, but then you have to evaluate it. It is evaluated by the number of hits, comments, etc. you get.

This last point stands on it's own and it gets all the things that you wouldn't usually see--that's right I'm going all CAPS and BOLD, I'M EVEN GOING TO CENTER IT that is how serious I am about this point and I just don't want you to miss it:

"DON'T HOLD IT! IF YOU ARE A CREATOR YOU CAN CREATE MORE. WORRY LESS ABOUT PEOPLE TRYING TO STEAL YOUR IDEAS AND MORE ABOUT GETTING YOUR CONTENT OUT THERE." -- Powerful!

Professor Kellogg (Moderator) and Ryan Leslie aka "R-Les"

Ryan Leslie had to head out so he was on the panel for a short time, but he dropped a message that goes a long way. "Thanks R-Les."

He wasn't the only one with us; the overall night was just filled with wisdom and words worth sharing with my readers. Some of the other great points from the night:

Think of yourself as a brand
Ask yourself the question: What will make me an icon?
Know that record companies go after those who already know who they are (packaging is important).
Artist development is being placed more on the artist. A couple of suggested things to do:

Go out and perform
Engage your consumers
Protect your brand
experiment and see what works

Performing is how you eat and make money. Focus on booking dates.
Get good management as it can be difficult to do both: manage your art and manage the business.
You can't build a brand if you don't know who you are. --Need help? Reach out: www.runthepoint.com

That was my day, filled with giving and receiving. If you are in the Boston area make sure you come out next year. I walked away with more ammo for my own business and moves I'm making with my book, Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations to Change Your Life. You can definitely expect to see more of what I have been holding back in fear that someone might "steal" it. I've been reminded that I am a creator so i'm going to do what I do, create.

Keep Running the Point from where you, are with what you have.

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny
Let's stay connected and make things happen:
website: www.runthepoint.com
blog: www.hiphopaffirmations.com
video: www.youtube.com/ambassadorbruny
facebook: www.facebook.com/ambassadorbruny
twitter: @runthepoint , @hiphopaffirms

How to Stop Your Past From Defining Your Future (short video)

2010-09-28T14:41:00.009-04:00

Check out this great video sent to me by a friend. I can relate to the thoughts of the possibilities on the future. What jumps out at you from this video? I'm interested in your perspective.

Run the Point from where you are, with what you have!

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny
www.runthepoint.com
www.hiphopaffirmations.com

Jay-Z, Warren Buffet, Steve Forbes and Ambassador Bruny

2010-09-24T03:36:00.027-04:00

What do all the names in the title have in common? It's not the bank account...yet (I have a little bit of catching up to do). What it is a sense of purpose, drive and a philosophy around personal growth as something no one can ever take away from you. Check out the Ambassador Bruny favorites below and check out the video (Length: 52mins)

These gentleman give me something to aspire to and I love it. They dropped a whole lot of knowledge. Here are some of the Ambassador Bruny favorites:

The words of Jay-Z:

Sometimes it's just a little attention that does the trick in the life of someone young
Exposure let's your imagination grow.
His first album was at 26yrs old so he had some maturity
Stay true to yourself and don't just write for an audience.
Stick to what you know. Don't just jump on the next hot thing.
"Discipline and Confidence in who I am; and if I go into a studio and I find my truth of the moment there are a number of people in the world that can relate to what I'm saying and buy-in to what i'm doing; not because it's the new thing of the moment, but because it's my genuine emotions; it's how I articulate the world."

The words of Warren Buffet:

It's important to understand the underlying principles.
Knowledge is cumulative. What he learned at 20 is still in use as is what he learned at 25, etc.
Speaks about creating a moat to separate yourself from competition:
"The best moat you can have is your own talent. No one can take that away from you. Inflation can't take it away from you; taxes can't take it away from you."
Develop / improve yourself and you increase your value.
"You've got the brain power, you've got the energy, develop the habits of success."
Look at the people you admire and list what attributes you admire in them. Whatever those attributes are, they can be learned.
Cost of living and standard of living are not the same thing.

Your Ambassador,

Mike Bruny, CPCC

http://www.runthepoint.com/

http://www.hiphopaffirmations.com/

"Your Essence" the life changing worksheet

The Ambassador Bruny Logo Contest Results

2010-09-22T11:24:00.005-04:00

Tuesday night at 11:59 p.m. officially marked the end of the Ambassador Bruny logo contest. I received a few entries with a lot of promise, but after going through them all, I decided to work with one particular group and develop the logo concept. I will keep you posted on the progress and may need your feedback along the way. Thanks for all the support.

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny, CPCC
www.runthepoint.com
www.hiphopaffirmations.com

If you are sick and tired of being sick and tired, do something about it: https://files.me.com/runthepoint/n1jqx6

Coming Back From Cali

2010-09-20T21:31:00.005-04:00

I'm back from California after my third leadership retreat (It's a 4 retreat program). This retreat was a very powerful one where I found myself really focusing on the space around me; what is said and what is not said.

After each retreat I am actually a little sad for two reasons:
1. I have to leave the great individuals who have gathered for the sake of being better leaders around the world.
2. I know that everything that I complain about or don't like is up to me as a leader to change. "deep gulp"

On the way home I was suppose to go from San Jose to Los Angeles to Boston, but instead I ended up going from San Jose to Los Angeles to Chicago to Boston and added 3 hours to my trip. Why you ask? My first flight landed late causing me to miss my connecting flight. "Yes," I wasn't a happy camper, but part of what I'm learning as a leader is not to get so caught up or "triggered" by situations. I did what I needed to do to get over it, because the reality was, there wasn't much I could do about the situation at the time.

So how exactly did I let it go? I jumped on my MacBook Pro and drafted the letter I wanted to send to American Airlines once I got home. Next, I closed my eyes and washed away my thoughts and began anew. It ties in perfect with my philosophy of Run the Point from where you are with what you have. I took charge, by letting go.

Run the Point from where you are, with what you have!

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny
P.S.: Wondering what that photo is above? It me an my leadership cohort dancing to YMCA at a local California restaurant (Ciao Bella II). I'm on the far right--get down with your bad self.

Ambassador Bruny Labor Day Garage Sale Tips / Lessons

2010-09-06T19:03:00.011-04:00

I will not pretend to be the guru of garage sales but I did learn a few things at my first garage sale on Labor Day. I'm a huge fan of using transferable skills so I applied a couple of things I've picked up throughout the years to have a good sale.

It all started on Sunday morning when my wife and I woke up and decide to have a garage sale. We had been threatening to hold one for a long time now and with her sister visiting we had the additional support needed to make it happen. Here is what we learned and hopefully the tips can be valuable to you when you decide to have your own sale (hey, maybe it will even inspire you to have your own sale):

Ambassador Tip#1 - Plan ahead; you are not the only game in town. "Yikes! As I finished making my cardboard signs to hang at the entrance to our complex and one for the busy streets not to far away, I quickly realized that someone else already had a garage sale planned in the same complex. Their sale was only planned for Sunday (ours was Sunday and Monday, running until 3p.m.) from 9a.m. - 2p.m. (by the time we saw this it was already 1p.m.)

Ambassador Tip#2 - Learn from the competition and the situation. As a garage sale rookie I took note of the excellent places our neighbors put their posters and decided to put ours in the same place. I figured our yard sale went until 3p on Sunday (1hr after they would have packed up we would still be around-- whowho haha=my best Dr. Evil laugh with pinky to the mouth)

Ambassador Tip#3 - There is no competition. After witnessing the excellent signs my neighbors had for their yard sale, I decided to go over to their sale before they closed shop. I introduced myself and let them know that we are having a yard sale and would gladly display some of the items that they did not sell in exchange for their signs (the signs just said Garage Sale and had an arrow, but they were in key places to help drive business... at least that's what my gut told me.) They agreed and we no longer had competition but allies.

Ambassador Tip#4 - Teamwork makes the dream work. My wife, her sister and I were involved in making this thing happen. Sure anyone of us could have done it alone, but it was so much more fun and gave the opportunity for a rotation because we had a team. We each brought our own individual talent to the table. My wife has the retail / Merchandising background, my sister-in-law is a recent law school graduate so she schooled us on how she used Craig's List while at Syracuse all the time. Her skills put our garage sale on the virtual map, I provided my marketing, sales and analytical skills to the equation. *Important to note that I thought you had to pay to put an event like ours on Craig's List and would not have taken that step if it wasn't for my sister-in-law. We have to challenge our beliefs and be ready to be proven wrong for the sake of success.*

Ambassador Tip#5 - Pay attention to what is happening. Throughout the event we made sure we paid attention to what was selling, what people were checking out, was our pricing too high and how people heard about our garage sale (we had 1 person who came because of Craig's List and all the other folks swung by because they saw the signs on the road-- my gut feeling about the signs my neighbor was using was right...."yes" ). *What we discovered: The signs worked well to pull people in, jewelry, books and CD's focused on personal development sell well. My clothes and shoes with their limited sizing did not sell as well-- my belts did bring in a couple of bucks. I'm surprised no one touched the ties*

Ambassador Tip #6 - Set a goal. Sure, we didn't have the slightest idea how this garage sale would go, but we did set a goal of making $100 bucks for the day. It just made the day more fun and charged to "get that sale." It had me sending messages to my friends on Facebook who live in the area. A couple showed up. Thanks Kandi and DJ Rey! We did not hit the $100 but got pretty close with a $80.

Ambassador Tip#7 - (should really be #1) Have fun. You have a chance to make a little bit of money from stuff you don't want anymore and you get to potentially make new friends. "Shout out to the guy who was just taking his walk, but stop by and told me about some excellent cobblers in the area--now if I could only find a Taylor...sorry, that's another post."

That's all for now....keep Running the Point from where you are, with what you have left after your garage sale!

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny
www.runthepoint.com

Ambassador Bruny's 5 Tips From Net-Working In Boston

2010-09-03T01:34:00.000-04:00

I took a trip to Boston earlier this week on a Net-working mission. I've been hitting the street to spread the "Run the Point message," and making some new friends along the way. I hit up two events this week. The ECHO (Entrepreneurs of Color Helping Others) monthly meeting and a Tweach up at Lansdowne Pub near Fenway Park.

First and foremost I want to introduce or remind my readers about my view on Net-working. The hypen is there for a reason. It's to remind you that you physically have a net that you have to put to work and that you belong to a net and you have to be willing to go to work for them. I'm big on reciprocity. Now back to the tips.

Ambassador Bruny tip #1: Be in the mindset of service. Ask yourself, how can I be of service as you talk and mingle with the people. I was able to think of at least 2 people that I just had to connect after having 5 minute conversations. You have to give in order to get!

Ambassador Bruny tip #2: Introduce yourself to the speaker and host of the event. They are the ones who got all the people out there and they can help you meet more people. At the ECHO event the speaker spoke about the value of blogging for businesses. Her name is Angel Babbitt and she has a cool blog called The Bridal BFF (check her out). We had a chance to talk a little bit after her presentation and we are now connected. She even gave me a referral to a couple of guys who make bow ties. I spoke with the host of the event and learned about Boston offline which puts on all kinds of events.

At the Tweach up, which is a combination of a reach out and a tweet up (basically asking you to bring a friend who has never been to a tweet up before to partake in the event), one of the hosts was actually kind enough to give me a shout out on Twitter following the event.

Ambassador Bruny tip #3: Be Yourself. Don't work overtime on trying to be someone that you are not. It's spotted a mile away and it's just too much work. Let the people love you for you. I'm passionate about helping people take things to a next level and that shows. I love my bow ties and that shows too.

Ambassador Bruny tip #4: Love The One You're With. Nothing is more annoying that trying to have a conversation with someone and their eyes are scanning the room. Focus Daniel-son (remember the Karate Kid) and pay attention to the person who is in front of you. Listen to what they are saying and ask a clarifying question if you need to. I met so many cool people this past week, just by listening. I met the lady who is in charge of the PR for Boston University, a dean of students, a guy who is a dating coaching (the real hitch; check him out at The Professional Wingman), a woman who is super passionate about building community and even reconnected with a few people (My man Joselin from Boston Tweet up dot com) to name a few.

Ambassassdor Bruny tip #5: Keep it Moving. At some point your conversation with the person you just met will come to an end. You may decide to exchange contact information or you may not (there is no hard and fast rule). Do not feel bad about excusing yourself to network with some other folks. That's why you're there in the first place. You can simply say something like, "It was great meeting you, I'm going to mingle a bit."

Bonus Tip: All of the work begins tomorrow. Whatever networking event you are attending is just a gateway to really getting to know the people you met. The power is in the follow up. It's in sending them an email the next day or sending them a card. It's in fulfilling the promises you made to follow up and/or connect them with someone they should know.

That's how a net-works

As alway...keep Running the Point, from where you are, with what you have.

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny

The Ambassador Bruny Logo Contest Has Been EXTENDED

2010-09-01T12:55:00.002-04:00

THE AMBASSADOR BRUNY LOGO CONTEST DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTEND FROM AUGUST 31, 2010 AT 11:59 P.M. TO SEPTEMBER 21, 2010.

If you didn't have a chance to get your submission in, well now is the time. Here is the original post and rules: http://bit.ly/brunylogocontest

You still have a chance to win the iPhone Touch.

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny

Ambassador Bruny Heads To the Netherlands (Recap)

2010-08-22T01:50:00.001-04:00

AMBASSADOR BRUNY GOES TO THE NETHERLANDS

As some of you know I am just back from a trip to the Netherlands were I co-created and co-lead a workshop called: “All Aboard: Life Won’t Wait, Why Should You?”

I worked with an unbelievable woman who believes in living life to the fullest. Her name is Lady Karen. We are part of a leadership program that connected us and we decided to work together to bring the people in the Netherlands a workshop they would not forget. We worked together several weeks in advance through Skype (we would talk every Tuesday for about 2hrs) getting to know each other better and establishing a couple of things, most importantly why we were doing this thing and what we wanted the people to get out of it.

THE WORK BEFORE THE WORK:
Our Stake (Purpose): Make people step out of the waiting room and step into a fulfilling life

Desired Impact: 1) wake people up so they realize what they have been missing 2) get curious to discover the rest 3) regret that they didn't think of it earlier 4) having the feeling of: "I could have AND still can"

Desired Outcome: Start your own compass / itinerary, provide list of interesting books, 5 people coming up after the workshop saying, "Thank you, so much."(They saw the light).

After we had those down the next step was to design our alliance; basically how we wanted to work together. We decided that we would be upfront with each other regarding anything that was bother us. We decided to come up with a phrase: “Shall we dance,” to bring us to a place where we could have a heart-to-heart despite any ill feelings we may have been harboring at that particular time. We spoke about our fears and concerns going into this venture; Karen shared the concern about actually putting something together that would have some kind of impact on our participates (since we were creating in such a short amount of time) and I shared my concern about working with a partner when I’m used to creating my own workshops and delivering them on my own. The concern was more that I would try to dominate instead of letting her be part of the dance.

AMBASSADOR BRUNY ARRIVES IN THE NETHERLANDS:
You can watch the brief video that summarizes the nightmare of a delay I had leaving from Logan Airport in Boston:

I arrived in the Netherlands on a Wednesday afternoon giving us 3 full days to put together all the logistics to make this workshop a success. I started off in my typical fashion of creating a overview of the number of days I will be in The Netherlands and we filled in the slots with the things that must be done (Dinner with friends on Thurs. night, visit the venue, and workshop on Sunday at 12:30 p.m.) and the things I would like to do (Salsa on Friday night, visit the Apple store, Go to Amsterdam to visit the museums and take in all the sights). We knew we were in for a lot of work, but really didn’t know how much.

While most folks thought I was vacationing in The Netherlands, the truth was I spent the majority of my time in what I call the Penthouse (Karen lives on the top floor with an unbelievable panoramic view) surrounded by flip charts. Don’t get me wrong I had a great time with everything including my first Dutch breakfast (which included what was described to me as raw cow which pregnant women shouldn’t eat), realizing that I met more cows than people at first, a great workshop and my one day escape to Amsterdam and all it has to offer.

WORKSHOP TIME:

The workshop was a great success and I love how two individuals came together with a vague idea of what we wanted to create and how we shaped that idea into a concrete workshop that we are looking to conduct in other places. The response was great and we even got a chance to create in the moment based on what we saw was going on with the participants. One of the biggest things that our participants walked away with was moving themselves out of the waiting rooms of their lives with the following process:
“I Can’t--> I Can-->I Will.”

One of the personal highlights that came after the workshop was when one of the participants told me that Brooklyn, NY (my hometown) was named after a town that was only 15 kilometers from where we were. The towns name is Breukelen. You know we had to visit and I had to take a picture near a bridge so I could say, “I stood at the original Brooklyn bridge.”

THE DAY AFTER THE WORKSHOP:

The day after the workshop was time to play. We planned to spend the day in Amsterdam. We walked around and visited a couple of the museums in the area including the Sex Museum, the Diamond Museum and The Van Gogh Museum. It was amazing to see how much history I was surrounded by. I stood in a square where Napoleon stood when he first conquered the Netherlands.

I was really moved by Van Gogh’s story. A couple of the things that moved me:

I did not know that he did not start to paint or draw until he was 27yrs old and only did it for 10yrs before his death (“yes” he killed himself because he felt he was a failure).
He did not want his paintings to focus on the teachings of one school or the other, but what he wanted was to leave a certain souvenir to humankind.
He tried his hand at religion because he wanted to serve
He had this cool quote, “The time was ripe and I must paint what I am not yet able to, in order to learn how to do it.” I love that!
He wanted to create an artist collaborative with like minded artist. He believed they would be stronger, artistically and financially.

“Yes,” we went into the Red Light District and most of the things you have either heard or read about is true (contact me directly for details). It does really have a cool vibe with many narrow cobblestone streets with many bars and restaurants.

That concluded my trip to The Netherlands. I really left there feeling the possibilities of what I can and where I can accomplish it has been severally expanded.

Want to check out more of my pictures? Visit the following link: http://gallery.me.com/runthepoint#100097

Your Ambassador,
Michael Bruny, CPCC
Professional Life Coach, Speaker, Author
Run the Point Enterprises
www.runthepoint.com

Senior Contributing Writer: www.ethniconline.net

For a daily dose of motivation, subscribe to my newest website: www.hiphopaffirmations.com
(www.hiphopaffirmations.com)

Gone Digital:
www.youtube.com/ambassadorbruny
www.facebook.com/ambassadorbruny
www.linkedin.com/in/mikebruny
http://twitter.com/runthepoint
=================================
Author of: "Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations to Change Your Life." As Seen in The Source Magazine
www.runthepoint.com/products

The Ambassador Bruny Logo Contest

2010-08-09T22:28:00.004-04:00

AMBASSADOR BRUNY LOGO CONTEST

Be the one to design the official Ambassador Bruny Logo. Contest will run from Tuesday, August 10 - Tuesday, August 31st <--Date has been extended to September 21.

Winner will be announced on September 22nd.

GRAND PRIZE

*Your logo used by Ambassador Bruny in all publications, business cards, etc.

*an iPod Touch

*An autograph copy of "Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations to Change Your Life"

*Name and photo in Hip Hop Affirmations.com

RUNNER UP

*An autograph copy of "Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations to Change Your Life"

*Name and photo in Hip Hop Affirmation.com

We will start off with my current idea for my logo, see above, and see if the contestants can enhance or top it.

Do you know a graphic designer that would be interested? Send them my way.

All entries must be received by 11:59p on Tuesday, August 31st and submitted to AmbassadorBruny@gmail.com

What are you waiting for, the clock's ticking.

Run the Point from where you are, with what you have!

Your Ambassador,

Mike Bruny

They are Not All The Same (My Adventures with Roy, Part I)

2010-07-12T13:33:00.000-04:00

I had a very specific view about dogs…I didn’t like ‘em. I’m not sure when it started but I do remember being attacked by a dog my freshman year of college. I had written all of them off…until I met Roy.
Roy isn’t his really name, it’s Tashee, but I thought he needed a tougher sounding name like Spike, Killer or Roy . I met Roy about a year ago when I went to stay with my sister in Queens, NY. At the time Roy was locked in a cage in the bathroom and did nothing but bark. I thought, “boy am I glad he is in that cage and not chasing me around.”
Fast forward to the present day when I had plans to visit my mom in Brooklyn and heard Roy was there. Knowing my mom, there was no way she was going to keep Roy caged and confined to a specific location of the house. I drove down from MA and came to the door of the apartment where I grew up. I looked at the door and took a second to read the sign on the door that finally made sense with Roy in the house, “Never mind the dog, beware of owner.” I rang the bell and heard Roy’s barking. “Oh boy, here we go.”. I went in and Roy was barking jumping all over the place, but I played it cool. I sat down and Roy was checking me out, barking and moving in and out of reaching distance. I reached my hand and he would jump back. Finally, I paid him no mind and he came to me and placed his paws and head on my knee. “aww” all he wanted was doggie love. He was sizing me up to see if I was a friend or foe.

Ambassador’s lesson #1, I made a huge generalization when I said, “I don’t like dogs.” They are just like people—you’ll like some of them and not others and they all have their own personalities. Don’t generalize a race, religion, breed or anything else.

Ambassador’s lesson #2, situations can play a big part in how we look; for better or worst. You ever met someone at the club where it was dimly lit and thought they were super hot only to find out on your first daylight date that you were gravely mistaken? This was the reverse case when I first met Roy locked up in a cage in my sister’s bathroom and he was barking like a manic. When he was set free and in a different environment, his true personality was able to shine through.
Run the Point from where you are, with what you have!

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny, CPCC
Certified Life Coach, Speaker, Author
Run the Point Enterprises
www.runthepoint.com
www.hiphopaffirmations.com
Gone Digital:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mike.bruny
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebruny
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Runthepoint
==========================================================
Author of: “Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations To Change Your Life.” www.runthepoint.com/products

Ambassador Bruny Heads to Holland...With Your Support

2010-06-12T18:48:00.001-04:00

Leaders Ask For Help; So Here We Go!

I am on a mission to help folks change their lives and live it to the best of their abilities. This mission drove me to become part of a leadership retreat program this year which has me going to California four times in 2010 with assignments in between each visit.

So far the biggest impact it's had on me and those around me is the understanding that "Leaders ask for help" and (as simple as it sounds), "Leaders are willing to act."

As I go from retreat 2 to retreat 3 I have taken on the challenge of having a workshop with someone in Holland. Our workshop is called,
"All Aboard: Life won't wait, why should you." It's going to allow me to utilize my "Leaders Act" and "Leaders ask for help," muscles...a lot. First, I'm taking action to work with my European partner (Karen, the most amazing woman from Holland) and create this amazing workshop. Second, I NEED YOUR HELP! To get to Holland is quite a feat and I'm enrolling folks to help me by donating American Airlines frequent flier miles to help get Ambassador Bruny to Holland so I can do the amazing work I was put on this planet to do. My goal at this time is to find folks who are willing to donate 50,000 or 100,000 American Airlines flyer miles. Don't have flyer miles but still want to support the mission? http://ambassadorbruny.chipin.com/

I will also keep you posted on how many miles and cash I've collected and how many I still need along the way. The workshop is set for the last week of July.

In true Ambassador fashion, you know I never ask without being willing to give. So here are a couple of ideas I/we have come up with to reciprocate:

-Give miles for tiles (I will bring back DELFT blue tiles that are famous in Holland)

-Cheese

-Something naughty from the Red Light District

-Chocolate

-Clogs (yes the wooden shoes)

-something with their famous tulips on it

-stroop waffles.

Feel feel FREE to provide ideas on how I may reciprocate. AND THANK YOU!!

You Can't Connect The Dots Looking Forward, Said Steve Job(POWERFUL STUFF)

2010-04-26T23:04:00.005-04:00

This is a video I came across. It's worth every single minute (15mins). It's Steve Job addressing Stanford University's graduation.

He uses 3 life stories to make some amazing connections between decisions he made which did not necessarily make sense at the time but connected so well later in life:

"You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something, your gut, destiny, life, karma whatever. Because believing the dots will connect down the road will give you the confidence to follow your heart, even when it leads you off the well worn path, and that will make all the difference."

Run the Point; from where you are, with what you have!

Your Ambassador,

Mike Bruny

Sorry I Kept You Waiting

2010-04-20T14:42:00.005-04:00

Sorry To Keep You Waiting So Long, I've Been On The Run

Like any great artist, I went in search of inspiration, spent some time alone in the woods and now i'm back and better than before. Ok, so may that's not totally true, but I do apologize for the hiatus and here is what I've been up to that has kept me away from you:

Sure I've sent you a quick update on what I was doing with the Haiti relief effort (still continues...both my effort and the struggle), but we really haven't spent much quality time together.

Here is what I've been up to:

Locally: I've been hitting the street with my message of hip hop affirmations (check out my logo up top; I thought I'd switch things up a bit) to change lives on the college scene, and building corporate relations for my work version, "7 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations to Change Your Work Life." Since the beginning of the year I've been at MCLA (Massachusett College for Liberal Arts) as the keynote for their leadership conference, Boston College, Framingham State College and Merrimack College.

Writing: for my website, www.hiphopaffirmations.com. If you haven't been there check it out, especially day #95 which was my first video affirmation and day#100 which is celebrating out 100th affirmation post. My goal for the year is to create 365 Days of affirmations (that's right 1 for every day of the year--thank God it's not a leap year). If you would like to receive the uplifting, life altering, amazingly unique affirmations sent directly to your inbox simply visit the site and subscribe (no sales pressure; I love you just the same *smile*).
Writing some more: I am a contributing writer for Ethnic Online, which is a quarterly online magazine focused toward ethnic professionals in New England. My latest article is on balancing work and home. I also have a couple of interviews with a couple of really cool people. Check it out: www.EthnicOnline.net.
Nationally: Since we last connected I am part of a leadership program that has me traveling to Northern California 3 more times this year (I already took a trip in March). I'm with 14 other amazing people from around the world who have come together to build our leadership power and network for an even BIGGER impact on this world. I also took a road trip to Miami for the Entrepreneur Magazine's Growth Conference. 2 main points here:

Some times you got to go solo (yes, I know it's not grammatically correct): I ended up going by myself since I could not get anyone to come out to Miami with me even though the conference was FREE. It did feel like everyone else came with a friend, but I quickly started making some connections by using my commercial smile (so i've been told).
Practice your pitch and stay til the end: When introducing myself and my business, I had a very concise message focused on the type of people I serve and how they benefit (for more details on how you can do the same I highly recommend the book, "Booked Solid" by Michael Port). As I collected business cards and the night was coming to a close, I saw a mix of people I knew and some I had not met talking at a table. I was going to give a distant wave and head back to my dwelling for the night, but something told me to go over and meet those I did not know and say good bye to the others. I listened to my instinct only to be greeted by, "I've been looking for you! Someone told me there was a guy who does hip hop affirmations at this conference." Those were the words that came from the owner of a company called, "Grown Headz." It was amazing to connect with someone who was looking to reach the same group of "adults who still listen to hip hop" as I was. We are currently in discussions on how we can work together. A huge opportunity could have been missed if I decided to leave without saying, "hello," before I went bye bye.

Internationally: I have been moved by the tragedy of my the land of my ancestors(which makes it my land) and created a website to help raise money back in January. You can check it out, there are a couple of cool and passionate videos I created (http://tinyurl.com/brunyhaiti). WE were able to raise about $800. Even BIGGER is the project i'm working on with Athletes for Charity, called: Athletes for Haiti with a focus on helping the children of Haiti by using the power of sports to deal with the trauma of the devastating earthquake. Be on the look out for updates on how you can help. Right now we are looking for a web designer who is willing to put in a couple of hours of work to help get the new site up and running. Can you or someone you know help? Contact me: bruny@runthepoint.com or Cathleen@athletesforcharity

Side note: For a guy who swore he would never write again the day he left college, I sure do spend a lot of time writing

Enough about me, how you have been?

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny, CPCC
Certified Life/Transition Coach, Speaker, Author
As seen in the Source Magazine-"Move The Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop
Affirmations to Change Your Life."
www.runthepoint.com/products

In 2009 Did You Read About...

2009-12-29T16:37:00.003-05:00

In 2009 Did You Read About...?

Inspired by a post by Coach Al Johnson, entitled "Read to Lead" (http://coachaljohnson.wordpress.com/2009/12/27/read-to-lead/#comment-53)

I thought I would share a list of the books Ambassador Bruny read in 2009. Don't just enjoy, participate. What did you read in 2009? What's on deck for 2010?

For those of you who are super busy and are wondering how in heavens name did I find the time to read all these books, it was easy. I followed the Run the Point Philosophy; Run the Point, from where you are, with what you have. Insight on how you can do the same:

Audio Books: You'll notice a number of the books on my list are audio books. That means I listened to the books whenever I was in the car.
Multitask: I listened to some of my audio books while riding the cardio bike at the gym. I also listened to one of the audio books while on a hike in New Hampshire.
Break it Down: When it comes to actually reading books, I have developed the discipline to read ONLY 10 pages a day. My brain registers it as, "It's only 10 pages. If you can't do that Mike, then you're just not serious about your personal development." If you follow the 10 pages a day program for 1 month, you can finish a 300 page book in 30 days.

Ambassador Bruny's 2009 Reading List

E-Myth Manager
The Power of Focus (Re-read) Ambassador's Favorite
Crush it! (if you are building an online presence you must read this)
Quarter Life Crisis
Do You
The Champion in You
Why we Want You to be Rich
Think and Grow Rich (Audio, re-read) Classic!
The Carrot Principle (Audio) (A must read for anyone who is looking to build a recognition program for their people.
You Can Still Win (Audio)
Conversations With Millionaires (Re-read) (like 10 books in one) Ambassador's Favorite
The Secret (Audio)
The 60 Second Self-Starter (Very good book with tips.)
The Servant: A Simple Story About Leadership (This will change the way you look at leadership)

Almost forgot to mention my own book, "Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations to Change Your Life."

Your Ambassador,

Mike Bruny, CPCC
Certified Life Coach, Speaker, Author
Run the Point Enterprises
http://www.runthepoint.com/

Gone Digital:
Youtube: www.youtube.com/ambassadorbruny
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ambassadorbruny
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebruny
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Runthepoint
==========================================================
Author of: "Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations To Change Your Life." AS SEEN IN THE SOURCE MAGAZINE www.runthepoint.com/products

7 Principles for Life, Business and Your Career

2009-12-26T07:06:00.000-05:00

7 Principles for Life, Business and Your Career

Kwanzaa is a celebration of the first harvest and is based on principle and practice. It starts the day after Christmas (Today) and ends on January 1. Each day is represented by a different principle.

Here are 7 ways you can leverage the principles of Kwanzaa for your life, business and career:

Umoja (Unity) - No man of woman is an island. Build a community were members can benefit from your experience while you benefit from theirs.
Kujichagulia (Self Determination) - Decide how you want to live your life, run your business or manage your career. It is easy to go along the path that others suggest, but moving forward pull a Robert Frost, "I took the road less traveled by, and that has made all the difference," or Jay-Z "Just know I chose my own faith, I came to the fork in the road and went straight."
Ujima (Collective work and responsibility) - Focus on interdependency (We can get more done together, then we could ever accomplish on our own)
Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) - Partner to share resources and mutually benefit from the fruits of your collective labor.
Nia (Purpose) - Remember why you do what you do and surround yourself with folks who can support your cause. Don't know what your purpose is? Pay attention to which conversations and activities give you goose bumps. If it gets you excited you may be on to something.
Kuumba (Creativity) - To quote Einstein, "You can never solve a problem on the level on which it was created;" enough said.
Imani (Faith) - The other 6 principles will go to waste if we don't believe we can accomplish the goals or task at hand. Faith allows us to move beyond our comfort zones and to create goals based on our imaginations and not our past.

How can you apply these principles to your life, business or career?

Your Ambassador,

Mike Bruny, CPCC
Certified Life Coach, Speaker, Author
Run the Point Enterprises
http://www.runthepoint.com/

Gone Digital:
Youtube: www.youtube.com/ambassadorbruny
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ambassadorbruny
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebruny
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Runthepoint
==========================================================
Author of: "Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations To Change Your Life." AS SEEN IN THE SOURCE MAGAZINE www.runthepoint.com/products

Tiger Woods Meets "Coach" Ambassador Bruny

2009-12-24T21:33:00.004-05:00

So we all know the situation Tiger Woods is currently in. I won't label it as good or bad, because we don't know the whole story...yet. It's still being written. Ever wonder what would happen if Tiger Woods had a life coach? Check out what happens when Tiger Woods meets Ambassador Bruny, a Certified Profession Co-Active Coach (CPCC) who knows he is tough enough to bounce back from this because he believes he is Naturally Creative Resourceful and Whole. Tiger is not broken!

Ambassador Bruny [AB]: Hey Tiger, what would you like to focus on today?

Tiger Woods [TW]: Well Ambassador, I've got myself into a Jam. You see growing up I was an only child, so I was lonely. My only refuge was golf. I was really always considered a golf nerd. When I was young I had braces that came with a head piece and was very akward with the ladies. My first love has always been golf. [AB interrupts]

AB: Tiger, I'm going to interrupt you for a moment; what's important to you about that story?

TW: What's important to me is that I've gone through a lot of changes from golf geek to golf god, that the ladies love. I've got all this fame, power and I don't know who really loves me (Eldrick) and who loves my golf persona (Tiger).

AB: I see. Tell me this, what is it that you really want?

TW: Well I really want to live the life of a bachelor, but I know because of who I am and what I represent to the world, I have to settle down.

AB: What's it like to "have" to do what the world tells you?

TW: It's really tough. But I know being over 30 it's the right thing to do.

AB: I feel the toughness of it all in your voice. So you "have" to do what the world tells you to do; it's the right thing to do. It sounds like we are talking about your relationship to "living your life."

TW: That sounds about right.

AB: It sounds like your current perspective is, "I have to do what the world tells me." Would you mind exploring a couple of different perspectives with me and seeing what else is possible for you?

TW: Sure

AB: We are going to explore several perspectives in relation to "living your life." I'm going to ask you to stand up. I'm going to ask you to look through different windows in your house to represent the different perspectives. Let's start with this window over here. I want you pretend this window represents your current perspective which is,"I have to do what the world tells me." Take a moment to take it in. I really want you to feel what it's like in this place. What's your body posture in this place of "have to do what the world tells me?"

TW: It's slumped over, it feels like I'm playing golf in the rain, i'm in the deep rough and have trees all around me. In other words it's tight.

AB: so the perspective of "I have to do what the world tells me" has you feeling tight, not much wiggle room. Ok, lets explore a different perspective. Let's step over to this next window. How about the perspective of "I do whatever I want?" What's it like in this space in relation to living your life?

TW: I'm still a little slumped over, not as much as before and not for the same reasons. I'm slumped over a bit because in this place I did not get enough sleep. I've been out all night. It's weird, it's freeing and tiring at the same time. It's like going for a crazy long shot when I should just lay up and get to the green in two instead of trying to go for it in one shot.

AB: Good. Let's try a couple more. Let's move to this next window. What do you see out there?

TW: The Ocean

AB: Ok, what's "The Ocean" perspective on "living my life"

TW: It's complicated, beautiful and deadly at the same time. My body posture in this place is to just lay down on the floor. There are too many options and variables; it's paralyzing.

AB: Well let's lay down on the floor. (wait about 30 seconds) What's there?

TW: [sobbing] I see my dad. I see him wanting me to be tough. To be able to fight through everything and anything. There's also a sense of frustration here because I want to control everything, but I know I cannot; similar to the sea. All we can do is go with the wind and learn to use it to our advantage. We can't control it.

AB: What do you say we explore one more perspective. You can choose.

TW: I would like to explore the perspective of Eldrick.

AB: OK, let's go to this window over here. What's the perspective of Eldrick like?

TW: It's naked, raw, kind. It's a sunny place. It's like playing golf on my own on a beautiful day. It's a place of responsibility. When I hit a shot, I have to replace the divot (no one's there to clean up my mess) or treat me like I'm great. It's just me, the rules of the game and doing the right thing--because it's the right thing. I don't move the ball if it's on a bad lie. I do the right thing for the sake of doing the right thing and for the respect I have for the game and for myself.

AB: That sounds like a powerful place for you.[wait 30 seconds to let it all soak in] Ok, we are going to do what's known as touch and go. We are going to have you briefly revisit the feeling of each of the perspectives we discussed and then I'm going to ask you to select one to build from moving forward.

*We go through each of them quickly*

AB: Ok Tiger which perspective would you like to build from moving forward?

TW: I would like build from the "Eldrick" perspective.

AB: Yeah, I felt the resonance with that perspective for you. We are coming to the end of our session today; I would like to leave you with an inquiry for you to journal about until we met again. Are you ready? Here it is: "Who is Eldrick?" Will you take that on?

TW: Yes, I will Ambassador Bruny; Thank you so much

AB: Thank you...Eldrick; you did all the work [smile], I just asked you a couple of questions. I want to acknowledge your courage to take steps to live your life your way. Until next time, keep running the point from where you are with what you have.

What would you do if you were hired to coach Tiger Woods?

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny

Are You on The Sidelines of The Game Called Life?

2009-12-16T11:22:00.008-05:00

Are You on The Sidelines of The Game Called Life?

The end of the year is an excellent time to make changes to ensure that you are an active player in the upcoming year. The steps may be smalls, but you can get there. You have to start with the fundamentals. Start by creating new habits for success. How, you ask?

List the old habits you want to get rid of
List the new habits you want to take their place
List 3 steps you will take to implement the new habits & a deadline for completion

It is very, very important to me as your Ambassador and Coach, that you select the position you want to play. The choices are plentiful, but if you are in the wrong position, even as talented as you are, your strongest skills may not be put to use. When your skills are not being used or your weaker skills are what the position requires most, you can find yourself in a position of feeling, well "dumb" for lack of a better word and demoralized. An analogy to make the point: "If you knew nothing about fish and saw one on dry land, you may think this creature was incapable and weak. Place that same fish in the water and watch is soar. The fish was not incapable or weak, it was just in the wrong environment and using the wrong skills."

What I suggest is starting with getting down to what I call, "Your Essence." This is taking a look at what you are already made of (not trying to recreate the wheel here):

What were the moments in your life when you felt the most alive? The times when you felt like you were in the zone and nothing could go wrong. A time when you felt you were being used for meaning purpose.
What really bothers, or disappoints you? (usually if you flip your answer upside down, you will find something you really care about that is being stepped on.
Who are the people you admire and what traits do you admire about them?
How would others that know you well at home or on the job describe you?

The answers from the four questions above will start to give you some insight into "Your Essence" or what some may call values. Sift through your answers for words that describe what is really important to you. You can prioritize your list and then rate them individually on a scale of 1-10 (1=I am not honoring this value at all; 10= You can just look at me and tell that this is something I am living). Once that is complete you have a place where you can do two things.

Make important decisions based on what is important to you
Create goals that are in alignment with what is important to you

If you follow the steps above, I guarantee a more fulfilling 2010.

Need Help? I'm here for you.

Sometimes we need a gentle nudge and other times we need a big shove. Let me be of service to you, through my "Your Essence" coaching program.

Get off the sidelines and Run the Point!

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny, CPCC
Certified Life Coach, Speaker, Author
Run the Point Enterprises
www.runthepoint.com

Gone Digital:
Youtube: www.youtube.com/ambassadorbruny
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mike.bruny
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebruny
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Runthepoint
==========================================================
Author of: "Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations To Change Your Life." www.runthepoint.com/products

2009-12-04T11:48:00.003-05:00

Happy Birthday Video with 11 Lyrics from Jay-Z's 11 Albums.

It's hard to believe Jay-Z turns 40 today. He has changed the game from 1996 to 2009. He truly is not a businessman, but a business...man.

Your Ambassador,
Bruny

I Got that 4 for 1 Son

2009-11-30T19:05:00.001-05:00

Latest and Greatest Video from Your Ambassador. Also trying to bring you value. My goal is to be the ambassador to your highest vision of yourself. To help you Run the Point...from where you are, with what you have.

Your Ambassador,
Bruny

I SEE what you are SAYING (& Cyber Monday Deal)

2009-11-29T22:00:00.004-05:00

I hope you had a great Thanksgiving. There are two things that I would like to give you today. The first first is the power of creating a vision and the second is the power of words.
THE POWER OF CREATING A VISION: Here is a link to my article regarding putting together a virtual vision board as the year comes to a close. Please note it is from last year, so substitute 2009 for 2010 where applicable.
http://runthepoint.blogspot.com/search/label/Vision%20Board
THE POWER OF WORDS: I just saw the movie, "The Curious Case of Benjiman Button," and found a couple of points that are perfect as we approach the end of one year and the start of a new one. Just in case you didn't have enough things to be thankful for, here's one more:

For what it's worth it's never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be.
There’s no time limit, stop whenever you want.
You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing.
We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it.
And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before.
I hope you meet people with a different point of view.
I hope you live a life you’re proud of. And If you find that you’re not,
I hope you have the strength to start all over again.

Starts at the 2hr, 23min, 9sec mark. Just in case you have access to the movie and want to see and hear the scene for yourself.

As always my mission as Ambassador Bruny is to represent your highest vision for yourself. It's to help you RUN THE POINT...from where you are, with what you have.

Have a great week and stay tuned for special Holiday gift opportunities from Your Ambassador.

Cyber Monday Deal

(Offer Good from Now until Monday, 11/30 at 11:59 p.m.)

Order a copy of "Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations to Change Your Life" at www.runthepoint.com/products and get:

A great Holiday gift for yourself, Family or Friend

15% rebate on your final purchase sent back to you by the end of the week

Autograph copy of the book(s)

A FREE sample audio version of the book (Days 1-15) for your MP3 player

All you have to do is make your purchase at www.runthepoint.com/products any time between NOW and Monday, November 30 at 11:59p.m. Don't wait!

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny, CPCC
Certified Life Coach, Speaker, Author
Run the Point Enterprises
www.runthepoint.com

Gone Digital:
Youtube: www.youtube.com/ambassadorbruny
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mike.bruny
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebruny
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Runthepoint
==========================================================
Author of: "Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations To Change Your Life." www.runthepoint.com/products

Planning

2009-11-24T17:54:00.001-05:00

I thought you would enjoy this powerful note from Andre Taylor. I'm always looking for ways to help you run the point.

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny

From Andre Taylor (andretaylor.com)
I recently visited several colleges and
universities. These visits reminded me
of academia's focus on teaching the art
of PLANNING.

The old saying is true: "If you fail to
plan, you plan to fail," but I am struck
by how far apart sometimes theory is from
reality.

The business plan for example, is terra
firma at the university. However, most
successful entrepreneurs have nothing
resembling the dry,lengthy, boring, business
plans developed in school that gather dust
on book shelves never to be reviewed again.

Most entrepreneurs prefer marketing plans
as their key operating document but even
these are far different than plans developed
inside the classroom. For one, most are done
on yellow pads -- handwritten. And many
entrepreneurs don't realize the notes they
keep would be considered "marketing plans,"
at all.

With marketing being SO important for everyone
wanting success in this economy let me share
elements of a "Real-World Marketing Plan."

1. Describe your STRATEGY: List a few sentences
describing your strategy and tangible goals:
"Announce new health shake, build sales to
local business owners, college students, and
stay-at-home Moms. Add 100 new weekly customers."

2. List your TACTICS to get there: "Health Shake:
Circulate 'Buy One, Get One Free Coupon. Goal:
$1,000 in new revenue a week. Oatmeal Raisin
Cookies: Verbally offer wih every order at the
register. Goal: $400 in new revenue each week.

3. Create A CALENDAR: Identify what marketing
activities you'll do over time -- either
daily, weekly, or monthly. "JAN2010 -- New You
Eat Healthy promotion, FEB2010 --'Give Your Lover
A Cupcake' promotion..."

4. Define New TOOLS: List the new marketing tools
you're developing to support your activities.
Keep track of what it will cause to take
advantage of each tool.Put a date next to each.
"LOGO: MAR2010, WEBSITE: APR2010..."

5. New IDEAS/PRODUCTS: List your new ideas and products
in development. "Banana Muffins, Turkey Chili
Soup, Cranberry Chicken Salad..."

Got the point?

Make your marketing plan a short 2-page, "working
document" that'll be your daily guide to stay on
track. Refer to it daily. Keep it with you.

Other content typically described as important
to a marketing plan such as a competitive analysis
and all that "jazz" should be somewhere else.

A marketing plan is the answer to the question: "How am
I going to bring specific quantities of my product
or service, with a specific financial return to market?"

No matter what your business is, or where your business is
-- even if you have no business presently -- you can use
this thinking and marketing plan format to organize your
marketing approach.

I hope this helps you FLOURISH!

Until Next Time,

AT

P.S. Need Coaching To Develop Your Marketing Plan?
Send me an email: info@andretaylor.com

====================================================
(c)2009 André Taylor - Taylor Insight
====================================================
André Taylor is an author, speaker, and consultant
teaching individuals and organizations how to lead
and win. He's an accomplished business leader with
diverse experience including executive positions on
Wall Street, leading the marketing activities of
multi-national organizations, and building successful
entrepreneurial companies. Clients for his leadership
development work include individuals, well-known
personalities, professionals,and many of the world's
most recognizable organizations. More at
www.andretaylor.com.

The Leadership Conference Recap

2009-11-16T11:42:00.001-05:00

Clark University Leadership Conference Recap

Last weekend, I had the honor of being part of the 7th Annual Millennium Leadership Conference at Clark University in Worcester, MA. The Conference was geared towards cultivating the inherent leadership qualities of ALANA college students. Over a 3 day period over 100 students from various colleges in MA came together to be part of the conference. The weekend included an opening activity on Friday night, ran by Ambassador Bruny, that focused on helping the students look at their stories and the lessons they could pull from what they have already experienced in life. They also began the process of listing their values; not in the traditional sense of looking at a list of words and choosing what they think is--or should be--important to them. Instead we used stories from times when they felt like they were on top of the world (Peak Moments / Best Self), times when they were upset or really bothered by a situation, (usually indicates something important to them is being stepped on) and we looked at words close friends and family would use to describe them. At the end we reviewed all they had gathered and searched for keywords they felt where at the essence of who they are.

I took the above approach for two reasons One, with the information they captured they now have a set of words they can use to help them make decisions,(e.g. If my essence shows that "structure/order" is something I value, I may think twice about taking a job that has a high level of ambiguity) and serve as building blocks for creating goals. Two, I believe on starting on the inside before you go and work on the outside. Picture your dream car and how beautiful it looks. If the engine is all messed up, you will not get very far. My goal was to help them work on their engines and get that in pristine condition so it can be in alignment with the beautiful paint job on the outside.

On Saturday we went through "7 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations to Change Your College Life." I have designed several "7 Day of Hip Hop Affirmations" workshops. One for High School, College and Quarter Lifers (post college aged to about 35yrs old). Each have a slightly different focus to help the target group get through the transitional stage of their life. I use a lyric from a hip hop artist, share a life story and lesson and we finish with a Question of the Day and Moves to Make. It was a great time!

There were several highlights for me including hearing some of the students share their stories and how they were doing what it takes to change their situations. They have a great understanding that, "where you start is not where you have to end up." When I shared my story about, the day I found out I was Haitian, a young man shared a similar story about denying his heritage for a long time until he realized it's where his roots are from and it is something to be proud of. He loved my line, "You can take an apple seed and plant it in an orange orchard, but that does not make it an orange." Powerful stuff! There was also, the young lady who shared her story about being in the army since she was 8yrs old. You are probably adjusting your glasses and thinking, "oh, she was an Army brat." "No," she was from a war torn country and was literally in her country's army since she was 8yrs old, boot camp and all--and you thought you had it rough. It brings a different perspective to what we call tough times. To hear this young lady share her story and see the strives she has made since coming to this country, was amazing.

Overall I had a great experience both as a facilitator and observer of the event. I definitely feel I helped to Move the Crowd!

Do you know a school who could benefit from having Ambassador Bruny pay them a visit? Let's talk. Bruny@runthepoint.com

Your Ambassador,
M.Bruny

Group Shot

Opening Activity
My Haitian Peeps
Me and my Brooklyn Peeps

The Business Side of Things

2009-11-09T12:54:00.000-05:00

The Hip Hop Symposium

Part of what I do is comment on my surroundings and share lessons that can be learned from our everyday lives. One area of passion for me is hip hop. At times hip hop gets a bad rap (no pun intended). The aspect that is not always looked at is the actual business of hip hop. A few weeks ago The Berklee College of Music held a panel discussion called, "The Business of Hip Hop." Below are my notes from the event. Take a look at how the lessons learned can be applied in your life, regardless of what industry you are in.
Think BIG, but act small: Before you focus on being the hottest thing in the country, focus on being the hottest thing in your area/region
Continuous Improvement: Focus on the development of your craft (RTP thought: it's the old adage,"luck is where opportunity meets preparation." Make sure that YOU are prepared.)
No Shortcuts: Success is not instantaneous, exposure is. (RTP thought: with the Internet and all the social media channels, hard work and being "good" at what you do still matters. In fact I would say it matters more because there is more noise for consumers to filter through.)
Know your Strengths: Recognize what folks see in you and capitalize on it (RTP thought: start by answering these questions: what are my values, my vision, what am I good at? and what do I want? The answers to these questions will create the foundation to make decisions that are aligned with what is important to you. If you don't stop to look at the above questions, you may find yourself going whatever direction the wind blows. shameless plug: this is what I help people discover as a life coach. If you don't take advantage of your propensity to learn more, don't blame Ambassador Bruny.)
Take the Necessary Steps: Align with a mentor or coach, intern and volunteer to gain experience (RTP thought: solid advice to get you moving in whatever direction you need to go).
Be Creative: A lot of old school hip hop artist are making a lot of money by touring overseas (RTP thought: don't believe the hype; there are a lot of different ways to be successful. Don't just follow the crowd)
Learn: Education is important because at the end of the day that can't be taken away from you.
Serve, before you Earn: The Panelist were asked, “What did you do for free?” They shared the steps they took before they started getting paid at their craft. Some wrote articles from free, some traveled from a different state to intern for free just so they could get their foot in the door. (RTP thought: We may not all be in a position to leave our current jobs, but what about volunteering or working part-time in a field you want to be in.)

Worth Quoting:
"It's good that you are watching the entertainers. They've already made their millions; what have you done?"
"You should be competing with Puffy (referring to Sean “P.Diddy” Combs), not just following him."

They shared a plethora of information in a short amount of time. I am glad I was there so I could now share it with you. As always my goal is to help you run the point from where you are with what you have.

Panelist (L to R): Mike Trammel, James "Big Hawk" Hawkins, Shanti Das, Thembisa Mshaka, Tone Capone, Prince Charles Alexander, Dawaun Parker, Andreas Hale.

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny, CPCC
Certified Life Coach, Speaker, Author
Run the Point Enterprises
www.runthepoint.com

Gone Digital:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mike.bruny
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebruny
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Runthepoint
==========================================================
Author of: "Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations To Change Your Life." www.runthepoint.com/products. As seen in "The Source" magazine

Collaboration at it's Finest

2009-10-13T20:14:00.000-04:00

Here is a press release on a collaboration project that I recently embarked on with John Southee, owner of J.Benjamin Clothing Company. Pay attention to the differences between the two of us and how the similarities trump them and allow us to bless the public with what WE accomplished. Where are the opportunities for you to join forces, even if it is just for a limited time to grow your business and personal reach. Run the Point!

Two Companies Combine for one MOVEment

Looking at the pair they may seem a little odd. One is from Thai and Puerto Rican heritage and the other of Haitian descent. One was born in Frankfurt, Germany and the other in Brooklyn, NY. Their differences pale in comparison to the unexpected similarities.

The Run the Point Enterprises and J.Benjamin Clothing Co. collaboration is the brainchild of the two owners who have a lot in common. They both graduated from Hartwick College (’99 and ’04 respectfully), both studied Psychology and both belong to the same multicultural fraternity, Gamma Omega Delta Fraternity, Inc. They both are putting their passion to work in the building of their companies; one is focused on helping people develop personally and professionally by using hip hop affirmations and the other is putting his passion for fashion and entrepreneurship into building, “Your future favorite brand.” They both have a book that has been inspirational in getting them going, “Conversations with Millionaires” by Mike Litman.

They have decided to combine forces to create a special deal for the public. For a limited time you can get a great bundle deal (guarantee it will not add any inches to your waist) which includes the book, “Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations to Change Your Life,” the J.Benjamin, “Move the Crowd” t-shirt and a free soundtrack to the book. The first opportunity to get the bundle was made available at their alma mater, Hartwick College during Alumni weekend (Oct. 2-4, 2009) and a limited number are available on the J.Benjamin website (www.jbenjaminclothing.com). Support the MOVEment when you purchase a bundle pack.

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny, CPCC
Certified Life Coach, Speaker, Author
Run the Point Enterprises
www.runthepoint.com

Gone Digital:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mike.bruny
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebruny
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Runthepoint
==========================================================
Author of: "Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations To Change Your Life."As Seen in The Source Magazine. www.runthepoint.com/products

Run the Point Challenge--I'm going to Work w/ Jay-Z

2009-10-08T01:59:00.001-04:00

I now have my own You Tube channel: Ambassador Bruny.

Below is my latest video. I'm gonna need your help on this one people. "Wish me success! Better yet, spread the word and increase my chances of success."

Your Ambassador,
Bruny
P.S. Run the Point!

Giving Greatness

2009-10-07T00:23:00.001-04:00

Giving Greatness

The past couple of weeks I've been moved by a couple of messages; the first was around giving and putting yourself in a position to really give the most you can. Think of the saying, "you can't help the poor if you are one of them.” A few Saturday’s ago, I had the pleasure of watching a simulcast of Dave Ramsey's "total money makeover." My schedule made it difficult to attend and when I first saw the advertising for it I was going to pass. The day after the deadline to register for a ticket, I decided to email the contact person on the poster. They told me there still were a couple of free tickets available and I could even bring a guest. Unfortunately, no one replied to my out reach (the thought of going solo never stopped me before and I wasn't going to allow it to this time). Fast forward to the end of the event. I found myself moved when he completed the section on how to become debt free. The next segment was on wealth building. These segments were good topics but what moved me the most was the closing on "giving." He told a story about leaving a $100 tip for his server at The Waffle House, sitting in his car to watch the expression on the person’s face when they saw the tip on the table. As he put it, "you know the person could use it." I could not help but think, "I want that to be me," and "that's going to be me."

The second message came the following day while visiting a friend's church. The focus of the sermon was, "The Measure of Greatness." The gist was around providing service if you want to be great. Of course that means, to take a line from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, we can all be great because we can all serve. The pastor's message gave us three main points: 1. Greatness is Hardly Recognized, 2. Greatness is not about promotion, 3.Greatness is all about service.

Combining the two messages, here are a couple to-do's or pieces to reflect on. The first is looking at what is in the way of your giving. What personal situation(s) are stopping you from being as big as you could be and giving back on a whole new level. Start changing those things today. The second message reminds me that in the race to be somebody, don't forget about other bodies. Being in the digital age, you may notice that more and more people are bearing their souls, deeps joys and sorrows on the internet. Facebook, Twitter, Myspace,blogging, etc. has allowed more opportunity and access to express our thoughts and feelings to the world. When you scratch the surface and look under the words, many people are just in search of meaning; trying to matter in this world. I have no doubt that you matter to at least one person. The question that we have before ourselves is how much do we want to matter and how much are we really prepared to do in order to matter.

Steps you can take to start on the path towards doing things that matter....to you and others

Take inventory of where you excel and what you enjoy doing
Think of people who could benefit from your answer to question #1.
Connect the dots between #1 and #2
Lastly, turn it up a notch. What would it take for you to have a deeper, wider reaching impact?

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny, CPCC
Certified Life Coach, Speaker, Author
Run the Point Enterprises
www.runthepoint.com

Gone Digital:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mike.bruny
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebruny
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Runthepoint
==========================================================
Author of: "Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations To Change Your Life." As Seen in The Source Magazine www.runthepoint.com/products

4 A.M. Mission - The Day After

2009-08-31T17:10:00.001-04:00

4AM MISSION--THE DAY AFTER

Last week I shared with you my 4AM thoughts on reaching out to the Source magazine. This week I bring you, "The Day After." See what actually happened. Enjoy the video.

4 am Mission

2009-08-25T10:18:00.001-04:00

4 AM Mission

A couple of weeks I found myself up at 4 am in the morning in NYC working on special project. This video is part 1 of a 2 part series. Enjoy.

Good Grief

2009-08-20T09:47:00.000-04:00

Good Grief

On Sunday, August 3, 2009 at 6:30 a.m., I officially lost my dad, Gesner Bruny. When I first got the message, I rushed to the hospital and a myriad of emotions hit me. I felt Helplessness: due to my lack of control over the situation, Peace: because I knew he was not afraid of death and he did not want to suffer, as he had towards the end of his life. I also knew he was in a better place and that while he was here he blessed those he left behind with his insight and wisdom. I also felt Confusion: due to the uncertainty of how I was supposed to act. If I’m not crying hysterically is there something wrong with me?

I decided to lean on my faith and flow with whatever would come. I knew we had a lot of planning to do for the wake and the funeral. I knew dad had prepared me for this day by telling me exactly how it was going to go down when he died. He told me that I would be crying, which was okay, but I would hear his voice say, “Mete garcon su ou.” In English that translates to, “Man up or be a man.”

My immediate form of expression came on 8/3 while in his hospital room following his passing. I guess Jay-Z came close when he said, “I can’t see them coming down my eyes so I had to make the song (poem in this case) cry.” This was my original poetry from his bed side.

“At times like these I do what I do best. At times like these I flow. I’ve been blessed with a pen or even two, but all I can think is, “What would Dad want us to do?” My stance will not change, “Love he while he is here, don’t miss him when he’s gone.” This one here was a don.

He taught me so much of what I do. I stand firm when I say, “I wouldn’t have made it if it wasn’t for you!” Just live your life, is what he would say. He’s been preparing us for 10 years for this one day. That don’t make it easy, that I know, but I won’t even ask, “why’d he have to go.”

Thy will be done. Thy will be done. We should know we are in the control of “The One.” But like Sinatra, “you did it your way,” you waited to see your sister before you said, “OK.. I’m ready to go, my bags are packed, sorry kids from this trip I won’t be back. I’ll prepare a place for you in heaven and I don’t want to see you soon; but when you do get here, I’ve prepared a room. So take care of each other, ‘Pour mon Coeur.’ After all, ‘nu tout sey Frere et Soeur.’” So till we see you again Pop, know you raised, “Bonne l’enfant. We will make sure your legacy lives on, “Nor-Mal-Man.”

My current focus is on honoring my dad’s legacy and the principals he has instilled in me.

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny, CPCC
Certified Life Coach, Speaker, Author
Run the Point Enterprises
www.runthepoint.com

Gone Digital:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mike.bruny
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebruny
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Runthepoint
==========================================================
Author of: "Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations To Change Your Life." www.runthepoint.com/products

I Bet You Are Wondering How I Did it

2009-07-27T13:40:00.000-04:00

I Bet You Are Wondering How I Did it

"Thank you" to all those who have purchased a copy of my book, "Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations to Change Your Life." We are steadily moving towards our first 1000 books sold (We are at 800 after selling 300 last week). The world is slowly beginning to realize that my book is not just about hip-hop, but how you can use the lyrics to help elevate yourself personally and professionally. I'm loving it! Recently, "Move the Crowd" made the book review list of The Source Magazine: The Bible of Hip Hop.

Many have asked me, "How did you get your book in The Source?" I thought I would answer the question in this article. This recent achievement is made possible due to what I have been exposed to. My business coach, Andre Taylor, has always amazed me over the past 10 years as I've seen him build a business from scratch, create audio programs and recently write a book, "You Can Still Win" (check it out on Amazon.com or get the audio book on itunes). This brother was on Fox news, and recently was invited to speak at an Al Sharpton event in Harlem on how people can still win in this economy. Every time I've asked the question, "Andre, how did you make that happen?" the answer has been the same, "I asked." I'm glad I asked him how he did it. Thanks Andre.

"I asked" is the answer to how I got my book in The Source. More interesting is how I found out I made the cut. Several months ago, I asked The Source to review my book. I followed up several times but never got any response.

I have visions of contributing articles to The Source so I decided to subscribe to their publication. I did not want to wait 6 weeks before I got my first issue so I decided to go to my local 7-eleven to pick up the latest issue. When I went to their magazine rack, I could not find The Source. On a second scan I was able to find the magazine hidden behind another magazine. I purchased a copy and took it home where I decided to take a quick scan of the pages. As I went through I came to their Review section which covers games, movies and books. If I'm honest with you, I'll tell you my mindset was, "Let me see what books they are reviewing that are not mine." To my surprise, I turned to page 98 and there was "Move the Crowd." My hand quickly went to my mouth, "Oh, snap. Yeah baby!" Followed by looking up and saying, "Thank you."

Looking at my Source experience I would suggest that you ask, follow-up and keep an eye out. Lastly, be thankful. I'm writing a thank you letter to The Source once I'm done with this article.

"Keep Running the Point; from where you are, with what you have!"

(Sharing Print Space with Michael Eric Dyson)

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny, CPCC
Certified Life Coach, Speaker, Author
Run the Point Enterprises

www.runthepoint.com

Gone Digital:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mike.bruny
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebruny
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Runthepoint
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Author of: "Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations To Change Your Life." www.runthepoint.com/products

Run the Point Highlight Series Presents: "Self Reliance"

2009-07-25T23:33:00.001-04:00

Run the Point Highlight Series presents: "Self Reliance" by Ralph Waldo Emerson

This week I bring you The Run the Point Highlight Series. Run the Point Highlights are notes that I've literally highlighted with my marking pen while reading an article, essay or book. I share them with you in hopes that they move you as much as they moved me.

I start off with "Self Reliance" by Emerson. I was first introduced to Emerson while in college. I had one of those professors who made you enjoy a subject you previously had no interest in. Emerson and his transcendentalism movement was all about telling people to stop focusing on what someone else has done in the past and begin to recognize the greatest in the present movement.

Below are a few of the highlights I've taken from "Self Reliance." If you are interested in seeing all of the parts I've highlighted, send me an email to bruny@runthepoint.com, with the subject heading: Complete Self-Reliance Highlights.

Picture a textbook or any book for that matter. You read through it and you find yourself saying, "WOW" to certain words, sentences, concepts or paragraphs. You quickly highlight or underline that section. You can now go back and just read the highlighted sections. What I bring forth to you are the highlights that have moved me and I hope they have an impact on you as well. I've read tons of books, from the Bible, Think and Grow Rich, Rich Dad; Poor Dad, Do You, Interviews with Millionaires, The Power Behind Positive Thinking, The Power of Focus, "Oh, the Places You will go", etc. They include valuable pieces of information that I have highlighted and made notes on.

Here are my highlights from "Self Reliance":

Trust Yourself

To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men, -- that is genius.

Yet he dismisses without notice his thought, because it is his.

Else's, to-morrow a stranger will say with masterly good sense precisely what we have thought and felt all the time, and we shall be forced to take with shame our own opinion from another.

There is a time in every man's education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide; that he must take himself for better, for worse, as his portion; that though the wide universe is full of good, no kernel of nourishing corn can come to him but through his toil bestowed on that plot of ground which is given to him to till. The power which resides in him is new in nature, and none but he knows what that is which he can do, nor does he know until he has tried.

But God will not have his work made manifest by cowards.

Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string.

It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.

Don't Imitate

The soul created the arts wherever they have flourished. It was in his own mind that the artist sought his model. It was an application of his own thought to the thing to be done and the conditions to be observed.

Insist on yourself; never imitate. Your own gift you can present every moment with the cumulative force of a whole life's cultivations; but of the adopted talent of another, you have only and extemporaneous, half possession.

Every man is unique.

The Scipionsim of Scipio is precisely that part he could not borrow. Shakespeare will never be made by the study of Shakespeare. Do that which is assigned you, and you cannot hope too much or dare too much.

Greatness

You see great works--statues, buildings, machines, books and you feel belittled by them, put in your place, puny, unworthy. But you're looking at it all wrong. Their greatness awaits your judgment.

Do not envy or feel inferior when you read of a great soul. So they were great. So what? Did they up greatness? No! your own actions have as much potential to affect the future if you would be exactly what you are--fully and truly.

Why worship the past? The truth is here, now, as fully and completely as it has ever been. You need no ancient description of the color of the sky; you only need to look up. You can describe it however you want to describe it. Memorizing former descriptions misses the point entirely.

We are not victims, we are creators.

We have a tendency to make the mistake of measuring each other by what we have rather than by what we have become.It is ironic that we will travel thousands of miles to see great architecture rather than staying home and building our own great works--something the architects of these great foreign buildings obviously did.

Being Worthy

2009-07-06T11:32:00.001-04:00

In honor of my 5 year wedding anniversary I would like to share this excerpt from my book, "Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations to Change Your Life."

Day 18 – Being Worthy

“Whose world is this, the world is yours, the world is yours…it's mine, it’s mine, it’s mine.” ~NAS

No one and I mean no one in my life lives by the above principle more than my wife. On first appearances or meeting she would be described as a quiet Asian (Korean to be specific) woman. Getting to really know her you would quickly find out that she is a woman who knows what she wants and what she deserves. The answer to both what she wants and deserves is the very best. She is not limited by what she personally knows how to do. Instead she is motivated by what she wants; and she wants big. For example, back when we were planning our wedding, my main focus was on how much everything was going to cost, not the experience we were going to have. I was not focused on the fact that this was something we were only going to do once, til death do us part. My vision was to have a service at any location and have a reception at any location. Not good enough for my bride to be. She wanted to get married in a castle. And guess what?...We made it happen. Things started lining up and the necessary people started to come into our lives. I do not believe this would have happened if we did not make the commitment to go for it and go for it big. Every time I look at our wedding pictures I am in awe of how it all came together. I also look at it as a lesson reminding me not to let my current situation serve as the platform I use to dream from. Basically, if you know all of the details around how you are going to get your big dream accomplished, then it is just not big enough, period. I have learned so much about living beyond my limitations thanks to my wife. One thing I have learned about myself is that I often allow what I want to be based on what I know I can have. This is a significantly limiting mindset. The change did not come easy and I occasionally struggle with getting stuck in what I know or what I have seen as reference points to what I think I can have.

How often do you let details and your current situation stop you from dreaming big? Let’s be real…are you one of the people who say, “I don’t want to be rich,” just because you don’t know how you are going to do it? Do you say, “Money isn’t everything,” and use it as an excuse not to stretch yourself and try new things that could bring you, your family and your cause(s) money? I suggest you take a shift in attitude, if only for a moment and see what it feels like. Test drive a car that you think is totally out of your league. Go and visit a couple of open houses in an affluent area next Sunday. Set up an informational interview with the company you want to work for (don’t know how? Email me and I’ll coach you through it: bruny@runthepoint.com). Change the way you respond when people greet you (no more, “I’m Just surviving”). You will start to see things come together to help you move towards getting what you desire. You may not get the Bentley coup, but striving for it will move you out of your current comfort zone, which is an accomplishment in itself.

Affirmation of the Day 18: I believe that I am worthy of great things.

Question of the Day 18: What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?

Visit runthepoint.blogspot.com to see what others have written for the Question of the Day and share your own thoughts.

my wife and I on our wedding day, July 5, 2004 @ Oheka Castle in Huntington, NY

You Can Observe a Lot by Just Watching

2009-06-25T06:54:00.000-04:00

You can observe a lot by just watching

"You can observe a lot by just watching," said Yogi Berra.
I saw a very interesting thing happen a couple of weeks ago while playing in a celebrity / charity softball game to help raise scholarship funds for the High School of Sport Management. The setting was the beautiful Keyspan Park in the Coney Island section of Brooklyn, NY. I had a view of the famous Cyclone roller coaster on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on another. The perfect weather was icing on the cake.

The thought of such a great event being put on by high school students was pretty cool. I'm not talking about them just showing up the day of the event and simply working. Months of planning went into this thing. They put on the event from "soup to nuts." They secured sponsors, players, celebrities, handled the marketing, ticket sales, game day promotions and operations. Having a background in Sport Management I understood the depth of what was being put on that day.

At 1:00 p.m. the athletes would be hitting the field, pun intended, for a good cause. The talent ranged from, "I've never picked up a bat before in my life" to "I currently play for my college team," and everything in between. Something stood out as we were preparing for the game...no one wanted to play 3rd base. Let's take a quick review of how positions were selected. A coach was given the responsibility to arrange the batting order and field positions. The coach went around and asked, "What position do you want to play or usually play?" For some people who never or seldom play softball they knew they did not want to play the infield (Run the Point Lesson: It's just as important to know what you don't want as it is to know what you do want). After my coach for the day went through asking roughly 10 people what position they wanted to play he announced he needed someone to play 3rd base. As soon as he said that the atmosphere changed. It was as if we were back in school and the teacher asked for a volunteer to complete a math problem on the blackboard--everyone tried to avoid eye contact in hopes that they wouldn't be picked. Ok, enough finger pointing; time to talk about what was running through my mind when the coach made the announcement he was looking for a 3rd baseman. First, physiologically my heart started beating so fast and loud, I thought someone was going to tap me on the shoulder and say, "hey buddy do you mind keeping it down over there, I'm trying to get ready for a softball game." Mentally, I thought--3rd base is a hot corner (I could expect a lot of balls to be hit my way because most batters are right handed), I don't want to mess up and embarrass myself.

After a little bit of self talk, which sounded something like this: "someone needs to step up and you're the guy Bruny", "I like being in the hot corner, it's where the action is and where the opportunity is," "jump in, let's go (my motto for 2009)." After 30-45 seconds of processing my feelings of fear mixed with positive self talk I told the coach, "I'll do it!" (You could see the sigh of relief on his face).

What was the result of my decision to step up? As a 3rd baseman that day, I threw one person
out, and missed one ball that was hit my way. What were the intangible results? First, Peace of mind that I did not back down--let's face it, because of fear. Second, I got an opportunity to practice being in an unfamiliar situation and performing despite fear and doubting my ability.

It's time for you to play 3rd base in your life. Where are the "hot corners" you've been avoiding because you are...afraid, I mean unprepared, I mean not ready yet, I mean not smart enough, I mean--you get the picture. Here are 3 practical steps (Identify, Affirm, Attack) you can take to Identify and over come your fear of 3rd base:
1. Identify: Identify what you are actually afraid of (in the story above I was afraid of messing up in front of all the spectators and not being good enough to play 3rd base)

2. Affirm: Have a behavioral interview with yourself (behavioral interviews usually start with, "tell me about a time when you..." use the same format to think about times when you overcame difficult situations. Use that information as mental fuel to tell yourself, "I overcame obstacles before and I can do it again!"

3. Attack: Put yourself in a position where you have to say, "Oh my God, what have I gotten myself into? Oh well it's too late to turn back now." In other words, quit dipping your toe in the water, jump in and your body will adjust accordingly.

What if you don't get it right the first time? In the words of my college football coach, Mike Tracy, "everyday is another opportunity to get a little bit better." Take his words to heart. Now get out there and play ball.

Run the point!

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny, CPCC
Certified Life Coach, Speaker, Author
Run the Point Enterprises

Author of: "Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations To Change Your Life."

Picture on the right: Antonique Smith (Played Faith Evans in the movie "Notorious"

Just Be There

2009-06-18T17:22:00.002-04:00

The past few days I've had the pleasure of spending the majority of my time in a NYC hospital. "No," I did not have the swine flu, although the first couple of days I had to wear a mask. I wasn't the patient--I did spend enough time there and did enough work that I might have been mistaken for part of the staff. My dad was sick and I learned first hand the power of “just being there." Believe it or not, I'm actually trained in the art of “just being there,” but when it comes to close family who are sick, rational or trained thinking can easily be forgotten.

"Just being there" means being with someone in whatever state they are in without trying to change, influence or direct them. It means listening at a deep level and asking questions that show you understand where they are. In my case the Wed-Mon 11a-8p or 9p (I was able to get a late pass on some days) meant listening to what my dad had to say, being there when he took a nap and serving in whatever capacity I was needed. I served as a translator, a messenger, a shoulder to lean on for support (literally), a knowledge broker, a coaxer ("please eat, you need your strength"). My most important role was being there without saying a word; being a familiar face when he awoke from nap.

We don’t deal with folks being sick everyday, but another way to look at, “just being there,” is “hanging out.” There isn't any specific agenda, just to hang and let the non-verbal communication fill the air. Another way that "just be there" may manifest itself is by supporting projects, causes or events of those who you want to "just be there" for.

So the next time you’re thinking it’s no big deal if you don’t show up for a friend or family member you may want to think again. The value of your presence may mean more than you know. “Just be there!”

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny, CPCC
Certified Life Coach, Speaker, Author
Run the Point Enterprises

www.runthepoint.com

Gone Digital:
Facebook: www.facebook.com
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebruny
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Runthepoint
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Author of: "Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations To Change Your Life." www.runthepoint.com/products

Give Folks a Taste of What You Can Do

2009-06-08T13:42:00.002-04:00

What do BJs Wholesale Club, Apple computer’s App store, music singles, internships, a lease with an option to buy, and the cosmetic counter at department stores all have in common? They all practice sampling what they have to offer. This is a little different from the 30 days you are allotted to return most unused merchandise or the “100% satisfaction guaranteed or your money back” line. What I'm talking about is, "try me…if I'm good keep me and get more of me.”It takes some creativity, and courage, but you can apply sampling to your own life. Let’s take a closer look at the elements of creativity and courage as it relates to creating your own sampling strategy.

The creativity is in figuring out what you have and what you want to be sampled. There may be a particular company or client you really want to work for but there are some reservations on their part about hiring you or they just don’t have a position to fit your exact expertise at the moment. You can volunteer to work there at no or low cost for a pre-determined amount of time to facilitate a first hand experience of your skills. Once you are in this voluntary position you really give it your all. When you come to the end of the determined time, you ask for the opportunity to continue to provide the great work you have been doing as a full-time member of their team (the goal is you would have WOWed them with your work so they would actually ask you to be a part of the team, before the end).

It takes courage to sample for two reasons: 1. You may not see a quick return in terms of cash. 2. You have to be brave to offer the sample as a trial. "If I deliver what I promised, would you be willing to invest more?" Some of you might be thinking, "Why would a company buy the cow when they can get the milk for free?" That’s not what we are talking about here. Try looking through these lenses and let me know what you see: "You are giving the milk away for free so they can taste it, fall in love with it and in the end want to buy the cow."Where have I used the sampling technique? My book, “Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations to Change Your Life,” which has 30 days of affirmations. I offer a smaller sample for free. Also, as a freelance writer I've done free samples for my clients with the understanding that if I'm as great as I say I am, we can talk about terms for future articles.

I encourage you to take an inventory of what you have to offer, who can benefit from it and start sampling. The sooner the world gives you a try, the sooner they can fall in love with what you have and demand more.

Signature:

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny, CPCC
Certified Life Coach, Speaker, Author
Run the Point Enterprises
www.runthepoint.com

Gone Digital:
Facebook: www.facebook.com
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebruny
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Runthepoint
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Author of: "Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations To Change Your Life." www.runthepoint.com/products

Supportive or Sucker

2009-06-01T10:24:00.002-04:00

I’m back from a vacation split between the Berkshires in Western, MA and NYC. They are two very different places that I have come to appreciate. In the Berkshires, I was surrounded by mountains (climbed Mount Greylock while I was there). In NYC, I was surrounded by a sea of people as I traveled on the “D” train to visit my alma mater, Lafayette High School in Brooklyn, New York. I have noticed something very interesting, at least to me, on the last few trips that I’ve taken from Massachusetts to New York City so I thought I would share the experience.

The last few times my wife and I have traveled from Massachusetts to NYC we have stopped at the first major rest area in Connecticut. Without failure we have run into someone who did not have enough money to pay for gas and just needed a couple of bucks so they could get to their final destination. I’ve given to their cause a few times, but then I started to think, “Why does this seem to always happen at the same location?” It started to feel like one of the social psychology experiments I ran in college to test the helping behavior of strangers.

I do have a soft spot for helping when possible but after the experience I had in NYC a couple of weeks back, I began to wonder if the “S” on my chest stood for “Supportive” or “Sucker.“ Read the story below and decide for yourself.

“I was on my way to the train station at Sterling street to jump on the 2 train. As I got close to the train station a gentleman approached me and said, ‘I don’t want to ask you for anything but I am sick and my daughter needs milk. Would you be willing to buy milk for her?’ I thought I would do my good deed for the day and purchase the milk for the gentleman. What could it cost me, $4 at the most, right? Wrong! What happened next was like a scene out of a movie. We walk into the store and I’m expecting the guy to go and get the milk or ask the store owner to retrieve it. Instead, he just nods and the store owner knows exactly what to do. He has one of his associates go on a latter to get the milk which is on the top shelf. When I asked how much the infant milk cost he said, $16. I froze with sticker shock. I made the commitment so I decided to follow through—in the back of my mind, I was thinking ‘I won’t let this happen to me again. The ‘S’ on my chest was definitely for Sucker at that moment. If that wasn’t enough, as I was waiting for my debit card to be processed the guy I was helping out had the nerve to say, ‘man if you weren’t in such a rush, I would let you take me around to get something to eat.’ I could not help but laugh as I left the store and jumped on the 2 train heading for Manhattan.”

What’s the lesson in the story above...There are a lot of people who can use our assistance. We have to decide how and where we want to use our skills and resources (time, money, and network) to help others. I have developed a plan that may be of assistance as you consider how and where you want to give back. I call my plan, “Give way back”—I just came up with the name, but have always had the concept. What I have discovered in my journey is that the places that can use our help the most are the ones that have the least resources to ask for that help. I listed the places that have had an impact on my life and decided to, “Give way back” by starting a giving plan that works chronologically with my life. Below is my work in progress.

Mike Bruny’s Giving Vision:
My church-->P.S. 189-->Pop Warner Football (Brooklyn Skyhawks to be Specific)-->Lafayette H.S. (now High School of Sport Management)-->Hartwick College(undergrad)-->Umass (grad school: Sport Management Department)-->The Partnership, inc. (leadership program in Boston)

Happy Giving and may the “S” on your chest stand for “Supportive” not “Sucker.”

My wife & I at Mt. Greylock in the Berkshires (Stoney Ledge Trail) My family in NYC (L to R): Nephew Johnny, Mom, Wife, Me

My Alma Mater, Lafayette H.S., in Brooklyn, NY

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny, CPCC
Certified Life Coach, Speaker, Author
Run the Point Enterprises
www.runthepoint.com

Gone Digital:
Facebook: www.facebook.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mikebruny

Twitter: www.twitter.com/runthepoint

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Author of: "Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations To Change Your Life."

www.runthepoint.com/products

Net-Working (What you need & What you have to offer)

This is a new section that I am adding for anyone who wants to unite as a network to offer solutions and share challenges they may be facing. Each week I will post what folks have to offer and what they are looking for. Just send me an email with the subject, Looking for or Offering.

I Dare You...30 Day Challenge Begins June 1st

2009-05-26T17:27:00.001-04:00

I Dare You..The 30 Day Challenge (Starts June 1st)

I'm looking for 10 people or more to join me in a 30 day challenge beginning June 1 and ending June 30. The challenge is to walk 1 mile everyday; nothing more, nothing less. The challenge is all about discipline, accomplishing small goals and support / accountability.

Here is how it will work:
On Saturday, May 30 and Sunday, May 31 at 6p.m. (pick one date that works best for you) I will offer a complimentary 45min group coaching session over the phone (just in case you did not know, i'm a certified life / transition coach). The goal of the call is to create solidarity, establish personal goals and use our collective energy to knock down any excuses that may stop us from achieving our 30 day goal. The Conference number: 712-432-1680, Access code: 592654#. Please RSVP to bruny@runthepoint.com with your email address so I can send you an invite to the Facebook group page.

Starting June 1st there will be a Facebook group page just for the folks who decided to take on the "30 DAY CHALLENGE" with me. On this group page there will be: An Opening Day section where you can write any goals you may have (complete walking a mile in a certain amount of time or weight you may want to lose or simply just accomplish the discipline of doing this everyday), as well as how you plan on rewarding yourself after Day 30.

Daily Check-in on the Facebook group with the following information: 1. Did you walk your 1mile today?(Yes or No) 2. If no, what got in the way. 3. Any other discoveries you want to share.
Frequently Asked Questions

Why in heavens name is he doing this? Honestly, I did not want to do it alone. I'm going for the 30 day challenge and as I was in my favorite thinking location, the shower, I thought it would be great to share it with others. The opportunity to have folks take on a small goal, share it with others and report out day-to-day to motivate and inspire each other was just too tempting for me to resist.
Why in heavens name does he think I will do this? Because I know deep down inside we are all looking to do great things. The greatest things start with a small step. This will serve as fuel for whatever is next for you. It will let you know that you can build a supportive community who will actually walk with you, no pun intended, as you reach for your goals.
I don't even know how to calculate a mile?
Neither did I...at first. Here are a couple of ways to figure it out:
-Drive around using your car's odometer to figure out how far you need to go to reach your 1 mile goal (I just did this when I went home to see my mom in Brooklyn.)
-If you are really into counting steps, a mile is 5,280 feet
-visit walkjogrun.net and view walking routes or create your own before you head out of your home.

See you on the conference call on Saturday or Sunday.

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny, CPCC
Certified Life Coach, Speaker, Author
Run the Point Enterprises
www.runthepoint.com

Gone Digital:
Facebook: www.facebook.com
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebruny
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Runthepoint
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Author of: "Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations To Change Your Life." www.runthepoint.com/products

The 30 Day Challenge

2009-05-12T22:49:00.001-04:00

I'm looking for 10 people to be part of a 30 day challenge beginning June 1st. The challenge is to walk 1mile everyday; nothing more, nothing less. The thought is to focus on discipline and accomplishing small goals and having others to help make it fun and hold accountability. Here is how it will work:

The last week in May I would offer complimentary 30min coaching sessions (just in case you did not know, i'm a certified life / transition coach) to help get through anything that may usually stop you from accomplishing your goals.
Starting June 1st there will be a Facebook group just for the folks who decide to take on the challenge with me. On this group page there will be:
An Opening Day section where you can write any goals you may have (time or weight you may want to lose or simply just accomplish the discipline of doing this everyday), as well as how you plan on rewarding yourself after day 30.
Daily Check in with the following information: 1. Did you walk your 1mile today?(Yes or No) 2. If no, what got in the way. 3. Any other discoveries you want to share.

Why in heavens name is he doing this? Honestly, I did not want to do it alone. I'm going for the 30 day challenge and as I was in my favorite thinking location, the shower, I thought it would be great to share it with others. The opportunity to have folks take on a small goal, share it with others and report out day to day to motivate and inspire each other was just too tempting for me to resist.

Why in heavens name does he think I will do this? Because I know deep down inside we are all looking to do great things. The greatest things start with a small step. This will serve as fuel for whatever is next for you. It will let you know that you can build a supportive community who may actually walk with you, no pun intended, as you reach for your goal.
Your Ambassador,
Bruny

I've Been to the Mountain Top

2009-05-11T11:26:00.001-04:00

I'VE BEEN TO THE MOUNTAIN TOP

Joel and Bruny

Bold text represents key points to remember.

I decided to go hiking for my birthday. I grabbed a good friend I’ve known since H.S. and we headed to Mount Monadnock in NH. I saw this as an opportunity for reflecting on the past year and planning while surrounded by nature. The weather forecast was good and we were ready to go.

At the base of the mountain, we were chatting about life and the things we want to do but after 5 minutes we quickly realized that we needed to conserve our energy. “We can’t talk and hike at the same time if we want to make it up this mountain.” There are times when you can’t walk and chew gum. You really need to focus on one thing so you can get it done and done well.

The climb was tough and I found myself toggling between two thoughts: “You can do this, just keep your legs moving, even if you can’t feel them,” and “Note to self: For next year’s birthday if you want to be with nature, make sure it’s on flat ground.” I forgot how much energy (mental and physical) was required to make it up that mountain. Adding to the frustration were the people who were zipping by us as if they weren’t on a mountain. We all must focus on our own goals and our own pace. Being distracted by others can cause us to pre-maturely quit due to frustration. This is seen a lot when it comes to figuring out our passion and what we want to do with our life. Does this sound familiar, “Why is it that everyone else knows what they want but me?” I’ll let you in on a little secret, “they don’t.” Let’s focus on our own mountain and how we are going to take on the rough spots.

Despite the challenges of crawling up the mountain, we managed to make it fun. Thanks to my trusty camera we were able to take pictures and video footage of our journey. It can be tough, but you can still find a way to make it fun.

As we descended the mountain, we realized that the amount of energy we needed to exert had been eased a bit. Gravity helped - we did not have to use as much energy and hindered - increased the chances of us hiking on our butt—a little too close to nature for me. The comfortable speed going down allowed us to reach the base of the mountain in record time and talk at the same time. Be aware and adjust as the environment changes. If we kept with the mantra, “we can’t talk and hike at the same time,” we could have been going down the mountain in silence and missed out on part of what made the trip memorable.

check out the video footage (about 1:39 in length) :

P.S. Before I forget; the saying, “The same people you see on the way up are the same people you see on the way down” is true

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny, CPCC
Certified Life Coach, Speaker, Author
Quarter Life Answers
www.runthepoint.com / Coming soon www.QuarterLifeAnswers.com

Gone Digital:
Facebook: www.facebook.com
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebruny
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Runthepoint
==========================================================
Author of: "Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations To Change Your Life." www.runthepoint.com/products

What I learned From Planning a 2,175 Mile Hike From Georgia to Maine

2009-05-05T19:58:00.001-04:00

On Saturday May 9, I will have another birthday. I find myself thinking of ways to celebrate. I’ve had all kind of ideas, from taking a trip to Georgia to visit friends to finding a secluded area where I can reflect on the past year and put plans together for what I wish to accomplish before my next birthday. Leaning toward the latter, I found myself on the Appalachian Trail website, reading about what’s known as “Thru-Hiking.” This is a 2,175 mile hike that takes an average of 6 months to complete and travels from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Katahdin Mountain in Maine. It’s quite a challenge to take on with all kinds of uncertainty (weather, trail conditions and possible injuries). The more I read about preparing for the “Thru Hike” the more it seemed like preparing for any big goal; we have to plan, check on our progress from time-to-time and most importantly, we have to take action.

Below are some key points from the “Plan a Hike” section of the Appalachian Trail website. I’ve added my Quarter Life Answers in Bold to suggest how you can use it in your life.

Preparing for the Thru-Hike / Goal

Do I have to register?
There is no official registry when setting your goals, but it is helpful to let a couple of people know your goals so they can perform a search and rescue if you get off track.
What kind of equipment will I need?
Less than you may think. Using a pen and a journal to capture the goal and keep track of progress will do. In addition, search for individuals who have already accomplished what you seek to conquer can be helpful.
Do I need to carry a map?
You can map out your path toward your goal, but there will be detours along the way; don’t be discouraged! Also note that in some cases you may be traveling in uncharted territory and come to many unlabeled forks in the road. If you are a fan of Robert Frost, you may “choose the road less traveled and that will make all the difference.” If you are a fan of Jay-Z, you may, “choose your own fate; come to the fork in the road and go straight.”
How do I get supplies?
No need to carry too much. Along the way there are opportunities to refuel and you will also encounter unexpected people that are willing to help you get to your destination.
How much does it cost? What’s the “opportunity cost” (by taking or not taking one action, what are you missing out on?)
There are really two questions you need to ask yourself: how much will it cost to go for my goal? and how much will it cost to do nothing?
Physical preparation?
You will need to work your way toward your goal. Set a plan that allows you to gradually get stronger as you get closer to your scheduled completion date.
Mental preparation
This part can easily be overlooked. Your attitude toward temporary setbacks and your
“stick-to-it-tiveness,”(I know it’s not a word, but if sports announcers can use it, so can I ) can make all the difference when the going gets tough, and you should expect the going to get tough from time to time. When it looks like the sun will not come out tomorrow, keep your goal in mind and the benefits of accomplishing that goal. I suggest creating a vision board. If you need help contact me.

Checkpoints

How are you doing?; mentally and physically
You have to stop and check your progress. Take stock of what’s going on in your mind and body. Have you been able to stay positive? Are you in a funk that is making your goal harder to attain? How about your body? Are you getting enough rest, nutrition and exercise? All these things play a part in the energy you need to make things happen.
Are you are track? Where do you need to make adjustments
Let’s say you are in month 5 of a 6 month goal and not even 50% completed. What adjustments you need to make? Do you need to double up on your efforts or do you need to push out the end date?
Check in with someone to let them know how you’re doing
I strongly suggest that you have at least one person who is aware of what you are trying to accomplish. It will do two things; 1. It will give you a sense of accountability, knowing that someone is waiting to hear if you did or did not do what you said you would do. 2. Having someone along the journey makes it more fun. It provides someone to share the ups and downs with, the triumphs and the temporary defeats. If you don’t share your victory it may feel like it did not happen. Remember the old riddle: “If a tree falls in the woods with no one around to hear it, does it make a sound?”

Happy trails / goal setting!

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny, CPCC
Certified Life Coach, Speaker, Author
Quarter Life Answers
www.runthepoint.com / Coming soon www.QuarterLifeAnswers.com

Gone Digital:
Facebook: www.facebook.com
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebruny
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Runthepoint
==========================================================
Author of: "Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations To Change Your Life." www.runthepoint.com/products

Doing It-- F.O.S

2009-04-27T12:24:00.002-04:00

Remember this acronym, F.O.S. (Focus On Service) as you read the information below.

Friday I had an opportunity to see LL Cool J (referred to as LL moving forward) at a discussion and book signing focused around empowering young adults. The event took place at a community college outside of the Boston area. For those who don't know LL; he is a man who has been in the hip hop Industry as an artist for over 20 years. If I could get my book, “Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations to Change Your Life,” into his hands and get his support, that would take things to another level.

I put on my thinking cap, knowing that people probably give him things (CDs, books, etc.) to review everyday. How could I be different? How could I stand out and create an opportunity to follow up with him at a future date? What would you do?

With only one day’s notice of the event, I started with a little bit of research; why was LL coming to talk at this school? I couldn’t find anything on the internet about the event, but I was able to gain insight into some of the things he has done during his long career.

It’s Friday and there are only a couple of hours before I head to the event. I’m focused on the thought of how I can leave a lasting impression with LL. All of a sudden it hit me; the best way to be remembered is to be of service. I pulled a page from JFK’s book, “Ask not what LL can do for you, but what you can do for LL.” Hmm…How could I, Mike Bruny, be of service to this multi-platinum recording artist who currently commands at least $1 million dollars for acting roles? I continued to focus on service; I wondered what charities LL is involved in? With limited time and a brief internet search I wasn’t able to come up with anything. What else could I give? Well, LL is not the only one with a book. I brought an autograph copy of my book for him. I selected my outfit, bow tie included—great way to standout. When I got to the event, I purchased a copy of LL’s workout book to be autographed. While others were focused on the weightlifting pictures, I focused on the words in search of clues that would allow me to make a connection in the brief 1-2 minutes that I would have when LL was signing the book I just purchased. Right away a quote in the book caught my attention, “Write something worth reading or do something worth writing about,” by Benjamin Franklin. Cool, I brought him something worth reading—my book. It felt as if the stars were slowly aligning in my favor.

During his talk, I listened carefully with faith that something said would provide me the opportunity to be of service and leave an impression. That opportunity came when LL was talking about his next endeavors. He is researching and looking to get into micro-financing in other countries. Right away it hit me, “I know someone who specializes in micro-financing and is very knowledgeable and connected in that area.” I immediately retrieved his contact information from my phone and copied it onto the back of my business card, with a brief note for LL.

The event ended and it was time to get my book signed. I waited in line and rehearsed what I would say in the 30 seconds I would be given as LL signed my book. Okay, it was my turn; I handed him my book (Move the Crowd) and said, “Here is something worth reading”—I took the line from the Benjamin Franklin quote in his book . As he autographed the workout book I purchased earlier, I told him that I heard what he said about micro financing and I am providing him the contact information for a professor at Northeastern University who could be of service. He responded, “My man” and gave me a handshake. I left the event feeling good because I was able to set myself apart, not only by being the only person with a bow tie , but also being aware enough to see an opportunity to be of service. Besides, how many people who were at that event can say they were of service to LL Cool J.?

Where are the opportunities for you to be of service? Are you trying to get things done, but are running into resistance? Look for ways you can genuinely be of service. Remember this acronym, F.O.S. (Focus On Service).

Don't Miss me When I'm Gone, Love me while I'm Here

2009-04-21T22:27:00.001-04:00

DON'T MISS ME WHEN I'M GONE, LOVE ME WHILE I'M HERE

In the past three years I’ve seen a number of my friends under 35 pass away. For the most part these were healthy people. The first reports of their deaths included no explanation as to why they passed away. No foul play, drugs or alcohol involved. In some cases they were even vigilant about their health and went to the doctor when something didn’t feel right. Despite their best efforts, they are no longer with us. “Here today and gone tomorrow,” “you are not promised tomorrow,” are no longer just clichés but case studies.

In each case I have gone through a number of different emotions: disbelief, sadness and guilt. Other reactions have been questions: Why did they have to die? Are they really dead? Why didn’t I spend more time with them? Why didn’t I tell them how much I appreciated them? In the mix of all the emotions of losing someone and the reality that life must go on, this phrase emerged: “Don’t miss me when I’m gone, Love me while I’m here.”

As you go about your busy day don’t forget what is most important to you in the long run—that’s totally up to you to decide. That “most important thing” has several names; some call it values, others call it your essence; whatever name you give it, make sure you start on the journey to discovery what it is. It makes life really worth while.

Here is a poem that may help:

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER...
I'd dare to make more mistakes next time. I'd relax, I would limber up. I would be sillier than I have been on this trip. I would take fewer things seriously. I would take more chances. I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers. I would eat more ice cream and less beans. I would perhaps have more actual troubles, but I'd have fewer imaginary ones.

You see, I'm one of those people who live sensibly and sanely hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I've had my moments, and if I had it to do over again, I'd have more of them. In fact, I'd try to have nothing else. Just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day, I've been one of those persons who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat and a parachute. If I had to do it again, I would travel lighter than I have.

If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that later in fall. I would go to more dances. I would ride more merry-go-rounds. I would pick more daisies.
~Nadine Stair

You don’t have to go through the process alone! -- Could you use some assistance in clarifying your values? I am offering FREE 30 minute sessions ($100 value) called, Values Clarification. It’s the first step towards a more fulfilling life. Call me to schedule an appointment: 617-943-1417. There is no obligation to buy anything. It’s a two step process: 1. we will go through a few exercises to get you on your way to clarifying your values (you will have homework); 2. I will tell you how to get into coaching if you desire to.

“The truth is time waits for none of you. In fact he can’t wait for the date to snatch the ground right from under you.” ~Nas

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny, CPCC
Certified Life Coach, Speaker, Author
Quarter Life Answers
www.runthepoint.com / Coming soon www.QuarterLifeAnswers.com

Gone Digital:
Facebook: www.facebook.com
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebruny
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Runthepoint
==========================================================
Author of: "Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations To Change Your Life." www.runthepoint.com/products

2009-04-14T23:26:00.001-04:00

DO YOU CALL YOUR OWN SHOTS?

*Based on a true story that happened to someone I am very, very close to. The names and locations have been changed to protect the innocent*

I was fortunate enough to be exposed to the following story and wanted to pass it along to my readers.

3½ years ago a young lady started working as a sales associate for a large department store. After 6 months with the store she was selected to become a manager in training—this did not automatically guarantee her a management position. She was trained by one of the best managers in the company. This was evident by her trainer winning one of the highest awards the company had to offer, the coveted “Glass Slipper” award. When her trainee saw her win the award, the trainee said [to herself], “one day I’m going to be the best manager and win the ‘Glass Slipper’ award.” Time passes and the trainer leaves the store to take an executive position in a different field.

Fast forward 3½ years later and the trainee is now a full fledged manager and has worked her way through different departments in the store until she has been given the most visible and stressful department in the store. She continues to work hard and one day comes to work only to be told about an emergency meeting that will take place in the afternoon. Given the state of the economy she hopes the meeting is not an announcement of anymore layoffs that will stress those being laid off as well as those who are left behind to an increased workload. To her surprise the meeting is the complete opposite. The call is with the corporate office and all the other department stores to celebrate those who have won the “’Glass Slipper” award. To her surprise—at least for now—her name was called. She is 1 out of 10 individuals who the company has selected to give this award to; The company has over 1,000 employees to choose from. Her boss quickly puts the conference call on mute and they commence to celebrate. Out of nowhere, cake, wine, streamers and the coveted “Glass Slipper” award appear. Holding back tears of joy, she stood up and thanked all those who helped her make it this far.

The biggest surprise—or should I say revelation—came right before she went to bed and started to think back to when she saw her trainer win the award. “Oh, my God,” as her hand covers her mouth in disbelief. She suddenly remembered 3½ years earlier she stated, “one day I’m going to be the best manager and win the ‘Glass Slipper’ award.” She called it and she got it.

The above story was written to remind us of two things:

To put ourselves in a position where we can be exposed to the best that life has to offer. That includes people, places and things.
To dare to call out what you want in your life, work for it and patiently receive it.

2009-03-30T17:50:00.000-04:00

Change for the Better (excerpt from my book)
I'm not sure if it is the season or the economy, but I've been having a lot of conversations about change. I thought I would share an excerpt on change from my book, "Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations to Change Your Life." Enjoy.

Day 24 - Change
“Everybody looking strange, saying, ‘you changed.’ Like you worked that hard so you can stay the same.”
Jay-Z

Ah, yes, the only constant is change. No matter how much we try and fight it, change is inevitable. We have the option of being a force that tries to stop it, tries to lead it or tries to be a part of it. If you know better you should do better. Why do parents work so hard to give their children a better life? Why do individuals/ groups look for ways to elevate themselves and those around them? It is all to make a positive change; to have more, to be more, to give more.

In my life I have had the internal struggle of wanting to be more then just a kid from Brooklyn who stayed in the hood and hung out in front of the building. That was just my personal desire (not to degrade anyone else). I’ve struggled with the fact that I want to make money and make lots of it while living a spiritual life. Are the two contradictory? “No!” To take a quote from the motivational speaker Zig Ziglar, “I believe GOD made the diamonds for his bunch, not Satan’s crowd.”

Have no guilt about wanting to achieving success. There is nothing glorious about poverty. I recall one of my mentors teaching me the honor in wanting to save the world, but being sure you take care of yourself so you can actually do it. You cannot help others if you are not in a good place to help yourself. BE the change you want to see.

I have a friend whose PhD work focused on African-American males not using their intellectual talents for fear of being considered “uncool” or nerdy. They sacrifice the full college experience in exchange for not “selling out.”

Unfortunately, they are actually “selling out” their full potential and experience(s).

Next time someone confronts you with, “You’ve changed” simply smile and respond, “the issue is not that I have changed, but that you have not.”

Affirmation of the Day: I make the necessary changes needed to be and have what I dream.

Question of the Day: What change can you make in your life that will have the biggest impact right now?

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny, CPCC
Certified Life Coach, Speaker, Author
Quarter Life Answers
www.runthepoint.com / Coming soon www.QuarterLifeAnswers.com

Gone Digital:
Facebook: www.facebook.com
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebruny
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Runthepoint
==========================================================
Author of: "Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations To Change Your Life." www.runthepoint.com/products

Happy Transition from Winter to Spring

2009-03-23T17:06:00.001-04:00

Happy Transition from Winter to Spring

It may not feel like it to many but Spring is here and we are leaving Winter behind. We do not have control over the transition but we do have control over how we handle and take advantage of it. Deciding to take responsibility for how we handle the transition may come in the form of preparation for the new things that are about to take place. We know new leaves will start to appear and new flowers bloom. We can take advantage of the transition by keeping our eye out for the new things that are about to come. I have heard Spring described as a time of new growth. A time when things start to make sense that may never have before. I’m hear to share a personal “ah hah” moment of my own.

As I work on building my Quarter Life Answers business with a focus on working with young adults 24-35yrs old there are times when I just don’t want to pick up the phone and try to explain to someone what the benefits of coaching or self-development are. I don’t want to have to try and tell someone that coaching is different from therapy (coaching is not focused on your past. I care about your present and your future). Those are all the things that I didn’t want to do. It speaks nothing to my purpose of helping people breathe easier through my work.

The new discovery for me was moving from selling to serving. How can I be of service to you? That discovery totally shifted the way I go about doing business. Instead of telling folks all of the great things I have to offer, I am more interested in learning about the challenges they need solved, and the places where they are not fulfilled. With that information and focus we can talk about possibly building a relationship that is mutually beneficial. I must say it feels good.

As you strive towards being the best you that you can be, take a look at the way you view things. Is there another way? Don’t forget that Spring is here and new things are on the way for you, if you are open to them. Just check out this excerpt from a recent email I received once I decided to but myself in service mode:

Hi Mike, I have some good news for you. We are now able to contract with "volunteers" who are interested in presenting workshops or facilitating Job clubs. We have begun to accept proposals for consideration of a variety of things.
If you would be interested in getting paid for your time you spend with the job club, I would be happy to consider your proposal. If you prefer to keep your time as voluntary, that is fine too. We want you either way. Regards,

A couple of things you can do to prepare for your Spring:
*Get rid of old stuff, both physically and mentally
*Be prepared and willing to accept new ideas, objects and people that are about to come to you
*Stretch and shake off the feeling of hibernation. (that season has pasted)

Are You Overwhelmed? Divide and Conquer Your Way to Success

2009-03-16T14:44:00.001-04:00

4 Steps to Divide and Conquer Your Way to Success

Recent conversations have sparked me to write a note on dividing and conquering for success. In two different conversations I had with folks who bought my book, "Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations to Change Your Life," their response to the question, "Have you started reading it yet?," was "No." I could have been satisfied with the fact that they purchased the book, but that wasn't the only reason I wrote the book (another reason was to have an impact on people's lives by giving them a different way of looking at their everyday lives and tangible steps they can take for action). Being the life coach that I am my curiosity was piqued. I came to find out that they had the same answer to the question, but two totally different perspectives on why they had not read the book yet.

In Conversation #1: The person did not read the book yet, because they saw it as a BOOK(increased size for effect). It was this huge thing, that needed a huge about of time to complete. They may not have felt their current life allowed them the time to actually read a BOOK.

In Conversation #2: The person had not begun reading the book because they skimmed through the pages and saw that it was actually a devotional; a book that was broken down into days. Basically they realized the book was designed to be read one day at a time. With that in mind they wanted to start at the beginning of the month, with Day 1 and work their way through Day 30, only reading one 2-min passage a day.

So what is the Quarter Life Answers lesson? Things may seem so big that we procrastinate or never get started at all. So what? The "so what?" ,is in many cases we did not make a clear decision to say, "no" to the item; we just put it off. That means it is occupying part of our mental space. We may feel guilty or bad every time we see or think about this item. Instead check out what the real challenge is then divide it up so you can conquer it.

Steps you can take to Divide and Conquer your challenge:
1. Look at your challenge square in the face and let it know, "I am going to break you down."

2. Grab an envelope, a writing instrument and head to a cozy spot where ideas will flow. The "cozy spot" may be in your home, work, a coffee shop or wherever. Write a couple of things down:
a. Purpose (why are you doing this thing anyway),
b. Vision (what is it going to look like when it's done; what will it feel like to accomplish the task; really tap into the right side of your right brain on this one.)
c. Brainstorm on steps you can take and d. place them in order of what has to happen first and what has to happen next. *Adapted from David Allen's book , "Getting things Done"*

3. Set a couple of dates when your small task will be done

4. Tell a couple of people what you are doing and when you expect to have it done so you put yourself on the spot and they can help hold you accountable.

How has the 4 steps worked in my own life? Well, check out my book. It is a great overall accomplishment to write a BOOK, but what actually went into making it happen were a series of small steps. If I kept focusing on writing a BOOK instead of writing a chapter at a time, the book would never have been completed.

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny, CPCC
Certified Life Coach, Speaker and Author
Quarter Life Answers

"Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations to Change Your Life" <--- check it out on Amazon.com, authorhouse.com

Allowing Your Network to Work

2009-03-09T13:57:00.001-04:00

Most people are familiar with the term "Networking." It is a crucial part of everyday business and everyday life really. It's the give and take of information, services and business between different parties. Some give it a bad name with the mis-understanding that it's all about what I can get. Others network and don't know they are doing it. If you have ever recommended a movie to someone you have practiced networking. If you have ever been contacted with the following question, "Hey, have you ever heard of (fill the blank), what did you think of it?" you were part of a networking exchange. Some think networking is strictly for business purposes; but I'm here to tell you that it's not. Getting a referral to a school for yourself or your kid, getting the name of a good real estate broker or plumber is all part of networking. The concept I want to share with you is Net-working. I like to break it down into two words "Net and Working." What is Net-Working? I'm glad you asked. It's actually having your net (picture in your mind a physical fishing net) work for you and you working as part of a net. We are all part of an intricate network that needs a couple of things:

1.Understanding of what it is and that it exist
2.It needs to be Used (not abused)
3.It needs to be cared for and mended at times
4.It needs to grow so it can have greater impact.
I have put a FREE tele-class together, "Allowing your network to work for you," that will focus on the 4 elements of Net-working. It will take place tomorrow, Tuesday, March 10 at 8pm (EST). If you are interested in being a part of this event simply send me an email at bruny@runthepoint.com requesting the conference number. There are only a total of 96 spots available and a number of those have already been taken. Email me now and I will send the number to you later today. Still on the fence...

4 Reasons why you should be on this call:

You are a Quarter Lifer Who is interested in accelerating your growth.
You have been looking for a way to give back (what better way to do it then for people you already know? I'll show you how)
You will walk away with concrete steps you can implement right away.
I will provide a special offer only for those who are on the call.

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny, CPCC
Certified Life Coach, Speaker, Author
Quarter Life Answers

http://www.runthepoint.com/ / Coming Soon: http://www.quarterlifeanswers.com/

RSVP for My First Tele-Seminar on Net-Working

2009-03-04T16:18:00.000-05:00

FREE Tele-seminar on Networking

On Tuesday, March 10 at 8pm(EST) Quarter Life Answers will host its first Tele-seminar, "Allowing your Net-Work to work for you." FREE for all those who are part of my network (if you are reading this message you are part of my network)

PLEASE RSVP BY SENDING AN EMAIL TO ADMIN@RUNTHEPOINT.COM W/ SUBJECT: NET-WORKING RSVP to receive the conference number and access code.

Learn how you can build and leverage the people you already know and are accessible to you to reach your goals while simultaneously helping others do the same. Expect to walk away from this call with concrete steps that you can implement immediately.

Trying Times vs. Times to Try

2009-03-01T23:49:00.000-05:00

Trying Times vs. Times to Try

The recession has been top of mind for so many people. For some the focus is on a change in 401K value, for some it's related to layoffs and company closings, for some it means difficulty selling their product to trusted customers and for some it's viewed as an opportunity to start anew in a different way.

I have been on the side of joblessness before and the feeling of, "why me?" and blame. Fortunately, I did not stay in that state of mind too long. I decided to do a couple of things that you or someone you know may find helpful:

I focused externally: I reflected on my job history. What did I enjoy about the places I worked in the past? What didn't I enjoy? How did I end up working where I did in the first place? Was it a clear choice on my part or a move strictly out of necessity? Are there any patterns I am seeing in my work history?

I focused internally: What am I all about? What do I really enjoy doing? If I could do anything in the world, what would I (key focus on "I", not "they" or "we") do? I took some time to focus on the above and I had a little bit of help from a couple of books that you may find helpful as well: "What Color is Your Parachute," by Richard Bolles, "The Purpose Driven Life," by Rick Warren. What I came out with following my process is clarity on what I wanted to do and what skills I wanted to use in the world. Here is an inside look at the formula I came up with and used during job interviews to describe what is important to me:

P2M3+N (It reads "P" Square, "M"Cube, plus "N")

Purpose, Passion, Meaning, Mentor, Money + Networking.

Let me know what comes out of your own journey. When times are slow it is a perfect time to take a look at what's important to you and build skills needed to succeed.

Your Ambassador,
Mike Bruny
Professional Life Coach, Speaker

Quarter Life Answers is focused on helping young adults aged 24-35 through the Quarter Life Challenge. By using one-on-one coaching, workshops and other various products I help Quarter Lifers become more profitable and gain clarity for life and career decisions. To learn more or set-up a FREE sample coaching session, email: http://us.mc11.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=bruny@runthepoint.com

http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=-1&msgid=0&act=11111&c=389341&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.runthepoint.com%2F / Coming Soon: http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=-1&msgid=0&act=11111&c=389341&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.quarterlifeanswers.com%2F
Find me on Facebook
Twitter - http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=-1&msgid=0&act=11111&c=389341&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.twitter.com%2FRunthepoint
LinkedIn - http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=-1&msgid=0&act=11111&c=389341&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2FmikebrunyAuthor of: "Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations To Change Your Life." http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=-1&msgid=0&act=11111&c=389341&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.runthepoint.com%2Fproducts or http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=-1&msgid=0&act=11111&c=389341&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.authorhouse.com%2FCheck out how the lyrics of Hip Hop Artist can help you with such topics as: Winning, Time Management, Vision, Faith, Support, Decision Making and Living a more fulfilling life. Email me at http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=-1&msgid=0&act=11111&c=389341&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fapp.icontact.com%2Fmc%2Fcompose%3Fto%3DBruny%40runthepoint.com for a free 3 Day Sampler.© 2009 Run The Point Enterprises All rights reserved.

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Quarter Life Answers FREE Tele-seminar on Networking

On Tuesday, March 10 at 8pm(EST) Quarter Life Answers will host its first Tele-seminar, "Allowing your Net-Work to work for you." FREE for all those who are part of my network (if you are reading this message you are part of my network) PLEASE RSVP BY SENDING AN EMAIL TO ADMIN@RUNTHEPOINT.COM W/ SUBJECT: NET-WORKING RSVP to receive the conference number and access code.

Learn how you can build and leverage the people you already know and are accessible to you to reach your goals while simultaneously helping others do the same. Expect to walk away from this call with concrete steps that you can implement immediately.

The End of the Beginning

2009-02-23T13:19:00.000-05:00

I will keep today’s message brief. About 10 months ago I decided to take a leap from being a professional life coach to becoming a certified life coach through the Coaches Training Institute (CTI) and the International Coach Federation (ICF). On Tuesday, February 24 I will move one step closer to realizing that goal when I take my oral exams.

Being accustomed to striving to reach higher I have learned that a certification or degree may (and I stress the word “may”) give you a leg up on the competition it does not entitle you to anything. I like to use the metaphor of a Track & Field athlete. The work you put in (to get your degree or certification) helped you to build your muscles, but you still have to run the race. You are not automatically guaranteed a victory because of a certification or degree. With that said, I suggest you get your mind right and focus on running the race with confidence in your training and coaching. Don’t get overconfident and lose sight of what it takes to win the race.

I original found this passage in the book, “Built to Last” and thought you would enjoy it. If you like it, print it out and keep it close by as a reminder of what you are called to do.

The End of The Beginning

Picture a martial art student kneeling before his teacher in a ceremony to receive a hard earned black belt. After weeks of relentless training, the student has finally reached a pinnacle of achievement in discipline.

“Before granting acceptance, you must pass one more test,” says the teacher.
“I am ready,” responds the student, expecting perhaps one final round of sparing.
“You must answer the essential question: What is the true meaning of becoming a black belt?”
“The end of my journey,” says the student. “A well-deserved reward for all my hard work.”
The teacher waits for more. Clearly, he is not satisfied. Finally, the teacher speaks. “You are not yet ready to become a black belt. Return in one week.”

A week later, the student kneels again in front of the teacher.
“What is the true meaning of becoming a black belt?” ask the teacher.
“A symbol of distinction and the highest achievement in our process,” says the student.
The teacher says nothing for many minutes, waiting. Clearly, he is not satisfied. Finally he speaks. “ You are still not ready to become a black belt. Return in one week.”

A week later, the student kneels once again in front of the teacher. And again the teacher asks: “What is the true meeting of becoming a black belt?”

Becoming a black belt represents the beginning—the start of a never-ending journey of discipline, work and the pursuit of an ever-higher standard,” says the student.
“Yes, you are now ready to become a black belt and begin your work.”

Your Ambassador,

Mike Bruny

Professional Coach, Speaker, Author

www.runthepoint.com / coming soon: www.quarterlifeanswers.com
Find me on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn

Author of: "Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations To Change Your Life." Get your copy at: www.runthepoint.com/products, http://www.authorhouse.com/, or www.amazon.com

Check out how the lyrics of Hip Hop Artist can help you with such topics as: Winning, Time Management, Vision, Faith, Support, Decision Making and Living a more fulfilling life.

Spread Love it's the Brooklyn Way

2009-02-17T00:29:00.000-05:00

Spread Love it’s the Brooklyn Way

Just coming off of Valentine’s Day I thought I would talk about a related topic; “Love.” Before you hit the “X” button to leave the screen, hear me out. I’m talking about love as a verb.

How many times have you heard, said, or thought, “If you loved me you would [fill in the blank].” The previous statement is more of a guilt trip than a true call for love. How many times have we used the word, “Love” to refer to how we feel about something or someone (“I love books / Joe”)? There is also the act of making love. In general we tie the word love to a feeling or emotion. We also have what we find in the Bible, which ask us to love our neighbors and our enemies. The Bible also gives us a definition of what love is, love it patient, love is kind…(see 1Corinthians13 for more). I have had a tough time with the thought of having good feelings or emotions toward my enemy until I read a section of this great book on leadership called, “The Servant” by James C. Hunter.

In this book it gave a different perspective on love. It was one that went beyond how the “L” word is narrowly defined in English. The lesson began with an understanding that the Greek language uses several different words to describe the many dimensions of love. Below are the four different words that are used to represent what we have combined to form one all encompassing word, “Love.”

Eros – which is where we get our word erotic from is focused on sexual attraction, desire and craving.

Storgé – is affection especially between and toward family members.

Philos – is brotherly or reciprocal love; Philadelphia , the city of brotherly love, comes from this root word. <-- I describe this as, “you do good by me and I’ll do good by you.”

Agapé / agapaó – describes a more unconditional love rooted in behavior toward others without regard to their due. <--This is the, “love your enemy” kind of love!

The quote below sums it up very well. Use it the next time you find yourself in a position where you have an opportunity to do good for someone who you may feel really doesn’t deserve it or just gets on your nerve.

“I cannot always control how I feel about other people but
I certainly am in control of how I behave toward other people.”

Your Ambassador of LOVE,

Mike Bruny

Quarter Life Answers
Professional Coach, Speaker, Author

runthepoint.com / Coming Soon: QuarterLifeAnswers.com
Find me on Facebook
Twitter - http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=-

LinkedIn - http://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebruny

Author of: "Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations To Change Your Life."

"If I Only Knew" - Getting The Info. You Need To Accomplish Your Goals

2009-02-09T15:28:00.001-05:00

"If I only knew."
Getting the info you need to accomplish your goals?

I recall being told back in my college days, “anything that you want to know is available to you in the library or though the internet.” Very wise words and I now pass them along to you. It’s no secret that we have more access to information then any other generation. With our iPhones and Free Wi-Fi cafés information is literally at our fingertips. Even with that being said, we sometimes make decisions based on old paradigms and partial information. This may cause us to miss out on opportunities that are readily available to us. We may be left with the feeling of, “if only I knew.” Here are a couple of examples of the “if only I knew”, so hopefully you will strive to know.

Example #1: You must have tickets to the inauguration to attend. Several people I ran into missed out on the opportunity to be part of the historical Presidential inauguration in Washington , D.C. because they were under the false assumption you needed tickets in order to go. In one case I spoke with someone the day before I left for D.C. and mentioned that I would be leaving in the morning. Their response was, “Oh, how did you get tickets?” I let them know I did not have tickets and they were surprised to know that you could still go even if you didn’t have a ticket. This person already had a place to stay, available transportation, but he also had bad or missing pieces of information which left him in a position of, “if only I knew.”

Example#2: The cardboard people. I made it down to D.C. the night before the inauguration at about 10:30p.m. We were staying with a friend in D.C. who lived a couple of train stops aware from the National Mall. One of my friends really wanted to have a prime location for the historic event and was willing to stay out in the freezing weather beginning at Midnight if it meant he could see, without the aid of any magnifying devices, the president elect get sworn in. Our contacts in D.C. could not tell us if we got their early enough if we would accomplish that goal; so what did we do? We went on a recon mission that very night to see for ourselves and talk with the security folks to get the lowdown on what was really going on. With train map in hand we headed towards the National Mall at 11p.m. When we got to the mall we noticed that there were a number of people huddled together on the floor using cardboard boxes to help break the frigid winds as they slept there in hopes of getting the best position possible for the swearing in of our president. Taking this trip allowed us to do several important things: 1. We knew exactly where we needed to go in the morning (the best train stop to get off, where to position ourselves on the train so we would be near an exit and alternate routes if necessary). 2. We spoke with security and found out for sure that we would not be able to see the swearing in with our bare eyes no matter how early we were there. The non-ticketed section was just too far away. The best thing for us to do was strategically position ourselves so we could have seating, uh-um, I mean standing room in clear sight of one of the large viewing screens. Why didn’t the cardboard box people ask the same questions?

Example#3: Get in the Fast Lane. Whether you live in NY or New England you have a program on the highways for paying tolls that is know as EZPass or Fast Lane. This allows you to go through the tolls without waiting on the long lines of cars as people pay with cash and wait for their change. There are designated lanes at the toll booths that are just for the EZPass and Fast Lane customers. In my frequent travels between NY and Boston it never fails that there are traffic jams at the major toll booth areas. Most of that traffic is from folks who do not have EZPass or Fast Lane. Every time I find myself sitting in traffic at a toll booth because the cars without the EZpass or Fast Lane passes are in all the lanes and trying to crossover to the correct lanes at the last minute, I can’t help but wonder, Why don’t more people get in the Fast Lane[program]? Is there fear? Do they not know how to get started? Do they know they would save time and money by being part of the program (the tolls are actually $0.25 to $0.50 cheaper for using the program at some tollbooths in MA)?

As we continue to move forward in 2009 I challenge you to find the information and ask the questions you need to be successful. Do not be a “If I only knew” person.

Here are 4 tips that can help you find what you are looking for:

1. Acknowledge that you don’t know all the answers but they are available to you.

2. Search for experts and those who have actually done what you are looking to do and reach out to them.

3. Leverage the power of the internet to search for things. Don’t stop after one site.

4. Trust your instincts. If something doesn’t feel right then it probably isn’t. If you feel there has to be a better way, then start to look for new ways of doing a familiar thing. Don’t settle for what just anyone tells you.

Your Ambassador,Mike BrunyQuarter Life AnswersProfessional Coach, Speaker, Authorwww.runthepoint.com
Find me on Facebook
Twitter - www.twitter.com/Runthepoint
LinkedIn - http://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebrunyAuthor of: "Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations To Change Your Life." www.runthepoint.com/products or www.authorhouse.comCheck out how the lyrics of Hip Hop Artist can help you with such topics as: Winning, Time Management, Vision, Faith, Support, Decision Making and Living a more fulfilling life. Email me at Bruny@runthepoint.com for a free 3 Day Sampler.© 2009 Run The Point Enterprises All rights reserved.

2009-02-02T23:22:00.001-05:00

Mike is getting ready for the 1st day of teaching 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations at the Phoenix Charter Academy in Boston.

Introducing Quarter Life Answers

2009-02-02T19:32:00.000-05:00

Quarter Life Answers…Under Construction

It’s official, I am the CEO of Quarter Life Answers and I wanted to claim it here with you as my witness. A few weeks back I put a stake in the ground (literally, see picture above). “You need to be more concrete,” said Andre. Working with my business coach, mentor and friend Andre Taylor in a coffee shop in NYC the clarity was conceived and the focus of my passion was born. As we sat there and went through the areas where I excel, things I love and the type of people I enjoy working with, Quarter Life Answers was born. I bought the domain name, I started working on content for my first workshop and I started to wrap my mind around the concept. Last week I realized a dream when I held my first Quarter Life Answers workshop in NYC. In about 4 months I went from scattered focus to laser beam focus, creating a workshop in alignment with my passion. I wanted to take this time to introduce you to Quarter Life Answers.

What on earth is Quarter Life Answers all about?
In summary, Quarter Life Answers is a movement focused on working with young adults (Quarter Lifers) to helping them through the Quarter Life Challenge. By working with me and my programs (one on one coaching, my book, workshops, etc.) they become more marketable, successful and profitable. They gain clarity to make big and small decisions in life and in their careers.

How I define Quarter Life and Quarter Lifers?
There are several definitions that exist, most referring to anyone in their 20’s and part of their 30’s. I define Quarter Life between the ages of 24-35. These are people pass the traditional, “just out of college” age/stage, they have some experience in the work world and are now starting to reevaluate where they are and where they want to be in life.

What is the Quarter Life Challenge?
The Quarter Life Challenge is a time of doubt and transition usually best described with such questions as:
· Is this what I’m supposed to be doing with my life?
· Why is it that everyone else knows what they want to do with their life but me?”
· Is this all there is?
· How do I use what I’m passionate about in my life?

What you can expect to see?
· More articles focused on helping folks through the Quarter Life Challenge
· A new website: http://www.quarterlifeanswers.com/ (currently under construction)
· Quarter Life Answer Workshops (Passion, Purpose, Personal Brand, Professional Development, Career, Net-working and Mentoring)
· Tele seminars

What you can do for the movement?
· Refer a friend. If you know someone who should be receiving this newsletter
· If you know a group or company who could benefit from my workshop, make the introduction.
· Stay in touch and engaged
· Use the information I share where applicable. “The best made plan won’t work, unless you do.”

Quarter Life Answers BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) to learn more about the term BHAG please check out the book, “Built to Last” by James C. Collins and Jerry I. Porras (A Bruny favorite)
· Decrease the number of Mid-Life Crisis happenings in the U.S. – I have a vision of calculating the work that is being done with Quarter Life Answers to be somehow correlated with a decrease in Mid-Life Crisis cases. The thought behind it is to take care of the deep questions of what you want to really do with your life sooner (Quarter Life) rather than later (Mid-life). Answering and understanding what you are passionate about, your purpose and being brave enough to incorporate it in to your life, even in a small way at first so you do not look back with regret or a sense that you have to drop everything and jump into your passion once you hit 50 (on a funny note, success may be measured by a decrease in purchases of sports cars and dating of women or men half your age in the demographic of individuals 55 and up). I do not have all of the details on how this will come to fruition but I will not let that stop me from dreaming.

What about Run the Point?
· Run the Point will always be alive as it is a way of being. Run the Point is the kind of energy needed to, “get after what you what, from where you are, with what you have.” Please don’t stop Running the Point.
· Run the Point will also exist to manager my speaking engagements and any other business that is not focused on my main focus of Quarter Lifers.

My President's Black

2009-01-25T23:51:00.000-05:00

On November 4, 2008 Barrack Hussein Obama made history by winning the presidential election of the United States of America. He is the first African-American to become our president.

As I sat and watched the votes come in, I could not help but think that this was the first presidential election that I ever really followed. I watched a couple of the debates, I did the research on line to learn how our voting system works (there was always a big mystery around the Electoral College and how it works), I even researched the history of the republican and democratic parties. Barrack made me want to learn more about how our system works.

When he won I had a sense of joy that I could not express in words. I just sat there with my wife and asked myself a whole series of questions. Why am I so happy? Is it simply because he is a Black man? It was more than that. That night was the first time I felt like I was part of the United States instead of just being in the United States.

I had a nervous, so what do we do now, energy that made me think of the college recruiting process. It is one thing to get someone into college, it is a totally different thing to actually keep them there and make sure they are successful. I felt that America, Black America in particular did a good job of getting Barrack into office, but how do we support him now that he is there. I did not have an answer for that, but I kept my eyes and ears open as days passed from that November day to the recent chilly inauguration day in Washington D.C.

Part of my trip to D.C. included post inauguration bonding time riding the D.C. trains in search of souvenirs to take back home. It was just too busy during the day to try and grab anything then. During my train ride with two other Black gents, one I’ve known since high school and another I’ve known for a couple of months, we began to talk about what we can do to make this presidency a great one. We discussed what we have heard from some other Black people regarding the thought of, “No more excuses”, but decided that we wanted to look at a statement in the affirmative as opposed to the negative (the use of the word “no” in the statement makes it negative). We searched for the opposite of the word “excuses” and came up with accountability and responsibility. So the focus would be on being accountable and taking responsibility for our actions and successes. A later conversation with one of my mentors led me to two additional things we can do to make this presidency and country thrive; service and staying connected to what is going on politically. It has inspired me to create a list of 101 ways to be a civic servant. “Everybody can be great because everybody can serve” in the words of Dr. King. Our new president has inspired me to do just that, serve.

How about you? What has Barrack Obama being elected as president meant to you?

What to help me write my list of 101 ways to serve? Visit my blog www.runthepoint.blogspot.com to contribute.

101 Ways to Serve

2009-01-25T23:45:00.001-05:00

This is my list of 101 ways to serve. It is the answer to the question, "What can we do support our country and support our new president?" You are invited to help build this list. Big or small it all counts.

Read to a child
Shovel snow for someone
Serve as a mentor
Write a book of your experiences
Adopt a Pubic Spot (a park, roadside section, etc.) that needs attention and Keep it Clean.
Read to Kids at your Recreation Center or Library.
Become a Big Brother
Give Blood
Work Out 15 Minutes Daily - Poor health taxes medicaid and the health care system
Pray for your Leaders!
Educate ones self more on U.S. history & Current events (CNN, MSNBC etc...)
Do one charitable thing in your community per quarter (Habitat for Humanity, Donate, After school programs etc...).
Turn off television and hand your child a book and pick one up for yourself (lead by example).
Make family dinner a routine and during that time discuss current events, Finances (Good credit, budgeting, etc...) and the importance of higher education.
Remind yourself daily that anything and everything is possible. "The expert at anything was once a beginner" (unknown).

Message from a Snow Bank

2009-01-13T11:26:00.001-05:00

This season has been an interested one filled with enough snow for the season already. As I reflect on my experience with the snow last season and that which I’ve already had this season I noticed a trend. I’m used to being a self-reliant individual, but the snow has humbled me with several lessons in accepting and asking for help.

Looking back at my time in New York: Brooklyn, Oneonta, Syracuse & Massachusetts: Easthampton and Framingham, I never needed any help when it came to getting my car going in the snow. I never got stuck in a ditch or could not shovel a little bit and be on my way. I don’t know if there is something in the air that is making the snow extra stubborn so I can’t just drive through it, but something has changed in the past two seasons. Read my two cases and I’ll let you be the judge.

Winter 2007-08
My wife came home and left the car on the side of the road so I can park it since the driveway was filled with snow. I took a look at the driveway filled with snow and I look at our Audi. I looked at the snow and looked at the Audi again. “I can reverse through this snow without any problem.” Wrong! I gave myself a little bit of room so I could build momentum as I hit the snow in the driveway, but halfway through I got stuck. I tried moving forward, “I can’t.” I tried moving backwards, “I can’t.” I decided to get out and shovel around the car so I could get out of the driveway and park the car on the side of the road until the plow could clear our driveway. After shoveling for a couple of minutes I jumped in the car and tried to move forward; it didn’t work. I tried to move backwards it didn’t work either. After repeating the cycle of shovel, try to move forward, try to move backward a few times, my neighbor comes out and gave me a hand. As I hit the accelerator she watched to see which wheel(s) was keeping the car stuck. After the initial assessment, she went away and came back with Kitty Litter. She put a handful of the Kitty Litter in front of the tire that was stuck, I hit the accelerator and I was out of harms way. I will leave out the fact that I went from being stuck in one stop to being stuck in a ditch as I tried to park on the side of the road. I won’t tell you I went through the same procedure cycle of shovel, trying to move forward, trying to move backward, until another neighbor saw my struggle and came to my aid.

Winter 2008-09
Snow storm conditions existed, but I had to go to work in the evening. I get to my destination with only a couple of “fish tail” moments. I’m on the site and instructed to park in a lower parking lot. I see several vehicles trying to leave so I avoid them by taking a longer path around to get to my final destination. As I make my last turn and start to head straight I find that I am stuck in what seems like a bank of snow. I try to move forward, “no luck”; I try moving backwards, “no luck.” I ask a couple of good Samaritans for assistance by giving me a push but that didn’t work. We grab someone from the plow crew who brings a plow with a special brush attachment used to remove snow without damaging vehicles. That did not work either. The one thing we could not find is a shovel. As I rack my brain and look around I notice that there are thin metal poles with orange caps on the top so cars know there is a curb in that location. I start to think the worst, “did I just jump a curb and run right over one of these thin poles?” I decided to leave the car right where it was and headed into work where I could find someone with a shovel. After taking care of a couple of things I announced to a group of my peers that I had a special team building activity for us called, “Get Bruny’s car out of the snow.” We headed out with shovel in hand and after clearing the path for the tires, I was freed from my snow bondage. It turns out with the lack of visibility I jumped the curb and ran over one of the thin green poles with the orange caps. The pole was easily bent back to its original upright position and there wasn’t any damage to my car.

What you can learn from my snow adventures:
• We can all use a little help now and again. It didn’t matter how strong I was when I was stuck in the snow, I couldn’t have my foot on the accelerator and push the car at the same time. Sometimes we have to humble ourselves and accept the help of others.
• Do you see what I see? Sometimes having an additional person in a situation allows you to get a different perspective on the situation. From the driver’s seat, I could not see which wheel was in need of attention.
• The right tool for the job: Despite the fact that I had the assistance of people of push the car and a snow plow with the special brush attachment, I was still stuck. Sometimes the problems / challenges we face can be solved with the simplest of tools. In this case that tool was a shovel.

Where have you been resistant to accepting the assistance of someone else?
What have you been wrestling with all by yourself?
Where are the opportunities to replace overly sophisticated methods with simply ones?

Someone else’s assistance may be just what you need to take things to the next level in 2009.

Accept the help if it’s being given, ask for it if you need it, and keep it simple.

Run the Point,
Mike "Ambassador Bruny"
Professional Coach, Speaker, Author
Run the Point Enterprises
Ambassador to your highest vision
www.runthepoint.com

Author of: "Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations To Change Your Life." www.runthepoint.com/products or www.authorhouse.com
Check out how the lyrics of Hip Hop Artist can help you with such topics as: Winning, Time Management, Vision, Faith, Support, Decision Making and Living a more fulfilling life. Email me at Bruny@runthepoint.com for a free 3 Day Sampler.

© 2009 Run The Point Enterprises All rights reserved.

Happy 2009

2009-01-13T11:24:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year!

I wanted to wish you a Happy 2009. I hope you brought the new year in the way you wished. I was fortunate enough to spend the holidays back in my hometown of Brooklyn, NY. Being back home gave me an opportunity to catch up with a number of friends who I have not seen in over 10 years. I made the time to spend some quality 1-on-1 time with each of them. It was good to be with familiar people i've known for so long.

Besides enjoy the comfort of the past, I also did a couple of new things that I have never done before. My wife and I celebrated new year's at a lounge in NYC with a couple of friends and a whole lot of other people who were not friends. Traditionally for New Year's we are in someone's home with people we know.

I also spent a good amount of time working on some foundation work for 2009. It felt good to revisit/clarify values, focus visions and put together a couple of short term goals to get after what I want in 2009. Looking at my values I came up with the word CHAPS to represent the different elements of my values: Clarity, Creativity, Harmony, Accomplishment, Positive, Preparation, Possibilities and Structure.

The process I used to clarify my values:

Review peak moments from the past and present. Times when you felt like you were in what athletes refer to as "in the zone." What are some of the recurring themes that show up?
Review how you are known to the outside world. Ask a couple of people in your personal and professional life how they would describe you. What they see as your strengths and areas of opportunity.
What really bugs you in your current situation, in the world. Usually it's a sign of a value being stepped on. What is the opposite of what you really bugs you? It may reveal a value.
What can't you help but be?
Once you get your values listed, define them in your own term, not by what Websters or Dictionary.com tells us. For example, my values Creativity = Bow tie / my own twist, Positive = glass 1/2 full and still pouring in.

So now that you have that figured out; What do you want in 2009? What values do you want to make sure that you are honoring more in 2009? You will have to start and stop this process allowing time for it to soak in and new information to be developed. Be patient with yourself but don't quit on the process.

Run the Point,
Mike "Ambassador Bruny"
Professional Coach, Speaker, Author
Run the Point Enterprises
Ambassador to your highest vision
www.runthepoint.com
Author of: "Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations To Change Your Life." www.runthepoint.com/products or www.authorhouse.com
Check out how the lyrics of Hip Hop Artist can help you with such topics as: Winning, Time Management, Vision, Faith, Support, Decision Making and Living a more fulfilling life. Email me at Bruny@runthepoint.com for a free 3 Day Sampler.

© 2009 Run The Point Enterprises All rights reserved.

Planning for 2009

2008-12-08T21:31:00.002-05:00

"If I can see it, then I can do it."

~R.Kelly[I Believe I Can Fly]

Hopefully you've had a moment to reflect on 2008 and are ready to plan for 2009. 22 Days left and counting.

There are many goal setting methods, but what I would like you to focus on is something you can see...literally. We are going to play with the right side of our brains (artistic, visual) for a minute. This is where my request last week to have a couple of your favorite magazines close by comes into play. What we are going to do is create a vision board for 2009. For those who are not familiar with vision boards; it's a sheet of paper (you decide the size) that is usually poster board size, used to paste pictures of what you want to: possess, be, and do. You can have as much fun as you want with this.

Here is a set of instructions to get you going:

Supplies needed: poster board, magazines, pictures, anything you can glue to a poster board, markers, glue stick or scotch tape.

Decide on your theme for 2009. It could be based on a song, a movie, a famous quote or anything else you feel represents your vision for 2009.
Look for pictures that represent what you want in your life in 2009. A couple of suggested areas of focus: Fun, Health, Money, Career/Business, Relationships, Spirituality.
Once your pictures are placed and arranged on the board, write: "I am" or "I have" next to each picture. example-- "I am the director of XYZ company."
Place your vision board in a place you can see it often.

A vision board from my vision board party in May

For the tech savvy reader:

E-Vision Board: You can also create an electronic vision board by using your digital photos and ones you find on the web. You can paste them into an application like Microsoft Word or PowerPoint (I recommend PowerPoint. I find it easier to let your creative genius flow and move things around to create the look you want.) You can follow the same steps listed above as a guide. Once you have your pictures in place print it out and hang it in a location where you can see it and be reminded of your goals.

Example of an e-vision board:

The 2 unwritten rules:

Have fun
If you find yourself saying, "I don't know what to set as a goal," just make it up. Seriously, list a couple of easy things to get you going, but wherever you are stuck, make it up. I prefer that you get started then never start at all. Happy vision boarding.

2008-11-27T07:48:00.000-05:00

Dear Contacts:
Over the past several years I've made a number of great contacts, but have not always done a great job of keeping in touch. I'm currently organizing my contacts and getting clear on those who want to be part of my journey moving forward. For some of you, you may be thinking to yourself, Mike who? Well here is a list of some of places I have worked or been affliated with that may ring a bell: Originally from Brooklyn, P.S. 189, Lafayette H.S., John Dewey H.S., Brooklyn Skyhawks Football, Hartwick College, Cornell University Sports Camp, Syracuse University Athletics, UMass Amherst Sport Management, Octagon Marketing, Black Enterprise Golf/Tennis/Ski/Entrepreneur Conference event, UConn Athletic Marketing, Greater Hartford Jaycees, NACMA, New Balance Athletic Shoe, Calkins Advisors, Winning Wednesdays, Intel, Greater Framingham Community Church, The Partnership Inc., INROADS, Monster.com's Making it Count Speakers Program

A quick update, I apologize for the redundancy for those i've spoken with recently:

I'm a professional Life Coach: I'm running a coaching practice called Run the Point enterprises (http://www.runthepoint.com/) and making a transition of focus on my lastest project: The Quarter Life Answer (website to follow shortly). I basically focus on working mostly with young adults aged 24-35, helping them thru what I call the Quarter Life Challenge. It is a time of doubt, discovery, best summarized by, "Am I doing what I should be doing at this point in my life?" By working with me and my programs I help them become more marketable and gain clarity for big life and professional decisions.

I'm an Author: I wrote a book to help people find some of the clarity I mentioned above. It's called: "Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affrimations to Change You Life."(www.runthepoint.com/products) If you love quotes you're going to love this book. If you are looking to make a change in your life one day at a time, you are going to love this book.

I'm a blogger: I write a blog / newsletter that may be of interest

To steal a line from the movie, Jerry Mcquire, "Who's coming with me?" I will occassionaly send you info on my lastest activities, events and products. I wanted to give you an opportunity to Subscribe to my notes and/or pass it along to someone who you think may be interested and falls within the demographic stated above.

Upcoming event: Free Conference Call - "Using Move the Crowd: 30 Days of Hip Hop Affirmations to Change Your Life to Wrap up '08 and prepare to thrive in '09"

Getting Tixs for the Presidential Inauguration

2008-11-12T11:17:00.000-05:00

I have been life coaching for a while now. Helping people get from where they are to where they really want to be, helping folks focus on balancing, etc. I decided to pursue my certification last April with the Coaches Training Institute, which will allow me to say, I am a certified life coach through the CTI and eventually the International Coaching Federation (ICF) when I'm all said and done -- I'm going global with this.

What some of you may not know is that I have to take a written (Passed it already!) and oral exam after tons of work and 100 hours of coaching. My oral exam was scheduled for January 20th. I say "was," because I had to make a decision whether to take the exam on the appointed date or be part of history by attending the presidential inauguration. I chose door number two. "No," we don't know where we are going to stay yet (all my Virginia and D.C. people my wife and I are looking for a room for the night) but that does not matter. We are going to be there when our 44th president is sworn in.

I encourage you to be part of history as well. Below is information you may find helpful in assisting you with making the choice:

Getting Tickets to the Presidential Inauguration

The presidential Inauguration is taking place on January 20th and the only way to get tickets is to request them through your senators and congressman. You can find your senator by simply going to google and typing: "Who are the senators for (insert your state here)." Below is info. on how to find your congressman.

This link ( http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW_by_State.shtml) will take you to a page with a map on it. Simply select your state and your congressmen (House of Representatives) will be listed as well as several districts. If you already know their name or your district, great. Just select it and get the contact information.

If you do not know your district you can do a couple of things:

Call city hall or your town hall and they can tell you your district as well as who represents you.
Research online

Now that I know my congressman:

Call them up, email them and leave your name, mailing address and phone number and the number of tickets you are requesting. Maybe you have a compelling story; I don't know if this helps. They should get back to you shortly.

In my case my congressman's office got back to me in one day and told me to send an email to preztix@gmail.com and I would be placed on the request list. I do not know if this email is state specific, but I was asked to provide the same information I suggested you give to your congressman.

I wish you success and keep me posted if you actually get tickets and if you know how the process works once your name is "on the request list."

Testing

2008-11-10T20:48:00.000-05:00

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