I love Football.

I’m also a huge fan of personal development. Since my family knows my interests and my passions – they got me “Get Coached” this year for Christmas.

Best Christmas present I think I’ve ever opened!

You might have seen this on TV. “Get Coached” is a set of 5 DVD’s, each featuring a celebrated and highly successful Football Coach. Each, share the secrets of their success both on and off the field.

The complete Get Coached 5 DVD Box set features one Coach who shares his success secrets on the following topics :

• Mike Ditka – “Total Commitment”
• Bobby Bowden – “God, Family and Football”
• Mike Singletary – “A Vision of Faith”
• Sean Payton -“Aim High”
• Rex Ryan – “Give It All You Got”

When it comes to sports – we think nothing of having a “Coach”. When it comes to the game of life however – it’s probably the furthest thing from most people’s minds – and that’s a huge mistake. Especially if you want to reach new levels and become successful in life and business. Each Coach has their own lessons on how you can empower yourself with the necessary tools to achieve great things.

What I find fascinating about this set is that many of the life lessons taught by these great men are lessons I’ve heard before. Much of what’s taught can be found in other books, seminars, and DVD’s. What this tells me (as it should you) is that success leaves clues. Doesn’t matter if it’s playing the game of football or the game of life – the principles found in this box set are universal for anyone who wants to achieve success.

Don’t take my word for it – here are several quotes from Amazon.com from others who have either purchased the DVD box set outright or gotten it as a gift:

These guys really get me PUMPED-UP to TACKLE ANY CHALLENGE! Each track is like your very own locker room pep talk (kick in the rear). Whenever I need some quick motivation, I just throw in one of these DVDs and instantly GET MY GAME ON! Also great for downloading to your iPod.

Not just for sports fans – these DVDs are for anyone who wants to advance their life through the guidance and experience of these highly successful, elite motivators, and winners.

This is one of the best motivational tools I have ever come across. The applicability of the messages are incredible, and the inclusion of some of the greatest football minds in the World enables the messages to be driven home with great effectiveness. This is a fantastic product that will make a great gift for the Holidays. A must see for anyone looking for motivation, both football fans and non-football fans alike. I only hope there are more DVDs of this type planned for the future!

The concept of highlighting Football Coach’s may be new – but the lessons found in this box set are timeless. I not only love the format (being an avid football fan) but it drives home that success is a strategy – not random luck.

Even more fascinating for me, was how I’ve gotten to know each of these men in greater detail. I gotta be honest – I never really liked Rex Ryan. He’s a bit much for my taste. But after watching his DVD, I have a new appreciation for what he stands for and what makes him tick. I actually understand why he is the way he is – and appreciate his methodology.

Sean Payton I’ve always liked for some reason and after watching his DVD – I have a tremendous amount of respect for what he’s accomplished as a coach of Saints. (Make that World Champion Saints.)

Like many of the other reviews I found and highlighted here, I also highly recommend this box set for anyone looking for tools and inspiration. It’s a set I’m using for my personal goals in 2011 and one that I’ll be watching over and over throughout the years. If there’s another series in the works – I’ll be one of the first in line to buy it.

If you’ve been thinking about this set for yourself – about all I can say (as taught to me from these fine men) is get yourself into the game. There is no thinking about it – and there is no try. You either will or you won’t.

Make the decision to commit and just do it.

You’ll be glad you did.

PS - If you're involved with YTB, sign up for our FREE Newsletter. As a Website Owner or Website Seller, we'll keep you up to date with all the latest news, acquisitions, and developments with YTB.

PPS - Subscribe to the Just Picture It Now RSS feed, (including e-mail) for all the latest posts and updates found right here!

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

I spent part of my day yesterday reading up on the NFL’s Sunday Night Football match up between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Raven’s.

Since late October, early November the League has been cracking down on “illegal hits”, threatening to suspend, but thus far only flagging and fining players in an effort to make the game safer. The cry from Pittsburgh (both fans and players) in recent weeks has been that the League has been playing “favorites” – or more succinctly targeting the Steelers unfairly.

When reporters asked Head Coach Mike Tomlin during last weeks Press Conference concerning any kind of fairness issue over penalties and fines his response was classic.

“Man, life isn’t fair. I’m not concerned about fairness. I’m really not. I’m concerned with preparing for the Baltimore Ravens.”

Two weeks ago Ben Roethisberger broke a small bone in his foot after being gang sacked by the Buffalo Bills. Sunday night during Pittsburgh’s first series of plays Haloti Ngata landed left to Big Ben breaking his nose, leaving it bloody and out of shape. (Giving new meaning to Nose Tackle.) Note – Ngata’s left was during an actual play – unlike the sucker punch right dealt by Richard Seymour after the play three weeks ago against Oakland that got Seymour ejected from the game.

While watching Ben exit the field with blood dripping and his noise badly disjointed I could hear the cry’s from Pittsburgh all the way down here in Atlanta. Having had my nose broken twice, I knew it wasn’t anything that would take Ben out of the game. (The guy was playing with a broken bone in his foot after all.)

The big question that comes up for Steelers fans time and time again is why the League doesn’t protect Big Ben like they do with Quarterbacks like Brady or Manning(s).

Personally, I wouldn’t want to be classed in the same category as a Brady or Manning. Not because I don’t think these Quarterbacks are worthy of the position – they’re Hall of Fame Quarterbacks in their own right. Reothlisberger plays on a completely different level however – and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Take the play late in the fourth quarter for instance. Roethlisberger made one of the most athletic plays I’ve ever seen – escaping Terrell Suggs who was also swiping at Ben’s head grabbing his helmet – enabling Ben to throw the ball away and avoid the sack. If it were Brady or Manning, my bet is that both would have been whistled dead for being “in the grasp”. Saving that valuable real estate gave Pittsburgh the opportunity to score the go ahead touchdown just a few plays later that ultimately won the game and placed the Steelers in sole possession of first place in the AFC North.

When change your perspective about the game – suddenly what appears to be a liability turns into an asset – and winners find a way to do just that.

I’ve seen the same thing in business. Over the years, the Travel Industry has pulled every sucker punch they can come up with to cripple Travel MLM’s. The industry convinced one large cruise line to terminate it’s partnership with the most threatening Travel MLM at the time. When other vendors failed to follow suit, the industry rejoiced when California slapped a $25 million law suit on the company with claims that it was nothing more than a gigantic pyramid scheme.

Some call that unfair as well, but from my perspective it’s merely a nuisance that validates how dominant our model really is. In much the same way people get bent out of shape about Ben’s off the field shenanigans – when it comes to producing on the field, nobody can question his desire and heart on the field. The man finds a way to win – and so does the company I’ve been privileged to represent for almost 6 years now – YTB Travel Network.

Mike Tomlin is right – life is unfair – but you can’t get sidetracked with differing views or perspectives that don’t have any bearing on what’s played during the game. You find a way to win – despite how unfair it appears to be. While it’s frustrating, it really doesn’t matter come game time.

You too – need to be resilient from head to toe to win the game.

PS - If you're involved with YTB, sign up for our FREE Newsletter. As a Website Owner or Website Seller, we'll keep you up to date with all the latest news, acquisitions, and developments with YTB.

PPS - Subscribe to the Just Picture It Now RSS feed, (including e-mail) for all the latest posts and updates found right here!

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

Enough is enough already.

Just saw the update on the Internet and saw the report on NFL Network that James Harrison has been fined another $20,000 for another hit Sunday night on Quarterback Drew Brees. Harrison tackled Brees from behind after the quarterback threw a pass and was penalized for roughing the passer. In the last month, Harrison has been fined $100,000 three separate times. Oddly enough, he was only flagged once during the games which produced the fines.

I’ve been a lifelong fan of Steelers football. I grew up watching Joe Green, Jack Lambert and Mel Blount play defense. Blount was known for his rugged but clean style of play, but his “bump-and-run” defensive style was cut short midway through his career when the League changed the rules making his harassment of a receiver illegal. Jack Lambert was one of the toughest defensive players I’ve ever seen on a football field.

They say “Defense Wins Championships”. Since that 70′s team won four Championships during their reign, I would have to agree. That type of intimidating defensive blueprint has carried into today’s Steelers team with arguably the best core of linebackers the League has seen in the last 40 years. Lambert, Ham, Lloyd, Greene, Porter, and Harrison are just a few of the names that have worn the Black and Gold.

A couple weeks ago the League made news with what they deemed were “illegal hits” – after the fact. Only one of the three player were flagged and penalized during the game, but the League ended up fining three players “after further revue” for $175,000 combined, of which $75,000 came out of James Harrison’s paycheck.

To date, Harrison has been fined $100,000 in the last doing what he’s done since he was nine years old – playing football. He’s been a Pro Bowler, a Defensive Player of the Year, and possess not only a Super Bowl record, but one of the most memorable plays in Super Bowl history.

Harrison is one of my favorite Pittsburgh Steelers because of who he is and where he came from. He’s a football player – and football can be violent. If you don’t like the hits, then you shouldn’t watch and you shouldn’t play. The NFL is America’s favorite sport, with better ratings than any other professional sport around – so it’s obvious to me at least that the general public accepts the game “as is”.

Yes, I understand that there are those who don’t like Harrison. Frankly, I don’t like Ray Lewis or Tom Brady – but only because both of them have been a thorn in the side of the Pittsburgh Steelers for years. I can dislike them, but still respect their talent and value as a football player. It’s the whining about being dirty and unfair that I see and hear from fans that I believe is childish and unproductive. My years of listening to bizarre and ridiculous Anti-MLM critics have something to do with that I guess. My tolerance for whining in that arena has basically come down to ignoring that type of pin head mentality and behavior.

While reading about all this on the Internet, I came across an interesting Facebook Fan page that I decided to join – which can help send a message to the League that football needs to remain “as is” without the bogus fines in an attempt to put skirts on these players. It’s called “Pay James Harrison’s Bogus Fine” – but I don’t want you to pay for this fine because James needs the money – clearly he doesn’t need the help. The idea here is that we as football fans who have been watching violent hits for decades like the sport “as is” – and don’t want skirts put on our players.

Just one dollar and a note to Roger Goodel will do the trick. If you’re not on Facebook – here’s the information.

“For James Harrison’s fine.”
Roger Goodell, c/o National Football League,
280 Park Avenue,
New York, NY 10017

And just so you know, all money (including the fines paid by players) go to charities designated by the NFL. The League doesn’t profit from these fines – it will be going to a good cause.

PS - If you're involved with YTB, sign up for our FREE Newsletter. As a Website Owner or Website Seller, we'll keep you up to date with all the latest news, acquisitions, and developments with YTB.

PPS - Subscribe to the Just Picture It Now RSS feed, (including e-mail) for all the latest posts and updates found right here!

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

I’m not a big NBA fan. Hardly watch any basketball to be honest. The closest I ever got to watching the NBA as a kid was “The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh“.

Like most, I was aware of an NBA move this past off season. LeBron James left Cleveland in favor of Miami in the biggest free agency move the league might have ever seen. The hope for LaBron would be a title with better talent surrounding him in Miami. He tried it with Cleveland the last seven years, without much luck, so LeBrone figured a change was in order.

The move really upset everyone in Cleveland – including majority owner of the Cavaliers, Dan Gilbert who called the move “selfishness and cowardly betrayal” in an open letter to fans. Proclaiming that the Cleveland curse will follow LaBron and “until he does ‘right’ by Cleveland and Ohio, James (and the town where he plays) will unfortunately own this dreaded spell and bad karma.”

Which proves you can still be petty AND very rich at the same time.

The “open letter” gave Cavalier fans permission to be just as petty and vocal towards LaBron all summer long – who hadn’t made a shot for Miami until last Tuesday night in the season opener – and lost.

This wasn’t an entire team that left. Not like the Browns who moved to Baltimore in 1995 – which by the way also ended one of the biggest rivalries in the NFL at the time. Believe it or not, Steelers fans also felt the impact of that move – and most felt a partial loss with Cleveland in a Monday Night Football game in Pittsburgh against Cleveland just after the announcement was made.

LaBron is a single player – a one man show if you will. True he was considered the keystone of the franchise to build around with other talent to capture a title and a home town boy to boot – but there’s no “I” in “Team”. Still, LeBron became the poster child in Cleveland for everything that’s wrong in professional sports. I didn’t realize how bizarre and emotional it was until I started to research for this article. You’d think the guy joined a Travel MLM based on some of the comments and emotion surrounding this move.

LaBron, in one of the most interesting commercials I’ve seen in a long time finally came up with a response all the bantering this summer. This isn’t about what LeBron James has done, or hasn’t done. This is about the difference between the expectations others may have of him versus the expectations he has of himself.

His answer is a question – “What Should I Do”? As if to ask critics and detractors who have taken to verbal abuse and burning his jersey directly. Pretending as if anyone else knows what’s best for the NBA star better than he does. It is after all his life – his goals – and his decision.

Too many times, we get hung up on the opinions of others. We allow it to stand in the way of what motivates us or what we believe would make us happy or successful. If you’re able to step outside the emotional baggage that others carry into the equation and look inward to your own core beliefs – none of the screaming going on outside really matters.

I love this commercial because it’s exactly how I feel towards the critics and cynics who are under the illusion that their opinions and perceptions actually matter when it comes to what I do and who I choose to associate with.

Like T. Harv Ecker taught me so many years ago in three short words – “Thanks for sharing”.

PS - If you're involved with YTB, sign up for our FREE Newsletter. As a Website Owner or Website Seller, we'll keep you up to date with all the latest news, acquisitions, and developments with YTB.

PPS - Subscribe to the Just Picture It Now RSS feed, (including e-mail) for all the latest posts and updates found right here!

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

While watching the NFL this past weekend, I witnessed a group of “manly men” wearing hot pink.

No joke. For the second straight year, the National Football League has brought a tremendous amount of attention and awareness in supporting Breast Cancer Awareness Month with gear at NFLShop.com. In addition, arm bands, head bands, shoes, and gloves worn by NFL players showed a unified voice to support this 25 year old tradition in the month of October.

We have a breast cancer survivor in our family, so this month and this cause hits rather close to home.

In an effort to bring both awareness and money to this worthy cause, please take note of the pink Breast Cancer Awareness banners at the top of this blog and the graphic from NFLShop.com here. All advertisers this month are reserved for companies that have committed a portion of their proceeds to be donated to Breast Cancer Research for the month of October. Banners will rotate above, so if the advertiser that appears does not offer something of value at the time, check back for other advertisers that may.

We have submitted with other advertisers that are currently pending approval. As they become available (and as long as they remain committed to this cause) they will be placed in this space for the remainder of October.

Please note the proceeds are offered and paid by the advertiser not Just Picture It Now. While we will be making our own donation to this cause, we’d like to keep this separate. One of YTB’s well known and documented critics proclaimed he was going to make a donation from clicks on his blog to some other cause earlier this year, maybe last.

His pitch stated that he was going to be kept “honest” by posting the receipt on his blog.

While promoting “click here for the cause” both on his blog and various boards for a week or two – a receipt to the foundation he told everyone he was supporting never appeared or was heard from again.

So much for “honesty”.

For us, having pink prominently displayed as a banner this month is more about awareness than promoting these products. There are advertisers we know of that won’t get placed because none of their banners are “pink”. Besides, we’d be just as happy if you take the money spent on any of the items listed and instead send the amount directly to NBCF by going here. With so many companies offering their support for this worthy cause – we felt these pink banners were an easy way to promote awareness ourselves and offer something of value to both men and women alike.

If the NFL can wear pink – so can this blog.

Life is important.

PS - If you're involved with YTB, sign up for our FREE Newsletter. As a Website Owner or Website Seller, we'll keep you up to date with all the latest news, acquisitions, and developments with YTB.

PPS - Subscribe to the Just Picture It Now RSS feed, (including e-mail) for all the latest posts and updates found right here!

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

I love NFL Football.

I know…”DUH!” right?

I’m not sure which year she got this, but Ronda bought a pillow that she pulls out every year that sits in the family room with the phrase “We interrupt this marriage to bring you the football season.” The kids also understand that Sunday’s are daddy’s day to have the TV during the season.

The 2010 NFL season kicks off tonight in prime time down in the Big Easy between the World Champion New Orleans Saint’s the Minnesota Vikings in a rematch of the NFC Championship game. I’m not sure I’ll have the time to sit down at 4:30 this afternoon to watch the pre-game news and buildup before the game. I’ll definitely be getting my first fix of games that actually matter tonight.

Growing up in Western Pennsylvania during the 70′s instilled my passion for this game. Even though I’ve been living here in Atlanta for the last 18 year – I’ve always said you can take the boy out of the city – but you can never take the Steelers out of the boy.

Like anything that grows and maintains a level of success – the National Football League has changed considerably since my days of growing up as a boy. I’m not sure what year the League started its Thursday night opener – but it’s only been within the last couple of years. The NFL Network is still a baby when compared to other networks. And while I’ve not seen a single minute of either Chad “Ocho Cinco” or Terrell Owens in either “Reality TV Show” it’s all the rage on Twitter and Facebook.

Speaking of those two – Hines Ward, Troy Polamalu, Deshea Townsend, Ryan Clark, Reggie Wayne, Chad “Ocho Cinco”, Larry Fitzgerald, Terrell Owens and other NFL stars are hopping on board with this new FantaZ gaming site. I’ve seen and heard about sports stars getting involved with MLM before – but a list like I’ve seen from a company that’s only in Pre-Launch is impressive.

Personally, I see a lot of similarities between team sports and MLM. As someone who’s been involved in both I have some authority in making that determination. In order to be truly successful in either – the team comes first – and everyone needs to do their part in order to win. Everyone needs to be on the same page and there’s no room for selfishness.

Both also require study and practice in order to be super successful.

Bottom line is I love both because both inspire and energize me.

The wait is almost over. I’ll get a small taste tonight – and a full dose on Sunday. Live is once again “good”.

PS - If you're involved with YTB, sign up for our FREE Newsletter. As a Website Owner or Website Seller, we'll keep you up to date with all the latest news, acquisitions, and developments with YTB.

PPS - Subscribe to the Just Picture It Now RSS feed, (including e-mail) for all the latest posts and updates found right here!

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

I haven’t been to St. Vincent College since Chuck Noll was head coach of the Steelers. Since Noll retired there have only been two other Head Coach’s from 1992 on. (The same year I moved here to Atlanta.) Some NFL teams change Coach’s every three to four years – but for the Pittsburgh Steelers it’s been three Coach’s in four decades.

In a long standing tradition (like forty five years) the Pittsburgh Steelers open training camp in Latrobe, PA tomorrow. After the events of this past off season about all I can say is – it’s about time.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have never been a much talked about team during the off season in years past – but this off season has been much different story.

The team won’t have quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for at least the first four to six games because of his NFL suspension. The offense will also be without wide receiver and Super Bowl XLIII MVP Santonio Holmes who was traded to the Jets after another off field stunt. Fast Willie Parker is now a Washington Redskin as we find out what running back Rashard Mendenhall is really made of. And to add insult to injury, our offensive line also lost tackle Willie Colon due to a season ending Achilles during spring training.

There really hasn’t been much said about the Defensive side of the ball – probably due to age and maturity. The Defensive squad however, needs to get back to smash mouth football that’s capable of shutting offenses down. (How many games did we lose in the last minute a year ago?) You can’t blame the absence of Troy Polamalu for all those last minute losses.

Nor can you blame me for the fresh start this year’s training camp offers die hard Steelers fans. (Certainly more than in years past.) It’s one thing to get use to all the free agent activities that are now common in the League – but this year’s off field activities from certain Pittsburgh Steelers was something no Steelers fan thought was even possible.

As a lifelong Steelers fan and the proud tradition this team has held for decades, it’s shocking that I feel this way.

But…

Thank goodness we get some of these guys off the street and back on the football field.

In one of the few interviews I saw on the internet from Ben Roethlisberger and the fiasco that happened in Milledgeville, Georgia this off season he said something that really stuck with me.

“I’m always committed to being the best I can on the football field, I don’t think that’s ever changed, and I don’t think anyone’s ever questioned that of me.”

There no question the kids got drive and talent. You saw that from the very first game he was thrown into down in Miami during a monsoon his rookie year. He reeled off 15 straight victories his rookie year – a record I don’t think will ever be broken. Since then he’s collected two Super Bowl rings and is unquestionably the offensive leader of the Pittsburgh Steelers. With the opening of training camp – it’s back to a focus on football without time for extracurricular activities that he shouldn’t be doing in the first place. Thus, why he’s still labeled a “kid”, and for me, it will stay that way until his on field maturity matches his off field activities.

Regardless of each players commitment on the field, Mike Tomlin has his work cut out for him this year – probably more so than previous years. The Rooney’s believe in him – with a new contract extension – and while I had my doubts early on (mostly due to the lack of head coaching changes with the Steelers since 1969) Tomlin has proven that he’s the right guy for this year’s challenges.

St. Vincent gets Steelers fans back into their comfort zone. It’s rich in tradition and always brings optimism regardless of how good or bad the previous year’s record was.

This year, we can add a bad off season into the mix, and tomorrow (thank goodness) it comes to a close.

PS - If you're involved with YTB, sign up for our FREE Newsletter. As a Website Owner or Website Seller, we'll keep you up to date with all the latest news, acquisitions, and developments with YTB.

PPS - Subscribe to the Just Picture It Now RSS feed, (including e-mail) for all the latest posts and updates found right here!

Book Your Travel & Vacations With