Studies have shown that 90% of executives wake up before 6 a.m. and nearly 50% of all self-made millionaires wake up three hours before their actual workday begins.
For me, getting up early is part of who I am. I wake up each day at 4 a.m. I always set the opportunity clock at 4:08 a.m. but the majority of the time, I will wake up right about 4:00. Since I have done this, it has allowed me to have plenty of time to exercise, have quiet time, plan my day, play guitar, and get myself mentally prepared for my workday. This is all part of my routine. After that, I leave my house at 7 a.m. or sooner to head out into the field focused and ready for a great day.
Today, let me share several reasons why getting up early will be very helpful for your success journey.
1) There are no distractions.
So many people wake up at a later time and they find themselves stressed out trying to get kids ready for school, listen to the news, etc.
When you wake up early, it is a quiet time. After I do my exercises, I go for a 35-minute walk. Not only is this beneficial to my health but it is a wonderful form of therapy. Waking up early definitely helps you to become more focused.
2) It helps build discipline.
There is no doubt about it that getting up early does require discipline, especially if you are not normally an early riser. You don’t have to start at 4 a.m. but make a decision to slowly adjust your schedule.
Getting up early helps you to build discipline and it will also help you in other areas of your life.
3) It helps you to build momentum.
By getting up early, you are starting your day off on a positive note. You are accomplishing things which will help you reduce stress. Momentum is such a key part of success. I’m always talking to others about keeping the mojo going. When you’ve got the mojo going, it seems like everything falls into place. Getting that momentum going starts by getting up early.
4) It gives you an edge over everyone else.
When I leave my house, I am filled with energy and completely focused on my day. There are no distractions. This is important especially if you are in the field of sales. Getting a head start really puts you ahead of everyone else. I think of times that while I’m out in the field early, many representatives are still sleeping or still at home. If you want to have success, it’s important to start your day off positive which will help you to become more successful.
In order to be successful, do the things that successful people are doing. Model yourself after them. Find out what their schedules are like. You will find that the majority of super successful people wake up early which gives them a head start over everyone else. Wake up before the sun comes up. You will be amazed how much you can accomplish in this extra time.
In front of Caesars overlooking the tent where the famous Absinthe show performs, this is a great new venue. With plenty of shading, misters and its own 12-seat outside bar, Terraza features 9 ft by 16 ft screens for football viewing, videos, or perhaps a meeting presentation. Walk directly into the patio or go through Café Americano. There are 22 tables, enough to seat 60.
Terraza features Asian, Tex Mex, Latin, and American food and is open 24 hours a day. We tried shrimp ceviche and short rib tacos, streak roll sliders and calzones, mini steak banh-mi sliders and a quinoa dish. They also serve fries smothered in gravy, curried garbanzo bruschetta, and KFC steamed buns. Finishing up we had a nutter butter milkshake, always a favorite.
Another newly opened restaurant slotted for Sept. 18 is Graffiti Bao on the west side. Inspired by Asian markets, they will serve lobster bao, Vietnamese crab fried rice, and bone marrow chow fun.
Gordon Ramsay Steak at the Paris is totally remodeling. The new-look will be much lighter, and the menu will add more shellfish and vegetarian dishes.
Some of the top chefs from Las Vegas will again come together for the 11th Annual LAS VEGAS FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL with chefs from all over the world.
On Friday, October 4 and Saturday, October 5, drinking, tasting, eating and feasting will come to Tivoli Village on the west side of Las Vegas. The event will be headlined by James Beard Foundation Award-winning chefs such as Chef Charlie Palmer, Chef Francois Payard, Chef Saipan Chutima, Chef Katsuya Uechi and Chef Marc Marrone.
They will not only be creating the menus but will show wonderful cooking demonstrations. Marvelous specialties range from Italian, Spanish, Japanese to down-home American cooking.
And what about desserts, you ask? There will be an abundant amount featured around the Village, some which are so gorgeous you actually hate to bite into them.
Ticket sales have started and run from $100-150. This includes a special tasting of wines, beers, spirits, and magnificent food. LVF&W Festival sells out yearly, so you should purchase tickets ASAP. www.VegasFoodandWine.com
Have you ever felt like you knew something was going to happen before it did? Or, heard the phone ring and knew who was calling before picking up? Have you visited a place in your dreams, only to discover the location in real life the next day? If so, you are definitely not alone. A quarter of Americans believe that humans have psychic abilities, telepathy, clairvoyance and prophecy, to name a few. Perhaps there is more to these feelings of instinct than you realize. In reality, these could actually be psychic abilities that you can nurture and grow.
Have your dreams come true?
Those hours when we are asleep are shrouded in a great mystery: our dreams. Physically, our bodies may be resting, but there are periods of the night when our brain is very active indeed. Often the dreams that we have can be truly epic adventures to other places, where we meet new people and also the ones that have already left this earthly plane. Up to 20% of people believe that these are simply not just dreams—they are astral projections. Our consciousness is taking a journey away from our physical presence. We are not just being shown alternate planes, but also how the future will lay out before us. Next time you wake up after a dream, write down what has happened. If these dreams start to become reality, it may be a sign of psychic abilities.
Has your instinct guided you safely?
It is common for us to rely on logic and experience to make decisions in our lives. However, the majority of us have had times when we have gone simply with a solid gut instinct. Perhaps you decided not to get the train to work and then heard on the news later that there was a train accident. Or, maybe you decided to stay home instead of going to a party, but then later heard that it was a disastrous evening. This could in fact be a built-in psychic ability. In fact, 25% of people believe that we have this clairvoyance – we just need to follow it more.
Do you see people in a different light?
Psychics see the world in a different way and this includes how we perceive other people. A sign that you may in fact have a psychic gift is that you see others in a unique way. Can you perceive colored auras around people that shimmer and change depending on their emotions? Maybe you hear happy music playing around particularly vibrant souls, or a mournful lament around those that are struggling. Do you hear the sound of a person’s voice and then instantly associate an image or an object with them? These sensory visions could actually be an inbuilt psychic ability waiting to get out.
Dreams are a journey and the mind is a powerful tool—we are yet to unlock what it can really do. Just listen to your own foresight and instinct and you may find that you have a psychic gift to help guide you through life.
Cesar Millan, the world’s most celebrated dog behaviorist, will bring the story of his remarkable life to the stage for the world premiere of his one-man show “Cesar Millan – My Story: Unleashed.” “I train people not dogs,” he usually says. This will be the first time Millan will share his inspiring story at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
In the David Copperfield Theater, ticket prices start at $45 plus tax and fees There will be a few VIP Meet and Greet packages. 8 p.m. all nights but Saturday which is at 9. Tickets can be purchased by visiting mgmresorts.com, ticketmaster.com, by calling 866-740-7711 or in-person at any MGM Grand box office.
“It’s been an incredible journey thus far and I’m honored to share my life story unlike I ever have before on stage at MGM Grand in Las Vegas,” said Cesar Millan.
Cesar has worked with animals for more than 25 years. He had an Emmy Award-nominated television series, where he worked to change bad attitudes of hundreds of misguided dogs with his distinctively different training methods. Helping hundreds of families hold on to their pets, by re-designing how they act.
Cesar Millan – My Story: Unleashed was co-created and produced by Adam Steck of SPI Entertainment, who created the famed headlining show Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth, which successfully toured the world and performed on Broadway.
SPI Entertainment Founder and CEO Adam Steck said, “We’re thrilled to announce our collaboration with Cesar Millan. After meeting him, he’s one of the most incredible human beings I’ve ever met. I can’t wait for him to tell his inspiring story during this uplifting experience. I’m extremely proud of the show we’ve put together and we have no doubt that audiences will love it as well.”
Born in Sinaloa, Mexico, Millan crossed the border with $100 to his name and his dream to become the greatest dog trainer in the world. Cesar has worked with Oprah, Mark Zuckerberg, Jerry Seinfeld, Scarlett Johansson, and many others. He went on to become a New York Times best-selling author and motivational speaker.
What an incredible opportunity that we have with RMS! What a blessing it is to live in this country where we can pursue our dreams and achieve amazing levels.
When I started out with RMS, I was basically starting life over again. Due to some bad choices and just life‘s circumstances, I was not in a very good position. I tasted success at a very young age and accomplished great things in my previous business. I have to admit, though, that I took it all for granted.
Before I came in with RMS, I pretty much lost everything. I know what it’s like to be broke. I know what it’s like to have the electricity shut off. I even know what it’s like to have a car repossessed. All I can say is that I thank God for second chances.
A friend introduced me to the merchant bank card industry back in 2000 with a different company. When I look back, they didn’t offer me a very good program and, as a matter of fact, I didn’t even know what residuals were until several years later. In spite of all that, I am extremely grateful that they thought of me when they introduced me to this industry.
In 2002, I began my career with Brian Kamstra and RMS. I had success right out of the gate but I knew I had a lot of hurdles to overcome. Sometimes people talk about an overnight success. I can say that it took me a lot of years to become an overnight success.
As I look back, I can truly say that every year has been better than the previous in so many ways. I hope that everyone reading this understands that you can have incredible success in this industry. Those of you who know me know that I am very humble. I know where all my blessings come from and today, I do not take any of them for granted.
To be in a position of becoming debt-free and very secure, I am thankful that we can bless so many other people. It is very important for me and I want to express to all of you that no matter what levels you achieve in life, always keep setting goals. Always look for ways to grow. I have a goal to give $1 million away every year; I still have a ways to go but am sincerely enjoying the ride. I am humbled and filled with gratitude.
Let me encourage you to really grasp hold of this amazing opportunity and take advantage of it. It’s not a get rich quick scheme. It’s going to take a lot of dedication, hard work, commitment and yes you will go through struggles but no matter what, keep plugging away. It is so worth it and you will be thankful that you did.
I want to make sure that I, and we as a company, can provide you with all the necessary resources to become successful. I truly believe that we do that. You have so many resources at your fingertips, success is staring you right in the face. The question is, “How bad do you want it?”
Opportunity is knocking, it’s all your choice. Be thankful and choose success. One day, you will look back and be thankful you did.
Executive Chef Dan Rossi is bringing hearty classics and rustic flavors to this beautiful Red Rock eatery. Located on the west side resort in the old Salute Restaurant, this amazing place will serve you up the finest of dinners. With a beautiful outdoor patio, a separate bar, and a private dining room, diners will have a great evening feasting on magnificent dishes. I got to experience it last night and was delighted.
We started with a beautiful drink that had a smoky taste and went to a White Negroni, made with Tanqueray. Our private room of 12 guests ordered everything family style. The high-end appetizer plates with both green and black marinated olives, fabulous parmesan cheese bites, salamis, and artichoke hearts with some spreads to go on the bread was the starter. There was a carpaccio plate, giant Gambari shrimps, and meatballs. Three rustic pizzas arrived, and then came the salads. The Caesar was crisp and satisfying, while the Mista with shaved fennel and the Capresso were the perfect touch. Tarantella pasta, rigatonis with meat sauce and spaghetti are all on the menu. The steak, Bisteca alla Fiorentino was a 28 oz Double R Ranch for two and was perfectly done on a grill. There are 8 veal dishes to pick from along with plenty of chicken and fish. The salmon looked excellent.
All bread is baked daily and they use only the very highest imported ingredients. And don’t forget the desserts especially the Tiramisu.
Hours are 5-11 nightly, reservations at 702-797-7777. Red Rock Casino is magnificent, you might just want to stay a night there on your trip to Las Vegas.
Yes, the world-acclaimed Boozy Skunkton will welcome guests to their show at the Venetian Resort.
Who is Boozy Skunton you ask? Well come and find out. This is a wild and wacky show set in the silent years of a long-ago west. Boozy bought her first hotel which was acquired by the government as an atomic bomb test site.
Now Boozy has returned with her crazy, wild, sexy, and amoral troupe of entertainers and is going to create the greatest saloon show the world has ever seen. There are acrobats, comics, and variety acts which will take you back to the Wild Wild West.
UK’s leading newspapers award this show five stars, where it had a month-long run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. This “rodeo is on steroids.” Located at the Waterfall Atrium inside the Venetian Resort on the 2nd level. At the end of the gondola canal. Monday and Tuesday at 8, Dark on Wednesday, Thursday thru Sunday both 7 and 9 p.m. The show is 70 minutes in length and attendees must be 16 and up.
This column contains sensitive subject material. Please be advised.
“God whispers in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to a deaf world.” C.S. Lewis
“I really like that,” Chickie said to me. “CS Lewis was brilliant. He is captivating and inspires to look further.” Chickie was sipping on an iced tea in a Mexican restaurant right next to her shop in Fort Lauderdale. She went on to tell me the story of a young 13-year-old girl who was raised in an extremely violent family environment. In this case, it was not only the dad who was violent but also Mom. It got so bad Dad ended up doing time. He also attempted to take his own life. Mom eventually left with Chickie to live with her new boyfriend.
Chickie said one day she felt so sick while Mom was at work that the boyfriend made her take pills which he said would “make her feel better”. Turns out Chickie ended up crawling to the phone calling her mom saying, “I think I will die”. Mom returned home a few hours later and Chickie was brought to the hospital for some testing. The tests revealed she had taken some very heavy drugs. A few months later the boyfriend tried to kiss Chickie. That is when the flags went up in her mind. Not surprisingly, she left her mom to live with her dad. Dad kicked his then live-in girlfriend out to make room for Chickie.
As months went on Chickie says, she was fine but one day she started feeling quite sick. Chickie was pregnant as a result of what is now called “Drug Rape”. Months later she gave birth to a son who was the result of a rape by her mother’s boyfriend. Chickie gave the child up for adoption and today the child should be 30+ years old. Chickie says she never told the truth to her dad for fear of losing him to jail. He would’ve most likely killed her mom’s boyfriend. Chickie was born in 1968 in Chicago, Illinois. Her name is Athena and she is now known as Chickie of “Vagabond Chopper” (www.vagabondchoppers.com ) in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Do I need to tell you how heavy-hearted I am writing this column? That is, especially being the father of three precious children who see their mother’s boyfriend more than they see me. I did my homework on the weasel, but you never know. Based on statistics, the reality is that in the pool of people who are reading this, there will be many who will fall in the category of past/current or future offenders and/or victims. This has been the most difficult and challenging column to write so far. Chickie knows I tend to dig a little deeper beneath the surface of things in my work but this is a tall order. Chickie is not looking for sympathy or pity. She has entrusted me with telling her story publicly. She hopes it will help people coming from all spectrums. I am full of gratitude for being the recipient of Chickie’s trust and confidence. It takes great courage to come out about this, and I feel a tremendous amount of respect for her.
Dad and mom were Italian hippies. Dad was hanging out with the wrong crowd of bikers and mom was a go-go dancer. One of her uncles back then owned what has become one of the most famous rock ‘n roll venues in Los Angeles; “Whiskey A Go-Go”. Another uncle of hers drove for legendary mafia lord Al Capone. Athena has a paralegal degree and gave it all up to start what has truly become her passion; Vagabond Chopper. She is now happily married to her third husband (Don) who happens to be working as a technician in the shop with her. As she proudly recalls, Don was (still is) one of the most sought-after technicians in the market. Before Vagabond Choppers, Don worked for celebrity motorcycle builder Eddie Trotta. With a grin on her face, she tells me it was easy to recruit Don because she could offer him benefits which were impossible for Eddie Trotta to offer. Chickie now has three beloved children; Axel, Desiree, and Gray.
John (Chickie’s first husband) was a biker. He first asked Chickie’s dad if he could take her out riding. As Chickie would wash and wax John’s bike quite regularly, she once saw something loose on the bike and fixed it. That is when she really got hooked to “wrenching” on choppers. She has since built approximately 20+ custom motorcycles. She has been featured on more than one occasion in many reputable media outlets (magazines and production shows). Chickie has appeared on the reality TV shows “Miami Ink”, “Corbin’s Ride On” and “American Thunder.” She is also a member of the “Motor Maids MC”, America’s first all-women motorcycling club. Chickie’s philosophy on building bikes or anything in life is “Do it because you love it or get out!”.
Chickie is really down to earth. “My bike is my therapist,” she says. Chickie describes herself as a “good-natured and good-spirited person.I tend to put others before me. In my mind, every single one of our clients is a celebrity!”. Her favorite builders are Donny Smith, Sugar Bear and Dave Perewitz. She would love to build a bike for Queen Latifah. And she proudly says to me that she exclusively uses parts that have been made in the USA. “Our economy needs us to stay loyal”. Chickie has a special desire and that is “to break the gender barriers in the builders’ world”. She would like to do something to raise funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association because her own mom who passed in 2003 had related health issues.
One of the funniest riding experiences Chickie can recall is when she went down a 7% steep grade hill riding with a jockey shift. When she got on top of it she says it looked like a roller coaster. Don was with her and heard her say “I am going to die”. At the bottom, the gravel was 3 feet deep and her front wheel dug in deep. When she got off the bike safely, she literally kissed the ground.
In her spare time, Chickie likes to horseback ride, roller-skate, and play with guns. Her favorite gun is an 8-inch barrel Dan Wesson 44 caliber, and the only gun control she likes is the one that allows her to hit a target. Chickie believes “everyone should be able to bear arms, but automatic guns aren’t really necessary for civilians”.
Chickie is kind of like an open book. “Do unto others what you want done unto you. God gives you free will. I have a relationship with God, but I am always fearful of receiving a phone call when my kids are away at night. I try to think positive. There is not a day that goes by I don’t pray with Thanksgiving. Always be thankful for all you have, even in trials. Sometimes I blow kisses towards heaven while I ride. My children brought me more than what any amount of money could ever give me. All in all, pain and suffering to a certain degree are a necessary evil for all of us to become better.”
Don and Chickie got married under God and she thinks this will make a difference in the long run. “You have to love the person for who they are and not try to change them. Compromising is a huge asset in a marriage.” Motherhood has helped Chickie to be more patient, less critical, less judgmental, and less cynical. Chickie loves her children to death and thinks the world of them. The youth at large however, as far as Chickie is concerned, seems to want things to come easy to them. “Every parent should encourage their children to serve in the military.”
Death penalty? “Too much of an easy way out especially on crimes against children. A long and slower life sentence in prison would be better”. Today, after everything Chickie went through she feels like she has come out of it stronger. She feels she is a better person. Sometimes when she is sad or angry or hurt, she still is strong enough to let herself cry. Suicide has never ever been an option. “It is a cowardly act.Go through the pain and don’t let it destroy you. Most people miss out on all their true blessings in the world. How can you look at a child’s face smiling at you and let the world step on you?”
After all is said and done, Chickie is actually happy she did not abort. “The carrier is life and the fetus is a life. How do I rob a couple from giving a beautiful life to someone who they could not otherwise have given by themselves? I never hated that child. I spoke to that child and loved him. I would be honored to meet him one day. We’re all creatures of God. God shares in the good, the bad and the ugly.”
Chickie’s dad has passed. He was her #1 fan, and the words “I love you” were exchanged every day.
According to the USA Department of Justice FBI Criminal Justice Information Services Division, 10,823 Forcible Sexual Offenses (Rape, Attempted Rape, Forcible Sodomy, Forcible Fondling) occurred in 2008 in the State of Florida alone. These stats are based on counties with 100,000+ populations. In other words, in Florida, there is a “Forcible Sexual Offense” every 49 minutes and a “Forcible Rape” every 1 hour and 28 minutes. The stats show 89,000 annual offenses on a National level.
So what are we to make of all that and Chickie?? As a father, my immediate instinct would be to kill the offender no matter what. When I stop to think about it I am not sure that would be the right thing. That is certainly when my child would need her dad the most, and I could not do much good from a jail cell. How can Chickie have possibly come out of this sane? She tells me it is her faith in God.
I did some research on possible counseling resources available; for those who have more faith in human wisdom, you can contact your local FBI agency (www.fbi.gov) at 202-324-3000. For those who have more faith in a Christian God, you can contact the “National Association of Nouthetic Counselors” (www.nanc.org) at 317-337-9100.
Chickie found comfort in building bikes. No one can deny that. Perhaps being married to Don (a biker and tech) and building choppers is as close to the pure untainted nugget of precious love she felt when her biker dad kicked his then live-in girlfriend out for Chickie to move in? In Chickie’s own words: “I am not less of a person and no one is allowed to rob me of myself. There is no blame or resentment when you are truly a person who loves with everything that you are. Negativity is easy to achieve. To be a positive person in the world takes heart, resolve, determination, patience, and love. Love of yourself and those around you allows an internal strength to be an important positive card in the deck of cards we call life.”
Thank you, Chickie. Guess what? MeToo!! But that’s for another article when I get as courageous as you have shown yourself.
There was a carpaccio plate, giant Gambari shrimps, and meatballs. Three rustic pizzas arrived, and then came the salads. The Caesar was crisp and satisfying, while the Mista with shaved fennel and the Capresso were the perfect touch. Tarantella pasta, rigatonis with meat sauce and spaghetti are all on the menu. The steak, Bisteca alla Fiorentino was a 28 oz Double R Ranch for two and was perfectly done on a grill. There are 8 veal dishes to pick from along with plenty of chicken and fish. The salmon looked excellent. 
