Living Life as a Perpetual Vacation

Obviously I haven’t been that diligent about posting regularly to this blog for the last few months. That’s because I’ve jumped wholeheartedly into what gives me my greatest fulfillment in life. I am living a totally restful, idyllic vacation. (For a refresher I described it in my last two posts.) Unfortunately I am left with little time for things like posting blogs. In any case, here is a quick update.

Regarding my second book, I finally finished the first draft. The tentative title is The Breakthrough Lesson No Coach Ever Taught and it deals with a unique mental approach to sports that I think will have a major impact on how sports are taught and practiced. Needless to say, when it is printed, I’ll let you all know.

Now here’s the cool part. My co-author Steve and I explained our book to a mutual friend who just moved into town. His name is Buddy Biancalana. Buddy was starting shortstop for the Kansas City Royals when they won the World Series in 1985. Upon hearing our ideas, Buddy got super enthusiastic and tried them out on some of the kids he coaches. He was blown away with the dramatic transformations that took place. So were the kids. Based on his experience, he went to Orlando for the winter meetings of Major League Baseball to discuss our approach with various managers, coaches and players. He even taught one Yankee some of the techniques that we devised. That player was so inspired that he will be visiting us this week for more instruction. Neat, huh?

On my first book’s front, the Czech version and the Portuguese version were recently released. The Lazy Way to Success: How to Do Nothing and Accomplish Everything is now in nine languages.

Finally, a dear friend from Denmark, Alexander Kjerulf, who calls himself Chief Happiness Officer and who writes the Positive Sharing blog http://www.positivesharing.com, wrote a book that you can download for free. It is called Happy Hour is 9 to 5 - How to Love You Job, Love Your Life and Kick Butt at Work. I highly recommend it. Plus the price is right.

I am always inspired by Alexander’s writings and approach to life. I have, on occasion, even lifted a few of his ideas to put in my blog. Alex is one smart cookie with a lot to offer.

www.lazyway.net

Comments

[Moose]

Hey Fred, correct, that price for the happy book is right!

So when you put out your second book are you gonna get all hip and put out a free online version of the Lazy book for us cheapskates?

he he he ;-P

[Alexander Kjerulf]

Wow - thanks for the kind words Fred.

I may have to put "one smart cookie" on my business cards now :o)

Have a (continued) great vacation!

Alexander

[Josh Bickford]

I cannot wait for the next book. Coaching techniques is exactly what I need!

Any chance the book will be done before Think! in Amsterdam?

[steve in sunny florida]

Uncle Fred,

Nice to have you back. I thought for a minute that you had permanently slipped into the land of blissful rest forever. Can you give an update on the TM group assembly? Have any studies of world trends been done since the last time you posted about it?

Thanks,
Steve in Sunny Florida

[bhattathiri]

Your website is beautiful, informative and Excellent.

[John Wesley]

A perpetual vacation, what a vision...if only my employer saw it that way.

[Alex Shalman]

Hey Fred,

Your book sounds interesting. Some kind of accelerated learning for sports? Can it be applied to martial arts as well?

AS - www.alexshalman.com

[Kyle]

Fred:
Enjoyed the blog - its the philosophy I personally try to live by. I learned it when I was in the Marines. My old platoon sergeant told me one Monday morning as he rolled into work three hours late but without the panic look on his face of "Oh no... I'm gonna get in trouble for being late!" I asked him - "Arent you worried about getting called onto the carpet?" He showed me his clipboard full of official looking rosters and whatnot and said to me -"If youre gonna make it in this game the key is to 1. Always look like you know what youre doing. 2. Always look kool doing it. 3. Always carry a clipboard. 4. Always look mad. If you follow these four rules they will always think youre involved in a project that they dont want to get tangled up with."

While I'm not a big fan of working hard at doing nothing, I do carry this philosophy with me into the ranks of small, entrepreneurial business owners who - knowing darn well that my employees know more about the actual mechanics of the business, I carry my clipboard and occasionally note things on it so that the veil of intellectualism is not pulled away. I also have learned to hire people who have more technical knowledge than I do.