"Most visitors to Antarctica go to see the penguins and the glaciers. Ashrita Furman went to hop on a pogo stick.

"Mr. Furman, seeking to break the Guinness World Record for the fastest mile on a pogo stick, jumped up and down a landing strip on the Antarctic tundra in 2003. "The conditions were pretty hard," says the 56-year-old New Yorker, noting that extreme temperatures caused his pogo stick to freeze up midway through the event. He nevertheless completed the feat in 17 minutes, 45 seconds, setting the world record.

"It was just another day in the life of Mr. Furman, who holds the ultimate Guinness world record: The record for Guinness world records...

You can read the rest of this amazing real-life adventurebolt story at the Wall Street Journal article by Jilian Mincer:

#mce_temp_url#

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I went jogging this morning.

Big deal, right?

But what makes this such a big deal to me, and created its own little adventurebolt, is the fact that I did not want to go jogging.  I had zero desire to go jogging, and yet I did.  How can that be?

First of all, I woke up later than usual, and in my very structured morning routine, I knew something would have to go by the wayside.  Would it be study time, or exercise?  After some internal debate, I decided exercise would be the thing to go.

So, I continued on my planned execution of the daily routine, and when I completed all of my other required reading and catch-up for the day, I decided that even if I didn't go jogging, I should still stretch, because that doesn't take long, and I could benefit from that for the rest of the day.

As I completed the stretching, I thought I had some time to get dressed and go outside for at least a walk around the block, as the fresh air would do me some good to clear my head and get my mind set for the day.  

As I went outside, I began to feel better and more alert, and I figured I could probably just run part of the course I normally do, and still get back to the house in time to eat and get ready for work.

As I ran, I discovered that I really didn't want to stop running, and that it felt good to be out pushing myself a little (although I felt like I was jogging in slow motion).  I began to think about stories I had heard in which soldiers, in the heat of combat, act off of training without really having to think about what they are actually doing.  The discipline and training carries them through the overwhelming situation of combat.  Obviously, for me, this was not a stressful situation of that magnitude by any means, but before I knew it, I had jogged my complete route and was back at the house in the same amount of time had I really pushed myself to run like I normally do.

As I got back in the house and prepared for my cool-down stretch, I laughed to myself and thought, "What just happened? I had no desire to go jogging, and here I am complete with my route and cooling down!"

While I was eating my breakfast, it occurred to me something very unusual took place which I don't think has ever happened before: I effectively rationalized my way into jogging, even though I didn't want to.  I've never done that before.  I can tell you, I've made plenty of rationalizations to get out of doing stuff I didn't want to do, but I don't know that I've ever done it the other way around.

The only conclusion I can come to is that my internal routine has become so ingrained in me that it actually has the momentum to keep me on track, even when I don't want to do something.  That is a really strange feeling, I must say.  It was like having a personal coach that didn't yell at me to keep me motivated, but actually talked me step-by-step to the next point of decision, until I was completely through with what I needed to accomplish.

The adventurebolt lesson for me is two-fold: true discipline (another name for good habit) can actually keep you on your desired path.  Repetition is the only way I know of to accomplish this and make it stick. If you know of other beneficial ways to get these positive disciplines ingrained, please comment and let me know.

The other part of this is how the rationalization process simply took me to the next step, and then once I was there, it became more and more evident that I was heading down a certain path of behavior, and before I knew it, I was done.

Knowing this principle is one thing, but to actually have it acted out through personal experience was, well, oddly liberating and strangely eerie at the same time.  Do I expect this to happen every time I want to go jogging? No, but I think I've learned that even attempting to do the right thing (or the thing I know I should do) is better than just throwing up my hands and doing nothing at all.  You never know how it can turn out.  And after all, that's what adventurebolts are all about.

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Greetings, citizens!  Captain Adventurebolt here.

Being a while since I've posted to this site, I want to let you know it has not been without good reason. So I asked my sidekick, Challenge Boy, to interview me so we could explain what's been going on lately.

Challenge Boy: Captain Adventurebolt, why haven't you been posting regularly to your Adventurebolt blog?

Captain A: I have been in my secret lab actively developing some other content for some of my other interests, and due to time constraints I have had to set something aside to focus on those things for a while.  Superheroes are thrifty with their time. I actually have several blogs that I keep up with on a regular basis.  

Challenge Boy: Why so many sites?  

Captain A: Because Captain Adventurebolt does not have just one interest. And he sometimes even likes to talk about himself in third-person narrative format.

Challenge Boy: Isn't that distracting? Why not combine all those interests into one site?

Captain A:: Because it would probably be boring for those who share one of my interests, but not the others. So I have chosen to separate them out so everyone can enjoy the independent focus.  If you're not focused, you will never complete anything.  Write that down, citizens.

Challenge Boy: Why are you sharing this now?

Captain A: Because I believe the readers of this site deserve to know why things have changed around here. Captain Adventurebolt is compassionate, after all.

Challenge Boy: You really have changed things around here.  What's with the new look?

Captain A: I wanted to have something dynamic, yet simple. Superheroes don't have time to mess around with a bunch of html and css, so converted templates work pretty well. Plus, the purple and yellow lightning bolt matches the one on my tights and my cape.

Challenge Boy: While you've been busy with all of this, what has your super-pet Wonder Cat been up to?

Captain A: Apparently he's been busy doing what super-pets do best: making videos...

Challenge Boy: Wow, he makes a...um...worthy addition to the team.

Captain A: Indeed he does.  Apparently he's in negotiations for a Saturday morning TV show.  But that will not stop the Adventurebolt mission: To save the world from mediocrity, one adventurebolt at a time. That is the goal with every super-breath I take.  With your help, Challenge Boy, we will rescue citizens from their ordinary lives and help them have their own super-adventures.

Challenge Boy:  Yeah, sure, Captain Adventurebolt.  Um, about that...I should probably let you know that I sort of scratched the Invisi-Jet when I parked it. Might need a little body work before we head back out...

TUNE IN NEXT TIME FOR MORE MEDIOCRITY-BUSTING ACTION on ADVENTUREBOLT!

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The most important adjustment you ever make will be the one you make today . . . in your own attitude.

Your attitude today will define how you act, and how you act will define what you do, and what you do will define what gets done, and what gets done will represent what kind of person you are to others. When you boil it all down, your success hangs entirely upon your attitude today.

It’s not about how you feel about yourself, but about how you perceive what you can accomplish throughout this day. If you have no desire to achieve, then you have no passion for what you do. Passionate people know no other way than to be the best at what they do, every day, even when they don’t feel like it, especially when they don’t feel like it, because there is no other way to be the best.

If you have no desire to be the best at what you do, no one can convince you. Oh, you may be able to accomplish tasks and keep schedules and goals moving forward, but if, at the end of the day, you have no thought whatsoever on how things either could have been better today or should be better tomorrow, but instead you only complain about how everything is an insurmountable problem, and how nothing ever seems to improve, then you most likely have little or no passion and are just showing up for work. And probably not for long.

If, on the other hand, you wrestle with ideas and concepts on how to improve and refine systems; if you suddenly brainstorm over dinner on a problem you’ve been working on that day, and you can’t wait to see how it can be implemented to make your job easier, or the product better, or a communication stronger, or to improve your life and the lives of others in some distinctive way, then you are demonstrating a desire, nay, a passion, to achieve something so much more significant than simply earning a paycheck: you want to succeed.

And with that attitude, you will.

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Usually as I am getting ready to start my day in the morning, I like to have some classical music playing in the background because it has no lyrics to distract me from my thoughts. For me, classical music has an enriching quality that allows me to think and prepare for my day more effectively.

At any rate, as sometimes happens with random things, one day last week I was struck by a song that had begun to play. I was in the middle of my morning routine, but this song made me stop and listen, just for a few minutes. It happened to be Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata.” I was hooked. It is my absolute favorite of musical pieces. It is a brilliant and majestic piece of music that, even though it is very popular, never (at least to me) loses it’s vitality.

If you’re not familiar with the tune by its name, if you heard it, you would instantly recognize it. It is typically played as a solo piano piece; slow, methodical, it unfolds quietly in geometric rhythm and beauty. It stopped me, and forced me to put my busy routine on hold. I had to pause and listen; I had no choice. I was inspired.

What is it that inspires you? Is it a piece of music, or maybe a favorite story? Maybe it’s a quote or inspirational video or movie that grabs your heart and causes you become energized, or revitalized, or to remind you of who you are. Inspirational things have that effect on your life. They allow you to close out everything that can cause you to be distracted; distracted from what you need to be doing, what you are really all about. And they bring you face to face with the fact that there are bigger purposes that make all of the stress and the struggle worth it.

Don’t lose sight (or hearing!) of what inspires you. If you live life uninspired, you will never be doing your best in life or bringing the best you have to offer to work. Living life in an inspired way is what gives your life value and makes you who you are. Be inspired to do your best, and you will inspire others around you.

“Keep your fears to yourself, but share your inspiration with others.” -- Robert Louis  Stevenson

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With everything that has to be remembered and acted upon each day, it isn't difficult to become distracted. However, when we become distracted, we can lose our focus and our determination. But determination is the very thing that fuels our strength to continually do our best and accomplish what needs to be done.

“Always remember, there is more strength in you than you ever realized or even imagined. Certainly nothing can keep you down if you are determined to get on top of things and stay there.” --Norman Vincent Peale

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Help.

That’s right; I need help. I know that I can’t do everything that’s expected of me without some help. Help from teammates, help from other departments, help from friends, help from family…all of these people working together in my life help to make me who I am.

What about you? You need help. (Gosh, that sounds harsh!) No, seriously, if it’s true that I want to succeed, then that must mean I need to help you succeed.

You see: when you succeed, that helps me. Not just by making my job a little bit easier, but it helps me because I need to help you. I need to help you be successful, because as I'm helping you, I become more successful.  I know it may sound strange, but somehow, my helping you allows a sort of transformation to take place that (gasp!) causes me to look beyond my tunnel vision of work before me, and by stepping in to help you…I grow.

That’s pretty cool.

You have the ability to grow, too. But only if you purposely find ways to help someone else be successful. It’s the surest way to your own success.

“You can’t help someone get up a hill without getting closer to the top yourself.” -- H. Norman Schwarzkopf

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For the most part, I really like this quote.  It helps to keep everything in perspective, especially when the drama level gets high.  But is life really all about just being happy, or maybe something more?

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  ag

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Wish I could have gone to school in Japan. All I got to do was make a baking soda volcano...

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The following story has been circulated around the 'net for a while; I don't know the author, but the message sure rings true...

What Kind of Frog are You?

A group of frogs were traveling through the woods, and two of them fell into a deep pit. All the other frogs gathered around the pit. When they saw how deep the pit was, they told the two frogs that they were as good as dead.

The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump up out of the pit with all of their might. The other frogs kept telling them to stop, that they were as good as dead. Finally, one of the frogs took heed to what the other frogs were saying and gave up. He fell down and died.

The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could.  Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and just die. He jumped even harder and finally made it out.

When he got out, the other frogs said, 'Did you not hear us?'

The Frog explained to them that he was deaf. He thought they were encouraging him the entire time.

And the moral of this story?

1. There is power of life and death in the tongue. An encouraging word to someone who is down can lift them up and help them make it through the day.

2. A destructive word to someone who is down can be what it takes to kill them. Be careful of what you say. Speak life to those who cross your path.

The power of words ... it is sometimes hard to understand that an encouraging word can go such a long way. Anyone can speak words that tend to rob another of the spirit to continue in difficult times.

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