70 Year-Old Cancer Patient Running Marathons

Don Wright, who lives in the greater Minneapolis area, is planning to run marathons in all 50 states.  He is running despite the fact that he has had cancer for more than eight years.  And despite the fact that he is 70 years old.

“Here I am living with cancer, and my biggest complaint is runner’s knee!”

Don began running marathons eight years ago, just as he was diagnosed with myeloma, and as of July 2011, he has run 54 marathons in 36 states.  As Don races toward the New York City Marathon and beyond under his “E-Race Cancer” banner, he is running on behalf of the charity Team Continuum to raise funds and help pay essential cost-of-living bills for cancer patients (www.teamcotinuum.net).

Don is also running with the support of the Tackle Cancer Foundation in Dallas, to honor the memory of its founder, former NFL linebacker Elijah Alexander, who passed away from multiple myeloma.  (www.tacklecancerfoundation.org).

Don’s cancer, myeloma, also called multiple myeloma, is a blood cancer that affects cells in the bone marrow and can damage bone.  It cannot yet be cured.  With new drugs and new treatments, it can be managed long term.  Don is on an investigational new drug that may represent an even newer generation of treatment options for patients.

“I’m running with cancer, not from cancer—because living with myeloma is a marathon, not a sprint!” says Don.  “I’m lucky—I take just a pill a day, so I am free to literally run around the country instead of being tied to a doctors’ office for traditional chemotherapy treatments, and I don’t have to deal with the side effects those treatments could bring.”

Don has never looked back since he began running marathons shortly after he was diagnosed with myeloma.  In just eight years, Don has run over 1,400 miles. Don hopes his determination to complete marathons in all 50 states will inspire others living with cancer.

DON’S UPCOMING MARATHONS:

• Sept. 18 - Erie, PA
• Oct. 1 - Bristol, NH
• Oct. 2 - Portland, ME
• Oct. 15 - Hartford, CT
• Oct. 30 - Washington, DC
• Nov. 6 - New York City Marathon

Don’s winter schedule includes Seattle, Delaware and a special race in San Diego. More information will follow.

IMPORTANT LINKS:

Twitter http://twitter.com/eRaceCancer

Facebook www.facebook.com/eRaceCancer - Sponsors have agreed to make a donation to Team Continuum for each “like” the page gets.

Don’s running blog http://minnesotadon.blogspot.com/

Don’s myeloma blog http://myelomahope.blogspot.com/

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Gatorade Moms: Heroic Moms Supporting Their Children When They Need It Most

Gatorade has teamed up with mothers from all walks of life to create Gatorade Moms, a place where moms can go to exchange stories and share tips with other mothers who train just as hard as their athletes. Gatorade Moms (http://www.gatorade.com/moms/home.aspx) is a great resource for watching inspiring success stories, reading up on nutrition for athletes and ideas about how to be a supportive champion for an aspiring star.


The first mom to share her story in the Gatorade Moms series is Stephanie Hamm (See above or below link), mother of Gold Medalist and soccer legend Mia Hamm. Watch Stephanie’s story here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ev8QjqD8Vek


All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Book Review - Coach Yourself to Win

About the BookCoach Yourself to Win: 7 Steps to Breakthrough Performance on the Job and in Your Life, examines the key question: How can you achieve permanent behavior change both in the workplace and in your private life?

Bringing over 20 years of executive coaching experience to the subject, author Howard M. Guttman advances a unique, rigorous approach to the professional and personal development categories, long dominated by pop psychologists and new-age thinkers.

Observes Guttman, "The gap in most professional and personal development books is that they offer a program for improvement without providing the core skills needed to help people achieve permanent behavior change. Those skills relate to people's ability to coach themselves through the highs and lows that inevitably occur along the pathway to change."

Coach Yourself to Win takes the trade secrets of executive coaching-ones that Guttman has applied to help hundreds of senior executives in major corporations improve their performance-and reinvents  them so they can successfully be put to use for personal and professional growth in the life space and workplace arenas.

Guttman's book is refreshingly honest. He notes in Chapter One that self-coaching isn't for everyone.  He provides readers with self-test and evaluation criteria to determine whether or not the approach he recommends is the right one for them.

One of the biggest self-coaching challenges that the book addresses is a person's willingness to accept feedback, a key part of Guttman's self-coaching process.  As Guttman explains, "Self-coachees must be willing to be vulnerable and allow others to provide them with feedback. When you treat feedback as a gift rather than a threat, you open up the possibility of achieving personal breakthroughs."

To help achieve breakthrough performance on the job and in life, readers learn to master a practical 7-step process that enables them to:

• Clarify, set, and stay committed to realistic Intentions
• Zero in on what had been holding them back
• Find the support they've been lacking
• Develop a path for change
• Evaluate themselves along the way-and make necessary corrections
• Realize their Intention to achieve a "new you"

To help readers implement their plan, Coach Yourself to Win provides a dedicated Web site-www.coachyourselftowin.com-where they will find supporting insights and materials for going through the process.

About the Author
Howard M. Guttman is principal of Guttman Development Strategies, Inc. (GDS), a Mount Arlington, NJ-based management consulting firm specializing in executive coaching; building horizontal, high-performance teams; strategic and organizational alignment; and management development training (www.guttmandev.com).

GDS's clients include Bloomberg LP; Colgate-Palmolive; John Hancock; Johnson & Johnson; L'Oréal USA; Mars, Inc.; Novartis; Pfizer; and Walmart.

Mr. Guttman is also the author of Great Business Teams: Cracking the Code for Standout Performance and When Goliaths Clash: Managing Executive Conflict to Build a More Dynamic Organization.

My Take on the BookThis book was great! I have my own small business and have been working as a
professional for some time and this book encapsulates some wonderful advice and resources that will help anyone! In reading this book it reads like a manual, one that you can follow along with and practice along the way.If you are looking to grow as a leader and as a professional, this book will definitely move you in the right direction!

One of the things that I liked about the book was the positive and change-oriented nature that the author takes. It's tone was refreshing and motivating and after reading it myself, I was motivated to set some new goals and move forward toward achieving them!

I truly believe that if you put the time into this book you will take so much out, you will not be disappointed!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.
 
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New Hallmark Kids Collection Really Motivates! Review & Giveaway

About the Cards
This collection was developed keeping in mind that everyone needs to be cheered on– kids included. Whether it’s school, sports or trying to make new friends, the children in our lives are on a journey of growth and self-exploration. Few things are more helpful to kids than the support of a parent or grown-up who believes in them and is there with a few heartfelt words of encouragement.

But sometimes, what kids hear “goes in one ear and out the other,” meaning that kids are often missing out on something they really need: encouraging words. In fact, Hallmark research revealed that the moms they surveyed think they are encouraging their children all the time, but in the moments when their kids most needed encouragement, the kids didn’t feel like it was there.

To help grown-ups better connect with and encourage kids, Hallmark recently introduced the all-new Kids Collection, a line of cards and gifts designed specifically to cheer kids on, cheer them up and make them smile. You can check out some of Hallmark’s Kids Collection at www.hallmark.com/kids. There, you’ll see a sampling of the gifts and cards that are available for grown-ups to share with the kids in their lives.

My Take on the Cards
I loved these cards. Not only were they funny, but they truly were on the kids' level and I know that if I were the recipient of the cards, I would have a smile on my face! I was impressed by the variety of cards available, from basic to cards that can be electronically personalized or that provide you with keepsakes, they all are unique and special and do a great job of cheering and motivating your child to be the best that they can be, no matter what that is.

So if you are looking for a unique way to tell your child how you feel about them, look no further than the new Kids Collection from Hallmark.

Giveaway

How would you like to win these cards for yourself? I will be giving away all 5-6 Hallmark Kids Collection Cards to a lucky reader! All you need to do is let me know why you would have an interest in this product to be considered. The contest will run for one week and will end on April 2, 2010.

Bonus Entries:

Blog about my Giveaway by linking back to this post (1 entries per blog post. Please leave each entry in separate comments with your URL link in order for it to count)

Grab my badge to your sidebar

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Winners are chosen at random, if you want all your chances counted, make sure you leave individual comments, not all of them in one!

Winner has 48 hours to contact me or another name will be chosen.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.


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Book Review & Giveaway - Achieve Anything In Just One Year

About The Book

This is a self improvement, motivational and personal development book that is designed to be read on a daily basis. One page a day for one year. Each page starts with an inspirational quote, followed by a discussion of that day's topic, and ends with a task or an assignment for the reader to follow. Achieve Anything in Just One Year equips readers with the tools to:

• Be truly committed. Don't just go through the motions - act like you're making a promise to your company, or to your best friend.
• Be specific. A resolution like "I want to lose weight" is easier to ignore than "I want to lose five pounds by March."
• Set a deadline. A timeframe equals commitment and helps quantify success.
• Avoid overwhelming yourself. You may want to lose weight, quit smoking, achieve moderation with martinis and cut up your credit cards all at once, but let's get real. Focus on a limited set of goals and plan on taking stock mid-year.
• Change one thing at a time. Recognize that change is hard. Wait to achieve one goal before starting on the next.
• Be realistic. Taking charge of a fitness regimen is a realistic goal, while exercising seven days a week may not be. Don't set yourself up for disappointment with lofty goals.

The idea is to take daily action that creates a ripple effect in your life.

By transforming your life with small steps, you can stay motivated, focused and balanced. Best of all, you will feel happier about pursuing your personal success.

The key to a happier life is contained in the dreams you already have. Your aspirations can create new opportunities, a fresh direction for your life's path. It is possible to unlock them. It's never too late. You have started today by looking at this book.

With his accessible, unique approach using tangible daily steps to reach achievable goals, Jason Harvey can help you succeed by taking small steps to a better you.

Comprehensive and inspiring, Achieve Anything In Just One Year will teach you how to:

• Set goals and stick with them
• Take daily action that creates a ripple effect
• Stay motivated, focused and balanced that
• Feel happier everyday!!!
• Define, pursue and celebrate personal success

Learn to equip yourself with the tools to become your own personal life coach, without relying on outside motivation. You have the power to do anything you desire. The possibilities are within you. It's time to nurture that spark and let it catch fire.

Jason Harvey is a Certified Life Coach and the founder of The Limitless Institute.

My Take on The Book

This book is set up as a book that you will read and work through over a year-long period with a notebook and pen close at hand.  That means that each day of the year you will read and do the activity listed on the page. The page itself not only has an inspirational quote but also a brief discussion of the day's topic and an assignment that must be completed. 

I did not read through all 365 pages of this book, but I did focus on the first month of the year. What I saw in this forst month was is that would definitely allow me to learn and grow over a year-long period.

I liked the fact that the book was straight forward and did not require a long period of focus. Instead, the book allowed the reader to know exactly what they needed to do. I have read a number of self-help books both personally and professionally and one thing that I liked about this book was that it did not  read like a self-help book. You instead feel like you are being encouraged daily. 

If this book sounds like something that you would be interesting to have as a part of your collection, find it over at Amazon!

Giveaway

How would you like to win a copy of this book? I will be giving away 2 copies to a lucky reader! All you need to do is let me know why you would have an interest in this book to be considered. The contest will run for one week and will end on February 20, 2010.

Bonus Entries:

Blog about my Giveaway by linking back to this post (1 entries per blog post. Please leave each entry in separate comments with your URL link in order for it to count)

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Make sure you comment separately for each task after the required entry task so you will get credit for each one ~ and leave your e-mail where you can be contacted.

This contest will run until February 20, 2010 at approximately 11:59 pm Eastern.

Winner must be a resident of the U.S or Canada.

Winners are chosen at random, if you want all your chances counted, make sure you leave individual comments, not all of them in one!

Winner has 48 hours to contact me or another name will be chosen.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Book Review - Zig Ziglar Embrace the Struggle

"Life is change," writes Zig Ziglar. and in his new book, Zig Ziglar and his daughter Julie Norman tell a new type of story for readers of Mr. Ziglar. Instead of his typical high energy motivation that people have come to expect, he provides true inspiration for all to rise up and persevere through the struggles of daily life.

On March 7, 2007, his life changed completely with one, simple, misplaced step. Some would say it changed for the worse, and by human standards they would be entirely right. But to Zig Ziglar, his fall down the stairs and subsequent vertigo and brain injury means "my life is more inspiring."

After years of speaking and writing about the value of having a positive attitude, Zig Ziglar was forced to take his own advice after this life changing day. As a motivational speaker, Ziglar was challenged to put his words into practice on a personal basis.

As a person who had heard of Zig Ziglar in the past but who had not become a regular reader, I was amazed at the tenacity of this octogenarian. Many people after going thought the challenges that he was going through may have thrown in the towel, and said that enough was enough. Mr. Ziglar instead decided to do what he had always done, step up and try to help others to grow and learn, and this time, much of the material came from experiences that he was living on a daily basis.

Whether it's the loss of a loved one, a battle with addiction or disease, financial troubles, or a physical impairment, Ziglar, along with his friends' contributed heartening stories of their own ordeals, offer hope to anyone faced with a struggle of their own.

In EMBRACE THE STRUGGLE, Ziglar spreads positive thinking and practices.

• Life takes care of itself to a very large degree, if you accept life on life's terms.
• If we accept that the past is the past, yesterday ended last night, and today is a brand new-day, we can have an attitude of hope. We can look forward to today with an expectation that it will be better than yesterday.
• Choose the best attitude in tough situations. If we stay riled up and in turmoil, always questioning "why" and visiting the "if" questions, we relive the pain of our emotions again and again. We get mired in the wallowing hole of self-pity or self-doubt, and our attitude becomes laced with fear, regret, and resentment,
• Be transparent with yourself. Life is to be lived transparently, excitedly, with eager anticipation of the good things that still lie ahead, in spite of our circumstances.
• When you have your spiritual life in focus, your family like will thrive; and when your family life is good, your mind is freed up to apply yourself to the work God has called you to. When you live life in that order, the struggles, when they come don't undo your world. There will be no meltdowns when you know who you are and whose you are.

This book is one that truly made me understand the meaning of hope and the meaning of moving on through adversity. As I read this book I was amazed at seeing what one person could do to turn his life around in so many ways and help others to do the same while dealing with his own "baggage." I encourage anyone to read this and learn  how to regain hope within your own life!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
ZIG ZIGLAR is a bestselling author with more than three million books in print. He is the president of Zig Ziglar Corporation and has motivated the sales forces of multinational corporations and thousands of individuals. One of the leading stars of the "positive thinking" movement, he is the author of bestsellers See You At the Top, Secrets of Closing the Sale, Success and Self-Image, 5 Steps to Successful Selling, How to Be a Winner, Selling 101, and How to Get What You Want.

JULIE ZIGLAR NORMAN is Zig and Jean Ziglar's third born and youngest daughter. Julie has co-authored Embrace the Struggle with her father, and their dynamic on-stage relationship has inspired more than 100,000 people in audiences all across America. Julia lives in Alvord, Texas, with her husband, Jim, three cats, three dogs, three horses, and one box turtle.

If this book sounds like one that you would be interested in, I encourage you to check it out on Amazon! Come and get inspired and re-energized with hope!


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