My 1-2-3 Cents : Gary Vaynerchuk

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Tales of my teenage years and the mild angst I experienced seem to do well here. So here's another story from those days gone by, but hopefully with a lesson wrapped up in it too. I'd like to think my awkwardness will pave the way for some other young person to not follow in my footsteps.

Picture it, February 1989. I'm a sophomore in high school, a month away from turning 16 and getting my license. I thought having a license and a car would increase my odds at a social life and help me break out of my shell. It did not, but that's not what this story is about.

Back to that night, for some reason, I got dressed up and went to the "Heart Hop" Valentine's dance. I went alone but hung out with friends at the dance as we awkwardly would make our way to the bleachers when a slow song would start to play.

There was a girl there that I had been crushing on for some time, despite not ever once talking to her. We had mutual friends and through the course of the night, one of them informed me that she would dance with me if I asked her. I thought my heart would hop right out of my chest just thinking about asking her to dance. Even though I was given a guaranteed "yes" to my request I was still paralyzed with fear.

Stock photo

Then it happened, Chris De Burgh's Lady in Red started playing. I mustered up the courage and asked my crush to dance. She agreed and we moved onto the dance floor. Now for the awkward part. We didn't talk for the entire 4 minutes and 17 seconds of the song. When it was over I thanked her and we both went our own ways. We didn't speak again until we had a class together our senior year.

My apprehension to follow-up was based on fear and my belief that if she was interested, she would make the next move. I have no idea if she was or wasn't, but the lesson learned here is to not wait for the opportunity to knock. I love this quote from The Rock:

That's the case for EVERY walk of life. Whether you're a teenage boy trying to find the courage to ask out a girl or getting your career jumpstarted. For a long time, I kept waiting for news directors to call me with a job offer. I still sit and wait for WWE to stumble upon my work and call me. I know that's really not going to happen, but I think about it. More realistically I keep telling myself my blogs are going to catch someone's eye and they'll contact me with an amazing freelancing gig. I'm still not breaking out of my shell and pursuing those clients like I should be.

It's a work in progress some 28 years after that dance in the gymnasium of good ol' Northwest High School. Don't let your fear of the unknown force you out of the game completely. As Gary Vee once said, "You're better off going 1 for 5 than going 0 for 0."

Thursday, February 23, 2017

A few bursts of inspiration

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

I'm not making excuses, but kind of. This week is a crazy one for me as I work on a couple of big projects. But I don't want my brand to suffer as a result, so I've sought out some quotes from people I find inspiring and wanted to share their words with you. I truly believe 2017 will be a banner year for My 1-2-3 Cents. Thank you to everyone who reads, shares and supports all my endeavors.

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Hustle!

Courtesy: @GaryVee

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

I've been listening to and watching Gary Vaynerchuk (aka Gary Vee) for the past nine or ten months, thanks to my buddy Tom Harness. I've tried to employ some of Gary's tactics and strategies into my daily life as I strive to build the My 1-2-3 Cents brand with blogging, podcasting and vlogging. The last two days the content of Gary's podcast has had a particularly profound effect on me.

During Episode 239 of the #AskGaryVee Show, he encouraged listeners to check out his Episode 130 of Daily Vee and direct messaging potential contacts on Instagram. I want to build this blog and my freelance blogging business. Right now I only have a few steady clients. In order to take it to the next level, I have to branch out from the people I know and step outside my comfort zone. The worst they can do is say no. Then I move on, right?

It's weird because there's a definite "fear of failure/success" vibe going on with me. Fear of success? It sounds crazy and I can't really articulate it. But I've become complacent and comfortable with the status quo. That is until today...

The other takeaway from Gary is document your journey. Instagram and Snapchat both have the stories feature. Build an audience by sharing your struggles and successes. The important part is to hustle and grind. Stop playing Words with Friends (very guilty). Stop binge watching Netflix. Stop checking Facebook. Use that time to flip stuff on eBay or Amazon (something I'm SLOWLY trying to do). Send out direct messages. As Gary says "You're better off going 1 for 5 than going 0 for 0. Take chances. We're only here for a certain amount of time.

"Give value. Give value. Give value. And then ask for business." I'm so motivated, refreshed and pumped. February 1, 2017 is my New Year's Day.

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Quit blaming Millennials because you're afraid of the future

Those pesky Millennials...
Courtesy: MediaVenue

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Lately, I've seen a lot of people my age (43) and older complaining about Millennials. Some of the griping is justified, but many in that generation have been labeled as lazy, unmotivated and entitled. It's unfair to paint the entire generation with a broad brushstroke. Because there are just as many Gen Yers, Gen Xers and even Baby Boomers who fall into the same category.

Gary Vaynerchuck
#AskGaryVee

One big complaint I see and hear a lot is "kids are always on their phone." I'm going to credit Gary Vaynerchuk (Gary Vee) for helping me better articulate my feelings on the people who have a problem with this. The smartphone is quickly becoming what the TV was to us and our parents growing up. As more networks and companies provide streaming services, the days of sitting in front of a big screen mounted to the wall will go away just like VCRs, rotary phones and record players.

It's the first major shift in technology since the TV hit the scene and listening to the radio as a family changed. My wife and I are "those parents" who let each of our kids (ages 17, 15 and 11) have their own smartphone. But it's a privilege not a right in our house. While they do spend more than a fair share of time watching YouTube videos or playing games, they're also learning how social media works.

I have no doubt this will help all three of my kids in the future. Our oldest has expressed interest in a career in technology so why deprive him of learning what he can as a junior in high school?

I was senior in college when the internet and email were first being introduced. I wish now that I would have immersed myself more into it. But I didn't UNDERSTAND what it was all about so I dismissed it, just like many parents and grandparents are doing today.

Courtesy: The Simpsons

Our lack of understanding and our fear of change has created a society of overreactive, fist wagging, cloud yellers. Our parents probably complained when we spent hours on end in front of the TV on Saturday mornings watching cartoons and eating countless bowls of cereal. Our Music Television was foreign to them. And why would anyone carry around a boom box and listen to music?

Guess what? Their parents and grandparents probably complained because their loved ones were flocking around the picture box in the living room every evening after dinner. And why is that guy with the jet black greasy hair moving his hips like that?

While I've still got you here, instead of complaining that kids today are texting instead of writing a letter, encourage them to use the technology to their benefit. There is no less sentiment in writing a text as there is in writing a note. It may take me a few minutes longer to write the note, but the feelings and emotions are the same. And in all likelihood, the card or letter is going to end up in your trash can 30 seconds after you've read it.

Older people get worked up by this because we've always written letters by hand. But remember, it's the evolution of technology. If that's how your kids or grandkids communicate, adapt and embrace it. You don't have to love it or even like it. At the same time, though, it doesn't hurt for kids to take a minute to write grandparents a note or call them.

The technology isn't going anywhere. We need to embrace it and quit living under the belief that if we don't accept it that the change isn't going to come. And stop expecting the worst out of people. When that happens they usually deliver. People of all generations can be generous, kind and caring. They can also be giant douche tacos.

I doubt this has changed anyone's mind, but I at least wanted to put it out there and hopefully get a conversation going. Just because things aren't the way they were 30, 40 or 50 years ago doesn't mean they're not good and we're doomed as a society. There's a lot of bright spots out there, so let's feed and nurture those instead of piss and moan about what we don't like or understand.

Sunday, August 14, 2016

Don't be Garfield, embrace Monday

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
Listen to the podcast

More often than not when Sunday night gets here I start dreading Monday morning. Admit it, you probably do to. If you don't, I applaud you. My favorite feline, Garfield, has hated Mondays for nearly 40 years. But now I am trying to look at the glass as being half full or in Garfield's case, the lasagna pan. Embrace Monday and look at it as a fresh start to set and achieve new goals.

@GaryVee

Entrepreneur, author and internet personality Gary Vaynerchuk has said on his shows to stop living for Friday night. It makes sense. We have to create our own happiness. I don't dread Mondays because I hate my job or my life. I just want more. The reality is my life is half over and there's a lot still left for me to do. Creating a life where you don't hate Mondays and just live for the weekends will make you and those around you more happy.

Work family on National Selfie Day

My alarm goes off at 1:25 a.m. Monday through Friday. I love my job and my coworkers. I'm doing more after work hours that I enjoy too. I don't come home and nap or veg out online for hours on end anymore. Blogging, podcasting and creating YouTube videos and other content for My 1-2-3 Cents (and others) have become my new norm. Pair that up with doing things around the house (not as much as I should be) and spending quality time with the family and it makes for many long days.

Focused on blogging

But I wouldn't trade it for anything. Slowly but surely I am achieving my goals in the blogging world and still working hard in my career as a journalist. The only thing I wish for now is more hours in the day. Since that's not going to happen, I've eliminated some of the time wasting activities from my life and focused more on what's important. So if I don't respond to a Words with Friends request or know what's happening on the latest TV show; you'll understand. Thanks to all who have had my back along the way. It's a team effort.

Monday, July 11, 2016

Dear 2006 Kevin

The fam in 2006

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
Listen to the podcast

On a recent #AskGaryVee Show he posed this question to listeners. "What would you tell yourself if you went back in time 10 years and could give that person advice?" I instantly knew exactly what I'd say.

Backstory:
Ten years ago I was 33 years old. I was MySpace savvy. I hadn't signed up for Facebook nor Twitter at that point. I'm not even sure if Facebook was even available to the non-college crowd yet. Twitter was in its infancy and I wouldn't start tweeting for another three years. Blogging was a thing, but I dismissed it big time. But by summer 2006 I had started doing it through the app on MySpace. YouTube had been around just over a year. Now that the scene is set, here's my letter to my self.

July 11, 2006

Dear Kevin:

I'm writing to you from the future. Things are just fine with the family in 2016. Your hair is much more grey now, but having two teenagers and a tween will do that to a person. I'm writing this to tell you to NOT wait to start blogging. You have friends who are doing it. Don't dismiss this idea. It's not a flash-in-the-pan concept. Blogging will actually become a revenue source for you. Starting now will help establish an audience and credibility.

Also, quit watching wrestling videos on YouTube. In a few years WWE will have a whole network of content you can watch everything you've ever wanted. Instead, start creating content on YouTube NOW. It's only been around a year you can be unique and original with your channel and get a good following.

Twitter

Sign up for Twitter. Yes sounds weird and not many people understand how it works now. But trust me, it will become a valuable tool in marketing your blog and vlog. That pound sign will become a whole new tool too, so understand how it works. You're also going to be doing a podcast eventually. You might as well learn how to do that now and monetize it while the world is still trying to figure out what's up with podcasting.

2016: The Craftbeericans (@Craftbeericans on social media)

Good luck and keep your chin up. Oh and when you start getting tweets from some strange guy named @iTomHarness, don't ignore him. He's going to become a great friend and teach you some things about how all this social media stuff works. And put down the Bud Light and try some craft beer. Tom will teach you more about that too, but at least go into it looking like you know something.

See ya in 2016.

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Why being on Team No Sleep is nothing to brag about

Team No Sleep

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
Listen to the podcast

For the last 12 years not only have I been on Team No Sleep, but I've considered myself the unofficial captain of the squad. I'm a morning news anchor and when I started the shift in 2004, I had to be at work by 4 a.m. My alarm would go off at 3:15; I'd shower, get dressed and grab something to eat once I arrived at the TV station (usually a Little Debbie snack cake and a Mt. Dew).

Me anchoring in 2004

Over the course of a dozen years, the start time of News 3 This Morning has gone from 6 a.m. to 5 a.m. The earlier start time meant an earlier wakeup time. We've been shorthanded for a couple of months and my alarm has been going off at 12:30 a.m. The good news is next week a new producer starts and I'll be able to "sleep in" until 1:30 a.m.

The earlier mornings did not result in earlier bed times though. My kids were toddlers when I started on this schedule so we'd all go to bed at the same time. I usually got about seven hours of shuteye. That's around the recommended amount, but these days I'm lucky to get four consecutive hours of sleep. I do supplement with naps in the afternoon, however I'm feeling the effects and most weekends I sleep 10 to 12 hours.

I realize my lack of sleep isn't uncommon. There's an unwritten rule of Team No Sleep; no one complains about being tired (or talks about getting too much sleep). I'm hoping this blog sheds some light on the problem. I heard an interview with Huffington Post founder Arianna Huffington recently and she talked at length about sleep deprivation, it's impact and the importance of getting enough rest.

I, like many others, have always worn my tiredness like a badge of honor. People tend to look at not sleeping as a bragging right. But I will tell you it's my worst health habit. I eat pretty well overall (I've traded the Little Debbie snacks and Mt. Dew for eggs, fruit and coffee). I run quite a bit and workout at Gold's Gym at least a couple times a week. However for some reason I refuse to make the time for sleep.

Between work, running, blogging (for this site and my freelance business), family and friend time; sleep most often takes the backseat. But listening to Huffington and my new mentor in entrepreneurship Gary Vaynerchuk (The #AskGaryVee Show) I realize to be successful with the "hustle", sleep has to be in the equation. I've known it for years, but I've always operated under the thought that sleep was for the weak. Let's face it, when you hear someone say they sleep eight or nine hours a night your first thought is "what a lazy ass" (I know I do). But that person is actually doing something for their health.

I know in reality I won't be logging eight hours of sleep every night, but my new goal is a solid six. I can supplement that with a quick 20 minute power nap in the afternoon if necessary. This new plan should serve me well in the "hustle" and keep me on track with everything else in my life. It's all about the balance.

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Wishes are for Aladdin, be your own Genie

Courtesy: Disney

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
Listen to the podcast