Motivational Monday: Start with the man in the mirror

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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Disclaimer: I am not an expert, but the advice dispensed here has been researched or is something that has worked for me in the past.  Proceed at your own risk...

I saw this quote "If you're searching for that one person that will change your life, take a look in the mirror."  and immediately thought of the Michael Jackson song Man in the Mirror.  I've pondered the quote and the words from the song over the last few days and really if anyone is going to save you, it has to be you.

No matter what element of your life you want to change, the most important thing is doing more than just WANTING to change.  And make sure you really do want to change and understand the challenges involved.  Set up smaller daily goals to help reach the ultimate prize.  For example if you want a promotion or a new job, don't wait for someone to call you.  Be your own advocate.  Apply for at least three new jobs a week.  Follow up and continue to update your resume.

Running through the snow...

Over the weekend I was a part of the Southern Illinois Men's Expo.  One of the speakers is a marathon runner.  He said during his discussion if you really want to be a runner you have to train all the time.  If it's raining, prepare to get wet.  If you don't feel well, run anyway.  Too busy?  While you're waiting for your kid to finish soccer practice, run around the field.  

The point is you can make excuse after excuse for not achieving a goal.  Stop doing that and get started now.  When things get tough, trudge through.  Change isn't easy, but your life may be after change is made.  Believe in yourself more than anyone else and make the people who do support you proud.

  

Boo: Way Back WhensDay: Thriller

Michael Jackson's Thriller

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

I was 10 years old when Michael Jackson's Thriller album was released.  I'm pretty sure it's the first non cartoon/Muppet/Sesame Street album I ever owned.  I also believe it's one of the greatest albums of all time.  I won't go into all those details, since this is a Halloween blog, I'm going to focus on the title track: Thriller.

The song is one that you can instantly start dancing to, but I think that has a lot to do with the video that went along with it.  Back in the early 80's, the M in MTV stood for Music and there was lots of it on the cable network.  Music videos were all the rage.  In fact, at one time, that's about all you saw on MTV.  Artists had to be creative and flashy to get their music over.  Michael Jackson lead the way.

By now we've all seen the Thriller video, and if you haven't let's get that out of the way now...

Nice eyes

Nearly 30 years later, I'd have to say this is still one of the greatest music videos of all time.  It's a mini-movie.  Despite the path Michael Jackson's personal life took, I still love watching this.  The music, the costumes, the dancing.  Thriller has everything you could ask for in a music video. It truly defined an era. I think the work done here set the bar pretty high for everyone else in the music industry, but plenty of other artists released solid work as a result and tried to come close to what Thriller had produced.

I know I'm probably overselling Thriller, but I grew up on it.  I'm old enough to remember watching the video time after time and doing that crazy zombie dance in front of the TV.  I listened to the album until I wore out the vinyl on my turntable.  All these years later, we still do it from time to time here at my house.  Rest in peace Michael, and thanks for the memories.