Kevin W. McCarthy

The Professor of On-Purpose

Laughs

Are You a Fathead?

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Dumb decisions come from dumb people or fatheads, right? Wrong!

We’re all subject to making poor choices.

Would you knowingly inflict brain damage on another person or yourself? Would you willingly diminish your brain capacity? Of course not! Hmmm, then again …

  • What if a particular series of your choices repeated over time is making you especially susceptible to being a fathead?
  • What if those choices were within your control and could help prevent you from the compound effect of one bad decision after another?
  • Would you be interested in learning how to improve your decision-making and to stop the waist?

At the risk of offending, this On-Purpose Minute challenges you to look down on yourself for the answer to the question, “Am I a fathead?”

Your waist size is a dead giveaway.

You’ll know immediately if you suffer from this condition while watching this video. 70% of the U.S. population is overweight or obese according to the Center for Disease Control.

This is the confession of a recovering “fathead.” In 2008, I lost 50 pounds and have kept it off since. Honestly, it has been a struggle. I discovered I was an emotional eater when I was really happy or really sad. Doesn’t leave a lot of wiggle room, does it?

I found my right mind by working with Lori, my Health Coach. She gently spoke truth in love into my life and health. She provided me with a meal replacement plan plus regular food while helping me to become more mindful of what and how much I was consuming on a day-to-day basis.

You, too, can work with a Health Coach who can guide and support you in your decision to reboot your brain, bottom, and life. It is very affordable. I’m not talking about a personal trainer who will attempt to grind the pounds off you. Don’t do that! Exercise is great for toning and conditioning but lousy for weight loss. Nutrition is 600% more effective than exercise. The problem is you probably don’t really know how to create a safe, effective, portion-controlled menu for yourself.

If you have Health Coach, then really lean into what he or she has to say. Borrow Can't Out-Exercise a Bad Dietfrom their training, experience, and certification to regain your vitality, vim, and vigor.

Do you want to talk with a Health Coach? If so, I’ll make the arrangements for you. I have an affiliation with health coaches across the USA who will gladly clear your thinking. Email me for a recommendation. Each Health Coach will help your life, health, and style of living be more on-purpose.

———-
Some great weight loss/health quotes:
A waist is a terrible thing to mind. – Tom Wilson
The one way to get thin is to re-establish a purpose in life. –  Cyril Connolly, The Unquiet Grave
Never eat more than you can lift. – Miss Piggy

Do You Have a Funny View On-Purpose?

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Classic OP Minute from Nov. 17, 2009

Purpose statements are challenging to write.

Most who write them are confused about the basic concept and structure so the end product is flawed, often with humorous benefit. Some are just poking fun or trying to be funny.

In today’s On-Purpose® Minute I’ve culled from Twitter some “enlightening” points of view about the purpose of life. I hope you’ll find the wit and wisdom refreshingly entertaining.Two women laughing. Text states "Your purpose is what?"

To follow me on Twitter, I’m @kevinwmccarthy. For Twitter users, if you want to reference some on-purpose work, then please use #onpurpose.

Have you seen some funny thoughts about the purpose of life?

Please share them below.

Be On-Purpose!

Kevin

Do You Have A Business Blunder To Share?

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Image of baby. Putting your foot in your mouth is only cute with babies!
“This sucks!”

Now and then we’re inclined to suffer by inserting our foot in our mouth with negative consequences! It is cute when a baby does it, but not so pretty when we’re adults. In the world of business, these gaffes can cost you a sale, a client, an account, a job, or—heaven forbid—your business.

Hopefully, however, you can look back with a sense of humor as I can in this On-Purpose Business Minute.

Some blunders can be tragic, and it really isn’t a laughing matter.

Regardless, every blunder holds a lesson (or two or three). Some may even hold blessings when we search long and hard enough and the healing is complete.

As you’ll see in my video, time tends to lend perspective and insight that pays dividends later in our life and career. After watching this On-Purpose Business Minute, please share your business blunder and the lesson(s) you learned. You will help us all by not being off-purpose.

The Benefits of My Christmas Birthday

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Did you know I was born on Christmas Day, lived in Bethel for many years, educated in Bethlehem, and often traveled to Nazareth? Of course, all those locations in this parallel are in Pennsylvania, not Israel.

Before I jump into my Christmas birthday story, let me give you a funny present first. A Christmas Story is a classic movie capturing so much of my childhood having grown up in the Pittsburgh area. Yes, I experienced this pole-thing at least once. On so many levels I still laugh when I see this scene.

Most people think having a Christmas Birthday is awful because I somehow got cheated of birthday presents. Thanks to my family, I can say I never felt that way. In fact, there are many benefits to sharing this special day with all of Christianity.

My introverted side avoids attention for the anniversary of just being born. In many ways, I relish the diversion of unwarranted attention. Here are some of the benefits of having a Christmas birthday:

1. Fewer theoretical presents means fewer thank you notes to write or combining them. I like the efficiency of having it all done on one day.

2. Vacation. My birthday is always a day off from work.

3. Humility. God cared enough about me to give me an annual reminder that no matter how important or impressive I think I am — I’m not. God is number 1. Then, God allowed me to be married — I slide to number 3. Then God blessed me with two children — two more reminders. Number 4 then number 5 position. For 14 years we had a dog and I clearly was in the number 6 position, especially when cleaning up number 2 after the dog. The dog died and I was promoted back to number 5. Now I know why Judith wants to get another dog so badly.

4. Grace. Most people forget it is your birthday which they would probably do anyway. So it provides a built-in excuse when my birthday is forgotten and an easy grace given. I don’t take offense.

5. Parties! I get to go to parties where everyone is festive and joyful on my birthday and they’re not faking it for my birthday because they’re actually celebrating Christmas.

6. Family. My family is always around for my birthday. That’s a good thing, right?

7. Giving. I get to buy and give presents for other people on my Christmas birthday.

8. Good company. There is something really special about sharing this special day with Jesus. Hard to describe, but it is special.

The people I really feel sorry for are the people born on December 26–30. Talk about an anti-climatic, easily forgotten valley wedged between the mountains of Christmas and New Year’s Eve! Now that’s tough!

Be On-Purpose!

Kevin

P.S. Bonus: And now for something completely irreverent about sharing a birthday with Jesus: Monty Python’s Life of Brian Nativity Scene.

 

Poet Envy, A “Tribute” To Billy Collins, U.S. Poet Laureate

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So on 11-12-13 Judith and I go to Rollins College to hear Billy Collins, the U.S. Poet Laureate and a Winter Park neighbor. His newest book is called Aimless Love. He shared readings from this plus many of his other poems. What a delightful, funny, and thoughtful event because that is Billy, and his writing reflects the man.

My added bonus was the feeling of being sophisticated by osmosis from being dipped into what felt like a room full of English majors (I married one). Despite my business degrees, I could appreciate the poetry, but more importantly, the poet's keen mind, wit, and way with words. Invest a few minutes to catch The Lanyard. Your mother will appreciate it.

I've pasted a YouTube video of Billy reading "The Lanyard."

And if you're so moved to scroll a bit further, you can read Poet Envy, the poem that Billy inspired me to write.

 

 

Poet Envy

The poet writes in stanzas

And I develop sentences, into paragraphs, into chapters.

 

The poet postures by looking outward from within

And I internalize the world and offer up deep reflection.

 

The poet amuses himself and jots it down

And I am bound by order, context, and flow.

 

The poet creates with gestational ease

And I conceive, carry, birth, and raise. 

 

The poet leans upon the dais reading from his poems

And I stand before them nakedly without notes.

 

The poet opens pages and recites his children

And I develop my opening, middle, and close.

 

Oh to be a writer of verse instead of prose. 

This poem took me 30 minutes instead of 30 months. 

 

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On-Purpose Profile: Hugh MacLeod of GapingVoid.com

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permissions granted for use of the above cartoon by Hugh MacLeod

In spite of my classic business education and conservative ways, I have a deep appreciation for artists who tear into the essence of the human condition to challenge the traditionally held views of society.  All is not right since that one bite in the Garden of Eden.

A recent post I saw in Copyblogger.com by Hugh MacLeod inspired me to dig into his story.  His artwork brought a smile of irreverent recognition for the prevalent challenges with so many in the workforce.  Hugh's website, GapingVoid.com, includes a number of edgy "Cube Grenades" that he fiendishly lobs into the lives of his corporate captive audiences.  Take a scroll around his cartoon log. Be sure to subscribe to his daily cartoons for an emotionally explosive reminder of how your work can be a noble expression of your purpose… or not! 

If you're a fan of the hit TV show The Office, then for sure, Hugh's artwork will curl your lips upward.  A bit of parody mixed with a dose of purpose may be just the recipe for prodding you to be on-purpose.

Hugh provides us with a great example of a person with a love and talent for something that doesn't fit the mold of what's expected.  Instead of compromising who he is to become someone he isn't, he's growing who he is in order to be more of whom he can become.  Sure, he's working hard at it!  Sure, you're working hard too.  Hugh provides yet another profile of a person building a life where the inner work and outer work are aligned and integrated in a productive and profitable manner.

Thanks Hugh for your Cube Grenades that blow holes in the facade of living with contented, unexamined mediocrity.  You're encouraging us all to step into the boldness of being on-purpose:  Be Yourself> Prosper> Make A Difference.

On-Purpose Minutes


When Chemists Laugh

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Cartoon by Nick D. Kim, used with permission: Check out his talent at: http://www.lab-initio.com

Everyone's sense of humor is quirky and unique.  I have to say, however, that Nick D. Kim's cartoons makes me think Gary Larson's of The Far Side fame is compounded with a brainiac chemist to produce offbeat cartoons that bring science alive with humor.

Candidly, I had never heard of Nick D. Kim, but now I think he is maybe one of the most famous chemists of all because he's bringing chemistry to cartoons and that's cheap medicine for the soul.

Be sure to visit his web site.

Be On-Purpose!

Kevin

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