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Raul Colon - photographer, digital marketer & writer living on the beach in Puerto Rico.

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Discipline comes in Different Flavors

January 28, 2015 by Raul Colon

raul-colon-xmaxpartyfit911-puertorico-119 Discipline comes in Different Flavors

My abs hurt a bit. My lack of fitness discipline made me forgot I had any.

Just a few days ago I made the commitment with myself to go back to the fitness studio (it is different from a gym). I work out at a fitness studio that belongs to is a client and friend of mine.

A Bad Year for My Fitness Efforts

In 2014 I cut back on running and working out. This was a bad decision which reflects quickly in my face as I’ve gained weight. I have always struggled with controlling my weight.

Like most people, I get into a routine and when I fall off track, it’s difficult for me to get back on board.

I stopped going to the gym a few times in 2014 and that kept me away for most of the year.

I also did now write as much as I wanted to write. I focused on my goal of reading 52 books in one year but also missed the mark with that goal.

Creating Increases my Discipline Diversity

To be honest I rather create than consume. I rather be active than passive. Although reading is important, keeping a balance is critical.

I returned to the gym to seek a healthy routine and get back on track. I think of how many like me have different flavors of discipline.

When it comes to business I am always able to meet my goals and deadlines.

My friends Jeff Pulver and Chris Brogan have been doing a great job at being disciplined in business and fitness. It’s inspiring to see such successful entrepreneurs doing their best.

Playing to our strengths

We are all humans and we need motivation and guidance. I am also driven by not hurting anyone economically. For that reason I am very disciplined when it comes to business matters.

A sales person establishes a routine to keep their sales pipeline healthy.

If you’re a baker you probably wake up earlier than everyone else. You provide warm and fresh bread when your customers crave and want it.

If you run a food truck like Uncle Gussy’s, you establish a routine to prep your food. On some occasions, that prep takes place days before you serve it to customers. Nicko consistently provides excellent customer service to each customer approaching the food truck.

Nicko offers the same smile and care to the first customer early in the morning and to the last customer in the afternoon. The customer probably doesn’t notice that he has been going non-stop from anywhere to 14 hours at a time.

My friend Andres owns the personal training studio that receives me with open arms when I return from my training hiatus. He is also an example of on-going discipline to keep his business running.

He wakes up at 3:00 a.m. to start taking care and training clients that want to work out early and continues training other clients that rather work in the late evening hours. Andres guides his clients into better health and appearance. But like every other business, creating the right environment to inspire, is one that can be exhausting.

I do the same for my clients when it comes to the health and appearance of their business.

I look for ways to create processes and routines that will make people and their businesses successful.

I guess we all have to play to our strengths. We seek motivation in what we are good at, so we can support our week areas.

So what are your strengths? Are you good at working out? Are you a great salesperson?

Now find one thing you do right and try to use that method to improve one or two weaknesses.

Take your discipline flavors and mix them and see how they can make you stronger.

 

 

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: Clients, Fit911, Fitness, Goals, Professional Development, Uncle Gussys

Good Morning Tropical Moon

December 10, 2014 by Raul Colon

rauls-photography-watermark-2-13-1024x682 Good Morning Tropical Moon

Buy a Copy of “Good Morning Tropical Moon”

You deserve to have a digital copy of some of the pictures I have taken of Puerto Rico. This picture was taken from Isla Verde Beach in Carolina, Puerto Rico.

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My Thoughts on the Image

The moon greeted me this morning when i went for my morning walk.

Yesterday I had an awesome day. One of my favorite clients invited me to sit in to participate in a full day strategy meeting.

It was an opportunity for me to feel as part of the client’s team. One thing I admire from that client is that he has a unique way to do business in an honest and healthy way.

Seeing how his team shared the obstacles and opportunities they have in the near future. Observing how they could discuss in a harmonious way many complicated matters was refreshing.

I left the full day strategy meeting having felt challenged intellectually and a bit drain from the deep thinking I was a part of.

Regroup

Today I want to make sure I organize the knowledge I absorbed yesterday. In an attempt to quiet the mind, I went for a walk and took pictures of my morning walk.

I feel relaxed and waiting for what seems to be and awesome day.

What is your day holding for you?

Filed Under: Featured, photography, Puerto Rico Beach Pictures, Store Tagged With: Photography, Professional Development, Puerto Rico, Small Business, Tourism

What is your Relationship with Monday?

November 30, 2014 by Raul Colon

rauls-photography-watermark-1-12 What is your Relationship with Monday?

Morning walks on Sunday are extra special. After walking and maybe looking at the photographs I usually take I see how many focus energy on the fact that the weekend is going to end.

I strange relationship with Sunday and Monday

I personally can relate to them. I fell in love with Monday but for years I was not a fan of Sunday. When I worked for KPMG sunday meant a quick sprint to get my personal things done. By noon I was usually headed towards the airport in route to my next client.

How many days are yours?

Many I read have a full two days to relax and enjoy. While at KPMG I could rarely have a full day of the week to myself. I would arrive on Fridays or early Saturday from travel. Saturday I would organize my week plan travel etc and get some more work done.

Since 2008 I work 7 days of the week but I feel I have seven full days for myself. I get to control where I am going and I pick and choose where I want to put my energy.

Excited or Not About Monday

Being an entrepreneur has its challenges but seeing both sides of the spectrum makes me value my journey even more.

I have friends enjoying the weekend and complaining it will end. They are not to excited about arriving at their jobs tomorrow. I have unemployed friends that would love to have a chance to get an interview tomorrow or even better report to a job.

As I help people with my training sessions and online one-to-one courses I realize that we have to focus on the path we are taking.

If you are not happy with your Sunday because you don’t like your job. Now is the moment to change those elements that make your Monday not pleasant.

If you are seeking a job make sure you remember that you have to pick yourself first. We have to value ourselves so others can appreciate what we offer.

What if…

As corporations see individuals as overhead and easily replaceable, opportunities become less attractive.

So why leave your destiny to a board of directors or higher level management.

Where are you different from any other candidate?

Where can I shine a light on you to show off your best skills to those interested in hiring or partnering with you?

If you are not the two types of individuals I mentioned then what can you do to help those I have mentioned above?

What opportunities can we seek for those around us? How?

Would you Like to Buy a Digital Copy of the Image Above?

You deserve to have a digital copy of some of the pictures I have taken of Puerto Rico. This picture was taken from Isla Verde Beach in Carolina, Puerto Rico.

$15.00
$150.00
$50.00

Filed Under: Featured, photography, Professional Development, Puerto Rico Beach Pictures, Store Tagged With: Beach Carolina, Beautiful Beaches, Carolina, Geography Of Puerto Rico, Isla Verde, Morning Walk, Professional Development, Puerto Rico

A Guide Towards One Less One More

November 6, 2014 by Raul Colon

rauls-photography-watermark-1-5 A Guide Towards One Less One More

4 years ago I was sitting in the audience at an event where I met some of my online friends for the first time in person. (Chris Brogan, Steve Garfield, Tim Washer, and Justin Levy).

I also made some new friends.

Out of the great group of people I met, I had the privilege to continue interacting often with Robbie Vorhaus.

A Valuable Mentor and Friend

Since then Robbie has been one of my key mentors when it comes to making big personal and business decisions.

He has a unique way of lifting my spirits as he does with many. Reading his book as a draft was a treat. Seeing how he transformed a good piece of writing into something truly awesome, serves as an example of the brilliant man he is.

Planning my next 6 Months

As I make some shifts into where I want to be in the next 6 months I will be using his book One Less One More as a guide.

Having him as a mentor makes it even easier for me to go after my goals.

Sometimes it is hard for us to make decisions that will impact our daily lives.

Having Robbie Vorhaus there to guide you through is a blessing.

A Guide That Will Help

I recommend you pick up Robbie’s book so you can start doing Less of what keeps you from your goals and more towards achieving them.

Filed Under: Featured, Professional Development Tagged With: One Less One More, Professional Development

My Ingredients – Tax Advisory

February 17, 2014 by Raul Colon

website-ingredients-1 My Ingredients - Tax Advisory

For a long 10 months I worked at a local CPA Firm doing one of the most challenging yet boring jobs that anyone can imagine, Taxes! I did Corporate tax returns, Individual tax returns ( for some celebrities and MLB players), and other types of Tax returns.

It’s one of my Ingredients

Every year I question myself why I enjoy helping others with their taxes. This year after reading Pamela Slim’s new book, Body of Workir?t=cis02-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1591846196 My Ingredients - Tax Advisory
, I understand that it is one of my ingredients.

The knowledge I acquired working as a below average tax accountant for one of the best tax consulting practices on the island has brought me a lot more than the income I seeked; it has helped me create more solid relationships.

Why I left the Accounting Field

One of the reasons I left the accounting field was because I just could not be passionate with sitting at a computer punching numbers and trying to calculate tax rates, penalties, and the other elements that Tax Accounting brings to the table.

At that moment in my life, I thought it was the best approach to follow because my only goal in life was making more money.

Little did I know that these skills I would learn over a period of 10 months with solid Big 4 Alumni tax accountants, would help me throughout the next 10 years.

Being Fired Was a Blessing

After I was fired from that Accounting Firm because I was a below average Tax Accountant, I had to drop everything and move to live with my parents at the age of 24.

Thanks to that event,  I met my business and life partner and later ended up working at KPMG, which to this day has brought around a community of friends and ex-colleagues that support many of my efforts.

Getting back to the taxes experience

Every year I get contacted by friends who trust me to help them with taxes by either making a draft for them or reviewing what they have on hand.

Most of these friends could afford even the most expensive tax accountant but the trust they place in me is one that I truly appreciate.  On occasions I review taxes created by CPA’s just to make sure the return has a fresh set of eyes and nothing obvious was missed.

Why do I volunteer for this?

First I have the opportunity to refer complicated tax issues to my friend Hector Santini who is one of the sharpest Tax Attorneys I know.  I don’t consider myself a tax expert but I can identify discrepancies and refer them to someone that will help them.

Second, I have seen many of these companies who fill out taxes in mass production make some pretty big mistakes which cost the taxpayer large amounts of cash and headaches dealing with the IRS.

Third, I have family members and extended family that paid more on their taxes than they should have. After reviewing taxes and helping them create an amended return they were able to recover significant amounts of money they paid to the IRS. There is no better satisfaction than helping out someone who worked hard for their money to keep their money.

Fourth, it keeps me updated and helps me make better decisions. I run Limonade and I usually serve as a Business Advisor and Coach to other businesses. Understanding tax law and structure does help with making better business recommendations.

Fifth, it keeps me in touch with friends who I have had over many years. Sometimes we are so busy that the only time we spend during the year is when I am helping them with their taxes.

Which of your ingredients do you use once a year?

For what reason and why?

PS: If you want to understand a bit better the Ingredients analogy you can comment below or even better buy Pamela Slim’s new book.

Filed Under: Featured, Professional Development Tagged With: Business, Professional Development, Skills

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