The secret to success

I've been reading a book on winning by Dr. Saul Miller, "Why Teams Win".  I came across a saying I've kept close to heart that's attributed to Calvin Coolidge:  

"Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence.  Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.  Education will not;  the world is full of educated derelicts.  Persistence and determination are omnipotent.  The slogan, 'press on' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race".

I stopped reading and went to my wallet to find a well worn slip of paper folded over multiple times.  I got if from my Grandfather over 30 years ago when I was talking to him about how to advance my career.  He was quite blunt, "People succeed by never EVER giving up". Then he gave me the quote from Calvin Coolidge that I've kept ever since.

"Persistence". "Perserverence". Each of us is talented...Winners never EVER give up!

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Chris M Morales

MarCommTO

chris.morales@bell.net

647 393 3855

Linkedin:  Chris M Morales 

The opinions expressed on this blog are my own and are not associated with any other group or organization

Ab Competition update...100 days to go

I may have a problem!  

I have abs but they're in hiding.  I've been planking and running at higher intensity but still no definition.

I do have a problem!

This is Larry.  He has Abs.  He also has a beer. Oh, oh...

He says he's not in top shape

I have a real problem! 

Time to turn it up a notch.  Can you say Boot Camp?  I've got 100 days to burn off the layer of insulation covering my abs now that I've been planking for a couple of months.  

Larry, beware!

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

190 lbs!

190 lbs...ish

190 lbs.  And that only took a couple of weeks!  I'll hit my 175 lb. weight target for sure by Reggae Marathon this December.  Piece of cake!

OK, so it's mostly water loss from sweating that's responsible for this weight loss so-far but I'll take it!  I'm using every trick I can think of:  I run first thing in the morning before eating then weigh myself right after coming back before drinking any water...hey, every ounce counts!

I have 175 lbs marked on the bathroom scale and now it's only 15 lbs. to go.  I'm not sure I'll be able to eliminate the beer or salty snacks but I've started to drink more water throughout the day and make sure I have a glass with every meal.  I've also included higher-intensity workouts each week but take a lot of care with those.  I don't want any recurrence of foot injuries (Broken foot).

The higher intensity workouts include hill repeats, negative split out and back runs and speed work and strides on the nearby highschool track.  I'm even using a Navin trick: Telling myself to run 'just a little faster'.

And while they don't burn a lot of calories, I Plank every morning before and after my run.

So 5 lbs down from 195 lbs feels pretty good.  Now if only I could cut out the salty snacks and beer...

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

How to get consumers to fall in love with your cars

"Get 'em to fal in love".  Emotion and passion!

I love cars.  Always have.  Folklore in my family is that my first word was 'Opel'.  My Dad was driving a cool 2 door Fastback from Germany at the time so maybe there's some truth in that.  

I like to sketch.  Doodle actually.  I've put pen-to-paper on occassion and sketched open-wheeled race cars.  My efforts sure didn't look like these!

One of my most vivid early car experiences was in my Uncle's mid-60's VW Beetle. Compared to Beetles today it was pretty basic.  But was it ever cool!  Made a great racket as he blipped the gas pedal while shifting.  I loved riding shotgun!

One car maker that always gets my blood pumping is Ferrari.  I like the mid-engine cars but love the Daytona-style models:  Front engine, rear drive.  Timeless and Classic!

The Shelby Mach 1.  Growing up it was a rear treat to see a Mach 1 rumble down the street.  It just looked and sounded right.  

A good friend just restored a Deuce Coupe.  Actually he built one!  He took a bare-bones chassis without an engine, restored the body and added an engine.  He took it on a long drive recently...I wish I could have gone with him.

Over the years I've talked with a lot of car guys.  From Corporte Executives, Engineers and Marketers, Car Dealers, Friends who love cars.  The common thread is that we love cars and love talking about cars.  For auto manufacturers, car illustrations may not be a rational way to 'move the metal' but they sure make a long and lasting emotional connection.

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Chris M Morales

MarCommTO

chris.morales@bell.net

647 393 3855

Linkedin:  Chris M Morales 

The opinions expressed on this blog are my own and are not associated with any other group or organization

Your Connected Customer

'Always connected' isn't an exaggeration!  Males say they are connected via their smartphones 73% of the time and Females aren't far behind at 63%.  And they are not using their smartphones to talk: texting, web browsing, email are at the top of smartphone usage.  

While the smartphone has become the ubiquitous media device, it's how they interact with brands via Social Media Channels via their smartphones that's at the heart of marketing to your connected customer.

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Chris M Morales

MarCommTO

chris.morales@bell.net

647 393 3855

Linkedin:  Chris M Morales 

The opinions expressed on this blog are my own and are not associated with any other group or organization

15 years and counting for Reggae Marathon

Larry, Navin, Me, Dan at Reggae Marathon

15 years ago this year a small group of runners gatherd in the pre-dawn darkness on the road in Negril.  Through the efforts of the Jamdammers Roadrunners Club of Kingston, they'd been convinced that running a Marathon on the road that stretches along the beach from Green Island to Negril was a good idea. Reggae Marathon was born.  15 years later it turns out that is was a GREAT idea!  

This December 5, runners from over 30 countries from around the world will gather at 5:15 am at the same spot at Long Bay Beach Park for to compete in three Reggae Marathon running events:  Full Marathon, Half Marathon and 10K. What began as a dream has grown into a world-class event.  But these are Jamaicans...we never do anything half assed.

Celebrating the finish with a dip in the Caribbean Sea

This December marks my 7th consecutive visit to Reggae Marathon.  It's the only race I do now even though there are many local 10K's and Half Marathon events in-and-around the Greater Toronto Area.  The travel is a drag but once I get off the plane in Montego Bay, everything changes.

My experience at Reggae Marathon isn't unique in meeting fellow runners and making friends even though we only see each other once a year.   Larry, Navin, Dan and I are the core of the Reggae Runners Challenge and have 30 Reggae Marathon events between us...we're hoping to add to that again this December.  I met a runner 2 years ago who had run in every Reggae Marathon!  13 to-date to that point.  I missed seeing her last year but know she was there.

I ran my first Reggae Marathon in 2009.  It was a complex, emotional experience. I ran to honor my Father who had passed away the year before and to raise money for the Canadian Diabetes Association.  But again I'm not unique. I've met runners who've overcome serious health issues and are dealing with personal losses.  They come to run Reggae Marathon to heal those personal demons and to raise money for their cause. I love listening to them tell their own stories. They inspire me!  On those days when I'm feeling sorry for my own small running setbacks, I only have to recall one of those conversations on the beach in Negril and I start smiling.

Reggae Marathon turns 15 this December 5th and this will by my 7th consecutive. It's become my touchstone for celebrating another year of running!

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

How Millennials shop for cars

"The opportunity to influence Millenials is Online...by the time they get to the Dealership they already know what make and model they are going to buy".  If you're an auto manufacturer, this reality drives your marketing strategy.  Here are some other insights into how Millennials shop for cars:

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Chris M Morales

MarCommTO

chris.morales@bell.net

647 393 3855

Linkedin:  Chris M Morales 

The opinions expressed on this blog are my own and are not associated with any other group or organization

Crazy Running Outfits

It was a dark and stormy night...

It really was.  I was curled up in the den in front of the TV not really paying attention to the House Hunters International episode that I'd seen for the 3rd time playing on my laptop.  On a whim I Googled, 'Crazy Running Outfits'.  Wow...what a wakeup!  Runners...if you can call them that...dressed in every imaginable costume and running garb.  Here are the ones I found craziest.

There are no words for this.  Really, I was speachless when I saw this.  I like my running tights and top and can guarantee I'll not be running in a getup like this.

What happens if someone stops this runner and trys to solve the Rubik's Cube puzzle?

Sick, creepy, just plain strange.  I had a double take when I saw this runner.  What was he thinking? OK, he wasn't thinking!

Until next time...