Don’s Ego

06/14/2011

Inspiration, Part 18: Comments on a Blog are Like Cheerleaders on Your Sideline

Filed under: Inspiration — Tags: , , , , , , , — donkowalewski @ 1:59 pm

I didn’t date any cheerleaders while I was in high-school. Nor did I date any in college. Or did I?

In the traditional sense, no, I did not date any official cheerleaders …the popular girls with the pleated skirts, pretty faces, and tight fitting sweaters didn’t exactly know who I was. Not their fault, mind you. It would have been tough for them to get to know me when I hid my face in my locker when they passed by in the hallway, or when I walked by a group of them and pretended not to see them and failed to say ‘hi’, and when one of these cheerleaders did say ‘hi’, to mumble back a one-word (or less) salutation of some sort. I’m sure many formerly awkward teenagers blame the cheerleader …it’s an easy out.

I didn’t date a cheerleader, but I married one. And I’ve made friends with many, many cheerleaders.

Yesterday I wrote something randomly criticizing myself for being lazy and procrastinating and lo and behold, some of my cheerleaders responded with passion and wisdom. It was amazing. So amazing in fact that I didn’t just “think about” going for a run yesterday evening, I actually “went for a run.” Two miles. It’s been a while because of that whole bloody-lung thing that happened last year right about this time. But recently my doctor said, “that iron taste in your mouth after you cough and feel like your lung shredded? Yup …just cough through it. You’ll be fine.” So, I’m either going to prove him right or prove him wrong. But, by golly, with my cheerleaders on the sidelines, I’m going to get back in shape.

Oh, yes …that thing I said about “marrying a cheerleader” earlier. It’s true. Nobody supports my crazy ideas, my poor-me’s, and my hobbies better than my wife. And I’m assuming you have similar cheerleaders in your life. But the better question …are you a cheerleader for someone?

We live in a cyber world where most of the comments under news articles, blog entries, and videos are full of hatred and anger. But when you see nice comments and get nice comments, it can change your entire outlook. So in addition to the exercise and the writing, and “getting in the game” as Katie V.T. put it, I’m going to be nicer to people. If I see a Facebook status message that interests me even slightly, or looks like someone might be down in the dumps, I’m going to write something quick. And sometimes what I write won’t be about my blogs. Ahem …I mean it.

I like my cheerleaders. I want to be a cheerleader (especially because I’d be pretty awesome walking around with an oversized megaphone).

Also ‘thanks’ to new reader Joe B. who tipped me off to this guy John Jay (or is it Ken Robinson) and his book “The Element.” I’ve loaded it onto my iPad (along with Tim Ferriss‘s 4-Hour Body). I’m going to read these things and be even more awesomer.

Thanks for reading. Enjoy this quick video.

06/13/2011

Inspiration, Part 17: It’s Nearly Time for New Mid-Year Resolutions

Filed under: Inspiration — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , — donkowalewski @ 1:24 pm

Last night I watched the Tony Awards and saw Trey Parker and Matt Stone win Tony Award after Tony Award. They wrote a musical called “The Book of Mormon.” They also wrote South Park. Way back in the late ’90s, when Cartman was housing alien satellites in his colon, I doubt anyone thought, “these guys are brilliant …they’ll win many Emmys, Oscars, and Tony Awards.” Well, I might’ve said it …because I had seen Cannibal – The Musical. And also because I love musicals, and when I saw some of their early attempts at songs on South Park, and then in the feature length movie …I knew these guys were writing and entertaining at a level slightly above the rest.

Debating the immense talent of Trey Parker and Matt Stone is not the point of this, however. But here’s the point(s). As I sat and watched “the South Park guys” accept their Tony Awards, I thought, “how did they do it?” I started to wonder …”what did they do that I haven’t done? I have ideas, too.” And then it occurred to me …they simply did it. They wrote it. They said it. And lucky for them, they happened to be funny enough that everyone noticed. However, I’m convinced had their South Park cartoon Christmas card only made their friends laugh (which is what I heard was their main motivation), they’d still be happy this very day. Slightly less rich …but completely happy they made their friends laugh.

That’s my theory. And it’s also my problem …a problem I’m hoping to turn into motivation.

I always want to know what successful people did to be successful. I’d want to ask Trey and Matt their secret. And by asking them and getting an answer, somehow I think I’d be that-much closer to being successful myself. Like, I just read Jay Mohr’s book “Gasping for Airtime” about his brief and unsuccessful run on Saturday Night Live. Now he sells out big stand-up venues and has a network sitcom. Why? How? What did he do that I can do?

I wonder, if Trey and Matt wrote a book, what and how would I benefit? I’ve read hundreds of books by people telling me their secret to success. Knowing the secret, however, doesn’t make dreams come true.

Actions make dreams come true.

I have an idea for a movie. I have two or three script ideas for my favorite shows. I have a great idea for a Christmas themed story or graphic novel. I have quite a few short stories, eulogies, and toasts I’ve written that people have liked. Like …they liked them alot. And I do nothing. Over and over again, I do nothing.

Why?

I’m nearly 38 years old. I wonder what sort of advice my heroes would give me if I said I wanted to write jokes for The Daily Show and The Colbert Report, that I want to write my movie script and figure out a way to get it in the hands of Jason Segel, and that I have two ideas for South Park episodes and I want to write them and give them to Matt and Trey. Plus, my friend has all the material for a cool, different sales and motivation book and he wants me to write it.  My heroes include the entire cast of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Tina Fey, Jay Mohr, Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Conan O’Brien, Bill Bryson, and Jason Segel. There’s no shortage of outlets where a person can be underpaid and underappreciated, so if I had to pick my poison …I’d go with “writer”. I can’t imagine a better way to be underpaid and under appreciated.

I read a story about a blogger guy who wrote some episodes of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and now he’s a full time writer on that show.

I know the answer. But I pretend I don’t.

So, here we are … as LeBron posted to his Twitter feed during the NBA Championships before Game 5 …”this is it, it’s now or never.”  It’s almost time for me to welcome July 1st and the mid-point of 2011 (and my 38th birthday, which might very well be the mid-point of my life when I think about it). Time for me to recommit to my flossing and exercise routines that I’ve gotten away from since January. Because, ya know, everyone fails at their New Year’s Resolutions …it’s why I invented New-Mid-Year Resolutions.

Like I wrote on Twitter this morning:

Today is the day. Yesterday was NOT the day. Tomorrow could be if today doesn’t work out. The next day …hard to tell. Carpe some diem.

So, I’m going to tape a picture of Trey Parker and Matt Stone on my “dream board” (I don’t actually have a dream board, but I’ll tape that picture somewhere). And I’ll keep this quick 5-point check list handy about living with “No Regrets” and I’ll read it daily and maybe, maybe finally, someday I can win a Tony Award or an Emmy or an Oscar. And even if I don’t …I’ll know that I, at the very least, did a few things where that was even a possibility. They don’t give out Oscars for “Best Screenplay Thought About While Mowing the Lawn.” I’d have many, many of those Oscars if they did.

1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

2. I wish I didn’t work so hard.

3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.

6. I wish I had taken better care of my body.

Who’s with me? Who’s going to do it?  I’m going to do it.

I may never be as awesome as Trey and Matt, or as Hugh Jackman and Neil Patrick Harris (below), but I want to be able to say I tried.

06/09/2011

Dedication: Serious Case of Writer’s Block (or Motivation Block)

Filed under: Dedication — donkowalewski @ 8:29 am

20110609-083416.jpgI like to write. I like to think people like to read the things I write. I like to wear cargo shorts. I like to think I look good in cargo shorts. I like to lay around in the evening and watch TV, eat snacks, and fall asleep while flipping channels.

With cargo shorts and TV watching, I never lack for motivation. But with writing, it’s different.

All I want to do is write about my Disney World family vacation. I wanted to get everything written down so I wouldn’t forget a single detail. It’s been nearly a month and I’m certain I’m forgetting some great details and moment. It’s Mickey Moose, the main character, right?

All I want to do is write for my real estate guru client. All I want to do is write a few spec scripts, scripts so good it will immediately land me jobs in Hollywood writing sit-coms, and then I can shop my movie script around. And if I could just finish my buddy’s sales book, and then start my real estate investment ghost-writing book …then that other book I’m trying to start writing. If I could just free up a few minutes (or thousands of minutes), I could do this. I’d sleep better knowing I’m “doing” things.

And if I did these things I’d enjoy lounging around in my cargo shorts eating ice cream a lot more than I enjoy it now.

06/03/2011

The Disney Trip, Part 1: It Really Happened

Filed under: Disney World — Tags: , , — donkowalewski @ 1:21 pm

For four years I’ve been blogging. Blogging about nothing much in particular. Sometimes American Idol and The Bachelorette, sometimes about my hair, and sometimes about random things I find funny or inspiring. I also use Facebook and Twitter …alot. I enjoy walking into a room and because of my constant presence and attempts at humor on Facebook and Twitter, most of my conversations are already started when I see people. I like when the first words out of someones mouth when I see them is, “you’re hair isn’t that bad.” Usually anyone who doesn’t know me from Facebook or Twitter is like, “what?” …and then we all explain it’s a Facebook/Twitter thang.

I went to Disney World two weeks ago, and this past weekend, while at a party, I was trying to tell my friend Chris about my trip and he said, “well, until I see you blog about it, I refuse to believe it happened.” That hit me pretty hard, but it told me …hey …for some people, they don’t have much interest in looking at you or talking with you, but if you blog, Tweet, and micro-blog it, you just might get their attention.

Like that old mystery …if a tree falls in the woods and nobody is there to hear it, does it still make a noise? Likewise, if a blogger falls in the woods (or goes to Disney World) and never writes it on his blog, did he ever really go at all?

So, yes …I did go to Disney World and it was the greatest vacation I’ve ever taken in my life. The picture above proves it …well, it doesn’t entirely prove it. I suppose that could’ve been two of my college buddies dressed up like Tigger and Pooh and being escorted out of a concert by security. But trust me … I was at Disney World. This blog entry was just a blog entry to tell you there will be more blog entries. I’m going to recap every day there. You may find it boring, trivial, and self-serving. You’re right in that it’s self-serving. But because it’s self-serving, I will argue my recaps will not be boring or trivial. And someday, when I’m 50 and my kids are all off at college, I’ll be scanning back through old blog entries I wrote about myself and bawling my eyes out.

Keep checking back. More blog entries as riveting as this are on way …some with video footage of my son fighting Darth Vader. Oh, yes …that happened.

Don’t forget @spunkybean, @donkowalewski, and https://www.facebook.com/pages/spunkybean/134450766586968. You know all about spunkybean, I’m sure …but thanks to Blog Catalog, thousands …ok, hundreds …ok, 6 new people are going to be joining the spunkybean fan club, soon. Read our interview here.  This is what Blog Catalog had to say …I hope you agree.

“I like Your “Mixed Beans” tab.”

“I actually was lucky enough to catch that show with Will Ferrell on Conan.”

“It’s pretty clear you love sharing what’s on the tube.”

Wow. Too flattering. Too …too flattering.

05/25/2011

spunkybean and American Idol

Filed under: AMERICAN IDOL, spunkybean — donkowalewski @ 4:28 pm

*sigh*

After tonight, American Idol will be over until next January and the only Idol-related news items I’ll have to look forward to will be the Summer Idols Live Tour, CD releases from Lauren Alaina, Scotty McCreery, and probably a dozen or so other current and former Idol finalists and winners, and quality haircuts. And I’ll still be building my replica Idol stage in my basement.

But writing every week about American Idol? I’ll miss it.

So how can we still hang out? Plenty of ways. Here are the Top-10 ways you can still know what I think, and what spunkybean thinks about stuff.

  1. …visit the ALL NEW spunkybean.com and read about everything pop-culture (it’s not all American Idol, folks).
  2. …’Like’ spunkybean on Facebook
  3. …’Follow’ @spunkybean on Twitter
  4. …read mine and Stacey’s Bachelorette recaps for the next month or so - it will be full of great dating and relationship advice as well as deciding whether blondes or brunettes are better at televised dating.
  5. …email me and say you want to see the Summer Idols Live Tour this summer in Detroit and I’ll plan a rip roarin’ party   …(a) …leave lots of comments on our articles
  6. …add spunkybean.com to your RSS readers
  7. …read my America’s Got Talent recaps …it’s going to be crazy
  8. …come to my house and help me build my replica American Idol stage in my basement.
  9. …visit spunkybean every Monday and Friday and learn what to watch during the coming week and see what you missed during the week that was
  10. …and if spunkybean.com ain’t your cup of tea, you can ‘Friend’ me on Facebook, ‘Follow’ me on Twitter, look for me on Tumblr, or read my Don’s Ego blog …the blog that started it all.

Not to mention the summer months will have award shows, concerts, movies, movie festivals, Big Brother, Bachelorette, Mad Men, Breaking Bad, Venture Brothers, and many other reasons to keep checking spunkybean and to share it with your friends. This Fall we’ll have X Factor, we’ll review all the new Pilots and Premiers, and perhaps a few more surprises and exciting announcements.

We even have contests for stuff now. And you can win things other then used things out of our garages.

Thanks, as always, for reading and not laughing in my face when I mention spunkybean. If you wish to stop receiving my random newsletters, you can reply to this email that you’d rather not receive any emails from me regarding spunkybean. Trust me …my feelings will not be hurt.

Have a great summer. My second to last American Idol recap is here, I’ll recap the finale tomorrow, and I’ll have one or two more fluffy Season 10 reviews for your enjoyment.

Wear sunscreen.

05/06/2011

Inspiration, Part 16: People Like Me …they Really, Really Like Me

Filed under: Inspiration — Tags: , — donkowalewski @ 2:11 pm

I got an email yesterday and it wasn’t from the Nigerian government telling me a relative I didn’t know left me a fortune. No … instead I got an email from a gal who runs Psychology Degree Online.

I added her to my blog roll. I think that’s what we bloggers do, right? Anyway, I must’ve wrote something recently that got her attention and I think that’s cool. She wrote to tell me how clever I was and how much she enjoys reading my entries because they’re inspirational.

I know …it almost sounds like spam and like she didn’t actually read this blog. But if she finds inspiration by reading about me writing about my other writing, so be it. Or maybe she thinks I’m the Double Dream Hands or Double Dream Feet guy. Do you know Sprint signed Double Dream Hands-guy to a sponsorship deal? See … Lisa? Nick? If you ever feel any doubt about your idea for a blog or your passion, just remember Double Dream Hands.

I write a lotta stuff. Like yesterday and today I wrote about American Idol. First I wrote about the performances, then the results.

I also wrote about ghosts. Dude …no really. I wrote something for one of my clients about what you’d write in a letter to Lady Diana if you knew she could read it in the afterlife. I’m still a bit fuzzy on the topic, but the article turned out pretty good. This bit of writing is out there …just sayin’.

And that’s about it. The rest of my happiness today comes from the fact my 8-year-old is making her First Holy Communion tomorrow, and because I put down Patchmaster grass seed and then it lightly rained all night and all morning and that’s totally awesome and the grass is going to grow. My neighbors will envy my lawn.

And, lastly …there’s a show on ABC called Happy Endings and it’s on right after Modern Family. I don’t dare say this on spunkybean, but it’s better than Modern Family. I want to write a script for this show. I love it. You should watch it. Here’s a clip entirely out of context, but one of the main characters falls for a “hipster” which her friends tell her is defined as people who work very hard and care alot about pretending they don’t care at all and won’t work hard at anything. Here’s how her dude friend helped her become a hipster so she could fit-in with her boyfriend’s friends who all don’t care about fitting in. Trust me …the show is great. But telling you what’s the best stuff on TV really isn’t my department …that’s what EJ and Myndi do at spunkybean in our Best TV Shows on TV feature. Read that, too. I know. I’m being very demanding. Either way, no matter what you read or what you watch, I hope you have a great weekend.

05/02/2011

Random, Part 23: Bin Laden, Beastie Boys, and spunkybean

Filed under: Random — Tags: , — donkowalewski @ 1:25 pm

A lot of people (ok …zero people) ask me, “Don? Other than recaps, what are some benefits of spunkybean?” Simple, really. spunkybean is a great source for recipes and tips on saving time while shopping for your groceries, and we also have an article telling you what’s on TV each week. We call them “View-Do Lists“. Get it? It’s like a “To-Do” list, but for the TV shows we think you should watch, so we put the word “view” in place of “to” because it sorta rhymes and …well, it’s fun. Ah, fun.

“But Don,” people ask. “Can’t I just use my channel guide or the TV section of my newspaper? Or an iPad app?”

No, I say. You need to read our View-Do lists every week to see what the ultimate TV watching nerds are watching. Without our help, you might randomly turn on the Military Channel, or History International, and you’ll assume the special on Biblical Battle Plans Used in World War 1: The Secret Hitler Grandfather Diaries (in HD) …you’ll assume that’s all that’s on.

Wrong …wrong …wrong. Modern Family is on. Every week, dang it. And so is Chuck (yes, still) and this week was Chuck’s bachelor party (hey …hop on the The Hangover bandwagon and do a bachelor party episode …why not?)

All I’m asking is that you Subscribe to spunkybean, or follow @spunkybean on Twitter. And I’m also asking that you stand at your local mall and yell “spunkybean-dot-com” until security kicks you out. I don’t think it’s too much to ask.

Thanks. And here’s The Beastie Boys new video (if it embeds). I bought their new CD yesterday and I talked all about it at spunkybean if you care to read about how I spent my college years and what I think about Gen X.

04/28/2011

Interesting, Part 7: I Can See Clearly Now

Filed under: Interesting — Tags: , — donkowalewski @ 8:37 am

For the past 8 days I’ve been trying to convert myself from a full-time glasses wearing guy into a full-time contact lens wearing guy. This is difficult and I’m no doubt making it more difficult than it needs to be. That’s what I do. I make mountains out of mole hills. Every day thousands of people probably get Lasik surgery, contact lenses, or glasses and they quietly go about trying to adjust …but not me. My triumph over contact lenses will serve as a metaphor for a rebirth …for a future world much better than my glasses would’ve allowed. I’ll never forget April of 2011 when my world changed forever …because of my contact lenses. And if I’m successful, you’ll remember these trying first days of my life as a lens person.

Who says there’s too many blogs in this world?

Last Friday night I saw The Decemberists in concert and while it was a great show, the best part for me was that it happened to be one of the days I was able to successfully put my contact lenses in my eyes and at about the 45-minute mark of the show, as a tall person moved out of my way and I was, for a moment, able to see the entire stage and without the aid of my glasses …it was brilliant. Nothing was blurry …my contact lenses had settled on my eyes in such a way I couldn’t even notice I was wearing them, and at that moment, I thought, “I need to blog about this moment.”

You don’t want to forget a moment like that. I reviewed The Decemberists concert here, and I guess you could say the previous paragraph is “bonus coverage.” Trust me …it took a great deal of editorial fortitude to leave my own personal moment of clarity (literally) out of the review.

The Decemberists are a great band. The show was brilliant. I’m a bigger fan now than I was before the show. Again …my review is over at spunkybean.

Also at spunkybean, my weekly recap of American Idol and I don’t need you to read the entire recap, just read the last 5 paragraphs. My Right Said Fred joke is my most favorite thing I’ve written in quite a while.

“Jeez,” you say, “Don loves talking about himself.” Um …check the name of this blog at the top of the page. That’s what I thought.

Double Dream Hands guy is at it again, by they way. I credit myself with launching his Internet superstardom. And now I’ll make him famous again with his Double Dream Feet. Watch.

04/25/2011

Dedication, Part 2: A Lesson 13 Years in the Making

Filed under: Dedication — Tags: , , — donkowalewski @ 7:07 am

I first heard about Roy Williams (aka The Wizard of Ads) in 1997 or 1998. He wrote memorable and effective radio ads (and likely ads for other mediums) and as I understood his story, he built his empire from a fax machine. I don’t know if this story is true, but the legend goes he worked as an account executive somewhere and every Monday he sent a fax dubbed the “Monday Morning Memo” to all his clients. These memos were sometimes just interesting articles about marketing, little bits of wisdom, good advice, or maybe just strong quotes.

Again, I’m retelling a story that was retold to me 13 years ago, and I have no idea what’s true.

This Roy Williams fella, however, was different because he didn’t seem to have an ulterior motive in these memos. They seemed completely self contained. If one of his Monday Morning Memos was interesting to you, so be it. The one before it might not have been, and the next one might not be, but you got a new one every Monday. And when I say “self contained” I mean there wasn’t a “secret” he was leaving out only to get you to buy his book or his Webinar.

Ya know, like this sort of email you no doubt see every day.

Subject: Make the World’s Greatest Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich TODAY!

Are you tired of boring sandwiches? Do you wish you could make the same 4-star PB&J’s at home as you enjoy at the worlds finest restaurants? Now, you can. You will need 2 slices of bread and peanut butter. For more information, please subscribe to my newsletter, take my FREE Webinar, or buy my white-paper, click on this link, or call this number and register and attend my 3-day Ultimate PB&J Weekend Retreat and learn what your PB&J is missing!

OHMYGOSH!!! Click, click, click …subscribe …pay money …attend event. I must learn the missing ingredient!!!

Hundreds or thousands of dollars later …turns out, it’s jelly. Jelly?!?!?!? Wow. Now I know “the secret.”

Roy Williams (aka The Wizard of Ads) gave you the full recipe in every email. Then again, he’s never really talked about his most famous recipe.

It dawned on me this morning his most brilliant lesson is that he’s consistent. Every Monday you can count on his memo to hit your email Inbox (he’s graduated from fax machines …if he ever used them to begin with). Never misses. Ever! And that’s it. My guess is he sends his email to thousands and thousands of people. I’ll bet thousands read it, but many more just delete it. I’ll bet most people who get the email don’t read it. And often times he’ll invite readers to attend a writing seminar, or a creative workshop, and he’ll mention his books, but it’s never really necessary to completely and wholly enjoy the Monday Morning Memo he sent you. The memo itself is the entire recipe.

I’m a dreamer. I have many friends who are dreamers. We dream big dreams and we want big things, but are we missing the jelly from our PB&J? Are you? Want to know what I mean when I say “jelly?” Buy my book, subscribe, and pay me money.

No, I’m kidding. The jelly is do the thing you want to do, and just keep doing it. Yummmmmm.

04/22/2011

Cheap Blogging Stunt: Links to Other Things

Filed under: Cheap Blogging Stunt — donkowalewski @ 7:27 am

First, take this survey and help my friend. He runs his own company and wants to know how often you view websites on your smart phone. Take the survey here.

Next, make sure you “Like” spunkybean on Facebook and “Follow” @spunkybean on Twitter. Can you do that? Also, can someone tell me if when you clicked ‘spunkybean on Facebook’ if it actually took you to the spunkybean Fan Page? Thanks.

It’s Good Friday and my entire household is still asleep and I should be showering and shaving and getting ready for work, but I want everyone to sleep. Once I get in the shower, chances are everyone will wake. Primarily because I sing (loudly) in the shower. I can’t wait to hear how my version of Katy Perry’s “E.T.” sounds in my steamy bathroom – the acoustics in there are heavenly.

Speaking of Katy Perry and “E.T.”, her new single with Kanye West, they were on American Idol last night. Are you watching this season. Yeah …I know …me neither. American Idol has jumped the shark, totally.

pssst. OK, I’m joking …I was just tryin’ to look cool in front of my friends, but I’m tooootally watching Idol and voting and everything. And I’m still recapping every week at spunkybean. I recap the performances, then the results. I still think the only thing better than watching something is watching it and then reading what someone else thinks about what you watched. I’m banking on this fact in order to reach mega-fame.

I guess it’s about time to start the day. I was actually just testing my other theory on whether I could blog and promote my blog in less than 1/2-hour each day. Answer …yes I can. The next question becomes, if I’m blogging just to blog something, what’s the point?

Don’t answer that. Watch this. It’s the Decemberists and I’m going to their concert tonight. See  you soon.

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