The Voice Inside My Yed

Did you get the title?

It wouldn't be the early 2000s without some whiny Tom Delonge. As of now, the song lyrics/titles don't have much relation to the actual content of the newsletter. Maybe that will change, maybe it won't!

Speaking of Tom, have you listened to "new" Blink-182? It's Mark, Travis and Matt Skiba. Lot's of die-hard fans say that new Blink sucks without Tom, but I still love their music. Sure, it's not "Enema of the State," but it's pretty damn good. You should check it out, especially the song "Darkside."

Will We Ever Retire?

The voice inside my ed makes me feel like we will never stop working. Unlike the older generations, 99.99% of us will not have pensions. So how are you planning for retirement?

I'm no financial advisor, but some here's a few things that I'm doing and that make sense to me.

• Contribute to a tax-favorable retirement plan (401K, IRA, etc)

• Contribute as much as possible to allow for employer match (likely 401K or equivalent)

• Invest in ETFs

• Save some money

These are by no means mind-blowing, but slow and steady wins the race. Of course there are other opportunities such as investing in real estate and building or starting a business.

What did I miss that you think should be represented?

Do Some Push Ups

I have this important physical event at the end of September. I've been planning for it for the last three months and the time is drawing near. In the upcoming editions, I will go over some of the things I've done to prepare but I wanted to share one that you can easily do at home, even while you are reading this.

I have worked in 100 push ups into my schedule every day for the last two months. I don't do them all at once, but usually in five sets of 20 throughout the day. While is hasn't magically turned me into Dwayne Johnson, I have gotten noticeable stronger. The sets are becoming much easier and my bench press max has increased.

What's stopping you from working something like this into your daily routine? You don't have to start with 100. How about 30 or 50?

Building small, minuscule habits over a long period of time is not sexy, but it gets results!

Try it and let me know how it goes!

Keys to Being a Superb Parent

A Lot of Patience

If you aren’t a patient person, you will learn to be. Being patient does not mean letting your kids do whatever they want. It means that you parent with grace; kids make mistakes, and they need to know that they are loved unconditionally. A lot of the time, kids just want to be heard or seen. Kids also move at a pace I call “turtle speed. This is because one task may take several “pit stops” in order to be completed by the child. Stop and enjoy the ride with your kids because they are only in this stage for a short while.

Consistency

You can avoid confusing your child by being consistent with what you say and what you do. If you say you will do something, it is so important to follow through or your kids will lose trust in you. Your expectations cannot change unless there are clear directions given. It is also so important to be on the same as page your spouse with these expectations. Kids will find out which parent is the “fun one” and ask for privileges that way.

This post was from Kyle. Follow him on Twitter HERE.

Speaking of Blink-182 from earlier, what's your favorite blink album?

Most people with whom I speak say "Enema of the State" is the best. It has bangers on it like All the Small Things, Adam's Song, What's My Age Again, and several others. It's an incredible album, truly one the helped define the pop-punk genre. I love it.

BUT...

I like "Take off Your Pants and Jacket" a lot more. The Rock Show is one of my favorite songs of all time. The album has fewer chart toppers on it, but for some unexplainable reason, I just like the flow and feel of the album a little better. Maybe it's more upbeat as a whole? Maybe their 2003 self-titled album is the best...I don't know.

Which do you like better?

Closing

“The master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried.”

You can fail a thousand times in search of success. It only takes you making it one time to change your life. You can do this.

Never starting is a sure way to avoid failure, but you will never achieve the life you want. Be bold, be brave and be present. Until next time!

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