Today I got my first ever shoe shine and pedicure. My shoes needed a miracle, but the guy worked his magic and they came out shining. They looked so nice that I barely wanted to walk in them. I watched my every step very closely as if my shoes were brand new again. (NOTE: Walking while staring at your shoes on a New York sidewalk is not a good idea.) Later on in the day I got a pedicure. After 25 years of soccer, baseball, and basketball, it was about time. Neither one was planned (at least not by me), but in hindsight it all makes sense.

Oftentimes we make sure the external looks clean even if the internal doesn't. But what good is a clean glass with dirty water in it? What good is a nice looking car without a functioning engine? What good is a clean body with an impure spirit? Nobody puts on a brand new outfit before showering. There is no point in making the outside look good if the inside is impure for the outside will always ultimately reflect what is inside. Therefore it makes sense that I polished both my shoes (the external) and my feet (the internal).

We've all heard the story about Jesus washing his disciples' feet, but it wasn't until today that I finally "understood" what that action meant. Our feet are the foundation of our body. They symbolize understanding; they are "under" us and we "stand" on them. Wherever our feet go, our body has to go. When our feet are clean, we are more likely to walk a clean path and be more careful where we step. Through the washing of the feet, Jesus was simply using a physical example to make the spiritual statement that his disciples "wash their understanding".

In the same way that we wash our feet (our physical under-standing), we must also cleanse our beliefs (our spiritual under-standing). Our beliefs are what we stand on and dictate the direction of our lives just like our feet direct our bodies. Our beliefs lead our feet and our feet lead our bodies...to light or darkness. If our beliefs are false, flawed, or filthy, they will lead us down false, flawed, and filthy paths. We each have the power to choose between opposing beliefs like the law of abundance vs. the law of scarcity, freedom vs. security, matter-ialsm (what matters) vs. materialism (what doesn't matter). Only through the washing of our "understanding" will we begin to make pure choices and usher the world along a more righteous path.

Is it time for a pedicure?

In Nascar, there is a car called the pace car which limits the speed of competing cars on a racetrack in the case of a major accident or obstruction on the track. Some things to note about the pace car are that:

1. It's not a competitor in the race
2. It slows down the race, allowing everyone to catch up
3. You can never pass it until it exits the track

Imagine being the leading driver in a race when the pace car comes out. Not fun! You've been winning all along and now you feel like second place and every one else that you were ahead of is on your tail.

In life, we oftentimes feel like we're behind too. We're either behind:

1. Our own aggressive 5-year plan (ie millionaire by 30)
2. Our parents' plan for us or,
3. Our peers

Many of us have a pace setter in life. We judge our progress and self-worth according the pacesetter. The pacesetter always makes us feel behind. Oftentimes that pacesetter is a real person that we know. We had every opportunity that they had growing up. We went to school with them and played with them as a little kids. You know whom I'm talking about!

The feeling of always being behind no matter what you do is unhealthy and feeds our competitive nature. We start competing against cars that we already lapped 3 times just to feel like we're getting ahead of someone...anyone. Whoever your pace car is, whoever your parents always ask about every time you come home, whoever you think you should be by now, keep in mind that:

1. They're not a real competitor
2. Following them actually slows down your progress
3. You can never pass them until they exit your mind

You're on your own track to success, running your own race at your own pace. Where you are today is right where you're supposed to be. Everything is right on schedule.

Throughout our lives, we have all come up with great ideas. What if...Why isn't there...Imagine a world where...But merely coming up with great ideas is meaningless unless we know what to do with them when we get them. How many great ideas have you let spoil in your mind? Raw ideas expire because we don't truly believe in the idea and/or we don't believe in our own ability to manifest the idea. Like food, ideas have expiration dates and we need to treat them in a similar way.

1. Cook them:

Some ideas need to be put the fire. Place the idea in the conversation pot and let it marinate. Stir gently every 2-3 minutes. After 10 minutes, apply the simmering heat of pessimistic questions, but be careful not to allow the raw idea to burn. Cover the pot when the idea has started to boil and let it stand until it is ready.

2. Freeze them:

Some ideas are so far ahead of there time that they need to be frozen for later use. They will be valuable later, but the world isn't ready yet. Many great ideas are dependent on advances in technology (ie faster, cheaper) or shifts in the market (ie law, regulations, consciousness) that may not change for years. When ideas are frozen, there is uncertainty about whether they will be useful in the future or not. Anything left in the freezer too long can get outdated. For ideas that may succeed in the short term, simply refrigerate them, but make sure to use them before they spoil.

3. Let them sit:

Like fruit, sometimes idea simply aren't ripe yet and then just need a little bit of time to mature into their full state. Just make sure you watch the idea carefully and take full advantage of it when it is at its sweetest.

4. Give them away:

There are cases when you just might have too many ideas and/or you may have a hot idea but you know that you aren't the one to execute it. If either of these cases arise, don't try to hold onto the idea and rob the world. Instead, share. Give the ideas to people you know who may value them and put them to use. Even if the idea that came through you, but you aren't passionate about it, there are still ways to capture value if you initiate the manifestation. People like song writers that can't sing have made careers out of doing this.

At the very least, preserve your ideas by writing them down. Keep a pen and pad near your bed for those midnight and morning ideas. Explore the idea by taking an hour to see if you're just crazy or if the idea really makes sense.

1. Competition: Browse the internet to see if anyone is doing anything similar
2. Startup Costs: Investigate how much it might costs to get started
3. Market Size: Estimate how many people might benefit from it

Each idea could be the one. Don't let any idea (especially your $1 million one) spoil.

True networking is all about facilitating a new flow of energy. It is about creating a channel and currency between two energetic beings that is mutually beneficial to both sources. Oftentimes we qualify our ability to network by the number of business cards we have sitting on our desk at home, but that is a false measurement. Our social capital is our ability to mobilize our network to move in a unified direction, whether it is by garnering (social, intellectual, or financial) resources from them and/or their networks.

The key to developing more social capital is learn how to plug in. Plugging in is 20% about what you say when you actually meet someone for the first time and 80% about what happens afterward. We have 4 choices when we meet someone new:

1. 2-way: They plug into what we're doing and we also plug into what they're doing
2. 1-way: They plug into what we're doing only
3. 1-way: We plug into what they're doing only
4. No way: No exchange (except meaningless business cards)

In order to effectively plug in, there are a few things that you should do.

1. Have a story to tell.

When someone asks you "What do you do?" don't just give them your job title (ie doctor, lawyer, banker). Instead, share your purpose with them. The more clear you are, the easier it is for your new friend to hear where they can plug-in to what you're doing.

2. Ask about their story.

Honestly, I suggest asking questions into you find a deeper bond and a compelling reason for the two of you to plug-in to each other's lives afterward. If after interviewing the person you still can't find a link inlet or outlet, think of all of your friends that this person could potential plug-in with.

3. Have something to give.

By giving them something (anything) you automatically activate the law of reciprocity. When people receive something for free, they feel inclined to give back. Lasting relationships start with small commitments and exchanges that get bigger over time. Simple gifts to consider include referrals to a person, website, organization, event, or book that you think is relevant to them or a genuine affirmation about them and their purpose.

4. Have something to recruit to.

Always have an upcoming opportunity to deepen their relationship with you like a monthly dinner at your house or a current project. Make them say "no". (Note that it is harder for people to say "no" if you've done #3.) By inviting them into your world, they will get an opportunity to know you more intimately by seeing you in your element which will deepen the relationship.

Everyone has inlets and outlets that may energize you. Don't let another potentially beautiful relationship pass you by without trying to plug-in.