The $6,400 To-Do List

Here’s a challenge for you: Write a $6,400 to-do list.
Am I kidding? No. Johnny Cash did it.
How did he do that? Well, it’s really simple.
Johnny wrote "Things to Do Today" lists.

On one were these 10 items:
1. Not smoke.
2. Kiss June (his wife).
3. Not kiss anyone else.
4. Cough.
5. Pee.
6. Eat.
7. Not eat too much.
8. Worry.
9. Go see Mama.
10. Practice piano.
Under the "Notes" he wrote: "Not write notes".

Johnny probably had his tongue in his cheek.
But the to-do list reflected his values.
It shows he was trying to quite smoking, etc.
He was working on his family relationships.
He was trying to stay humble and down to earth.

His to-do list sold at auction for $6,400.
Someone with more money than sense paid that.
He may plan to sell it for more to some other sucker.

Well, you say. But he was Johnny Cash.
That’s what made the list so valuable.
Well, why can’t you be the next Johnny Cash?
Or Bill Gates? Or Steve Jobs? Or Oprah Winfrey?
You’re smart enough and talented enough.
But are you determined enough?

When you get to be Johnny whoever, keep a list.
It might be worth $6,400 one of these days.

Do you want to become famous, too?
Write me for the secrets that can make you famous.
Send to me at Jerry@JerryBellune.com
Put "Star Formula" in the subject line.

The Power of Less

I’ve been reading a great little book by Leo Babauta.
I recommend it to you - "The Power of Less".
Leo’s concept is beautiful in its simplicity.
Limit yourself to what’s essential in life.

That’s not as easy to do as it may sound.
You may be a lot like me.
We have the Superman or Superwoman Complex.
We can have it all and do it all, can’t we?
We’re burning our candles at both ends.
But the candle will last only half as long.

Leo advises you to get rid of the busy little things.
Let someone else do them - or forget them.
This takes discipline and super self-control.
Workaholics have the most trouble with this.

There’s a mountain of stuff on my desk.
Six file cabinet drawers are jammed with stuff.
Newspaper and magazine tearsheets.
Great copywriting and design ideas.
Unread mail. Notes from seminars.
Outlines for projects I may never get to.
I made myself (and my wife) a promise.
If I have not needed it for a year, I’ll get rid of it.
90% of it is going to the landfill.
That’s one way to unclutter our lives.
I’m going to block out my time.
Only the vital stuff will get on my calendar.
Mark Twain’s big frogs get swallowed first.
I’m going to say "no" or "not now" more often.

You can do this, too. But you must want to.
This year, why not join me in this challenge.

• We can unclutter our lives.
• We can get the really important stuff done.
• We can have more time for our loved ones.
• We can even have more time for ourselves.

Take a tip from Leo Babauta and do it.
Also read his book. He shows you how to do it.

Want a copy of "Your life’s Great Purpose"?
Email me at this address.

Leave a lasting legacy

Tom Brady and Tom Martinez:
A hard-to-beat combination

The man who taught Tom Brady died last week.
The NFL quarterback fully credits his mentor.
Tom Martinez, Brady’s mentor, died at age 66.
He suffered a heart attack during dialysis.
"The Quarterback Whisperer" needed a transplant.
He started coaching the future MVP at age 13.
Brady worked with him throughout his career.
Brady said he taught him how to throw a football.
At the Super Bowl, Brady appealed for organ donors.


Martinez’s impact went far beyond football.
He coached college women’s basketball and softball.
His teams won a combined 1,100 games.
Martinez left quite a legacy that includes:
• Thousands of young people he taught.
• A great example to other mentors.
• A role model for the rest of us.

He was like John Wooden and Vince Lombardi.
Like Billy Graham and Norman Vincent Peale.
Like George Washington and Dwight Eisenhower.
His teaching and example had an impact on others.

When others turn to you, help them.
Share your wisdom and experience with them.
Show them how to "throw a football".
You may not know what an impact you have.
Not only on them but others they will mentor.

We are not known just for how good we were in life.
Hundreds will remember us for our guidance.
For how we helped them become better.
That’s the lasting legacy all of us can leave.
That's true leadership.

For more on leadership I recommend a book.
It’s my new one coming out next month.
"The Cost to Be the Boss" teaches mentorship.
It also teaches much more about leadership.
For a sample pre-publication copy, email me.
Just put "new book" in the subject line.
You’ll receive it with my compliments.

Never lose hope

We once offered our readers a lifetime newspaper subscription.
I don’t recall the price.

It was something like $250.
Our first taker was a reader in her 80s.
Now that’s what you might call optimism.

Our friend Ron Isbell calls it hope.
Ron owns and operates three N.C. newspapers.
He has been having a battle with cancer.
He’s undergone several surgeries for tumors.
Some were on his spine, a high risk spot to operate.
Ron is sharing this experience with his readers.
Here’s the opening sentence in last week’s column:
"Nothing shows hope like buying green bananas."
Those who have battled cancer know what he means.
If you have a loved one with cancer, you know, too.
The rest of us can only imagine what it’s like.

Buying green means you'll be around when they ripen.

Cancer is not the death warrant it once was.
Many survive it and go on with their lives.
I’m praying Ron’s one who survives.
Life is filled with tests of character.
Cancer is only one of them.

I've had a cardiac condition for many years.
I like to joke that it proves I have a heart.
That’s not a claim all newspaper editors can make.
There will be much rejoicing if I make it to heaven.
They don’t get many newspaper editors up there.

What fuels my hope is my long bucket list.
Countries to visit. People to meet. Books to write.
CDs and DVDs. Newsletters and columns.
I hope you have a long bucket list, too.
It will fuel your hopes and drive your success.
It will help you realize your life’s great purpose.

For more on your purpose I recommend a little book.
It’s called "Your Life’s Great Purpose".
For a copy email me at JerryBellune.com

Dealing with burnout

Our editor has taken one vacation in four years.
It was his option but not a smart one.
The pressure was truly weighing him down.
Now he’s on sabbatical and his mood is improved.

Lee Milteer calls this burnout.
It comes in degrees of intensity.
We need to develop “the skill of awareness.”
This means we are aware it’s happening to us.
The more we deny our feelings, the worse it gets.
We must “own” negative feelings to deal with them.
We become caught up in them and lose awareness.
That’s when we need a friend to help us.

My wife is my sharpest critic and best friend.
She steps in when burnout is happening in me.
She pulls me back to reality. We all need a wife.

Lee advises us to create an outlet.
She can reset her stress level by playing hooky.
She loves movies, popcorn and a drink.
Sitting in the dark, reality is suspended temporarily.
Let your kid come out to play. Take a break.
Relax. Cut yourself some slack.
Movies. Walks. A cup of coffee with a friend.
Whatever resets your mood and attitude.
You’ll come back refreshed, balanced and in charge.

Lee admits preaching this stuff is easier than doing it.
So quit trying to be perfect. Settle for excellence.
Go to the movies. Watch a ball game. See a friend.
If it gets too intense, take a sabbatical.
For Lee’s eLetter, go to leemilteeroffice@gmail.com

All of us pay a price for leadership.
It’s a heavy responsibility.
For more on dealing with it read:
“Lead People, Manage Things”.
Check it out at JerryBellune.com
It will turn around your life and your thinking.