Dare to discipline yourself

Robert B. Parker, one of my favorites, died recently.
Mr. Parker wrote more than 50 novels in 30+ years.
That's some productivity. That takes discipline.
You could read a Parker novel in an afternoon.
He wrote quick reads, even if you move your lips.
They were the perfect beach books for his fans.
He wrote about things that caught his passion.
He wrote about cops and criminals of today,
He wrote about gunmen of the Old West.
He wrote about baseball and baseball players.
His long-running hero had one name, Spenser.
Robert Urich portrayed Spenser on TV.
Parker took chances as a male novelist.
He created a female private eye, Sunny Randall.
His wife Joan helped him think like a female.
What I liked best about Parker was his work ethic.
He looked at writing books as his business.
He urged a roomful of librarians to buy his books.
"I'm too old to get a real job," he told them.
He actually had a real job. One he created.
He wrote five days a week, 10 pages a day.
He wrote from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day.
If you think that's easy, try it yourself.
He occasionally took a day off but not often.
He didn't work the conventional way.
He didn't outline. He didn't plot. He just wrote.
He said he just started with an idea.
Then the characters took over and told the story.
He said writer's "block" was a myth.
"That's just another word for lazy," he said.
My advice to you: Don't join the lazy crowd.
Do you practice rocket science or brain surgery?
Teach school or run your own business?
Do it every day, at least 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Then enjoy the weekends with loved ones.
It's amazing what you can accomplish.
For help reaching peak performance, go to:
http://www.JerryBellune.com/success-strategies.htm
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Love what you do

I had almost forgotten this story until lunch the other day.
Joe Pinner, known to millions as Mr. Knozit, made me think of it.
Joe has spent most of his life in broadcasting and loves it.
"I've never had to work a day in my life," Joe says.
As a young reporter, I wrote about a cleaning lady.
She was retiring after 30 years at one of the local TV stations.
Cleaning potties isn't my idea of a fun career.
But this lady loved being around broadcasting people.
They were just local folks but to her they were stars.
At a retirement party, she was asked how she felt on retiring.
"I'm sure going to miss show business," she said.
To her, what she had been doing was important to the business.
Without clean potties, who would want to work there?
Here's the point: If you clean potties, makes them the cleanest.
If you're in show business, make it the best show in town.
Love it and you'll never work a day in your life
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P.S. An invitation for those of you in the Lexington area.
Our annual Chronicle Open House will be Saturday, Dec. 19.
Come by 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. for food and holiday cheer.
It's at our office, 131 Swartz Rd., Lexington, just off U.S.1.
I'll be glad to autograph any of my books for you.
They make great Christmas gifts. Hope to see you then.