Teachings from The Baddest Man on the Planet

Someone asked me today when I was going to write about soccer. Anyone that knows me knows about my dislike (understatement of 2010) of soccer. I will write about soccer. But not tonight. I have to work up to that rant. You don't just step into a boxing ring against Mike Tyson without training for months before. I don't know about you, but I don't want to have my ear eaten.

So if I am not going to discuss soccer, what is the subject of this blog entry? That is a very good question. And it is one I should answer before we go forward. But is it a question that needs an answer? When you really think about it, wouldn't the subject matter be fairly obvious if you are reading this post? Saying what the post was all about is sort of like having Mike Tyson say, "I am Mike Tyson," before he smashes in your skull in the boxing ring. If you didn't know you were boxing Mike Tyson, why were you in the ring in the first place?

So instead of dwelling on what this blog post is "about," let's just get on with it. Dwelling is something that people do when they can't get over something. It's a weakness. Don't be weak. Life is tough. You have to be strong. You can't show fear. In fact, you have to embrace pain and show the world that you are tougher than it is. It has to show on your face every day. That toughness should show on your face in the same way that Mike Tyson's face tattoo shows on his face.



And sometimes life will get you down. You'll be doing fine, easy going, listening to Phil Collins, and one night a group of guys might steal your pet tiger. That will get you down. It would get anyone down, right? But don't let it rule you. Suck it up, laugh about it, and punch one of the guys right in the face. Just like Mike Tyson in the movie "The Hangover."

Things have a tendency to fall into balance over the course of time. If things seem to be tipping one way, be prepared, because they will tip the other way soon. Stay on your feet and be sure you know your surroundings. People will be quick to help, but you have to make sure they truly want to help. If you don't pay attention to those around you, you will soon find yourself with vertigo and balance will be a thing of the past. And your world will not make any sense, sort of like Mike Tyson's finances.

Finally, always, always bet on yourself. You should always consider yourself the favorite. No matter if everyone else considers you an underdog, believe in yourself and your unlimited ability. Unless, of course, you are Mike Tyson fighting Buster Douglas in Tokyo. At that point, you're on your own.

*(All Mike Tyson references are purely for educational purposes. No actual boxers were harmed in the writing of this blog post.)