Steve Rizzo Motivational Keynote Speaker - The Attitude Adjustor

Our Inner Conflicts; Part 1

2011-09-07T08:53:00.000-07:00

It’s not a coincidence that we are confronted with annoying people and situations day-in and day-out. That’s life, and it follows us everywhere, like someone stepping on your heels. When we allow these outside factors to keep us from enjoying our lives, they quickly manifest themselves as our inner conflicts.

Make no doubt about it, those inner conflicts represent lessons we need to learn. When we learn them we become more confident and at peace in our surroundings. Our lives become easier when we view our challenges not as burdens that bring us down, but as opportunities to evolve. We can only stay down by choosing to respond in a way that doesn’t accept the problem as a task that will make us better. In my view, that’s a key to being successful in all levels of life.

Among my biggest challenges has been learning patience and to control my anger. Since these are things I still need to learn, I often find myself in traffic jams, red lights and waiting at the back of long lines. This last one seems to be especially true. No matter what line I carefully choose for optimal speed, factoring in the number of standees, the number of their items and whether or not they look like they have someplace else to be, something always comes up in the way of a price check, changing the cash drawer, a dysfunctional computer (or person), or a declined credit card.

What really ticks me off are the ones that only have two items (usually something like a roll of toilet paper and tooth paste) and then write out a check for two dollars and thirty seven cents. (I guess we should realize that it’s just not safe to carry all of that cash around with you!) This is a maddening situation for me, and until I can finally accept that I can’t move lines any faster with my mind, it will continue that way.

I can’t tell you how many times I had to be somewhere at an appointed time and broke a shoelace, or noticed a stain on my shirt, or couldn’t find my car keys, and of course, noticed the gas gauge was pointing to empty. Boy, sometimes life seems like it’s out to get me!

If I allow even one these annoying moments to try my patience, it could set me off for the rest of the day. In the end, all it takes is one annoyance to set yourself up for another one, and then another, and so on. This domino effect can be devastating, but if I can recognize it for what it is and say to myself, “This is a test, and I will pass it and learn form this.” I can then shift my perspective, calm down and feel like I’ve learned something. By learning the lesson, I am setting up for a happier, more productive day.

In Part 2 you will learn how humor can be a real difference maker and help you learn the lesson that life is trying to teach you.

Thoughts are Good, but just That!

2011-08-24T12:21:00.000-07:00

Thoughts are good, but just that.
You need to take action or they never go anywhere.

Beliefs & Choices of the Past

2011-08-17T09:22:00.000-07:00

Like it or not, where you are at this point in your life is based on the beliefs you had & the choices you made in the past.

Humor is a GIFT!

2011-07-27T11:50:00.000-07:00

Humor is a Gift! Find time to allow yourself to use Humor on a daily basis.
You will Thank Yourself!

Have A GREAT DAY, Laugh!

2011-07-25T10:41:00.000-07:00

Having a GREAT day should ALWAYS be in the plan, Steve Rizzo
http://youtu.be/kuQPCS9r8Lc

LIFE & FUN

2011-07-08T13:09:00.000-07:00

Life can be fun, if you make it so.

Learn To Dance in the Rain

2011-06-30T14:08:00.000-07:00

Last week I spent four wonderful days at the Four Seasons Hotel in Kona Hawaii, where I had the pleasure of speaking to a wonderful group of Top Sales Performers and spouses of Ameritus Financial.

My job was to give them the tools they need to embrace the changes and intense growth they were currently experiencing and will inevitably continue to experience in the coming years. I knew the tension was high, but I was prepared.

One morning, two hours before my speech, I was having breakfast at a restaurant with a captivating view of the ocean. As the waitress was pouring my coffee, I asked, “Why is it that no matter where they are, or what they are doing, Hawaiian people always seem to be happy and at peace with themselves? Is there some kind of secret that I should know about? And if there is, can you please tell me?”

She laughed and looked around as if to make sure that no one was listening and in a low voice she replied, “Mr. Rizzo today is your lucky day. For today I will tell you the secret that most Hawaiian people live by”. She sat down in the chair next to me, motioned me to get closer and whispered in my ear. “We learn to dance in the rain”.

Before I had a chance to respond, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a laminated card and handed it to me and said “This is for you. It really is a secret that should be shared with everyone.” “Don’t wait for the storms of your life to pass. Learn to dance in the rain”.

Read that again my friend. That statement is a touchstone for living a successful, happier life, especially when you are experiencing intense change and growth of any kind. That in part is the message I shared with the wonderful people of Ameritus Financial.

“Dancing in the rain” is an attitude that truly happy and successful people live by and few dancers come by it naturally. Can you learn to dance in the rain when the storms of change and misfortune are pouring down on you? I believe the answer is yes. It’s a matter of shifting your focus and way of thinking when times are tough that makes the difference.

That is to say, when the storms of life are pouring down on you, you can muster up enough courage to dance and bless the things that life has given you, or you can drown as you curse your challenges and unfortunate circumstances. I don’t know

Experiencing True Happiness

2011-06-22T11:49:00.000-07:00

I would like to get something off my chest. As many of you know, my mission in life is to show people how to be happy and successful, regardless what their circumstances are. Let me make this perfectly clear! I am in no way expecting anyone to be happy 24-7, 365 days a year. Give me a break! Better yet, give yourself a break!

To expect to be happy all the time is to set yourself up for disappointment and failure. Furthermore, if you were happy all of the time, its meaning would be completely lost because you would have nothing to compare it with.

Experiencing true happiness invariably involves emotional discomfort and difficult experiences along the way. In fact, it depends on them. Our challenges build our character and self esteem. How we approach and respond to these challenges is what determines the quality of our happiness. A happy person can experience highs and lows throughout their life while maintaining a positive outlook on their life as a whole.

The goal isn’t to be in a perpetual state of Pollyannaish happiness. Rather, the goal is to realize that if you stay conscious of your ability to shift into a feel good state of mind and allow it to, happiness will come around more often than not.

Attitude of Gratitude by Steve Rizzo

2011-06-16T14:05:00.000-07:00

On May 31st I spoke to a wonderful group of people at Northrop Grumman Corporation in Connecticut. On the way home the Limo driver asked me what I did for a living. I told him that I speak to groups all over the world on how to be happy and successful regardless of what their circumstances are. I knew I hit a soft spot because he let out a big laugh and said, “I always start my day in a good mood! Do you want to know the secret is?” Before I could answer he said, “Gratitude! I always start my day with an attitude of gratitude!”

Now I didn’t know this guy personally, but I could tell by that one statement that he embraced a most profound secret about happiness; GRATITUDE! It is essential that as soon as you open your eyes to start your day you put your attention on something or someone you are truly grateful for. And for those of you who are mumbling that you don’t have anything to be grateful for; WRONG!!!!!!

I cannot stress this enough, but I’ll try. There is always, always, always, always, and always something to be grateful for. Always! Sometimes you have to dig deep, but it’s worth digging for. When you discover it, feel it with your with everything you’ve got and then build from there. This is especially important at the beginning of your day. Feeling grateful and appreciative is the fastest way to turn your life around.

Gratitude is the most powerful connection you have to your higher self, God, the divine, Bob or whatever you want to call it. The point is you always want to keep your connection to this higher part of yourself. The stronger your connection, the better you feel. The better you feel the more creative and productive you are. The more creative and productive you are, the better you feel.

When you fully appreciate what you have in the moment, good things come into your life. Why? Because the gratitude bone is connected to the happiness bone, and it’s this fun little cycle that eventually acts as a magnet to attract the things you desire most, whatever they might be into your life.

Choose to be Happy Now

2011-05-25T08:27:00.000-07:00

Choose to be happy now, no matter what is happening around you. If you wait for something else to change first, you don't stand a chance at happiness.

How's that for delivering the truth?

Your Higher Self

2011-05-24T06:22:00.000-07:00

The real purpose of frustration isn’t to frustrate you.
It’s to push you to align with your higher-self, Steve Rizzo.
http://bit.ly/kaDw4M

Which One Are You Feeding

2011-05-12T11:52:00.000-07:00

Recently I was on a flight from New York to Portland Oregon. This doesn’t happen too often, but the service was exceptionally good. There was one flight attendant in particular who stood out from the rest. His smile was genuine. What I mean is that I had a sense that he smiled because he wanted to, not because it was expected of him. Believe me I can tell the difference.

What really impressed me was the manner in which he introduced himself to everyone as they were entering the first class cabin. “Hi, my name is Jeff and I will be serving you this morning. If there is anything you need, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

Throughout the entire flight he went out of his way to make sure that everyone’s needs were taken care of. At the end of the flight, he approached each row and said, “Thank you for flying with us today. It was a pleasure serving you.”
As everyone was deplaning, I approached Jeff and thanked him for the great service. His eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. “You really love what you do, don’t you?” I said. His reply, “Mr. Rizzo I’ve been doing this for over a year now and I can honestly say that I couldn’t be happier. I love to travel, I love people and I love to serve.

He went on to tell me that before he was a flight attendant he was a Tax Attorney. “The money was great.” He said, “But I was miserable.” Now I wake up every morning with a smile on my face. Now I honestly believe I’m fulfilling my purpose.

Here’s my point dear reader. Sometimes what we think we want in life isn’t what we really need to be truly happy and successful. More often than not, what you want feeds the Ego. When you fulfill your needs, you feed your Soul. Which one are you feeding?

America’s Collective Humor Being

2011-05-03T07:53:00.000-07:00

A few weeks after 9/11, I experienced an inward glow when I witnessed America’s collective Humor Being helping us to shift our focus away from the pain. Not only was Osama Bin Laden being bombarded by air strikes, but also by punch lines. Late night television hosts like Jay Leno led the attack and helped us all to laugh off the fear. Osama goes to a fortune teller to find out how long he has to live. The fortune-teller informs him that he will die on a famous American holiday. "Which one?" Bin Laden asks. "Whatever day you die will be a famous American holiday," the fortune-teller replies. The healing of America began to flourish the day we adjusted our attitudes and made the shift to laugh off the fear. ”
Yes, Osama Bin Laden is now dead and the entire country is celebrating. But let us not forget that we are still at the mercy of a group of religious fanatics, who have no regard for human life, including their own. And whose mission in life is to instill fear. On top of all of this we are in harsh economic times, political change and a news media that constantly reminds us how bad and dangerous things are. Yes, we are all being forced to live a new normal. The ones who will ultimately prevail are the ones who will deal with the fear factor and adapt. I guarantee you; those who do adapt are the ones that make conscious choices to shift their focus, their beliefs and their way of thinking. Guess what? Humor can help us to make the shifts that are necessary to move forward with hope and confidence.
Terrorists everywhere need to know that they can knock down our buildings, but they cannot kill the SPIRIT that constitutes who we are. THE SPIRIT LIVES ON!! If we don’t allow ourselves to laugh off the fear, terror always wins, no matter what guise it comes in. We all have a Humor Being within us. Your Humor Being is of your higher self, it is the part of you that brings out the best in you, especially when times are tough. Use it and live free.

THERE IS NOTHING LIKE LAUGHTER

2011-04-12T11:17:00.000-07:00

There is nothing like laughter that can instantly shift your mind into a good mood and help you to bounce back to enjoy the day.

Not even sex has the same power- and this is coming from someone of the male gender. What I mean is that, to most men sex is like pizza. When it's hot, it's great. When it's cold....it's still great.

A Salute to Nurses Everywhere - Worth Repeating

2011-04-04T11:53:00.000-07:00

The Happiest people don't always have the best of everything: they just make the most of everything that comes along.

The Goal is Just a Gift

2011-03-30T10:05:00.000-07:00

For those of you who think that achieving the goal is the most important attribute to success, you are wrong.

Achievement does not make the person. The goal is just a gift. It's how you've lived and what you've done to achieve the goal that brings value to it. It's the challenges that dare you to learn and grow that make you who you are.

It's the people you meet and the relationships you make along the way. When you choose to adhere to this creed, then you will have no problem appreciating and enjoying what you have, because you will be fully aware of how you earned it.

Don't Relinquish Your Control

2011-03-18T08:46:00.000-07:00

Too many people relinquish control of their lives and accept their circumstances for what they might seem to be. Why? They don't know they have a choice, the tools, the power, or the know-how to confront their fears and challenges head on.

I am telling you that you do. You always have a choice, you may not be able to control what happens to you, but you can always choose how to respond. You can always choose the state of mind that you need to be in when times get tough. Even if you do loose control, you can always choose at some point to bounce back.

If you say that you don't have a choice - that is your choice.
~by Steve Rizzo

I Believe In Miracles

2011-03-08T08:04:00.000-08:00

Someone asked me the other day if I believed in miracles and divine intervention.

Without missing a beat I said, “Yes.” I also believe that when times are tough, especially when the odds are against us, we all have opportunities to perform our own miracles.

It's a matter of how you perceive and meet the challenge.

For Your Sake

2011-03-01T10:54:00.000-08:00

For your sake, especially during though times get into the habit of choosing positive thoughts and speaking empowering words.
Focus on hope, gratitude and seeing the good during adverse times, and you will discover a brighter day, regardless of what is happening to you.

Nothing In Life Is Wasted

2011-02-22T14:50:00.000-08:00

On of the most valuable lessons I've learned is that nothing in life is wasted if I view it as a lesson learned. I needed every experience to help me grow. And I mean every single experience; the good and the bad, the successes and the failures, the pain and the glory.

I now understand that every step I took, whether forward or backward, was necessary to prepare me to recognize and receive whatever gift was given to me at the time.

Yes, sometimes life is a big pain in the ass. But if you learn the lessons along the way, eventually the pain will not only dissipate, but it can become a great blessing.

About Positive People

2011-02-11T08:09:00.000-08:00

For those of you who think otherwise; Positive people do not get a free pass from life's pain. They simply have ways of feeling the pain, recognizing the situation calls for a new viewpoint, and shifting their perspective. When the tears are gone they choose to seek the joy that the world still has to offer. Guess what? We all have the power to do this!

Resilience & Bouncing Back

2011-02-08T08:14:00.000-08:00

The path towards the goal is where your life unfolds and happiness becomes truyly meaningful. ~Steve Rizzo

When Shift Happens

2011-01-20T09:04:00.000-08:00

Life is an ongoing obstacle course, always challenging you to be the best you can be. Each obstacle, no matter how big or small, is an opportunity for you to make the choice to shift your perspective and view it through the eyes of hope and peace.

This is what acquiring a positive attitude is all about. This is what builds your character and enables you to grow. This is also why some of your biggest challenges can be blessings in disguise. When shift happen, your life changes. Understanding this is the pathway to success and happiness.

Breaking Negative Beliefs

2011-01-10T13:29:00.000-08:00

One of the keys to breaking negative beliefs is to become aware that you are creating barriers in your life.

When Shift Happens, Your Life Changes

2011-01-05T12:06:00.000-08:00

Life Can Be Rough.

2010-12-15T11:46:00.000-08:00

Life can be rough, period. Laughter has a way of smoothing out the wrinkles, period.

Nurses The Unsung Heroes

2010-12-03T12:59:00.000-08:00

This is for Nurses everywhere, Thank YOU!!!

Steve Rizzo-No I'm not Mary Poppins

2010-11-26T00:31:00.000-08:00

Everyone for Ethan

2010-11-18T09:58:00.000-08:00

On the evening of November 6th, Gina and I attended a benefit for Ethan Brons. Ethan is a 21 month old boy who is suffering from an extremely rare disease called Periodic Fever Syndrome. Below is part a letter from Ethan's family that was written in a local paper.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all involved in planning, organizing, executing, attending and involved in any way with the fund-raiser for our son Ethan. Words cannot begin to express our gratitude for the incredible outpouring support from the community, family, friends, coworkers, acquaintances and even strangers! Your support means more than you will ever know. A few hundred people came together in support of our little man...We are still AMAZED!

We feel truly blessed to have such unbelievable people supporting us.
With deepest Gratitude,
The Brons Family, Rich, Michele, Taylor and Ethan

This was not only an incredible event for Ethan and his family, but also for everyone who participated and attended. The magnificence of community can never be underestimated. Everyone came together as one.

Without a doubt, giving of ourselves is the one activity that makes us realize that we're all connected and it's that connection that plays a big part in making the world wonderful. I believe that everyone walked away from that event with love and joy in their hearts, not only for Ethan and his family, but for themselves as well.

My Brother Gave Me the Finger

2010-11-11T08:26:00.000-08:00

As a humor keynote professional speaker, I have this video for you. It is dedicated to all who have served in the military a Heartfelt Thank You! Here is a story of inspiration.
"My Brother Gave Me the Finger".

Family Members

2010-11-09T07:13:00.000-08:00

Earlier this morning I took my 16 year old Lab Casey for a walk. I swear I couldn't help but wonder if she needed to go, or if she sensed that I needed to get out in the fresh air to clear my head.

Dogs are like that you know. Not only do they have a keen sense of knowing that something is not right with you, but they usually know what to do to make you feel better. All you have to do is pay attention to the message that they are trying to convey.

If they come along and drop a ball in front of you, then that's time for you to put your troubles aside and play. If they approach you and put their head in your lap, that's their way of letting you know that they are there and it's time to let go and cuddle. If they walk over to the door, look you straight in the face and bark, they could very well be telling you that you, need to go for a walk.

If you acknowledge any of the obvious gestures that these four legged angels are trying to convey to you, you will be amazed on how therapeutic their motives can be. Dogs are natural healers. Dogs are teachers. Dogs have a spiritual essence about them. It's not a coincidence what happens when you spell DOG backwards.

I have 4 Labs in all; Casey, who I just mentioned, Brandy, age 12, Jessie, age 8 and our newest addition Wally who will be 2 in December. They are not my pets. They are family members. Each one has the ability to sense when something is wrong. Each has their own personality and unique gift to give. I thank God every day for their uncanny way of showing me the true meaning of unconditional love.

The Most Valuable Lesson

2010-10-19T13:27:00.000-07:00

On October 13, 2010 I spoke for over 300 district and field managers for American Family Mutual Life Insurance Company. The mission for the event was to provide them with resources, tools and information on how to deal with the many changes the organization is now experiencing. Oh, by the way, I had a blast with this group. I could tell in an instant that they were there to learn and laugh.

The following evening I was asked to go out to dinner with a few of the participants. This is without a doubt one of the perks of my business. I absolutely love getting to know people on a personal level. The laughter is usually non-stop and complemented by intriguing conversation.

During dinner someone asked me, “What was one of the most valuable lessons I've learned about being successful and happy.” Without missing a beat I said, "When I came to the realization that nothing in life is wasted if I learn from it. I now know that every step forward and backward along the way towards success was necessary to prepare me to recognize and receive the gift when it was revealed to me. I needed every experience, I mean every experience: the good and the bad, the successes and the failures, the pain and the glory, to help me grow. I can honestly say I am grateful for all of my feelings and emotions; especially, the ones where I questioned my sanity. I am grateful for the peace, the anger, the love, and the fear."

Then in the voice of Forrest Gump I said, "That's all I have to say about that." Of course everyone applauded because I do a Great Forrest Gump.

To Struggling Performers & Artists Everywhere

2010-10-01T08:04:00.001-07:00

September 28, 2010 I donated my services and spoke to AFTRA, (American Federation of Television and Radio Association.) Although it was a small group, (actors, dancers, performers and writers) the response was huge. I'm still getting e-mails thanking me for showing them how to cope with so many of the unique problems and challenges that people in the entertainment field have to contend with on a daily basses.

I think what made this particular event so special for me was that I totally and sympathetically understood their plight. I know first hand that it's not easy to endure constant rejection. It's not easy to accept that the screenplay you put your heart and soul into has been sent back to you, again. It's not easy admitting to yourself that you blew it when you auditioned for a part in a movie or TV show that you swear was written for you.

It's never easy to work 2 part time jobs, live on instant noodles, run from audition to audition and still keep your wits about you, but that you must. Remember, never loose your ability to see the humor and laugh out loud in the face of life's chaotic moments and incomprehensibility's. "Laughter is the pit stop in the Rat Race of life. It gives you the repairs and fuel you need to continue."

But one thing performers, artists and entertainers can and should always be grateful for: It's the life you chose. You are following your hearts desire. There aren't many people on this planet who can say that.

There aren't any guarantees that you will achieve the success you desire. But one thing is certain: The odds will be in your favor, if you believe in yourself, speak words that empower you, take action with passion and enthusiasm, and choose to enjoy yourself during the process. Don't let the critics bring you down!!!!!!! In the big scheme of things, it really doesn't matter what they think. The only thing that matters is what you think.

I wish you all the very best. I am so grateful that I was able to help in some way.

Job Well Done And We Had Fun

2010-09-13T14:47:00.000-07:00

Last week I invited my friends and business associates Ed Primeau and Shelley Sink to spend 4 days and 3 nights at my home. The plan was to make this visit a joint venture of business/vacation and I must say that it was a brilliant idea. We all had an absolute blast! Great food, great wine and non-stop laughter!

As far as the business aspect of our venture, mission was accomplished. Ed and Shelley are the best at what they do. We created an incredible Video Demo to present to SHOWTIME for my new special. I am very pleased at the results. It just goes to show, business doesn't always have to be work, it can and should be fun!

Think Bold Pray Bold

2010-09-08T07:32:00.000-07:00

Last week Gina and I took a 4 hour drive to my brother Michael's summer home in up-state New York. We both needed some time off, away from the usual hustle and bustle. The drive up was very relaxing. The scenery was absolutely beautiful. I already sensed that 3 days away from work was exactly what I needed.

I was working diligently on a number of projects; finalizing the last chapter of my book, creating the format for my new television special and adding the finishing touches to my cameo commercials. There was a great deal of time and effort put into these projects and I was having some doubts as to weather I was making the right decisions that would lead to a successful outcome.

The following morning I woke up at 4:47 am. I decided to get dressed and walk down to the lake, which is only 25 yards from the house. The view was captivating, equaled only by the silence. Unfortunately, the uncertainties of my projects were still lingering in my mind. I sat down on a rock and said a little prayer.

“I just want to know if I'm making the right decisions regarding my book, television special, and my cameo commercials. And I want to know if they will lead to the success I desire? I'm going to be bold and ask for a specific sign. If the answer to these questions is yes, then I want to see an Eagle soaring by sometime this morning."

When I finished the prayer I didn't have any expectations at all. I simply let it go and sat there in silence. Within 2 minutes the most beautiful Bald Eagle soared down about 20 yards in front of me. It skimmed the lake twice and then landed in a tree to my left. With a smile on my face, I looked up at the messenger to my prayer and said, "Thank you."

Taking Time Off Is Not A Waste Of Time

2010-08-17T07:37:00.000-07:00

Lately, I've been hearing a lot people complaining that they are overwhelmed and stressed out over their jobs. One way to remedy work-related stress and overwhelm is to simply take some time off, even for just a short while, and do something that lifts you spirit. Why not? You deserve it!

Unfortunately, there are those who insist that they can't afford to spend time outside of the realm of their jobs and careers. In actuality, when you think of the consequences, you really can't afford not to. Taking time off is not a waste of time. It's a recharging of your inner battery.

This year I've been working diligently on a variety of new projects. These past few weeks I noticed I was feeling very anxious and my optimistic attitude was dissipating. I felt like I wasn't reaping the fruits of my labor fast enough and I had serious doubts they I ever would. It was obvious to me that the door to the "Negative Zone" was wide open and I was about to walk in. I wasn't going to let that happen.

I decided to take a four day weekend off from work, free from e-mails, cell phones, and text messages. In other words, I was putting my career on temporary hold. I promised myself that I would not take my job home with me and I would not make any decisions regarding my new projects. My only goal was to engage in activities that would make me feel good. That's exactly what I did.

Within those four days I read a book, spent quality time with my wife and family members, (4 Labs and 6 Exotic Birds) invited some friends for dinner and laughed my butt off!! These are the very things that nourish my soul and connect me to spirit. Somewhere along the way I lost site of that.

Taking time off was very refreshing to say the least. It made me realize that I was blowing most of my concerns out of proportion. I simply got caught up. We all do from time to time. This special time-out gave me the positive energy I needed to move forward with clarity and confidence.

I'm not asking you to run away from your problems at work. I'm suggesting that you simply step away. When you step away from the worry and chaos that so often comes with success, you are not quitting. You're energizing your spirit. And don't be surprised when you go back to work with solutions to problems and new insights on the very things that were causing you to feel stressed and overwhelmed.

Enjoy The Roses Outside Your Window Today

2010-08-11T11:03:00.000-07:00

I just read something from Dale Carnegie and I want to share it with you. "One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon--instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming outside our windows today."

Read that again. I believe this is the main reason why so many people are unhappy today. Waiting for something in the future to make you happy and focusing on what you don't have in the present, will always keep you from enjoying your life now.

I am constantly amazed by the ways that people manage to deny themselves the chance at present happiness. Instead, they fall pray to dangerous mindsets that decrease their potential for happiness. They put their happiness on hold when they repeat and internalize statements like. "I'll be happy when I'm able to retire." or "I would be happy if I made more money." or "When I can finally by a house, I'll be less stressed and I can enjoy myself."

Statements that focus on what you lack in the present or predicate happiness on a future event, assassinate chances at enjoyment as they happen in the moment.

The good news is fresh opportunities to be happy are like a Grand Central Station of life enjoyment. Wait for it...Ah. There's one now, right on time, right in front of you.

The opportunity to be happy has already arrived. It's been there the whole time, right in front of you. For whatever reason, you have been unable to shift your focus and way of thinking to notice it, bless it and appreciate it.

Regardless of what you don't have and no matter what is transpiring to you or around you, there is always something to be grateful for in the moment! ALWAYS!!! Hold on to that something and feel it with your heart and soul. Then notice how much better you feel.

A Change In Direction

2010-08-02T08:08:00.000-07:00

Last week I was attending a National Speakers Association conference at The Marriott World Hotel in Orlando FL. On Sunday Evening a group of us were sitting in the lobby area telling stories, laughing and having fun. Then someone said, "Hey Steve, why did you quit stand-up-comedy? I always thought you were one of the best and I was a big fan."

Everyone was staring and waiting for my response. I paused for a few moments, thanked him for the compliment and then I answered his question. "I never quit stand-up-comedy. I simply changed directions. I guess you could say I had a calling to do something else."

That wasn't the first time I was asked that question. I know it won't be the last. There have been times when I wondered where I would be today had I continued to pursue my comedy career. But one thing is certain; I have no regrets. I made the right decision.

Yes, I did walk away from a promising career as stand-up-comedian. No, it wasn't easy. In fact it was very difficult. One thing I learned throughout this entire process is that just because you're very good at something, doesn't mean it's what you're supposed to do.

I now offer a unique and insightful perspective on the journey that brought me to where I stand today. My quest to remove the boundaries that were keeping me from the life I truly desired has brought my work full circle. I now understand that all of my past experiences were necessary to prepare me for my true calling. To help people learn how to be happy and successful, no matter what their circumstances are.

I have spent much of my life learning how to pursue and achieve my own definition of success. That definition has evolved to include showing others my blueprint for realizing their dreams; achieving personal and professional excellence, regardless of the labels they are currently wearing. Yes I'm still funny, but if they laugh while they learn, then that's just an added bonus.

Lessons Learned

2010-07-26T09:26:00.000-07:00

If you've been following my blog, you know that my dad passed away a few weeks ago. Since then I've been doing a lot of thinking and I have come to this conclusion. The greatest gift our parent’s give us are lessens we choose to learn along the way. Guess what? It is your responsibility to discover what your parents taught you.

I believe we are not only the physical creation of our parents; we are also here on a spiritual journey to learn from them. You were born to these people and weather you know or not their lives had an irrevocable effect on who you are, what you do and how you live your life.

The only way you can truly learn from your parents is to become aware and embrace both their positive qualities and negative traits. For example, a few of my father's greatest qualities were his integrity, sense of humor and the unconditional love he gave to his family and friends. Through the years I have both consciously or unconsciously learned these qualities and in turn incorporated them into my life. I believe I am a better person as a result.

More importantly, I believe it is crucial that you learn from your parents negative traits. The only way you can do this is to identify what about their lives you didn't like or perhaps even despised. Then ask yourself what about their lives could have been done differently or better. What you would have changed is part of what you need to learn.

I would have to say that my dad's biggest negative trait was his lack of self-worth. I don't believe he ever knew how talented and gifted he was. I also believe this was the cause of so much anger that derived from deep-rooted, fear based, past experiences. Learning from this particular negative trait from my dad has been a tremendous blessing in my life.

Our path is about discovering the truth of who we really are. Our parent’s positive qualities and negative traits can be an invaluable source of information to help us grow. If we don't learn the lessons our parents are always trying to teach us, we run the great risk of carrying their pain into our lives.

Humor Being To The Rescue

2010-07-20T18:26:00.000-07:00

A few years ago, I was speaking in the Midwest. I needed to stock up on writing accessories, so I drove to a nearby K-Mart. As I proceeded to purchase my goods, I noticed there was only one register open, so I took my place at the end of a long line. While waiting, I heard the people in the line mumbling something about the attitude of the young woman working the register. As I proceeded closer to the register, I understood what everyone was talking about. This woman did have a major attitude problem. What amazed me the most was how everyone was making it their problem. The guy in back of me apparently found the need to add more fuel to the fire by venting loud enough for everyone to hear, “Who does she think she is? I’m going to go over there and give her a piece of my mind!” I’m thinking, “Oh this is great. Somebody with no mind at all is going to give somebody else a piece of it.” At that point, I noticed that everyone was feeding off of everyone else’s negativity.

Now I guess my sense of humor was at an all time high that day. Because right in the middle of this negative frenzy, I took off my shoe, put it by my ear, and said (in a voice like Maxwell Smart from the old television series, “Get Smart”) “Hello Chief. (Everyone in line just stared at me) Yes, this is Max. Well, I’m at K-Mart and apparently the woman behind the register is a spy. How can I tell? She has a bug up her butt!” There wasn’t a person in that line that wasn’t filled with tears of laughter. In fact, the guy behind me said, “Hey, can I use your shoe? I have to call my wife!”

What an amazing turn of events. One moment everyone was wallowing in negativity. The next they were all laughing. The woman behind the counter, she didn’t get it at all. In fact, she was more upset then she was before. She looked at me and said, “That is so stupid! A grown man talking to his shoe. There’s no phone in there!”

I learned a very important lesson that day. Some people take their jobs and their lives too seriously. The refuse to acknowledge they have a sense of humor.

That's What Humor Does

2010-07-14T12:14:00.000-07:00

Last week I was on my way to Kona, Hawaii to give a keynote speech to over one thousand people. I called home during my connection in Los Angeles and my wife told me my father passed away. I made a decision to continue on to Kona. My plan was to give my speech the next day and then fly back home in time for the wake and funeral services. The following morning I was at the hotel restaurant having breakfast. My thoughts were on my father and all the wonderful memories we shared. I felt a wave of emotions building up. The one thing I didn't want to do, was to loose it at a restaurant. But it was too late, my emotions got the best of me and the tears began to fall. Just then I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was my waitress. "Mr. Rizzo, she said, is everything alright?" Without missing a beat, I turned around in my seat, looked her straight in the face and said, "No it's not. This is the worst omelet I’ve ever had!" There was a slight pause and somehow she sensed the need for a quick comeback. "Well," she said, "I've had people complain about the food, but I’ve never seen anyone cry over it!" We both started laughing. The laughter instantly relieved the tension and I was able to explain the situation about my dad. Two hours later I was ready and focused to give a speech to a group of wonderful people. That's why I say humor is the instant-mind-shift. It gives you the emotional fortitude you need to move on with your life, even if you're hurting.

Like many other families, my family has had its share of difficult times, sadness and heartache. But somehow we always managed to pull through. I asked myself how we were able to survive so many of life's calamities. The answer was obvious----LOVE! It was always the spirit of Love that pulled us through. But it was our sense of humor and the power of laughter that kept us from falling apart.

I believe one of the greatest qualities of humor, is that it makes us all realize we are all the same in the universal scheme of things. We all have fears, concerns, pain, heartaches and problems to deal with. We just have our own unique stories to tell. It doesn't matter who you are, what you do, or how much money you make. It doesn't matter if you're black or white, male or female, rich or poor, conservative or liberal, gay or straight. We all make mistakes. We all have our successes and failures. And we all have good times and hard times. Humor simply helps us embrace who we really are and gives us enough peace to live with it.
That's What Humor Does.

How I Captivate My Audience

2010-06-23T11:17:00.000-07:00

No matter what group I'm speaking to or what program I'm giving, I always start off with 5 to 10 minutes of non-stop comedy. Why? Because nothing can captivate an audience and hold their attention more than "The Power Of Laughter." As soon as the laughter starts I can actually feel the tension in the room dissipate. Their energy level is cranked and everyone is primed for a good time. I heard someone say that today we live in the "United States Of Entertainment." I believe speakers have to adhere to this statement. We are living in an age were the attention span of the average audience is about 30 minutes out of a 60 minute span. To make matters more challenging, audience members are twittering, text messaging, e-mailing and even answering their cell phones during a presentation. Unless a speaker has some kind of entertaining quality, they run the risk of loosing their personal connection with the audience. Laughter isn't the only way to engage an audience. But I believe it happens to be the most powerful way. Nothing can put an audience in a good mood more than laughter. Not even sex. And this is coming from someone of the male gender. What I mean is that, to most men sex is like pizza. When it's hot, it's great. When it's cold...it's still great. But I digress.
A physiological and mental reaction takes place when you laugh. Laughter charges your inner battery and helps you cope with tough times. Laughter is an instant mind-shift that comes from a higher part of you. It has a soothing quality that can lift your spirits and instantly break down barriers that can otherwise stand between a speaker and the audience. Let's face it, people love to laugh and they love people who can make them laugh. This is where "the-trust-factor" comes into play. In other words, if they like me they will trust me. This gives me the opportunity to gradually weave my message in and around the laughter. Through the guise of humor I teach people the skills they need to get to a better place at work and in life. Here's the big pay off. My ability to make the audience laugh not only helps me to hold their attention, but also aides in them enjoying the entire process.
Studies have shown if you are having fun as you learn you will ingest more information. As one of my clients said,
"Never has my group laughed so hard and learned so much in one sitting! Thanks for the ride!"

Hell or Heaven

2010-06-10T13:42:00.000-07:00

Ralph Waldo Emerson was right when he said, “To different minds,
the same world is a hell or heaven.” It's a matter of perspective.
The same occurrence can be experienced and interpreted in
different ways by different people. There are those who view
little mishaps as a major catastrophe, while others find the humor
in them. Some people would have their day ruined if their car
didn’t start. People like these intensify their problems by
continuously rehashing their woe-is-me story. This is also the
attitude that will keep them from the success and happiness they
desire. It's difficult, if not impossible, to enjoy your life on
any level if you are always focusing on what isn't working. That's
not to say that your wrong to get upset when your car doesn't start
and you're late for work. That's natural of course, but you're
doing yourself a grave disservice by dwelling on that all day long.
If you're not vigilant, one bad mood can snowball out of control and
ruin what could otherwise be an enjoyable and productive day.
As always, the choice is yours.

Being Successful

2010-05-13T11:04:00.000-07:00

The entire world can view your life as the ultimate success story, but the bottom line is this: If you are not happy, you are not successful.

Speak Words That Empower

2010-04-30T14:35:00.000-07:00

We need to be especially careful about the words we speak out loud when things aren't going the way we want. Yes, it's true that what you think is what you get, but what you say out loud in the midst of troubling times has even greater impact on how long you stay in those situations, and how deeply you are affected by the situation. The words you speak amplify your feelings and trigger mental images. Your feelings lead to the actions that you take and the actions that you take lead to the outcome. In other words my friend; if what you think is what you get, then what you say is what you ask for.
If you're always thinking about how badly life is treating you, and telling whoever will stand still long enough to regret doing so about how you can't get a fair shake, you will always feel miserable. Ever hear anyone say, “Misery loves company?” Being miserable doesn't exactly attract good things to you. Get it? If you want to change your life for the better, start by consciously changing what you think...and what you say.

Reality Is Whatever You Identify With

2010-04-22T08:13:00.000-07:00

It absolutely amazes me that there are people who have been given every opportunity in life and still manage to sabotage their success and destroy their chance at happiness. Somewhere along the way they have adopted a negative perception about life and they continue to reinforce that perception by obsessive thinking. Let's face it; it's difficult to feel successful when you keep focusing on your mistakes, setbacks and failures. Likewise, it’s impossible to be happy if you constantly feel victimized or singled out when your life doesn't go as planned.
Reality is whatever you identify with. If you keep focusing on what's not working you will always be in some kind of turmoil. You make a difficult situation worse when you are unable to shift your focus and appreciate what you have, rather than focusing on what you don't have. Whether you believe it or not, there is a spiritual law that works with perfection, it's called “The Law Of Attraction.” This law simply states that the more you concentrate on your lack, the more of that you will get back. The more you think of what's not working, the more your life won't work.
People who are successful consciously or unconsciously think successful thoughts. Whether they are aware of it or not, their predominant thoughts are of optimism, for wealth, health and abundance on a consistent basis. They don't allow negative thoughts of deficiency and failure to take root in their minds. That doesn't mean they don't have negative thoughts. We all do. It simply means the majority are positive.
Have you ever noticed that those who are always talking about their ailments are always ill?
Those who speak about prosperity are prosperous. Those who talk about how wonderful life is are always happy. And people who are constantly talking about their cats, well that's a different story and I don't have the time right now.
The point is that your thoughts cumulatively provide a general blueprint of directives for how you react to everything in your life. Whatever you habitually think about or focus on the most will become your realty. So, whatever you do, don't focus on getting hit by a train. That's not going to end well.

I Love My Job

2010-04-13T11:18:00.000-07:00

On March 13th I flew to Macau China, where I experienced five incredible days of laughter, friendship, great food, great wine, and top notch service. No, I wasn't on vacation. It was a business trip. Fortunately, I'm in the type of business where quite often it's difficult to tell the difference. Yes I love my job that much. In fact there are times I'm on such a high about what I do for a living that I actually laugh and think to myself, “And I get paid for doing this!”
There are two reasons why my trip to Macau was so special. First, was the seminar I gave to an incredible group who are dedicated to making a difference in the lives of people all over the planet.
Polaris Media Group is an international community of successful men and woman that provide resources to ignite creativity and success at work and in life. They create inspirational media products and educational materials that reveal the true nature of the human spirit.
I have spoken to all kinds of groups throughout my speaking career, but few have had the passion, enthusiasm, and incentive to learn and take immediate action than the wonderful people of Polaris Media.
I was fortunate to spend quality time with some of the members and it became very clear to me that these people are on a mission to make the world a better place. Their dedication and desire to serve truly inspired me. It's always an extra bonus when the teacher becomes the student and walks away feeling uplifted. I wish them all the very best that life has to offer.
The second reason my stay in Macau was so special was the making of a new friendship. I've known Jim Cathcart casually through the years as we are both members of The National Speakers Association. It wasn't until we worked together in Macau that we got to know each other on a personal basis. Jim has an impeccable reputation as a speaker and it was a real treat to see him in action. He captivated the entire audience, myself included, for four hours.
I've always said that one of the joys of traveling is spending quality time having dinner with clients and friends in various parts of world. It's a time to relax, let loose and to get to know one another. The memories of sharing heartfelt stories and non stop laughter always bring a smile to my face. I will take those memories with me till the day I leave this world.
Occasionally, usually sometime the following day, I realize that a special connection was made. It truly is a blessing to know that there is someone else in my life that I can call friend. Thanks Jim, It was a pleasure and an honor getting to know you. The next time our paths meet I know I will be greeting someone who is more than an acquaintance.

It's A Matter Of Choice

2010-03-15T13:13:00.000-07:00

Choice! The key is choice. You have options. You need not spend your life wallowing in failure, ignorance, grief, poverty, shame, and self pity. But hold on! If this is true, then why have so many among us apparently elected to live in that manner?
The answer is obvious. Those who live in unhappy failure have never exercised their options for a better way of life because they have never been aware that they had any choices.

The above words are from The Choice, a book written by Og Mandino. Read it again my friend because it is a cornerstone for building a successful and happy life. You inability to use your power of choice can affect your entire life. Life is about choices. Every situation is a choice. You choose how to react to situations. You choose how people will affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or a bad mood. The bottom line: The choices you make determine how you live your life. Once you can say to yourself that you have a choice on how to deal with a problem or even a crisis, you are sending a message to that brain of yours, stating that you are in control of the situation, Instead of the situation controlling you. In other words you are not at the mercy of the situation.
You can choose to believe that you are helpless and at the mercy of life's unpleasant twists of fate and misfortunes. You can choose to believe some people are lucky and some are destined to a life of misery and despair. If this is what you believe, then that will be your reality.
On the other hand, you could choose to believe you have a choice in your affairs, that you may not be able to control what happens to you, but you can always choose how you think about what happens, you can always choose the state of mind you need to be in regardless of what is happening around you or to you. The choice is yours my friend, it has always been. It always will be. It's always just a matter of choice.

Part 2: Why You Are Here by Steve Rizzo

2010-03-03T10:38:00.000-08:00

I think we can all agree that life is an ongoing obstacle course, always challenging you to be the best you can be. Each obstacle, no matter how big or small, is an opportunity for you to shift your perspective and view it through the eyes of hope and peace, and that choice my friend is always yours to make. As I said in Part 1, this is what acquiring a positive attitude is all about. This is what builds character and enables you to grow and to become the person you were meant to be. This is also why some of your biggest challenges can be blessings in disguise. Understanding this is the pathway to success and happiness. Are you ready for the challenge?
We need to teach our children that there will be times in their lives where they will experience disappointment and heartache, that good and bad are simply part of the process of life. It's necessary to feel the effect of one to feel the effect of the other. If our lives were void of disappointment and heartache, we wouldn't know we were experiencing a life worth living because we would have nothing to compare it with. Without comparison, life would be boring for certain and even worse, unfulfilling. This is the wonder and, yes, the blessing of life. So in the grand scheme of things, there is really no such thing as a bad experience. There is only the wrong attitude. Once again, that choice is always yours to make.

Part 1: Why You Are Here

2010-02-23T10:43:00.000-08:00

This is for anyone who is currently going through tough times. This is for anyone who is always having difficulty dealing with adversity at work or in life. And this is for anyone who can't escape from the confines of feeling victimized.

Adversity is necessary in order for you to grow. This is something optimistic and positive people know about life. I want you to understand the following. Are you ready? You are here on Earth to experience, learn, grow and become the person you were meant to become. It can't be stressed enough that the filter through which you view all of your life's experiences will ultimately determine who you become. In other words my friend, how you choose to experience what happens to you, is it what you consider to be good or what you consider to be bad, will determine what you learn. What you learn determines how you grow and this continued growth is what shapes who and what you become. If you can comprehend this, it will help free you from feeling victimized when times are tough and just maybe help you to compare a challenging situation with a pop quiz in Life: 101, rather than, say the APOCALYPSE!!!
Stay tuned for Part 2.

The Foundation To A Healthy Attitude

2010-02-11T13:29:00.000-08:00

By now I'm sure you've heard or read the saying “Attitude Is Everything.” Or, perhaps you've read or heard the phrase, “It’s All About Attitude.” If you haven't, well, you just did. My job is to show people how to acquire the attitude they need to succeed on all levels of life. Not just at work or at home, on all levels of life. What I'm talking about here is your overall attitude. In other words the attitude you have about life in general, the way you interact with people, how you respond to adversity and the unexpected, will ultimately determine the choices you make and the actions you take at work and at home.
The key, in fact the foundation to create a healthy attitude is to make a conscious choice everyday to enjoy yourself during the process of whatever you're trying to achieve. No matter what your goals are, no matter what your dreams may be, it is crucial that you set out to achieve them on a foundation of enjoyment. Unfortunately, this is something that most people leave by the wayside. Yes, by most people I probably mean you dear reader. Especially when you're setting out to fulfill your goals and dreams and things aren't going as planned. That's when the stress level can get a little too intense and before you know it, self doubt, fear, overwhelm, and anger can become dangerous mindsets. Without you ever realizing it, enjoying yourself becomes secondary and that's when it has to become primary. Studies have shown that people who make conscious choices to enjoy themselves during the process of whatever they are trying to achieve, are more creative, more productive and are able to bounce back faster from challenges.
Now, you're probably wondering how to make a conscious choice to enjoy the day. Well, it starts as soon as you wake up in the morning, or whenever you wake up to start your day. Now pay attention, here's the secret. As soon as you open your eyes, you enter into consciousness. At that very moment you have an opportunity to steer your thoughts and your emotions, to work for you, not against you. In other words, you can seize the day, or you can allow the day seize you. I think you'll agree that most people immediately steer their thoughts on the chaos and stress from the day before or the grueling day that lies ahead. Of course these same people can't understand why their energy level is low throughout the day.
What I want you to do is to focus your attention on something or someone you are grateful for. And I don't care what it is. (Remember, this process must start as soon as you open your eyes and before you get out of bed.) It could be a particular goal you achieved. Maybe it’s the person lying next to you. You might want to focus your attention on your children, friends or a pet. You see it really doesn't matter what it is, just as long as it lifts your spirit and makes you feel good. Your only goal here is to make yourself feel good.
Gratitude, my friend is one of the most powerful connections you have to your higher-self. You always want to start your day connected to your higher-self. The reasons are obvious. When you choose to focus your attention to that which empowers you, you are creating an attitude of gratitude. It's important to understand that your life moves in the direction of your most dominant thoughts, what you focus on day-in and day-out, and those very things that you are thinking about and focusing on are moving closer to you. In other words dear reader; the more you concentrate on your lack, the more of that you will get back. The more you focus on what's not working, the more your life won't work! Think about that for awhile.
For a dailey dose of Steve's Whit & Humor follow me on twitter - http://twitter.com/AttitudeAdj

Steve's Nothing But The Funny Stuff

2010-02-02T08:46:00.000-08:00

It's always darkest before the dawn, so if you're going to steal your neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it!

Steve's Nothing But The Funny Stuff

2010-01-29T10:52:00.000-08:00

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a flat tire, no spare, and a dead cell phone.

LIVE!

2010-01-28T10:10:00.000-08:00

Steve Rizzo, "Don't just survive, step outside your comfort zone & LIVE!

Your Foundation To Success

2010-01-26T13:06:00.000-08:00

The key to creating the success and happiness you desire is to build your life on a rock-solid foundation. Read that again my friend. Why? Because it seems to be something most people don't ever consider. Let me ask you a question. Would you build your dream house without a strong foundation to support it? I think you get the point. Whenever you set out to build the life you want, for your sake and for the sake of everyone involved in your life, build a strong foundation first, because when things aren't going the way you want and it seems that your world is falling apart all around you, you can always re-build your life on a rock-solid foundation. How do you create a rock-solid foundation? Well, I'm glad you asked dear reader.
Successful and happy people have good times and bad times just like everyone else. They are not exempt from distress and affliction. What distinguishes them from the rest of the pack is their ability to make a shift when faced with a potentially negative situation or circumstance. That is to say that they focus on what's working in their lives, rather than fixate on what isn't working. Instead of wallowing in their problems, they create and direct thoughts to find solutions, or to at least to make them feel better. Truly successful, happy people are always grateful for what they have and they seldom complain about what they don't have or what life is currently throwing at them. They create healthy habits and make conscious choices to enjoy themselves during the process of whatever they are trying to achieve. They know that the journey towards the goal is where their life unfolds and true happiness is experienced. And last, but certainly not least, successful and happy people always take time out to laugh. They intuitively know that humor is the instant mind-shift. Humor can neutralize negative thoughts and emotions before they blossom into emotional chaos. Even the slightest shift on how you perceive yourself and your surrounding world, (especially during trying circumstances), can change your reality. All of the examples in this paragraph are the criteria that successful and happy people live by. This is the rock-solid foundation they live their lives on. Read this paragraph again and again until you have a complete understanding.
This is not brain surgery my friend. It's more like a brain adjustment. It's simply a matter of shifting your focus and way of thinking to create a healthier perspective towards challenging circumstances and even life's tragedies. If you adhere to this creed and make it a habit in your daily life, you will thereby be building your life on a rock-solid foundation. You will create within you the “bounce-back-factor.”

Don't Fear The Mountains!

2010-01-22T08:45:00.000-08:00

Don't fear the mountains in the distance, they can challenge you, keep your head up, & sometimes help raise you higher than you thought possible.

I Know What Stress Is

2010-01-14T18:48:00.000-08:00

People go to comedy clubs because they want to laugh. Why do they want to laugh? The same reason they have sex. It makes them feel good. That's the bottom line. Laughter simply makes you feel good. It charges your inner battery and helps you to cope with tough times. When you laugh, your body releases endorphins. Endorphins are manufactured by the body to relieve pain and reduce stress. Usually produced during periods of extreme stress, endorphins naturally block pain signals produced by the nervous system.

I know what stress is. I fly over 300,000 miles a year. Yes, that's a lot of flying. Sometimes I'm in 7 cities in 10 days. Sometimes I have a half day seminar to give and my butt is dragging. You know the feeling. The one thing that gives me more positive energy, more than anything else is when I turn my Humor Being loose in a public setting. I am known for doing or saying out of the ordinary things in front of complete strangers that totally takes them by surprise. What cracks me up are the people that don't get it or don't know how to respond. Here's an example.

I'm in hotels a great part of my life. And I'm always having fun with hotel staff. Once when I was at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, maid service knocked on my door; when I opened the door the woman said, “Mr. Rizzo can I turn down your bed?” I looked at her and said, “Why, is it too loud?” She didn't get it. You should have seen the look on her face as she walked away mumbling and confused. After she walked away I left my room. When I returned later that night I noticed that they did turn down my bed. I think turn-down-service is a wonderful service, but for the life of me I will never understand the little piece of chocolate that's placed on your pillow. Let's think about this shall we. You're supposed to consume the chocolate before you go to sleep. Hmmm, I started thinking. “Why don't hotel people know what the rest of us know? Chocolate does not help you sleep!” In fact, it has the complete opposite effect! Laughing at the absurdity of this ritual, the comedian in me decided to have a little fun. I called the front desk the next morning. This is the conversation took place.

Front desk person: “How can I be of service this morning, Mr. Rizzo?”

Me: “I'm just calling to thank you for the chocolate that was on my pillow last night. It really helped me sleep.”

Front desk person: “You are most welcome. I'm glad you slept well, Mr. Rizzo. Is there anything else we can do for you sir?”

Me: “Yes, as a matter of fact, there is. I was wondering, maybe tonight, if you could put a vile of crack and a pot of coffee on my pillow. I think that will help me sleep!” Wait until you hear the response I got.

Front desk person: “Oh, I don't think we can do that! First of all crack is illegal! And as far as the coffee goes, all you need to do is call room service before you retire!”

Yep; that's right, another one just didn't get it. But just because they don't get it doesn't mean I can't have fun. I can't stress to you enough how turning my Humor Being loose and laughing at situations I create lifts my spirits. And it's even an extra boost when others are laughing along with me.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2010-01-05T11:08:00.001-08:00

Scars can remind us of where we've been, they don't have to dictate where we're going! Happy New Year, it's yours to put to good use!!

IF YOU CAN FIND HUMOR IN ANYTHING...

2009-12-28T08:57:00.000-08:00

Years ago, I was watching a television news special. Dan Rather was interviewing Bill Cosby only weeks after his son was murdered. After sharing his grief over his son's death, the comedian was asked what I thought was a very difficult, if not unfair, question. “Now that Bill Cosby's son is no longer with us,” said Rather “what is Bill Cosby going to do with the rest of his life?” Cosby contemplated the question for a few seconds and confidently said, “I think it’s time for me to tell the people that we have to laugh. We've got to laugh. You can turn painful situations around through laughter. If you can find humor in anything...you can survive it.” I think that about says it all!!!!!

Laugh It Off Productions, Rizz's Biz
http://www.steverizzo.com
steve@steverizzo.com
http://twitter.com/AttitudeAdj

Failing At Something

2009-12-18T07:52:00.000-08:00

Failing at something doesn't matter - It's how You Deal with it that does! http://www.steverizzo.com/SteveRizzosSecretMinuteToSuccess.aspx?vid=2

NEVER LOSE HOPE

2009-12-17T13:40:00.000-08:00

Never lose Hope - Even the smallest Light Shines in the darkness.
http://www.steverizzo.com/SteveRizzosSecretMinuteToSuccess.aspx?vid=1

For Those Who Are Still Waiting

2009-12-10T13:48:00.000-08:00

Time

Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day
You fritter and waste the hours in an off hand way
Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town
Waiting for someone or something to show you the way

Tired of lying in the sunshine, staying home to watch the rain
You are young and life is long and there is time to kill today
And then one day you find ten years have got behind you
No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun

And you run and you run, to catch up with the sun, but it’s sinking
And racing around to come up behind you again
The sun is the same in a relative way, but you’re older
Shorter of breath and one day closer to death

The above words were written by musician and song writer, Roger Waters. I believe everyone should have a copy of these lyrics hanging somewhere in their home or office as a reminder to take advantage of the time we have on this planet.

Time is something most of us take for granted. Especially the young, they have so much of it to spare. But as we become older we are acutely aware that we are using up yet another day, another season, another year. Misuse of our time is a major reason for so much of our unhappiness.

Our lives are based on choices. If we want to fulfill our dreams and desires we must take responsibility, choose accordingly and then take the appropriate action to achieve them. A lot of people have dreams and ideas for success, but only a few decide to do something about them. There are steps to be taken. There is always a process involved. That process, whatever it is always begins with you. If you are serious about making your life a meaningful journey then you simply must take action.

It is of extreme importance that you remember that your thoughts lead to every action you take. If you are continually creating thoughts that limit your ability or stifle your self esteem you will not be taking action with the attitude you need to succeed. In fact, habitual negative thinking can stop you from taking action all together.

It doesn’t matter how old you are or what you’ve done with your life up until this point. It makes no difference how much time you feel you’ve wasted or how many opportunities you have allowed to pass you by or how many heartaches and disappointments you’ve had. What really matters is what you are willing to do with your life from this point on. Not tomorrow. Not next week, but today. Right now you have an opportunity to turn your life around. You can take advantage and choose to utilize time to work for you. It is possible for you to achieve the things you desire. All it takes is a commitment on your part to take that necessary first step.

If you’ve been procrastinating over a career move make up your mind and take the necessary first step. Perhaps your desire is to lose weight or to sop smoking. Don’t put it off any longer. Stop the excuses. Make up your mind and do it. Maybe you’ve been longing to ask someone for forgiveness or to tell someone how much you care. Do it today; for tomorrow may never come. This list can go on and on, but I think you get the point.

If you are unsatisfied with any aspect of your life, know that you have the power to change. But also know that all change requires movement. Your dreams will always remain dreams unless you take action that is driven by passion. There is always one guarantee when it comes to success. If you don’t try, you will not succeed. Albert Einstein said, “Nothing happens until something moves.” I say, “Your life won’t happen until you move.” Waiting for life to shower you with material or spiritual treasures is the slowest most painful of all suicides. Waiting leads to hopelessness. Hopelessness breeds victims.

Better Left to Chance

2009-11-17T08:34:00.000-08:00

Holding you, I held everything
For a moment, wasn't I the king
But if I'd only known how the king would fall
Hey who's to say , you know I might have changed it all
And now I”m glad I didn't know
The way it all would end, the way it all would go
Our lives, are better left in chance, I could have missed the pain
But I'd of had to missed the dance

The above lyrics, are from a song called “The Dance,” sung by Garth Brooks. This song simply and beautifully states that it's not the outcome or what happens to us that validates our lives, but rather; it's what we do and how we feel along the way that gives our lives meaning. We will never know who we are or what splendor life has to offer unless we jump in and participate in the dance. Yes, you may be entering unknown territory, but that's where the adventure is. You may be on top one day and suddenly fall the next but think about this. Isn't it better to fall than not to try at all?

We can strategically plan our lives, make careful use of our choices and take what we think are the appropriate actions to fulfill the ideal life we want, but there is absolutely no way of knowing with certainty what will happen. There are just too many variables and unexpected twists and turns that come into play. There is no sure way of knowing how our lives will wind up. Well guess what? We're not supposed to. If we did, the thrill of life would cease to exist.

As John Lennon said, “Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans.” Ironically, as you know the unexpected did happen to him. After years of inner turmoil and isolation from fame and the music business, John Lennon got his life together and came out of seclusion. He was making a huge comeback when he was suddenly killed by a crazed fan. This happened within weeks after his new album – ironically entitled - “Starting Over” - hit the top of the charts.

I can't help but wonder; what if John Lennon somehow knew that his life would be taken by an assassin's bullet? How would he have lived the rest of his life? Would he have come out of seclusion and into limelight again? Or would he have stopped dancing to the song in his heart and suppressed his potential, he's creativity, his soul and the very essence of who he was?

Our lives are better in chance simply because if we knew the outcome we would be tempted to override the gifts of choice and free will. ( No, not Free Willy. Free will.) If we altered our lives because we knew of our fate beforehand we would never know our true potential. Our experiences would be limited for fear of moving forward.

If we possessed the magical power to see into the future and know the outcome of a particular road we chose to follow, our lives would be boring – to say the least. We would be unchallenged to discover our essence. We would be robbing ourselves of the events that cause us to grow. It is the combination of our victories, successes, and happy moments – as well as our disappointments, failures and heartaches that make up the ingredients to the recipe of our lives. It's in the not-knowing - the uncertainty that makes our lives worthwhile.

Awhile back I was watching The Super Bowl at a hotel I was staying at. There were well over 100 people in the lounge area. Everyone was yelling and cheering for their team to win. It was an incredibly close game. Every time a team scored or made a great play, fans would jump out of their seats and cheer them on. It was obvious that everyone was excited and enjoying themselves. But that excitement and enjoyment was coming from the anticipation of not knowing which team was going to prove to be victorious.

My question to you, dear reader, is this – what would be the point in watching The Super Bowl or any other sporting event if we knew beforehand which team would win? Who could deny that it's in the not-knowing that makes it exciting? It's the same with our lives which have often been referred to as a game. Unlike any other game however; the goal in the game of life is not to win or to be the best, but rather it's to follow our hearts and to experience, learn, grow and become.

A Powershift in Focus!

2009-10-15T06:48:00.000-07:00

Pay It Forward

2009-09-21T07:35:00.000-07:00

On September 8th 2009, I donated my time and lead an effort to empower a staff of over 500 employees at a soon-to-be-closed American Airline call center in Windsor, Connecticut. The event was held at the Mohegan Sun Hotel and Casino, in Uncasville Connecticut.

I have flown all over the country with American Airlines during my career as a comedian and a speaker. Throughout the years I got to know some of the workers very well. One person In particular is Barbra Bell. Or as I like to call her, My miracle worker.

When I learned of the pending closure, I decided that I was going to somehow help the departing workers find optimism during these trying times. I t was my way of saying "Thank You" for the many years of outstanding service they provided. I told Barbra that I was going to speak to the entire group at a venue in their area. Her response was "How in the world are you going to do that!?" My response to her was "I don't know, but I will find a way."

In the movie "Field O f Dreams" Kevin Costner hears a voice "Build it and they will come."
Well, I heard a voice inside me that said, "Ask and they will do it." That's exactly what I did and that's exactly what happened.

The first person to jump on board was Diane Goodman, President of Goodman's Speakers Bureau. Together we created an event themed "Don't Stop Believin." The following are those who graciously donated to the cause. Gina M. Rodigau, CMP, director of hotel sales at the Mohegan Sun, who allowed us to use the beautiful Cabaret Theater for the event. Darby O'Brien, advertising and public relations, who helped promote the event. Dattco, a New Britain based bus company, volunteered to provide American employees with no-cost transportation to the event and back. And the magnificent Passing Zone, my friends and a much sought after juggling act, who performed with me. By the way, these guys received four standing ovations. Wait, there's more. The event was also sponsored by Al Parinello, Executive Producer of the film "Clear Blue Tuesday."

This entire event brought together five industries that were hit by the current economy in an act of mutual support. As I said in the press release, "These are trying times. It's time we all look at the big picture and ask ourselves what it is that we can do to help each other." The message, "Pay it Forward."

Without a doubt, giving of ourselves is the one activity that makes us realize that we are all connected, and that it's this connection that plays a big part in making the world wonderful. Words cannot express the emotions and the gratitude from those who attended the event on September 8th. It is without a doubt one of the most gratifying feelings a person can experience. I can honestly say that I am the happiest when I've done something nice for someone. Don't just take my word for it. Try it for yourself, The next time an opportunity arises, take the initiative and perform an act of kindness for someone (even a stranger) and notice how you feel. For example, the next time you are walking through town and notice a parking summons on someones windshield, go over to the car, yank that sucker off, rip it up and throw it away! Why should that person have to pay for it? See, you feel better already, don't you?

These are trying times my friends! Once again, the message, "PAY IT FORWARD" Let's help each other.

WORK SHOULD BE FUN

2009-08-17T07:04:00.000-07:00

Hello my friends, and once again welcome to my Blah, Blah, Blah, Blog. Well I am about to launch my new video Demo. I must say that it is the best video I have ever done. Thanks to the great Ed Primeau and Shelly Sink.

Ed has been my business associate and close friend for over 16 years. He is without a doubt the "Ultimate Expert" on video and audio production. What separates Ed from anyone else in his field, (besides the fact that he's the best) is his ability to make business personal. Let me explain.

Creating a video demo and product for speakers is not an easy task. After all, you're dealing with arguably the two biggest marketing tools in the speaking industry. There are a lot of egos to stroke, deadlines to be met, and money to be spent. Through the entire step by step process Ed assures everyone he works with that their needs are being taken care of.

Ed's greatest quality and I believe his strongest asset is his ability is to enjoy the process of whatever he is creating. I spent 3 days in his studio and through all the snags, setbacks, and mishaps, the laughter was non-stop. Ed Primeau is a Humor Being to the tenth-power. He always manages to see the humor in the midst of frustrating and challenging situations. It is this very quality that enables him to bounce back and continue from a healthier, more productive mind-set. Laughter instantly clears the mind of negative clutter and rejuvenates burn-out better than anything I know. Laughter also ignites the creative process.

Studies have shown that those who make conscious choices to enjoy themselves and laugh throughout the day are more creative, productive, and resilient to challenging problems. They are also more likely to easily find solutions to complex problems. In other words, focusing on your happiness makes you smarter. How smart are you, dear reader?

"Intellectual benefits of a good laugh," says Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence, "Are most striking when it comes to solving problems that demand a creative solution."

One study found that people who had just watched a video of television bloopers were better at solving a puzzle often used by psychologists to test creative thinking. In the test, people are given a candle, matches and a box of tacks. They are asked to attach the candle to a corkboard wall so that it burns without dripping wax on the floor.

"Given the challenge, most people fall into 'functional fixedness." says Goleman. "They think about using the objects in the most conventional ways. But people who have just watched a funny film, compared to people who have watched a film about math or who have exercised, were more likely to see an alternative use for the box holding the tacks. They come up with the creative solution of tacking the box to the wall and using it as a candleholder."

A study done at San Diego State University followed students who thoroughly enjoyed themselves as they attended a series of lectures that contained wit, laughter, and anecdotes. These students achieved higher test scores than students who attended the same lectures without the humorous elements. Why? Because they were Enjoying The Process!

One time Ed was video taping me for one of my "Rizzo's Secret Minute To Success" segments. It was near the end of a really long day, my energy level was at rock bottom and it was getting increasingly difficult to concentrate. We were on the 27th take and my nerves were beginning to unravel. For some reason Ed finds it very amusing when I get frustrated. Just when I was one sentence away from finishing the shoot, Ed's dog Tanya came into the studio and decided to bark. For a moment there was silence. I shook my head in disgust and blurted, "That's it!""I quit!" I glanced over at Ed who was trying with all his might to refrain from laughing. "What the h~*! is so funny!" I said. Then he lost all control and went into hysteria. Wiping the tears from his eyes and trying to catch his breath, he said, "You should have seen the look on your face!" Then he mimicked my expression. There is truth to the phrase "Laughter is contagious;" because it didn't take long before I was infected. We both laughed for quite some time. What really drove us over the edge was when we reviewed the 27 takes or should I say Bloopers. It really was amusing to see myself getting frustrated and to hear myself swear.

I am certain that the laughter gave us the time out we needed to unwind and relax. It literally lifted our spirits and gave us enough energy to finish the project on the next take.

The fact is, and you can prove this to yourself at any time, if you're having fun at work everyone benefits. This holds true for every aspect of our lives. No matter who you are of what you are doing, whether you are teaching or learning, if you are enjoying the process the odds are in your favor that you'll achieve the outcome you desire.

TURN THE OTHER CHEEK

2009-07-30T08:59:00.000-07:00

In every experience you face, there is always a moment when all problems start out as merely seed possibilities. It is your responsibility to make sure that they don't blossom into emotional havoc. Every spiritually evolved person that I have read about alludes to a principle that states that there is always a peaceful part of us that we can turn to and react from when times are tough. Buddha, Confucius, Gandhi, Jesus, and many others have embraced this philosophy. Jesus said, "Turn the other cheek."

What does it mean to "turn the other cheek?" Well, first of all it doesn't mean that we should lie down and allow people who have offended us to continue to walk all over us. It doesn't mean that we should give life's circumstances permission to repeatedly take advantage of us. Whenever we find ourselves in turmoil over a situation or something someone has said or done, our turmoil is an indication that we have been in the wrong state of consciousness. When we react to whatever upsets us in the same state of mind we only compound the problem. "Turning the other cheek" is an opportunity for you to shift perspective and respond from the Higher part of yourself - the other side of you.

Awareness is the first step towards turning inner conflict around. The problem is that most of us go through the course of our lives unaware that our negative emotions and inner conflicts are sucking the energy right our of us. If you are not aware of what's happening to you, it's impossible to choose a better way to respond. When confronted with a challenge or problem there is always a point where you can respond to the situation from the level of human consciousness alone and risk letting the situation to consume you: or you can shift perspective "turn the other cheek" and remind yourself that you are also a spiritual being and respond from your Higher Self.

Let's say that you find yourself getting angry or jealous over a particular situation in your life: immediately say to yourself - "Where is this going to take me?" If you don't like the answer (and when you think of the repercussions, you will not) know that you have the power to change the outcome. There is always a potential of strength within you in times of weakness. That strength comes from your Higher Self. You are both human and divine. There is that in you that can never be hurt: that is always dignified and calm and that knows your unity with God. That's "the other cheek" - the side you turn to.

Whatever challenges you are facing, whatever your desires are, it all comes down to how you evaluate yourself in the situation. When a healthy outcome seems to be a human impossibility remember to "turn the other cheek" and respond from your Higher Self. If you do you will come to know that no one or no situation can take your good from you unless you allow it to happen. Your Higher Self always brings out the best in you when your world seems to have fallen apart at the seams.

Change.... Enjoy The Process.

2009-06-19T13:13:00.000-07:00

IT'S ALL IN HOW YOU VIEW IT

2009-06-05T15:11:00.000-07:00

Years ago, I was waiting for what I considered to be a very important phone call from my agent. He had left a message the night before stating that three shows that had been booked were now cancelled, and a television special I was in the running for, now looked bleak.

I immediately called him the next morning. His secretary said he was in a meeting. She assured me he would call me as soon as the meeting was over. Three hours went by, and still no call. I decided to call again. This time his secretary said he was out to lunch. I hung up the phone. I was very angry. All kinds of negative thoughts were going through my head. When thoughts go through my head - negative or positive - I have a tendency to repeat them out loud as I pace back and forth.
A few more hours went by and I had actually convinced myself that my agent didn't care about my needs or my career.

At that point I was overwhelmed by negativity and I started talking to the phone. Now, let me make this clear. I wasn't talking on the phone - I was talking to the phone. "Let me wait, will you? I don't deserve this kind of treatment! Who do you think you are?!" Even my dogs were looking at me as if to say, "Don't you have to pick it up first?"

Apparently my wife was observing the entire ordeal. Without missing a beat, she stepped in front of me, grabbed the phone, disconnected the wires from my desk and started yelling at the phone. "Yeah! Who do you think you are, treating my husband like that? Bad telephone! Bad telephone!" Then she took it and threw it in the garbage. I looked at her and said, "What are you doing?"
"Honey, I don't know what that phone did to upset you", she said, "but whatever it was, it will no longer stay in this house." Then she said, "Is the fax machine bothering you too? How about the computer? Because if they are, I won't tolerate it!" Then she literally yelled through every room in the house, "Now hear this! Can I have your attention please? All of the appliances, pieces of furniture, and all other inanimate objects! If you do anything to upset my husband, out you go! This is the law! I have spoken!!!" Then she quietly walked away. She burst back into my office, approached the phone that was in the garbage and said, "You're not so tough now are you?" She then turned to me, Kissed me on the cheek, patted my head, and said, "You see honey, you just have to learn how to take control!" And walked out of the room.

After watching this crazy woman running around the house, in a rampage, yelling at everything in sight, I noticed something was different. I was laughing. The question is - Why was I laughing at a situation that only seconds earlier had me emotionally distraught? The answer of course, is that my wife's crazy antics helped me pull myself away from this negative experience. She enabled me to see myself star in a scene from my own comedy movie. As a result, I realized I was sweating the small stuff and blowing the whole thing out of proportion and my emotional state made a complete turn around. Twenty minutes later, my agent called and I was able to listen to him and tell him my concerns, without the anger and frustrations.

It is truly amazing the power we can acquire when we allow ourselves the emotional luxury to pull ourselves away from our emotional scenes and give ourselves permission to view them from THE HUMOR PERSPECTIVE.

TAKE CONTROL

2009-05-18T11:18:00.000-07:00

Years ago, in the middle of my comedy career, I was in New York City, driving a rental car that kept breaking down. It was ninety-eight degrees, the air conditioning didn't work, and sweat was pouring from my body. To make matters worse, I was in the world's biggest traffic jam and I was already forty-five minutes late for a very important audition.

I started to feel this snowball of negative emotions building up. I said to myself out loud, "What else could possibly go wrong?" I soon realized that was the wrong question to ask. Whenever you ask a question like that the universe has its own way of answering you.

I drove up to the tollbooth with beads of sweat running down my face. I tried really hard to control my emotions. I reached into my pocket to pay the toll - and realized that I had left my money at home. I sat there in total amazement at the series of events that were keeping me from my destination.

I started to take it personally. I actually believed that life was out to get me that day - and it was succeeding. For a moment I was in a daze. I was unaware of the cars beeping and people cursing at me. The guy in the tollbooth finally asked, "Can I help you?" I don't know what possessed me to say this, but my reply was, "Yeah, I'll have a couple of burgers, two fries, a coke, and get something for yourself there Sparky!" Apparently he was new to this country and he didn't understand my brand of humor. "I'm sorry" he said in an foreign accent, "but we don't have food here!" "Well," I replied nervously, "then you better get some because you're holding up traffic!" As I said this I noticed he was starting to laugh. And much to my surprise, so was I. The long line of drivers behind me, however, did not join in the laughter. There were horns honking and people cursing, "Come on, we gotta get moving!" "What the hell is the problem up there?" Then my new found friend stuck his head out from the tollbooth, motioned to the line of cars, and said, "Sorry we ran out of food. Try the next booth!"
By then we were hysterical over the absurdity of the situation. We were high-fiving each other and the coolest thing is that he let me go without paying. He said, "Thank you my friend. I am new to this country and this is my second day on the job. I really needed to laugh today!" I looked at him and said, "Believe me, so did I!" We shook hands, wished each other a great day, and I drove away from that tollbooth in a totally different mood.

As a result, I was able to plant positive thoughts in my head and think of constructive ways to deal with the important audition I had coming up. Guess what? I had a great audition! It's a good thing I did, because it led to the most important break in my career. That's how I got my Show Time television special, which paved the way to many other opportunities.

Think about this. What would have happened if I had gone to the audition in the mood that I was in before the tollbooth incident? I wouldn't have had a chance. Not in the mood I was in. In fact, I almost turned the car around to go home. Believe me, I tried everything to control the situation. After all, I read all of the books on positive thinking and positive affirmations. I thought I was an expert. I found out that day that positive thinking and reciting positive affirmations doesn't always work; because there are times when you are in such an overwhelming negative emotional state that your brain isn't going to buy the fact that everything is okay.

I mean, there I was, sitting behind the wheel of a stalling car without air conditioning, sweating in ninety-eight degrees, stuck in the world's biggest traffic jam, and late for my audition - reciting affirmations out loud over and over. "Everything is going as planned. I am in control of this situation. I am the radiating center of love and peace." Just then someone beeped their horn and I motioned to him with my fist and shouted, "Pick a number pal!" Not only was I frustrated and angry, because of my ordeal; I also felt totally inadequate, because I couldn't think positively and get control of my emotions.

When I started to laugh, however, I was able to think positively and visualize how I wanted my audition to go. Do you know why? When you start laughing at a stressful or highly emotional situation your brain is no longer concentrating on that negative thought. In fact, your brain is now somewhere else laughing at something ridiculous that you just did. Even if your brain goes back to the negative thought, it won't be as overpowering as it was before, because you have stopped the snowball effect. You have calmed down your nervous system to the point where you can think positively and take control.

That's the first time in my life I realized how important it was to be in control of my emotions and how laughter helped me take control.

You never know when opportunity is going to knock, and when it does, you have to be prepared. I can't tell you how many opportunities I've blown in my life, because I couldn't control my emotions. I can't tell you how many bridges I burned, because I made decisions when I was in an unhealthy state of mind.

It doesn't matter what you call it. You can call it karma, payback, or the laws of cause and effect. It doesn't matter. The fact is, the choices you make will determine the actions you take. The actions you take will determine who you are and where you go. This holds true on any level of your life, in all your personal and professional relationships.

Secret Minute To Success - Start Your Day in a Good Mood.

2009-05-05T17:08:00.000-07:00

EMOTIONAL SELF-DEFENSE

2009-04-30T07:35:00.000-07:00

One Saturday night, years ago, I was performing at The Comedy Store in Los Angeles. I was backstage conversing with a fellow comedian named Steve. We were discussing what a trip it was to make people laugh and better yet, get paid for it. We agreed that the power of laughter has many medicinal purposes. I suggested that since we were responsible for making people laugh, that would make us "Humor Healing Technicians".

The conversation took on a more serious tone when Steve told me he was HIV positive. I asked how he was dealing with it. He said, "Watch me. I'm going on before you, Watch my set." I went to the back of the room and stood by some other comedians. The room was sold-out - standing room only. Steve was introduced. What transpired within the next twenty minutes totally blew my mind. His entire routine was on the HIV virus. His opening line was: "Hi, I'm Steve and I'm HIV positive. Don't be concerned, Naomi Judd was diagnosed with chronic Hepatitis C. The good news is that we are going to form a duo and call ourselves Sick and Tired."

Steve had an incredible ability to use humor as a tool. His HUMOR BEING glowed that night. His comic timing was exceptional; equaled only by the powerful message that was interwoven in and around the laughter. He even found humor in the many side effects that occurred from all the different medications he was taking. There were over five hundred people in that room and Steve had them all in the palm of his hand. He make them realize how healing laughter can be and how precious life truly is. I remember saying to another comedian, "This guy is making people laugh about one of the biggest challenges to face this planet."

Later that evening our conversation continued. I told Steve that what he did on stage took courage and was absolutely incredible. He smiled and said, "Thank you but, the really good news is that my white blood count went up phenomenally, ever since I chose to deal with this challenge with humor." I stood there with my mouth opened, searching for the proper words. Finally I said, "That's incredible."

Later in his career, Steve starred in his own HBO Special entitled, "HIV." He now has a following. There are people who are HIV positive who claim that Steve's humor and message helps them to embrace their challenges. One very important point must be made. Steve was not laughing at his challenge. We know there is nothing funny about the HIV virus. What he was doing, however, was allowing his HUMOR BEING to laugh off the fear that represented the challenge. Laughing in the face of fear eventually helped him confront it. When he confronted his fear he gradually began to understand where it was coming from and why it was controlling his life. Understanding always leads to compassion and compassion leads to the ultimate, unconditional love.

The most incredible accomplishment my friend Steve is making is that he is letting people know they have the power within themselves to view their own personal challenges from the same perspective. He reminds us that we all have a HUMOR BEING within us, but it's up to us whether we choose to use it or not.

Steve Rizzo's Point of Interest
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WAY BEYOND COMEDY

2009-04-20T12:23:00.000-07:00

Quite often people come up to me and say, Steve (because that's my name), what's one of the main characteristics that separates a comedian from everyone else? I simply respond, that it's the way a comedian looks at life. A comedian views life and all of its obstacles, absurdities, tragedies, mistakes, incomprehensibility's, and embarrassing moments from a humorous perspective. When comedians look at life this way, they're not negating the seriousness of the subject matter, they're just looking at life from a different perspective - it's a healthier perspective - it's the humor perspective.

Let me share with you how I discovered the power of my Humor Being, which was one of the key factors that motivated me to leave stand-up comedy and move on to the speaking forum.

Following a comedy performance I would feel this surge of positive energy flow through my body. This energy surge gave me the confidence that I could achieve and accomplish anything I set my mind to do. Sometimes I would go back to my hotel room and write in my journal or write new material. It seemed that my creative juices flowed from me, into the pen, and onto the paper. Other times I would go out with a group of people, have wonderful conversations, laugh and have fun. The point is, whatever I did I was totally void of all negative thoughts. My problems - whatever they were at the time - somehow seemed manageable. I was living in the moment and enjoying every minute of it.

Initially I thought the reason for these power surges was because I was feeding my ego. You know, standing ovations, signing autographs, and people wanting to be around me. Although all of these things made me feel good, I knew there had to be more to it than that. Then one night after a comedy performance it hit me. It was at a time in my life when I was at an all-time low. I was either in or very close to a state of depression. All of the old fears and limiting beliefs that I thought I had conquered were back, haunting me again. It took everything I had to muster up enough energy and courage to step onto the stage that night. I remember thinking how ironic life is. There I was, ready to make a sold-out crowd of over five hundred people laugh, when what I really wanted to do was tell them how much life sucked. Much to my surprise, I was able to do both.

In spite of my problems - in fact it was because of my problems - I had one of the most spectacular performances of my career. I was on stage for more than two hours and the crowd wanted more. When I finally stepped off the stage the euphoria hit me with more intensity than ever before. I remember saying to myself, "This is way beyond comedy." I actually felt invincible. I felt a presence in me that radiated confidence and hope. I was in a complete state of love - and it was because I had allowed my Humor Being to take me there.

It was then that I discovered the real reason I got the power surge of positive energy. When I'm up on stage, I am in a totally different state of mind. I'm in a place where my problems and the world's problems are viewed in a different light.

That night I did more than my usual act. I let my Humor Being loose and allowed my higher self to take control. I talked about my world and how it was falling apart. I even talked about some painful experiences from my past. I literally laughed off my frustrations, pain, negative labels, and inner most fears. I vented my anger in a constructive way and the crowd loved it. It was like therapy, with a two major differences, I had fun and I didn't have to pay for it.

A few days after my performance, I began to reflect on what had transpired on stage that night. Without my knowledge the owner of the club had recorded my entire performance. When I viewed the tape, I was amazed at what I heard. It felt strange to listen to myself ramble on about my personal history in such a way. I was never afraid to speak my mind, but if I didn't know any better I would have thought I was possessed or that someone had injected me with some kind of serum that made me reveal parts of myself that were never touched before. I now know it was really my Humor Being exposing my fears for what they were. Through laughter I was able to understand that my negative labels and the fears that belonged to them didn't have to formulate my reality if I didn't want them to.

I also came to understand that the reason the people in the audience enjoyed themselves so much was because they were laughing at extensions of themselves. My stories and the humor behind them helped these people view their own personal problems from a healthier perspective. In other words, our Humor Beings were connected. We were feeding off of each other.

That's what humor does. It makes us realize that we are all the same in God's eyes. We have the same fears, pains, and heartaches. We just have different stories to tell. It doesn't matter who you are, what you do, or how much money you make. It doesn't matter if you're black or white, male or female, rich or poor, conservative or liberal, or homosexual or heterosexual. We all make mistakes. We all have our successes and failures. We all have good times and bad times. Humor just has a way of ironing out the wrinkles. Humor helps us embrace who we really are and gives us enough peace to live with it.

The next time you're being entertained by a comedian, listen to the underlying statement that is so often hidden within the laughter. Many comedians are venting their phobias and innermost fears. Some talk about the pain and hassles of divorce and their inability to stay in relationships. Many discuss their addictions to drugs, alcohol, gambling, and sex. Others find levity in their physical or mental handicaps. Some even describe the abuse they had to endure while growing up. As I said at the beginning of this story, they are not negating the seriousness of the subject matter. They are choosing to view their pain from a healthier perspective.

Change: What You Think Is What You Get!

2009-04-03T08:23:00.001-07:00

Let me make this perfectly clear my friends, change is inevitable in the workplace today!!! Right now we are all experiencing very challenging times in regards to an uncertain and shaky economy. The result; companies are going out of business, people are getting laid off, and many are being forced to change their lifestyles. Regardless of the changes that take place in your life, you must know without a doubt that it's not the change in and of itself that determines your fate, but rather it's the thoughts you have about the change that really makes the difference. So, stop whining about it and think about what you're thinking! In fact, your thoughts are the key factor as to whether you embrace the change and move forward with optimism or allow the changes to propel you in to a state of hopelessness.

I often speak to groups on how to embrace change in the workplace. Many times, within each audience the members pretty much have the same educational background, the same job description, and the same or similar responsibilities. Everyone is experiencing the changes that are taking place and yet I know for a fact even after they've heard my program that some, will move forward with enthusiasm and positive energy. They will also achieve great success and enjoy themselves during the process. Others will merely go through the motions because they have to, they will complain along the way and have great difficulty making their lives work. And some will become emotionally mentally paralyzed and unable to escape the grasp of fear.

Why is this so? Why is it that some will move forward and even become empowered as a result of the change; while others will have great difficulty to the point of feeling victimized? I'll tell you why. It's because of what each individual is thinking and saying to themselves.

Some will instantly and continually ask themselves empowering questions and declare empowering statements that will lead to brighter alternatives, such as:

What makes this situation positive?
What are my assets?
This change will force me to learn and that can only make me stronger.
I will make the best of it and enjoy myself along the way.
This is an opportunity for me to grow.

Others will fall prey to the repetitious voice in their heads that never shuts up; that voice is the flow of compulsive fear, based thoughts that usually come from past experiences that never worked out. Here we go again:

Why is this happening to me?
Why can't I ever get a break?
I will never be able to handle this.
What's the use, no one cares anyway.

When your thoughts are expressed in words, you increase their energy and intensify the effect they have in your life.

The act of positive self talk will not only strengthen your character, but also boost your spirit. It is beneficial for you to ask yourself what good can come out of even the most challenging situation no matter how bleak it may seem. Our current economic situation can be viewed as an opportunity to grow if we so choose. It will be difficult, if not impossible for you to seek opportunity if you are consumed with thoughts of fear, anger, and self doubt.

Asking yourself empowering questions and declaring empowering statements help you to rebuild on a foundation of hope. Remember, it's not the change that takes place in your life that causes you to be consumed by fear. Rather, it's how you perceive the change that makes the difference. If what you think is what you get, then you need to create a thinking system that will lead you to take action that will be advantageous in spite of the situation.

Your perception of yourself and this changing world around you are key factors to your success and happiness. If you think you are weak, inadequate or feel victimized then the energy you send out will mirror those thoughts. It will be difficult to succeed and be happy when harboring such thoughts.

If you believe you are powerful and view life as a never-ending learning experience filled with choices - you - will formulate within yourself a sense of hope. Then the energy you send out will mirror those thoughts, enabling you to lead a more fulfilling life.

HIGH POINTS TO REMEMBER

* Regardless of the changes that take place in your life you must
know without a doubt that it's not the change in and of itself that
determines your fate, but rather it's the thoughts you have
about the change that really makes the difference.

* If What You Think Is What You Get, then you need to create a thinking system that will lead you to take action that
will be advantageous in spite of the situation.

* The act of positive self talk will not only strengthen your
character, but also your boost your spirit!

LAUGHTER & EXTREME ADVERSITY

2009-03-18T16:40:00.000-07:00

Years ago, I attended the wake and funeral services of a friend who was killed in a car crash. He was loved by everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him. I have been to many wakes, viewings, funeral services and memorials throughout the course of my life, but there was something special about this one in particular. An awareness came over me that caused me to view the losses in my life from a different perspective.
When the funeral service was over, a group of us met at a relatives house. As you can imagine, people were wiping away tears and consoling one another. Some were understandably having difficulty accepting the unfair twist of fate that life had thrust upon him. We all were.
From across the room, I overheard an acquaintance telling part of a story that I was familiar with about our friend when he was in high school. I noticed that a few people were laughing along with it. Then someone else joined in on the conversation and offered an anecdote about the dearly departed's affinity for football. Before long, everyone in the room was laughing and reminiscing about the good times they had. In the midst of all the laughter, I had a strange, uplifting feeling come to me. This feeling can best be described as a smile from within. I realized I was no longer grieving over my friend.
My energy immediately shifted and I was temporarily delivered from my pain. At that moment, I think we all felt a special connection to him. In fact, his wife said, "You know I miss him and always will, but right now, I feel like a part of him is with us and always will be." Then she paused and said, "It's as if he's saying to all of us, It's okay. I'm okay. Everything is as it should be and I will always be with you."
Of course, we all started crying again, but this time, they were tears of hope. At that given moment his death was not the point of focus. The only thing that mattered was the powerful feeling we were all experiencing. We were celebrating and embracing the spirit of our love for him. It was our ability to laugh and reminisce about the good times that ignited that powerful sense of his spirit. In such a short time, our Humor Beings took us from a place of pain and uncertainty to a place of inner peace and hope. Laughter made us realize that, throughout our life journey there are no goodbyes, only good memories. The spirit moves on, and we all move on, in turn, in life. We all felt the smile from within that day. I believe laughter derives from the spirit. It has a magical way of breaking down barriers that make us feel like we are alone and reminds us that somehow we are all connected. We all have fear and pain to deal with. It's part of life, period. Laughter has a way, though of smoothing out the wrinkles and gives us enough hope and peace to move on.
Suffering may not be unavoidable, but just plain suffering can be avoided. Finding the laughter in between the tough times is essential to living a happier life. It's your Humor Being, urging you and reminding you that life still goes on, regardless of whether you like the way it goes or not. There will be good times and bad times, but in the end, all you'll really leave behind are memories. So you might as well attempt to enjoy them all!!!

UNLEASH THE POWER OF YOUR "HUMOR BEING"

2009-03-05T13:34:00.000-08:00

We're living in a world that's moving incredibly fast. On top of our personal problems and everyday pressures, we read the newspapers and watch the evening newscasts to learn that corporations are being forced to downsize and massive technological advancements in the workplace are causing people to drastically change their lives. Cell phones, Blackberry's, e-mails, text messages, and even micro-communication applications like Twitter are clogging our minds with an overwhelming amount of information, leaving us with little or no time to relax, unwind, and focus our attention on the big picture.
To compound this, political unrest, crime, disease, prejudice, and violence are running rampant, as they have done for decades on end. The divorce rate is at an all time high and war seems to be the only answer to remedy differences between nations. It's really no wonder why so many of us have to be medicated in some way or another in order to cope with the madness we have created!
We all need something to reduce the tension, the fast pace that we are subjected to everyday. I honestly believe that our ability to occasionally laugh off the major and minor tensions in our lives is crucial in order for us to survive the insanity. I'm not suggesting, I'm telling you that we have to take time out each day and laugh. Why do you think that people go to the comedy clubs? Because they want to laugh. Why do they want laugh? The same reason they have sex, it simply makes them feel good. A physiological and mental reaction takes place when you laugh. Laughter charges your inner battery and helps you to cope with the tough times. Even if you are having a really bad day, when you laugh life doesn't seem that bad after all.
This is why I urge you to unleash the power of your Humor Being on a daily basis. Right now you're probably wondering, "Great Steve, but what is a "Humor Being?" That, I can explain. Let me start off by saying that I believe that everyone on this planet is born with a Humor Being within them. Unfortunately some people live their entire lives without ever knowing they have the power to change their attitude by laughing, let alone how to tap into it and make it work for them.
Your Humor Being is one facet of your higher self. It's the part of you that brings out the best when times get tough. What your Humor Being can give you more than anything else is emotional stability and peace of mind.
I want you to take a few moments right now and think of the challenges you are faced with every day, personally and professionally. Now I want you to focus on a particular problem you may have at home or at work: health issues, financial problems, divorce, job security, or anything that is a current cause for concern. Pay particular attention to the emotions you are feeling as a result, such as worry, anxiety, anger or fear and notice how difficult it is not to take your problems from home to work and vice-a-versa. Not only is it important to know you have a Humor Being within you, it is essential that you use it everyday throughout your entire life. Your Humor Being will save you from despair time and time again, and before you know it, you won't need saving quite as often. Invoking your Humor Being as a habit will turn you into a better person with a brighter outlook. We go through our lives and we allow unfortunate situations, unlucky circumstances, and foul people to suck the energy right out of us, because we don't know that we have the tools that can help us cope well or even heal ourselves after bad encounters. One such tool in your Humor Being. Those who live in harmony with their Humor Being always see the brighter alternative to a negative situation. They embrace change more easily and make conscious choices to enjoy themselves during the process. Your natural state is that of joy and inner peace. It's your responsibility to stay connected to that state each and every day throughout your entire life. It's your Humor Being's job to help you stay connected.

Speak Words that Empower You

2009-02-12T16:33:00.000-08:00

Thoughts are one thing. Sometimes, you can even convince yourself that you're not being very negative, especially when the situation really calls for some good old fashioned angst. Words are an entirely different and often times more powerful animal. We need to be especially careful about the words we speak out loud when things aren't going the way we want. Yes, it's true that what you think is what you get, but what you say out loud in the midst of troubling times has even greater impact on how long you stay in those situations and how deeply you are affected by the situation. If you're always describing your problems with defeatist language, don't be surprised if you live in constant turmoil and you feel like you are constantly saying, "I never get a break", "I'm not lucky", and "Good things never happen to me". What do you expect? These words are not only self defeating in the moment, but they keep you from seeing possibilities to a brighter outcome or finding solutions to problems.
The inevitability that your words will affect your attitude and thus your situation, is spiritual law that always works to perfection, whether what you are saying is positive or negative. The moment you open up your mouth to say something, you ignite the beginning stages that lead to enormous creative power. You can create your own reality with your words, ultimately building high walls that keep you trapped in or bridges that can help you escape your situation gracefully. Again, the choice is yours, but do understand this: You will never be able to see the escape from a hole of negativity by voicing more of the same. Either wallow in it or give yourself a fighting chance to get out.

What It Means To Be Positive

2009-02-04T17:25:00.000-08:00

Anyone can tell you that one key to living a happy, successful life is having a positive attitude, especially during adverse times. I know that sometimes there just isn't justification for all the unfortunate things that happen to us. But I also know that we all have what it takes to deal with misfortune when it occurs. This is what acquiring a positive attitude is all about. It's about fortifying yourself for a fight with a very real enemy: Your own negativity.
I know this is much easier-said-than-done. I know that sometimes it seems impossible to stand tall and be positive when it feels like your world is falling apart around you. Yet this is something that can be achieved, and it's an attitude that's worth acquiring and keeping sharp. Who knows? Your life may depend on it some day.
The word "positive" seems to frustrate a lot of people. I hear people say, "How do you expect me to be positive when nothing in my life is working?" Or, "It's easy for you to be positive and feel blessed. You didn't lose someone you love."
Maybe we should consider a more realistic interpretation of what it means to be positive. Being positive isn't always a Disney movie. I have learned that being positive isn't always about feeling good. Oddly, it's healthy to feel bad sometimes. That's a good thing. That means you're not a robot. Are you with me? And being positive doesn't mean we never make mistakes. True positivism is knowing that we learn from making these mistakes and move forward with an optimism that we are better people for having made them, richer, deeper, and more resilient than before. Being positive doesn't mean that we should always smile and enjoy every moment of our lives. Give me a break! It's knowing that sometimes it's okay to cry, mourn, and feel sad. You don't always have to be in control of your emotions. Sometimes it's okay to get angry and lose your temper. Don't worry, your positivity license won't be revoked.
People who are generally positive have problems just like everyone else. What separates the chronically positive from everyone else is that they know that their problems are simply part of the process of life. After, and sometimes during, a crisis positive people respond to a habitual mechanism that enables them to pay attention to parts of their lives that don't make them want to spontaneously burst into tears in the middles of the produce aisle. They find a way to shift their perspective and hold on to only the things that bring them joy. This is the quality that keeps them from feeling victimized. Pain is unavoidable, but to a person with a positive attitude, that's all it is: Pain, simple, temporary and uncompounded by doubt and comparisons to past experience.
Positive people instinctively know that adversity is necessary in order for them to grow. We are here on Earth to experience, learn, grow, and become the person we are meant to become. It can't be stressed enough that the filter through which you view experience ultimately determines who you become. How we choose to experience what happens to us, be it good or bad, will determine what we learn. What we learn determines how we grow, and this continued growth is what shapes who and what we become. If we can comprehend this, it will help free us from feeling victimized when times are tough, and just maybe help you to compare a challenging situation with a pop quiz in Life: 101, rather than , say, the apocalypse.

What You Think Is What You Get

2009-01-27T12:39:00.000-08:00

I find it absolutely amazing that some people seem to have every advantage within their reach and still manage to destroy their lives and sabotage their success and happiness. Then there are those who seem to have every disadvantage thrown their way and choose to move forward and refuse to go down. They take what appears to be the greatest of challenges and somehow manage to make their lives work and enjoy the process.
It has always been my experience that those who choose the latter alternative somehow, consciously or unconsciously, direct their thoughts to create an empowering belief system that eventually steers them to a brighter outcome.
If there is one thing I would love for you to walk away with more that anything else after reading this article, it would be for you to understand that you have the power to experience any challenge in your life from a healthier perspective. Notice I didn't say some challenges, I said any challenge. How you experience your challenges are by the thoughts that you continually program into your brain day in and day out.
Contrary to what most people believe, it's not the situation, it's not the event, and it's not the circumstance in and of themselves that determine your quality of life. Rather it's the way you think about life's hard times that will minimize or maximize the impact they have on you. Each and every thought that you have can be appraised as to whether it strengthens you or weakens you.
People who are successful and attract wealth into their lives consciously or unconsciously think successful thoughts. Whether they are aware of it or not, they create predominant thoughts of wealth and abundance on a consistent basis. They don't allow negative thoughts of lack and failure to blossom and take over their minds. You can see evidence of this in the people you come in contact with everyday.
Haven't you noticed that those who are always talking about their ailments are always ill. Those who speak about prosperity are prosperous. Those who always talk about how wonderful life is are always happy and so on.
There is no getting away from the fact that the more dominant your thoughts on any subject in your life, the more you solidify your life experience. Whatever you habitually think about or focus on the most will appear in your life.
The Bible says, "As a man thinketh so shall he be". Many people refer to this as the Law of Attraction. Some have come to know it as "The Secret". I'm from New York and I say "What you think is what you get". (Leave it to a New Yorker to tell it like it is!) It really doesn't matter what you call it. All you need to know is that this spiritual law does not know good from bad, right from wrong, or true from false. It does not judge and it doesn't excuse negative thinking. It simply works in accordance to what you're thinking. Like I said, "What you think is what you get". Get it! You need to understand that this powerful law can either make you or break you.
The great poet Milton said, "The mind is its own place and it can make a heaven of hell or a hell of heaven". What a powerful statement and how true it is. The mind is its own place, but it's important that you understand that your thoughts feed your mind. Those very thoughts are the determining factors that make a heaven of hell or a hell of heaven in your life.

2008-10-29T14:20:00.000-07:00

Hello Fellow Bloggers,
Just thought I would keep you up to date on what's happening in "Rizzo World". I am very proud and excited to announce the launching of a new addition to my Website. It's called Rizzo's Comedy Cellar. Or as my friend Jeffery Gitomer says "Comedy Seller".
Here you can purchase vintage comedy performances from some of my TV and club appearances. The cool thing is that you can down load them in 2 formats MP-2-DVD or I-pod. The choice is yours. Either way I am certain that you will totally enjoy watching and listening to my unbridled sense of humor. Each item has a 20 second preview.
Be warned, some of the material in the Comedy Cellar is rated R and then some. In fact there is a disclaimer before you enter. I also want to make it very clear that I DO NOT use any of the material used in The Comedy Cellar in my speaking programs.
Also for your convenience and listening pleasure, I have created my own voice mail message and ring-tone service. Here you can download Three Stooges, Bullwinkle, Elmer Fudd, an irate Brooklyn guy, and many more. Preview and choose any one you want or several. Have fun with this, that's why it's there.

MOTIVATE THIS:
Contrary to what most people believe, it's not the situation, it's not the event, and it's not our circumstances in and of themselves that determines our quality of life. Rather; it's the way we think about life's hard times that will either minimize or maximize the impact they have on us. Each and every thought that you have can be appraised as to whether it strengthens or weakens you.

The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch July 21, 2008

2008-07-22T12:57:00.000-07:00

On July 21, 2008 I was a guest on "The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch on CNBC. The segment title was called, Inside the minds of those who have achieved the American Dream. Other guests included Erin Brockovich, famous for the Academy Award winning movie "Erin Brockovich". Famous Dave Anderson, entrepreneur and multi-millionaire and Paul Stanley former lead singer of the rock group "KISS".
In part the show was about how to become successful, even if you were labeled "Least likely to succeed in high school". The entire experience was a blast and very informative.
One of the producers of CNBC asked me to write a BLOG about my insights on negative labels and this is what I wrote:

OUR LABELS

Our labels, whether positive or negative, derive from the beliefs we have about ourselves and our surrounding world. They start to formulate when we are children and for the most part they are bestowed upon us by our parents, teachers, religious groups, authority figures, peers, etc. All of the beliefs we have about our surrounding world as adults were formulated and programmed from what we learned from our past experiences.

Our success and happiness depends on the intensity of our thoughts. In time, our thoughts create beliefs and labels that reside in our unconscious mind. These labels mold our lives and govern how we react to life's situations. They attract to us the exact results that they represent. We literally create our own reality based on our individual labels.

You might have a label that signifies that you are talented, lucky and good things will always come your way. Or you might have a negative label that signifies that dreams are for more fortunate people and your not one of them. Here's the hard-core reality. Either one of these labels will represent who you think you are. They are the determining factors for the choices you make and the actions you take.

You always have a choice how to respond to life

2008-06-27T13:32:00.000-07:00

Hello out there-
Here's some advice for those who travel a lot. Get use to the long lines and high prices. There is really not much you can do about it. Complaining doesn't help. In fact it only makes a tough situation worse. I know it is an inconvenience to have to take off your shoes in order to get through security. Especially if you have long laces and fancy buckles. My advice; wear loafers.
Actually you should Thank God for small favors. I mean at least the jerk who was responsible for us having to take off our shoes wasn't the "Underwear Bomber." I think you get the point.
I know the Airline industry is getting carried away with raising their prices. I also know that some of you are really upset that American Airlines is now charging people to check their luggage. Get use to it and be prepared, because it is going to get worse.
I wouldn't be surprised that if one day in the not so distant future you heard the flight attendant during the safety announcement say, "If there should be a sudden change in cabin pressure an oxygen mask will fall from the over head compartment. For 25 dollars we will activate it for you."

Motivate This
Rizzoism: You can't stop life from throwing stuff at you, but you can always choose how to respond once it is thrown!

What kind of name is BLOG?

2008-06-12T12:49:00.000-07:00

HELLO OUT THERE!

Welcome to my BLOG. What kind of a name is BLOG? It sounds like some kind of disease. "Steve can't come out now, because he's got the BLOG."

Anyway, I just came back from a speaking engagement at the El Conquistador Resort in San Juan Puerto Rico. Yes, the crowd did love me. Yes, I did get a standing ovation. But enough about me, What do you think about me?

I was really excited about this particular event, because I incorporated two new stories. One was about the power of choice. How a young woman made a courageous choice that eventually catapulted her to stardom-Rosie O'Donnell. The other was about how your thoughts create your destiny. How a young man many years ago was sitting with me in a green room at a comedy club on Long Island and said "Steve, I am going to be to comedy, to what the Beatles are to music-Eddie Murphy. I knew them both well back in the day.

MOTIVATE THIS:
Rizzoism-Enjoyment is the spark that ignites passion and enthusiasm.

Peace and Laughter
Steve Rizzo