For most of us, regardless of what time our day starts, after we turn off the alarm our minds begin to process all of the necessary tasks for that particular day. It’s very similar to that of a car engine warming up. Gratitude. You visualize what the priorities are, what you are behind on, the meetings planned for the day, the emails you still need to reply to, the phone calls you need to return, not to mention the projects you have put off at home. All of this hits you before the shower water even gets hot! You want to change that routine of stress? There is a recourse to this habit; one that doesn’t take a book, a course, or even a 10-step program. It’s as simple as one word – GRATITUDE. Imagine changing your routine and starting each day with a commitment to only 5 minutes of thinking about the things you are grateful for. “Gratitude is the single most important ingredient To be genuinely grateful, one must have a high quality of thankfulness. All I have to say to you is look around — there is so much to be thankful for. Unfortunately we stay stuck either in the high gears of life, or downshifting to catch up. Why not stay in first gear and just coast for a few minutes, and come to the realization that YOU are in an incredibly rewarding role as a leader? YOU get to make a difference in the lives of people you lead every day. You have been provided a privilege, one that you should never take for granted. Commit to five minutes in your morning routine to simply identify five things that you are grateful for at that particular time. It will be easy for a few weeks, but I challenge you not to repeat yourself. Granted, being thankful for things like an incredible partner, healthy and loving children, and a supportive network of family and friends will always be on this list. But the real thought will come once you get outside that box. That’s why I used the word “commit” when I suggested changing your morning routine. “Gratitude changes everything . . .” I personally have a list where I write these things down; I call it my “gratitude catalog”. It’s amazing what looking at a word document filled with line after line of months’ worth of gratitude entries can do to shift one’s perspective. If you wake up on the wrong side of the bed, if you know you’re about to enter a day filled with pressure and high expectations, being able to remind yourself that the blessings of life surround you immediately changes your mindset. It’s just in our DNA – see positive, think positive, act positive. 30 things you can choose to be grateful for now: * excluding partner, children, family and friends . . . Sometimes it’s tough to find the find the bright side of things because of the enormous amount of challenges we face each day. However, remember that no matter how bad your situation may seem, there are more things to be grateful for in life than there are problems. Realize how amazing your life is — and start with YOU! VENTURE + LEAD + PROSPER Humbled to lead, #chargeup #lessonsinleadership #leadership #lead #process #success #moveforward #patience #attitude #gratitude #commit #fiveminutes #gratitudeissuccess RECEIVE MY FREE MONTHLY E-BLAST, THE WIRE ©2020 Victor Pisano/Charge Up. All rights reserved. You are free to use portions of this publication, provided the following credit is listed at the bottom: ©2020 Victor Pisano/Charge Up, is a media-based entity that provides intriguing, innovative and distinctive content, engaging its readers with real-world challenges and solutions while embracing obstacles and the value that failure can provide. While that sounds serious, we promise you will both learn AND laugh (and sometimes cry).Contact Charge Up at victor@chargeuptoday.com or visit our website at www.chargeuptoday.com.
to living a successful and fulfilled life.”
– Jack Canfield
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✏ In Memoriam: The Gift That Keeps on Giving
Note: this tribute blog originally appeared in November 2018. In honor of the 3rd anniversary of Vic, Sr’s passing, we are resharing it today. Everything Charge Up has become is because of who he was . . . November 8, 1924 – April 30, 2017 Today is for you, Dad! Happy Birthday… For as long as I can remember, my father always enjoyed his birthday. He would talk about it weeks in advance to remind us, expressing the importance that we go all out and buy him very nice gifts and celebrate at a fancy restaurant. He said we owed him for all the birthdays he spoiled us as kids. The reality was he didn’t care about the gifts or the fancy restaurant; he was happy with anything as long as it was with family. That was kind of man my father was; family always came first. Simply put, Vic was an amazing man. He was what some would call “old-fashioned”, and was a friend to everyone he met. He believed in a handshake and a man’s word. He worked hard, earned his success and helped those in need. He was strong in his faith and knew he would celebrate the day when the Lord took him. He was brave, courageous and full of humility. If he called you friend, you could count on him. Simply put, Vic was an amazing man. There were so many lessons he taught us, but what always came first was the importance of family. I have so many distinct memories of my life spent with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. So many of those people from my childhood have passed, but the memories are so vivid. As a child, we spent every Sunday having lunch with my grandparents and the extended family would come in and out of their home as if it were an open house. There was always a table full of food, wine, beautiful stories, and laughter. When my grandparents passed away, we were fortunate that my father, uncle, and aunt, inherited their love for family by carrying on the traditions of spending every Sunday together as a family, which I now do with my own children. The saddest thing about losing my father is that he died on a Sunday. I didn’t get to sit at a table full of food, wine, beautiful stories, and smiles. That Sunday would be so different from all of the others. And though it breaks my heart that I didn’t get one last Sunday to tell him I loved him, I know that his Sunday dinner that day was the most incredible and beautiful one of all, more than he or us could ever imagine. I imagine his first Sunday in heaven was filled with family and friends from years past with tables filled with food, wine, wonderful stories, and smiles. There were hugs, kisses and more love at his dinner table than we as a family could ever provide because he was at the Lord’s table. I know he looked down on us as we mourned, but in my heart, I felt as if he was telling each one of his children…it’s your turn to carry on. He had taught us so many lessons over the years, and God had the confidence in us that we were prepared and ready to live life without him. Now that I have accepted the role of continuing the traditions that my dad, my grandparents, and generations before them had celebrated, it’s my turn to teach my own children how important family is. It’s my turn to honor him. “A father should be his son’s first hero . . .” Moving forward… Following his sudden death on April 30, 2017, it was an incredibly challenging period in my life. I knew I needed to work through the grief I was experiencing. And I know it’s precisely what he would have told me. When his birthday rolled around six months later, we decided to celebrate by having a party. He wouldn’t be there physically, but I knew his spirit would be everywhere. We asked every guest to write their favorite memory of Vic so we could read them aloud to celebrate his life. What a great party it was! Smiles everywhere, good food, good wine, love, and laughter; all those Sunday nights were. And yes, his spirit was everywhere. It was a beautiful tribute to a man who always put others before himself, and he was loved beyond measure. You could hear it in the words, voices and body language of each person who spoke. That evening, I came to the realization that each beautiful, unique and inspiring story needed to be shared. It would be my honor to carry his legacy forward and dedicate myself to become the man he was. This is how CHARGE UP came to be . . . “The gifts that keep on giving are those of his legacy.” This is the vessel to move from grief to gratitude every day, to celebrate his legacy, and most important, to pay it forward and make an impact in people’s lives the same way he did for more than 80 years. Venture, Lead, Prosper…those are his initials. If you didn’t have the privilege of knowing my father, I’d like you to learn at least one more thing about him. I can think of no better way to end this than with laughter… Vic always made family and friends laugh over the years because of a knack he had for what we called “Vic’isms,” and when corrected, he would respond, “Whatever, same thing!”. He would take a word, phrase or sentence, say it wrong, and truly make it his own. Eventually, we needed a journal to keep up, so the “Vic-tionary” was created! With that, I would like to present you some of my favorites on this special day: When he called my sister-in-law from the hospital when my wife was giving birth to our second child, Catherine, he told her, “they are going to seduce the baby!” He meant to say “induce” the baby. His response: WHATEVER, SAME THING… He once told us all that he was going to be remodeling his home and would be putting “Gerber” carpet in. He meant to say “Berber carpet.” His response: WHATEVER, SAME THING… We complimented his shirt at a family gathering, and he proudly told us that it was from “Banana Republican.” He meant to say “Banana Republic.” His response: WHATEVER, SAME THING… He was describing a scene of an accident that he passed and told us that he thought it was severe because the police officer was giving the man “UPS.” He meant to say CPR. His response: WHATEVER, SAME THING… While preparing a meal, he told us that we should be using a “SEGREGATED” knife. He meant to say “serrated.” His response: WHATEVER, SAME THING… “My father didn’t tell me how to live; he lived and I watched him do it.” I sincerely appreciate you allowing me the platform to dedicate this to my father. Charge Up, Dad! I hope you are proud; we love and miss you every day… VENTURE + LEAD + PROSPER Blessed to carry on his legacy, #ChargeUp #venture #lead #prosper #legacy #inspiration #gratitude #love #Dad #HappyBirthday RECEIVE MY FREE WEEKLY E-BLAST, THE WIRE ©2018 Victor Pisano/Charge Up. All rights reserved. You are free to use portions of this publication, provided the following credit is listed at the bottom: ©2018 Victor Pisano/Charge Up, is a media-based entity that provides intriguing, innovative and distinctive content, engaging its readers with real-world challenges and solutions while embracing obstacles and the value that failure can provide. While that sounds serious, we promise you will both learn AND laugh (and sometimes cry).Contact Charge Up at victor@chargeuptoday.com or visit our website at www.chargeuptoday.com.A tribute to my father and inspiration: Vic Pisano, Sr.
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✏ The Secret Circle of a Fulfilled Life
Imagine that the secret to life is a circle . . . IT’S ALL ABOUT PERSPECTIVE When I refer to a circle, I’m talking about people within your sphere of influence. There are people inside and outside the circle — and there is a big difference between the two. There are more people outside the circle than within it, and for a good reason. Those outside the circle will often change, whereas those within it may stay consistent throughout your lifetime. It’s that circle which defines us. Only those who care about you can hear you when you are quiet. The people inside are a reflection of our character and integrity, the compass when we are not on course, and the voice that tells what we don’t want to hear, but know it’s true. Within that circle are the hands that catch us when we fall and pat us on the back when we succeed. My father often told me, “If you can count your true friends on more than one hand, you need to count again”, which led me to understand the differences between friends and acquaintances in life. We should have extreme gratitude for the blessings of a trusted, loyal friend. A friend that has earned a place in your sphere of influence is a lifeline. Friendships expose the person we strive to become. They are the ones that set the bar, that we listen to, and are like-minded, and that is why we are attracted to them. “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” — Jim Rohn The challenge in this equation is that to secure those within your circle, you must have the same dedication and loyalty to their needs. It takes sacrifice, honesty, selflessness, and vulnerability on both ends. You have a tremendous responsibility to uphold your end of the deal. If it’s real, it won’t feel like it involves effort. That’s why, in most cases, you don’t have that many in your sphere. It is because there is only enough of you to give — too many people, not enough loyalty and commitment. As I have grown older and wiser, a lesson I’ve learned is that your circle may decrease in size, but it increases in value. As an aspiring leader, you need to understand that your friends will change as you grow. I want to emphasize three words . . . As you are growing intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually, your path takes you in different directions. As a result, your needs and interests require like-minded people that you are attracted to, while past friends may go their own way. It’s just a shift in your circle of influence, not closure. Surround yourself with people who remind you of the future, not the past. Go do great things today and make a difference. VENTURE + LEAD + PROSPER Humbled to lead, #ChargeUp #365 #patience #prevent #success #leadership #RaiseTheBar #impact #BeTheImpact #Lead #authentic #gratitude #PayItForward #mentor #purpose #GoodToGreat #reflection #inspire #empower RECEIVE MY FREE MONTHLYLY E-BLAST, THE WIRE ©2019 Victor Pisano/Charge Up. All rights reserved. You are free to use portions of this publication, provided the following credit is listed at the bottom: ©2019 Victor Pisano/Charge Up, is a media-based entity that provides intriguing, innovative and distinctive content, engaging its readers with real-world challenges and solutions while embracing obstacles and the value that failure can provide. While that sounds serious, we promise you will both learn AND laugh (and sometimes cry).Contact Charge Up at victor@chargeuptoday.com or visit our website at www.chargeuptoday.com.
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✏ What Does Love Have To Do With It?
First it’s the nerves, then the sweaty palms. The heart rate increases — all because that four-letter word is on the tip of our tongue, and we are finally ready to muster up the courage to say it . . . LOVE As in, “I LOVE MY CAREER!” There, you said it. Don’t you feel so much better? It really wasn’t that big of a deal, was it? Here’s the thing: it’s beautiful when a career and a passion come together, and what you spend the majority of time doing each day doesn’t feel like work, but instead a freedom to express your gifts and contribute to the greater good of innovation and growth. “Choose a job you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” — Confucius It’s no secret that when you love your job, the results are tangible. The commitment is related to things such as job satisfaction, engagement, innovation, willingness, being a better co-worker and taking initiative are just a few examples. You come into the office ready to attack the next objective, or work with the team to solve problems and reach goals. To spend your day with like-minded people who also thrive in that environment will inspire you. It’s why you see so many friendships develop in the workplace. We are attracted to commonality, so in this case, positivity finds positivity. There are absolutely real benefits from having good relationships at work. Another factor that comes into play, which is critical to building our love for what we do, is connectedness. What that refers to is the bond of trust and support we have in our workplace relationships. Whether it be with our leaders, subordinates or peers, the commonalities of our personalities create a connection that is there to help us feel stable during adverse times, and to celebrate when we succeed. “The only way to do great work is to love what you do” — Steve Jobs What it all comes down to is culture — do you fit the culture established by the company? When you love your role, the people you work with, the contribution you make, and the impact of the company, a sense of family will emerge, and that relationship is parallel to culture. Imagine it as connecting the dots: respect, engagement, empowerment, passion, commitment, connectedness, involvement and excitement. When these come together, you have discovered your passion, and are on course to live a fulfilled life. Try completing the sentence: “I love my job because _________________.” If you have numerous answers, you are in the right place! However, let’s swing the pendulum toward the opposite direction – what if you can’t answer that question? What if you struggle because your efforts, contribution and loyalty are no longer fulfilling? From time to time, all of us should perform self-awareness exercises where we evaluate all of the things in our life to ensure we are where we want to be. If your job — for an excessive period of time — has no longer brought you satisfaction, then it may be time to ask yourself the tough questions. Many will sit and ponder; however, I always refer back to my gut feeling. Look in the mirror and ask yourself, is it me, or is really the job? If it is you, than the first thing you need to do is fix yourself. Rediscover your priorities and work on you. Regardless of your career, it goes back to the old saying, “you can’t pour from an empty cup, you have to take care of yourself first.” Once that process is in place, put pen to paper and invest in researching what your true passion is. The last thing you want to do is take a temporary job; it’s not fair to you or the employer. “You must love your work and not always be looking over the edge of it wanting your play to begin.” — George Elliot A common reason people don’t move a job is because they are scared of change. They have built four walls around themselves and live in a comfort zone because they know the work that accompanies change. Don’t be the person who complains to co-workers every day about your problems at work but does nothing about it — that will only make the situation worse. Now is the time to be brave, courageous, and step out. Embrace the fear, and let your passion guide you. We all spend too much time in the workplace to not be fulfilled by what we do. If you aren’t happy, put your energy into change and rediscover your passion! Go do great things today and make a difference. VENTURE + LEAD + PROSPER Humbled to lead, #legacy #hero #chargeup #chargeuptoday #lessonsinleadership #leadership #lead #process #strongleader #patience #leadershipjourney #resilience #failure #success #moveforward #adversity #areyouready #leadandfollow #mentorship #mentor #venture #lead #prosper #reflect #inspire #empower #buildforsuccess #motivate #beyou #gratitude #integrity #starttoday #humility RECEIVE MY FREE WEEKLY E-BLAST, THE WIRE ©2019 Victor Pisano/Charge Up. All rights reserved. You are free to use portions of this publication, provided the following credit is listed at the bottom: ©2019 Victor Pisano/Charge Up, is a media-based entity that provides intriguing, innovative and distinctive content, engaging its readers with real-world challenges and solutions while embracing obstacles and the value that failure can provide. While that sounds serious, we promise you will both learn AND laugh (and sometimes cry).Contact Charge Up at victor@chargeuptoday.com or visit our website at www.chargeuptoday.com.
The only way we can inspire is to grow our community – would you please share this with family and friends, ask that they subscribe to Charge Up, and follow us on social media?
✏ Eight to Great: the Steps to Greatness
If you want to chase greatness, you must first understand that there is no finish line. We never truly master a skill — we only continue to hone it. Records are broken all the time, new advances are made, technology is surpassed, and our creativity continues to amaze. “Be not afraid of greatness; some are born great, some achieve greatness, and — William Shakespeare The key to this ongoing pursuit is a never-ending sense of curiosity and the willingness to go beyond being comfortable. You become so motivated by a vision that isn’t even tangible yet, but you want to move the needle and ask “why not?” It is having the confidence that you can climb the mountain without knowing how high it is. The thing is, nobody ever gets dropped off at the top of the mountain — everyone has to climb it. There are no shortcuts, but there will definitely be obstacles all throughout the journey. You will fail. You will fail often. Make failure your education. Make adversity your oxygen. Turn “I think” into “I will.” Allow your strength to lie within your perception of success. “There is no try; there is only do or not do.” — Yoda Let’s first define success. Success is an ongoing process of becoming. It is a constantly active process of achievement towards a purpose. It is based on outstanding performance and the ability to impact, innovate or break through a barrier. Success in and of itself takes patience. It will include leaps and bounds, but the most important steps you will make in your journey will come as a result of the details you discover along the way that give you the competitive advantage. It will result in complete self-awareness of you are – or better yet, who you aspire to be. What is not the equivalent to success? Money. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that one equals the other. If your objective in being successful is to simply to be wealthy, you might as well quit reading this. There is no substance to the equation and your journey will be short-lived without purpose. “Success isn’t always about greatness. It’s about consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success. Greatness will come.” — Dwayne Johnson Greatness is a clearly defined mission and vision that will lead toward success and a fulfilled life. When you have the ability to innovate and create breakthroughs in the service of something bigger than yourself, then you earn the respect of others through your character and integrity. Greatness is . . . IMPACT CHANGE POSITIVITY A WORTHY GOAL The amazing thing about greatness is that every person has the chance to achieve it, but it requires hard work and perseverance. Some will never achieve it — for numerous reasons — because it is not just given, but earned. Here are eight things to focus on as you create a mindset of greatness: THE EIGHT TO GREAT Your life deserves a concentrated effort to succeed. You owe that to yourself, because what is the benefit if you are not living your dreams? You get one life — make the absolute most of it! Go do great things today and make a difference. VENTURE + LEAD + PROSPER Humbled to lead, #legacy #hero #chargeup #chargeuptoday #lessonsinleadership #leadership #lead #process #strongleader #patience #leadershipjourney #resilience #failure #success #moveforward #adversity #areyouready #leadandfollow #mentorship #mentor #venture #lead #prosper #reflect #inspire #empower #buildforsuccess #motivate #beyou #gratitude #integrity #starttoday #humility RECEIVE MY FREE WEEKLY E-BLAST, THE WIRE ©2019 Victor Pisano/Charge Up. All rights reserved. You are free to use portions of this publication, provided the following credit is listed at the bottom: ©2019 Victor Pisano/Charge Up, is a media-based entity that provides intriguing, innovative and distinctive content, engaging its readers with real-world challenges and solutions while embracing obstacles and the value that failure can provide. While that sounds serious, we promise you will both learn AND laugh (and sometimes cry).Contact Charge Up at victor@chargeuptoday.com or visit our website at www.chargeuptoday.com.
others have greatness thrust upon them.”
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✏ Being All In
For most of the night, although eight players started at the table, the game was really between the two most experienced poker players. After a few hours, players began to be eliminated. As fate would have it, that pair of players were the final two left at the table. One had a four of a kind following “the turn” card, and had a feeling that he had the best hand. Aware that either a straight flush or a royal flush would beat him, he had studied the cards dealt and was confident that the odds were in his favor. So what should he do? YOU GO ALL IN He slid all of his chips to the center of the table, his body language showing a bravado that he was willing to invest everything into this one hand. His opponent matches the bet. This was it — the final hand. The dealer threw out “the river” card and both players showed their cards. His opponent had a full house, an excellent hand to bet. However, he had four of a kind and had just won the game! BEING ALL IN — what a great metaphor to describe the total confidence of investing all of yourself into something. “IF YOU AREN’T GOING ALL THE WAY, WHY GO AT ALL?” — Joe Namath, retired NFL player There are times in our lives when we know that we are on the cusp of something big. When our knowledge, skills, relationships, acumen and leadership are in alignment and our vision and strategy is undeniable. Those are the moments that result from experience. To be an effective leader, when your passion and purpose are genuine, you’re confident in your vision and strategy, being all in should always be your option. To achieve innovation, to be a visionary, to bring about breakthroughs, to accomplish the impracticable — there is no substitute for not embracing risk and giving it your all. Your inward tenacity will be displayed outwardly by your excitement, confidence, passion, words and actions; you will persuade the team to follow you, even it means running through walls. Nothing less than perfection will result in a paramount outcome, and your team is ALL IN. ““TAKE EVERY CHANCE. DROP EVERY FEAR.” True visionaries, those who have made a tremendous impact in this era of business, are defined by their courageous and innovative actions to make positive changes. These advancements required tremendous knowledge, skill and most importantly, the right people. When you think about the visionaries over the past twenty years, names like Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Beth Comstock, Mark Zuckerberg, Mary Barra, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Indra Nooyi, just to name a few, come to mind. Each will tell you that it took an army of committed, dedicated and fully vested people to turn their dream into a reality. None of their accomplishments were overnight successes, but rather long-term investments of both time and money by a team committed to being all in. “INNOVATION DISTINGUISHES BETWEEN A LEADER AND A FOLLOWER.” — Steve jobs, Apple For those of us not leading a Fortune 500 company, let’s dig into how to create an ALL-IN mindset with your team today, regardless of size. As a leader, you can have the best strategy out there, but without passion, it’s just ideas on paper. Your passion has to be an expression of your strategy if you want others to not only follow, but to believe, in you. It all comes down to an effective, well though-out, and well-communicated mission, vision and purpose. You must consider both the macro and the micro approach to your vision, or you risk losing momentum on a long-term goal. Keeping your team involved, empowering them to contribute and communicate, ensuring consistent feedback and reinforcing the end objective will play a key role in creating an environment of successes, fostering teamwork and cultivating a sense of purpose. That will result in being all in! Next, encourage your team to take calculated risks, regardless of the chance of failure. As an effective leader, you should have a general idea of the parameters of those risks, but create an environment where they step out of their comfort zone and think outside the box. And if they do fail, encourage them and have them keep going. Don’t show disappointment, this is where you earn your stripes, be a leader and mentor. Remember, you are helping them grow through personal experience. “TAKE RISKS: IF YOU WIN, YOU WILL BE HAPPY; IF YOU LOSE, YOU WILL BE WISE.” Celebrate every small success along the way – even small steps forward are achievements. Recognize your people, talk through the actions taken and give them the attention. Being a leader can be a lonely job if you are selfish, and this exercise will reveal a lot about you. Be selfless and observe the pride your team members take. Do this right and the long-term achievements will amaze you. Do these things, and watch your team go from good to great, with the power of the mindset of being ALL IN. Make a difference today. LEADERSHIP IS A PRIVILEGE. VENTURE + LEAD + PROSPER Humbled to lead, #chargeup #chargeuptoday #lessonsinleadership #leadership #process #action #character #patience #leadershipjourney #resilience #failure #success #moveforward #adversity #areyouready #leadandfollow #mentorship #mentor #venture #lead #prosper #reflect #inspire #empower #buildforsuccess RECEIVE MY FREE WEEKLY E-BLAST, THE WIRE ©2019 Victor Pisano/Charge Up. All rights reserved. You are free to use portions of this publication, provided the following credit is listed at the bottom: ©2019 Victor Pisano/Charge Up, is a media-based entity that provides intriguing, innovative and distinctive content, engaging its readers with real-world challenges and solutions while embracing obstacles and the value that failure can provide. While that sounds serious, we promise you will both learn AND laugh (and sometimes cry).Contact Charge Up at victor@chargeuptoday.com or visit our website at www.chargeuptoday.com.
The only way we can inspire is to grow our community – would you please share this with family and friends, ask that they subscribe to Charge Up, and follow us on social media?
✏ Why Be Average
When it comes to averages, I believe they should apply only to data, not to people. Far too often, mediocrity is being celebrated. Nobody wants to put in the work and exceed expectations because it involves too much time and effort. They want to know what the average is, and work from there to set a baseline. What does average mean? When evaluating “average,” it is the median value in a set of data. The middle. Ordinary. Common. In school, if your grades are average, then half the class has higher grades, and half the class has lower grades. Fast-forward to your job and look at it a little differently. When you go into your manager’s office for your annual review and your overall performance is “average”, do you think management will be motivated to consider you for growth opportunities or even a raise? “Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.” — Eleanor Roosevelt Let’s talk about the law of averages fallout that’s concerning: – In a recent study of 24 – 54 year-olds on the subject of donating your time or money, 61% of the participants felt that when you give something, you should receive something in return. – A recent study done via social media by the University of Colorado sampled over 10,000 people, asking them if opinions on social media influence their decision-making on relevant issues, including deduction, perception, and consequences. Instead of relying upon deductive reasoning, 43% of those questioned said that they lean toward popular opinion. It’s frustrating me that independent thought, rational decision making, proper planning, and innovative perspective are fading away. Popular opinion and instant gratification have begun to replace some within the majority who choose to never settle for capacity within their lives as they pursue a life of fulfillment. I am a firm believer that nobody tells you what your “average” needs to be — because you are capable of achieving anything you set your mind to. It is your responsibility to set goals to exceed that average. “Not settling is all about handing people back their invitations to the average life. Sorry, I’m going to have to decline.” — Myleik Teele How can you avoid the trap to be average? Here are five ways that you can take control and live the life you deserve to live: That means you need to take complete control of your life and start thinking for yourself. Don’t allow popular opinion to persuade you if your moral compass tells you otherwise. Build a mindset that becomes impermeable to outside influence, and instead creates confident, impactful reasoning that displays character and integrity. Life is too short. Make an effort to act upon the things in your life that bring you happiness and make an impact on others. Regret is an entirely controllable emotion; don’t procrastinate. Too many people live a life of regret because they were never comfortable being uncomfortable or taking chances. We all have one — what is yours? Don’t expect an invitation or instructions on this one; you have to follow your heart to discover what it is that makes you tick. Identify the thing or things that allow you to be you in such a way that everyone around you becomes a better person as a result of your attitude. Learn as much as you possibly can about what the life you want to live and invest in it. Let your passion become your purpose and the word “average” will never be used when describing you. People change, circumstances change, conditions change; and so should our perspective. At times, you may become so narrowly focused that you lose perspective. You fail to identify things right in front of you because you don’t listen to reason, have productive dialogue or are just too stubborn to change. The only constant in life is change — and with change comes perspective. Embrace it and thrive. Similar to perspective, you only grow if you are willing to invest. That means to have a thirst for knowledge and expand your views as often as possible. You have infinite resources through technology to discover answers to our questions in an instant. Learn things outside your interest. If you’re not growing, you’re dying. Successful people don’t establish a capacity; they are always looking to lead a more fulfilled life. Become consumed with the possibilities and the drive to never to give up growth. When you realize the opportunities above the line, you will become motivated by the fear of being average. Go do great things today and make a difference. VENTURE + LEAD + PROSPER Humbled to lead, #chargeup #lessonsinleadership #leadership #lead #process #patience #change #venture #lead #prosper #reflect #inspire #empower #motivate #beyou #gratitude #integrity #starttoday #humilty RECEIVE MY FREE WEEKLY E-BLAST, THE WIRE ©2019 Victor Pisano/Charge Up. All rights reserved. You are free to use portions of this publication, provided the following credit is listed at the bottom: ©2019 Victor Pisano/Charge Up, is a media-based entity that provides intriguing, innovative and distinctive content, engaging its readers with real-world challenges and solutions while embracing obstacles and the value that failure can provide. While that sounds serious, we promise you will both learn AND laugh (and sometimes cry).Contact Charge Up at victor@chargeuptoday.com or visit our website at www.chargeuptoday.com.
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✏ Table for One
In the quest to become a successful leader, certain lessons along the way come as a surprise to some. You are confident in your education, have built skills around your strengths, have developed strong relationships with your mentors, have led by example and you have respected the process of perseverance and patience. In other words, you have earned the opportunity and privilege to lead. “Respect is earned. Honesty is appreciated. Trust is gained. Loyalty is returned.” What you can’t prepare for is how lonely leadership actually can be. In times of adversity, standing your ground for what may be perceived as unpopular opinion will define your character. It may also be intentionally lonely if you sincerely treasure the role because your goal is to always allow your team to be in the spotlight. Whether it is adversity or by plan, it can catch a new leader off guard until they experience it firsthand. It is an extremely valuable lesson, one that over time will build you and your reputation as an effective, respected, and trusted leader. Don’t let this deter you from your goals if you have a desire to lead, it will be the most rewarding experiences of your life. To be the lead in representing a culture of values and integrity with a team of eager, enthusiastic and committed people is a privilege. To witness the dynamics of a team’s chemistry work; to put a vision into reality and see those you support grow and prosper into their own is fascinating to witness. In other words, the most rewarding aspect for a leader is to develop other leaders and witness their success. This is your primary job, preparing others for success through connection, inspiration and clear and concise plan of development. What I have personally found in my own leadership journey is that sitting at a table for one is not always a bad thing. Being selfless and praising those who are committed to the big picture should become your routine. Timing is everything, knowing when to teach and when to praise is critical. Giving the proper attention to each is imperative. The bigger the team, the more effort it will require on your part to find a connection with each member of your team. Gone are the days of “cookie cutter” leadership. Effective leaders don’t cast a net — they have a personal touch for the individual, and focus on the respective development based on the respective strengths their team members hold. The behaviors you model will determine the results. In other words, it is not just your responsibility to lead effectively. It is your obligation. Go do great things today and make a difference. VENTURE + LEAD + PROSPER Humbled to lead, #chargeup #lessonsinleadership #leadership #lead #process #patience #change #venture #lead #prosper #reflect #inspire #empower #motivate #beyou #gratitude #integrity #starttoday #humilty RECEIVE MY FREE WEEKLY E-BLAST, THE WIRE ©2019 Victor Pisano/Charge Up. All rights reserved. You are free to use portions of this publication, provided the following credit is listed at the bottom: ©2019 Victor Pisano/Charge Up, is a media-based entity that provides intriguing, innovative and distinctive content, engaging its readers with real-world challenges and solutions while embracing obstacles and the value that failure can provide. While that sounds serious, we promise you will both learn AND laugh (and sometimes cry).Contact Charge Up at victor@chargeuptoday.com or visit our website at www.chargeuptoday.com.
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✏ Lead by Permission
Leadership is a privilege. Successful leaders view their role as an honor given to them by their employees, and their employees want to work for them because they’re great leaders — not because they are in a position of authority. The most common reason we follow a leader is because of who they are; they are the ones who have inspired or empowered us, they have a sense of purpose – and it’s our sense of purpose that keeps us solid. They have been given “permission to lead” and they take that responsibility very seriously. It is that atmosphere of collaboration and continuity that drives the team to success. To not allow ego into the equation takes a tremendous amount of humility and self-confidence. Outstanding leaders know that their integrity, character and passion will define their legacy and earn them respect. Here are a few principles that define those that “Lead by Permission”: The decision on how to lead is entirely up to you. Finding the balance between achieving your goals and creating a positive environment of integrity, character and collaborative effort can mean the difference in success or futility. Understanding that you won’t reach the summit without a team of experts is critical when determining why you need to be a leader, and not a boss. Be humbled to lead . . . VENTURE + LEAD + PROSPER Humbled to lead, #chargeup #lessonsinleadership #leadership #lead #process #patience #change #venture #lead #prosper #reflect #inspire #empower #motivate #beyou #gratitude #integrity #starttoday #humilty RECEIVE MY FREE WEEKLY E-BLAST, THE WIRE ©2019 Victor Pisano/Charge Up. All rights reserved. You are free to use portions of this publication, provided the following credit is listed at the bottom: ©2018 Victor Pisano/Charge Up, is a media-based entity that provides intriguing, innovative and distinctive content, engaging its readers with real-world challenges and solutions while embracing obstacles and the value that failure can provide. While that sounds serious, we promise you will both learn AND laugh (and sometimes cry).Contact Charge Up at victor@chargeuptoday.com or visit our website at www.chargeuptoday.com.
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✏ A Champion’s Mindset
My inspiration for the concept of leadership is deeply rooted in my love for sports. Growing up, I had the privilege of playing with and competing against incredible athletes. Most of my life-long friendships came from either the football field or the baseball diamond. My first mentors were coaches; they were men of integrity and authenticity. They not only had a love for the game, but more so a passion for developing young athletes into men who would one day lead and contribute to society. It’s been 30 years and I still have relationships with those same coaches who molded my life. That says something about who they are. Men like Coach Padron, Reeves, Robbins, Black, Maldonado, Majek and others. What they taught me in particular was not only a lesson on the field, but an advantage in life – having a CHAMPION MINDSET. “A COACH IS SOMEONE WHO TELLS YOU WHAT YOU DON’T WANT TO HEAR, WHO HAS YOU SEE WHAT YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE, – Tom Landry, Dallas Cowboys Head Coach 1960-1989 It was an attitude applicable to my abilities, intelligence and potential. It was an influenced set of beliefs that was ingrained into my subconscious every day to create a frame of mind that no barrier was too big, no goal was unachievable and no dream wasn’t worth pursuing. In essence, what they were doing was creating a winning culture by encouraging an environment of learning where all lessons were directed by a unified passion and dedication to a greater good, as opposed to only self-development. Everything we did as a team was done with pride and humility, and we were all on the same page. I learned at an early age that failure was a necessary part of the final outcome. It was how I responded that was most important. As a result, the coaches had created an environment of vulnerability where I, along with my teammates, felt comfortable stepping outside of my comfort zone. Their goals were that we, as a team will: Fast forward to the present, where I continue to apply that same CHAMPION’S MINDSET in everything I do. As a leader, I understand that if I want to have an influence on someone, if I want to bring about change, I have to invest the proper amount of effort, time and sacrifice. My commitment and dedication to each person I lead through action and example will dictate their willingness to adopt the same mindset. “WHAT YOU ARE THINKING IS WHAT YOU ARE BECOMING.” – Muhammed Ali, Three-Time World Heavyweight Boxing Champion For this reason, I know that having a plan of action is critical. That starts with a PURPOSE – A reasoning for what you want to accomplish, your true existence. Followed by a VISION – What are my capabilities and those of the team I lead? What is the final objective and goal and what will guide our journey? What are my VALUES – What are the right things to do that evoke the high standards and integrity that define my character? Define the STRATEGY – A clear and concise plan of action that defines the path toward the established vision. Establish the GOALS – The milestones that will mark our progress. They will be S.M.A.R.T. goals: Specific Measurable Achievable Results focused Time found For this plan of action to be effective and successful, you must: ALL WHO HAVE A ROLE MUST HAVE COMPLETE BUY-IN. We never stop learning, but at the same time, we should always hold tight to the lessons that provided us with the most gain. We all have mentors around us; the challenge is to identify them, communicate with them and listen. The key word there – LISTEN. Be humble, vulnerable and willing to ask questions. Apply their lessons and if you fail, fail forward. Once you have succeeded, the privilege falls upon you to make the same investment in somebody else to elicit greatness out of them. Mentorship is a pay if forward process. It is the key to ensuring our future leaders have the skills necessary to make an impact. For me, it was the sacrifice and willingness of those coaches in my life who contributed in establishing the foundation to my success, confidence and gratitude to pay it forward, and for that, I will forever be grateful. “A CHAMPION NEEDS MOTIVATION ABOVE AND BEYOND WINNING.” – Pat Riley, 5-Time NBA Champion Coach, 1997-2003 Make a difference today. LEADERSHIP IS A PRIVILEGE. VENTURE + LEAD + PROSPER Humbled to lead, #chargeup #lessonsinleadership #leadership #lead #process #patience #change #venture #lead #prosper #reflect #inspire #empower #motivate #beyou #gratitude #integrity #starttoday #humilty RECEIVE MY FREE WEEKLY E-BLAST, THE WIRE ©2018 Victor Pisano/Charge Up. All rights reserved. You are free to use portions of this publication, provided the following credit is listed at the bottom: ©2018 Victor Pisano/Charge Up, is a media-based entity that provides intriguing, innovative and distinctive content, engaging its readers with real-world challenges and solutions while embracing obstacles and the value that failure can provide. While that sounds serious, we promise you will both learn AND laugh (and sometimes cry).Contact Charge Up at victor@chargeuptoday.com or visit our website at www.chargeuptoday.com.
SO YOU CAN BE WHO YOU ALWAYS KNEW YOU COULD BE.”
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✏ What Are the Odds?
It seems as if a prerequisite for success these days is to start your business out of your garage. Those garages were the original corporate headquarters for many familiar businesses including Apple (Steve Jobs), Microsoft (Bill Gates), Amazon (Jeff Bezos), Brownfield Funds (“The Big Short’s” Charlie Geller and Jamie Shipley) and Julio Palmaz (heart stent). “What Are the Odds” – Trivia? “What Are the Odds” – Business? Which set of odds is most intriguing to you? For the vast majority of people, trivia is the choice they stick with. However, for the thrill seekers who thrive on betting the house on calculated risks, they see the challenge in being an entrepreneur. Research those who have experienced tremendous entrepreneurial riches over the last 20+ years and see — was it luck or risk? TAKE EVERY CHANCE.
Success is not for the weak at heart. It’s a never-ending investment of time, energy, ego and sacrifice. It is a lonely journey, because in most cases, the money is not there to fund a team — you are the team. We all play the odds in some way, but to what extent are you willing to sacrifice everything you have based off the unwavering confidence you have in yourself? The speed with which technology propels business today as opposed to just 10 years ago is the difference between millions in profit over a very short period of time for one business, compared to millions lost overnight for another. However, for the obsessed entrepreneur, the one emotion you don’t want to experience is REGRET. If you’re young enough and have really good mentors, you can, but, if the rear-view mirror is all you focus on, you’re going to have live with it. Entrepreneurs live off a simple philosophy – NO RISK, NO REWARD. Successful entrepreneurs spend a tremendous amount of time on the most meticulous details to test every theory against their ideas. They don’t ask themselves “how can it succeed”, but rather, “how can it fail?” They are obsessed with the research, data, analytics and input. They strive to make the impossible possible. They refine their concepts — sometimes for years — before the first returns ever come to fruition. You see, great things never come from comfort zones; it takes courage, patience and numerous rejections to succeed. There are plenty of examples of familiar names who lived off ambition as opposed to a paycheck: Was it luck, or was it the sense of adventure to prove everybody wrong and beat the odds beyond all expectations? The only plan guaranteed to fail is one without taking risks. Great achievements take great risk. When these folks see the return on their investment, they don’t think in terms of how much money they made. They think of how much more they could have made had they executed it in another way. It’s not that they are greedy; they are perfectionists. Unless you are willing to push the limits, success will elude you. Success requires action, how else would you measure their achievements? Be bold and have the ambition to turn your dreams into reality. You only live once, why not create the legacy of an anomaly? Start with cleaning out the garage, though . . . Leadership is a privilege. VENTURE + LEAD + PROSPER Humbled to lead, #chargeup #lessonsinleadership #leadership #lead #process #patience #change #venture #lead #prosper #reflect #inspire #empower #motivate #beyou #gratitude #integrity #starttoday #humilty RECEIVE MY FREE WEEKLY E-BLAST, THE WIRE ©2018 Victor Pisano/Charge Up. All rights reserved. You are free to use portions of this publication, provided the following credit is listed at the bottom: ©2018 Victor Pisano/Charge Up, is a media-based entity that provides intriguing, innovative and distinctive content, engaging its readers with real-world challenges and solutions while embracing obstacles and the value that failure can provide. While that sounds serious, we promise you will both learn AND laugh (and sometimes cry).Contact Charge Up at victor@chargeuptoday.com or visit our website at www.chargeuptoday.com.
DROP EVERY FEAR.
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✏ You, Only Better: Self-Improvement for Leaders
The quest for knowledge is a never-ending journey. Anything worthwhile takes time to build. You know the saying, “Rome wasn’t built in a day”. Just in case you’re wondering: according to historians who took the time to count, it actually took 1,00,491 days. To be an effective leader today, you must make an investment in your personal development and make it a never-ending journey; there is no starting point, nor an end. The more time you spend on developing your skill sets, the more experienced you will become. Even small steps equal great distances over time. In your journey to improve, complacency is the enemy. There is always somebody grinding harder than you looking for an opportunity. Most people say that there aren’t enough hours in the day to set aside time for self-improvement, because of all the challenges that barrage us every day. We live in a world where there is an enormous amount of information getting thrown at us through unlimited amounts of outlets to consume. What if you looked at it another way? Let’s think about professional athletes. It may not be an “apples to apples” comparison, but stay with me for just a second. Professional athletes have their season and their off season. During the season, they work to contribute to their teams’ success by playing a role. They dedicate every aspect of their lives – from what they eat to how much they sleep to when they train. Game after game, the physical and mental toll that they go through is unimaginable to most. However, once their season ends, the real season begins – the off season. During this time that they focus on self-improvement. They start with rest and relaxation. They heal themselves mentally and physically. They focus on getting stronger, faster and mentally prepared. They take full advantage of the time to train and perfect their skills. In some cases, they spend up to eight hours a day during the off season, six days a week. You’re probably saying to yourself, “there is no off season for a leader.” Wrong. We may not have specific months for a regiment of self-development, but we have the same expectations and needs to focus on ourselves. If you don’t have a game plan for your off season as a leader, now is the time. Think about the opportunities you may be overlooking. Start your day earlier. Take advantage of your commute. How much time you spend on social media? Can you empower your team more to boost collaboration? Do you spend too much time on emails and texts when a call can accomplish your objective in less time? Ok, you’ve found the time. Now, what skills can we work on in our personal development plan? 10 Things You Can Work On in the “Off Season”: Remember, improvement must be based on practicality. If you really want it, your actions should match your ambitions. Leaders can continuously improve and develop themselves if they have a plan and follow it. The best leaders are always honing their skill sets to become better. The desire for self-improvement is a sign of a great leader! VENTURE + LEAD + PROSPER Humbled to lead, #chargeup #lessonsinleadership #leadership #lead #process #patience #change #venture #lead #prosper #reflect #inspire #empower #motivate #beyou #gratitude #integrity #starttoday #humilty RECEIVE MY FREE WEEKLY E-BLAST, THE WIRE ©2018 Victor Pisano/Charge Up. All rights reserved. You are free to use portions of this publication, provided the following credit is listed at the bottom: ©2018 Victor Pisano/Charge Up, is a media-based entity that provides intriguing, innovative and distinctive content, engaging its readers with real-world challenges and solutions while embracing obstacles and the value that failure can provide. While that sounds serious, we promise you will both learn AND laugh (and sometimes cry).Contact Charge Up at victor@chargeuptoday.com or visit our website at www.chargeuptoday.com.
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✏ Control the Controllables
God grant me the serenity BUT . . . THE WORLD IS NOT PERFECT. In fact, the only thing certain in this world is uncertainty. When we spend time complaining about the things we cannot control, all we are doing is taking the energy and attention away from what we need to be focused on. Life is stressful enough; why add to it? 5 THINGS YOU CAN’T CONTROL: Quit fighting change – EMBRACE CHANGE. The first way to accomplish that is to practice acceptance. It can provide you so many benefits in your life, including a positive attitude, greater appreciation, gratitude, and a better perspective. Your attitude toward life is affected by your ability to EMBRACE CHANGE. Change will happen…the question is, will it leave you behind? “The world still is the samel you’ll never change it, – “You’re Nobody till Somebody Loves You” Everybody has certain challenges, lessons and constraints. Approach them wisely, and you can still be bold. You just need to know your limits and that includes the things you cannot control. Look for possibilities, and challenge yourself to think outside the boundaries. By simply controlling two things — your effort and attitude — you can accomplish more than all the other things you cannot control. The strength is in attitude: once you accept and move past change, you have the ability to find peace in your life. Acceptance will result in gratitude. Gratitude will make you see things differently. That’s freedom. 5 THINGS YOU CAN CONTROL: Controlling the controllables requires discipline, and you will experience a lot of trial and error. But when you master the art, there will be a tremendous weight lifted off your shoulders, along with renewed inspiration and excitement to push yourself further in accomplishing your goals. Leadership is a privilege. Make a difference today. VENTURE + LEAD + PROSPER Humbled to lead, #chargeup #lessonsinleadership #leadership #lead #process #fail #learnfromfailure #bounceback #failure #success #moveforward #patience #change #venture #lead #prosper #empower #motivate #inspire #beyou #gratitude #integrity #starttoday #humilty #control #notcontrrol RECEIVE MY FREE WEEKLY E-BLAST, THE WIRE ©2018 Victor Pisano/Charge Up. All rights reserved. You are free to use portions of this publication, provided the following credit is listed at the bottom: ©2018 Victor Pisano/Charge Up, is a media-based entity that provides intriguing, innovative and distinctive content, engaging its readers with real-world challenges and solutions while embracing obstacles and the value that failure can provide. While that sounds serious, we promise you will both learn AND laugh (and sometimes cry).Contact Charge Up at victor@chargeuptoday.com or visit our website at www.chargeuptoday.com.
To accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference.
— The Serenity Prayer
Were there truer words ever spoken? Reading it, you wonder why it’s so difficult to simply live life like this. Four sentences that have the power to inspire you to live the life you were meant to live! In a perfect world, this would be all you need to hear.
As sure as the star shines above . . .”
written by Larry Stock
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✏ An Attitude of Gratitude
For most of us, regardless of what time our day starts, after we turn off the alarm our minds begin to process all of the necessary tasks for that particular day. It’s very similar to that of a car engine warming up. You visualize what the priorities are, what you are behind on, the meetings planned for the day, the emails you still need to reply to, the phone calls you need to return, not to mention the projects you have put off at home. All of this hits you before the shower water even gets hot! You want to change that routine of stress? There is a recourse to this habit; one that doesn’t take a book, a course, or even a 10-step program. It’s as simple as one word – GRATITUDE. Imagine changing your routine and starting each day with a commitment to only 5 minutes of thinking about the things you are grateful for. “Gratitude is the single most important ingredient To be genuinely grateful, one must have a high quality of thankfulness. All I have to say to you is look around — there is so much to be thankful for. Unfortunately we stay stuck either in the high gears of life, or downshifting to catch up. Why not stay in first gear and just coast for a few minutes, and come to the realization that YOU are in an incredibly rewarding role as a leader? YOU get to make a difference in the lives of people you lead every day. You have been provided a privilege, one that you should never take for granted. Commit to five minutes in your morning routine to simply identify five things that you are grateful for at that particular time. It will be easy for a few weeks, but I challenge you not to repeat yourself. Granted, being thankful for things like an incredible partner, healthy and loving children, and a supportive network of family and friends will always be on this list. But the real thought will come once you get outside that box. That’s why I used the word “commit” when I suggested changing your morning routine. “Gratitude changes everything . . .” I personally have a list where I write these things down; I call it my “gratitude catalog”. It’s amazing what looking at a word document filled with line after line of months’ worth of gratitude entries can do to shift one’s perspective. If you wake up on the wrong side of the bed, if you know you’re about to enter a day filled with pressure and high expectations, being able to remind yourself that the blessings of life surround you immediately changes your mindset. It’s just in our DNA – see positive, think positive, act positive. 30 things you can choose to be grateful for now: * excluding partner, children, family and friends . . . Sometimes it’s tough to find the find the bright side of things because of the enormous amount of challenges we face each day. However, remember that no matter how bad your situation may seem, there are more things to be grateful for in life than there are problems. Realize how amazing your life is — and start with YOU! VENTURE + LEAD + PROSPER Humbled to lead, #chargeup #lessonsinleadership #leadership #lead #process #success #moveforward #patience #attitude #gratitude #commit #fiveminutes #gratitudeissuccess RECEIVE MY FREE WEEKLY E-BLAST, THE WIRE ©2018 Victor Pisano/Charge Up. All rights reserved. You are free to use portions of this publication, provided the following credit is listed at the bottom: ©2018 Victor Pisano/Charge Up, is a media-based entity that provides intriguing, innovative and distinctive content, engaging its readers with real-world challenges and solutions while embracing obstacles and the value that failure can provide. While that sounds serious, we promise you will both learn AND laugh (and sometimes cry).Contact Charge Up at victor@chargeuptoday.com or visit our website at www.chargeuptoday.com.
to living a successful and fulfilled life.”
– Jack Canfield
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✏ The Gift That Keeps on Giving
November 8, 1924 – April 30, 2017 Today is for you, Dad! Happy Birthday… For as long as I can remember, my father always enjoyed his birthday. He would talk about it weeks in advance to remind us, expressing the importance that we go all out and buy him very nice gifts and celebrate at a fancy restaurant. He said we owed him for all the birthdays he spoiled us as kids. The reality was he didn’t care about the gifts or the fancy restaurant; he was happy with anything as long as it was with family. That was kind of man my father was; family always came first. Simply put, Vic was an amazing man. He was what some would call “old-fashioned”, and was a friend to everyone he met. He believed in a handshake and a man’s word. He worked hard, earned his success and helped those in need. He was strong in his faith and knew he would celebrate the day when the Lord took him. He was brave, courageous and full of humility. If he called you friend, you could count on him. Simply put, Vic was an amazing man. There were so many lessons he taught us, but what always came first was the importance of family. I have so many distinct memories of my life spent with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. So many of those people from my childhood have passed, but the memories are so vivid. As a child, we spent every Sunday having lunch with my grandparents and the extended family would come in and out of their home as if it were an open house. There was always a table full of food, wine, beautiful stories, and laughter. When my grandparents passed away, we were fortunate that my father, uncle, and aunt, inherited their love for family by carrying on the traditions of spending every Sunday together as a family, which I now do with my own children. The saddest thing about losing my father is that he died on a Sunday. I didn’t get to sit at a table full of food, wine, beautiful stories, and smiles. That Sunday would be so different from all of the others. And though it breaks my heart that I didn’t get one last Sunday to tell him I loved him, I know that his Sunday dinner that day was the most incredible and beautiful one of all, more than he or us could ever imagine. I imagine his first Sunday in heaven was filled with family and friends from years past with tables filled with food, wine, wonderful stories, and smiles. There were hugs, kisses and more love at his dinner table than we as a family could ever provide because he was at the Lord’s table. I know he looked down on us as we mourned, but in my heart, I felt as if he was telling each one of his children…it’s your turn to carry on. He had taught us so many lessons over the years, and God had the confidence in us that we were prepared and ready to live life without him. Now that I have accepted the role of continuing the traditions that my dad, my grandparents, and generations before them had celebrated, it’s my turn to teach my own children how important family is. It’s my turn to honor him. “A father should be his son’s first hero . . .” Moving forward… Following his sudden death on April 30, 2017, it was an incredibly challenging period in my life. I knew I needed to work through the grief I was experiencing. And I know it’s precisely what he would have told me. When his birthday rolled around six months later, we decided to celebrate by having a party. He wouldn’t be there physically, but I knew his spirit would be everywhere. We asked every guest to write their favorite memory of Vic so we could read them aloud to celebrate his life. What a great party it was! Smiles everywhere, good food, good wine, love, and laughter; all those Sunday nights were. And yes, his spirit was everywhere. It was a beautiful tribute to a man who always put others before himself, and he was loved beyond measure. You could hear it in the words, voices and body language of each person who spoke. That evening, I came to the realization that each beautiful, unique and inspiring story needed to be shared. It would be my honor to carry his legacy forward and dedicate myself to become the man he was. This is how CHARGE UP came to be . . . “The gifts that keep on giving are those of his legacy.” This is the vessel to move from grief to gratitude every day, to celebrate his legacy, and most important, to pay it forward and make an impact in people’s lives the same way he did for more than 80 years. Venture, Lead, Prosper…those are his initials. If you didn’t have the privilege of knowing my father, I’d like you to learn at least one more thing about him. I can think of no better way to end this than with laughter… Vic always made family and friends laugh over the years because of a knack he had for what we called “Vic’isms,” and when corrected, he would respond, “Whatever, same thing!”. He would take a word, phrase or sentence, say it wrong, and truly make it his own. Eventually, we needed a journal to keep up, so the “Vic-tionary” was created! With that, I would like to present you some of my favorites on this special day: When he called my sister-in-law from the hospital when my wife was giving birth to our second child, Catherine, he told her, “they are going to seduce the baby!” He meant to say “induce” the baby. His response: WHATEVER, SAME THING… He once told us all that he was going to be remodeling his home and would be putting “Gerber” carpet in. He meant to say “Berber carpet.” His response: WHATEVER, SAME THING… We complimented his shirt at a family gathering, and he proudly told us that it was from “Banana Republican.” He meant to say “Banana Republic.” His response: WHATEVER, SAME THING… He was describing a scene of an accident that he passed and told us that he thought it was severe because the police officer was giving the man “UPS.” He meant to say CPR. His response: WHATEVER, SAME THING… While preparing a meal, he told us that we should be using a “SEGREGATED” knife. He meant to say “serrated.” His response: WHATEVER, SAME THING… “My father didn’t tell me how to live; he lived and I watched him do it.” I sincerely appreciate you allowing me the platform to dedicate this to my father. Charge Up, Dad! I hope you are proud; we love and miss you every day… VENTURE + LEAD + PROSPER Blessed to carry on his legacy, #ChargeUp #venture #lead #prosper #legacy #inspiration #gratitude #love #Dad #HappyBirthday RECEIVE MY FREE WEEKLY E-BLAST, THE WIRE ©2018 Victor Pisano/Charge Up. All rights reserved. You are free to use portions of this publication, provided the following credit is listed at the bottom: ©2018 Victor Pisano/Charge Up, is a media-based entity that provides intriguing, innovative and distinctive content, engaging its readers with real-world challenges and solutions while embracing obstacles and the value that failure can provide. While that sounds serious, we promise you will both learn AND laugh (and sometimes cry).Contact Charge Up at victor@chargeuptoday.com or visit our website at www.chargeuptoday.com.A tribute to my father and inspiration: Vic Pisano, Sr.
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