My good friend Tara Reid and I went to last night’s LA Clippers game at Staples Center.  Even though the regular season don’t start until next week, the game was a thriller!  The Clippers came from behind with just a few seconds left and beat the Sacramento Kings 92-90. Let me tell you, the Clippers are looking good, even without my business partner, All-Star Elton Brand, who ruptured his Achilles awhile back. 

Keep your eyes peeled for Tara and I at Clippers games this season - I’m sure we’ll be on TV plenty! Tara’s a real sweetheart, and a big basketball fan like I am.  Since I life coach many NBA players, the season is a really busy time for me. But, it’s also a heck of a lot of fun!

And for you NBA fans, I saw Clipper Shaun Livingston a few days ago.  He had knee surgery last March, and is making progress.  I hadn’t seen him since he got hurt, so I snapped a photo with him.

One last shout out in the NBA world to Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks.  I was able to watch Mark live on Dancing with the Stars this week, but unfortunately, he was eliminated.  But listen, I have to tell you: Cuban can really dance!  Count me impressed.  Mark keeps a great blog, and if you’re interested in business, sports, or success, you should check it out.

I had great front row seats, thanks to another friend of mine, dancer Tony Dovolani.  Tony and I are close - he’s my brotha from anotha motha!  I say it all the time - success is about personal relationships.  Now, all these years I’ve known Tony, who would have thought he would turn out to be my Mark Cuban hook up?  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - if you want to be successful, get out there and start making friends!

Have a successful day!

Burrel

What is it with celebrities these days? Some of our biggest stars have fallen from grace lately; Michael Vick and Britney Spears are two that come to my mind. It’s a shame these two can’t get it together. Mike’s natural athleticism gave him a rare edge over other QBs. Britney used to nail every single performance, every single night.

Distracted by fame and money, and blinded by flashbulbs and bling, they carelessly allowed negative influences into their lives, in the form of poisonous people.

There are two kinds of people in life: Givers and Takers. Takers don’t just take your money, though financial gain is one of their motivations. They also take credit for your work, abuse your connections, overstay their welcome, and will try to steal your girlfriend or kiss up to your mom!

Or, talk you into fronting a dog-fighting ring, without caring about the risk to your pro football career.

We’ve all got poisonous people in our lives, whether they’re jealous Player Haters or lazy Bottom Feeders. Everybody has a brother who never seems to have enough cash at the end of the month, or a co-worker who spends the day chatting away online, expecting you to pick up the slack.

If you’re a classic Giver, you probably don’t like confrontation - Takers target people who would rather give in than fight. Getting rid of poisonous people requires some bravery and a little soul searching. Which do you want more? Success or no confrontation? Success isn’t easy, and it’s not for the faint of heart.

I challenge you to suck it up and cut one poisonous person out of your life today. Don’t lend your dad the money again, when you know he’s just going to waste it at the casino. Don’t let your deadbeat friend talk you into driving him around all Saturday. Again.

Stick up for yourself - or they’ll drag you down with them.

Okay, friends, pay attention to this story. I’m always preaching the power of positive thinking, but my man Russell did what lots of people do: used mental visualization negatively, and paid the price.

See, Russell felt he was being denied a promotion at work because his boss, Jeff, had it in for him. It was clear from day one the guy just didn’t like him. He was constantly picking on him, pointing out every little thing he did wrong and gave him all the crap assignments. Russell worked hard and brought in great numbers, and here was Jeff, getting all the credit.

Russell didn’t ask Jeff what the problem was; instead, he figured the dude was jealous. After all, Russell was young and bright, a real up-and-comer. He’d fast-tracked into the lead position on his team, and had even been picked to give a presentation at the annual meeting last year, which had given him visibility with the higher-ups. He was a threat to Jeff, that was it!

Russell thought about it too much, until he became a man obsessed. He mentally rehearsed the showdown he would have with Jeff. He memorized all the right things to say, things that would really piss Jeff off. He’d show him!

And then, what do you know - Russell got into a shouting match with Jeff. Then Russell walked right out the door, and right out of a job.

Because Russell had rehearsed the showdown so much, it was easy to make it real. Problem was, in this situation, it wasn’t about achieving goals and dreams; it was about achieving a moment’s satisfaction.

Russell would agree. The satisfaction he got from telling off the boss lasted only one night, after he drank waaaay too much and bored his friends, then the entire bar, with slurred retellings of his moment of triumph. By morning, the short-lived victory was an embarrassing memory, and Russell was looking for a new job.