Watch it here on TMZ.com

Did you catch the NBA All-Star slam dunk contest on TV last weekend?  Dwight Howard brought a new brand of showmanship to New Orleans this year, and he’s reaping the rewards.

I work with NBA players in my life coaching practice, and when I hear a guy gets a contract, I always think the same thing: Congratulations … now what are you gonna do with it?

An NBA contract is good money, but it’s nothing compared to the endorsements and other business opportunities that come with it.  Everybody gets a chance to prove themselves on the big stage, and when Howard’s time came, he was ready. He was having a good season before All Star weekend, but after he killed it in that slam dunk contest, I guarantee his phone is ringing off the hook now with new offers and opportunities!

Now THAT’S power branding! Here’s some more about Building a Personal Power Brand from my new book, Success for Life.

There are practical reasons why you need to stand out from the crowd: attracting a partner, improving job security, or taking advantage of promotional opportunities. I mean, with all the economic uncertainty today, competition in the job market, and a rapidly changing, technology-enabled world that offers little in the way of predictability or stability, you’ve gotta find ways to differentiate yourself, to stand out from the masses.

Once you view your personal power branding strategy as both defense and offense, you understand that taking care of yourself, dressing sharp and staying groomed and cool is not self-indulgence - it’s good business.

What’s YOUR power brand? If you don’t know, I’d suggest you give it some thought, because you won’t achieve big time success with one. Take me, for instance.  I’m Burrel Lee Wilks III, America’s Most Authentic Life Coach.  It tells you what I do - life coach; and, how I’m different - I’m as real as they come!

Think about your power brand, and get yourself ready for your big chance. Maybe someday I’ll be writing about you!

Be a Giant,
Burrel

Happy Friday to yah!  I took a look at the calendar this morning and realized January is almost over - already!  It got me wondering about folks who make all these grand New Year’s Resolutions to lose weight, eat right and exercise every day.

Many people have already given up by now. Are you one of them?

If so, I bet I know why. Most people have the wrong mindset when it comes to exercise. They think of it like some kind of chore or a punishment, and that’s a real shame. Now, true, when you first start an exercise routine, I ain’t gonna lie, it’s gonna be tough sometimes. But that’s a good thing! The Marines tell their recruits during bootcamp that pain is just weakness leaving the body, and I believe it.

You’re probably saying, “Burrel, this is all fine and good, but how do I get my mind in gear? Give me a how-to!”

Here’s an excerpt from my new book, Success for Life, which contains the same life coaching advice I give to my clients: pro athletes, rappers, actors, TV personalities and high-stakes businessmen and women.  And now, everybody can benefit, no matter how much money you make. In fact, until the end of the month, my book is on sale at Amazon, so check it out!

STREETWISE STRATEGY #3: PAY YOURSELF FIRST EVERY DAY

Transformation is driven from the inside-out, but is accelerated from the outside-in. What do I mean? Well, while it’s true we have to break down the mental success barriers inside our heads, it’s easier to build mental muscle when you simultaneously build physical fitness, too, through exercise and discipline. This is the simple secret to turbo-charging your transformation. Ask anyone - I preach exercise like it was religion.

As you watch your body strengthen, tone, and evolve, your whole attitude toward life evolves as well. Each time you exercise, it’s like giving yourself a reward, a personal paycheck. Instead of working for “the man”, simply to pay the bills, THIS TIME you’re working for you, for your family, for life.

So, how do you get started? If you’re like 99.9 percent of the population, you’ve been wrestling with the exercise boogeyman for quite some time. It’s time to shift your mind all the way around.

STOP imagining the effort and START visualizing the fresh, energized YOU.

STOP focusing on the punishment and START focusing on the payback.

STOP thinking of exercise as a pain and START thinking of it as a privilege.

Imaging for a moment if you were forbidden to move. That somebody told you that you must sit at your desk and not budge for a month. Worse yet, imagine you’re incarcerated, locked in a tiny cell, 18 hours a day, with no fresh air, no sunlight, and no room to move. For 50 years.

Now, flip the script. Think about striding out into the sunshine, strong and free, running along the beach breathing in the salty air. Or, snowboarding down a crisp white slope, the wind in your face and the snow swooshing up in a fine mist all around you. Or, confidently playing ball at the gym, driving the lane for a bucket, even if you’re on the “skins” team. Or, the simple pleasure of strolling around the yard, walking down the street, or running toward a loved one at the airport.

When we don’t exercise, we shrink.  Your waistline might expand, but your soul shrinks. You curl up around yourself, hunch over your desk and your worries, and diminish. As you gain inches, you lose confidence. As you gain pounds, you lose perspective. Guaranteed.

You see, exercise is a privilege, not a pain!

Let these thoughts roll around in your brain for a few days, and see if you don’t feel more motivated to get into shape!

Respect,

Burrel