stomp out the gloom and doom with your smile

Smile its fun

The gloom and doom of the spring and winter transition is usually the most challenging time for seeing the bright side of the day.  There is not any sunshine, everything is grey, and the days seem to go even longer than usual.  This is due to the anticipation of seeing sunshine.
STOP!
Smile!
and have fun!
Your smile is the sunshine on a gloomy day. Stop wanting and start being the sunshine you want.
Smile at yourself, smile at the people around you, smile at the person walking by, just be happy to be alive.  See how many people respond back and see how much better you feel.

What kind of smile did you use today?


BIG SMILING
MARCO RIOLO

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Learning to ride a bike

I am reminded of a story from a years and years ago when I was teaching my girlfriend at the time to ride a bike. She had never rode a bike and had always wanted too.  One summer evening while at my parents house for dinner and relaxing in the garden, biking riding came into conversation. My mom and sister caught on to the story and soon enough we were pulling the bikes out of the garage bike riding was going to happen.  As we walked down to the road  I recalled when I learned how to ride a bike (fun flash back story) I was with my grandma and mom at my parents house at the time and this same scenario was taking place. I was on the bike and they held on to the back of the seat to help with balancing and confidence that I would not crash. Soon enough as we found balance and we were moving each time being reassured that they were holding on to the seat. Again and again this got more and more exciting till the last time would be the first time I looked back and no one was holding on. I was cruising along and loving it as laughter filled the air. Soon slowed down and was so through the roof excited.  (returning back to present story)  Soon enough we had made it down to the street and on this blue old school bike we took her and helped her balance on the bike, walking and running along the side of the bike. Each time it got more and more exciting till at last we were not hold on any more and began cheering for her. She found her balance just like each of us had. Biking was no longer scary it was this super exciting time that we all enjoyed.

What in your life have you always wanted to do and what will it take for you to do it?

BE MORE AWESOME
MARCO RIOLO

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Be the today and not the yesterday

Be the today and not the yesterday.

Today you are given the ability to be even better then yesterday.  Yet how in the world is this possible you might ask.
 Every moment and opportunity we are given the ability to move forward whether its to rise or to fall. When we fall we pick ourselves back up and have the ability to conquer.  When we do rise we fly above the world in our excitement of conquering.  As a result this wave of rising and falling gives us the ability focus on today.
When we focus on today and rising to conquer our great challenges we will see as we do it more often we will be even more successful.

 How do you encourage yourself to rise above and conquer your day?

Be the today and not the yesterday

Marco Riolo

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Have an amazing week this week! #40daysoffun

Have an amazing week this week! #40daysoffun

After a most incredible weekend! I wish you a most amazing week!

Marco Riolo

Pay It Forward actually happens! #40daysoffun

Pay It Forward

 Paying it forward happens!
One year ago today I would be driving to a special event for our Reliv Saturday morning Business training that we host each week. However on this particular day I was playing the elusive beat the gas game. I had just returned from a road trip and forgot to fill up, the gas gage was tipping below the red and figuring it was only a five minute drive to wear i was going, I could just get some gas after the event.  Little did I know, my car would actually run out of gas and in the worst spot on the express way.  The worst spot in my opinion is over a bridge on a curve with a sliver size shoulder lane.  At this point I am a mile away from the event and figured I could just go walk there and deal my situation afterwards. As I get out of the car and start walking a brand new sleek SUV pulls up and say hey do you want a ride? There is a guy, a girl, and another big guy in the SUV and i go sure thing. They ask where I am headed and they said sure its on our way to the gun and knife show.  They were so excited to get knew toys as they shared.  As we drove along they shared this was the same thing that happened to them earliest this month and someone had helped them.  They figured to return the favor and when they saw me it worked out.  As they dropped me off and away they went i made it to my event just on time. Soon after the event my parents gave me a ride down to my car to get me back in action and the day was action packed with goodness.

Today I would wake up to help the Ice Brigade set up a whole ice sculpture display at the fifth third ball park for the michigan brewers guild winter beer fest. In route while I was driving I would see a sign that said gun and knife show. which made me think of that very story I just shared above. I had to laugh and be grateful for the kindness that were bestoyed upon me that day.  After everything went amazing and back home I went. I would find myself driving past a truck with three big 55 gallon drums tied down in the back, two guys pushing and a woman in the front driving. Not only that it was up hill and the gas station was 100 feet or so away.  This might seem easy on flat ground or down hill but going up hill is a whole new challenge. I pulled up and yelled out do ya'll need help. Sure they did. I parked my car hoped out and started pushing as we pushed we made it almost to the crest and we stop moving forward... how can it be this heavy I think we were making good progress. The woman looks out do you think we can make it?? I go yes, if you take your foot off the break.  Hahahaa people are funny sometimes. Soon enough another gentleman hops out of the gas station and starts pushing and we all make it up and get the couple situated in a gas pump spot.  Three of us would disperse in different direction back into our normal days lives with a simple have a good day.  Soon enough the day continued and paying it forward will continue.

Paying it forward happens!
You are the one who has to decide whether you are going to make a difference :)
Be sure to have fun!
Marco Riolo

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#40daysoffun Rut no more! Revitalize Your Life!

Rut no more! Revitalize Your Life!
Revitalize your life by appreciating who you are and what you do.  So often when I am meeting with friends or consulting with clients a common trend occurs where the elusive rut that people fall into appears. Where the whole world feels like it is falling, nothing is working, and negativity begins to flow like a flood.  However you will find that this flood is only ankle deep and if you simply stop laying down and rise to a better position the kind of life you want to live is right there.

However you say!  I am over my head and I am drowning in the flood. Well than make it stop. You are the one that controls your life. You are the one that has the choice what kind of environment you want to live in and you most certainly have the ability to either put yourself in the rut or out of it.

 Rut no more! Revitalize your life.  Look into thy self and see the talents and gifts that you have been given and recharge who you are with what you love doing.  Do what you love you and concentrate on what you can accomplish.  Make your choice to be a champion! You will have to do some things you are not use to or even overcoming what is holding you down.   Remember  when you are doing what you love you wont remember why you were in a rut in the first place.

So Rut no more!! Revitalize your life! Grow your talents, your gifts, and who you are through doing what you love doing the most! And Revitalize your life by appreciating who you are and what you do.

You are a champion
Marco Riolo

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Move Forward with Forgiveness 40 days of fun

Move Forward with Forgiveness 40 days of fun 

Where in the world did all the fun go? While meeting with a friend and listening to all these surface problems of worry, doubt, and in some cases jealousy.  I was reminded of how much deeper the issues actually are. The initial amount of explosion aka venting is usually all the immediate things that the brain is spinning.  As these begin to unfold it gets closer to the root of the issue. Once identified a finding a solution to this issue is to forgive and move forward.  By moving forward with forgiveness releases all the nonsense and opens up the doors to be yourself and have more fun.

Some examples in your own life, it might be family, friends, work, volunteering, and who knows what else. If you are not enjoying yourself search for the core issue and find forgiveness to move forward. Once you have done so it does not mean you have to walk back in to a pit of snakes or a room of jackals to be put through the same problems. Take upon yourself to forgive the issue in your own heart and move forward.  

When you move forward you are being accountable to your own life so that you can be more responsible for what is best for you and how your gifts can grow.  So forgive what ever it is that is holding you back and begin Focusing on the 40 days of  Fun which makes who you are and what you are that much better. When you are that much better so is the world around you. Move forward with forgiveness and enjoy the next 40 days of fun

what are you doing to have more fun?

For the Glory of God

Marco Riolo

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Ash Wednesday begins forty days of fun

Today is Ash Wednesday the start of what I see as forty days of fun.  Being Catholic and raised in the faith we would take part in the great season of Lent.  Each year arriving at a point where I was giving up or abstaining from myself to become better. Maybe it was ice cream, soda, candy, and the list goes on. However a couple years ago I arrived at this point where I thought to myself, there has got to be more to this than just giving up something, after all it was for the Glory of God.

I went to one of my mentors and priests, asking him father, there has got to be something far more important to all of this than just giving up something. I mean all of these little things are great but I need to get more out of this season of Lent. He would go on to share or in my case reaffirm that there is more to it, develop your talents and gifts that God has so blessed you with. Share them with others and rid yourself of the distractions that take your focus off Glorifying your God given talents in his name.  Fair enough I said grabbing my Little Black Book for lent. As it read  Lent is a journey and like any great journey worth doing it may takes days, weeks, or even longer. Need not to expect it to be smooth but filled with challenges along the way.

Seeing Lent this year as a Journey filled with adventures and fun where even if something goes wrong will be apart of the learning process. It will be fun as in fact forty days of fun. Every day I will work toward creating an even more positive atmosphere, improving my level of fitness, improving my food I eat for performance, and finding fun in all activities challenging or not. Each of these moments as I challenge myself will be for the Glory of God.  May this Lent season be inspiring, encouraging and filled with fun.

Look to improve who you are by being who you are.

Forty Days of Fun 

Marco Riolo

stop worrying about worrying and start to enjoy enjoying

stop Worry about worrying but enjoy enjoying

what it is in your own life that is missing and what will that actually mean 5 years from now? If you are doing what you love to do and enjoy it in every way. you will most likely be enjoying that in 5 years from now but in an even more awesome. Enjoy enjoying by surrounding yourself with the relationships that will sustain for a life time. Be encouraged that enjoying your life will fill in the gaps with good naturally and worrying about nonsense will do the opposite. Today stop worrying about worrying and start to enjoy enjoying.

have an amazing day. happy ash wednesday

the most unique way to say hello

The most unique way to say hello, is the way you communicate. Some examples are smiles, vocally, sing, notes, pictures, body language and an endless number of language choices and combinations. At the root of this movement is you and how you approach your surroundings. By sharing a hello with the world around you can create a chain reaction that can expand exponentially. This one hello that you may never see again that you pass on to another may very well change the world. however you will never know unless you simple say hello.

Simply be kind and know that you are unique to the world around you.

Just say hello

marco riolo

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wake up to waking up

Only one way to wake up and that is to wake up. This morning in a different time zone, twenty nine floors above the city of Chicago, and just off Michigan street that has over a million tourists a week . There are still buildings taller and reaching closer to the clouds. The corner of the condo we are in is a fish bowl to this metropolis. Hundreds upon thousands of people zooming this way and that going here and there. Yet no matter how many people, how bright the sun, and where you might be someone is waking up in some way.

Some will be alive and ready to go, others recovering, some headed to the promise land, and plenty more possibilities. When you read this today, you have been given another day to accomplish what ever you heart desires in life. This ability to wake up might not just be from a slumber, but a realization, a reffirmation, a relization, a dream, and any other form of open eyed experience.

There is only one way to wake up and that is to wake up. You will from something today and it may as well be the kind of life you want to live! wake up to waking up.

bright eyed and filled with sunshine

Love Marco Riolo

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empowering your abilities

We must recognize what we have before we can use what we have. By having a direction and a vision for what we are to accomplish we can then empower our future. When you know where you are going, you will than know that nothing will ever get in your way. Empowering your abilities is to recognize them and than use them.

Power up!

Marco Riolo

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ASK THESE QUESTIONS OF WHY NOT?!

why not! why not be positive! why not have an awesome day! Why not acknowledge that you are awesome!? Try this today. give you a chance to be more awesome!!

See what happens when you look to the most positive side of where you are.

Simple and fun

Marco Riolo

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Tie your shoe laces

Tie your shoe laces

As I got ready to go forth into my day today. I was putting on my running shoes and I started laughing as I tied my shoe laces. If I decided to just put my shoes on, no regard to lacing up and just going running. I would most certainly increase my chances of tripping and falling, having blisters, and or any other catastrophe one might associate with tripping without tied shoes.

By lacing my shoes up I prepared myself for an extremely big day of business, workouts, and moving about the city in a winter atmosphere. This simple action will contribute to a more successful day because I took the time to prepare myself.

This metaphor is how I look at approaching my biggest dreams! I must be prepared to conquer so that when I am approached with something that I wasnt prepared for I have a better chance of conquering. So no matter what you might be getting ready for, take a minute to tie the shoe laces to your adventure and be ready for the excitement!

have a beautiful day

marco riolo

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The beginning foot prints to the adventure of life

At my family birthday party I was greeted with love and adoration from my family. Along with this was more adoration from friends that I have met along my way in life to where I am now. My amazing mother and amazing father had the birth certificate from when i was first born at 4:55 pm on Valentines day. It had my two little foot prints on it, this symbolized The beginning foot prints to the adventure of life. So many fun adventures with so many fun people along the way and Now 31 years later I am continually greeted with friends, new challenges, creative ideas, and exciting places to go! Every day the adventure continues because its the beginning foot prints to the adventure of life!

Enjoy life and Adventure!!

marco riolo

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY! HAPPY VALENTINES DAY! HAPPY MARCOTINES DAY!! FOR 31 YEARS!!

Thank you God for having me apart of this adventure!!

I thank my parents, my brother, my sister, my brothers and sisters, my best friends, and friends. Over the years and all the amazing adventures that I have been apart of with so many of you have been priceless and completely memorable in some way.

Today I enjoy how blessed I am to be where I am and know that where I am headed is going to be getting even more exciting :) HAPPY BIRTHDAY! HAPPY VALENTINES DAY! HAPPY MARCOTINES DAY!! FOR 31 YEARS!!

I love you

Thank you

May the Angels keep you safe and where ever you are and what ever you do be filled with complete non stop fun!

because life! There is no dress rehearsals!

Marco Riolo

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Stop trying! Start DOING! - PLEASE BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!

A simple favor for yourselves. -- PLEASE BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!

So often you trying and thinking about doing. You are met with needing the empowerment or the approval of others. What you are going to do. where you are going to go. How you are going to get there. All of these things in your life are met with how you are going to accomplish what you believe is your life. Well for once believe in yourself. Even the most crazy idea that you have that is going to take you completely out of your comfort zone, give yourself a chance and believe.

If you have been trying to spend more time with your family.

If you have been trying to be with friends that encourage you to improve and not hold you back.

If you have been trying to make more money in what you love doing.

If you have you been trying to to travel more

If you have been trying to... (fill in the blank)

Stop trying! Start DOING!!!! Believe in yourself!!! You can do what ever you want!! Seize the day and conquer!! Make this the start to day 1 of your most exciting life!!

Stop trying! Start DOING! - PLEASE BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!

Marco Riolo

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ITS FRIDAY! You have the power to decide.... dont you?

You have the power to decide what it is you want.

Simple example:

Today is friday,

depending on your life style it means a lot of different things for many different people. But lets just say that this friday is the first time in your life that you are going to decide you want more out of life. This decision is different and is going to take you out of your comfort zone. This will ask of you to do things to improve yourself but through a more efficient method. The best part about this is that its fail safe. you might ask how is that possible that its fail safe? In my opinion failing is just finding a better way to do something. When i say fail safe its that you are going to decide that even if you fail your going to move forward! This failure will be turned into a success and you can move forward. Nothing is going to hurt because the worst that is going to happen is you return to where you were before. But lets be honest even than you wont be interested in being where you were before. Because when you decide to become even better you are never going to look back :) Today is friday you have the power to decide!!

Be More Awesome!!

Marco Riolo

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Stop the Excuses! Just do what you know how to do!

Stop the Excuses! Just do what you know how to do!

Amidst the many books I have and read from time to time. One of them hit a home run. In short saying and not quoted as just do what you know how to do. This isnt anything you dont already know. This is a reminder. A reminder to stop making excuses for why your life isnt where its suppose to be. All the excuses in the world are not going to get you any closer to where you are going. It is the solutions that you produce that will move you forward. So Just do what you know how to do.

An example of this is a friend of mine who love the athletics and being with people, yet he is doing everything other than that. He is working in a job that doesnt put him any closer to what he loves to do. Her excuse: maybe when I have more time, or I have been thinking about that. If your anything like this, stop thinking and start doing.

Another example of this is a friend of mine who is interested in building a multi-million dollar company, wants to known world wide, makes lots of money, has all the right ideas, and is ready to do it. His excuse: I dont know the right people. I just dont have enough money. I dont know how to begin.

If your anything like this, stop thinking and start doing.

Do you see that each of the people have a vision yet they are making excuses to pursue what they love to do. how about this today. Just do what you know how to do! Stop the Excuses and start making solutions

Let me know where it is your going and the solutions you have.

Be More Awesome

Marco Riolo

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your crazy idea can be successful

Everything involving success is a trial and error process. Each moment you do something its a refining process till you receive the results you are looking for. It will benefit you the most to find the solution to a problem than place blame or excuses of why the problem does not have a solution. your success isnt in how right you are but how successful you are. a wonderful example of the this is the follow scenarios, pick which one was most successful:

scenario 1

last night i said i would start drawing a cartoon a night. so i put up on my facebook.com/marcoriolo wall a post that said 15 minute sketch. name an animal and a theme.

post after post came flooding in at midnight. I picked one and started drawing.

when i finished i was completely beside myself with how unpracticed i was and how much i needed to improve. I posted the result and move forward. this is successful because i created a path and followed through with it till the end.

scenario 2

this could have gone another way. which did not happen by the way but could have:

last night i said i would start drawing a cartoon a night. so i thought about it, and figured since it was midnight it was too late, and i could just plan it better for tomorrow. or last night i posted 15 minute sketch and to many ideas came in and i didnt know which one to pick. last night i was completely beside myself with how bad it was and it was obviously the drawings fault to why i didn't post it. i didn't even do it because i was affraid. i mean come on here this list is an endless list of rubbish that has has found no solution for our success.

As a result you can see between the two scenarios. The first one is creating solutions to allow us to move forward through idea and be successul. The second is a lot more work and lot less successful. Success is a trial and error process that allows you to refine a process till you receive the results you are looking for. When you have a solution you can have success. So be an example of what you want out of life!

what is your story?

be more awesome!

marco riolo

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for the first time your not crazy for having that idea.

For the first time your not crazy. that idea you had the other day was amazing actually. I mean why not? what is stopping you from actually pursuing that great idea you just had? and if you have a reason how many of those are lack of understanding or just dont know how?

here is some examples of why you should:

if you never decided to crawl or decided to walk you wouldnt be today. infact inforder for you to do that it took several falls and in some cases using something to hold you up.

that first time you decided to cook for yourself. That recipe most like didnt get amazing till you refined it a few times. that didnt stop you from making it :)

what about writing a book? starting a company? pursuing what you love to do? traveling somewhere? being an athlete? being amazing parents? being an amazing friend? an invention? something new? i know that you have a dream and that dream is an amazing idea that although you think is crazy :) is absolutely perfect!!

today write down what you want to do and pursue it for the next 30 days. lets see what happens! because for once your not crazy for having that idea

encouragement

marco riolo

accountable by your consequences

accountable by your consequences

So often goals and directives are created by ourselves to attain something we want or dont want. I will do more of this to be fit, make more money, or have better relationships. We create a reward that says if we do these things than this will happen. By doing so, you have to be accountable for those actions and as a result see them through. This result you receive is a consequence of either being more fit, making more money, or better relationships or whatever you choose.

an easy example to help motivate some people is:

the money wager to help keep the motivation.

-If you dont keep to what you are doing your consequence is payment of some kind of money example $50 to your friend that is holding you accountable.

-If the person faults than the friend receives $50 for a rainy day.

-If however each week that the accountable person is successful that $50 is put toward themselves.

-So that by the end of the month they can take that $200 that they would have otherwise lost and treat themselves for there successes.

in the end this example and what we are talking about is being accountable for what you want. By creating your own consequences you can be more responsible for your actions. because your either going to be responsible for what you do or wish you had been. control your life, be accountable, and have fun!

be responsible! Enjoy your consequences your the one choosing them and be more awesome!

marco riolo

Superbowl of life

superbowl of life

the game changer! you meet your match up and its time to excell beyond everything you could ever imagine!! a day to conquer and propel further than ever!

try something new! i found my ballet shoes!

Trying some new or revisiting some fun! A number of years ago i was given the opportunity with a good friend of mine to learn ballet. the short story Jason Marcotte asked me to be von rothbart. They needed someone really big to fit the role in there performance. my reply what is von rothbart and yes! sounds fun!

3 times a week and 5 weeks later i would myself in the dance companies performance of swan lake as the evil villian von rothbart. what an absolute blast!! during the performance stage right, a little swan girl maybe 5 years old looks up and me and says. how are you? my reply with a smile doing good. she says: dont worry you are going to do great, if you for get your steps just keep going youll remember. your going to do great! I looked down with a big smile from the smallest person that has ever given me advice and was filled with joy as our part just began!

today 6 years later I am going to my first ballet class in grand rapids invited by my friend amy wilson, who is teaching the class today. Where something comfortable she said, so i found a par of shorts, shirt, and my ballet dancing shoes from 6 years ago :) Today is going to be so much fun trying something new again!

I hope you are having a great day and most excellent end to your week

Be More Awesome!

Marco Riolo

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Born Champions of February

The Born Champions of February

This month is a month of people who hold the biggest smiles, the funnest hearts, the most creative freely thinking minds, and are champions in all that they do. The champions of february are loved by many and are enjoyed by all. For everyone who celebrates this month as there birthday month are champions. We are born to have fun, to enjoy, to be creative, to conquer great adventures, bring laughter to the world, and discover every last ounce of excitement that God and the World provides. Yesterday began the this month of champions! May all of you where ever you are continue to be the best in all that you do, to celebrate this new year of our lives. This year the world will see all that we do, for we are the champions that bring hope and excitement where ever we go!

God bless each of you, in all that you do. May your gifts be abundant and a blessing to the World!! This is the year for all that is extraordinary and amazing!

Marco Riolo

Born February 14, 1981

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A real good morning kicks off with renewal

a real good morning kicks off with renewal. Going to sleep and than awaking to start a new a good morning. You begin each day with either a vision to be a champion of that day or you are going to be looking to forge through the challenges. Both of which are great ways to be that much more amazing that day. In the end only you know what it takes to be you and however intense waking up this morning might be. You can start this day fresh and renew your vision for what you love to do. Remember every thing worth doing takes persistence, consistency and determination and I believe in you, that you can champion your day, and be as amazing as you want to be.

Go out and be more awesome

Marco Riolo

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