Six-figure Solopreneurs

As a self-employed small businessman, I'm keenly interested in developments in entrepreneurship.  In this two-part feature from Inc. magazine, Marla Tabaka, a life and business coach, talks about how solo entrepreneurs can earn six-figure incomes.

http://www.inc.com/marla-tabaka/six-figure-solopreneurs-the-common-link.html

http://www.inc.com/marla-tabaka/six-figure-solopreneurs-the-common-link-pt-2.html

New Visual Theme for Blog

I've been trying out Blogger's new "Template Designer." I like it. It seems easy to use and offers a variety of starting templates that one can customize. I'll be trying some new themes over the next few days to see how they look.

A Brief, and Far Too Tardy, Update

I'm a guy who often says that blogs should be updated frequently and regularly, if they are to be effective. During the last month--really, the last few months if I want to be candid about it--I haven't updated this blog frequently or regularly, so I have been violating my own rules.

It's the summer, usually the most productive and enthusiastic time of the year for me. My plan is to do more blogging during these summer months.

Training is going along reasonably well, though not optimally. I don't want to turn this blog entry into a complaint-fest, so I'll wrap it up by remembering the words concerning improvement that my grandfather, John Sebastian Imparl, often told me when I was a little boy. There is indeed much room for improvement, and I intend to use every cubic nanometer of it!

Sunday Morning Blackhawk Talk

This morning, I was trading text messages with one of my closest friends. He has recently returned from two weeks in Europe and, since he and I talk fairly frequently, we have some catching up to do. Part of our ongoing conversation over the past two days has been the Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Philadelphia Flyers.

In a text to my friend this morning, I wrote:

"Yeah, nice goal by [Blackhawks forward Tomas] Kopecky to wrap it up [broke a 5-5 tie in the third period]. (I once had an opposing counsel with that name.) Flyers will likely play more intense defense in game 2."

The lawyer I mentioned is attorney James L. Kopecky. I don't know him well, but many years ago, he and I represented opposing parties in some construction litigation. It was as competitive as any litigation I've done in my career, if not more so, but I'm still happy to remember Mr. Kopecky's thoroughness, professionalism, politeness, and civility. I believe Jim is in solo practice now. I'll plan to contact him this week to reintroduce myself.

For all of you AHL fans, of which I am surely one, the final round of the Calder Cup playoffs gets underway this week, starting Thursday. The finalists are the Hershey Bears and the Texas Stars. It, too, looks to be a good series. You can get more details here.

So many sports, so little time!

Calling All Albertans... Event on Saturday, May 8, 2010

I'm posting this announcement much later than I had hoped, but here it is anyway.

My friend Steve Boissoin, who lives in Calgary, Alberta, sent me an announcement about the "Rumble in Red Deer," a boxing event that will happen on Saturday, May 8, 2010, in Red Deer, AB. From the announcement:

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Alberta's Best Amateur Boxers & White Collar Boxing: Your next door neighbour, your teacher, your coworker battling it out in the ring for 3 rounds after only 12 weeks of training.

The Red Deer Boxing Club and Piper Creek Optimist Club present the Rumble in Red Deer 2010 - Fight for the Cure.  Featuring Red Deer Boxers, from lightweight to hard hitting heavyweights, who will be defending our turf against opponents from all over Alberta.  Plus White Collar Boxers who have stepped out of the office and into the ring after only 12 weeks of training.  Last years’ event was sold out so get your tickets early, or call 403-304-5400.  Proceeds support the Red Deer Boxing Club Programs, and Young Adult Cancer Canada.

General Admission Doors open at 7:00pm - Boxing starts at 7:30pm

This is another "Fight for the Cure" Boxing Event. All proceeds go towards supporting the programs at the Red Deer Boxing Club and youth affected by cancer. We chose this cause because no one is left untouched by this terrible disease, even our own at the club.

All the additional details you need are available at the following site:

http://www.rumbleinreddeer.com

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Best wishes to Steve and the Red Deer Boxing Club for an amazingly successful event. They're promoting a great cause that will benefit the lives of many people. Good work!

And, Steve, I was serious about my offer to box in the event next year, if you can use another "white collar" guy in the ring, so please place me on the list of people who will get advance announcements. Heck, I might even have a Canadian lined up who would be a suitable opponent (an engineer who is finishing up his Ph.D. in optics at Carlton University in Ottawa.)

Keep up the fine work, and my apologies for the delay in posting this.

Sunday and Monday Roadwork; Mental Game

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Did 35 minutes yesterday and today.  It went well.  I didn't get to yesterday's fight club session, and I'm bummed about it because those are fun.  I'll see if I can schedule a one-on-one session with Glen this week.

I'm making some progress on the mental game.  So far, I am mainly using visualization of footwork, proper balance, and practicing punches and defense.  It's good to do mental rehearsal of the basic boxing techniques.

Since the proper movements and their sequence can be fairly complex, practicing it all in my mind first is very helpful.  That practice also seems to make defense and counter-punching flow a lot more naturally.  Additionally, I find the mental rehearsal/visualization to be useful for planning strategy and alternatives to it, just in case my opponent doesn't go along with the brilliant bout-winning strategy I intend to use!

Working on the Mental Game

Recently I have been doing more work on the mental aspect of my sport.  No matter how much time I spend on it, I don't seem to spend enough time cultivating a proper state of mind.  I am working to change that.

I see participation in sport as a complete endeavor: whether we win or lose, we enjoy the most rewarding experiences when we play the game consciously with all of the aspects of our being--physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.  For that reason, I want my engagement to be more complete, more integrated.

Soon, I'll write more about the specifics.  At this point, I want to ask you, my readers, how you do mental training?  I'd especially like to hear from the other boxers, but I'm confident I can learn much from any athletes who want to share their routines and experiences with the mental component of sports.  Please post your thoughts as comments.  Thanks.

Simple Training Update

I've just been doing some roadwork over the last week or so.  Boxing-specific training hasn't happened a lot.  I know that's a temporary situation.  If things go well, I'll be able to get back to the gym tomorrow.  Work has been nuts lately; I've been working hard to get new clients and that is starting to bear some fruit.  I am determined to maintain a positive attitude.

Spring is Here; Staying Positive; A Sprinkling of Shakespeare; Two Online Friends Have Upcoming Bouts

Image via Wikipedia

I am back to blogging, I think. It's been a weird several weeks. Indeed, it has been kind of a weird year so far.I've been enduring one of those on-and-off training periods. I don't like it, but I know it's impermanent and things will improve soon. My training continues, albeit somewhat erratically. Again, that will improve.

My mother has been hospitalized during the last two weeks and that doesn't help things. Happily, she is doing better and, hopefully, will be able to go home soon. I don't like hospitals. (Who does?) It's hard seeing beloved family members being so ill. I'm glad Mom is recovering and feeling more well now.

I'll have more to say soon. For now, much of what I have to say is too whiny to write here. To keep from indulging self-pity, I'll express my mental state using the first four lines of William Shakespeare's Sonnet No. 29:

"When in disgrace with Fortune and men's eyes,

I all alone beweep my outcast state,

And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,

And look upon myself and curse my fate..."

That's all I'll quote because I'm starting to annoy myself by even copying this much. 

Must. Stay. Positive.

Although my own training (to say nothing of any competitive opportunities) is moving along sluggishly, two of my friends are preparing for bouts that are coming up very soon.

Nerd of Steel will get in the ring this week.

Paul Hodges has his bout in just 20 days.

Please visit their blogs and encourage them in their upcoming matches. Both of them have been training hard and seem ready to go. Oh, and if you don't mind, tell them I sent you. :-)

Sunday "Fight Club"

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Sunday's workout was a good one. I got to work lots of drills with Howard and Jeff. Howard is a southpaw, so I got some needed experience with a left-handed opponent and sensed I was learning a lot.

It seemed like we did an unusually large number of drills on Sunday, but we can't have done many more than usual because the workout lasted the usual duration. I'm getting a lot more confident with the "3-punch answer-back" drill. Here's how it works.

DO WHILE practice round continues

• Boxer A throws a quick left jab, right cross, and left hook at Boxer B.
• Boxer B slips (or blocks) the jab and right cross, and blocks the left hook.
• As soon as "B" blocks the hook, and preferably before "A" is back in a safe guard position, "B" quickly launches his counterattack.
• Boxer B throws a quick left jab, right cross, and left hook at Boxer A.
• Boxer A slips (or blocks) the jab and right cross, and blocks the left hook.
• As soon as "B" blocks the hook, and preferably before "A" is back in a safe guard position, "B" quickly launches his counterattack.

ENDDO

After practicing this drill for several rounds, I tried my 1-2-3 combination in sparring and it was a lot faster and smoother. As with any of these skills, the key to improvement will be to practice them hundreds of times so that I can get to the point where they flow with the greatest of ease.

I got in two good rounds of sparring, one with Howard and one with Jeff. It's good practice to work with them; we keep it fairly intense, but not so intense that we forget to practice and tune up our skills. After sparring, we did our usual rounds on the heavy bag, abs, and "30s."

I did 30 minutes of roadwork after the morning gym session. It was a good day of training, and I'm grateful for it.

Help Nerd of Steel Find a New Boxing Gym

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I'm a little late with this, but we do what we can, right? My buddy, Nerd of Steel, who publishes the Nerdcore Boxing blog, is looking for a new gym in the greater Los Angeles, California area. Most recently, he has blogged about his quest here.

I'm taking the liberty to ask my readers to help "Nerd" with his search. He hasn't asked me for any help--and by offering, I don't mean to imply that he needs it--but I know how it is to be displaced from a boxing club where I trained for a long time, and to start over at a new place. Others, including my former coach, Bernard O'Shea, and Chad Robbins, one of the owners of Go Time Chicago, helped me during that transition a few years ago. Therefore, if I have the chance to try to help a fellow boxer who is going through the same thing, I will take it. That's especially true when the boxer is an all-around good guy and is becoming an online friend, like Nerd of Steel.

So if you can help another boxer find a new place to train and minimize the interruptions to his training resulting from the move, please visit Nerd of Steel's blog and offer your suggestions in the comments to a blog entry such as this one. Thanks.

Sunday's Training

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I had a good workout on Sunday. As always, Glen was his enthusiastic self, and I had recovered enough from my cold/flu to actually put in some hard work. We have a new boxer in the group, Howard, who is also a lawyer. Like the rest of the boxers, he's a very likable fellow with decent boxing skills. He's also a southpaw, so it's great to have the opportunity to practice with another left-handed opponent.

We did a lot of drills. In addition to the attack and defense--the punches, slips, blocks, and other maneuvers that make up a boxer's arsenal--I paid special attention to balance and footwork. I noticed I was moving more smoothly and positioning myself a lot more effectively. Footwork and balance are really basic, and they seem basic after I do them well, but I don't think one can practice them too much. When I am well-positioned on my feet and in a state of balance, I can move a lot better, punch better, protect myself better, fight my fight (rather than the opponent's), and stay more energized. It can be surprising how tiring poor technique can be!

Howard and I sparred a spirited three rounds. He's a skilled strategist and knows how to use his left-handed stance to his advantage. Still, with the recent practice I've gotten with Scott, who is also a lefty, I was pretty confident during all three rounds. After those rounds, Glen gave us each a few suggestions for improvement, and Howard and I shared with one another our assessment of the work. It went well. We finished by doing a few rounds of heavy bag drills, abs, and then the crown jewel of the workout: the thirties.

I'm pleased with my progress, even though, as always, I see lots of things I can do better. We've got a good guys in our group, and everyone is very encouraging, so that's a huge help. I'm making some new friends, so that's a bonus. It's great to work with Glen. He's upbeat, keenly interested in our progress, and willing to explain and demonstrate moves for me as many times as it takes for me to get them right.

Often when I am close to doing a combination well, I'll ask Glen some questions about strategy I can use in case my opponent anticipates or counters any of my punches. I always want to stay a step or two ahead of the other guy. Glen always enthusiastically explains defenses and counters I'll likely face, and gives me concrete pointers for beating them.

I'm keeping up my training fairly regularly, despite my blogging about it less than I prefer. As some other things in life quiet down, I hope to write more here. I had also hoped to play hockey this winter, in a league, but there are only so many hours available. With the economy in the recession, I am really having to hustle to generate new business for my law firm. When I have fewer clients, my writing becomes a lot more important so I need to focus on that. At this point, boosting income and wealth is important, so I have to emphasize my professional life more. While I might play ice hockey next winter or in a summer league, or roller hockey in the summer, sadly that sport will have to stay on hold for a while. For now, my athletic endeavors will be aimed at becoming a better boxer.

Happy Birthday to My Grandfather

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On January 9, 1895, my grandfather--my dad's dad--John Sebastian Imparl, was born in a small peasant village in Slovenija. At the time of his birth, Slovenija was occupied by Austria, so he grew up bilingual: he spoke his ancestral Slovenian at home and the required German in school. Sometime during the first decade of the 1900s, my grandfather and his immediate family left Slovenija and moved to the United States.

My grandfather had a hard life. A naturalized United States citizen, during World War II, he served in the U.S. Army in the Western Pacific. After he returned home, he faced considerable suffering. His beloved wife and my grandmother, Genevieve Kolenc Imparl, passed away in 1947. Their oldest son, my dad's brother, John, followed her in death about one year later, while serving in the U.S. Army and stationed in California. The remaining three children thrived, but I can only imagine the pain my grandfather must have felt during the last few years of the 1940s.

Even in the face of all of that adversity, my grandfather persisted, determined to make a good life for himself, his family, and his later descendants in his adopted homeland. I remember, as a boy, listening to his stories, such as his tale about having been visited in the "old country" by his guardian angel when he was 13 or 14 years old. He also shared several pearls of wisdom such as, "The biggest room in your house is always the room for improvement," and "No news is good news." With my propensity to interpret things literally, I must admit I puzzled over those little maxims until I was a grown man before I really understood them. Even so, those wise words give me fond memories and food for thought today.

I remember my grandfather was always kind to my parents, his remaining children, my brother, and me. In his later years, he didn't have much but he always offered the best hospitality he could and I always felt welcomed and safe at his home. He passed away on January 27, 1978, when I was freshman in high school. I miss him.

Rest in peace, Gramps. You live on, not only in your descendants' fond memories, but also in our very bodies, in our DNA. We're working to make you proud of us.

Brief Update

Not a whole lot to report right now. I had a good week last week with two really good sessions with Glen, then roadwork on most of the rest of the days.

There was no "fight club" today because Glen was not available, so we're on our own for training until next Sunday. That's fine: I need a break to do some mental training and visualization, so I can absorb everything I've been practicing during the last few weeks. I'd like to get in one workout this week that is dedicated to footwork. Some of the combinations I'm working on are good, but they're only going to work if they are built on a foundation of solid footwork.

Meanwhile, I keep working on the basics such as practicing my left jab hundreds of times. I figure I can never practice the basics too much. Hopefully, next week will be a bit more normal for training and I'll be able to get some good sparring. Until then, it's practice, practice, practice, and more practice.

Sunday's Training

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Wow, there hasn't been much blogging here recently. Training has been continuing, but I have been less than consistent in writing about it or blogging about anything. Nevertheless, I want to write a little more frequently, and I still want to talk about some additional topics here. For now, here's Sunday's training update.


I trained with Jim and Jeff and Glen on Sunday morning. As always, Glen kept things interesting with a variety of sparring drills that focused on attack and defense and counterpunching. When I was first learning to box, I remember hearing something about the jab being about 60% of the punches a boxer will generally throw during a round. While I've never counted how many of my punches were jabs, I have noticed that I do throw a lot of them and that seems consistent with what I see other boxers do. Thus, the jab is an important punch to master, so we spend a lot of time drilling it. When we win, we're most likely to win on points, so it's essential to have a quick, solid, and accurate jab that can score a lot and create openings for other punches such as a straight right or left hook off the jab.

The other drills included the straight right, the old one-two punch, blocking the opponent's combination and answering back immediately with a combination, and limited sparring with one or two punches to practice them.

It went well. After the drills and limited sparring, I sat out the regular sparring because my left ankle was bothering me. If I take a break and ice it, I generally don't have any big trouble with it. That's a good preventive strategy for the ankle, but I was unhappy because I was fired-up for sparring and looking forward to the chance to practice some new footwork and combinations I've been working on. Thus, it was a disappointment. My ankle sprain, suffered during a shirts-and-skins pickup basketball game at Bahías de Huatulco, Oaxaca, Mexico in the summer of 1991, came back to haunt me again.

In any event, I finished the workout strong, with the usual abs and "30s" routine. There's always room for improvement, and I intend to keep improving.

I capped today's training with 38 minutes of roadwork. (It's getting cold out there!)

Tuesday Training with Glen

In addition to miscellaneous roadwork this week, I had another excellent one-on-one session with Glen on Tuesday. It was a tough workout: he pushed me hard and also helped me polish my technique in a few areas. We're working a lot on angles and throwing combinations, especially from a position where I can hit my opponent and he can't hit me back. It's sweet stuff.

I didn't get to the Sunday workout this week, but I am hoping to be back to that this coming weekend. Hopefully, as it gets colder outside, more of the guys will show up more regularly.