World Number 1 player Novak Djokovic on having fun

“It is all in good spirit and trying to have a good time and enjoy myself. Tennis is a difficult game and we have a long year and a lot of traveling and matches so it is nice to keep things relaxed sometimes.

“When you are relaxed you have more energy and it is good for your mentality. If you are happy and having fun then you have a chance to play your best tennis. People shouldn’t think that having fun and laughing mean I am not serious about tennis, if they underestimate me like that it is a mistake.”

 “I am playing the best tennis of my life,” Djokovic said. “I think everything in general just came together. Progress can be a slow process and it takes a while to really understand the game, understand the life that I’m having, and you learn from your mistakes obviously.

“You try to get better as a person and as a player each day you wake up. I think it’s really important as well to carry yourself off the court in a good way. I am aware of the responsibility that I have as a present No. 1 to represent the sport as well in some ways off the court. So I need to do that in the best possible way.”

Skyping

In 2005, eBay under the stewardship of Meg Whitman bought Skype for $3 Billion.  Out came the experts, know-it-all's, critics and 2nd guessers from all circles questioning her sanity.  In 2011, eBay sold Skype to Microsoft for $8 Billion. 

She was recently quoted in an interview regarding the outcome of the acquisition:  "I always had great confidence in the Skype acquisition.  It was incredible technology that changed everything about the way we communicate with each other.  That's what leadership is: you do what you think is in the best interest of the company and shareholders, and sometimes it takes a little while for the entire story to be told.  Sometimes in life you don't get recognition easily."

Culture does matter

The Krafts (Robert and Myra) laid the foundation for how the New England Patriots do business. While there are sometimes disagreements, there is always a level of respect. “You have to respect everyone in your business and everyone you do business with,” said Kraft, gesturing toward a woman who pushed a cart through the cafeteria. “From this woman doing that job all the way up to the players, you have to respect them.”

Since Kraft bought the Patriots in 1994, the team has compiled the best record in the league, won three Super Bowls and appeared in five (with a 5th round draft choice as QB, retread veterans, and a coach nobody wanted prior to arriving in New England). By contrast, the Cincinnati Bengals, despite being run by the son of NFL Hall of Famer Paul Brown, have amassed one of the worst records in the league over that time and made the playoffs only twice (losing the first game each time).

“The difference is everything,” Chad Ochocinco said. “It’s not just what you see on the field. I saw it in the first meeting. I was like, ‘Yeah, this is how a team is supposed to be run. Finally, I get to really be part of that.’ ”

The success continues at...Google (What a surprise)

6 years later after acquiring Android, Fortune writes:  "Rubin (Android's founder) and his team thrived in Google's engineering-driven culture, which encouraged innovation by letting Android release less-than-perfect versions that it would continually upgrade.  Google also embraced Rubin's vision of giving the operating system away-a gambit, enabled by Google's broader ad-based business model, that stoked adoption of the platform."  Results:  expected 2011 forecast of 206 million Android Smartphones!!!  Tipping Point:  when I get one.

Couldn't have said it any better

"One of the most important things in life is to be around people that have great energy and great enthusiasm. I don't want to be around anyone at this point in my life that's an energy drainer, because they're not a lot of fun to be around, and pretty soon you're at ... their level."

Jerry West, Golden State Warriors Advisor

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/07/02/SPAL1K5IOO.DTL#ixzz1R9o98rrX

Google

Thank you Google for sponsoring free wi-fi at McCarran Airport in L.V.  (A true sponsor that actually benefits users and consumers!)

Thinking outside the gym

From Club Industry:  You never know what other industry holds the key to a new fitness idea.  Just 10 years ago, no one would have thought about mergin video games and exercise or basing group exercise classes on Latin dance moves.