LOOKS LIKE A DUCK, WALKS LIKE A DUCK, MUST BE A DUCK

SPORTS HEADLINE-ADAM 'PAC-MAN' JONES INVOLVED IN HOTEL FIGHT
Oft troubled Dallas Cowboys defensive back Adam 'Pac Man' Jones was involved in a fight with a team employed bodyguard on Tuesday night at a hotel outside of Dallas. The police were called but no injuries were reported and no charges will be filed.

Jones was recently reinstated to the NFL after serving a one year suspension for conduct unbecoming an NFL player by commissioner Roger Goodell. Goodell suspended Jones after a series of arrest involving alcohol, firearms and disorderly conduct spanning 2004-2007.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT-
Author and motivational speaker Dennis Kimbro has been known to say, 'You are an average of the people you surround yourself with.' This is just a more eloquent way of what you mother always said, 'be careful who you hang around with!' There are just some people who cannot seem to stay out of their own way and trouble finds them. It's vital to your success and your reputation to thoroughly screen the people who you have in your inner circle. Surround yourself with people who share your same goals or better goals, have the same energy and drive for success or more than yours.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT-
How many times have you seen talent trump character? We've all experienced people in the professional arena that are just amazing at what they do, but their benefit to the business or organization is offset by the baggage they carry. Sometimes it's a correctable problem but sometimes it's just not. Some people are who they are and will be who they will be. As a business owner or team leader, you have to keep in mind the overall best interest of the organization and sometimes let someone's talent be another teams' headache.

PERSONAL FINANCES-
You've heard the phrase 'throwing good money after bad'. A way to apply that is if you continue to soak money into an investment that has shown you historically that it is not paying off. There is far less shame in walking away from a poor investment than spending untold amounts of time and more money trying to rescue it. There are times when you can salvage a poor decision or investment by allocating more resources to it, but there's also a time to realize that it's not working and let it go.

GAME PLAN-
While we are conditioned to give people the benefit of the doubt and we are unquestionably in a society of giving second and third chances, we also must have the wisdom to realize that some things and people are exactly what they seem to be. Maya Angelou said, 'when someone shows themselves to you, believe them' meaning when someone or something reveals their true character, despite us at times wishing and believing it to be something else, trust what they are showing. You will be stronger, better and more fulfilled by letting those go by the wayside and moving on to more positive influences in your life.