TICK TICK TICK TICK - BOOM!

SPORTS HEADLINE-NFL PRE-SEASON FAVORITES DALLAS COWBOYS FACING CRISIS
Media outlets across the nation had crowned the Dallas Cowboys the best team in football before the season began. Coming off of a 13-3 season in 2007, returning 13 Pro Bowlers and having a collection of stars, it seemed like a foregone conclusion that they would run away with the NFC title and waltz into the Super Bowl.

A funny thing happened on the way to destiny. After a quick 3-0 start, the Cowboys have lost 3 of their last 4 games, had their often outspoken WR Terrell Owens complain about not getting the ball enough following a game where he was targeted 19 times, lost their Pro Bowl safety for the season and lost their starting QB for at least 3 weeks. They are now at a crossroads for their season with a difficult month ahead of them and on the verge of implosion.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT-
I remember my mother often repeating a chorus of a 1967 Temptations hit, 'Beauty's Only Skin Deep'. Just as great as things look on the surface, they may be just masking the turmoil that brews beneath. Being cautious amidst boundless optimism is a good trait to exhibit. It's often the things that look and seem too perfect and too polished that have the most tumult and tarnish. Look beyond the superficial and truly examine character in order to position yourself in the best company.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT-
One of the major issues facing the Cowboys is the lack of 'one voice'. The owner/general manager is the highly visible Jerry Jones. The head coach is the ultimate nice guy Wade Phillips (pictured). The presumed head coach in waiting is offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, recipient of a new $3 million a year contract, making him the NFL's highest paid assistant coach. In business, during times of struggle, employees are looking for that one voice to galvanize the troops, be a shining beacon of hope and direction. When the message is muddled or diluted by too many voices, chaos ensues.

PERSONAL FINANCES-
Can you count up the number of your friends who got rich buying "A new system where you can make millions from your own home"? Where's your yacht, your 3 new sports cars, your 18 bedroom house? While there are some people who have gotten legitimately rich from systems on investing, real estate, day trading and other fads that have come and gone, for the most part when the product or system reaches the masses-the real money has already been made! It's very rare that a new process, product or system is simple and effective enough that just anyone can master it's techniques and strike it rich. Rather than chasing the gold every time it glimmers, use a systematic approach of diversified saving and investing wisely to build your fortune.

GAME PLAN-
All that glitters is not gold. It's a cliche but rings very true. For every time a team came from out of nowhere to become the Cinderella story, there are just as many teams that were billed as invincible and unstoppable but were fatally flawed. Get past the shiny exterior and really examine the nuts and bolts of anything you spend your valuable time or money on to be sure that it is worthy of you.

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.