Review of Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose by Tony Hshieh

Delivering Happiness is a delightful book written by Tony Hsieh, CEO of the uber
successful Zappos.com.

The book is basically written in two parts…

Part 1: Chronicles the life of Tony leading up to his involvement with Zappos.com

Part 2: Chronicles the development of Zappos.com from insignificant start-up to its sale (10 years later) to Amazon.com in a deal valued at more than $1.2 billion!

A few of the credos of Zappos.com:

• Make Customer Service the entire company, not just a department.
• Focus on company culture as the #1 priority.
• Help employees grow both personally and professionally.
• Use happiness as a framework to produce profits, passion and purpose in both business and life.

I love this book not just because of the information on how to develop an extraordinary culture within an organization… there’s more to it than that.

For me, the book is a tale on how to strive for your dreams. To go for what you believe in. And, to never give up!

There are many times throughout the book when Zappos.com could have folded… gone by the wayside of dotcom blunders. But Tony Hsieh and the people at Zappos.com persevered. They knew they had something special; something worth fighting for and they did. Truly inspiring!

I really enjoyed this book! Highly recommended.

Delivering Happiness book launches June 7, 2010.

Contest: Enter to win a special copy of Delivering Happiness.
Simply leave a comment below this post and you’ll be entered to win.

DeliveringHappinessBook.com

http://www.amazon.com/deliveringhappiness

Delivering Happiness: A Path to Passion, Profits, and Purpose by Tony Hsieh

Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos.com, has written an inspirational book titled: Delivering Happiness, which is due to launch on June 7, 2010. I’ve been asked to write a review of the book and do a special give away the week of June 7th for the readers of this blog. Very cool!
Watch the video for more details…

Be sure to return to this blog the week of June 7th to enter in the contest to win your copy of Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos.com.

Granola bars are often eaten as a “healthy” snack. In this video, Fullerton Personal Trainer Alexander Morentin breaks down the ingredients of granola bars… giving you a different perspective on these so called healthy foods. Enjoy the video!

Most of us pay little attention to the small non-dairy creamers and half & half containers that are given to us at many diners, restaurants, and convenience stores. However, we should. In this video, Fullerton Personal Trainer Alexander Morentin, breaks down non-dairy creamers… giving you the ammunition to make the most informed decision in your quest towards health and happiness. Enjoy!

The Dirty Dozen: A list of the most important foods to buy organic, so you can minimize your exposure to toxic pesticides and provide safer meals to you and your family.

Hi, Alexander Morentin here…
I was alarmed (horrified) when I first discovered this information, but I then  became thankful… thankful that I now know a little more about what is going on with the food available to us. Knowledge gives us the power to make the most informed decisions, so we can protect our health and the health of the ones that we love.

Eating local organically grown food is a clear, intelligent, delicious choice. However, finding and affording only organic food is sometimes tough. We do the best we can. Certain foods are worth the extra effort, or worth simply avoiding when organic is not available. The “dirty dozen” are the foods most commonly and highly contaminated with pesticides and chemicals, even after washing and peeling.

The research used to compile this list is from extensive independent tests run by the FDA and the USDA from more than 100,000 samples of food. The chemical pesticides detected in these studies are known to cause cancer, birth defects, nervous system damage, brain damage, and developmental problems in children. In other words, avoid these foods if they aren’t organic.

FDA and USDA research shows high levels of pesticide and chemical contamination in these common foods

The Dirty Dozen
1. Beef, Pork and Poultry
The EPA reports that meat is contaminated with higher levels of pesticides than any plant food. Many chemical pesticides are fat-soluble and accumulate in the fatty tissue of animals. Animal feed that contains animal products compounds the accumulation, which is directly passed to the human consumer.

Antibiotics, drugs, and hormones are a standard in animal husbandry, all of which accumulate and are passed on to consumers as well. Ocean fish carry a higher risk for heavy metals than pesticides, though many freshwater fish are exposed to high levels of pesticides from contaminated water.

2. Milk, Cheese and Butter
For reasons similar to those for meat, the fat in dairy products poses a high risk for contamination by pesticides. Animals concentrate pesticides and chemicals in their milk and meat. Growth hormones and antibiotics are also serious concerns and are invariably found in commercial milk, cheese, and butter.

3. Strawberries, Raspberries and Cherries
Strawberries are the crop that is most heavily dosed with pesticides in America. On average, 300 pounds of pesticides are applied to every acre of strawberries (compared to an average of 25 pounds per acre for other foods). Thirty-six different pesticides are commonly used on strawberries, and 90% of strawberries tested register pesticide contamination above safe levels.

Raspberries trump strawberries with the application of 39 chemicals: 58% of the raspberries tested registered positive for contamination.

Cherries are almost as dodgy with 25 pesticides and 91% contamination.

4. Apples and Pears
With 36 different chemicals detected in FDA testing, half of which are neurotoxins (meaning they cause brain damage), apples are almost as contaminated as strawberries.

Ninety-one percent of apples tested positive for pesticide residue. Peeling nonorganic apples reduces but does not eliminate the danger of ingesting these chemicals. Pears rank hazardously near apples
with 35 pesticides and 94% contamination.

5. Tomatoes
It’s standard practice for more than 30 pesticides to be sprayed on conventionally grown tomatoes. The thin skin does not stop chemicals from infiltrating the whole tomato, so peeling won’t help you here.

6. Potatoes
Potatoes are one of the most popular vegetables, but they also rank among the most contaminated with pesticides and fungicides. Twenty-nine pesticides are commonly used, and 79% of potatoes tested exceed safe levels of multiple pesticides.

7. Spinach and Other Greens
The FDA found spinach to be the vegetable most frequently contaminated with the most potent pesticides used on food. Eighty-three percent of the conventionally grown spinach tested was found to be contaminated with dangerous levels of at least some of the 36 chemical pesticides commonly used to grow it.

8. Coffee
Most coffee is grown in countries where there are little to no standards regulating the use of chemicals and pesticides on food. The United States produces and exports millions of tons of pesticides, some of which are so dangerous that they are illegal to use on American farmland.

Foreign countries import these chemicals to cultivate food, which is sold back to the United States. Coffee is an unfortunate culprit in this vicious cycle of malevolent agriculture. Purchasing “Fair Trade” coffee provides insurance that the premium price paid for this treasured beverage supports farms and workers with more equanimity and reward.

9. Peaches and Nectarines
Forty-five different pesticides are regularly applied to succulent, delicious peaches and nectarines in conventional orchards. The thin skin does not protect the fruit from the dangers of these poisons. Ninety-seven percent of nectarines and 95% of peaches tested for pesticide residue show contamination from multiple chemicals.

10. Grapes
Because grapes are a delicate fruit, they are sprayed multiple times during different stages of growth. The thin skin does not offer much protection from the 35 different pesticides used as a standard in conventional vineyards.

Imported grapes are even more heavily treated than grapes grown in the United States. Several of the most poisonous pesticides banned in the United States are still used on grapes grown abroad. Eighty-six percent of grapes test positive for pesticide contamination; samples from Chile showed the highest concentration of the most poisonous chemicals.

11. Celery
Conventionally grown celery is subjected to at least 29 different chemicals, which cannot be washed off because, of course, celery does not have any protective skin. Ninety-four percent of celery tested was found to have pesticide residues in violation of safe levels.

12. Red and Green Bell Peppers
Bell peppers are one of the most heavily sprayed foods, with standard use of 39 pesticides. Sixty-eight percent of bell peppers tested had high levels of chemical pesticide residues. The thin skin of peppers does not offer much protection from spraying and is often waxed with harmful substances.

Pretty interesting huh?
If you found this report of interest to you… you would definitely enjoy attending the Body Balance Challenge. You will learn exactly which foods are safe and those that aren’t, in a familiar setting, so you can make the most informed decision when purchasing the food that you and your family are going to eat.

Body Balance: The 8 Week Scientific Best Health, Best Body, Best Performance Lifestyle & Weight Management System
Click here for more info

Be sure to leave a comment. I’d love to hear what you have to say.

These Girlz kick some serious ass! I really enjoyed this video and thought you would too.

Wow! These girls are inspiration in action. And, they’re sexy too.

Alexander Morentin
My Fit Life
Fullerton Boot Camps

Hi, Alexander Morentin here…
Hope you’re having a great day!

It seems that a pharmaceutical company has developed a micro chip implant that texts your phone when it’s time to take another pill. And, to make things worse, a message is posted to a website each time a text message is sent.
Watch the video for full details…

Okay, this is for real! I thought it was a joke when I first heard about this. A text message sent to your phone from a micro chip implanted in your shoulder seems like something out of a sci-fi movie. Unfortunately, this technology is all too real.

What do you think about this?
Would you want this procedure done to you?

Leave a comment below. I’d love to hear what you have to say.

There’s been a lot of controversy lately regarding Agave nectar. Agave was once touted as a healthy sweetener. However, recent hype on the internet has compared it to high fructose corn syrup.

In this video, Fullerton Personal Trainer Alexander Morentin discusses the hype surrounding Agave nectar clearing up any confusion you may have, so you can make an informed decision for yourself and your loved ones. Enjoy!

How the French eat has been a topic of great discussion for many years. There are tons of studies and speculation as to how the French can eat the fatty foods that are typical to their diet and remain healthy and trim.

However, the answer is really quite simple…

Watch the video to discover How the French Really Eat:
Enjoy!

I am a huge proponent of eating leafy green vegetables on a daily basis, especially in the form of Green Smoothies. That’s why I was so excited when I found this article describing the Cancer Fighting Effects of Green Vegetables.

This article is reblogged from Kris Karr’s CrazySexyLife.com and was written by Joel Furhman, M.D. (family physician, author, nutrition expert).

Nutrition scientists have shown over and over that people who eat more natural plant foods—vegetables, fruits, legumes—are less likely to be diagnosed with cancer. But are all vegetables equally protective? If we wanted to design an anti-cancer diet, we would want to know which foods have the most powerful anti-cancer effects. Then, we could eat plenty of these foods each day, flooding our bodies with the protective substances contained within them.

So, which foods have the most powerful anti-cancer effects?
Cruciferous vegetables.

This family of vegetables includes green vegetables like kale, cabbage, collards, and broccoli, plus some others like cauliflower and turnips (see the full list at the bottom of this post). They are named for their flowers, having four equally spaced petals in the shape of a cross, from the Latin word ‘crucifer’ meaning ‘cross-bearer.’

All vegetables contain protective micronutrients and phytochemicals, but cruciferous vegetables have a unique chemical composition: they have sulfur-containing compounds which are responsible for their pungent or bitter flavors. When cell walls are broken by blending or chopping, a chemical reaction occurs that converts these sulfur-containing compounds to isothiocyanates (ITCs)—compounds with proven anti-cancer activities.

Over 120 ITCs have been identified, and the various ITCs have different mechanisms of action. Because different ITCs can work in different locations in the cell and on different molecules, they can have combined additive effects, working synergistically to remove carcinogens and kill cancer cells. Some ITCs have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, or even immunologic effects. Some ITCs can inhibit angiogenesis, the process by which a tumor establishes a blood supply.

Some ITCs detoxify and/or remove carcinogenic compounds; the combined consumption of broccoli and Brussels sprouts (rich sources of the ITC sulforaphane) increases the excretion of certain dietary carcinogens. (1) Some ITCs inhibit cancer cell growth or induce cancer cell death: cruciferous vegetable juice, containing a variety of ITCs, has been shown to induce apoptosis, or programmed cell death, in breast cancer cells. (2)

Some ITCs can prevent carcinogens from binding to DNA and initiating cancerous changes in the cell. Sulforaphane activates enzymes that protect cells from DNA damage by carcinogens. (3) But if DNA does indeed become damaged, the growth of the damaged cell can be stopped to allow for DNA repair, or the cell can be programmed for cell death. These processes can control this damage. Several ITCs, including sulforaphane, indole-3-carbinol (I3C), and diindolmethane (DIM) stop growth or induce death in cultured cancer cells. (3) Sulforaphane blocks tumor formation and induces programmed cell death in colon cancer cells. (4) Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), present in several cruciferous vegetables, inhibits proliferation and induces cell death in bladder cancer cells. (5)

Indole-3-carbinol and its metabolite DIM may be especially protective against hormone-sensitive cancers; they help the body transform estrogen and other hormones into forms that are more easily excreted from the body. (6-7)

These observations in cell culture and animal studies have been confirmed by epidemiological studies drawing connections between cruciferous vegetable intake and cancer incidence. Inverse associations between cruciferous vegetable intake and breast, lung, prostate, and colorectal cancers have been reported. Similar associations exist for total vegetable intake, but cruciferous vegetables are far more potent:

•    Cruciferous vegetables are twice as powerful as other plant foods.  In population studies, a 20% increase in plant food intake generally corresponds to a 20% decrease in cancer rates, but a 20% increase in cruciferous vegetable intake corresponds to a 40% decrease in cancer rates. (8)
•    28 servings of vegetables per week decreased prostate cancer risk by 33%, but just 3 servings of cruciferous vegetables per week decreased prostate cancer risk by 41%. (9)
•    1 or more servings of cabbage per week reduces risk of pancreatic cancer by 38%. (10)

How can we maximize the ITC benefit of our cruciferous vegetables?  Methods of preparation and cooking can affect the availability of ITCs to be digested and absorbed.  Chopping, chewing, blending, or juicing allows for production of ITCs. Some ITC benefit may be lost with boiling or steaming, so we get the maximum benefit from eating cruciferous vegetables raw; however, some production of ITC in cooked cruciferous vegetables may occur in the gut once the vegetables have been ingested.

Cruciferous vegetables are not only the most powerful anti-cancer foods in existence, they are also the most nutrient-dense of all vegetables. Although the National Cancer Institute recommends 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables per day for cancer prevention, they have not yet established specific recommendations for cruciferous vegetables. I recommend 6 fresh fruits and 8 total servings of vegetables per day, including 2 servings of cruciferous vegetables, one raw and one cooked. Consuming a large variety of these ITC-rich cruciferous vegetables within an overall nutrient-dense diet can provide us with a profound level of protection against cancer.

List of cruciferous vegetables:
•    Arugula
•    Bok choy
•    Broccoli
•    Broccoli rabe
•    Broccolini
•    Brussels sprouts
•    Cabbage
•    Cauliflower
•    Collards
•    Horseradish
•    Kale
•    Kohlrabi
•    Mache
•    Mustard greens
•    Radish
•    Red cabbage
•    Rutabaga
•    Turnips
•    Turnip greens
•    Watercress

My Comments:

First, I want to remind you that this article is reblogged from http://crazysexylife.com/. Crazy Sexy Life is a wonderful resource for holistic healthful living.

I recommend drinking a Green Smoothie every morning. It’s a fantastic way for you to consume many servings of green veggies in one sitting.

Also, blending the greens makes it easier for your body to absorb and utilize all of the vital nutrients that they posses. This is especially crucial first thing in the morning because your body’s digestive system isn’t kicked into full gear yet.

Drinking your green smoothie every morning provides you with an abundance of nutrients and has the added benefit of protecting you against cancer. Delicious, Nutritious, Wholesome Goodness!