See a March Madness Game Live

Last Friday, I wrote about Creating Categories to organize ideas for my #40Before40 list (click here to read the post).

This week, I posted on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram asking for suggestions of items to include on the list. Below is the first round of selections for the final list.

So far I have selected 25 items. I’m planning on having a completed list by May 8 (my birthday), so I’m looking for 15 more items to complete the list.

Which of these ideas do you like or dislike? Do you have any other suggestions that I should consider adding to the list?

Adventure:

• Road Trip to Alaska
• Hike Macchu Picchu in Peru
• Hike the Grand Canyon
• Climb and Active Volcano
• Go Dogsledding

Career:

• Create a Successful Online Business
• Learn to Trade Forex
• Be included on Edmonton’s Top 40 Under 40 List

Charity:

• Host a Charity Event that Raises $10,000 or More for Charity
• Help Bring Water to Someone Who Does Not Have Access to it.

Creative:

• Learn to play the guitar
• Create a piece of art

Events:

• Throw a Massive 40th Birthday Celebration

Experiences:

• Meet 4 People I Never Thought I Would Meet
• Read 40 Books
• Let Someone Else Select One of the Items on My #40Before40 List
• Learn to Ride a Horse
• Try 40 New Restaurants that I Have Never Been To Before

Health & Fitness:

• Be in better shape at 40 than I was at 30
• Run a Half Marathon
• Learn to Swim
• Human Flag

Relationships:

• Have 40 People Help Complete My #40Before40 List in Some Way

Sports:

• Go See a March Madness Game Live
• Watch a Game at 14 Different Sporting Venues

If you have any ideas for the last 16 items, send me your suggestions via Twitter, Facebook or email me by clicking here!

#40Before40

A couple weeks ago I announced that I was going to be creating a #40Before40 list (see the blog post by clicking here), which is 40 items that I wish to accomplish before I turn 40 years old. Since I’m turning 37 at the beginning of May, it gives me 3 years to work through this list.

Giving myself that much time allows me a couple things:

• Enough time to accomplish each of the items on the list
• The ability to select bigger and grander ideas for the list

In order to create some organization and to help with brainstorming for the list, I created 9 different categories:

1. Adventure
2. Career
3. Charity
4. Creative
5. Events
6. Experiences
7. Health & Fitness
8. Relationships
9. Sports

I need your help! Looking at this list of categories, what are some items that you think should make the list? Think BIG! I have 1,110 days left to complete the list.

I’m hoping to have the list completed by my 37th birthday on May 8.

Want to create your own version of this list too? Come and join our private Facebook Group by clicking here!

#40Before40

One of the items I’m most excited about which will be on my yet to be completed #40Before40 list is, Start an Online Business. You can read my reasons for wanting to start an online business by reading this blog post I wrote: My Top 5 Reasons for Wanting to Start an Online Business.

Over the last several years, I’ve learned about numerous online business models. There are so many ways to make a living online but I’ve decided to start an Amazon business, or also referred to as FBA (Fulfilled By Amazon).

What is Amazon FBA? Well Amazon defines the FBA program as:

You sell it, we ship it. Amazon has created one of the most advanced fulfillment networks in the world, and your business can benefit from our expertise. With Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), you store your products in Amazon’s fulfillment centers, and we pick, pack, ship, and provide customer service for these products.

Click here for more information on the FBA program from Amazon.

Essentially, all you do is source out products, ship them to Amazon and then let Amazon sell them for you.

There’s a few more steps involved but really, it is that simple. That’s why I’m choosing it as the business model to build my online business around.

I’ll be sharing my journey right here with you as I build this business from the very beginning. You can follow along and watch over my shoulder and watch my successes and my failures along the way.

If you’d like to get the latest post before it even goes public here on the blog, join the email list by clicking here!

In the next post, we will look at the difference between Retail Arbitrage and Private Labeling and tell you which strategy I plan on using.

Bucket List for Before 40

I don’t think I would go as far as to say that I’m going through a mid life crisis but, I definitely have experienced a shift in my thinking over the last several months.

If we rewind to this time last year, I was still processing the loss of my Mom a year earlier, I was getting ready to leave my employer who I had spent that last 7 years with, and I was about to set out on a personal journey to find true fulfillment in life.

Over the last 12 months, I’ve had experienced some incredible moments, and some real low moments. It has been a rollercoaster ride to say the least, but through it all, I’ve been learning, studying and laying the groundwork for what’s next.

What’s Next?

If you’ve been following me for any length of time, you may be familiar with my #35for35 or #36for36 lists. These were a list of items I wanted to accomplish during the year that I was turning 35 or 36; whatever birthday I was celebrating that year.

I started a #37for37 list this year but immediately after I published the list, I was met with  very difficult time in my life, which I experienced some serious emotional overload. I was knocked completely off balance and couldn’t find the motivation to do very much at all. All I did was work, workout and sleep (when I could actually sleep).

I’m relieved to say that recently I’ve began to feel like my old self once again. With that, I’ve decided to take a broader approach to what I want to accomplish moving forward.

Instead of carrying forward with my #37for37 list, I’ll be working on a #40Before40 list. The idea is create bigger, grander goals than what I may have been able to include before.

This #40Before40 list will also become the driving force behind a lot of other things that I will be working on moving forward. My hope is that it also becomes a source of inspiration for anyone who feels like they’re in a rut in life, and are looking for something to get excited about themselves.

#40Before40

In it’s simplest form, the #40Before40 list will be 40 items that I wish to accomplish before I turn 40 years old. That means, as I write this (April 9, 2016), there are 1123 days for me to accomplish these 40 items.

What can be included in my #40Before40? Anything! It’s basically a bucket list for a predetermined length of time. Some ideas could include but are definitely not limited to:

• Travel Experiences
• Take a Course(s)
• Professional Accomplishments
• Overcoming a Fear
• Volunteering for a Cause

Over the next couple weeks, I’ll be putting together my list of #40Before40. Do you have any suggestions of what are some ideas that should make the list?

Do you want to create your own list? Join the private Facebook Group by clicking here!

Here’s the January update on my 37 for 37:

1. Go Surfing – on my trip to Montreal later this month, there is an indoor surfing facility! Oh yeah, surf’s up!!
2. Become a Certified Dog Trainer –
3. Complete CanFitPro Certification to Become a Personal Trainer – I’ve signed up for a course in mid-April. I’m hoping to have it completed by my birthday.
4. Start a Podcast – I have all the equipment, lined up a few interviews, I just need to do it!
5. Create a Piece of Art – I was supposed to go to a Paint Nite last week but plans changed. Paint Nite looks like the perfect place to knock this one off the list. Anyone want to go with me?
6. Run 12 Races as a Tribute to One of My Personal Heroes – Remember my friend and inspiration to so many, Jacob? I’ll be running all 12 races as a tribute to his memory and to raise awareness around the initiative he started – Jacob’s Wish. I’m still working out the details but I’ll definitely share more as they develop.
7. Get Involved in a Cause – As stated above, the cause I’ll be choosing is Jacob’s Wish. More details to come!
8. Man Spa Day – Only makes sense to get this one knocked off in Montreal as well!
9. Write 1 Book – Nothing to report here.
10. Visit Houston, TX – A couple of my close friends moved down to Houston at the end of last year. They’ve told me September is a better time to come down. Let’s hope that the Canadian dollar recovers before then or I may need to remortgage my place to make this one happen.
11. Go Dogsledding – Maybe I can do this somewhere around Montreal?
12. Create and Watch My Own List of the Top 50 Movies of All Time – I’ve started creating my own Top 50 Movies of All Time List. I’ll post it once it’s complete.
13. Hold 5 Webinars – I have no idea what the webinar will be about yet but they will happen. Probably later in the year.
14. Visit Montreal – Headed to Montreal later in February.  
15. Go to a Live Toronto Raptors Game – Complete – went and watched the Raptors win their 11th game in a row beating the Detroit Pistons on January 30.
16. Give My Lunch to a Homeless Person – Haven’t made the opportunity to make this one happen yet. Maybe this is another one I can strike off the list in Montreal.
17. Land a Role as an Extra in a Movie or TV – No movement on this one yet. I don’t even know where to start.
18. Meet 3 People I Could Only Dream of Meeting – I’m not even sure who this would be. Who would make your list?
19. Stay Silent for 37 Hours – No movement here yet.
20. Take a Photography Class – Anyone know of any good photography classes?
21. Take a Cooking Class – Anyone know of any good cooking classes?
22. Collect and Donate 37 Winter Coats to Charity – So far I’ve collected 7 coats. Do you have any winter coats clogging up your closet that you’d like to donate?
23. Perform 37 #RAKattacks – 5 #RAKattacks performed so far. 32 to go!
24. Setup a Patio Set to Enjoy the Summer Months – I’ve got some time before Spring even rolls around.
25. Inspire 7 Others to Create Their Own __ for __ List – I think this is way beyond 7 now but I’m not going to stop. Do you want to make your own list just like this one? Let me know!
26. Share Another Adventure with Jaxie – We already took a road trip from Edmonton, into the US, around Chicago and into Toronto. But I don’t think we’re done yet!
27. Read 12 Books – Haven’t even started yet. “les sigh”
28. Inspire 37 People to Donate 1 Shoebox at Christmas – Obviously this one will need Christmas to be closer. We will put this one on hold for now.
29. Finally Learn to Swim – I’ve gone swimming 3 times so far this year. If I want to be able to legitimately say I can swim, I’m going to have to do more.
30. Go to a Midnight Movie Premier – I want this one to be for Batman Vs Superman. Anyone know when tickets go on sale?
31. Take a Photo Every Day for a Year – I just have to get better at posting them.
32. Change Someone Else’s Life – No clue how this one will happen but I sure hope it’s in a positive way.
33. Start an Online Business – I’m in the middle of starting an Amazon business as we speak. More to come on this one.
34. Start a New Tradition – Any suggestions?
35. Leave 37 Random Notes to Strangers – I’m going to pick up some sticky notes tomorrow and get started.
36. Start a Happiness Jar – I’m using the HappiJar app for this one. Still figuring it out but seems to do the trick for now
37.                – Still empty

As you can see, February should be a busy month of knocking off a number of these items. Can’t wait to see what’s happened by the end of the 29 days in February!

Here it is! My third annual __ for __ list, which happens to be 37 for 37. 37 items to accomplish during the calendar year that I turn 37.

Here is the final list. Let me know what you think!

1. Go surfing
2. Become a certified dog trainer
3. Complete CanFitPro certification to become a personal trainer
4. Start a podcast
5. Create a piece of art
6. Run 12 races as a tribute to one of my personal heroes
7. Get involved in a cause
8. Man Spa Day
9. Write 1 book
10. Visit Houston, TX
11. Go dogsledding
12. Create and watch my own list of the Top 50 movies of all time
13. Hold 5 webinars
14. Visit Montreal
15. Go to a live Toronto Raptors game
16. Give my lunch to a homeless person
17. Land a role as an extra in a movie or TV
18. Meet 3 people I could only dream of meeting
19. Stay silent for 37 hours
20. Take a photography class
21. Take a cooking class
22. Collect and donate 37 winter coats to charity
23. Perform 37 #RAKattacks
24. Setup a patio set to enjoy the summer months
25. Inspire 7 others to create their own __ for __ list
26. Share another adventure with Jaxie
27. Read 12 books
28. Inspire 37 people to donate 1 shoebox at Christmas
29. Finally learn to swim
30. Go to a midnight movie premier
31. Take a photo every day for a year
32. Change someone else’s life
33. Start an online business
34. Start a new tradition
35. Leave 37 random notes to strangers
36. Start a happiness jar

I’ve left #37 open on purpose. It’s going to be an open item that I can decide upon along the way. I have a few ideas that I’m considering already, but is there any other ideas I should be considering? Comment below and let me know what you think I should add as #37!

If you’re interested in creating your own list, join our growing facebook group of people just like you, creating their own list and working towards experiencing their best year yet! Here’s the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/785372518240457/

My 37 for 37: My Best Year Yet

At the end of 2013, I had a friend give me an idea to create a 35 for 35 list. A list of 35 items to accomplish over the calendar year that I turned 35.

There were so many incredible stories that came from this experience. Just to name a few:

• Become passionate about a cause – This led to the Birth of Buck-A-Burpee and a new Annual Holiday Family Tradition.
• Perform 35 random acts of kindness – I think I may have actually performed closer to 100 but eventually this became coined the #RAKattack.
• Beyond the Blue Collar – I published my first book, “Beyond the Blue Collar.”

Last year, I had decided that I was NOT going to create another list. By the time June rolled around, I felt like something was missing. I felt that I needed that list of items to pursue. So I scrambled and created a new list, my 36 for 36 list.

I wasn’t working when I created the list. I had decided to leave my employer who I had worked with for the last 6+ years so I had plenty of time to focus on accomplishing things.

I had struck a line through a few items:

• I bought a stranger’s meal in a restaurant – this was a lot of fun because of the situation that presented this opportunity. Read the story here.
• Start a podcast and record 36 episodes – I am completely set up to start recording now. I anticipate recording a few episodes over the holiday break. Who is the most successful person you know personally?
• Encourage 9 other people to start their own list – This was a lot of fun, to see others create their own list and start working towards their own exciting accomplishments.

But then something happened! I went back to work and my progress hit a brick wall. I began working 12+ hours a day (sometimes as much as 17 hours a day) and, on some weeks, I would work 7 days a week

I arrived home a few days ago for the Christmas break, completely burnt out. I look back and see My 36 for 36 as an epic failure minus one thing… The failure makes has created a deep desire to make My 37 for 37 an Epic Experience and the road map to “my best year yet.”
Anyone want to join me?

Click here and join our Prime Life Design Facebook Group and create your own __ for __ list and enjoy your best year yet!

It’s been a bit of a whirlwind August and September for me. I recently took a position and went back to work, which has actually caused me to work some very long days and has also taken me out of town. In fact, it’s on the other side of the country, located in Toronto.

Nevertheless, here is my latest update on My 36 for 36.

Interview 36 “successful” people on the subject of “success” – I need your help here! Who do you know personally, that you feel is “successful?” No – I’m not providing you with the definition of “success,” that’s the purpose of the interviews – to see just how many definitions of “success” are out there.

Participate in 36 yoga classes – So far, I’ve participated in 1! I have a big margin to play catch up on for this one.

Start a podcast and produce 36 podcasts – As I’ve mentioned before, I’m combining this one with the interviewing of 36 successful people on the subject of success – 2 birds with one stone.

Take a cooking class – This one should be fun. My 8 year old nephew is going to teach me how to make one of my most favourite things in the whole wide world – salsa! Maybe this is something I can stream live on Periscope? I’ll keep you posted!

Watch everyone else’s favourite movies – I made a big mistake here… I didn’t really give a target total of movies to be watched. I guess I will just continue to watch until I have no more suggestions from you. What is your favourite movie of all time?

Encourage 9 people to create their own list – So far, we have 16 people in our private Facebook Group working through their own lists. Do you want to create your own list and share your accomplishments and excitement with others doing the same? Come hang out with us by clicking here ——> Join the Private Facebook Group

Meet 3 people you could only dream of meeting – This one has been a difficult one for me to figure out who those 3 people would be. But over the last couple of weeks, I’ve figured out who I want at least 1 of those people to be… The City of Edmonton’s only Real Superhero – SpiderMable!

Learn 3 magic tricks – Anyone know magic? Anyone? HELP!!

Buy a stranger’s meal in a restaurant – I was given a great opportunity to make this one happen, on a night I stayed in a hotel in Toronto. Here’s a picture and the story to go along with it: Paying for a Strangers Meal in a Restaurant

Build a snowman taller than me – Judging by the temperature in the mornings, this one may be right around the corner. Anyone want to help?

Get picked up at the airport by somebody with my name on a sign – There wasn’t a sign, but for the first time ever, I walked through the arrival doors and there was someone waiting for me – best feeling ever!

Update on My 36 for 36: Honourable Mentions

Start an Online Business – I’ve written a few posts on “My Why” behind starting an online business (I Don’t Want to Do This Forever, My Ideal Day) and I’ve started building the business. I’m sharing my journey, step by step, in a private Facebook Group. If you’re interested in following along as I share my successes and failures, tips and strategies, click here to join the private Facebook Group.

Ok, that’s it for now. I’m hoping to post more than once a month on my progress with My 36 for 36. Stay tuned!

Summer Solstice Sunset

July has come and gone already and I thought it would be a good idea to take stock on how I’m doing with My 36 for 36 list and I wanted to share my progress with you in this blog post. I’ve only included the items that I have seen progress on so far. If I don’t mention an item, it’s because I have yet to see much, if any progress.

Here we go!

Interview 36 “Successful” People on the subject of “Success” & Start a Podcast and Produce 36 Podcasts

I decided to combine these 2 items that made my list because it just made perfect sense to do so. My friend, Karl MacPhee from Ripple Effect Strength & Conditioning and I will be launching a podcast later this year, which will attempt to define “success” through the personal stories of “successful” people from all walks of life.

So… if you know anyone who you would consider “successful” and you think we should interview them, please let us know!

Stay tuned for details!!

Write 36 Blog Posts – 13

This is blog post #14 here on TheRealScottWeller.com and I’ve also written 16 posts over at MyBoxerDogBuddy.com. That makes 30 within the first 45 days! I think 36 blog posts is very attainable.

Learn How to Practice Reiki to Treat Animals

In July, I spent a weekend taking training to become a certified Level I & Level II Reiki Practitioner. Although I can practice on humans, the intention all along was to be able to practice on animals.

I’ve spent some time practicing on Jax and it does seem to affect his behaviour and energy. I am looking forward to seeing the effect of long term practice on him.

Watch Everyone Else’s Favourite Movies

Without having a job to get in the way, I have been able to watch a ton of Netflix throughout July. I’ll be creating another post which will include the list of everyone else’s movies.

Encourage 9 People to Create Their Own List

Originally, I selected the 9 people just so I had a target to work towards. Myself and few others, started a Facebook Group for people who are making their own list. We called it ___ for ___; Your Best Year Yet.

The purpose of the group is to share ideas, updates and to have accountability partners celebrating all of your wins with you along the way. If you’re interested in creating your own list, and celebrating your Best Year Yet, send us a request to join the group by clicking here!

Develop My Lifetime Bucket List

This one was soooooo easy! Especially with our ___ for ___; Your Best Year Yet Group. Everytime I see someone post an item on their list, that I think is awesome, I add it to my Lifetime Bucket List. The best part about creating your Lifetime Bucket List, is that if you create another ____ for ____ list, you just copy and paste off of your Lifetime Bucket List – The Easy Button!

Watch a Sunrise and a Sunset in the Same Day

I wanted to make this one special so I watched a sunrise and sunset on the longest day of the year. Living in the far North, it’s very different than some of my friends who live in San Diego where the timing of a sunrise and sunset alters only slightly throughout the year.

In the summer, in Edmonton, the sunrise starts before 5:00am and the sunset can be after 11:00pm.

The Summer Solstice was beautiful!

Learn to Play Guitar

I’ve decided to use Rocksmith on Xbox to learn how to play guitar. I’ve only spent about 4 hours total so far so I still have a long way to go.

Let 9 People Know What They Mean to Me

I started this item, almost unintentionally. I received some news that my Aunt had experienced a minor health setback and I had a minor freak out! I texted her right away and asked her “what the hell happened.” After giving me the update and reassuring me that she was ok, in my own way, I told her that she needed to take care of herself because she means too much to me!

After spending the Memorial Day weekend with her and my Uncle, I’ve been very focused on staying connected with family, even when they live thousands of miles away from me.

Love you!!

Join a Mastermind Group

I suppose you could consider our ___ for ___; Your Best Year Yet Group as a Mastermind Group. However, when I decided on this item, the intention was to create a group of 5 – 7 like-minded individuals who were focused on accomplishing similar goals.

As I mentioned in the blog post: My 36 for 36: Honourable Mentions, another goal for me is to start an online business. I see this Mastermind Group as being an integral part of ensuring success with starting the online business.

There you go! That was my 36 for 36 July! What an incredible month! I’m excited to see what August has to offer!

Related articles

• My 36 for 36: The Final List
• What Have I Done Since Quitting My Job?
• My 36 for 36 Brainstorming Complete

My 36 for 36 list is complete but there are a few items that didn’t make the final list (for whatever reason) that I still plan on working towards over the course of the year. Here they are in no particular order:

Start an Online Business

I’ll get deeper into this item in future posts, describing my why behind this item but this year will definitely be the year that I successfully Start an Online Business. I’ll be sharing this journey, every step of the way, for those of you who are interested in starting your own online business.

Write Book #2

I already know what this book will be about. It will be a compilation book of stories about life lessons the people have learned from their dogs. I’ll be looking for people to share their stories so, if you’re interested in contributing to this project, please let me know.

As a side note: I am currently updating my first book that I published last year and plan on re-releasing the updated version of Beyond the Blue Collar later this year.

Ask a Girl Out on a Date

This is purely to keep my brother quiet!

Go to a game to each of NBA, MLB, NFL and NHL:

I’ve already accomplished 50% of this item:

NBA: when I set out on my west coast road trip, my timing couldn’t have been better. I actually drove into San Francisco 90 minutes before tipoff for the Western Conference Finals between The Warriors and The Rockets. You bet I jumped on Stub Hub and found myself in Oracle Arena and watched the Warriors claw their way back from almost 20 down to win Game 1!

MLB: Again, thanks to my west coast road trip, and my trip to Miami, I’ve accomplished this one at 300%. I’ve been to watch a game in Seattle, San Francisco and Miami, all of which were incredible ballparks! My dream is to hop in an RV, and travel from ballpark to ballpark, eventually seeing a game at every ballpark in the league. How sweet would that be?

NFL: Stay tuned

NHL: Stay tuned

Help 3 People Accomplish a Bucket List Item

Do you have a Bucket List item that you need help accomplishing? Let me know how I can help.