Phillies Spring Training

Hello Friends,

So it is that magical time of year again. The time that most red blooded Americas cannot wait for, when those amazing words “Pitchers and Catchers report” are uttered. Spring Training is here, and the hills are alive with baseball!!! I personally took a trip down to the baseball carnival that is Clearwater Florida. My boss John Brocious thought about fronting the bill for the trip but then decided that me gathering great content for this blog was on me and he would have no part of footing the pennies for it. Just kidding he didn’t even know I went. But as I entered that beautiful facility, and gazed upon infield drills, and bunting practice (the only time of the year that any respectable major leaguer will be bothered with drills so elementary), I thought about the Phillies season to come. Here’s where I think we stand in 2018. Position by position I have marked the Phils for their current MLB grade.

 

Outfield – This is going to be one of our strengths this year, and while we don’t have the cash cow golden buyout outfield like the Yankees do, the Phils are looking at developing some seriously promising young talent in the outer rim positions this year. Left field will most likely be host to the most exciting prospect since the Utley, Rollins, & Howard era, Rhys Hoskins. If you missed the last 3 months of the 2017 season it’s time for you to climb out of the uncivilized crevice you call a home and enjoy the moon blast phenom that is Mr. Hoskins. Rhys was on pace to put up numbers that don’t exist in baseball. He clubbed HRs in 7 consecutive games in 2017, and is officially the fastest to hit 10  through 17 HRs in MLB history. He finished with 18 HRs and 48 RBIs and only played 50 games, which put him on a pace for 58 bombs, and 158 RBI’s. Numbers Phillies faithful cannot expect in 2018, but if the youngster can pump out something to the tune of 35-40 Hrs and anywhere in 100 RBI range, we will be just fine. He is “out of position” coming up through the farm system as a 1b, and only learning outfield in the majors due to a team need, but that shouldn’t be a problem, as we have learned in the past from greats like Pat Burrell (GOAT), Albert Pujols, and Carlos Lee to name a few. The red pinstripes look to develop young talents such as Nick Williams (acquired in the Cole Hammels trade) Aaron Altheer, and Roman Quinn as well during this ever critical 2018 season. And finally the ever controversial Oddubl “El Torrito” Herrera. As you read some of my blogs you will notice that there is no player in the majors that I find less appealing than this ignorant pompas d-bag, who refuses to learn/respect the game that has made his life that of a baseball dream. A player with immense talent for the position and a great propensity for the daily grind of hitting, Oddubel is a classic argument for why the new wave of “vibrant” baseball can be a negative as much as a positive. He constantly makes base-running blunders, and cannot seem to understand why the most basic of baseball rules has been established, and that is hitting the GD cutoff, as he consistently grants other teams free bases, and consequently runs. He is a real catch 22 as he drives doubles all over the field creating a spark the Phillies so desperately need, and then continues to show up the opposing pitcher, run into outs, and give up on at bats game after game. There’s no doubt that with the right leader, and mentoring he could be an everyday threat in any MLB lineup, and my hands to the baseball gods, I pray that we have found just the guy in Veteran Slugger Carlos Santana.

2018 Outfield Grade : B

Infield – The red and white are in a transition from lack luster to possibly productive, and are a few prospects panning out from being a damn good infield. Third baseman Maikel Franco is in the biggest “show me” season of his career, where he will need to improve on his abysmal .230 BA from 2017 if he wants to be a big leaguer past 2018. My hopes aren’t high, but like Herrera the thought is that a fellow Dominican Republic Veteran, can put him on the right path especially at the plate. Which bring us to the Phillies big FA signing at first base, Carlos Santana, who is a consummate hitters hitter. The man has batted from both sides for all of 8 seasons with the Cleveland Indians, and looks to show a young crew how it’s really done. He will be a big part of the success or lack there of in the upcoming season. The most important part of this infield for Philadelphia, will be the development of the middle infield. Cesar Hernandez looks to start the year as the everyday second baseman, but the two guys that everyone is ready to see step into starting roles, are long awaited prospect J.P Crawford, and upstart hotshot Scott Kingery. The obvious comparison being the all-time great pairing of Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley manning the middle. Hopes and prayers across the Delaware Valley look for these two to become any bit of what the 2008 heroes were to our double play portion of the infield. Kingery is making the minors look like high school, and history shows that Crawford needs about 200 at bats at every level before he settles into the contact on base machine we need him to be. Look for these two to be up the middle for years to come if Phillies fans get their way.

2018 Infield grade : C+

Catcher – When discussing catching there are a million intangibles, but the one that every fan, half a fan, and casual ballpark hot dog consumer, understands is, does that man have an absolute rifle behind the dish. And guys….Jorge Alfaro has just that. He needs to learn how to receive, and call the game a little bit better, which can be learned. And that is why I implore the Phillies suit and tie men to buy out Carlos Ruiz’ contract with Seattle and make that man a lifer in Red by giving him a fat Catcher coaches deal Let him teach this youngster how to play the position, because if he does look out. Jorge has something that Carlos never did, which is the ability to consistently launch the baseball off the damn video board in left field, I mean this man can really put a hurting on a fastball.

2018 Catcher Grade : B-

I wont bore you with the Bullpen, just know that Matt Klentak has bolstered it by bringing in young live arms and old veteran quirky arms that keep us afloat, and in the hunt. But no bullpen is complete without a closer, and we don’t have a great one so its still eeeehhhhhhh….

2018 Bullpen Grade : C-

Starting Rotation – I wrote this blog exactly 12 hours after the Phillies made their second big FA splash of this offseason, with the Signing of former CY Young winner Jake Arietta, this team’s rotation immediately moves from a work in progress with trouble at the back to a strong front steady rotation….with you know, trouble at the back. Aaron Nola, and Jake Arrieta have such an interesting combination of youth, experience, power pitching, and deadly control that they make one of this league’s best 1-2 punch at the front end. With Jarred Eickoff’s power curve, and electric fastball manning the middle, this team teeters on a hope that Vinny Velasquez (also a Cole Hamels deal acquisition) can find his form as a starter and yes, you all know it knock on wood. If the front end of this rotation holds up, and the phillies can pin together early series wins, they may just be looking at a team that is well above .500 come August. We may just be looking to buy rather than sell to give us fans some well-earned October baseball. That being said the battle for the 5^th spot and looming possibility of a young arms still being inconsistent keep us dangerously close to being a very average team.

2018 Starting rotation Grade : B+

The Phillies are just as much bitten by the Super Bowl bug as every other team in this City, and I cannot wait to watch them take the diamond this season, which is why I have purchased the most amazingly gratifying deal ever (Phillies spring pass 15 games for $50). We are going to be watching what will hopefully be our 2007 first time playoff Phils launch into the magic that was 2008. I think we have one more year of maturing, but this team has a big opportunity to be great, and it’s going to be a blast to watch. Happy Spring Training everyone, can’t wait to hear that gentleman in blue say those beautiful words for the first time this April…”Play Ball!!!!”

DON BRADLEY

Philadelphia Sports Content Creator

 

Twitter: @infinityintuit

Instagram: @infinityintuition

Facebook: Infinity Intuition

Monday Questions

Something to think about while you may or may not be enjoying your Monday at work.

If you could change your profession, what would you change it to?

If you had to move to another country, where would you move to?

What’s one food you would like to never see again?

What’s one food you couldn’t live without?

What celebrity do you want to meet more than anybody else?

What are three questions you would ask them?

Just some questions to get you day dreaming. Start a conversation with your friends about them. Enjoy!

 

John

Twitter: @infinityintuit

Instagram: @infinityintuition

Facebook: Infinity Intuition

5 Money Saving Tips for Beginners

I had a conversation with somebody about their plan to save money a few days ago. Their first conversation with me had been about how to save money. We discussed many money saving options. These are actually simple the more you save, but to some people getting started, here are some tips you need to know.

1. Pay yourself first. Put your set amount of money away before spending it on something else. This means if your paycheck is $1000 each week, and you have a plan to put away $100 each paycheck, do that first. You will get used to living on $900 a week knowing your $100 is going toward something you’ve been wanting for awhile.

 

 

2. Think long- term. When thinking about money we always want it to come in faster than it is. We want our savings to double in the matter of months and our income to grow just the same. The reality is that this isn’t the case. When we think about saving money, we should have the mindset that it’s almost like we don’t have it at all anymore until we reach a certain point. This certain point could be retirement or a specific number so you can go on a trip. Saving money is a long- term process and you have to set your brain to function that way. When you start dwelling on your savings, you will start going nuts! Be patient, and understand your long- term savings will pay off.

 

 

3. Save more when possible. Using our $100 a paycheck savings, if you have the ability to put more than $100 away, do so. You might start to see you can live off $850 a week rather than $900 and the $50 extra you’re saving would become the norm. This will entail you being able to reach your savings goal sooner than you thought or being able to put away more than expected.

4. Create a physical budget plan. There are probably thousands of useful phone apps to see what your money is up to. If you’re not a tech person (like me), keep your own ledger. Write down money coming in, money going out, and what you’re spending it on. When you’re able to physically see what your money is doing, you are more likely to spend it wisely and put more toward what you actually want. Believe me, when I started to see how much money went toward eating out, I stopped and my savings skyrocketed.

 

 

5. Invest your savings. This doesn’t mean you have to sit on the computer trading stocks. No, investing can be as simple as opening up a savings account. Anything you can make interest on is a great choice. Look into what your bank offers. Sometimes there are great CD’s that can earn 3% interest. This means you put money in, and you can add 3% of your savings to your savings. $100 turns into $103. Now when we think long term, we are earning hundreds of dollars just because we’re doing a great job saving. Find an account that makes money for you while you sleep.

 

Stop waiting! Start by using these simple savings tips today. The sooner you save, the more you will earn long- term. If you have more savings tips, write them in so I can share them with my audience!

John

Twitter: @infinityintuit

Instagram: @infinityintuition

Facebook: Infinity Intuition

Why Should You Play Fantasy Football?

Have you ever wondered what it would look like to have Tom Brady and Odell Beckham Jr. on the same team?  Well you do not have to wonder anymore with fantasy football.

Right before the NFL season kicks off you go through my favorite part of fantasy football, drafting your own team with NFL players of your choice. Now a lot of people check out early during the NFL season due to a grueling performance from their favorite team that doesn’t even have them in the playoff race.

For example, my favorite team is the New York Giants, and we all saw the disaster of a season they had. Yet I was still glued to the television every Sunday to watch Todd Gurley and Antonio Brown tear it up. Fantasy Football makes it so if your favorite team is having a down year it will not ruin the entire NFL season that we all love. In my opinion fantasy football is a reason why some of these perennial bad teams and small market teams are not totally tanking in ratings.  Lets be honest, who really wanted to watch the Houston Texans vs. Cincinnati Bengals this year if you were not a fan of either team? The answer, DeAndre Hopkins and A.J. Green owners!

This hobby has taken overall bad teams with great players and made them relevant to us, even though they are not relevant in the NFL standings. So if you decide to join the millions in the race for fantasy football glory check back with me here after the draft to analyze the rookies and who might be worth a pick in your 2018 Fantasy Draft.

Ryan Cerino

Infinity Intuition

Fantasy Football Content Creator

 

Twitter: @infinityintuit

Instagram: @infinityintuition

Facebook: Infinity Intuition

Surviving Nursing School 101: New Grad RN

Congratulations on choosing nursing! It is a fantastic career path with many options and it’s truly the back bone to the medical field. That being said, let’s take a dive into what you should focus on in order to succeed and get the most out of your nursing program. Nursing school is in no way, shape or form easy and I give you a lot of credit for being accepted!! You’ve got this! Personally, I would describe nursing school as an intense boxing match: You need to tackle each task with persistence, stability and strategy and finally—Win the match! It is going to become challenging, however don’t give up… dare to stick with it! I graduated from a four-year BSN nursing school in May of 2017. Since then, I have been working as an RN in a Medical-Surgical unit. I am writing this post to help you push through, and get the most out of all the information being thrown at you. I found these skills/tips helpful and I hope you do too!   

Time Management & Organization

If there is anything I can’t stress more, it’s mastering the skill of great time management! It may seem like it’s complicated but TRUST ME when I say it, managing your time will help you in the long run, and it will also get you into a great routine when It comes to working in the field. In a hospital setting, many tasks need to be performed in a timely matter. You are going to have a great deal going on in your life during nursing school. You don’t want to forget anything and you surely do not want to become so frantic that you begin to pull your hair out! I highly recommend purchasing a planner (I personally used a Lily Pulitzer Agenda, It was fun, vibrant, and came with a lot of cute stickers). After you’ve received all of your syllabi – sit down, go through all of the dates and write them into your planner. As a nursing student myself, I found this very helpful because it gave me a good idea of how much time I have before each exam to prepare. I also color coded my classes, exams, and assignments.  

Staying organized and keeping everything in order will seriously help you keep track of all the work you have to do. Again, nursing school is extremely stressful, and you really want to make sure you don’t forget to do anything! Having a planner is also a good way to schedule (non-nursing) plans, and it’ll even give you that extra push to look forward to that night out with friends. (Of course not the best idea to do so before a test.. you know what I mean.. ). What it really comes down to, is finding a method that works for you and STICKING WITH IT – every time you change up your organization method you waste a ton of time re-learning a new system.  Find something you are comfortable with and stick with it.

Mental Breaks

You’re only human!! Don’t get down on yourself if you’re just-not-retaining-anymore-material. That’s probably a good reason to STOP, regroup, and do something else. It is very important to TAKE BREAKS! Do yourself the favor and walk away from the material after some time, go for a walk around campus, go to the gym, have lunch with a friend, call a family member– anything. Your brain needs a break in order to really understand the material, after 6 hours or so (yes 6 hours) I would make sure that I would get up from that library chair and move around; even if that meant going to the bathroom or sitting outside of the library scrolling down social media. Taking a break will help you feel refreshed and give you that extra push to keep going. & don’t just take one! Take a few! Just make sure you keep your focus and don’t get lazy.

Also, besides study breaks- make sure you’re giving yourself some “me” time. This won’t cause you to fail a test or assignment and will help you gain more focus when you dive back into it. Head over to the gym to workout, watch a movie, go shopping, whatever it is that you enjoy- do it!

Helpful Tips:

 

1. You are going to be taking a TON of notes during nursing school.  Having a way to condense those notes and make them usable is important.  If you are old fashioned, you will want to buy a lot of index cards to write down and review important terms. Also, check out Quizlet– this is an online flashcard site (I used this a lot).  You can create a set of flashcards on your profile by typing in the information.  It can be really helpful when you connect it with the app – allowing you to view your flashcards anywhere. You can also share the link with friends in your study group (you can split up the chapters or terms).
2. Utilize YouTube. 90% of any system I couldn’t wrap my head around- I looked up on YouTube. There is a large variety of videos explaining how things work in simpler and less confusing ways. Many of my friends found videos really helpful for electrolyte imbalances.
3. Acronyms are SO HELPFUL. Even if they’re silly (A joke between you and your friends). YOU’LL REMEMBER IT!!
4. Have a sense of humor!! Most people think of the medical field as only serious, but it can be very stressful and if you don’t have a sense of humor, you won’t find it easy to survive. Be willing to laugh at yourself and at awkward situations.
5. I have yet to meet anyone who knows everything about every drug: nurse, physician, pharmacist, etc.  There is too much information to know it all. That being said, it is important to have a good drug reference guide/text. The most common used drugs you should create flashcards for. The MAIN information you should know about a drug is: What it is used for, side effects/adverse effects (know the difference between these two) and, antidotes (if there happens to be an overdose).
6. Medical dosing- create a conversion chart (most nursing programs will give you one). MEMORIZE IT. It will help you in the long run when you get a random question on an exam and you have no idea how many micrograms equal a milligram. (1000mcg = 1 mg).
7. Purchase a “clicky pen”.  It sounds strange, but it really is that important. Try to spend one day in nursing school with a pen with a cap, and see how that goes. You will lose that cap. You will likely lose the pen because you can’t attach it to yourself. And, you are definitely likely to end up with ink stains and marks because you don’t have the pen’s cap. Clicky pens are much easier to use. You can connect them to your scrubs and you can store them without worrying about ink.
8. It is very helpful to have a set of lab values, along with possible reasons why the patient may have an abnormal result, at hand during clinical settings.
9. Form a study group. This is really helpful to hear how others understand certain topics especially if you’re having some difficulty. Talking aloud really helped me understand the material and study groups can also be a lot of fun. My advice would be to review the material on your own first once or twice and then meet with your group. There’s going to be a lot of late nights in the library, a large consumption of coffee and unhealthy snacks, but it’s fun being with other students who are going through these struggles WITH YOU.
10. Don’t study to worry about getting a certain grade. Don’t focus on being the best in the class. Be the best for YOU! Learn and study the material to fully understand it and be able to confidently apply it.
11. Practice skills on others. Take a family member or friend’s blood pressure. Listen to their breathing sounds. Know where the 5th intercostal space is on an actual person! Put the text into perspective. This will make you comfortable in a clinical setting.
12. If you can, get a job in a clinical setting. Apply for internships and externships. This will make you well-rounded and more confident when taking care of people.

 

Wishing you the best in all that your program throws at you. Tackle it all with determination and skill. Don’t let anything or anyone get you down and truly work hard for YOU. Only YOU can understand the material a certain way, only YOU can pass that exam for yourself, ONLY YOU can truly absorb all the information you need to be the best nurse you can be. Remember, no matter how difficult the days may get, never forget why you became a nurse!

 

“As a nurse, We have the opportunity to heal the heart, mind, soul and body of our patients, their families and ourselves. They may forget your name, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” -Maya Angelou

 

Feel free to ask me any questions!

Devan LaBarbera

Twitter: @infinityintuit

Instagram: @infinityintuition

Facebook: Infinity Intuition

 

Lightning Strikes in Tampa

            Picture Courtesy of NHL.com

 

After a blowout loss on Thursday to the Carolina Hurricanes (29-25-11), the Philadelphia Flyers (34-20-11) look to get back on the winning side of things as they take on the top team in the NHL, the Tampa Bay Lightning (45-17-4). Today, the Flyers look to figure their offense out as they’ve only scored 1 goal in two games. The Lightning have to top offense in the NHL so, the Flyers needed a game plan to keep them in check. The starting goaltenders for the day were Petr Mrazek, for the Flyers, and Vezina candidate Andrei Vasilevskiy for the Lightning.

The start of the game needed to be pedal to the metal for the Flyers and they got off to a great start with a little help from the Lightning. At the 6:22 mark, Andrei Vasilevskiy tripped Taylor Leier to send the Flyers to the first powerplay of the game. Then with a 1:15 left in the powerplay Claude Giroux passed the puck to Nolan Patrick (10) who tipped the puck into the net to give the Flyers the 1-0 lead. Giroux (54) and Jakub Voracek (57) got the assists. Then, Giroux was called for a slashing penalty against Yanni Gourde to send the Lightning on their first powerplay of the game. 1:08 after the Flyers goal, the Lightning set up in the Flyers zone and Steven Stamkos took a slap shot a put it passed Mrazek for his 26^th goal of the year and on the powerplay. Victor Hedman (37) and Nikita Kucherov (50) had the assists on the goal. The game tied 1-1, it was non-stop after that. 14:30 into the period the Lightning turned the puck over to Voracek who shot the puck, got the rebound, shot again and scored his 14^th goal of the year. Nolan Patrick (10) caused the turnover and got the lone assist on the play taking back the lead 2-1. The Flyers didn’t stop there. With a 1:53 left in the period, the Flyers were charging into the Lightning zone and Robert Hagg (3) went to the middle of the ice, took a wrist shot and scored to give the Flyers a 3-1 lead. Scott Laughton (9) and Ivan Provorov (19) got the helpers on the goal. The shot total at the end of the period was 14-6 in favor of the Flyers.

The Flyers looked to continue the offensive power that they had in the 1^st period, but it didn’t start off that way. 5:57 into the period, Victor Hedman took a shot from the corner and it went off Valtteri Filppula and into the net for Hedman’s 10^th goal of the season. It was an unfortunate bounce for the Flyers. Stamkos (48) and Kucherov (51) got the assists to cut the lead to 3-2. Trying to hold onto the lead, the Lightning had the momentum and they were riding it. The puck bounced off the wall and onto the stick of Dan Girardi who took a slapshot and scored for his 4^th of the season and his first time against the Flyers in his career. Stamkos (49) and Hedman (38) got the assists on the goal to tie the game at 3-3. Shortly after, there was a delayed call against the Lightning and the Flyers had possession in the offensive zone. Jori Lehtera danced around a couple players and took a simple wrist shot with traffic in front and scored his 2^nd goal of the year. Jordan Weal (10) and Filppula (18) got the assists to help put the Flyers up 4-3. The period ended with a shot total of 11-10 in favor of the Flyers.

The 3^rd period started off once again in the Flyers favor. There was a faceoff in the Lightning zone and the Flyers won the faceoff. The puck was dropped back to Provorov who walked towards the net, shot the puck and scored his 12^th of the season to put the Flyers up 5-3. Filppula (19) had the only assist on the goal by winning the faceoff. After the early goal the game shifted towards the Lightning. At 4:23 into the period the Lightning went into the Flyers zone shot the puck, but Mrazek saved it and let up a rebound. J.T. Miller (14) took the rebound and scored his first as a Lightning. Gourde (28) and Brayden Point (30) got the assists and the goal once again cutting the lead 5-4. It was all Lightning for most of this period. At 7:38 into the period the Lightning had a two-on-one and Stamkos was there to bury the puck for his second of the night and his 27^th of the year. Kucherov (52) and Alex Killorn (27) got the assists to help tie the game 5-5, as the Flyers watched their two-goal lead go away. But, it didn’t stop there. The Lightning once again had the puck in the Flyers zone and Hedman (11) came in, took a slapshot and it went through the 5-hole of Mrazek to give the Lightning their first lead of the game at 6-5. Stamkos (50) had the only helper on the play. It was the Lightning’s 3^rd goal on 5 shots. With time winding down the Flyers were in desperate need of a goal to tie the game and force it to overtime, the puck was in the Lightning zone and the Flyers had control. Voracek went to pass the puck across ice and it hit a Lightning player who was tangled up with Provorov. Provorov dove to hit the puck to Couturier who then passed it to Giroux and he put the puck in the net for his 23^rd goal of the year. Couturier (34) and Provorov (20) got the assists to tie the game up at 6-6. It was the 5^th time the game was tied. The period ended with a shot total of 15-14 in favor of the Lightning.

The game being tied at 6 with regulation not being enough brought it to overtime. The Flyers have a record of 8-5 and the Lightning’s record is 5-2 in overtime period this season. The OT period saw an early penalty on Kucherov to give the Flyers a 4-on-3 powerplay. After the, the Flyers dominated most of the period, but Vasilevskiy answered everything the Flyers threw at him. At the end of the period the Lightning managed a couple shots, but to no prevail. The period ended with a tied 4-4 shot total which kind of followed the theme of the game today. The game shot total was 43-35 in favor of the Flyers.

When the overtime period wasn’t enough it was up to the shootout to determine who got the all-important 2^nd point of the game. Going into the shootout the Flyers had a record of 2-5 and the Lightning had a 4-2 record. The results of the shootout are as follows:

Round 1:

TBL: Cory Conacher- SAVE

PHI: Sean Couturier- SAVE

Round 2:

TBL: Brayden Point- GOAL

PHI: Nolan Patrick- SAVE

Round 3:

TBL: Steven Stamkos- GOAL

Stamkos scored the game winner in the shootout capping off his 1^st career 5-point game to give the Lightning a 7-6 win over the Flyers. This was the 3^rd and final meeting between the two teams before the playoffs start.

The Flyers next game is tomorrow at 3pm against the Florida Panthers (31-25-6). It is the 3^rd and final meeting between the two teams. The first game was back in October where the Flyers won 5-1 and the second game was in December where the Panther won 3-2. This 3^rd game will decide the season series between the two. Having gone to a shootout today it gave the Flyers 1 point to put them 3 points ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins (36-25-4) and tied for 1^st place with the Washington Capitals (36-21-7) with 79 points apiece. The Flyers look to the New York Islanders (29-29-7) who play the Penguins and the Toronto Maple Leafs (39-20-7) who play the Capitals for some help. They need both the Capitals and Penguins to lose tonight to help their case for 1^st place in the Metropolitan Division. The Flyers need a win in Florida tomorrow as the look to climb the ladder in the standings. Can they get the help from the Leafs and Islanders? Will they drop 3 in a row to the Panthers tomorrow? Can they get back on the winning side? Tune in tomorrow to find out!

-Anthony Calabrese

Lead NHL and Philadelphia Flyers Content Contributor

Hurricanes Blow Flyers Away

          Picture Courtesy of NHL.com

 

The Philadelphia Flyers (34-20-10) took on the Carolina Hurricanes (28-25-11) on Thursday night. The Flyers were looking to make it 7 straight wins in a row and the Hurricanes were looking to break a 6-game losing streak. The Flyers have been one of the hottest teams in the NHL as of late climbing all the way back up into the 1^st place position in The Metropolitan Division brief time. The Hurricanes have been fighting to get into the playoff picture. It’s a must win game for the Flyers to keep their momentum going and continue the 10-0-1game streak, including the 11-game point streak. The game saw Petr Mrazek in goal for the Flyers and Cam Ward in goal for the Hurricanes.

The 1^st period started off with an early penalty against the Flyers, a high-sticking minor on Taylor Leier against Derek Ryan. This gave the Hurricanes the first powerplay of the game, but were unsuccessful. However, just one second after the powerplay was over there was a shot on net and Mrazek thought he had it, but it dropped behind him. The former Flyer, Justin Williams, picked up the garbage and put the puck in the net for his 11^th goal of the season. Jeff Skinner (19) and Jaccob Slavin (14) both got the assists giving the Hurricanes the early 1-0 lead. The period ended with a shot total of 12-7 in favor of the Hurricanes.

The Flyers look to start the 2^nd period on a better note as they try to tie the game up and get the lead. Unfortunately, the 2^nd period started just like the 1^st. 5:39 into the period, Teuvo Teravainen (17) had accepted a pass from Sebastian Aho from behind the net and fired it passed Mrazek for a 2-0 lead for the Hurricanes. Aho (27) and Justin Faulk (18) got the helpers on the goal. So, the Flyers at this point were trying to minimize the damage to keep themselves in the game. The Hurricanes were controlling in the Flyers’ zone and a shot from the point was deflected in the net from, once again, the former Flyer Justin Williams (12). Brett Pesce (13) and Jordan Staal (21) had the assists on the goal and now the Flyers were looking at a 3-0 lead. The period ended with a shot total of 16-7 in favor of the Hurricanes.

The start of the 3^rd period, the Flyers were in desperate need to turn this game around being down 3-0 and outshot 28-14 at this point. The Flyers started the way they needed to. There was a two-on-one for the Flyers going into the zone and a pass to Travis Konecny (16) who tipped it into the net 1:20 into the period to cut the lead to 3-1. Sean Couturier (33) and Claude Giroux (53) got the helpers on the goal. Now, with a little momentum the Flyers looked to keep chipping away at the Hurricanes lead. But, tonight just wasn’t the Flyers’ night. 14:23 into the period Sebastian Aho (23) accepted a pass from Williams (29) and put the puck top shelf to make it a 4-1 lead for the Hurricanes. Williams had the only assist on the play. The game ended with a final score of 4-1 and a shot total of 8-7 in favor of the Flyers.

Unfortunately, you can’t win every game and tonight just wasn’t a night for the Flyers. The Hurricanes just played better hockey than the Flyers tonight and Cam Ward played a great game. The Hurricanes were able to snap a 6-game losing streak and stop the Flyers from winning 7 games in a row. Both teams play each other two more times this season so, next time the Flyers will be looking for a little payback. The Flyers’ next game is against the top team in the NHL, the Tampa Bay Lightning (44-17-4). The Flyers look to bounce back against the Lightning and continue to fight for that 1^st place spot in the division. This upcoming stretch for the Flyers is going to be a challenge as they play teams that are in the playoffs or just out of the picture. They are going to have to strap down for the final 18 games of the season to get the best position as possible. Luckily, the Boston Bruins (39-15-8) were able to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins (36-25-4) 8-4 to keep the Flyers in 2^nd place in the Metropolitan Division. Can the Flyers get back to winning and knock off the top team in the Lightning? Tune in Saturday and find out as the push for 1^st place continues!

-Anthony Calabrese

Lead NHL and Philadelphia Flyers Content Contributor

Two Crucial Concepts You Need to Succeed

Success doesn’t come easy. Money doesn’t fall into your lap. Fat doesn’t automatically disappear from your waist. Climbing the corporate ladder doesn’t happen over night. What would you like to succeed in? What do you want to do that allows you to stand out in the world? Whatever you’re thinking, I have two things you need to be doing.

 

Yes, two simple concepts will lead you to success. It’s how we go about these two activities that will set us apart from the rest. But nonetheless, there are two things you should be doing each day that will allow you to succeed.

 

LEARNING & WORKING

 

You could have told me that right? Everybody knows we have to learn to be good at work. And we have to work in order to succeed. If that’s the case, why isn’t the entire world as successful as they would like to be?

 

Let’s start with learning. When you are educating yourself on something, are you doing it just to earn a degree, certificate, or some validation that says you’ve accomplished “learning”? If you are, you’re going about it for the wrong reasons.

 

When we learn, it should be to MASTER something. The master of anything stands out because of how he or she is so successful. They know more than most people about what they do. The master of something is usually the teacher or mentor at some point. So, whatever it is you’re learning, are you the master? Are you able to teach others about it?

 

 

Don’t give me the excuse that you’re too young. There are 23 year old employees out there receiving raises while the person with 23 years experience sits and waits for the raise to come to them. You see CHILDREN able to master the piano while an adult hasn’t begun to start trying. A college dropout starting a tech company while tech students sit and wait for graduation day to start applying themselves. Why is this?

 

Each example above, and many other examples are possible through LEARNING. These examples have likely become borderline obsessed with their skill or trade. The don’t just go to school to listen to a lecture. They don’t do the mandatory training workshops their company requires. No, these people make their life about learning that one thing they are so talented in. They have indulged themselves in the knowledge available to them. I would rather talk to the 8 year old about learning how to play the piano before an adult with decades of life behind them. Why? Because that 8 year old has likely spent every single day for the last couple years counting down the seconds until she can learn more about that piano. They simply know more than the rest.

 

 

And don’t give me the excuse that you don’t have enough time. Nobody has enough time. That’s the truth. Every single person in this world has the same 24 hour day. And you want to use the excuse that you’ve created a lifestyle to fill up those 24 hours, so you can’t accomplish a certain goal. Get rid of this excuse right now.

 

 

If you want to succeed bad enough in something, CREATE A LIFESTYLE THAT FITS YOUR GOAL. Understand that SACRIFICE is necessary. PRIORITIZING is necessary. You have to be much better with TIME MANAGEMENT. There are certain aspects of your life that you must simply AVOID to accomplish this goal. I just published a book on this two days ago if you’re struggling that bad to understand any of this. All of the words I CAPITALIZED are necessary when you want to succeed. Not having time is an excuse. You’ve put an excuse ahead of your goal, and now you won’t reach that goal. And if you do, millions of people have already beat you to the punch. If you want something bad enough, change your life to get there.

 

 

Number two on our list today is WORK. After you have learned what it takes to get to where you want to be, work for it. Work smarter than everyone else. Work harder than everyone else. This might mean spending more hours on a project. It might mean working through lunch or even losing some sleep. Whatever it takes, work better than everyone else. Be the best at WORK. And a quick tip on working so you don’t have to work as long, learn the art of focus. Accomplish as much as you possibly can in whatever time your life gives you. WORK.

 

 

 

These two concepts are extremely simple. But are you doing simple the best you can? Once you know what you need to succeed (LEARN), being to WORK. Throughout WORK, LEARN. And once you’ve accomplished everything you have learned through working, LEARN again. This is a never-ending cycle. Excellence is a lifestyle, not a destination. LEARN AND WORK.

Til next time,

John

Twitter: @infinityintuit

Instagram: @infinityintuition

Facebook: Infinity Intuition

 

MENTALITY IS EVERYTHING / LAW OF ATTRACTION / FIND YOURSELF

When it comes to life the number one thing that scares me the most is regret.  I decided for my myself that I am going to do what I want to do regardless of what people think of me.  

This is where ENVISION SUCCESS came from. Everyone has different goals, desires, values, and dreams. To reach these goals, desires, and dreams your mental make-up is what is going to separate you from others. This doesn’t mean you aren’t going to struggle or go through hard times.

Everyone goes through these times. It is about how you respond to these times, what you’re willing to do to change your circumstances. That is where your mentality comes in.  

Change the way you think, and you’ll change your life. The reason why I created ENVISION SUCCESS was to change the way I think.  I started to look at things and people to find out that they are no different than me.  If I want something I have to believe in my heart that I truly can achieve or obtain whatever it is I want.

The next thing you have to do is change everything in your life to whatever it is you like, you’re good at, you enjoy, and make that the center of you mind. Have “tunnel vision” go after and don’t look back.  

See, distractions are a big part of this. They can change your vision, your thoughts and hold you back in many ways. Stop trying to please people and do things for yourself. This isn’t being selfish. This is you taking charge in your life again.

Yes, you may have to cut some people out of your life but that is all part of the change. You can’t expect to do the same thing over and over again and have a different outcome. Start surrounding yourself with people that you want to be like or inspire to be. Law of attraction is REAL.

If you think something is going to happen it probably is. If you focus on something for so long whether it be good or bad that is what you are attracting. Find something you love doing 7 days a week and go for it. The problem is, people start to become lazy when things go wrong or get distracted. To me there is no such thing as lazy. To me your mindset has changed, other things in life have become more important to you. You have become distracted by the world to not chase your goals!

This is where committing to yourself and believing in yourself come into your vision. See everything in your world starts with energy. When it comes to ENVISION SUCCESS, you have to create the energy you need to be successful and that all starts with your mindset!

Finding yourself has everything to do with your mentality. Start to see yourself as worthy, confident and smart. If you are seriously involved with changing your life, your thoughts are going to be what starts the change.  Get out of your comfort zone and go after whatever it is you want in life. Think positive, focus on yourself and ENVISION SUCCESS!!

Until next time,

Marc Magliaro

TO PURCHASE ENVISION SUCCESS GEAR VISIT:

ENVISION-SUCCESS.COM  

Twitter: Envision_ES

Instagram: Envision Success

 

 

 

Eliminate the Monday Mindset

For many of us working our 40 hour week, Monday is tough. Tough to be excited about. Tough to get through. Tough to cope with the fact that it’s only the beginning of a long week. I’m writing to tell you that it doesn’t have to be this way.

 

Let me say this first, I understand the Monday mindset. I used to hate Mondays too. I hated them because I hated my job at the time. I felt like there was nothing to be excited about and nothing to look forward to. Each Monday, I started the day groaning and ended every night with a long sigh now that I had finished day one of five.

 

Let’s talk about the work you’re doing. If you absolutely hate it that much that no matter what day it is, you still hate your job, find a way out. That doesn’t mean an excuse to miss or taking 15 bathroom breaks throughout the day. No, find a way to change your job. Even if you work a 40 hour week, you have 128 other hours to research a new place to spend 40 hours a week. If your research comes up with nothing, or you don’t know where to look, seriously consider going to a Life Coach like myself or anybody in your area. We are trained to help in circumstances like this. If you don’t want to research or go to a Life Coach, consider reaching out to a mentor on the matter of switching jobs. If none of those work, a talent agent is often a good choice as well. No matter which route you choose, educate yourself on the decision that’s about to be made. Weigh out the pros and cons of every possible outcome of this decision.

 

Now if you like your job, but don’t like Mondays please read on. The Monday mindset hits everybody with a concrete schedule. It’s nothing to be ashamed of, but we can combat this mindset to make 52 days each year much nicer.

 

Your first step is to appreciate what you have. Appreciation decreases stress and that alone could change your MM (Monday mindset). Next, consider what you’re looking forward to. WRITE THIS DOWN. Being able to see what you’re looking forward to will help you make it through the day. I also encourage you to write down something you look forward to each day. Then each hour if it’s possible. When I was doing a job I hated I started writing down what I looked forward to each day and each hour of that day. I usually looked forward to going home to hit baseballs. Each hour (you’re going to think this is silly) I looked forward to drinking a half cup of juice. I was working a job delivering cleaning supplies in a box truck. Each hour that went by I would pour juice into my thermos top and sip on it. I couldn’t tell you how much that changed how I thought of my job. Each day I knew I could break my day down into 8 half juice cups to sip on. This completely altered the rest of my days working for that company.

 

Now we move on to something more difficult. Getting to work. Your MM could categorized into a variety of emotions. Sadness, happiness, excitement, anger, etc. Watch what happens when you change your emotion to “DRIVEN”, “FOCUSED”, AND “DEDICATED”. This is a something that is practiced. But think about making your Mondays your most productive day and see how much nicer the rest of the week is. Being driven, focused, and dedicate on your Monday (likely your toughest day) will make the day go by quicker for you mentally. You will be so focused on being productive that your worst day will fly by. On top of that, you will have accomplished more which will make the rest of your days nicer too. So instead of coming in on Monday feeling some type of negative emotion, work to become the hardest worker there.

 

If you’re sitting in your office today thinking about how much you hate Mondays I want you to start with this blog and see if you can make a change to your MM. I’m going to have more detail for you in the future, but for now this is a great start. 

Til next time,

John

 

Twitter: @infinityintuit

Instagram: @infinityintuition

Facebook: Infinity Intuition