Coffee with Alain

Coffee with Alain discussing embracing conflict communication, how a coffee cup helped us choose our daughter's name, and Les Miserables.

If you haven't read or seen the musical Les Miserables, I highly recommend both. I've read the novel a number of times, first the unabridged version and then the abridged version a couple of times when I wanted to reread the story. I've also seen the musical a number of times and it is fantastic.

Communication Tip

Embrace conflict that can be resolved through communication. But first, learn how to effectively communicate when it comes to conflict and disputes. The better you can communicate, the better most things will be. It is essential for your relationships. (personal and work relationships) Two keys to communicating are "Communicate to be Understood" and "Listen to Understand." Work on becoming the best communicator you can become. Effective communication skills will help you in not only conflict, but in just about everything you do. Communication is the key to success.

Coffee with Alain discussing the FAA glitch and common sense to keep you safe.

FAA had a glitch in one of their systems that affects safety and thousands of flights delayed today. Will discuss flying in near future on this show.

Many "Safey Tips" and things I teach are often called common sense. They are, but the problem is that common sense is not commonly practiced. So, I'll continue to remind people how to be safe, regardless if some think it is common sense or not.

Here is the quote my friend Kevin sent that inspired this show: The man on the news said, "at the end of the day, what's going to keep you safe is common sense." Some of y'all in trouble...

Coffee with Alain discussing shoveling snow and being prepared for emergencies.

I spent the morning shoveling, and it reminded me of how many people died in the recent holiday storm that hit much of the United States. It his especially hard in upper New York and they had the most deaths out of the over 60 people who died.

Some died while shoveling and plowing due to heart attacks. Another reason we must take care of our health and be prepared physically and with the proper tools to deal with emergencies.

Be prepared with what you need for emergencies you may face where you are located. And work to be as healthy as you can and in as good of shape as you can because that will make it easier for you to respond to emergencies and do things such as shoveling.

Coffee with Alain discussing 6-year-old shooting teacher and being safe from all threats, not just the big ones.

I go on a little rant in the video because it infuriates me when gun owners are not responsible and respectful. I am not against owning firearms, but we must be RESPONSIBLE firearms owners. The person who owned the handgun the 6-year-old took to school and shot his teacher with last Friday in VA was not responsible and should face the consequences and not own a firearm again.

Safety Tip

Don't only think about safety in relation to serial killers and active shooters. Those incidents are rare. We must also think about our safety in relation to very common and very real dangers, such as auto accidents, drunk drivers, etc. To enjoy life safely, we must be aware of and take precautions against all threats that might keep us from enjoying life. It's not bad guys that ruin most people's trips to amusement parks such as Disneyworld and Universal Studios. It's heat injuries; sunburn, dehydration, etc. It's important to be aware of people, and keep yourself safe from assault, muggings, and pickpockets. But it's also important to be aware that the sun is a threat and to use sunscreen, drink plenty of water, and keep yourself from overheating. Let's keep ourselves safe from everything that can keep us from enjoying life to the fullest.

Coffee with Alain discussing the SHOT Show in Vegas, Discipline Equals Freedom by Jocko Willink, and Discipline for Success and Safety.

The SHOT Show, Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show, is a huge trade show in Las Vegas each year for the shooting, sports, hunting and outdoor industries. I'll be there with Reflex Protect at their table promoting the product and training that Reflex Protect provides in both Civilian and Law Enforcement areas.

If you happen to be there, be sure to look me up and say hello.

Discipline Equals Freedom by Jocko is a great motivating book on being more disciplined. Easy read and a good kick in the pants to get you making things happen and pursuing your goals. Discipline is the key to your success and also important for your safety. It can be practiced and improved upon, and if you need a little help, Jocko's book might be just the thing.

Coffee with Alain discussing the importance of Parents to support and encourage their kids with their goals, and to teach them to be safe as they accomplish them.

As a proud Penn Dan, I'm so proud of my daughter for accomplishing a goal she set in middle school. To go to Wharton Business School at University of Pennsylvania. She wanted it and she worked hard all through high school to get there, and now she is pursuing a dual degree B.S. in Business and a B.A. in International Studies with a minor in Korean.

The key for us to support and encourage her with this goal was that it was HER GOAL, not ours. We need to support and encourage our children with the goals that they have for themselves. And if they don't have goals, we need to help them figure out what they really want and set them.

We also need to actively teach and help our children grow into responsible adults and teach them to be safe while they go out and enjoy their lives. Teaching them to be safe when they are out on their own is very important, and one of the reasons I provide a lot of information keeping our kids safe and teaching them to be safe themselves.

Coffee with Alain discussing an important subject you must pay attention to for your safety and for your success!

That's your health! Your health is key to enjoying life, your success, and your safety. It only makes sense to take steps to keep yourself healthy and fit. It's important to have annual checkups with a doctor you trust and work with that doctor to keep yourself healthy. Make sure this includes lab work. This will allow you and your doctor to discuss risk factors and different things you can do to reduce risks and improve your health. This can include your diet, exercise and different medications. Work with your doctor to keep yourself healthy.

Diet and Exercise

Diet and exercise are important for our health and fitness. We need to eat sensibly and include regular exercise into our lives. Include strength training, aerobic exercise, and flexibility training. I'm also a big fan of high intensity interval training, such as Tabata protocol. Do what works for you, and what you can. Read books on health and fitness to help you learn and incorporate things into your lifestyle to help you achieve your health and fitness goals.

Coffee with Alain discussing Harry Potter, Universal Studios, Amok by Barry Eisler, and training for what you carry for personal defense.

Encouraging kids to read is so important. As a voracious reader myself, I helped to instill the habit with my daughter when she was younger. She became a great reader too, and she loved the Harry Potter books which led to the movies, the theme parks, and a lot of Harry Potter stuff in our house, including the cup for today.

Barry Eisler is a friend and a great author. His newest book, Amok, is a fun read that I'm really enjoying.

Safety Tip! Practice and Train with what you are going to use to defend yourself. This is even more important when you choose the responsibility to carry a firearm. You must be able to access and use anything you choose for your personal defense. Reflex Protect is a great non-lethal option, and that's why I work with and head the civilian training for the company. I'm off to do some training for a hospital later today. But it will do you no good if you can't access it or use it when needed. And this is the same for anything you might carry. Be sure to watch the video to see the best way to use the small Reflex Protect spray or similar pepper sprays or flashlights. Regardless of what you choose for personal protection, make sure you have access to it, know how to use it, and have trained with it. Hopefully your awareness and avoidance will make it so you never need it. But if you do, you want to make sure you have access and have trained so you can deploy it successfully to defend yourself and keep yourself safe.

Coffee with Alain gives a shout out to Eric O., Discusses what you shouldn't put in certain places, Columbus, OH, and intuition for safety and success.

A big thank you to Eric for the Ohio State University cup and other gifts for the show! I had a great time when I visited Columbus and hope to make it back and meet you in person one of these days.

It's not my place to tell you what to do to enjoy life, especially in your own bedroom. However, I will say that if you put things inside you that then have to be surgically removed, that's not SAFE and you shouldn't be doing it.

Safety Tip: Pay attention to your intuition, or gut feeling, you have it for a reason. Listen to your intuition, as it may save your life. Way too many victims say after the fact, "I had a feeling something was wrong." Train yourself to listen to your intuition and to take appropriate actions.

Coffee with Alain discussing Avatar, Mickey's original name, and safety and survival knowledge.

Avatar was a fantastic piece of filmmaking. Watch the video to hear other comments on the movie that I saw yesterday with my family.

Mickey Mouse trivia - Mickey's original name was going to be Mortimer Mouse until Walt's wife changed his mind to Mickey.

No course of action is guaranteed to be right in a survival situation, but the more you know, the more effective your actions can be. It is only prudent then to learn and train so you can be more effective in an emergency or survival situation. Part of this website's goal is to provide information on these topics to help you be better prepared. We want to enjoy life safely, and to do so, knowledge is key!

No course of action is guaranteed to be right in a survival situation, but the more you know, the more effective your actions can be.