More Tuba Lessons Today

More Tuba Lessons Today...

No, I don’t play the tuba. I’m not learning to play the tuba either. The “tuba” is my metaphor for the skills I don’t yet have but am determined to acquire through practice. Don’t worry—there’s no need to call the police for disturbing the peace. I’m quietly refining my livestream videos, an essential tool for sharing our mission to bring outdoor Pickleball to our community.

Trial and error has its merits, but learning from the pros is even better—so that’s exactly what I’m doing. Living in a remote area posed a challenge, but I found a solution: virtual instruction. Before I step into my cyber classroom later this month, I’m immersing myself in the methods top YouTubers use to amplify their voices.

Success, to me, is measured by the results, and I’m proud to be part of a strong team with deep roots in the community we serve. My goal is for these YouTube videos to raise awareness about our group, Pickleball Iowa County, and inspire followers to support our efforts through donations.

Today, I’ll be doing some random livestreams, sharing my metaphorical “tuba playing” with Facebook friends and family.

Have a great day!

Philanthropy Plans Modified

Philanthropy Plans Modified

It’s no secret I have a lot on my plate right now. So far, 100% of the proceeds from the sale of my books have been donated to our local Children’s Hospital in Iowa City. That support will continue with the release of The Adventures of Castaway Wilson on star date 03.17.2025.

What’s changing is the beneficiary for the project that follows Castaway Wilson. Yep, I’m at it again! This time, the proceeds from Field of Pickleball Dreams will help us reach our community FUNdraising goals. I say “fun” because that’s the mood around our town—everyone is pitching in. My gifts happen to be writing and publishing, and it makes perfect sense to me that writing about our fun times together will inspire others to join us.

I’ll be setting up interviews with community leaders and volunteers as we document our journey. Stay tuned as our pickleball story unfolds.

Have a great day!

Pickleball Progress in Iowa County: Leadership Team Steps Up

Pickleball Progress in Iowa County: Leadership Team Steps Up

Exciting news for pickleball enthusiasts in Iowa County! Our leadership team has agreed to participate in Facebook livestream interviews, sharing updates and energy with the community. If all goes as planned, outdoor pickleball will soon have a fantastic new venue—right next to my own backyard.

Last night, the team met at Casa Tequila on the Williamsburg town square to discuss plans for building four outdoor pickleball courts at the Williamsburg Recreation Center. The updates are promising: donations have surpassed the $10,000 mark! Laura Saucer, Iowa County Development Coordinator, shared that this milestone has exceeded her expectations, especially during such a busy time of year.

As for me, my work schedule has shifted due to business needs, but I'm balancing it all. I'll be working today and playing tennis with my league teammates tonight. On my days off—Thursday and Friday—I’ll connect with Jodi, Mindi, and Mary to arrange live interviews.

You won’t want to miss seeing these inspiring ladies in action. They’re bringing energy, enthusiasm, and innovative ideas to make our community even better. Tune in to the livestreams to discover what’s in store for Iowa County.

Have a fantastic day!

The 7yr Old Me is Jumping for Joy

 

The 7-Year-Old Me is Jumping for Joy

Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that the futuristic world I watched on Star Trek would one day come to life before my eyes. Yet here we are. Alberta—my artificial intelligence editor, assistant, and life coach—is working tirelessly behind the scenes to help me get things done.

And let me tell you, my "getting things done" list is massive. So massive, in fact, that a typical person might throw in the towel. But giving up has never been an option for me. I decided long ago to stay in the race, trusting that during my darkest times, God would send the help I needed to succeed.

Tonight, our pickleball committee is meeting at 6 PM at Casa Tequila on the town square. We’re discussing plans to bring four outdoor pickleball courts to our community. Williamsburg continues to shine as a hub for exceptional leadership, and we’re blessed to have Jodi and Mindi guiding our group.

One of our lead fundraisers carries a name revered across our state. This year, a young athlete with the same last name took center stage at Kinnick Stadium as a walk-on with no scholarship. His performance has been nothing short of spectacular. I’m even sharing a clip from the last game of the season, where the Iowa Hawkeyes played in a bowl game.

In a twist of fate, I met his parents in a chance encounter. “Are you related to Mary Wetjen in Williamsburg?” I asked. They smiled and confirmed they were cousins. The dad mentioned that Mary had already approached his construction company to support the new pickleball courts planned for the Williamsburg Rec Center—right next door to my home. Meanwhile, the mom revealed that Nicole, the Rec Center’s director, is her sister.

It’s no wonder we jokingly told our kids to be careful who they dated when we first moved to Williamsburg 13 years ago—everyone here is connected!

Tonight, we’ll bring our family and extended community together to check on our progress. I’ll also share how Alberta is helping me draw attention to our efforts to make Williamsburg even better. I suspect Alberta will suggest involving our community leaders in a Facebook livestream to share updates and rally more support.

Our town mayor already gave us a nod by including a mention of our project on the back of the water bills sent out recently. I’d like to thank all the volunteers for coming together to make this happen.

Tonight, I’ll also introduce some marketing ideas Alberta shared with me during a recent cyber chat. I’m excited to see what we can accomplish as a team.

Have a great day, and let’s keep building something extraordinary!

YouTube video featuring local hero, Kaden Wetjen

The Caveman Routine Explained to Carlos, My Tennis Teammate

 Captain's Vlog

Star Date 01.13.2025

The Caveman Routine Explained to Carlos, My Tennis Teammate

Good morning, Carlos, and hello to my friends, family, and followers. Thank you for showing up on my newly formed Facebook Livestreams. Your feedback has been invaluable, helping me improve so my vlogs don’t feel like nails on a chalkboard.

Before diving into Carlos’s question about my routine, I want to welcome newcomers. My hope is that you’ll keep coming back, even though some parts of my routine and vlogs are raw and unedited. Your presence brings me immense joy. Recently, Carlos asked about my daily routine during a livestream, but I couldn’t answer right away as the vlog was already running long. Today, I’m taking the time to walk Carlos—and anyone else interested—through my routine.

My Morning Routine

I wake up without an alarm. On days I wake at a desired time, I head to the bathroom and turn on a bright light as I’m usually up before dawn. My goal is to achieve “blue zone” sleep, but that doesn’t always happen. If I’m dealing with significant challenges, I sometimes fall into the “red zone,” as tracked by my smartwatch. This data helps me make adjustments as I incorporate new elements into my routine, such as my Captain’s Vlog.

Prayer and Gratitude
My mornings begin with prayer. I thank God for granting me another day to serve His will. Then, I say a simple yet profound prayer I found online: “Oh Jesus, I surrender myself to You, take care of everything.” I repeat this ten times as a reminder to trust in God’s plan.

Next, I say the “Our Father” prayer that Jesus taught, followed by the “Hail Mary,” which originates from the Bible. My pastor encourages saying it three times daily, so I’ve added it to my routine. Finally, I let God know I’m ready for whatever He has planned.

After prayer, I turn to my gratitude journal. Even on challenging days, there’s always something to be thankful for.

Sleep Tracking
This morning, I woke up at 5:03 a.m. after 6 hours and 46 minutes in bed, with 5 hours and 53 minutes of actual sleep. My sleep quality was rated as “fair.” Lately, I’ve been taking Ashwagandha to improve my restfulness and return to the “blue zone.”

Diet and Daily Activities
On workdays, I follow a 2MAD (two meals a day) schedule, eating breakfast and dinner with no snacks in between. On days off, I typically do OMAD (one meal a day). My meals consist of natural foods like burgers, steaks, cottage cheese, bacon, and eggs.

I’ve also adjusted my supplement stack, detailed in my book Live Long and Prosper. Recently, I stopped taking niacin due to skin rashes, which cleared up after discontinuation.

Fitness and Tennis
Tennis is a significant part of my routine. On Wednesdays, I practice doubles with my teammates for two hours, rarely sitting down. Saturdays are for league matches or intense cardio tennis sessions followed by doubles. My secret to avoiding fatigue lies in my carefully refined daily habits.

Evening and Downtime
TV time with my wife is limited to about an hour in the evening. We often end the day by watching a series or movie before heading to bed between 8:45 and 9:30 p.m.

Writing and vlogging projects are broken into 15-minute increments, with 15-minute breaks every two hours. This keeps me productive without burning out.

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Final Thoughts

Carlos, I hope this answers your question. I may vlog about my routine on my next day off, Wednesday. My newest focus is refining my vlogging schedule, while keeping an eye on the March 17, 2025 release of The Adventures of Castaway Wilson.

To everyone reading this, routines are essential. Some serve us well, while others may need adjustment. Take time to analyze your habits and make small, deliberate changes. One of my most dreaded daily choices is jumping into a cold shower before the hot water kicks in. However, this builds discipline and floods my brain with endorphins for hours.

If you’re unsure how to start your own transformation, begin with a small challenge like this. Thanks for joining me today, and as always, have a great day!

I Signed Up for Another Challenge

 Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?

First off, I just finished watching myself on a tennis video sent by my league captain, Jim. Jim is first class all the way—every day, every time, without fail, no exceptions. He is one of the top fans of Essential Tennis, founded in 2008 by Ian Westermann. Each week, Jim sends in videos of us playing, mostly doubles, and Ian critiques them. I finally watched the critique this morning that Jim sent last Monday. Ian was intrigued by my name, Mulligan, as my teammates call me. It's tough seeing yourself mess up in front of others. Despite playing tennis for 50 years, I still have so much to learn. Ian's critiques are masterful, and I hope to implement his suggestions to contribute more effectively in future matches.

Essential Tennis Critique

Next up is challenge number two: the YouTube 1K Challenge. This one is also a bit intimidating. I have a feeling I might be the oldest member of the group, led by a YouTube pro with over 20 years of experience. I got hooked after watching an interview about courage. If you've been following my livestreams, you know I have guts, even if I fumble in front of my viewers. For me, real courage is about never giving up—no matter how bad things seem. I commit to being at least 1% better every day. That’s why I’m all in. Stay tuned. Things are going to get crazy.

If you want to join my Caveman Mastermind tribe, email cavemantransformationchallenge@gmail.com, and you’re in. It’s a safe space for people like me who are willing to be vulnerable and share without shame or judgment.

Have a great day!

Clip from Essential Tennis

Overcoming

Overcoming

Stardate 01.11.2025

Hello, world!

I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to my family, friends, coworkers, teammates, and the incredible readers and listeners of my books and audiobooks. I wouldn’t be where I am today without your unwavering support and encouragement—especially during my darkest times.

For those who may not appreciate my quirky ways, I hope you can understand: I’m simply letting my inner 7-year-old run free. That kid who had no worries, sitting cross-legged in front of his parents’ tiny color TV, mesmerized by Spock on Star Trek. I loved how everyone got along. I loved the adventure of exploring strange new worlds.

And now, I’m living the dream. I’m doing things that only Gene Roddenberry once imagined. That dream is no longer science fiction—it’s our reality. We are living in the world I once watched as a wide-eyed preteen.

This brings me to today’s vlog: a video message recounting a rather nerve-wracking day swimming with sharks circling Alcatraz. Overcoming is about facing fears head-on and stepping out of your comfort zone.

After I record the vlog, I’ll post a link for you to watch. Please feel free to share it with a friend who could use a little inspiration. And if you’re looking for a safe space to connect, join Caveman Mastermind, an intimate virtual community where readers and listeners come together to share their thoughts and feelings in a judgment-free zone.

My hope is that you’ll find solutions to the challenges you’re facing in this complex world.

Have a great day, and remember—Live Long and Prosper.

Click here for vlog