Thanks to my two partners Jared and Denny, I recently joined the masses of early adopters and became a proud iPad owner. Big shocker, I think it's an outstanding device that will change how we do things.

The iPad is so useful in fact that I think that's the biggest problem. It's another device that keeps me in perpetual "connectedness" with all things digital. At what point does this become a detriment to my attention span, productivity and physical well-being? I don't want to be more comfortable working in front of a screen than reading a new book or having an engaging dinner conversation, yet sometimes I feel that way.

This reminds me of a great scene in the movie Wall-E. Remember the spaceship all of the humans are on in the "future"? They are all plugged into these little pods and glued to a screen 24/7. They all get fat, no one uses the swimming pools and no one even talks face to face anymore. It's like they are zombies.

I feel more and more like the zombies in Wall-E every day. I wake up to an iPhone, exercise to a DVD, work in front of a screen 8-12 hours, then come home and regretfully spend at least a couple more hours in front of a screen of some sort.

Of course, this isn't the iPad's fault. I'm responsible for how I spend my time each day. I just find it amazing that technology is at a level where people have to purposefully make time to unplug and do things that are truly worthwhile in life.

Today I'm making a decision to try and unplug for at least 4-6 hours per day. No screens of any sort, except for the Kindle because I can read books on it without being disturbed. On weekends I hope it will be more like 8-10 hours. The iPad rocks, but nothing that creates lasting happiness can be found there.

Few people know that my career as a "web guy" or self-proclaimed geek is a fallback from the REAL career I wanted to pursue: being a professional basketball player.

Long story short, my DNA had different plans for me, and I never had an opportunity to play basketball for a living. However, my love for the sport still gives me an edge over most anyone come this time of year, in filling out my NCAA tournament brackets.

I bleed blue and am a die-hard University of Kentucky fan. Since this is the first time in 17 years we won't be part of the tournament, I felt it was appropriate to share some secrets about how to win your office bracket pool and make the right picks.

I predicted 57 of the 63 games last year in the tournament. 2 of those losses were due to the faith I had in my Wildcats to pull a couple of upsets. With a little research, you can pick most of the winners this year. Here are a few keys that should be a huge help in picking this year's big winner and any "cinderellas":

1. Go with great guard play.

Guards dominate the tournament ... especially point guards. Point guards are floor leaders, they make their teammates better and they don't make many mistakes. Watch out for any team that has 2-3 really great guards, and can shoot the 3 well. They will most likely be the difference in a close game.

2. Pick teams that don't commit turnovers.

Teams that do well in the tournament simply don't make a habit of turning the ball over. Look at each team's average turnovers per game, and don't pick anyone that averages over 15 unless they are superior in nearly every other statistical category. The most successful tournament teams know how to take care of the ball for 40 minutes.

3. Can they shoot free throws?

There will be lots of close games in the tournament. With the exception of the Memphis team from last year, usually teams that do well must hit over 70% of their free throws on average. Be sure to double check each team's free throw shooting, along with the individual attempts and percentages for the biggest scorers. At some point it will be a factor, and your picks have to be able to hit clutch free throws when called upon.

4. What have they done lately?

Momentum is huge in college basketball, because so little separates each team.  Research how each team has performed over the last 10 games. This is not always full-proof, but for me if I can't decide on a team it can come down to how they performed over the last 10 games. More times than not, teams on a roll of late will be more poised to make a run.

5. Experience matters.

Especially when picking an underdog, it's important to look at the team's overall experience in the tournament and in games played. Usually the cinderella teams have 4-5 really crucial seniors that make contributions to their team and provide great leadership. If a team is over-matched in every other statistical category, senior leadership could be the only thing that gives them a chance to get a win.

Lastly, keep in mind that any team can win any game on any given night. There is no dominant one team in college basketball. Don't be afraid to go with your gut and predict upsets that make sense. That's what makes this time of year the most exciting in sports.

Best of luck to you this year in dominating the office pool!

I can't help but be excited about this time of year. It's a lot of fun. However, if you end up wasting (all) your time being lazy and getting fat over the break, you will indeed regret it. So I present 4 ways to make the very most of your thanksgiving, while still enjoying plenty of downtime.

1. Get Organized

Find one big room or project that you can clean out and organize from top to bottom. Throw stuff away, donate to Goodwill and bask in the unique feeling of accomplishment that comes only from a clean slate. For me, the project will be my office. I can't wait!

2. Read a Non-fiction Book

Find something you are interested in and get better at it. This does not have to be related to your work, but the book does have to be non-fiction. Learn how to build something, or learn about new technology, or better yet how to become a better person. It does not matter, just learn something of value and look to apply that knowledge in the near future.

Over the holidays, How to Win Friends and Influence People is always a great book to read again or for the first time. I will be reading Mobile Web Design by Cameron Moll and listening to Tribes by Seth Godin.

3. Reflect, then Take Action

Make it a point to spend time alone, without any distractions, reflecting on the past several months. Both personally and professionally, how could you have done better? What can you be thankful for? And most importantly, what decisions can you make or goals can you set that will have a positive impact on your next several months?

Aside from personal reflection, I love to spend time thinking about work with a "big picture" mindset. I focus on how we can do better creative work, how I want to spend my time and how I can interact with our team and clients better. For me this is a great way to visualize the next several months and how they will play out, then get fired up about it.

And by the way, if you are NOT fired up when you visualize the next several months in your life, make sure you write down the steps necessary to change it.

4. Have a good attitude

Hanging with extended family for long periods of time is not always the easiest or most comfortable thing to do. However, being a team player and having a great attitude is a difference maker. Try to be active in conversation and help out with food, decorations or shopping even though lying lifeless on the couch is much more appealing.

For many of you this may be easy, but being an introvert myself, they are things I can struggle with. The first 3 things are easier for me, but the fourth thing is the most important.

Do these 4 things and you are guaranteed to feel better about this week when you get back to the daily routine on Monday. Have a fantastic Thanksgiving!