Heard someone say this statement,
"Life is Messy."
Even when we want things to go well on our path we still have to realize that there will be steps along the way that are not pleasant. It's how you deal with those messes that determines your happiness.
Pete Maravich Assembly Center
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Three things each person should do
1. A person must be authentic, no masks.
2. Act with Honesty and Intergrity, don't be a cheater.
3. Be truthful in all things, even when we sin and make human mistakes
2. Act with Honesty and Intergrity, don't be a cheater.
3. Be truthful in all things, even when we sin and make human mistakes
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Great story about Michael Jordan
This is from James Malinchak on one of his recent emails. Mr. Malinchak does a great job of explaining Jordan's discipline and ability to prepare.
Picture this...its Game 7 of the NBA Finals and your team is playing on the road at your opponents place. There's 00:01 second left on the clock and your team is losing by 1 point. You're at the free-throw line to shoot two shots - this is literally win or lose time and the ball is in your hands. If you make both free-throws, your team wins their first ever championship. If you miss both, your team loses the championship.
How would you feel?
Would you be nervous? Would you be distracted by all of the opposing fans screaming, stomping and waving their hands trying to rattle you and break your concentration? How do you handle an uncomfortable situation like this?
That's the exact situation I posed to basketball legend Michael Jordan when I spent 4-days with him. Me, Michael and about eight others were sitting around talking and I asked him that exact question after describing the above scenario: "Michael, how do you handle an uncomfortable situation like this, whether it's in basketball, business or life?" After asking it, you could literally hear a pin drop as we waited for MJ's answer. I thought he would say something like he would try and focus on saying positive affirmations, thinking positive thoughts, etc.
However, Michael replied by saying, "That's easy! That situation wouldn't bother me because I would have already disciplined myself to make sure I had already prepared for success in that, or any other situation!"
WOW!
Not the answer I was expecting but it's very profound when you think about those two words that most would simply skim over: (1) Disciplined; and (2) Prepared.
Most people are not DISCIPLINED to PREPARE themselves for success! It was stated best by Sun Tsu in The Art of War: "Every battle is won before it is fought!" Every speaking, writing, training and coaching business-battle should be won BEFORE you encounter it.
Two key words: DISCIPLINE and PREPARE! I've found those two words are what separate the successful person from the mediocre person.
Picture this...its Game 7 of the NBA Finals and your team is playing on the road at your opponents place. There's 00:01 second left on the clock and your team is losing by 1 point. You're at the free-throw line to shoot two shots - this is literally win or lose time and the ball is in your hands. If you make both free-throws, your team wins their first ever championship. If you miss both, your team loses the championship.
How would you feel?
Would you be nervous? Would you be distracted by all of the opposing fans screaming, stomping and waving their hands trying to rattle you and break your concentration? How do you handle an uncomfortable situation like this?
That's the exact situation I posed to basketball legend Michael Jordan when I spent 4-days with him. Me, Michael and about eight others were sitting around talking and I asked him that exact question after describing the above scenario: "Michael, how do you handle an uncomfortable situation like this, whether it's in basketball, business or life?" After asking it, you could literally hear a pin drop as we waited for MJ's answer. I thought he would say something like he would try and focus on saying positive affirmations, thinking positive thoughts, etc.
However, Michael replied by saying, "That's easy! That situation wouldn't bother me because I would have already disciplined myself to make sure I had already prepared for success in that, or any other situation!"
WOW!
Not the answer I was expecting but it's very profound when you think about those two words that most would simply skim over: (1) Disciplined; and (2) Prepared.
Most people are not DISCIPLINED to PREPARE themselves for success! It was stated best by Sun Tsu in The Art of War: "Every battle is won before it is fought!" Every speaking, writing, training and coaching business-battle should be won BEFORE you encounter it.
Two key words: DISCIPLINE and PREPARE! I've found those two words are what separate the successful person from the mediocre person.
Monday, February 23, 2009
The Power of Self Discipline
"THE POWER OF DISCIPLINE" by Brian Tracy
“Self-discipline is the key to personal greatness. It is the magic quality that opens all doors for you, and makes everything else possible. With self-discipline, the average person can rise as far and as fast as his talents and intelligence can take him. But without self-discipline, a person with every blessing of background, education and opportunity will seldom rise above mediocrity.” – Brian Tracy
Why are some people more successful than others? Why do some people make more money, live happier lives and accomplish much more in the same number of years than the great majority?
I started out in life with few advantages. I did not graduate from high school. I worked at menial jobs. I had limited education, limited skills and a limited future.
And then I began asking, “Why are some people more successful than others?” This question changed my life.
Over the years, I have read thousands of books and articles on the subjects of success and achievement. It seems that the reasons for these accomplishments have been discussed and written about for more than two thousand years, in every conceivable way. One quality that most philosophers, teachers and experts agree on is the importance of self-discipline. As Al Tomsik summarized it years ago, “Success is tons of discipline.”
Some years ago, I attended a conference in Washington. It was the lunch break and I was eating at a nearby food fair. The area was crowded and I sat down at the last open table by myself, even though it was a table for four. A few minutes later, an older gentleman and a younger woman who was his assistant came along carrying trays of food, obviously looking for a place to sit. With plenty of room at my table, I immediately arose and invited the older gentleman to join me. He was hesitant, but I insisted. Finally, thanking me as he sat down, we began to chat over lunch.
It turned out that his name was Kop Kopmeyer. As it happened, I immediately knew who he was. He was a legend in the field of success and achievement. Kop Kopmeyer had written four large books, each of which contained 250 success principles that he had derived from more than fifty years of research and study. I had read all four books from cover to cover, more than once.
After we had chatted for awhile, I asked him the question that many people in this situation would ask, “Of all the one thousand success principles that you have discovered, which do you think is the most important?”
He smiled at me with a twinkle in his eye, as if he had been asked this question many times, and replied, without hesitating, “The most important success principle of all was stated by Thomas Huxley many years ago. He said, 'Do what you should do, when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not.'”
He went on to say, “There are 999 other success principles that I have found in my reading and experience, but without self-discipline, none of them work.”
Taken from Simple Truths website to pass out to my players
“Self-discipline is the key to personal greatness. It is the magic quality that opens all doors for you, and makes everything else possible. With self-discipline, the average person can rise as far and as fast as his talents and intelligence can take him. But without self-discipline, a person with every blessing of background, education and opportunity will seldom rise above mediocrity.” – Brian Tracy
Why are some people more successful than others? Why do some people make more money, live happier lives and accomplish much more in the same number of years than the great majority?
I started out in life with few advantages. I did not graduate from high school. I worked at menial jobs. I had limited education, limited skills and a limited future.
And then I began asking, “Why are some people more successful than others?” This question changed my life.
Over the years, I have read thousands of books and articles on the subjects of success and achievement. It seems that the reasons for these accomplishments have been discussed and written about for more than two thousand years, in every conceivable way. One quality that most philosophers, teachers and experts agree on is the importance of self-discipline. As Al Tomsik summarized it years ago, “Success is tons of discipline.”
Some years ago, I attended a conference in Washington. It was the lunch break and I was eating at a nearby food fair. The area was crowded and I sat down at the last open table by myself, even though it was a table for four. A few minutes later, an older gentleman and a younger woman who was his assistant came along carrying trays of food, obviously looking for a place to sit. With plenty of room at my table, I immediately arose and invited the older gentleman to join me. He was hesitant, but I insisted. Finally, thanking me as he sat down, we began to chat over lunch.
It turned out that his name was Kop Kopmeyer. As it happened, I immediately knew who he was. He was a legend in the field of success and achievement. Kop Kopmeyer had written four large books, each of which contained 250 success principles that he had derived from more than fifty years of research and study. I had read all four books from cover to cover, more than once.
After we had chatted for awhile, I asked him the question that many people in this situation would ask, “Of all the one thousand success principles that you have discovered, which do you think is the most important?”
He smiled at me with a twinkle in his eye, as if he had been asked this question many times, and replied, without hesitating, “The most important success principle of all was stated by Thomas Huxley many years ago. He said, 'Do what you should do, when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not.'”
He went on to say, “There are 999 other success principles that I have found in my reading and experience, but without self-discipline, none of them work.”
Taken from Simple Truths website to pass out to my players
Saturday, February 21, 2009
John Croyle
These are notes from a talk from John Croyle who runs the Big Oaks Children home in Gadsden, AL
Four things he tells the kids that come to his ranch (www.bigoakranch.org)
1. I love you
2. I will never leave you
3. I will stick with you
4. There are boundaries
They all ask do you really love me?
The mark of greatness-loving someone else
What a kid hears repeatedly he will eventually believe it
Do you impact or inspire
Four options you have with kids and your gifts
1. Invest
2. Spend
3. Waste
4. Hoard
The first has eternal value the rest have no eternal value
Croyle wants his kids that come and live at the ranch to be able to say "There was a day I knew he believed in me."
Kids also need:
Emotional support
Trust
Security
Four things he tells the kids that come to his ranch (www.bigoakranch.org)
1. I love you
2. I will never leave you
3. I will stick with you
4. There are boundaries
They all ask do you really love me?
The mark of greatness-loving someone else
What a kid hears repeatedly he will eventually believe it
Do you impact or inspire
Four options you have with kids and your gifts
1. Invest
2. Spend
3. Waste
4. Hoard
The first has eternal value the rest have no eternal value
Croyle wants his kids that come and live at the ranch to be able to say "There was a day I knew he believed in me."
Kids also need:
Emotional support
Trust
Security
Thursday, February 19, 2009
German Proverb
"When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; When health is lost, something is lost; When character is lost, all is lost!"
German Proverb
German Proverb
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Quote by Micheal Jordan
“You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them.” Michael Jordan
Most of the information I have read about Micheal Jordan was that he constantly worked hard enough to get ready for the big moment. He knew it took hours and hours to prepare to get ready for that moment to shine.
We talk to our players all the time about setting themselves up for success by how hard they work in the classroom and on the court.
How much do you expect of yourself?
Most of the information I have read about Micheal Jordan was that he constantly worked hard enough to get ready for the big moment. He knew it took hours and hours to prepare to get ready for that moment to shine.
We talk to our players all the time about setting themselves up for success by how hard they work in the classroom and on the court.
How much do you expect of yourself?
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
6 ways to embitter your children
This is off the All Pro website:
Six ways to embitter your children
Author William Hendrickson suggests there are at least six ways a father can embitter his children:
1. Over-protecting his kids
2. Favoring one child over another
3. Constantly discouraging his children
4. Not letting his children be unique individuals
5. Neglecting his kids
6. Bitter words and physical cruelty
Go home tonight and ask each of your children which of the 6 you could improve most on and listen to what they have to say. You may not mean to be over-protective or playing favorites, but perception is reality to kids.
Don't let the fruit of bitterness grow on your family's tree. Nip it in the bud.
Six ways to embitter your children
Author William Hendrickson suggests there are at least six ways a father can embitter his children:
1. Over-protecting his kids
2. Favoring one child over another
3. Constantly discouraging his children
4. Not letting his children be unique individuals
5. Neglecting his kids
6. Bitter words and physical cruelty
Go home tonight and ask each of your children which of the 6 you could improve most on and listen to what they have to say. You may not mean to be over-protective or playing favorites, but perception is reality to kids.
Don't let the fruit of bitterness grow on your family's tree. Nip it in the bud.
Leadership
"Skill in the art of communication is crucial to a leader's success. He can accomplish nothing unless he can communicate effectively."
Norman Allen
How true! Have you ever noticed certain leaders have that unique ability to communicate their thoughts and directions clearly and effectively? Then there are those that try hard to communicate, but for whatever the reason don't have the gift to communicate their thoughts.
I try to study the great communicators and find little secrets and ways to learn how to make myself a better communicator.
It usually comes to being clued into the audience and if they are listening. The other thing is can you get your listeners to move once you give communication?
Norman Allen
How true! Have you ever noticed certain leaders have that unique ability to communicate their thoughts and directions clearly and effectively? Then there are those that try hard to communicate, but for whatever the reason don't have the gift to communicate their thoughts.
I try to study the great communicators and find little secrets and ways to learn how to make myself a better communicator.
It usually comes to being clued into the audience and if they are listening. The other thing is can you get your listeners to move once you give communication?
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Chuck Swindoll quote on leadership
"Anyone who influences others is a leader."
Chuck Swindoll
I love to read and listen to Chuck Swindoll whenever I get the chance.
Lately I have been downloading his podcasts.
You can go to www.insightforliving.com to download his both sermons and his Bible studies.
Chuck Swindoll
I love to read and listen to Chuck Swindoll whenever I get the chance.
Lately I have been downloading his podcasts.
You can go to www.insightforliving.com to download his both sermons and his Bible studies.
john Wooden quote
"many things are essential to have peace of mind. One of the most important is faith, which cannot be acquired without prayer. — John Wooden
Saturday, February 14, 2009
"Ten Questions God is not going to ask a Coach"
"Ten Questions God is not going to ask a Coach"
By Dave Bliss
*Dave covered these ten questions at the FCA meeting for coaches at the NCAA Final Four in San Antonio in 2008.
1. God will not ask how many wins you had, but rather how many souls you saved?
2. God will not ask you how much money you made, but rather how did you use this money he gave you to further the Kingdom?
3. God will not ask you how many tournaments or trophies you won, but rather if you compromised your character to win them?
4. God will not ask how popular you were, but rather if you pridefully sacrificed your important relationships to gain the approval of people you never knew.
5. God will not ask if you were a head coach or an assistant, but rather did you use the talent He gave you to the best of your ability every day, without complaint.
6. God will not ask about your car, your clothes, or your house, but rather have you prepared for eternity without any of them?
7. God will not ask you what they said about you on ESPN after a win, but rather what He will read about you on Judgment Day.
8. God will not ask you what you got out of coaching, but rather how you used this gift to encourage other coaches.
9. God will not ask you why you sinned, but rather did you accept His provision for your sins, His son Jesus Christ?
10. God will not ask how it took so long sot sek salvation, but rather welcome you to a mansiion in Heaven.
*All coaches are looking for an EDGE! the EDGE comes from developing an close relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
By Dave Bliss
*Dave covered these ten questions at the FCA meeting for coaches at the NCAA Final Four in San Antonio in 2008.
1. God will not ask how many wins you had, but rather how many souls you saved?
2. God will not ask you how much money you made, but rather how did you use this money he gave you to further the Kingdom?
3. God will not ask you how many tournaments or trophies you won, but rather if you compromised your character to win them?
4. God will not ask how popular you were, but rather if you pridefully sacrificed your important relationships to gain the approval of people you never knew.
5. God will not ask if you were a head coach or an assistant, but rather did you use the talent He gave you to the best of your ability every day, without complaint.
6. God will not ask about your car, your clothes, or your house, but rather have you prepared for eternity without any of them?
7. God will not ask you what they said about you on ESPN after a win, but rather what He will read about you on Judgment Day.
8. God will not ask you what you got out of coaching, but rather how you used this gift to encourage other coaches.
9. God will not ask you why you sinned, but rather did you accept His provision for your sins, His son Jesus Christ?
10. God will not ask how it took so long sot sek salvation, but rather welcome you to a mansiion in Heaven.
*All coaches are looking for an EDGE! the EDGE comes from developing an close relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Great Quote on Grace
“The foundational principle of grace is that God’s kingdom priorities arecompletely inverted from those of the world. God’s plan is to magnify Hissaving mercy and grace not through human strength but rather through itsweakness…The gospel of grace would remind us that we can’t be used until weoperate not out of our own strength but in weakness, as we depend on Christ’s Spirit to show the reality of the cross.”
Paul Kooistra
Paul Kooistra
"Celebrate Growing Older"
Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio "To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words' In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words' In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."
Monday, February 2, 2009
Today's All Pro Dad
Go to Allprodad.com to sign up for their email. It is one of the best I have seen on parenting.
Character trumps intelligence
Presley Edwards, the top man at A.G. Edwards thirty years ago, said, "In order to succeed in business you need two things - fifty times more start-up money that you think you'll need and the smartest people you can possibly hire."
Presley's son Ben, the recently retired A.G. Edwards' CEO, mused, "I still agree with my dad's first point, but I'd have to adjust the second one. These days we can hire all the smart young people we want. We have to look a whole lot harder for character. The temptations are so much bigger and the moral ability to handle them seems so much more limited."Character trumps intelligence. So how do you develop character in your children? Exhibit character yourself. Life lessons are caught rather than taught. Be honest. Keep your word. Look out for the welfare of others. And point out role models for your children to emulate.
Character trumps intelligence
Presley Edwards, the top man at A.G. Edwards thirty years ago, said, "In order to succeed in business you need two things - fifty times more start-up money that you think you'll need and the smartest people you can possibly hire."
Presley's son Ben, the recently retired A.G. Edwards' CEO, mused, "I still agree with my dad's first point, but I'd have to adjust the second one. These days we can hire all the smart young people we want. We have to look a whole lot harder for character. The temptations are so much bigger and the moral ability to handle them seems so much more limited."Character trumps intelligence. So how do you develop character in your children? Exhibit character yourself. Life lessons are caught rather than taught. Be honest. Keep your word. Look out for the welfare of others. And point out role models for your children to emulate.
Vince Lombardi quotes
Quotes from the great football coach Vince Lombardi
"The measure of who we are is what we do with what we have."
"Confidence is contagious. So is lack of confidence. "
"Fatigue makes cowards of us all. "
"It's easy to have faith in yourself and have discipline when you're a winner, when you're number one. What you got to have is faith and discipline when you're not a winner. "
"Once you agree upon the price you and your family must pay for success, it enables you to ignore the minor hurts, the opponent's pressure, and the temporary failures. "
"The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor."
"The measure of who we are is what we do with what we have."
"Confidence is contagious. So is lack of confidence. "
"Fatigue makes cowards of us all. "
"It's easy to have faith in yourself and have discipline when you're a winner, when you're number one. What you got to have is faith and discipline when you're not a winner. "
"Once you agree upon the price you and your family must pay for success, it enables you to ignore the minor hurts, the opponent's pressure, and the temporary failures. "
"The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor."
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