Mon, January 2, 2012 | Post a Comment |
Thu, December 22, 2011 | Post a Comment | 
The 94 Year Old Skier
I was just talking to Charles McCartney of McCartney Property Managment in Aspen, Colorado and he mentioned that he had a story he wanted to tell me. It seems in one of the units his company manages there is a 94 year old man. Charles wanted to tell me that he’d gone up skiing this past Saturday with this 94 year old man and said they stayed up for several hours and did many runs—much to Charles' amazement.
Today he had a real sparkle in his eyes
I’ve known Charles along time, but today he had a real sparkle in his eyes as he told the story. He told me several other things about the event and how energizing it was to hear about this guy’s life and he said the best history is when you hear it from somebody who was there.
After he finished as he was walking away turn with smile said,
“You know, I’m going to get back in the gym and start really working out. That guy has me fired up!"
The bottom line is, when you do extraordinary things in life there is a ripple effect. There’s nothing more than pages than the excitement and energy from people who do special things. It’s part of what makes the world go around and provokes people to greatness in their own lives.
Wed, November 30, 2011 | Post a Comment | 
Tim Tebow is one of the biggest sensations in the NFL right now.The Denver Broncos were 1 and 4 when he was installed at quarterback. The analysts and critics howled. He can’t throw. He is inaccurate. He has a long wind up and release. It takes too long. He can’t make the professional throws. He doesn’t have the skills to lead a team to the Super Bowl. No team has ever won running the option attack that best suits his strengths.
There was an explosion of criticism unlike any that’s ever occurred over a first round draft pick. The verdict seemed to be unanimous—he would fail, he wouldn’t last.
Set up to fail
The team was depressed. There’s nothing worse than being in a losing locker room. They had just lost 4 out of 5 games with Tebow installed as quarterback, in spite of the fact that they have mediocre talent and almost no receivers who can catch a pass because they had even traded away Brandon Lloyd who was their best receiver one a week before Tebow took the starting job. It seemed like Tebow was set up to fail.
Then something shocking happened
When Tebow went in he asked the team just one thing, “all I ask is that you believe in me.” They were energized by his excitement and intensity. They became filled with hope and their spirits renewed. They started playing inspired ball and 5 out of the next 6 games which gave the Tebow Era a 5 and 1 record. A dramatic and immediate turnaround, once Tebow took over at quarter back.
It was astounding because they won on the road—the toughest place to win. They did the unthinkable; they beat every one of their division opponents in their own stadiums. That almost never happens, certainly not with a rookie quarterback in his first start.
What the analysts missed
They missed the fact that a players impact and performance goes way beyond his skill set. It has to do with how few errors he makes. Does he throw interceptions? Does he fumble the ball? Does he make stupid decisions?
It also has to do with sprit and inspiration. Does he energize his team? Do they play better because he’s in the game and they believe in him? Do they feel like as long as he’s in the game they have a chance to win? And also how does he play in the clutch when the intensity and anxiety is in the highest? Does he fall apart or does he rise to the occasion? You can be a picture perfect passer of the ball, but if you panic during the game, you’re useless.
Tebow excels at all the intangibles
What the critics have underestimated are Tebow's strengths. Just take a look at his stats. He makes great decisions plus he’s turning out to be one of the greatest running quarterbacks the NFL has ever seen. He’s so dangerous and smart about his running that it has opened up the line for the other running backs to have huge games.
And in crunch time his passes are deadly accurate. The Denver Broncos have become very dangerous for the senses to face. And the other thing is he’s just now getting his first chance to play regularly and he’s improving every game.
That’s what the inexperienced players do. They improve when they’re given a chance. You can’t learn how to play and perform as an NFL quarterback until you get a chance to get experience in the game. Tebow is getting that now and is developing rapidly. But all of these things seem to fly right over the radar of the expert analysts. Maybe they’re not so expert after all.
The lesson for me and you
Don’t give up your dreams because you might not be as talented as someone else. You can win anyway. You can improve. There are a lot of ingredients that go into winning and talent is just one—and talent will only take you so far.
Wed, October 19, 2011 | Post a Comment |
Some leaders stand out in history. Are you more like President Lincoln or President Tyler? (Remember him? Me neither.) “No one wants to follow a Dead, Dull, Disillusioned Crybaby.” - Art Williams
If you accept a Leadership position plan to give it your best. People want to be inspired.
If people are going to be putting their best efforts into a team they want to know that it counts for something special. The team will always be more energized when they are going for truly Big and Inspiring Goals!
No one wants to follow a weak leader.
Most leaders are mediocre and that’s what’s wrong with the economy, the government and the world. The right kind of Leader can make a big difference in whatever field they are in.
In all areas of life, an inspirational Leader is like water in the desert—they make people come alive.
So, when you find yourself in a leadership position, then lead, inspire, motivate! Make your team proud and excited to be working with you! Make a decision to make a difference because…
Thu, October 13, 2011 | Post a Comment | 
What are his Winner Credentials?Having coached young men in seven decades, Bobby Bowden
This book comes highly recommended by Nick Saban, Head Coach, University of Alabama; Mack Brown, Head Coach, University of Texas; Lou Holtz, Former Coach, College Football Analyst, ESPN; President Jimmy Carter; Kenny Chesney and many others. Whether or not you're a fan of Florida State—or even football—you'll enjoy this book about faith, family values and a truly inspirational leader. >>Read more reviews at Amazon>>
Wed, August 3, 2011 | Post a Comment | 
Kids are full of curiousity!That is such a precious thing. Their own natural curiousity is the thing that gives them energy and drives them forward. They aren't asking questions and learning and trying things because they were told to, they are doing it because they want to.
The entire rest of their lives they will put ten times more energy into things they are naturally interested in as opposed to things they are told they should be paying attention to.
Their own natural interests are always there.
They can’t help it and they can’t stop it. They just have that curiosity, love and fascination.
So don’t fight it. Encourage it. There is a reason that curiosity and interest is there. It doesn’t matter if anyone in your family has the same interest. It doesn’t matter if anyone you know is involved in it. All that matters is that your child is.
Give them exposures to lots of activities, see what grabs their attention and then encourage them.
Let them grow in the direction they are driven.
They will always be more productive, happy and fufilled in life following their own natural passion. And the bad news for all the control freak parents out there, you can’t choose it for them. In fact they don’t even choose it for themselves, its just in them.
Tue, July 26, 2011 | Post a Comment | 
People hear the phrase, “There is good, better and best, and the good is the enemy of the best.” And it sounds sensible but they aren’t really sure how it relates to them.Here’s an example: We all have had and probably will have many teachers, because it seems there is always something new we need to learn. Some people have had dozens and some hundreds of teachers over their lifetime.
Now here is the question: How many do you remember? How many stand out in your memory? How many INSPIRED you?
Bob the Teacher Jenkins in his book, Take Action, Revise Later, opens his introduction with the quote from William Ward that says,
“The mediocre teacher tells
The good teacher explains
The great teacher demonstrates
The great teacher inspires.”
Of the great ocean of teachers you’ve had in your life, how many do you really remember vividly? There’s a good chance they were the ones who INSPIRED you.
So here is the point. If you want to make a lasting impact on those you teach, don’t stop with just telling, explaining and demonstrating. Find ways to reach them on another level, the one that inspires them.
How to do that?
It relates to letting them see how this impacts their lives. Why this information is something they can use to elevate and improve their lives and to make a bigger and better impact in the world.
To be memorable, you must get them to see how they can USE this information to empower themselves to do the things they want to do. This is the real last step in training and educating, to show them how to USE the information in their own lives. Because only when you use the information does it come alive and benefit you. If you don’t do something with it you wasted your time learning it.
The real power and magic comes with seeing what you do after you have mastered it. The great and memorable teachers don’t just teach, they inspire people to go and DO things with the information.
