Category: - Coach to Expect Success

Little Acts of Kindness Matter

6/13/2022

Listening to my buddy John O'Leary this morning on my way in to school on his podcast and it sure got me thinking about a few things. He shares this wonderful story about a guy that he recently met and this man shared a remarkable story of kindness that made such a difference with him. The little things that we all can do, sure do mean a lot to others & it could be those little things that go on to create so much good will, love, kindness, encouragement, calmness, positive energy, etc., that goes onto affect so many others. I will admit, I got a bit emotional listening to this short podcast (right around 5 minutes in length).

It helped to change my mood as I started my day off and it's still sitting with me as I know I need to listen to it for a third and maybe even a fourth time. The little acts of kindness that we can show to others along with to ourselves too, can make such a difference in life. I was just reminded of this from a great picture I saw:

If we are able to set more examples... again, of little things that can make such a difference... it will be so much more valuable than flapping our gums with our opinions ... or better yet, with our keyboards posting our opinions to social media; we all can change the world little bits along the way with more small actions of kindness, empathy, encouragement, etc.

Check it out for yourself - this powerful & emotional podcast from my friend and now yours, John O'Leary (click the picture below)

Coach Rich Popp - A Difference Maker To Learn From

8/26/2018

Life is about find difference makers and learning from them. It's also and maybe more importantly a key to become one too. Coach Rich Popp was my special guest in a recent podcast - which you can check out HERE. When I sat down and spent some time with Coach, he showed me and every listener why he defines what a difference maker is all about. He is one that not only shows it in everything he does, but he helps others to learn about doing it too. He is one of the many reasons why I am looking forward to going back this school year. Sit back and pick up the clues of success that Coach shares from his long career in education and coaching. Remember, success leaves clues and it's up to us to gather those clues and use them in our lives.

One of the BIGGIES for me is the points he made on relationships - so valuable, so needed in today's world. I see this need more so every day - there will be more of my podcasts and blogs focused in on this fact. You can contact Coach Popp at: [email protected] Thanks for listening. Please take a few moments to subscribe & share my shows with someone, also leave a 5 Star rating on ITunes or other services where you find this show. Find me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coachtoexpectsuccess/ on Twitter: @coachtosuccess and on Instagram at: @coachjohndaly

Lessons From A Guy Named Paul

7/22/2018

There are always lessons to be found in everyday life. Remember that success always leaves clues, we just have to be ready to pick up those clues. Most of them can be found just by watching & listening. The lessons from a gas station attendant - his name is Paul - and I have watched and listened to him for years, I've even talked to him a few times. He is such a nice guy and the way he treats others is amazing! Every time I get gas for our cars at our local Costco - I always hope he's working. There are lessons every day from this guy and how he interacts with people.

Once again, I need to learn from him so that I can be a better version of me. We all need to be better versions of ourselves. Life is something that always has plenty of lessons for us to learn from. Many come from the everyday people that we meet up with. This guy working for a living at a place where so many people come by on usually a weekly basis, is teaching life lessons for all to learn from. My thought is I can't be the only person learning from this guy?

Check out my podcast on this story (HERE) as there are a few other lessons here too that I share.

Thanks for listening. Please take a few moments to subscribe & share this with someone, also leave a 5 Star rating on ITunes or other services where you find this show. Find me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coachtoexpectsuccess/ on Twitter: @coachtosuccess and on Instagram at: @coachjohndaly

Our Last Day

5/19/2017

“On your last day on earth, the person you became will meet the person you could have become.” — Anonymous

This quote really jumped out to me last week as I was thinking about Les Brown’s message that we watched in my Leadership classes awhile back. He talked about a story of a guy’s last day and he had his family and some friends around his bed side, something we all hope to have on our last day for sure. Les also described that there were other figures around this guy’s bedside and he noticed that they all had angry and disappointed looks on their faces – especially in their eyes. He asked the one closest to him who are you?   The figure answered that we are all the dreams and ideas that you never acted upon. You never even tried to do anything with us and now we are going to die with you. You were the only one that could have given us life and now that will never happen.

Now I’ve heard Les tell this story many times watching his videos and to be honest, it always makes me tear up thinking about how I don’t want to be that guy. This year, same thing but it was different. The tears were still there and I’m not exactly sure why, but it is different than before.   I guess I’m more in touch with the fact that many things are changing in my life. I’m older (51 when I write this), my parents & in-laws are older too of course and there are the health issues with them that are on my mind too. Now I know these things are natural in life.
They do happen, heck they are supposed to happen. I look at my 2 kids and how they too (of course) are getting older. We are approaching another graduation here at Lake Shore High School, my 24th. So maybe that might be part of it too?

Thinking about this a little bit more – I think back to those people that have been an important part of my life and I am really zeroing in on the fact that they have had a direct affect on me getting to where I am today. Some of them are no longer alive, some have moved away and I’ve lost touch with others still. One of my missions is to continue to try and make a difference with as many people as possible as a way to payback all the people throughout my lifetime that invested in me and helped me get to where I am today.

But the fact remains that I have another strong force starting to push me. I DO NOT want to be like that guy that Les Brown is talking about. There are many things I’d like to do, many ideas, many goals and dreams that I’ve had for awhile – and I don’t want to not act on trying to make them happen. I’ve said this before in my life that it’s time to start getting into action. I’ve done it a little here and there of course. Now, it’s time to raise my standards BIG TIME!   Wanting the person I know I can become be the same person when I finish my race that is something that will be great to make happen.

What about you? How are you doing in going after your dreams and goals? Have you ever thought what it might be like to meet that person you could have become on your last day? The younger you are the more of a say you have in how your last day can be. It’s the same with me of course, but I just have less time than others.   I tell you what though, it’s going to be something that I’m working on more and more. Raising your standards is not easy. Getting better is not easy. It’s all worth it though.

Procrastinators - It's Time!

4/16/2017

"Don't wait. The time will never be just right." — Napoleon Hill

As I sat down outside, with our dog on Easter morning, I had some great quiet time to do some thinking. This thought from Napoleon Hill has been echoed inside my head for a while along with being echoed from so many other people too.

The sun was coming up over the house behind us, there was a nice little breeze along with the birds chirping and wind chimes nearby making a very majestic sound for the morning. Great reflection time too on this special morning with a great cup of coffee.

I needed this and I have figured out I need to do it more. This overwhelming feeling came over me – moving me to tears – that not only do I need to do this more, but I need to put into action what I’m thinking about doing. This blog is part of it along with my podcasting, writing my first book, doing some interviews, creating videos and speaking too. All of these items connected to helping others, making a difference with them and adding value to their lives too. The time must be now – it’s all I got. Heck… it’s all any of us have when you think about it.

Of course, this has been on my mind more since I’m getting older. Sitting at 51 is a unique perspective I think on life – but it’s also a view that does not have to be saved for this age. One of the things I see that there are people that have these thoughts and ideas sooner in life and they act upon them sooner too. Sooner for me is now. For someone else, it’s the time they are at now in their life.

I am totally amazed at those people that for years have been sharing this idea along with others, about self-improvement. Napoleon Hill was one of many doing this a long time ago. He has helped to change so many lives in the past, present and even future too; as his teachings will live on forever. I listen to podcasts and read books that continue to mention what a profound difference that he and others have made on life for so many people. To me that’s what our lives should be all about – making a difference with others along with adding value to their lives too. Whatever you find yourself doing throughout your life – these ideas should be part of it. Starting now, don’t wait. I’m working on doing that. I hope you are too.

Empathy - Such A Valuable Tool That All Of Us Need

1/9/2017

“Empathy is about standing in someone else's shoes, feeling with his or her heart, seeing with his or her eyes. Not only is empathy hard to outsource and automate, but it makes the world a better place.” - Daniel H. Pink

If there is one thing, out of the many that are missing in the world today – it would have to be empathy. There is a HUGE need for this to be more visible in the world today. It would make decisions made, more on what they can do for others instead of what they can do for ourselves.

If decisions would be looked at from the eyes of those that it will most greatly affect, things would be better. If government officials could always take a step back and look at laws & policies being put into place from their constituent’s points of views, rather than the political implications that it will have; again, this world would be a better place.

I know this one for sure is out there. If people (namely me) could see things from their spouse’s point of view along with things from their kid’s point of view, again this would be a much better place. There could be so many arguments, miscommunications, misunderstandings, etc., that would be replaced with caring, thinking of the other person’s feelings, thoughts, and listening to their ideas. This really goes for anyone in our lives that are important to us. Also in a general sense, anyone we come into contact with, having a little empathy can go a long way.

Businesses could put more empathy into their decisions, from their customers along with their employees. There is such a big need for businesses to treat others right. To put people first instead of profits all the time. What many companies don’t realize is that you take care of those people that you are connected to as a company, those people will make things work and improve for your company. So much so, that profits will be healthy and growing.

Look at somewhere you can add empathy to in your life. Watch the great things that can come from it. Mainly, look at the difference it can make in your life with the way you see things, think about things and your reactions to others. This is the main way that you affect others in a positive way by your actions. You do not have to tell anyone about this. They will see it in the things you say and do. Try it and let me know how it goes.

Having A Purpose In Life - We All Have One, We Just Have To Find It

10/30/2016

"When you are bigger than your purpose you have a career. When your purpose is bigger than you, you have a calling." — John Maxwell

I got back to a John Maxwell quote because I heard him say something this morning in my car ride into work. I listen to his podcast “Minute with Maxwell” and I know there is probably not a more valuable 60 seconds around.

Something he said got me thinking about success and purpose. He mentions that most people have different ideas of what success is. There are so many definitions and ideas for all of us. The thing he said that out of all the successful people he knows is that each one of them has purpose in their lives. That has been on my radar for awhile now in my life. The purposes that I have are many, but they all come down to making a difference with people.

Obviously it’s one of the main reasons why I became a teacher. People who get into teaching and at the top of their list of reasons why, is for summers?? That is one thing that I quickly tell people to remember that summers don’t last! It certainly isn’t for the money, although is not horrible. People last and relationships last (at least some of them do), that’s the reason to get into teaching. It’s all about making a difference and the younger the people we can do that with, the better they and others will be. If you think of all the people that will come into contact with our students throughout their lifetimes, and the difference they will make with them because of something you did in the time you worked with them, that’s powerful stuff!

We need more people figuring out what their purpose is. We also need more people to do things and live life with passion! That has become one of my main messages over the years to my students and now I’m getting braver to make sure it’s my message to adults too. It’s never too late to find your purpose and passion and to make changes to go after those. The only time when it’s too late is when you take your last breath. Which remember, we all are going to do at sometime. That’s a driving force in my life now not to leave with “any of my music inside of me” that still has to be played.

Have you figured out what your purpose is? What are you passionate about? The bigger question is if you don’t know, what are you doing to find out what they are?

Wise Thoughts From The King Himself - No, It's Not Elvis or LeBron.

9/27/2016

"Success depends less on strength of body than upon strength of mind and character." -- Arnold Palmer

We all lost a great American on Sunday September 25. Arnold Palmer of course meant a lot to the golfing world, but it should really go way beyond that. He was really the first one that tied in sports to the business world. Every professional athlete no matter the sport can point to him as being the reason why there are the business connections to athletics today.

Arnold also made a difference with people in general with his charities, connections to hospitals, etc., he was really one for the common working men and women in our country and around the world. He came from a working class family and it showed in everything he did. This quote of his is directly connected to why I think he was so successful throughout life and not just in golf.

Our state of mind is one of the foundation blocks of whatever success we want to have in our lives. I’ve told my students over the years along with trying to remember it myself: The most valuable space in the world is the space between our ears. We have to guard what goes in it along with what we think about too. We are what we think – we’ve heard that over and over again throughout our lives. Mr. Palmer was there as proof. He worked very hard at thinking about the right things to do in life and then he went out and did them. I think #1 on his list was how he treated people. Looking them in the eyes, being honest, spending his time with others, etc.

Character is also a huge building block in success. He was a great model for how important character comes into play. I think the game of golf, played the right way of course, helps with showing us all about character in life. Who better to show us about character and golf than “the King” himself. Without character, it’s been said, nothing great happens. If things do happen without it, it probably won’t last too long. What Arnold Palmer built in his lifetime, won’t easily be knocked over. There’s too much character and a positive mindset behind it all.

More Of Us Is Greater Than One Of US

9/19/2016

"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." - Helen Keller

First thought that came to mind when I saw this was that how impressed I was earlier this morning when I was writing a response back to a student's assignment about all the people throughout my lifetime that have made a difference with me. I was on that thought because I have put myself into the life-long mode of trying to make a difference with as many people as I can to help pay back all those that made a difference with me.

I've said it others that I could live to be a 150 years old and still would not be able to pay it all back as to the differences that were made with me by others investing their times, energy and efforts into me. Thinking back to my parents, they were the biggest supporters of me. Dr. Wells Cook at Central Michigan University was another - next to my parents, this man had the biggest influence on my life. Other teachers, coaches, neighbors, family members, friends and plenty of my students too over the years have helped me more than they will ever know.

Just like on the basketball court, I try and get my players to always understand that they can do a heck of a lot more together than they can do on their own. Where in your life can you thank those that have helped you? And even more important - one thing I always try and get my student to see besides thanking those that have helped them... is to find out how you can help others. :-) Any thoughts?

Be Kind - We All Have Things Going On In Our Lives

9/30/2015

"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle." — Plato

This thought has been with me for years as I have this sign posted in my classroom. I see it every day. It’s an idea that I think we all need to remember and realize the validity that Plato made with this statement.

I’ll be the first to admit when I get down in the dumps about things being difficult or that I’m not doing the things I know I need to do in order to be successful, I tend to forget the countless others that have it far worse than me. I know plenty of people personally that have it worse off, yet they seem to be happier than most people. I am working hard to keep this thought in my mind as I deal with people every day.

To hear the stories from people that share them, not only does it draw me closer to them as far as having empathy for them and their situation, it also inspires me to move forward to actually doing something about the issues and problems that I have – seeing others dealing with theirs really helps. This is one of many things that I think we need to focus on more – having empathy for others. Not so much sympathy, but empathy. That ability to take the point of view of others, to see things through their eyes, to imagine walking in their shoes; what a powerful opportunity we all have to learn so many valuable lessons that it can bring.

Our country got some good lessons in humbleness when Pope Francis came for a visit recently. Just watching the news stories about his visit were uplifting. The stories got me thinking about making changes in my life to include more of making a difference with others. Knowing that we are all fighting things in our lives that get in the way, it makes sense to try and do more to not only help others, but to also improve and help ourselves with what we can do in our own lives too.

Good reflections for this week and beyond. Any thoughts?