Category: Dream - Coach to Expect Success

New Year Coming... Thoughts On Success From Coach Wooden - Quote Of The Week

12/29/2014

"Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming." -- John Wooden

With all the things that we can do to improve ourselves, there seems to be a quote that is great to think about as we end one year and start off a new one. Coach John Wooden had so much success in basketball, but what everyone has to understand is that he had even more success teaching leadership lessons.

Success has so many puzzle pieces to it since it means different things to different people. Since it deals with doing our best to become all that we are capable of becoming, there has to be time spent on improving ourselves in many different areas.

Coach is right as success is indeed peace of mind. That is one thing that all of us need to work on is our mind and the things that come into our minds. Those things can make a distinct difference in what success we have going towards goals and dreams that we have. Reading is one of the best things we can do for ourselves. New information that gets our minds working on new ideas and thoughts, these things can really help us doing our best.

Doing our best has so much to do with what we are thinking about. This quote has got me thinking that I need to continue to work hard at doing my best, which in many areas in my life I am not doing and when I look back at those areas, it shows up to me as I don’t have the self-satisfaction knowing that I have not done my best. I can tell you though, that I’m looking forward to fixing that starting now. I don’t need to wait for the new year as I’m going to start today and then work hard to continue it into the new year.

Speaking of the new year – if we look at this quote and focus on all the parts that go with it (the exercise, eating right, fixing old habits and starting new ones, reading more, improving our relationships, etc.), all the resolutions should connect with Coach Wooden’s statement. The other big key, don’t just make them for New Years Day. These things should be worked on all year long. How does Coach Wooden’s statement connect with you?

In Life There Are Plenty Of Choices... Make The Right One When You Are Looking Ahead To Your Future - Quote of the Week!

10/13/2014

"There's always something to suggest that you'll never be who you wanted to be. Your choice is to take it or keep on moving." -- Phylicia Rashad

We face choices every day in our lives. We can make choices that take us closer to where we want to go, or we can make choices that will take us further away from our goals and dreams. It’s up to us. Along with the fact that we don't usually have all the time in the world to make these choices either.

There are also plenty of things in life and people too for that matter that will get in the way of those choices. Not only will they get in the way, they will also make us believe that maybe we can’t do what we set out to do. We all know people that are what’s called “dream suckers”. They just suck the life out of any dream that we might have and make us feel like we can do it or even worse, it’s stupid for us to even try.

There are two major things we can do to help ourselves with this issue. One is to have such a large dream, something that we are so fired up and passionate about, that makes it nearly impossible for anything or anyone to get in the way of us making it happen. The second thing is for us to identify those obstacles or brick walls (both things and people) and for us to work hard at avoiding them and choosing not to allow them to affect our efforts.

The main reason this caught my eye this week were the events that me and my family went through last week and are continuing to go through this week. We had a family funeral to attend as my cousin Dave passed away suddenly last week. To see the tons of people that turned out at the family get-together at their home along with the funeral service the next day – it was totally amazing. To hear all the stories about how he affected so many people was awesome and inspiring too.

My cousin chose to keep moving to chase his goals and dreams. He didn’t let any of those brick walls stop him at all, in face he used them to inspire himself to stick to his plan. One of the many thoughts that struck me was that from all the different people he affected and helped during his lifetime, he helped them by going after his goals and dreams. He went after being a professor at a university, and he did that and more. He wrote a book in his field that is referenced so many times around the world. His studies and projects that he worked on were leading to new ways of thinking and lead others to new discoveries too. He loved sports, especially soccer and basketball. His coaching encouraged so many kids to stick with the game and getting better along with battling through their fears. Huge life lessons!

You see, by going after our goals and dreams we can help many more people along the way than if we don’t go after them. In fact we will hold others back from attaining their goals and dreams by not going after ours. That was a huge lesson my cousin left for others. I for one took notice. How about you? Any of these thoughts connect with you? Are there people out there that are an example for you? Always looking to learn – share your thoughts so that you can help others too.

Everyone should take this class, "Philosophy of YOU!" Quote of the week....

6/30/2014

"Don't borrow someone else's plan. Develop your own philosophy and it will lead you to unique places." -- Jim Rohn

Jim brings up a great idea when I saw this quote from him. We all should take a course in the Philosophy of ourselves. The great thing about it is that it won't cost us hundreds of dollars per credit hour that we have to pay to a university. It will cost us some time and maybe a little money in trying to create the course for ourselves, but in the end it will be worth it.

No matter what stage you are at in your life, this development of your own philosophy is important enough to get started on as soon as you can. Of course like many of my postings, it does hold true for this one too: the sooner you get going on this, the better your life could be. There is another point here too, and that is we cannot follow someone else's plan. We have to come up with our own blueprint of our own lives. Now that's not to say that we should not take others' thoughts and opinions into developing our own plan, but for the final decisions, it does come down to ourselves creating our own plan for our life.

As I constantly try and get my students to realize they have to follow their own goals and dreams instead of doing things to please others. I not only find myself needing that advice still at my age but now I also am trying to pass that advice onto my two kids as well. My son will be 21 later this year and my daughter just turned 18 and graduated from high school. I am always looking for suggestions as possible careers for them to look into - with what I think connects to them as the person each of them are starting to become. I am for sure promoting to both of them to explore, ask questions, meet people and look deep inside of themselves to find out what drives them. What do they get fired up about? What excites them? What do they stay up late working on? Along with, what gets them out of bed in the morning so they can get going on things right away? The key for all of us, is to look at these questions for ourselves. Remember, it's never too late to get going chasing after our own dreams, goals and passions.

What do we need to find some of these things out for ourselves? For one thing, we need to spend some time to actually think about some of these things that make up our plan. We need to write them down too, so we can read, plan, make goals, think some more on them and let the ideas come flowing out to help us get going. We need to also change our thinking. The most valuable tool we have is our own brains. The 5 or 6 inches between our ears should be guarded very tightly with what we allow into it. Look to make some changes in our thinking, what we read, watch and listen to. Another point is watching out who we hang out with. Those people that we let affect us are vitally important as to who we become and what plan we are working from too. Finally, our habits are key. This involves how we spend our valuable time and what are we accomplishing with it. Spending our time involves action - we are doing something with our time, but we need to look at how that is actually getting us closer or farther away from our drams and goals. This one is a biggie for me as I struggle with it often. Something once again that I find myself dealing with this summer. I look forward to making some serious strides to improving my habits and how I spend my time.

What about you? Anything here ring true for you too? Always look to reflect on these and other things that can bring you closer to going after your dreams and goals. Find some time this week to do just that. Let me know how it's coming and maybe even get in touch and let me know how I can help you out along with you probably being able to help me out too.

Quote of the Week - April 28, 2014

4/28/2014

"Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears." – Les Brown

We got done recently listening to a little Les Brown in our Leadership class and it made total sense to highlight this quote this week after I saw it on social media. No wonder we are to busy living our fears as I just got done with dinner with my wife and we were watching the news (mainly for the weather updates), but was also saw so many stories that feed right into worry, stress, negativity, anger, being fed up with government and people, etc. We get so tired of all the other crap that we don't have any energy some times to live out our dreams.

Knowing that - I need to change my mindset a little bit. The podcasts and audio books that I'm listening to on a daily basis before I get to work help with starting out my day in a positive way. I need to continue that.... so I've been connected with a couple of more that I'm listening to during the day and at night while I do my schoolwork - really helping big time. Are you doing that at all? If you have any suggestions please send them my way or at least get them out there for others to use too.

Another thing we need to realize - is really the short amount of time we actually have to go out and live our dreams. Time is going by so fast and we seem to spend it on things that really don't matter too much. I am trying to identify a couple of my fears that have been holding me back and I am working on defeating them along with moving on with some goals and dreams I have. Maybe you too can find one fear to address and work on along with taking that energy and time and putting it towards a goal that might have?? Let me (and others) know for everyone needs help. You just might be that one person that helps others get over what they have to do. :-)

Quote of the Week - April 21, 2014

4/21/2014

"You + Motivation = Success" - Jim Valvano

Just got done recently listening to Coach Jim Valvano in our Leadership class. So many nuggets that he tossed out there and this was one that came out and got my attention quickly. I've been trying to listen to a little bit more motivational, self-improvement, leadership, etc. information every day. Just like Zig Ziglar has said... we need it just like we need to bathe everyday.

Now the key for me - will be to take the action to add to the motivation which will = success. It's something we all can do, and it's really something that we all need to do. That motivation is a lot easier to get in touch with - to get connected to, if we have those special people around us that makes it worth fighting for. First of all we need to do it for ourselves and that comes from asking ourselves that "why" question. Why are we doing what we are doing? If our reasons are big enough, the "how" will take care of itself.

This is also why we need to chase after our dreams, heck we need to have dreams and goals in the first place. Then, the motivation will have something to connect to which will lead us towards success. It's a daily thing to do, each and everyday it's what we have to do. I think the most interesting and challenging piece of the formula is the YOU part. Seeing that we can be very complex and we are the one and only things that we have to work on. For me, it's a full time job working on me. Truthfully I need to put more time and effort into that. My students and I just heard the great Jim Rohn say - "work harder on yourself than you do on your job." (a future quote of the week)

How does this simple, yet complex formula work for you? Any thoughts would be appreciated by me and others as we can always learn from others. Let me know!

Quote of the Week - February 24, 2014

2/25/2014

"Don't watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going." -- Sam Levenson

After dealing with a bit of stomach flu the last few days, I am feeling a little better so I figured I'd get some thoughts out as to this week's quote. I got a little help from a few of my students too while I was home sick - so thank you Meranda, Mitchell, and Amber.

There are plenty of times that I think we are all a clock watcher. As a teacher, there are plenty of times I am watching the clock to start a period, to end a period and many times, to end the school day. I know students are the same way too. This quote from Sam mentions for us to do like the clock does - to keep going. Whether this is during a class period, a work project that has to get done, studying, grading papers, helping a family member out, reading a book, watching t.v., working out, etc. There are plenty of times during every day where we have to tell ourselves to keep going. When things are fun and easy, we don't have to really focus on the "keep going" part. It's when things are difficult or not enjoyable is where we have to remind ourselves to "keep going".

My students that helped me with this thought noticed a couple of things. There is such little time in life that we need to spend our time doing things that matter most to us and that are important. I have really seen that recently as I've gotten older along with hearing from graduates as they get older too. Doing things that matter and that are important, not worrying about the time it takes – just keep going, the time will go by anyway – finish it to the end.

When I was home sick yesterday from school - I had a few minutes to sit in our family room to rest a little bit. As I did this, I noticed our two clocks ticking. One is in the kitchen and the other is in our family room. It got me thinking about how the clock and really time, just keeps going. It doesn't wait. It doesn't stop. It just keeps going. Looking around at our family pictures around our house - I started tearing up as to how much time has actually gone by with me and my family. (tearing up again as I write this). As I recently celebrated my 48th birthday - this concept has really hit home.

This is another in the many reasons, the long list of reasons why in life, we really have to ask ourselves - what is my life all about? What does it mean for me to be here? Am I spending the time I have doing what I really want to do, what I really need to do? The more we realize that we need to continue to learn and grow, to continue chasing after the dreams that are inside of us, going after the passions that get us fired up - that my friends, is time well spent. As I have told my students over and over through the years, the sooner they realize this the better off their lives will be. Funny thing is - this message is for me and others too. It doesn't matter that I'm 48. What matters is that I start now, today, in going after those things in my life.

Any other thoughts that you are thinking about that help you out? You know, it might help others out too. Let me know what your thoughts and ideas are. Quick! What time is it? I just looked at the clock of course - my thought is to keep going on what I have to do and not get distracted. What did you think about?

Quote of the Week - July 22, 2013

7/22/2013

"Do you ever doubt or worry that the sun may not rise tomorrow? Sunrise must come, it's an immutable law of the universe. And so must your dreams if you simply plant good seeds and continue to nurture them." ~ Russ Whitney

Interesting points Russ brings up here. Not sure I doubt that the sun won't come up tomorrow. In fact, that is one thing my dad always would say - "don't worry John, the sun will come up tomorrow." Sometimes I would get worked up about something, worry about it, and my dad would always help bring me back down to earth a little bit.

I think what Russ is talking about here is that we need to have the faith that our dreams are the same way. We need to work at them everyday, just like the sun comes up every day. It goes back to a very simple idea that Mike Litman (best selling author of "Conversations with Millionaires") would always talk about - yet it's more difficult to do than people think. Mike would mention the idea about working on your goals and dreams just 1% everyday. Do little things here and there, everyday that would get you closer to your goals and dreams. He would say that after a month, look as to how far you got toward them. After half a year - wow! Especially after a year would go by... great progress for sure.

This quote struck me right in the nose. It got me thinking about the changes I have to make to start getting the believe and expectation about my dreams and goals. I need to get out there and not only expect that everyday something will get accomplished or started towards them, but also that 1% factor really connects to this point too. Where are you at with this thought? Is this concept something you have thought about before like I have? Is it something that you need to get back to doing everyday, like I do? I always welcome your thoughts, ideas and discussion as I really get something from anyone that takes the time to share. Writing this has helped me remember a 1% choice I can make right now in getting something done. How about you?

Quote of the Week - June 3, 2013

6/4/2013

"You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing that we call 'failure' is not the falling down, but the staying down." - Mary Pickford

This quote jumped out to me as I stared my Monday off after a fun but tiring weekend. Amazing when something you kind of already know comes to you in a thought, idea, or a quote - and it seems totally brand new to you. This quote has two powerful points to it. First, the fact that we truly can have a fresh start at any time we choose - is so true and very amazing when you think about it. When we choose to actually changes our attitude or our outlook, and then start to figure out how to get better or to fix something that has gone wrong; there is a lot of power in that. That is really something that should get us very excited and inspired to get back on track to do things we really want to do.

Secondly, only when we decide to quit on ourselves, a dream, a goal, or someone else even; that is what true failure is all about. When we stop, think, learn, ask questions, etc., then get back up and keep going - that is where we learn from those temporary setbacks. Failure only happens when we CHOOSE to quit. I've done plenty of this over my life, but I'm working hard to not have it happen any more. The amazing thing is that I get so inspired from others. So being connected to others can really help you with this idea.

So much on this quote - but I'm always interested in learning from others what they think about this. That way I can learn more from others. Anything to share?

Quote of the Week - May 27, 2013

6/4/2013

"People do not decide their future; they decide their habits and their habits decide their future." - Coach Juan Langford

As soon as I saw this quote, I knew that I had to share it. Not only did I get it out right away on my Facebook and Twitter accounts, but then I also knew it would be my quote of the week this week for me and my students.

What a true statement for sure. Our habits - how we spend our time, day in and day out; that is what really dictates our future. If there are certain habits that we know are not getting us where we want to go, then we have to make a change for sure. I heard a great thought the other day on one of the podcasts I listen to. This idea was that we can't stop bad habits by themselves without finding a good habit to replace it with. So instead of focusing simply trying to stop a bad habit or bad time waster, we need to find a better habit or a more productive way to spend our time - something to replace it with.

Another part of this quote should get us thinking about where do we want to go? Where do we see ourselves in the next year, 5 years, 10 years? Without having an idea as to where we want to be, we will find great difficulty in knowing what habits we should focus on to get us there. I look at a bracelet that I am wearing now from a friend and mentor, and it has on it D.I.N.O. This stands for Dreaming Is Not Optional. We always should have new ideas to keep getting better at, always looking to improve ourselves. We need to constantly look ahead to see where we are going. Just like in basketball, we have to keep our heads up.

What are you thinking about this quote and how it connects with you? Any thoughts to share? Any questions that this brings up for you? Let me know - I'd be glad to try and help.

Quote of the Week - April 29, 2013

5/1/2013

“Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.”  - Earl Nightingale

What a great quote to not only remind us about the need to dream and to never give up on your dreams, but also there is the reminder about how precious time is. As my friend Doug Evans says "Dreaming Is Never Optional". It is easy to remember it as DINO.   All great things take time to accomplish, for if they didn't take the extra time, then everyone would do great things.

We all know that time goes by, and it seems more and more it's going by faster and faster as we get older. Please understand a year will go by whether you go after your dreams or not. Then it will be 5 years, and 10 and so on. This is something that personally I've been battling with and I've started to figure this out that I have to start acting on my dreams and goals because time is not waiting for me. First you have to identify some dreams and goals that you want to accomplish. Give yourself permission to do just that.

No matter what age you are right now - it's the perfect time to start identifying some dreams and goals and start today to go after them. I'm trying to do something everyday, no matter how small that step is that will help me go after my dreams and goals. The sooner you start the better off you are since you will still have more time on your hands to continue to make those things happen. Go ahead... start today. Feel free to share any thoughts or ideas that you find helpful, or even things you are having trouble with. I have a feeling that we can help each other out with these ideas.