Category:

Prudence - wait, what??

2/12/2020

The character trait of Prudence is one we don't hear too much about. In fact, if you are like me you had to do a double take at it and then probably look it up. Here it is: "The ability to do the right thing, at the right time for the right reason." It's about our decisions and how they affect us now and in our future!

There were 2 videos that I had my students check out for some indications of Regrets that some people shared about their lives. If we can recognize when we are in a moment that our choices and decisions will matter for our future - that's powerful to know about. First was this video "Life Lessons from 100 Year Olds" where they interviewed 3 people that were over 100 years of age. One big thing that I noticed from all three, were their smiles and laughter. Amazingly inspiring listening to these people sharing stories of things that they have been through. I also thought right away, how I want to be like that too. Being full of gratitude, energy, love, purpose to get up everyday, etc. What a blessing it was to watch, listen and learn from them.

The other video was just as meaningful as we watched 70 people talk about their regrets in life. This video was titled, "70 People Ages 5-75 Answer: What Do You Regret?" It was again, amazing to listen to their experiences and thoughts about things that they have been through. Learning from other people's stories and experiences saves us from making similar mistakes. We can learn without making those same choices or at least better understand things before we still might make those choices. Most of my students learned a lot from this one too. For me, the few that were older than me... twenty-two of them, got me thinking about what is coming for me in the years ahead and I think often of these lessons as I'm trying to make good choices & decisions every day of my life. Amazing things can happen when we look at things differently and start to think differently too. In fact, I'm getting emotional right now blogging about these thoughts and ideas. I'm finding myself wanting to be better, do better, work harder, to have the courage to do things that help me go after my dreams and goals... like I said, amazing things can happen when we jump into these thoughts and ideas. How about you join me? Check these videos out and let me know what you are thinking and feeling.

0 Comments

John O'Leary Podcast with Dr. Kelli Harding - Life Changing Stuff!

9/20/2019

0 Comments

John O'Leary is quickly becoming my favorite podcast to listen to as it is always emotionally connecting and rejuvenating that I'm finding that I can't miss it. His book "On Fire" is my favorite book, and I also need to get back into reading that book again soon. I need to get connected with this guy even more with all that he has to offer. Great stuff!

When this podcast came out recently, where he interviewed Dr. Kelli Harding, I knew I had to not only share this with my students as a blog assignment, but also to share it with others - which I have. ;-) One of the first lessons that got to me was simply the fact that our technological social world is actually changing our lives - heck, it's been proving to change our biology as Dr. Harding states. It's kind of scary. As I write this, I see a few of my students (the ones doing it a lot) on their phones.. the look withdrawn, low energy, they have work that needs to be done, they have questions they could be asking me; real life taking a back seat to a 7-inch screen. :-(

Another of the many things that struck me as being HUGE LESSONS - was the fact that our relationships can make such a big difference. I have seen that thousands and thousands of times in my life, even this week and truthfully - I've seen it (and experienced it) today! Not quite sure what I would do if it wasn't for the people that I have in my life.

Finally, my third catch from this fantastic podcast - by the way, you can find it HERE - is this awesome quote she shared with the listeners in this podcast, “True health is hidden in the million tiny moments of everyday life.” This statement is so valid, it's just dripping with authenticity and truth! These happen every day and we miss so many of them, I know I do for sure, because we are all caught up in the wrong things that we are trying to keep up with. This is another of many reminders to stop and figure this point out!

Powerful stuff.. this keeping up with my students is fun, challenging, but mostly, it's a very good thing. :-)

0 Comments

Challenges Offer Learning Opportunities

1/9/2017

0 Comments

"If it doesn't challenge you, it won't change you." – Unknown

One thing I really look back on in my life was that I got this message and took it to heart. Today, as a guy over 50, I have no problem what so ever taking this to heart since I’ve been through enough of life that I can the value and truth to this statement. The funny thing is, I’ve had plenty of people telling me that when I was younger and of course I didn’t really listen to them. Equally as comical is the fact that I give this same message to my 2 kids along with my students and basketball players. I hope they listen better than I did.

I’ve seen more challenges as I’ve gotten older along with most of those challenges being a lot more serious and heavy duty than most of the ones that I had when I was younger. When I was younger I thought those challenges were serious of course at that time, only to learn that you do what you can and get help if you need it and then time moves on, and just about all those challenges are a distant memory as I got older.

What I know now is that those times when those things come up in life are meant to test us. They are meant to give us some of the most valuable lessons we will ever learn throughout our lifetime. That’s if we look at that way while being in the middle of those problems and issues. That’s the challenging part. It’s really easy to look back on memories to think about them or at least try and remember them for the lessons that were there. I think it’s a hundred times more valuable if we can look for the lessons while we are in the middle of the lesson.

Also remember, we learn from many different sources. Other people telling us about their stories of their ups and downs – and the lessons they learned. Even watching others go through things without them telling us about them. We learn from reading books, listening to podcasts, seeing current events going on around us, etc. The most valuable of them all – those things that we go through ourselves! We are the best source of learning for our own lives since we are in the title role playing ourselves in our own story.

0 Comments

More Of Us Is Greater Than One Of US

9/19/2016

0 Comments

"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?

0 Comments

Good 'ol Zig Ziglar Has Another Lesson For Us - Quote Of The Week!

3/29/2015

0 Comments

“You can change what you are and where you are by changing what goes into your mind.” – Zig Ziglar

If you don’t know who Zig Ziglar is, it’s about time you found out. This guy has been helping to make a difference with so many people throughout so many years, it’s amazing. What’s even more amazing is that he continues to make a difference for so many people and he passed away back in November of 2012. Zig has such a huge legacy where his lessons are still being taught today by the people who were working with him.

This thought that Zig brings up, which by the way is totally true, can be one of the biggest life-changers out there for us. All we have to do is follow the statements’ advice. If we change what goes into our mind on a daily basis, we will start seeing different results. Those things that we let into our heads, affect everything we do.

The biggest thing for us is to realize that we have total control of what we let in. Now remember that society and much of the world’s view will try and fight that. The world’s view is always fighting to control people, and make no mistake about it, it’s doing just that. The negativity, fear, ideas of judgment, jealousy, victim thinking, etc.; all go against what is good for us and our lives.

We have to be the ones that find information that will uplift us, give us hope, positive messages, confidence, helping others, working hard at improving, etc.; those are the messages that we need to seek out and bring into our heads. For once ideas come into our heads – we cannot be the same person as we were before the idea got there. That idea may help us to form new habits and help us get into action to either make ourselves better or worse; depending what we let into our heads.

There is another idea that I discussed with my Principles of Leadership students last week in my first presentation to them. That idea was everything we do, every choice we make either takes us closer to what we want in life or it takes us further away. That’s why it’s so important for us to kind of know where we are going to in life. Think about this last thought and compare it to what Zig Ziglar is talking about. Then, let me know if you want to share any thoughts, have a discussion or ask any questions about this. It’s a life-changer. Only if you let it be.

0 Comments

Quote of the Week - December 9, 2013

12/9/2013

0 Comments

“There is no passion to be found playing small-in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.” – Nelson Mandela

This quote's main idea about not playing small in life, I've spoken about before. It serves nobody when we play small in life. When we choose to not be the best we can be, not living our life the best that we can; we really are hurting ourselves obviously but we are also affecting others around us too.

This past week the world lost one of the biggest difference makers that mankind has ever seen. When I saw this quote from Nelson Mandela, it struck me as one that I had to use this week. Here was a man who not only made it through some of the harshest times anyone has ever survived (being in prison for 27 years), but then came out not angry or bitter, but he came out more inspired to change things for the better. It makes me wonder how each of us can work to make positive changes in our lives and in the lives of others, without being in prison. But if we think about it, maybe some (or most) of us are already in "prison".

Nelson Mandela also answered a question after he got out of prison - the question wondered why he was not angry and bitter at his captors. He said (and I'm paraphrasing here) if he chose to be that way - than he would have been in a far worse prison the rest of his life. It totally makes sense to me. Our choices and how we respond to things along with the way we think, can literally put us in our own "prison" which keeps us from doing great things in our life. It forces us to play small in life. Nelson Mandela lived 95 years, 27 of those were in a physical prison under harsh conditions. How many of us lives in a different type of prison and how many years has that forced us to play small in life? Looking back, I've been stuck there for too many of my 47 years, that's for sure. As I sit here with my cup of coffee thinking about the meanings behind Mr. Mandela's words - I have figured out that we all hold the key to open up the door to our prison and walk out so we can start playing BIG in life so we can make a difference in our life and more importantly, in the lives of others.

It would be great to hear some thoughts and ideas - especially from younger people that may have not really known what Nelson Mandela was all about. Maybe over the last few days since his death, it's made you want to find out more about the man and what he was about. As always - let me and others know your thoughts and your ideas.

0 Comments

Quote of the Week - March 11, 2013

3/12/2013

0 Comments

"The things which hurt, instruct." - Benjamin Franklin

I think the older you get the more this quote connects with you. They key is to have this (and other ideas like it) connect to you early in life rather than waiting for getting older to help you figure it out. I tell my students all the time, feel free to learn from me and others that are older than them so you don't take the time that we did to figure things out.

Learning more about Ben Franklin really shows me how smart he was. Those things that really matter in life, usually hurt us at some point in time and we have to learn from them. Life is full of teachable moments, we just have to look upon those moments as being able to learn from them rather than getting all upset and ticked off at those moments. Ben brings up so many important points about how we should live our lives. He learned many lessons himself about how he had to improve the way he did things. If you can find any of his writings, I suggest you take the time to read them.

So even if you don't like history, check out Ben Franklin. Not only is he a very wise man for the history of country, but he also learned some things about people and himself too. In life, improving ourselves and how we interact with others is one of the most important things we can deal with throughout our lifetime. What are your thoughts? Is Ben correct?

0 Comments

Thanksgiving - Key moment in life that made a difference?

11/24/2011

2 Comments

As I sit here with a Thanksgiving morning cup of coffee, I got to thinking. I just got back from dropping off my son at school at 7:15 a.m. to get ready for the Detroit Thanksgiving Day Parade.  His school marching band will be marching in it, for the 4th straight year and the last year, at least for him, as he will be graduating this year.  It hit me as to how much I will miss this part of Thanksgiving and how proud I am of all the hard work he has put in over the last 4 years.

The traditional thoughts of the many things to be thankful for came rushing into my mind. I have seen a lot of Facebook postings on this subject over the last week or so.  Something my brother-in-law James asked me awhile ago while we were out celebrating my sister-in-law’s birthday.  He asked about what was one key memorable moment, difference making moment in our lives, besides our wedding and the birth of our kids was a key point too.

My wife and I along with James and Michelle, all took turns telling our stories. It was very interesting, emotional and defining for each of us.  Mine was the difference maker a college professor was to me in my life. Dr. Wells Cook at Central Michigan University was a man who I can really look back at meeting him as a defining, difference making moment in my life. Sophomore year at CMU, not really knowing what career I had in mind as my first three choices of Sports Medicine, Broadcasting, and Hotel / Restaurant Management were not going to work since I
found out more details about each of those careers along with the fact of not having much faith in myself at that time.

Dr. Cook came into that Intro to Business class and I remember that moment after about 10 minutes of him introducing himself and telling his story on how he got started in life that the light-bulb went off in my head. Combining a business degree with teaching! That was going to be it for me. I remember calling my parents and telling them about it. They were excited and happy for me, surprised a little bit, but very supportive. Dr. Cook connected with me and I remember something inside of me telling me to get to know him and ask him questions. I introduced myself and it was amazing what happened from there. I noticed other students that he had connected with coming around and asking him questions and he took the time for each of them. I noticed how much he put other people first. He pushed people to do their best in everything they did.  He believed in his students, he believed in me when I didn’t even believe in myself. I spent so many times in his office talking about life, family, the future, etc.  He took me to lunch so many times so we could keep talking and I could keep learning; truly an amazing man.  He came to our wedding and we stayed in touch for all the years after up until he passed away from cancer about 6 years ago.  I remember thanking him so many times over the last few years of his life for what he did for me.   Next to my dad, he was a man that I told him that I loved him for what a difference he made in my life. I’m sure glad I told him many times before he died.

From the time he took with me, and he was a lead connecting piece in helping me get my first teaching job after I graduated; I have focused my teaching career to follow the principles that he taught me. It’s all about your students he would tell me over and over again. I’m not where I want to be as a teacher, (or as a father, husband, etc.) but I’ve been working at it over the years to get there. Dr. Cook has given me a great target to shoot for as I continue to try and be a difference maker with my students, both past and present. So, as I sit here with my delicious cup of coffee, in the silence of an early Thanksgiving day morning, I think about Dr. Cook and how I can be more like him.

What is a key, defining moment in your life? What is a key time that you can share to maybe help others, and really, help yourself? That key question that James put out that night for all of us to share, really got me thinking about not only other key moments in my life but mainly how many people might be able to say that I was a key, difference making moment in theirs?? Let me and others know about your thoughts on this. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families too.

2 Comments

Prudence - wait, what??

John O'Leary Podcast with Dr. Kelli Harding - Life Changing Stuff!

Challenges Offer Learning Opportunities

More Of Us Is Greater Than One Of US

Good 'ol Zig Ziglar Has Another Lesson For Us - Quote Of The Week!

Quote of the Week - December 9, 2013

Quote of the Week - March 11, 2013

Thanksgiving - Key moment in life that made a difference?

Coach John Daly

Archives

Categories