Stay Strong!

“Even on your worst day, you can be a student’s best hope” is the title of a book written by Manny Scott.  It is also a great reminder today and every day.

Even if you are not an educator you have an opportunity to be someone’s best hope today.

A kind word.
A smile.
A good deed.

Even if your day turns sideways stay strong and be prepared to serve someone who needs some help.

When you’re feeling down, feeling tired and feel like you just want to get the day over with one of the quickest and best ways to regain some positive energy is to help somebody else.

Stay strong.  You are someone’s best hope and inspiration today.  You are a difference maker. 

Believe it and live today with more than a purpose to just survive it.  Someone needs you to stay strong and they will be better because of it.  You will too.

I’m cheering for you.

#leadership #motivation #coaching
#bebetter #beblessed

Be Fearless

I was talking with our student leaders in our Tuesday morning rAM Leadership session this week and we were talking about failure and how we can use it to help us be successful. 

I shared one line with them that I’ve thought about a lot this week.  “Your desire to succeed must be greater than your fear of failure.” 

You have dreams.  You have goals.  You have things that you absolutely love to do or have your sights set on doing.  Plans are made and you set out on the journey to accomplish your goal. 

Then what happens? 
Life hits you right between the eyes. 
The critics start. 
Doubt creeps in and very soon the dream dies. 

I have used this stat before but here it is again.  Only eight percent of people actually achieve their dreams.  So how do you stay away from being one of the 92 percent? 

1. Don’t fear failure.  You may have setbacks but if you learn from a hardship you have the ability to adjust, adapt and eventually overcome any setback.

2. Once you start the pursuit don’t quit.   Too many people quit too early.  Often times success is right around the next corner.  Keep moving forward toward that corner even if it’s slowly.  Slow progress is better than no progress.

3. The critics don’t get to decide if your dream will come true.  You do.  If only eight percent actually achieve their dreams that means that many of those 92 percent that are left are going to want to keep you from achieving yours because it will make them look bad.  They will try to hold you back.  Don’t give them permission to do that.

If it sets your soul on fire then it is worth relentlessly pursuing without fear.  Pursue it and don’t give up on it. 

I’m cheering for you.

#leadership #motivation #coaching
#bebetter #beblessed

Born To


I know it is hard to believe but I was watching a basketball game recently and the announcer made the comment that one of the head coaches was “born to coach”.

We’ve heard it said more than once about people in many different areas of work and life. I’ve also heard it said that some were “born to be musicians”. Speaking of musicians one said we were “Born to Run”. (sorry)

On a more thoughtful note when the phrase was said it got me thinking. If we’re honest we have and may still ask “what was I born to do”? I know I have asked myself in reflective moments and still do at times.

Being an educator is what I’ve done to make a living. It’s what I’ve done to support my family. Is that what I was born to do?

Here is what I do believe you and I should be about in regards to the “born to” discussion.

You were born to live.
You were born to lead.
You were born to dream.
You were born to love.
You were born to learn.
You were born to grow.

You were also born to be.

You were born to be kind.
You were born to show grace.
You were born to offer encouragement.
You were born to be a blessing and serve others.

What line of work you do it in varies and may change at times. No matter what you do now, or what you may do in the future, it is essential that you do what you were born to do and what you were born to be.

If you can do that I believe you will be blessed and be a blessing to others.

I’m cheering for you.

#leadership #motivation #coaching
#bebetter #beblessed

The Best Prize

When I walked into the Walnut Community School in August of 1985 I started a journey that has been exciting, steady, frustrating and challenging yet as fulfilling as any job could be.

One of the best decisions I made was to teach and coach.  I have been blessed and count those blessings as my 37th and final year winds down. 

I hope you are lucky enough to be lucky enough too.  Lucky enough to feel a sense of fulfillment in the work that you do.

No matter what you do to make a living I would challenge you to see it as a blessing. Seeing it through a positive lens is a choice. 

The work that you do has a purpose and is an opportunity to make a difference. If you believe that it is an opportunity then you will also believe that it is worth doing well and worth working hard at.

If you believe that then you will gain the satisfaction and the best prize that life has to offer.  A chance to work hard at work worth doing. 

At the end of your time doing this work part of your legacy will be how you did your work.  Take advantage of your chance and your opportunity.  Do it well.

I’m cheering for you.

#leadership #motivation #coaching
#bebetter #beblessed