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Thank You!
Jeff
Friday, March 9, 2018
Monday, March 5, 2018
Champions Characteristics
As many of you know, my father was (always will be) my high school basketball coach. I have spoken of him often and a lot of who I am today came from that experience with him as my coach.
I have often watched in wonder as I saw how he was able to pull the best out of his teams. He had an uncanny ability to get young men to play well above their natural skill set and excel on and off the court.
At the beginning of every new season, he would put together a binder that was full of wisdom about basketball and life. When we were home for Christmas, I came across one of these old binders... I took some pictures of some of the pages and I want to begin a series in this blog discussing some of what is in there. (The picture of this particular page is included below)
The first entry is titled CHAMPIONS CHARACTERISTICS. I will share with you the information and then respond at the end with my own thoughts. Enjoy!
PRIDE............................. in yourself and teammates.
DESIRE.......................... to be the very best, to excel.
PERSEVERANCE........ patience to practice the things you need
SPIRIT .......................... honesty with yourself
INTENTNESS .............. concentration on what you're doing.
FAITH ........................... something you can't see, but know it
LOYALTY .................... to your team, self and coach
ABILITY ...................... a lot of people have it, but never use it
GIVING ........................ be willing to give, not trade
RESPECT ..................... for yourself and other people
RESPONSIBILITY ...... be willing to be responsible to your team
ENTHUSIASM ............. IT SHOULD BE SHOWN IN YOUR FACE AND EYES
COOPERATION .......... with the coach and team, be willing
POISE ............................ believe in yourself and what you're doing
SACRIFICE .................. be willing to give of yourself
CONFIDENCE ............. in yourself and team
AMBITION .................. WHAT DO YOU WANT out of life and basketball
TEAM IS FIRST .......... BE WILLING TO GIVE UP THE BALL
HONESTY .................... know your everything, be honest with yourself
Wow. Imagine being a 15-18 year old and being spoken to about these types of characteristics... is that something that would have had an impact on you? What about today? Which of these speak to you today?
One that jumped out at me was GIVING. For that to say be willing to give, not trade is a simple yet powerful way of explaining why we give. When we give, it should be without expecting anything in return, simply out of the joy of giving and helping another person.
ABILITY is another one that shouts off the page. A lot of people have it, but never use it. Do you have an ability that you have let atrophy into nothing? What is it? How can you revive it and use it?
ENTHUSIASM.... I think this might be what is missing from our world today! When people see your face, do they see enthusiasm or do they see a scowl or a sadness? Do they look you in the eye because of the energy you are giving or do they avoid eye contact because it is sad and draining?
The one that is speaking loudest to me today would be AMBITION. I have gone many years letting the current of life lead me wherever it wanted to take me. Letting others tell me what I am good at, what I am not good at.... the job I need to do, the place I need to volunteer, the goals that are important to me... I need to personally pause and determine exactly what I want out of this life. (Basketball is no longer an option... lol).
I hope you have found some level of inspiration out of these words today.
Be blessed!
I have often watched in wonder as I saw how he was able to pull the best out of his teams. He had an uncanny ability to get young men to play well above their natural skill set and excel on and off the court.
At the beginning of every new season, he would put together a binder that was full of wisdom about basketball and life. When we were home for Christmas, I came across one of these old binders... I took some pictures of some of the pages and I want to begin a series in this blog discussing some of what is in there. (The picture of this particular page is included below)
The first entry is titled CHAMPIONS CHARACTERISTICS. I will share with you the information and then respond at the end with my own thoughts. Enjoy!
PRIDE............................. in yourself and teammates.
DESIRE.......................... to be the very best, to excel.
PERSEVERANCE........ patience to practice the things you need
SPIRIT .......................... honesty with yourself
INTENTNESS .............. concentration on what you're doing.
FAITH ........................... something you can't see, but know it
LOYALTY .................... to your team, self and coach
ABILITY ...................... a lot of people have it, but never use it
GIVING ........................ be willing to give, not trade
RESPECT ..................... for yourself and other people
RESPONSIBILITY ...... be willing to be responsible to your team
ENTHUSIASM ............. IT SHOULD BE SHOWN IN YOUR FACE AND EYES
COOPERATION .......... with the coach and team, be willing
POISE ............................ believe in yourself and what you're doing
SACRIFICE .................. be willing to give of yourself
CONFIDENCE ............. in yourself and team
AMBITION .................. WHAT DO YOU WANT out of life and basketball
TEAM IS FIRST .......... BE WILLING TO GIVE UP THE BALL
HONESTY .................... know your everything, be honest with yourself
Wow. Imagine being a 15-18 year old and being spoken to about these types of characteristics... is that something that would have had an impact on you? What about today? Which of these speak to you today?
One that jumped out at me was GIVING. For that to say be willing to give, not trade is a simple yet powerful way of explaining why we give. When we give, it should be without expecting anything in return, simply out of the joy of giving and helping another person.
ABILITY is another one that shouts off the page. A lot of people have it, but never use it. Do you have an ability that you have let atrophy into nothing? What is it? How can you revive it and use it?
ENTHUSIASM.... I think this might be what is missing from our world today! When people see your face, do they see enthusiasm or do they see a scowl or a sadness? Do they look you in the eye because of the energy you are giving or do they avoid eye contact because it is sad and draining?
The one that is speaking loudest to me today would be AMBITION. I have gone many years letting the current of life lead me wherever it wanted to take me. Letting others tell me what I am good at, what I am not good at.... the job I need to do, the place I need to volunteer, the goals that are important to me... I need to personally pause and determine exactly what I want out of this life. (Basketball is no longer an option... lol).
I hope you have found some level of inspiration out of these words today.
Be blessed!
Wednesday, February 28, 2018
In the beginning...
It is the last day of February 2018 and I am writing for the first time this year... why is that important? It's not... to anyone other than me. When I sat down to write out my goals for the year, one thing that kept weighing on my heart and mind was that I wanted to write. I don't know why as that has never really been anything I wanted to pursue and it will probably become very evident as you read this post that I am not the most talented of writers.
I do believe that I was inspired to write for a reason and until I start actually writing, I do not know and would not know what that reason actually is.
There is a message inside me somewhere that is going to come out over the course of time. I hope you come along on this journey with me and find out what that message is.
Today, as I sat in my office doing a devotional, I broke down in tears. Not just a single tear, but the body shaking, snot bubble tears of someone who is about to lose it but found peace in what I had read.
What got me? A statement in the devotional about how much faith the father must have had to leave Jesus with nothing to return to his son who he had asked Jesus to heal. He only had Jesus words that his son would live as he made his way home. Not knowing if Jesus was reliable or understanding fully how by speaking words his son would live. Then they said what hit me... that is all we have today. We have Jesus words with us all the time. His promises, his guidance, his love, his mercy, his grace.
Why did that make me cry? Because the story of my life has been to find peace in the stuff this world has to offer and how that has let me down every step of the way. It has only been when I have submitted myself to His will and truly tried centering my life around Him and His will for me that I have had any level of peace in my life. I don't have to do all of this alone. If I have nothing or no one else in my corner, I have Jesus. The awesome thing is that I am not alone! I do have a wonderful wife, great kids, great parents, great siblings and an incredible group of people that I can lean on if I just let my pride aside and reach out.
Isn't that the hardest thing to do? Admit that we need help? To let people see behind the curtain as to what is really going on in our lives is as difficult as it comes. Know this... just like a curtain is a temporary wall that blocks others from seeing inside, so are the things of this world. When you let people into your home, inside the curtains, that is where the real relationship grows. As it is in your physical home, it can be in your life. Start with talking to Jesus and letting him in. Start the relationship and develop that relationship. He is there waiting for you to move towards him. He will meet you right where you are.
I got a little preachy there, but this experience this morning has prompted me to start this blog and follow through with the goal to write this year. Let's see where it goes!
Be blessed!
I do believe that I was inspired to write for a reason and until I start actually writing, I do not know and would not know what that reason actually is.
There is a message inside me somewhere that is going to come out over the course of time. I hope you come along on this journey with me and find out what that message is.
Today, as I sat in my office doing a devotional, I broke down in tears. Not just a single tear, but the body shaking, snot bubble tears of someone who is about to lose it but found peace in what I had read.
What got me? A statement in the devotional about how much faith the father must have had to leave Jesus with nothing to return to his son who he had asked Jesus to heal. He only had Jesus words that his son would live as he made his way home. Not knowing if Jesus was reliable or understanding fully how by speaking words his son would live. Then they said what hit me... that is all we have today. We have Jesus words with us all the time. His promises, his guidance, his love, his mercy, his grace.
Why did that make me cry? Because the story of my life has been to find peace in the stuff this world has to offer and how that has let me down every step of the way. It has only been when I have submitted myself to His will and truly tried centering my life around Him and His will for me that I have had any level of peace in my life. I don't have to do all of this alone. If I have nothing or no one else in my corner, I have Jesus. The awesome thing is that I am not alone! I do have a wonderful wife, great kids, great parents, great siblings and an incredible group of people that I can lean on if I just let my pride aside and reach out.
Isn't that the hardest thing to do? Admit that we need help? To let people see behind the curtain as to what is really going on in our lives is as difficult as it comes. Know this... just like a curtain is a temporary wall that blocks others from seeing inside, so are the things of this world. When you let people into your home, inside the curtains, that is where the real relationship grows. As it is in your physical home, it can be in your life. Start with talking to Jesus and letting him in. Start the relationship and develop that relationship. He is there waiting for you to move towards him. He will meet you right where you are.
I got a little preachy there, but this experience this morning has prompted me to start this blog and follow through with the goal to write this year. Let's see where it goes!
Be blessed!
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