May 27, 2010

10 Myths All Graduates Should Know

I heard David Chadwick share this in a sermon several years back


1. This world is all there is – I pray that you find that spiritual connectedness to God that becomes your core!

2. Your outsides are more important than your insides – We are bombarded with the notion about looks and beauty. The reality is that we should look for the content of a person’s heart and character

3. Your net worth defines your self-worth – Don’t chase the dollar

4. Your work will define you and your world – This becomes less and less true as you mature….I hope

5. Life is about getting more than you give (Note how close the word miserable is to miser) – It actually is about GIVING!

6. Older people have NO value – We are losing our history, plus people are living longer. We need to make sure we continue to give them value

7. Science has more authority than faith and scripture – It is that awesome connection to faith that gives us strength

8. You can have it all at one time – If it is too good to be true, then it is too good to be true

9. There is no absolute truth – Read the bible!

10. Only the strong survive – Remember those less fortunate!

May 19, 2010

Ambition

Who was that old guy in the commercial that said, “Confidence is sexy, Don’t you think?” I can’t recall his name but he was also the cowboy in the Billy Crystal movie where they herd cattle on vacation. Have you ever had a senior moment where you can’t quite remember things?

I love people with confidence. Often times on interviews people will interpret it as arrogance but I can often see a big difference between arrogance and confidence. It is how people carry themselves. Two shakes of confidence with a dash of humility makes the best recipe.

I don’t mind people that aspire to be the CEO, I actually like that. I think arrogance comes across more when people’s ambition is focused on the individual’s definition of greatness or success. When people focus on selfishness (when they don’t have the dash of humility) that is when they struggle to succeed. True ambition is a focus on more noble or worthy goals.

Leaders with ambition toward noble goals tend to bring people along with them. I recently read about the Riverside School in India where the schools focus was to empower the children. The kids in turn took to the streets to end child labor, teach their parents to read and write, raise money for hearing aids and to create a community focus on all children. Plus their grades vastly improved and even surpassed other schools!

Talent can take you to the top, but it is your character that will keep you there. So ambition without humility makes you…….John Calipari?

For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and every kind of evil (James 3:16)

Think today about the motivating forces in your life. Which ones are self-centered and how much is noble? In your prayer time, ask God to show you your selfish ambition and to help you move it out of the way. Ask God for help in setting new goals that will lift others. Maybe you can empower children?

May 16, 2010

Just a Couple of Random Thoughts

· I think a great new business venture would be text books on a Kindle. I know companies are doing that. The problem is that the college book store business will drastically change and how do they make that profitable for publishers and universities.
· By the way, I don’t own a Kindle. Wish I did though.
· I got a new car with a hands free/Bluetooth phone. My son says since I have stopped texting while I drive that I need hands free text.
· From an INC magazine article. “What would a world without offices look like? Well Dilbert wouldn’t be funny and there would be no such thing as rush hour traffic. If 40% of the workforce worked from home, (which it probably could) 100 hours per person saved on not commuting, 1500 lives saved to no car accidents, and 200 billion saved in real estate expenses and electrical bills.” Don’t laugh at your friend the next time they say they spent all day at work in their PJs.
· I grow dirt. I just have a few beds that I compost, I till and I rake. No plants just dirt. I like to dig up the worms. Nothing prettier than freshly tilled dirt!
· My father in-law used to joke while walking through Lowes, “this would be a great place for hardware store.” Have you noticed that there service has improved lately? I am going to start watching their stock again!
· I am seeing more and more friends cancel phone service and just use their cell phones exclusively.
· Funniest thing at this year’s Masters was the plane flying over that pulled a sign that read, “Tiger: Did you mean Bootyism?”
· My new favorite quote from Phil Mickelson, “A great shot is when you pull it off. A smart shot is when you don’t have the guts to try it.”

May 3, 2010

Magnanimous

I read an article recently that described the owner of this bakery as a “Magnanimous Worker!” Of course I understood what the author meant but I still had to look it up to be sure. One of the short definitions of magnanimous is “unselfish.”

She was an “Unselfish worker!” Wouldn’t we all like to be described that way?

All of us are nice. And most of us have these outgoing personalities. I would even wager a large portion of my pay check that most of us are even pleasant.


As one of the leaders of our YMCA I am fueled by many questions. Is the reputation of our Y staff one of magnanimity? Is open-handed goodness without strings attached the love we share with people who come through our doors, whether they are regulars or not? Why do we often tout our faith based, servant led culture yet live lives of stinginess?

You have to ask yourself the question; Are you unselfish?
· Do you speak to the visitors who may look a little different or are you selfish with your comments because you just don’t know what to say?
· Do you listen to the rambling stories of the little old ladies or are you selfish with your time and avoid making eye contact with them just so you can avoid the long drawn out conversation?
· Do you ask people how their time in the Y was or how you can make it better or are you selfish in trying to avoid fixing someone else’s problem?
· Do you call and remind people to sign up for programs or are you selfish with your time in feeling like you are babysitting people?
· Do you share with members your story or are you selfish with your own personal life?
· Do you greet everyone with this wonderful over the top greeting or are you selfish with your welcome just for the regular or your favorite members?
· Do you thank people for allowing you the opportunity to serve them as a Y employee or are you selfish with your humility?
· Do you care whether people are losing weight, getting stronger, running faster or further and living a healthier life or are you selfish with your heart and just looking at the time clock?

I love reading the stories of over the top service from Disney, Starbucks, Chick Fil A, etc. I even love when I get the feedback on over the top service from our staff!


We have it in us to be servants. I hope you will take the time to think about how your part of the Y can be unselfish and work hard to translate that passion into your staff!