Brooks at 12 is getting taller, Ryanne at 15 is getting faster and April at (43 but don't tell her I told) is getting sweeter!
November 29, 2009
November 11, 2009
TEAM
My staff, I mean my team, probably hates that I reflect often about how we are a team. I guess for the non-sports staff, that doesn’t resonate. But everything about a true team resonates within me. I get goose bumps reading or watching about great championship teams and how they came together as one, well-oiled machine..... “Team.”
A great teammate has a willingness to lose themselves in the group for the good of the group. That is a cool definition but John Wooden, the great UCLA basketball coach, changed the word willingness to eagerness. He said that willingness sounded more like, “I will if I have to” where eagerness denotes a change of attitude to that you would be happy to sacrifice.
I like that, “Happy to sacrifice for the team.” I am eager to do whatever it takes to help you be successful. I am not just willing to help you because I have to, but I am eager because I want to and I cherish the opportunity.
On this Veterans Day, I lift up the grandest ideals of our military in how they mold super large groups of people into teams. Pride in our country creates a type of patriotism in our military that often moves me to that misty eyed mess of a man!
If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. Now all of you together are Christ’s body and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it. (1st Corinthians 12:26-27)
Great teams and organizations know that all jobs are important and that no one is more important than the team. Michael Jordan is credited with saying, “There is no “I” in team but there is in “Win.” My comment to him after his Hall of Fame speech is, “Mike, the game ain’t over yet buddy and you don’t want to be standing alone at the end!”
A great teammate has a willingness to lose themselves in the group for the good of the group. That is a cool definition but John Wooden, the great UCLA basketball coach, changed the word willingness to eagerness. He said that willingness sounded more like, “I will if I have to” where eagerness denotes a change of attitude to that you would be happy to sacrifice.
I like that, “Happy to sacrifice for the team.” I am eager to do whatever it takes to help you be successful. I am not just willing to help you because I have to, but I am eager because I want to and I cherish the opportunity.
On this Veterans Day, I lift up the grandest ideals of our military in how they mold super large groups of people into teams. Pride in our country creates a type of patriotism in our military that often moves me to that misty eyed mess of a man!
If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. Now all of you together are Christ’s body and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it. (1st Corinthians 12:26-27)
Great teams and organizations know that all jobs are important and that no one is more important than the team. Michael Jordan is credited with saying, “There is no “I” in team but there is in “Win.” My comment to him after his Hall of Fame speech is, “Mike, the game ain’t over yet buddy and you don’t want to be standing alone at the end!”
Today as you work, don’t think of yourself more highly than anybody else. We don’t want to see you fake humility, but to be genuine and eager to give up yourself for the good of others. Ask God to help you better contribute your talents so that the team can collectively do more than they ever dreamed.
November 8, 2009
To the Women in Our Lives
I read this last week. It was written by Leonard Pitts from the Miami Herald. It really expresses how we men feel about ALL women.
I am your brother, your father, your husband and your son. I've seen you in church with big hats on, giving children the evil eye. And at the jail on visiting day, shoring up that wayward man. And at the bus stop in the rain on your way to work. And at the dining table with pen and paper, working miracles of money. When I was a baby, you nursed me, when we were children, I chased you through the house; when we were dating, I missed half the movie, stealing sugar from you.
I saw you born; I took you to your prom; I glowed with pride when you went off to school. I have married you and buried you. I love your smile. A million times, you took my breath away.
You are the rock and salvation of our people, the faith that remains when all hope is gone. So if it's about the need to be beautiful, maybe it's time somebody told you:
You already are. You always were.
I am your brother, your father, your husband and your son. I've seen you in church with big hats on, giving children the evil eye. And at the jail on visiting day, shoring up that wayward man. And at the bus stop in the rain on your way to work. And at the dining table with pen and paper, working miracles of money. When I was a baby, you nursed me, when we were children, I chased you through the house; when we were dating, I missed half the movie, stealing sugar from you.
I saw you born; I took you to your prom; I glowed with pride when you went off to school. I have married you and buried you. I love your smile. A million times, you took my breath away.
You are the rock and salvation of our people, the faith that remains when all hope is gone. So if it's about the need to be beautiful, maybe it's time somebody told you:
You already are. You always were.
October 21, 2009
It Takes Skill
Skill is knowing what to do and having the ability to execute. Last week in my pick-up basketball game I threw a long alley-oop pass that swished. When one of the young guys told me how lucky I was, I just winked and replied, “all skill baby.” However, skill is more than knowledge and execution. A skillful person usually has a sense of timing.
I admire the skill of an artist, a surgeon, a song writer, a carpenter and a great athlete. I even have to acknowledge the skill of my kids to do great homework, my mother on her ability to remember every detail of my flawed childhood, and the skill of cooking that Ms Pat shares at the Y!
I am looking for an executive right now and I am looking for skill and will. I know that people with a great resume may just look good on paper. I also know that a person that interviews well just may be a great talker. I am looking for the entire package. I want the leader that is striving to be better tomorrow than he or she is today. I want a leader that can inspire others around them to greatness. I want a servant leader that has proficiency in the job and knows how to create success.
Do you see any truly competent workers? They will serve kings rather than ordinary people (Proverbs 22:29)
Many of my best candidates are great young leaders. I hope they understand how achieving great things takes experience and hard work. We all need to spend time in prayer asking God to show us our talents. We are on earth for a purpose and God has a plan for us.
We often aspire to be something that is measured in the eyes of our neighbors not in the eyes of our Lord. But what if we use our skill and our will to serve in whatever job role we lead? How would that be measured? The bible clearly states that those who serve others will be rewarded in heaven. In fact, the best leaders display a servant’s attitude.
Commit yourself today to developing and using the talents and gifts blessed from God. Ask God to show you the areas of service where you can use those talents. Work hard to develop those skills. Ask for humility that regardless of the world’s hierarchy that you would have a servant’s heart!
I admire the skill of an artist, a surgeon, a song writer, a carpenter and a great athlete. I even have to acknowledge the skill of my kids to do great homework, my mother on her ability to remember every detail of my flawed childhood, and the skill of cooking that Ms Pat shares at the Y!
I am looking for an executive right now and I am looking for skill and will. I know that people with a great resume may just look good on paper. I also know that a person that interviews well just may be a great talker. I am looking for the entire package. I want the leader that is striving to be better tomorrow than he or she is today. I want a leader that can inspire others around them to greatness. I want a servant leader that has proficiency in the job and knows how to create success.
Do you see any truly competent workers? They will serve kings rather than ordinary people (Proverbs 22:29)
Many of my best candidates are great young leaders. I hope they understand how achieving great things takes experience and hard work. We all need to spend time in prayer asking God to show us our talents. We are on earth for a purpose and God has a plan for us.
We often aspire to be something that is measured in the eyes of our neighbors not in the eyes of our Lord. But what if we use our skill and our will to serve in whatever job role we lead? How would that be measured? The bible clearly states that those who serve others will be rewarded in heaven. In fact, the best leaders display a servant’s attitude.
Commit yourself today to developing and using the talents and gifts blessed from God. Ask God to show you the areas of service where you can use those talents. Work hard to develop those skills. Ask for humility that regardless of the world’s hierarchy that you would have a servant’s heart!
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