It’s early Sunday afternoon, Rockies going for sweep of Diamondbacks on the tube, cat in the face - her breath does stink - and writing you on my mind. I’d like to chat about chasing dreams.
The previous 24 hours of a fifty-fourth birthday weekend a perfect example of this exciting, frightening and unpredictable journey we call life and the importance of chasing dreams. It resonated within me deeply while dropping talented niece at airport. That moment culminated a visit centered on a, considered, move to the Mile High City once graduated next month from nursing school.
The standout basketball player had injuries curtail a promising collegiate career and turned attention to caring for others via nursing. I like to call that “turning lemons into - heck with lemonade - sweet savory margaritas.” Basketball and then nursing, two healthy and productive, potentially, endeavors. Quick to smile and laugh, this young lady has many gifts and seems to relish, like many of us, the Colorado lifestyle and its magic. Young adults dig Denver. I think that’s cool.
While watching her walk into the terminal, thoughts wandered back to watching #20 play basketball. A guard, my niece played with great passion. I have always admired others who pour heart and soul - call it passion - into their efforts. Whether home, work, sports or elsewhere, it really warms my marrow to watch others ooze enthusiasm in ways honoring, nurturing and adding value to communities served, wherever roaming. Just my opinion, but the energy emanating from folks like that is infectious and inspires me to better effort. You?
Anyway, back to the point. An uncle is observing a fabulous young lady, product of sister and good buddy from high-school basketball days, marinating in one of life’s defining moments: courage to put fear aside and allow wonderment to win.
It’s a favorite story shared during practically each live Pep Talk presentation. Long ago, when precious daughter, today a volleyball standout, was in second-grade she played some hoops. I’ll never forgot driving the now 15-year-old and two classmates to their first basketball practice. The three were in the back of my car, buckled in and discussing what most second-grade girls seem to talk about: fashion, boys and television shows. We’re about five minutes from practice when one of the girls blurts out, “Hey, when is our first game?” Remember, I’m driving them to their first practice. My daughter and the other girl respond, almost in unison, “First game? Oh, it’s tomorrow.”
The inquiring young lady’s face flooded with shock and fear. This came from mouth but originated in soul: “Tomorrow? I don’t even know how to play basketball!” Daughter and other gal fire back with this gem: “Oh, that’s okay. Here’s what we do. When we have the ball we put it in the basket. When they have it, we steal it. The coaches will teach us the rest.”
Next time we interview a basketball coach on Mac and Doog we’ll have to offer that advice: score, play good defense and learn. I can’t wait for that response!
Anyway, the body language of an inquiring young girl changed immediately as she confidently muttered, “Oh, okay!” Here’s where it gets really good. From the moment, five minutes later upon arrival, that terrific trio of young ladyhood marched into the gym each became good players. None better than a once frightened young girl, given wise instruction from teammates, putting fear aside and allowing wonderment to win.
It worked for a young girl many years ago. I wonder if she even remembers the moment like I do? Probably not and that’s okay. Putting fear aside and allowing wonderment to win will work for a darling niece considering moving west to the Centennial State. It will work for your humble correspondent. It will work for you too.
Where this week is it time? Time to put fear aside and allow wonderment to win? Home, work or elsewhere? Where is it time to take a leap of faith into the great unknown? Wherever that question rattles your bones, please remember, it ain’t happening unless wonderment wins the battle with fear.
If you think I’m crazy, perhaps Shakespeare’s take on it might resonate. Wikipedia calls the English poet and writer “the world’s pre-eminent dramatist.” Writing most of his work in a 24-year spurt beginning in the late 1500‘s, the dude considered the greatest writer in English language history, once declared: “Our doubts are traitors that make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt.”
He’s right. Let’s promise one another the following: embrace Shakespeare’s advice. We must keep chasing dreams. It starts with wonderment defeating fear.
Good luck this week!
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Pep Talk: "Gentle and Forgiving"
It was a Friday night in the Mile High City. The cat at the door whining for the backyard, the Rockies, on opening night, battling Houston in a game Colorado eventually won and I’m finally getting around to reading Wednesday’s Denver Post. An article in its front section rattles the skeletal system.
It’s a story about, what appears, a tragic accident in the northern Denver suburb of Thornton. A distracted driver hit a man and two sons walking along a rural road. Father and one son perished, the youngest boy survived but experienced the passing of his father and brother. Tough stuff.
But here’s what blew me away in reading the article by the Post’s Jessica Fender: The presence of forgiveness. Yeah, the victims’ kin, instead of unleashing anger and fury at the man who veered from his lane, chose to respond with: “Everybody’s hurting. It was a perfect storm of things happening. We realize it was a horrific accident. Our hearts go out to him (the driver) and his family.”
Wow. It sure makes me think of the power, and benefit, or letting go of negative energy expended when life’s challenging moments leave us bitter, angry and resentful. Anybody winning there?
Now granted, this family’s incredible response will be tested as the reality of its loss sinks in. The respected stages of grief suggest it’s okay to be angry, your world has been rocked. The big question becomes, “How long are we gonna dwell in negativity?”
When blessed to be speaking with others in a Pep Talk coaching situation, I like to offer: “We have to decide whether we’re going to be victims, or students, of life’s unwanted and unexpected situations.” And yes, while origins of “What the heck is going on around here” moments vary, I would like to suggest, strategies remain the same. There are four critical things we must do, as quickly as possible, in trying to turn these, as I wrote in my third book, lemons into margaritas:
Forgive and learn
Rally with like-minded folks
Encourage one another to move forward
Transform in ways honoring, nurturing and adding value to communities served.
When it comes to dealing with life’s crap, I like to call it, just my opinion, the “Fantastic Foursome.” What are the other options? We see them often don’t we? Ten years post divorce, or other misfortune, we observe, or demonstrate, burrowed bitterness? It’s just one example but you know what I mean. There is probably no greater gift than the one of forgiveness. In the world’s best-selling book, in Colossians, it says, “be gentle and forgiving, never hold a grudge.”
Where this week could we take a cue from a grieving Centennial State family? Where is it time to finally let go of the past and focus on the present and future - home, work and elsewhere? Again, venue doesn’t matter, strategy does. It starts with being gentle and forgiving of others, and self.
Good luck!
It’s a story about, what appears, a tragic accident in the northern Denver suburb of Thornton. A distracted driver hit a man and two sons walking along a rural road. Father and one son perished, the youngest boy survived but experienced the passing of his father and brother. Tough stuff.
But here’s what blew me away in reading the article by the Post’s Jessica Fender: The presence of forgiveness. Yeah, the victims’ kin, instead of unleashing anger and fury at the man who veered from his lane, chose to respond with: “Everybody’s hurting. It was a perfect storm of things happening. We realize it was a horrific accident. Our hearts go out to him (the driver) and his family.”
Wow. It sure makes me think of the power, and benefit, or letting go of negative energy expended when life’s challenging moments leave us bitter, angry and resentful. Anybody winning there?
Now granted, this family’s incredible response will be tested as the reality of its loss sinks in. The respected stages of grief suggest it’s okay to be angry, your world has been rocked. The big question becomes, “How long are we gonna dwell in negativity?”
When blessed to be speaking with others in a Pep Talk coaching situation, I like to offer: “We have to decide whether we’re going to be victims, or students, of life’s unwanted and unexpected situations.” And yes, while origins of “What the heck is going on around here” moments vary, I would like to suggest, strategies remain the same. There are four critical things we must do, as quickly as possible, in trying to turn these, as I wrote in my third book, lemons into margaritas:
Forgive and learn
Rally with like-minded folks
Encourage one another to move forward
Transform in ways honoring, nurturing and adding value to communities served.
When it comes to dealing with life’s crap, I like to call it, just my opinion, the “Fantastic Foursome.” What are the other options? We see them often don’t we? Ten years post divorce, or other misfortune, we observe, or demonstrate, burrowed bitterness? It’s just one example but you know what I mean. There is probably no greater gift than the one of forgiveness. In the world’s best-selling book, in Colossians, it says, “be gentle and forgiving, never hold a grudge.”
Where this week could we take a cue from a grieving Centennial State family? Where is it time to finally let go of the past and focus on the present and future - home, work and elsewhere? Again, venue doesn’t matter, strategy does. It starts with being gentle and forgiving of others, and self.
Good luck!
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Pep Talk: "Riding the Storm Out"
It was another absolutely gorgeous Centennial State Saturday. I had just returned from the accountant’s office. Humbling year for Victory Productions. Things must get better. The underachieving must end.
My focus was broken by a knock at the door. My buddy, Scott Canady, had stopped by to get the sprinkler and lighting systems fired up. The lawn is thirsty and worthy of hydration. The bulbs burned and needing replacement. A big CU fan, a Buff to the bone, the father of two has been taking care of sprinklers and lights around this modest abode forever. He’s a good dude and does a good job. DayStar & Associates for those who might need a quality company in that area. About 45 minutes later, after great conversation and quality workmanship, the chat ends and I was back inside writing this Pep Talk.
However, there’s trouble in the workspace. The cat, upon my abandoning the writing post and wandering outside, took advantage. She was dipping an aging paw deep into my glass and licking the water once paw returned to mouth. Bullet, 15 years running and growing more sly by the day. My thoughts return to writing and thinking of my accountant buddy. He’s another good dude who is riding high right now considering his college-freshman daughter, a standout swimmer, and University of California teammates just won the NCAA swimming championships. “The team’s going to the White House” he said with a sly grin.
Back to downloading thoughts from cranium to computer. Victory Productions must do a better job of effectively communicating its value to clients. When it comes to business development, we need to better inform others our trio of radio, social media and community-based marketing and advertising might be a good fit for them. I’ve been called a lot of things in life - smart rarely, native often - but hope tugs at flesh with belief in the following: there are business owners along Colorado’s Front Range, within Mile High Sports Radio’s signal, who would see value in radio advertising on Drive Time with Mac and Doog, recognition of good works in the community on Facebook and, finally, a Mac and Doog supported event inviting the public to a fun community gathering to network, learn more about the company and raise money for a worthwhile cause. Just my opinion, but it seems a marketing/advertising strategy centered around good works might move the needle and help companies play like champions in their endeavors.
But you know what? It doesn’t matter what I think. The question becomes, will others see value in it? I sure hope so because it seeps from my marrow. It makes me think of you and others. We all have our challenges in life, don’t we? Right now for your humble correspondent, it’s a struggling business demanding a better way.
I think of so many others who I know, and don’t know but know, are in the throes of divorce, illness, child sickness, job loss and other calamities that leave us wondering, “What the heck is going on around here?”
My good buddy, Billy Mac from Hackensack, would call these times, “tough sledding.” He’d exhort we dig deep for resolve to overcome whatever ails us. I’d like to suggest the same.
Remember that song, Riding the Storm Out, by rock band REO Speedwagon? A band that has sold more than 40-million records had humble beginnings. It was a cover band, playing campus bars in Champaign, Illinois around the University of Illinois. I just YouTubed it and am listening now. That’s what we gotta do, ride the storm out. There’s high seas, howling wind and a question, “We will survive to fight another day?” Let’s encourage one another this week to make sure the answer to that question is “Hell yes!”
Good luck!
My focus was broken by a knock at the door. My buddy, Scott Canady, had stopped by to get the sprinkler and lighting systems fired up. The lawn is thirsty and worthy of hydration. The bulbs burned and needing replacement. A big CU fan, a Buff to the bone, the father of two has been taking care of sprinklers and lights around this modest abode forever. He’s a good dude and does a good job. DayStar & Associates for those who might need a quality company in that area. About 45 minutes later, after great conversation and quality workmanship, the chat ends and I was back inside writing this Pep Talk.
However, there’s trouble in the workspace. The cat, upon my abandoning the writing post and wandering outside, took advantage. She was dipping an aging paw deep into my glass and licking the water once paw returned to mouth. Bullet, 15 years running and growing more sly by the day. My thoughts return to writing and thinking of my accountant buddy. He’s another good dude who is riding high right now considering his college-freshman daughter, a standout swimmer, and University of California teammates just won the NCAA swimming championships. “The team’s going to the White House” he said with a sly grin.
Back to downloading thoughts from cranium to computer. Victory Productions must do a better job of effectively communicating its value to clients. When it comes to business development, we need to better inform others our trio of radio, social media and community-based marketing and advertising might be a good fit for them. I’ve been called a lot of things in life - smart rarely, native often - but hope tugs at flesh with belief in the following: there are business owners along Colorado’s Front Range, within Mile High Sports Radio’s signal, who would see value in radio advertising on Drive Time with Mac and Doog, recognition of good works in the community on Facebook and, finally, a Mac and Doog supported event inviting the public to a fun community gathering to network, learn more about the company and raise money for a worthwhile cause. Just my opinion, but it seems a marketing/advertising strategy centered around good works might move the needle and help companies play like champions in their endeavors.
But you know what? It doesn’t matter what I think. The question becomes, will others see value in it? I sure hope so because it seeps from my marrow. It makes me think of you and others. We all have our challenges in life, don’t we? Right now for your humble correspondent, it’s a struggling business demanding a better way.
I think of so many others who I know, and don’t know but know, are in the throes of divorce, illness, child sickness, job loss and other calamities that leave us wondering, “What the heck is going on around here?”
My good buddy, Billy Mac from Hackensack, would call these times, “tough sledding.” He’d exhort we dig deep for resolve to overcome whatever ails us. I’d like to suggest the same.
Remember that song, Riding the Storm Out, by rock band REO Speedwagon? A band that has sold more than 40-million records had humble beginnings. It was a cover band, playing campus bars in Champaign, Illinois around the University of Illinois. I just YouTubed it and am listening now. That’s what we gotta do, ride the storm out. There’s high seas, howling wind and a question, “We will survive to fight another day?” Let’s encourage one another this week to make sure the answer to that question is “Hell yes!”
Good luck!
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