Anger Rage Fury What value do they offer us in our lives? While no one can deny that anger (and it's proper expression) has a place in our life, it is an impossibility to find the utility in thoroughly and totally losing our perspective on the matters that frustrate us. Blind rage and out-of-control fury offer us absolutely nothing in moving ourselves in a forward motion - not as an individual and most assuredly not with another or others. Balance and stability are cla

Stephen Covey once wrote: "There is no wealth, without work." It is critical for us in the pursuit of Excellence for us to remember that there are absolutely NO SHORTCUTS to success. We might find a method or a manner that is easier for us to navigate through, but it never overrides the essential path and process demanded of a Champion. And after all is considered....it is the arduous trek we take that makes the "victory lap" that much sweeter.

It is a profound challenge to not let the day-to-day issues or problems obscure the long-range objectives you have. The sweat and tears that can get in our eyes can greatly diminish our will to overcome and succeed.... But only if we allow that to happen. Keep reminding yourself that pains of today cannot defeat the achievements of tomorrow.

While most of us have a passion to always be growing and reaching our full capacity.... Sometimes, all we can do is simply work to "survive" . Not every day will find us in full-speed to our visions of boundless excellence.... Some days it’s nothing more than putting one foot in front of the other. That is also known as "progress" . And some days, that is just fine.

It is easy for us to tell others to take the time to better know themselves. It is not so easy for us to take a meaningful inventory of who we are - in such a manner that we can actually find the courage to change, grow, and excel. This enlightening process usually reminds us that rarely do others trip our feet.... It's almost always from "standing on our own shoelaces".

Beware of those forces (mostly other individuals) who endeavor to derail your growth as a person. It is totally irrelevant to concern yourself with the reasons behind their actions.... The only matter to concern yourself with is maintaining a level of personal faith in yourself - so much so that the slings and arrows of your harshest critics can never cause you to stray from the path and fall short of your dreams.

We may endeavor to overcome the everyday challenges of becoming an individual (or team) driven to achievement, but can we maintain our strength on a continual basis? Rarely do challenges come and go. Nor do they rarely disappear without a significant effort needed over a lengthy period of time. And once we have beaten back the forces that want to keep us wallowing in mediocrity, they can (and often will) come back and try to defeat us a second (or third) time. We have to

The journey of Excellence and the drive toward Greatness will NEVER be smooth and free from hardship. And while all of us in that pursuit would love for the challenges to be minimal, we also realize that it is in those struggles that we ultimately shape and refine who we are, and what we are capable of. Because the truth of the matter is that the true measure of a person is rarely understood by what they accomplish.... But rather are defined by what they overcome

Very little is ever accomplished in life if you don't believe that it is possible for greatness to be realized and a " Champion " to be crowned. This realization is the driving force in what we do.... What we think.... What we say.... How we respond to the challenges along the way. Ask yourself as to whether or not you believe the day ahead is one with the glass half-full and the sky partly-sunny. If you do on both counts, then you have the distinct possibility of having a

Not caring about the goals and objectives of yourself, or of a team you are a part of, is a disappointing reality we often to deal with. What is equally troubling are those individuals who may state that they care, but proceed to go out on the field of competition and are willing to accept shoddy and poor execution as basically: "It is what it is." Settling for mediocre standards - either in yourself or a teammate - is thoroughly counter-intuitive to what Excellence truly i

As a human being, all I ever asked from those people in my life was to give me an opportunity..... As a mentor, all I ever implore of the people I lead is for them to recognize opportunity and make it their own. It's amazing how much time I/we have wasted in this process as little more than "boats against the current" .

We have all pondered what the secret to having great relationships is. I my estimation, it is condensed down into three intellectual and spiritual skills (of which ALL three must be engaged): The ability to (sincerely) apologize The ability to forgive The ability to forget

While the blog entries I write come from my own imagination, they are undoubtedly inspired by other articles I have read or situations that I have been witness to, that have showed me insight that I may not have been able to glean from a book or motivational oratory. Although today's entry is a direct quote from the great philosopher/educator Confucius. It needs no interpretation..... "The way of a superior man is threefold: Virtuous, therefore free from anxiety..... Wi

There are very few actions we take in life that have as small a rate of return for us as worrying about what others think about who we are or what we do. People are going to believe what they want to believe. And certainly, we can put in the effort to show them that maybe we aren't the type of individual they believe we are. But for us to literally "waste time" fretting over the intellectual or emotional machinations of people - many of whom we have never, or will EVER mee

Leaders of any team will come face-to-face rather quickly to the matter of control vs. freedom as a way of establishing discipline within the group dynamic. The easiest action to take as a leader is to impose a set of rules and regulations for all members, with the express intent of teaching them "order" in the midst of a defined and regulated structure. A true leader walks a very fine line by actually empowering the team by providing them discipline rooted in "freedom" .

We have a tendency to waste a great deal of time and energy considering the mistakes and errors we have made and contemplate what might have been: "If only I had done this." While it is certainly fair for us to assess the path we have taken - rightly or wrongly - we can't dwell on the "what if's"....all the while forgetting the opportunity found in the "next times". Life is never about the pursuit of perfection....but rather to "perfect our will" to see the GAIN we learn

The Pursuit of Excellence , while a valuable cause for anyone to undertake personally, cannot be minimized by only focusing on individual perspectives. The act of one person elevating themselves will only serve to pull others with them. And if this process is repeated over and over again, the end result can only be understood as growth for all. As we have come to understand that: "The Rising Tide Lifts All Boats" So too is the Champion's Quest for lasting achievement.

How easy it is for us to get caught up in the negativity and confusion of life and lower ourselves to wallow in fear and self-loathing. We invariably realize that immersing ourselves in the cycle of vitriol and victimization is not a place where we can grow - but we go there anyway. We fall prey to the force or the lure of rudimentary criticism, with little more than an attitude better suited for the average preschooler. A True Champion realizes that no matter how difficu

It is difficult at times to envision the possibilities that lie before us. When confronted with relentless challenges and problems we have a tendency to believe that pain is to be our life's calling. Yet through the darkness and the chaos, we MUST take hold of the reality that we are destined for greatness - it may not be the greatness that we have envisioned for ourselves, but it is a form of greatness that is defined in a manner that is powerful for all. We don't always

I may not always be thinking as clearly as I should be.... I may not always be doing the tasks I need to be doing.... I may not always believe that I am moving in the right direction.... I may not always understand that I am capable.... I may not always appreciate the relentless education I am receiving along the journey.... And I may fail...time and time again. But.... As long as I put one foot in front of the other, I am ALWAYS committed to a new day. For every bre