This past week I hope you took time to THINK. Did you set aside time to THINK about what is going well in your life? What do you want to change, or make better, or do more of? Do you find you are willing to THINK outside the box? Do you allow yourself time to THINK creatively, and THINK originally?

Especially in this time of protests about standing or sitting while the National Anthem is being sung, “celebrities” weighing in on their opinions, the news media having their “opinions” versus reporting in a neutral manner, our Facebook “friends” expressing their opinions etc. etc., are you THINKING about YOUR views based on YOUR core beliefs? Or are you going along with a particular viewpoint, but you don’t know WHY? Are you taking a particular stand because that’s what everyone else around you is thinking and you don’t want to rock the boat or “look” different?

In Terrence Woods’ radio show; Before You Go Pro, a couple weeks ago, he had three speakers on to give their reactions to Colin Kaepernick sitting during the National Anthem. It was a great discussion with various viewpoints and ethnic backgrounds of the speakers. Two things stood out to me; one was that each person had an opinion based on their own reality, there was a discussion, and it was a civil discussion. Secondly, the most poignant point that stood out to me was the position of the black educator at a high school when confronted with a student who came into his office who wanted to sit during the National Anthem at one of the upcoming sporting events. This true leader did not take a personal stand, however, asked questions and had a discussion with the student. His key question was to know the student’s WHY. What was the reason for this young man to sit? Did he truly have a reason or was he just following what he saw on TV?

Just by asking the question WHY to someone, no matter what the situation or issue, is the key point to true THINKING! So many of us, especially our iY generation young people, are listening to friends which now has become a “group think” rather than a true examination of a personal belief system, a true core of who we are as an individual.

I ask that everyone who is in a position as a coach, teacher, civic, employer, pastor etc. to take the time to help our young people develop their own core values and to know WHY they believe what they believe. When possible let’s have a dialog with our students, our athletes, and especially our children about their thoughts and learn WHY they feel the way they do. This takes TIME, it takes asking a lot of questions, and it means guiding from a position of neutrality without the interference of our own opinions and judgments. We may not always agree with what they end up with, however, isn’t that part of developing as a person?

We all have people in our sphere of influence who contribute to what we are thinking both positively and negatively. I ask that you THINK about who these people are and what kind of influence you are allowing them to have in your life. 

And just to be clear, it’s NOT just our iY generation! There are an abundance of adults who continue to want to please others which is their main WHY. That, in my personal opinion, is VERY sad and definitely NOT productive. I am a believer that we can all learn and grow starting with our mindset!! THINK! Ask yourself WHY!

The following is from October 14, 2014, “Forging Your Character,” by Jim Rohn,

Personal success is built on the foundation of character, and character is the result of hundreds and hundreds of choices you might make that gradually turn who you are at any given moment into who you want to be. If that decision-making process is not present, you'll still be somebody—you'll still be alive—but you may have a personality rather than a character, and to me that's something very different. Character isn't something you were born with and can't change, like your fingerprints. It's something you must take responsibility for forming. You build character by how you respond to what happens in your life, whether it's winning every game, losing every game, getting rich or dealing with hard times.

Building your character is vital to becoming all you can be.

I encourage you to THINK! I encourage you to know YOUR WHY in all that you do. After all, as Jim Rohn says, “You must take responsibility for forming your character.”

I wish you a continued week of THINKING and asking yourself the key question of WHY YOU stand for, believe in, and support something no matter what it is.

Success is Built on CHARACTER

How did you answer this question from last week? “What is YOUR Game Plan in ONE area of your life?” Did you take time to reflect? Did you make a decision backed up with ACTION in order to move ahead in your life?

We are now five months into 2016. What have you done differently to make 2016 different than 2015? In order for you to make a difference in your life something has to change NOW not later. Or maybe you don’t want to lead the life that God intended you to live. Maybe you’d rather keep putting off what you know you “should” do.  After all, it is easier to listen to that little voice telling you all the reasons why you can’t versus why you CAN.

Last week, I told you about Terrence Wood who made a commitment to himself and his family to make a difference in his life, and he is willing to do whatever it takes. Despite the fact his heart is in his business of helping young athletes with his company Before You Go Pro, he doesn’t bemoan the fact he has to work two jobs right now. He knows that will not last forever. He doesn’t make excuses that he’s busy with his wife and four children. Terrence is all about ACTION not excuses. His attitude is DO WHATEVER IT TAKES.

Jim Rohn says, "Personal success is built on the foundation of character, and character is the result of hundreds and hundreds of choices you might make that gradually turn who you are at any given moment into who you want to be.  If that decision-making process is not present, you’ll still be somebody – you’ll still be alive – but you may have a personality rather than a character, and to me that’s something very different.  Character isn’t something you were born with and can’t change, like your fingerprints.  It’s something you must take responsibility for forming.    You build character by how you respond to what happens in your life, whether it’s winning every game, losing every game, getting rich or dealing with hard times.  You build character from certain qualities that you must create and diligently nurture within yourself, just like you would plant and water a seed or gather wood to build a campfire.  You’ve got to look for those things in your heart and in your gut.  You’ve got to chisel away in order to find them, just like chiseling away rock to create the sculpture that has previously existed only in the imagination. But the really amazing thing about character is that if you’re sincerely committed to making yourself into the person you want to be, you’ll not only create those qualities, you’ll strengthen them and re-create them in abundance.  Building your character is vital to becoming all you can be.”  

Often times I hear people stuck with thoughts of not being able to move forward, not thinking they can change.  Excuses such as I’m too old, too young, I don’t have any time, “my boss is too controlling,” it’s not politically correct, I don’t have any flexibility with activities due to young children, school demands, I’m too tired when I get home from work, and the list goes on and on.  What I think Jim Rohn is saying, in the above paragraph, is that character building is a choice, and fortunately, we live in a country where we CAN make choices. 

Our 33 year old daughter made the choice almost two years ago that her health and well-being was important.  She wanted to be able to keep up with a schedule of working full-time, being a wife, raising two young children, being involved with several volunteer organizations, as well as getting involved in activities which would help her grow professionally as well as personally. She has been committed to no excuses, doing whatever it takes, and being consistent. 

Planning weekly meals, having healthy snacks available, and finding a workout program that would work for her were all a part of her Game Plan.  Now two years later, she has been able to maintain her desired weight, has developed a stronger body, has done an incredible job balancing life’s demands, and continues to do whatever it takes to be the best she can be. There are lots of opportunities to not follow through, lots of reasons to skip a day of working out, lots of opportunities to make excuses, but she has established a new norm for herself. Yes, there are sometimes even weeks that things are seemingly out of control. That’s life. What, to me, shows character is when someone takes a setback in stride and gets back on track moving ahead once again. It’s all part of the Game Plan.

Jon and I have been privileged to be around some talented athletes, special administrators, and special people of character. Commitment, no excuses, consistency and striving for excellence were those choices these people made as young 18-22 year olds which have now translated into those same character choices later in life. People with character don’t talk about why they can’t do something. Their conversations are how they CAN continue to pursue their dreams.  You don’t hear excuses about “what if” but you hear a commitment to personally learning, growing, the importance of family, and accolades of what a particular coach, teacher, mentor, family figure etc. instilled in them as a young person.

As Jim Rohn said, “Personal success is built on the foundation of character, and character is the result of hundreds and hundreds of choices…”  We all have those moments, at one time or another, of struggling, wanting to quit, frustrated with the roadblocks of bureaucracy or the lack of leadership by a boss. I’m of the belief that each block in the road, each naysayer on our life’s path is put there for a reason. We have to find out what that reason is so we can move forward. A person with character is NOT a quitter when the going gets tough. A person with character continues to move forward. I believe a person dedicated to building his or her character is on the path of living a life of significance.

I look at each one of our children and their spouse.  They all have been challenged with a variety of circumstances and road blocks.  They all have been frustrated and stressed.  But, what I admire in them is they’re building their character.  They’re making hundreds and hundreds of choices in all areas of their lives that are “gradually turning who they are at any given moment into who they truly want to be.”  As Jim Rohn says, “You build character by how you respond to what happens in your life.”

It’s back, once again, to whether you choose excuses, rationalizing, or blame as to why something is not working.  Or instead do you choose to focus, to do what’s in your control, to eliminate excuses and blame, and your Game Plan is to take one step at a time leading you to your dreams and desires.

I wish you a week looking at solidifying your healthy mindset building on the foundation of your character. 

Leading an Inspired Life

With this being the third week in February and 47 days into 2015, how are you doing with your mini goals?  Are you focusing on your finances?  Are you focusing on cutting back on your sugar intake?  Are you making a difference in some area of your life each day?  Remember: take small steps, celebrate those small steps, and be consistent.

“Personal success is built on the foundation of character, and character is the result of hundreds and hundreds of choices you might make that gradually turn who you are at any given moment into who you want to be.  If that decision-making process is not present, you’ll still be somebody – you’ll still be alive – but you may have a personality rather than a character, and to me that’s something very different. 

Character isn't something you were born with and can’t change, like your fingerprints.  It’s something you must take responsibility for forming.    You build character by how you respond to what happens in your life, whether it’s winning every game, losing every game, getting rich or dealing with hard times.  You build character from certain qualities that you must create and diligently nurture within yourself, just like you would plant and water a seed or gather wood to build a campfire.  You’ve got to look for those things in your heart and in your gut.  You’ve got to chisel away in order to find them, just like chiseling away rock to create the sculpture that has previously existed only in the imagination. But the really amazing thing about character is that if you're sincerely committed to making yourself into the person you want to be, you'll not only create those qualities, you'll strengthen them and re-create them in abundance.  Building your character is vital to becoming all you can be.”  Jim Rohn

Often times I hear people stuck with thoughts of not being able to move forward, not able to change, or to make a difference in their lives.  Excuses such as too old, too young, no time, “my boss is too controlling,” it’s not politically correct, no flexibility with activities due to young children, school demands, too tired, and the list goes on and on.  What I think Jim Rohn is saying, in the above paragraph, is that character building is a choice, and fortunately, we live in a country where we CAN make choices. 

Our daughter, at age 32, made the choice that her health and well-being was important.  She wanted to be able to keep up with a schedule of working full-time, raising two young children, being involved with several volunteer organizations, committing to a year-long leadership class to an already busy schedule, as well as being a wife.  She wanted to do something about her weight and physical fitness, so committed to no excuses, doing whatever it took, being consistent, and having a support group.  Planning weekly meals, having healthy snacks available, and finding a workout program that would work for her were all a part of the overall plan.  Now nine months later, she has lost weight, is developing a strong body, is able to carry around 20 month old Zane who weighs 30 pounds, balance her life, and even when on a leadership training away from home found a way to do her workout each day.  I see her so much happier, she doesn’t seem to carry stress as she had before, she seems to be able to let things “roll off her back” easier, and has now decided it’s time to help others with their need to be in better health.  There are lots of opportunities to not follow through, lots of reasons to skip a day of working out, but she’s now in the habit of knowing how good she feels, she’s getting encouraging feedback from those around her, her focus and actions are influencing her husband to also take care of his health and well-being, besides being an incredible role model for her five year old daughter.  Bria has gotten up in the mornings, early, with her own encouraging coaching, and wanting to spend time with mommy. 

Over the weekend, we participated in a celebration of former basketball players at CU under Coach Bill Blair who coached from 1976-1981.  It was a great reunion time with lots of memories and stories being shared.  A common, recurring theme was that of friendship and what being a part of a team has played in the lives of these men now far removed from their playing days in Balch Fieldhouse. Commitment, no excuses, consistency and striving for excellence were those choices made as a young 18-22 year old which translated into those same character choices as a middle age man.  You didn't hear conversations with excuses but conversations of how they were able to pursue their dreams.  You didn't hear excuses about “what if” but you heard a commitment to personally learning, growing, the importance of family, you heard accolades of what a particular coach instilled in them as a young man, and you heard the importance of a team that supported one another. There were wonderful conversations about families, children, and grandchildren who were successful and doing well.  As Jim Rohn said, “Personal success is built on the foundation of character, and character is the result of hundreds and hundreds of choices…”  I’m sure there were those moments of struggle, wanting to quit, not being totally committed over the years since college basketball, but that wasn't the focus of the conversations.  There was an air of respect for one another, an air of self-confidence without arrogance, there was not a “one up-man-ship” with the stories but an air of celebration for the successes, there was laughter, lots of smiles, and positivity of what the future had in store. The current basketball coach, Tad Boyle, spoke to the importance of history and the foundation these men had set in place for the current staff and players.  Tad welcomed the contributions, welcomed the history, and welcomed each former player, former coach/assistant coach, and all the other contributors.  It was their commitment to building a strong foundation for CU men’s basketball many years ago that is making a difference today.

I look at each of our children and their spouse.  They all have been challenged with a variety of circumstances and road blocks.  They all have been frustrated and stressed.  But, what I admire with all of them is they're building their character.  They’re making hundreds and hundreds of choices in all areas of their lives that are “gradually turning who they are at any given moment into who they truly want to be.”  As Jim Rohn says, “You build character by how you respond to what happens in your life.”

It’s back, once again, to whether you choose excuses, rationale, or blame as to why something is not working.  Or instead do you choose focus, what’s in your control, no excuses, no blame, and a goal to take one step at a time? That means consistency and commitment with a support team to encourage and support your efforts. 

Here’s to a healthy mindset built on the foundation of character.