With Regard To Life

Re-Imagine

A former Apple executive is the CEO of J.C. Penney's. His name is Ronald Johnson. Johnson, and he wants to breathe new life into the company. Johnson wants to "re-imagine" the department store chain. He is challenging the company's employees to think differently and work creatively. Johnson intends to breathe new life into the company. He wants the employees to "reclaim our birthright" and make Penney's America's most popular store. He wants to "re-imagine" the company. What do you want to re-imagine? Your job? Your relationships? Your health? Your life? You are the new CEO of your life. Do it. Tell your employees, tell yourself that, starting today, you are going to begin thinking differently and working creatively. Then do it. Today's Winning Thought: "Are you content withe status quo, or are you willing to take risks to gain higher levels of achievement?" -- John Maxwell

Effectiveness, Efficiency

I will attend a meeting this week where we will be discussing effectiveness and efficiency. We will be asked if we can do things better than we are doing them now. Effectiveness is about getting results. Efficiency is about getting those results without waste. When you are trying to be effective and efficient, you might have to simplify, and eliminate processes that are complicated and cumbersome. You might have to battle bureaucracy. In today's world, you might not be able to do things the way you have always done them. You might have to stretch yourself a little farther than you have gone before. Today's Winning Thought: Don't change just to be changing. But when it is time to change, don't be afraid of it. Embrace it.

What I Learned From Officiating

This is a difficult time of year for me. It is the start of the basketball season. I spent many winters refereeing college basketball games. I retired several seasons ago, but there are certain times of the season that I still miss the game. The worst days are at the beginning of the season and the final weeks of the season around the playoffs. It did not help anything this weekend when a friend told me the that I needed to come back to the game. He said I looked like I could walk on the court and look like I had never been away. That was kind but he does not know how my knees feel. They ache a lot more than they used to. I am not as young as I used to be. I reflect on my career from time to time. Here are some things I have learned from running up and down the basketball court. COMPOSURE. Basketball is a fast-paced game. Today's players are bigger and quicker. The game can get pretty physical. Sometimes the crowd can be a factor. When things get intense, you have to keep your composure. That works in life too. Learn to handle the pressure. EXCELLENCE. Officiating is the only business in the world where you have to be perfect to start with and get better as you go. Perfection is not humanly possible, but you should strive for excellence. You are going to miss a call now and then. You hope to keep them to a minimum. COMMUNICATE. You will have many opportunities during a ballgame to communicate with the coaches and players. When a coach wants an explanation and is professional, you help yourself by communicating with him or her. Coaches are going to tell you what they think. As long as they don't cross the line let them have their say. You don't always have to have the last word. I heard a veteran of the Final Four says once, "You can't quote silence." That will also help you in life. POSITION. I did not need to be the fastest person in the arena. I did need to put myself in a position to succeed. Do the basic things well. Be there mentally. Stay focused on my responsibility. Be where I was supposed to be. Don't give up. Finish strong. TIMING. You should not look at the game as 40 minutes, or two 20 minute halves. Veteran officials, and a lot of coaches, focus from time out to time out. Media timeouts are four minutes apart. Focus on what you have to do. Do not get ahead of yourself and rush, or cut corners. Trust the process. Have a workable plan and follow it. Today's Winning Thought: As an official, and in life, you are being observed, and graded. Every play, every game, even what you do off the court, is scrutinized. 1

Out of Control

When I returned home from our family dinner Thanksgiving night, I went straight to my dictionary. I wanted to see if there was a picture with the definition of the word STUPID. I just knew there had to be. I was expecting to see the picture of Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh next to the word, which means "low in intelligence" and "pointless." That is a pretty good description of Suh. He was ejected again during the team's Thanksgiving Day game with Green Bay after he slammed an opposing player's head to the ground, not once, but three times. He then stood and stomped on the opposing player's bare arm. Suh just does not understand how to behave. He has as many personal fouls as any player in football. He has been fined multiple times. He just has not learned how to play the game within the rules. I read an article today that quoted a former college teammate as saying Suh was not well liked in college. Oh really. I wonder why? Do you suppose it might have something to do with the fact that he has no class? The guy even tried to defend himself following the game. He might have muttered a weak apology but he was not remorseful. National Football League commissioner Roger Goodell is a no-nonsense guy and will take care of this matter. There will be a suspension and a heavy fine. It had better be real heavy because the others have not phased Suh. The sad thing is there are some great young men out there who have worked hard for an opportunity to play this great game. And for whatever reason, they did not get a chance to play in the big leagues. Suh did. He has been given many chances. Far too many. He does not respect the game or the people associated with it. This should be his last chance - after a lengthy suspension and astronomical fine. The next time it happens, he should be banned for life. Today's Winning Thought: Ndamukong Suh is out of control. His behavior cannot be tolerated a minute longer. If he is not careful, he is going to find out the NFL means Not For Long.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you had a wonderful and relaxing day. At least two young ladies at the gathering I attended on Thanksgiving have plans to get an early start on their shopping - beginning at midnight. I am not sure there is a gift that I want bad enough to go shopping at 5 or 6 in the morning, much less the Thanksgiving night or the night before. The idea has never appealed to me, and an incident Thursday night confirmed it. My wife had to have a cord for a new computer that a technician will work on early Friday. (No, it could not wait because she has an appointment). She had to go to one of the big name stores but could not go until 10 p.m. When she walked into the store she said there were people rushing up and down the aisles just grabbing things off the shelves, They were not stopping to exchange pleasantries. Not much joy. Just a lot of selfishness with a dash of rudeness. It makes you wonder if they know how boorish their actions are. Understand that I do not mean to imply that everyone who shopped late Thanksgiving night are rude and selfish. Only a few. Today's Winning Thought: It is pretty easy to be thankful on the last Thursday in November. It is almost a given. Will you be thankful the rest of the year?

Recognition

This is astounding. I read some statistics today on employers and employee recognition. The Center for Work-Life Policy recently reported that the percentage of employees who profess loyalty to their employers fell from 95 percent in June 2007 to 39 percent in December 2008. It dropped 56 percent in 18 months. A little bit, even just a small amount, of recognition might have made a world of difference. It surely would not have dropped that much that fast. If you are a manager, or if you are not, recognize the people who are important to your success. It does not have to be a trophy the size of the World Series or Super Bowl trophy. But it needs to be sincere, and it should be done soon. Trust between employers and employees fell by almost as big a percentage during the same period. It fell by 52 percent. Not pretty. Today's Winning Thought: Recognize people. Invest in them. It will make their day.

Biblical Tweets

I don't know where the phrase came from, but I recently heard Proverbs described as "biblical tweets." These wise sayings are short on words, like a tweet, but long and deep on meaning. These words of Solomon teach people how to live through the repitition of wise thoughts. There is more than enough wisdom in Proverbs to change the world. All that is needed is for people to actually live what they read. Stuff like this. "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." (Proverbs 15:1) To live that verse one must possess self-control. Here is another. "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." (Proverbs 27:17). Get around good people who can challenge and strengthen you. And maybe the most important verse in all the Proverbs, "Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding." (Proverbs 4:7) Today's Winning Thought: If you want wisdom, you must seek it. When you go after it, do not be wise in your own eyes.

Life Is Precious

Death is part of life. It will touch every family. I mentioned the tragedy the Oklahoma State University community is dealing with in my last post. Tonight, The University of Arkansas is mourning the loss of a member of its football team. The player was found in his dorm by his roommate Sunday morning. I do not want this post to seem as though I am consumed by death and dying. I am really focusing on life. Our family has lost two dads this year. Our daughter was very close to both of her grandfathers. This morning, she was asking me about the health problems that claimed their lives. She was remembering them today. I watched my daughter and my wife as we ate dinner with some friends Sunday evening. I reflected on our lives, and was reminded to not take a single minute for granted. We nearly lost our daughter 20 years ago. I vowed then to cherish each day. The only thing that is certain in this life is that it will be uncertain. But even in the uncertainty, live and be in the moment. Today's Winning Thought: "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." -- Pslam 90:12

Kurt Budke

I was stunned when I heard the news of a plane crash that killed Oklahoma State University women's basketball coach Kurt Budke, and one of his assistant coaches earlier this week in Arkansas. I did not know the young assistant who died in the accident, but I knew Kurt Budke. Jim Littell, Oklahoma State's associate head coach, said anyone who knew Budke was richer for it. He is right. I officiated women's college basketball for many years. When I think about what I miss about the game, it is the people - people like Budke and Littell. There are not many nicer people in college athletics than those two men. In the hours following the tragic accident, countless people have remembered Budke. They have used words like caring, an exemplary leader, a man of character, a great husband, father and friend. Nice words, for sure. And the truth. Today's Winning Thought: Kurt Budke was one of the good guys, someone you would want your daughter to play for. I am richer for having known him.

Hold Firmly To The Staff Of God

I was looking through some notes tonight trying to find something to write about. I found a devotional thought written by Nick Palermo, a man I know. It is pretty good. I thought you might like it. Moses had encountered God in a bush. God chose him for this ministry in Egypt. But Moses objected. God answered by giving him a staff, which Moses would use to perform the miracles. "So Moses took his wife and sons and put them on a donkey for the return to Egypt. He had a firm grip on the staff of God." - Exodus 4:20. My friend has had numerous challenges during his time in the ministry. But he is holding a firm grip on the staff. He has not had one or two minor issues. He has had a "Barrage of challenges." It has made him hold firmly to the staff of God. We undoubtedly face similar challenges as my friend. When that happens, hold firmly to the staff of God. He writes, When people don't believe in you, hold firmly to the staff of God. When the challenge is way bigger than you...hold firmly to the staff of God. When you doubt you are the right person...hold firmly to the staff of God. When more money is rolling out than rolling in...hold firmly to the staff of God. When you are weary...hold firmly to the staff of God. When you are criticized and your flaws are public...hold firmly to the staff of God. When you feel alone, isolated or misunderstood...hold firmly to the staff of God. When you feel you cannot bear another hurt...hold firmly to the staff of God. When it seems God has abandoned you, hold firmly to the staff of God." Today's Winning Thought: Moses was out of his comfort zone with regard to this calling. If you find yourself having similar feelings, hold firmly to the staff of God.