Tag Archives: motivation

Drive and Desire

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This morning I went to the high school track closest to where I live to put in some speed work as I train for my first marathon. Arriving very early, I found that the track was in complete lock down. Every gate closed, every opening shut, chained and padlocked. Not one soul running. It was frustrating and more so, it was very confusing… I began to ask myself questions like, “Why aren’t any of the school’s athletes out there? Why aren’t other area runners training? What is going on?” So I drove a few more miles down the road to check the next high school. The track was wide open, and sure enough it was packed. There were 50-100 student athletes getting in their before-school training. Area runners were doing speed work. The track was even humming along with a few house moms getting in some circuit training.

So who sets the tone of desire and drive for the organization? Is it the security guard who unlocks the gates? Is it head of the athletic department? Is it the conditioning coach? Or is it the athlete who gets up early to train? You know the answer… each of them do, but the driven athlete will always find a way to train, just like the driven leader will overcome obstacles to achieve his goals.

* It shouldn’t surprise you to know that the high school with the closed track only has a few state titles in it’s history. Conversely, the high school with the open track has many and is considered by some to be the premier academic AND athletic school in the entire state.

Want IT Yourself

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It’s fun to help people.

I truly enjoy the process of coaching, sharing, challenging and stretching another person to bring out their best. No egos involved, just one human helping another human get ahead, do better, advance in your station in life. I love helping people realize their ‘IT’.

IT = your dreams, goals, ambitions, desires, future, and possibilities.
IT = making more money, having more freedom, enjoying life to it’s fullest, changing the world.
IT = what could be.
IT = the desire you have to be something more or better.

Here’s what drives me absolutely nuts though… I can not want ‘IT’ for you. You have to want IT more than anyone else does. If I want IT for you more than you want IT for you… you are on the wrong track and IT will never become reality.

What’s Left Behind

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You can live your life so sheltered that when you’re old and gray, all that you can claim is to have lived long enough to have become old. That’s not my way. - Ed Viesturs; 1st American to climb all 14 of the world’s tallest peaks.

Ed spent 8 years in college and then a few more in practice to be an established veterinarian. He jumped ship to pursue his love for high altitude summit climbing and eventually became the first American to summit the world’s 14 highest mountain peaks all without the aid of bottled oxygen. Many of us have found ourselves wondering if we could leave our current place behind in an effort to chase our dream. You can! You are capable of the same creative processes and leadership required to pursue your dreams and your purpose. But, you will have to leave other things behind.

Yitta 2000

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When Yitta Schwartz died last month at 93, she left behind 15 children, more than 200 grandchildren and so many great- and great-great-grandchildren that, by her family’s count, she could claim perhaps 2,000 living descendants. – NY Times – Feb. 18, 2010 – read more

Holy Crap! Yitta was focused. Focused on life. Focused on her goals. Focused on her family. Focused on her legacy. Focused on her beliefs. Focused on her purpose.

Yitta Schwartz survived the holocaust.

She also endured the agony of having 18 natural births and then went on the ENJOY the challenge of raising 15 kids (read the story to make the math work) and nurturing the clan. Yitta went strong into her 90′s. There is so much to marvel at in connection with this woman. I am filled with so many questions from such a short story. Bottom line is that this woman is inspiration for every time I feel like giving up.

Look alive 35!

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“Look alive 35!”

That was a lot to process as the lady ran past me on mile 5 of the triathlon. First, I just got passed by a lady… again (which I am getting very accustomed to as there are many amazing female athletes that are putting me in my place). Second, her pace was amazing and it alone inspired me to push beyond what I thought I had left in reserve. Third, she just read my age and produced a quippy little rhyme under the pressure of time, fatigue and mental strain… I can’t rhyme on a very good day with all conditions being ideal.

More than anything though, her attitude inspired me. It cost her absolutely NOTHING to be the most standout athlete that I encountered over the course of almost 3 hours of competition. I wish I had the wherewithal to keep up with her through the finish and get her name OR even be able to just recognize her again if I saw her. Her simple words, tone and approach brought out of me something more than what I was giving before she came along. In fact, it was so inspiring that it didn’t even bother me that she just passed me and was definitely going to finish in front of me. I kicked it up to the finish line. How could I not?

Every day it costs me absolutely $0 to put forth a great attitude and exceptional energy. The only thing I need fight are my lazy tendencies to act & respond as I desire or as I feel. As a leader and as a person I want to be the caliber of individual that brings out the best in others at all moments. So… here’s to looking alive and bringing an attitude to the table that inspires, encourages, motivates and lifts up. Here’s to being the most uplifting and memorable person in the meeting, difficult situation and at the dinner table.

get up off the mat!

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[this blog is soon finding a new home on RED BIKE LEADER.com - http://www.redbikeleader.com ]

how do you get back up after you are knocked down? if you don’t know, you are going to need to figure it out. maybe you won’t know until the situation arises. it has to be a NON-NEGOTIABLE ATTRIBUTE for leaders though. every leader will face at least one situation (probably many) in their lives where they will be knocked down to the mat, and like a fighter in the ring, you may lay there for a moment and seriously contemplate whether you are going to get back up again. you will mull over the possibilities in your life that might be nearly as rewarding without having the risk and pain involved that you are currently feeling. you will need to search deep for what drives you, inspires you, and pushes you to be in the arena you are in. you may need a coach in your corner that believes in you; he might be yelling in your ear. a damsel (or dame) may be just beyond on the ropes believing in you and you can’t let them down. perhaps you are a believer in God and you rely soley on the strength and the promises that he gives in his word. maybe it is a combination. maybe it is in your gut and your experiences to keep on fighting. chances are that you want to undo the past and not replicate other failures you have seen.

we have all witnessed defeat. most of us know people who have lost a business, a house, a relationship, a loved one, a trusting confidant OR we have gone through something ourselves. LEADERS GET UP OFF THE MAT!

let this current, unforgetable story inspire you to get back up: http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/09/10/rescue.at.sea/?iref=mpstoryview