You don' t need me to tell you how politically charged the week has been, especially if you're a sports fan. It seems like everyone has an opinion, some stake in the game, or a tweet that somebody thinks you should delete.
If you are fan of Steph Curry, Tom Brady, LeBron James, Roger Goodell, Colin Kaepernick, or the leader of the free world, you've probably already picked a side and voiced your opinion. I am actually really curious if you are trolling the Don, Kneeling with Kap, or Boycotting the NFL. Shoot me a note or tweet me your stance after you get done reading this. No matter what angle you're coming from, I'm not here to tell you who to root for, which side to take, or where to use your influence in these matters. I am telling you to WIN. I'm a big fan of the concept and saying "WINNERS WIN." A REAL Big fan. There are certain people that just get the job done. Put them down. THEY WIN. Set them back. THEY WIN. Cheat against them. THEY WIN. It never matters. THEY WIN. They achieve SUCCESS. It might take them a little longer. It might require a bit more effort along the way. It may be disappointing until the promised land is finally revealed. But they were never stopped. They just won. Because they CHOSE to win. The question today is: What are you going to choose? Will you resort whining & arguing? Will you settle for the status quo? Will you accept less than your best? Or will you choose actions that put you in the Winners Circle? Donald Trump has never impacted my life beyond my Twitter feed...because I don't let him. LeBron James plays no role in my decision making...because I don't let him. Protesting/Boycotting the NFL doesn't effect my bottom-line...because I don't let it. I WIN. On my terms. I choose when I am offended. I choose who I am surrounded with. I choose what I listen to. I choose what I believe in. I chose my neighborhood. I chose my wife. I chose my job. I can still choose...and I also have the choice to always change that choice again as well. Too many of us forget we can do this. We can forget that we can change our choice to change our circumstances. We expect everyone else to change so that we don't have to. Follow who you need to, protest what you want to, and speak out for what you know to. But make sure that you are winning, on your terms; with your family, with your paycheck, and with your teams. NOBODY SAID IT HAD TO BE EASY. I AM JUST TELLING YOU IT WILL BE WORTH IT. You have the ability to control your influences, your emotions, and the majority of your circumstances. USE IT. I am not stuck, I am not a victim, I am not without options. And neither are you. Make the change. Choose to win. I CHOOSE TO TRUMP LOSING. Will you? **connect with me when you are ready to make a decision, to make your change, and to WIN!!
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I've been doing a fair amount of golfing to end my summer. With a few major changes in my life, I've been able to sneak out to play a bit more than I usually would. A couple of really cool payoffs from those changes is that I've been able to participate in new experiences and have some memorable insights along the way. Most notably, I was able to play on a PGA quality course last week. Ranking among one of the top 50 courses in the nation, Sand Valley presented me with a plethora of challenges coupled with amazing views; More importantly, it gave me a relaxing get away with some really cool and successful people and a chance to reflect on my game known as life. By the way--I'm undefeated in that series, life hasn't beaten me down yet!! My mind never stops even when I am supposed to be checked out, so I somewhat naturally found another element of greatness inside my experience with this course. Though I am one letter off from sharing names with the #1 golfer in the world, the greatness that I refer to was not exactly within my swing that day. It was in my weakness, failures, and lack of skill in which elements of wisdom began to tee off and teach me a practical lesson in moving forward--getting me to have a greater peace about leading from where I am. Chipping and iron play is my struggle on any given day, so you can imagine my woes with extremely fast greens and well guarded pin placements. I came to a point in my day where I had to either give up or make an adjustment. I couldn't dial in any part of my short game and the ball would run forever once it hit the green. It seemed like all I had to do was "taaappp it in." That's when it hit me. Right then and there, I decided to screw chipping all together ...and putt from the fringe. Heck, I putted from the fairway on two of the holes. I needed consistency. I needed something I could trust. SUCCESS comes to those who take ACTION. Definitely a bold move. Surrounded by a group of golfers doing much better than me, as I am engulfed in an environment that screams perfection, I take action by doing something that only proves that I am an amateur. But it didn't matter. I could only do, what I could do. I could only control, what I could control. Again, it was either give up or make something happen. And I let it happen. I calmed myself down, took fewer strokes, and ended the day with a sweet drive and THREE great putts to drop a satisfying par on 18. Too many times, we face "analysis by paralysis." We either do what everyone else is doing or elect to do nothing in favor of better conditions. Think about it, how many times have you heard or said the following phrases: "I need more investors to get my business off the ground." "That's now how so & so did it, look at how successful he is." "I'm not gonna win anyway, it doesn't matter." Change your mindset. Lock into your game. CONTROL WHAT YOU CAN CONTROL. Anybody can launch a new commitment off of a tee box just to see where it ends up. Most high achievers and goal setters actually put the ball within reasonable striking distances. But too few of us take the time to analyze our best shots at success because it won't look right to others. We forget that the only thing that matters is finishing out the hole. And that's where the money is earned. Where the marriages are built. Where the legacies are left. Playing out of the sand, when you're in the rough and nearing the edges of the green is where you find out what you're made of. As you make your approach, make sure you are getting closer to the pin in anyway you have to. Especially when it's unorthodox, unknown, or unpopular. Enjoy the view. Putt from the fringe. Win your way. Last night I made a trip back to my hometown as a part of the long holiday weekend.
I grew up in a small town and for the most part-much like a Jake Owen song-it's the "same ol', same ol', nothing's changed." But as a part of my trip, I got back early enough to catch my high school's Friday night football game. I'm a basketball guy through and through, but there was something that struck me during the contest. Something close to 20 years in the making. Success always stands out. Standing out to me during the game last night was not the size of the players, or the score, or the mentality of the teams when the game was on the line. It was on a coach in the booth. This coach was one of my coaches. This coach has invested in a program for probably close to 20 years. This coach didn't even know I was watching him last night. Or his son. The story goes back to when I played HS football. I was the quarterback. I wore jersey #1. I wanted the eyes on me. I wanted the wins, the spotlight, and the success. Slightly arrogant, under talented, and gritty is how I played. This coach worked with me. This coach talked discipline. This coached talked weights. This coach talked success. He spoke to me. We practiced body language, confidence, leadership, all the things I needed to play quarterback. He bragged me up to our preschool aged ball boy. Had me practice shaking hands with the little guy. He made sure we looked each other in the eye, squeezed firmly, and spoke clearly. He coached me up in a low risk environment, set me up to set a few records and win a few games, and modeled how to be a success in front of people during both wins/losses. I never pursued football beyond those years, but after last night I realized I've never forgotten any of it. One of the most specific things that I remember my football coaches and former players telling my team was that "You are going to miss it. You are going to want to play again." That we could always sign up for an old timers softball league or shoot some hoops down at the Y, but we could never strap on a helmet and get after it again. And that was a feeling they couldn't shake; they would've done more and been more so that they wouldn't have those urges or feelings. As an aspiring leader on that team, I didn't want that for me or our guys, so I bought into their motivational tactics and did the only thing I knew to do, I put everything I had into it and took my teammates with me. If you come back to town with me, I can show you where I threw up after WINNING every single "rockpile" on a hot/humid August day during 2-a-days. I can show you the puddle that they laid one of my best friends in while we waited for an ambulance as he battled heat exhaustion during a practice. I can take you to the sideline where I laid my helmet down prior to a game in honor of September 11th. I can tell you who caught my first and last touchdowns. I remember it all. But I don't miss it. I can honestly say I've never once wanted to play again. And I've asked myself why? Did I not accomplish anything to be nostalgic about? Did I not care enough about the game? Did I have a bad experience that tainted my view? The answer to all those questions is no. The answer is the exact opposite. John Wooden defined SUCCESS as "peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to do your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming." I have peace about my playing days because I gave it my all. I became the best that I could be, though it ultimately wasn't very good in comparison to anything in the rest of the football world. Last night, I watched the quarterback. I watched him do what I did. Except better. He ran harder, shifted positions better, talked to his teammates clearer. He was bigger, faster, stronger. Then again, my attention shifted...to his dad. It all came together. Full circle. That ball boy that I practiced with...is now the leader, the quarterback, the coaches son. My coach was preparing his son, I'd assume preparing him with all he had, using our team and my teammates to get his son to this point. I hope they are having their John Wooden moments: having peace of mind in the effort they have put forth to be where they are today. I hope that I continue to have MY John Wooden moments beyond football, or basketball, with my sons. With my career. With the rest of my life. And I want that for YOU! I want your best effort and your peace of mind. I want your success. I am thankful for the example, the consistency, and the ability to recognize the wisdom on display under the Friday Night Lights. Let me know if you have thoughts on examples from your own life. Share your comments, this article, or your story while you think about: Where are you with your example? Your plan? Or your legacy? Maybe it's not that deep...where are you with your family? Your effort? Your day? If you need help with any of it: LET ME KNOW! If you have a friend that you want me to connect with: LET ME KNOW! Success always stands out. And relationships matter. Everything speaks. Make sure you are listening. |
DJ JohnstonDaddy. Leader. Visionary. Archives
March 2020
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