Giving Thanks For Everything!

When I was 18 years old, my mom, suddenly and tragically, passed away. Sitting at a basketball game, she got a headache. A few short days later, she died from a brain aneurysm. To this day, when someone says they have a headache, I can't help but "go there" for just a moment. Right now you're probably thinking, "What a strange way for a blog titled, 'Observations of an Optimist,' to start." Not really. Let me explain.

Everyone, even optimists, has to deal with tragedies, setbacks, and disappointments. I have met people who suffered horrible abuse as a child. I know others who were born with birth defects that should have debilitated them. Death is part of life and we all have, or will have, to deal with loss. But what I learned from going through the loss of my mom and from the stories of people like Joyce Meyer and Nick Vujicic is that it's not what happens to you, it's how you respond to what happens to you that really matters.

I was watching one of the NFL pre-game shows yesterday. They did a story about the decisions the NFL had to make 50 years ago immediately following the assassination of President Kennedy. Part of the decision-making process whether to play or not to play the scheduled games included the question, "What would President Kennedy want us to do?" I was reminded of a decision I had to make just a couple of days after mom died. Would I play in one of my last high school basketball games or not? Everyone would have understood if I hadn't but I found myself asking, "What would mom want me to do?" Talk about a powerful question! The NFL games were played as scheduled and I participated in my basketball game too.

As we gather this week for Thanksgiving, can I encourage you to be thankful for everything? I'm not advocating giving thanks for the losses, setbacks, and/or disappointments in your life but you can be thankful for the results. While I wish my mom was still here with me, I am extremely thankful for the time I had with her. I'm thankful for the man I've become because of what I had to endure as a result of losing her at such a young age. I don't think I'd be near as independent-minded as I am. I would have made very different decisions in my life had she still been here and that would mean I wouldn't have my wife, Wendy, or our incredible daughter, Victoria. I can't imagine a life without them in it.

Joyce Meyer has said if she could, she would not go back and remove the horrible abuse she endured for years at the hands of her father. Why? Because it's that experience that has made her what she is today and it's her story that helps change people's lives all over the world.

Nick Vujicic will tell you if he could be born with arms and legs he would choose not to. He knows the impact he's having in the lives of youth, as well as adults, globally.

This Thanksgiving, be sure to give thanks for everything!

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Challenge Yourself

The story of David and Goliath is well known. I've heard it used as a metaphor for overcoming the obstacles in your life. This is a very effective and useful approach. However, I'd like to put a little different spin on the story for consideration.

We all know David was a shepherd boy. The youngest son of Jesse. He was tending sheep while his oldest brothers were serving in the Israeli army. The Israelites had come up against the Philistines and Goliath was challenging one of them, any one of them, to a duel. Winner take all. No one on the Israeli side would take the challenge. David just happened to be taking food and supplies to his brothers on the front line when he heard the taunting challenge from Goliath. David stepped up and, in one of the great underdog stories ever, defeated Goliath.

Here's what I'd like you to consider this Monday morning; Goliath was not an obstacle in David's way. David wasn't even supposed to be there, on the front line, that day. David chose the challenge of Goliath.

What challenges are you choosing to take on today?

We all have those daily situations that life throws at us that are challenging. But what we need to realize is that overcoming the situations that come at us are only preparation for the battles we are supposed initiate ourselves. David had faced lions and bears and other obstacles in his daily routine of being a shepherd. But they weren't the challenges that propelled him to his destiny. Goliath was! And Goliath was a challenge he chose to take on.

As you look back on your life, what are the battles you've fought and won (or, maybe, lost but learned from) that were the preparation for a challenge you feel you can now win in pursuit of your purpose? Look for the challenges that will allow you to grow into the person you are called to be. Be aggressive in taking on those challenges of your choosing because of what you've overcome in your past. You're still standing and there's a reason for that. You've conquered your lions and bears along the way. Now, find Goliath and go for it!

"But David said to Saul, 'Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.'
"Saul said to David, 'Go, and the Lord be with you.'" - 1 Samuel 17:34-37

Who Are You?

I attended a company function last week. At this function, I observed activities I've seen thousands of times over my 25 years in business; choices being made that either help or hinder individual careers.

It never ceases to amaze me the way people will choose to act at corporate events. There are typically two different approaches; one includes those who think because they are away from family and their regular routine that it's okay to "let your hair down" and act in a way that's less than professional. The other is maintaining one's professionalism, especially when around peers, knowing that these impressions are what people take away with them when the event is over.

Two months ago, I heard Bruce Turkel, an expert on branding, speak. He said the definition of a brand is "what people say about you when you're not there." As you think about, and work on, your own personal brand, the question has to be asked, "What do people say about you when you're not there?"

There are many tools to help build your personal brand. Linkedin, Twitter, Facebook, blogging, etc. all have a place as you create and propagate your message to the world. While these tools are helpful, we can't forget one of the most powerful and unique; the personal experience. What you say is not near as important as what you do. If your message via the various social sites is not consistent with what people witness when they interact with you, your credibility will be lost immediately and your personal brand will suffer dramatically.

Today, think about your core principles. Determine those things most important to you. Craft your message that is consistent with those principles and start sharing them with the world. THEN, in every interaction, conversation, and email and text exchange make sure your actions are speaking louder than your words as you live out those principles and message.

One of the gentlemen who had tremendous influence on me is Zig Ziglar. I quote him often. I've had the privilege of attending Monday Morning Devotionals at Ziglar corporate headquarters here in Dallas. Zig passed away last November but I have spoken with many who worked for him and those who knew him on a very personal level. One of those people is Bryan Flanagan. Bryan worked for Zig for almost 30 years. When we were talking about Zig a couple of weeks ago, he said something that I consider to be one of the all-time greatest compliments one person can give another. He said of his friend, Zig Ziglar, "He was the most consistent man I've ever met. What you heard him say, what he wrote, every speech he gave, he lived it." Wow! What a legacy that is!

Are your actions consistent with who you want to be? What do people say about you when you're not there? The great news is if you haven't been as consistent as you'd like, you can change that today! Start making better choices. Understand the power of every interaction you have. Get a clear vision of who you are and then start acting in a manner confirming that.

"Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life. Put away from you false and dishonest speech, and willful and contrary talk put far from you. Let your eyes look right on [with fixed purpose], and let your gaze be straight before you. Consider well the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established and ordered aright." Proverbs 4:23-26 (AMP)

What's On Your List?

My wife and I just returned from a long weekend in Cancun, Mexico. We had a wonderful time with my brother- and sister-in-law celebrating his 50th birthday. While we had some great conversations, I will never forget the one my wife and I had with our cab driver from the airport to the resort. Albert was a quiet, young man, probably in his early thirties. During our conversation with him, we learned that he was from a small village 3 hours west of Cancun and had moved to the city to make better wages. He wanted to make more money because Albert had a dream. His dream only became known to us through our questions. He wasn't going to share unless we pressed him. You see, Albert, it turns out, loves baseball. American baseball. And he LOVES, as he called them, the New "Jork Jankees." His love and passion for the game and the team became more evident as he talked. He shared how his favorite team of all time was the 2000 "Jankees" with Clemens, Pettitte, Rivera, Posada, and Knoblach, just to name a few. As he rattled off current players and their statistics, his inflection went up, his pace became more rapid, and his hand gestures increased. Suddenly, he became a little quieter. At a stoplight, he turned to look at us. Then, as if sharing a secret he'd never divulged before, he told how it was his life's dream to see the "Jankees" play in person. He already had a plan. He knew it would be very expensive to attend a game in New "Jork" but he would be happy to see them in Florida against the Marlins. Airfare would be cheaper to Miami than New "Jork." He had relatives he could stay with so as to keep his costs low. You could tell, this was a plan in the making driven by pure passion and desire. This was a "bucket list" item.

It got me thinking about my own list. What got me as excited as Albert as he thought about his beloved game? What has God put in my heart to experience before my time on Earth is over? I realized that while I've been focused on achieving my short-term goals that tend to get a lot of my attention, I had not kept up my "bucket list." We all need those dreams that, just at the mere thought of them, increase our heart rate and push us to make the short-term sacrifices required to attain the long-term objective.

I was in a retail establishment the other day and saw a saying on a plaque that made a great point in this regard:

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."

I have re-committed myself to updating, maintaining, and regularly visiting my "bucket list." If you've got one, great! If not, I highly encourage you to jot a few dreams down and see what effect they can have on your outlook for the future. I am confident Albert will see his "Jankees" play and I know you will experience your own bucket list items, as well!

"Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he." Proverbs 29:18