Ok, so I'm not literally Mike Maddox! For those of you that don't know who Mike is, let me start by telling you about his brother, Greg.
Greg Maddox is probably one of the top 15-20 pitchers to play baseball in some people's opinion. He won all kinds of awards, was VERY highly regarded for his craft, and was feared by hitters not for his velocity, but for his ability to out-think hitters and also for his dominant command of his pitches. He just naturally had a gift. If people ask about the Maddox brothers, they will easily remember Greg first.
So you might be wondering why I am Mike and not Greg. Well, that is easy. Mike Maddox was also a major league pitcher. He bounced around on over ten different teams, and usually pitched in the middle or bottom of the rotation. He is not someone remembered for all of his achievements on the field.
But while Greg had his biggest baseball impact on the field himself, Mike is now having an impact and making a difference for MANY. He is currently the Texas Rangers pitching coach. He has led his staff to the past two World Series. He came to Texas at the personal request of Nolan Ryan because of his work previously turning around another pitching staff in the National League.
I see myself as Mike Maddox. I have always been able to learn many things, and hold my own at them. Yet, I was never the best. And trust me, I am quite ok with that. My calling is to encourage and help make an impact in others' lives. I understand that. THAT is something I am glad to know! The question now is, what am I going to do with that knowledge?
I think we often try to be something we think WE ourselves want to be, and we lose sight of God's calling in that process. When we do that, we are directing our lives out of selfish wants. I used to want to climb the corporate ladder and manage others and make a huge salary. Don't get me wrong, money is not a bad thing, but my motives were. Life is about so much more than money. It is about having an impact in our short time on this beautiful earth. It is about finding what your passions are and pursuing them. I have found that God has NEVER left me hungry or left me without a roof over my head. My needs and those of my family have ALWAYS been provided for.
Keep in mind that NEVER and ALWAYS are some pretty strong words...
Is there a division in your life when it comes to the path you are on vs. the desires God has naturally put in your heart? Maybe there is a reason you feel like something is always missing. I encourage you to think and pray about that, and if that is the case, remember that it is NOT too late to change your path!
I hope you all had a FANTASTIC Turkey Day!! Now get out your stretchy pants and watch some football!!
Friday, November 25, 2011
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Date day...
Daddy/daughter date day that is! I took just Edie to the movie today, and we saw "Dolphin Tale." Her class had learned about dolphins, and it was a story she was atleast familiar with. I can tell you right now before anything else that this movie is worth watching and owning!
I am big time into life lessons and finding opportunities to illustrate these easily to others. Movies like Rudy, Cinderalla Man, Pursuit of Happyness, Facing the Giants, etc, all have all sorts of life lessons placed throughout the scripts. This movie is no different. Here are just a few things that went through my head or stood out to me while watching this:
-God puts people in the exact right spot at the exact right moment
-Sometimes there are bumps in the road, but the focus needs to be on the end result you are working towards, not the bump right in front of you.
-Follow and sell-out for what you are passionate about. Don't let others steal your joy. Only YOU control that.
-You might not fully understand the dreams and passions of another person, so be sure and STOP and SEE the bigger picture, not just from your eyes, but theirs. LISTEN to them.
-Take every lesson you learn in life and carry it with you into everyday. You never know when you will need to draw on something from a past experience that you learned to get you through something ahead of you.
I can honestly tell you that I could write for another thirty minutes on this film and the lessons you can take away from it. I encourage you to go see it yourself if you haven't, and if you have, recall what you took from it then and apply it!
It doesn't surprise me at all that God put this movie into my week. He is working on some fun and exciting things right now, and I don't know what all lies ahead, but I know my trust, hope, and faith are in him first and foremost! NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD!
Remember that...
I am big time into life lessons and finding opportunities to illustrate these easily to others. Movies like Rudy, Cinderalla Man, Pursuit of Happyness, Facing the Giants, etc, all have all sorts of life lessons placed throughout the scripts. This movie is no different. Here are just a few things that went through my head or stood out to me while watching this:
-God puts people in the exact right spot at the exact right moment
-Sometimes there are bumps in the road, but the focus needs to be on the end result you are working towards, not the bump right in front of you.
-Follow and sell-out for what you are passionate about. Don't let others steal your joy. Only YOU control that.
-You might not fully understand the dreams and passions of another person, so be sure and STOP and SEE the bigger picture, not just from your eyes, but theirs. LISTEN to them.
-Take every lesson you learn in life and carry it with you into everyday. You never know when you will need to draw on something from a past experience that you learned to get you through something ahead of you.
I can honestly tell you that I could write for another thirty minutes on this film and the lessons you can take away from it. I encourage you to go see it yourself if you haven't, and if you have, recall what you took from it then and apply it!
It doesn't surprise me at all that God put this movie into my week. He is working on some fun and exciting things right now, and I don't know what all lies ahead, but I know my trust, hope, and faith are in him first and foremost! NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD!
Remember that...
Friday, November 11, 2011
Influence and Process...
I am all about learning. I live my life trying to apply a few basic groundrules everyday. They are as follows:
-I am better than nobody
-I can learn anything from anyone at anytime
-Strive to be a little better everyday than I was the day before
-Goodness and kindness can go a LONG way in any kind of situation
-Control only what I can control
-Don't live in the past
-Failures aren't bad---they are nothing more than growing opportunities to apply along this journey
-Apply the Golden Rule often
-When someone says something can't be done, feel free to loudly ask, "why not?"
When I think of these things, which I do almost ALL of the time in some form or fashion, I get the opportunity to "self-analyze." For me, that is just part of the process of becoming an influencer and leader in life. Now, I could sit here and try to jibber jabber on and on about my thoughts, but I feel like it's best to let a true influencer and leader do the talking here for me tonight. John Maxwell's book, "21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership", has back-to-back chapters on influence and process. Here are a few lines that have managed to find themselves underlined in my copy:
(on influence)
-Titles don't have much value when it comes to leading.
-True leadership cannot be appointed, awarded, or assigned. It only comes from influence. It must be earned.
-Hard work is required to gain influence in any organization. You have to earn the right to be a leader.
-Leadership is influence. Nothing more, nothing less.
(on process)
-The secret of our success is found in our daily agenda.
-The ability to lead is really a collection of skills, nearly all of which can be learned and improved.
-Leadership is complicated. It includes respect, experience, emotional strength, people skills, discipline, vision, momentum, timing, etc.
-It is the capacity to develop and improve their skills that distinguishes leaders from their followers.
-The learning process is ongoing, a result of self-discipline and perseverance.
-People have no idea the opportunities they are passing up when they choose to NOT lead.
-To be conscious that you are ignorant of the facts is a great step to knowledge.
-When you recognize your lack of skill and begin the daily discipline of personal growth in leadership, exciting things start to happen.
-Champions don't become champions in the ring--they are merely recognized there.
-Leadership doesn't develop in a day. It takes a lifetime.
So the first thing I noticed after I reviewed what all I had underlined was that the process and learning section had WHOLE LOT more underlined. That is humbling. See, honestly, I feel like I have the natural abilities to lead. I KNOW I can influence. I have seen it in action. I have had verbal confirmation from leaders, friends, etc. I am encouraged and thankful for those observations. BUT....I lack sustained substance. I need to be able to develop daily into the BEST leader that I can possibly be. It is one thing to have the ability to lead. It is a completely another thing to be an influencing and respected leader.
I desire that. In a sense, I feel called to that. I look forward to seeing what all transpires and unfolds as I move daily towards reaching my capacity as a leader. I am excited about putting hard work, study hours, prayer, thought, and great effort into daily managing my life to get the absolute most out of it!
So what about you? Are you a leader? Do you want to be? What goes through your mind and heart as you read this? Do you believe in yourself? What kinds of people and things do you surround yourself with that are influencing you? What kind of impact are you having on those that might be influenced by YOU?
I just have such a belief that each and every person can achieve great and mighty things. God put us on this earth not to just float through life, but to make a difference to those around us. I challenge you, just as I feel challenged myself, to maximize that opportunity! Read back through the solid statements that Maxwell's book provides us, and hold the ones that stick out near and dear to your heart each day!
-I am better than nobody
-I can learn anything from anyone at anytime
-Strive to be a little better everyday than I was the day before
-Goodness and kindness can go a LONG way in any kind of situation
-Control only what I can control
-Don't live in the past
-Failures aren't bad---they are nothing more than growing opportunities to apply along this journey
-Apply the Golden Rule often
-When someone says something can't be done, feel free to loudly ask, "why not?"
When I think of these things, which I do almost ALL of the time in some form or fashion, I get the opportunity to "self-analyze." For me, that is just part of the process of becoming an influencer and leader in life. Now, I could sit here and try to jibber jabber on and on about my thoughts, but I feel like it's best to let a true influencer and leader do the talking here for me tonight. John Maxwell's book, "21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership", has back-to-back chapters on influence and process. Here are a few lines that have managed to find themselves underlined in my copy:
(on influence)
-Titles don't have much value when it comes to leading.
-True leadership cannot be appointed, awarded, or assigned. It only comes from influence. It must be earned.
-Hard work is required to gain influence in any organization. You have to earn the right to be a leader.
-Leadership is influence. Nothing more, nothing less.
(on process)
-The secret of our success is found in our daily agenda.
-The ability to lead is really a collection of skills, nearly all of which can be learned and improved.
-Leadership is complicated. It includes respect, experience, emotional strength, people skills, discipline, vision, momentum, timing, etc.
-It is the capacity to develop and improve their skills that distinguishes leaders from their followers.
-The learning process is ongoing, a result of self-discipline and perseverance.
-People have no idea the opportunities they are passing up when they choose to NOT lead.
-To be conscious that you are ignorant of the facts is a great step to knowledge.
-When you recognize your lack of skill and begin the daily discipline of personal growth in leadership, exciting things start to happen.
-Champions don't become champions in the ring--they are merely recognized there.
-Leadership doesn't develop in a day. It takes a lifetime.
So the first thing I noticed after I reviewed what all I had underlined was that the process and learning section had WHOLE LOT more underlined. That is humbling. See, honestly, I feel like I have the natural abilities to lead. I KNOW I can influence. I have seen it in action. I have had verbal confirmation from leaders, friends, etc. I am encouraged and thankful for those observations. BUT....I lack sustained substance. I need to be able to develop daily into the BEST leader that I can possibly be. It is one thing to have the ability to lead. It is a completely another thing to be an influencing and respected leader.
I desire that. In a sense, I feel called to that. I look forward to seeing what all transpires and unfolds as I move daily towards reaching my capacity as a leader. I am excited about putting hard work, study hours, prayer, thought, and great effort into daily managing my life to get the absolute most out of it!
So what about you? Are you a leader? Do you want to be? What goes through your mind and heart as you read this? Do you believe in yourself? What kinds of people and things do you surround yourself with that are influencing you? What kind of impact are you having on those that might be influenced by YOU?
I just have such a belief that each and every person can achieve great and mighty things. God put us on this earth not to just float through life, but to make a difference to those around us. I challenge you, just as I feel challenged myself, to maximize that opportunity! Read back through the solid statements that Maxwell's book provides us, and hold the ones that stick out near and dear to your heart each day!
Sunday, November 6, 2011
It's more than just a dream...
There are just some movies that will always cause my brown eyes to well up. One of those is "Rudy." I find myself unable to turn the channel or not watch whenever it comes on the tv. I find so many wonderful life lessons inside the script!
Now, most people have either seen or have heard enough about this movie, so I am going to keep it simple and just list the things that stand out to me:
-Rudy dreamed big dreams. Not only did he dream them, but he finally acted on his own strength to pursue them and make them happen.
-Rudy was surrounded by a best friend that understood him and accepted him for who he was. His best friend saw the good in Rudy, and helped him believe in his dreams.
-Rudy didn't care what others thought when it came to what was in his own heart. He was ridiculed by his own father and brothers for sharing his dreams. He didn't let other people's negativity get in the way of his heart and focus.
-He faced giants! In practice, he faced guys over twice his size, yet stood toe-to-toe with them and confidently went into battle!
-Being true to himself and pursuing his dreams brought others joy in the end. His father, brother, the groundskeeper, and his best friend from college all rejoiced with Rudy and the rest of the team and fans as he played the final few seconds of the game and made his impact both on and off of the field.
You know, I think people focus so much on negativity that it keeps most people from pursuing what is in their heart. I sit here writing this trying to sort out my own dreams, and then to put a plan together to pursue and achieve them. Life is too short to not follow your heart! I am thankful for Rudy, who showed us that no matter how big or small your dreams might be, it is all about allowing ourselves to follow and pursue them---and then to enjoy the fruit in our lives that comes from the results of using our strength and determination!
So whatever your dreams are---GO GET EM!!!
Now, most people have either seen or have heard enough about this movie, so I am going to keep it simple and just list the things that stand out to me:
-Rudy dreamed big dreams. Not only did he dream them, but he finally acted on his own strength to pursue them and make them happen.
-Rudy was surrounded by a best friend that understood him and accepted him for who he was. His best friend saw the good in Rudy, and helped him believe in his dreams.
-Rudy didn't care what others thought when it came to what was in his own heart. He was ridiculed by his own father and brothers for sharing his dreams. He didn't let other people's negativity get in the way of his heart and focus.
-He faced giants! In practice, he faced guys over twice his size, yet stood toe-to-toe with them and confidently went into battle!
-Being true to himself and pursuing his dreams brought others joy in the end. His father, brother, the groundskeeper, and his best friend from college all rejoiced with Rudy and the rest of the team and fans as he played the final few seconds of the game and made his impact both on and off of the field.
You know, I think people focus so much on negativity that it keeps most people from pursuing what is in their heart. I sit here writing this trying to sort out my own dreams, and then to put a plan together to pursue and achieve them. Life is too short to not follow your heart! I am thankful for Rudy, who showed us that no matter how big or small your dreams might be, it is all about allowing ourselves to follow and pursue them---and then to enjoy the fruit in our lives that comes from the results of using our strength and determination!
So whatever your dreams are---GO GET EM!!!
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