Passing the Baton - A Case for Better Than Average.

Today is marked with sadness and thanks. Today my mother-in law has passed away (sadness). Lord knows I loved her and my father-in-law. Jake and Tully Kendall defined family for me. Family more than I had ever known. For this I am eternally grateful (thanks). I will miss them both, maybe more than I miss my own parents who have also passed away. Tully's life held the true meaning of family and social acceptance for me. After all she accepted me as a son-in-law over 3 decades ago. To think that maybe she saw something in me that could carry on her family with my wife is simply beyond my comprehension. But here we are. The carrying on is handed down to us. Those of us who are left (relatives) to keep and hold family together.

The cry to be more. . . better than average. . . is now louder than ever. Through tears I wonder at being up to the task. But I know with my maker, that all things are possible. I believe that is called faith. For them both I trust in God's providence.

We now will be the next to pass. Our goal, to see to and secure the heritage of family. We must sacrifice what is necessary, and boldly proclaim the need to be closer to all who will listen, inside and outside our immediate families. To our children and our friends. The flag has been passed.

To those of you who would follow these ramblings. Stretch with me, grow a bit to be better. Especially in this area of family. Call someone you love today. Tell them how you feel. Don't harp on the wrong but magnify the right and call them to closeness with your voice and your actions. Together we can be better than average. In fact I think there's a key there . . . "Together" we ARE better than average.
Good luck and God bless. . . see you later.

Breaking the Yokes

Today I made my first egg without breaking the yoke. As I twittered, that only took 58 (almost 59 years). HA! I was pretty excited about the deal and it tasted good too. But then I was thinking . . . Life doesn't work like that. You've got to break a couple yokes to be better than average in life.

I was oh so careful turning those eggs, trying to be safe. After all I just broke yokes for the last 50+ years while still trying to be oh so careful. Isn't that a bit like all of us though. We try oh so hard to be careful in the things we do. Trying not to upset the apple cart so to speak, even struggling to be normal, rather than trying something new that could possibly open up new opportunities for us.

With my eggs I tried a new spatula and then when they were a little solid I was able to flip them with success. I know some of you are laughing and maybe have even have more successful techniques for my eggs (love to hear them by the way). But that's not my point.

Break some yokes today. Try something new. Maybe a little thing that will make today just a little bit different (in a good way). You know there's an incredibly good feeling that comes from trying, especially if you're successful! Really. Try it!

I read this one recently: "Everyday do something that will inch you toward a better tomorrow." Notice the word "INCH"! You don't have to take big leaps to become better, just inch. So let's all join the "inchworm" club and break some yokes today!

See ya later . . .

Short & Sweet!

Okay it was Sunday afternoon and I was sitting on my butt watching an absolutely stupid movie called "Shark-Boy and Lava-Girl" or something like that. It's about a boy who dreams (day dreams) and his dreams come true. Okay dumb movie for sure but . . .

Right at the end of the movie he says this, "Dream a better dream and then work to make it real." Who is the deviate that makes an utterly stupid movie and then puts something that profound right at the end of it. (I know, your thinking, "Who's the dummy that sitting through it?" Uh, that would be me.) Any way, think about it!

One of the reasons we accomplish so little in our lives is due to the fact that we don't dream (or day dream) good dreams! We effectively think too little of ourselves and others. Soooo . . . dream a better dream! And then like they said in the movie, WORK TO MAKE IT HAPPEN! Come on! Spend some time today dreaming! What can you dream up? Bigger! Better! You know it can be better than it is now! So take a little time and dream about it! Picture it in you mind. What does it look like? What does it feel like? Taste like? Come on you can do it!

Me, this has caused me to look at some things differently. I remember this quote, "Belief comes before results!"
Workin to make it happen . . . see you later.

The Angry Rant!

I AM SO TIRED OF THE AVERAGE SAME OLD, SAME OLD!

"Average performers live their lives in first gear, resisting or ignoring change and avoiding risk! The masses all have the same talent and opportunity as the world class; yet they choose to play it safe and avoid the pain of possible failure and the uncertainty of (temporary) defeat."

Don't statements like that just tick you off! They do me! It's like I find myself playing not to lose too often, or playing to cruise. And it gets me no where. Just the same old thing. This whole journey out of the average is really causing me to take stock on a regular basis and see where I headed. Or if I'm even moving at all. The scariest thing I encounter regularly is the fact that if I don't do something, make at least a little change, take a little risk, that everything will be exactly the same in the future. And that more than anything is starting to scare me.

I mean really! Do you want to wake up in five or ten years and find that everything is still the same!?!

Really! I (we) need to make a commitment to spend as much time as possible PLAYING TO WIN, and quit play to just exist! The later is just boring!(Oh, and has no future by the way.) In a world that is changing, and all of the so call guarantees are fading fast. We have to shift gears and get out of our comfort zones to challenge ourselves to realize our true potential. In each one of us is something more than we presently are. Maybe reading a new book (something other than fiction), or spend a few minutes a day contemplating the way you wish things were (Dreaming), or doing one thing outside the norm. Could change the entire landscape of our existence.

I spent time with a guy this week that has such awesome potential and if (when) he finds that one thing that clicks with him. His AH-HA moment! With his personality and latent talent, he is going to open literally thousands of new doors.

Here's a challenge! SHIFT GEARS into the possibilities! Take a chance this week on the "Maybe it'll work". Try one thing that you've never done. Oh it's exciting! I for one am after the new things. The challenges. Yeah some of it's scary. But something tells me the payoff is awesome.

Ignore the mountain and envision the ride down the other side after the victory of getting to the top. See you on the other side. Later . . .

Break On Through To The Other Side!

Lately I've been challenged with this notion of; Get to the next level. I've realized I'm at a place I've been before. Same bat time same bat channel so to speak. Same habits, same income, same attitude, same physically, all the same. A little better but the same as a place from before. I've never really broken through. An AH-HA moment for me!

In all of this I've begun to think about - "What have you got to lose?"
An wow! - the list is huge. In my musings I've begun to realize my passion (I love helping other people accomplish good results). And again in all of this I've begun to believe that I will break the barrier! I really feel the new level emerging! Whoa, cool thing.

Then I read this, " All things come to those who go after them . . . the secret of success . . .NEVER LET DOWN - NEVER LET UP!" (Do you remember Galaxy Quest? If you haven't seen it, even if you have, I recommend renting it!) Many times success consists of hanging in there just one more minute"

Did you get that!?! "HANGING IN THERE JUST ONE MORE MINUTE" Wow! I know how many times I've probably given up just one minute too soon. How about you? Let's decided together today to not give up on being better than average! I know we can do it!

- Be energetic about your pasasion! People will notice!
- Be passionate about what you may lose out on and the fact that your going to achieve those things (what ever they are).
- Be energetic/passionate about perseverance!

NEVER GIVE UP! NEVER SURRENDER! - and we'll see you on the other side. Later!

Never Give Up! Never Surrender!

"Never Give Up! Never Surrender" is a line from the movie "Galaxy Quest" with Tim Allen. I don't remember the movie that much accept that they were actors that ended up in a real battle in outer space and fighting for their lives and the lives of another race. Isn't that we what we are fighting the enemy called average for? Our lives to be better and for the lives of those around us to hopefully be effected? I believe so.

I read recently that "Belief comes before results." I know that's true and you do to. We struggle with things because we don't believe in the out come. But we should ask in that, "Where is faith?" So in the words of Tim Allen, "Never give up! Never surrender!" Choose to believe today in a better way. Today things will change (or begin to), today I choose the better life, today I choose to remain on the quest to be better than average, today I will measure my dreams and hopes with my belief of a different outcome. LIFE WILL NOT BE AVERAGE!

My life hero asks of me the same thing. To believe in a better way. Try it. You'll like it. Better yet - do it. It works! Believe. See you later. . .