Running The Race

Coach John Wooden is almost 100 years old. He is one of the most famous and celebrated college basketball coaches in history. One of his keys to success is the amount of time he puts into preparation, both for himself and for those he coaches. “How you run the race – your planning, preparation, practice, and performance – counts for …

I Saw Excellence

I’m a firm believer in the statement: What gets rewarded, gets repeated. With that being said, I need to tell you a story. A story about excellence. In fact, it is a story about excellent excellence. Here goes…Once upon a time I had the privilege of hiring an Assistant Director to work alongside me in my role as Director of …

Am I Stuck Or Am I A Student?

I just read a tweet on Twitter (that just sounds funny) from a guy that was disappointed with the online music service, Pandora. Now if you haven’t tried out Pandora, I invite you to a great way to listen to music. The gentleman was frustrated because he kept typing in the names of the band that he wanted to listen …

How To Find Time

Sometimes I think that time is hiding from me. That throughout the day, a few hours here and there will sneak away and I’ll lose sight of them. So I end up with only 18-20 hour days. And I find myself asking, Where did the time go? I think busyness allows time to hide from me, and poor planning, and …

Talk On Listening

I had the privilege of speaking at Real Life Church in Nampa this past Sunday. They meet in a Middle School gym and are pastored by a great guy by the name of Dana Hicks. This is about the fifth time I’ve been invited to share with the people there. They are an encouraging mix of young and old who …

Camp Won’t Change Your Life

Every summer, I get the opportunity to speak at two or three Jr High or High School Summer Camps around the country. It is awesome. I love camp. There are so many great things that happen at summer camp. As a speaker, I tend to tell a lot of stories…that bring a lot of laughter…that make a point…that encourage students …

Best Weight Loss Plan

I will often tell people that when I stopped growing up, I started growing out. If they giggle, I’ll usually follow up with – I’ve noticed that a lot of people are afraid of heights…I’m afraid of widths. (thank Steven Wright!) If they’ve stuck around and found my robust, self-deprecating humor somewhat entertaining I’ll conclude with an I’m twice the …

The iPad: To Buy Or Not To Buy

It is really difficult being an “early adopter” sometimes. Don’t get me wrong, it’s fun to know about (and sometimes own) the latest gadget and software inventions. I am glad I have an innate curiosity to know what’s out there and what’s next on the horizon. But I’m often caught in the upgrade mindset. This is where I come to …