Hello there
Jim, thanks AGAIN for your reminder to post my blog today. You are officially in charge of holding me accountable. I hope I did good today lol.
It's been such a joy raising our daughter. Everyday she surprises us with new stuff. Now she is speaking one word. She started two days ago. Do you know what that word is? I was glad when I heard it. She learned to say "Thank you". Whenever you give her something, she makes sure to say thank you (it's exactly what I always do when people invite me to...eat).
I was talking about it with my wife yesterday, and we came up with the same conclusion. It is not by chance that Skylar is saying the words thank you. You see, a couple of months ago, my wife came up with this brilliant idea. Everyday, before going to sleep, each one of us has to say what we are thankful for. At first it seemed to be redundant, as we were coming up with the same list day in day out, but after a while it became deeper and deeper. I have to confess. Two days ago, I even broke into tears when I remembered what we had to overcome and where we are today. I can guarantee you, we don't take things for granted anymore.
I heard someone say that energy flows where attention goes. Our attention has been focussed on what we are thankful for, and each day there is something good happening. Of course there are times that we bump into challenges, but we do not give them energy. No wonder Skylar's new word is...Thank you. I am really looking forward to the day she is going to say "Thank You God".
Anyway...
I just finished reading Phil Jackson's new book "Eleven Rings..". For non Basketball fans, Phil Jackson is the coach who won 11 NBA championships, 6 with Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls, and 5 with Kobe Bryant's Los Angeles Lakers. He holds the record of the most championships as a coach.
I have been following the NBA for many years (my wife just forbidden me to write how many years...It's just crazy). Most of the things Phil was talking about were not strange to me. But it was so great to learn what was happening behind the scenes, and how he was able to manage big egos like Jordan, Kobe, Shaq..., and especially how he dealt with, let just say, unpredictable players such as Dennis Rodman and Ron Artest aka Metta World Peace.
I learned so much from the coach mostly about leadership and selflessness. There is a part in the book where he mentioned that a young Kobe Bryant asked him to make him the team co-captain. He just looked him in the eyes and told him that no one can be a leader when nobody wants to follow him. Kobe had to change a lot before Phil could trust him to be a leader.
I also learned from him what he did to master his emotions. This guy is incredible. The world could be upside down, everything crumbling around him, he never panics. That's why they called him "The Zen Master". Basically, what he said is that anything that can potentially affect us emotionally is simple a test. Are we willing to pass the test and keep our cool no matter what? That is what I am learning. Would you join me in this journey? I hope so.
Moral of the story? Do you want to learn from a great coach? Just say thank you and you will read a great book.
Always a pleasure
Patrick
The Jouneyman.
www.unleashedpossibilities.net
Jim, thanks AGAIN for your reminder to post my blog today. You are officially in charge of holding me accountable. I hope I did good today lol.
It's been such a joy raising our daughter. Everyday she surprises us with new stuff. Now she is speaking one word. She started two days ago. Do you know what that word is? I was glad when I heard it. She learned to say "Thank you". Whenever you give her something, she makes sure to say thank you (it's exactly what I always do when people invite me to...eat).
I was talking about it with my wife yesterday, and we came up with the same conclusion. It is not by chance that Skylar is saying the words thank you. You see, a couple of months ago, my wife came up with this brilliant idea. Everyday, before going to sleep, each one of us has to say what we are thankful for. At first it seemed to be redundant, as we were coming up with the same list day in day out, but after a while it became deeper and deeper. I have to confess. Two days ago, I even broke into tears when I remembered what we had to overcome and where we are today. I can guarantee you, we don't take things for granted anymore.
I heard someone say that energy flows where attention goes. Our attention has been focussed on what we are thankful for, and each day there is something good happening. Of course there are times that we bump into challenges, but we do not give them energy. No wonder Skylar's new word is...Thank you. I am really looking forward to the day she is going to say "Thank You God".
Anyway...
I just finished reading Phil Jackson's new book "Eleven Rings..". For non Basketball fans, Phil Jackson is the coach who won 11 NBA championships, 6 with Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls, and 5 with Kobe Bryant's Los Angeles Lakers. He holds the record of the most championships as a coach.
I have been following the NBA for many years (my wife just forbidden me to write how many years...It's just crazy). Most of the things Phil was talking about were not strange to me. But it was so great to learn what was happening behind the scenes, and how he was able to manage big egos like Jordan, Kobe, Shaq..., and especially how he dealt with, let just say, unpredictable players such as Dennis Rodman and Ron Artest aka Metta World Peace.
I learned so much from the coach mostly about leadership and selflessness. There is a part in the book where he mentioned that a young Kobe Bryant asked him to make him the team co-captain. He just looked him in the eyes and told him that no one can be a leader when nobody wants to follow him. Kobe had to change a lot before Phil could trust him to be a leader.
I also learned from him what he did to master his emotions. This guy is incredible. The world could be upside down, everything crumbling around him, he never panics. That's why they called him "The Zen Master". Basically, what he said is that anything that can potentially affect us emotionally is simple a test. Are we willing to pass the test and keep our cool no matter what? That is what I am learning. Would you join me in this journey? I hope so.
Moral of the story? Do you want to learn from a great coach? Just say thank you and you will read a great book.
Always a pleasure
Patrick
The Jouneyman.
www.unleashedpossibilities.net
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