Pay Attention!

“If you make listening and observation your occupation you will gain much more than you can talk.”

– Sir Robert Baden-Powell

(1857-1941) Founder of The Boy Scouts

Do you ever feel like life is passing you by?  I think we all have at some point.  It is that feeling that we are stuck and for some reason we have missed everything that has been going on around us.  I am not talking about missing some fun, but life.  When you find yourself in this state it is time to take some decisive and direct action.

Turn Off The Machine

                Success-minded people are hard working people who are heading to a goal in life.  This is good until that striving starts to make you into a machine rather than a person.  This happens when every day is just like the one before it.  You get up at the same time, get ready the same way, travel to work by the same route, do the same things at work and go home the same time and same way.

                It is time to unplug the machine and pay attention to the world that is all around you.  Do things differently.  Start off the day with something inspiring and helpful.  Go to work by a different route a few times a week.  Even if it means that you must leave early, leave early.  Change the routine and change your life.

Add Beauty To Your day

                I know this may sound corny but believe me it can make all the difference in the world.  Every day listen to some good music that up lifts and inspires you.  Look at some art.  Pay attention to what is on your wall and the walls around you.  Read a poem or something that will inspire and lift you up.  Take a walk in the park or the country.  Many of us miss the beauty that is in the world simply because we do not take the time to add it.  There is no shortage so it is up to you.

Connect With Others

                When you are around other people listen to them - really listen.  Keep in mind that every person you meet has something great to add to your life.  If you start by believing that every person is a divine appointment, you will find that you are enriched more by just listening to them that by talking to them.  The human race is wonderful and extremely entertaining.  Enjoy them for a change.

                You matter!  You matter to the world and to yourself.  Remember to be your best, love God, have good manners, achieve the unknown and change your world.

John Patrick Hickey is an author, speaker, Life Coach and proud Scouter. To read more from John Patrick Hickey or to get his books, training and book him to speak to your church, business or group, visit our website at http://www.growthcenter.net or www.johnpatrickhickey.com.   © 2014 John Patrick Hickey

A Face In The Crowd

“Scoutmasters deal with the individual boy rather than with the mass.”

– Sir Robert Baden-Powell

(1857-1941) Founder of The Boy Scouts

There is a great balancing act that goes on in our world.  On one hand we need and desire to be one of the group.  Teams can get more done than a person by them self.  We all have the need to be a part, to be accepted and to have others in our life.  On the other hand, we can easily feel that we are just one of many.  We do not feel that anyone knows or cares about us as a person.  All people need to know that they are unique and special in some way.  To find balance in this is not an easy task.

                The best way to deal with this is not to change other people and get their thinking right, it is to change your thinking and how you connect with others.  Success-minded people need to understand that they are indeed special.  They have talents and strengths that make them uniquely equipped to fulfill their purpose.  The danger here is the whole issue of pride.  The fact that you are special does not mean you have more value than others.

                The secret to real success is to understand that every person is special and unique in their own way.  There is not another like them, or you, in the whole universe.  Each has their own gifts and talents that they bring to the group and into our lives.  This gives them great value.

                We were not created as a group.  When God in His great wisdom decided to put you on this planet He did so looking at you as the individual, not as a group.  God has no quota to fill and there is no one who is here by mistake.  That means that you can see others as special and worth caring for.  Every person you meet has something to add to your life as you have something for them.

                It is when we each see our value that we see the value of others.  We are not competing with others for success, we are cheering each other on.  We focus our energy on being the best we can be and helping others be the best they can be.  When you succeed, I succeed and when I succeed you succeed.  One of the best ways to discover the greatness in you is to help others discover the greatness in themselves.

                You matter!  You matter to the world and to yourself.  Remember to be your best, love God, have good manners, achieve the unknown and change your world.

John Patrick Hickey is an author, speaker, Life Coach and proud Scouter. To read more from John Patrick Hickey or to get his books, training and book him to speak to your church, business or group, visit our website at http://www.growthcenter.net or www.johnpatrickhickey.com.   © 2014 John Patrick Hickey

Impossible?

“What we need is more people who specialize in the impossible.”

– Theodore Roethke

(1908-1963) American Poet

An airplane with 500 people on board heading nonstop from New York to London.  Impossible.  A family of four getting into their car and driving 200 miles to visit family and then returning home in the same day.  Impossible.  Electric lights, central heating, the internet, movies on demand, cell phones with the ability to do hundreds of different tasks, all impossible! 

                You may be saying, "What are you talking about?  All of this is not only possible but part of our daily life."  That is just the point.  All this and so much more were thought of as being impossible not that long ago.  In fact, most everything that we use today was thought of as impossible only a short time ago by the greatest minds of the day.  What this shows us is that there is no such thing as impossible.

                Here is what I find amazing.  After living in a world filled with the impossible, we still tend to think that many things are indeed impossible.  A cure for cancer or other deadly illness many believe are impossible.  Humans traveling to other planets and living there is thought of as impossible.  The creation of reusable energy sources is seen as impossible.  The list is still long and the belief that things are impossible is just as strong.

                This is one reason I love talking to young people.  They have the rare ability to believe that anything is possible.  It is only after the adult population has drilled fear and impossibility into their heads do they stop believing.  The sad thing is we get them to stop believing in the impossible just when they are able to do something about it.  A ten year old who believes that they can fly without a plane can do nothing to prove that to be true.  When that child is in his twenties, and can do something great, they have been robbed of the vision and convinced it is all just the fantasy of childhood.

                Poet, John Andrew Holmes said, "Never tell a young person that anything cannot be done. God may have been waiting centuries for someone ignorant enough of the impossible to do that very thing."  This ignorant person may be you.  Why not?  If someone is going to make a new discovery, create a new product, explore the unknown or change the world for the better, why not you?  Believe that you will do the impossible and you will be amazed on how you will.  It is always done by someone.  Let that someone be you!

                You matter!  You matter to the world and to yourself.  Remember to be your best, love God, have good manners, achieve the unknown and change your world.

John Patrick Hickey is an author, speaker, Life Coach and proud Scouter. To read more from John Patrick Hickey or to get his books, training and book him to speak to your church, business or group, visit our website at http://www.growthcenter.net or www.johnpatrickhickey.com.   © 2014 John Patrick Hickey

What Have You Done, Not What Will You Do

“Small deeds done are better than great deeds planned.”

– Peter Marshall

(1902-1949) Former Chaplin of the U.S. Senate

We hear it from politicians all the time.  Their talk is filled with all the wonderful things they are going to do, how our lives will be better and things will change once they start to work.  The thing is, they never start.  It is not unique to them either.  Many people will tell you of all they plan to do.  They have great plans and will achieve great things, but the reality is, nothing seems to happen.  Maybe the problem is too much talk and not enough action.

                Success-minded people are people of vision, not words.  You will find that those who achieve the most are the ones who talk the least.  They are too busy doing things to spend their time talking to others about what they will "someday" do.  Success-minded people know that they only day you have is today.  There is nothing you can do about yesterday and that someday never seems to get here.

                I believe that one of the problems some people face is that they see the small stuff as small stuff.  Listen to what is being said and you will quickly discover that it is all big and grand.  Nothing small or common about their plans.  But the reality of life is that nothing big happens without first doing the small.  It is the small, seemingly insignificant things that change the world.  They are where all the real action happens.  The so called big stuff is just the end result of the small stuff.

                Even in the Scriptures in Zechariah 4:10 we are told not to look down on small beginnings.  Nothing great starts off great.  Not even you.  Zig Ziglar always said, "You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great."  You will never achieve your dreams in life if you wait for it to all happen from the top down.  You need to do the small things that are seldom noticed before you can do the great things that everyone sees.

                When we see the quiet, hard working person who is doing what needs to be done, we can be sure that they will one day achieve far greater things than the one who talks a good game.  I am not against planning, we all know that you must have a plan of action to get to your goals.  The problem comes in when our planning is all we do.  There has to be a point when the planning, the talking and the thinking stop and the action begins.

                The Scout motto is, "Be Prepared."  You need to be prepared to take action.  To be prepared does not mean that you just know what to do.  That is good, but it is far less than the actual doing.  Get out there and be willing to do the small stuff.  Be willing and active in taking care of the little details so that one day you will have the big dream.  It is in doing the little that we become prepared for the big.

                You matter!  You matter to the world and to yourself.  Remember to be your best, love God, have good manners, achieve the unknown and change your world.

John Patrick Hickey is an author, speaker, Life Coach and proud Scouter. To read more from John Patrick Hickey or to get his books, training and book him to speak to your church, business or group, visit our website at http://www.growthcenter.net or www.johnpatrickhickey.com.   © 2014 John Patrick Hickey

Let's Get Started

“A boy on joining wants to begin Scouting right away.” – Sir Robert Baden-Powell

There is something special about success-minded people, those who are the dreamers and achievers of our world.  We do not like to let the grass grow under our feet.  Success-minded people are always thinking and coming up with new ideas.  Some of those ideas are reasonable and useful; some are wild and crazy.  The thing that they all have in common is the desire to get them done.

                Many times this burst of energy to get things going is met with a reasonable, and steady person saying, "Hold on now. Don't make any rash decisions. These things take time."  Soon the energy filled, idea machine is put off and nothing happens at all. 

                The thinking is this: Good decisions are made slowly and changed quickly as needed.  That my friends is wrong thinking.  Look at the lives of successful people, and many studies have proved this as well, that the best decisions are made quickly and changed slowly.  Real creativity does not flow into the brain like a gentle stream and slowly fill it with ideas.  True creativity - creativity that makes things happen - bursts like a dam in a thunder storm, filling the brain like a flood of ideas that must be dealt with.

                I know that many of you know exactly what I am talking about here.  You have great ideas and struggle with what to do with them.  Here is your answer: Go! Go! Go!  Yes, some things take time to develop and become reality, however, that is not the decision process.  You will never develop or form a dream if you spend ages on just deciding if you will do it.

                Here are three easy steps to follow when you are struck with a creative idea:

1) Write It Down

                Right then and there write it down in as much detail as you can.  Never be without a pen and paper.  You can even have a note app on your phone.  However you capture the idea, do not let it go till later.  You will forget if you do not capture it and it may never come to you again.

2)  Start Creating A Plan Of Action

                Once you get to where you can look at what you have noted, start to create a plan of action.  What do you need to do to make this happen?  It may be to do some research or find someone who has done this before.  List all the things you know to do, quickly and without making corrections.  Once the list is done you can go back, put it in order and remove things that were not really needed.  You have a plan.

3)  Do Something In The Next 24 Hours

                Do not allow a day to pass without doing something to start you on your way.  It can be simple or complex, just get started.  Research has shown that people who allow just 24 hours to pass before acting on an idea are 75% less likely to do anything at all.  75%!  Start something and you will be more likely to succeed.

                Do not listen to those who would say that you are moving too fast.  They care about you and do not want to see you fail, but they can also keep you from your dream.  Yes, you may fail.  Chances are good you will make many mistakes along the way.  That is okay.  Risk is part of success and we learn from every mistake.  Think of it this way, would you rather make no mistakes in life and be safe but without a dream or would you risk safety and suffer a few bruises but have all you ever wanted?  I say, get out the Band-Aids - there is going to be some scraped knees on some successful people.

                You matter!  You matter to the world and to yourself.  Remember to be your best, love God, have good manners, achieve the unknown and change your world.

John Patrick Hickey is an author, speaker, Life Coach and proud Scouter. To read more from John Patrick Hickey or to get his books, training and book him to speak to your church, business or group, visit our website at http://www.growthcenter.net or www.johnpatrickhickey.com.   © 2014 John Patrick Hickey

Learning From The Best

“As a Scout, I learned how to set goals and achieve them.  Being a Scout also taught me leadership at a young age when there are few opportunities to be a leader.  Scouting values have remained with me throughout my life, in my business career and now as I take on new challenges.” – Steve Fossett

Here is a truth that we all know but we seldom think about.  Everything you know you learned from someone else.  From learning to feed yourself to driving a car, you learned it from someone.  The same is true that the older you get the more you teach.  Like it or not, you set an example for others.  You teach those close to you directly or indirectly, but you do teach.  Knowing this, shouldn't we desire to learn from the best and to be the best to teach others?

                We hear a lot about natural talent.  We do each have strengths that cause us to excel at certain things, however, what we learn to excel at is not always clear.  I have seen some very talented people who are excellent at what they do.  Some do great good and succeed in business, the arts, education and many other areas of life.  Some, just as talented, excel in crime, cheating and destruction of property.  What makes the difference?  The difference is who is teaching them.

                One of the things I love about Scouting is that it takes young men, helps them discover their talents and skills and teaches them how to use it for the good of all.  The goal of Scouting is to help young people become excellent adults.  It helps them learn that they can be and do anything with character and integrity.

                We all have two simple questions to answer: 1) What are you learning? 2) What are you teaching?  There is not greater teacher than example.  People who set our example inspire us, amaze us and create a desire to be like them.  This works for the good or for the bad.  As an adult, you make the choice to follow those who set a good and wholesome example.  As a young person, you follow those who pay attention to you and make you feel you belong.  Sadly, that does not always happen from those setting a good example.  This is why we need programs like Scouting where a young person can feel they matter and they belong.

                Be the best example you can be.  Teach those in your life, your family, friends, co-workers and others, that there is great joy and satisfaction in developing a good character and working hard at your dreams.  Learn from the best as well.  Find those who excel at what they do and who add value to the world they live in.  Follow them and learn what they do.  Remember, success leaves clues.

                You matter!  You matter to the world and to yourself.  Remember to be your best, love God, have good manners, achieve the unknown and change your world.

John Patrick Hickey is an author, speaker, Life Coach and proud Scouter. To read more from John Patrick Hickey or to get his books, training and book him to speak to your church, business or group, visit our website at http://www.growthcenter.net or www.johnpatrickhickey.com.   © 2014 John Patrick Hickey

Being A Different Breed

“There suddenly appeared in my world - I saw them first, I think, in 1908 - a new sort of little boy - a most agreeable development of the slouching, cunning, cigarette-smoking, town-bred youngster; a small boy in khaki hat, and with bear knees and athletic bearing, earnestly engaged in wholesome and invigorating games up to and occasionally a little beyond his strength - a Boy Scout.  I liked the Boy Scout.” – H.G. Wells

I have always found it interesting that the harder we work at being different from everyone else the more we are the same.  I grew up in the 60's when the way we proved we were "non-conformist" was to conform to every other "non-conformist".  Even today, people claim they are not part of the pack and their own person, yet other than their name, you cannot tell them apart from the next guy.

                There are those who really are different and unique.  I like to call them success-minded people.  Rather than feeling they must prove their uniqueness by piercing every available part of their body to taking rudeness to the level of an art, these people just naturally be the best they can be.  Success-minded people are people who believe that character, integrity and doing the right thing is always the best way to go.  They understand that doing what is right and being truthful is not a case of following the crowd but of individual choice.  A choice they make with understanding and passion.

                Some where in this crazy society we started to believe that to be angry, rude, self-centered and displaying bad behavior was somehow cool or fashionable.  Success-minded people understand that if is in doing right and standing for right that we really become our own person.  Anyone can exhibit a bad attitude or wrong behavior.  As the late Corrie ten Boom once said, "Any dead fish can float downstream." 

                It is time that we make the decision to be different.  We choose to stand out from the crowd and be the example, not the attraction.  It takes courage and determination to be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.  These are not the qualities you see encouraged in our schools or government.  It takes a person who can think for them self and have the guts to stand alone if they must.

                Be a different breed than the rest.  Be an example of what it means to not follow the crowd or to give up your ability to be you.  Be positive, pleasant and encouraging to all you meet.  They will take notice.  As Mark twain said, "Always do right.  This will gratify some people and astonish the rest."

                You matter!  You matter to the world and to yourself.  Remember to be your best, love God, have good manners, achieve the unknown and change your world.

John Patrick Hickey is an author, speaker, Life Coach and proud Scouter. To read more from John Patrick Hickey or to get his books, training and book him to speak to your church, business or group, visit our website at http://www.growthcenter.net or www.johnpatrickhickey.com.   © 2014 John Patrick Hickey