A PROMISE IS A PROMISE

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HOW TO ACHIEVE A DREAM

During my time in Scouting, I have kept one thing centered in my mind, these young boys can grow to be great men.  I really believe the old thinking that you can be anything you want to be.  I recently heard a commentator say that studies show a growing number of adults today do not believe their children will have the same advantages as they had.  That may be true, however, there will always be those who rise to the top and change the world as it is.  Always has been; always will be.

                I also know that it is what we help our young people to believe that will shape their future, not what we give them or do for them.  Scouting teaching the young person to care for themselves and to be prepared for life. It is not a group that hides, protects and shelters young people. Our goal is to help them be all they can be and to learn to make the life they choose, and not to expect it to be handed to them.  We need to help young people to learn three main principles in becoming success-minded people.

“Some men dream of worthy accomplishments, while others stay awake and do them.”

– Unknown

1)  Learn all you can learn

                Adults, as well as children, have concluded that all education comes from school.  If they are going to learn, they must learn it in school and the more school somehow equals more education.  That is not how learning happens.  Our "education" should begin in early childhood and end at the grave.  As Albert Einstein said, "Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease at death."  We learn from every experience we have, every person we meet, every book we read.

                When we teach people that all education comes from school, we limit them in their experience and stop their ability to learn.  I believe in formal education and support schools and higher education, however, they are only a part of learning - a small part.  The person who learns how to learn can achieve anything they want to in life. As actor and Eagle Scout, Mike Rowe said, “We must change how we define, a good education.”

2)  Do all you can do

                When learning is stopped or limited, so is a person's ability to grow and become what they dream to be.  If you are taught that your education stops when you are out of school, you will find your education very short indeed.  Sadly, many people believe this and settle in life for far less than they can achieve.  We must help young people to understand that they were born to be extraordinary and to do extraordinary things. Scouting offers an endless ability to learn new and wonderful things. The only limits to a Scouts learning are the ones they place on themselves.

                Excellence does not happen by accident.  It must be a habit that a person chooses to have in their life.  Aristotle said, " We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit."  This habit comes from learning never to settle for the mediocre or just right.  One of the most damaging things we have taught our children is that there are no winners.  This forces everyone to the lowest point, not the highest.  There are winners and it is up to us to teach our children to be a winner.  To do that we must follow the advice of author Zig Ziglar who said, "You were born to win, but to be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win."

3)  Be all you can be

                It all leads back to the old teaching, you can be anything you want to be.  Tell this to our young, believe it of our young and help them see it in us as well.  Never think you are too old to set the example of success.  Children learn their habits from us, so let's set good habits for them to learn.  Be a person of good character who does not just talk about the Scout Law but who live the Scout Law.  Be a person who works hard and takes care of themselves rather than depending on the government or the kindness of others.  Be a person of faith and show the reality of Christ in your life.

                Our young people will be the leaders of tomorrow.  Not maybe our leaders WILL BE our leaders.  If we want a better tomorrow we need to give them a better today.  Help them be all they can be and teach them to care for others more than themselves.  It is a simple, but profound truth, to quote Zig Ziglar once more, "You can have anything in life you want, as long as you help other people to get what they want."

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.

Scouting Out of Uniform is a personal blog based on the lessons learned from Scouting that relate to personal development and success principles and is not an official site of The Boy Scouts of America. John Patrick Hickey does not represent or speak for the Scouting program; however, he does completely support and encourages Scouting for both young and old. John Patrick Hickey is an author, speaker, Personal Development 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 www.johnpatrickhickey.com.   © 2018 John Patrick Hickey

KNOWLEDGE IS NOT POWER

KNOWLEDGE IS NOT POWER! As best selling author and leadership expert, Dr. John C. Maxwell repeatedly says: "Knowledge is not power. Applied knowledge is power." Knowing the Scout Oath & Law is easy. Living, or applying it, that is hard. Give yourself and your Scouts a helping hand. Get your copy of Scouting Out of Uniform today and learn how to truly live the Oath & Law. Still at the sale prince at: http://www.johnpatrickhickey.com/product/scouting-out-of-uniform/

LEARNING FROM A SCOUT

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COURAGE

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MOVING FORWARD

You were born with a purpose.  That purpose is yours and yours alone.  You were created to do something special, to be something special.  Scouts are taught this principle in knowing they must do their best. Not be the best, but to always do their best. Success-minded people also come to understand this reality.  This is not an ego thing or meaning you are better than the rest of humanity.  In fact, to understand your divine appointment on this planet is to understand that every other person has their own destiny to fulfill and they too are special.  I am reminded of the words of anthropologist, Margaret Mead, who said, "You are unique and special, just like everyone else."

                Knowing that you have a purpose is only part of your journey to achievement.  You must get there too.  It is up to you to move forward and to achieve your purpose and to be your best in the process.  It will not happen on its own.  Here are four important keys that you must use to move forward in your journey.

“I am prepared to go anywhere, provided it be forward.  I determined never to stop until I have come to the end and achieved my purpose.”

– David Livingstone

(1813-1873)

Missionary Doctor

1)  Know where you are going

                The great baseball star, Yogi Berra used to say, "If you don't know where you're going, how will you know when you get there?"  Your purpose is not some hidden secret that you are never to discover.  It is there with you all the time.  You were born with this purpose inside you.  We call it, our dream.  What is it that you have always wanted to do?  When you have time to sit and think or daydream, what do you keep thinking about?  That is your dream.  Know what you wish to achieve in life.  You do not have to know all the details right now, just the goal.  Write it down and start moving towards it.

                In Scouting, many of the experiences are designed to help young people taste many different things so they know what they like and what they do not like. Many a Scout has discovered their careers through the process of earning a merit badge. When something clicks, you pursue it. When it does not, you have gained another experience before you move on.

2)  Know why you want it

                Just as you can know where you wish to go, you can know why you have been called to go there.  Is it to make the lives of others better?  Is it to start a business that will create a product that can transform the lives of others?  This can take some time to work on I know.  It is not because you don't know why it will be that it can be hard to put into words.  This, however, is a very important step because once you know the why the how will be easy.

                When a Scout reaches the rank of Eagle, they must do a project before they can fully hold the rank of an Eagle Scout. This project is a service project. It is designed, by the Scout, to serve others and be of value to the world they live in. Not only do they have this project to do, but they must be able to explain why they are doing it. This process may seem like a lot of work to the outsider, (and it is a lot of work), however, the lessons in this final project teaches lessons that can transform a young man into a responsible and useful adult.

3)  Know how you will get there

                This is the plan.  Every goal must come with an action plan.  The action plan is made up of the steps you will need to take to achieve the goal.  Do you need more education?  Do you need to improve on a skill or talent you have?  What is the first step you must take?  Sit down and write this all out and then start to follow the plan.  The key is to take action.  Remember, nothing happens without action.

                One of the requirements of the Eagle project is for the Scout to have a written plan as to the details of the project. What will he need to do the project? When will he get it? Who needs to help him and what will they need to do? How long with this take? The Scout must have an action plan before they can carry out the project.

4)  Know when you will do this

                There are two key elements to your timeline.  First is when do you start?  Here is a principle that is key to your success: Take action within 24 hours of setting the goal.  No matter how big or small, do something within 24 hours.  Second is to understand that a goal without a deadline is nothing but a wish.  Be reasonable and work it out, but set a deadline for yourself.  Will it take a year, a month, five years?  Whatever the time frame, set a deadline and start moving forward.

I am always impressed by Scouts who complete an Eagle project. Why? Because I know the amount of work they had to put into it to get it done. The Eagle project is, and deliberately so, an education that no school or university could offer a young man. Therefore, there is no such thing as “I use to be an Eagle Scout.” Once you are an Eagle Scout, you are always an Eagle Scout. 

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.

Scouting Out of Uniform is a personal blog based on the lessons learned from Scouting that relate to personal development and success principles and is not an official site of The Boy Scouts of America. John Patrick Hickey does not represent or speak for the Scouting program; however, he does completely support and encourages Scouting for both young and old. John Patrick Hickey is an author, speaker, Personal Development 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 www.johnpatrickhickey.com.   © 2018 John Patrick Hickey

SUCCESSFUL LIVING

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BACK FROM CAMP

Just returned from a week of Scout camp. I see now, more than ever, how the Scout Oath and Law play a great role in the lives of young people. I also see that for many, they know the words but struggle to see how it really applies to their lives. Help your Scout learn how to live the Oath and Law. Get your copy of Scouting Out of Uniform today. Better yet, get a copy for them too. http://www.johnpatrickhickey.com/product/scouting-out-of-uniform/

THE ART OF GIFT GIVING

We all have heard many times that it is better to give than to receive.  Depending on your age group or the degree of the self-centeredness of a person, we would agree this is true.  Success-minded people love to give to others.  Often, when we talk of giving we tend to look at material things.  We give gifts, money or something we own.  These are easy to give, but never seem to last for a long time. 

The Scout slogan is, Do A Good Turn Daily. The Boy Scout Handbook defines this as: “Doing something to help others each day without expecting anything in return. It means doing your part to care for your community and the environment, too.” Doing a good turn is helping with big things and doing the small things that count.

If there is a disaster or emergency, you will find the Scouts there and ready to do their part. That is great, however, Scout is to also be there when the shopper with their arms full of packages needs the door open for them. They need to be there when the child has gotten their ball or toy stuck in the tree. There are hundreds of times during the day when a Scout can do that good turn. There is no limit to the number of good turns you can do in the course of the day.

This good turn also does not stop once the Scout is grown and out in the everyday world of adulthood. Success-minded people must always be aware of those around them and be willing and able to help whenever needed, without being asked first. Doing a good turn is in many ways the highest form of gift giving there is. I would like to look at four gifts that keep on giving and have far greater value.

Gift 1.  Your time

                Of all the gifts we can give, time is the most precious.  If you give a material gift, you can always replace it.  If you give money, you can always get more.  But when you give of your time you are giving something that cannot be replaced.  Once our time is gone, whether that be a minute or a day, it is gone forever and you can never get it back.  With that in mind, give your time wisely.  See it as an investment in others and do not waste it.  One of the great things about giving time is that we all have the same amount to work with.  No one has more and no one has less.

“The greatest good you can do for another is not just your riches, but reveal to them their own.”

– Benjamin Disraeli

(1804-1881)

Former British Prime Minister

Gift 2.  Your attention

                When you are with someone, be with them.  Do not spend the time on your phone or a game.  When people talk to you, listen to what they need to say.  When you are working with them to be sure to share the experience completely.  I agree with the words of philosopher and writer, Henry David Thoreau: "The greatest compliment that was ever paid me was when one asked me what I thought, and attended to my answer."

Gift 3.  Your encouragement

                Life is hard.  It is hard for everyone, not just you.  We all need some help along the way from time to time.  We need someone to believe in us and to believe we will, in fact, achieve our dreams.  Be that person to those around you.  If someone needs a pat on the back, a kind smile or a "You can do it!" be sure it comes from you.  Believe in the greatness of others and the possibilities they hold.  Always be the positive encourager, never the negative roadblock.

Gift 4.  Your skills

                One of the Scout Laws is that a Scout is helpful.  Be ready to lend a hand when people are in need.  You have gifts and talents that others need.  Be generous with what you have and do your best every time.  You will find that the more you are willing to help others the more they will be willing to help you.  We need each other, so this is a gift that gives again and again.

                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.

Scouting Out of Uniform is a personal blog based on the lessons learned from Scouting that relate to personal development and success principles and is not an official site of The Boy Scouts of America. John Patrick Hickey does not represent or speak for the Scouting program; however, he does completely support and encourages Scouting for both young and old. John Patrick Hickey is an author, speaker, Personal Development 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 www.johnpatrickhickey.com.   © 2018 John Patrick Hickey

LEARNING FROM A SCOUT

SCOUTING OUT OF UNIFORM

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SCOUTING OUT OF UNIFORM

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IT'S IN OR OUT

There are few things more unpleasant than lukewarm.  If food is just lukewarm it always tastes bad.  Water that is lukewarm never satisfied your thirst.  It is the same with people, those who never make a commitment or are willing to step out and make a stand, are just "lukewarm" about everything, and never become much more than what they are.

Scouts and other success-minded people are those who have a temperature.  They are hot when they need to be hot and cold when they should be cold, but they are never lukewarm.  That is what it takes to achieve success in life.  You must be committed and willing to do something worthwhile.  When it comes to making a decision, you are in or you are out, no successful person has ever lived in the in between.

“There are only two options regarding commitment.  You're either IN or OUT.  There's no

such thing as life in between.”

– Pat Riley

Coach

Being IN

                One of the keys to success is the ability to commit and then stay with it.  Success is hard work and there is no place for someone who is walking the fence as to what they want in life.  Scouts know what they want, what it will take to achieve it and then they take action!  No excuses.  No wishy-washy trying to make up their mind.  No "let's wait and see" type of thinking.  Successful people are in and in for the long haul.

                Throughout their time in Scouting, Scouts always have something more to achieve. A new rank to reach. A new merit badge to earn. There is always something more they can do to move forward. The same is true in life. As a success-minded person, you will always have something new to strive for and to achieve. You never come to the end of your abilities until you are taken away from this life altogether.

Being Out

                We tend to think of being out as a bad thing, but it is not.  In the process of making decisions, you must know if this is something you want and are willing to work for or not.  If you are deciding to take action that will not take you closer to your goal, it is not what you wish to do or is something that is contrary to what you know is right, then you must decide to be out.  Success comes with the ability to make the right choices.  Not all choices are a go ahead, sometimes they are to say no and back off.  I think of the words of the author, W. Somerset Maugham, "It's a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it."

                Scouts learn that sometimes; even good things can be the wrong choice to make. Your friends may be getting together for some fun – some good fun. You, however, have made a promise to help someone with a project. You need to decide as to what is the right thing to do. Of course, the Scout will keep his word and fulfill his promise. He knows that he can go with his friends another time, but he can only be true to his word once.

                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.

Scouting Out of Uniform is a personal blog based on the lessons learned from Scouting that relate to personal development and success principles and is not an official site of The Boy Scouts of America. John Patrick Hickey does not represent or speak for the Scouting program; however, he does completely support and encourages Scouting for both young and old. John Patrick Hickey is an author, speaker, Personal Development 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 www.johnpatrickhickey.com.   © 2018 John Patrick Hickey

SCOUTING OUT OF UNIFORM

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THERE IS MORE THAN ONE WAY TO LEARN

Where one of the main tenants of the Boy Scouts is to have fun, that fun has a purpose.  It is the goal to take young men and help them to develop good character, stimulate their intelligence and guide them into a clean, moral lifestyle.  Learning is a major part of the Scouting program because it is a major part of successful living.  Learning means growing and growing means living to the fullest.  Here are four important sources of learning that are available to us all.

1)  Learning from People

                Success-minded people understand that there is always something that you can learn from other people.  Sometimes it is a good idea, how to get things done or solve a problem you can't seem to get past.  From some, it may just be what not to do.  Still, there is always something you can take away from a meeting with another person.  Scottish historian and writer, Thomas Carlyle put it this way, "Every man is my superior in that I may learn from him."

2)  Learning from Experience

                I believe that nothing happens in life that we cannot learn from.  Therefore, every experience, good or bad, can help us grow and become better.  I realize that this is one of those statements that, during good time, is easily accepted, and during the bad time is rejected outright.  The fact is that it is true.  If you see every experience as holding the potential to teach you something of value, you will, in fact, be in control of your life.  Those who learn are never victims but always come out on top.

“Experience must be tempered with good judgment and a willingness to learn

better ways of doing things.”

– Boy Scouts of America Fieldbook

3)  Learning from Books

                Books are one of the best resources that we have.  And yet, so many people never use them.  Books have the power to take you anywhere, help you become anything and cause you to think more than anything else you will come across.  The late Charlie "Tremendous" Jones use to say, "In five year you will be the same person you are today except for two things: the people you meet and the books you read."  For the success-minded person, your library should be one of your greatest and most used treasures.

4)  Learning from Nature

                Want a full and exciting education?  Spend time outdoors.  One of the reasons that the Boy Scouts are so focused on outdoor activities is that there is where the best learning happens.  Take a walk in the woods and keep your eyes open and your mouth shut.  You will learn and understand more about life and how things work than you will in any classroom.  One of my favorite books has always been Walden by Henry David Thoreau.  Thoreau live on Walden Pond in 1845 in hopes of experiencing life in a new and better way.  He said, "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived." 

                The sad reality is that too many people come to die and discover that they never really lived.  Those who learn, deliberately learn, will never come to that end.  Life is full of adventure and discovery for the one who has learned how to learn.

                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.

Scouting Out of Uniform is a personal blog based on the lessons learned from Scouting that relate to personal development and success principles and is not an official site of The Boy Scouts of America. John Patrick Hickey does not represent or speak for the Scouting program; however, he does completely support and encourages Scouting for both young and old. John Patrick Hickey is an author, speaker, Personal Development 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 www.johnpatrickhickey.com.   © 2018 John Patrick Hickey

SCOUT CAMP

TO ALL MY SCOUTING FRIENDS: All next week I am off to summer camp with my Scout Troop. I love this time of year! I will not be able to do my regular posts for a few days. You can, however, find them on the Scouting Out of Uniform FB page https://www.facebook.com/scoutingoutofuniform/ They will also be posted on LinkedIn and Tweeter. In the words of Scoutings founder, Sir Robert Baden-Powell, "A week of camp life is worth six months of theoretical teaching in the meeting room."

LEARNING FROM A SCOUT

SCOUTING OUT OF UNIFORM

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LEARNING THAT LASTS

Where one of the main tenants of the Boy Scouts is to have fun, that fun has a purpose.  It is the goal to take young men and help them to develop good character, stimulate their intelligence and guide them into a clean, moral lifestyle.  Learning is a major part of the Scouting program because it is a major part of successful living.  Learning means growing and growing means living to the fullest. 

To earn merit badges (there are 137 of them) a Scout must read, study, perform tasks, write reports and present their projects to a counselor. The greatest of all challenges a Scout faces is their Eagle Project. This project is no simple doing. It involves planning, designing, working with people, leading a team, hard work and keeping the books. The lessons in the Eagle Project are something the Scout takes with them throughout their life.

Success in life is all about learning; not in the classroom of a school but in the classrooms of life. Success-minded people are constant students. Here are four important sources of learning that are available to us all.

“Experience must be tempered with good judgment and a willingness to learn

better ways of doing things.”

– Boy Scouts of America Fieldbook

1)  Learning from people

                Success-minded people understand that there is always something that you can learn from other people.  Sometimes it is a good idea, how to get things done or solve a problem you can't seem to get past.  From some, it may just be what not to do.  Still, there is always something you can take away from a meeting with another person.  Scottish historian and writer, Thomas Carlyle put it this way, "Every man is my superior in that I may learn from him."

2)  Learning from experience

                I believe that nothing happens in life that we cannot learn from.  Therefore, every experience, good or bad, can help us grow and become better.  I realize that this is one of those statements that, during good time, is easily accepted, and during the bad time is rejected outright.  The fact is that it is true.  If you see every experience as holding the potential to teach you something of value, you will, in fact, be in control of your life.  Those who learn are never victims but always come out on top.

3)  Learning from books

                Books are one of the best resources that we have.  And yet, so many people never use them.  Books have the power to take you anywhere, help you become anything and cause you to think more than anything else you will come across.  The late Charlie "Tremendous" Jones use to say, "In five year you will be the same person you are today except for two things: the people you meet and the books you read."  For the success-minded person, your library should be one of your greatest and most used treasures.

4)  Learning from nature

                Want a full and exciting education?  Spend time outdoors.  One of the reasons that the Boy Scouts are so focused on outdoor activities is that this is where the best learning happens.  Take a walk in the woods and keep your eyes open and your mouth shut.  You will learn and understand more about life and how things work than you will in any classroom.  One of my favorite books has always been Walden by Henry David Thoreau.  Thoreau live on Walden Pond in 1845 in hopes of experiencing life in a new and better way.  He said, "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived." 

                The sad reality is that too many people come to die and discover that they never really lived.  Those who learn, deliberately learn, will never come to that end.  Life is full of adventure and discovery for the one who has learned how to learn.

                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.

Scouting Out of Uniform is a personal blog based on the lessons learned from Scouting that relate to personal development and success principles and is not an official site of The Boy Scouts of America. John Patrick Hickey does not represent or speak for the Scouting program; however, he does completely support and encourages Scouting for both young and old. John Patrick Hickey is an author, speaker, Personal Development 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 www.johnpatrickhickey.com.   © 2018 John Patrick Hickey

YOU CAN'T FAIL

If you are trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent you cannot go wrong. How can a person achieve such a lofty goal? Find out how in Scouting Out of Uniform. Get yours today. http://www.johnpatrickhickey.com/product/scouting-out-of-uniform/

GET YOURSELF COMMITTED

One of the many great and useful lessons learned in Scouting is that of commitment and follow through.  The Scout Law is based on the development of hard work, focus, good character, excellence, and determination.  The motto, "Be Prepared" is the belief that when you ready yourself for anything you can achieve anything.  This basic principle is also the basic principle of success in life.

                Boy Scout founder, Lord Robert Baden-Powell defined the motto of Be Prepared this way: “Be Prepared... the meaning of the motto is that a scout must prepare himself by previous thinking out and practice how to act on any accident or emergency so that he is never taken by surprise.” Two very important principles stand out there and every Scout knows them well. One is: Be ready for anything. And the other: Never be caught by surprise.

                Scouts are taught to think things out. They must know not just what will happen but what could happen. This practice is vital to life after Scouting as well. Success-minded people learn to think things through. They are not afraid to take risks, but they are calculated risks. Success comes by always being a few steps ahead of the next guy. That takes commitment and a willingness to do what it takes to succeed. Here are a few keys to help you be prepared.

“Success is available to everyone who commits to being successful.”

– Earl Nightingale

(1921-1989)

Author/Radio Broadcaster

Key # 1 Commit to hard work

                Anyone who tells you that you can achieve your dreams and succeed in life in your spare time or take an easy way is lying to you.  There is only one way to success and that is by daily, constant and deliberate hard work.  Once the success-minded person understands that, they have no problem with doing what is necessary, and more, to achieve their goals.  Hard work is not a bad thing to be avoided but the first and most important key to success in any area of life.

Key # 2 Commit to a focused desire

                Baseball great Yogi Barra was right when he said, "If you don't know where you are going, how will you know when you get there?"  A goal is a specific point that you are looking to arrive at.  No one can achieve success if they do not have a focused desire to go after.  It is like saying you will go "anywhere".  Anywhere is no different than nowhere.  I have coached many young people who say they are looking for a job.  When asked what kind of job, they will tell you "anything".  I always remind them that "anything" is not a job.  Be focused on what you want to achieve and you will find it.

Key # 3 Commit to good character

                There is a reason that Scouting puts so much value on qualities like being trustworthy, loyal, courteous, kind and more.  These are the qualities of a good character, a person of integrity and solid moral values.  Success is never about wealth, power or recognition.  Success is always about you.  Who you are, who you become and how you touch the world you live in is far more important than what you earn or who knows your face. 

Key # 4 Commit to excellence

                Never settle for anything less than your best.  To just get by is not a goal in life, it is an excuse for accepting what others decide you should be.  You were created to be great and to do extraordinary things.  Don't believe that?  Try and find out just how extraordinary you really are.  Do everything - I mean EVERYTHING - the best you can and see if you do not go to the top in life.  No one is looking for a mediocre worker or leader.  Be excellent and you will see that you are in high demand.

Key # 5 Commit to staying with it

                Zig Ziglar used to say, "The winner is not the one who is the best, but the one who does not give up."  Success-minded people know that they can never think they have the luxury to give up.  If things fail - they try again.  If there is a setback - they move forward.  If there is a decision to make - they make it.  The one thing successful people will not do is give up.  Stay with it to the end and you will always achieve the success you seek - and much, much more.

                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.

Scouting Out of Uniform is a personal blog based on the lessons learned from Scouting that relate to personal development and success principles and is not an official site of The Boy Scouts of America. John Patrick Hickey does not represent or speak for the Scouting program; however, he does completely support and encourages Scouting for both young and old. John Patrick Hickey is an author, speaker, Personal Development 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 www.johnpatrickhickey.com.   © 2018 John Patrick Hickey

LEARNING FROM A SCOUT

FINDING THE ROAD SIGN

Think of how easy it is to miss some of the greatest teachings on a successful life, just because they are so familiar to us. Principles of hard work, good manners, the Ten Commandments, the Boy Scout Oath & Law to mention a few. We choose to spin our wheels in the mud rather than follow the paved road that has been prepared for us. Scouting Out of Uniform is a road sign that will help you find the best route to a full and successful life. You do not have to be a Scout to know success – but it does help. Get your copy today! http://www.johnpatrickhickey.com/product/scouting-out-of-uniform/ Now at a discounted price.

BE YOUR BEST

To be your best, you must DO your best. Scouting Out of Uniform is a great plan for living the most successful life you can. These principles benefit Scout, Non-Scouters, men, women and all people. Get yours today! http://www.johnpatrickhickey.com/product/scouting-out-of-uniform/

LEAVING YOUR MARK

When we are young we have the faith to believe we can one day make a difference.  As we get older and fight the daily battles of life, we start to wonder if we will be remembered at all.  I believe we are all here to be remembered.  You will, however, not be remembered for what you have, be that money, power or fame.  You will be remembered for how you touched the world you live in and made life better for others. 

                Forest Witcraft (1894-1967) was a well-known educator and longtime supporter of Scouting. In an article, he did in Scouting Magazine he gave, what I believe is the best definition of leaving your mark on the world. It is what every Scouter believes, and one I personally hold as an anchor in my own life. Witcraft said: “A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove. But the world may be different because I was important in the life of a boy.”

There are five key things you can do in life that will live long after you have gone from this planet.

1)  You can create

                We all have talents and gifts.  For some, these are expressed in the form of thinking, making changes that are needed or solving problems.  For others, these can be expressed in the form of art and beauty.  Still, others are gifted in medicine, law, education and a thousand other things.  With these gifts, we can create what was not there before or we can improve on those things that we use every day. 

                Scouting offers yet another opportunity to make your gifts and talents out live you. Teach them to a Scout who may discover from your lessons his own calling in life. Those who are generous with their gifts receive many times more in return. You can hoard your possessions and your money with little consequence. Hoard your gifts and talents and they die with you. Invest them in the life of a Scout and they will live forever.

2)  You can discover the unknown

                One of the joys of childhood is the discovery of life for the first time.  From infants discovering their feet to children discovering their abilities, life is an adventure for those who keep discovering.  Always keep in mind that the wonders of the universe are not secrets that are hidden, but rather treasures to be discovered by people who still believe the impossible can happen.

                I have come to love the discoveries I have been able to be a part of in Scouting. When we take the time to encourage and inspire a young person to reach for the unknown you will see great things. I can be a part of merit badges and learn things I never thought I would learn. Camping and other activities all designed to help the young – and us old folk too – discover the wonders of life.

“All I want to do is change the world.”

– W. Clement Stone

(1902-2002) Author

Businessman

3)  You can think

                Sounds funny I know, but the truth is, thousands of people do not think.  They move on impulse or desire, but they do not take the time to think things through.  Be a thinker about everything in your life.  Know what you believe and why.  Think about what you want and how you will achieve it.  Think about the things that others never take the time to.

                Young people love to think. They may not tell you that, but they do. Scouting allows a young person to think about what they want to do and how they will achieve it. Give your Scout time to think things out for themselves. We can be too quick to step in and help them solve a problem. With time, they will figure it out. Just like you do.

4)  You can be an example

                Don't just talk about how the world should get better, make it better.  Success-minded people know that things like integrity, honesty, decency, loyalty and right behavior are key to a full and meaningful life.  If all we do is tell people that they should be better we will gain nothing.  We must show then not only how to live right but show them that it can be done.

                The Scout Law and Oath are not created to get Scouts to memorize them, they are there to be lived out. The best example of the power of the Scout Law is how it is active and useful in your life. Show everyone around you that it is possible to be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent all at the same time.

5)  You can take a stand

                The great Albert Einstein said, "The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything."  Like it or not, you are not a bystander in this world.  You are an active participant.  It is up to us to stop evil and wrong, not to ignore it and hope it goes away.  Take a stand for what is good, right and wholesome.  Be strong and brave in the face of all opposition.  You are the only thing keeping the world from the destruction it brings on itself.

                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.

Scouting Out of Uniform is a personal blog based on the lessons learned from Scouting that relate to personal development and success principles and is not an official site of The Boy Scouts of America. John Patrick Hickey does not represent or speak for the Scouting program; however, he does completely support and encourages Scouting for both young and old. John Patrick Hickey is an author, speaker, Personal Development 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 www.johnpatrickhickey.com.   © 2018 John Patrick Hickey