Thursday, January 31, 2019
You don't have to be a Scout to learn from a great Scouter. Get your copy of Sir Robert Baden-Powell: Taking the Scout at His Words and benefit from the wit and wisdom of one who created the greatest youth movement in history. http://www.johnpatrickhickey.com/product/sir-robert-baden-powell-taking-the-scout-at-his-words/
A Different Breed
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 '60s 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 art, these people choose to 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.
“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 bare 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
1866-1946
Author
Somewhere
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 it is in doing right and standing for a 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
the 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.
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. © 2019 John Patrick HickeyWednesday, January 30, 2019
Tuesday, January 29, 2019
Who better to talk about Scouting than the man who created it. Every Scout & Scouter should learn from the great Scout himself. Get your copy of, Sir Robert Baden-Powell: Taking the Scout at His Words today. At only $8.00 a copy, you can get them for your whole Troop! http://www.johnpatrickhickey.com/product/sir-robert-baden-powell-taking-the-scout-at-his-words/
Monday, January 28, 2019
Have you gotten your copy of the new book, Sir Robert Baden-Powell: Taking the Scout at His Words? Ever Scout and Scouter should have this book. Get it today, still at the sale price of only $8.00 plus postage. This is for a limited time so act today! http://www.johnpatrickhickey.com/product/sir-robert-baden-powell-taking-the-scout-at-his-words/
Learning the Impossible
If I was to list all the
assets that helped me to succeed in life, at the top of my list I would have to put my ten
grand-children and being a Scout leader.
Why? Because that much contact
with children and young people has revitalized my ability to believe in the
impossible. Children really do believe
that they can become anything they choose to be and that the mysteries of life
are theirs to discover. It is when we
"grow up" that we begin to think the impossible truly is, impossible.
I first
become a Cub Scout leader when my grandson entered Scouts as a Tiger Cub. I have wanted him to be a Scout since the day
he was born. I love Scouting and believe
in the program. He is now a Boy Scout
and I am still involved as well. It is
his burning goal in life is to be an Eagle Scout and to earn all 137+ merit
badges. That is a big goal for any young
person, but not impossible for him to achieve.
“Scoutmasters need to enter into boy's ambitions.”
– Sir Robert Baden-Powell
1857-1941
Founder of The Boy Scouts
Children
are like that. They have passion and the
courage to dream big. It is the adults
in their lives that too often step on their dreams and convince them that they
are impossible. Have you ever wondered
where we would be today if we never stopped believing in the impossible? What could we have achieved as individuals or
as a society? The possibilities are
endless.
American
poet, Theodore Roethke said, "What we need is more people who specialize
in the impossible." I fully agree
and I desire to be one of those people.
The children in my life give me hope that I can be. They believe that they will become great and
do wonderful things. I believe they will
too. I will work hard to be sure they
never doubt that or stop believing in the impossible.
Take
some time and get into the thinking of a child.
Go visit some Scouts or pay more attention to the Scouts in your
life. Scouts are trained to believe in
the impossible. They are given the
opportunity to become anything they choose to be. One-hundred and thirty-seven merit badges is
a lot of work, but we can do it. Yes, I
said we. He has allowed me to take this
journey with him and I will not miss a moment of it.
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. © 2019 John Patrick HickeyFriday, January 25, 2019
Thursday, January 24, 2019
ON SALE NOW
The with and wisdom of the great Sir Robert Baden-Powell have been collected and put in a book that all Scouts and Scouters (and those who like a bit of inspiration in their lives) to take with them. For a limited time, you can get this book for the incredibly low price of just $8.00, but only if you go to the website and get yours today! http://www.johnpatrickhickey.com/product/sir-robert-baden-powell-taking-the-scout-at-his-words/
Positive Downsizing
When we look at the task before us to be successful in
Scouting, business or life in general, we can quickly be overwhelmed. Our dreams and goals should always be
impossible so that we reach and grow in their pursuit. At the same time, those impossible dreams can
be more than we know how to handle. This
brings us to the adage, "How do you eat an elephant? One bit at a time."
When we
are pursuing any goal, it is always best to cut it down to size. By that,
I mean to plan it in doable segments. No
matter how big the goal may be, you will get there one step at a time. Never any faster than that. So why try to do it all at once? Tackle your goals just one step at a time.
When
new Scouts begin to work on their Merit Badges, many of them feel
overwhelmed. They see that there are 136
Merit Badges to choose from. Some of
these badges are hard and some are not so hard.
My advice is to find the ones they really want to do and start
there. It is always easier to do things
you want to do first. Then, if they take
it one step at a time and learn to enjoy the process, they will achieve far
more than they thought they could, and enjoy it too.
“Scouting is a man's job cut down
to a boy's size.”
Sir Robert Baden-Powell
1857-1941
Founder of The Boy Scouts
Here is
a simple exercise you can do to help you grasp this process. Sit down and write out your goal as clearly
and in as much detail as you can. Now
answer this question: "What is the first thing I have to do?" If this does not come to you right away, try
working backward. Look at the achieved
goal and see what you did just before you achieved it, then what was before
that and so on.
When
you have the first step written down, do that.
Then go to the next step and so forth.
Soon you will learn that anything is possible, one step at a time. The full goal will always be and should be, bigger than you can handle,
but when cut down to size, it is a journey you will be excited to make. As Dr. Robert H. Schuller, founding Pastor of
the Chrystal Cathedral said, "Yard by yard everything is hard. Inch by inch, everything is a cinch."
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. © 2019 John Patrick HickeyWednesday, January 23, 2019
Few people have done more to help young people become good, strong, moral citizens than Sir Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the Scouting Movement. My new book, Sir Robert Baden-Powell: Taking the Scout at his words is now on sale. You can get it on Amazon for $10.95 OR, for a limited time, you can go to my website at http://www.johnpatrickhickey.com/product/sir-robert-baden-powell-taking-the-scout-at-his-words/ and get your copy for only $8.00 plus postage. Don't let this deal pass you by. Order your copy today!
Tuesday, January 22, 2019
Leader Building
In a conversation with a new friend,
I was asked how many grand-children I had.
Proudly I answered "Ten. My
oldest daughter and her husband have six and my youngest daughter (We only have
the two) and her husband have four."
My new friend got a concerned look on his face and said, "Don't you
worry about kids growing is such a violent and nasty world as this?" My response was quick and from the heart,
"Not at all," I said, "They will make it better."
I
understand how when you look at the world we live in it can be a bit
discouraging. We have had leaders in the
highest offices lie and cheat. We have
crime everywhere and so much cruelty and hate.
However, believe it or not, it has been worse. A funny thing about people, we look at our
current times and believe it is the worst it has ever been; and in twenty years
we see it as the "Good Old Days".
“I think that American leadership
is vital to peace and prosperity and the advancement of democracy in the world,
and that requires having strong leaders.
And I don't think there's any organization in the world, certainly not
in the United States, that better prepares young men for leadership in this
century than the Boy Scouts of America - in teaching leadership skills, in
teaching values, in teaching importance of standing up for what's right.”
Robert Gates
Former U.S. Sectary of Defense
Things are bad, there is no getting
away from that. We need a fundamental
change in our society and behavior. But how do we get that change? It is not by making more laws and rules. We already have so many laws and regulations
that no one knows what they can or cannot
do anymore. No, the way to change our
world is to change the people in it. One
person at a time. Sounds simple and
impossible at the same time. How do you
change people? How can we do anything effective to bring about change for the good?
Allow
me to give you two basic and very important ways that you can make an effective
and immediate change to the world you live in.
Change One:
Start with Yourself
You do not have the power to
change anything in life, but you do have the power to change you, and by doing
that, you change it all. "But I am
not a bad person", you may say.
"I follow the laws, and am a nice guy and give to
charity." That is all very
wonderful, but we can all be better than we are. It is a simple case of doing the right thing
- all the time - just because it is the right thing to do. That sounds easy but it takes work and courage
to pull it off.
Sometimes doing the right thing
is refusing to do the wrong thing. It is
taking a stand for what is right, even if you are the only one standing. True character in a person is an active thing
that shows in all areas of life; how we behave, how we deal with others and
what we believe. This is where the Scout
Law can bring clarity and direction to our lives. It helps us understand in 12 principles, what
it means to be a person of honesty, integrity, and
faithfulness.
If you start with you, you will
have successfully changed one person for the better and thus, changed us all as
a whole. If each one of us did this
there would be nothing, no matter how powerful or wicked, that could overcome us. I love the words of the writer, Thomas Carlyle who said, "Make
yourself an honest man, then you may be sure that there is one less scoundrel
in the world."
Change Two:
Teach Our Children How to Be People of Character
As a parent, grandparent, relative, teacher, coach, Scout
leader, Sunday school teacher or anything that puts you in contact with
children, you have awesome power and
responsibility to shape a life. Look at
many of the problems we have with our youth today and ask, "Where did they
learn this stuff?" The answer is,
from us. We pour so much trash and wrong
into their lives through movies, games, school, example and more. They did not come up with all the bad
behavior on their own, we taught them part of it.
This principle of teaching works
the other way too. We can, and many do,
teach our children how to make the right
choices, do good deeds, study and work hard, be polite and to think of
others. As a Scout leader, grand-parent
and someone who is around kids a lot, I can tell you that there are many great
and well-behaved kids in this world. I look at my Scouts and I am hopeful for
tomorrow.
Remember this, these kids you
see today, whether your own or those you are in contact with, will be - not
maybe, but WELL BE, the leaders of tomorrow. They will one day run things and if we want a
better world we best start with them.
When we invest our time and energy into children we are investing in our
future.
I get so put off by self-seeking
adults who claim they do all their underhanded and unethical acts for "the
children". If we really want to
help the children, start by teaching them honesty, integrity, hard work and
justice. How can we make the family
better? Start by showing our children
what a family should be and how people in that family should act. Want to feed a hungry child? Start by teaching them the value of hard
work, earning your way and to be self-sufficient. We have a responsibility to teach our
children to be the best they can be.
I believe that one of the best
tools we have in this country to help lead our children in the right direction
is Scouting. Do all those who were in
Scouts turn out to be model citizens?
No. But more do than do not. Scouting is not a replacement for good parenting, it is only a tool that can
help in the process. It is up to us, the
family members to help our children learn how to make good choices, do their
best, love God, have good manners, discover the unknown and change the
world. In this, I am hopeful for
tomorrow.
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. © 2019 John Patrick HickeyMonday, January 21, 2019
Friday, January 18, 2019
Thursday, January 17, 2019
You're One A Mission
Author, Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) made this
statement: "An aim in life is the only fortune worth finding, and it is not to be found in foreign lands,
but in the heart itself." Every
person has a mission to fulfill. Every
business, church or organization has a mission or purpose to achieve. Humankind
is made in such a way that without the awareness of our purpose in life, we
become disorientated and discouraged.
Many have lost their will to live simply because they found nothing to
live for.
Have
you ever written out a personal mission statement? This is a short, yet descriptive statement of
what you believe you are meant to do in life.
In business and in organizations, mission statements are commonplace, but even then, do people know what
they are. Think about it. Can you, right now without searching for it,
recite the mission statement of the company you work for, the church you attend
or the organizations you belong too? How
can you achieve their goals if you do not know what they are?
“The Boy Scouts of America will
prepare every eligible youth in America to become a responsible, participating
citizen and leader who is guided by the Scout Oath and the Scout Law.”
Boy Scouts of America
vision statement
The Mission Statement for the BSA
is this: “The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people
to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them
the values of the Scout Oath and Law.”
Notice that it is designed to be achieved throughout the lifetime of
those who follow the Scout Oath and Scout Law.
This is
even more important when it comes to your personal purpose. What is it that you believe you are here to
do? If you allow me, I would like to
share my personal mission statement with you.
I designed this several years ago, after attending a seminar where this
principle was taught. It took me many
days to get it right, but I have not changed it and I strive to achieve it
every day:
"To be a
consistent example and teacher of personal excellence and leadership
skills. To live a life that will show
the reality of Jesus Christ in the life of a believer."
When I
am setting goals, creating action plans and looking at my future, this is my
starting point. If I stray from this, I
know I am heading in the wrong direction, no matter how good it may seem. Your mission statement is your anchor and your roadmap.
If you have
not made a personal mission statement, here are some tips on doing this. First, please understand, you will not be
able to do this in a few minutes. This
can take days, maybe months to get it right.
What is right? Right is where you
know inside that this is what you are meant to do. It is creating something that is narrow
enough to give you direction and guidelines, yet broad enough to allow you to
be creative and expand in the future.
What do you love to
do? Your purpose will not be
something you hate. It is your dream,
your passion, and your life. You may not have been in a place to fully do
this yet, but you still can.
What are your
strengths? Do not waste time trying
to be strong in areas that you are weak.
Find where are you already strong and build on that. What do you do well?
How will this affect
others? Remember, your purpose is
not just to make you feel good and give you the things you want. You are here for others first. If your
mission does not make the lives of others better, you are missing the point.
On your
first try, you may have a full paragraph
or even a page to work with. In the end,
you want to bring it down to one or two sentences. You can use the two statements above (mine
and the BSA) but do not copy them. This
must be your purpose, your statement.
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. © 2019 John Patrick HickeyWednesday, January 16, 2019
Tuesday, January 15, 2019
The Game Plan
When people think of the Scout Law they think of young boys
trying to do good. The idea of "acting like a Boy Scout" is
even used as a criticism. Our social
structure has gotten so off balanced that we now think that being good,
following the rules and believing in character and integrity of outdated and
odd. I can remember that when you wanted
to stress the fact that you were telling the truth you would say, “Scout’s
honor”. However, the idea of honor is
also one that has fallen by the wayside.
The fact is, we need these qualities more than ever before. The consequence of not having them is evident
all around us.
Following the Scout Law sounds
like a game plan that would give us all a better chance of success in life - and I mean every area of life.”
Zig Ziglar
1926-2012
Author
The
Scout Law, to be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind,
obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent, are all qualities that
make for a healthy and strong person and society. These are not just qualities you want to see
in young people (although you do what them there), but in all of us and in
every area of our life. What does business not want someone who is honest,
dependable and hardworking? What area of life do you not need to be
loyal, trustworthy, kind or friendly?
How much better would your daily experience be if you and all you met
were cheerful, courteous and kind?
Maybe
it is because the Scout Law has been around so long and people have gotten used
to it that we pay such little attention to it.
The Scout Law has the power to not only transform the world to a better place but even greater, to transform you into a
better person.
Look at the Scout Law. In fact, write out all the qualities listed
there. Now honestly, mark the ones that
you show daily. I will say that if you
are reading this blog you most likely have more than the average person. However, you will find that you do not
display as many as you thought you would.
This is not to point out where you may have failed, but rather to show
you an opportunity to become better.
One of
the development goals I gave myself last year was to assign one of the
qualities of the Scout Law to each month.
All during the month, I would work
at developing that quality in my life. I
found it very helpful and the practice made me a stronger person. Have I achieved all the qualities in my life
by now? Not even close. I must check myself every day to become more and more of the person I someday
hope to be. What it did do is make me
aware of where I can improve and how I can enrich the lives of others through
the Scout Law.
Do not
see the Scout Law as something restrictive and difficult. It is very freeing and exciting. When you live right you have nothing to hide
or to escape from. It is like what Mark
Twain said, "When you always tell the truth you do not have to remember
anything."
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. © 2019 John Patrick HickeyMonday, January 14, 2019
Friday, January 11, 2019
Thursday, January 10, 2019
The Good Citizen
Some of you older readers may remember a day when it was
encouraged to be a good citizen. I can
even remember when you got a good citizenship award in school (now that dates
me). Now you are fortunate to find a
person who can even tell you what a good citizen is.
The
Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines it as the qualities that a person is expected to
have as a responsible member of a community. These "qualities" are like those of
good manners, you know them when you see them but you don't see them a
lot. Too often people are too busy
looking out for their rights, their entitlements, and their
stuff to worry about the rights of others.
But like good manners, citizenship is all about others first, not me
first.
“The Scouting Program fosters
development in youth and helps them become good citizens of their communities
and loyal adherents to their religious heritage.”
Rabbi Binyamin
Walfish
One of
the personal lessons I was not really prepared for as a Cub Scout leader was
finding that most boys did not understand what citizenship was. The idea of protecting the rights of others,
following the Constitution and the order of law were concepts they were not
taught in school or at home. Yet,
without good citizens, we have no
country.
Being a
good and productive citizen is something each of us must strive to
achieve. There are many ways we can
accomplish this. One is to follow the
laws and to do what is right, not because there is a penalty if you do not, but
because it is the right thing to do.
Another
important part of being a good citizen that far too many have allowed to fall aside is to be involved in government. I am not talking about complaining about the government or posting your political views on social media. To be involved means that we are taking an
active part in our local, state and national government. Run for office, volunteer or work in a
position that will cause change and promote good citizens.
We
could go on forever talking about the wrong there is in our government (and
there is great wrong). How they have
been dishonest, lack integrity and that our rights as citizens are being taken
from us. But all that talk, no matter
how right it is, means nothing if we do not make the changes needed. We still have a government chosen by the
people. So, how do we make it
better? We become the people who hold
the offices.
The
recent election has shown us just how that is possible. For the first time,
we have chosen a privet citizen, not a lifelong politician, to be our commander
and chief. The changes that this will
bring are still ahead of us, however, now that the “people” are again in the
drives seat, these changes can be great.
The
days when we believed that anyone could become President are not over. It can happen, it has happened, and it will
happen again. Good citizens do not sit
back and give up, they fight for the right.
Good citizens do not wait for change, they make the change. We can change our city, state, and country for the better. By doing so, we teach those youngsters coming
up that they too can make a difference.
Remember, the future belongs to them.
Let's make it better now so they can make it great once 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. © 2019 John Patrick HickeyWednesday, January 9, 2019
Tuesday, January 8, 2019
Monday, January 7, 2019
Something More
As Scouts and Scouters, we are motivated, people. Scouting breeds the kind of thinking that
keep people moving toward their goals and achieving new things all the
time. We have ranks to achieve, merit
badges to get; and the rewards of becoming or helping some young man to become,
an Eagle Scout. All this achievement and
drive is good, but let's not forget what the deeper purpose of Scouting is, to
become people of character and courage.
As
wonderful as the Scouting program is, without the ultimate objective of forming
a good and purposeful life, it is just another youth program and nothing
more. Scouting's end result is not the
Eagle rank. Scouting's result is to
create people who are leaders of integrity, decency, and honor. We who are part
of the Scouting program should have our sights on making a better world not
just making an awarded Scout.
This
reality is not something that we hope Scouting will someday achieve. The truth is, Scouts have gone on to become
successful business leaders, great scientists, and
Doctors; they have walked on the moon and been Presidents. Scouting has for over a century developed
great and honorable leaders that have achieved
the impossible, discovered the unknown and changed the world.
“The Scout movement is a world
leader in educating youth. Scouting
inspires patriotism, sound moral values, courage, character-building,
self-reliance and community awareness. It
also motivates our young people to achieve their full potential.”
Nelson Mandela
1918-20013
South African Statesman
As we
work to follow the Scout Law and the principles of Scouting, let us not forget
that it is more twelve rules to follow,
it is the force that can change the world.
Scouts are what I call success-minded.
That means they believe in their ability to do good, to create and
achieve wonderful things. Those who have
learned the power of the Scout Law and the things taught in Scouting go on to
be a success in all they do.
Success-minded
people know that if they are going to achieve success in life, it is up to
them. No one is going to give it to them
and no one is meant to take care of them.
They are self-reliant and hard working.
The word impossible just means it might take a bit longer to do. Their honesty and integrity stand firm and they will not give in to the
pressures of forces around them to lessen their values. The fact is, Scouting, in any form and by any
person, takes courage.
Achieve
all you can with enthusiasm and excitement.
Just keep in mind that there is a greater goal than awards and ranks or
promotions. The only thing that matters,
in the end, is the person you become.
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. © 2019 John Patrick HickeyFriday, January 4, 2019
Thursday, January 3, 2019
What is Scouting Out of Uniform
I first was exposed to Scouting, like many of you, when I
was young. My mother was a Den Mother
for all four of her sons. This was back in the day when Cub Scouts were lead by
Den mothers and the meetings were in their homes.
I loved Scouting. Especially when I
crossed over into Boy Scouts. The
camping and crafts we did were always fun.
I even remember our old Scout Master, Mr. McDonald who was a great
example to us. However, like many boys,
when I got into my teen years I left Scouting and the good things it taught.
Fast
forward about forty years or so. I had
settled down, had a family and was working on
helping people succeed in their lives. I
had become a Christian in 1974 and that made the greatest change in me. In 2001 I had heart surgery that took months
to recover from. During that time, while
looking for "something to do" I came across my old Scout Handbook and
decided to read it. Wow! It hit me like a brick. This stuff was good!
“The goodness of a person and of the society he or she lives
in often comes down to very simple things and words found in the Scout
Law. Every society depends on trust and
loyalty, on courtesy and kindness, on bravery and reverence. These are the values of Scouting, and these
are the values of Americans.”
President
George W. Bush
43rd
President of the United States
I believe that we all have a
purpose in life and we can succeed at that purpose when we follow the
principles of success. Success principles
are like the laws of nature, they do not change and they do not grow old and
die out. As I read the Scout Law, I
realized that there were the principles
of success, listed and defined perfectly.
We may change the wording depending on how we are presenting them, but
the laws of success require that we all become trustworthy, loyal, helpful,
friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and
reverent.
I began
to study how the Scout Law and the Laws of Success worked together in helping
people be their best, love God, have good manners, discover the unknown and
change the world (my mission). When my
first grandson was old enough, I got him in Cub Scouts and became a leader
myself. He is now a Boy Scout, soon to
be Eagle, and I am not a leader, but I am very involved in the Troop and in his
Scouting experience. I love Scouting and
feel it is the best thing going for training young boys to make this world
better.
This is
where Scouting Out of Uniform comes in. I
am an author, trainer and personal development coach and I wanted to have
books, blogs and other materials where I can help people to succeed while using
the Scout Oath & Law. So why is it
"out of uniform"? This is a
personal blog and not sponsored by the Boy Scouts of America. I did not want to present it as if it
was. Also, it is something for everyone,
young, old, male, female, Scouters, and non-Scouters. The Scout Oath & Law works for all who
apply it to their lives.
I
invite one and all to join in the Scouting Out of Uniform community. You will find that the principles discussed
here are things we all can and need to apply to our daily living. Who can say, "I don't need to be
trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly...."? The principles in the Scout Oath & Law
are things that we all must learn and apply every day to have a successful
life.
Those who live by these principles
are what I call success-minded people. A
success-minded person is one who is aware that success, in all areas of life,
takes work and effort and they are willing to put forth that work and effort to
achieve it. Success-minded people know that real success in life goes far
beyond wealth, power and position. Real success is found in who we become as a person, not what we possess.
Don't
think that the Laws of Scouting are just for kids. It is important to teach these principles to
our youth so that they can grow and apply them when they are adults. However, we adults need to know and apply
them as well. This blog is not about the
Scouting program but about the Laws that make Scouting the wonderful and
impactful organization it is.
As adults, we also carry a responsibility to be
the example to our young people. I believe we all understand that just telling
young people how to act and live is of little good. If they do not see it they
will not follow it. Sir Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of the Scouting movement, said, “There is no teaching to
compare with example.” To be the example of successful living we must first
know its reality in our own lives.
Join me
and let's make the world better by making ourselves better. The only way we will ever see improvement in
our society is to see the people in it change for the better. Since you cannot change others, you have got
to start with the one person you can change, yours.
Find
out more about Scouting Out of Uniform by joining our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/scoutingoutofuniform/
or visit our website at www.johnpatrickhickey.com.
Don’t forget to watch the Scouting Out of Uniform videocast on YouTube. Also,
remember to be your best, love God, have good manners, discover 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. © 2019 John Patrick Hickey
Wednesday, January 2, 2019
Tuesday, January 1, 2019
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