Three Elements of Loyalty

“Loyalty earned is a beautiful thing, but loyalty demanded is toxic.”

– Samuel Chand

Author

In the Scout Handbook you will find, "A Scout is Loyal.  A Scout is loyal to those whom loyalty is due."  This does not mean blind loyalty.  I have often hear that loyalty is given to all in authority or all in power.  That is not at all true.  Loyalty is always earned and never demanded.  It is given and not taken.  Loyalty comes from three main areas, beliefs, values, and purposes.

1)  Loyalty comes from shared beliefs

                Everything we do and fight for are the things we believe to be true.  We are loyal to those who share our belief because we know that they are fighting for the same causes we find important.  When we are asked to stand, fight for and defend things that we do not believe in, we become weak and ineffective.  Likewise, when  we are following a leader who stand for the things we believe in, we become strong, committed and loyal to the end.

2)  Loyalty comes from shared values

                The success-minded person will not be loyal to someone who is not honest, of poor character or untrustworthy.  These are some of the values that make the success-mined person who they are.  Many have been asked to do things that are dishonest, bend the rules or tell a white lie, but have left their job or position because to betray their values is a crime greater than any they can accept.

3)  Loyalty comes from shared purposes

                It is hard if not impossible to be loyal to someone or something that does not share your purpose.  It you want to see a person of character stand strong, give them a purpose they can believe in and stand up for.  Take it away and you will have no commitment at all.

                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

Four Benefits From Being Outdoors

“Let the youth be taught to look for beauty in all he sees, to embody beauty in all he does,

and the imaginative will then be both active and healthy.”

– Orison Swett Marden

(1850-1924) Author/Publisher

Scouting is all about the outdoors.  Camping, hiking, even the simple picnic are embraced and encouraged in the Scouting program.  It is more than just the fun you can have in the great outdoors (and fun is a key value of Scouting).  It is because there are few better and more exact teachers than nature itself.  The beauty of God's creating never senses to refresh, inspire, ignite and motivate young men to doing great and impossible things.

1)  To be refreshed

                Adults who are our in the work-a-day world tend to think that they are the ones who experience stress and fatigue.  Let me assure you that young people also have many stresses and know what it is like to feel fatigue.  However, the young seem to be able to find the refreshers of life as well and the stress points.  One of those refreshers is to get out in the woods.  You can witness the beauty of all that is around you.  No matter what man does or how clever he thinks himself to be, he cannot create the beauty of a tree in all its autumn spender or a brook that flows lazily through a rocky and rough path through the woods.  This alone can refresh the weariest soul back to health.

2)  To be inspired

                One of my favorite books has always been Walden by author Henry David Thoreau.  In it he stated, "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."  It is a sad fact, but many have gone through life without ever having lived.  Nothing can inspire us to enjoy the wonders of life as a trip to the woods can.  The shore line along the lake, the path through the field of flowers or climbing a tree that has stood longer than you, your father or your grandfather have been alive, can inspire the dullest of men to greatness.

3)  To be ignited

                Camping in the great outdoors is not complete without the classic camp fire to sit around at night.  The camp fire is the place of stories and deep thinking.  They bring to mind the travels of great heroes and the amazing deeds of those who lived long ago.  This remembering ignites our own desire to do great and extraordinary things.  The Greek philosopher, Plutarch said, "The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled."  Start that fire and see where it leads you.  It can burn away the impossibilities of life and fuel you to do great things.

4)  To be motivated

                Almost every year, we as a family, rent a house in the woods, usually by a lake, and spend time together and alone.  Every morning I make an effort to be up before everyone else and to go for a walk along the shore line.  There I think and pray and seek direction for my life.  I always leave that time away motivated, inspired and ready for greatness.  Nothing can motivate the heart to it created calling then time alone in God's wondrous creation.  I know, many say, "But that motivation never stays long."  That is true, but we must be able to keep it moving us forward.  The great motivator, Zig Ziglar said, "People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily."

                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

Doing My Duty

“We never fail when we try to do our duty.  We always fail when we neglect to do it.”

– Sir Robert Baden-Powell

(1857-1941) Founder of the Boy Scouts

One of the first things that a Boy Scout learns in Scouting is the Scout Oath:

"On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country

and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times;

to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight."

The first task is to learn it, the next is to know what it means and finally it is to practice it in their life.  That is always the harder task.

                This is not some fun promise that is to be taught to children and forgotten as adults.  The fact is, this promise is far more important to adults than it is to a young boy.  As a child our duty is simple and non-threatening.  As an adult our duty becomes very real, difficult and sometimes dangerous.  It is our duty all the same and, although it may be simple, it has great meaning and purpose.  Sir Winston Churchill put it well when he said, "All great things are simple, and many can be expressed in a single word: freedom, justice, honor, duty mercy, hope."

                In our life we have four main areas of duty that we must never forget.  On these will hang our life, liberty and success.

1)  Our duty to God

                Our culture tends to think of God as religion.  That means our duty would be to go to church and maybe pray when we are in need.  Religion has nothing to do with duty.  Every human on the planet is here because God chose to place them here.  What you choose to believe is really irrelevant to the fact that God is God and He is calling the shots.  To do our duty to Him is to obey His word and live for Him.  We serve a God of love, power and great mercy, but we serve Him, He does not serve us.  Jesus came to bring us forgiveness for sin so that we could in fact have a relationship with God.  He also came as an example of what that relationship should look like.

2)  Our duty to our family

                One of the tragedies of today's couture is the breakdown of the family.  There is really no greater joy and fulfillment than a solid family.  Our duty is to be the best we can be for our family.  We serve our family and care for them above our own needs.  Each member of the family doing this brings love, harmony and a peace that is beyond all we could hope for.  I know this sounds a bit pie-in-the-sky, but you will see that fulfilling your duty to family will not be a chore but a joy.

3)  Our duty to our employer

                This may seem out of place, however, one of the breakdowns in our society has been the great work ethic.  Workers have begun to believe they are in control and they set the amount of work they will do and what they get paid.  If you have a job, you were given that job, you get paid, you must work.  Our duty is to be a good hard worker and to give more than expected of us.  Yes, employers need to be fair and honest and pay their workers what they deserve, however, if that were really the case, some workers would get nothing are all for that is what they deserve.  Be the best and you can expect the best.

4)  Our duty to our country

                We live in the greatest land in all of history.  America is the place of freedom, individual exceptionalism and the ability to become whatever you wish.  I know that in recent years we have gone through some hard times, however, America is still there and those who believe in her will do their duty to protect, build and keep her free.

                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

Four Myths About Winners

“Practice does not make perfect - but it does make winners.”

– Unknown

"Everyone is a winner.  There are no losers here." a teacher in a Jr. High School tells her students.  For some odd reason we have begun to think that it is not only hurtful for a child to loose, but hurtful for them to win as well.  In a Op-Ed from the New York Time titled, Losing Is Good For You, by Ashley Merryman (Sept. 24, 2013) she wrote, " By age 4 or 5, children aren’t fooled by all the trophies. They are surprisingly accurate in identifying who excels and who struggles. Those who are outperformed know it and give up, while those who do well feel cheated when they aren’t recognized for their accomplishments. They, too, may give up."  After all, if there are no winners why even try?

                The truth is there are winners and losers in many areas of life.  Winning does not make you better than everyone else, nor does losing make you less.  Winning means that you can do a task, have a skill or perform a sport better than those you compete against.  All winners know, there is always someone who is better at what you do than you are.  That is why winners work at winning.  There are four myths that have been created in our culture about winners and winning.

Myth #1.  They win because they cheat

                I will not say that some who win have not cheated to do so, but I will say that those who cheat are not winners.  Real winners win because they are good at what they do.  To be a winner you have to prepare to win and that takes a lot of hard work.  Winners practice, commit their time and stay focused on what they have to do.  Winning does not just happen, it takes work.

Myth #2.  They are selfish

                To think that having a desire to win a prize or title is selfish is foolish.  Of course winners want the prize, that is why they are willing to pay the price to win.  Olympic athletes spend years working out every day for hours a day.  They do not do this so they can have the satisfaction of competing.  They want to win.  Not just win, but win the gold.  The same is true in every area of life.  You work hard to win, not to say you were in the game.  Anyone can compete, but only those who pay the price can win.

Myth #3.  They make others loose

                Time for some rational and solid thinking.  If one person wins it has nothing to do with the others who lose.  Winning means they were better than their competition.  Losing means you were not as good at the event as the winner.  Losing is not a bad thing nor is it uncommon.  In a race of 20 people, only one wins and 19 do not.  The great thing about not winning is that you learn to try harder, practice more and not make the same mistakes twice.  They great thing with winning is that you now have to be even better because you know that all those who did not win this time will be better next time.  If you want to win again, you have to be better than your last win.

Myth #4.  They do not exist

                This is the most damaging and hurtful thing of all the myths.  The idea that there are no winners or that everyone is a winner (which means there are no winners) has created a society of weak and dependent people who seek only to be cared for.  I believe that every teacher, sports team and parent who teaches children that everyone is a winner should be charged with child abuse.  Every child has the potential to be great and to rob them of this gift is cruel and heartless.  Remember the words of the great coach, Vince Lombardi, " Winning is not a sometime thing; it's an all time thing. You don't win once in a while, you don't do things right once in a while, you do them right all the time. Winning is habit. Unfortunately, so is losing."

                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

How to Achieve the Dream

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

– Unknown

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 then or do for them.  We need to help out young people to learn three main principles in becoming success-minded people.

1)  Learn all you can learn

                Adults as well as children have come to the conclusion that all education comes from school.  If they are going to learn, they have to learn it in school and the more school somehow equals more education.  That is not how learning happens.  Our "education" should begin from 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 actually stop the 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.

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 in deed.  Sadly, many people believe this and settle in life for far less that they are able to achieve.  We must help young people to understand that they were born to be extraordinary and to do extraordinary things.

                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, then, is not an act, but a habit."  This habit comes from learning never to settle for 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 then 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 honesty, integrity and good morals but we display them.  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.

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

Four Keys in Preparing to Move Forward

“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

You were born with a purpose.  That purpose is yours and yours alone.  You were created to do something special, to be something special.  Success-minded people come to understand this reality.  This is not an ego thing or meaning you are better than the rest of the human race.  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.  Makes me think 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 have to get there too.  It is up to you to move forward and to achieve your purpose.  It will not happen on its own.  Here are four important keys that you must use to move forward in your journey.

1)  Know where you are going

                The great baseball star, Yogi Berra use 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 day dream, 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.

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.

3)  Know how you will get there

                This is the plan.  Every goal has to come with an action plan.  The action plan is made up of the steps you will need to take in order 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.

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 some kind of 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 dead line and start moving forward.

                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

Four Gifts You Can Give to Others

“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

We all have heard many times that it is better to give than to receive.  Depending on your age group or the degree of 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 things.  We give gifts, money or something we own.  These are easy to give, and never last for a long time.  I would like to look at four gifts that keep on giving and have far greater value.

Gift 1.  Your time

                Of all 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 on one has less.

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 have to say.  When you are working with them 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.

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

Are You "IN" or "OUT"?

“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

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.  They are just "lukewarm" about everything, and never become much more than what they are.

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 take 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.

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.  Success-minded people 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.

Being Out

                We tend to think of being out as a bad thing, but it is not.  In the process of making a decision 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, 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 got.  Success comes with the ability to make choice.  Not all choices are a go ahead, sometimes they are to say no and back off.  I think of the words of 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."

                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