Leaving Your Mark

“I want to put a ding in the universe.”

– Steve Jobs

(1955-2011)  Inventor/Businessman

One of the many things I liked about Steve Jobs, was that he knew how to live.  One of the reasons he knew how to live was that he knew he was going to die.  Jobs suffered from cancer for a long time and he was well aware that in the end, he would lose the battle.  That only made him more determined to win at life.  He knew what he wanted and worked at it till his last breath.  He did leave him "ding" in the universe.

                How many people do you know (yes, I want you to count them) who have stopped living long before they time came to leave this world?  It is heart breaking to see people, young and old, who have given up on their dreams and resigned themselves to lives on emptiness and mediocrity.  We all have so much to live for and to contribute to this world. 

                "For the past 33 years," Steve Jobs said, "I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: 'If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?' And whenever the answer has been 'No' for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something."  How would you answer this question?  If today was your last day, are you doing what you want to do?  The next question is, why not?

                Let me be frank with you, the only reasons for "why not" are excuses; and excuses will get you nowhere.  "But it is not that easy to do what you want in life" some would say.  No, it is not easy - that is the point.  You have to make it happen, you have to work hard, be committed and never quite.  You have to keep at it till you have made your "dig" in this universe.

                People like Steve Jobs should be reminders that there is a reason for living every moment we have.  You do not know when it will be taken away, but you can know that when the time comes, you will have left your mark and the world will not be the same because you fulfilled your dream.

               

                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

Crossing the Bridge

“Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.”

– Jim Rohn

(1930-2009) Author/Speaker

I have been asked why the Scouting program is so regimented.  You have a uniform to wear, you must learn the Scout Law (by heart) and other important beliefs and statements of Scouting.  There are many ranks and awards to achieve with specific processes to go through in achieving them.  In short, to be a Scout - a good Scout - you must learn what it is to have discipline in your life.

                Self-discipline is one of the key principles taught in Scouting, as it must be in life.  To be successful in any area of life, one must learn how to be disciplined.  Discipline is not correction or punishment, or even just following the rules.  Discipline is the ability to focus, to do what needs to be done and the ability to stay with it till the goal is achieved.

                The lack of discipline has been the downfall of many a person who could have been successful.  Thomas A. Edison said, "Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up."  It was not their lack of skill, lack of knowledge, lack of money or lack of support, it was a lack of discipline which lead to them giving up.

                The road to success is hard and full of challenges, however, for the success-minded person who understands the principle of discipline, it is a road they will travel all the way through.  All you need for the journey is a dream, a plan to achieve the dream, the willingness to work hard, stay focused and never - I say - never, give up. 

               

                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

You are Your Greatest Achievement

“What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you

become by achieving your goals.”

– Henry David Thoreau

(1817-1862) Author

Scouting is all about goals.  Young people are taught that there are many things to strive for, badges, ranks and achievements.  Everyone in the Scouting program must learn how to set goals, have plans for the achievements of those goals and following that plan through.  The principle of goal setting is a key part of the whole Scouting program.

                Success-minded people love to achieve their goals.  After all, that is what achieving success is all about.  We know what we want and then we create a plan to achieve it and work hard at that plan until the prize is ours.  The achievement of a goal is a wonderful feeling that energizes the success-minded person to head off to the next - even bigger - goal.  As author and speaker, Les Brown said, "If you set goals and go after them with all the determination you can muster, your gifts will take you places that will amaze you."

                However, there is an element to the principle of goal setting that is greater than the goal itself.  It is more important and will create more results than any prize we have put our eyes on.  That is the person we become by the process of goal setting.  No one can pursue a goal without it making changes in your life.  As success expert, Jim Rohn use to say, "If you go to work on your goals, your goals will go to work on you. If you go to work on your plan, your plan will go to work on you. Whatever good things we build end up building us."

                Success-minded people know that to achieve a goal you must know the person you must be to live in that reality.  Once you know what kind of a person you must be to live in your goals, become that person.  Goals do change us.  I have hear many people say that if they were successful, wealthy, productive or influential, they would not change.  "I will always be me."  I am sorry to tell you that is not true.  Change in our life changes us.  The problem is that people tend to think that change will be to the worse where in fact it is to the better. 

                The achievement of a goal develops confidence, hope and courage.  Once you know that you can succeed, you are braver when facing challenges in the future.  You learn more, grow more and believe more as you move through the process of achieving your goals.  You in fact, become a different person than when you started and that person is better, stronger and has far more to offer to others.  Do not fear change, pray for it.  If you stay the same you will never advance in life farther than were you are.  You have far more to offer than that.

          

                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

Acting Like a Hero

“The ordinary man is involved in action, the hero acts.  An immense difference.”

– Henry Miller

(1891-1980) Author

"Scouting will open many doors to learning for you."  States the Boy Scout Handbook.  "As a Scout, you'll meet people who have interesting careers.  While training in first aid, you might meet medical professionals and emergency responders.  While hiking in parks and forests, you'll meet rangers, wildlife experts, and others who are doing exciting work you might like to learn."  There is an exciting difference between knowing about a career and seeing it in action.

                I have heard it said many times that young people cannot know what they want to do as a career because they are too young.  I disagree with this thinking.  I believe we are all born with our purpose inside of us.  There is a principle called the Law of Attraction, that causes us to be drawn to those who are doing the things we were also created to do.  The truth is, many young people are altercated to several different things only because they see them.  If this should touch upon are area of interest, wonderful things happen.

                Why do you think it is that children go through times of wanting to be a fireman, trash collector or policeman (all excellent careers by the way)?  It is because they see these people all the time.  They do not hear about them, they see them, the heroes in action.  What do you think will happen if they are exposed to many kinds of active career people?  The chances of them discovering one that clicks with them is far greater.

                This is where groups like Scouts can be of great value.  In Scouting young people are exposed to many different careers in life.  Not just to the work but to the workers, the people who actually perform the tasks.  Young people see and talk with these people and they become interested in what they are doing.  The more people a young person is exposed to the more opportunity they have to choosing the right career for them.

                If you have a young person in your life, expose them to many hard working people of all different types of careers.  Not just to the people, but to the people actually doing their jobs.  If you are a professional or have a career you love, be open to talk with young people and show them just what it is you do.  Hard, productive work is catchy.  Spread it around.

                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

The Scenery is Nice, But Keep Your Eyes on the Road Ahead

“Stay focused, go after your dreams and keep moving toward your goals.”

– LL Cool J

Actor

In the Scouting program there are many opportunities to earn awards.  Some are of course more difficult than others, but all need attention and direct action for their achievement.  Moving from rank to rank is a constant effort and one the requires the boys to focus and work hard.  So it is in life as well; when we are on the road to achievement of our goals we must stay focused and not become distracted but all that is going on around us.

                So many people never achieve their goals in life, not because they do not have what it takes, but because they got distracted from their purpose and failed to follow through.  Have you ever started to do something, got distracted by another task and then never finish what you started?  This is a more common problem than some may think.  It is also one that can be easily overcome.

Know what you are trying to achieve

                So many get distracted on their journey to achievement simply because they did not know where they were going in the first place.  This is why I say so many times they you need to have clear goals in writing.  This way you know exactly where you are going.

When you start your task, have a plan

                It takes a few moments of time to write out a plan for achievement, but it saves hours of work and needless distractions.  A simple to do list can make the difference between success and failure in achieving your goals.

If you find something interesting, make a note

                Many times as we move forward to achieving our goals we find something that catches our attention.  It may be an idea, a project or some information.  When this happens, make a note of it and put it away for later.  This way you can pursue it and still not be distracted from the task at hand.

                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

Believe

“We are what we believe we are.”

– C.S. Lewis

(1898-1963) Author/Educator

I knew a young man who had all the qualities of being a very bright student.  He loved to read and had read far beyond he grade level.  He had a wonderful ability to figure things out quickly and see details that many others missed.  However, in school he was a very poor student and was even held back a grade.  If you asked what the problem was he would look you in the eye and quickly say, "It's because I'm stupid.  I can't help it."  The problem was he believed that to be true.

                This boy, about 12 or 13 years old at the time, had parents that told him since he was small that he was stupid.  When he got to school and these problems showed themselves in his inability to get homework done or work well with others, rather than looking into what he could do, the school sent home notes telling his parents what he could not do.  This, of course, only reinforced the image that he was stupid and therefore the boy accepted it as reality.  As with many, he believed what he was told.

                Many of us are good at some things and not so good at others.  I have always loved to read and write, however, I was (and still am) not so good at math.  Growing up I was always criticized for my lack of skill at math but never encouraged about my reading and writing.  I know many of you have had the same experience.  As a society we got into the thinking that we must work at our weaknesses and ignore our strengths.  This is not only untrue, but hurtful to the person involved.

                Do you have a young person in your life that believes they are less than they should be?  Encourage them to be great.  Encourage and build on the areas that they excel at and help them manage the areas of weakness.  I am not saying to ignore an area of weakness, but by encouraging them to be the best at what they are best at, you help them improve in all areas of life.

                Get a young person to believe they are a winner and you will have a winner.  Help them to believe they can succeed in life and you will have a success.  We are what we believe we are, therefore believe the best and you will be and have the best.

                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

Having the Guts to Win

“Guts win more games than ability.”

– Bob Zuppke

(1879-1957) Coach

I do a lot of teaching in the areas of personal development, success, business, Scouting and spiritual development.  There are many important and established principles to follow.  I want people to be successful, winners and to excel beyond their dreams.  I can promise you this, there idea I will never teach others, and that is to be a good loser.

                Don't get me wrong here.  I am not say that I would teach people to fuss and yell and display bad behavior when they lose.  Doing that is just immaturity and bad manners.  What I am saying is - to put it simply - not to lose.  In the words of the great Vince Lombardi, "Show me a good loser, and I'll show you a loser."

                Our society has gone through some drastic changes over the past 50 years and they have not all been good.  We have taught our young people not to expect too much from life.  We tell them they can no longer be anything they choose to be but only what they are allowed to be.  We teach young people that winning is not the goal, having a good time and allowing everyone to win is.  We teach them that to be a good loser is better than being a good winner.  It is all nonsense!

                I believe you were created for greatness and that until and unless you excel and become all you can be your life is unfulfilled.  Should everyone win?  Only if they have strived, done their best and deserve to win.  Will everyone win?  No, and that is not a bad thing.  You learn from losing.  You can grow and improve from losing.  You gain better skills from losing.  But you do not, try to be good at losing.

                One of the key reasons that so many young people are depressed, misbehave and do nothing in life, is that they have been taught that there is no reason to be their best.  If everyone wins, why try to be the best?  If we should all be on the same level in life, why try to excel?  We have removed the motivation for greatness and suffered for it.  It is as author C.S. Lewis said, "We make men without chests and expect from them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst."

                Do not accept losing.  When you fail, learn, grow and move on.  Do not teach losing.  Help young people to believe that they were born winners and they can be everything they desire to be and more.  If they don't believe it then it will not happen.  Teach them to believe it not so they will win but because it is true.  Remember the words of Zig Ziglar, "You were born to win, but to be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win."

                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

They're Watching You

“I don't know of any other way to lead but by example.”

– Don Shula

Coach

As a Scout leader, we are faced with many challenges.  You have hiking, camping, keeping up with young boys (Cub Scouts), and project after project.  However, the hardest challenge for any leader is that of being an example.  When you choose to be a Scout leader you accept the responsibility of being an example of the Scout Law to the boys you lead.  There is no, "Do as I say, not as I do" in Scouting.  You are the greatest example these boys have; and believe me, they are watching.

                You do not have to be perfect - no one is.  You do however have to be willing to walk the talk and show the reality of the Scout Law in the life of an adult.  If the boys think that Scouting is just for kids and as an adult they do not have to follow it any more then you lose them before you start.  Here are four areas that you can set the example for life.

1)  In your behavior

                The Scout Law is based in behavior.  It tells us how we are to live, not just what we are to think.  By showing the reality of being trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent, the boys you lead will discover two very important things.  One is how they should live; and the other - which is the most important - is that it can be done.

2)  In your attitude

                Successful Scouting is all about attitude.  It is being positive and optimistic at all times.  It is learning to face challenges with a can do attitude and the belief that you will come out on top.  There is no place in Scouting, or in a successful life, for negative, complaining and fussing.

3)  In your words

                There is a simple principle in life that will get you far, "think before you talk".  There should never be cruel, unclean or hurtful words used by a Scout leader.  By setting the standard for right language, the leader can set the policy for how the boys talk as Scouts.  If your words are wrong you can expect nothing more from your Scouts.

4)  In your appearance

                Boy Scout founder, Sir Robert Baden-Powell said, "Show me a poorly uniformed troop and I'll show you a poorly uniformed leader."  Do not fall into the misunderstanding that the rules of Scouting are just for the boys.  Remember, when you become a Scout leader, you accept the responsibility to be an example of Scouting to your boys, your Pack or Troop and your community.

                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

Standing Alone

“To be able to lead others, a man must be willing to go forward alone.”

– Harry Truman

(1884-1972) Former U.S. President

One of the key qualities taught in Scouting is that of self-reliance.  Self-reliance is more than just being able to survive in the woods, it is being able to do what is right, even when you are the only one doing it.  We live in a day when you are the outsider if you stand for what is good, right, moral and true.  Compromise is the word of the day and those who will not compromise their moral code are seen as hard, unfair and mean.  The fact is, they are really the kindest of all.

                It takes courage and conviction to be willing to stand alone for the right.  These people are the heroes of the day and as with all heroes, they face the challenges of life with a brave and determine spirit.  Others can give in to social pressures and allow themselves to be bullied into doing what they know is wrong, but not those who are willing to stand alone if needs be before they will compromise the truth for a lie.

                There is no greater lesson for young people to learn today than that of truth and principle.  Winston Churchill once said, "A man does what he must - in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and dangers and pressures - and that is the basis of all human morality."  To teach our young people to be moral, right and principled, is to teach them to be brave, courageous and heroic.

                Never allow others to give you your convictions and beliefs in life.  We all know right from wrong; good from evil.  Follow what you know is right and stand alone if you must to see that it happens.  The world needs more heroes and you are just the one to fill the need.

                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