The Odd Balls

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

– H.G. Wells

(1866-1946) Author

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Impossible Possibilities

“Scoutmasters need to enter into boy's ambitions.”

– Sir Robert Baden-Powell

(1857-1941) Founder of the Boy Scouts

If I was to list all my assets that help me to succeed in life, at the top on my list I would have to put my nine grand-children and being a Cub Scout leader.  Why?  Because that much contact with children 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 is really 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 Webelos and I am too.  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 a nine year old, but not impossible for him to achieve.

                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.

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

Getting the Size Right

“Scouting is a man's job cut down to a boy's size.”

– Sir Robert Baden-Powell

(1857-1941) Founder of the Boy Scouts

When we look at the task before us in order 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 old 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.

                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, every things 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.

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

Creating Strong Leaders for the World

“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 Secretary of Defense

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 three and one on the way."  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 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".

                Things are bad, there is no getting away from that.  We need a fundamental change to 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 know 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 really 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 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, grand-parent, relative, teacher, coach, Sunday school teacher or anything that puts you in contact with children, you have an 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 bad behavior on their own, we taught them.

                This principle of teaching works the other way too.  We can, and many do, teach our children how to make right choices, do good deeds, study and work hard, be polite and to think of others.  As a Cub 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".  You want do we something 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 to 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.

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

Finding True Purpose

“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

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 purpose to fulfill.  Every business, church or organization has a mission or purpose to achieve.  Human kind 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 common place, 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?

                This is even more important when it comes to you 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 road map.

                If you have not made a personal mission statement, here are some tips on doing this.  First, please understand, you will not really 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 you 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.

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 a Good Game Plan

“Following the Scout Law sounds like a game plan that would give us all a better chance for success in life - and I mean every area of life.”

– Zig Ziglar

(1926-2012) Author/Speaker

When many 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.  Reality is, we are in need of these qualities more than ever before.  The consequence of not having them is evident all around us.

                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 business does not want someone who is honest, dependable and hard working?  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 use 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. 

                Look over the Scout Law.  In fact, write out all the qualities listed there.  Now honestly, mark the ones that you show on a daily bases.  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 back in 2013 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 of the qualities in my life by now?  Not even close.  I have to check myself every day to be 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 really 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.

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

Citizenship 101

“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

American Rabbi

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 right, 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.

                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 government, or posting you 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 today (and there is great wrong).  How they are 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 days when we believed that anyone could become President are not over.  It can happen if we insist that it happens.  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.

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

Finding the Deeper Purpose

“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

(1918-2013)  Former President of South Africa

As Scouts and Scouters we are a motivated people.  Scouting breeds the kind of thinking that keep people moving toward their goals and achieving all the time.  We have ranks to achieve, merit badges to get and the rewards of becoming or helping some young man to become and 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 end 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.  Scouts have went 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 achieve the impossible, discovered the unknown and changed the world.

                As we work to follow the Scout Law and the principles of Scouting, let us not forget that it is more an 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 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 stands 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.

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