Message #34 - Love The Process

Winning Does Not Lead to Passion; Passion Leads to Winning

You must absolutely Love The Process in order for this success principle to work. You're wondering "WHAT IS THE PROCESS". Well, the process is EVERYTHING that comes before the success. This includes the PRACTICE time; the REHEARSAL time; the DRILLING time; the LEARNING time; the GETTING THE DETAILS RIGHT time; the REBOUNDING AFTER A SET BACK time; the OVERCOMING A BAD CALL time; the REHABILITATION AFTER AN INJURY time; the THINKING ABOUT QUITTING time. All in all. you must love the PROCESS in order to reach the highest goal possible.

It is the LOVE of the PROCESS that separates the mere team members (what ever the team - sports, business, whatever) from the State, National and World Champions! Granted the champions are team members too, but before the champions became champions they first LOVED the process.

Think about this. I've read when Michael Jordan played, his love of the game of basketball was so great that he would have played for nothing (in fact he had a "love of the game clause" in his contract that allowed him to play basketball when ever and where ever he wanted). Larry Bird has said the same thing. Other great achievers in various disciplines have said the same thing..."they would have worked and toiled at their craft regardless of any reward". Quite simply THEY LOVED THE PROCESS, and by loving the process they were able to achieve great success.

It the case of Michael and Larry, it was their PASSION for the game of Basketball that paved the way for them to become great basketball players. This is going to sound crazy, but these two great basketball players in my opinion, Michael Jordan and Larry Bird, actually loved the game more than they loved WINNING. Think about Michael's career with the Chicago Bulls how he hung in there all those losing years with the Bulls but he himself playing really great basketball. It was his great love of the game that came before the great periods of winning.

A lot of good athletes in high school sometimes fail to excel when they get to college, or even quit their sport after they get to college. I believe these athletes realized they were going to have to "climb the mountain" again and do all the work necessary to get back on top (just like they did in High School), and when they relalized this they didn't want to do it again. IT IS A LOVE OF THE PROCESS THAT IS THE FOUNDATION FOR SUCCESS.

Message #33 - Go for Your Dreams!

Don't Ever Give Up




Inspire and be an Inspiration!

Message #32 - You Must Not Quit

Remember You're Not Alone. We All Face Struggles and Set Backs.

Message #31 - Dreaming Big Wilma Rudolph Style

This is an Amazing Story About one of American's Greatest Athletes and her Mother!

On June 23, 1940, Wilma Rudolph was born in Clarksville, Tennessee.
Having been born prematurely and weighing only 4.5 pounds, little Wilma was susceptible to illness and her mother spent several years nursing her through measles, mumps and scarlet fever.

One day her family noticed that Wilma's left foot was becoming weak. Her mother took her to the doctor who informed them that Wilma had polio and would never walk.

Wilma's mother refused to accept the diagnosis. She had something special in her heart - she had the power of belief and she told her young daughter that one day she would walk. Wilma's mother had the belief the led her to take action and twice a week for the next two years, she took her daughter for treatment to a hospital that was over 50 miles away.

The doctors at the hospital taught Mrs. Rudolph how to perform the physical therapy exercises Wilma needed and every night she would massage her daughter's legs late into the evening.
Wilma progressed slowly but steadily. By the time she was seven she could walk with the aid of metal leg braces.

At school, Wilma sat and watched the other children running and told herself that one day she too would enjoy the freedom of being able to run.

In 1952, 12 year old Wilma finally threw away her metal leg braces and was able to walk without assistance for the first time. It was then that she made the decision to be an athlete.

She started to play basketball and also did some running in the off season to keep fit. As time progressed, Wilma became a basketball star, setting state records and leading her team to a state championship.

During one basketball match, Wilma was spotted by the Tennessee State track and field coach Edward Temple who was amazed by Wilma's athletic ability. With coach Temple's help, Wilma turned her focus from basketball to running and she never looked back.

By the time she was 16, Wilma had earned a spot on the US Olympic track and field team and won a bronze medal in the 4×100m relay at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.

Four years later, Wilma Rudolph won three Olympic Gold medals at the 1960 Rome Olympics in the 100m, 200m and 4×100m relay. The little girl who was once crippled was now "The fastest woman in history."

"I ran and ran and ran every day, and I acquired this sense of determination, this sense of spirit that I would never, never give up, no matter what else happened." - Wilma Rudolph

When you DREAM BIG...Anything is Possible!

Message #30 - Dream the Impossible

Every Time I Fly in an Airplane I'm Still Amazed.


What Are You Now Going To Set Out to Accomplish...That You First Thought Was Impossible...??? The Ball is in Your Court!

Message #29 - Doing The Impossible David Style

We're All Familiar with the "David and Goliath" Account in the Bible. Ever Wonder How David Got Up the Confidence to go Out and not only Challenge Goliath but Defeat Him? In Addition to Having God on His Side, David Actually Used A Success Principle. Read On.

Background 1Samuel 17:1-58
The Nation of Israel was preparing for war with the Philistines and as part of the preparation, each day both camps would face off and shout back and forth at each other trying to gain a psychological edge (just plain old trying to psych each other out). Well, the Philistines had this fellow named Goliath, who not only did his share of shouting but he completely psyched out the entire Israel army because of his shear size. "When the Israelites saw the man, they all ran from him in great fear." 1Samuel 17:24

Goliath was a champion that stood over 9 feet tall, he had a brass helmet and coat of armour that weighed over 125 pounds, and the spear head on his staff weighed over 15 pounds. Goliath would lead the Philistine camp each day and offer a challenge to the Israelite army.

Each day, for 40 days, Goliath shouted a challenge to the Israelite army to send someone from their ranks to fight him. Goliath was a "bad" man and he would taut the Israeli army: "Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, "Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me." 1Samuel 17:8. "Then the Philistine said, “This day I defy the ranks of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other.”" 1Samuel 17:10

Goliath's challenge had these conditions; if he was defeated the entire Philistine nation would be the servants of the Israeli nation. But if he was victorious the entire Israeli nation would be the servants of the Philistines. No one from the Israel army wanted to fight Goliath, in fact the entire army was terrified of Goliath and saw him as unbeatable and viewed his challenge as an "Impossible task. No one from the Israelite army took the challenge...except "you know who"

The Opportunity

David, just a boy at the time, was assigned to attending his father's sheep, and one day his father sent him to the battle camp to deliver some food to his older brothers and to see how they were doing. While at the camp David heard Goliath offer his challenge to the Israeli army. "As he was talking with them [his brothers], Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, stepped out from his lines and shouted his usual defiance, and David heard it." 1Samuel 17:23.

David became curious and asked the men standing near him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” 1Samuel 17:26. There was a great reward for the man that defeated the Philistine giant. David wanted in on it and began to confidently ask more questions and his confident curiosity was overheard by others at the camp and was reported to the King of Israel, Saul, and Saul sent for him (this is how desperate King Saul was that he would talk to a boy about such a serious matter). When David met with King Saul this is what he said to him: “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.” 1Samuel 17:32. WOW! Why not DREAM BIG!

The Doubters
When Eliab, David's oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, “Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the desert? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle.” 1Samuel 17:28.

King Saul couldn't possibly have though that David, a young boy, could solve this "Goliath" problem. Saul replied, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a boy, and he has been a fighting man from his youth.” 1Samuel 17:33

The Success Principle - Past Successes of a Similar Nature Creates Confidence in Your Current Situation
"But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.” 1Samuel 17:34-37.

Did you see what King, Saul said to David “Go, and the Lord be with you.” Boy, King Saul must have been desperate!

You know the rest of the Biblical Account...David was successful in defeating Goliath! Three points to remember:

1. David wasn't afraid of challenges and challenged himself on a regular basis.


2. David had prior successes in situations similar to the one he was currently facing.


3. David took a step of faith and accepted a new challenge.

Learn to Accept New Challenges

Message #28 - Everyone has Unlocked Potential Inside

After Seeing This Video Clip Below You Will Never Sell Yourself Short Again

Message #27 - "Life Is A Gift" - Live it, Embrace It, and Remember The One Who Gives Life

Live Life to the Fullest. Don't Settle for Less. Life is Too Precious to Settle for Less

There was a blind girl who hated herself just because she was blind. She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her. She said that if she could only see the world, she would marry her boyfriend.

One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her. She was then able to see everything, including her boyfriend. Her boyfriend asked her, "Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?"

The girl was shocked when she saw that her boyfriend was blind. She then refused to marry him. Her boyfriend walked away in tears and later wrote a letter to her saying: "Just take care of my eyes dear, for I loved you so much that it was I who was the donor of your gift.

"This is how the human brain changes when our status changes. Only few remember what life was before, and who's always been there even in the most painful situations. "Life Is A Gift”

Today before you say an unkind word...Think of someone who can't speak.

Before you complain about the taste of your food...Think of someone who has nothing to eat.

Before you complain about your husband or wife...Think of someone who's crying out to GOD for a companion.

Today before you complain about life ...Think of someone who went too early to heaven.

Before you complain about your children...Think of someone who desires childrenbut they're barren.

Before you argue about your dirty house someone didn't clean or sweep...Think of the people who are living in the streets.

Before whining about the distance you drive...Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.

And when you are tired and complain about your job...Think of the unemployed, the disabled,and those who wish they had your job.

But before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another...Remember that not one of us are without sin and we all answer to one MAKER.

And when depressing thoughtsnseem to get you down -Put a smile on your face and thank GOD you're alive and still around.

Life is a gift, Live it, Enjoy it, Celebrate it, And Fulfill it. We Serve an AWESOME GOD !!!!!!

Message #26 - How To Do What You Think is Impossible

To Achieve Anything Great You Have to DO the IMPOSSIBLE!!!

The word impossible is really a relative term. When the average person hears the word impossible they think it means "it can't be done". Do a "Google" on the many things that originally were thought to be impossible and later proved wrong by someone actually doing it. That's right. People can actually do the Impossible!

If you're not yet at your desired goal you may be feeling that your goal is an impossible goal. Think about it. If you've never done it, how do you get your mind to actually believe you can do it? In a way a goal that you've never achieved fits into the category of "the impossible".

I use my own life experience to explain: I started wrestling in 9th grade in high school and wrestled on the freshman team. I made the varsity in 10th grade and had a record of 11 wins, 8 losses and 3 ties (for goodness sake). I would have had as many wins as losses if the ties didn't go my way.

What in the world would have given me the ideal that I could actually be an undefeated Ohio State Champion the very next year? This goal by any one's imagination is an IMPOSSIBLE goal. One that most coaches and parents would agree as being unrealistic or unreasonable. I'm here to tell you that a seemingly impossible goal should never be discouraged, because you never know what can be kindled in the human mind. "What the mind of can conceive and believe, It can achieve." - Napoleon Hill.

Napoleon Hill, an American author that lived from October 26, 1883 - November 8. 1970, was one of the earliest writers of personal-success literature. His most famous work, Think and Grow Rich, is one of the best-selling books of all time. In America, Hill stated in his writings, people are free to believe what they want to believe, and this is what sets the United States apart from all other countries in the world. Hill's works examined the power of personal beliefs, and the role they play in personal success.

All great achievements can be called "The Impossible". The question becomes, "how does one do the IMPOSSIBLE". It all starts by first recalling times when we accomplished something we have never done before. We all have accomplished things we've never done before or were afraid of doing, i.e., completing the 28-day J. Robinson Intensive Wrestling Camp. Any wrestler I've talked to that completed this camp tells me that at first they though "there's no way I can do this". In fact most of these wrestlers call home after the first few days wanting to go home. An amazing thing happens after you do the Impossible. You open up possibilities in your mind that become extremely powerful.

That's exactly what happened to me the summer after that mediocre sophomore year in high school. I went to a wrestling camp that featured Dan Gable, and started to do things in those practice session I had never done before, i.e., intense running, lifting and live wrestling with State Champions and accomplished All-American College wrestlers. I challenged myself and because I was with so many other accomplished wrestlers (with Dan Gable setting the ultimate standard we were all trying to keep up with) I just tried to keep up with them. A strange thing happened by the 2nd day of the camp...I saw that I actually was keeping up with them, and in fact I even started to beat some of them in the running and live wrestling. I WAS DOING THE IMPOSSIBLE!

When I got back home after the camp I continued with the concept presented here of "DOING THE IMPOSSIBLE". I continued to challenged myself in the running, weight lifting and wresting I did in every practice since that wrestling camp back in 1972. In fact I still do it, but in different arenas now. It became a part of me, a part of my nature, my being.

START DOING THE IMPOSSIBLE BY ACHIEVING "IMPOSSIBLE" BREAKTHROUGHS IN SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE ALL READY DOING.

Message #25 - Words versus Deeds - Does Your Deeds Follow Your Words

Most People are similar in their sincerity to keep Promises, but it is their actual deeds that separates them.


Three years Before Teddy Roosevelt was president of the United States he was Assistant Secretary to the Navy, and on June 2nd, 1897, he gave a speech to the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.

In his speech he gave a very patriotic message that was well received and one of the focuses of his message was this: "The only way to keep peace was to be ready for war, and the only way to be ready for war was to enlarge the Navy".

Eight months later, on February 15th, 1898, one of the Navy's battle ships, the USS Maine was attacked and blown up, killing 264 sailors, precipitating the The Spanish-American War, and in the process created a ground swell of American sentiment popularizing the phrase "Remember the Maine!" In April 1898, president William McKinley declared war on Spain.

A Little Background
The Spanish-American War was an armed military conflict between Spain and the United States that took place from April to August in 1898. The war began due to American demands that Spain peacefully resolve the Cuban fight for independence, though strong expansionist sentiment in the United States may have also motivated the government to target Spain's other remaining overseas territories: Puerto Rico, the Philippines, Guam and the Caroline Islands.

Riots and civil disturbances in Havana by local insurrgents gave the United States a reason to send the warship USS Maine to protect their national interests there. As a result of the explosion of the USS Maine, tensions among the American people grew with further pressure put on the American government from the "Sensationalism Journalism" that accused Spain of extensive atrocities.

The war ended in only 109 days after several quick, decisive naval and military victories for the United States in the Philippines and Cuba. The Treaty Paris, ended the conflict, gaving the United States ownership of the former Spanish colonies of Puerto Rico, the Philippines and Guam. The United States then occupied Cuba for a time, ending the insurrection and expelling the Spanish colonial authorities.

What Roosevelt Did
Teddy Roosevelt supported the decision to go to war, and 3 weeks after the war declaration, he resigned his position as Assistant Secretary to the Navy to join the war effort, so he'd be ready to fight. All who knew him; collegaues, friends and family were against his decision and felt he was throwing away his political future (how wrong they were), but they also knew of his resolve once he'd made up his mind.

Roosevelt later wrote that he wanted to be able to tell his children why he had fought in the war and opposed to why he had not fought in the war. Roosevelt was a person that couldn't preach one thing and do another.

Message #24 - What is Commitment?

Remember the Story about the Chicken and the Pig, and how they contribute to our Breakfast? What's a small sacrifice of the eggs for the Chicken, becomes a total commitment for the Pig when he provides the bacon.

Joking aside. There is Great Power in making a Commitment. People often think because they are making some sacrifices (large or small) towards a goal that they are committed to the goal; when in fact they are not really committed at all. Sacrifices and Commitments are different...very different!

Sacrifices may get you in the game but commitments get the job done! Making Sacrifices are a lot like making Promises in that when things get tough, promises are ofter broken and sacrifices are often stopped. What separates sacrifices and promises from commitments is that Commitments are Never Broken or Stopped. Sounds tough when you hear it like that.

“Unless a commitment is made, there are only promises and hopes and maybe a little sacrifice...., but no plan of definite action and uncompromising will to succeed"

The one common denominator for all personal achievement is a person's ability to make a Commitment (to themselves) to do what every it takes to achieve the Goal. It's the "Let's Get'er Done"..."Cowboy up"..."Burn Your Ship"..."Go Ahead Make My Day" or quite simply "I'm going to do this no matter what!!! attitude". Remember commitments are NEVER BROKEN.

"Chickens and Pigs look at life differently...Which are you?"

Message #23 - Over and Above Your Expectations

What Would You Accomplish If You Knew You Could Not Fail!

WHAT IF THE ABOVE STATEMENT WERE TRUE FOR YOU.

What if you had the revelation that anything you tried would be successful. WHAT THEN WOULD YOU SET OUT TO DO?

Would you set out to discover the cure for the deadliest cancers known to the world?

Would you strive to break a record that was said could never be broken?

Would you go to medical school?

Would you tryout for the varsity team?

Would you try out for the Olympic Team?

Would you make an attempt to repair a broken relationship?

Would you attempt to create something that has never existed before?

Would you set out to climb Mt. Everest?

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? EVERY SUCCESSFUL GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT STARTED OUT WITH SMALL FAILURES ALONG HE WAY. IT'S THE CONVICTION TO THE LONG-TERM GOAL THAT ALLOWS YOU TO OVER LOOK THE SMALL FAILURES.

ACT IS IF YOU COULD ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING YOU SET OUT TO DO!

Message #22 - Are You On The Move?

All of Us Are Either Moving Towards Are Goals and Dreams...or Moving Farther Away From Them. We Are Never in a Holding Pattern.

Think about this. Pick one goal that's important to you.

Are you closer to achieving this goal or are you farther away from achieving this goal, this year vs. last year (this month vs. last month; this week vs. last week; today vs. yesterday). Be honest with yourself. Talk to yourself. Look at yourself in the mirror as you talk to yourself. What do you see? Do you see a person that's fighting to stay in the "game" or a person that has excused themselves to the sidelines.

If you're Closer to achieving this goal, ask yourself why? List at least 5 things you did to get you closer to your goal:

1. ________________________
2. ________________________
3. ________________________
4. ________________________
5. ________________________

If you're farther away from achieving this goal, again ask yourself why? List at least 5 things you failed to do that slowed your progress towards your goal:

1. ________________________
2. ________________________
3. ________________________
4. ________________________
5. ________________________

LOOK AT YOU LISTS. WHAT DO YOU SEE?

PICK OTHER GOALS AND DO THE LISTS. WHAT DO YOU SEE?

SEE ANY PATTERNS DEVELOPING...

This is simple and hard at the same time. Seems simple to just do more of the things that lead to success and less of the things that lead to failure.

The question becomes...How do we get motivated to do the things that lead to success.

The answer is to live in the present and in the NOW! Everyone that's got to where they are, had to start from where they were. Most people at first see the goal and get discouraged because they don't see results quick enough.

Or they become preoccupied with the small set backs and failures that we all have when we set out to achieve something.

WHAT CAN YOU DO RIGHT NOW TO MOVE YOU CLOSER TO ONE OF YOUR GOALS.

WHAT CAN YOU ELIMINATE RIGHT NOW THAT HAS BEEN GETTING IN THE WAY OF YOU ACHIEVING ONE OF YOUR GOALS.

FIND OUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT NOW...AND DO IT!

Message #21 - Opposition and Hardships

Character Determines What You Will Choose, Where You Will Go, What You Will Do, When You Will Quit, What You Will Say, When You Will Compromise, How You Will Live and Ultimately What You Will Achieve.


"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy". - Martin Luther King, Jr.

This quote by Martin Luther King, Jr., symbolizes what the true measure of a person is. IT IS WHERE THEY STAND WHEN THINGS GET HARD; WHEN THINGS AREN'T SAFE; WHEN THINGS AREN'T CONVENIENT; WHEN THINGS ARE DIFFICULT.

And so it is with anything you want to do or accomplish in life. If you want it...be prepared to fight for it. They don't sell GOLD MEDALS or PURPLE HEARTS at the department store. You won't find them at garage sells either. You'll find them buried deep within the souls of men and women passionate with successfully accomplishing their mission.

Once you set out on your mission, there's no turning back. You can't look back...only forward. Even when you stumble, you must stumble forward. Great accomplishment is only attained by overcoming obstacles. THE GREATER THE OBSTACLE...THE GREATER THE ACCOMPLISHMENT.

The following quote below hung in our wrestling room and I looked at it every day. I made sure I challenged and tested myself every day by somehow making every practice harder than the day before (these were the obstacles), and by conquering them I felt my confidence growing stronger, until I believed there was no obstacle I couldn't overcome.

"You can measure a man by the opposition it takes to discourage him". - Robert C. Savage