Bubba had been battling a stroke and congestive heart failure for over a year. Dialysis kept him in Georgia, but Bubba wanted to travel.
With his wife Cindy, Bubba longed to make it to Arkansas to go fishing with his old friend Larry. Bubba and Larry had played high school football together many years ago, and were still close friends.
At times, all of us make decisions based on something other than the truth. I like to think of this as “decisional delusion.”
The word delusion means “something that is falsely or delusively believed or propagated.” Decisional delusion points to action — or inaction — that originates from poor understanding or a lack of clear thinking. The end result is usually not good.
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Who you are speaks so loudly, I can’t hear what you are saying.”
It’s true that our behavior often overshadows our words. But it is possible to look beyond the words people are saying and read them like a book.
Understanding behavior is the key to effective communication, and that key opens the door to effective relationships in business and in life. Ultimately, it’s all about uncovering the truth of what is being communicated.
There are three questions that you should never ask a woman:
1) How old are you?
2) How much do you weigh?
3) Are you pregnant?
Imagine running into someone you have not seen in a while, and noticing that they appear to be sporting a tell-tale bump in the belly area. Before you know it, you’ve said it: “Are you pregnant?”
Appalled, the lady replies, “Well, no….do I look like I am pregnant?”
I actually asked this dangerous question — and got that very response –while onstage at a recent event! You may be thinking a lot of not-so-nice things about me right now, so let me tell you the rest of the story…
Today, while working out at the gym, I was listening to an old recording of Jim Rohn talking about building unshakable character. Toward the end of the recording, he said something that, although I had heard it before, struck me as if I were hearing it for the first time.
He suggested that we study possibilities.
A few years ago, I flew to Colorado to hang out with some fellow coaches and friends at Frontier Ranch. Earlier in the year we had decided to attend a conference with John Eldredge, author of Wild at Heart.
Upon arrival at the ranch, everything seemed perfect. The scenery was beautiful, it was great to be with friends, and we were all looking forward to learning from John.
When we consider the term “hearing voices,” we usually think of auditory hallucinations, schizophrenia, or psychosis. However, we all hear voices — not hallucinations but rather real people in real conversation, or real words on a written page.
Throughout the day, we are constantly bombarded with messages that impact the way we think, work, and play.
Have you ever had a wish come true?
Pat Sanders, Director of Activities for Oakwood Community Living Center, knows something about wish fulfillment. When she asked 88 year old resident Maxine Neel what her wish would be, if she could wish for anything, Maxine’s response was simple and specific: “Ride in an Air Evac Lifeteam helicopter.”
At the University of Oregon, anticipation was high prior to the 2009 football season. Among other weapons in the Ducks’ arsenal, they had one of the top quarterbacks in the nation: Jeremiah Masoli.
The Ducks did not disappoint. With Masoli at the helm of a dynamic offense, the Ducks gave their fans an exciting season. They finished at the top of the Pac 10 Conference and earned a spot in the Rose Bowl. Masoli was mentioned in some circles as a Heisman Trophy candidate.
He was a high profile quarterback with a bright future ahead.
“Canary in a Coalmine” is more than a song recorded in 1980 by The Police. Of course, the lyrics of the song do hint at the meaning:
“First to fall over when the atmosphere is less than perfect…”
The canary was very important to the American heroes who labored the in the early days of coal mining. You see, a singing canary in a coal mine meant the air quality was good. A dead canary signaled that evacuation was necessary.
For the tough and rugged coal miners, these delicate yellow birds were a lifeline.
Tim has been coaching business professionals and leaders with Building Champions since 2002. He has frequently been invited to speak to groups across the U.S. and Canada. Tim’s passion is helping people discover their heart, translate that into a clear vision, and execute with excellence so they can experience the fruition of their goals in life and business.
Tim is the author of Every Day is Game Day and co-author of The CHILD Game Plan with NFL super-agent Bruce Tollner. His next book (scheduled for release in fall 2010) is centered on the 7 Revelations for Irrefutable Success.
Tim is active in his community and church in West Tennessee. He enjoys playing the saxophone, softball, and hanging out with his family. He and his wife Laura have been married for over 25 wonderful years and have been blessed with two children.
