Chris Byrd's Blog, page 3
May 14, 2011
Would you lie to make a six-figure Deal?
My wife and I were watching a new and interesting show on TV about a group of guys who sell million dollar real estate. It seems like their total focus was on making the deal, and their commissions were upwards of six figures on some deals. These guys let the cameras follow them around during their listing processes, their sales methods and their social lives. They gave of a strong sense of being willing to do about anything to make a sale. Just no real set of distinct guidelines for character except as needed to get the deal done.
So this one guy has a listing that he plans to put a special push on and he begins making calls to his major clients. To each one he uses the same lines, like: I am calling you first, you are my most important customer, of course I called you first, etc. Each time he was filmed on the phone he was spinning some message to please the customer, each an obvious exaggeration or outright lie.
Now, this may seem like a personal preference of the agent that I should just accept, but my son was also in the room, watching the show off and on as we admired the different huge houses. I had to stop and tell him that these lies the guy was telling were not acceptable, and that we should never behave like that. Well, that is the right thing to say, isn't it?
However, I immediately had a gut check time. Would I ever use any sort of falsehood to make a deal? While now I can safely say I would not, I cannot say my entire sales career was lie free. I live with the regret of some of what I recall, but I am sure there are lots of times I made a small point that was untrue that I don't even remember. Ouch - seeing it from the outside in was so distasteful!
I watched this guy with amazement as he had no concerns at all about the viewing public see him do this. I also had to wonder if he thought these people he was talking to would never watch the show. What would he say if they called to challenge him on this? Would he even care? In today's culture this behavior is being glorified, filmed and shown as entertainment. Good Grief.
So as you are reading this, is there anything coming to mind that you might need to deal with from the past or for the future. I encourage you to at least privately consider it and make a decision on your deals in the future. Win with honesty or not at all? Easily said, but challenging to implement. Good luck!
So this one guy has a listing that he plans to put a special push on and he begins making calls to his major clients. To each one he uses the same lines, like: I am calling you first, you are my most important customer, of course I called you first, etc. Each time he was filmed on the phone he was spinning some message to please the customer, each an obvious exaggeration or outright lie.
Now, this may seem like a personal preference of the agent that I should just accept, but my son was also in the room, watching the show off and on as we admired the different huge houses. I had to stop and tell him that these lies the guy was telling were not acceptable, and that we should never behave like that. Well, that is the right thing to say, isn't it?
However, I immediately had a gut check time. Would I ever use any sort of falsehood to make a deal? While now I can safely say I would not, I cannot say my entire sales career was lie free. I live with the regret of some of what I recall, but I am sure there are lots of times I made a small point that was untrue that I don't even remember. Ouch - seeing it from the outside in was so distasteful!
I watched this guy with amazement as he had no concerns at all about the viewing public see him do this. I also had to wonder if he thought these people he was talking to would never watch the show. What would he say if they called to challenge him on this? Would he even care? In today's culture this behavior is being glorified, filmed and shown as entertainment. Good Grief.
So as you are reading this, is there anything coming to mind that you might need to deal with from the past or for the future. I encourage you to at least privately consider it and make a decision on your deals in the future. Win with honesty or not at all? Easily said, but challenging to implement. Good luck!
May 10, 2011
Leadership 101- the lesson of the 72
Wise Leadership - Could you send your employees out as confidently as these men went out?
1 The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places he planned to visit. 2 These were his instructions to them: "The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest ask him to send more workers into his fields. 3 Now go, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves. 4 Don't take any money with you, nor a traveler's bag, nor an extra pair of sandals. And don't stop to greet anyone on the road. 5 "Whenever you enter someone's home, first say, 'May God's peace be on this house.' 6 If those who live there are peaceful, the blessing will stand if they are not, the blessing will return to you. 7 Don't move around from home to home. Stay in one place, eating and drinking what they provide. Don't hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve their pay. 8 If you enter a town and it welcomes you, eat whatever is set before you. 9 Heal the sick, and tell them, 'The Kingdom of God is near you now.' 10 But if a town refuses to welcome you, go out into its streets and say, 11 'We wipe even the dust of your town from our feet to show that we have abandoned you to your fate. And know this—the Kingdom of God is near!' 12 I assure you, even wicked Sodom will be better off than such a town on judgment day 13 "What sorrow awaits you, Korazin and Bethsaida! For if the miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have repented of their sins long ago, clothing themselves in burlap and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse. 14 Yes, Tyre and Sidon will be better off on judgment day than you. 15 And you people of Capernaum, will you be honored in heaven? No, you will go down to the place of the dead. 16 Then he said to the disciples, "Anyone who accepts your message is also accepting me. And anyone who rejects you is rejecting me. And anyone who rejects me is rejecting God, who sent me." 17 When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, "Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name18 "Yes," he told them, "I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning! 19 Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. 20 But don't rejoice because evil spirits obey you rejoice because your names are registered in heaven." Pay attention to what Christ said to the disciples he sent out. He told them basically that there were going to be those who accepted them and those who did not. Perhaps a reference to the 70%? In any case, you see that He told them not to lose hope due to the ones who rejected him. He also told them to focus on those that accepted them, and to build relationships with them and explain how the Kingdom is at hand. For the ones who did not accept them it was going to be brief. He told them not to waste time on them, but to quickly move on. I think sometimes we get caught up in the long term stress of trying to change the thoughts of those who reject us, and it becomes a stumbling block to us, as we keep a won/lost record. We won't give up. Jesus told these guys to give up fast and move on. He would deal with the consequences. We have to let go sometimes, so that we do not miss the opportunities that await us among the willing. Does this mean we give up on witnessing to those who mean a lot to us? Of course not, but we cannot let the challenges there discourage us with those out there we can influence. We stay the course because we love them, not because we feel like a failure if we don't persuade them. Sounds easy, doesn't it? But when we fail with those we love, it can be devastating, can't it? Feel bad if you must, but don't quit! The seventy-two experienced such a joy in their successes that they came back worshiping and praising God!
1 The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places he planned to visit. 2 These were his instructions to them: "The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest ask him to send more workers into his fields. 3 Now go, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves. 4 Don't take any money with you, nor a traveler's bag, nor an extra pair of sandals. And don't stop to greet anyone on the road. 5 "Whenever you enter someone's home, first say, 'May God's peace be on this house.' 6 If those who live there are peaceful, the blessing will stand if they are not, the blessing will return to you. 7 Don't move around from home to home. Stay in one place, eating and drinking what they provide. Don't hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve their pay. 8 If you enter a town and it welcomes you, eat whatever is set before you. 9 Heal the sick, and tell them, 'The Kingdom of God is near you now.' 10 But if a town refuses to welcome you, go out into its streets and say, 11 'We wipe even the dust of your town from our feet to show that we have abandoned you to your fate. And know this—the Kingdom of God is near!' 12 I assure you, even wicked Sodom will be better off than such a town on judgment day 13 "What sorrow awaits you, Korazin and Bethsaida! For if the miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have repented of their sins long ago, clothing themselves in burlap and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse. 14 Yes, Tyre and Sidon will be better off on judgment day than you. 15 And you people of Capernaum, will you be honored in heaven? No, you will go down to the place of the dead. 16 Then he said to the disciples, "Anyone who accepts your message is also accepting me. And anyone who rejects you is rejecting me. And anyone who rejects me is rejecting God, who sent me." 17 When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, "Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name18 "Yes," he told them, "I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning! 19 Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. 20 But don't rejoice because evil spirits obey you rejoice because your names are registered in heaven." Pay attention to what Christ said to the disciples he sent out. He told them basically that there were going to be those who accepted them and those who did not. Perhaps a reference to the 70%? In any case, you see that He told them not to lose hope due to the ones who rejected him. He also told them to focus on those that accepted them, and to build relationships with them and explain how the Kingdom is at hand. For the ones who did not accept them it was going to be brief. He told them not to waste time on them, but to quickly move on. I think sometimes we get caught up in the long term stress of trying to change the thoughts of those who reject us, and it becomes a stumbling block to us, as we keep a won/lost record. We won't give up. Jesus told these guys to give up fast and move on. He would deal with the consequences. We have to let go sometimes, so that we do not miss the opportunities that await us among the willing. Does this mean we give up on witnessing to those who mean a lot to us? Of course not, but we cannot let the challenges there discourage us with those out there we can influence. We stay the course because we love them, not because we feel like a failure if we don't persuade them. Sounds easy, doesn't it? But when we fail with those we love, it can be devastating, can't it? Feel bad if you must, but don't quit! The seventy-two experienced such a joy in their successes that they came back worshiping and praising God!
Story Telling Value - the Good Samaritan example
My pastor gave a sermon yesterday, and he was talking about the story of the Good Samaritan. I got to thinking about the example Jesus showed of how to do explaining in a compelling manner. Yes, you can talk with facts and data, but sometimes the stories can be more effective. You use your relating skills to tell a story that makes a more compelling argument than a fact based explanation. The problem sometimes is that the 30 Percenters can tie you up in a fact based argument that will take you to a point that you no longer have the facts to convince. Then you can get on the defensive and make things worse.
Take a look at this series of verses from Luke 10.
25 One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: "Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?" 26 Jesus replied, "What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?" 27 The man answered, "'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.' And, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" 28 "Right!" Jesus told him. "Do this and you will live!" 29 The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Parable of the Good Samaritan 30 Jesus replied with a story: "A Jewish man was traveling on a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road. 31 "By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. 32 A Temple assistant[d] walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side. 33 "Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. 34 Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. 35 The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins,[e] telling him, 'Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I'll pay you the next time I'm here.' 36 "Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?" Jesus asked. 37 The man replied, "The one who showed him mercy." Then Jesus said, "Yes, now go and do the same." The guy could not even say the word Samaritan, but he knew he was busted! Think about your story telling ability. Have you ever said, I can't tell stories? Well you can tell stories about yourself all day long if you just practice, and commit to try. And here is the cool part. No one can argue your personal story, no matter how many facts they have. Jesus knew what he was doing when he used this story!
Take a look at this series of verses from Luke 10.
25 One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: "Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?" 26 Jesus replied, "What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?" 27 The man answered, "'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.' And, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" 28 "Right!" Jesus told him. "Do this and you will live!" 29 The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Parable of the Good Samaritan 30 Jesus replied with a story: "A Jewish man was traveling on a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road. 31 "By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. 32 A Temple assistant[d] walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side. 33 "Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. 34 Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. 35 The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins,[e] telling him, 'Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I'll pay you the next time I'm here.' 36 "Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?" Jesus asked. 37 The man replied, "The one who showed him mercy." Then Jesus said, "Yes, now go and do the same." The guy could not even say the word Samaritan, but he knew he was busted! Think about your story telling ability. Have you ever said, I can't tell stories? Well you can tell stories about yourself all day long if you just practice, and commit to try. And here is the cool part. No one can argue your personal story, no matter how many facts they have. Jesus knew what he was doing when he used this story!
Perspective - how it is our friend and enemy in relationships
So I taught college Sunday school this week. The topic was moral relativism. I passed out different kinds of nails to each group of two or three and asked them not to show each other. I told them, "This is your truth." After that, I went to the whiteboard and asked each of them to help me draw the nail. The discussion was interesting as each had different size heads, lengths, scoring, etc. Finally, one of the exasperated students said, "Depending on our truth, the nail will look very different." AH HA! She got it!
So the first part of the message was that if everyone has a different truth, there is no one real truth, as everyone has their own, and they can be entirely different. Then I took one nail, and had three different people draw it on the board. Each time I told them it was wrong, since they drew a side view. I then showed them the right way to draw it was looking straight at the nail point, basically two concentric circles and a dot for the point. What I was trying to get across is that even when we have the same truth, it is viewed from our own perspective, which is based on lots of factors from our childhood and adult experiences and learning.
So, when we are explaining to others about stuff, whether they are knowledgeable or not, they are going to have a perspective. If it is business, they will have paradigms from their past, if it is scripture, it will be affected by past learning's as well as their opinions in general. Perspective can hurt our attempts to explain as we find out they are seeing a completely different truth, or if they view truth from a much different point of view than we do.
That is why relating is so very important as a partner to explaining. Relating helps us to discover the perspective of others. This knowledge can impart wisdom as to whether you are even on the same page as the other person, much less the same sentence. Relating can prevent serious interpersonal barriers from forming as others get defensive as to their position. Relating can show us when explaining is not a good idea at the time. It all works together!
So the first part of the message was that if everyone has a different truth, there is no one real truth, as everyone has their own, and they can be entirely different. Then I took one nail, and had three different people draw it on the board. Each time I told them it was wrong, since they drew a side view. I then showed them the right way to draw it was looking straight at the nail point, basically two concentric circles and a dot for the point. What I was trying to get across is that even when we have the same truth, it is viewed from our own perspective, which is based on lots of factors from our childhood and adult experiences and learning.
So, when we are explaining to others about stuff, whether they are knowledgeable or not, they are going to have a perspective. If it is business, they will have paradigms from their past, if it is scripture, it will be affected by past learning's as well as their opinions in general. Perspective can hurt our attempts to explain as we find out they are seeing a completely different truth, or if they view truth from a much different point of view than we do.
That is why relating is so very important as a partner to explaining. Relating helps us to discover the perspective of others. This knowledge can impart wisdom as to whether you are even on the same page as the other person, much less the same sentence. Relating can prevent serious interpersonal barriers from forming as others get defensive as to their position. Relating can show us when explaining is not a good idea at the time. It all works together!
May 9, 2011
Does Search Engine Marketing Matter to a Church?
Does Search Engine Marketing Matter to a Church?
Chris Byrd, Wisdom Selling
Your church has great opportunities to take advantage of the internet to grow your ministries. Check out the link at the bottom for one opportunity coming up this weekend.
Persons new to your community are most likely now to search for a church on the internet first, before visiting around. Therefore a website is a must for a growing church. Once you have a site, though, you want people to find it. Search Engine Optimization can be a very valuable tool for a church to use if the goal of the church is to be the first church identified by a seeker when searching on-line for a church. Google, Yahoo, Bing and other Search Engines (answer providers) are always looking to provide the most relevant information to their customers. This is how they justify their fees to advertisers. Therefore, they are always going to do their best to Search all the websites and other information on the internet to find the best answers to questions that might be asked.
The formulas they use are always changing, as websites try to beat the system and get more notice. For example, websites began buying text links from each other to appear more widely accepted. Therefore, the search engines had to put restrictions on text links to keep the information credible. However, there are many legitimate ways to increase the value of your presence on the web, which is the process of optimizing your site to be favorable to search engines. In doing so, you create greater likelihood of being found by those in your community looking on –line for information about churches.
Search Engine Marketing has different methods to it, depending on your goals. There are search goals that focus on relevance by location. There are others that focus on relevance by keyword. There are other marketing methods when you want to advertise events, messages or other saleable items. A good webhosting provider will have these resources available to you. OurChurch.com is a great webhosting provider, with the extra benefits of being one of the larger webhosting sites focused entirely on Churches and Christian Businesses. This allows them to understand more fully the search engine needs of churches relative to geography (being the top of the list in your zip code, for example) and relative to keywords (childrens programs, etc). Regardless of where your site is hosted, they can help.
There are fees for Search Engine Optimization, as there are real people doing real work to make this happen, but OurChurch.com is very competitive as they realize the needs and assets of the market in which they work. If you would like more information about this very valuable support, email me at chrisbyrd@wisdomselling.com. You can learn more about this as well by visiting http://marketing.ourchurch.com/marketing-church-marketing-services.php .
Thank you for taking the time to read this information. Here is the link I recommend for you. http://blog.ourchurch.com/2011/05/03/14-ways-to-learn-live-lead-and-leverage-your-faith-for-internet-evangelism-day/
Chris Byrd, Wisdom Selling
Your church has great opportunities to take advantage of the internet to grow your ministries. Check out the link at the bottom for one opportunity coming up this weekend.
Persons new to your community are most likely now to search for a church on the internet first, before visiting around. Therefore a website is a must for a growing church. Once you have a site, though, you want people to find it. Search Engine Optimization can be a very valuable tool for a church to use if the goal of the church is to be the first church identified by a seeker when searching on-line for a church. Google, Yahoo, Bing and other Search Engines (answer providers) are always looking to provide the most relevant information to their customers. This is how they justify their fees to advertisers. Therefore, they are always going to do their best to Search all the websites and other information on the internet to find the best answers to questions that might be asked.
The formulas they use are always changing, as websites try to beat the system and get more notice. For example, websites began buying text links from each other to appear more widely accepted. Therefore, the search engines had to put restrictions on text links to keep the information credible. However, there are many legitimate ways to increase the value of your presence on the web, which is the process of optimizing your site to be favorable to search engines. In doing so, you create greater likelihood of being found by those in your community looking on –line for information about churches.
Search Engine Marketing has different methods to it, depending on your goals. There are search goals that focus on relevance by location. There are others that focus on relevance by keyword. There are other marketing methods when you want to advertise events, messages or other saleable items. A good webhosting provider will have these resources available to you. OurChurch.com is a great webhosting provider, with the extra benefits of being one of the larger webhosting sites focused entirely on Churches and Christian Businesses. This allows them to understand more fully the search engine needs of churches relative to geography (being the top of the list in your zip code, for example) and relative to keywords (childrens programs, etc). Regardless of where your site is hosted, they can help.
There are fees for Search Engine Optimization, as there are real people doing real work to make this happen, but OurChurch.com is very competitive as they realize the needs and assets of the market in which they work. If you would like more information about this very valuable support, email me at chrisbyrd@wisdomselling.com. You can learn more about this as well by visiting http://marketing.ourchurch.com/marketing-church-marketing-services.php .
Thank you for taking the time to read this information. Here is the link I recommend for you. http://blog.ourchurch.com/2011/05/03/14-ways-to-learn-live-lead-and-leverage-your-faith-for-internet-evangelism-day/
April 29, 2011
How do Music and Strategy relate?
Music moves me. I have always loved a wide array of different music genres as well as different musical instruments. I like to sing and I like to learn. We have guitars, wind instruments, brass instruments, pianos and accordions, along with a lot of percussion. I have tried to learn many of these instruments, mastered none, but learned a few. Check out what we have to offer in musical instruments and music support.How does music relate to business? Well, consider this. There is a strong need in business to appreciate diversity. We can't always understand and relate to other people, but we can appreciate them and respect their differences.Music is the same way. You may not particularly enjoy all types of music, but you can appreciate it for what it is. Did you know stores play Mozart, Beethoven and others because the music can make you feel more sophisticated and you will spend more? We react to music both consciously and unconsciously. Business is the same way. We feel certain reactions to the quality of people in an organization, the way they carry themselves and the way they communicate. If you cannot agree with everything they say, but you understand it completely, you are more likely to give a little in negotiations. If you can listen to and appreciate all different kinds of music, you have the chance to learn to be flexible. This will help you in strategic planning, to consider alternatives, it will help you in marketing and sales, to appreciate diversity, and in life, as you seek to talk with those different that you.I am placing interesting combinations of music on www.thebyrdstore.com for you to try. Keep checking back there for options for you to enjoy. The CD collections are used, and not in their cases, but I have enjoyed them and am now moving on to the next level of downloads. I have mixed up some crazy combinations of music for you to try.
Why Wisdom Selling Solutions?
When you start a business to support the ideas of helping small businesses and non-profits, you naturally draw on the learnings of your past experiences. I have loved many different people and things in my life, but my family, my faith, my sports and my music have dominated. Behind this is my love of learning, particularly around business efforts. I have studied different strategic planning processes, different selling methods, and how marketing impacts the ability of a company to succeed. Marketing creates the environment for a transaction to take place, while Sales finds the people to make transaction with and causes it to happen. I have seen the growth of web marketing strategies, and this has changed entire business plans from a focus on face-to-face to a focus on the best way to connect, whether phone, email, web or even texting. One thing that has not changed, though, is the need to connect. The how can be figured out, but the what and the why of connecting often remain a mystery. What am I selling, and why would you want it? Business strategy is around building into the entire organization the ability to answer these two questions and then for internal analysis- at what cost. Because these questions are always fun for me, I have started Wisdom Selling Solutions. It is not enough to know stuff, we need to be able to do wise things as a result. Read our blogs, look at the books we recommend and give us a chance to serve your organization. You can see our books and other items at www.thebyrdstore.com .
Why the store? Well, these books and other items helped me build my knowledge base, and now they help me fund activities with non-profits. So buy one and enjoy it. Or two or three.
Why the store? Well, these books and other items helped me build my knowledge base, and now they help me fund activities with non-profits. So buy one and enjoy it. Or two or three.
Why Wisdom Selling Solutions?
When you start a business to support the ideas of helping small businesses and non-profits, you naturally draw on the learnings of your past experiences. I have loved many different people and things in my life, but my family, my faith, my sports and my music have dominated. Behind this is my love of learning, particularly around business efforts. I have studied different strategic planning processes, different selling methods, and how marketing impacts the ability of a company to succeed. Marketing creates the environment for a transaction to take place, while Sales finds the people to make transaction with and causes it to happen. I have seen the growth of web marketing strategies, and this has changed entire business plans from a focus on face-to-face to a focus on the best way to connect, whether phone, email, web or even texting. One thing that has not changed, though, is the need to connect. The how can be figured out, but the what and the why of connecting often remain a mystery. What am I selling, and why would you want it? Business strategy is around building into the entire organization the ability to answer these two questions and then for internal analysis- at what cost. Because these questions are always fun for me, I have started Wisdom Selling Solutions. It is not enough to know stuff, we need to be able to do wise things as a result. Read our blogs, look at the books we recommend and give us a chance to serve your organization. You can see our books and other items at www.thebyrdstore.com .
Why the store? Well, these books and other items helped me build my knowledge base, and now they help me fund activities with non-profits. So buy one and enjoy it. Or two or three.
Why the store? Well, these books and other items helped me build my knowledge base, and now they help me fund activities with non-profits. So buy one and enjoy it. Or two or three.
April 20, 2011
Are you a hero or not?
I have been thinking about this as I have been starting an on-line store with my collectible baseball books from years gone by. I have been reliving some of the stories I read when I bought the books and first read them. I have books about Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Jackie Robinson among others, and as I read these books again, it is obvious to me that the writer allows them to be heroes, in spite of flaws that exist in each of them. Why do these players remain heroes even today as we learn more and more about them and their private lives? How is this so different than the sagas we have watched so recently with Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa and Mark McGuire? (I sure wish it were different - I have the Topps cards of Home Run 73. Could have been worth a fortune!)
I am also reading a book about young James Bond, which reminds of Sean Connery and Roger Moore and all that they stood for, while at the same time showing a lack of morality in a few key areas. Why are we so intrigued by these guys when they are bedding every woman in the movie?
Here is my thought for the day. And it goes back to what I tell my kids quite often. "You are not a bad person, you just have some bad behavior." See, deep inside, I know their character, and I know what a special person they are. How do I know? Because of what I have seen them be and do that I value.
There is a story about Babe Ruth that says he went to see a small kid in the hospital and promised to hit three home runs that day if the kid would get better. I truly want to believe that when the Babe went to the ball park that day, his hitting was focused on that kid, not his contract or his personal glory. Hey, I don't know for sure, but I am willing to believe it. I want to believe that Jackie Robinson put up with the junk he endured not for his own glory, but for the future of integrated baseball. That is why they are heroes to me. Do you think Hank Aaron endured the death threats in order to please himself, or was his cause a bit greater? I choose to believe in his purpose!
I always felt with the old James Bond movies they did a good job of not complicating things. James was loyal to God and Country, and was willing to die to serve. Yes he had issues, but his actions were selfless. The newer ones make James Bond such a deep thinker and struggler with personal issues. That is why Sean Connery will always be James Bond the hero!
Look at the stories that make the news in sports now. Infidelities, contracts, steroids, holdouts! We have a generation that is growing up distrusting those who could be heroes! There appears through the media and through the actions we see and the words we hear to be such a selfishness - such an "I'm going to get mine!" Our politicians show it even more clearly as they choose reelection over being a hero.
Think about your life and those around you. Are you a hero to them? Can they see past your flaws to the selfless person you are, or do they look at your behavior and think, "that totally makes sense based on what I believe their character to be?"
It is never too late, and the rewards of being a hero will always outweigh the benefits of money, fame or title! Life is over before we know it. A woman from my church died in her 80's this past week. And yes, she was a hero. How do I know? Because she was personally a hero to me! Who thinks you are a hero? Is serving them more important than serving yourself?
Just remember though, from the movie THE INCREDIBLES - No Capes!
I am also reading a book about young James Bond, which reminds of Sean Connery and Roger Moore and all that they stood for, while at the same time showing a lack of morality in a few key areas. Why are we so intrigued by these guys when they are bedding every woman in the movie?
Here is my thought for the day. And it goes back to what I tell my kids quite often. "You are not a bad person, you just have some bad behavior." See, deep inside, I know their character, and I know what a special person they are. How do I know? Because of what I have seen them be and do that I value.
There is a story about Babe Ruth that says he went to see a small kid in the hospital and promised to hit three home runs that day if the kid would get better. I truly want to believe that when the Babe went to the ball park that day, his hitting was focused on that kid, not his contract or his personal glory. Hey, I don't know for sure, but I am willing to believe it. I want to believe that Jackie Robinson put up with the junk he endured not for his own glory, but for the future of integrated baseball. That is why they are heroes to me. Do you think Hank Aaron endured the death threats in order to please himself, or was his cause a bit greater? I choose to believe in his purpose!
I always felt with the old James Bond movies they did a good job of not complicating things. James was loyal to God and Country, and was willing to die to serve. Yes he had issues, but his actions were selfless. The newer ones make James Bond such a deep thinker and struggler with personal issues. That is why Sean Connery will always be James Bond the hero!
Look at the stories that make the news in sports now. Infidelities, contracts, steroids, holdouts! We have a generation that is growing up distrusting those who could be heroes! There appears through the media and through the actions we see and the words we hear to be such a selfishness - such an "I'm going to get mine!" Our politicians show it even more clearly as they choose reelection over being a hero.
Think about your life and those around you. Are you a hero to them? Can they see past your flaws to the selfless person you are, or do they look at your behavior and think, "that totally makes sense based on what I believe their character to be?"
It is never too late, and the rewards of being a hero will always outweigh the benefits of money, fame or title! Life is over before we know it. A woman from my church died in her 80's this past week. And yes, she was a hero. How do I know? Because she was personally a hero to me! Who thinks you are a hero? Is serving them more important than serving yourself?
Just remember though, from the movie THE INCREDIBLES - No Capes!
Are you a hero or not?
I have been thinking about this as I have been starting an on-line store with my collectible baseball books from years gone by. I have been reliving some of the stories I read when I bought the books and first read them. I have books about Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Jackie Robinson among others, and as I read these books again, it is obvious to me that the writer allows them to be heroes, in spite of flaws that exist in each of them. Why do these players remain heroes even today as we learn more and more about them and their private lives? How is this so different than the sagas we have watched so recently with Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa and Mark McGuire? (I sure wish it were different - I have the Topps cards of Home Run 73. Could have been worth a fortune!)
I am also reading a book about young James Bond, which reminds of Sean Connery and Roger Moore and all that they stood for, while at the same time showing a lack of morality in a few key areas. Why are we so intrigued by these guys when they are bedding every woman in the movie?
Here is my thought for the day. And it goes back to what I tell my kids quite often. "You are not a bad person, you just have some bad behavior." See, deep inside, I know their character, and I know what a special person they are. How do I know? Because of what I have seen them be and do that I value.
There is a story about Babe Ruth that says he went to see a small kid in the hospital and promised to hit three home runs that day if the kid would get better. I truly want to believe that when the Babe went to the ball park that day, his hitting was focused on that kid, not his contract or his personal glory. Hey, I don't know for sure, but I am willing to believe it. I want to believe that Jackie Robinson put up with the junk he endured not for his own glory, but for the future of integrated baseball. That is why they are heroes to me. Do you think Hank Aaron endured the death threats in order to please himself, or was his cause a bit greater? I choose to believe in his purpose!
I always felt with the old James Bond movies they did a good job of not complicating things. James was loyal to God and Country, and was willing to die to serve. Yes he had issues, but his actions were selfless. The newer ones make James Bond such a deep thinker and struggler with personal issues. That is why Sean Connery will always be James Bond the hero!
Look at the stories that make the news in sports now. Infidelities, contracts, steroids, holdouts! We have a generation that is growing up distrusting those who could be heroes! There appears through the media and through the actions we see and the words we hear to be such a selfishness - such an "I'm going to get mine!" Our politicians show it even more clearly as they choose reelection over being a hero.
Think about your life and those around you. Are you a hero to them? Can they see past your flaws to the selfless person you are, or do they look at your behavior and think, "that totally makes sense based on what I believe their character to be?"
It is never too late, and the rewards of being a hero will always outweigh the benefits of money, fame or title! Life is over before we know it. A woman from my church died in her 80's this past week. And yes, she was a hero. How do I know? Because she was personally a hero to me! Who thinks you are a hero? Is serving them more important than serving yourself?
Just remember though, from the movie THE INCREDIBLES - No Capes!
I am also reading a book about young James Bond, which reminds of Sean Connery and Roger Moore and all that they stood for, while at the same time showing a lack of morality in a few key areas. Why are we so intrigued by these guys when they are bedding every woman in the movie?
Here is my thought for the day. And it goes back to what I tell my kids quite often. "You are not a bad person, you just have some bad behavior." See, deep inside, I know their character, and I know what a special person they are. How do I know? Because of what I have seen them be and do that I value.
There is a story about Babe Ruth that says he went to see a small kid in the hospital and promised to hit three home runs that day if the kid would get better. I truly want to believe that when the Babe went to the ball park that day, his hitting was focused on that kid, not his contract or his personal glory. Hey, I don't know for sure, but I am willing to believe it. I want to believe that Jackie Robinson put up with the junk he endured not for his own glory, but for the future of integrated baseball. That is why they are heroes to me. Do you think Hank Aaron endured the death threats in order to please himself, or was his cause a bit greater? I choose to believe in his purpose!
I always felt with the old James Bond movies they did a good job of not complicating things. James was loyal to God and Country, and was willing to die to serve. Yes he had issues, but his actions were selfless. The newer ones make James Bond such a deep thinker and struggler with personal issues. That is why Sean Connery will always be James Bond the hero!
Look at the stories that make the news in sports now. Infidelities, contracts, steroids, holdouts! We have a generation that is growing up distrusting those who could be heroes! There appears through the media and through the actions we see and the words we hear to be such a selfishness - such an "I'm going to get mine!" Our politicians show it even more clearly as they choose reelection over being a hero.
Think about your life and those around you. Are you a hero to them? Can they see past your flaws to the selfless person you are, or do they look at your behavior and think, "that totally makes sense based on what I believe their character to be?"
It is never too late, and the rewards of being a hero will always outweigh the benefits of money, fame or title! Life is over before we know it. A woman from my church died in her 80's this past week. And yes, she was a hero. How do I know? Because she was personally a hero to me! Who thinks you are a hero? Is serving them more important than serving yourself?
Just remember though, from the movie THE INCREDIBLES - No Capes!
