Mark McIntosh's Blog, page 42

This week's Pep Talk Blog: "Job Well Done"

It was the early stages of a recent drive across America: 2,930 miles, four time zones, 12 states and a lifetime of memories. My two children and I are in Chicago staying with loved ones.

It's the morning after an annual Christmas party and a "hostess with the mostest" was busy cleaning away the prior evening's fun. I'm helping this fabulous cook with the process when she slides a hand-written card within my view.

Written by her husband's aunt, the note thanked Mary Gans Schmitt for all she is ...

This week's Pep Talk Blog: "The Fantastic Foundation"

On a recent road trip across America with my two kids a wonderful stop was St. Louis, Missouri. Home of Anheuser-Busch, the Gateway Arch and my former in-law's, the Martirez's: Emmanuel, Dawn and their three darling children.

In Lemons into Margaritas I wrote about this family and the events surrounding it and the television show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

The story centers on Evan, a handsome young boy who was born with an abnormality on his 9th chromosome that makes life challenging for...

This week's Pep Talk Blog: "Truth and Responsibility Rule"

It was late December and the morning after my son's 20th birthday party. I'm in the kitchen concluding cleanup of a wonderful evening where family and dear friends laughed often, ate too much and toasted Kyle: a fantastic young man with a bright future.

Anyway, I'm wrapping up the cleanup but then pause to read "Heene's Grounded" the front-page headline story from the Denver Post. The "Balloon Boy" couple was sentenced to brief jail time because of an ill-advised hoax that didn't pass the tran...

This week's Pep Talk Blog: "Win in Ten"

It's a new year, a time when making resolutions are popular. We make a mental pledge to ourselves, "this year is going to be different." It might be losing weight, exercising more, smoking less, finding a new job, returning to school, getting involved more in the community, less in unproductive stuff – and many others.

The big challenge with these "New Year" resolutions is keeping them. We start the journey resolute to become superior to our former selves. But let's be honest, it's often the e...

This week's Pep Talk Blog: "Lesson from a First Lady"

As she walked gracefully toward the lighted stage that was her destination, I sat there wondering, "What is former first lady Laura Bush going to say to more than 19,000 gathered for a "Get Motivated" seminar?

She stood behind a podium and, unlike the other speakers, read from prepared notes. She talked about the criticism of her husband's presidency, calling it "the sacred music of democracy." She also talked about September 11, 2001. Sadness over lives lost and fear running rampant. Bush tal...

This week's Pep Talk Blog: "Unceasing in Pursuit"

It was the morning after, earlier this 2009 NFL season, Pittsburgh manhandled Denver in a Monday night football game. I'm at the gym when two of my favorite people appear: Bob and Alice Bosworth. They, like me, are big believers in the "sweat a day keeps the doctor away" philosophy. Bob, a retired doctor, also is a big sports fan. The conversation quickly turns to the Steelers' convincing win.

"Man, that Pittsburgh defense," says Bob before beginning his workout. "They are relentless." I nodd...

This week's Pep Talk Blog: "Trangression Trumping Test"

I have watched with equal parts dismay, shock and wonderment the adversity surrounding Tiger Woods. It's another example – there are many – of individuals who seemingly have it all: fame, fortune and a beautiful family but obviously there's something missing. In Tiger's case, that void leading to, in his words, committing "transgressions" against his values and family.

In days as a Denver television sportscaster, I met Tiger twice, the two years he played in the now-departed International Gol...

This week's Pep Talk Blog: "Solve the Unsolvable"

I had just settled into my seat for a "Get Motivated" seminar when the arena loudspeakers reverberated with: "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome America's best inspirational speaker, Dr. Robert Schuller!"

Now in his 80's, the man who invented the world "televangelist" slowly walked toward the stage. He spoke just a short while, his words centered on a chance meeting years ago, on a flight from the East Coast to California. The man sitting next to Schuller was quite chatty. At first, it was an annoy...

This week's Pep Talk Blog: "Add One More"

I was running errands on Saturday afternoon. I bump into some buddies. One is wearing a New York Yankees cap and lives in Colorado. I wish he were wearing a Rockies' cap and query, "Yankees cap, huh? It's pretty cool they just won their 27th world championship." He thanked me and joked, "Yeah, I love the Yankees despite the fact I'm from Louisiana and live in Colorado."

The journalist in me couldn't resist and offered: "Yeah, and it's cool for Joe Girardi. When he took the Yankees job a few ye...

This week's Pep Talk Blog: "GOAL Setting"

I have a confession to make: I have an addiction. But I think it honors me, nurtures those dependent upon me and adds value to the communities I serve. I love creating acronyms, or hearing others' acronyms, designed to encourage us to, as I like to say, "Transform life's lemons – the heck with lemonade – into sweet and savory margaritas."

First, let's start with the definition. Oxford American Dictionary defines acronym as: "a word formed from the initial letters of other words." Many are well...