If you grew up in the 70's and 80's and you loved baseball you will enjoy this book. Josh Wilker shares his life through the eyes of his baseball card collection. It will make you pull out your baseball cards and relive the joy and sorrow of your childhood.
Who are some of the cardboard gods that come to your mind as you recollect your childhood. For me, growing up in Minnesota it was my childhood idol Tony Oliva. He played baseball with an unbridled passion and an all out hustle. His knees cut his career short but he continues to be an ambassador for baseball and the Minnesota Twins.
I remember 1965, not the World Series between the Dodgers and the Twins but my first game it was a rainout and there was tornado warnings. We had to line up in the interior of the stadium until we received an all clear. Needless to say the game was a washout, weather 1 Twins 0.
As you peruse your cards let the memories flood back and escape to a bygone era. Relive your past and read this book and relive Josh Wilker's past and laugh at the styles of the 70's and 80's. Let the cardboard gods take you on that journey you will not want to end.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
THUNDEROUS LEADERSHIP
This is a condensed version of a speech I gave.
The clap of thunder, the flash of lightening, a storm is coming, are you prepared.
Storms occur on a regular basis whether they are weather related or life related we have all encountered a storm at one time or another in our life. The question is “are you prepared and will you survive?
In the movie “A Perfect Storm” George Clooney plays a captain of a fishing vessel that gets caught up in the storm of the century. He has to make a quick decision about what to do under the circumstances. He had to react to a situation and make the best decision possible for all parties involved. During these perfect storms of life, decisions like these can be life changing.
People get caught off guard during the storms of life because they are either ill prepared or they lack the leadership to make positive life changing decisions.
In order to survive these storms in life we must follow strong leaders or be a strong leader ourselves.
I am going to address three types of leadership styles (Reactionary, Visionary and Exemplary). These styles and their principles will help guide your ship through the storms in life to the calm after the storm.
REACTIONARY LEADER:
• They have a clear head because they make an emotional decision in a stressful situation and wrong emotions can spell disaster.
• They must humble themselves and do not think they are bigger than the situation. They cannot overcome the situation by sheer willpower.
• Reactionary leaders make positive and quick decisions.
If you can humble yourself, remove yourself from emotion and make a positive decision you could be a good reactionary leader.
VISIONARY LEADER:
• A visionary leader prepares for the best but plans for the worst.
• A visionary leader can see beyond the storm.
• A visionary leader gets buy in from the followers.
If you are respected by your followers and can see the end of the rainbow after the storm then you are a visionary leader.
EXEMPLARY LEADER:
• Exemplary leaders set the example for the followers
• Exemplary leaders live by a moral code that breeds humility and unselfishness.
• An exemplary leader has a positive attitude and gives all they have to overcome the storm.
If you live by a humble moral code and set an example with a positive attitude you are an exemplary leader.
Are you one of these types of leaders? Are you ready to lead others through the storms of life by applying the principles of reactionary, visionary or exemplary leadership? If you are then become the captain of the greatest ship of all leadership and sail through the storms of life.
The clap of thunder, the flash of lightening, a storm is coming, are you prepared.
Storms occur on a regular basis whether they are weather related or life related we have all encountered a storm at one time or another in our life. The question is “are you prepared and will you survive?
In the movie “A Perfect Storm” George Clooney plays a captain of a fishing vessel that gets caught up in the storm of the century. He has to make a quick decision about what to do under the circumstances. He had to react to a situation and make the best decision possible for all parties involved. During these perfect storms of life, decisions like these can be life changing.
People get caught off guard during the storms of life because they are either ill prepared or they lack the leadership to make positive life changing decisions.
In order to survive these storms in life we must follow strong leaders or be a strong leader ourselves.
I am going to address three types of leadership styles (Reactionary, Visionary and Exemplary). These styles and their principles will help guide your ship through the storms in life to the calm after the storm.
REACTIONARY LEADER:
• They have a clear head because they make an emotional decision in a stressful situation and wrong emotions can spell disaster.
• They must humble themselves and do not think they are bigger than the situation. They cannot overcome the situation by sheer willpower.
• Reactionary leaders make positive and quick decisions.
If you can humble yourself, remove yourself from emotion and make a positive decision you could be a good reactionary leader.
VISIONARY LEADER:
• A visionary leader prepares for the best but plans for the worst.
• A visionary leader can see beyond the storm.
• A visionary leader gets buy in from the followers.
If you are respected by your followers and can see the end of the rainbow after the storm then you are a visionary leader.
EXEMPLARY LEADER:
• Exemplary leaders set the example for the followers
• Exemplary leaders live by a moral code that breeds humility and unselfishness.
• An exemplary leader has a positive attitude and gives all they have to overcome the storm.
If you live by a humble moral code and set an example with a positive attitude you are an exemplary leader.
Are you one of these types of leaders? Are you ready to lead others through the storms of life by applying the principles of reactionary, visionary or exemplary leadership? If you are then become the captain of the greatest ship of all leadership and sail through the storms of life.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
The Birds
Watched The Birds by Alfred Hitchcock. It is a timeless classic. It gives you the suspense and thrill of a horror picture but it isn't just about blood and guts like the movies of today. It gives you something to think about. It gives you that thought "what if". What if a group of animals, in this case birds rose up and decided they were not going to take it any longer. Could humans fend off an attack if all birds united against us. How about other animals? Or all animals came together.
Humans are the most intelligent beings on this planet but we are not the most numerous. Makes you think that you might not want to do anything to make an animal mad.
What other classics leave you thinking and wondering "what if". If you have never seen this movie I recommend you do so. I won't give away the ending. Go out and read it and then come back here and leave me your comments on what you think about the movie.
Humans are the most intelligent beings on this planet but we are not the most numerous. Makes you think that you might not want to do anything to make an animal mad.
What other classics leave you thinking and wondering "what if". If you have never seen this movie I recommend you do so. I won't give away the ending. Go out and read it and then come back here and leave me your comments on what you think about the movie.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Borrowing Brillance
I have been reading the book "Borrowing Brilliance" by David Kord Murray. It is fascinating to think that everything we do or have invented or created is just something taken from someone else and enhanced to make it better.
If this truly is the case each and everyone of us have borrowed to make something better. What have you used to improve your work or your play?
Murray is applying the idea to business innovation and gives steps on how we as business people can borrow from others to make innovative and creative ideas.
If you have read the book I would like to hear your comments on whether you believe this is an acceptable practice or plagiarism. If you have not read the book I recommend the read, he writes it like a story so it is a easy read.
If this truly is the case each and everyone of us have borrowed to make something better. What have you used to improve your work or your play?
Murray is applying the idea to business innovation and gives steps on how we as business people can borrow from others to make innovative and creative ideas.
If you have read the book I would like to hear your comments on whether you believe this is an acceptable practice or plagiarism. If you have not read the book I recommend the read, he writes it like a story so it is a easy read.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Winter Olympics
You may disagree with me but I think the Olympics are one of the most enjoyable sporting events to watch. The excitement and the drama of the events are unmatched in sports. We get an opportunity to see sports that we normally don't get to watch.
If the luge isn't crazy enough they have the skeleton 90 mph on your stomach, face first. Won't catch me doing that but I applaud those athletes who take on the sport.
Then there is the chills and spills of short track speed skating. How they stay on their skates going around those turns beats me. It is very exciting to watch.
Ice Dancing is really not a sport it is dancing on ice. How do they score that activity anyway? Going into the final round the 1-5 places didn't move after the free skate. How are they supposed to move up in the standings? It doesn't make any sense.
What do you think of the Olympics?
If the luge isn't crazy enough they have the skeleton 90 mph on your stomach, face first. Won't catch me doing that but I applaud those athletes who take on the sport.
Then there is the chills and spills of short track speed skating. How they stay on their skates going around those turns beats me. It is very exciting to watch.
Ice Dancing is really not a sport it is dancing on ice. How do they score that activity anyway? Going into the final round the 1-5 places didn't move after the free skate. How are they supposed to move up in the standings? It doesn't make any sense.
What do you think of the Olympics?
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