Make a passionate impact... for a reason.

I was on a roll today. Or, should I say, 'I was in the role.' Sometimes I go several days without talking to my professional friends about anything work related. Today, not one of those days. I had several conversations with my peers. I listened. I tried to be positive, reassuring and uplifting. I was on a roll twice. One day. Two themes. 

***

PASSIONATE IMPACT

[A peer's co-worker told them that they and others are not influential in students' lives. That they do not have an impact. My reply is below.]

You have a profound impact on all the student-athletes you interact with. The fact is that you are in a position that positive or negative (99.9% of the time positive), you have lifelong impacts onthe students you work with. You are in an intentional position; a position that demands you ahve an impact like NO other people. That's why you're at what you do... you are passionate about having an impact!

Fact of the matter is that this applies to all my peers. To all those working in student-athlete services and student-athlete development. Let's not forget it also applies to those working in any type of student-centered services or development capacity.

***

FOR A REASON

[A peer's co-worker encouraged them to do something totally contradictory to what is preached and encouraged every single day. My frank, honest reply is below.]

A)  Student Services exists... for a reason. 

B)  Students are encouraged to utilize Student Services... for a reason. 

C)  Students' success can be maximized by using Student Services... for a reason. 

D)  Our jobs are to promote decisions [like using Student Services] that support student success... for a reason. 

E)  Did I fail to mention, it is called "STUDENT [pause] SERVICES"...  for a reason. 

F)  We work in Student Services... for a reason. 

For a reason?! We work in a service profession. And, by definition, we work in a student service profession. The title doesn't get any simpler. It doesn't require analysis to understand the purpose of indivdual's jobs in student-centered service or development positions. We work in the profession because we're passionate. Passionate about serving others. Passionate about student/student-athlete development. Passionate about maximizing student success. 

***

Summary: Make a passionate impact... for a reason. 

College on Steroids

It's common to hear that college is the greatest learning experience of your life. The most memorable years, days, moments of your life. Don't get me wrong, college was definitely all that for me. But, the first 'year,' aka 8 weeks, of my masters program was college on steriods. For that matter, my masters program as a whole, especially any face time we spent together was an enhanced college experience. 

I utilize lessons learned during that year on a daily basis. The lessons are integrated into every aspect of my life. We observed and learned the importance of passion every day. We valued our family, our relationships. We gained an understanding of influence first-hand. We interacted with people daily who walked the walk; they didn't just talk the talk. 

I still have all of the hand-written and electronic notes I took throughout that year. I am that person that refers back to them multiple times each year. I also created a document that compiled the quotes and one-liners from instructors, guest speakers and classmates. 

Today I spent time writing handwritten Thank You notes to people that recently served as guest speakers in my course, have helped our department/unit in some way, that we've interacted with through community outreach, etc. As I wrote those notes, I thought of specific quotes from Husky Athletics boosters that spoke in my EDLPS 579 (Development/Fundraising) course taught by Andy Geiger. Then, during conversations I had today with a coach, I again referenced lessons learned in that course. 

Today's reminders prompted me to review some of the notes documents saved on my computer -- The 2009 IAL Cohort Values, Writing the Book on EDLPS 579 and IAL in Quotes. Below are some of my favorites from those documents.

Values
 The 2009 IAL Cohort Values:  Integrity ..... Respect ..... Optimism ..... Success ..... Family ..... Influence ..... Trust. 
[We established our values during our first week together. We lived by our values daily and held eachother accountable to them. I believe in the importance of group/organizational values, which has prompted me to incorporate it into programs I directly work with.]

Quotes
“Realize the importance of the work.” ~Andy Geiger, Instructor [Former AD of Ohio State]

“Handwritten thank you’s are gold!” ~Ron Crockett [President of Emerald Downs; UW booster]

“Athletics is about relationships. If you go into athletics you’re deciding to get along with everyone.” ~Todd Turner [Former AD of Washington]

“Never be scared to surround yourself by really smart people who challenge you.” ~Kevin Lennon, NCAA

“Work to the value you think you are, not the value you are getting paid.” ~Bill Jurgens, Florida Tech

“If I can’t dream it, you can’t achieve it.” ~Todd Turner [Shared during a discussion on how you can only be as good as your leader will allow. Find a leader who will let you dream.]

Media Love

Check out the article about the IAL program in the Fall 2012 NCAA Champion Magazine:  http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/03aaab68#/03aaab68/64. 

Emotion of Ohana

There is one thing that sits in the center of my values, personal mission, and personal brand. Basically there is one thing that is central to my life. What is that one thing? Family. You say 'relationships.' You may distiguish family (by blood/marriage), friends, people at work, etc by different words. I use one word: family. If I lived in Hawai'i it'd be easy to explain. I'd say 'ohana' and everyone would understand. Family is central to my life because without it my other core values have no importance and my personal mission and brand are non-existent. 

So, what's the significance? Family is the one thing that makes me get emotional. Thanks to my communications preferences I can usually hide and mask my emotions. Whether positive or negative, I'm genius at putting up a front. But, every once in a while the emotions get the best of me. 

Every likes to be appreciated, told they do a great job, be recognized for their hard work and dedication, and the like by those that they interact with whether in their personal life or work life. I appreciate the recognition but I also hate it. If I get a gift, a compliment, etc I don't deal with it awesomely. It usually makes me feel like I'm being awkward in the moment, but I don't like to deal with it in the moment when it happens. One reason... I'm analytical. I need time to process and figure out what I want to say, what I want to do in response, etc. Second reason... I get freaking emotional. If I don't have to deal with it and acknowledge the situation in the moment then I can control the emotion. I can prevent myself from watering eyes, tears (whether happy or sad), and all that other girly stuff. No one wants to see that. Everyone would make fun of me; I would expect nothing less.

(I don't want to fail to mention, I'm totally okay with others showing their emotion. You can cry, laugh, be angry, whatever. I'm okay with others emotions. I'm just scared of mine, well, at least showing mine.)

I usually deal with something that would evoke emotion by creating a distraction in the moment. Then, I follow-up with a message to express my feelings, thanks and appreciation. Today is an excellent example. Yes, it's real life story time... Three students brought me gifts. They were simple. They took the time to make me gluten-free cookies. And, they got me a sweater to match the one they each have. Like I said, simple gifts; but, most importantly thoughtful and intentional. They don't know it, but I was darn close to getting emotional in the moment. How would I explain watering eyes (and maybe tears)?!? Happy? Appreciative? Well, not like it matters because I made myself not have to deal with it in the moment. I said a quick, short, pointed thanks and busied myself with other class prep tasks. Then,  later in the evening when I wouldn't have to deal with face-to-face emotions and had time to process, think and be all analytical I sent a follow-up message to say a heartfelt thanks and that I appreciated the gifts. 

Ohana, emotions, saying thanks... a bunch of random topics, right? No. Not at all. Family is central to how I live my life. Relationships define my life. Therefore, there's an emotional commitment and an unconditional love. If you're passionate about something, it evokes emotion. If you're commited to providing support and it's acknowledged that you're succeeding at meeting that value, it evokes emotion. Passion and support may be two of my other values, but they would be irrelevant if not for family, the fundamental core of my life. 

Moments of Impact

"Moments of impact define who we are."

If you are not making an impact, are you truly living your life? I think not. 

We are afforded countless experiences and opportunities to make an impact. It is our option to trust ourselves and take advantage of the moment. It is our option to make a difference in other's lives, learn a lesson or experience something new. 

If you have a clearly defined direction and passion, but fail to follow the path are you denying your ability to make an impact? Yes, I think so. 

We were given passion, drive, ambition and opportunity for a reason. We are meant to help others learn, even if from our 'mistakes' or theirs. We are supposed to enrich our lives and others' lives through relationships and shared moments. We should embrace the chance to create a change, be the change, and be changed.

Never quit striving. Never quit achieving. Never quit dreaming. Never quit learning. Never quit pursuing the moments of impact. When you quit you limit yourself. You limit others. Play the game til the final buzzer sounds. You owe it to yourself. You owe it to others. Live life to the fullest. Maximize your impact. Find the moments and define yourself. Define your impact on the game. The game of life.

"The moment of impact. The moment of impact proves potential for change. Has ripples effects far beyond what we can predict. Sending some particles crashing together. Making them closer than before. While sending others spinning off into great ventures. Landing them where you've never thought you've found them. That's the thing about moments like these. You can't, no matter how hard you try, control how it's gonna affect you. You just gotta let the colliding part goes where they may. And wait. For the next collision."

Quotes from "The Vow."

Throwback Thursday: Boys & Beds

Welcome to "Throwback Thursday" and a story from the past. I wrote this "journal" on the night that it occured -- a Friday night in February during my freshman year at Carroll. My favorite part is the second half... the "Beds" half. It's a story that Mathea and I retell each time we see each other. It's always funny and it'll never get old. 

Boys & Beds 

            The intensity of the Big Horns game was astounding, as the boys glided along the ice as fast as their skates would carry them in the incredibly fast paced game.  The entire game was fast paced, as the teams battled back and forth to maintain the lead.  Maintaining the lead, meant a favorite hockey phrase was frequently being yelled by the spectators, “FIGHT!!!”  In efforts to protect the goalie and to end up victorious, gloves came off and the flesh of the opponent was introduced to opposing player’s fists.  Much time was also spent ice wresting and traveling across the ice face down, as players checked and tripped opponents, doing anything possible to gain possession of the puck.  In the last half of the third period, the Big Horns shoot and “SCORE!,” tying Minnesota 4-4.  The crowd stood in applause, and remained standing as the atmosphere of the entire arena reflected the energy on the ice.   The seconds on the clock slowly ticked away: five, four, three, two, one, and the buzzer!  Overtime!  Everyone in the arena stood cheering the Big Horns through the five minute overtime; cheering them on to. . . a shootout!  The Minnesota Blizzard sent a fourth and final player to his death as the Big Horns passed the ultimate test of the night, winning the game as Beiswenger again victoriously defended his goal during the shootout. The crowd went wild as the game ended with yet another win for the home team.  Skating may have been cancelled so the sponsoring National Guard’s special jerseys that the players sported for the match-up could be auctioned off, but it was well worth the experience.

            As we watched as the players jerseys’ were auctioned off for hundreds of dollars to fans, Carmin had her “moment” of the evening.  As we watched one of the players—Nate Rein—who did not dress out for the game, but rather worked the audience in his suit, help in the auctioning process, Carmin did the impossible—rendered me speechless!  She had the quote of the night when with utmost enthusiasm she said, “I’m so in the mood, that if he walked over here right now I would ask him out!”  It was definitely a highlight of the night.

            My night of course did not end with the hockey game.  After coming back and watching a movie with Carmin, I hung out with Mathea, or should I say hid out.  There are priceless moments in everyone’s life, and this was definitely one of those times!  We chatted for a while before Mathea decided she was going to head off to bed.  But, did she go directly to bed after opening the door to her room, of course not!  She left the door to her room cracked open as she made a quick trip to the restroom—big mistake.  While she was otherwise occupied, so was I as I entered her dark room and climbed to my hiding spot under her bed.  As she came back from the restroom, she first made a stop at my room but I was no where to be found. Then, she finally came back to her room of horror!  She turned on the light, closed the door and moseyed to her computer, when all of the sudden she felt something touch her leg.  In silence, she glanced at the floor expecting to see some random item lying on the floor, but oh no that is definitely not what she saw.  Her silence was broken as shrieks of horror came out of her frightened face when she realized there was a body—my body—that was under her bed and what touched her was in fact a hand.  I of course began to laugh hysterically, as I experienced one of the greatest moments of my life.  I have to say, I think Mathea may have learned a couple life lessons in only a matter of seconds.  The first:  Never leave your door open when you go to the restroom.  The second:  Always check to make sure your neighbor isn’t going to make you nearly pee your pants when she grabs your leg from her hideaway under your bed.

            Tonight was yet another great night, unusually filled with the usual:  boys and beds.

Happy Thanksgiving Hand Turkey

I am thankful for... 

Opportunity: The chance and ability to experience so many invaluable lessons in life. 

Service & Support: The ability to provide service and support to others, while also having both reciprocated by others. 

Dreams, Ambitions & Passion: Having goals and setting my sights high to achieve anything I set mind to. Also having the passion to pursue those dreams and ambitions while fully investing myself and not giving up.

Family/Relationships: Family are all those people and relationships that have impacted my life, continue to impact my life, and will impact my life in the future. Life is about the relationships and unconditionally loving others.

Memories: Of people, places, opportunities, laughter, tears and lessons learned.

--

A little background on the Thanksgiving Hand Turkey... 

It's become a tradition for me to make a Thanksgiving hand turkey each November and share it. In elementary school and in Sunday Bible School we did these type of projects when we were little. Post-2nd grade I was reintroduced to the quick, meaningful art project in basketball study hall at NC State. My fellow intern, Lolly, made the guys all make one in study hall before Thanksgiving break. The guys rolled their eyes to start, but as soon as we traced their hands they quickly got down to business. To the suprise of many they listed honest and meaningful responses when filling in their 5 fingers of thanks. Lolly, our compadres Abbie and Joe, and I each made one too. It's now an intern family tradition. Every November we make a hand turkey and share it publically. Needless to say this year when I posted mine on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter I got a favorites, likes and retweets from my intern family within minutes. 

After I finished my hand turkey this year I took a quick glance at mine from last year. They are very, very similar. When I reflected on it a little, I realized both are very much in line with my core values and personal brand. 

Subtweet Much?!

It's pretty safe to say that a majority of the Twitter users out there are guilty of subtweeting every once in a while, if not on a regular basis. In 140 characters or less tweeters share a subliminal message that could involve hours of storytelling, pages of a short story, or a very long serious conversations. 

I'll be the first to admit that I'm guilty... I'm a subtweeter. And, whatever the equaivalent is on Facebook, I do that too. Sometimes it's a 140 chacracter message and sometimes it's quick blurb with a quote. But, as a said... guilty! I'm calling myself out and revealing the "sub" in the subtweet.

SUBTWEET:  Some days define &/or completely redefine the "etc" & "other" in my job description. These days keep life interesting & keep me on my toes!

Where do I begin?! Let's just start with the names others and I have discussed for a reality TV show featuring our work-based life... "If Walls Could Talk..." or "You Can't Make This S*** Up." Basically, think of your favorite reality TV show or sitcom... this reality TV show is going to be WAY better and have WAY more curve balls thrown at the audience. Those are the highlights of the redefining moments, which happen thru conversations, quotable moments, interactions, events, embarassing moments, bus rides, and much more. And then there will be the not so exciting "etc" and "other" moments that are featured in unexciting "Brown Bag Meetings" between professionals. It's the extra hours spent attending and assisting with events outside my expertise, watching countless sporting events, going to meetings, etc. Pretty sure you thought that I'd share some of the funny "etc" and "other" moments... no such luck. If you want to be privied to those tears, laughs, angry moments, celebrations, and sentimental times you're going to have to sign me to a reality TV contract.

SUBTWEET:  #ReminderOfTheDay: We all have different priorities & values. Don't be upset w/ others when their priorities & values are the same as yours.

On a daily basis I interact with a wide variety of people. Everyone has (and should have) different priorities and different values. Our individualism is defined by our unique priorities and values. I firmly believe we should be open and accepting of others' beliefs and values. Although I sometimes struggle and am upset when another person's values and priorities are contradictory with what I'm trying to accomplish, whether it be in coversation or work tasks. Often times I get upset in the moment when others' priorities aren't in line with mine when we need to collaborate on a project and they expect me to value their time but they fail to value mine. [That was the direct source of this subtweet.] At times my frustration is stemmed by others trying to push their values and beliefs on someone I am talking about defining and following their own values and desires. All too often these 'other people' spreading their own 'good word' are invited to the conversation by themself, not those already involved. What I have to remind myself of is that some people's values may include educating others on their opinions and view of what is right vs wrong. 

SUBSTATUS/FACEBOOK:  Your investment in the people defines and shapes your investment in the game. Choose to be nothing but completely invested!

SUBTWEET:  Your investment in the people defines and shapes your investment in the game. #fullycommitted

I am blessed to work in college athletics. I work face-to-face with student-athletes, coaches, athletic department staff and university faculty/staff daily. I frequently interact with community members, boosters and fans in a variety of capacities. 

One of my core values is family... or relationships in other people's terms. Therefore, I think it's very important to invest in the relationships in all aspects of my life, including with everyone I'm blessed to interact with because of my 'job.' By investing in others I think you should unconditionally care about and love them. I consider myself invested in the relationships with my student-athletes and coaches. When you're invested in the people how can you not care about them meeting their goals and pursuing their passion? By working with student-athletes, this means by default that I'm invested in their success and meeting of their goals on the court, field or other playing venue. This fall has been full of defining moments and games... win this game to win the conference title, win this game to secure a bid to the NCAA tournament or a bowl game, score this goal to set a record, intercept a pass to redefine your success and other's success, and it goes on and on. In those moments I have no option but to live an die with every tic of the clock, pass thrown, goal shot, point scored, potential injury, etc. When you're invested in the people playing the game as individuals, you're far more invested in the game, how it's played and the outcome. In relation to my job, I firmly believe that if a person in the position isn't invested in the people, it isn't the job for them. This is why I choose to be completely invested and fully committed. If the time ever comes that I'm no longer fully committed to the people and their goals, passions and their development, then it's time for a major professional change.