Spring Fever

The spring is always an exciting time in the life of athletics. 

There's just a buzz about the building for a variety of reasons:

 

* The excitement when our Ohio weather gives us a bit of sunshine and temps in the 60's and 70's

* Spring Sports teams are competing and the fall programs begin to ramp up with conditioning and 

    planning for summer schedules

* Spring Break, Prom, and planning for seniors graduating

 

These are just a few things that add to the "Spring Fever" in and around this time of year.

 

There are however, some tremendous accomplishments that begin to feel more of a reality for our soon to be graduating seniors.  They are edging closer to carrying on their legacies and passions to the collegiate levels. 

 

Here at Gahanna Lincoln, we have a number of seniors that have made commitments to play their respective sports at the next level:

  Brittany Reynolds – Volleyball – Dayton

   Mason Daniels – Baseball – Elon

   Brad Hull – Baseball – Oakland University

   Cole Gibson – Baseball –Oakland University

   Emily Hughes – Golf – Ohio university

   Erika Shrader – Soccer – Akron

  Loie Greenwood – Baseball – Wittenberg

   Brittany Oldaker – Softball – Eastern Kentucky

   Sami Shaw – Track – Northern Kentucky

   Riley Tanner – Track – Northern Kentucky

   Sidney Stokes – Track – Akron

   Tim Eidens – Baseball – Ohio Dominican

   Yazmin Norman – Basketball – Alderson-Broadus

   Rachel Browne – Basketball – Chicago State

   Taylor Acquista – Baseball – Siena Heights university

   Jenna Holder – Soccer – Rio Grande

   Jordan Holder – Soccer – Ohio Dominican

   Vasean Davis – Football – Notre Dame College

   Marq Williams – Football – Saginaw Valley State

   Kamazi Bell – Football – Siena Heights university

   David Cooper – Football - Savannah State

   Jake Mitchell – Lacrosse – University of Cumberlands

   James Higgins – Baseball – Clark State CC

   Natalie Shotts – Girls Lacrosse – Univ. of Alabama Huntsville

   Santiago Martinez – Baseball – Heidelberg

   Alana Monroe – Volleyball – Savannah State

   Gino Bucilla – Baseball – Heidelberg

   Diana Shamroski – Volleyball – Lindenwood University

   Nathan Matthews – Volleyball – Wittenberg

   Alex Will – Soccer - Otterbein

Jenisys Battle - Basketball - Baldwin Wallace

 

This is the list as of today and it will continue to grow, in fact it will grow int he coming days and weeks with a great story.  If you're familiar with the Gahanna Lincoln Basketball program, you probably notice a young man that was injured prior to the start of the season.  He's hard to miss.  Alonzo is a 6'11" basketball player that unfortunately was kept from participating this season due to his injury.  This didn't stop him, nor Coach Tony Staib from pushing his talents and recovery for the aspirations of getting on this list above.  This week, Coach Staib arranged for over a dozen college coaches to see Alonzo's progression.  And it is with a great sense of enjoyment and excitement to know that he too will be added to this list.  He's received offers to play Division I basketball after missing this entire season.  This is truly a testament to his dedication to recovery and Coach Staib's unwaivering support for his players.  So, congratulations to all of our seniors that will be building their legacies at the collegiate level and to Coach Staib for being commited to Gahanna! 

 

How can you not love this time of year...

well maybe not the rain...

or the wind...

or the temps that fall below 40...

and the cancellations...

rain delays...

 postponed games...

the fact that the seniors are leaving and heading off to college...

 

Anyway, it's still pretty exciting!

Spring Fever! 

Appreciate the Past!

Having now been in Gahanna for the past 12 years, I've had the fortunate blessing of getting to spend time with those that have been a part of the Gahanna traditions many more years than I.  Individuals like Phil Koppel, Ed Rarey, Neil Billman, Forest Lines, the Strait Family, Gary Kitsmiller, Jack Schmidt, Jerry McIntosh and certainly I cannot forget John Hickman.

I just returned to the office this afternoon after spending time with Mr. Hickman, Coach Hickman, John Hickman - in ICU at the hospital.  Along with his wife Janet, I sat and listened as John talked for 45 minutes about his great passion.  Sports!  According to Janet, this was the most Mr. Hickman spoke in several days and it was just great to hear him sharing his stories.  He spoke, somewhat at random jumping from topic to topic, team to team, school to school and even era to era.  Yet, he spoke!  As I stood next to his bed listening and adding when I could as the era turned to a more recent time, it was quite evident that these stories are and will forever be in his memory.

From Gahanna to OSU, to officiating the Olympics as a track and field official, John has great memories of his passion for sports.  Now I'm sure there are memories of family and friends that would've spurred different conversations had someone else been standing next to him today, but today it was me, and his mind was full of stories he seemed excited to share.

The good, no great news is Mr. Hickman seems like he's recovering and / or on his way to getting healthier.  The bad news...I'm not sure he's going to catch that charter to New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl...maybe the National Championship.  Nevertheless, the news that I took away was there were news worthy stories that he likes to spread.  And they involve a lot of former coaches, athletes, families and teams from Gahanna's past.  So as I pulled away, said a prayer for Coach Hickman, I vowed to continue to appreciate those in the past, the past itself and the memories that many store with them as they extend their journey here in this life! 

Sharpen the Blade

It's hard to believe that we are entering the first week of October in the coming days.  This means a number of things;

1) We are midway through the 2014 Football Season
2) Many sports are finishing up their regular season and preparing for those final home games as  
     seniors on their respective teams
3) Golf and Tennis are getting set for post-season play as it begins this week

So, it's a realization of sorts of where we were - just a few short months ago, where we are - whether you're entering the post-season, midway through or approaching the final stretch of the regular season and where we're going - how is it that you choose to be remembered!

Regardless of what phase of the fall season you're in, we can all appreciate the importance of making certain that the values and standards that you stressed so heavily in the beginning of this season are continuing to be of emphasis.  Those values and standards were communicated with coaching staffs, players and parents.  They were discussed, instituted and implemented early on, making sure that everyone understood what is and will be expected. 
But just like the blades of your mower, it's always important for the efficiency and effectiveness of the product - that we take the time to

Sharpen the Blade. 

 

Over the course of the season, we often take for granted or simply forget that in order for your yard to have such a pristine cut - the blade must be sharp! 
Over the course of the season, there have been mows that were unobstructed - no twigs mowed over, no rocks that had surfaced to get in our way, yet there have also been mows that proved a bit more of a challenging environment.  That wind storm that blew through and left countless twigs in your yard; the new obstacles that somehow found their way into your yard (black walnuts or rocks); rain that springs new life and requires the yard to be maintained more often than you had planned.  Nevertheless, it is the overall use of  the mower - obstructed or unobstructed, that we must remind ourselves to take the time and Sharpen the Blade - for our yard to continue to look pristine when we're finished.

Athletics, business, education and life, is reflected in this very same manner.  Over time, we must remind ourselves that we have to Sharpen the Blade!  Don't let your blade get dull, because we simply neglect to pay it attention.  Your yard, your business, your life and your team will look much better in the end!

BUILDING the Legacy

I think when you get a chance to remove yourself from your everyday environment and then return, it provides an opportunity to reflect and in my case, appreciate where you spend your days...nights...weekends...well the vast majority of your time.

Not only where, but with whom and the legacy in which they're defining.

A nice summer vacation in San Diego was a great experience with my family and possibly a blog for another day, but in regards to a reflection on Gahanna Lincoln...boy are we blessed!

As we returned from Port Columbus and heading home, it was simply natural that we circled the stadium to gauge the progress of the stadium construction while away.  It's coming along and due for completion in the coming weeks.  However, that's just a small piece of the blessings that we enjoy in Gahanna Athletics.  A significantly small piece...is that an oxymoron...significantly small?  Anyway my point.

Since we began our Athletic Facility Improvement project, all through private donations, partnership and sponsorships - I have seen firsthand the many blessings that individuals, families and Gahanna businesses have done in support of the $2 million in privately funded improvements for our athletic facilities.  They have unselfishly, sacrificially paid it forward for the athletes and programs today and those to come.  The Bleacher Project is yet another piece.




I think, without offending anyone that has given to our projects...seriously, without the slightest intention of minimizing anything of what you've given...a much greater blessing that we enjoy in the Gahanna Lincoln Athletic programs is not the dollar amounts given, but the legacy that so many are leaving and building.  Those are the legacy of coaches leading our programs, the student-athletes working and competing everyday, the parents and boosters helping to support them, and of course the partnerships I speak of.

We have great people guiding, leading and supporting our programs!

That's a fact!

The accomplishments both in titles and facilities is a direct result!

So in reflection, Thank You!  Thank to the coaches, parents, businesses, families, alumni, individuals, and friends of our programs...Thank You!
You're providing an example for every student-athlete in Gahanna what it means to be supportive, generous, blessed and sacrificial in the blessings that have been bestowed upon you!

Go Lions!  All of you!

Make Your Bed and Don't Ever Ring the bell!

There is absolutely nothing more that needs to be added once you watch and listen to this speech!

"Do Today What Others Won't; Do Tomorrow What Others Can't" - Smoke Jumpers Creed

There's a Chinese proverb that says; "When it's obvious a goal cannot be reached, don't adjust the goal, adjust the action steps."

As much as I would like you to believe that I'm very philosophic and regularly read that of the ancient Chinese proverbs, I'm not.  However, what I do enjoy is a great leadership book and stealing nuggets of information that can better serve out student-athletes, coaches and athletic programs at Gahanna Lincoln.  "The Way of the Seal" by Mark Divine, is a great read and one that would recommend.  Although I'd love to devote this blog to my thoughts on the WOS, I'd much rather share about what's happening now at Gahanna Lincoln Athletics.

It has been my drive to create an environment at Gahanna where our athletic programs and facilities are on par with, or even elevated above those in our conference.

It should certainly be expected! 

Why wouldn't it? 

We hold those very same expectations upon our coaches and programs! 

To get better...To compete...and to win! 

To my amazement throughout my 11 years at Gahanna, our coaches have done just that and beyond, with resources far fewer and lesser than our competing schools in our conference, let alone the state.

So I will assume this latest endeavor of building new home bleachers in our stadium, will not come as a surprise to you. 

I expect that it won't! 

So please don't act surprised when I come to you asking for a donation!  Lol

Do today what others won't!

Since 2003, we...You, have stood shoulder to shoulder together in tackling every initiative, every project - driven to enhance the experience, the competitiveness and the expectations that we have on our athletic programs.  You've risen to meet every challenge...$1,391,000 million worth of privately funded athletic projects for Gahanna Lincoln. 

ALL completed through donations, partnerships and business sponsors.

* Wilbur C. Strait Sr Field

* Dubbs Roush Press Box

* Heartland Bank Baseball Press Box and bleachers

* Ed Rarey Track & Field Complex

* New Gymnasium Bleachers and Auxilliary Gym Flooring

* Upgraded; Weight room, tennis court fencing, softball backstops, baseball field renovations, scoreboards, scorers tables - just to name a few!

That's an impressive list!  You did that...when others wouldn't.

So here we are again...New Home Bleachers in our Stadium.

There were three major components that went into this as I contemplated the decision of finding the funding to make this project happen.

1)    Safety!  Look at that picture.  The foundation is shifted and we've gotten our 40 plus years out of these bleachers.

2) Our programs deserve better!

3) If you're going to do this, do it right the first time!  More than likely, it will be here long after my time at Gahanna is through!

So here we are! Doing today what others won't! 

I have the greatest of confidence that you will embrace this initiative and join myself and countless others that will make this....

 

 

 

 

A reality!  For our school, community, and our athletic programs.

We've never been one to back down from a challenge, even when that challenge is to the tune of $700,000 to upgrade this facility.  The demolition of our existing visitors bleachers has begun, soon you will see a new foundation being set and by summers end, a new bleacher structure that will seat our Gahanna "Home" spectators on the west side of here stadium...no more staring into the sun for you!

How can you help? 

Email me.  Call me. Flag me down at any of our sporting events and I will be happy to give you a brochure on how you can make your commitment. This is a project a long time coming and I can't wait for you to see it!  Pay it forward for the good of the programs today, tomorrow, forty years from now and for the safety of all! 

And let's face it, won't it be less awkward if you reach out to me before I come calling on you for a commitment?

Thank you in advance!

And Go Lions!

Meet the Staff - Boys Soccer Head Coach Todd Keenan

Todd Keenan has been a teacher, advisor, and coach at Gahanna-Lincoln High School since 2002.  He currently teaches students the enlightening subject of Advanced Placement Psychology.  In addition to being the Head Coach of Boys Soccer, he is the co-advisor of Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

In Coach Keenan's first year as Head Coach, the boys soccer team earned OCC Champion and District Champion honors with a final record of 15-2-3.  Prior to being head coach, Coach Keenan previously served the boys soccer program as Assistant Varsity, JV-Gold, and JV-Blue coach.  He spent many years coaching with the local club Gahanna Futbol Club and Gahanna-New Albany Futbol Club.  Coach Keenan played soccer at Otterbein University, where he earned Academic honors.

Coach Keenan and his wife of eleven years, Bridgett, have two children, Landon (10) and Brooklyn (8). 

Coach Keenan's favorite part about coaching the team is the sense of family that the program has developed over many years. 

PROGRAM MISSION:

To respect and acknowledge what those before us have accomplished by demonstrating strong character today to continue to build for a better program tomorrow

COACHES MISSION:

To foster development of each player into a respectful, hard-working, cooperative, and disciplined young man.

GOALS:

To develop stronger, faster, healthier soccer players.

To develop technically proficient soccer players.

To develop tactically sound soccer players.

OBJECTIVES:

To get better as a team every single day.

Earn Shutout every game, Win OCC, Win District, Win Regional, Win State Championship

Get To Work

"Whenever you start - give it your best.  The opportunities are there to be anything you want to be.  But wanting to be someone isn't enough; dreaming about it isn't enough; thinking about it isn't enough.  You've got to study for it, work for it, fight for it with all your heart and soul, because nobody is going to hand it to you." - General Colin Powell

Two stone cutters were asked what they were doing.  The first one said, "I'm cutting this stone into blocks."  The second one replied, "I'm on a team that's building a cathedral."

With any journey that you embark upon, it starts with a dream perhaps, then some preparations - blueprints and goals in order for you to achieve that dream and then the final most important step is work! 

As this summer reaches its midpoint for the start of the fall seasons, we have teams and athletes hard at work.  Yet there are still those that haven't yet committed to the work.  Well, your time of preparation is over.  It's time for you to go to work!

Make the Jump!

 

There are 3 types of people:

Those who MAKE things happen,

Those who WATCH things happen,

And those who say "WHAT HAPPENED?"

Which one are you?

 

Lesson For Today's Agenda

I've struggled to simply put a title to this blog post, so perhaps this that I chose "Lesson for Today's Agenda" might inspire me to write more lessons, or simply settle for this one - as it sums it all up!  I guess we'll see.

Let me just state this fact first and foremost - what I'm about to write about has to do with high school athletics, a game, not life and death nor an event or events that are going to change the course of someone's life, love or happiness.  It's not the most important thing we will do in our lifetime, but perhaps we allow it to be the most important thing we're doing in this moment.

So, in recent weeks we have seen a number of bonehead decisions / choices carried out by a number of our student-athletes.  Those choices have cost them the opportunity to be a part of their team, to compete along side them, to fulfill the goals that the team had set, and in some instances cost them the respect of their peers, coaches and community.  It's certainly not of any criminal extent in which other programs might have gone through or are going through, but it's important and meaningful nonetheless to us, our program, our teams.

I always ask myself questions when things like this occur and I've found myself asking those very same questions in this instance as well.

(Q) What could we have done better / differently?
(A) Nothing.  We can talk, explain, discuss and instill fear into them until we are blue in the face, but we cannot hold their hands when they walk out of this locker room.  One that would be quite ackward - kind of like the Volkswagon commercial...the test drive is over, can we head back to the dealership now?

(Q) What about their parents?
(A) Perhaps they're answering the same as we did above, we cannot be everywhere all the time; they have to grow up sometime; they made their bed, they have to sleep in it.  I think about my young sons now - I tell them "that's not ok", but I can't stop them from doing it when I'm not around them, I simply have to try to prepare and sometimes react after the fact.  Yet, I think about my mom growing up...before cell phones - she seemed to have one of the most extensive GPS Monitoring Systems I've ever experienced before they were even invented - like a honing beacon that was attached to me and my brothers at all times.  She knew exactly where I was, when I was there and what I should not have been doing.  It was scary amazing!

(Q) But the most meaningful question and the Lesson For Today's Agenda of our youth is WHY?
(A) Our students / student-athletes / youth of today are growing up in a society where they don't believe nor understand that it's not all about you!  We have enabled this belief through select and club athletics, where if you don't like a particular piece of the program, you can simply jump ship and find a team or program that is better suited for your agenda.  Parents have enabled this belief by simply giving in to their childs requests by simply handing over that new iPhone 57, iPad or even cash - to gain approval or acceptance from our kids without one ounce of responsibility or the thought of you having to "earn" it. 

We have failed to educate our students / youth that it's not always going to be about your vision, your dreams, or your goals.  That to get the opportunity to pursue your own dreams, you will almost certainly have to succeed in achieving the dreams of others. 
That's what being a teammate is all about! 

Our youth of today don't appreciate or understand that for most of your life, both personally and professionally you will be asked to champion a vision that you didn't create!  Our youth today would much rather ignore it and do their own thing than buy into the vision set by someone else - a coach, teammates, parents, or family.  Championship teams and teammates are those that wholeheartedly accept a vision that they personally did not create, their choices and decisions are made in the sense of the team first and not their temporary immediate gratification, and when those championship teams and teammates are around, they are willing and eager to help accomplish the visions and goals of others before their own.  Yet it's amazing to see that they wind up accomplishing their own goals along the way.

How To Implement Tough Decisions

If you're in a leadership position and haven't read the Good Boss, Bad Boss book by Robert Sutton, I would recommend it.  Here's a little excerpt from the book on how to implement tough decisions in effective and humane ways;

1) Do not delay painful decisions and actions; hoping the problem will go away or that someone else will do your dirty work rarely is an effective path.

2) Assume that you are clueless, or at least have only a dim understanding, of how people judge you and the dirty work that you do.

3) Implement tough decisions as well as you can - even if they strike you as wrong or misguided.  Or get out of the way and let someone else do it.

4) Do everything possible to communicate to all who will be affected how distressing events will unfold, so they can predict when bad thins will (and will not) happen to them.

5) Explain early and often why the dirty work is necessary.

6) Look for ways to give employees influence over how painful changes happen to them, even when it is impossible to change what will happen to them.

7) Never humiliate, belittle, or bad-mouth people who are the targets of your dirty work.

8) Ask yourself and fellow bosses to seriously consider if the dirty work is really necessary before implementing it.  Just because all your competitors do it, or you have always done it in the past, does not mean it is wise right now.

9) Do not mislead or lie to employees, as doing so can destroy their loyalty and confidence, along with your reputation. 

10) Keep you big mouth shut.  Divulging sensitive or confidential information can harm employees, your organization, and you, too.

11) Refrain from doing mean-spirited things to exact personal revenge against employees who resist or object to your dirty work.

12) Do not attempt dirty work if you lack the power to do it right, no matter how necessary it may seem.

Blessing in Return

There was a young lady having lunch at a corner restaurant and reading a letter she received from home.  Upon opening the envelope, she realized there was a crisp, $20 bill enclosed with the letter.  Appreciative and humbled, she continued reading.  As she was reading her letter, she couldn't help but notice outside the window of the restaurant stood a raggedly dress, middle-aged gentleman, that appeared to be down on his luck.  She continued reading, occasionally glancing outside at the man and thinking about his misfortunes.

As she concluded her letter, she thought to herself that perhaps this man would benefit more from the $20 than she.  So she placed the $20 bill inside the envelope and wrote the word "Persevere" on the outside of the envelope.  As she finished her lunch, she nonchalantly dropped the envelope at the feet of the man outside of the restaurant.  She walked away - glancing back and saw the man pick up the envelope, read it and take the $20.  He smiled, tipped his cap and she continued on her way.

The next day, the young lady was walking down that same sidewalk when she felt a tap on her shoulder.  As she turned around, she saw this same man, smiling as he reached out to give her a handful of bills.  "What's this?" the young lady asked.  "It's for you...it's the money you won, lady!"

"Persevere went off at 5 to 1 yesterday!"

Now there is a moral to this story...
It is impossible to unselfishly give of yourself, without receiving a blessing in return.

So today, be thankful and give blessing less fortunate than you!

Return of the Fall!

It's hard to believe that the school years have begun - which seemed like just last week and yet we are into the 5th week of the football season and quickly approaching October.  What's the saying....Time flies when you're having fun?  Time certainly does fly.  Whether you're having fun or not, is simply up to you.

Here at Gahanna Lincoln, I can't imagine too many opportunities when you're not in a position to at the very least enjoy the experiences surrounding you.  We have the fortunate opportunity to be involved in a whole host of events, activities and experiences where fun is just a natural part of the process.  The Gahanna Lincoln Football team is off to a 5-0 start, the soccer programs continue to represent their successes on the field every night they take to the pitch, our cross country programs are beginning to peak for the conference and post season, while tennis and golf get a chance to play their passion seemingly everyday!

Not to mention, we're all walking the halls of Lincoln High School where a sense of family and community is evident every single day.  Who can't enjoy that?

So as I try to find a conclusion to this blog, I guess I'll simply say this - Come out and support our Gahanna Lincoln Athletic programs this fall - it's not just a game, it's truly an experience...and I'm willing to bet that if you just allow yourself, you'll have fun while you're here.
Go Lions!

Fall 2012 Coming Soon!

It's hard to believe the Fall 2012 Gahanna Lincoln Athletic seasons are now just a few short weeks away.  Football begins their grueling two-a-days at the end of July and the balance of the fall sports get start the first week of August.  So let's get ready!

If you are an aspiring student-athlete, make sure you have a current pre-participation physical form on file.

If you're looking to reserve your reserved seats for the home varsity football games this season, fill out an application and return to the Gahanna Lincoln Athletic office.

If you are business and interested in Stadium Banner Advertisement, take advantage of a great sponsorship program we offer.

All of this information and more, can be found at www.gahannalincolnathletics.com

Best of luck to the Lions this coming year.
Go Lions!

Are you a "Go-To" Player?

Winning teams have players that make things happen.  This is an accurate and truthful statement be it in sports, business, government or some other arena.  Those team members who make things happen are your "Go-To" players.  Their consistent competence, responsibility, and dependability are what have elevated their performances to such a namesake.

Few things elevate a person above his or her peers the way becoming a "Go-To" player does.  "Go-To" players are admired and sought after when production is needed.  John Maxwell, described the "Go-To" players in the 360-Degree Leader by the following;

1) Go-To players produce when the pressure is on:
What They Do                                                           Kind of Player 
Never Deliver............................................................Detrimental
Sometimes Deliver....................................................Average
Always deliver when in their comfort zone..............Valuable
Always deliver regardless of the situation.................Invaluable

2) Go-To players produce when the resources are few:
In the times of economic uncertainty or downturn, we have all experienced some form of cutbacks at work, home or in your arena.  It's the leaders that have embraced the times and continued to thrive through ingenuity, adaptability, and innovation that stake their claim as a Go-To player.

3) Go-To players produce when the momentum is low:
*  Momentum breakers - poor attitudes, sabotage the leadership or organization and actually sap momentum as a result.
*  Momentum takers - Neither create nor diminish momentum; simply flow with the momentum as it comes.
*  Momentum makers - These momentum makers, make progress, overcome obstacles and help others move along.  They create the energy within the organization when members of their team is feeling tired or discouraged.

4) Go-To players produce when the load is heavy:
My wife, comes home from work on a weekly if not daily basis talking about how there are not enough hours in her day.  That she has accepted the responsibility of yet another project.  Each with demands and time lines that require her to focus intently on the intricacies of of the other.  Yet, it's her intensity and passion for the team, her willingness and capacity to lift the load when it is needed.

5) Go-To players produce when the leader is absent:
Not to throw any one organization or department under the bus, but I have witnessed and I can assume with some level of certainty, that you probably have as well - the old adage of "when the cats away, the mice will play" or in this case "lay" and do next to nothing.  Those that grab the leadership with the leader is away, distinguish themselves amongst their peers.  In an efficient and effective organization, a leadership vacuum should never be evident.  The Go-To players take the responsibility and opportunity to step up or fill in to prevent such a void.

6)  Go-To players produce when the time is limited:
No matter how tough the situation is - they deliver the goods.  That's just what you do as a Go-To player.  It's in the attitude and tenacity of these players that create the results that are desired in times of uncertainty, in times of toughness, and in the times when the organization or others are depending on the outcome.

Reflection

Your people are a direct reflection of you. 
They watch you.
They follow you.
They measure you.
They listen to you.
If you want them to be dedicated to you, you have to be dedicated to them.
       -Jeffrey Gitomer

Ishita's Meditation

Today, is the final regular session of classes for the Gahanna Lincoln Class of 2012.  And every day for the past 4 years our Principal Mr. Dwight Carter opens the day with a verse of knowledge and closes with these simple words...

"Make it a Great Day or not, the Choice is Yours."

On occasion, I have the great pleasure of filling in for Mr. Carter and sharing - today was one of those days.  So to part ways with this Graduating Class of 2012, I pulled a bit of knowledge from a book titled "Linchpin" by Seth Godin.  Another tremendous read that will challenge you both personally and professionally.

Ishita Gupta wrote,

Every day is a new chance to choose.

Choose to change your perspective.
Choose to flip the switch in your mind.  Turn on the light and stop fretting about with   insecurity and doubt.
Choose to do your work and be free of distraction.
Choose to see the best in someone, or choose to bring out the worst in them.
Choose to be a laser beam, with focused intention, or a scattered ray of light that doesn't do any good.

The power of choice is just that.  Power.  The only thing we have to do is remember that we control the harnessing of that power.  We choose.  Don't let your circumstances or habits rule your choices today.  Become a master of yourself and use your willpower to choose.

Make it a great day or not, the choice is yours!

The End of the Beginning

'This is not the end.  It is not even the beginning of the end.  But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning."  Winston Churchill

As we begin to close out the end of yet another school year, athletic season or fiscal year, it is often fashionable to spend countless hours meeting and evaluating the end of the year, in preparation for the new.  We often meet; evaluate; meet again; establish a committee; continue to meet; all in an effort to fine-tune or perhaps draft an elegant vision statement, value statement, mission statement, purpose statement, objectives statement and so on.

Such projects are are all fine and good - indeed, they can be quite useful - but they're not the essence of a visionary school, team or company. Just because a company has a vision statement, in no way does it guarantee they it will become a visionary company!

The essence of a visionary company, school or team, comes in the translation of its core ideology and its own unique drive for progress into the very fabric of the organization - into goals, strategies, tactics, policies, processes, management behaviors, structures, building layout / assignments, job designs / responsibilities - into everything that the company does.

A visionary company creates a total environment that envelopes employees and team members, bombarding them with a set of signals so consistent and mutually reinforcing that it's virtually impossible to misunderstand the company's ideology and ambitions...this, in essence is it's Purpose! 

So as you close out your year - save your creative energies and fore go that committee of reinventing your "statements", but focus your attention and creative landscape of your organization by making certain that your core ideologies become evident in every member of your organization or team, in every facet of the organization both seen and unseen.  This truly will mark the end of the beginning!

Keep Your Dream!

I have a friend named Monty Roberts who owns a horse ranch in San Ysidro. He has let me use his house to put on fund-raising events to raise money for youth at risk programs.
The last time I was there he introduced me by saying, “I want to tell you why I let Jack use my horse. It all goes back to a story about a young man who was the son of an itinerant horse trainer who would go from stable to stable, race track to race track, farm to farm and ranch to ranch, training horses. As a result, the boy’s high school career was continually interrupted. When he was a senior, he was asked to write a paper about what he wanted to be and do when he grew up.
“That night he wrote a seven-page paper describing his goal of someday owning a horse ranch. He wrote about his dream in great detail and he even drew a diagram of a 200-acre ranch, showing the location of all the buildings, the stables and the track. Then he drew a detailed floor plan for a 4,000-square-foot house that would sit on a 200-acre dream ranch.
“He put a great deal of his heart into the project and the next day he handed it in to his teacher. Two days later he received his paper back. On the front page was a large red F with a note that read, `See me after class.’
“The boy with the dream went to see the teacher after class and asked, `Why did I receive an F?’
“The teacher said, `This is an unrealistic dream for a young boy like you. You have no money. You come from an itinerant family. You have no resources. Owning a horse ranch requires a lot of money. You have to buy the land. You have to pay for the original breeding stock and later you’ll have to pay large stud fees. There’s no way you could ever do it.’ Then the teacher added, `If you will rewrite this paper with a more realistic goal, I will reconsider your grade.’
“The boy went home and thought about it long and hard. He asked his father what he should do. His father said, `Look, son, you have to make up your own mind on this. However, I think it is a very important decision for you.’ “Finally, after sitting with it for a week, the boy turned in the same paper, making no changes at all.
He stated, “You can keep the F and I’ll keep my dream.”
Monty then turned to the assembled group and said, “I tell you this story because you are sitting in my 4,000-square-foot house in the middle of my 200-acre horse ranch. I still have that school paper framed over the fireplace.” He added, “The best part of the story is that two summers ago that same schoolteacher brought 30 kids to camp out on my ranch for a week.” When the teacher was leaving, he said, “Look, Monty, I can tell you this now. When I was your teacher, I was something of a dream stealer. During those years I stole a lot of kids’ dreams. Fortunately you had enough gumption not to give up on yours.”
“Don’t let anyone steal your dreams. Follow your heart, no matter what.”

- Author Unknown

Once in a Lifetime?

I expect each generation can reflect on the amazing athletes that have competed throughout their lifetimes. Some might recall; the feats of the Golden Bear Jack Nicklaus; the coaching legend, John Wooden and his UCLA teams; the Babe; Michael Jordan and his Hall of Fame career as perhaps the greatest basketball player ever; and in the track & field era, the likes of Jesse Owens or Michael Johnson. Many of us can reflect upon the memories of watching each of these individuals or teams competing, be it on TV or if lucky, in person.

Well, here at Gahanna Lincoln, we have that same opportunity in its infancy - this year, on our track.

Jake Blankenship, Gahanna Lincoln student-athlete, University of Tennessee signee, defending State Champion, National Indoor Champion, National Outdoor Champion, State Record Holder indoor and outdoor, and the Bronze Medalist in the World Outdoor Championships in Lille, France.

Jake Blankenship, Gahanna Lincoln pole vaulter will be finishing his senior year at Gahanna Lincoln this spring and offering many of us a few opportunities to see his pole vault career in its infancy. If you've never had the privilege of witnessing a world-class athlete or an athlete that catapults himself over a bar to the heights of 17'6 inches and going for the National Record of 18 feet, then you want to get to a Gahanna Lincoln Track meet over the next few months. He truly is a future All-American and perhaps an Olympian. Knowing the drive and determination of Jake, once his mind is set on achieving a goal...that goal will be met.

This is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity for us to watch a spectacular athlete competing at the highest level. Best of luck to Jake and I hope you'll join me in catching a glimpse of his greatness.

Go Lions!