Today's encouragement: focus FIRST on the important things in your "yard". Take a look at your 3 foot circle of influence, and make that a priority over the outside noise, things that feel immediate, and all of the other things begging for your attention. First, Guard Your Yard.

I'm pulling for you,

Bryan 

We won't always be at our best. The conditions won't always be optimal. We'll be sore, tired, or outmatched from time to time. 

In these instances, we can't make the "music", meaning, we won't be performing as well, as beautifully, or in the optimal state of flow that we might desire. 

But, we can still let them know we are there. We can still show up and be counted. We can still make some noise. 

I'm pulling for you,

Bryan 

Asking yourself a few challenging questions may help you get to what really matters. What's really on your mind? What's really in the way? What's the real problem that needs to be solved? 

I'm pulling for you. 

...we fill in the gaps.

Pay attention to this on both sides.

1) Know that you are likely filling in some gaps or making some assumptions, when dealing with others, when you don't have all of the facts. 

* The best way to get the facts, is to ask. Pay attention to when you are assuming the truth. 

2) Know when you are leaving gaps in your own communication with others. Whenever possible, fill in those blanks so the other party doesn't have to. 

The quote comes from Ben Zander, and goes on to say..."not because you have done a measurable amount of good, but because it is the story we choose to tell"

Remember, we can control the narrative, we can choose our thoughts, and we can live into the person we desire to become. 

I'm pulling for you! 

Sometimes, we can begin with the end in mind. 

Other times, the end may feel too far away, too hard to see, or too uncertain. Maybe we don't even know what we want the end to look like. 

In that case, we can move forward from positive situations. Find the good stuff and go from there. 

Being positive doesn't mean you have to lie, or create a false reality. 

But you can choose to control the narrative, you can choose your thoughts (even if it takes a couple of tries), and you can choose to find some good in the adjacent. 

I'm pulling for you!

A great word, and some great encouragement. 

The art of abiding with things exactly as they are. 

Listen in as I sit down for a chat with LaGrange College Women's Basketball Coach, Jasen Jonus. 

Jasen is the husband of a former player of mine, and coaching the same program that I was once fortunate to be a part of, so it was a real treat to talk with him. 

Topics include the underrated career of Spud Webb, the importance of personal balance and routine, how to manage our perspectives while trying to make an impact, and how we can better serve our players, students, and young people in today's environment. 

Thanks for listening! 

Tune in to today's chat with my man Sam Feeney. Sam is a former educator with experience in career counseling. After moving out of his role in the traditional field of education, Sam has worked as a coach, consultant, author, and all around go-getter. I always enjoy chatting with Sam because he's not afraid to dream big, and he's not afraid to do the work required to pursue those dreams.