Not by Accident

Not by Accident

By Thomas H WickeEducationSelf-ImprovementParentingKids & FamilyStories for Kids
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Not by Accident episodes

  • Not by Accident: Ben Carson's Mom -Episode 6
    Ben Carson's life changed because of his mom and her decisions for her children.  Mr. Carson became a world renown neurosurgeon and was a previous candidate for president of the United States.  He shares the experience when his life turned around, all because his mom required him to do some very hard things (perhaps we will talk about the power of books in a future episode).  Of all the powerful forces in the world, moms may be the most dynamic.  This episode is both a reminder to listen to your mom but also an encouragement to moms -as tired as you are, as ill equipped as you may feel, your love (often in the form of tough love) and purposeful efforts in the lives of your children are beyond measure.  In their character training, you are the most powerful force!
    7 min
  • Not by Accident: The Reluctant Wrestler -Episode5
    Part of growing up is doing things we don't want to do.  Sometimes its inconvenient, sometimes its scarey, sometimes its uncomfortable.  Pushing beyond our own comfort zone is something most people, myself included, don't want to do and avoid at all costs.  But the truth of the matter is there is A LOT to be learned when we try new and hard things.  We may find something that we love and becomes a career... or perhaps we find something we hate.  Either way, we can learn critical lessons and develop qualities we would not otherwise have.   In this podcase we share an interview Mike Rowe (from his own podcast, "The Way I heard It") had with Kevin O'Conner who had just such an experience when he was a teenager.
    7 min
  • Not by Accident Birds on Wire -Episode 4
    Yoda, Nike and Spencer Kimball all identified the great key to personal and character development so many of us struggle with, not because there is anything broken with us but because it is human nature.  We all have aspirations and intentions but so often we just need to "do it".  For Nike it is the tagline that has driven millions of dollars in earnings.  For Yoda, it is the key to making a Jedi:  "Do or do not. There is no try."  In this eqisode, Michael Josephson, founder of The Josephson Institute of Ethics and the nationwide program, Character Counts, shares a story that I adopted years ago and is a mantra in our family:  Five birds were sitting on a wire, two decided to fly south.  How many remained?   Enjoy!
    6 min
  • Not by Accident: Wilbur's home gym -Episode3
    When building character and the corresponding muscle groups--integrity, honor, kindness, patience, persistence, committment to truth, etc.-- you will encounter resistence.  All growth is a product of resistence.  This often happens in unexpected and unwanted ways.  Wilbur Wright is known for changing the world but we share a story of how the world changed him.  In fact, it appeared that the world turned on him in a cruel and undeserved way that derailed him from a promising future.... Or did it?  Did the very unfortunate events of his youth contribute to create a much better and qualified person to change the world of aviation and science than may have happened if he had not encountered these challenges.  Furthermore, his struggle and "setbacks" demonstrate the value of a "home gym".  He found strength and built muscles of character while being streched, fatiqued and broken down in the environment of his home and family -where those who most loved and cared for him could help him lift a heavy set of weights life dealt to him.  An excellent lesson for all of us who may be going through growing pains, training injuries, character rehabilitation or just becoming stronger, better people.
    8 min
  • Not by Accident: Dave's Burden and Greatness -Episode 2
    Life will sometimes hand you difficult and undeserved challenges.  How we respond not only impacts our own happiness but can lift, inspire and strengthen others.  Choosing to be happy, which may be as heroic as any achievment even if done in the quiet and unknown walls of our own home, takes courage, sustained effort and a focus on others.  All these are critical elements of character and halmarks of a virtuous person.  These are illustrated by a painful real-life experience shared by, Dave, a caller to the Dennis Prager Radio show.
    6 min

About Not by Accident

From the publisher's feed

Becoming and raising good people does not happen by accident.  Nothing that is worthwhile, valuable or magnificent happens by default  -not a marriage, not a career, not children who grow…