TRAIN HARD, BE TOUGH, THINK BIG

Character Education-

Dale Carnegie's Steps to..........

Building Personal Relationships

• Never criticize, condemn or complain.
  • Self-criticism is extremely rare. Your criticism won’t be welcome.
  • Criticism makes others defensive and resentful.
  • Positive Reinforcement works better. (Praise good behavior)

• Become genuinely interested in other people.
  • People are most interested in themselves.
  • Remember people’s birthdays and other important details.

• Talk in terms of the other person's interests.
  • Find the interests of others and talk about those things.
  • If you know nothing of their interests, ask intelligent questions.

• Be a good listener.
  • Give your exclusive attention to others.
  • Urge others to talk about themselves. Ask pointed questions.

• Make the other person feel important.
  • People yearn to feel important and appreciated.
  • Praise others’ strengths and they’ll strive to reinforce your opinion.

• Use Names whenever possible.
  • Nothing’s more beautiful to a person than their name.
  • Use Nicknames.

• Smile.
  • Greet others with smiles and enthusiasm.
  • Smiling comes through even over the phone.

Pat Croce's Ten Rules of Customer Service.

• Be proactive- make things happen don't wait for things to happen to you.  Initiate and make your own experiences. Ask before waiting to be asked.
• Begin with the end in mind- be goal oriented- start with a goal then take stock in the road that gets you there.  Embrace the road- love the road- it's the path to your dreams.
• Put first things first- learn to prioritize- make lists- plan your days- your days will be filled with action and accomplishments.
• The Relationship Bank Account- great relationships are made, earned, and worked through- they just don't happen- life is not a 2 hour crap-filled melodrama.  The relationships worth caring about are enduring and take commitment and caring to nourish their existence.  Don't expect people to love you for being you- give them something to love.
• Think Win-Win- Teens often are overwhelmed by what they can't do- or aren't supposed to do- this line of thinking is futile and pointless- all of life's greatest elements exist in a realm of positive energy- the more you stay in this realm- the more positive things come your way. Learn from your mistakes- own them- but bury them and move on. Some of our worst failures plant the seed the blossoms into our masterpieces.  Go into every endeavor with a light air of possibility- do the best you can do- that's all the matters and that's all you can control.
• Seek First to Understand- then to be understood- years ago I concocted a line in the middle of an outburst- it went something like "what Am I talking to you for? YOU KNOW IT ALL!!!" Know-it-alls can't learn anything- Learning creates growth- growth is improvement- if you're not growing you're falling behind- be modest enough to hear people through- be interested enough to seek wisdom. Be a life-long learner- success follows wisdom.
• Synergize- learn to seek help- learn to build bridges- connect with others- we can do much more as a group than we can as individuals. Presently we use University to coin an institution of higher learning- Plato referred to university as a place where people exchange information. With exchange we have healthy growth and perspective- each person has a vast array of experiences that are separate and different from our own- everybody has their own story to tell- as Ralph Waldo Emerson said- ""Every man is my superior in that I may learn from him."  Seek wisdom-ask questions- learn to cooperate and include yourself.  Whatever you do - contribute!
• Sharpen the Saw- life is about improving- those at the top of their game sharpen their saw to stay there and acknowledge that others are gaining on them- the harder we work in life the more we can expect to be rewarded.  Perfection is an impossibility- true success is determined by one's fulfillment of their potential.

  Coach Wayton's Tips

1.  My father used to tell me all the time as a kid “It only takes a little more to go first class”. Take the extra step- bridge the gap between ordinary and extraordinary.  Put in the time- you’ll gain the respect of others and eventually succeed.

2. It’s better to be good than to be nice- nice is wearing a snazzy hat in public- good is who you are. Invariably, when a serial murderer is apprehended the little old lady next door says “Oh he seemed like such a nice boy”.  Nice doesn’t cut it, good runs deep.

3. Celebrate success- when you or someone you love accomplishes something- celebrate it- you earned it!!!! You, your family, and your buddies need to acknowledge your efforts! This doesn’t mean you rest upon your laurels- or boast to those you surpassed ( “drive your Bentley down skid row”).   Rather celebrate and recognize your individual and collective benchmarks.  Have pride in your pains. Make your successes special- it’ll make working for future accomplishments more meaningful.

4. Acknowledge mistakes. Wear them- don’t dwell on them but make them your own.  The easiest thing for someone to do when they fail is to project the failure onto others.  This is blaming and those who blame are amongst the most putrid on Earth.  Be the captain of your ship! It’s easier to take credit for your successes after you’ve owned your failures.

5. Enthusiasm- enthusiasm is a choice- be excited about who you are, what you’re doing, and where you’re going.  You’re effort will multiply and your journey will be rewarding, fulfilling, and meaningful.  You should be excited about what you’re doing, it’s your life after all.

6. Positive attitude.  With a positive mental attitude your world becomes a series of possibilities, opportunities, and accomplishment.  People with positive attitudes spend their days doing and moving; people with negative attitudes sit and dwell and procrastinate because they expect failure and futility.   Winners do, losers stew.

7.   “Make everyone you meet feel like the most important person in the world”. Another one from my Dad.  Try to make every person you meet smile- when they see you coming the next time they'll know they’re in for a party.

8. Keep up appearances. You don’t have to dress to the 9’s but be presentable at all times.  It comes down to pride and how you value yourself and your possessions.  Eat right and be neat, your healthy appearance will attract admirers and gain you status. Plus YOU’LL FEEL BETTER!!!

9. Stay in your ‘yard’.  Be good, do good.  Your yard should be full of good deeds and values.  Don’t stray.  Have a value system and believe in it.  Consistency is the most fruitful element of growth.  The best gardeners are also the best teachers, parents, coaches, leaders.  It’s not enough to water sporadically, it’s certainly not enough to let “nature run it’s course” (ugh…. that’s neglect).  You have to tend to your life as you would to a garden.  The more consistent care you apply the more beautiful your life will become.  Tend to yourself, tend to your journey, every day.  This takes commitment to self and task.

10. Loyalty- reward the people you love with dependability and reciprocity.    Protect and nurture your biggest fans, acknowledge other’s love by returning the favor.  

11. Write letters and give thanks.  It’s easiest to send an email of thanks or shake someone’s hand.  Both are good.  Writing a letter is better.  Letters are lasting, words are semi-permanent to others.  Take the time.

12. Winners do what losers don’t want to do.  Plain and simple.  When I was a kid my father gave me a sign that said “when you’re not training someone somewhere is, and when you meet them they will win".  There’s much justice in life- and often times you’ll be beaten by someone who took the steps you ignored.  

13. Be a life-long learner. Reading is to the mind what running is to the body. Seek wisdom! The more you know the better informed you are, the better informed you are the better decisions you'll make- the better decisions you make the more successful you'll become.  Be curious!!! You'll be a deeper and more interesting person. Your conversations will run deep.  Knowledge is power!!! To seek truth one must first ask questions.

14. Contribute.  Be a part of whatever you do- life's too short to participate- make your mark!!!

15. Be patient.  Don't forsake the forest for the sake of one tree.  Think Big. Don't let small set backs discourage you.  Stand your ground and don't lose sight of your dreams.