The Coach Who Never Punts

Apply this type of attitude to business, and life, and you'll be a winner for sure. This video should be shared with everyone from the mail room to the board room.

"There are those kinds of people that want to be different because they just want to be different, and there are those kinds of people that want to be different because they are looking for something to help them be more successful." ... beautiful.

This coach takes a calculated risk every time he goes out on the field. He knows the percentages, who knows the odds; he generally knows what his team can and will do. What's interesting I think, is that he removes the the one factor that most football players expect, to punt on 4th down.

I can remember as a football player I hated punting. I hated it for a few reasons. One, I wasn't on special teams as it's called, and so I had to come out, which really sucks. Two, most of the time we could have made the yardage needed for a first down, but were denied the opportunity to try because traditionally if you punt you have a better chance of stopping the other team from scoring, and giving yourself another shot to score. But that is really not true.

Thirdly, it gave the entire team the feeling they were failing and the coaching staff didn't trust them to make the big plays. This is very demoralizing.

Do you give your team the same out? Do you push them to play through the fourth down, or cut out early on a project, scale back deliverables because there doesn't appear to be enough time, or the challenge seems to difficult? I would suspect a good leader, someone who knows their team, knows their ability, knows their drive, will let the team push through on fourth and goal, and not opt out for success.

I know the entrepreneur mantra is fail and fail often to reach success. I agree nothing is gained with nothing attempted, and this coaches attitude and drive would seem to fit right along those lines. Don't quit on fourth down, the odds are in your favor for success.

#business #leadership #life

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Trying And Failing Really Sucks

I've always been the type of person who wants to learn everything. I have spent a good portion of my life trying to stay ahead of whatever curve was in front of me for fear that I would be left behind. So in a mad dash to make sure I'm immersed in whatever will help me stay ahead (programming, mobile, fitness), I take on about 100% more than I can actually do. I know from past experience I will fail at some things, find I don't have time for others, or decide to change course. But all of this mean many things fail, and that really sucks.

I know failing is the new word for try. As Yoda says "do or do not, there is no try." I don't know anyone who likes failing. A couple of days ago I was having a discussion with someone who was trying to decide what type of decision maker I was. Would I be someone who would try a hundred things until I found the right answer, or would I take my time, think through a problem, look at multiple options, then make a decision. I know in their mind they liked the try and fail a hundred times option because it "looked" like effort was being made. But I'm the later. I can make quick decisions if I'm given enough information. And for the times when I have very little information, I might take longer to make a decision. There are few cases in this world where choosing to fail a hundred times at something to come up with a solution trumps thinking through a decision, either in your head or with a team.

So why am I bringing this up? Well, all of this start, stop, fail, succeed, has given me an opportunity to think of what's next. Martin Sheen's character President Bartlet in the TV series The West Wing used the phrase "what's next?" when he got the point and wanted to move on. I love that phrase. I've done the same things  for over 30 years, now I want to move on... what's next?


Here are a few things on my What's Next list:

• I'm finally over managing web servers. I can't stand it any more, and I simply don't have the stomach to worry about all the possible issues that could go wrong. It's not part of my core focus. So I'll be transitioning all of my websites onto something that some company manages for me. I just want to write.


• Speaking of writing, that's the next big part of my next... writing more. Expanding and broadening my knowledge of some technologies, exploring their long term values, and of course finally putting pen to paper (so to speak) on Old Coder Comics. I've had this idea for a while, and I really want to put some effort into that. I also want to finally finish the ten sci-fi and thriller stories I've started and stopped.


• Fitness. It's never been part of my everyday fabric. But it needs to be.


• Photography. This is simply a pleasurable thing. But my problem has been putting in the time to really learn the craft. I don't want to be a pro. I don't want to call myself a photographer (so I don't incense my real photographer friends), but I do take pictures.

While I've spent a good majority of my life learning the intricacies of programming languages, staying up all night to write code, fix a broken site, and generally try to come up with ideas for the next big thing, it's simply not what I truly want to focus on. I'll try and fail for sure at some of this. Failing really sucks, but, it's also a great way to learn. I've sure typed a bunch of I's in this post. But that's what you get today.

Photo credit andrewhurley

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Well The Sabatical Didn't Last Too Long

@JesseStay said I would be back. And he's right. But it wasn't the reason I thought I would be back. So I'm posting on this blog again. Thanks to everyone who gave me some new things to try.

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Must Watch Video - The Last Lecture

Last year I watched Randy Pausch give his Last Lecture, a lecture series (re-named) from people who were asked to give a lecture as if it were going to be your last. It just so happened to be Randy's. I've been very interested in his ability to remain so positive while facing certain death.

I love watching this video, and will soon be reading his book with the same title, The Last Lecture (which is sold out everywhere), as soon as my copy is shipped from Amazon.

There are only a handful of people who face the end of their life as if they have for ever to live. Randy sets a great example for everyone, sick or not. Please watch this video and get his book, and then remember to smile.

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I Might Be Down But Not Out

It's been a few weeks since I've posted anything and it feels really weird because I had been on a roll publishing something everyday. But alas years of neglecting my body has caught up with me. No one can sustain themselves on all night binges and running non-stop for the twenty years. So I must slow down and smell the roses as it were.

Ironically my problems began about the same time Marc Orchant passed away (please visit the site for a donation link). I didn't know Marc personally but knew him him online. It was very sobering to know he wasn't much older than myself. This has been a personal wake up call. The past week or so I've tried to remove myself from stressful situations, reduce my work load and move a little slower. My doctor has put me on a good healthy routine and says my future is up to me.

I appreciate all the well wishes I've received, but I am doing fine. I may not be as vocal as I've been in the past but I'm still here.

I also wanted to apologize to those who have not been able to get to my site over the past week. Not sure what happened but I think I finally got it all ironed out yesterday. Feedburner also removed all of my RSS subscribers, just when I was trying to increase them. Anyway, if you can, please reconnect to my RSS feed, it should be working now.

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Honoring American Veterans

I had the privilege of serving in the United States Marine Corps twenty something years ago. It was one of the best things I could have ever done. Countless thousands have served before and after me. But there is one common factor among all of us; our desire to keep America free. The reality of our time is the necessity of a strong defense. Whether it was you or someone you know, average Americans become extra ordinary by taking on the responsibility to defend the very freedom each of us enjoys.

We could get into a bunch of political debates about where our Country is, but that's not what today is all about. Honoring our Veterans is the moral and appropriate thing to do. If it were up to me all Veterans would get the day off with pay for the rest of their lives. It's important that we remember these people, where might we be without someone willing to put their life before yours?

Thank you, every vet, past and present, for your honorable service and sacrifice. Many are not with us and while it's heart breaking, we know that with out their actions we would not enjoy what we have today.

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Numb To What Has Become Commonplace

Posted by mobile phone:
Jim Long is a guy I would love to follow around and experience life as he sees it. His job as an NBC cameraman gives him a unique opportunity to experience life as it happens. Jim chooses to share some of his experiences with his friends on Twitter. I'm lucky to be one of those friends.

The other day Jim flew with President Bush to San Diego and he gave us a behind the scenes look at how it was going. But one tweet caught my eye and I'm not sure anyone really caught it. Her is what he said right after landing back in Washington:

newmediajim: as our plane taxis we pass an honor guard placing a coffin in a hearse here on base

Jim has seen this many times but the general public doesn't. Brave soldiers are still dying in Iraq and Afghanistan. Whether you agree with our current military actions or not, our fellow Americans are giving their lives. Lets not forget them please.

Thanks Jim for remembering the things that are still important.

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Benefit Dinner for Injured Utah Father

Hey all, there is a dinner tonight to benefit a friend of Ash Buckles who was paralyzed from the chest down in an auto accident a few weeks ago. This man is a Father of two and has one due in a few weeks. This is an extreme hardship on the family and his friends are trying to do what ever they can. Visit Ash's blog for more details on the dinner.

To take it one step further, if you can't make the dinner, please consider donating to the Family. There is a PayPal button on Ash's website that will let you donate what ever you feel you can. I've seen this community come together to support those in need. We need to do it now. Thanks for your support.

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No GTD Tool Required

I read a blog by Patti this morning that has more more sense of the whole GTD (Getting Things Done) syndrome than many I have read. Patti seems to have gone down the same path I did after reading David Allen's famous book Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity. Being the geek I am, there had to be some type of technology to make it work. After spending more time than should have been spent, I came to the same conclusion Patti did: you don't need a software tool to implement GTD.

This is my GTD tool. A Molekine notebook. Could be any notebook. In the past it was 25 cent notepads from Wal-Mart. Those wore out too fast so I upgraded. The only real change I've made to my system in a long time. I know from past experience when I write something in my Moleskine its in a trusted spot and I keep the book with me where ever I go. Dumping what's in my head into the Moleskine has made my life very manageable. Geeks often try and over complicate things. This is supposed to be a simple solution. So keep it simple.

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Exploits of a Mom

This is a great comic strip. Check it out.

http://xkcd.com/327/

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Helping To Find A Cure For Multiple Sclerosis

I have a vested interest in finding a cure for Multiple Sclerosis. There are so many lives affected by MS, and most people you see who have MS you wouldn't be able to tell. It's a debilitating disease that eventually robs a person of all their motor skills. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society describes it this way:

MS is thought to be an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system (CNS). The CNS consists of the brain, spinal cord, and the optic nerves. Surrounding and protecting the nerve fibers of the CNS is a fatty tissue called myelin, which helps nerve fibers conduct electrical impulses.

Several of my close Family members have MS. I would love to see a cure happen in my life time. It's important to continue researching what causes this disease. Who gets MS?

Approximately 400,000 Americans acknowledge having MS, and every week about 200 people are diagnosed. Worldwide, MS may affect 2.5 million individuals.

There are many ways you can get involved in helping the fight MS. The MS Society has a great list here.

ProBlogger.net, as part of their Birthday Bash, and a sponsor FreeMoneyFinanace.Com are giving away $1000 to the winners favorite charity. Mine would be the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. I would encourage you to donate as well.

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Please support Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I encourage everyone who has a blog or web site to post some type of banner with a link to The Pink site.

I like to think beyond just breast cancer and honor everyone who is fighting the disease, or who has lost the battle. My Wife's Mother passed away nearly 12 years ago of cancer. It was a very sad time in our Family. Cancer is cruel not only to the person who has it but to their Family as well.

There is still a lot work to be accomplished in finding a cure for cancer. Please consider donating time or resources to the efforts.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

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Flags of Honor

The city of Sandy, Utah, put out flags around its city hall called the Utah Healing Field, in honor of the Americans who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. Each flag has the name of each person killed.

All of the pictures can be seen here.

News article here.

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In memory of lives lost on 9.11.2001

The Wall.

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President James E. Faust Passes Away

The second counselor of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints passed away today. The full story on President Faust and his legacy can be found on LDS.org.

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Life can turn on you in a second

This poor guy had no idea his life was about to take a drastic turn. I have a very good friend who runs an excavating business. I am always concerned when I see accidents like this that it was one of his guys, or even my friend. Be thankful your job doesn't require you to pull down mega-ton buildings all day.

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Props to my Peeps

This weeks props go out to the people living in my neighborhood, and another Twitter friend DayngrGirl.

Last week there were several severe rain storms that dropped and incredible amount of rain in a very short amount of time. One particular family living just a few streets away from me experienced flooding in their basement. They lost many possessions and spent several days trying to clean up the mess.

Our neighborhood instituted an emergency preparedness group for situations just like this. After a few phone calls this family had dozens of people coming to their aid; cleaning up water and mud, washing and drying clothes and brining meals for the family to eat. It was exciting to see the neighborhood spring to action and help any way they could.

DayngrGirl get a prop for her efforts in promoting a service connecting people with service men and woman via the Internet at a site called eMail Our Military. As quoted from the website

Thanks for visiting and taking the first step towards making a difference in the life of a military service member.

Our troops deserve our respect, encouragement and admiration for their tireless dedication to keeping us safe and secure. As they are separated from their loved ones at home, your participation in eMOM gives our troops the support and encouragement they need and deserve.

Please help keep the support, motivation and encouragement going to our troops by joining our effort.

Thank you DayngrGirl for all your efforts.

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Giving Props To My Peeps

This weeks Props go out to my daughters who spent the last 4 days walking the Martin Handcart Co. pioneer trail. There is a lot more to the story and I am waiting for the full report which I will post as soon as I get it from them. Previous post about the trek.

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Show us your work space

I'm curious what everyone's work space looks like. A few years ago I thought I would take one picture every work day of my work space. Sort of like a 365 project. It didn't last too long. Here is one
picture of my old space. Here is a picture of my new space.

Leave comments on this post with a link to a picture of your workspace and I'll do a write up on the most unique space posted.

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I lost a trusted friend today

I've had this pack for nearly 4 years. I've taken it everywhere. I've carried most of my geek life in this bag. But today one of the plastic latches broke, where it's stitched to the shoulder harness, rendering it useless. I'll try and jerry rig something, but I'm still in mourning. If you ever need a great back pack that has an incredible amount of space and is very laptop friendly, this is the one for you.

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