Spring Training

Many of you (especially Focus Graduates) know my friend and Focus trainer, Ryan Lefebvre, the voice of the Royals. Well, Ryan will soon be making his way to beautiful Arizona to begin spring training with the Kansas City Royals. Tough gig, huh? Yes, while we finish out the winter (which has thankfully been very mild), Ryan and the Royals will be suffering in the near perfect conditions of Arizona.

Have you ever thought about what they are going there to do? The professionals, who are all paid a substantial amount of money, are going back to the basics for one month. Yes, even though they have spent years and years in catching ground balls, fly balls, hitting, bunting, and even base running, The Basics is all they are going to work on for one whole month, just The Basics. No matter how long the professionals have been in the league, they still all go back to the basics - just like how they first started in Little League. Many of them are All Stars or Golden Glove winners, but, it does not matter… they all go back to the basics every spring.

At the start of the season, the great college basketball coach of UCLA, John Wooden “The Wizard of Westwood” would have all players (new and even in their senior year) remove their sneakers, take the laces out and all learn the same and proper way to lace their shoes. You would think they should all know this stuff by now, right? Well, I am sure they do… however; even the pros can get sloppy. Even the pros can skip important steps or techniques and end up regressing or developing bad habits.

This situation can relate to each one of us. Maybe we all need a “spring training” in our lives. It is easy to fall back into your old Comfort Zone and go through the motions of life and not be purposeful or intentional. Steven Covey refers to this as “sharpening the saw.” Right now, some of us are working harder and harder with a dull blade. It is important to take time out just like the pros and sharpen our skills. We all need “sharpening” from time to time to have awareness about ourselves and others. We need sharpening not only for ourselves, but also because others count on us to relate/connect in effective ways, communicate in clear understandable ways, control our emotions, and lead in a positive direction; modeling for them how we can better ourselves.

What are you going to use for your “spring training” this year? Some of our Focus Graduates are returning to do an ILW to sharpen the saw. We have some exciting one day seminars; our next one is “Focus on Couples” on March 10^th. This is followed by “Focus on Finance” April 21^st, “Focus on Singles” July 14^th, “Focus on Women” August 18^th, and “Focus Up” on November 10^th. In addition, Focus is teaming with Mark McAuliffe to offer our graduates a 30, 60, or 90-day post Focus Coaching Program. Call today for more information and/or to enroll. Invest in yourself and take in some good “FUEL”.

The Art of Reframing

“The mind is its own place, and in itself, can make a Heaven out of Hell, a Hell of Heaven.”  ~John Milton

One of my favorite people in Kansas City is Joe Colaizzi. Joe runs the KC Rescue Mission. I have never known Joe to do anything differently since I have been in Kansas City, and Pam and I have lived here for 23 years. During those years, he has championed the cause for homeless men and their needs (Emotional, Mental, Physical and Spiritual). Tirelessly and faithfully, Joe and his staff commit themselves daily to this cause. One day Joe let a group of us know that he had received some disappointing news…they were losing the building they were using to provide shelter, food and other support for the homeless men. Joe also said that ‘he only had a few months to find a new place that would accommodate their needs.’ 

My first thought was, “How overwhelming!”  It’s not like he needed something else to do! Is it not enough that he carries this huge responsibility, but now he must find a new place in such a short period of time??

But, how Joe handled this situation was very different, he told everyone ‘how excited he was about this opportunity.’ He said he ‘couldn’t wait to see how God was going to move and make this situation better than any the Rescue Mission had ever seen.’ Wow! He was excited! Not overwhelmed.

Joe then continues to tell us he ‘can’t wait to see the results in 3 months’ and went on to say he ‘was absolutely caught off guard and had no idea what was going to happen.’ …LOL!  It was remarkable to see how, in the face of misfortune, Joe remains energized, hopeful and uses his Faith to lean on and give him vision and direction. He shifts from problem to opportunity!

Joe gave us a great example of “Reframing”. It is an art. He may have moved a position or shifted his energy, regardless, the “reframing” set him in a direction to problem-solve and meet his challenge.

What is going on in your life where you might need a fresh perspective to deal effectively with today? What do you need to “REFRAME?” I am sure you all have heard the saying “where ever you go, there you are,” …but, what are you bringing with you when you arrive? Hopefully, it is not like the negative energy of an Igor! 

Be like Joe:  Look for the Challenge to become the Opportunity. The best question to ask is not always, “how do I get out of this?” But “what do I need to get out of this?” Practice your Reframing and make the difference you desire.

Also, in case you were wondering… Joe Colaizzi and the KC Rescue Mission have since moved into a remodeled building with more space and new everything with the help of several local corporations and supporters.