The Blog

Visit almost any high school or college campus in the late afternoon hours of the day and you’ll notice one thing for sure; fall sports are in full swing. And I, for one, absolutely LOVE this time of year. I love it because I’m a fan. I love it because of all the great things young people can gain from the hard work, dedication, and commitment that accompany these experiences. But most importantly, I love it because of the incredible opportunities I know coaches are being given each day to impact the lives of young people in very unique and lasting ways.

It’s with this in mind, I thought I’d share a letter from my good friend Joe I recently came across. I think it’s a great reminder of not only the opportunity many of us have to impact others, but of the responsibility that comes with that opportunity. I hope you’ll be encouraged by this note from a wise janitor!

With all the hype around the upcoming College Football National Championship I thought I’d share with you a few cool things happening in the world of LEAD…for God’s Sake.

Ohio State’s Head Football Coach Urban Meyer has continued to be a huge part of this journey, and as he prepares for another shot at the top, he has continued to reference the book as one of the key “game changers” in his life leading up to this point. Below are comments he shared at the National Championship Media Day, after being asked about LEAD…for God’s Sake and how often he references it.

I’m so appreciative of his genuine heart for this message! But most importantly, it’s been an incredible blessing to see the consistent peace in his eyes as he’s climbed back to this spot!

Stay tuned over the next few days for stories I’ve been interviewed for on popular platforms such as ESPN.com (story will be posted Sunday and Monday), Fansided.com (a part of SI.com (Sports Illustrated)), and I’ll also be live on the Doug Gottlieb Show Monday at 5:00PM. Don’t forget to tune in!

Thanks again for helping us share the message!

We, the people, watch in disbelief. With tear-filled eyes and heavy hearts filled with empathy, despair and anger, we wonder. We question. We cry. In our churches, in our businesses, at sporting events, in government buildings, on college campuses, and in our schools...we wonder. We question. We cry. Sadly, as we search for answers, our society has conditioned us to look outward more than inward. More often than not, this approach takes us to one of the most polarizing subjects in America today: legislation. From issues of gun control, to violence in mainstream media, to pulling God out of schools and government buildings, you name it – when it comes to these issues, we are a deeply divided nation. And yet – this still seems to be the first place we look to solve our society’s problems. Please don’t misunderstand me, I do agree that laws have their place, and serve a purpose in our country. However, legislation has never, and will never solve the deepest issues we face as a society. Why? Because these issues are issues of the heart – and they start in the home!

The issues of the heart start with each and every one of us as individuals.

I recently had a conversation with a talented young leader considering a career change. As he shared nuggets of advice he’d received from his mentors, I listened intently, affirming most of what he’d been told. But then, he shared one particular piece of advice that really struck me. It came in the form of a precautionary question, and went something like; “…are you sure you’ll be okay walking in the shadow of your new boss?” At first, I thought this was a good question for him to consider. After all, this young leader was a shooting star destined to make a huge mark in society. With his talent, the last thing he needed was to be overshadowed or trapped serving some other leader’s needs. It was obvious, he was born to lead, not follow…right?

The truth is, the more I thought about this question the more it bothered me. Not because it was a bad question, but because the way this question was asked points to a dangerous trend in how our culture is conditioning our young leaders to think about the concept of walking in the shadow of another. It seems we’ve led them to believe that the more talent they have, the faster they should be at the top telling others what to do.

“Forty miles-per-hour? The speed limit is fifty…are you serious?” Of course, this was only the first of a flurry of comments that spewed from my mouth as I drove near the bumper of the “Ya-hoot” (as I kindly referred to him) in front of me. I was on my way to a speaking engagement and this guy was obviously on his way nowhere. And, as perfectly spaced on-coming cars kept me from passing, I found myself stuck, following him nowhere for what seemed like an eternity -- until finally, his left blinker flashed. “Yes!” I shouted, with freedom in sight. Then ... it happened; he decided to play it safe and wait until the lone car, still a quarter mile away and practically crawling toward us, had passed. It was all I could take. On the brink of a melt down I gunned it, swerved right, and flew past him leaving only inches between the two vehicles, while both tires spun through the yard on the right. As I passed the car, still mumbling under my breath, my wife flashed a look of astonished disgust at me -- then shared a few well-deserved words of reprimand regarding my behavior.

Within minutes I was calmly driving the speed limit again reflecting upon what had just happened -- and the irony in it.