Focus-Failure

Tags

Nashville Predators, NHL, One Word 2011, Ryan Suter

Continuing my One Word 2011 theme for this year, I want to look at a Focus on Failure.

How do you respond to Failure?

Does it break you down or make you stronger?  Do you view it as a lesson or just an evil part of life?

I think failure is paramount to success.  In fact, I think without it you never truly are successful.  I believe that through Failure we are able to look back, assess and plan strategies in our businesses, pastoral communities, marriages and friendships that in the end make us better at our jobs, stronger spouses and also more reliable friends.

If you are not careful and don’t view it as a tool, however, it can crush your spirit and make you weak and ineffective.

The video below is from the Hockey Game is was at last night.  A win for us (Yeah) but there was a moment that was a complete failure.  Ironically, the player involved Ryan Suter, is considered one of the best in the NHL.  He was key on defence for Team USA in the Olympics and rarely makes mistakes on the ice.  Last night however, he personally make two huge mistakes and deflected two different shots into our own goal in a critical game.  In the end, we still won, but this was Failure from his standpoint.

How will he respond?  I know.  I have seen it before.  He will work on the ice today and tomorrow to tweak his game and Saturday he will be as solid as ever.  He accepts failure as a chance to learn, grow and become a better player.

So, how will you accept Failure today?  Embrace it?  Learn from it?  Or, will you let it break your spirit?

How I Finished Thanksgiving

Tags

Nashville Predators, Tennessee Titans, Thanksgiving

Ham on Thanksgiving Day.

Shopping on black Friday.

A Predators Win on Saturday and the finishing of Christmas Lights.

and then….I finished my Thanksgiving weekend and break with this.  What a way to cap it all off.  And I was lucky enough to be there live to see it all unfold.

 

Jesus and Hockey

Tags

Christianity, Hockey, Nashville Predators

I need your feedback.

First of all I am a Christian.

Secondly, I have a dark sense of humor.  Sometimes a bit out there.

Third, I am a HUGE Hockey Fan.  Nashville Predators to be exact.

So, I found a shirt that combines all of the above.

I need your opinion…offensive or celebrating that God does have a sense of humor?

On The Glass

Tags

children, Hockey, Nashville Predators

Well.

I think I have accomplished one of my main goals as a good father.

I have created a Hockey Fan.  Yup.

I know I should be focused on instilling a strong faith, a focus on family and good strong moral values, and I am.

But last night, I could not have been more proud of my little girl.  She not only understood what was happening in the game I love, she LOVED it too.

Aaaahhh, the good life.  Plus we got to share the moment together On The Glass!

What is a moment you remember with your parents or kids that you cherish?

10 Things About Me

Tags

A Christmas Story, Ace of Cakes, Bones, Chuck, Hockey, Househunters, Lost, Mexican Food, Nashville Predators, QBQ, Scooter, Starbucks

One time at a sales meeting we did this exercise called 10 things.  We were each supposed to each write down 10 things about ourselves and then the person next to us would tell the group about what you wrote.

Well…ready or not….here are 10 things about me.

Favorite Movie… A Christmas Story (The one with the Red Rider BB Gun)

Favorite Book… QBQ by John Miller

Favorite Sport…Hockey (Favorite Team is the Nashville Predators)

Career… Educational Sales

Wife and Children…Yes, and a 5 year old girl…way awesome.

Favorite Food…Mexican

Favorite Hang Out…Starbucks

Things that drive me crazy… religious hippocrates…nothing worse than someone who tries to tell me how to live my life but doesn’t practice it in their own.

Favorite TV Shows… Ace of Cakes, Househunters International, Chuck, How I Met Your Mother, Bones, Lost (hey, at least I am man enough to admit to the first few)

My Next Big Purchase… A scooter..Yep, a bring and shiny scooter to ride around town.  Hey, it is about saving the environment man!  Well, that and my wife won’t let me get another full sized motorcycle so this will be the next best thing…plus I can still wear my helmet with the skull and cross bones on it….bad to the bone man.

And finally, I have to put something that no one really knows about me….so here it is….it is big….ready…

I once worked as a character in a major amuzement park…can’t say who or what I was because I try and keep that close although some may know.  Best job ever!  Ok, so you may not think it is that big.

So, now that you know about me, what about you?

What is one thing that very few people know about you?

The Time Has FINALLY Come

Tags

Football, Hockey, Nashville, Nashville Predators, Soccer

Today, is the last day.

Tomorrow is the day.

The stars align, the sun shines bright (well usually it gets cloudier) and my life falls into place.

Children dance and sing.  My business bustles and every gas station in Nashville has fuel (fingers crossed).

Do you know what time it is….it is my favorite time….

HOCKEY SEASON!  Tomorrow at 6pm sharp the rookies kick off the pre-season for the Nashville Predators and my happy little bottom will be sitting in my seats with a smile on my face looking forward to 40 glorious nights of hockey.

The excitement overwhelms me like a child on Christmas morn. 

What gets you absolutely jazzed?  Football, Hockey, Soccer?  First Snow (if we have it)?  A big sale at work maybe?  Let me know….I want to know what people get really excited about.

56 Days And Counting

Tags

Hockey, Nashville Predators

OK…I got to mark 57 off my calendar and am now down to 56.

Yup…only 56 more days…

56 more days until I can pull out my sweater.  56 more days until I can throw on my yellow hat with autographs….56 more days until I can go to my favorite event.  Buy my popcorn from downstairs and diet coke with mm’s up on the 3rd level.  See my neighbors (other ticket holders I have been around for a long while).  Hear the opening line ups, and what I long to hear most of all….the goal horn.

56 days until the most pure of sports starts for me…

HOCKEY!!!!  Even more so…Nashville Predators Hockey.

A New Season, with new starts and new opponents coming into town….I cannot wait.

But all of this makes me think…..I get crazy excited for Hockey and you probably for another sport or event.

What gets you crazy excited?  Excited enough to start organizing your jerseys or whatever 2 months from the event?

Baby, Did You Check The Big Kid Into The Wall?

Tags

Daughter, Father, Hockey, Nashville Predators, YMCA

Well.  One of the greatest moments in my life happened yesterday.

Something that only a Father like myself could imagine.

A day that will go down in my house as legendary.  Well, maybe not with my wife, but with me.

It was the day my daughter picked up her first HOCKEY STICK….YEAH!

If you all know me, you know that I am a HUGE Hockey Fan.  Like one of epic proportion.(See side bar links to Hockey Buzz and Nashville Predators)  I fall one step short of face painting before games and the only reason for that is because I don’t want to get any on my Hockey Sweater.  Yes, it is a sweater, not a jersey.  Makeup is not allowed on a Hockey Sweater, only blood!

So, yesterday, the Nashville Predators Organization came out to our local YMCA to teach the kids the basics of hockey.  It was awesome (not just for me) as the kids got to learn from some of the coaches and staffers from the Predators.

The reason it was so amazing to me is I got to hear the words I have always dreamed of hearing from my little girl.  “Daddy, I got hit in the head, mouth and arm.  It was awesome!”  And of course my response was what any loving fathers would be at that point…”Baby, did you check the big kid into the wall?”

Aaaah.  Pure bliss.  My daughter is becoming a fan of the sport I love.  Could being a Father be any better than this?

A couple of pictures of my proud moment

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