The end of the year is a great time to look back at the progress you've made and the direction you're heading. I think this is a very useful exercise and and important evaluation strategy. Try it, you'll be surprised how much you accomplished this year.
My mission is about empowering and impacting a generation to change the world by being who they were created to be. I get to use wrestling as a tool to build into others. This year, I saw my areas of influence and territory increased. I believe this happened because of my faith in God. It's his faithfulness that makes Him worthy to be praised and he proved to be faithful once again. I'm being put in a position to lead emerging leaders to become better.
Here's a quick list, in no particular order, of my production from 2010 (these are finished products that can be measured and "delivered." The list doesn't include projects that are in the making):
* 12 high school state champions - We are far more interested in gaining character than we are in earning titles at Victory School of Wrestling. However, winning gives us influence. Last year, we saw 12 Victory athletes win high school state titles. This gives credibility to our mission. Winning gives us a license to do what we believe is best for the individual. We're changing lives. Each year, my goal is to see more state champions than the previous year. That is going to be a tall order for 2011.
* River Falls Baccalaureate Program - Giving a final challenge to the seniors at RFHS is what was asked of me, but I wanted to deposit something in them so they'd never be the same. God definitely used me that evening. I regularly have parents, students, teachers, etc. around town approach me about my speech. It opened a few new doors with businesses in town as well as with students (Fellowship of Christian Athletes).
* EMPOWERED - Our summer camps were extraordinarily successful in 2010. Our numbers weren't necessarily the highest they've ever been, but our impact was far greater than in the past. In 2010, I made it a point to be bold about my faith and we saw a number of athletes "cross the line of faith" and begin living the life they were created to live. The whole summer was out of this world and bigger than I had imagined. Our quote was, created for a purpose, guided by a passion, EMPOWERED by the Spirit of God.
* Lend Me Your Imagination - This blog has served many roles in my life. It's been an outlet for my ever-growing thoughts and ideas about faith, hope, love, sport and other things. It's been an avenue of transparency and a way to reach out to my family, athletes (and their parents), and many others in a rich and vibrant way. It's been successful in creating new dialogue and causing people to think on a different level. Plus, it's fun.
* Facebook - When used in the right way, social networking allows individuals to have access and connections that weren't possible 10 years ago. As a result, the collective work of minds can accomplish much more than one individual can. Facebook has been an interesting way for me to reach my athletes on their level and, in turn, has had a huge impact on me. I first joined Facebook for selfish reasons (to catch up with old friends, keep tabs on my athletes, see what others look like compared to 10 years ago and the list goes on), but I quickly realized that joining Facebook was advantageous for Victory and the many individuals that I can have a daily impact on. Status updates are a great way to inspire and motivates others. When I logged in to my profile a few years ago, I never imagined that I could share my faith as openly as I can and I never thought it would change lives like it has. This year I developed an interesting Facebook reputation that I'm now focused on maintaining.
* Black Bros 2.0 - The arrival of my second son, Micaiah, brought my life to a whole new dimension. We're created in God's image and our God is a creator and a cultivator. He is pleased when we're creating and cultivating here on earth. Raising a family has been an amazing experience and I'm told it keeps getting better. I just hope I can convince Liz to have more babies with me :) I love my family and my prayer for 2011 is, To lead them with strong hands, to stand up when they can't. Don't want to leave them hungry for love chasing things that I could give up. I'll show them I'm willing to fight and give them the best of my life so we can call this our home. Lord, lead me, cause I can't do this alone.
* Humility - Character traits don't fit into my category of measurable. However, I do feel that it's important to mention that I've put on "humility" this year in a way I never understood. The top 5 on my priority list doesn't change very often aside from a new family member or when I got married. This year, though, I decided to put a character trait - humility - number two on my list. It has changed my life, my marriage and my relationships. God has blessed me and my family over and over because of this simple act of submission to my number one priority: God. As it stands today, the top five are: 1. God, 2. Humility, 3. Liz, 4. Isaiah and Micaiah, 5. Family (Blacks and Reussers).
Take some time to reflect on all you've done this year. It's important to maintain progress and reflecting tells you if you are. After 2010, I'm certain 2011 is going to exceed my expectations. It's going to be exciting and I'm looking forward to being in the middle of a MOVE OF GOD.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Monday, December 27, 2010
In the name of tolerance
I've recently had some very good, thought-provoking discussion with family members over the holidays about a variety of controversial topics from politics to religion and life, in general. After investigating many new (and old) topics of debate, I became aware of our midunderstanding of the word tolerance in our culture.
The dictionary definition of tolerance is "a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward opinions and practices that differ from one's own." The big term associated with tolerance is open-mindedness. I simply understand this to mean accepting others for who they are and what they believe.
I think what is most important to understand, though, is that you can ACCEPT someone without AFFIRMING them. You can be tolerant and remain true to a set of standards or convictions.
When it comes to my faith in God, I desire to be tolerant, or accepting of everyone. However, being tolerant doesn't necessarily mean that I must condone the actions of others if they are fundamentally at odds with what the Bible says. I can love the individual and not love what they do. It's an important distinction. Accepting the individual is not synonymous with affirming them. I think we all need to remember this. God is completely loving, but He is also completey just.
The dictionary definition of tolerance is "a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward opinions and practices that differ from one's own." The big term associated with tolerance is open-mindedness. I simply understand this to mean accepting others for who they are and what they believe.
I think what is most important to understand, though, is that you can ACCEPT someone without AFFIRMING them. You can be tolerant and remain true to a set of standards or convictions.
When it comes to my faith in God, I desire to be tolerant, or accepting of everyone. However, being tolerant doesn't necessarily mean that I must condone the actions of others if they are fundamentally at odds with what the Bible says. I can love the individual and not love what they do. It's an important distinction. Accepting the individual is not synonymous with affirming them. I think we all need to remember this. God is completely loving, but He is also completey just.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Noah, a herald of righteousness
God preserved Noah (2 Peter 2:5). He protects the righteous. Noah was a sinner like everyone else, but God found grace and favor for him (Genesis 6:8).
Today I read the story of Noah's Ark to my two year old son. Like many of us, he was enamored by all of the animals. Page after page, the Little Golden Book demonstrated pictures of animals entering the ark two-by-two. The story of Noah and the ark is one of my favorite children stories, but in the Bible it's not just a cute nursery rhyme. It's a story of a faith that is much larger than anything we can comprehend.
God told Noah to build a large boat with his family...in the middle of the desert. Everyone mocked him. Day after day Noah followed through and set out to do what God had created him for. Noah wasn't perfect, but he lived an extraordinary life of obedience and holiness. As a result, God preserved him. If you do what God has created you do in your life, He will preserve you, too.
I'm sure Noah had a lot of really bad days. People picked on him, laughed at him, and he likely lost friends over his commitment to God. People thought he was crazy. There were probably days when Noah woke up and wondered if what he was doing was worth it. There were probably days that he doubted God and doubted himself. There were probably days he wondered if he was actually doing what he was supposed to be doing because no one else bought in. He gave his life to preaching a message that no one believed and building a boat that no one would enter (except his family). He had "church" every week and no one came. He preached his whole life and had no converts. Then, after 100 years, the rain came.
As people who possess a passion for excellence, it might seem like we're Noah. We're just the odd ball, peculiar individual doing things that no one else seems interested in. People pick on us and think that what we're doing is a waste of time. They believe we're wasting our breath, cause, energy and money on things that don't matter.
If you're a Christ follower, the Bible says that God will deliver us, just as he delivered Noah. Just as Noah had no regrets, neither will we if we persevere in faith. God knows how to rescue the Godly from trials (2 Peter 2:9a).
Today I read the story of Noah's Ark to my two year old son. Like many of us, he was enamored by all of the animals. Page after page, the Little Golden Book demonstrated pictures of animals entering the ark two-by-two. The story of Noah and the ark is one of my favorite children stories, but in the Bible it's not just a cute nursery rhyme. It's a story of a faith that is much larger than anything we can comprehend.
God told Noah to build a large boat with his family...in the middle of the desert. Everyone mocked him. Day after day Noah followed through and set out to do what God had created him for. Noah wasn't perfect, but he lived an extraordinary life of obedience and holiness. As a result, God preserved him. If you do what God has created you do in your life, He will preserve you, too.
I'm sure Noah had a lot of really bad days. People picked on him, laughed at him, and he likely lost friends over his commitment to God. People thought he was crazy. There were probably days when Noah woke up and wondered if what he was doing was worth it. There were probably days that he doubted God and doubted himself. There were probably days he wondered if he was actually doing what he was supposed to be doing because no one else bought in. He gave his life to preaching a message that no one believed and building a boat that no one would enter (except his family). He had "church" every week and no one came. He preached his whole life and had no converts. Then, after 100 years, the rain came.
As people who possess a passion for excellence, it might seem like we're Noah. We're just the odd ball, peculiar individual doing things that no one else seems interested in. People pick on us and think that what we're doing is a waste of time. They believe we're wasting our breath, cause, energy and money on things that don't matter.
If you're a Christ follower, the Bible says that God will deliver us, just as he delivered Noah. Just as Noah had no regrets, neither will we if we persevere in faith. God knows how to rescue the Godly from trials (2 Peter 2:9a).
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
How bad do you want it
Last night I was watching high school wrestling and I heard a belligerent father yelling at his son from the bleachers, "how bad do you want it?" This phrase always catches my attention.
First of all, the correct grammar is "how BADLY do you want it." For those who weren't paying attention in 9th grade Language Arts, adverbs end in -ly.
The biggest reason this phrase catches my attention is because I often wonder what the answer is. I can't remember a time that I used this myself, but I imagine the phrase is a rhetorical question and the intent is to go deeper than surface level to touch on the drive, motivation and/or will of the athlete. I don't think it ever comes across that way, though. What I interpret time and time again is that the individual yelling assumes the athlete simply doesn't care. And maybe he doesn't. And that's alright, I think. The first thing that comes to my mind is that the parent is too pushy or too hard on their child and the kid probably doesn't care because his dad is a jerk.
I would love to see a young athlete stand-up for himself and say as a matter of fact, "I care way more than you do." Not in a confrontational way, of course, but to put the adult who is out of line in his rightful place. Chances are the athlete does care and he should care a lot more than Dad does.
It's possible that not everyone wants "it" as badly as you think, though. Some people aren't very competitive and some parents have their priorities all messed up. I hope I never say this to an athlete or one of my kids the way I hear parents yelling from the bleachers. Certainly, I hope they try their best to be their best, but I don't expect everyone to want "it" as badly as I do and I'm certainly not in a place to make a judgement on how badly someone should want something. Additionally, this is a phrase that offers nothing productive to the athlete. I'm more interested in offering words of encouragement or statements that have meaning and build people up. This is a meaningless phrase only meant to belittle and tear people down. I don't care for that.
"Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips." - Psalm 141:3
First of all, the correct grammar is "how BADLY do you want it." For those who weren't paying attention in 9th grade Language Arts, adverbs end in -ly.
The biggest reason this phrase catches my attention is because I often wonder what the answer is. I can't remember a time that I used this myself, but I imagine the phrase is a rhetorical question and the intent is to go deeper than surface level to touch on the drive, motivation and/or will of the athlete. I don't think it ever comes across that way, though. What I interpret time and time again is that the individual yelling assumes the athlete simply doesn't care. And maybe he doesn't. And that's alright, I think. The first thing that comes to my mind is that the parent is too pushy or too hard on their child and the kid probably doesn't care because his dad is a jerk.
I would love to see a young athlete stand-up for himself and say as a matter of fact, "I care way more than you do." Not in a confrontational way, of course, but to put the adult who is out of line in his rightful place. Chances are the athlete does care and he should care a lot more than Dad does.
It's possible that not everyone wants "it" as badly as you think, though. Some people aren't very competitive and some parents have their priorities all messed up. I hope I never say this to an athlete or one of my kids the way I hear parents yelling from the bleachers. Certainly, I hope they try their best to be their best, but I don't expect everyone to want "it" as badly as I do and I'm certainly not in a place to make a judgement on how badly someone should want something. Additionally, this is a phrase that offers nothing productive to the athlete. I'm more interested in offering words of encouragement or statements that have meaning and build people up. This is a meaningless phrase only meant to belittle and tear people down. I don't care for that.
"Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips." - Psalm 141:3
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Challenging the process and a new way to teach
I have a lot of ideas in my head. Sometimes, I get lost trying to understand all of them and don't always know where to focus my energy. Today I want share an idea with you that I recently stumbled upon. It might change the way you view education in the 21st Century. This idea is still under-developed and rooted in my obsession to “challenge the process,” so just roll with me on this one. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
To give you a little background, I constantly see myself challenging the process or the status quo. As a leader, I'm never satisfied with "the way things are" and I strive to constantly monitor progress and push for excellence. I believe leaders implement change, but not just for the sake of change; they do it with the purpose of finding the best practice. I want to see my athletes challenge the process, as well. I do my best to foster an environment that encourages it so they can become the best they can be.
Challenging the process isn’t a call to challenge authority; it’s quite the contrary. Challenging the process is often interpreted as challenging someone's authority because people take things personally, even when they’re not personal. Before challenging the process, one must first appreciate that everything put in place was put there because it accomplished something important at the time. At Victory, my athletes need to learn to do what we want them to do the way we want them to do it, but at the same time, have some context in which they can question all of it. This requires humility from all sides. We need to be open-minded when pursuing new ideas and also be able to admit when a new idea isn’t worth pursuing.
With the ability to challenge the process, our mission and vision is permanent, but our model is temporary. How we approach things is up for grabs. In the wrestling world, there are certain aspects that are permanent (like staying in good position), but our approach to success is ever-changing. We don’t prescribe a cookie cutter style or approach to technique. Through challenging the process and experimentation, athletes take ownership of their training and they’re EMPOWERED to do what is best in each scenario and situation. It’s never my responsibility to micro-manage their athletic endeavors. We need to present wide ranging principles so they can apply them according to their strengths during each practice. They need to determine what is best on their own (with guidance).
Here’s why all of this is important (this is the idea that I’d like to share with you):
We are all part of a system or set of systems and sometimes we need to break free from them. The reality is my athletes are preparing themselves for jobs in the real world that don't even exist right now. Education is invaluable, but they may very well be employed in something entirely different than their chosen field of educational study. I have many friends who completed their education only to find themselves in a career that didn't exist 10 years ago. Today's generation doesn't need to comply to a prescribed system; they need to be creative, innovative and passionate. They need to challenge the process and it's paramount that I create an environment for my athletes to do this. I encourage it and teach people how to do it because chances are, 10-20 years from now, they are going to be working in an industry that doesn't even exist yet and they will need to function outside of the current system(s).
I believe Victory School of Wrestling is an example of this idea. My job didn't exist 10 years ago. Wrestling schools were nothing more than dreams. Nearly every single person believed what I'm doing wasn't possible. It took a lot of creativity, innovation and passion to move from a dream to a reality. Now I have the unique opportunity to impact a generation that has the potential to change the world and we plan on being THE change we want to see in the world.
"So, leaders must challenge the process precisely because any system will unconsciously conspire to maintain the status quo and prevent change." – The Leadership Challenge by James Kouzes and Barry Posner.
To give you a little background, I constantly see myself challenging the process or the status quo. As a leader, I'm never satisfied with "the way things are" and I strive to constantly monitor progress and push for excellence. I believe leaders implement change, but not just for the sake of change; they do it with the purpose of finding the best practice. I want to see my athletes challenge the process, as well. I do my best to foster an environment that encourages it so they can become the best they can be.
Challenging the process isn’t a call to challenge authority; it’s quite the contrary. Challenging the process is often interpreted as challenging someone's authority because people take things personally, even when they’re not personal. Before challenging the process, one must first appreciate that everything put in place was put there because it accomplished something important at the time. At Victory, my athletes need to learn to do what we want them to do the way we want them to do it, but at the same time, have some context in which they can question all of it. This requires humility from all sides. We need to be open-minded when pursuing new ideas and also be able to admit when a new idea isn’t worth pursuing.
With the ability to challenge the process, our mission and vision is permanent, but our model is temporary. How we approach things is up for grabs. In the wrestling world, there are certain aspects that are permanent (like staying in good position), but our approach to success is ever-changing. We don’t prescribe a cookie cutter style or approach to technique. Through challenging the process and experimentation, athletes take ownership of their training and they’re EMPOWERED to do what is best in each scenario and situation. It’s never my responsibility to micro-manage their athletic endeavors. We need to present wide ranging principles so they can apply them according to their strengths during each practice. They need to determine what is best on their own (with guidance).
Here’s why all of this is important (this is the idea that I’d like to share with you):
We are all part of a system or set of systems and sometimes we need to break free from them. The reality is my athletes are preparing themselves for jobs in the real world that don't even exist right now. Education is invaluable, but they may very well be employed in something entirely different than their chosen field of educational study. I have many friends who completed their education only to find themselves in a career that didn't exist 10 years ago. Today's generation doesn't need to comply to a prescribed system; they need to be creative, innovative and passionate. They need to challenge the process and it's paramount that I create an environment for my athletes to do this. I encourage it and teach people how to do it because chances are, 10-20 years from now, they are going to be working in an industry that doesn't even exist yet and they will need to function outside of the current system(s).
I believe Victory School of Wrestling is an example of this idea. My job didn't exist 10 years ago. Wrestling schools were nothing more than dreams. Nearly every single person believed what I'm doing wasn't possible. It took a lot of creativity, innovation and passion to move from a dream to a reality. Now I have the unique opportunity to impact a generation that has the potential to change the world and we plan on being THE change we want to see in the world.
"So, leaders must challenge the process precisely because any system will unconsciously conspire to maintain the status quo and prevent change." – The Leadership Challenge by James Kouzes and Barry Posner.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
The Purple Cow
Best selling author and marketing guru Seth Godin wrote a book that has helped redefine marketing in today's business world. Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable is about standing out. I often think about what makes Victory School of Wrestling stand out. How have we created a "Purple Cow."
This important book claims that the key to success is to find a way to stand out--to be the purple cow in a field of black and white Holsteins. The essence of the Purple Cow is to make your product or service remarkable to a specific niche target market group. Being remarkable makes your product or service worth talking about. The old marketing and advertising methods no longer work. The new rule is to create remarkable products or services that the right people (those you identified as your target market) seek out.
I hear athletes and parents say to me on a regular basis that they hear great things about Victory. This is encouraging, especially if I'm following the Purple Cow model. It's important that I make Victory exciting enough that athletes and parents tell others about it. In fact, I aim to make it something they cannot keep themselves from talking to others about.
What makes us different, though? In addition to providing athletes and parents something they cannot get anywhere else, Victory is unique because I, as the owner/operator, have embraced my own uniqueness and have made our program fit with who I am. I've been around a lot of great coaches and tremendous programs, and I have used bits and pieces of each of them, but I haven't lost sight of who I am and what I was created to do. This is sort of the "behind the scenes" aspect, though.
To the public, the difference is in our approach to build the Total Athlete - body, mind and soul. What's great is I believe we have the ability to teach the body and mind as well, if not better, than any other program in the country. What's more, is we focus on the third dimension as much as the other two. We're about building up Godly men and women with sound character who are equipped and ready to change an entire generation. In order to do this, I have to me (and trust in the guidance of the Holy Spirit). I cannot try to be somebody else. I was created for this moment, in this move of God to be uniquely me. God doesn't want me to be someone else or try to be another coach. If He did, he would have placed that person in the lives of these athletes, but he didn't. He put me here. So, with a humble spirit and following hard after God, I need to be me. That's the first part of this Purple Cow. The second part is our athletes have to be themselves, too.
Thirdly, although closely linked to the above, we don't play follow the leader. We're different. We challenge the process while maintaining a clear self-awareness. Instead of building self-esteem, we're building self-respect. We're building up humble, meek and courageous leaders who aren't afraid to do what's right and respect authority. This seems to be the biggest thing missing from youth sports, so when we provide it, we become unique.
Our Purple Cow stems from a truly meaningful strategic plan with a lot of foresight and innovation. It's not rocket science, though. Our "secret" is in how we approach life and we're not ashamed to admit that it's based on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
There is something that is different about what we do. Something people see as uniquely Victory. Our Purple Cow is Jesus.
This important book claims that the key to success is to find a way to stand out--to be the purple cow in a field of black and white Holsteins. The essence of the Purple Cow is to make your product or service remarkable to a specific niche target market group. Being remarkable makes your product or service worth talking about. The old marketing and advertising methods no longer work. The new rule is to create remarkable products or services that the right people (those you identified as your target market) seek out.
I hear athletes and parents say to me on a regular basis that they hear great things about Victory. This is encouraging, especially if I'm following the Purple Cow model. It's important that I make Victory exciting enough that athletes and parents tell others about it. In fact, I aim to make it something they cannot keep themselves from talking to others about.
What makes us different, though? In addition to providing athletes and parents something they cannot get anywhere else, Victory is unique because I, as the owner/operator, have embraced my own uniqueness and have made our program fit with who I am. I've been around a lot of great coaches and tremendous programs, and I have used bits and pieces of each of them, but I haven't lost sight of who I am and what I was created to do. This is sort of the "behind the scenes" aspect, though.
To the public, the difference is in our approach to build the Total Athlete - body, mind and soul. What's great is I believe we have the ability to teach the body and mind as well, if not better, than any other program in the country. What's more, is we focus on the third dimension as much as the other two. We're about building up Godly men and women with sound character who are equipped and ready to change an entire generation. In order to do this, I have to me (and trust in the guidance of the Holy Spirit). I cannot try to be somebody else. I was created for this moment, in this move of God to be uniquely me. God doesn't want me to be someone else or try to be another coach. If He did, he would have placed that person in the lives of these athletes, but he didn't. He put me here. So, with a humble spirit and following hard after God, I need to be me. That's the first part of this Purple Cow. The second part is our athletes have to be themselves, too.
Thirdly, although closely linked to the above, we don't play follow the leader. We're different. We challenge the process while maintaining a clear self-awareness. Instead of building self-esteem, we're building self-respect. We're building up humble, meek and courageous leaders who aren't afraid to do what's right and respect authority. This seems to be the biggest thing missing from youth sports, so when we provide it, we become unique.
Our Purple Cow stems from a truly meaningful strategic plan with a lot of foresight and innovation. It's not rocket science, though. Our "secret" is in how we approach life and we're not ashamed to admit that it's based on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
There is something that is different about what we do. Something people see as uniquely Victory. Our Purple Cow is Jesus.
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