TWENTY X - NEW YEAR'S REVELATION

This morning I entered the gym to find it completely empty and virtually untouched. As a matter of fact, it smelled liked a freshly cleaned, vacuumed apartment that was awaiting it's first family to move in. Honestly, it was disturbing yet interesting. I found it disturbing because I figured most people have either committed or re-committed themselves to leading a healthier lifestyle through exercise. This was obviously in theory. Nevertheless, I found it interesting that many people were not including exercise as a priority for the new year. At least this was my first the impression.

Maybe some people had to work. Maybe my timing was bad and some people worked out before or after I did. Maybe, some people's re-occuring new year's resolutions are not to make any resolutions at all. I find this to be interesting because it could be viewed as keeping it real or keeping it routine. This whole notion stretches way beyond exercise. In fact, it leads me to believe that most people have experienced a New Year's Revelation.

A New Year's Revelation? Yes. That is not a typo nor is it a Freudian slip. A New Year's Revelation is a moment of clarity that occurs as the dawn of a new year approaches. It's a time when people take inventory of their blessings, strengths, weaknesses, accomplishments, shortcomings, wins, losses, friends, and enemies. Once they've done a thorough assessment it becomes clear to them who or what should remain a priority and who or what will challenge them to get better and who or what will facilitate and support their holistic development. It's not an exercise in waiting. It's not an exercise in talkin the talk. Rather, it's an exercise in walking out our self-assessment as we cultivate a relationship between our gifts, our work ethic and God's purpose for us. That said, I challenge you to resolve to reveal yourself to yourself. Deliberately and proactively live WHO YOU ARE day after day, week after week, and month after month without excuses and without regrets. External goals can't be set until a commitment internal transformation is underway.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

CHRONICLES OF A WING MAN

Today, I had the distinct honor and pleasure of being a wingman.
A first-year student walked into my office on the verge of tears. Anxiety? Maybe. Fear? Not Exactly.Failure? Absolutely Not. Uncertainty? Ok, let's work with that one. It just so happened that this student overslept for the first exam of her college career as a result of pulling an "all-nighter". Thus, her fate (at that time) was hanging in the balance in her mind. As she explained the rest of her story to me the coach, father, big brother, and godfather roles all kicked into gear. The coach tried to motivate, the father attemped comfort, the big brother asked questions, then the godfather made her an offer that she couldn't refuse. I simply asked her if she wanted me to walk with her to the professor's office. Without hesitation she replied"please & thank you".
We arrived at the building moments later only to find that the professor was not in his office. As she prepared to leave a note under his door, her professor rounds the corner. Thus, her impromptu speech had no note cards and an audience of 1. As she started her speech, I simply faded into the distance and let her negotiate the deal. Ultimately, her professor allowed her to take her exam. Often times wingmen are heralded for their solidaritous acts, but the reality is that great wingmen are truly a reflection of the great leaders they support. She went in, asked for what she wanted and she received it because of who she is, not because of me. Why? I simply abide by the creed of a wingman.
The creed of a wingman is as follows:

• A wingman passes no judgement

• A wingman proudly flies on the shoulder of the lead pilot while pushing those in front to keep the lead

• A wingman is more effective being seen and not heard

• A wingman never asks for credit

• A wingman never leaves unless the lead pilot has enough fuel & ammunition to complete the mission

Therefore, I repeat; Today I had the honor and pleasure of being a wingman. YES, it was indeed a pleasure, but moreover it was an honor. My student didn't ask me to be her wingman because she needed me to, but because she wantedme to. The reality is that I didn't do anything except obey my wingman; God. As a result of me doing nothing He empowered her to do something. I simply complied with God's timing and his command. Thus, the title of consummate wingman belongs to Him. He doesn't ask for the credit. Why? He adheres to the aforementioned creed. However, he deserves it and receives it with the utmost humility. So today, I won't ask you who your wingman is; I'll simply ask for whom have you served as a wingman?

FAST TRACK-EMPIRE STATE OF MIND

This past Wednesday I had the honor and privelege of hosting students from the FAST TRACK college preparatory program from New York City. They spent an entire day in the District visiting the various schools in the area including Howard University, Georgetown University and finally The George Washington University.


From the time that they waited in the hallway, I immediately sensed an array of energy from these young people. Several burroughs were represented from Brooklyn, Harlem and Queens. When the shout-outs were solicited there was a buzz in the room and a sprinkle of hate, but all the same there was a friendly, competitive commraderie and respect that abided within.


As I began to speak to the group I began to zero in on the people who were listenting not just hearing, focusing not just looking and responding, not just reacting. I sensed that these young people were a little tired from the events of the day and the rainy weather conditions, but what remained constant was their Empire State of Mind. As I shared with them my stories, philosophies, and experiences, I also challenged them to intellectually reach beyond their comfort zone and critically tackle the issues that face them as they plan their present, yes their present not their future. To have an Empire State of Mind is not reserved or limited to native New Yorkers of the universe, however it is a unique and infectious state of mind altogether; a fast track.

Is it a state of mind that dreams? Yes.

One that pursues dreams?Yes

One that will succeed? Yes.

One that removes obstacles? Yes.

One that affects change? Yes.

One that will rule the world? Yes

One that doesn't take NO for an answer? Yes.


It is all of the above and then some. However, an Empire State of Mind should never get old, it should never be off key, it should never be in one language, nor should it ever be a song that falls out of your mental rolodex. It's about building an empire with the skills you have been blessed with. Just remember that you are not the only builder that will make your empire complete. It's a team effort that requires each team member to stick to what they specialize in. You are the architect so sit down at your desk and design the BLUEPRINT.

ROSTER, PRACTICE SQUAD, OR WAIVED

It's the beginning of a new season. Hopefully, you've sharpened the skills that desperately needed sharpening, gotten rid of some bad habits that you've developed over time, and maybe you've created a new ritual that will lead to an optimistic attitude as you start this season.

Whatever the case may be, your offseason workouts determine how you perform during training camp and furthermore during the season. In the offseason, you may have taken some extra courses to get ahead or catch up, secured an internship that helped you develop professionally or figure out what you don't want to do. You may have attended a leadership conference/symposium, traveled abroad, read some additional books instead of watching TV or volunteered in your community. If you did any or all of these things, then your status on the team shouldn't be in question once the whistle blows. If your preparation is strategically thorough and your practice is consistently intense then your performance will be undeniably excellent.

Your offseason workout will ultimately determine whether you make the roster, the practice squad or are waived. Training camp is underway. Somebody wants your spot. Will you be on the field making it happen or in the stands watching it happen?

One more day

I'm smart enough to know, patient enough to wait, disciplined enough to stand still, trusting enough to ask once, grounded enough to serve, focused enough to see even with my eyes closed, humbled beyond words yet grateful enough to say thank you. One more day..........

Untitled ......

Good Morning,

The last 2 months I've been remiss and inconsistent with my blogging. Why? Because I've put unnecessary pressure on myself to share thoughts that are profound, insightful, clever and empowering. Don't get me wrong, it's what I love to do. However, it is not absolutely imperative that I empower and motivate readers every week or every other week. Nevertheless, it is imperative that I share what is on my heart first and then what's on my mind.

In the last few days I've just been in awe and I've also been in prayer about God's purpose for me. I've been in awe at how great God is and how great my life is and has been. Lately God has just shown me how great living can be if you just exist, listen to and follow your heart. So I submit to you today me, a man who is humble, honest, realistic, idealistic, excited, scared, apprehensive, fallible, inconsistent, unsure at times, yet a child of God who just wants to do what he loves and allow it to be acceptable in God's sight and encouraging to those who struggle with the same questions of this life daily.

That said there is no title for this blog entry today, because frankly there is no title for this day, this hour, month, or this lifetime. Allow me to re-introduce myself, my name is Coach Rice. I have dreams, aspirations, prayers, fears, questions, demons and shortcomings. However, I'm still here and so are you. So let's be mindful, grateful, and ready to play this game the right way; together, win or lose, blood, sweat and tears, home and away. Ball up top!!!

"I DON'T FEEL LIKE IT"

Let's face it. We've all felt this way about something in our lives more than we can care to recall or even admit.


It's a phrase whose impact is just as dangerous as "I can't", "it's too hard", "forget this", and "I don't care".

I just don't feel like it. What could this possibly mean? To "feel like it" is to instinctively and confidently know in your heart that you can execute, achieve, and even conquer if necessary. Truthfully there are some things we can do at 75% effort and still yield a 100% result/response. However, to say that "you don't feel like it" leaves your team to fill in your role because of a choice you made, not an impediment. This gives your competitor the edge every single time. With this phrase you give yourself a reason to be below average, stubborn or just plain lazy.


Our freedom to frequently use of this cop out phrase is a sure-fire way to give up the best thing about this life; trying. With one fell swoop we often brush the seemingly tedious and/or grandiose things under the rug and never give thought to who it affects and how it affects them. Whether we pronounce the phrase verbatum or show how much we don't feel like it through our body language we take for granted that our teammates will understand and that our opponents won't sense it or ever take advantage of it. Thus, our teammates question our desire to try, to win and help the team get better.

Take one minute to think about the people in our lives who have meant so much to us. Think about those people from our past and present, from far and near who are related or unrelated and how they have motivated, mentored and guided us. I'm sure there were days they didn't feel like it, but they made themselves feel like it. They pushed through and re-defined hard work, re-defined driven, re-defined focused, re-defined committed, re-defined role model, re-defined mentor, and re-defined team player without wincing or crying aloud. Some people don't get another day to "feel like it", but you've been given another day. So the choice is to feel like it or not feel like it. God gives it to all of us whether we really deserve it or not or whether he feels like it or not. But what if God didn't feel like it????????