9 Lessons We Can Learn from the 2013 / 2014 Kentucky Wildcat Basketball Team

9 Lessons We Can Learn from the 2013 / 2014 Kentucky Wildcat Basketball Team

1.    Give New People Time

A year ago, seven key members of this year’s team were finishing up HIGH SCHOOL.   

Six months ago, they became the topic of conversation, not only around water coolers in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, but also on nationally syndicated sports talk radio and television shows.  A less than stellar regular season had KY fans (me included) up in arms with disappointment and prompted criticism and judgment…mostly in a negative way.

The story of this year’s team reminds us that everyone is “new”, at one time or another; whether in school, sports, or career, we’ve all been “the new person”.  These young men just happened to be “the new guys”, at the ages of 18 and 19, on one of the biggest sports stages in the world – Kentucky Basketball, the winningest basketball program in the history of the NCAA.

As it turns out, all they needed was time.  The maturation process happens at different rates, for different people…and this team showed us that sometimes, all new people need…is time…to develop and blossom into their full potential.  

2.    Team Trumps Talent

They were the most highly touted group of freshmen recruits in recent history.  Their collective talent-level far exceeded that of any other recruiting class and really any other team in NCAA Division 1 Basketball.  However, everyone – including each individual on the team, the coaching staff, and the fans – found out during the regular season that merely having the talent wasn’t nearly enough to win, consistently.

The now proverbial “tweaks” Coach Cal made down the stretch are getting a great deal of press.  Among the many tweaks was a paradigm shift, almost a transformation of each individual, moving away from “me” to more of what’s best for “the team”. 

It sounds so simple and anything but profound…but this team may have learned this valuable lesson at an early age, and in doing so reminds all of us of the same lesson.  Their season reminds us that unless talented people work together, focusing on the greater good of the team, the company, the organization, or the family…really, nobody wins.  When people work as a team, everyone wins.

3.    Make Your Free Throws

During the regular season, this Kentucky team shot a less than stellar free throw percentage – 68%.  In the tournament, however, the Cats shot a little better – 71%.  Though only a 3% improvement, they seemed to make them when they needed them, down the stretch in close games.  Unfortunately they just didn’t fall for the Cats in the final game.   

In basketball, free throws – those free shots, with nobody guarding you, with the clock stopped - can make or break the team’s ability to win games. 

We can all learn from this, regardless of our roles, in any industry.  Think about the equivalent to a free throw, in your business or life… What are the easy-to-capitalize-on things?  Whatever and wherever the low-hanging fruit is in our lives, when and if we execute, taking advantage of those easy opportunities, we’ll win the close “games” against our competition. 

4.    Have Fun & Enjoy The Ride

Early in the season, we saw Kentucky players grimacing at each other, wincing at officials, and sometimes even at their coaches.  It was pretty clear that nobody was having much fun at all.   

However, as this group of talented individuals transformed into a TEAM, Kentucky fans began to see alley oop dunks, Three-Point Goggles, Hi-Fives, smiles, jubilation, and celebration.  We saw guys having fun, celebrating when their teammates got a steal, made a great move, or hit a game-winning shot. 

Sure, it’s easier to have fun and truly enjoy life, when things are going well.  However, this team reminds us that things in life or even at work tend to improve once we start having a little fun.  When this team relaxed and just went out to play the game they love, with guys they’ve grown to love…everybody enjoyed the ride of their life.

This team reminds us all to simply relax…and play.  Their talent is basketball.  For others, it may be teaching; some people are great at math, while some people were born to sell or lead or speak or write…whatever it may be, when we simply relax and enjoy theride, doing what we do best, good things happen.

5.    Don’t Be Afraid to Miss

A few tough road losses, combined with a couple disappointing performances at home during the regular season left these Wildcats a bit timid, on offense.  Guys that could score, at will, a year ago, as the stars on their respective High School teams, were seemingly afraid to shoot the ball.   

In a game when the objective is to score more points than the opposing team (by shooting the ball into the hoop), it’s fairly imperative that basketball players SHOOT THE BASKETBALL. 

Another one of Coach Cal’s “tweaks”, down the stretch, was this idea of “don’t be afraid to miss a shot…”  Once players adopted that new mindset, we saw them become more aggressive, offensively.  They took shots they weren’t taking a few weeks prior.  Their energy-level sky rocketed, which somehow seemed to elevate their play…sometimes quite literally – with more dunks, more lobs, and more three-pointers. 

The best illustrations, of course, were Aaron Harrison’s heroics versus Louisville and again versus Michigan and yet again versus Wisconsin, launching deep, game-winning three-pointers late in all three games.

The lesson we can all learn is to be aggressive and go for it.  We shouldn’t be afraid to take chances, speaking up when the time and audience is right…as long as we do so in good conscience, respectfully.  We should apply for the job, ask for the responsibility, and make the tough call.  Don’t be afraid to miss…if it doesn’t work out, no problem.  We’ll get another shot at it.

6.    Listen to Leaders, not the Public 

After several losses that were never supposed to happen, these young men could have folded.   

Fans (again…me included), talking heads on ESPN, sports talk radio shows, and article after article criticized their play, their character, their skills, and their attitude.   

They didn’t listen to the public.  Instead they listened to their coaches…and the leaders among their peers.

We’re reminded that people will always talk.  People on our teams, our competitors, our enemies, our customers, clients, and Guests…everyone will have an opinion.  Today, with social media, people will likely share their opinions in public forums, online and otherwise. 

The Kentucky Wildcats taught us all a lesson this year in staying the course.  They showed us that despite public opinion, we should pay attention to the opportunities tomorrow holds instead of dwelling on yesterday’s failures.  That’s what Coach Cal instilled in this young team, and that’s what kept them in the NCAA tournament all the way to the end of the road.

7.    Know and Leverage Strengths

After a few false starts, this team seemed to find a groove late in the season…especially throughout this NCAA Tournament.   

They found their collective mojo when each individual became comfortable with ‘that thing’ they brought to the table. 

Whether it was Julius Randle’s or James Young’s ability to score almost at will, against any defender, at any time…or Dakari Johnson’s ability to rebound…or Alex Poythress’s ability to jump over people to score or block shots…or the Harrison twins’ ability to set the tone with their ball handling, passing, and/or outside shooting – the Wildcats, as a team, were at their best when guys played within themselves, exploiting their strengths.

This Kentucky team reminds us all of a sentiment my Dad’s high school basketball coach, “Doc” Murphy, used to teach – “…keep your passers pass’n and your shooters shoot’n…”

8.    Everybody Matters

We watched this team pull together down the stretch…from the guys on the bench to the ones on the floor.  Everybody had a role and everybody mattered.  We saw players like Marcus Lee, Jared Polson, and Dominique Hawkins step into games and contribute in important situations.   

Even when Willie Cauley-Stein got hurt, his teammates insisted that he wear a jersey and sit with them on the bench, because he brings a certain energy with his presence on and off the court. 

I also noticed something very cool.  In the tournament, I noticed Jon Hood, a senior from Madisonville, KY, on the bench.  His playing time this season drastically decreased because of all the talented freshmen, but he stayed engaged.  Here is a guy who used to clock significant minutes and actually has an NCAA championship ring, from the 2012 season.   

He could have easily disengaged and sat at the end of the bench daydreaming.  Instead, I saw him making sure Coach Cal and the rest of the staff had what they needed – from clip boards to information during timeouts.  He was the first person jumping to his feet when the team was making big plays and winning games.  He was also the first teammate to offer encouragement, picking his teammates up when they needed it.  Once, as the telecast was cutting away for a commercial I caught a quick glimpse if him literally drawing up a play on a clipboard.

This reminds us that we all make a difference…the choice is ours as to whether the difference we make is a positive one or negative one.  

9.    Win or Lose, We Learn and Grow

The significance of 9 Lessons is that this would have been the 9^th National Championship in the history of Kentucky Wildcats Men’s Basketball…if they won the game.
 

The beautiful thing about sports that translates to life, personally and professionally, is that we don’t have to ‘win the game’ in order to learn and grow… 

Winning is great, but it isn’t everything.  What we learn and ultimately share with others is what it’s all about – in sports and in life.

I love Kentucky Basketball more than most things on planet Earth.  The Big Blue Nation and I would have loved nothing more than to be celebrating that 9^th championship today.   

However, let us pause and celebrate these sixteen special college kids on the 2013 / 2014 roster who became young men, on one of the biggest stages in sports.  I’m sure they learned a great deal about basketball and life, but they also taught us some lessons while they were at it.  And that’s special, no matter how old they are.

To Coach Cal and the Cats, thank you not only for another year of memorable, Kentucky basketball, but also some valuable life lessons we can all apply to our own lives at work and at home.  

 (…and review Lesson #6 on this list…keep looking up…don't hang your heads one bit...be proud not only for what you've accomplished this year, but also who you've become...)

Have a great day

...and until the first game of the 2014-2015 season, in 7 short months - Go Cats!

Taylor
 

(...Ironically, one expert poll has the Cats ranked #6 in Pre-Season NCAA Basketball Rankings for 2014-2015.  #Thread )

Compro-My's and Work

Compro-My’s and Work

You’re wasting my time.

This is a waste of my money.

I hope this doesn’t ruin my chances.

How is this possibly good for my career?

I shouldn’t have to share any of my stuff.

Toward the end of last year, my buddy, Brady, asked me what the most important lesson I learned in 2013 was.  Without hesitation, I told him the ability to compromise.  Not that I have mastered it…but just that I’d learned -- Without it, relationships at work and in life are impossible, and they won’t work.

We know that to compromise means giving up something of our own – our time, our money, our stuff, or our own interests – for something or someone beyond ourselves.  It sounds magical enough, but we’d all agree it’s often difficult to do.

The reality is – it takes real work. 

We’re born selfish.  From the time we’re first learning to walk and talk, it’s all about us.  It’s all about mine…mine…mine... That’s ok.  We’re human.  However, if we wake up each day only thinking about the person in the mirror, we’ll soon only have…that person in the mirror in our lives. 

Here’s where the work comes in...

The difference between selfishness and selflessness is often the gap that prevents two sides of any type of relationship – romantic or otherwise – from prospering.

The mental OneMoreStep worth taking is to make a conscious effort to let go of the ‘my’ tendencies, obsessing over my time, my money, my stuff, and/or my career… Simple, but not very easy...because this doesn’t just happen naturally.   

In fact, it’s unnatural to lead with a Compro-My’s attitude.  It’s a choice available to us, however, in every single situation.  Either we want to put in the effort necessary to make the relationship work, or we don't.   

When we choose to do the work…to Compro-My’s; our relationships change for the better; in most cases, for good.  Something also happens to that person in the mirror.  When we Compro-My’s, that person in the mirror is also changed for good. 

All it takes is a little work.  And that work is waiting for us, within the gap between selfishness and selflessness. 

So the difference in relationships that truly work and those that don’t work is often choosing to go OneMoreStep:

For the relationships that mean the most, Compromise.  It works.

Have a great day.

Taylor

Nobody or Everybody...

Nobody or Everybody…

When frustration sets in, it’s easy to slip into the ‘Nobody ______________(fill-in-the-blank)’ mindset.

“Nobody really cares.”  “Nobody is fun”.  “Nobody helps me.” “Nobody is nice.”

This is what we say.  We find ourselves in the midst of a downward spiraling, tension filled season.  It’s natural, and we all do it.  However, we’d all agree that it’s rarely productive.  In fact, it’s counterproductive and usually gets us nowhere, except more frustrated.

The good news is – we have a choice.  We don’t have to accept the notion that “nobody cares” or “nobody is nice”…

We can choose to think about it differently – we could have the  ‘Everybody’ mindset.

What if we challenged ourselves to find something fun or nice or valuable about EVERYBODY?

The reality is that if we’ll just try…if we’ll just open our minds and hearts, and simply listen to them, we’ll usually realize that special ‘something’ about EVERYBODY.  It’s amazing what we learn about people when we’re slower to speak and quicker to listen. 

Nobody ever felt bad about learning fun, new things about everybody else. 

What if everybody looked for the good in each other?  Who would ever be frustrated? 

Nobody!

Have a great day.

Taylor

The Attraction of Winning & an Underlying Paradox

The Attraction of Winning & an Underlying Paradox

Everyone wants to win. We’re all naturally attracted to winners and winning teams. 

We see it in sports, every year.  Fans are a bit louder, wear the team colors a little more often, and we watch our teams more frequently…when they’re winning.  That’s when it’s easy to be a fan.

By the same token, when it’s our idea, or when our point of view sways a decision, or when we get our way at work…we feel like we win.  We feel good...because winning is attractive. 

Everyone wants to win.

However, winning usually doesn’t ‘just happen’.  Quite the opposite is true.  It takes hard work - planning, studying, practicing, sacrificing, and executing.  So many finite details must come together.  Individual performances have to be great, but they can’t overshadow or prevent the team from its collective winning effort. 

Consider the hard work, sacrifice, and commitment it takes to win…not that attractive, nor is it easy to do these things consistently.  It’s hard. 

Everyone wants to win, but not everyone has or does what it takes to win.

But we all have a story. 

Every person on the planet not only has a story of where they’ve been, but also a story of ‘where they’re going’.  The more we learn about him or her, the more we learn about their stories – what inspires them, what motivates them, how they approach their daily routines, how they attack their goals…and why they do what they do…we get to know their true character.

A Quick Olympics Thread…

I’ve been obsessed with the Olympics since 1988, when the Summer Games in Seoul mesmerized me.  I had just turned nine years old, and at the time I played Soccer, Little League Baseball, and Basketball.  Though I was like most nine year old boys, an aspiring big-league athlete, the ‘competitive athletics’ component of the Olympics wasn’t what drew me in. 

Instead it was the stories of the athletes – how they grew up, where they trained, what inspired them, and how they had to overcome adversity – the true character of the athletes inspired me…and I couldn’t get enough.  Every four years, to this day, I’m fascinated with the Olympics, for the same reasons.

I watched as Gracie Gold crushed it on her routine in the team skating competition this morning.  I know absolutely nothing about ice skating (although in just the first two days of these Winter Games I’ve learned a new figure skating term, which I love – “…twizzle…”. Very fun.)  I just know that she nailed it.  Every jump was flawless, and she was so dialed in.  While I was impressed with her skating, I couldn’t help being inspired by her story.

The commentators told stories of her first time putting on skates at a birthday party as a child, and they spoke about her rise to the top of her sport in recent years with her performance at the national championships.   

I learned that she’s only 18-years old, but has moved all over, living in different cities.  She made quite the sacrifice, moving all the way to Los Angeles to train with notable figure skating coach, Frank Carroll.  That kind of commitment and hard work was definitely inspiring. 

After she skated, gracefully exited the ice, and awaited her score, I turned off the TV…and went to church without even finding out if she won.  That’s when I realized that it didn’t matter if Gracie Gold actually won or lost…I was still inspired by her story.

So is winning really the attraction?  Or could it be something else? 

We think we’ll be awesome and everyone will love us…we think we’ll be attractive if we win.  However, at the end of the day, winning isn’t nearly as attractive as our story.  As with any story, characters make or break the storyline, and ultimately how good the story is or isn’t.  And for all of us, it’s our very own character that makes or breaks our story.  It's also what might even make a positive impact in the lives of those around us, improving their story.

Instead of focusing on who wins, we should focus on who we’re becoming. 

People with true character are attractive, regardless of how many wins they have. 

That’s the underlying paradox.

Have a great day, and if this post makes it to Sochi, thanks to all of our Olympians representing the United States.  You certainly make our story better...

Taylor

An Uncommon Thread

An Uncommon Thread

Remember back in school; growing up…when something out of the ordinary happened, we felt a tiny spark of excitement.   

When we were able to stay on the playground thirty more minutes, or when we had a guest speaker, or especially field trips.  Anything new…was fun.

For many of us, it’s no different today, as adults.  The slightest hint of something new or different in our everyday routine, can give us that jolt of energy we didn’t know we needed. New and different can be scary at first, but it can be so fun, if we’ll just give it a chance. 

Soon what was once new is no longer.  Things become routine again.  It’s natural.  It happens.  Life happens.  It’s in fact, pretty common.

This week my best friend, Sonny, invited me to speak at an Avis Budget Group Leadership Summit he held for his Ancillary Sales Team.  “It’s car rental…and they sell you stuff when you pick up your car”, I thought.  Pretty common…a sales meeting, getting together to talk about new products, numbers, and “strategies”.

It was anything but common.  It was as uncommon as anything I’d ever experienced. 

In fact, I met about 80 uncommon people.  They not only engaged in deep dialogue with one another, they were also engaging in the way they shared their ideas. 

They were polished and knowledgeable about their products, but even more passionate about their people.  They were excited to be together, but couldn’t wait to get back to work on their shared mission, in their respective airports and local market locations.  They were uniquely different, as individuals, but somehow collectively they were the same…united, focused, and determined to win, together.

Senior executive leaders from their corporate headquarters flew in for the summit, just for support, and to build a little community with the team.  And…they were nice. Sadly, in corporate America, today…most executives are many things, but ‘genuinely nice’ is rarely how they’re described.  ABG’s executives were nice…uncommon, for their role.

Stepping away from my daily routine, for this experience was out of the ordinary.  Although the events took place in Orlando, Fl, where I feel almost at home, having lived there for nearly ten years…it felt new.  It didn’t feel common…it was uncommon.

Thank you, to Sonny and my new friends at ABG, who reminded me of the power of being uncommon.

Just like those out of the ordinary days at school were fun, new, and different when we were young.  And just like when something new happens in our lives today…when we choose to be uncommon, you and I can become the fun, the inspiration, and the very jolt of energy that everyone else on our team didn’t know they needed. 

One for the road…

Early in life, I remember learning in the second grade, that every single person on Earth is different.  I was fascinated with the fact that not one person has the same fingerprints as me.  Not one person has the exact same fingerprints as you.

Today, I’m still fascinated. 

Common, by definition, is ‘of no special quality’.  It’s simply mediocre, at best.  

Uncommon, on the other hand, is ‘exceptional’, ‘remarkable’, and ‘extraordinary’.

It’s easy to feel common, with our routine jobs, in our routine industries, with our seemingly mundane, everyday routine.  Remember that despite today’s circumstance, no matter where we are in lives or careers, we are not common.  We’re all created differently.

We can choose to go OneMoreStep into our uniqueness, and leverage it.  Nobody else is just like us, anywhere in the world. 

So we should embrace our opportunity to truly be uncommon men and women…and just maybe, we'll be someone else’s inspiration to do the same.

Have a great day.

Taylor

Seattle's 12th Man...and Leadership

Seattle’s 12^th Man… and Leadership

Earlier in this year’s NFL season, my girlfriend, Jenna, brought home a Russell Wilson jersey.  Someone she works with gave it to her, and she gave it to me...I'm a huge fan of his, and I love his story.

Russell Wilson is #3.  However, on the inside of the jersey, it had a #12 stitched on the neck…I didn’t get it.  At that moment, I was on the receiving end of a mini-lecture from my Pacific Northwestern girlfriend on how the Seattle Seahawks’ beloved fan base is referred to as the 12^th Man. (11 players on a football team…and the fans are…the…’12^th Man.  Boom…got it.)

I’ve been fascinated with it ever since…

Seahawk fans are just that, fanatical about their team…and their city.  They’re loyal, zealous people, of all ages.  They wear their ‘Hawks’ gear all year round, with pride, representing their nation.  As they pass each other on the street in Seattle, in the aisle at their neighborhood Fred Meyer, or even outside of the Pacific Northwest…

I’ve seen them here in Las Vegas, at Disneyland, in Anaheim, and even when vacationing in Florida…they greet one another with, “Go Hawks”, as their blue’s and green’s shine brightly on their hats, shirts, headbands, shoes, and accompanying jewelry. 

On Fridays, in Seattle, during football season it’s a sea (no pun) of blue…for what they call, “Blue Friday”, as everyone wears their gear, leading up to the game on Sunday. 

Blue Thunder, the official drum line of the Seahawks, has played at every home game as well as over 100 events per year, throughout the greater Seattle area, since 2004.  As Gameday approaches, during the season, the city hoists the official `12^th Man’ flag atop Seattle’s iconic Space Needle.

Before every home game, a prominent individual to the Seattle community raises the ‘12^th Man’ flag, in a ceremony before the games are played at Century Link Field.  Fans not only turn out for every single game, selling out Century Link consistently, but they also cause an absolute ruckus.  They’re so loud that opposing teams get disoriented with multiple false start penalties, and on more than one occasion the crowd’s noise actually registered on a seismometer nearby. Impressive.

Earlier this season, the ‘12^th Man’ proudly became the loudest crowd in history, on a Monday night in early December when the noise level reached 137.6 decibels.

Here’s what amazes me --- when 67,000 of Seattle’s ‘12^th Man’ faithfully migrate into Century Link and thousands more across the Pacific Northwest trek out to their establishment of choice for the games --- it’s about 36 degrees (if they’re lucky) and probably raining.  

Needless to say, I’m impressed with Seattle, and I’m enamored with the ‘12^th Man’ phenomenon.  So I naturally dug a little deeper, tapping into some Googling skills, to learn just how in the world this all started.

Now, I get it.

You see the ‘12^th Man’ really took off when, in 2005, Coach Mike Holmgren recognized the Seahawks fans with a presentation of a special game ball, for their incredible efforts in a dramatic overtime victory over the New York Giants.  In the game, the Giants committed 11 false starts, which undoubtedly occurred because of the Seahawks fan’s crowd noise…

However, recognizing and involving the fans in Seattle, as it turns out, has been a part of their culture since Day 1.  The team was originally going to be called the Seattle Kings, but after a public naming contest the name, ‘Seattle Seahawks’ was selected.  The contest drew over 20,000 entries and over 1,700 names. 

In 1996, the Seahawks franchise was almost moved out of Seattle…to Southern California.  If not for Paul Allen, the team would have likely been taken away from the Emerald City.  Allen funded a $25 Million ad campaign, targeted to the people of Washington to vote for a $430 Million project  - a new stadium for the Hawks, exhibition center, and parking garage. IF and only IF the vote passed, Allen would agree to buy the team... (yep, he peeled off $25 million, just to lobby for the new stadium...before he even owned the team.)

The vote passed…Allen was then able to buy the team.  In addition, he paid $130 Million and the public (taxpayers) paid $300 Million to build the new stadium…and that’s how and why the ‘12^th Man’ has the unbelievable platform to do what they do 8 Sundays each season, to this day.

Supposedly just to get the deal done, the way it all went down was a mini-miracle…and would probably never happen today, as too many parties had to compromise. 

Through all the chaos, they say that Paul Allen had little interest in owning a football team, but he saw it as a civic responsibility…and he did it for his hometown, so the people of Seattle wouldn’t lose their beloved Seahawks.

Leaders Can Learn From the Seattle Seahawks Story

To recap...the people of Seattle are:

·      Involved in the process of choosing their team’s name from the start

·      Credited for the Seahawks’ extraordinary ability to win at home

·      Recognized and appreciated with the pre-game ‘12^th Man’ flag raising

·      United by that ‘12^th Man’ flag flying high above Seattle’s Space Needle

And in turn, the people of Seattle, the ‘12^th Man’, are loyal, energetic, enthusiastic, passionate, and they bring it…everyday...even the 36-degree days...and in the rain, and rain, and rain.

They love their team, and they love their city.

Calling all leaders!!! --- When we involve the people on our teams, credit them for successes, recognize and show them appreciation for what they do, and unite them together with common bonds and shared goals…we, too, can experience a culture of loyalty, energy, passion, and enthusiasm.   

And we’ll all love it.

It’s all about people…

And that’s why I love Seattle’s ‘12^th Man’ and leadership.

Go Hawks…

One for the road...about ATTITUDE

I'm a bit of a weather snob, having lived in either Florida or Nevada for most of my adult life.  So the weather in Seattle...yeah...not my fave.

But if you ever ask a person from Seattle, "doesn't it rain all the time in Seattle?"

They almost always respond with, "yeah, but it it's so beautiful...in the summer."

So nine months of the year, it's gray, cold, and raining...but they choose to focus on the three months of gorgeous views, sunny weather, and the beauty of what God blessed them with rather than complaining about the rain.  (They love their city so much that they actually get offended if you make fun of the rain...I've learned the hard way.)

There's just something about Seattle, and while it is certainly a beautiful city...I can't help but think the people make place.

It's all about people.  So focus on people the most!

A Thanksgiving Thread

A Thanksgiving Thread

When I was little, we had a routine – work hard in school, practice and play hard on the basketball court, spend plenty of time with friends and family…but come Sunday morning, it was off to church.

I remember on the ride to church, my Dad would always grab his checkbook and write out a check, to put in the offering plate.  Sometimes, he’d have me fill it in, and then he would sign it.  Every Sunday, he repeated the same exercise – write out the check, put it in the envelope, and drop it in the offering plate.

I feel very blessed to have grown up with two sets of loving grandparents.  I have very fond memories of both grandfathers, in church.  Sometimes I’d sit in the balcony, with my Dad’s Dad…and come offering time, he’d always throw his money in, and then he would be pass the offering plate to everyone in the pews in the balcony.  Some Sundays, I’d sit with my Mom’s Dad, and come offering time, he’d always slip me a five or ten dollar bill with a wink…just so I’d have something to put into the offering plate as it came our way.

As a child, I didn’t really know why we gave, I just trusted that it was the thing to do, and everything would work out just fine…

Fast forward to earlier this year – April, 2013 – at Central Christian Church, in Henderson, NV.  Senior Pastor, Jud Wilhite did a series on living The Blessed Life.  As with most of Jud’s messages, he takes scripture and unpacks the principles, illustrations, and applications for us.  We’re usually left inspired, moved, or simply refreshed about life.  This series was no different.  Jud taught from several scriptures and books of the Bible, which illustrate not only what it means to be blessed, but also just how we can strive to live and experience The Blessed Life.

Of course one of the underlying principles in the series was that it’s more blessed to give than to receive.  Jud reinforced how when we graciously and faithfully give of ourselves – our time, talent, & stuff – we begin to experience the many blessings in store for us.  On the contrary, when we hold on to our ‘stuff’ – our money, our time, and our treasures – we quickly find ourselves alone, seemingly on an island of discontent and frustration.

During this mini-season, I was worried and stressed about various things…nothing out of the ordinary…the usual – finances, career, long distance relationship (and no clue really how or what to do to navigate next steps…). 

Jud challenged us to take a 90-day challenge, and commit to giving an amount we felt appropriate, to God, on a regular basis…not because the church needed or wanted our money, but instead as an act of faith. 

I had always thrown money into the offering plate, but never with a commitment quite like the one I was about to make.  That week in April, I enrolled in Central’s online giving portal, and set up an automatic payment of 10% of my paycheck to go straight from my bank account to Central Christian Church. 

Though I didn’t really understand exactly how the dollars and cents would work out in the end, I felt moved to take that step, in faith…and trust that everything would work out just fine.

...sure I still think about money, my career, and finances, but I don't worry about it all like I used to... 

(And as a side note -- those 'next steps' with the long distance relationship...not only did Jenna move to Vegas, but she also found a job within 9 days of becoming a Nevada resident.  All that worrying, and all we had to do was look up, step out, and trust...everything is working out just fine...)

That 90-Day Challenge turned into a new routine.  Every other Friday, since that weekend in April, I receive the MyGiving confirmation email from Central Christian Church, that my contribution has been received.  I always smile on those Friday mornings, because the irony is that I should be sending a confirmation email to the Man upstairs, thanking Him and letting Him know how much I appreciate ALL of the many blessings in my life…

On this Thanksgiving Day, I’m thankful for so many things and so many people.  But I guess I’m most thankful for my parents, grandparents, Aunts, and Uncles whose gifts (lots of toys…) over the years were certainly blessings...but the best gift has been teaching me how to live a blessed life.

So here’s a confirmation email, to my parents and family members, letting you know that I love you and appreciate you, and every blessing in my life today, can be traced back to lessons learned growing up in Grayson, KY – working hard in school, practicing and playing hard on the basketball court, spending time with family, and especially…going to First Church of Christ on Sunday mornings…

#Threads

Happy ThanksGIVING…

Taylor