Quick Update

*This blog post is intended to be read in hyperspeed for full effect.


(Big Breath...hyperspeed)


Hello Leader Reader it's been a long time since I consistently posted but no fear that ends here. A lot has happened since March, here is my life in 32 seconds.

(breathe)
(hyperspeed)


After the school year ended, I headed back down for another summer in Oklahoma working with YourNextSpeaker. It again was an amazing summer that I won't soon forget. I will be back to Oklahoma several more times in the future because of it.

(breathe)
(hyperspeed)


September meant back to school for a very tough semester of classes. I made it through but my GPA took a little bite of a hit. On track to get that glorious slip of paper by next May 2012, of course I need to take 18 credit semesters plus a few summer courses but hey I made it through experimental psych so it's all downhill now.

(breathe)
(hyperspeed)


I have had a phenomenal time working with the Adventure Learning Program this past year and we are now getting ready to train in the new tators (short for facilitators, it only took me 9 month to figure that out). I am learning a lot about experiential education and facilitating in general that will be a huge help with my own career.

oh right (breathe)
(hyperspeed)


I have started to market my own workshops more and more towards the end of this semester and the response has been very positive which I am extremely grateful for. The WI FFA COLT conference is coming along nicely and will take up a big chunk of my time this next semester.

(breathe)
(read at normal speed)


I just wanted to thank everyone for a great year. This last semester I have spent most of my time hidden away with my abnormal psychology textbook but I am really looking forward to focusing less on school work and more on the other areas of my life. Wishing you an outstanding 2011.

'Tis the Season

It is that time of year again. When the music is playing in the headphones. Plates and plates of cookies and other goodies start appearing. Not being able to sleep at night in anticipation of....your final exams.

Yes, it is official the end of the semester is near. A time when high school and college students both dread and rejoice. There are tests to be studied for, chapters to be read, stats to be memorized and papers to be written (like the Experimental psych one I am putting off at this very moment) but with each completed task it means we are that much closer to graduation day.

Among this hustle and bustle of the finals season I was reminded of an important point just the other night. For an ALPs meeting Angeline did an activity where we reflected on both good and challenging points from the semester then we were given a few minutes to write about what we were thinking.

This was a simple but powerful activity. ALPs prides itself in practicing Experiential Education using adventurous activities such as high ropes courses to allow people "experience" their education. But so often we forget to truly experience the biggest adventure, life.

Personally, I have been absolutely horrible at this this past semester. Just allowing myself to get bogged down and hurry through task after task not taking the time to really appreciate life and what I am learning.

It is amazing how powerful the simple act of journaling can be. I have been journaling off and on since I was a State Officer, lately off a lot more then on. But just those five minutes of reflecting on the day or an experience you had can allow you to learn so much.

Take 5-10 minutes right now to ponder these questions:

- Think about the best thing that has happened to you this semester

       - How did you feel?

       - What was the weather like?

       - Who did you tell about the experience?

       - What can you do to have that experience again?

       - Who influenced you and helped you along the way?

       - Who do you need to thank?

- Think about the most challenging thing that has happened to you this semester

       - How did you feel?

       - What was the weather like?

       - Who did you tell about the experience?

       - What went wrong?

       - Can you do anything to change or avoid it?

It's that simple. All you need to do is spend some time thinking. Grab a notebook. Start a blog. Get a video camera (I've been trying some video journaling and having a lot of fun) or simply find a nice relaxing spot and just think.

For me the hardest thing has always been knowing what to write about. If that is your case too then just start out by writing about the most challenging part of your day and what made it that way. Also, be sure to keep checking back as I will be posting more prompts as the days go by.

With a little effort and commitment you can make journaling a habit. You can turn it into a learning tool like no other. A tool that allows you to be in complete control of your learning, allowing you to:

Experience the Adventure

Who's Left??

This activity is a slight twist on one I learned from the great Karl Rohnke. It's good for having some high energy fun and depending on how you set it up and debrief it could be geared toward cooperation.

Who's Left??

- Have everyone number off by 2's and split up into two teams. Call one Team A and one Team B (or feel free to use some creative expression)

- Have everyone spread themselves out randomly in a relatively large playing area (a gym, field, random parking lot, etc.) making sure that they have room between other players

- Once the players are distributed they have to stay there with both feet stationary until the action starts happening.

- Tell all the players on Team A to extend their right hands and players on Team B to extend their left.

- Choose two people (one from each team) one being the "Left Initiator" and the other the "Right Initiator"

- The two initiators then jog to opposite ends of the playing area and stand ready about ten feet from the nearest distributed person

- On "Go!" the right initiators looks for a player with an extended right hand and grasps that person's hand. The two then become connected and go look for another extended right hand and so on until all right handed players are connected hand in hand. If the "right" team gets connected before the "left" team completes their connection, the right wins.

Special notice

* Yelling and shouting is strongly encouraged

* If anyone moves their feet before the initiator grasps their hand 5 seconds will be added to their time.

* Physically interfering with the other team is not allowed

* If anyone in the developing line breaks grip then there will be a ten second time penalty for each break

For multiple rounds

Break the group up into 4 teams (Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, Michelangelo) then randomly pick two groups to be on Team A and two to be on Team B right before calling go.

Stand Out. Think Different.

Do you just follow the crowd? Doing things a certain way simply because that is the way it is done. Do you settle for blending in or do you stand out?
Shift your thinking this week. Look at your world from a new perspective. Question the possibilities. Innovate and create. Think Different.

Pursuit of Happiness - MMM

Don't let others tell you your dreams are impossible. Pursue your happiness.

Elements of Greatness - MMM

This week take the time to answer some important questions. Exploring who we are and what we believe is an important activity which every leader should do on a regular basis. It brings us insight and helps us refocus our lives on what truly matters.

This video reminds all of us that

"To give anything less then your best is to sacrifice the gift." - Steve Prefontaine

Do not sacrifice this gift. Do not settle for merely good. You have the ability. BE GREAT

Failure

How are you going to push yourself this week?

Are you on the edge of failure?

If not, are you really trying???

Be Realistic - Monday's Motivational Morsel

Wake up loving your life. Each morning we have the simple touch to wake up living a life we love or to suffer through the daying living a life others tell us is realistic.

In this video Ryan Porter challenges us to not live our lives according to others preseption of what is realistic. Take a look it is an outstanding message to start your week off on the right foot.
Who decides what is realistic in your life? Decide to each morning to live your dream life.

Ryan Porter is a motivational speaker from Ontario, Canada. His message to students tells them to "Make Your Own Lunch." Click here check out more videos from Make Your Own Lunch TV

Fine Tuning

There is so much potential sitting in the corner. It has the power to change people. It has the power to energize. An auditorium packed with people, filled with a dull chatter of conversation can be brought to a deafening roar of cheers and screams with the strumming of a single cord or the soft underlying melody can cause us to take a step back and reflect on our life. Yes, it is a very powerful instrument. A guitar can move people. Its music can be an inspiration or sometimes it is just noise.

Having the most extravagant, expensive guitar one that is born to make amazing music will produce nothing but noise if it is not properly tuned. Our lives are the same way. To bring out the music in us. we need to spend time tuning. To be a high performing leader takes the fine tuning.

With a guitar you get what you give. If you invest the time behind the scenes, practicing in your dorm room, learning how to play new songs on YouTube and just experimenting, then when it is time to take the stage you will be able to deliver a performance that moves people.

To be a leader takes that same deliberate practice. It is about waking up each morning and deciding to do something today that will make you better for tomorrow. This is the only way to make true progress in any area of your life. Pick an area of your life, something you want to improve on, something you want to be the best in. And start fine tuning.

Tag You're It

Do you want to make a difference in others? Are you looking for a challenging career? Do you have a passion for agriculture?

Well you are in luck because you have just been Tagged to Teach Ag.

Check out this video from the National Association of Agriculture Education.

http://www.naae.org/TeachAg

Life = Risk

Excellent advice to start the week off right.

Turn on the Light

The room is darkly quiet, deserted and lifeless. Most hardly even know it existed. The next moment it becomes illuminated, filled with life, activity and energy. A place where people gather to relax, to connect, to make things happen.

This magical change is brought out all thanks to the light. The once void and empty room comes to life with the energy from the light but this energy didn't just appear out of no where. For even when the light is inactive the potential is always there waiting. Someone just needs to flip the switch.

Our lives are so much like that light bulb. Each and every one of us has an incredible amount of potential waiting to be unleashed, we just need to flip the switch.

Sent from my BlackBerry Smartphone provided by Alltel

Monday's Motivational Morsel

Start your week off right. It's time for action. NO EXCUSES.

Leadership is...

Here is a quick update on how things are going and a brief message from the a Middle School FFA workshop. Thanks Cashton and Sparta for an outstanding time.

Be sure to check out the new website at:

http://www.motivatingperformancellc.com/

The Road

The road map to bring an authentic leader can be a tricky one to follow. Many have tried but most get lost in sorrow. It starts off on a slow moving interstate traffic jam. All slammed together you are no different than any other man. Weave your way through wrong and right, find your exit and be especially vigilant at night. There are many exits that one can take but picking is by no means a piece of cake. Search deep inside your soul and it will direct you toward your goal.

Once you find your passion you are on your way. Exit the interstate and don't stray. For that was the easy part, now comes the true test of your heart. To survive the streets take great navigation for many given up out of desperation. There are twists, turns, potholes and obstacles galore, but don't through up your hands and say "No more." The light at the end of the tunnel will soon come your way, a dark allies are not where you want to stay.

Be true to the values and principles you know are right, for they will steer you through without a big fright. The people you surround your self with are the key because they provide your emotional fuel you see. Your journey to be an authentic leader will be a hard one but don't worry you can prevail, with the right attitude you too can set sail.

Tougher than it sounds

Straw Flip


Materials: Drinking Straws

Each student is given a straw and puts one end of it in his or her mouth. Without using hands, they must get the other end into their mouth by twisting and turning it.

Debriefing ideas
- Persistance
- Being willing to look a little weird



Funny Faces


Materials: Rubber bands

Each student is given a rubber band and is instructed to put the rubber band around their head, across the tip of their nose. By only making different facial expressions, they must move the rubber band all the way down their necks.

Debriefing ideas

- Persistance

- Being willing to look a little weird

Everyday Improvements

Last night at midnight we officially kicked off 2010. With the coming of each new year thousands of people all over the world set resolutions and create goals for the upcoming year. However, many fall short after only a few months. Most of the time this is because many try to make changes is too big of chunks.

Sticking to your resolutions requires a small act each and everyday. It requires that you take an action each day. The action does not need to be huge, in fact if it is too big it is harder to sum up the motivation to act.

Each week take the time to create a game plan for each day, what are you going to do to move yourself closer?

Making Everyday Improvements will create lasting change.