Brian L. Swartz's Blog

My answer: The short version….Never, Never! a canned speech will put people to sleep just like reading a child a book. You need to play off your audience if you want to engage them and keep them focused on you and your message.

Your message is your crown jewel and your delivery must keep dragging them back to your point.

You have to tailor your delivery to your crowd to hold them and offer the opportunity to sell or drive your point home. You need to know your audience or as much about them as possible and consequently in turn how to reach them and hold them to sell them your idea.

Motivational speaking is SALES! You are Selling every time you take to the stage and many things, in an effort to sell your idea.

No decent, seasoned, successful salesman memorizes their sales pitch and rambles through it.

As a New Year begins I have taken notice of 2 things about this time of year.

Christmas seems to bring out the better side in many folks. They are a bit nicer, a tad cheerier, and for most more considerate and patient.

As for New Years, folks have the idea that they can start over. With a clean slate and with a determination to make themselves and their life better, in a vast and various manner of ways.

I say we all need a Splash of that along with a Dash of the other EVERY single day and it would, will change our lives and all those around us for the better. Is it going to be easy yeah, NO, which is why Christmas and New Years only comes once a year, but it should stir us each and every morning and follow us through the day.

Try it, every day is a Gift, just like Christmas morning arise and unwrap your day and be thankful for it. And every day offers a new beginning just like the January 1 of a fresh brand new year so go ahead make a resolution for each and every day.

Sure most of us by 9:20 am will have broken our daily resolution if we follow our day like the calendar of a year, but that is when we let our Christmas Spirit kick in and show our selves a little kindness and patience and offer a little forgiveness after all isn’t that what Christmas is all about.

And then at the end of the day have a drink and kiss the ones you love and it doesn’t have to be at midnight either and set your sites not on a new year, but a new day and start all over again.

Part of OUR responsibility as a parent is to monitor and supplement our children’s education. One of the most important area’s that our children need to be aware of is History. World History for sure, but for those in the USA, American History is Paramount. History will repeat itself given the opportunity like a spicy spoiled bratwurst, but it will be much more painful and could last a lifetime. So to avoid Historical disasters OUR children need to know what happened and how we got here today.

Here is a link from a MAJOR University where students have absolutely no clue about American and World history. And not just dates, and trivial test details but actions and events so profound that it should shape our perspective of life as we know it. History repeats itself.

Please watch the video. Don’t laugh, but be put on notice and guard.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/10/16/the-incredibly-depressing-answers-college-students-gave-when-asked-what-the-holocaust-was-and-where-it-began/

If you are in the same boat as these students of HIGHER EDUCATION shame on you, do something about to learn and share.

Learn with your children, it should be an important goal for every parent to challenge your team to be informed and be on guard.

It is all about preparation and believing. Faith if you will. It is hard to keep self-doubt out but when others want to help it is time to keep them and that away. One key we often miss, is Faith comes by hearing ….. and hearing from the Word of God. He holds us in higher regard and makes more available than we could ever come up with ourselves. Why don’t we read His Word, and put it in our hearts and feed and stand on it. Instead we wallow, and allow the voices of the world to keep us down and frozen. Look up, Have no Fear, Trust and Be Safe.

Preparing to Succeed at everything takes a plan. Much of it is between the ears and in the center of your chest, Heart and Mind. Before you can accomplish anything you need to at least have an idea that it can come to pass. We would not try to take a drink of water, if we knew that we would spill it all over ourselves and none would get in our mouths, normally. This holds true for virtually everything we attempt to do. We have to believe it is possible and have the fortitude to work through the challenges to make it happen, thus Mind and Heart or as some put it Heart and Soul. But the Thought process absolutely is the first step, “Can I Do It?” or “Yup I Can Do It!”. And this is where the Nay Sayers exert their influence on us if we allow them. If you hear you can’t enough, unfortunately we will all cave in to doubt, it just takes longer with some. The only way to overcome is to shut them and that out, so that you have a fighting chance to accomplish and succeed.

So part of the plan is to surround yourself with a supportive, encouraging team or coach and better yet, both. Mapping out your success path in your mind, is preparing and then there is the physical or other planning and prepping that goes along with it.

Final note keep God on your team, or maybe better put, stay on God’s Team, “Where All Things are Possible”.

Getting on the right page with your money can be difficult, so it helps to have cheerleaders. http://daveramsey.com/

It is a burning question. Simply put we most of the time do things that we enjoy or make us happy. Now there are things that we have to do, but we are not dealing with those right now, just the things that are optional. We tend to gravitate to things that make us feel good and enjoy.

Even more simply put, things and activities that we find FUN!

We even hang out with folks that we find FUN!

So FUN, seems to be a recurring theme. We do things that we find FUN, but it could also include NEW and Different things as they are a change and some of us like to venture out and try new stuff. But if it is not FUN and enjoyable, or at some point it stops being FUN, we usually don’t do it again. We shy away from it for something that offers us, more FUN.

So if we can add FUN to virtually anything we and others will be drawn to it and like to do it.

So…..What is it you find FUN?

Sometimes no, the best performer may not be the best choice. Many times the best player and or the most popular are absolutely not the best for the position of captain or leader. Sure being the best lends some to follow, as is true with the most popular, which is indeed part of Leadership, having others follow. But being a captain on the team or a manager in the office is so much more than just having other members merely follow and mimic. In both instances character and morals should, and needs to weigh in along with a few other traits.

The purpose of the position dictates and demands much more than merely the best or most popular and all that comes along with it. With that said, what is the coach, teacher, CEO, or leader looking for from the individual that is occupying this position? Is it merely a figure head for your horse and pony show? Or do you want this person to really serve a role and assist in leading, encouraging, and inspiring the rest of YOUR troops to success while wearing the uniform, whatever that may be. Shouldn’t they be serving as an assistant to you, as the ultimate Leader of your Merry Band and that goes for when the team garb is off also and away from whatever arena you are competing in.

In my Book, the purpose of a Captain is to aid you in managing, directing, encouraging, guiding, possibly even marketing Your Direction and goals to and for the team. All the while they need to be serving as a watchdog and a go between to supply you with honest information about the moral and mental and physical condition that your team is in. One very important skill for this person to be capable of, is to be able to listen and really hear what is being offered. A captain is, or can be, a truly critical and important selected individual(s) that serves both their team mates and the leadership. They should not be a patsy or nanny, or a yes man and certainly not a thug and we have all seen examples of all of these, in real life, on teams we have been on. They should be an extension of you, so read the list above again.

The ultimate candidate for the position requires a trustworthiness, to be approachability, have a willingness to serve (on both sides), offer an unbiased nature, as well as possess a certain amount of unselfishness. Yes the Captain Spot is a tall order if done properly and a Good nominee can be tough to find. In my Book “There are Many i’s in Team” there is a fair amount about this. I truly believe the real key, is you as the leader, need to be grooming several that will eventually occupy and serve as YOUR and Their captain(s). So the being the best, is absolutely not the defining skill. Does it help and sometimes fall on the same person, maybe.

To see more go to:

http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Is-bes...

Our kids and me included have amassed shelves of Trophy’s over the years to the point that there is no place to display them all. Sure they are nice to have, but as we all know they are a pain to dust and care for. We, actually my brilliant wife has come up with the perfect solution that I want to share with you.

We pulled them all out, most were in boxes, under the bed, on a shelf in the basement and in our attic. Special, sure. Some even remind us of our conquers and successes that make us feel good and encourage us. So they are important but they are bulky and in the way. So we set them up one by one and took a photo and made a collogue of them for our kids. They can display it on a wall like in the garage, or in their bathroom without taking up any space and yet it allows them to venture back and remember their accomplishments.

Then we took all the metal to a scrap yard, cashed it in and had a nice dinner and reminisced about our time together as I coached them most of the time that the photo’s related too. Freed up lots of space but the moments are saved in a one dimensional state to share with future generations and when we need to escape and visit our childhood.

Cafe Pamlico in Buxton NC 5 stars

What an awesome dinning experience! Seared scallops were superb, salad was average and the shrimp with grits was delicious as well as the prime rib. A bit pricey but worth every penny.

The staff was great too, very attentive and friendly, if you want a top self dinning experience this is your place.

http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/230/17075...

My wife and I were talking a few weeks back when I was toying with who we are and was bouncing some ideas back and forth when she made an interesting comment.  “We don’t fit into any of the Categories’.”  We are happy and we are prosperous.  We are Christians and believe God supplies all our needs and do our best to keep Him first, study the Bible and not ashamed to tell folks, but don’t attend a local church. We do drink and smoke all organic tobacco.  We love our kids who are now grown up, but don’t always act like it, but neither do we.  We have been married 30 years and still love each other and share and depend on each other.  We try not to curse and swear but sometimes do.  We think life can be too complicated, if allowed to be and simple works for us.  A person’s word is their bond, if you don’t mean it, please, please don’t say it.

Sure we are Redneckish, but not so Red that we fit completely in to this category, as we use our IPods’, IPhones’, manage our finances wisely (Thanks to Dave Ramsey’s wisdom and inspiration) and like a few of the finer things in life.  We do like to eat and use what we grow, catch and hunt, but we try to keep things decent and in order.  But we do think life should be simple.

Sure we are Conservatives, but not so right that we don’t think that folks shouldn’t be given the right to choose.  After all God gives us all free will, and being a follower and believer, shouldn’t we mimic that also.  We absolutely know that our Country was founded on and in Freedom based in a Godly fashion.  That the Constitution, Our Constitution applies to all, no one is above it and should be the ultimate and final rule of the land applying ALL the rules.  You see you can’t have just one or two that you live by, it is a package deal you have to live by all of them.  That all work is honorable and every person should work and contribute to the best of their capability and no job should be beneath us, there are times you need to get your well-manicured hands dirty.  Our Government should serve us the people and not the other way around and our government should be made up of average working people, not politicians.  Full time politicians should be banned.  We do believe in Capitalism, but with that goes Much Responsibility, to work hard and make an honest fair buck.  And if you do that you should be free to make as much money as you like without somebody trying to take some.  An agenda should never get in the way of success and happiness. It should be our duty to share and give freely to those that we decide need help.

We absolutely don’t prescribe to being politically correct, that is the whole free speech thing protected by the Constitution.  But with that said, you don’t have the right to be or say mean things about folks behind their backs, if you are not willing to say it to their face, don’t say it and it better be true.  Example: We have a Christmas tree, we do not have a Holiday bush.  We personally don’t celebrate “The Holidays” we celebrate Christmas because we are Christians and we are proud of it and want to share and spread our Joy that comes with and goes along with it.  So we say Merry Christmas and really don’t care if you like it or not, no malice intended and if you celebrate Hanukkah or Kwanzaa I will not be offended if you throw back have a happy or merry whatever you do.

Now with that said, we do have a little bit of Hippy running through our blood.  We believe folks should be free to do as they please and make their own choices; particularly in the confines of their own home, when they are not hurting anybody else.  We do eat, natural organic foods and like living off the land.  We don’t believe that medicine cures all, and don’t like to take it, we would rather alter our diet or eat a God given herb or spice to heal our bodies.  We do believe there is a cure for cancer, but unfortunately there is no way for someone to make enough profit or some other agenda that is keeping it off the market.  No one should have the power or right to play God.  We did homeschool our children for a number of reasons. We do question our government and big business, and view them as the establishment, particularly when it comes to giving us true straight answers.  Yes we believe they will lie for their own preservation and for profit at the expense of those that they serve.  We do believe in Love, but with that said, God’s type of Love.

Yes we don’t fit any of the stereotypes.  Some would call us strange and weird and there is no name that really fits us, so we are making up our own name and coining it.

A new word is born to fit us: Redhippservative.  And we sure would like to meet some other Redhippservatives out there.

Today I responded to a question at http://www.hoopcoach.org/forum/topics/at-what-age-are-captains-introduced

And wanted to share my response to this question.

I am coaching 6th graders this year. I’ve coached this group of boys since 2nd grade and this year I’d like to introduce ‘captains’. I think at u12, the right kids can begin working in leadership roles. Thoughts?

Reply by Brian L Swartz 1 second ago                   Delete

I think you hit the nail on the head when you offered the right kids.  Two schools of thought here come to mind.  Different Captains for each week or game based on leadership characteristics and ability, dedication to the team and just importantly fellow team mates.  It is important that it is not based solely on good field performance and talent to play the game.  The second option would be to select a team captain(s) for the season.

At this age giving players a taste of leadership may be a good idea as well as spreading the honor and responsibility around.  Whichever you choose be sure you and your fellow coaches establish a clear cut criteria for what you expect of your captain(s).  Good leaders need to communicate, so be a good example and inform your players, what earns you the position and what you expect of your captain(s) if they are selected or chosen to serve.

I have always frowned upon players voting for captains as then it becomes a popularity contest rather than hand picking the right person(s) for the job.  I absolutely believe in allowing the team to make suggestions to who they think should be a captain, but I always reserve the right to select, choose, hire, or place.  That way I maintain the right to substitute or inter change which you partly surrender if you allow the team to pick.

One final thought, make your captains interactive giving them specific duties that go with the position, responsibility and title.  I always write it all out and spend a few minutes to discuss and explain what being a Captain is all about during one of my team meetings.  Example could be for the captain(s) to call players to tell or remind them about practice, arrive five minutes early to assist setting up practice, bases, balls, cones and to be ready to lead in stretching and warm up drills that they will lead in.  I also always meet with my Captains for about two minutes after practice to see if they have anything to share either personally or from the team members.  That was a good drill the team liked it or they didn’t or most of us did or didn’t understand.  Finally it is important for you to explain that they will probably be meeting with the umpire or officials for pregame and it is important for them to pay attention and listen so they can report back to the team what is offered.

Captains are important, and they need to know what their responsibilities are, which includes being a go between from players to coach, so you as the coach know what Your players are feeling and thinking.   At this age yes they are ready to learn the team dynamic, but most importantly don’t take the FUN out of playing the game.  Hope this offers some thoughts.

I do have quite a bit about this in my book “There are Many i’s in Team” available on Amazonhttp://www.amazon.com/There-Are-Many-Team-ebook/product-reviews/B00BSDTI0Q/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1