I just got back from an enjoyable evening at my daughter’s school. She starts kindergarten on Monday, so tonight was a chance to meet her teacher, principal, and her classmates. On the wall of her classroom was posted this essay on a large laminated poster:

The Bottom Line

Face it
Nobody owes you a anything.
What you achieve, or fail to achieve
in your lifetime
Is directly related to what
you do or fail to do.
No one chooses his parent or childhood,
But you can choose your own direction.
Everyone has problems and
obstacles to overcome,
But that too is relative to each individual.
Nothing is carved in stone!
You can change anything in your life
If you want to badly enough.
Excuses are for losers! Those who take responsibility
for their actions
are the real winners in life.
Winners meet life challenges head on
knowing there are no guarantees, and
give it all they’ve got
and never think it’s too late
or too early
to begin.
Time plays no favorites
and will pass whether you act or not.
Take control of your life
Dare to Dream and take risks…
Compete!
If you aren’t willing to work for your goals,
don’t expect others to.
BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!”

————————-

Now I ask you, does that strike you as something you would have expected to see in a kindergarten classroom? I have to confess that while we try to tach these kinds of values to Callie and her 2-year old brother, Max, I did not see that one coming.

I post it here in the hopes that if it inspires you, then perhaps you will share it others you know, especially your children…regardless of their age!
~JT

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Find out how entrepreneur leaders run their business like a billion-dollar empire. Who are your partners? Who are your clients? Who do you want to surround yourself with? Watch this video and learn what goes into landing your #1 draft pick. Leave me a comment and let me know what YOU demand from the people with whom you do business!
~JT

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Every great champion takes halftime to assess and adjust their game plan. With the year half over, how are YOU doing in YOUR game? Are you winning, or getting ready for a comeback? Check out this video and earn how you can still meet your New Year’s goals and make this year your best ever!

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WARNING: Strong language! Okay, I’m recovering from a bad cold and could use a shower, but this video is CRUCIAL for success. Entrepreneur leadership is about staying focused and engaged, but working your fingers to the bone (which is what we tend to do) can and will drain you quickly. Check out this video for a success secret that guarantees results. I rarely use ‘guarantee’, but I’m certain you will see results if you practice this diligently….

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Entrepreneurs, no matter how experienced or how successful, need good mentors. Mentors can show you the way and help you take flight in your business and your life. Check out this video of a special family moment and learn how mentoring can help you fly!

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March 11, 2009 is a day I will never forget. It was the day I said goodbye to one of the greatest friends I have ever known.

His name was Yeager, named after the famous test pilot. In 1996, I was in a community college, working my ass off to get into a major university with the hopes of becoming a U.S. Navy fighter pilot. Back then, I had dreams of becoming a Blue Angel, then going to test pilot school and eventually off to NASA to fly the space shuttle.

Then fate stepped in.

I saw Yeager in a holding pen at PetSmart. I was there to buy fish food and filters for the tank. He was all alone, the last of a litter of mutts who had been carelessly tossed into a dumpster by a breeder who’s prized black lab had met up with a springer spaniel. In that person’s eyes, those puppies were a waste.

A kind soul collected the starving and terrified pups and brought them to an animal shelter. The puppies were herded off lovingly to PetSmart, in the hopes that someone with a heart and a place in their life for true friendship would take them in. I was not looking for a new pet that day. I was certainly not looking for a dog. I was renting a townhome and my landlord nearly freaked when he found out I had fish. But, I walked over to the holding pen to see why this one puppy, the last of his brothers and sisters, was still there, waiting for someone to show up and be his pal.

I picked him up, and rather than licking my face excitedly, or peeing all over me like all the other puppies, Yeager plopped his head on my shoulder and almost fell asleep. I could feel his warm puppy breath on my neck and wondered what he was thinking. The initial thought of having a little buddy was kinda cool, but I just knew my landlord would freak, so I put him back, and walked out of the store.

I had about a 25-minute drive home, and could not shake my thoughts of Yeager. When I got home, I called my landlord and chuckled a nervous request to bring an untrained puppy into his newly-renovated townhome. I thought, if anything, hopefully he’d just hang up on me.

The next thing I knew I was racing down the freeway for PetSmart, shifting gears and changing lanes as if in a Hollywood high-speed pursuit. My landlord’s words echoed in my ear, “No problem…just sign an agreement and pay a pet deposit…” You’ve got to be kidding me. I screeched into he parking lot and ran in the store with the keys still in the ignition. I saw him there, waiting. I signed the papers and took him home.

The next thirteen years were years of total friendship. When I struggled through college, Yeager was there. He didn’t care that I failed Calculus II. Twice. He loved me when I gained acceptance into flight school. He traveled with me from coast to coast. He held vigil over me when I came within tenths of a point of realizing me dream of becoming a fighter pilot, only to fall short. He celebrated with me when I eventually graduated with my Navy Wings of Gold. He waited patiently while I deployed to Afghanistan. He waited for me and protected my wife and daughter when I deployed for my third war, this time on the ground in Iraq.

When I made the decision to pursue my dream of entrepreneurship, he loved me unconditionally. When I fell flat on my face, he loved me. When I had literally thousands of phones slammed in my ear with the harsh words of rejection, he loved me. When I was in the pit, scared and doubting myself, he loved me. When I staged my comeback, he was there with his undying love.

And though I vowed I would do anything for Yeager, I couldn’t stop him from getting sick and losing weight. I spent dollar after dollar trying to find out why my best friend, the one who had always been there for me, and always fought like a brave to protect me, wasn’t fighting to live anymore.

I had the toughest decision of my life one year ago today.

I sat on the floor of the veterinarian’s office, Yeager in my arms. The doctor was amazing. She told me I was about to give Yeager the greatest gift a human could give, aside from the gift of a good life; the gift of a peaceful passing. She gave him the injection, and I could feel him slip away. His breath slowly dissipated, as I remembered what it felt like on my neck 13 years before. He was so peaceful, so serene, so free.

His pain was finally gone, but mine was monumental. I sobbed like a little boy for days. Losing Yeager was tough, and at times I felt paralyzed with grief. It was only through the love of my wife Mia and my kids Callie and Max (and some pretty great human friends) that I soon began to smile again.

My daughter Callie still talks about Yeager to this day. I still see him in pictures on my screen saver. And every now and then, if I’m at peace, he’ll drop by in my dreams. I always wake up feeling stronger when Yeager drops by. I’m hoping he comes tonight, because I really, really miss him.

I am so grateful to have had my incredible friendship with Yeager. It spanned 13 years; nearly a third of my life and almost all of his. We had lots of fun together, conquered challenges together, but most of all really loved each other.

I am grateful to the breeder who ignored true magic when he tossed Yeager and his siblings into that dumpster. I am grateful to my landlord for giving me permission to take Yeager in. I am grateful to all the veterinarians, caregivers, petsitters, family, friends and other dogs who helped make Yeager happy and comfortable when I could not.

My prayer for you is that you, too, feel the love and friendship I experienced with Yeager. Undying, unchanging, nonjudgmental, and everlasting. No matter who you have in your life that loves you like that, hug them today and express your gratitude for their being in your life.

Thank you, Yeager, for being my best buddy ever. I sure do miss you.

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WOW! What a great game…if you missed Super Bowl XVIV, you not only missed an epic match up of two great teams–Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints–but a fantastic trove of leadership development lessons and business takeaways. Check out this video and see what I mean…

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Military aviators live by the values of leadership development. Whether soaring at the speed of sound at 30,000 ft, or stalking enemy submarines at a couple hundred feet off the surface of the ocean, leadership is the lifeblood of military aviation. Watch this video and see what I learned from F-16 pilot, author, and entrepreneur Rob “Waldo” Waldman. Great insight for every serious entrepreneur. As Waldo says, “Push It UP!!!”

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