We always do better when we are confident, regardless of what we are doing.  – Joe Maddon

For me, confidence is the feeling that I am prepared to be successful.  I know that I’ve put in the work – both mental and physical – to do what is required of me in the situation.

We are confident because we have both the skill and the mindset.  We aren’t confident because we know we can “rise” to the situation.  We are confident when we know our training has prepared us.  We have thought about the options, we have reviewed predicable outcomes, and we remain focused on our vision.

I’m not taking about irrational confidence, but earned confidence.  The confidence in our repetitions, our skills, and our discipline.   This is what sets us apart – we build skill and make a difference.

Positive intensity is a motivator.  Negative intensity is a demotivator.  – Tim Kight

Positive intensity brings encouraging energy.  Positive energy is inspirational . . . it motivates with confidence.

Negative intensity creates fear.  Negative intensity brings doubt . . . it discourages confidence.

Our goal is to motivate . . . to bring energy . . . to inspire a passion for growth.  Our goal is to understand that failure isn’t an end, but an opportunity for future growth and improvement.  We must commit to positive intensity – to being discipline in our interactions.

I BELIEVE IN YOU.  These four words can mean the difference between fear of failure and courage to try.  – Mike Krzyzewski

What I do is limited to my capabilities and actions.  What I inspire others to do is limitless.  As individuals, we are limited . . . as teams we are unlimited.  We must trust and believe in other people; we must inspire the courage to try.

We all know people who feel the need to do everything themselves.  We know people who insist that the only way, is their way.

I believe in you . . . I believe not only can you get this done, but I believe you have the courage to try and the commitment to a growth mindset.  Not only do I believe in you, I believe that you will learn, improve, and continue on our journey.   Not only do I believe in you . . . I believe that we can do this better than me!

Inspire confidence in others . . . believe in the limitless capacity of the team . . . empower the courage to try.

The more you feed your mind with positive thoughts, the more you can attract great things into your life.  – Roy Bennett

No one talks to you more than you; your self-talk determines your attitude.  For each of us, an attitude of hope, an attitude of gratitude, creates positive thoughts.  When we are positive, good things happen for us.  When you are optimistic, great things happen in your life.

Think about it for a moment . . . think about the times you’ve been negative, pessimistic, and defensive.  Did you perform at your best?  Do you look back on your “negative self” and think “this is a person I want to be?”  No . . . you would never strive to be negative.  You would never start the day saying, “I want to be my most negative self today . . . I want to make others sink to my level of negativity.”

Today . . . be intentional and skillful to keep positive thoughts flowing.  Today . . . remove yourself from negative people – call out those energy vampires on your team.  Feed your positive self and bring optimism to others . . . it will bring great things into your life.

Be so invested in your craft that you don’t have time to listen to the naysayers.  No time for negativity.  You’re too busy creating your future.  – Jon Gordon

In today’s instant gratification, complain now society, it is often difficult to tune-out the noise.  It is so easy for anyone – any everyone – to place blame.  It is an easy trap, even for the most discipline among us, to fall into.  Something happens . . . service isn’t what we expect at a restaurant or the coach doesn’t start our child . . . so we immediately take to social media or shoot off a hostile email.

As educators, as leaders, we face a constant barrage of criticism and blame.  Honestly, I don’t believe it is from the majority; in my judgement we’ve made it incredibly easy for the vocal minority to yell with increased volume.  Social media and electronic communication has given naysayers a megaphone and an instant captive audience.

We must live with the courage of our convictions and the willingness to embrace the discomfort of telling truth to naysayers . . . the challenge of being so invested in our work that we do not – we will not – permit those who Blame, Complain, and Defend (BCD) to take us off course.  Our journey is to urgent – our work is shaping the future – to permit negative, pessimistic, and grumpy people to distract us.  We are too busy creating the future.

 Your success is not a matter of how much time you have; it is a matter of what you do with the time you have.  – Tim Kight

Time is a precious resource.   I often find myself wishing for additional hours in each day.  I’d like more time each day to spend with family, more time to exercise and more time to sleep.

While time is a limited resource, what we do with our time is a decision.  Many of us struggle with the discipline required to keep our focus on what matters most.  It is easy to get distracted by things that flash, buzz, and ping.  The amount of time we spend on social media, dealing with unimportant yet seemingly urgent things, and life’s distractions often keeps us from having the time to make a difference.

As you plan your day . . . as you find yourself scrolling through endless Tweets or considering the lesser of two bad options . . . act with purpose and skill.  The minutes you save in one area may make all the difference in the world later in your day.

Happiness depends upon ourselves.  – Aristotle

I find myself struggling at times with competing principals.  I am deeply committed to my passion for growth.  I pride myself in pushing to my personal edge . . . to being better today than I was yesterday.  I am driven by my work, by my purpose.

While I embrace this journey, I also want to be happy.  I want to be content and enjoy the blessings of family, friends, and relaxation.  I don’t want to be one of those people who are always working and never stopping to enjoy the journey itself.

As Aristotle reminds us, “Happiness depends upon ourselves.”  No one else can make me – or you for that matter – slow down to enjoy the journey.  We talk about intentional and purposeful behavior.  There is no shame, in making time for you. 

Be purposeful in taking time to rest and rejuvenate.  Invest in relationships and enjoy fellowship with family and friends.  Only you control your happiness and contentment . . . make it part of your journey.

Resisting change is self-defeating.  Success in today’s world goes to those who adjust and adapt.  – Tim Kight

We are on a journey together.  Each and every day is a new chapter . . . each action we take is a step down our personal path.

Our journey requires us to learn from past experiences, to synthesize an increasingly complex world around us, and to adapt our behavior based on knowledge and skill.  Repeatedly taking the same action over and over, without a mindset focused on growth, will cause us to fall behind.

Change doesn’t mean what we are doing today is ineffective or poorly executed.  Accepting change – committing to adjust and adapt – is simply a commitment to continued growth and improvement.

Don’t ever confuse talking about ideas with taking action.  In a world full of talk, be someone who acts with discipline.   – Brian Kight

We all know “talkers.”  We know those people in our lives who always say the “right things” but don’t always do “the right things.”

It is often easy to identify the actions that are required in the moment, but it is sometimes difficult to have the discipline to act with purpose.  We must work to build that bridge . . . to build the bridge from thought, to talk, to action.  Having a good idea isn’t good enough – we must act.

Today, as you begin your day, commit to not only talk about your ideas, but to turn those ideas into action.  Yes, share and collaborate, but also act and do.  The purposeful discipline to step-up requires each of us to make a difference every day.

Optimistic people bring positive energy to any situation.  Pessimistic people suck energy from any situation.  You control both your attitude and your friends – choose wisely.

You know the situation.  We’ve all been there.  You are in a room, in a conversation, with people that seem to be feeding off negative energy.  You have a decision to make.  You can easily jump into the negative gossip or complaining . . . it is so easy to go with the flow in the room.

OR . . . you can step up.  You have the power . . . you can end it.  You can change the flow to positive . . . you can embrace the productive discomfort and STEP UP.  It’s extremely difficult . . . it takes courage . . . it takes commitment to your convictions, but you want to do it.  You want to be the “game changer.”

Today, right now, commit to bringing the positive to every conversation.  Commit to stepping up and leading.  A discipline-driven life, a life lived Above the Line, requires each of us to take ownership of our space in every corner of lives.  You control your attitude and the behavior you permit around you.  OWN IT!