Direct Life Coaching

There really is no such thing as a small idea when it is comes to caring or serving others. There is a force behind this kind of goodness that takes on a life of its own - a life that is bigger than you!

PFC Nick Madaras was a 19 year-old soldier serving in Iraq. Growing up in Connecticut as a boy, Nick loved soccer. While in Iraq, Nick quickly discovered a common passion for the sport with all of the young boys in the Iraqi towns and villages. He loved playing soccer with the boys, but even the barest necessity of a ball was hard to come by. So, Nick wrote and told his dad that he wanted to gather up old soccer balls around the house in Connecticut and have them shipped to Iraq to give to the children.

Nick served his first tour in Iraq and then got to come home and spend time with his family. He and his father talked more about getting soccer balls to Iraq, but it wasn't long before Nick was called back for a second tour. During this second tour of duty, before Nick was ever able to organize a shipment of balls - he was killed by a street bomb.

Ken Dartley never knew Nick or the Madaras family- but he did live in the same town. After Nick's death, his parents shared the story of Nick wanting to send balls to the Iraqi children - and Ken Dartley decided to do something. A veteran of the Korean War, Dartley was inspired by Nick's desire to help the children - so with the permission of the Madaras family, Dartley started the "Kick for Nick" soccer ball drive.

It started with Dartley setting up a soccer ball bin in his front yard - and then slowly and slowly the bin began to fill up. Residents from all over the town brought their soccer balls - and on each ball it is written, "PFC Nick Madaras."

Nick Madaras had a small idea to send some soccer balls to the children of Iraq. He wasn't trying to change the world - he just wanted to do something nice. He wanted to help these kids experience some extra joy in their day - so why not soccer balls?

Nick never got to see his small idea come to fruition, but to date, over 1,400 balls have been shipped to towns and villages all over Iraq. Soldiers hand deliver the gifts and tell the kids why they are receiving the balls. Then, each kid gets a "PFC Nick Madaras" soccer ball.

It's bigger than you!

"Kick for Nick" drop-off spots are beginning to pop up in different locations all over the country. One simple idea of good is slowly turning into a movement.

"There is nothing so powerful as an idea whose time has come." --Victor Hugo

In Stephen Covey's "The 8th Habit," he points out that the word "inspire" is from the Latin word inspirare, which means "to breathe life into another."

Do you, right now, accept the opportunity you have at this moment to inspire and "breathe life into another?" Or, are you walking around with your head down, buried in your own problems, and waiting for someone to inspire you?

As Nick Madaras proved, an idea based on good has the power to inspire and transform others. One idea. A simple idea.

It's bigger than you!

Are you listening to your ideas? Can you see that the choices you make to inspire has a life well beyond yours?

This is something I think about everyday. What can I do to inspire? How am I making a difference? I am not always happy with what I see to be the difference I am making - but I never stop thinking, listening, and moving forward.

Nick Madaras created a legacy based on an idea he never completed himself. What legacy do you want to leave?

Have a great week everyone - and please give me a call if you want to talk about the impact you want to have in the world.

Much love!

Travis
561.676.4583

Labels: 8th Habit, Kick for Nick, life coaching, PFC Nick Madaras, Stephen Covey

On the vanity mirror in the bathroom I wrote the following on the glass with a dry-erase marker, "Today is a classroom - what are you going to learn?"

On most days the lesson I continue to learn is that I still need more patience. FYI - my kids are excellent teachers. They know how to further my education on a daily basis ;)

The truth is - there is a lesson to be learned everyday - so what are we learning?

I called a friend on the phone last week to see how his day was going. There was a short pause - and then he replied that it was "one of those days." I remarked that it sounded like one of those "learning days," and he agreed. Apparently there was a whole lot of learning going on.

When you think about that a little more - doesn't it make the trials and surprises not so bad? In truth - they are unforeseen (or foreseen) experiences that create a learning experience. At the end of the day...

What did you learn?

I spoke to another family member recently who was thinking heavily about something, and I asked the same question, "What did you learn?" Once we were able to detach our personal ego and feelings from the experience, and look at it from a perspective of growth and learning - there was a whole lot of new insight to move forward with.

Isn't that the point? To keep growing, keep learning, and move out of our comfort zones into spaces where we are forced to learn?

I am going to butcher a great quote, but someone once said something along these lines, "That a sea captain never learns a thing on calm waters." You get the point.

On the contrary - most of us walk around with the "history of our life" under our arms - and we use it as an almanac of "why I am the way I am." Instead of using past experiences as learning moments - we carry them around as evidence to justify why we aren't living a better life. Instead of seeing the positive in what we learned - we dwell on the negative of having to go through the experience.

Think back to last week, last year, or 10 years ago. What are the days or events that stick out most? Were they the days when everything went as planned - or might they have been times when you felt vulnerable, exposed, and surprised? And, if that was the case - what did the end result end up being? How much did you grow as a result? Would you be willing to trade that growth and experience in for "smooth sailing?"

Here is another question. If you are smooth sailing through life - where are you going?

Hmmmmmmmm....

In my last blog I put it out there to everyone that '08 was the year to be bigger! Within 24 hours of that blog I had three different conversations and business meetings with people wanting to play a bigger game this coming year. With each conversation - I remember feeling excited - yet uneasy and vulnerable at the same time! This wasn't because these opportunities felt bad - but because I know they are going to push me to grow in new and scary ways. Sign me up!

So, be careful what you visualize for ;)

If you need help in playing a bigger game in '08 - my first meeting is always on the house :)

Much love,

Travis

FYI - the Leading with Mastery course taught and created by Sandy Wilder is coming to South Florida in May. This is the course I have attended, and have also served in an assistant role on two other occasions. If you are at all interested, we are needing to solidify enrollment ASAP. Call me at 561.676.4583 or e-mail travis@directlifecoach.com

Labels: direct life coaching, happiness, learning, self-help

Happy 2008 everyone!

I thought I would start off the new year talking about Michael J. Fox, De Lorean's, and Flex Capacitor's!

Well, maybe not.

Instead, take a moment to look back to where you were a year ago. January 2007 - what goals did you have for the coming year? Did you make any resolutions?

How did you do?

Also, what fears did you have? What were you nervous about? What happened?

Guess what! It's 2008 - you made it through the year. Seriously, you are here right now - you are alive - and whatever fear you had last year, last week, or five minutes ago - you are here right now - and you have what you need to be successful.

Oscar winning legend Anthony Hopkins appeared on "Inside the Actor's Studio" awhile back, and he had this to say. Now, I am not sure if this quote was his own creation, but nevertheless, I love it:

"Today is the tomorrow you feared yesterday."

So, what were those fears again? Hey, you made it!!!!

Okay, here we are - two days into 2008 - so where do you want to go?

2008 is the year of being BIG!!

(not physically - that's a different resolution)

You are big! We are ALL big! So, how big do you want to be in 2008?

Here is some help. Try this:

1) Write down three things in your personal life you want to accomplish by the end of the year.

2) Think about something you can do today to put you on the path of accomplishing those goals.

3) Do that one thing.

Even if the step is small - it is a step in the right direction. After you have taken a few steps in that direction - then you can let the momentum kick in - and the strides on that path will get wider and swifter.

Here is something else you can do. Think about one thing you can do on a daily basis that would improve the overall happiness and fulfillment in your life. One thing. What is it?

I am talking about something that can be done everyday, no matter where you are - and doesn't even necessarily take a lot of time. It might be push-ups and sit-ups, reading inspirational literature, prayer, time with your kids or spouse, or journaling.

One thing - one commitment to a better you.

It might sound like a small step - but it is one step in the right direction to a big game!

Are you up for it?

Are you a player - or a spectator?

If you are tired of watching from the sidelines - or you need a positive boost to help you along the path - just drop me a line.

Much love,

Travis
travis@directlifecoach.com
561.676.4583

Labels: goal setting, life coaching, resolutions, self-help, travis thomas