Wednesday, March 30, 2011

LOMBARDI'S ENCOURAGEMENT

One of my favorite books is "The Maxwell Daily Reader" which sits on my desk.  Each day I open to the day's date and read the message that John Maxwell has developed for that day.  One such message includes a story about Vince Lombardi.  I've wrote about this story before but thought it worthy of repeating -- especially with Maxwell's thoughts on motivation at the conclusion:

Vince Lombardi, the famed Green bay Packers football coach, was a feared disciplinarian.  But he was also a great motivator.  One day he chewed out a player who had missed several blocking assignments.  After practice, Lombardi stormed into the locker room and saw that the player was sitting at his locker, head down, dejected.  Lombardi mussed his hair, patted him on the shoulder and said, "One of these days you're going to be the best guard in the NFL."

That player was Jerry Kramer, and Kramer says he carried that positive image of himself for the rest of his career.  "Lombardi's encouragement had a tremendous impact on my whole life," Kramer said.  He wen ton to become a member of the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame and a member of the NFL's All-50 Year Team.

Everybody needs motivation from time to time.  Motivation makes it possible to accomplish what you should accomplish.  Never underestimate the power of it.

Motivation helps people who know what they should do...to do it!

Motivation helps people who know what commitment they should make...to make it!

Motivation helps people who know what habit they should break...to break it!

Motivation helps people who know what path they should take...to take it!

Motivate someone in your circle of influence today.