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Leadership and Performance Development

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Giving Support & Resources

Coaching, Informative, Inspiration

Idea Generation and Prototyping

Great leaders empower people. They create an innovative culture by giving support and resources to their team that produces development opportunities. Leaders pinpoint useful material that feeds the growth of others. 

  • Books
  • Articles
  • Blogs
  • Virtual classes
  • Clinics
  • etc. 
  • Anything that improves performance through implementation.

Coaching Clinics

Glazier Clinic was the first professional clinic I attended. My Head Coach provided his staff a chance to attend the yearly meeting of coaches in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was an opportunity to immerse myself in the culture of football. It allowed me to meet the professionals in their element. I was able to see what great coaching looked like. These men took their craft seriously and made a continual effort to develop. From young twenty-somethings like me to old grey-haired veterans with seasoned raspy voices, coaches came from everywhere.

Our Desire to Expand

Universally, we all have a deep desire to expand and learn more. Leaders utilize this craving to help others discover their innate abilities. They do this by giving ownership of tasks and providing tools to succeed. Great school principals rely on department heads to design curriculums that impact students. They provide data and research-based protocols that will allow teachers to design an effective plan. Great coaches assign leaders within the team and provide them with leadership training. Leaders only give a person a boat with a paddle. They set their team’s course and provide solid instruction to increase the chance of success.

Take Action

With the proper resources and support, idea generation and prototyping are birthed. When team members are supported, they feel encouraged to take action. The creative spirit awakens, and ideas begin to pore out. Great leaders can teach their people how to harness this activity. The organization of thoughts followed by the implementation is critical. This is prototyping at work, designing products, tools, and strategies, and putting them into the world. If you’ve watched Shark Tank, you’ve seen the creative spirit in action. I love the process entrepreneurs go through to achieve success. The thousands of hours in development for their moment of success. They embrace the process and do not differentiate Work-Life-Play. Great Leaders lead their people down this path of discovery.

Actionable Guidance

Performance through implementation is essential. If the provided material is operational, it can save time and money. Players, employees, and team members must practice what they’ve learned. An awareness of the potential return on investment (ROI) is vital. Leaders need to ask themselves: 

  • Is what I’m providing actionable? 
  • Does the material lead to idea generation?
  • Does it feed a creative workplace?
  • Will my people apply these concepts?

If the potential ROI is high, suggesting such material is critical to developing team members. If the ROI is low, do not suggest it and continue searching for actionable items to provide.

Give Praise to Your Team

Once the team member has the support and resources they need, they enter the prototyping stage, creating actionable products that produce value for the team and the public. Encourage your team to bring you ideas. Strive to create an environment where everyone thinks big and innovates. Get excited when someone approaches you with new ideas. Help them bring the concepts to life with energy, supportive ideas, and additional resources. Leaders should verbally reward their people through praise in private and public settings. Meetings are a great place to speak about people who generate ideas. If you choose to implement an idea, speak to the group about who created it and praise them openly.

Conclusion

This was Part 2 of the Blog Series on The Innovative & Creative Team. Check out Part 1 to get up to speed

Once again, please share any content you’ve found to be helpful. My goal is to educate and inspire others to take on more and build their Youniversalife.

Keep Moving Forward!

The Innovative & Creative Team

Coaching, Inspiration

How to Inspire Risk-Taking and Prototyping

Innovative Culture

An innovative culture is created through storytelling, open dialogue, and action. A clear vision for achievement is developed by acknowledging the ideal final product. The foundational ingredient is creativity which leads to innovation. Idea creation must be standard practice and encouraged. Collaborating through deep conversation and mind mapping leads to effective workspaces. Fostering the creative spirit leads to growth. Embed these ideals in the vision and mission statements.

Vision & Goals to Promote Creativity

Every team should have a clear vision and goals. As football coaches, we routinely modified our vision and goals for each season. They would be based on the personality of the team and what direction we were heading. We would identify what we needed to work on to reach our goals. In my final season, the central theme that surfaced was creativity. We wanted to instill a spirit of invention in our team.

The best players across all sports are creative with their movement and strategy. As coaches, we found that many of our players were coachable, almost to a fault. We discovered that many players had become robotic. They wouldn’t do it if we didn’t tell them to do it. There is a line between coaching well by giving players the tools they need and overcoaching, which eliminates creative movement and playmaking ability. We wanted to promote creativity and give our players the tools they needed to play free and embrace their abilities. Give players ownership and let them explore their capabilities.

Encouraging Risk-taking and Experimentation

Bold Innovation

Fortune favors the bold – Terence

Innovation requires bold moves. We must overcome the temptation to remain the same or fit in. Seth Godin calls it creating a “Purple Cow.” In marketing and product creation, the idea is to create a unique message or object that draws the consumer’s eye. The “Purple Cow” in the field stops traffic. It takes courage to create and share something extraordinary. To create an innovative culture, leaders must encourage this behavior. They must take educated risks to model the behavior.

Football is the ultimate arena for creativity and risk-taking. Idea creation is at the core of coaching. There is a level of risk-taking when implementing new concepts and play calls. The coach draws up the play, teaches the idea, and the team practices it. The anticipation of whether the play will be successful or not is intoxicating. Many coaches remain in the game for years because they love this process. Coaches, players, and fans romanticize trick plays because of their creative spirit. New plays are an example of risk-taking and experimentation and must enter a prototyping phase.

Calculated Risk-Taking

Although it is essential to rely on the base offense and defense, it is also vital that we introduce new and creative concepts. It supports an innovative culture. Players and staff take on this growth mindset. There are other ways to implement calculated risk-taking into the team. Coaches take a risk when they identify a system they have in place and choose to modify it. For example, suppose meetings need to be more efficiently run, and they need to maximize their time. In that case, creative coaches will adjust how meetings are delivered and the length of time. If pre-practice needs to create more value, the coach will modify how it operates.

As coaches adjust, players can modify their behavior as well. They should be encouraged to explore and take calculated risks. If players are to experience growth in an area, teach them to explore and create prototypes. As a former wide receiver coach, releases off the line require creativity, planning, and strategy:

Creative Opportunity – Wide Receiver Releases

  • Body posture they present to the defensive back
  • Weight distribution
  • First step
  • Hand fighting
  • Many more intricacies

In practice, wide receivers should have the opportunity to explore once they’ve established the basics. There are examples of this across all positions in football. Take advantage of these opportunities to promote the creative spirit. Talk openly about trying new things once the fundamentals are secure. Fundamentals should be practiced every day and reinforced. Expansion, however, is ok. Refrain from robbing players or professionals of opportunities to grow beyond expectations.

Conclusion

If you enjoyed this leadership post, take a look at Youniversalife Leadership. This blog post describes various leadership styles in greater detail. You can spend time identifying what type of leader you are.

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Keep Moving Forward!

Ben

We Can Change

Inspiration

Be Patient with the Soul

It has taken a vast amount of time, but the tide has turned. I’ve been reaching aimlessly into the abyss of smoke in search of substance. The frustrating and empty swipes had returned zero clarity for so long. When it comes to the soul, it takes time. Change is not immediate. The edges and rough surface must be meticulously polished.

We all can encounter a soulful spark that ignites our eternal flame. God himself reaches into our depths with his perfect timing. He speaks gently into our hearts and minds. The Father recognizes our needs and intimately knows our deepest desires.

Dip-Free for Life: These 6 Tools Can Help You Quit Chewing Tobacco for Good

Inspiration

For ten years, I dipped smokeless tobacco & smoked my share of cigarettes & cigars. Quitting has been extremely difficult but worth it. There are countless benefits from my quit that I experience every day. I have compiled this list of actionable & proven tools to help you on your journey. I use a combination of these daily and have for almost five years.

My quit has been one day at a time, sometimes one hour at a time. Yours will be too.  It’s worth it!

Exercise in any Capacity

  • The benefits of walking are endless. I spent significant time during the Covid pandemic walking. While my girls slept in our double stroller, I pushed and listened to my favorite podcast two times a day for over a year. After every walk, I felt rejuvenated and inspired. I escaped the thought of tobacco during this time.
  • Many believe walking isn’t a fast way to good health. It’s by far the most beneficial thing for me. It’s also a time when I’m most creative. My mind is clicking on all cylinders while walking.
  • Former Seal Team 6 Operator DJ Shipley has an excellent take on 20-minute daily walks. Check his content out at @dj_shipley85 on Instagram and gbrsgroup.com
  • The objective is to discover a physical activity that you will consistently do. Create a lifestyle of movement and implement it into your everyday routine. If you enjoy lifting weights, then do that. If Pickleball is your thing, then become the best Pickleballer you can. Yoga, biking, hiking, running, swimming, working in the yard, pickup basketball, etc.
  • The world is a playground. Reteach yourself on how to play again. I became complacent and sedentary when I dipped. I forgot how to play every day. Be patient with yourself and learn how to have fun with activities. Your body will adapt, and you’ll rediscover the joy you once had before a life of nicotine.

Deep Conversation

  • Idea sharing is a terrific way to escape fixated thoughts. The conversation can be about anything but needs to go beyond small talk.
  • I love talking about creation and making things—most notably writing, digital design, and building my brand & others.
  • As a former football coach, I loved creating ways to improve our team. We would discuss leadership development, program direction, playbook creation, depth chart, practice planning, workouts, etc.
  • I love talking about faith and belief in God. Spirituality has excellent depth and endless talking points. See more in my final tool.
  • It would be best to find others who share common interests and are receptive to what you enjoy. Research and find your niche person or group and pursue them.

Reading

  • One of the best tools to help me quit is reading. It helps to distract the mind and allows us to enter an alternative space. It doesn’t matter if it’s fiction or non-fiction. Reading helps to expand your mind and support your universal growth. It gives you ideas and boosts your intellect. Conversations and experiences become far more interesting.
  • I discovered Wild at Heart by John Eldredge early in my quit. This book alone kept me dip-free for an extended time. It is a Christian faith-based book loaded with impactful knowledge for men. It gave me a new perspective on life when I needed it. It has impacted my faith journey exponentially. After completing the book, I discovered categories in life and literature I didn’t know existed. It was like going down a rabbit hole that branches in hundreds of different directions. It continues to impact me today in my search for meaning and purpose. 
  • I encourage you to go on a quest to find a book, blog, article, etc., that inspires and entertains you. The goal is to find literature that occupies your mind and helps you quit dipping.

Journaling

  • Find an excellent journal you can document your journey in. Something that makes you feel important and professional. The journal can be leather bound or some other form of quality material. Stay away from spiral-bound notebooks that you used in grade school. I chose The BestSelf Journal. I still use this product today and recommend it to everyone who asks. They have unique products that can help you quit dipping.
  • When I quit dipping, I would write three things I was thankful for in the morning and evening of every day. I would write about what my action plan was and what wins I had experienced the day before. I would write about what would make every day a good day if I accomplished something specific. It may be the same one day and different the next. 
  • I documented how many days I had been dip free. It became my motivation to journal the next day’s number on the next page of my journal. It was a small celebration every morning I did this. I took to heart the one-day-at-a-time approach. This practice was a highly effective way for me to quit dipping.

Breath Work

  • When I quit dipping, I became irritable and hard to bear. I was easily agitated by small things and other people’s actions. As a dipper, I would install a pinch of Kodiak in my lip to alleviate these negative emotions. When I quit, I had no outlet to redirect myself. I found out quickly that I needed something. Over time I discovered purposeful breath work that helped to divert my mind. 
  • I first heard of box breathing through studying special forces and how they used it to calm their mind and spirit during adversity. I was listening to the Team Never Quit Podcast with former Navy Seal Marcus Luttrell. They interviewed a guest known as Wim Hof, aka The Ice Man. I discovered the use of Breath Work through this interview. Wim Hof is an interesting dude who uses breath to calm the mind, heal and heat the body so it can withstand frigid temperatures. He also uses cold plunging as part of his healing method, which I’ve used periodically. His methods have led me to other breathing tools that have helped me quit tobacco. 
  • I also recommend James Nestor’s book Breath. This terrific book dives into the science and history of breathwork. It talks about its healing power and benefits when appropriately performed. One of the major takeaways was the difference between nasal and mouth breathing. Breathe through your nose!
  • Conscious breathing and using it in moments of anxiety and irritation helps. When the urge to dip comes, combat it with different breathing techniques. It takes practice, but it’s a secret weapon for life.

Faith

  • My faith is at the heart of quitting tobacco. I have grown in my relationship with Jesus, which has been the greatest reward for quitting. From Day 1 till now, God has been on my side.
  • When I decided to quit dipping, I knew I needed God.
  • When I am at my worst, and on the threshold of caving, God is with me. When I’m at my best and think nothing of nicotine, God is with me. Through God, I know life comes in rhythm. Times will not remain tremendous, and times will not stay at their worst. It’s all part of life’s experience. 
  • Throughout my journey of quitting nicotine, I’ve discovered that all things are spiritual. God is in me and works through me. He is in everyone and everything if I see Him with open eyes and perspective. Joy and happiness can be found in the details of this world if I will lower my standard of what I view as beauty. Spirit surrounds me like the wind if I allow it. Practicing gratitude and patience is key to victory in mind, body, and spirit. I approach life now with the notion that I am always becoming something. By relying on God and allowing Him to shape me, I am becoming more now than I was then.

Take Action

I will continue to quit dipping tobacco for another day. I must remain vigilant and use my tools to stay nicotine free. No one tool is a magic bullet. I apply different devices at different moments. These six tools helped me quit dipping, but your list may look different. Some tools work for moments and lose their effectiveness in time. That is OK. Continue to explore what works for you and combat the coming urges.

I believe these tools can help anyone quit tobacco. I also think they can help with many other addictions. Our objective should be to become better tomorrow than we are today. We must create a new lifestyle and be willing to change into a new version of ourselves. There will be hardships and setbacks. That is part of the journey, and we must recognize perfection does not exist. Approach each day with grace and battle to be your best self.

Keep Moving Forward!

For additional content, check out Youniversalife Linktree. You’ll find The Youniversalife Podcast, Youtube Channel, Social Media Platforms, and much more.

Don’t forget to subscribe to the YL NEWSLETTER at Youniversalife.com

I Want To

Inspiration

Faith

I want to further my relationship with Jesus Christ! I want to know and represent Him. I want others to see Him through me. I want to take on more of His qualities. Spend more time with my Father.

I want to understand the long game. Practice patience.

I want to be easy like Jesus.

Family

I want to build my wife up. Help her to see her light. Celebrate her. Celebrate life together. Be present for her. Support her. Let her know how beautiful she is. Love more and more. Be gentle. Love her like I love Jesus.

I want to build my relationships with my girls. Show them, unconditional love. Teach them. Read with them. Play with them.  Be present! Keep my attention on their growth. Appreciate every moment and love slowly. Be grateful for my gifts from the Father. Support them!

Leave work at work. Be with my family

Be intentional and spend more time with my family. Love more. Be a better son. Be a present uncle.

Friendships

Be intentional about building healthy, fulfilling relationships. Spend time with friends. Seek them out. Carve out time. Be selfless.

Addictions

Stay dip free!

Interpersonal Development

Believe in my gifts! Use them with confidence.

Professional Development

Continue my development as a Teacher. Analyze and self-assess continually. Help my students become better versions of themselves. Bring passion and energy.

Continue my development as a Coach. Identify my next phase. Relationship build!  Risk more and tap into my inner gold. Reach for more greatness. Think outside the box. Be different. Communicate my thoughts and ideas. Hold myself to a high standard.

Create

Keep creating. Write. Play the long game. Take notes. Build one step at a time. Stay the course. Have a directional identity, but do not be afraid to make adjustments. Learn!!!

Learn

Read 6 books. 1 every 2 months

Journal through out the week. Plan more and use my calendar diligently.

Organization

Clean up email and keep organized.

Keep Moving Forward!

Be a doer!  Find and take Honor in the things I do. Be hyper aware of this!

Be grateful!!!!!!!!!!

Pray!!!!!!!

Activities & Motion

Spend more time outdoors doing things that help me release. Spend time in Gods space. Hike. Walk barefoot, feel the earth.  Walk trails with my family. Run. Be awesome. Be fit. Build a better version of me through exercise. Exercise every day in some way / be active. Something sustainable!!!!

Your Path for 2023

What is your Word of the Year?

I encourage you to document Your Path for the year. Treat it as a safety line that you can return to when life’s current pulls you away.

I also invite you to sign up for the Youniversalife Newsletter. It can be found at the bottom of Youniversalife.com.

Happy New Year & Keep Moving Forward!

Word of the year: Action!!!!

Slay The Dragon

Inspiration

Plan & Conquer 2023’s Struggles 

A ferocious fire-breathing beast that scorches everything in its path.  

Or  

Life’s figurative struggles or fears. Hardships that seem impossible to conquer.  The breathing furnace of difficulty.  

Identify what your 2022 Dragon looked like. As we move into 2023, establish your plan of attack. Let’s knight up and slay the beast with courage.  

A new year awaits in 2023.  The final week of December offers a terrific opportunity to take personal inventory. It’s one of the few weeks of the year when life slows a bit.  We can identify where we are and where we’ve come from. This final week is a prime time for recalibration.   

What was your 2022 ”Dragon”? Life’s figurative struggles or fears. Hardships that seemed impossible to conquer.  The breathing furnace of difficulty. As we move into 2023, establish your plan of attack. Let’s knight up and slay the beast with courage.

Check out other actionable content at youniversalife.com that will help you slay the dragon.