Friday, May 14, 2010

Lead this...



A week ago today, John Maxwell was a featured speaker at the Chick-fil-A Leadercast. This is a one-day leadership event featuring a premier speaker lineup of the world's best leaders. Broadcast LIVE from Atlanta to hundreds of locations throughout the country and world, the Chick-fil-A Leadercast is a catalyst for new ideas and better leadership practice.

Check out the website www.chick-fil-aleadercast.com where you can download free audio and video content.

This week I have enjoyed reading John Maxwell's book "The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership-Follow Them and People Will Follow You" and personally learning from his experiences at age 22 right after he graduated college and took his first job. Maxwell states, Leadership is influence-nothing more, nothing less." In my search for my first job job, I am working to PLAN AHEAD using Maxwell's acrostic below as great guide.

Predetermine a course of action
Lay out your goals
Adjust your priorities
Notify key personnel

Allow time for acceptance
Head into action
Expect problems
Always point to successes
Daily review your plan

Maxwell further discusses that the barriers to successful planning are fear of change, ignorance, uncertainty about the future and lack of imagination. "It's not the position that makes the leader, its the leader that makes the position." -Stanley Huffty

My college soccer coach, Juan Pablo Favero used a lot of Maxwell's leadership laws as he instructed our team for the past 2 years. I recognize so much of our team leadership process in this book, and I see the value that it has brought me in my own life. Maxwell points out 7 key areas that reveal themselves in leaders lives to step forward as leaders. These include: Character, Relationships, Knowledge, Intuition, Experience, Past Success and Ability. Leadership is a privilege, and I am thankful that I have the opportunity to lead and learn from others like Maxwell about how to be a better leader. I know this will benefit not only myself, but my followers and future employer.

Monday, May 10, 2010

College Graduate



Check out this link to a short clip of me walking across the stage at my college graduation on Saturday May 8, 2010.
http://www.justin.tv/karateresi/b/263492842#r=1OOXE5c~&s=li
This was the One Hundred Twenty-Sixth Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony at Georgia College & State University. I was so happy to have my family there for this special day. My four college years are now finished. I am so humbled to think of what an amazing college experience I had and I leave with such a sense of satisfaction. While shaking hands with our GCSU President Dorothy Leland she pointed and smiled with this remark, "You did a great job". I walked off the stage smiling ear to ear thanking the Lord for His greatness in me. I am excited to continue to do a great job as the Lord leads me in this new chapter of my life as a college graduate.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

LF -World Cup South Africa





I'm so excited for the World Cup in South Africa this summer! Here is a picture of me at the Atlanta Beat soccer stadium a few weeks ago and yes I am sporting the official Little Feet (LF) World Cup t-shirt. LF is such a great organization and I always enjoy blogging about what they are doing and the impact they are making across the globe. LF slogan is You Play, They Play. LF provides soccer balls to underprivileged children worldwide. Our GCSU soccer team trains with the LF soccer balls-the quality of these balls are amazing and their mission is inspiring. Please join LF on Facebook and follow them on twitter @littlefeet_com. Don't forget to visit www.littlefeet.com to purchase your LF World Cup t-shirt today. Best of all, you will be donating a soccer ball to a needy child in South Africa this summer! The U.S. opener is June 12 so make sure to get your official LF World Cup t-shirt before all the excitement begins!