Enter to Win a John Maxwell Book

In celebrating the freedom that the 4th of July represents, we will be giving away 4 FREE copies of John Maxwell's Leadership 101 book on Monday, July 4. We'll even take care of the shipping. 

To enter, text "Leader" to 66866. 

Everyone that completes the entry process will also receive a free eBook containing insights from John Maxwell Team Members. 

John C. Maxwell is considered the world's top leadership expert.  GlobalGurus.org has ranked him as the world's top leadership guru for 7 years in a row.  His leadership emphasis is adding value to others and developing those around you so that everyone can achieve their potential.

To be eligible for the random draw and the free eBook, please enter once before July 4.  If your email is selected as one of the four winners, we will contact you in regards to shipping information.

Jamy Bechler is a habitual book buyer.  He reads many and gives some away.  To see what books he plans on reading this summer, then click here.  When he is not reading, Jamy is a John Maxwell Certified Leadership Speaker, Trainer and Coach.  Contact him at CoachBechler@CoachBechler.com to find out how you or your team can be more successful.

Will You Reach for the Summitt with Your Legacy?

Today is a sad day not only in Tennessee, but across the nation.  

I first wrote those words in April of 2012, when she left coaching at the too young age of 59 after a legendary and unprecedented career and I proclaimed that she was the best ever.

This morning we lost one of the greatest leaders as Pat Summitt her battle with Alzheimer's type dementia.

There will be countless words written about her in the next few days.  She was truly a giant in the sporting world.  As a college coach, she influenced me directly and indirectly in so many ways through the years.  It was truly an honor to work at her elite camps and get to see her up close at practices and recruiting events that I would attend. John Wooden and Pat Summitt are the two coaches that influenced me the most in my career and I count it an honor to have spent time with both. 

Summer Reading Bucket List

"The education of a man is never complete until he dies" (Robert E. Lee) 

I am an avid reader of motivational, success and leadership books. I have written about some of the best leadership books and coaching books that I have read.  Each summer, I try to knock out a few new ones.  This summer, I plan on reading the following 16 books to further develop my thinking. 

1. "The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich"  (Timothy Ferris) ... I read this every summer!
2. "Above the Line:  Lessons in Leadership and Life from a Championship Season"  (Urban Meyer)
3. "The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work, and Team with Positive Energy"  (Jon Gordon)

45 Motivational Quotes to Change Your Life

We all need a little motivation once in a while.  We all need to re-focus at one time or another.  I am a long-time fan of quotes or inspirational sayings that do just that and help me be more successful.  Here are some of my favorite quotes that have also been re-tweeted often by those on twitter. 

1. “One coach will impact more young people in a year than the average person does in a lifetime.” (Billy Graham)
2. "Champions never complain, they are too busy getting better." (John Wooden)
3. "I will prepare and someday my chance will come." (Abraham Lincoln)
4. "Don't complain about not getting a chance and then be unprepared when you finally do." (Joe Montana)
5. "It has to happen on the inside before it can happen on the outside." (Jon Gordon)
6. “Don't be a wheelbarrow ... only useful when pushed.” (Jamy Bechler)
7. "There is no such thing as a 'small thing'. How we do SMALL things is how we do ALL things." (Brian Cain)
8. "Don't focus on winning a championship. Focus on becoming a champion." (Jon Gordon)
9. "The culture you create permeates everything you touch." (Tony Dungy)
10. “If you want to make everyone happy don’t be a leader. Go Sell Ice Cream.” (Eric Geiger)

College Recruiting & Social Media

It seems that every high school and college student-athlete is using some form of social media almost constantly.  With the advent of smart phones, it is easier now than ever before to communicate and share opinions and thoughts.  With this greater opportunity comes a greater responsibility to be wise.  

If a high school athlete desires to have as many good scholarship options as possible, then it is important that they are wise in their social media use.  For college athletes, if they want to have as many good employment options as possible, then they need to be responsible when they post to their social media accounts.  

I recently presented at the Indiana High School Athletic Association’s Student-Athlete Leadership Conference.  My topic was social media and college recruiting.  The bottom line is that the choices we make today will shape our tomorrows.  What do we want our tomorrow to look like.  We each have a brand.  We each have a story to tell about ourselves.  What are we going to tell the world?

Here is the power point presentation that we used at the conference…

• Power Point Presentation

Stop Being a 'BUT'

I heard an interview with MVP Steph Curry the other night after Game 6 of the NBA Finals, in which he made a comment that got me thinking about my pre-maritial counseling.  

Wait, what?!?  

You mean it's not natural to associate Steph Curry getting ejected and throwing mouth-pieces with pre-maritial counseling?  

Our pastor said to never follow up an apology with the word "but".  It devalues the apology.  It minimizes that sentiment after you say sorry.  How many times have we said something like the following statement?  "Babe, I am sorry that I yelled at you, but if only you _________, then I wouldn't have had to set you straight."

It Is What You Make It

"I am not what happened to me. 

I am what I choose to become."

(Carl Gustav Jung)

“If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn't sit for a month.” (Theodore Roosevelt) 

 Are you going through a mid-life crisis?  "IT IS WHAT IT IS"  

Have you been passed over for a promotion?  "IT IS WHAT IT IS"

Is your girlfriend is a nag?  "IT IS WHAT IT IS"

Your parents don't understand you?   "IT IS WHAT IT IS"

You say your husband doesn't listen to you?   "IT IS WHAT IT IS"

Are the people around you are idiots?   "IT IS WHAT IT IS"

Hearing "It is what it is" makes me want to punch someone.  And then when they'd complain, I'd just say, "Sorry, but it is what it is"

Change the World Without Spending a Dime

"Be the change you want to see in the world." Gandhi

How often are you or someone around you negative about society, other people, or the world in general?  If only you had the power to change things.  If only you had money like Bill Gates, you could make a difference in life.  Well, the truth is that you can make a difference in this world...and it doesn't have to cost a thing.

First of all, you have to understand that change happens daily, not in a day.  It might not seem like you can make a difference but you can.  Every great fire starts with a single spark.  I encourage you to be the spark in your workplace, your family, on your team, in your community or in your school.  Mother Teresa once said, 

"I alone cannot change the world by myself, but I can cast a stone across the water to create many ripples."

Here are 4 ways that you can make a difference in the world today ... and they don't even have to cost you any money.