My Top 3 Favorite Leaders

A good friend of mine is currently working on his masters in leadership and recently asked me who my "top three great leaders" were.  When thinking about who are the greatest leaders of all time, literally, hundreds of leaders come to mind... Though I’d like to talk about all of them, I will give you the answer I gave him, my top three (in order of era).

King Leonidas (480BC)… King and leader of the Spartan Army (the most elite and disciplined soldiers the world has ever seen). With many stories of Leonidas’ passion and leadership the one that stands the test of time was also his last one (Battle of Thermopyle). In 480 BC, facing the largest army the world had ever seen (Persia), King Leonidas rounded up 300 men, whom had sons, to head to battle and stop the Persian army just long enough to allow a bigger army to gather and defeat the Persians. He chose men with sons because he wanted their names to be past on for generations, Leonidas knew he, and those men, would not return. Even when given the option to surrender and in return be made rich, Leonidas held to his convictions and fought to the very end. 

Jesus (32AD)… Born to a single mom and step-son of a poor carpenter, Jesus would grow up learning about his heritage, purpose and developing a plan that would literally change the world.  At thirty years old, Jesus selected a group of twelve men to train and teach all that he had learned from experiences and his God.  After three years of living with this group, seeing the them grow both numerically and in life, Jesus would pay the ultimate sacrifice for his convictions.  Being nailed to a wood cross, the worst punishment Rome had came up with, Jesus left his small group of followers to carry on the name and teachings.  2,000 years later, his followers continue to pass on his teachings and stories to billions around the world.

William Wallace (1305AD)… Though William was a “commoner” he didn’t grow up like one. With the loss of his parents at a young age, William traveled with his uncle and learned about life, politics and even war. As an adult, he came back to the village he was born in and began to raise a family. Cut short of this hope by England’s reign and forcing Scotland’s submission but in so doing causing pain to many. William began to speak of rebellion and freedom. At the battle of Sterling he would become famous using tactics and strategies never before seen in battle. Ultimately, though being offered release, he would choose to sacrifice his life to the cause of freedom of his people.

Three different men, hundreds of years apart, but a common thread is found in all of them.  Discipline and Integrity of self, plus Sacrifice and Courage for others... These four characteristics is what separates them from so many others.  I believe that every great leader must have all four of these characteristics... Are you ready to carry the DISC!?

What to find out more about DISC or we call it 'The Spartan Code'!?  Visit our website: www.TheSpartanCode.com (there's even cool Spartan Code gear).

Poison

A Chinese girl named Li-li got married and lived with her mother-in-law.  Since the mother-in-law was obnoxious, Li-li decided to kill her.

Li-li went to her doctor to get slow-acting poison.  The doctor said, "Just so that people don't suspect you, treat your mother-in-law very nice, as you'd like to be treated."  So Li-li was nice to her mother-in-law as she slipped a little poison into her food each day.  

Now a funny thing happened: the two started getting along much better and became best friends.  So Li-li went back to the doctor and said, "I now love my mother-in-law and don't want to kill her; please give me something to counteract the poison."  The doctor replied, "I gave you ordinary vitamins; the only poison was in your attitude."

Original Author Unknown

The Monkeys & the Fish

The rainy season that year had been the strongest ever and the river had broken its banks.  There were floods everywhere and the animals were all running up into the hills.  The floods came so fast that many drowned except the lucky monkeys who used their proverbial agility to climb up into the treetops.  They looked down on the surface of the water where the fish were swimming and gracefully jumping out of the water as if they were the only ones enjoying the devastating flood.

One of the monkeys saw the fish and shouted to his companion: "Look down, my friend, look at those poor creatures.  They are going to drown. Do you see how they struggle in the water?"  "Yes," said the other monkey.  "What a pity! Probably they were late in escaping to the hills because they seem to have no legs.  How can we save them?"  "I think we must do something.  Let's go close to the edge of the flood where the water is not deep enough to cover us, and we can help them to get out."

So the monkeys did just that.  They started catching the fish, but not without difficulty.  One by one, they brought them out of the water and put them carefully on the dry land.  After a short time there was a pile of fish lying on the grass motionless.  One of the monkeys said, "Do you see? They were tired, but now they are just sleeping and resting.  Had it not been for us, my friend, all these poor people without legs would have drowned."

The other monkey said: "They were trying to escape from us because they could not understand our good intentions.  But when they wake up they will be very grateful because we have brought them salvation." 

Traditional Tanzanian Folktale

1-year... And starting!!

Well, we’re here… It’s been exactly one-year since we stepped away from all we ever knew as adults.  After 12+ years in full-time vocational ministry we knew we needed a season off (Click here to read the original post), but even then we had no clue how bad!!

 The long story short is we essentially uprooted our former life and rearranged it until we found our new normal.  So much has happened this year... Lots of highs with our little family and even more lows from all over.  We have all grown in ways we didn't know were needed or necessary.  We have lost a lot both emotionally and physically but in weird and interesting ways gained new things.  Like I said, that's the short story... Still want more!?  Then keep reading.

We have come a long way.  And honestly, I sat down to write so many times over the months.  Some of the posts I kept and maybe I'll post them at some point because I think they could be helpful to others.  But some of those posts just needed to be trashed (and were, everything does not always have to be said... new lesson for me)!

So if you're still reading let me take you back to the beginning.  As of August 1st 2014, I was a husband, father and man without a job for the first time, in maybe... ever!?  And let me tell you, the first month was amazing!!  With all that extra time (Court working full-time with a dynamite Adoption attorney and all three of the kids going to school, Click here for that first post) I started several things I had always wondered about but never jumped on:

Trying out to be a Police Officer (Oh yeah, fitness test, agility test, intelligence test, psych test, department interview, etc.).  With dozens of other applicants I was pretty concerned but some how made it through and sent off to C.L.E.E.T.  After graduation in April I started patrolling the evenings (11p-3a) with an FTO for my Field Training, which if I do my math right, I'll be done in 2024 (Kidding on the year but seriously it's 540 total hours, it takes awhile).  Recently, I decided to not pursue police work in a full-time capacity, which was definitely on the radar, but remain in a Reserve Officer capacity with the department.  I love being a part of the brotherhood we call "the thin blue line" (And being able to say: I'M BATMAN)!!

Starting my own LLC (Surge Leadership) and began speaking "full-time".  Though this was slower than I expected, we met a lot of new people and places I had never (to be honest) thought about.  We really thought '10 Things' was the direction people would want but in the end, by default, I was able to develop a fun assembly style message on Social Media.  It all started in a small school in western Oklahoma and then all of the sudden I was visiting places all over (Some I had heard of and others that I hadn't).  With a pretty full August and September, we are having fun with 'To #Selfie or Not to #Selfie'!  

Working with even more teens as a study hall supervisor and creating a new "thing" we called: the Leadership Coach.  In the end both were exactly what we needed to both fill some gaps in time each day but more importantly giving us more vision for the future.  Thus, I checked with the state board of education and found out that all I needed to do to get my teaching certificate was pass two tests (since I had only not completed my student teaching during my undergrad).  With that in my tool belt I began looking at new full-time options (University of Tulsa, Bixby Public Schools, etc.) but knew we were missing the bigger picture.

Through all three of these avenues I was able to gain new opportunities for learning, growing, ministry, and serving.  And looking back, each one was an absolute necessity in the steps towards the dream (the cool part is I still get to be involved in ALL of them).  This is a great spot to say that Courtney has stayed super busy with opportunity after opportunity to impact the lives of both children and families through adoption (literally hundreds this year).  The kids are all doing well and loving summer (Court & I are currently coaching all three different basketball teams right now) but ready to dive back into school and friends and activities and schedules.  The doctor said that Jackson will be taller than me when he gets older... Which I don't doubt but crazy that I have a 10-year old (The Agoge begins now)!!  Creighton is the fastest girl I know and continues to make me laugh because she just kicks the ball (in soccer) or throws the ball (in basketball) down the field/court and then just legs it out past everyone!!  Charleigh has gotten very picking about food, clothes and anything else but still loves cuddling with me and is always my first hug and kiss when I get home!!  

So here we are (If you're still with us)... And I'm so excited to tell you about what I have been working on for a very long time.  Though the original concept came out of a meeting years ago, it has evolved bigger and bigger each day.  As of today, Surge Leadership has just launched its newest arm called THE SPARTAN CODE.  At first glance it's a leadership curriculum that we implemented and saw work at Bixby High School over the past couple of years.  But as the description says: "The Spartan Code isn't just a curriculum for athletes, it's a way of life for leaders. You can't simply learn the code... You have to live it!!"  The Spartan Code is built around four leadership principles found from the ancient traditions of the most elite warriors to ever walk the planet... You guessed it, The Spartans!  We refer to those as "DISC" and they are the true 'Characteristics of being a Spartan'.  Within our curriculum we challenge student-athletes to not only develop personally but as team leaders.  We believe, because we have seen it work, the Spartan Code can literally change a student, then a team, then school and prayerfully a city, a state, a country and the world!!

So how will that happen with curriculum for student-atheltes?  I'm glad you asked...

Quick side-note (it's actually a huge note): We are not and will not be "all things to all people."  The Spartans were the best because of their strict selective process and extreme ethics (virtues, rules, feelings, etc.) they lived out, no matter the cost.  We will be doing the same.

• Phase One: Establish our name and see The Spartan Code used in multiple schools in our region (This will be done by not only selling shirts, stickers, posters and obviously curriculum but also coming alongside coaches to help develop leaders among their student-athletes and teams).

• Phase Two: Continue offering updated Spartan Code Workbooks to current schools, Implementing Online Training for coaches and expanding into new schools across the country (With contact and interest already made from schools on both coasts, as well as, training videos being story-boarded, this phase is only a matter of time).

• Phase Three: Publishing our first Book and launching our online Men's Training Course (Chapters are already being written, real-time stories are being collected and most importantly some foundational meetings have taken place for a sold publication to pick us up).

• Phase Four: This is a secret, at this time, but will be announced alongside phase three (I'm so stinkin' excited about this phase and what it could mean for men and our society).

• Phase Five: Publishing our Father-Son Edition Book (Though I cannot share all of the details, what is in current development has not been produced before and, I believe, will help father's raise men).

**There are more dreams on the board and ideas in the works beyond phase five but we believe this will keep us busy for the next couple years.  Our question now is... Will you join us!?  

There are several ways to help and I'd like to formally invite you to take part:

1. Visit our website: www.TheSpartanCode.com and 'Follow us' on Social Media (Facebook, Twitter & Instagram)!!
2. Tell your family/friends/school about the dream, the curriculum and the plan!!
3. Support us by purchasing something from the Store!!
4. Let us know your thoughts and share some words of encouragement!!

If you can't tell... We're really excited about the future not only in Bixby but in so many schools, towns and families to come!!  Thanks for taking this journey with us... I can't wait to update you along the way!!  (God is good... All the time)

Balloons in a Room

Once a group of 50 people was attending a seminar.

Suddenly the speaker stopped and started giving each person a balloon.  Each one was asked to write his/her name on it using a marker pen.  Then all the balloons were collected and put in another room.

Now these delegates were let in that room and asked to find the balloon which had their name written, within 5 minutes.  Everyone was frantically searching for their name, pushing, colliding with each other, and there was utter chaos.

At the end of 5 minutes, no one could find their own balloon.

Now each one was asked to randomly collect a balloon and give it to the person whose name was written on it.  Within minutes everyone had their own balloon.  

The speaker began: This is exactly happening in our lives.  Everyone is frantically looking for happiness all around, not knowing where it is.  Our happiness lies in the happiness of other people.

Give them their happiness, you will get your own happiness.
And this is the purpose of human life.

- Author Unknown

Shipwrecked Prayers

A voyaging ship was wrecked during a storm at sea and only two of the men aboard were able to swim to a nearby small, deserted island.

The two survivors, not knowing what else to do, agreed that they had no recourse but to pray to God. However, to find out whose prayer was more powerful, they agreed to divide the territory between them and stay on opposite sides of the island.

The first thing they both prayed for was food. The next morning the first man saw a fruit-bearing tree on his side of the land and was able to eat its fruit. The other man’s parcel of land remained barren.
After a week, the first man was lonely and decided to pray for a wife. The next day, another ship was wrecked, and the only survivor, a woman, swam to his side of the island. On the other side of the island, nothing.

Soon the first man prayed for a house, clothes, and more food. The next day, like magic, all these requests were fulfilled. However, the second man still had nothing.

Finally, the first man prayed for a ship so that he and his wife could leave the island. In the morning he found a ship docked at his side of the island. The first man boarded the ship with his wife and decided to leave the second man on the island. He considered the other man unworthy to receive God’s blessings since none of his prayers had been answered.

As the ship was about to leave, the first man heard a voice from heaven booming, “Why are you leaving your companion on the island?" "My blessings are mine alone since I was the one who prayed for them,” the man answered. “My companions prayers were all unanswered, so he does not deserve anything.”

“You are mistaken!” the voice rebuked him. “He had only one prayer, which I answered. If not for that, you would not have received any of my blessings.”

“Tell me,” the first man asked the voice, “what did he pray for that I now owe him for my success.”

“He prayed that all your prayers be answered.”

For all we know, our blessings are not the fruits of our prayers alone but those of another praying for us.

Two Stories that have a lot in common

STORY NUMBER ONE

Many years ago, Al Capone virtually owned Chicago. Capone wasn't famous for anything heroic. He was notorious in everything from bootlegged booze and prostitution to murder.

Capone had a lawyer nicknamed "Easy Eddie." He was his lawyer for a good reason. Eddie was very good! In fact, Eddie's skill at legal maneuvering kept Big Al out of jail for a long time.

To show his appreciation, Capone paid him very well. Not only was the money big, but also, Eddie got special dividends. For instance, he and his family occupied a fenced-in mansion with live-in help and all other conveniences. The estate larger than an entire Chicago City block.

Eddie lived the high life of the Chicago mob and gave little consideration to the atrocity that went on around him. Eddie did have one soft spot, however. He had a son that he loved dearly. Eddie saw to it that his young son had clothes, cars, and a good education.

Nothing was withheld. Price was no object. And, despite his involvement with organized crime, Eddie even tried to teach him right from wrong. Eddie wanted his son to be a better man than he was. Yet, with all his wealth and influence, there were two things he couldn't give his son; he couldn't pass on a good name or a good example.

One day, Easy Eddie reached a difficult decision. Easy Eddie wanted to rectify wrongs he had done. He decided he would go to the authorities and tell the truth about Al "Scarface" Capone, clean up his tarnished name, and offer his son some semblance of integrity. To do this, he would have to testify against The Mob, and he knew that the cost would be great.

So, he testified. Within the year, Easy Eddie's life ended in a blaze of gunfire on a lonely Chicago Street. But he gave his son the greatest gift he could offer, at the greatest price possible.

Police removed from his pockets a rosary, a crucifix, a religious medallion, and a poem clipped from a magazine. The poem read:

The clock of life is wound but once,

and no man has the power

to tell just when the hands will stop,

at late or early hour.

Now is the only time you own.

Live, love, toil with a will.

Place no faith in time.

For the clock may soon be still.

STORY NUMBER TWO

World War II produced many heroes. One such man was Lieutenant Commander Butch O'Hare. He was a fighter pilot assigned to the aircraft carrier Lexington in the South Pacific. One day his entire squadron was sent on a mission. After he was airborne, he looked at his fuel gauge and realized that someone had forgotten to top off his fuel tank. He would not have enough fuel to complete his mission and get back to his ship. His flight leader told him to return to the carrier. Reluctantly, he dropped out of formation and headed back to the fleet. As he was returning to the mother ship he saw something that turned his blood cold: a squadron of Japanese aircraft were speeding their way toward the American fleet. He couldn't reach his squadron and bring them back in time to save the fleet. Nor could he warn the fleet of the approaching danger.

There was only one thing to do. He must somehow divert them from the fleet. Laying aside all thoughts of personal safety, he dove into the formation of Japanese planes. Wing-mounted 50 caliber's blazed as he charged in, attacking one surprised enemy plane and then another. Butch wove in and out of the now broken formation and fired at as many planes as possible until all his ammunition was finally spent. Undaunted, he continued the assault. He dove at the planes, trying to clip a wing or tail in hopes of damaging as many enemy planes as possible and rendering them unfit to fly. Finally, the Japanese squadron took off in another direction.

Deeply relieved, Butch O'Hare and his tattered fighter limped back to the carrier. Upon arrival, he reported in and related the event surrounding his return. The film from the gun-camera mounted on his plane told the tale. It showed the extent of Butch's daring attempt to protect his fleet.

He had, in fact, destroyed five enemy aircraft. This took place on February 20, 1942, and for that action Butch became the Navy's first Ace of W.W.II, and the first Naval Aviator to win the Congressional Medal of Honor. A year later Butch was killed in aerial combat at the age of 29.

His hometown would not allow the memory of this WW II hero to fade, and today, O'Hare Airport in Chicago is named in tribute to the courage of this great man. So, the next time you find yourself at O'Hare International, give some thought to visiting Butch's memorial displaying his statue and his Medal of Honor. It's located between Terminals 1 and 2.

SO WHAT DO THESE TWO STORIES HAVE TO DO WITH EACH OTHER?

Butch O'Hare was "Easy Eddie's" son.

Original Author Unknown

Ancient Olympic Games

In 776 BC, all of the known world began getting together to see who was the very best athlete among them.  Every four years all of the cities that made up Greece would put aside wars, disputes and essentially everything else to travel to Olympia to celebrate.  This went on for just over a 1,000 years finally concluding in 393 AD.  During this time many stories and even legends began to be told from the games... My favorite was about an old man looking for a seat.

In those days, the games were held in a grass area with a stone and sod amphitheater surrounding it by three sides.  Crowds from all over Greece would come early to find the best seats to view the athletes.  The event lasted all week and consisted of many ceremonies to honor the athletes and religious services to worship the many Greek gods.  Most would not only celebrate in their spot but eat and, in some cases, sleep.  One day after the event had gone on for several days an older man wandered into the arena.  Since several days had passed every spot was taken.  The old man walked the outside of the field looking up and down the arena for a place to sit.  After walking passed thousands of individuals he found himself standing in front of a group from Sparta.  At that instant, one young man stood up and moved out of his spot in the front of the group.  As he moved, the entire group stood up and squeezed together to make room for the young man higher up on the hill.  The old man, without saying a word, slid into the newly vacated spot and took a seat.  As the large group of Spartans took their seats the rest of the crowd began to jeer.  Whispers and even mocking began to erupt the amphitheater: "Who was this man", "Why would they move for him", "But why would they move for an old man?".  Just then, the old man stood back up and waved his arms to calm the crowd.  As the arena quieted he began to speak: "All Greeks know the right thing to do... BUT ONLY SPARTANS DO IT!!"

It wasn't that the man was a king or "important".  It was that he was worthy of respect as a old man in the spartan community and thus a seasoned warrior.  Everyone in the arena knew the right thing to do, show respect and move but the small nation of Sparta raised their residents to always honor no matter the sacrifice.

The man who wanted a lion tattoo

Once there was a man who went to a tattooist because he had always wanted a tattoo of a lion on his shoulder.

The tattooist started to sketch the tail into the man's back: 'Ouch! What are you doing?' asked the man. 

'I'm doing the lion's tail' replied the tattooist. 

'Well then for goodness sake let's have a lion without a tail!' said the man, wincing in pain.

Next the artist set about on the Lion's whiskers. 'Ouch!' cried the man, 'What's that?' 

'The whiskers!' said the tatooist, getting increasingly irritated. 

'Well let's have a lion without whiskers!' moaned his customer.

The tattooist then set about doing the Lion's back. 'No that hurts too!' shouted the man. 

At this, the tattooist finally lost patience with the man shouting, 'How can you expect to get what you want without a little discomfort?'

- Masnavi Story

How Bad Do You Want It?

There was a high school football team that practiced near a small lake. Across the lake lived Coach Jones, the most successful coach in the history of the state. Coach Jones had accumulated more victories, League Championships and State Championships than any other coach in the state’s history. Coach Jones was now retired.

For years this high school team would come out and practice, and practice very hard. As hard as team the could possibly practice. However, no matter how hard they practiced, they just could not seem to win the “big one”. Every day the retired coach would sit across the lake in his lawn chair and watch them practice.

One day the captain of the team decided he was going to go talk to Coach Jones and ask him what the team was doing wrong; why they couldn’t win the “big one”. So the captain of the team went around the lake and said, “Coach, I know you watch us practice every day. I know that you see how hard we practice. You are an experienced winner! Is there anything that you can tell us that can help us win the Championship?”

Coach Jones put his arm around the player and walked him near the edge of the lake. Suddenly, the coach grabbed the captain, thrust his head into the water, and held him down under the water.

When it appeared that the team captain was about to drown, Coach Jones pulled him up and said, “When you want to win that Championship game as much as you wanted that next breath of air, then that is when you will win it”.

- Unknown

“Butterfly Courage”

Walking down a path through some woods in Georgia in 1977, 1 saw a water puddle ahead on the path. I angled my direction to go around it on the part of the path that wasn’t covered by water and mud.  As I reached the puddle, I was suddenly attacked!

Yet I did nothing for the attack was so unpredictable and from a source so totally unexpected. I was startled as well as unhurt, despite having been struck four or five times already.  I backed up a foot and my attacker stopped attacking me.  Instead of attacking more, he hovered in the air on graceful butterfly wings in front of me.  Had I been hurt I wouldn’t have found it amusing, but I was unhurt, it was funny, and I was laughing.  After all, I was being attacked by a butterfly!

Having stopped laughing, I took a step forward.  My attacker rushed me again.  He rammed me in the chest with his head and body, striking me over and over again with all his might, still to no avail.  For a second time, I retreated a step while my attacker relented in his attack.

Yet again, I tried moving forward.  My attacker charged me again.  I was rammed in the chest over and over again. I wasn’t sure what to do, other than to retreat a third time, after all, it’s just not everyday that one is attacked by a butterfly. This time, though, I stepped back several paces to look the situation over. My attacker moved back as well to land on the ground.  That’s when I discovered why my attacker was charging me only moments earlier.

He had a mate and she was dying.  She was beside the puddle where he landed.  Sitting close beside her, he opened and closed his wings as if to fan her.  I could only admire the love and courage of that butterfly in his concern for his mate. He had taken it upon himself to attack me for his mate’s sake, even though she was clearly dying and I was so large.  He did so just to give her those extra few precious moments of life, should I have been careless enough to step on her.

Now I knew why and what he was fighting for.  There was really only one option left for me. I carefully made my way around the puddle to the other side of the path, though it was only inches wide and extremely muddy.  His courage in attacking something thousands of times larger and heavier than himself just for his mate’s safety justified it.  I couldn’t do anything other than reward him by walking on the more difficult side of the puddle.  He had truly earned those moments to be with her, undisturbed.  I left them in peace for those last few moments, cleaning the mud from my boots when I later reached my car.

Since then, I’ve always tried to remember the courage of that butterfly whenever I see huge obstacles facing me.  I use that butterfly’s courage as an inspiration and to remind myself that good things are worth fighting for. 

Copyright 1997 Dave Kuzminski

Brothers

There is a story told of a young boy whose older brother was in a car crash. The father approached the younger son shortly after the crash and said, "Son, if you will, you older brother needs a blood transfusion in order to live. The doctors have determined that only you can provide this blood . Will you provide blood for your brother so that he may live?" The younger son did not hesitate in aswering he would indeed help his older brother. Unknown to the little boy was the relative simplicity and safety of the procedure.

The car ride to the hospital was unusually quiet for this normally very talkative little boy. The father, at the same time in the most awkward and difficult position of his entire life, thought best to leave the young boy to his own thoughts. The father and young boy entered the now familiar doors of the town hospital. As the father and son sat in the hospital room, the nurse entered with the needle in hand. She commented how courageous the young boy was, prepared the boys right arm as she had done to hundreds of other patients over the years, and slowly inserted the needle into his arm ; the vial began to quickly fill with the young boys blood. After the vial filled, the young boy, with tears in his eyes, turned to his father and asked, "Daddy, how long do I now have before I die?"

Sacrifice isn't contingent on the cost, it's just doing what's necessary for others!!