I wonder about those countries that only send one athlete to the Winter Games (Albania's lone athlete is an alpine skier; Bermuda sent one cross-country skier; Jamaica's only participant is a freestyle skier; while Chinese Taipei's single athlete is a luger). In each of these countries, do they only send one athlete due to funding issues? Did the freestyle skier from Jamaica have to win a "national championship"? Has the cross-country skier from Bermuda ever skied on snow? Is the luger from Chinese Taipei really the best luger in the country or is he just a rich kid whose family bought him a sled so he could be an Olympian?
All the figure skating must bring in major TV ratings. But it sure would be nice to see some hockey in prime time.
Vancouver looks like a beautiful city but it has certainly had some awkward weather over the past two weeks- snow had to be trucked in prior to the Games; lots of fog caused competition delays; no snow was then followed by snowstorms which caused delays; then rain melted the existing snow; and Vancouver has experienced 45 degree temperatures throughout the Games (or warmer than it's been in Knoxville).
Friday, February 26, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Saying Goodbye
One of the most difficult parts of my job is when I go to a hospital to visit a member of our church who is dying. Barring a miracle, and they do happen, sometimes it's quite clear that the end is near for a friend from church. And saying goodbye is tough.
Attending a funeral or a graveside service is difficult in its own way, but there my role is to comfort the family. The death has already occurred.
But when I go to tell someone goodbye (of course never using the actual word), I am often at a loss for what to say. Does the patient know they are gravely ill? Do we talk about death? Heaven? The past and shared memories? Do I try to be upbeat and encouraging or quiet and somber because we all know what is happening?
Saying goodbye is hard. I had to do that last week.
Attending a funeral or a graveside service is difficult in its own way, but there my role is to comfort the family. The death has already occurred.
But when I go to tell someone goodbye (of course never using the actual word), I am often at a loss for what to say. Does the patient know they are gravely ill? Do we talk about death? Heaven? The past and shared memories? Do I try to be upbeat and encouraging or quiet and somber because we all know what is happening?
Saying goodbye is hard. I had to do that last week.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Happy Birthday Parker
Happy 6th Birthday Parker.
I thank God everyday for you and your great big beautiful heart.
Daddy loves you, P. You make my heart smile.
I thank God everyday for you and your great big beautiful heart.
Daddy loves you, P. You make my heart smile.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
A Little Bit of Success
It's amazing what a little bit of success will do for your confidence.
Last Saturday, Parker scored during his basketball game. Finally, after a season of taking multiple shots and giving lots of effort, now he "knows" he can do it.
Also on Saturday, Turner, who is starting to potty-train, used the potty before he got into the bathtub. With every successful effort, he begins to "know" that he can do it.
The same principle holds true for adults as well: success is encouraging. It doesn't really matter how much support you receive from others, until you experience success on your own, doubts will linger (Am I good enough?; Can I do it?).
But once you've experienced some success, you're ready to soar.
Last Saturday, Parker scored during his basketball game. Finally, after a season of taking multiple shots and giving lots of effort, now he "knows" he can do it.
Also on Saturday, Turner, who is starting to potty-train, used the potty before he got into the bathtub. With every successful effort, he begins to "know" that he can do it.
The same principle holds true for adults as well: success is encouraging. It doesn't really matter how much support you receive from others, until you experience success on your own, doubts will linger (Am I good enough?; Can I do it?).
But once you've experienced some success, you're ready to soar.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Fun on Friday- The Winter Olympics (Week 1)
Here are some thoughts on the first week of the Winter Olympic:
It's always an ugly scene of frozen slobber when biathlon skiers cross the finish line.
Sequins, feathers and fur- men's figure skating is embarrassing.
Are the moguls skiers wearing old-man pajamas with knee pads?
Which of these does not fit?
A. downhill skiing
B. bobsled
C. hockey
D. curling
I enjoy watching curling as much as the next guy but calling curlers "athletes" just doesn't seem right. Including curling in the winter games with downhill skiers is like pairing motocross riders and people who play checkers in the summer games; it's just not going to happen.
I love when the athletes talk about how much they've sacrificed, like Lindsey Vonn "missing her prom". She probably missed her prom because she was skiing in Europe. Not exactly sacrifice.
It's always an ugly scene of frozen slobber when biathlon skiers cross the finish line.
Sequins, feathers and fur- men's figure skating is embarrassing.
Are the moguls skiers wearing old-man pajamas with knee pads?
Which of these does not fit?
A. downhill skiing
B. bobsled
C. hockey
D. curling
I enjoy watching curling as much as the next guy but calling curlers "athletes" just doesn't seem right. Including curling in the winter games with downhill skiers is like pairing motocross riders and people who play checkers in the summer games; it's just not going to happen.
I love when the athletes talk about how much they've sacrificed, like Lindsey Vonn "missing her prom". She probably missed her prom because she was skiing in Europe. Not exactly sacrifice.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
The Law of Averages
The law of averages for temperature tells me that "average" is somewhat misleading.
In recent days, I'd begun to notice during the weather segment of our local nightly newscasts that we were consistently "below average" on our daily temperatures. This has been a very cold winter in Knoxville. I knew it certainly seemed that way but watching a meteorologist show the stats made me wonder what "average" was.
So much so that I recently checked weather.com to see what the average temperatures were for January and February. Outside of a few days where we reached a high of about 50 degrees, we have been well below average (10-20 degrees below average) for quite some time.
The interesting thing, though, is that basically at no time over the past month and a half have we been at the average. The "average" temperature is somewhat irrelevant. Certainly an ineffective stat for predicting future temperatures.
The same principle applies to organizations as well. The average is so, well, average, that it takes something very substantial to effect the average. For an organization to improve it's "average", it takes a concerted, directed effort of the many, not the few.
In recent days, I'd begun to notice during the weather segment of our local nightly newscasts that we were consistently "below average" on our daily temperatures. This has been a very cold winter in Knoxville. I knew it certainly seemed that way but watching a meteorologist show the stats made me wonder what "average" was.
So much so that I recently checked weather.com to see what the average temperatures were for January and February. Outside of a few days where we reached a high of about 50 degrees, we have been well below average (10-20 degrees below average) for quite some time.
The interesting thing, though, is that basically at no time over the past month and a half have we been at the average. The "average" temperature is somewhat irrelevant. Certainly an ineffective stat for predicting future temperatures.
The same principle applies to organizations as well. The average is so, well, average, that it takes something very substantial to effect the average. For an organization to improve it's "average", it takes a concerted, directed effort of the many, not the few.
Monday, February 15, 2010
The New Normal
As we go through life, we continually readjust what we call "normal". A friend of mine has recently gone through a great deal of life change (new baby; new job) and he now lives in what he aptly calls the "new normal". His life is very different from what it was just a few short months ago: a heightened level of responsibility; different sleep patterns; a new work schedule. What used to be "normal" isn't anymore. His life is different, better, but it's not like it used to be. And it will never again be the way it was.
Unfortunately, many people long for the old days or the old ways. What used to be normal. They'd be better off if they'll realize that today is the "new normal".
Unfortunately, many people long for the old days or the old ways. What used to be normal. They'd be better off if they'll realize that today is the "new normal".
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Friday, February 12, 2010
Fun on Friday- Big Sports Weekend
Big sports weekend ahead. NBA All-Star Weekend. The Winter Olympics begin. The Daytona 500. UT vs. Kentucky in men's basketball. Here are some thoughts on this weekend's events:
NBA All-Star Weekend: I'll take the Saturday night events (Slam Dunk; 3-Point Shootout; and Skills Competition) over Sunday's game everytime.
Winter Olympics: I've never been on a snowmobile and I don't snowboard but there is something about the Olympics that always makes me want to watch. You can bet by the end of the Olympics, I'll have watched alot of halfpipe and know who wins the gold in the bobsled. Love that bobsled. Would love to make one run down a bobsled track (with a skilled driver, of course).
NASCAR makes a huge deal of the Daytona 500, in effect, making it their Super Bowl. Yes, it is the first race of the year and has lots of tradition. But in the grand scheme of The Chase, it counts no more than races in Pocono or New Hampshire later in the season.
The UT/Kentucky game could get ugly. UT on the road at Rupp Arena doesn't bode well. Kentucky is likely a Final Four kind of team. Tennessee has played through a very difficult season. Arrests, suspensions, the dismissal of a top player, several injuries and two walk-ons playing big minutes is not the recipe for a championship season. If the Vols win 3 or 4 of their last 7 games, it would be an accomplishment. Unfortunately, I don't expect a long post-season run either, just too much to overcome. I hope I'm wrong.
NBA All-Star Weekend: I'll take the Saturday night events (Slam Dunk; 3-Point Shootout; and Skills Competition) over Sunday's game everytime.
Winter Olympics: I've never been on a snowmobile and I don't snowboard but there is something about the Olympics that always makes me want to watch. You can bet by the end of the Olympics, I'll have watched alot of halfpipe and know who wins the gold in the bobsled. Love that bobsled. Would love to make one run down a bobsled track (with a skilled driver, of course).
NASCAR makes a huge deal of the Daytona 500, in effect, making it their Super Bowl. Yes, it is the first race of the year and has lots of tradition. But in the grand scheme of The Chase, it counts no more than races in Pocono or New Hampshire later in the season.
The UT/Kentucky game could get ugly. UT on the road at Rupp Arena doesn't bode well. Kentucky is likely a Final Four kind of team. Tennessee has played through a very difficult season. Arrests, suspensions, the dismissal of a top player, several injuries and two walk-ons playing big minutes is not the recipe for a championship season. If the Vols win 3 or 4 of their last 7 games, it would be an accomplishment. Unfortunately, I don't expect a long post-season run either, just too much to overcome. I hope I'm wrong.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
The Same Thing at the Same Time
Quality communication is crucial within an organization. For an organization to be successful, it's best if everyone hears the same thing at the same time. All too often as information is disseminated, the message changes. It gets diluted away from its purest, true form.
When this happens, people in an organization begin to work from different agendas. They generate different plans. Disconnections occur. Frustrations build. Confusion lingers.
If everyone hears the same thing at the same time, many of these difficulties can be avoided.
When this happens, people in an organization begin to work from different agendas. They generate different plans. Disconnections occur. Frustrations build. Confusion lingers.
If everyone hears the same thing at the same time, many of these difficulties can be avoided.
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