The Graduate

I'm not sure where to start or even how to begin. You're not only my child, you're my best friend.

I remember your eyes as a youngster, the way  they shown so bright, and that smile of yours could cut through the night.

Each morning I'd wake you and help you start off the day. Each night tuck you in and together we'd pray.

When you started to school, time flew by so fast. One moment your in first grade and now the graduating class.

My emotions are so conflicted, I'm happy and sad. All of me is proud of you, yet part of me feels bad. 

Did I do all I could do to prepare you for life? Will it be enough to help you make the best decisions each day and night?

It is at this point I must release my hold. I'll let the Lord take over, for really, He was always in control.

I'm not sure what your future will hold, but I'm certain of two things if I can be so bold.

The first is I'm certain that God has a plan. He will prosper you, while giving you a future that will come from His hands. 

My second certainty is that you are filled with potential to be great in this world. But it's up to you to fulfill it, of this I am sure. 

In closing let me say I am proud of you and I thank God for the person you have turned into. 

Now graduate full of pride my child, with your eyes ever so bright and your  beautiful smile that can cut through the night. 

God Bless,

Coach P

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." -Jeremiah 29:11

Where I'm From

I have had the opportunity to travel around the US from North to South and East to West. There are many states I've yet to see, but I've been fortunate enough to cover a lot of ground over the years. On a few occasions I've also been able to travel outside the US borders and visit other countries.

What I have learned during these travels is that each place has is own natural beauty, in it's own unique way. I've also learned that every area I've had the opportunity to visit has some awesome people occupying the land (along with a few not so awesome people, as it is in life). 

Okay, here is a personal secret... I really love the ocean, the sun, and the beach. I'm pretty sure I could be a beach bum for while and it would suit me just fine. But where I'm from, we don't have an ocean view and the only beaches are on the shores of creeks, farm ponds, and lakes. That being said, I think those beaches are beautiful too.

Fishing at the creek with my family. 

You see, I grew up in Oklahoma and now live in Kansas, the heartland of America. The Midwest is my home and I'm proud if it. 

This thought about growing up in the Midwest landed in my brain and built a nest there after reading a great blog post written by my good friend Michelle Terry (Read her blog post "Flyover States" here). 

After reading what Michelle so deftly penned, I felt a great sense of pride in the Midwest, my hometown, home state, and all the other Flyover states she mentions. 

It is in these areas of the US that The Lord forged me into the man I am today. He has done this by virtue of working with my hands, playing sports, going to school, and attending Church, all right here in the Midwest. These are a few of the activities and values that we cherish in the heartland of America. The land where my people are from and the land I call home. 

Below is an excellent song by country music artist Jason Aldean. I admittedly don't listen to a lot of country, but I do like it. I mean, I'm from small town Oklahoma where everyone little bit country.

This song does a great job explaining how we feel about our part of the country here in the flyover states. Click on the video below to watch and listen...

Now my question for you is this...

Where are you from and what makes your part of the country (or world) awesome? 

God Bless,

Coach P

P.S. If the Lord ever calls us to live in a tropical paradise, who are we to refuse? 

Don't miss "The Moment"

As a lifelong athlete, I've trained and competed more than the average person. When you are a competitive athlete, you are always training for the moment you get to compete and see how well you perform when it's time for Live Action (Yes, I just threw a Turtle man reference in there). You train for hours and hours just waiting for the opportunity to test yourself and hopefully succeed.

Coaching is not much different, except you aren't the one actually competing. Even still, you are helping your athletes train and prepare for the moment they get to lay it on the line and shine. Hour upon hour is spent working on technique, developing skills, imparting strategy, and improving their level of conditioning.  This is all done in preparation for the moment the lights come on and the action commences.

Tyson Toelkes enjoying the Big Moment!

Beyond the ball fields, mats, and courts, we spend our lives waiting for "The Moment" in one way or another. This might be the moment you graduate, get married, have a child, or get the big promotion at work. Our lives are spent in preparation for the special moments in life. 

What I want us to consider is the possibility that we may be missing the "The Moment" waiting on "The Moment." 

Life is full of awesome moments. These often happen when we least expect them, but we many not see their brilliance unless we learn to live in the here and now. 

I often tell my athletes... "We must enjoy the journey. Yes we want to achieve our goals, but the journey is just as important." The journey is the daily grind and it encompasses all the moments, big and small. 

Tyson Toelkes enjoying The Journey!

Today I challenge you to not only wait on the big moments in life, but to also live in the moment right now. Enjoy every step of your journey and realize that you are in fact living in the moment. Don't let your life pass you by waiting on "The Moment" only to miss it many times over. 

God Bless,

Coach P

Am I Wrong

Do you think and live outside the box? 

Do you have a vision for your life?

Do you think you can be something, for real?

Here is what I think...

Live outside the box! Most of you physically live in a box (your house), travel in a box (your car), work in a box (office or cubicle),  eat out of a box (your fridge), and sleep in a box (your bed). But your thought life doesn't have to be contained in a box. 

Develop a grand Vision for your life! If your vision for life isn't so big that is scares you a little bit, then think bigger! It is important to have a vision for your life and also the courage to see it through. 
"Where there is no vision the people will perish." -Proverbs 29:18 

Believe in yourself, believe in your ability, and most important believe that God has a great plan for you. You can be something, for real!
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." -Jeremiah 29:11

I love this song! 

Listen to it, think about it, and let it encourage you today!

God Bless,

Coach P

My Mom

You were the first person I knew when God formed me in your womb. 

I could hear your soothing voice and heart at the same time. This was not a chance meeting, our connection was Divine.

When I was a small child, you were always my best friend. Each day we would play, color, read, and write. Then each night we would say our prayers as you tucked me in.

All through my schooling you always had my back. You would take me to sporting events and never let me slack.

When I went away to college, I grew into a man. But I soon realized, a man still needs to hear his mom's voice and sometimes hold her hand.

Now I am married and have children of my own. The lessons that you taught to me are being passed on in my home. 

Each day I thank the Lord for choosing you to give me life. 

Mom you are my rock, my friend, and my guiding star. I'll always know your soothing voice and love your precious heart. 

God Bless You Mom and I Love You,

Chad 

http://youtu.be/NFRW4_46dJg

http://youtu.be/EpgvwCZuV1I

Keep it Simple

Never complicate what you can effectively simplify.

Maybe it's human nature, I'm not sure, but people often over complicate what can be so simple in life(I'm guilty of this from time to time as well).

I am a coach and this is something I often see...coaches over-complicating the teaching of their sport. They often do this with good intentions, but just end up confusing their athletes.

Trust me, it does your offense no good when your running back has the ball, but his lead blocker and linemen don't understand who they should be blocking because the scheme is so complicated. Don't get me wrong, it can be complicated, but should be taught in a non-complicated manner.

Your wrestler will have trouble succeeding if you teach him a multiple part set-up, takedown, and finish, but over complicate the manner in which you teach these components.

Being a longtime coach and teacher (also the son of a longtime coach and teacher), I believe we can teach complicated information in simple terms if we understand it well. 

This same concept can be used with every job, relationship, sport etc. It's not always easy to simplify, which seems like a contradictory phrase, but it's true. Sometimes it takes a lot of work to understand something in such a way that you can simplify that which seems complicated.

In the words of a pretty smart fella...

“If you can't explain it to a six year old, you don't understand it yourself.” -Albert Einstein

God Bless,

Coach P

P.S. I am always trying to find the most efficient/simplified methods to utilize in various areas of my life, it's how I'm wired. What areas of your life do you tend to over complicate and how can you simplify in these areas? 

No Limitation as Limitation

Since I was a child I have loved martial arts. I truly appreciate the lessons that can be learned and applied to everyday life through martial arts.

One of my favorite quotes comes from famous martial artist/actor Bruce Lee. The quote is as follows...

This quote applies to my martial art theories, but even more important, it applies to life. What I want to address in this post is the second half of the quote, "having no limitation as limitation."

In essence Bruce Lee was saying that we need to stop using our perceived limitations as excuses. How many of us, me included, use a supposed limitation as an excuse for failure or maybe to never begin something in the first place?

In sports, the limitation and excuse may sound something like this...

I'm to slow, I'm not tall enough, He is stronger than me, etc.

In everyday life, the limitation and excuse may sound like this...

I don't have enough time, I don't have enough money, I don't know the right people, etc.

Everything listed above can be looked at as a true limitation and a valid excuse. But according to the great martial artist Bruce Lee, that doesn't let you off the hook!

Bruce Lee wants you to know that what you perceive as a limitation cannot be used as a limitation. You must find a way to succeed, despite the so called limitation. You have to stop making excuses and find a way to get it done.

This brings to mind some words of wisdom from successful business man and author Ron Reynolds "People will find a way to do exactly what they need to do." You see, when you really need to get something done, you'll find a way.

Both Bruce Lee and Ron Reynolds know that people have so many self imposed limitations. They have trouble succeeding or making necessary changes in life because they use these limitations as excuses. But ultimately people can choose to overcome the limitation and find a way to succeed. 

My challenge for you is this...

Decide today to take the limitations off your mind, rid yourself of excuses and find a way. Declare that you will no longer use your "limitations" as limiting factors in your life!

God Bless,

Coach P

P.S. As far as No way as way, this applies to my grappling theories. But in my personal life... I know the one who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life!

Don't Give Away Your Power

I recently had a short discussion with my oldest daughter (7 years old) about dealing with situations that upset her.

The Fact that she's holding a K-State Football makes me need this blog post. 

During the school day she had an issue with a friend and it had her shook up. Later that day, at bedtime, she was crying and telling her mom all about the situation that happened at school. Mommy is very good at handling these issues and I'm normally happy to let her deal with them (I don't really understand girls. I know, big shocker right). But this time I felt I needed to share some advice that has helped me deal with issues over the years. This little secret works for everyone... young, old, male, female, it covers us all.

I said to my daughter "Can I tell you two actions I take when I start getting upset?". She said "Yes" and I shared with her the following...

Action 1: Pray when you feel upset. Ask God to help you and He'll hear your prayers.

"I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you've received it, it will be yours." -Mark 11:24

Action 2: You must make a decision not to give away your power. You see, when you allow a person or circumstance to upset you, then you give them your power. When you give away your power, then that lends itself to anger, fear, frustration, etc. 

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." -2 Timothy 1:7

Utilizing these two actions is not always easy and must be practiced daily. The fact is, you can't always control your circumstances, but you can control how you react to them. 

Today, make a decision to keep your power despite your situation. Take action by praying and then deciding that you will not give away your power. 




God Bless,

Coach P


P.S. It takes guts to write this, because now my wife will hold me accountable. Oh man...

The confessions of an Okie Writer

Alright, I live in Kansas and have for many years now. That being said... I am an Okie (born and raised in Oklahoma) through and through.

Hanging out with my daughter in Pawhuska, OK. 

If you have ever been around an Okie, then you know that we say a few words funny and even have some words that are Oklahoma originals. Just like everyone else in the world, Okie's have their own unique accent and slang.

Here's one example of saying a word that sounds funny in an Okie accent: Ten

I lead workouts and often call out the repetition count to the group. When I say the word ten, apparently it sounds like tin. I don't hear the subtle difference, but the people in my group that start teasing me apparently hear it. (That's okay, I just make them do "tin" more reps.)

Here's one example of an Okie original word: Chesterdraws

One day we were moving furniture and I asked my wife where she wanted me to put the chesterdraws. She started laughing and said "What did you call this furniture?" (My wife is from Kansas)

She then informed me that the furniture is actually called a chest-of-draws. Well I have to admit, that makes more since. But to me, 'Ol Chester must have owned them because they are his draws. 

You want to know what brought this entire topic up? The word subtle. I was trying to spell it on my phone and couldn't figure it out. It went something like this...

Suttle, Suddle, dang it! 

I know it is a word and I know what it means. I also know how it sounds, so why can't I spell it close enough for auto correct to help me out? Then it hit me, it's because I'm an Okie and in my Okie accent the word is suddle. 

So I looked up the word (thank goodness for Dictionary.com) and found the word subtle. Then I thought "Ah, it has a b in it. Wait, that's stupid, who added a b to this word?"

Now that I've exposed my spelling weaknesses, let me defend other Okies. I'm certain that not everyone from Oklahoma is bad at spelling. But I am also certain that many people from Oklahoma have to convert words in their head from Okie to English at least every once in awhile. This is by no means a lack of intelligence, it's just that people from Oklahoma are bilingual. Yep, we speak Okie and English. 

God Bless,

Coach P

P.S. What words do you say that sound funny or are specific to your region of the world? Let me know so we can laugh together. 

Separate Your Courage From Your Conditions

"But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed." -Acts 27:22

Each of us experiences the ups and downs that life will provide as long as we are breathing(hopefully more ups than downs). What is of the utmost importance during each experience is that we keep up our courage. 

In the scripture above, Paul is on a ship headed to Rome as a prisoner awaiting trial. Paul was not on some comfy cruise just enjoying a vacation, he was in shackles for spreading his Faith. During this voyage to Rome a major storm hit and threatened the life of Paul and all those on board the ship.

During the midst of the storm, Paul let his shipmates know that their ship was going down, but they will all be saved. 

There are many lessons here for each of us to learn from Paul's circumstances and words. I'll just share a couple of them...

1. Storms will happen in our life and that's that.
2. We must keep our courage up, no matter what the conditions are that surround us at a given time.
3. God has us, even when things don't look great.
4. Do not place your Faith in the ship (your job, relationships, etc), place your Faith in the one who made the people that made the ship. 

"So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.” -Acts 27: 25-26

From the Shipwreck to the Island, God's got you!

Again, in this scripture Paul encourages his shipmates to keep up their courage, even though the ship is going down. 

Life isn't always rainbows and sunshine, neither is it always doom and gloom. Life provides both sides of the spectrum, but it's our job to keep up our courage. We must learn to separate our courage from our conditions. 

Today I urge you to take a look at your conditions and be of good courage. I also encourage you to place your Faith in God and not in your ship. 

God Bless,

Coach P

P.S. In Acts 28, God uses Paul's circumstance to help people and they in turn help him. We never know how God will use our circumstance to help someone else or to help ourselves. 

Photo Courtesy of Mae Rain Photo

The Girl Who Will

The Girl Who Can Will

You young lady are a shining star. When you walk into a room, it is filled with light. Your mere presence is like the dawning of day as it ends the night.

God has given you personality and heart the size of Texas. You possess a true compassion to help others, while seeking nothing in return.  This is a valuable gift from God that will allow you to make a positive impact upon all those you meet in this life.

You love to read, sing, and compete in sports. You’re smart as a whip and tough as nails, both traits handed down from your mother and father. Superior genetics passed on to their daughter!

Your goals are vast and you have dreams a plenty. The zest you possesses for life is contagious for all that have the privilege of crossing your path. These unique characteristics make you beautifully you, one of God’s greatest creations under His skies so blue.

I want you to know that you can be anything in this life you desire to be. You can be a pediatrician who heals, a teacher who helps, or maybe an author who writes her own books. Your mind is the limit so let it run free, you can be anything in this life you desire to be.

You young lady are the girl who can, no I take that back… You young lady are the girl who will!

May God Bless You and make His face to shine upon you all the days of your life.

God Bless,

Coach P

P.S. This is dedicated to Mya Thompson, my daughters Kate and Ally, and all the beautiful young ladies out there that will one day change the world!

Mya, the majority of these words are inspired by a text I received from your father Joel (my brother and best friend).

Simple way to make a Big Impact!

Many of us wonder how we can help, elicit impact, and make a difference in this world. 

We'd like to donate time, money, service, etc. to those in need. Maybe serve in our community, go on a missions trip, or become part of a mentoring program. 

I say do it!

Now with that being said, let's not overlook the power of simple and thoughtful kindness that can be acted upon daily. This doesn't take a lot of time, money, or energy... but it does make a big difference in our world. 

This thought was was sparked whenever a friend of mine sent me a motivational picture on Pinterest and said "Chad Parks, That's you!". 

It is amazing how a positive word or an intentional small gesture can brighten your day. The reminder that someone cares and thinks positively of you truly matters. 

You know what I love about this? Whether you are on the giving or receiving end of of a kind gesture, you are blessed. I mean it just downright feels good to show kindness and also to receive it from others. 

Today, I challenge you to intentionally reach out to someone and make their day. Give them a quick phone call to say "I'm thinking about you and I care about you". Alright, maybe talking on the phone isn't your thing. That's okay, send a nice text, Facebook message, or an Awesome Pin on Pinterest with a personal message. 

Many of us wonder how we can help, elicit impact, and make a difference in this world. 

While you are wondering, start where you are and make a difference in the lives of those around you!

God Bless,

Coach P

P.S. Thank You Jilliann

Dog issues and Human issues aren't that different really.

I've recently started making time to watch The Dog Whisperer and Cesar 911 (We got a new puppy!). These shows both star dog expert Cesar Millan, who seems like a pretty awesome dude. Cesar trains humans and rehabs their dogs. As I stated before, he is pretty awesome.

Two of the themes I've noticed with many of the "troubled" or "out of control" dogs that Cesar helps rehab is that they are insecure or fearful. This insecurity and fear causes the dogs to act up, lash out, become aggressive, and take away peace from their environment. 

While I was watching one of the episodes, this thought occurred to me... "Many of the students I teach are dealing with the same issues as these dogs". We have students in school that often get into trouble and at times seem out of control. These students are not bad people, they are insecure and fearful. The insecurity and fear causes them to act up, lash out at others, sometimes become aggressive, and ultimately reduce the peace in their environment.

As I pondered this, I realized the picture is much larger than dogs and students, it applies to people of all ages. I mean how many adults are dealing with insecurity and fear? These issues cause them to act out towards their spouse, peers, co-workers, and even strangers. Insecurity and fear causes people to lose their own peace and then project that into their environment.

In order to overcome insecurity and fear, Cesar works with the dogs to rebuild security and face their fears.
He says one of the hardest things for an insecure dog to do is totally submit to the pack leader in front of the other dogs. 

Again, I believe this same issue applies to us as humans. One of the hardest things for us to do is totally submit ourselves to our leader... God (this applies to us Christians as well).

When we refuse to totally submit to God, then we will ultimately deal with insecurity and fear. If this applies to you, I can assure you that you're not alone. I deal with these same issues as well. I often depend on me and this leads to issues that take away my peace. 

Guess what? There is good news! 

Just as dogs can be rehabilitated and learn, humans can too. We can learn to submit to God and ask Him to rehab us. God will step in and help you overcome the insecurity and fear that sometimes rise up and cause you to lash out. When you submit, God will go to work on your issues and fill you with peace!

When given an opportunity, Cesar Millan is amazing at rehabilitating dogs and training people. If you give God the opportunity, you'll see how amazing He is at rehabilitating you and training you for a life free of insecurity and fear. This life brings peace, a peace that only God can provide. 

God Bless,

Coach P 

Yeah, I just gave you the puppy face. 

Our Warrior!

When they nailed Him to that cross so many years ago, there was an eternal consequence the people didn't know. 

They thought He had been beaten, bruised, and placed in a grave. This poor man was in His final resting place.

What the people couldn't comprehend is that He was not only a martyr, but he was also a Warrior. 

They assumed He was dead inside His rocky tomb. 

Yet in reality He was fighting to free me and you. 

This Man descended, conquering death, hell, and the grave. He won the battle for you... 

You are no longer a slave. 

When they nailed Him to that cross so many years ago, there was an eternal consequence the people didn't know. 

What is the consequence? 

Jesus has Risen to save your Soul. 

God Bless,

Coach P

Shake off the Haters!

When Jesus walked on the water (Matthew 14:25) his disciples were at first scared, and then they were amazed. I'm sure there were also a few haters who heard about this miracle and said... "He only walks on water because he can't swim".

Another time Jesus healed a man who had been sick for thirty-eight years and the Jewish leaders condemned Jesus because he healed a person on the Sabbath (John 5:1-17). 

They didn't say "Dude, that is Awesome! This guy is 38 years old, has never walked, and Jesus healed him"! No, they said "Jesus shouldn't do these things because it is the Sabbath".

What is my point? 

You will never make everyone happy. Haters will hate and that's a fact Jack.

You know what? Who Cares!

WORD!

Do the work The Lord has called you to. Fulfill your purpose in this life, because only you can fulfill it.

Shake off the haters and do what God is calling you to do.

There is only one you and you are Awesome!

God Bless,

Coach P

Little Steps Matter

"Little steps always lead somewhere." - Pastor Craig Groeschel

That my friends is a simple, yet profound statement!

Life is full of little steps that take you to and fro, here and there, everywhere. 

Do you have a Big Goal? Then you need to know that it takes little steps to achieve it. 

Maybe you have messed up in some area of your life? That is most likely the result of little steps in the wrong direction. 

Little steps may seem insignificant, but I feel this is an error in thought process. Everything you do speaks and every step you take matters. 

Today, remember that each little step must be intentional as it is leading you somewhere. If you are headed in the right direction, keep going. If you are heading down the wrong path... Stop! Turn around and get your steps going in the proper direction once again. 

Every Step Matters

God Bless,

Coach P

P.S. I just finished reading FIGHT by Pastor Craig Groeschel and he has tons of quote worthy statements in the book. I highly suggest this read for anyone looking to become a Warrior for their family, their home, and God.

The difference between Fun and Joy

Fun and Joy... these two words make me feel good! I believe it's safe to assume that most people feel the same way about the words Fun and Joy. 

Let's take a quick look at definitions for each word...

Fun:  providing entertainment, amusement, or enjoyment 

Joy: a state of happiness

Fun is awesome and joy is where we want to hang out for as long as possible. That being said, fun doesn't always lead us to joy. As a matter of fact, fun can either add to or ruin your joy. What?

You see, fun is a double edged sword that can enhance our life or destroy it. Fun is a temporary entertainment that makes us feel good "in the moment".  Joy on the other hand is an emotional state of happiness that is not based on a fleeting amusement or feeling good "in the moment." Joy is based upon long term choices that can be fun and ultimately add to our state of happiness.

I'll get to the point...

There are a lot of "fun" activities that can ruin your joy. I mean, the Biblical Hero Samson decided to have fun a number of times (with the ladies) and most of you know where that led Samson (eyes gouged out and working as a slave, not fun). What about Biblical Hero David? He decided to have fun (with a married woman) and then had to cover his tracks by setting up a murder. Again, fun followed by not so much fun. 

Those examples seem extreme right? Well, the same issues plague us today and they can ruin our joy. Getting drunk, premarital sex, extramarital sex, etc. These are all activities that may seem "fun" for a moment, but that's how long they last... a moment. 

Fun can be awesome and I hope that you are able to have a ton of it. Just be careful to weigh the consequences of your fun. If a moment of fun cost you your joy, then that price is too high to pay. 


God Bless,

Coach P

How Far Will Your Influence Reach?

I want to thank Dr. Nathanial Hearne for his impact on my life. Dr. Hearne is a former football coach for the Permian Panthers, you know... "Mojo" and  "Friday Night Lights".

Coach Hearne was never my football coach and we have never actually met. But, I'm still grateful for Coach Hearne as he has been a major influence on my life. Sounds weird right?

When I was 18 years old, I wrestled for Missouri Valley College in Marshal, Mo. While at Missouri Valley I met an extraordinary human being named Venshard Dobbins (aka Vince). Vince played football and ran track for the college and we lived on the same floor of the dorms. He was a tall guy, monster athlete, and always had a smile from ear to ear. That's Vince. 

I would see Vince on campus or at the dorms and he'd always shake my hand, give me a hug, and say "How are you today Brother Chad?". Then he would actually sit there and listen, not just a "How's it going?" as he passed. No, Vince is the kind of guy that asked how you are and really wanted to know what you had to say. 

If you've ever heard the saying "People won't always remember what you say, but they will remember how you make them feel." That's Vince. He made you feel special every time you had a chance to talk with him. 

Vince often asked if I'd like to come to Church with him on Sunday, but I kept making excuses not to go. Finally, one day Vince asked me to go to church with him and I said "Yes Sir, I'm in". That's the day God started changing my heart and my world. I attended Sunday school classes, Church services, and partook of Church meals with Vince the rest of that school year. All throughout that time he showed me what a man of God looked and lived like in this world. He helped me understand what it was to have a relationship with Jesus. Vince was a man that walked the walk and talked the talk. 

To be honest, I could go on and on about the impact Brother Venshard Dobbins made in my life. I could tell you about all that God did in my life then and all that He is continuing to do even now. But, what I want to tell you is this... 

Coach Hearne influenced Vince in a positive manner when Vince played football for him. Vince became a great football player, went to college and that's where I met him. There he became a positive influence on my life and paid forward what he had learned from Coach Hearne. Then I became a better man and have tried my best to spend my days as an athlete and now a coach paying forward the lessons Vince taught me. 

So even though I didn't play football for Coach Hearne and I've never met him, he has been a positive influence in my life. The funny thing is this, Coach Hearne has no idea what impact he made on my life. But that is the point of this blog post, we may never know how far our influence will reach. All we can do is try our best right now, where we are, to be a positive influence on those around us. In doing so, we could change their life for the better and hopefully they pay it forward to someone else. When we do this a lot and the cycle gets repeated, a small number of people can make a huge difference in this big 'ol world we live in today.

Thank You Coach Hearne and Brother Vince for being such Strong Men of God and for the impact you've had on my life!

Below is a video about Coach Hearne's new book "Friday Night Lights: Untold Stories From Behind The Lights."  My good friend Vince is featured in the video (:39 second mark) and also in this new book. His story is incredible, absolutely incredible. 

Friday Night Lights: Untold Stories From Behind The Lights



God Bless,


Coach P

P.S. Here are a couple other takeaways from this lesson: 

1. Successful people usually have a number of untold stories that have taken place on their success journey. 
2. Successful people often have one or more people that inspired and mentored them along the way. They have one or more people that influenced or impacted their lives in a positive manner. 

Venshard Dobbins

The way you do anything is the way you do everything.

Recently I was reading a few post on social media and saw these words from a Football Coach/Business Leader that I admire and respect... "The way you do anything is the way you do everything." He posted the following pictures along with his statement.

"YES" was the immediate thought in my head after reading the statement and seeing these pictures. As a long time coach and "workout freak"  I have seen people/teams take pride in their facilities and equipment. On the flip side, I've also seen people/teams take little or no pride in their facilities and equipment.

That being said, the statement written by this coach goes much deeper than just the organization of kettle bells or the weight room. The real meaning here is that the way you complete any task, whether highly meaningful or seemingly menial, says a lot about who you are a as person. The way you complete any task most likely correlates with how much you care about something. Ultimately, the way you complete a task has an impact on your level of success in life.

Let's look at this when applied to some real life scenarios...

• Messy room, house, or car= disorganization is everything you do.
• Lazy, sloppy, and partial effort in practice= lazy, sloppy, and partial effort in a game or match.
• Lazy, sloppy, and partial effort at work= lazy, sloppy, and partial effort in your work performance.

This list could go on and on to infinity.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not talking about perfectionism. Perfectionism is not the goal or mandatory for success in life. Rather the goal is to do your absolute best in all situations, thus leading to success.

Today I'm asking you to keep in mind the wisdom of a highly successful coach and business leader...

"The way you do anything is the way you do everything."


God Bless,

Coach P

P.S. Here are some small action steps to get you headed in the right direction:

• Make your bed
• Clean out your car
• Clean out and organize your refrigerator

These are all simple task that each of us can control and complete each day. They seem menial, but can get you going in the right direction toward completing the "meaningful" at a level beyond the average person. 

Choose Your Mood

I'm coaching in the middle of the Kansas State High school wrestling tourney and one of my wrestlers loses a close match. About a minute later I'm walking down a narrow aisle when I run into a Coach I admire, Coach Charles Knox.

He says "Hey Coach, good to see you." Then gives me a handshake and hug like he always does when we cross paths. Upon backing away, Coach Knox says "Everything okay, you look mad."

Looking Mad

I told Coach Knox that one of my wrestlers had just lost a match and he said "I understand, I've been there."

We parted ways, but his words "You look mad" stuck in my head and wouldn't leave. At this point I knew a decision had to be made about how I was feeling and what message I was projecting onto others.

That's when the thought hit me... I'm going to choose to be happy right now!

In all honesty, I can't tell you that I'll ever be "happy" when one of my wrestlers loses a match. But I can tell you I have the ability to decide how long I let a negative emotion control me and hold me hostage. I can tell you that my perspective on a match and the right mental choice can put a smile back on my face.

Looking back at the match, I was proud of how my wrestler battled and left it on the mat. I also love that wrestler win or lose. So, why was I so mad and wearing a frown? 

There are two reasons I can think of right away:

1. Losing is not fun, never will be and that's that. 

2. I have trained my mind for years to utterly hate the feeling of losing and also to create a negative emotional state when a loss occurs.

The good news... there is hope! There is hope because I know if I can train my brain one way, then I can train it another way as well. Science has proven the mind is pliable and malleable. We can re-train our brain! This takes making a choice on our part and then acting upon it, which is not always easy, but is very possible.

I also know for certain that walking around mad doesn't do anyone any good. It makes me feel bad and others can sense the bad mood as well. I quickly realized that if Coach Knox could sense my bad mood, then my wrestlers can sense it as well (and that's not fair to them). They need their coach to be on top of his game and ready to help them succeed.

Okay, back to Coach Knox...

I'm walking down the same narrow aisle about 30 minutes after I first ran into Coach Knox and we had our brief conversation. This time he sees me and says "There it is, that smile is back! That's what I like to see Coach Parks!"

Now my brain starts running 100 miles per hour and I start thinking about how this situation connects to life outside of wrestling. 

We all have situations in life  that bring us down, make us mad, or evoke other negative emotions. When these situations happen, we have the power to make a choice. We can choose to stay in a negative state of mind and let it bring us down and also bring down those we are in contact with at the time. 

On the other hand, we can choose to let go of the negative emotion and be happy. I know this is easier said than done and it might be a situation much more serious than losing a wrestling match. But, the choice is still yours and you have to decide if you want to reside in a negative state of mind or rise above it. That's what it ultimately boils down to, it's your decision.

My hope is that someone reads this blog post today and makes a choice to let go of the anger, hurt, pain, fear or whatever negative emotion might be holding you hostage.

I hope you choose to be happy today and let the world say "There it is, that smile is back! That's what I like to see!"

God Bless,

Coach P

P.S. Thank You Coach Charles Knox, you are the man!

Coach Charles L. Knox