Archives: Random
Every Role Is Important
One thing that most people fail to realize in business and in life is everybody plays a role and none is more important than another.
If you look at a car for example, the engine has a particular job, as do the lugnuts. Now you could have the best engine known to mankind, but if you don’t have lugnuts, what good does the engine do. The car can’t go anywhere because the wheels will fall off.
I know that’s not the world’s greatest example, but it emphasizes my point. Just because you may not think you are important to your company or organization, if there is no one to do your job, then the organization can fall apart.
Most leaders don’t acknowledge this, because they think they are too important, but a good leader realizes this and makes sure everyone knows this.
For example, Coach McMillin lets everybody know in the program nobody is more important than the next. He has a quote that I will always remember: “I don’t need anyone of you, I need all of you.”
This is saying I don’t need a particular player, I need all of you together. he also does a great job of making sure managers realize they are vital to success. He lets his players know that the managers are vital and tells them they should be treated as such. As one of Coach’s managers, this makes me feel good.
He is constantly thanking us for our work, which makes me work harder for him because I know he appreciates it. If a boss doesn’t appreciate your work, why would you want to work hard for them?
So always remember, treat others with respect and remember you are not more important than they are. You just may have a different role.
Gene
Tips About Men
So I’d like to give some tips to women about men. I’ve had girls come to me wanting to know about what men think or why we do certain things, so here is a useful guide. I stole some of these from an email, but most guys think this way.
All of these are labeled number 1 for a reason.
1) Men are not mind readers
1) Ask for what you want, Subtle hints don’t work! Strong hints don’t work! Obvious hints don’t work! JUST SAY IT!
1) Crying is blackmail
1) Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments become null and void after 7 days
1) You can either ask us to do something or tell us how you want it done. Not both, If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself!
1) All men see in only 16 colors. Like Windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not a color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is!
1) If we ask what is wrong and you say “nothing”, we will act like nothing’s wrong. We know you are lying, but its just not worth the hassle.
1) If you ask a question you don’t want an answer to, expect an answer you don’t want to hear.
1) If you tell a guy you want to be with a guy, don’t act like he doesn’t exsist.
1) Don’t let a guy’s ex-girlfriend scare you away. She doesn’t run his life (as much as she thinks she does)
And I know I’ll catch heat for this, but its a great tool. Because this is really how a lot of guys think.
Gene
A Journey Into The Mind of Gene
So people always want to figure out what other people are thinking. Well, I’m going to tell you about what I’m thinking. When I get frustrated or stressed, sometimes those are the times when I have my greatest thoughts.
Today was Yom Kippur (the Jewish day of repentance), so I fasted. I had a terrible nights sleep so by about 6 o’clock I was frustrated/stressed and I realized something. As much as I love my family and friends, the only thing that will never leave me is sports. Friends will go. After a certain amount of time not seeing them, its natural to just drift apart. They say family will never leave you, but they can. Not on purpose, but they will sometimes. Sports never goes away.
I could get a job not in the field of athletics, but sports won’t just disappear. When I’m having a bad day, I just get in the gym and get shots up, or I play another sport and magic. I feel a hell of a lot better. I can talk to family and friends, but at some point they may not be there.
This is why I have become so obsessed with basketball, because I know its not leaving. And I love that. Yes, I love my family and friends, but they could leave, sports won’t.
Feel free to comment.
Gene
Coaches
I’m watching the Arkansas-Alabama game on CBS and the commentator made a quote that I have found very true in my time in dealing with coaches.
“Good coaches tell their players to do something, great coaches teach their players.”
Since I’ve started working with Coach McMillin, I’ve always stated he’s a great coach, and this quote just validates that. He doesn’t just tell the players to do it, he teaches them how to do it and why they will use it. The players that absorb this are the ones who do big things. Coach Heskett did it as well, and Coach Hayes continues to do it. This is why I feel Coach Hayes is going to do big things in the coaching game.
I’ve really learned so much from every single coach that I have worked with at Lynn because they care. They take time to teach me what is being done and why. They have not been hesitant in giving me responsibility and that means a lot. I will always remember them no matter where I go in life. I owe them so much for what they have done for me.
They’ve let me get involved in film editing, film exchange, practice planning, drills, meetings, and so much more. This has helped me get ahead in my pursuit of being a coach, because now I am more prepared for what I am going to be getting into.
Gene
Live or Die?
Which would you prefer, to die knowing you gave everything you had or live knowing you had more you could have given?
Personally, I would rather die knowing I gave everything I could. I feel better losing knowing I gave my all. I have realized that when you start to regret things, you waste your time, because you could not change it. There is a quote in our locker room that reads “What you gave today, you have forever. What you didn’t give is lost forever.” This is true, because if you don’t give your all in a day of work, you can’t get that time back, and you suffer the consequences. If you give everything, the consequences are minimal because you did everything you could.
After practice, if I’m not exhausted from running all over the gym or working in drills, I didn’t do a good enough job and I let the players and coaches down.
But, I want to know, what do you think?
Gene
Women (And What I Know About Them)
So, some men think they have women figured out. Well, I’m not one of them. After 21 years, I’m still as lost as a baby trying to figure out new surroundings. I think I’ll have a girl figured out then BAM, I’m lost again.
But, I’ve always been taught by the people I grew up around I’ll never be able to figure women out and its so true. The only things I know, is they are always right, and as a guy I’m always wrong. I can never do things well, I can only not do them as bad. I don’t need to be involved in desicions, I just need to do what I’m told.
Now, some women aren’t as bad as others, but all women do these things.
So guys that read this, don’t try to figure women out, it’s a lost cause. Nobody knows what women want. Because when they say something, they don’t always mean it.
Gene
Getting to Where You Are
This summer, I worked camps at three great universities. And it really showed me something.
Nobody can get to the top or to where they are at the current point without other people.
Yes, you go places or might be where you are by your work ethic, but nobody starts without somebody else’s help. And I certainly am no different.
I have plenty of people who have gotten me to where I am today and I will probably forget to name some and for that I apologize now.
First, my parents. I wouldn’t be alive without them. They raised me and have supported me my whole life. I can never repay them and would be nothing without them. They’ve always guided me, but never been overprotective. I will always love them for everything they’ve done.
Second, my brothers. Philip and Ben have always supported me. With Ben being autistic, I was forced to grow up faster in order to be able to handle it. But its also made me realize how rewarding it is to have a brother like him. Philip has been supportive of me, even though we are two completely different people. I know he will always have my back and I hope he knows I’ll always have his.
Third, my grandparents. They’ve always supported me. My mom’s parents have been like a second set of parents just in another city. My dad’s mom taught me golf when I was little and gavve me somebody I could really connect with and has always been supportive. Even though I never knew my dad’s dad, he’s always driven me. People have told me that I remind them of him and that made me want to uphold that, because I’ve never heard a negative thing about him, and it makes me want to live up to that.
Fourth, to the rest of my family. Aunts, uncles, cousins. They’ve all supported me and shown me how that I have the greatest family in the world. To my cousin Jay being like a big brother to me, to my cousin Nicole. Even though she can be a pain at times, I wouldn’t trade her for the world.
Fifth, to Coaches McMillin, Hayes, Heskett, and Crislip. They’ve all helped me in my growth as a future coach. Coach McMillin has helped me get into camps and helped me meet other coaches. He has done more for me than I could ever have imagined. Coach Hayes has always given me advice when I needed it, as have Coach Heskett and Coach Crislip.
Sixth, to all my friends. They’ve all been supportive of me and had my back when a problem arose. When I thought my dad had a heart attack; Anthony, John, Charlie all surrounded me and gave me a group hug to help cheer me up, then started making jokes to help get my mind off of the whole situation. It made me realize I have the greatest friends in the world. This group includes those 3, Renee, Lauren Fry, Sam, Dorothy, Jesse, Lauren Delgman, Lauren Davis,and so many more that I’m sure I’ll catch hell for not mentioning.
Seventh, all the faculty that I’ve encountered at Lynn. From Anthony and Jen, to Jason and Christina and Jena and Laura, to Professor Curtis and Stefanie Powers. Everyone of them and everyone else at Lynn has made me feel like family and shown me that everyone on campus is just as important as the next.
If it wasn’t for all these people I would be nothing. I wouldn’t be anywhere near as happy as I am now.
Gene
Actions or Words?
Lately I’ve had a lot of time to myself and well, when I have time to myself I start to think (yes I do think thank you very much haha). And one thing I’ve thought about is words compared to actions. Which speaks louder?
Well, my thoughts go with the old adage, actions speak louder than words. If I say I’m going to be the best coach to grace the sidelines since John Wooden, it means nothing unless I work for it. It’s not going to just happen and people are going to believe me unless I put in all the work that is necessary.
In my 3 years so far at Lynn, I have done a good amount of things. I have made lifelong friends, found out what I want to do in life, among other things, but most importantly, I’ve matured. Some people might disagree, but I do feel I am more mature than when I came into Lynn.
I used to feel like I was destined to graduate from college with a business degree and move back to Little Rock and learn my parents business to take over it at some point, but since I’ve gotten here, I’ve come to know that there is more to life and more that I want to do. So I switched my major to Sports Management and got involved with the basketball team. This whole college experience has helped me come to realize that what my parents told me is true, I need to do what I love not what people expect me to do. And what I love is basketball and really any sport in general.
But as the beginning of this blog says, I can say I love it all day and want to coach it, but if I don’t do the work to back it up, it won’t matter.
This can also apply to relationships. If you say you want to be with someone or that you will do anything for them, you have to actually show it. You can’t just say it and expect that to be good enough. Because at some point, this will come back to bite you.
So always remember, actions speak louder than words.
Gene
My Disagreement
So last night I was reading the latest Sports Illustrated (shocking to know I read I know haha) and I read an article that gave me mixed feelings.
It was titled “You Gotta Love Tim Timbow” by Austin Murphy. It was an article that talked about all the good Tebow does off the field and how he uses his on-field accomplishments to do more off the field. I do have to say, Tebow is a great person and athlete. There was a quote that I didn’t agree with: “.. I am one hundred percent certain I’m going to go to heaven because I have Jesus Christ in my life.”
I am not saying he shouldn’t push his religion. It’s his right as an American to use free speech and its Mr. Murphy’s right of Freedom of Press to right this article. What I don’t agree with is Sports Illustrated decision to run this article. I have to say, I was offended by this article. And I’m not somebody who gets offended very easily. I know being Jewish I’m not in the majority when it comes to religion, but I don’t feel its right to say because one is a certain religion that person is going to heaven or hell.
Sandy Koufax is one of the most well known Jewish athletes, but you don’t see him going around saying because he’s Jewish he’s going to heaven. He is accepting of everyone else’s religion, as is Kevin Youkilis of the Boston Red Sox, Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers, or former NBA Coach Red Auerbach (all Jewish). And where is Sports Illustrated’s article on them being Jewish and how proud fellow Jews are of them. ESPN did an article on the NBA’s Jordan Farmar of the Los Angeles Lakers and highlighted on being (at the time) the only Jewish player in the NBA.
I am open to all religions, accept when it gets pushed on me, and I feel that this article was pushing religion onto me.
So Tim, keep up all of your great work I hope you have a brilliant career, Mr. Murphy I hope you have a great writing career, and Sports Illustrated I hope you continue to put out a great magazine, but to Mr. Murphy and Sports Illustrated I hope you both realize what you are putting out first.
Gene
A Controversial Post
So I know that this post will draw me some heat and I understand that. But before I say anything, let me say I see both sides of the argument and am understanding of both sides. Now, here is the controversial topic: Michael Vick and the NFL.
I feel that Michael Vick should be allowed back into the NFL. As soon as he completes his house arrest (which I believe is soon), he will have paid his punishment that the Justice system felt was right. Now, whether the punishment was too light, too heavy, or just right, I can’t say. We all have our personal opinions, but the judge felt that it was right, so I’m going to trust their judgement.
The NFL also set a bad precedent by allowing Leonard Little back in the league and he was convicted of DUI Manslaughter. While I don’t agree that these two acts are acceptable by any means, how can you say that its ok for Leonard to be in the league but its not ok for Michael.
Now I’m not saying to kick Leonard out of the league, but I believe we should give Michael another chance. He has paid his debt and from everything I’ve heard, he will continue to including doing community service with the Humane Society. He will do community service outreach programs to force him to actually do something and not just speak which I agree with.
I also agree with a lot of analysts who say he should only be given the league minimum or become a member of the United Football League, which is becoming sort of a developmental league for the NFL. This would let him prove that he still has the ability to play professional football.
But I also feel if he has a big screw up, he does need to be kicked out of the league for good, because NFL have the privilage of playing there, its not a right. But I do believe we shouldn’t say “Mike Vick you get one chance, but Pacman Jones gets multiple chances.”
Gene
