Did the Groundhog Lie...On George Washington's Birthday?!?!

 I'm sitting here in Utah with an awful snow storm going on...I hope you connect the dots on the title yourselves, as that isn't the commentary on which I wish to provoke thought.  Rather, I look at the youth in the depiction of a broken down George Washington who new he had done something wrong and in that moment he made a life-altering decision to live by principles.

That choice molded the man that many look up to as a great General and President.  What would the likelihood of him being such an influence for good have been had he made the opposite choice when asked about the cherry tree?  I can't speculate, but I can say with assurance that in that moment of inner fortitude, his decision to live by truth added to his incremental growth in this sojourn we call mortality.  It formed and shaped who he was to become.

How often are we faced with decisions daily?  How often do we take time to reflect on the impact that those decisions make on our journey and dictate who we become and if we have a sense of fulfillment?  More times than not, decisions are made before we actually make them, due in part to the thoughts we allow to marinate in our minds.  Remember the power of a habituated thought, for progressing or digressing.  Make this weekend special.

Written By:  Timothy James Andrus

The Most Important Document to Come Out of The Valley

I usually like to compose my own posts, but please consume the slides that are a hypertext link below.  It speaks to what drives human behavior and provoked much thought since I read it.  Please comment after you've pondered.  It's not the company, but the philosophies that intrigue and are applicable in various facets.

Inspiring the Goal Through Context Rather Than Control

"If you want to build a ship, don't drum up the people to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea."

-Antoine De Saint-Exupery

Each one of us has a leadership role to play, even if it be leading only ourselves. The previous mantra has been adopted by Netflix as their principle driven leadership style. Think of how this can be implemented into so many aspects of our lives. Think of the child that has a dream to become a teacher, doctor or one of the endless noble professions. How much more effective is our influence on their performance (grades) if we simply create and foster the environment for that passion to grow?

If we examine the lives of many of the world's most successful people, we would see that they had an intense yearning or passion for what they did and wanted to achieve. Therefore, isn't that the model we should examine and look to use in each of our capacities. If you can't think of where to begin, simply open your eyes to the inspiration and influence that you can be on anyone that surrounds you.

May the spark of passion ignite your fire.
-Written by: Timothy James Andrus

My Girlfriend Died of Leukemia...Honesty IS the Best Policy

Like many college football fans, I came to respect and appreciate the role model and character that Manti Te'o exemplified.  I came to admire a young man who showed leadership and lived by principles.  He fought through adversity and came in second place in the vote for the equivalent to the college football MVP.  Then the nation was shocked to find out that he really didn't have a girlfriend who died of leukemia.  This news broke on the same day that Lance Armstrong went on Oprah to admit after many years of lying, that he cheated to win his 7 Tour de France titles.

The tragedy is that in both situations the deception began as a little white lie and was perpetuated until it became the enormous scar that it has.  Now none of us is perfect (I certainly have made enough mistakes), but as we strive to create the best version of ourselves, we should remember that deception in the smallest of forms can snowball into something that can destroy our character.  Practice living a principle driven life by making it your policy to represent the truth in all that you do.

Best wishes to the above mentioned.  I don't know all of their circumstances, nor do I judge them.  My hope is that they may find the peace that this simple, yet powerful principle brings when made a part of who they are.
Written By:  Tim Andrus 

Reflections...

I love this photo of an innocent child staring into her reflection in the window.  Like this child, I have found that taking time to reflect on my own life is a key component to human performance.  Reflection is a quiet form of evaluation.  How often do we set goals or have objectives, yet we don't have a mechanism in place to keep us moving forward.  A friend of mine tells the story of their family playing a game where the objective was to see who could get the dinner plate to stand upright on it's edge.  After a lot of frustration and many fallen plates, they found that it only stood when it was rolling forward.

Let us make it our constant practice to continually be in a state of moving forward, and if we take time to reflect on where we are, evaluate and take action, then we will be living a principle driven life.
Written by: Tim Andrus

The Secret to a Foundation of REAL Change

As we embark on a sojourn of a new beginning, many of us will look to set resolutions or goals for the new year.  The problem is that most of us don't set our sights on the correct goals and attempt to radically make change to our behavior.  Because of the difficulty in hitting the mark, most of us will fail shortly after making the resolution (just look at the attendance at the local gym spike and dwindle over the next few weeks).  The secret to a foundation of real lasting change was know by the ancient civilizations such as the Egyptians.

Just look at how long their pyramids have stood the test of time.  The foundation was laid and the spectacular edifices took TIME to erect.  Our challenge is to take our time laying a foundation by making incremental changes to our life.  As we make daily changes, at the end of our sojourn, we will look back and  will have built our own spectacular destiny as great as the pyramids.
Written By:  Timothy J. Andrus

New Year & Goal Setting...Washed Away in April Showers?

This time of year is one that inspires many of us to make goals that can lose momentum in the March winds or are washed away in the April showers.  Instead, let us allow the elements of adversity to compel the flowers to bloom in May.  All too often, what starts with the greatest of intentions to make a positive change, ends before the perspiration even dries.  Why is it that we forget to take off the parking brake before we begin our New Year sojourn?  Remember the checklist from driver's education that goes by the wayside before our money jingles the cash register during the purchase of our first tank of gas.
Written By:  Timothy J. Andrus