You Cold Busted!

There's something that you're not doing.  Yes, you.  I caught you.  And in the words of Oran "Juice" Jones (no, his Mama didn't name him "Juice"), "You cold busted!"  If you're wondering what that means, allow me to translate.  That means you've been caught red-handed.  I caught you in the act.  There's no denying the evidence against you.  Tell the truth and shame the Devil.  And finally it means, well, you're busted.  Straight up.  Word to Big Bird!  Now that you know how busted you are, what are you going to do about it?

You've got a choice. 

You could muster up the courage to do the thing or things you committed to doing at the beginning of this year.  Uh oh.  I just said something.  Yep.  I just called you out about your beloved New Year's Resolutions.  You know.  The ones that you were definitely going to keep and adhere to.  This time.  This year. 

The ones that meant more to you than those in the past.  Because you got that special word this year.  It set you on fiiire like the Ohio Players!  For about a week.  But now?  You're a little over three weeks into your year.  And you've already fallen off. 

What are you going to do about it?

You could also lie your way to laziness, lethargy, and loneliness.  That is, you could lie to yourself about why you haven't done what you haven't done.  Then, after settling for a settled-for existence, you could revel and wallow in your lethargy.  Boy howdy!  You'd be soooo much fun to be with!  Right?  Of course not!  That's where the loneliness comes in.  Because who wants to be around you if you've quit?  Not folk who keep moving forward.  So. 

What are you going to do about it?

Ok, full disclosure time.  You're not in this alone.  I've got to get back in the groove of a few things too.  Yep, I've slipped into the land of comfortable.  And I'm packing by bags and leaving it!  Ain't nobody got time for that!  I've got dreams to remember!  And so do you!  Together, we can do this!  I'll encourage you.  Then you've got to encourage some other folk.  Deal?  Thanks!  I appreciate you!  I've got a question though.

Are you really going to do anything about it?

You could  keep going down the dry and barren path of nothingness.  The path of the sluggard.  It's detailed throughout the book of Proverbs.  Most notably in Proverbs 6.6-11.  Verse 11 says, "...poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber."  In short, his path is wack!  But make no mistake.  It's a well-worn path, because so many have taken the easy way out.  Are you next?   

What are you going to do about it?

Aren't you glad that I asked?  Of course you are.  And here's what you're going to do. 

You're going to win. 

Because you're going to recommit.  Because you're going to refocus. 
Because you're going to re-engage.

And you're going to win.

You're going to put the work in.  You're going to believe in you again.  You're going to trust God's plans and promises for you again.

And in case you forgot...

You're going to win!

Because when you resolved to do your things three weeks ago, you were in it to win it.  And you still are.  You just have to make a few adjustments.  You may have to start from scratch.  And that's not a bad thing.  It might even be the best thing for you.  Take a look at your plan and reassess it before you do.  Because you don't want to do more than you need to.

Now ask yourself, what were you doing before you started reading this?  Just in case you have a selective memory, I'll help you.  Prior to reading this, you were probably ready to throw in the towel.  Shoot, it might be sitting on a pile of towels!  You also might have been ready to pack up your tent and go home.  Don't you do it!  Not while Coach Eric J. Watts is here!  Remember what I've told and taught you.  "As long as you're still here, you've got a shot!"  Newsflash!  If you're reading this?  You're. Still. Here.

And...

You Cold Busted! 

What are you going to do about it?

I need you to know something.  You are not alone (this is the part where you start singing Michael's song).  I'd love to help you figure it out!  As a Certified Coach, Teacher, and Speaker with the John Maxwell Team, this is what I do.  It's my life's calling.  This is no mere work for me.  It's my passion and purpose.  I want you to experience transformational coaching and inspiring teaching.  I am fully committed to adding value to your life and helping you reach your full potential.  Contact me and let's talk about how I can speak life into your existence!

It's your life.  In 2015, it's your time.  You've got one life to live.  

What are you going to do about it?

At The Movies Pt. 4

Dear Readers, how are you?  Are you ready?  This week's movie is a favorite of many.  Even if you're not a sports fan.  Uh oh.  Did I just tip my hand?  It's ok.  Let's get after it.  Have you ever had a bad attitude?  Of course you haven't.  Not you.  No.  Never.  Seriously.  We all have.  How about this.  Have you ever been around anyone with a bad attitude?  No.  Fun.  And finally, have you ever been led by anyone with a bad attitude?  Yep.  That one really takes the cake.  It might be the worstest (Hey, I make up words) of all!  What if I told you that the attitude of a leader will infiltrate, infect, affect, and thereby causing bad effects for the followers of the leader?  That would be wack!  Well, in this week's movie, Remember the Titans, that's exactly what happened.

C'mon.  Y'all know the scene.  The Titans are taking a break from or have just finished one of Head Coach Herman Boone's grueling and grinding football practices.  Just in case you've never seen the movie, take a gander at the scene in the clip below.

Wow. How's that for a powerful scene? Did it speak to you? Of course it did. Even if it was for the one thousandth time. "Attitude reflects leadership, Captain." Now ain't that the truth?  Gerry and Julius covered things so well, I don't have much else to add.  I know.  I know.  You're sad and disappointed.  It's ok.  I've still got something for you!  Ready?  Here we go.

1.   Check Your Attitude.  Uh oh.  You didn't expect me to come out blasting huh.  You know me by now.  This is what I do from time to time.  Anyway, it's your attitude that needs to be checked.  You're concerned about the speck of dust in someone else's eye while there's a beam in yours.  I've got a word for you.  Stop it.  Mind your business.  Check yourself.  Get yourself together.  Fix your stank attitude.  Then maybe someone wouldn't mind being led by you.  Tough words?  Not hardly.  In the days, weeks, and months to come, you'll get tougher words from me.  This is tame and light.  One last time.  Check Your Attitude.

2.   It Starts With You.  You're the leader, right?  That's why you're reading this.  You're a leader or you desire to lead.  The right way.  Just like Julius said to Bertier.  Correct though he may be, young Julius should take his own advice.  He may not have been a captain, but he was definitely a leader on that team.  Y'all know how I feel about titles and getting stuck on formal authority.  Yes, there's a place for both as it pertains to structure and the like in organizations.  I get it.  Some organizations put too much focus and emphasis on both.  Often, the real leaders, the ones who folk are really following?  They have no titles.  No formal authority.  They're names aren't listed in the managerial hierarchy.  But they're the ones everyone runs to.  They are you.  How do I know you so well?  Because I was you.  I was you during my time in Corporate America.  With and without a formal title.  I know both sides.  It's how I know that It Starts With You.  

You really wanna be a leader who's respected?  A leader who folk will follow even when you don't have any authority?  A leader who's loved?  Yes, I said it.  Loved.  A leader who gets it?  You really wanna be that kind of a leader?  If you do, it's easy.  I'm going to tell you how.  Ready?  Here we go.  If that's the kind of leader you desire to be, you must die.  Uh oh.  I just said something and 89.2% of you just ran out the door.  

For the rest of you, here's the deal.  You've got to die to the junk, funk, mess, and stuff you've been carrying that never belonged to you and was never a part of you.  You've got to die to bad, old habits and ways.  Bad, old habits and ways of doing things and thinking.  Sound hard?  It is.  Sound like it will be very well worth it?  It will be.  As long as you sell out to it.  Completely.  How on earth do you expect anyone else to buy-in if you don't buy-in?  The real and authentic you is lurking around in there somewhere.  Find her.  Dust her off.  Look to have her redeemed.

When you're ready.  I'm talking really, really, really ready.  That's when your new attitude (Yes, I just went all 1984 Patti LaBelle on you.) will be reflected throughout every level of your team, organization, and--watch this--your life.  That's when you'll be ready to Start A Fire.      

Join me on my webinar, Start A Fire on Nov. 10, 2014, I'll teach you: 

- How to start your fire

- Purpose is fuel

- The importance of quick hits

You’ll also receive:

- SPECIAL ACCESS to the EXCLUSIVE RECORDING! 
- LIFE-ENRICHING, insider leadership tips!
- EXCLUSIVE PRICING for January 2015 training: Fit In ‘15!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW!  

SPACE IS LIMITED AND GOING FAST!

REGISTER NOW!  

BECAUSE IT'S NEVER TOO EARLY OR TOO LATE TO START YOUR FIRE!

  

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT WHY THE MOST POWERFUL WEAPON ON EARTH IS THE HUMAN SOUL ON FIRE! 

   

Webinar: Start A Fire!

Registration: http://startafire14.eventbrite.com

Date(s): Nov 10, 17, 24, & Dec. 1

Time: 7.00 PM—8.30 PM EST

                 

At the Movies Pt. 1

Good people.  My dear readers.  How are you?!  Doing well and feelin' fine?  Yes.  No.  Kind of?  Well, my aim today is to make you feel better, feel good, think better, think good, know better and know good.  Shoot, y'all might even want to do some good by the time I'm through!  Note: You should already be doing good all over the place.  Y'all know that.  Right?  Right.  Y'all also know that I love movies too.  Don't you?  Yep.  I thought so.  They're entertaining and fun.  They're thrilling.  Encouraging and uplifting.  Even sad.  They're also inspiring and have great messages.  Sometimes, God will use a movie or movie line to speak to you.  Can I get an amen?!  Thank you to my blonde-haired sista in the back!  Testify, my sista!  Oh, I didn't mean right now.  No, really.  Will you...  Yes.  I promise you can testify later.  I know.  It's tough to hold it in when you think about all that He's done for you.  I need you to try though.  Just for now.  Ok?  Cool.  Where were we, y'all?  Ahhh, that's right.  At the Movies.  Today's post will be a bit different than what you've read in the past.  I'm going to take a few of my favorite movie lines and expound on them and tell you what they mean to me.  I pray that they'll be a source of encouragement for you.

Note: Because so many folk love movies and movie quotes, and they're easy to digest and fun teaching tools, this is going to be a fun and awesome series! Let's get it, y'all!

First up..."What we do in life echoes in eternity." - Maximus Decimus Meridius

Y'all know this one.  No?  Who's got the answer?  You.  Yes, ma'am.  I'm talking to you.  That's right!  The movie we're looking for is Gladiator.  I could do an entire series about the leadership lessons from that movie, let alone examining this one line.  In fact...  I'll say this much.  Keep the eyes of your inboxes peeled!  What?  You didn't know your inbox could see?  Yep.  Sure can.  Mmm hmm.  Now, back to Maximus.  He's right, ya know.  Do you ever really, truly consider what you do?  Or do you just do anything?  Taking no regard for the impact of what you do.  Y'all know that what we do has lasting impacts on things, right?  On people.  I won't beat this one into the ground.  Just know a few things:

1. Do good.  When you do good or do good things, you will receive good/good things in return.  Doing good is it's own reward.  Don't believe me?  Try it.  Then come back and tell me how you felt after you did your good things.  No, I didn't say come and tell me the person or folk didn't say thank you.  Because if that's what you were in it for, you were doing good for all the wrong reasons.  And don't hit me with, "Well, folk should say thank you."  We know that.  Sometimes, they don't.  Sometimes, we don't.  Get over it.  All you can do is be your best.  You say thank you.  There are far more folk who appreciate it and will acknowledge it than those who don't and won't.

2. Be good.  At something.  You've got a skill.  A talent.  A gift.  Find out what those things are.  Explore.  Search.  Remember, you're a search engine.  And behind the scenes of you are algorithms.  Therefore, when you search yourself for your skills, talents, and gifts, there's going to be a return or returns on what's in you, what's put in you, and what you've put and allowed to enter into you.  So, be sure that only the right and good things enter into you.  Be vigilant about guarding your eyes, ears, and mind.  I know.   You can't keep thoughts from entering your mind, but here's what you can do.  Defenestrate them!  Evict them!  Choose not to allow them to linger in your mind or overpower you.

Also, and most importantly, be good to people.  Do I have to tell you why?  Good.  But y'all know I'm still going to give you something to chew on anyway.  

God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right.  That's Matthew 5.10

Give and it will be given to you.  That's Luke 6.38.

A man reaps what he sows.  That's Galatians 6.7.

And know this.  You should be good to people just because.  So, don't think I'm saying that you should be good to people, because you expect to have good done unto you.  Nope.  Because if you know like I know, it doesn't quite happen like that all the time.  And that's all the more reason that we need to be good to each other.  Yep.  I know.  Deep.  Uh huh.  I just said something there.

3. Do more good.  Why?  Why not?  Stevie, tell 'em.

If love and peace you treasure...Oh, sorry y'all.  You caught me jammin'!

I'm back now.  I thought I was going to be able to wrap this up in just a few posts (and I may), but I feel a series comin' on.  A series, comin' on.  If you can name the song I just referenced (no, not the Stevie song), you win the grand prize!  Huh?  What is it?  It's reading the forthcoming posts, maaaan!  But...there may be an opportunity to win things in the future.  What kinds of things?  Good question.
Things like:

- Exclusive invites to groundbreaking webinars about leadership!  

- Special access to the exclusive recordings!

- Life-enriching, insider leadership tips and more!

What's that?  Another question?  Oh, a comment.  Sure.  Go ahead.  "YEEEEESSS!  Eric, I knew I liked you, bud!  That is some waaaaaaaayyy cool stuff!  And who doesn't like waaaaaaaayyy cool stuff?!  Eric, you are allllllriiiight!"  Well, thank ya kindly.

Be sure to join me next week when we talk about endurance!

In the meantime, visit my website and keep tuning in for more upcoming details about...

- Wisdom-filled webinars!
- Down-to-earth trainings!
- Real world coaching!

All with immediately applicable and usable takeaways!  And of course, waaaaaaaayyy cool stuff!!!

I appreciate you!  Thanks for reading!