PASSING IT ON

“It’s All About Attitude”

Proverbs 15:18 A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.

Proverbs 15:1 A Soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

The study of great coaches and leaders will sometimes reveal men of immense sharp and acerbic personalities (men such as Bobby Knight , Vince Lombardi, and Richard Nixon ) I have always thought , however , that the coaches or my mentors that made the most impact on me to be ones who were at times more kind and positive.

Once I read an article about John Wooden the great basketball coach of UCLA , the question was  asked  “What is the most important trait for a leader?” His answer was quite surprising. He said “He must be a good listener, Having a kind listening sprit allows one to mentor and instruct far mote thoroughly than if one was to be overly reactive caustic or cruel.”

In Proverbs, the greatest book of wisdom ever written Solomon wrote, “The sweetness of the lips increaseth learning” The instructor needs to remember that the tongue is a little member that can cause a great fire or bring vast encouragement. In the words of the great philosopher Mary Poppins “A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.” We need to be experts at looking for and commending the good.

Oftentimes an instructor can spot an offender committing the most minor of grievance at a distance of 400 yards. He will draw down on him like a bow hunter ready for the immediate kill on the first day of deer season. Equally, if the instructor will have the same amount of attention directed towards those who are doing right, attitudes would without doubt be affected. In short the Golden Rule will help us as we strive remember to treat others the way we would kike to be treated.