From Average to Awesome

Jim Smith, Jr.

Description

Ever wish you had your own personal career and life coach, giving you advice and cheering you on? Now you do!

Jim Smith Jr.'s energy and enthusiasm are contagious. Catch them—and enjoy your own journey From Average to Awesome.

Start reading at any point because, like success, getting to awesome is not a linear step-by-step process. Dozens of uplifting, true-life stories tell how others have catapulted themselves from mediocrity to stellar achievement—despite long odds. Each chapter ends with a self-quiz to help you reflect upon your own situation, rate your level of awesomeness, and move forward.

Sujets

• Economics
• Business

Informations

• Publié par: Association for Talent Development
• Date de parution: 01 mai 2008
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781607282419
• Langue: English

Extrait

© 2008 the American Society for Training & Development and Jim Smith Jr.All rights reserved. Printing in the United States of America.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, please go to www.copyright.com , or write Copyright Clearance Center (CCC), 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923(telephone: [phone], fax: [phone]).

ASTD Press is an internationally renowned source of insightful and practical information on workplace learning and performance topics, including training basics, evaluation and return on investment, instructional systems development, e-learning, leadership, and career development.

Ordering information for print edition: Books published by ASTD Press can be purchased by visiting ASTD's website at store.astd.org or by calling 800.628.2783 or 703.683.8100.

Poems quoted on pp. 24 and 88 are taken from Janet Cheatham Bell, Famous Black Quotations and Some Not So Famous (Chicago: Sabayt Publications, 1986).

Library of Congress Control Number: 2007941492(print edition only)

Print edition ISBN: 978-1-56286-534-X
PDF e-book edition ISBN: 978-1-60728-241-9
2009-1

This book is dedicated to my mother, R. Nanci Smith. Mom, you gave me life, my spirit, my drive, and my passion for helping others to become awesome. I owe you everything. Thank you for your love, your lessons, and for your never-ending support. I can always count on you! I'm so proud to be your son! You are indeed one of a kind!
CONTENTS Foreword vii Acknowledgments ix Introduction: From Grade School, to the School of Hard Knocks, to Awesome! 1 1 Build Character by Persevering 9 2 Savor Your Meaningful Moments in Life 21 3 Remember Your Titans 33 4 Don't Go to Pity Parties 43 5 Expect an Awesome Day! 53 6 Fire Hard Kid! 63 7 Make Time, Not Excuses, for Your Loved Ones 73 8 Do Your Homework, Then Ace Your Test 81 9 Stop Taking Life So Seriously 93 10 Become the CEO of You 101 11 Aim High 111 12 Don't Expect Everyone to Applaud Your Awesome Efforts 121 13 Be Yourself—Everyone Else Is Taken 133 14 Play the Hand You're Dealt 141 15 Live with a Forgiving Spirit 153 16 Remember That the Cure for Your Pain Is in Your Pain 165 17 Look for Opportunities to Elevate Others 175 18 Fearlessly Unleash Your Greatness and Creativity 187 19 Listen to the Music, Then Produce Awesome Results 197 20 Don't Put Your Goals on Layaway 203 21 Reexamine How You See the World and Yourself 213 22 Eliminate the Aspects of Your Life That Keep You from Being Awesome 223 23 Enjoy Today as Another Adventure in Your Awesome Journey! 233 24 Take Ownership of All That Happens—It's All an Awesome Challenge 241 25 Do Something Different This Time—Get Out of Your Comfort Zone! 251 About the Author 259
FOREWORD
I t has been said that experience is the best teacher. I think that's partially true. I believe that we can avoid a lot of pain, failure, and disappointments in life by learning from the positive and negative experiences of others to maximize our own growth and development in life. This book has been written to empower you to transform your life from average to awesome.
As you read and absorb each page, you will discover mind-expanding thoughts and ideas that will inspire you to soar to new heights. Exposure to the key turning points in everyday people's lives will give you knowledge and insights that will enable you to avoid some of the dangerous, treacherous waters of life and get in touch with your own purpose and mission.
Jim will be the first to say that this life-skills book was written in a style and language that everybody could relate to and identify with. The messages and concepts are common sense but not common practice. I believe that most people today are seeking and searching for meaning and significance, more so than ever before. Each chapter of this book will provide you with the necessary keys to unlock the door of your unlimited potential to live a life of contribution, passion, and purpose.
You owe it to yourself to take some quiet time from the noise and distractions of the world and get into this book. I guarantee you, based upon my own experience after reading it, you will never be the same again. It will change your life! Jim, you've done yourself proud!
—Les Brown
World-renowned motivational speaker, best-selling author, radio and television personality, and Mrs. Mamie Brown's baby boy
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I'm blessed to have so many incredible people in my life and in my corner. I refer to them as my Anchors and my Titans. Because of their unfailing strength, support, guidance, patience, love, motivation, leadership, and goal and role modeling, I'm able to thrive, come alive, and, yes, survive. They were the keys to my completing this arduous and inspiring project. They provided counsel and "just in time" hugs and encouragement. They also gave me feedback and space to grow, to write, to fly, and to continue my journey from average to awesome. Thank you so much!
My Anchors: Gina, Mom, Rodney, Daecia, Lauren, Jordan, and Ian.
My Titans: I have numerous Titans in my life. If I listed them all, I would probably have to title this book, Jim's Titans rather than From Average to Awesome . Let me take this opportunity to especially acknowledge several of them: "Nana" (Mary Lee Faulks), Aunt Venessa, Aunt Cookie, Aunt Lillian, Aunt Gail, Uncle Reggie, Cousin Carol, my sister-in-law Michelle, my nephews Donovan and Joshua, and my other wonderful family members. In addition: Anthony and Carmen Spann, Carolyn Carter, Kathy Cook, Raimond and Bionda Honig, Yolanda Rocio-Fleming, James and Veronica Gallman, Michael Thompson, Joe Boswell, Nancy Rebecca, Lynn Roman, Catherine Woods, Marilyn Massaro, Aileen Dizon, Leslie Shields, Michael Robinson, Brian and Raenonna Prince, Yvonne Reid-Sissons, Barbara Stern, Patti DeRosa, Mary Ellen Russell, Lisa Nichols, Bill and Lynn Hart, Arvon Jordan, Paul and Danielle Kallmeyer, Sherry Nottingham, John Pace, Kathy Dempsey, Deloris A. Davis, Judy Chapman, Dawn Ridenhour, Annette Stewart, Pauline Shadding, Tony Simmons, Terry Simmons, Roberta Ross, Becky Bottaro, Barry A. Callender, Fayruz Kirtzman and the other members of the Simmons team, Anthony Graham, Bruce Scagel, Kathy Gilbert, Griff and Meena Barger, Barb Kompelein, Sandi Dufault, Keith Baudin, Diane Chew, June Becker, Bobbi Foster, Jane Elliott, Steve and Judy Kane, Sonny and Meryl Elia, Sharon Gerlach, Jeanne Bray, Janae Bower, Loraine Ballard Morrill, Maria Garaitonandia, Trina Crockett, Ceasar and Evelyn Smith, Shelby Moore, Kim Reed, Tonya Murphy, Ron Mitchell, Darin and Cheryl Toliver, Wilma Williams, Della Clark, Pastor Kevin and Kemya Johnson, Jane Moses, Kim Forde, Nancy McGonigle, Kelley Cornish, John Huff, Crystal Reilly, Nancy Appleman-Vassil, Wendy Wolfe, Laura Putnam, Lynette Landing, Shelly Michas, Josh Davies, Suran Casselle, Jim Brown, Renee Russell, Allison Manswell, Mary Ann D'Angelo, and Uneeka Jay. After you read the book, if you would like, you can write your name here__________________________.
I always have room for more Titans in my life.
I also want to give a huge thank you to my friends, colleagues, clients, and supporters who contributed to the Awesome Advice sidebars and quotations that you'll be reading in the book. Along with my Titans, they are Dr. Frank "Tick" Johnson, Adrianne M. Winter, Priscilla Shumway, Bonnie Strand, Assunta "Susie" F. Marino, Roberta Salisbury, Bettina Carey, Kimberly Reynolds, Doug "Waffleman" McCallum, Hannah G. Gomberg, Jey Willis, Joe Sparacino, Kim Schreck, Laura Bruner, Elmer Smith, Lisa Dommer, Laura Hughes, Lisa Marzullo, Barbara Rivera, Lorainne Hicks, Rajean Bifano, Paul F. Hafner, Renne Gallart, Shannon Percy, Sheryl B. Craun, Ann Perington, Dan Kropp, Tina M. Greene, Tracie Johnson, and Les Brown.



Introduction: From Grade School, to the School of Hard Knocks, to Awesome!


Dear James,
It has been a pleasure to teach you and to know you.
Keep your ideas, your sense of responsibility, your willingness to work, and your pleasing personality and life should be good to you.
May you have a life of service and happiness!
—MRS. AUDREY BRODIE, JUNE 23, 1979

T his book project began nearly seven years ago.
I sat on the floor in a familiar position, my back leaning against the numerous authors on the bookshelf, my legs crossed, ankles overlapped. My subconscious pressed the rewind button in my brain and took me on another fascinating trip down memory lane. With my University City High School Class of '79 yearbook nestled comfortably in my lap, I turned each page in slow motion, savoring and inhaling every memory, every photo, and every signature.
Some 55 minutes later, I reached the faculty pages and there she was, beaming—my mentor, every lazy senior's nightmare, the lady who was the gatekeeper for umpteen students' diplomas or summer school plans, Mrs. Audrey Brodie.
The chairperson of the school's National Honor Society and my 12th-grade English teacher, Mrs. Brodie was a treasure. With graying hair, pristine grammar, an Estelle ( Golden Girls ) Getty wardrobe and as absolute as a judge demanding quiet in a noisy courtroom, she was a living institution. If educators ever created a Mount Rushmore for teachers, her face would undoubtedly be featured.
Mrs. Brodie conjugated verbs, assigned oral book reports, and jackhammered English theory into students' heads as if this would be their last chance . . . and sadly, in many cases, it was. During her 40-plus years in the classroom, she even taught former basketball legend Wilt Chamberla