Yesterday I played in a soccer tournament in Jacksonville. The team I was invited to join was composed of only 11 players, and 7 of those started each game. 3 of my associates and I from Melbourne, FL drove up for the weekend to play. Without our knowing, our teammates had never played an organizaed game before, they were newbies. Despite this we won our first game 4-3, myself scoring 2 and assisting 1, and my friend scoring 2 and assisting 2 as well. Still, it was a hard faught game, and was not easy at all. It felt like carrying people through quicksand. Our next game was against a team composed of 7 starters and 13 SUBS, this team played hard and mean. They were faster, taller, stronger, brutal. One of our inexperienced players ended up in the hospital. Despite the 4 of us keeping our composure, we can only do so much. They were literally clobering us illegally, but the ref looked the other way. We went onto to get last place of the tournmanet with our team only scoring 6 goals in total, 3 coming from Dan and myself each. We could not have done anything else, between the inexperienced players and the bad ref’s, the odds were against us. Despite the dissapointments I could look back and say I did my best, I kept a good leveled head, lead the team, and even took being subbed off to allow others to play gracefully. Sometimes life will give you a bad hand, but if you do your best, lead with dignity, keep a level head, and follow your promise through. You can say that you fullfilled your promise as a man. Plus: When you have the chance to go on a trip with your boys. You go on a trip with your boys. 💪

Recently everytime go out I try to start a conversation with someone. No matter where it leads, whether I can lead them to the landscaping business or talk to them about God, I always take the initiative to start a conversation and plant a seed. This morning I went out for coffee, and like always brought one jw.org card and one card for the landscaping business. I found a bulletin board and put both cards on it. Someone then saw me and asked ‘what both cards were for?’ I then had a conversation and we said goodbye, who knows if that will change anything in the long run? But at least I started a conversation and piqued his interest. This does teach me one thing though: No matter where you go, or when you go, you never know when is going to be the chance to have a conversation that will change your or THEIR life. Don’t be that introvert, successful people and leaders take that initiave and start those conversations. You’re never off the clock…

Tell everyone about yourself, where your from. your goals, future aspirations, anything that'll turn you into a better man and the most competitive human being. Your first step is to go to the classroom and watch the welcome video.