Team Eagle’s New Vision for 2012
Fall 2011 was when we started the team, and we have learned a bunch since then. One of the most important lessons I have learned recently is the need to focus. This is a particular challenge for me and Team Eagle because I started out by explaining that we are all about teaching youth ten areas of excellence. Ten areas, though, are hard to focus on.
For 2012 we will be taking a different approach: The most important lesson of Team Eagle is the need for vision, innovation, and personal excellence. Everything else builds on this desire to do better.
This year Team Eagle’s mission is to train others to dream and achieve big goals.
The more you and I can envision where we want to be in 1, 5, and 10 years, the more likely we will achieve success in all the other areas of life.
Throughout this year we will be sharing tips, examples, ideas, inspiration, and direction when it comes to setting goals and getting goals accomplished.
My wife and I have recently begun a new goal setting program that is for me a breath of fresh air and a much more focused challenge. We’ll be giving updates on our own journey as well as sharing insights from the journey of others.
With all of this being said, we will still be covering many of the other 9 topics that we have laid out before. This spring we will focus our class on Career and Business, or “Working in the Strengths Zone.” However, we are looking to make this about Career and Business goals. We will be considering the great opportunities for our lives and begin making real-to-life plans that will enable us to work in an area we will love.
In march we start our next semester, so be on the look out for information. If you want to know more about the curriculum we will be using go to 48days.com for an idea. I look forward to seeing you there! My goal is to make this bigger and better for all of us this year!
More Zombies…for Kids!
So, you know how I mentioned that we could be like zombies when watching our media without engaging our brain? An interesting topic came up between Nikki and I as we talked about the latest fashionable doll toy: zombies.
We had to ask, why?
These dolls make no sense: they are dead things (most of the time the boys like dead things), they are extremely immodest (sorry, but that is just creepy and sad), and I have no idea what age range would actually play with these things. Seriously, which parent gifts a zombie doll? (Santa?)
Where did the who idea come from? Media. You think about the recent movies, books (Twilight comes to mind…vampires being so closely related to zombies…:), and games (Zombies Vs. Plants?) and you get to see how media created a product.
Essentially: zombies in the media create zombies in our living room who want zombies for Christmas. Any questions?
My question is this: How is this zombie culture also creating room for our youth to become a generation of excellence?
Choose an Eagle’s Perspective
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:28–31 ESV
This passage is one of our foundational scriptures to help guide us in our pursuit of excellence. When I think of an eagle, I think of the ability to see far into the distance, to fly above life’s storms, and freedom. Isaiah taught that those who hope in and wait upon the LORD their God would be able to see life in a new perspective, and they would “mount up with wings as eagles.” Without guidance from God, we don’t have an eternal perspective–spiritual vision that enables us to see years out even past our own lives. Without trusting in Jesus, we do not have the ability to see God’s perspective when it comes to our own life storms. And if we do not hope in God and allow that hope turn into action-oriented faith, then we will miss out on the freedom we have in Jesus.
Will you choose the eagle’s perspective?
Aiming at Excellence!
Brian Tracy says that goals are vital to life’s success. He has pointed out a study done on Harvard students to prove it. 3% had written goals, 13% had some idea of their goals, and the others must have been aiming at nothing with their lives. As Zig Ziglar says, “If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time!” The 13% were earning double, and the 3% were earning triple the amount those who had no goals were earning.
What are you aiming at when it comes to personal excellence?
Philippians 4:8-9. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. (ESV)
Kickoff Day – Why Richard Paul Evans Wrote “5 Lessons” and How to Use Our Blog for Homeschooling.
Hey TEAM!
I am looking forward to connect with you, a community of youth and adults interested in reaching for excellence in the lives God has given to us. This is the first official post for our first fall semester focusing on Personal Finance. If you are a family interested in using this blog as a help for a semester in personal finance (coupled with Career/Business next semester), then have your student follow along with the blog, interact through comments, and complete some or all the assignments depending on age and ability. Even if you are not a homeschooling family, or a youth for that matter, please see this blog as an alternative education resource. TEAM EAGLE is about revolutionizing how and what we learn; the subjects we tackle are key to leading a life of excellence. Also, don’t forget to check out the challenges page; I encourage everyone to pick a challenge and take it head on!
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As we mentioned in our first post: the first Personal Finance book we will review is Richard Paul Evan’s The Five Lessons a Millionaire Taught Me: About Life and Wealth.
Financial Aptitude Day 1 - Why Mr. Evans wrote his book:
How could it be that we have “so little freedom” when it comes to financial matters?
Go back a reread Proverbs 22:7.
Trombone Player Wanted by Marcus Buckingham