New York, New York...(and Josh Hamilton)

I don't know how many of you watched the All-Star game last week, but there was something for every sports fan. Every year, fans select their favorites from all of the teams. 64 players are chosen (32 from the American League, & 32 from the National League). And each year, the game is held at a different park than the previous year. Since there are now 30 teams, and one game a year, you can do the math. When it comes to your area, it is a rare thing indeed.

This year, the game was held at New York's Yankee Stadium. Yankee Stadium was built in 1923 to showcase the Yankees premier slugger at the time, Babe Ruth. This year, is the 86th and last season for Yankee Stadium. (They are building "New Yankee Stadium" as I write this, across the street from the original ballpark.)

The night before the All Star game, there is an annual event known as the Home Run Derby. 8 players are chosen from the aforementioned 64, and they have one goal: To hit as many home runs as they can. This year, Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers put on a show for the ages...(right click link below to open in new window)

All-Star Home Run Derby 2008

Now the reason this is in my blog in the first place is not to showcase the athleticism of Josh Hamilton. It is to recognize his accomplishments. Yes, he's been blessed with many physical gifts that enable him to make a living as a professional athlete.

But Josh Hamilton's biggest accomplishment happened off the field. Between 2002 and 2005, he was addicted to drugs. He abused his body. He lost his will to live. He was suspended by MLB for testing positive and eventually released. He was completely out of baseball for the 2004 and 2005 seasons.

So to come back from all that, to end up being the #1 story at baseball's grandest theater, you couldn't write a story any better.

And my two cents on this? NEVER give up. It may seem like things can't get any worse, (and sometimes get even worse) but ALWAYS get back up. And push forward. We were created for greatness, not failure. Like Babe Ruth. Like Josh Hamilton. We are no different. We were created to succeed, to hit "home runs" of our own...and to win.

Thought for the week (July 7th)

"If you were on a plane going the speed of sound and walked from the back of the plane to the front, would you be walking faster than the speed of sound?"



Discuss.

Are you a "failure"?

GOOD! So am I...many times over.

And I'm excited about that, because I learned long ago that you learn more from your failures than from your successes. Reggie Jackson struck out more than ANYONE else who ever played in Major League Baseball. 2597 times. That's a lot of failure. But he also hit 563 home runs and is in the Hall of Fame because he was WILLING to fail that much.

So you need to ask yourself TWO very important questions:

1) Are you willing to fail? (If "yes" continue to question #2)

2) How much?

Wow. Some people never think of it like that, but its true: the biggest successes in life aren't the people who never failed...the biggest successes are the people that fail over and over but refuse to give up.

But some people want to play it "safe". They are happy punching the clock everyday at the same time, going to luch at the same time, and going home at the same time.

(Rinse and repeat daily for 40 years.)

But that wasn't me. I knew...from the time I was about eight years old, that what I really wanted to do was to help people. And now finally, (I turn 42 this month) I do it every day.

So what about you?

Do you KNOW...I mean really, really KNOW that YOU are BETTER than the life you currently live? Even though others may step on your dreams, do you still keep pushing forward? Are you always telling yourself "I know that I was meant for something, I just haven't found it yet..."

If so, I'd like to hear from you. Tell me how you failed, how you were knocked down in life, but got right back up. I'd like to share some things with you that may help you succeed more often.

I'm here. Its what I do.

(Below, I've posted a video of famous "failures". Of course THEY knew that they weren't failures, and kept moving forward until...SUCCESS!)

Who I Am Makes a Difference....

This video is very powerful. Never forget that YOU make a difference, and are important to the people around you.


And don't forget to let those around you know how much of a difference they make in your life as well. It WILL make a difference, I promise. Try it and see. I would love to hear your stories, as I am collecting them for a blog I will be posting later in the year...Call me @(408) 497-3560 or send me an email (jlbun@juno.com).