Category: illustrations

  • Four Fresh Winds

    There’s nothing quite as invigorating as a deep breath of fresh air.  As a kid I was highly allergic to cats. When I visited someone’s home who had cats my eyes would itch immediately. Then the wheezing would begin. The final step was a very labored, forced filling of my lungs, which always resulted in…

  • Playing Up

    In sports, playing up is a core skill to improving your game.  I remember as a student at Moody Bible Institute, watching scrub players play pick-up basketball with visiting NBA players. The scrub played better basketball because of the NBA players. They made shots they didn’t normally make. They played better defense. They saw the…

  • Grip change

    As a high school golf coach sometimes you have to help your students make major changes to their golf game in order for them to improve.  Young, gifted, long-hitting golfers typically have a lot natural talent but have habitual bad technique. Maybe they are so flexible and have such amazing hand-eye coordination from baseball that…

  • Hold the reigns tightly

    I’ll never forget the first time I rode a horse.  Growing up in the city meant that horses just weren’t part of my life. I remember seeing horses as a kid at parades. At the county fair in the horse barns. Or occasionally at big football game when the police brought in horses for crowd control. And…

  • You change your passion for glory

    So many times, it happens too fast  You change your passion for glory  Don’t lose your grip on the dreams of the past  You must fight just to keep them alive  Eye of the Tiger – by Frankie Sullivan and Jim Peterik, 1982 The other day I was jogging when this song came on. I’ve probably…

  • Be Intent

    The last seven weeks I’ve had laser focus on one thing: Be ready for September 1st.  Buy office equipment. Set-up a home office. Lease part-time office space. Create financial systems. Set-up a business infrastructure. Write business plans. Write marketing plans. Lay the groundwork to build a customer base. Write proposals. Sign contracts. Get consulting. And…

  • Leave the Ignoble Behind

    It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it…

  • What if there is no box?

    I think outside the box. I’m told that a lot. And I guess it’s true. I mean, if people tell me it’s true at some point it is true. Adam McLane is a man who thinks outside of the box. When I hear that I think outside of the box I’m always thinking… What if…

  • Leaders Take You Where You Would Otherwise Not Go Alone

    This is the story of Corporal Sidney Manning of Butler County, Alabama July 28th, 1918 – Near Breuvannes, France When his platoon commander and platoon sergeant had both become casualties soon after the beginning of an assault on strongly fortified heights overlooking the Ourcq River, Cpl. Manning took command of his platoon, which was near the…

  • When the Panic Button Goes Off

    When chaos arrives on the scene panic changes everything. Every person has a freak out mode. Rumors spin out of control. People are jumping ship. Like Jonah, there’s a moment when the sailors cast lots to figure out who angered God. Fingers are pointed. Cuss words are muttered under their breathe. Biting words aren’t far…