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On our final day in Costa Rica, my new friend Lalo de la Carpio quoted this from Howard Thurman…..

Don’t ask yourself what the world needs – ask yourself what makes you come alive, and then go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.

What makes you come alive?

(image by daliborlev)

For the past two weeks you have been reading about a bad break I got. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth.

70 years ago on July 4th, 1939, Lou Gehrig said those words during his famous farewell speech at Yankee Stadium.

He had just begun a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a dibilitating disease that today bears his name and remains without a cure.

10 years ago this month, my college baseball coach, James Keller, died from ALS after fighting the disease for more than 6 years. When I first met Coach Keller as a freshman in 1995, the effects of the disease were hardly noticeable. As the disease progressed, the paralysis increased, but so did our coach’s courage and bravery. When ALS forced him off the field, he coached us from his wheelchair in our dugout.

Later in 1999, ALS claimed the life of another baseball legend, when Hall of Fame pitcher, Catfish Hunter, died from the disease at 53.

Today, it was great to see Major League Baseball partner with The ALS Association, ALS TDI, Augie’s Quest (the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s ALS research initiative), and Project A.L.S. to raise awareness of ALS through the 4-ALS Awareness campaign.

The words from Gehrig’s speech were read today during the 7th inning stretch at all of the MLB ballparks.

You can read more about it on the 4-ALS Awareness blog.

One thing I’m learning as I grow older is this…..

My mornings set the tone for my days.

My days almost always turn out better when I start them with…..

• Engaging conversations with friends over coffee.
• Reading an encouraging book.
• Browsing blogs of people I learn from.
• Diving into scripture.
• Quiet.
• Running.

instead of….

• A stressful conference call.
• A difficult work task.
• Reading the bad news of current events.
• Looking at my long ‘to do’ list.

What do your mornings look like?  How do you start your days?

(image by tavopp)

here’s a quick look at what i’m reading…….

• just wrapped up Groundswell today // a must read for anyone interested in “winning in a world transformed by social technologies

• working my way through The Divine Conspiracy // really learning from this Dallas Willard masterpiece. In this book, Willard thoroughly explores the true nature of the teachings of Jesus

• about half way through The Dip // great so far, like all of Seth Godin’s stuff

• John Maxwell’s latest, Put Your Dream to the Test, is on my Kindle iPhone app // still haven’t met a John Maxwell (@johncmaxwell) book that I didn’t like

What books are on your nightstand / Kindle / iPhone?

(image by darkmatter)

Back Home

My son is on Spring Break, so we’ve been spending some time in Austin.

Austin is such a great city to come home to.  Sometimes I wonder why I ever moved away.

Austin is just cool. And weird. Great music. Tons of restaurants. Lakes. Outdoor activities. The University of Texas. Sports. Technology.

Not My Office

I’m working from Mozart’s Coffee Roasters on Lake Austin this morning.  It’s slightly better than my cube at the office. ;-)  Cool, crisp, clear morning right on the shore of Lake Austin.  Water is smooth like glass.  Rolling hills. Ducks swimming.  Fish jumping.

I spend half of my time at the office and half of my time working from home, but I try to mix in some working time away from the office and my home as often as I can.  I love wireless internet and the flexibility that it brings.  Sometimes we just need to change up our environment, to get a different view, a new perspective.

How about you?  Where is “home” for you?  Where do you like to work when you need to get away from the office?