“I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve.”

                                                                                                                                                                      Albert Schweitzer

On September 13, 1973, I took my first class in the martial art of Tae Kwon Do.

I clearly remember this day as it was my brother Danny’s 5^th birthday, and I had a begged my mom to let me miss his party to attend my first class. 

Like many boys my age, I was inspired by the television show, Kung Fu.  In it, David Carradine played the Shaolin monk Kwai Chang Caine, who was roaming the Western United States.  The consummate reluctant hero, he would enter a small town and be harassed and eventually attacked by a band of bag guys.  He would then “take care of them” using his Kung Fu.  As a 10-year-old, it was the coolest thing I had...

“Master the basics.  Then practice them everyday without fail.  Small disciplines repeated with consistency everyday lead to great achievements gained slowly over time.”

                                                                                                         - John C. Maxwell

Last week I shared the concept of how in martial arts, a Black Belt is nothing more than a “Master of the Basics”. 

When we bring the principle of “practicing the basics” into our everyday lives, we can find that it serves us greatly in creating mastery and success in everything we do.

I discussed in detail how the practice of my first three of six basic life-leadership skills can lead not to only a positive impact on our lives, but also on the lives of those we serve and lead. 

Specifically, these skills are……………

• Giving our bodies adequate rest
• Eating foods of high nutritional value
• Physically moving or bodies each day

You can read that blog by clicking here: Are You...

Success is neither magical nor mysterious.  Success is the natural consequence of consistently applying the basic fundamentals.”

                                                                                          - Jim Rohn

I believe consistently and diligently practicing the basics is the key to success and mastery in any endeavor. 

In the Martial Arts, instructors consistently share with their students the following......

Black Belt is nothing more than being a master of the basics.

 From early in my martial arts career, I have a vivid memory of my first martial arts instructor talking about the importance of practicing the basics.  He equated the basics as the foundation for all other advanced skills. 

“Build a house on sand (poor basics),” he would say, “and it will crumble at the first sign of harsh weather.  However, build it on cement (strong foundational basics) and it can withstand almost anything.”

In his book, Raise Your Game, author and ...

"The more disciplined I become, the freer I am to have the life I want.  If I conduct myself in a disciplined and organized way, I have much more free time."                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   – Steve Chandler

Discipline and Freedom.  At first glance, these concepts seem like diametrically opposed ways of being.  

When one thinks of discipline, images of austere rules, rigid schedules and harsh punishment might come to mind.  Conversely, the idea of freedom can evoke images of complete lack of responsibility and the ability to do as one pleases without any consequences imposed by authority.  

From the time we are children to well into our advanced stages of adulthood, there is an internal yea...

"Move the body and the mind and spirit will follow.  Most of us have it the other way around.  I know I did for years.  I thought I always had to have it right in my mind and spirit before I DO anything adventurous .... like go for a long run, or create a successful career ... But the body can go first.  Like Emerson says, 'do the thing and you shall have the power'."                                

                                                                                                         - Steve Chandler

“I just don't feel like it.” 

“I'm too tired right now.” 

“I will do it when I am more inspired.”

How many times in your life have you not taken action because of thoughts about your "feelings" like the ones above? 

Please don't misunderstand me.  As a student of Spiritual Psychology, I understand the importance of getting in touch with our feelings; to truly embrace the emotions such as anger, resentment and fear that we have repressed from our past th...

“You will never change your life until you change something you do daily. That means developing great habits. Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments, and that bridge must be crossed every day. Over time that daily crossing becomes a habit. And ultimately, people do not decide their future; they decide their habits and their habits decide their future.”

                                                                                                         - John Maxwell

We are all creatures of habit. 

When we take a close look at our lives, it is usually easy to see how many of the activities we embark upon each day are nothing more than a continuation of the things we did in the days, weeks and months before. 

Sometimes these habits are positive and lead us to greater growth and expansion. 

However, many times, these habits are behaviors that have continued for large portions of our lives and do not serve us, other than providing us the feeling ...

“Success is not final.  Failure is not fatal.  It is the courage to continue that counts.”

                                                                                  - Winston Churchill

In my over four and a half decades of teaching and training in the martial arts, I have witnessed some incredible examples of students overcoming obstacles in their training and in their lives.  Injuries and illness, personal relationship challenges and financial difficulties are just a few of the difficulties I have seen my students be confronted with and overcome. 

While these instances are generally not experiences, we would intentionally ask for in our lives, they invariably are gifts as they help us to become better, stronger and more expanded than when we began our journey to confront them. 

One of my favorite stories to illustrate this comes from a student I had the honor of teaching for many years named Nabeel.

Nabeel came to our martial arts school when he was around 8 y...

“Step with care and great tact, remember that Life’s a Great Balancing Act.”

                                                                                          - Dr. Seuss

Several years ago, I observed one of the most creative ways of making an impactful point by a professional speaker that I have ever witnessed. 

I was attending a National Speakers Association meeting in Denver and the keynote speaker was a man with a unique background.  He had started as a busker or street performer on the streets of San Francisco.  After years of entertaining audiences in the “City by the Bay”, he had now transformed into an outstanding professional speaker. 

Combining his powerful message with the street antics of juggling various items from rubber balls to machetes, all while riding a 6’ foot unicycle, audience members were mesmerized by his dynamic presentation.

While demonstrating his many physical feats as he delivered his inspiring message was quite impressive, what ...

“Enthusiasm is one of the most powerful engines of success.  When you do a thing, do it with all your might.  Put your whole soul into it.  Stamp it with your own personality.  Be active, be energetic and faithful and you will accomplish your object.  Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.”

                                                                                                - Ralph Waldo Emerson

A couple of years ago, I attended a concert with my son, Jason to see one of his favorite musical artists, David Gray. 

While not being a particularly big follower of Gray before the event, I left the concert as a huge fan.  Part of that came certainly because of the quality of his music, the stage and lighting, the beautiful event venue and being able to share an experience like this with my son. 

While all of those elements contributed to my enjoyment of the experience, what impacted me above all else was one other important thing – the level of enthusiasm...

“Solvitur Ambulando ………………..It is solved by walking.”

                                                                                        - Saint Augustine

June 1, 2022, marks my eigth anniversary of completing one of the most remarkable experiences of my life, when I walked the Camino de Santiago. 

Popularized in the United States by the movie, The Way, starring Martin Sheen, the Camino, or the Way of St. James is a 500-mile trek across northern Spain which begins in western France, ascends up into the Pyrenees mountains and then descends into Spain for the duration of the journey.

For most who embark upon this journey, it is life changing.  It certainly was for me.

Since my Camino, I have reflected often on the many lessons I learned during my 29-day trek, which had me walking 17-18 miles per day, carrying all of my belongings on my back and experiencing a number of memorable and life-defining experiences along my solo walk across Spain. 

It is ofte...