TUNNEY-SIDE-OF-THE-STREET

#85 August 14 2006

Welcome to this week's message from the Tunney-Side-Of-The-Street. You are encouraged to share this with fellow workers, family and friends.

AFTER FURTHER REVIEW - It is always my intention in these Tunney-Sides to invoke a thought, an idea, perhaps even an inspiration that uses the world of sports as a metaphor of how we can make our lives better and more productive in ways to serve others.

As an educator, author, and corporate speaker it is my goal to serve others. That was also my intention for 31 years as an NFL Referee: to serve the game of professional football, its players, coaches, and fans. I may not be on too many fans' Christmas card lists because of a "call" that I made, however, every Sunday (or Monday Night) when I left the playing field (some 500 times), I asked myself, "Self, did you leave the game better today than you found it?".

This was brought home to me the weekend of August 5-6, 2006 as I was privileged to be in attendance at the Pro Football Hall of Fame 2006 induction in Canton, Ohio. Everyone of the six inductees: John Madden, Troy Aikman, Harry Carson, Warren Moon, Rayfield Wright and Sara White (widow of Reggie White) not only mentioned, but emphasized, that their lives in football brought home to them the importance of family, friends, the T*E*A*M and giving back. As you have heard me say or write before, T*E*A*M means Together Everyone Accomplishes More, and as 2005 HOF Steve Young told me, "If you play alone, you'll be alone". Of the 70+ Hall of Famers who attended the 2006 induction ceremony I was privileged to be on the field with about 60 of them. To a man they continue to be grateful and give back to their communities. Indeed, each left the field better than they found it.

Retired players become members of the National Football League Alumni (NFLA), that holds golf tournaments raising money for a program called "Caring for Kids" and for retired players who have financial difficulties (called, "The Dire Need" fund). If you ever get a chance to contribute - as a player, sponsor or friend - to an NFLA charity event, please know you are "giving back" as the players do.

Each of us owes a debt of gratitude to those who "paved-the-way". HOF Rayfield Wright said in his induction speech, he had to take, "the road less traveled"; a road, he said, that was not "paved" but was rocky and rough as he made his way along. However, he is grateful today for having taken it and, indeed, left the road better than he found it. Will you leave whatever you do better than you found it?

Look for my new book
It's the Will, Not the Skill
Principles and philosophies of success

For more information about Jim Tunney, go to www.jimtunney.com

Visit my NEW blog: http://tunney-side-of-the-street.blogspot.com

ARTICLE TAGLINE FOR JIM TUNNEY, Ed.D., CSP, CPAE

Copyright © 2003 Jim Tunney. All rights reserved.
You can visit Jim's website at http://www.jimtunney.com

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