Posts made in August, 2013
Want More Opportunities? Prepare Like a Lifeguard
by David Hungarter Opportunities are funny and unpredictable. Sometimes you see them from a great distance, like a spot on the horizon. Other times, they creep into your life slowly, when you least expect them. And sometimes they pour into your world like a flood. The flood probably sounds like the best scenario, and it is–if you’re prepared. Ironically, preparing for opportunities usually creates them. It’s an investment in yourself and your role as a solution to a need in the world. Lifeguards are a prime example of this. Some people assume lifeguards are lazy. They sit in the sun, put on sunblock, and occasionally blow their whistles when the guys get too overzealous dunking the girls into the pool. This perception couldn’t be further from the truth, however. A lifeguard’s job begins not when the clock is punched at the start of a shift, but in training. Here are three lessons from lifeguards that will help save your career. 1. Lifeguards prepare and practice in anonymity before the big opportunity ever presents itself. They invest in the hero within by studying emergency situations and learning to realistically solve problems. They do this without knowing when, if ever, the opportunity will come to put these acquired skills to the test. 2. While on the job, lifeguards stay in top physical condition and continue practicing their rescue skills. They don’t pass a test and assume their abilities are fully developed for good.They review what they’ve previously learned, and add new information to what they know, and run drills. Then when the situation calls for their help, they confidently spring into action because the needed action has already become second nature to them. 3. Everyone wants to be the life-saving hero, and they can–if they prepare. Whether you want to be a writer, own a business, earn a scholarship, or shed those extra pounds, preparation ensures your role as the hero when the situation calls for one. What will you do today to prepare for and help create your big break? David is a START Alum, participating in his second START experiment. He is both a husband and father and is new to blogging with his website, www.lifeguardtrainingstand.com. You can connect with David on Twitter, @DHungarter, or on Facebook, Dave Hungarter. ...
Read MoreTransformer
He was known as “Fat Ben.” As far back as he can remember, Ben Dempsey was overweight. He remembers the bullying. He remembers the hiding. “I didn’t like being outside, didn’t want to be around other kids. I stayed in my house and played video games. The more you hear you’re not good enough, the more you believe it. I just didn’t think I amounted to much.” As Ben grew up in Atlanta, his father tried to encourage him to get involved in sports and change his diet, but the lack of confidence shut down his efforts. He finally tried out for the wrestling team and earned a spot in the heavyweight class. But his Freshman year in high school, he broke his hip. At 5’5” and 152 pounds, the strain on his body was too great. He was a homebound student for the rest of the school year. By that fall, his weight jumped to nearly 200 pounds. Life was an out-of-control rollercoaster, spiraling ever downward. He dropped out of sports his sophomore year and refused to try again. There was one place where Ben did feel important – in caring for others. His senior year, he earned certification as a nursing assistant, and he went on to pursue healthcare as a profession. As a physical therapist, he again came face-to-face with the reality of his own health. “Folks would ask me ‘why should I take care of myself when you don’t?’ I didn’t have an answer. You just don’t see it until there’s that thing – that one defining moment – when the walls come crashing in.” For Ben, that moment happened in 2009, when he became a follower of Jesus Christ. The more time he spent in scripture, the more he began to understand his worth. In July, he and his wife Elizabeth decided to enjoy a day at Six Flags. “I am a huge Superman fan, and that year they premiered Superman: Ultimate Flight. I was like a little kid – so excited. We waited in line for an hour and a half. And when it was time to ride, I couldn’t get the harness to fasten. It just wouldn’t reach. One of the workers came over to help, but nothing worked.” Humiliated and angry, Ben watched as his wife rode the ride. He even found the manager and told him “you need at least one fat guy ride in this park.” He wanted things to be different. He wanted to feel normal. On the morning of July 22, he woke up with a resolve he’d never felt before. It was time to change. “I wanted to be healthy for my wife and my step-son Chris. But more than anything, I had to be healthy for me. I wanted to live. So that morning, I chose to start.” As an adult, Ben had tried popular diets, but he just wanted to be done with it all. He would lose 30 pounds and gain 50 back. The idea of working to lose weight was overwhelming. But at 360 pounds, suffering from hypertension and depression, he knew he had to do more than simply lose weight. It was time to jump in and live a whole new kind of life. His starting point: confront a serious addiction to soft drinks. “I would drink 8 to 10 sodas a day. I knew the only way to quit was to go cold turkey. I knew that if I couldn’t stop this one problem, I wouldn’t succeed at anything.” That first week, Ben lost 12 pounds. That single modification led to even more changes. With his wife’s help, he changed his diet. Then he started to walk. At first, he couldn’t walk five minutes without gasping for air, but Ben didn’t give up. Five minutes became 30. Thirty minutes became 2 hours. Then Ben decided he was up for a true challenge. “I was determined to do the Peachtree Road Race – the largest 10K in the world. My goal was simple – I wanted to finish it without dying. I...
Read MoreThoughtful Thursday // 8-29-13
Thoughtful Thursday // 8-29-13 Ups and Downs “If there are no ups and downs in your life, it means you are dead.” –Anonymous It’s so easy for us to get down on ourselves when life is fluctuating. Maybe last month you were flying high and dreaming big, and now your dream is being beat down or pushed aside by so many other things. Is something wrong with you? NOPE. Balance is not about finding a static equilibrium…. It’s about rhythm. If you’re experiencing ups and downs, that means you are LIVING! Question: what fluctuations in your recent life can you re-frame and rejoice in today? Note: Today’s #ThoughtfulThursday comes from a project called Consider This Thought. You can see more of these hand-doodled posters at http://considerthisthought.tumblr.com Have a quote you’d like to share with Thoughtful Thursday? Share the quote on social media using the tag #STARTtt “But what IS Thoughtful Thursday?!” you may be asking. Check out the original Thoughtful Thursday post...
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