Like taking a baseball to the head…

The other day I was fortunate enough to get a phone call informing me that my name had been chosen in a raffle at a local grocery store for an autographed baseball by a home-town hero.  These types of things rarely happen to me. I was excited and thrilled to have been selected even if it was random.

I grabbed two of my kids and made a daddy/kid date out of it with the idea of making it an event. As we arrived to the luxurious high-rise office center, I was impressed by the surroundings and amenities (shining metal through the lens of my simplistic mindset). My kids were drawn to the water fountain in the front lobby. –it’s the little things…

It was a fairly rewarding experience to present myself at the front desk of a major media outlet to receive the prize for which I was selected. I was impressed by the notion that I was selected, or to be dramatic, chosen. …as I pull the sword from the stone.

The idea of being selected or sought out is the focus of this experience and the reaction it elicited. I was honored, I wanted to share the experience with my kids and communicate it out to others. There was also a need to express gratitude for those that contributed to the process.  All great things. How can I apply this principle into my DEFINITION OF GUYCRAFT??

I once had a professor explain to me the power of being a builder and the true impact it has on all parties involved.  He taught that giving a sincere and authentic compliment is like pouring water from a pitcher into another person’s glass. The water represents value or self-worth. Filling their cup(s). We are building them up (focusing on the sincere and authentic part). The magic of this scenario is that as we pour from our pitcher of water (our own self-worth) our water volume within our pitcher is not lessened but instead remains the same or in many cases increase in volume.

Here we go - . If we realize that our self-worth is in no way threatened or lessened as we build and compliment others – we will seek out opportunities to bring light into lives and uplift others.

We don’t need fancy prizes or money to make an impact by choosing to love and appreciate others. By doing simple things like serve, compliment, help, listen and uplift, we can share with others that they are wanted and of worth or importance. A man who builds up and strengthens those around him without fear of diminishing his own self-worth is rich in leadership and wisdom. The outcome will be multiplied as the lifted turn and lift others.