John S. Gordon - Business and Personal Coach

"You have the greatness and the power.  I just help you turn on the switch."

MARVELOUS MONDAYS

 

February 11, 2013 - Issue 212    

 

"Deal Me In"-By Stan The Man

 

  
Dear ,

 

Welcome to Issue 212.  If you did not receive a previous issue, you may use the archive link below to view it now.  The mission of "Marvelous Mondays" is to offer an inspirational thought, a practical exercise, some humor, or a simple tip to jump-start your week and to enhance your life, business, outlook or relationships. 

 

Please feel free to forward "Marvelous Mondays" to others who will enjoy it.

 

KUUMBA 

In our last issue (click here) we discussed "Kuumba" an East African principle of doing what you can do to contribute your community being a better place. 

 

STAN MUSIAL AND THE BACK STORY

Baseball legend Stan Musial passed away a few weeks ago.  They will remember his 7 batting titles, his World Series performances, and his repeatedly selection to represent the St. Louis Cardinals in the All Star game. Our story takes place in 1955. Integration was very slowly occurring in baseball and not without its problems. Some veteran players were openly hostile and most of the other veterans kept at a safe distance, not wanting to get involved or to mix with the black players.

 

Stan Musial, a Caucasian, enters the clubhouse prior to the1955 All Star game, surveys the players, and sees the mighty foursome of Willie Mays, Ernie Banks, Frank Robinson, and Hank Aaron, sitting by themselves playing cards, far removed from the rest. What is Stan going to do? He is not an activist by nature, so berating or scolding the white players won't happen. But Stan is known as a good and decent man. What would happen if he took the risk of going over and asking to play with the foursome? Might they turn him down? Stan quietly goes over to the group, pulls up a chair and declares "deal me in". Stan wasn't just asking to join in a card game but he was asking to join their table, to join them as a brother. 

EXERCISE

The recurrent theme of Marvelous Mondays and part of my coaching practice is to challenge and encourage you to stretch out of comfort zones, to explore, to grow, and to take risks.

 

This week I invite you to experience "deal me in". It might be in a social setting, a business setting, a street setting, a church or synagogue setting or neighborhood setting. It may be someone whose appearance, clothing, hair style or status is totally different from yours. In fact the person might even be offensive to you. Maybe it's a person whose value system or belief system is totally opposed to yours. Maybe it's someone who is negative, who has physical or other disabilities, or is socially awkward. I invite you to experience "deal me in" and in some way acknowledge their presence and their humanity. It may only be a gesture, a smile, or it could be a conversation. You can make a difference. You can do your Kuumba.  Go for it!

 

I really look forward to hearing from you.

 

 

 

Stan Musial  

JOHN'S BIO
John has owned several businesses and is an attorney who has practiced in the business and estate  areas.  In addition, he coaches business owners, executives, entrepreneurs, professionals, speech makers and presenters.  He also coaches persons who are determined to accelerate their careers and leadership skills or who are considering a career move or retirement.  John uses coaching as a tool in his leadership and business results based consulting.  He is also a life coach.

                   **John is currently accepting a few new coaching clients.**

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