John S. Gordon - Business and Personal Coach

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

Welcome to Issue 293.  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.  Did you miss a previous issue?   Click here to view an Archive. 

Today we celebrate Labor Day, a national holiday that was established 1894 in recognition of the American workers' achievements and contributions.   

We often rely on our hands in our work and in other aspects of our lives. Our hands are a very complex part of our body with approximately 27 bones, 17 mobile joints, and 40 muscles. Hands have the ability to grasp, hold, receive, give, provide comfort, heal, take an oath, and play an instrument. They can be the eyes to the blind and the ears to the deaf. They are able to feel texture, dimension, and weight. Our hands are used to write poetry, dance, create art, and a multitude of other possibilities, such as to plant crops and bring new things to life.

BOYS GROW...IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE

That's the headlines in the August 27, 2014 Kansas City Star.  Click here to read the article. BoysGrow is a not for profit youth empowerment program that teaches inner-city teenage boys farming and entrepreneurship. It's right here in Kansas City, the Heart of America. There is no other program like it in the country.

HANDS ON

Hands are the essential tool that the boys use for digging, planting, watering, pruning, and harvesting the crops. They sell the produce to local restaurants and also use their produce in their bottled sauces-salsa, ketchup, barbeque and hot avocado. There is something powerful about getting your hands into the soil and working with nature to make things grow. While other teenage boys may spend their summers playing video games or watching TV in their air-conditioned homes or hanging out at the pool, the boys at Boys Grow are getting their hands into the dirt and working hard, even in the sweltering August sun. And they get a paycheck!

Under the tutelage of the Boys Grow staff and the adult volunteers, these boys are also learning life skills such as punctuality, public speaking, website, product design, teamwork and entrepreneurship.

 This week I invite you to do the following exercises:

1. Try something creative and exciting you can do with your hands, perhaps playing an instrument, juggling, or gardening.
2. On this Labor Day express to someone your gratitude for your hands and their hands.
3. Would you like to volunteer your hands and talents to a new organization that teaches teenage boys how to succeed by hard work using their hands?

If you would like more information about how you can put your hands to work for Boys Grow or make donations, visit www.boysgrow.com 

"I think a lot of kids today are pretty soft and 

think getting a callous on your hand means something went wrong. But what it means is something went right."

 -John Shuford Gordon Jr., 

Founder and Executive Director of BoysGrow

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