Advice to My Kid by Stacey Alcorn

Hi Max!

Loved this Facebook Post by Stacey Alcorn, a friend of mine and bestselling author. She has a precious daughter, Oshyn and I love the advice she gives. 

Love you. This would be a longer post, but you and I are getting ready to play cars and trucks on your clubhouse floor! =0) 

Blessings, 

Max's Dad (Michael)

Words of Wisdom I Wish I'd Written...

Hi Max!

My oh my, you have grown. Looking at your baby pictures and looking at you now... it just amazes me at how time flies. You are such a "big boy" now with potty training, your language, your color and shape recognition, and your coordination. I was reminded of a poem by Rudyard Kipling that I really want to share with you: 

If by Rudyard Kipling

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

But make allowance for their doubting too:

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,

Or being hated don't give way to hating,

And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream---and not make dreams your master;

If you can think---and not make thoughts your aim,

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

And treat those two impostors just the same:.

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,

And stoop and build'em up with worn-out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings,

And never breathe a word about your loss:

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with Kings---nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,

If all men count with you, but none too much:

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,

Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,

And---which is more---you'll be a Man, my son!

This poem will make more and more sense as you grow up and you should dedicate yourself to reading it once per year forever. I love you and am lovin' every minute of it with you. 

Blessings, 

Max's Dad (Michael)

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!

Hi Max!

I was so proud of you yesterday! You scored your first goal ever in soccer! Your first competitive score! Unfortunately, you didn't get to see it as you were tripped up and fell hard on your knee. While you cried tears of pain, I teared up with joy. You even scored it with your left foot! You have come a long, long, long way in four weeks. From not wanting to even engage and saying, " I don't want to..." to now, when you are the "SuperSub" you are ready to go back into the game! So proud of you! 

Speaking of being so proud of you, have to relate a story from a few days before that - it makes me smile and will make you smile down the road. I was out of town speaking - which is an every week occurrence now. I got a call from Mommy, or at least I thought it was Mommy. It was actually YOU! I answer, "Hello." You say something but I couldn't understand it. Mommy says, "Max has something to tell you." You said something and I still struggled to hear you. Finally, I heard you say, "I pottied and pooped all by myself." I was so excited that 1) I could actually understand what you were saying and 2) you were so happy that you wanted to call me to tell me the big news. I said, "I am SO PROUD OF YOU!" 

Here is where the story gets good. I guess you were playing in your room and then went to the bathroom, took your pants down, and pottied and pooped - by yourself for the first time. Then you ran to the kitchen where Mommy was to tell her - with your pants still around your ankles. =0) Haha. Mommy asked you, "What did you do?" You said, "I pottied and pooped by myself" with a big smile on your face. You were so happy. Then you asked Mommy, "Do you think Daddy would be so proud of me?" Awwww! And Mommy being the good person she is said, "Well, we should call him!" It was great that I said what I said! I AM SO PROUD OF YOU!

You are growing up so fast - and yet I am so happy that I have been there so much to be a part of it. So blessed to have a career that allows me time to be your Daddy. 

Congrats on your first goal - and another goal - your first potty and poop on your own. =0)

Blessings, 

Max's Dad (Michael)

P.S. Pictures coming soon!

September 2011 in Pictorial...

Hi Max!

You get a haircut - you love your spiky hair. :)

Man oh man, you love cars and trucks, trains and planes. :) You also love Lightning McQueen and Mickey Mouse (Mickey has just overtaking Lightining McQueen as your favorite). Wait until you see the photos of your clubhouse! :)

Aww, :) You and cousin Rylee sleeping peacefully. You wouldn't believe that 10 minutes earlier it was utter and noisy chaos. :) Or maybe you would...

Policeman puts you on your motorcycle. Hopefully last time you will be on a motorcycle. :) You loved turning on the lights and sounding the siren.

Another high-adventure month for you. You also flew to Orlando with us to give you 17 flights before the age of 3! We will have a photo album of the Disney trip soon. We'll share it here at Max & Me of course.

Blessings,

Max's Dad (Michael)

Happy 4th Message to my Friends...

Hi Max!

A message I wrote to my Friends on Facebook today and I want you to hear it. Here's to you always be changing, improving, and freeing yourself from the current normal!

"NOW is the time to declare YOUR independence from the bad habits & thoughts that prison you. NOW, you declare YOUR independence from distractions, inactivity, toxic people, & unstructured time. Quit taxing your soul by doing these things you hate or these things that make you play small! Rise Up! Sign YOUR Declaration of Independence! FREE yourself from the chains of self-limiting beliefs and behaviors! Be FREE! +m2"

Blessings,

Max's Dad (Michael)

Note I Wrote... Happy 4th and It's Half-time...

Hi Max!

As you know, I love my Fanpage at www.Facebook.com/SevenLevels. It's not that I love my Fanpage as such, but love the people I get to "hang out" with there. The conversations inspire me daily. So when I wrote this note for the 4th of July weekend, I got a great response. Better than anticipated. It was off-the-cuff, from-the-heart, and unedited. But passion and conviction will always overcome editing and grammatically-correct sentences. Thought I'd share what you're old dad wrote. :)

Here it is:

Hi!

Just wanted to wish you and your family a wonderful Holiday weekend! Hope the 4th of July Weekend is filled with festivites, fun, and family for you. Safe travels as well.

Blessings,

Michael

P.S. This time of year reminds me of my coaching days. "What is the least important score in sports?" I would say in the locker room. "Half-time," my team would respond. So true, nobody checks the half-time score in the paper the next morning. No, they look at the final score. They look to see who won or lost. They don't give awards, recognition, or trophies for half-time scores. There's never been a champion crowned at half-time.

We've been down 21-13 and we've been up 37-7 at half-time and my first words are the same. I've seen big leads lost and setbacks become comebacks. No matter how the first half of your year has gone - good, average, or bad... it is half-time. Now is the time to FINISH STRONG! Which is fine and well... finish strong is a great campaign slogan, rallying cry, and short movie at Simple Truths (http://www.finishstrongmovie.com/), but what does it mean to "finish strong?" The way to finish strong is execution.

Do you know why sports teams have plays and a playbook? Someone somewhere along the way figured out that with plays and a playbook a less-talented team could beat a more-talented team. That if you had a game plan and executed it well, you could beat those who didn't. Same is true in business as you know. You know what to do. Say it to yourself, "I know what to do." Because you do. You know what you need to do on a daily business to be healthier, to be more productive, and to earn more income. You do. The only difference between sitting in the seat you are now and sitting in the seat you want is one word - EXECUTION.

Execute the game plan. Instead of knowing you need to pick up the phone, pick up the phone. Instead of knowing you need to meet with people, go out and do it. Face-to-face, belly-to-belly, and in-person is how business gets done. Perhaps electronic communication has taken you off course the first half. That's okay. It happens. Now, get back on course, do what you know you know to do.

Execute to Finish Strong. It's Half-time and you've got a second half to win.

Lou Holtz said, "How you respond to the challenge in the second half will determine what you become after the game... whether you are a winner or loser."

Here's to wishing you the best second half of the year you've ever had. +m2"

Max, hope you enjoyed that. Don't know if I'll ever coach you - hope I get to one day - but this is a look back to those days. :)

Blessings,

Max's Dad (Michael)

P.S. While I was writing this, you came downstairs and gave me a hug. Awesome. Love you. :)

Stop and smell the...

Hi Max!

You are so adorable! I have to just say that as your language and articulation gets bigger and better you are just so fun to be around! :)

Tonight, mom called us to dinner. As we were heading up the stairs, you took a few seconds to stop and smell the two fragrant candles that are on the landing of the stairs. You made sure not to touch them with your hands because we had just washed them. You ever so gently edged up to one, took a big sniff, and enjoyed the moment. You then slid sideways to take in the other one. It reminded me of watching a wine connoisseur take in the entire experience of the wine. And then in a blink, we worked our way up the rest of the stairs.

I was glad I was there for that moment.

I was glad you reminded me of why I was there.

I need to take time to stop and smell the roses... and the candles. We all do.

Thank you again... for educating me and teaching me on a daily basis.

With Love and To Your Success,

Max's Dad (Michael)

Bath Time! So glad that you love the water!

(see his little horns :)
Hi Max!

Well, in the last week, we've had 70-degree weather, 30-degree weather, snow, sleet, rain, cloudiness, and sunshine. It truly is Kansas weather. Springtime is coming.

John Maxwell is doing a videoblog in which he does a video explaining a word. Today, out of the thousands submitted, he picked mine. I sent in 10 words (as requested by the Maxwell Company) and they picked "Selflessness". Many feel that is appropriate for me. Selflessness is a maturity, a self-assured person who gives without thought of reciprocity. You're so comfortable with yourself that you can totally concentrate on the other person and their needs. I love that. Here's the video --> http://johnmaxwellteam.com/selflessness/. Hope you like it. By the way, you may ask if you are named after John Maxwell and the truth is... not really, but it certainly helped cement your name. Adds a lot of power, leadership and credibility to your name. Max is such a wonderful, strong name.

Also, you may have some new subscribers and followers. :) Rene Rodriguez mentioned www.LittleMaher.com at an event with 200 people today.

With Love and To Your Success,

Max's Dad (Michael)

you... You... YoU... YOU!

Hi Max!

This is an actual letter I wrote to a friend today. This friend has let the media get in her head. This friend is worried about the world's economy so much that it has affected her personal economy. She's knocked down and not knowing where to turn to next. She's not suicidal, but just down and out. With her permission, I am compelled to share this with you today.

"Dear friend,

Today, I want you to think about something. I can not change your life, only you can change your life... but perhaps I can change the way you look at your life. Right now, you are just feeling like you - lower case you. you are seeing the negative, you are mired in misery, and you are thinking only about yourself. your thoughts are on survival, your motivation is desperation, and your results are minimal at best. Shake it off. I've got the cure to your ills and it's easy - and it won't cost you a dime. Help someone else. Get your thoughts off yourself and help another. Then do it again. Then do it again. Help one person today. Help them across the street. Help them smile. Help them by connecting them to an influencer. Help them by introducing them to a friend. Don't reach out for a hand out. Reach your hand out to help. I promise it will help you. That's the beauty of the Generosity Generation and helping. You can't help another without helping yourself! Trust me on this. Take a moment to think of someone you could help (and that is anyone). Think of how you could help them. Then do it. Do it now. Because, you see, this is what you were meant to be. This is your Y.

Your why is what motivates You. In fact, once you discover your Y, you go from you to You. You are strong, secure, steady, and steadfast. You are loyal to yourself. You can make decisions easily and quickly because You know what makes You tick and what makes You... You. What is YOUR why? Write down these questions: Why did I choose my profession? Then write down, "What is important about _____ ?" and then ask yourself, "What is important about ______?" Give yourself some really strong alone time to find out what makes You tick. How do you want to be remembered when you die? What is your "life's slogan"? What will your epitaph be? What 12 words will go on your tombstone? A great coach can help you with this. Once You have established your Y, You begin to see the world differently. You begin to ask why not You. YoU. (o = zero = not).

So YoU? Since YoU know your Y, you see that anything that aligns with your Y should be yours. Why not YoU to get that promotion? Why not YoU to get that new subdivision? Why not YoU to get that award? Why not YoU to be successful? Why not YoU to get that girl? YoU start to see life as a world full of opportunities rather than a world full of obstacles. YoU start saying Why not me and it starts to come out like this, WHY NOT ME?!! YoU DESERVE SUCCESS. YoU DESERVE RESULTS, REWARDS, AWARDS, HAPPINESS, HOPE, BEAUTY, TALENT, INTELLIGENCE, LOVE... Why not YoU? Seriously. After continuously seeing that the fruits of your labor should come to YoU and DO come to YoU, YoU become YOU.

YOU is where the light shines so brightly that everyone is attracted to it. YOU is this beacon of beauty, this lighthouse of love that gives and gives and gives so much value that it could never be re-paid. And yet when you might have cared, might have wanted to take, might have wanted to keep score, or might have wanted to see the reciprocation, YOU doesn't care. YOU just continues to give. The light shines brighter, the love comes easier, more are attracted to YOU, YOU are attracted to YOU, YOU don't have time for pettiness, drama, or gossip. YOU have time for brilliance, excellence, ideas, and implementation. YOU have time for learning, failing, and evaluating. YOU think. YOU work. YOU help. YOU give. YOU love. YOU live.

YOU realize that YOU were born for a reason (you were born a winner, you beat millions of others to become YOU). YOU were born to serve the world and drowning in self-sabotage, participating in self-pity, gabbing the gossip, or dragging others into drama does not serve the world. Giving, loving, and LIVING your life to its fullest and most beautiful serves the world. Helping others, bringing value to others, and being a friend serves the world. Shining your light as bright as possible by filling your mind with brilliance, your heart with love, and your life with positive people serves the world. YOU is who I know. YOU is who I see. YOU is inside ready to burst out. When is now the time for YOU? NOW is the time for YOU.

you, You, YoU, YOU. How can I help YOU?

To Your Success,

Michael"

Hope you enjoyed this note.

To YOUR Success,

Max's Dad (Michael)

Wa-ter

Hi Max!

Was telling this story about you today.

This morning, you & I were hanging out. You go, "wa-ter." (You say water pretty clearly). I said, "Okay, are you ready for a big boy cup?" You nodded. I grabbed a little cup. I said, "Okay, I'm just going to give you a little bit. Are you sure you're ready for a big boy cup?" You said, "Yes, wa-ter." After putting a little water in the cup, I reached down to hand it to you. You reached up with both hands and took the cup very delicately. This was a big moment. Your first drink from a "big-boy" cup. You started to lift the cup to your lips. Then you promptly dumped it out all over the hardwood floor. You looked down and said, "Wa-ter."

Baby steps.

:)

To Your Success,

Max's Dad (Michael)

I dedicate this song to my son...

Hi Max!

Just had to tell you about something that happened on Facebook today. To the left is a picture of some friends and clients of ours - Jeff, Jenny, and little Josh Sopha. Jeff and Jenny love Josh like your mommy and I love you. I express this through this blog and Jeff has expressed his love through a song - a talent I wish I had. I really expected - knowing Jeff's rock and roll background - to be thumpin' and loud - instead I got a ballad to his baby boy. This song truly what happened to your daddy as well as Jeff. Like in the Biblical verse of the last post - A Father's Treasure, my love for you and my feelings for you have made all the other formerly important "things" in my life to get put in their proper place. It's a matter of perspective and my perspective has firmly placed my love and focus on you and taken the edge off the other "battles" of the day. The other day was a day, like many, when I had negotiated several offers, discussed selling with some troubled sellers, and calmed down an anxious buyer. Previously, I would have carried that stress for some time, but that day I went upstairs and there you were, happy to see your daddy and stretching your arms up to me for me to hold you. PRECIOUS. PRICELESS. AWESOME! All other issues - gone. :)

So I dedicate "The Little Things" to you tonight. http://bit.ly/LittleThingsSongByJeffSopha. Enjoy.

To Your Success,

Max's Dad (Michael)

P.S. This is why you will be taking piano and guitar classes! =0) Love you. +m2

First of a Lifetime of Photos for Max Maher