The rediscovery of my inner geek

Are you a manager of people or a manager of things? Do you live in the subjective grey area of people or the objective black and white world of things? One of my strengths is my ability to be able to coach individuals to help maximize their individual potential which facilitates team success. Conversely, I have always considered the management of things as one of my weaknesses. In my current career role, I have been pushed out of my confort zone and I have become more of a manager of things rather than of people. I have to say...I am actually enjoying the new toys at my disposal in the ever changing world of new media. I am actually getting geeked out by SEO, CMS, SMS, and HTML. Acronyms are actually kind of cool. I still love the design...but I am realizing the potential of the development. Zuckerberg better watch out...

PS; I say rediscovery because anybody who played Dungeons & Dragons as a kid, has a good amount of geekdom already in place.

This is no average joe....

Ok...first of all...I have to admit...I have been horrible in getting out some new blogs. I really enjoy writing so I don't know why I haven't bared my soul recently but...oh well...here I am again (I will come back to this point).

Recently, I noticed the new Starbucks' TV ads. I did not like them. I am being too kind when I say that. I found them downright embarrassing and condescending. I am paraphrasing but they started talking about the fact that Starbucks is more about just the coffee and that it is some type of life ritual and shared experience we all need in our day to day lives. I YELLED AT THE TV...IT'S JUST COFFEE. Well...

At the beginning of this post, I started talking about why I haven't created anything new on this wall recently. I woke up early this morning and I was bound and determined to start typing something again...I didn't have a topic in mind but I was going to write something. I looked at some of my more recent (but still old) posts and I realized I promised one on friends. I literally stared at the computer for ten minutes trying to find a creative burst. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. So I decided to go get a cup of coffee. I got one and sat back down and whether it was the ethereal effect of the coffee aroma or the quick jolt of caffeine...I was suddenly stimulated to write. It wasn't my best work but I got something out...

Not sure but I think this coffee thing may be here to stay. Maybe Starbucks is on to something with this "more than coffee" thing or maybe it is just the caffeine. Either way...I am hooked.

Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall...

It's strange to think about. We go through life and at different times, ages and stages we make some really good friends. We consider them our best friends. They help us get through the sad times and help shape us as to who be become later in life. When we lose them, we think it is the end of the world. As you age, you start to think about all of those friends in your life and you realize that there are a handful that you keep going back to. Cherish and celebrate all of your friends. They all are needed to help you get through and the handful that stick...they are priceless.

ZZZZZZ

Recently...I started using Breathe Rights. They rock. I sleep better and longer...feel well rested in the morning.

Nights are much better...

I think I will start using "Live Rights"

That'll get me through the days.

Feist got it right

1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8...

Sorry...don't mean to be rude...just counting my blessings. Done it lately? You should.

No Kryptonite Allowed

Do you have a Fortress of Solitude?

Two explanations and I am out...

A fortress is a building designed to be defended, which means it was very hard for enemies to get inside.

Solitude is a state of being alone without being lonely and can lead to self-awareness.

Got one? No? Get one...now.

Yes? Good for you. Always remember where it is.

Run it up the Alley

This year, I coached both of my sons in flag football. It was my third year (2 as head coach) coaching my oldest son Jack and my first year coaching Charlie. It was a tremendous rush for me to be able to coach both boys and I definitely have the coaching bug. This particular blog is going to focus a little more on my experience with Jack's team.

One thing to realize with kids this age is that they still can be easily tricked or manipulated by misdirection (reverses, multiple pitches, etc). We won the championship this year (8-1-1) and we did it with very little misdirection. Footnote; The first year with Jack, I was an assistant coach and the head coach taught me a lot about coaching at this level. I also learned what not to do from him. He had this one play that was based off of total deception and trickery and had nothing to do with teaching the kids anything. I swore I would never go down that route if I were head coach. I started the year off by teaching the kids two basic plays...the fullback dive and the pitch/sweep. The kids worked at those two plays and by the end of the season had it down beautifully.

Take this to another level all together with the Wisconsin Badgers this year. They had one of their most prolific offensive years in their history due to executing the basics in the running game. They were successful in large part to a fantastic offensive line. There was one play in particular that stood out for me against Purdue. It was a picture perfect power sweep where the LT (Gabe Carimi), the LG (John Moffitt) and the C (Peter Konz) executed it beautifully. Konz and Carimi pulled while Moffitt made sure no back side pursuit got by. Carimi sealed the edge (actually blocked two guys), Konz kicked outside and there was a beautiful alley for the back to explode through. Touchdown...6 points.

These two examples at extremely different levels of football all point back to the man that has his own Broadway play about him right now. Vincent Thomas Lombardi and the power sweep. Lombardi's power sweep is iconic to football because it all came down to execution. Everyone knew it was coming but no one could stop it. He typically ran it with both guards (Thurston and Kramer) pulling, the tackle (either Skoronski or Gregg) sealing off the inside and the lead back clearing out anything that is left. Like most Lombardi plays, the sweep relied on a minimum of deception but a maximum of effort and execution.

The fullback dive and the sweep/pitch exemplify the simplicity, beauty and uniqueness of football. It really is the only true team sport where it takes all 11 guys doing the right thing on each play for that play to be successful. Whether it's flag football, major college football or pro football...it all comes down to the same thing...execution.

Jack's team was successful...the Wisconsin Badgers were successful...and of course the Green Bay Packers were successful because of it.

One more thing...I am certainly not drawing any comparisons to myself and Lombardi. The only two connection points are the pronounced gap between our front top teeth and the Italian heritage.