Attitude Training, Part 4

So how does a tall, skinny kid who was an emotional misfit turn his life around and begin to live his dreams?

Coach McCord asked me that question. He had a long history as a teacher who helped to fashion the character and feed the knowledge of seventh and eighth grade kids in the small Northeast Texas town where I grew up.

I ran into 'Coach' and his wife recently at a local restaurant in my hometown (she happened to be my first grade teacher and back then, I had this amazing crush on her; glad 'Coach' never knew my secret).

'Coach' was the first person to ever acknowledge my value as a human being.

During the eighth grade year, after one of the very grueling football practices of the very hot and sweltering days of early September, 'Coach' had us doing sprints due to some of the bad behavior of 2-3 players on the team.

After nearly dying in the Texas heat and sultry humidity, I sat in the locker room attempting to catch my breath. Being the 14 year old 'genius' that I was, I boldly declared to my other team mates that, 'I don't think its fair that all of us are punished because of the stupidity of just a few.'

Little did I realize, 'Coach' was standing right behind me. He quickly said, 'Murphy, I need to see you in my office.' Ah carramba! I was in trouble.

'Coach' kept it short and to the point. He simply said, 'Murphy, if you don't like the way I run this team, then quit! Now, get out of my sight.'

Well, I wasn't about to quit. So I decided to adjust my attitude.

At the end of the season, when 'Coach' was handing out the awards for certain accomplishments, 'Coach' said, 'I have one award for one player who is without doubt the most improved player on this team this season. I'm giving this award to Michael Murphy.'

I had never been acknowledged for any accomplishment up until that moment in my life. I didn't know what incredible pride and deep emotion I would feel when given that kind of public recognition and encouragement.

When I saw 'Coach' eating lunch recently, he gave me the biggest hug and let know again how proud he was of me now as a 48 year old man. He had bought and read my books.

I could see in his eyes a question that he had a question but didn't want to ask. So, discerning what he was asking with his eyes, I rightfully finished what needed to be said that day. I told him that he played a large part in everything that I've accomplished in my life. Those words garnered another hug from 'Coach' and his wife.

My friend, never underestimate the power of encouragement. I believe that the thinking when I was a child was predominantly, 'Don't brag on them too much; you'll give them a big head and ruin them'. Well, nothing could have been further from reality.

I recently read about the most expensive car on the market today. It is likely the Bugatti Veyron. At 1,001 horsepower it has a zero-to-60 time of under three seconds. It sells for around $1.2 million. (To give you some perspective, you could buy 6 Lamborghini Gallardos for the same amount of money.)

They produce so few of them, their waiting list can be quite long and it could be 3-5 years for those who can afford one.

One of the biggest secrets in producing such a fast car is the turbo-charged nature of the engine. Simply put, there are four turbo chargers pushing enough air which in turn forces massive amounts of fuel into the engine.

Likewise, you can propel a tall, skinny, low self- esteem teenager into being, doing and having things 'he' would have never imagined for his life with encouraging and empowering words (breath or air). Think about it.

Your belief system is established by the words you've allowed to set up resident in your subconscious mind. Your belief system will produce the actions you take in your life. Your actions will always determine your results and what you get out of life.

So, how do you turn a tall, skinny, low self- esteemed teenager into an author of some renown and a soul that positively affects tens of thousands of people around the world?

You do it by feeding him the right words. By breathing the right air into him. You do it by him choosing to focus on the right thoughts. You do it by setting verbal milestones of empowerment and encouragement in his life.

Like the little engine that could which I mentioned in my last article, he repeats what he believes about himself until what he believes becomes his reality.

Consider doing a couple of things.

First, consider encouraging someone today. It may or may not be a teenager. But do it for someone and do it today.

Second, if you have no one to force or even give 'turbo charged' encouragement to you, then choose to empower yourself. The greatest voice that will determine your future in your life is your own.

Start saying, thinking and meditating on things that will empower you. Start training your subconscious mind to deliver success into your reality of life.

When you want to sky rocket your success and go at life with an unstoppable passion, go to http://www.powerfirmations.com and allow yoursef to be amazed.