How do we change?

Change starts with gratitude.

Be grateful for what you have now. That’s the only way you’ll learn to be grateful for what you’ll have then. I bought my 7 year old son a bike. The wheel was slightly loose. He called and said - Dad can you fix the wheels? They’re too loose. - he had never said thank you. Thank God for the loose wheeled bike. The broke bike. The banged up bike. Be grateful for what you get because the giver may want to give more. Change starts with gratitude.

Change also starts with attitude.

I travel a lot for work and sometimes I forget how good I have it. My job is to talk about sports on TV. It’s the best job in the world. I travel 4 months out of the year and spend the other 8 working from home or speaking and writing. The 4 months are busy but it’s what I love doing. What many people love doing; except I get paid for it! I need to be reminded of the joy of my job and change my attitude towards work. When I do that, the rest is easy.

Change starts with perspective.

When I’m in studio, it’s usually me and a handful of people in a room. 3 maybe 10 max. But it’s being broadcast to millions. People don’t believe me when I say this but I rarely remember that I’m on TV. I usually think I’m just talking to my friends. I am reminded, however, of my reach often. I was walking through the airport and ran into Charles Barkley. He had a hat on and I didn’t recognize him as I was trying to find the end of a long security line. I feel a tap on a shoulder from a taller man wearing a white baseball cap. “Keep on doing your thing,” he remarked. I didn’t see his face but I recognized his voice. It was Charles Barkley. The man I had just spent time watching and learning from the just two days prior.

Change starts with community.

I was at a low place and had forgotten the joy of my job. So, while on a trip to Austin, I decided to link up with a friend. Zach is full of joy. He’s kind, smart, hard-working and doesn’t take himself too seriously. That’s probably what I like about him the most. From the moment he picked me up from the airport, my whole demeanor changed. I was learning from him how to have more fun and to laugh at myself more. We stopped for a burger and started talking life. He was reminiscing on a fun segment that I did and reminded me that THAT’S what he loves watching the most. Not the millionth argument of which quarterback is in the top 5. He continued to say to me how his favorite person to watch on TV was a guy who didn’t take himself too seriously. We watched a 8 minute long video of him talking about his observations about women from San Antonio. It was hilarious. “See,” Zach began, “That’s joy. That’s what it’s all about. This guy does not care what people think and he’s having fun. I’d love to hang with him.” Little did I know, I would be meeting him at the airport just 2.5 days later. And he would be complimenting me on my work. If it wasn’t for my friend Zach, I would have never realized the joy that is my job. Change starts with community.

Change starts with appreciation.

I’m a father of 4 kids. I love them a lot but I don’t often value my time with them. Here’s what I mean: I spend so much time thinking about the things I don’t have: more bedrooms, more opportunities, more exposure, more time - that I forget about the things I do have: A great job, a beautiful wife, 4 amazing kids, an awesome house, good friends, a lot of wealth, good coworkers, loving parents… a great brother, awesome sisters, great relationships, a great church home, first class flights with my job, status on American, a few cars, great mentors, amazing mentees, great leaders. I could go on, but often times I don’t. Many of us don’t. So we’re gonna do it now. Consider pulling out a pen, or your phone like I did, and start writing down the things the things that you appreciate. It could be about your neighborhood, or your neighbors. The weatherman or the weather. If we’re gonna change our situation, it starts with changing our minds about the things in our lives. It starts with learning to appreciate the little things. Because those little things, like change, starts with knowledge.

‍