Gold Medal Sportsmanship: Alicia Sacramone

Alicia Sacramone (United States), originally uploaded by jodfevic.

Good leadership is like good sportsmanship. One of the most important lessons to be learned in victory and defeat is the need to be gracious, win or lose.

Alicia Sacramone's performance on the balance beam in Beijing presented a great test of her sportsmanship and leadership abilities, particularly after the competition ended.

The captain and her teammates on the US Women's Gymnastics team have endured more pressure from the distractions created by international politics than any other team thus far in the Beijing Olympics. With a few exceptions, commentators seem unwilling to acknowledge the impact of these matters on the athletes.

China was honored with the torch. They have succeeded in grabbing the world's attention with spectacular displays. Carrying the torch involves responsibilities as well, including advancing the principles of good sportsmanship.

Sportsmanship is about more than the outcome of the game. It's also about how the game is played, under what conditions, and how coaches and athletes choose to respond. When the emphasis of coaches, athletes, parents, officials, fans or the media is focused on winning at the expense of everything else, there is nothing of value left to be learned when a team does not get the top prize. Nor is there much of lasting value to achievements gained on an uneven playing field.

Good coaches ensure that the right lessons are learned so that athletes can perform better the next time. Others, including the media, play a role in either supporting these learning opportunities or hindering them, not just for the athletes but for all who are observing. In that regard, they're carrying the Olympic torch as well.

Under such scrutiny, athletes who maintain their composure and behave with dignity in spite of a loss, under conditions beyond their control, are to be commended.

For all those involved in influencing youth, the Olympic games, and these circumstances specifically, present teachable moments about good sportsmanship. These lessons translate into other life circumstances. Similar circumstances may be encountered in the workplace and in relationships with others.

In sportsmanship and leadership, Alicia Sacramone gave a gold medal performance.


Note: Alicia's interview with Andrea Joyce following her performance is here. If you use Mozilla and have problems accessing it, try opening it in Internet Explorer.

Clarke's Caventure, Part III: Can Clark Conquer the Cave?

(Editor's note: If you haven't read Parts I and II yet, do that first.)

I was disappointed with myself.

I tried to attend this trip with my son R.J. the past couple of years but the timing never worked out. This year, R.J. is traveling with a college group, but my daughter had jumped at the invitation. Now she was in the cave without me.

"What a drag," I thought, as I sat on the ledge.

One of the teachers who could not fit in the cave began talking with me. I shared how disappointed I was.

"What are ya gonna do? If we can't fit, we can't fit."

She was right. It's not like we could shave off parts of our backs and chests to fit through the crevice. It was true, but still not much help to end my pouting.

The man who had so much advice then took off his outer shirt and tried to get in again. Still no luck.

"I guess that confirms for me that I can't fit," I thought.

The man said he was going to lose more weight, come back next year and try again. He even said he lost 15 lbs from last year and still, he couldn't fit. For a moment I had been thinking about the "losing weight and fitting in" idea, but with that testimony he blew that idea for me.

What's more, I kept looking at Millerman. He has been in the cave several times, but this time he was assigned to remain outside. "He is bigger than me," I thought, "how did he fit in?"

As I sat on the ledge pouting, I looked at Millerman then looked at myself. We had the discussion before the trip. Millerman had said, "You will fit in the cave. If I fit in, you will fit in."

But I couldn't fit in. So now I was looking for some secret clue.

I asked Millerman, who was reclining half asleep on a large bolder, "Millerman, how the heck did you fit in that cave? There is no way I can fit."

"They had to use a lot of grease on me," was his reply.

I should have expected such an answer coming from him. "No, really, how did you fit?" I asked again.

"I don't know. I just did," he replied.

I was really puzzled, and I know the women were as well.

A short time later the other group began exiting the cave. What were they doing? They were coming out from the chasm, not from where we were trying to enter. "Is there another way?" I thought.

As soon as they left, one of the teachers, who couldn't fit in the cave, came over to me and said, "Did you see where they came out of? Let's go see if we can fit through that way."

I wasn't interested at first.

I had already given up.

But as soon as she headed in I was right behind her.

We both dropped down into the chasm and looked around with our headlamps. We couldn't see far, and it would require some tight squeezing, but there was clearly more room as far as our eyes could see.

But which way was the right way? We had no idea. We decided not to chance going the wrong way and getting stuck. It wasn't long after our group started exiting the cave.

And guess how they exited? Up through the chasm.

Our leader, Tom Gardner, popped his head up from the chasm, and yelled for us to come in. As soon as I got through this bigger, yet still tight, passageway into the cave, I began yelling for the others to come in. I told them there was much more room, and soon, those of us who were left behind were all in the cave exploring.

Once you get past the tight squeeze, the cave opens up into a huge room.

There are other tight turns and passages that lead to other rooms, some requiring climbing and descending equipment. This is not an adventure I would recommend for the inexperienced.

The trip down the mountain was much easier than the trip up. We arrived back at our camp sites a little tired but well satisfied with our accomplishment.

It was another evening of networking and sharing—along with a mind teaser: "I need a Psychiatrist." I will tell you who was the last to figure out this mind game because it was me.

Alyssa and I enjoyed hanging with the group util around midnight again. Much wisdom was shared during this trip.

It requires a certain kind of person to be up for the challenges of working in the city schools with children. Many teachers don't have what it takes. It was a pleasure for my daughter and me to meet and network with the fine group of folks that attended this trip. Each one is dedicated to reaching out to our youth and doing their best to provide them with an education. I look forward to working with them in the future.

The next morning we were up early, packed and at the Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake by noon. Alyssa seemed ready to venture through the museum when she started out by sitting in the over-sized Adirondack chair. But after two hours of touring we were tired and ready to go home. No problem. I am a member of the museum and can return multiple times. We have several more trips to the Adirondacks to work with college groups through fall. We plan to visit the museum again.

A shout out to all you Syracuse City School teachers: Keep up the hard work, and sign up for the Adirondack trip next year. Contact Ken Miller for more information.

To those of you who would like to take your group of teens or your corporate group on an Adventure trip, contact me. We have access to numerous types of accommodations and facilities in the Adirondacks and locally.

Alyssa, Renee and I will be providing team building workshops for groups through October.

Later,

Officer Clarke

(Editor's note: Props to Officer Clarke for not giving up! Pics of the trip are here. For more information on Chimney Mountain and Eagle Cave, including a history, detailed maps, directions and labeled pics, explore this site.)

Clarke's Caventure, Part II: The Fit Test

(Editor's Note: If you haven't read Part I, do that first.)

By the time I reached the cave opening, there were already 15 or more people from the first group inside and 10 people from our group ahead of me.

As I climbed up into the mouth of the cave, I noticed that the opening was from left to right. At about 7' high on my left was a 3' opening at the top that came down to my left shoulder, then opened directly in front of me about 5' and narrowed down to about 1' moving 8' to my right. This means one has to duck into the cave, lean one's body against the rock with one's head and torso into the 3' area, and slide one's feet in, which would be in the 5' area.

Entering this way is necessary because the rock slopes down to the right, requiring would-be entrants to lay their bodies against the rock in order to maintain balance.

Note: This is the larger part of the entry into the cave. Climbers traverse about 20' into the cave in this manner, which allows ample time for folks like me to begin contemplating, no dwelling on, their claustrophobic tendencies before they even get to the tight spot.

Prior to navigating this portion of the cave, I was standing on the ledge looking at people from the other group who didn't go in the cave and were waiting for their group outside. There was a man about my age whom I believed to have a slightly smaller chest size than mine.

He said, "I don't think you will be able to fit."

He then went on to say that he figured we were about the same size, and he couldn't fit.

At this point I was trying to determine if he was just more claustrophobic than I was, or if he truly couldn't fit.

While I was contorting my body to conform to the larger opening in the cave, things got worse: Two of the female teachers, who were a little larger than your average person, determined they could not fit and had us move back out of the cave so that they could get out of line.

Once we got back into position and traversed to the tighter section of the cave, the man began to offer more advice.

"Maybe if you take your long sleeve shirt off, it will give you a little more room."

"Could be that if you exhale all of your breath, you may be able to fit through."

As I traversed to the end of the large opening of the cave, my daughter entered the tight part, and I had now formed several conclusions:

1. The guy who couldn't fit is smaller than me, but possibly more claustrophobic as well.
2. I am going do everything I can to get into that cave, and
3. Boy is that a small area to try to squeeze through and
4. I'd have to squeeze for another 20' before I even got into the cave.

My daughter, all 100lbs of her, easily slid into the tight crevice. Next, it was my turn, and my daughter was directing me like the person before her directed her. I had to lie on my back or stomach on a 40 degree angle and slide my body 20' to get into the open cave. But first, I had to slide over a two foot chasm while already in this contorted unbalanced position.

As I attempted to slide over this chasm, I decided not to turn my headlamp on because I overheard one of the ladies mention something about it dropping down into the abyss. At this point I felt no need to deal with my fear of close confinements and my fear of heights at the same time. The thing is my daughter was telling me I had to place my foot on a ledge down in the chasm in order to get a foothold to boost myself into the crevice. I attempted to find the ledge by waving my foot in the air several times with no success and finally decided I had to turn my headlamp on. Much to my surprise the chasm was only 4' deep.

I attained my foothold and began to force my body into the crevice so I could get into the cave. I tried and tried to fit into that small crack that I needed to traverse through.

I followed all of my daughter's directions, I slid up higher, and I slid more to the right. My daughter kept pleading with me, "You can do it, Dad." I couldn't.

Then I decided to lie on my stomach. With my back pressed tight against the top of the crevice, my pectoral was hitting solidly against the bottom of the crevice. I could not get my chest in, let alone begin to traverse.

"Come on, Dad," my daughter kept pleading.

"I can't, honey, I just can't fit," I replied.

Officer Corcoran, already inside the cave, yelled out for me to try it on my back. I turned around and tried some more.

I was still not fitting, but I felt like it might be possible. I tried the whole exhale thing and pushed really hard. I got my chest in as far as my nipple and found it now difficult to take a breath. I made it in a whole 6" and only had another ¾ of my body and 19 ½ feet to go.

There was no way.

I tried to explain to my daughter that my body was tight against my back and my chest. The only way I could move in was if I could lift the mountain.

I had to give up. I knew she was disappointed, but I encouraged her to go on and take some pictures inside for me. When she went on, I worked my way back to the ledge and sat down.

(Editor's Note: All that effort for this? Can Clarke rise above the gloom and find another way to reach his goal? Stay tuned.)

Clarke's Caventure, Part I: Exploring Chimney Mountain

Hello Everyone,

As you may have heard from NorthsideBloggr, I retreated to a cave for a couple of days.

But I was not alone. My daughter, Alyssa, and I joined a group of Syracuse City School Teachers camping out near Indian Lake, climbing Chimney Mountain and exploring Eagle Cave, located below the Chimney near the top of the mountain.

The Chimney.

The weather and the company were absolutely wonderful. I was ready to get away from the hectic schedule I have been keeping. Going to the Adirondacks with my daughter, staying with this fine group of educators, and if that were not enough, NO PHONE SERVICE! Wow! I knew I was in for a great time.

Alyssa and I arrived about an hour and a half before dark on the 15^th of July. We were introduced to the group and directed to a spot they set aside for us to pitch our tent. Once our tent was up and our gear unloaded, we joined the others around the campfire.

At that time more formal introductions were made, including sharing information regarding the various schools the teachers worked in and the challenges they each faced. As the night quickly passed some mind teaser activities were thrown in: "This is a bottle cap, this is a bottle cap, is this a bottle cap?" It took some members of the group a long time to figure this little mind teaser out. I won't mention any names. Next thing I knew it was midnight, and Alyssa was indicating she was ready to turn in.

The daylight woke me much earlier than I wanted to crawl out of my sleeping bag. I fought the urge to get up by trying to convince myself it was still early. However, due to the fact that I always carry my cell phone and no longer wear a watch, and after seeing my cell phone had no service, I chose to leave it in the truck. Thus, I really did not know what time it was. So I got up.

First thing I did was put together my coffee pot and head for the campfire. Needless to say, those who were up were happy to see me or, perhaps, happy to see the coffee pot. A time check, by someone smart enough to be wearing a watch, revealed it was only 6:30 am: A little too early for me. I am not a morning person. After a cup of coffee, I returned to the tent to find Alyssa up and preparing for a morning swim. I jumped into my swim trunks and joined Alyssa in a cool, eye-opening dip. Now I truly was ready for those morning people.

We joined the group around the campfire just in time for breakfast. Afterward, we loaded into several cars and headed to the base of Chimney Mountain. Together we began our ascent up the mountain. We made several water stops along the way.

Soon, more eager members of the group wanted to push ahead. I chose to stay behind with Ken "Millerman" Miller, whose assignment was to bring up the rear, and I told my daughter to go on ahead with the teacher she was enjoying talking to.

Millerman and I were accompanying a teacher who had to turn back on a long hike the day before. She was determined to make it to the top today. We slowly, but steadily moved along, taking frequent breaks. When we stopped, I would use my GPS to declare our elevation and the shrinking number of feet we had left to climb. I would estimate that an hour had passed.

I was uncertain if the group ahead had thought we turned around and decided to continue to the cave without us or not. Luckily, I had my BlackBerry in my pack, though I wondered if we were high enough for phone service. I turned it on.

Numerous chirps and beeps emitted from my phone, indicating waiting text and voice messages from the 16 hours my phone was shut off. I immediately dialed Alyssa's number, hoping I could reach the group before they left the chimney to go into the cave. She had just turned her phone on and sounded happy to hear from me.

A portion of the hiking "trail" near Eagle Cave.

There had been some discussion that we may have turned around with the teacher who could not complete the hike yesterday. But my daughter told the group I would not have turned around unless there was an emergency with one of the members who was behind with me. She then informed the group leader that she was talking with me on the phone, we were all still climbing, and not too far from the top.

Once on top near the Chimney, we had a beautiful view for taking pictures.

View from the top of Chimney Mountain.

A quick PB&J sandwich and some water and we were all hiking down to Eagle Cave. It was more of a bushwhack journey down to the cave than a hiking trail. We were lucky to follow a guide leading another group to the cave because this was a different route from what our leader normally takes.

The bushwack journey to the entrance of Eagle Cave.

Within 20 minutes we were at the cave entrance. While the group ahead of us entered the cave, our group put on long pants, shirts, climbing helmets, and headlamps. During this time, storm clouds moved overhead and dumped 15 minutes worth of rain on us.

When I finally got to the mouth of the cave, it was much different than I had imagined. From the descriptions that were given, I envisioned a rock wall with a hole at ground level. I thought I would lie on the ground, squeeze through this small gap and be inside the cave after only 2 or 3 seconds of rock against my face.

Oh no, it was not like that at all.

Did I mention that I am a bit claustrophobic?

(Editor's note: Does Clarke ever get to retreat to his cave? Tune in tomorrow for Part II of Clarke's Caventure.)

GREAT Kids to Volunteer at Picnic

Officers Diglio (left) and Boni (right) with youth enrolled in GREAT.

"GREAT Kids!"  photo by Northsidebloggr 

Officer Tony Diglio is having a busy summer.

He and his fellow officers in the DARE Unit just completed a three-week session with more than a dozen students enrolled in the GREAT program. One week later, they're on to the next group who are actively engaged in their sessions at the Boys and Girls Club on Hamilton Street.

It's not even halfway through Day 2 and the group dynamics have already begun, with issues arising between personalities. This is a difficult time of life for the kids, who range in age from 10 to 14 years old.

They've come to the program on the recommendation of teachers, parents or resource officers working in the schools who have developed relationships with the youth and are able to identify individuals who would benefit by participating in GREAT: Gang Resistance Education And Training.

Late this morning, one young person was being counseled regarding dealing with the opposite sex in the peer group. Officer Diglio listened to the concerns, and pointed out the importance of interpersonal relations. Learning to communicate effectively with others, he said, will help now and later in life when pursuing life goals. He used an object lesson to teach the child who readily responded to the interest shown. The child left the room with a new resolve to relate better with others.

Next week, the youth will hone their teamwork and interpersonal skills in sessions designed specifically for this purpose. Officer Clarke will join these officers and others in the Community Policing Division to work with the kids outdoors in team building activities. This will culminate with a session in the woods of LaFayette on a Ropes Challenge Course located just south of the Jamesville Reservoir.

For the remainder of this week, the kids will be presented with all aspects of the Criminal Justice system by officers in various units within the Syracuse Police Department, as well as Onondaga County Probation. They will have field trips to various places and presenters coming to them, with messages on everything from goal setting to making wise choices, to career opportunities in law enforcement. Later, they will visit the courthouse for presentations by the District Attorney, and City and County Court judges.

Earlier this morning, the kids heard from a detective in the Youth Division regarding the consequences of making one bad decision. He emphasized how many other people are affected by one individual's choices. Using actual, local children's situations as case studies, the detective impressed on them that these are real people's lives, and not fictional stories. The kids also learned the difference in the levels of charges and the corresponding penalties.

There's also a taste of "cool" and some fun built into the agenda. The kids will see a demo by the officer in charge of the robot used by the Bomb Squad, and check out a fully-equipped, customized police motorcycle built by Harley Davidson. They'll visit the MOST, the zoo and watch a movie with a message.

They'll also volunteer in the community. Next Thursday, the youth will serve lunch to neighbors and supporters alongside others volunteering at the "Picnic With Police and Fire Departments". Stop by and meet us for lunch in Washington Square Park between Noon and 2pm, July 31.

We are still in need of donations for the picnic. For more information, please contact us at (315)471-3257.

For further information on the GREAT program, contact Officer Tony Diglio at (315)442-5216.

GREAT Program: Summer 2008, Session I

Hi Everyone,

This whole week I am working with our DARE Officers in their Summer Youth Program G.R.E.A.T. –Gang Resistance Education and Training.

We are spending the days on Meachem Field off W. Seneca Turnpike doing team building activities with a group of 20 ten to thirteen year olds.

It's been plenty hot but that is not keeping us from enjoying our time together. They are a wonderful group of kids. They have lots of energy and are beginning to come together as a team.

We will continue working at Meachem Field until Friday, when we will spend the day on the Lafayette Ropes Challenge Course. Most of the young people are a little intimidated about climbing onto the high elements but the next couple days of team building and trust activities will prepare them for Friday.

It's quite a switch from a couple of weeks ago working with a corporate group, Allen International. It seems that I just can't make up my mind which groups I like working with more.

When I was with the corporate group I thought how nice it was to be working with a bunch of motivated adults. Now, when I am with these young people I think about the impact we might have on their young developing minds. Building good youth/police relations may help them resist making bad decisions like joining a gang. I guess I am happy to be working with various groups of people.

Motivating people to challenge themselves and make good choices is something I truly love to do.

Feel free to drop by and see how we are doing. Just, make sure to introduce yourself so as not to be a stranger watching from afar.

Have you challenged yourself today?

GREAT Program Pics: Summer 2008, Session I

Students participate in a team-building exercise.

Allyn International vs. Challenge Course

I did make it home from the workshop with Allyn International. I had to wait until I returned to the Police Center to work on this post. Something is wrong with my laptop again. My charger is not working and my battery went dead.

The group was a pleasure to work with on the challenge course. The morning started out with a misty rain. We worked on spotting technique and trust leans.

The group I was working with asked me to be a participant for Willow in the Wind. Very rarely do I allow myself to be a faller into the group when I am responsible for spotting but the group was doing such a great job it was easy for me to put my trust in their spotting ability.

They gently passed me around the circle in true Willow in the Wind form. As soon as I stepped out Allyn asked to step in. Naturally they took good care of the boss as well.

The weather cleared for the afternoon and soon many were up in the trees challenging themselves. Everyone did a fantastic job. I am grateful for the opportunity to meet such a wonderful group of people.

Hey, you Millennials, are you looking for a boss with a sense of adventure? Are you interested in working with peers who like to have fun and are committed to their jobs? Take a look at Allyn International.

I am already looking forward to working with the next group in September.

Take care,

Officer Clarke

Raquette Lake, June 19-21

Left to right: Officer Jim Clarke, Renee Gosselin,
John Jensen, Alyssa Clarke, Cy Gibson

Hi Folks,

I am currently in the Adirondacks on Raquette Lake, Camp Huntington doing some team building with Allyn International Services. They are a logistics company based in Florida.

We are working with 36 employees from various parts of the world- Russia, France, Prague, Japan, China and the USA. We worked with a group last week, we have a new group this week and we will be working with the last group in September.

Our group last week was wonderful to work with. They were very focused and eager to participate and learn. We have spent a half hour with the new group and the dynamics are different.

I am excited about what's ahead for this group. We will split the group into three and start out on the low elements. Then they will be climbing up into the trees for the high elements.

The Challenge Course requires the group to work together to resolve problems. We debrief them after each exercise to get their input on what went well, what did not and why. These exercises can help groups identify issues and work through them.

You can look for us online. Check out the camp Huntington Web cam, mounted in the dining hall, by clicking on web cam at the top of their web page. We meet in that area at meal time 7:55 am, 11:55 am and 5:55 pm.

If you are interested in bringing your group on a team building adventure give me a call.

Later,

Officer Jim Clarke

GREAT Summer Program

GREAT SUMMER 07-1 108, originally uploaded by northsidepolice.

Officers participate with youth in low elements of a Challenge Course set up in Meachem Park last summer.

The DARE/GREAT Unit of the Syracuse Police Department has announced the 2008 Summer GREAT Program.

GREAT (Gang Resistance Education and Training) is a curriculum based on the goals of reducing gang activity and educating youth on the consequences of gang involvement.

The program is open to youth between the ages of 10-14 years old, and is being made available free of charge to participants, thanks to grants secured by the department.

The sessions are three weeks long, and offered as follows:

• Session 1: June 30 - July 25 (no class from July 14-18)
• Session 2: July 28-August 22 (no class August 11-15)

Classes will meet from 8:30am-1:30pm at the Hamilton Street Boys and Girls Club with lunch served daily.

Transportation will be provided from the East Fayette Street Boys and Girls Club. Parents are responsible to deliver their children to either location, and transportation will be provided from there, as needed.

Trained uniformed police officers present the GREAT curriculum to youth in a classroom setting and through involvement in a wide range of community-based activities. The objective is to impart life skills, a sense of competency, usefulness and personal empowerment to youth, enabling them to resist involvement in violence and criminal activity.

The program is intended to help students become responsible members of their communities by setting personal goals, resisting peer pressure, learning how to resolve conflicts constructively and understanding how gangs impact the quality of life.

For further information and an application, please contact the DARE/GREAT Unit at (315)442-5216. Check out the pics from GREAT 2007.

Raquette Lake Trip: Reviewing Challenge Course Skills

Photograph by Renee Gosselin

If you like climbing trees, swinging from ropes and walking across wires 30' in the air you would have loved this trip.

A handful of professionals, mostly teachers and Cortland College Grads, spent the weekend together reviewing their skills on the Camp Huntington Ropes Challenge Course. Skills tested included knot tying, course set up, belaying, gear retrieval and rescues.

Gliding out on a wire 40' in the air to rescue someone dangling 10' below you is a feat that will get anyone's heart pumping.

Meeting new folks as I reviewed their skills was an enjoyable experience for me. It was an added bonus having two of my children attend the workshop. I was proud of their climbing abilities and they did a great job with their rescues. My son and daughter both climb like monkeys, I have no doubt they can now out climb me (oh to be 20 again).

After a long day on the Challenge Course we all enjoyed a social evening of Adventure Games, like "King Frog" and "Bang! Pop! Bang! Who's Dead?".

Another day of skills testing followed, and all attending left with a sense of accomplishment and some new friends. I am a bit sore but happy to be sleeping in my own bed.

Camp Huntington is one of the Great Camps in the Adirondacks. For more info, visit their website.

If you'd like to take your group on a Challenge Course visit my website.

Juggling: A Metaphor for Life

"Six at Once.", originally uploaded by chefranden.

Kids are resilient.

They'll try something difficult regardless of the reasons adults may not. If they look silly, get bruised, have setbacks or fail while learning and adjusting, they roll with it as being part of the process, learn from it and bounce back. The reward of getting it right is worth the effort.

The greater the challenge, the more difficult it is to try and keep trying to get it right. Some challenges can be more like juggling swords rather than little wooden blocks. But we don't go from one level of ability to the next in an instant. It's a process.

In "Lessons from the Art of Juggling" Michael Gelb and Tony Buzan suggest that if we want to grow we need to step out intentionally toward challenges, and do so with a model of excellence to guide us. With the benefit of wise instruction, we minimize the risk since we're shown how to avoid pitfalls and mistakes. We learn from mistakes by recognizing where we can or did err, and following the right way. An excellent guide inspires to keep moving forward.

"When we do the best that we can,
we never know what miracle is wrought in our life,
or in the life of another." ~ Helen Keller

Influence

"Through the trees", originally uploaded by Cordileran.

"It is better to be alone than in bad company." ~ George Washington

Influence. It's what shaped George Washington's life decisions that eventually led to his becoming President of the United States.

Washington lost his father at the age of 11, and had to cease his formal education to help support the family. His half-brother Lawrence,who was 14 years older, became his mentor.

Through the influence of Lawrence, George learned to become a skilled outdoorsman. He may have developed an early interest in leading men by hearing Lawrence's accounts of military life. The experience and skills he gained led to an opportunity to join a surveying team. The knowledge of the region that he learned as a surveyor helped George immensely years later when he trained and led troops.

Lawrence also introduced George to his extended family who took a great liking to him, and through their influence he was able to pursue a position in the militia. He took on greater responsibilities after his brother died, as he left him his estate, Mount Vernon. Before he was 20 years old, Lt. Washington was commanding a military regiment, and understanding the impact of his influence on others.

Influence is also what led to the planting of several thousand trees in Washington, D.C. that became the annual "Cherry Blossom Festival", an event that provides spectators with a gorgeous display at this time of year.

A 24 year effort on the part of one woman with an idea, a plan and the ability to influence, culminated in her correspondence with the First Lady, Helen Herron Taft, wherein Eliza Scidmore outlined her vision for 300 Japanese flowering cherry trees to beautify the Tidal Basin.

Mrs. Taft immediately loved the idea, and a few days later was able to secure the commitment of 2,000 additional trees. Today, over 3,500 cherry trees of different varieties embellish the Nation's Capitol along the Potomac.

Most people have never heard of Eliza Scidmore or Lawrence Washington. Yet they left their mark by their influence on others.

Influence is what we're under every day, at all times, and what we're always doing. It's important to be aware of influence* when we're involved in motivating others. When we act, especially when we handle challenges, we have an opportunity to be a positive influence on their lives.

* Things for leaders to consider: Who was the greatest positive influence on your life? Who is influencing your life now? Are those influences compatible or not? How is that impacting your life? What kind of influence are you on others?