Welcome to Kyle's Korner

Who Are You Listening To?

kylemccloud — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:07:00 +0000

Over the years I’ve listened to a lot of people. Some have encouraged me while others have done the opposite. It took some time to see that I really don’t have accept what others say. I CAN choose. Some of you may think that this realization is not really profound. Why would it? We’re taught at an early age about choice, and walking to the beat of our own drum. Consider this question, do many of us as human beings really choose for ourselves, or are we under the constant influence of others?

The profound aspect of this post is seeing the boundaries I have placed on my own life. Every time I agreed with someone about what I can’t do, whether consciously or unconsciously, I placed a boundary. Each boundary altered the course of my life. How many ideas did you have, how many business ventures, how many things did you want to pursue but never did because of someone else’s expert opinion about your capabilities.

Here is a quote from a Nike ad the next time your advised about your lack of capabilities:

All your life you are told the things you cannot do. All your life they will say you’re not good enough or strong enough or talented enough; they will say you’re the wrong height or the wrong weight or the wrong type to play this or be this or achieve this. THEY WILL TELL YOU NO, a thousand times no, until all the no’s become meaningless. All your life they will tell you no, quite firmly and very quickly.
AND YOU WILL TELL THEM YES.

What Do you See?

kylemccloud — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 17:56:47 +0000

I woke up this morning and was reminded of a quote that is used in a residential program that I’ve been a part of for several years.

The real act of discovery consists not in finding new lands but seeing with new eyes.

Marcel Proust

Everyday I’m trying to discover something new. I look for something that will impact the bottom line in my business that I haven’t done or seen before (new lands). This morning it dawned on me that maybe what I’m looking for is right in front of me but couldn’t see it.

What do you see? Are you looking for new lands or are you seeing with new eyes? What opportunities are right there in front of you but didn’t realize it?

5 Things I Learned from the ’07 – ’08 NY Giants

kylemccloud — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 21:26:28 +0000

Hello everyone! Today I was gearing up to go to Atlantic City with my wife. While she was getting ready I decided to pop in my DVD about the NY Giant Superbowl season. As I’m watching, I realized that there were tons of lessons that I could use in my life. Keep in mind there isn’t a specific order to these lessons.

Just as Tom Caughlin had to change his ways, I also have to examine the way I do things and be willing to change. Everyone who knows Tom knows that he can be a hard-nosed disciplinarian. It used to work for him, until he became the head coach of the G-Men. If he had not been willing to change, The ’08 season would have the same results as ’07.
Be who you are and what you know you can become. Don’t conform to what the masses say you are. In the ’07 season Eli Manning was heavily criticized in the media, my friends, and me as well for not having that fiery attitude we all thought was required to win. And to some degree I think he may have listened to all the criticism. I say this because I remember the fiery attitude he tried to display in a game after all those things had been said. I believe it was 4th down and he was all fired up about going for it. In the end it made no difference. Eli is a quiet leader. His facial expressions are usually flat and emotionless. I do see him get pissed once in a while but even that is in a quiet and dopey manner. The same attitude he displayed in the dismal seasons which had all of us doubt Eli’s abilities is the same attitude that won a Superbowl and now gives me confidence in him.
Who gives a flying flip what the masses think. Even when the odds are stacked up against you, play full out! They played full out against the Patriot’s in the regular season and lost. They played full out against Dallas in the playoffs and won (even though they lost both regular season games). They played full out against Green Bay (who gave them their 2nd regular season loss) in the freezing cold and won. Once again, they played full out against the undefeated Patriots in the Super Bowl and shocked the world by winning in the final minutes. No one thought they would beat Dallas, most people picked Green Bay, and the masses practically handed New England the Lombardi Trophy.
If I want it bad enough and don’t back down, I too can accomplish my goals. If you’ve seen Eli Manning escape the sack, throw the pass, and David Tyree catch the ball on his helmet to continue the winning touchdown drive then you know exactly what I mean here. By the way, the run by Brandon Jacobs when it was 4th and 1during the same drive deserves a serious honorable mention here.
Have a team of people that believe they can accomplish the goal as a TEAM not individuals. Funny how the team got on a roll without Tiki Barber and without Jeremy Shockey. Pay close attention to this point as you continue to watch Plaxico Burress in the ’08-’09 season. Last year he was all about team. This year I’m not so sure (the jury is still out on this one).