The Ultimate Team

Recently, I was given the opportunity to eat dinner with a group of some of the most elite soldiers in the military. I have to say that this has been one of the highlights of my summer. What made this experience so incredible was to hear these men (extremely tough men) talk about teamwork, hardwork,comrodorary, and courage throughout the entire dinner. To be completely honest, words cannot describe these men nor do words give them justice for what they have done and how they have protected us as a country. Furthermore, I am grateful that we have men serving our country that know the value of hardwork, teamwork, and courage. To sit in the presence of these guys meant I was sitting in the presence of greatness.

As I sat and listened to their conversation I could sense an unbreakable bond between these men and I felt closeness in each one of them although they would probably never voice that publicly. I can only imagine how war can bring two brothers together and bond them for life. But what also made the evening so great was to since a servants attitude in each one of these men. I strongly believe that if death faced any of these guys they would not give up the team to save themselves. I also believe that the well-being of the rest of the group is more important that one individual person and I also know that they would say if they didn't have "this person or that person," they would not be as strong as a unit. I also believe that if one of them was out of line or doing things he was not supposed to be doing they would call him on it immediately. And I definitely know that if you mess with one of them... unfortunately, you mess with all of them (I would not want to be on the other end of that).

That is the team I want to be on and I hope that you would want to be on it as well. A team that knows their goal, works hard together, understands their role and how they play in important part, but without the rest of the team they are less effective. A team that is courageous, who walks the walk and doesn't just talk the talk. They have backbone and values. A sense of pride, tradition, and confidence that is written in their footsteps and sweat. This is the team that I want to be on, this is a team that will come out victorious again and again.

- Coach Bowles

IMPACT Summer Schedule

After taking Spring Practice off, IMPACT will start up next week. We will meet every other week on Wednesdays at 4:30 and will be focusing on 8 different Character traits over the summer. The Team Leadership group is expanding and there will be a form for players to fill out if they are interested in being apart of the Leadership Group. See Coach Bowles for more information and until then, continue to Make An Impact at Austin-East!

Discipline

Accountability -

Delayed Gratification -

Advance Decision Making -

The 3 P's of Servant Leadership

IMPACT began this week. The first lesson covered the 3 P's of Servant Leadership. To strengthen our leadership potential and ability we can start by focusing on the 3 P's which are:

1) Purpose - Purpose gives you a starting place. If you have a purpose your mission will begin to have focus and clarity. Focus will allow you to hone in on the things that are the most important thing in life.

2) Passion - If you do not like what your doing you wil njotl succeed. Finding your passion will give you a rejuvenated spirit and a zeal for life. Find out what you are passionate about and you will find a purpose.

3) Planning - Set attainable goals. We identified personal goals this week and the importance of goal setting in life. We focused on academic, athletic, and life goals. But the important thing about goal setting is having a PLAN OF ACTION. Many of the student-athletes in attendance set goals like, graduate, go to college, become better football players, and be uncommon men and fathers. All of these things are great. But goals with no planning can make you tired and more likely to fall back into the same path you started on. Have a Plan of Action!

IMPACT began by focusing on the 3 P's of Servant leadership and next week we will focus on leading positively or negatively. See you next week and in the mean time continue to be Uncommon in your approach to leadership.

The 2009 Austin East Roadrunner Mission Statement

To become better men by being commited to academics, teamwork, work ethic, having a positive attitude on and off the field, making NO EXCUSES and representing the Austin East Family with Roadrunner Pride.

- Mission Statement created by Roadrunner players

The Hand You Were Dealt

Many things in life are beyond our control. Its as if we were all dealt a hand of cards, we cannot exchange any cards in our hand, all we can do is merely play our hand and its up to us how we play it. It seems we constantly want to fold or trade our hand for another. We look for excuses as to why we can't do things and eventually try to find the easy way out.

I want to encourage you to play the hand you are dealt and play it well. Stop looking for excuses as to why certain things happen and take control of the things you can control such as your attitude, which you are in total control of. Life will bring you trials and tests. We cannot choose our trials or select our tests, but they will come. However, what we can do is choose how to respond to the difficulities life throws at us.

Life can be unfair and the response to these difficulties can either help us grow or continue to hinder us. Our attitude is what determines our view of the hand we were dealt. Attitude is a big thing that makes a big difference in our lives and only YOU can control your attitude. Nobody has been dealt a bad hand, it's what we do with our hand that determines the result. Be the best that you can be and be faithful with what has been given to you.

Charles Swindoll on Attitude...

"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company ... a church ... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past. We cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable.
The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude ... I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me, and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you ... we are in charge of our Attitudes."

IMPACT 20/20

20/20 is a Cross Cultural experience where Athletes will truly find out what it means to "be a part of something bigger than themselves." A small select group of upcoming leaders will be chosen to represent the AE football team in the Bahamas. Dates are still unknown. If you are interested please check with Coach Bowles. If you are not selected this year, there will be other opportunties to get involved. In the mean time... Do whats right and be a Servant Leader.

Check out the camp we will be working at campbahamas.com