Dear PB Readers,

When you think of a hero what attributes come to mind? Someone who makes the world a better place to be for others? Someone who has overcome major obstacles to achieve their personal success? Someone who has mastered the skill of "giving"? Few people fulfill the attributes of a hero more than Canadian Rick Hansen. In the summer of 1973, while just fifteen years of age, Rick had a life-altering vehicle accident that left him a paraplegic. While he could no longer walk, Rick CHOSE to focus on what he could still do and became a world class wheelchair athlete. In his career Rick won 19 international wheelchair marathons, three world championships and competed in the 1984 Olympic Games for Canada. While most of us couldn't imagine the effort it would take to cover 26 miles in a wheelchair, Rick Hansen decided to wheel around the earth's circumference (40 000km) and in less then two years raised $26 million dollars and hope for many who continue to live in a wheel chair.

This past weekend, cities in every province in the country organized Rick Hansen Wheels in Motion fund-raising events. Similar to his former British Columbia colleague Terry Fox, Rick Hansen has dedicated his life to making a long term improvement in the lives of others. The man who has been called BC's "Athlete of the Century", received the Companion Order of Canada, Vancouver's Man of the year and numerous Honorary Degrees learned that his life was enhanced by giving to others. I have watched Rick over the years and appreciate how his positive attitude has helped many (able-bodied and disabled) look outside the box and see the world for the many possibilities it offers. The father - husband - businessman - charitable foundation president also just happens to be physically disabled! People like Rick Hansen show us what can happen when we focus on "what we can do - rather then what we can't".

Our goal each week is to be a positive source of ideas and energy. I believe you get more of what you think about and by providing you a weekly source of positive stories - your mind and soul understand how many great things occur every week (rather than focus on war, death and tragedy). Imagine if your children, nieces and nephews heard 2-3 great positive stories every day. How much different might their perspectives on the world be? If you are new to our PB newsletter, I welcome you and encourage you to go back to our website to see some of the old newsletters in the archives (www.personalbest.ca). If you are a veteran of our weekly newsletter, I want to thank you for your weekly association. I encourage you all to send in weekly contributions AND send me names of family and friends who I can sign up for their own weekly newsletter. Either go to www.personalbest.ca or email barrie@personalbest.ca

JUNE 13th PB HIGHLIGHTS

* KEN BLANCHARD QUOTE ON COMMITMENT
* PERSONAL BEST EMAIL OF THE WEEK
* 80+ YEAR OLD GORDON SCOTT CONTINUING TO WALK ACROSS ONTARIO FOR CHARITY
* HOW DO YOU DEFINE GOLF?
* GREATER JOY THROUGH MORE GIVING
* DON'T FORGET FATHERS DAY NEXT SUNDAY

KEN BLANCHARD QUOTE ON COMMITMENT

"There's a difference between interest and commitment. When you're interested in doing something, you do it only when it's convenient. When you're committed to something, you accept no excuses - only results."

EDITORS NOTE: I had supper this past week with a very talented junior athlete and his parents. The parents are the incredible kind of people who wanted to know how to give the "right amount of support" to their son without being overly aggressive. For the right reasons, they wanted to get advice on a plan of attack that would see him progress properly, not be rushed, nor allowed to be burned out.

My response was very similar to Ken Blanchard's quote this week. Instead of talking just about training and effort, I talked to them more about the right attitude and approach to life. First and foremost the completion of his schooling and commitment to life long learning was key. Instead of putting 100% of his effort just into training and zero % of his efforts into schooling or other life skill development, I talked about developing the entire person. It takes 6-10 years to develop a world class athlete and rather then rush this talented young junior, it was important for him (more than his parents) to realize he had to be patient. Instead of getting it all done this summer, he had to set some specific goals and targets (specific commitment), but he also had to develop other aspects of himself (his organizational skills, his communication skills, his intellectual skills, and his mental skills).

Commitment is a long forgotten word in North America. Couples quickly vow to be committed to each other for life, yet change their attitude soon after the chemical euphoria of a new relationship fades. Athletes, who boldly declare their desire to achieve athletic excellence, allow it to become a lower priority when the tough days of training in solitude occur. People who were excited about writing a book, building a business or working on a charity often drop their goals when the fun ends and the hard work begins. From BC's Rick Hansen to Toronto's businessman "Honest Ed Mirvish", commitment to a goal or project takes determination and consistent focused perseverance.

One of the greatest attributes I look for in a future world class athlete I am developing (or an employee I am hiring) is their COMMITMENT FACTOR. My assessment of their COMMITMENT FACTOR is often more important to me then their initial "physical or technical skills". While high commitment scores come from many places, I generally see a pattern of higher committed parents and bosses developing higher committed children and employees. Perhaps if you are not as happy with your own children and employees you might want to look into the mirror and consider enhancing your own self-commitment!

PERSONAL BEST EMAIL OF THE WEEK

Hi Barrie, Every Monday morning, I start sorting through a heap of e-mails. When I see Personal Best, I always groan, "Oh, darn, a long one to read through" then I start to read it reluctantly. When I am done, I am always glad I read it, and it always lifts my spirits. Keep up the great work. M.M.

FOLLOWING OUR 80 YEAR OLD HERO

Was it hot for you over the weekend? If you were in Ontario the answer was a definite "yes". With air and humidity combining to push the temperature over 40 degrees Celsius, most people hid inside their air condition houses. Three weeks ago, I wrote a story about Gordon Scott. The 80 year old man was a war hero who nearly lost his legs in an explosion in the Second World War. A life-long supporter of the War Amps Charity, Gordon set out three weeks ago to walk (pulling an 50kg wagon with all his belongings) nearly 1500km from Peterborough, through the GTA, down to Sarnia, Windsor, Leamington and back along Lake Erie to return to his home. At some point this summer if you see an old man pulling a wagon that says "GRAMPS TRAMPS FOR CHAMPS" this is Gordon Scott walking a course he had cycled as a teenager over six decades ago. While many of us were hiding in our houses over the weekend, this 80 year old hero was out pulling his 50kg wagon through the north side of the GTA (he will be in King City and Caledon in the next few days). Truly inspirational, Gordon motivated me over the weekend to get out for my 8km jog (when I was debating whether it was too warm to do my little exercise bout).

FIVE PEOPLE'S DEFINITION OF GOLF

1. Golf can best be defined as an endless series of tragedies obscured by the occasional miracle, followed by a good bottle of beer
2. Golf! You hit down to make the ball go up. You swing left and the ball goes right. The lowest score wins. And on top of that, the winner buys the drinks.
3. A "gimme" can best be defined as an agreement between two golfers ... neither of whom can putt very well.
4. Golf is like marriage: If you take yourself too seriously it won't work... and both are expensive.
5. In golf, some people tend to get confused with all the numbers... they shoot a six, yell fore and write five.
6. "The greatest sound in golf is the Woosh, Woosh, Woosh, of your opponent's club as he hurls it across the fairway"

GREATER JOY THROUGH MORE GIVING

I don't believe money by itself guarantees a happy life. In fact I would suggest that money by itself more often then not leads to unhappiness. Regardless of one's financial status however, I do believe that the happiest people I have met are those who have included "giving into their lives" (regardless of their economic status). It may be giving of their time or financial support to a cause (something they have more of). It may be giving contacts or ideas. I came across this article this week and I believe it captures the essences of giving.

A businessman on his deathbed called his friend and said, "Bill, I want you to promise me that when I die you will have my remains cremated." "And what," his friend asked, "do you want me to do with your ashes?" The businessman said, "Just put them in an envelope and mail them to the Internal Revenue Service and write on the envelope, `NOW YOU HAVE EVERYTHING!'" Paying taxes is not usually a joy. But GIVING can be joyful. We pay the taxes because we have to. But when we CHOOSE to give time or money, then giving can add to our overall happiness.

Mother Teresa teaches us an important lesson about happiness. She was one of those people who emanated joy. Born in 1910 in Eastern Europe, she felt called as a teenager to move to Calcutta, India. Some months later she saw a sight that completely revolutionized her life. Shortly after moving to Calcutta she spotted a homeless, dying woman lying in the gutter, being eaten by rats. After seeing that, compassion compelled her to beg for an abandoned Hindu temple from the government and convert it into a crude, make-shift hospital for the dying. "Nobody should die alone" she would later say. Mother Teresa went on to establish homes for the destitute dying in numerous cities. But in spite of devoting her life to people in such dire straits, she radiated joy and happiness.

Here was a woman who had none of the things we like to think of as bringing happiness: a home, a family, prosperity. Rather, she lived in near-poverty and spent her time wiping dirt and various body fluids from half-dead cancer and leprosy victims and appeared to be blissfully happy. She would agree that happiness does not come from acquiring, but is a by-product of giving: time, money, love. Do you want a life of joy? Start with a lifestyle of giving!

DON'T FORGET FATHER'S DAY

Sixty years ago the roles in society were simple. Dad was the man who made the money, made the rules, and who often handed out the discipline. Things have changed dramatically in those six decades and today "dad" has many new titles and roles within the family unit. There is an old story about a teenage boy who could not stand his father and couldn't wait to get away from the house and the control of his dad. Out on his own in the tough world, the boy learned many hard lessons about life. Seven years later when he returned back to his old town and reacquainted himself with his father, he was amazed at how much the old man had learned in the last seven years! Take time this week to contact the FATHER IN YOUR LIFE. It might be your biological dad, the coach who has taken you under his wing or the big uncle who never left you sitting home on a Saturday. I truly believe that many of society's ills could be dramatically improved if we collectively increased the importance of FATHERS in our lives! Happy Father's Day to my great Dad in Harrow, Ontario!

TRY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF AT LEAST ONE PERSON THIS WEEK!