Trevor Hoffman-" I Gave 100 Percent"

Pitcher Trevor Hoffman, baseball's all-time saves leader, has decided to retire at age 43.  

Hoffman told the Associated Press, "What I'll take away from it (playing baseball) is I have no regrets. I went at the game 100% and didn't leave myself with any questions.  I got the most our of what I was given."

Can you say that for your life?  Have you been living your full potential?  If you haven't, start now.  Start today.  

Giving your full potential is living life fully.  This goes for giving yourself fully to your loved ones, as well as your job or career. 

Many of us lose the very ones we love because we have not fully been present for the significant other in our life. How many people find themselves divorced because they weren't aware that their spouse was unhappy? 

Or, maybe you wonder why you have been passed over for a promotion.  Often because we don't like a job, we give only half of ourselves.  Beware, others are watching and hearing that you are not doing your best, even our friends.

So, when you network to get a better job, your friends and co-workers who may know of a great opportunity for you, won't tell you, or recommend you.  They are not putting themselves on the line for you because they know you have been "half-stepping."

Give fully to whatever task is before you, and don't forget.  That applies to your loved ones too.

See Hoffman's retirement announcement:

Matthews' Family Football Legacy: Right Attitude

The Chicago Bears will host The Green Bay Packers as they compete for the NFC Championship game next Sunday, Jan. 23rd in Chicago.

Clay Matthews III, starting linebacker for the Packers, comes from a football family.   His father, Clay Matthews, Jr. was a linebacker for the Cleveland Browns and Atlanta Falcons.  Matthews' uncle, Bruce Matthews, played an offensive lineman in the National Football League for the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans.  His grandfather, Clay Matthews, Sr., played in the NFL for the San Francisco 49ers in the 1950s.  His younger brother Casey Matthews is a linebacker for the University of Oregon Ducks.  His cousin, Kevin is a center for the Tennessee Titans.  Matthews second cousin, Jake, is the starting right tackle for Texas A&M University.

Matthews, III father, Clay Matthews, Jr. said, "My dad (Clay Matthews, Sr.) was very clear. He said  'You guys can do whatever you want, and I'll be proud of you.  But, whatever you're going to do, apply yourself, be responsible, show up and do it like you mean it.'"

Obviously the family of football players have taken the elder's words to heart with their successes. It takes being responsible and applying yourself to your goals  and challenges no matter what the circumstances in order to be successful. 

Matthews III is fortunate to come from a supportive family with obvious football goals, however, many athletes come from broken homes and they don't always have the family support needed to be successful on and off the playing field.  

However, you can still win in life, no matter what others may say,  if you follow those principles: apply yourself; be responsible; show up; and put 100% effort into accomplishing your dreams. 

Watch highlights :

NFL Week 3 Highlights Chicago Bears vs Green Bay Packers

BE ENTHUSIASTIC TO WIN

If you want to know what helped Miami University RedHawks run past Middle Tennessee 35-21 in the GoDaddy.com Bowl , check out the speech by interim head coach Lance Guidry.

There are a lot of great motivational messages out there but Guidry definitely fired up the players to capture a win.  On top of that, the MVP for the Bowl was their quarterback Austin Boucher.

The striking part of the speech was his enthusiasm and energy which when applied to anything in life, can help you win.  

Allow yourself to get excited about your goals, and act as if your goal has already become a reality.  Maintain that excitement through-out the course of each day.  Enthusiasm and a positive attitude feed off each other.  If you are enthusiastic, you will look at things in a positive light.  If you have a positive attitude, you will find yourself enthusiastic.

Watch Lance Guidry's enthusiastic Godaddy.com Bowl pregame speech.

ATTITUDE IS IMPORTANT

I was moved by a quote I read earlier in the week about Miami Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano.


Running back Ricky Williams said, "Tony spends a lot of time saying, 'If you do these things, you'll win.'  I feel that he does a little too much.  My personal opinion is, if you have the right attitude that you guys are going to win, then all the other stuff takes care of itself."


Wow Ricky!  How right you are.  This is the major reason that assures a person that nothing is impossible no matter the circumstances.  A positive attitude allows one to perceive the possibilities rather than difficulties.

Have No Regrets

After 20 years in the NFL, 297 consecutive games, iron man Brett Favre said, "I hold no  regrets, and I can't think of too many players off hand that can walk away and say that, individually and from a team stand point, it was way more than I ever dreamed of."

If we can coach ourselves to do the best in our lives and ignore negative comments like Favre, we too will have no regrets.  We can't let anyone stand in the way of our dreams and tell us we are too old, too young, or not talented enough to go after and live our dreams.