If you were to meet the top 10 most successful people in the world and ask them what they attribute their success to.   You would hear 10 different variations of the same explanation.  Some are entrepreners, some are educators, others are doctors……but they all have one thing in common:

The ability to make good decisions!

Years ago, John Maxwell spoke at my church in Birmingham.  He told the story of how he wrote letters to 10 leaders that he admired and wanted to surround himself with.  As a motivator, he told each individual he wanted to meet that he would give them $100.00 for their time.  Slowly but surely, these individuals began to reply.  He took copious notes during these appointments.  In the end, Maxwell stated that those appointments changed his life.

So, I decided to do the same….

Over the years I’ve been blessed with opportunities to have coffee with some of the best leaders in America.  In 2013, at the AFCA (American Football Coaches Association) Convention in Indianapolis, IN, I made up my mind to meet 10 coaches and/or administrators and ask them about their journey….you know… pick their brain!  I was able to meet and talk to coaches from programs across the country including my alma mater Alabama, Michigan State, Tennessee, Florida State, LSU, Notre Dame, the NY Jets, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, Seattle Seahawks, and many others.

Here are some of the notes I took from those meetings:

-Pray…..Alot!  Make the decision to trust in HIM.

–Decide to trust in the right people.

-Don’t Make Emotional Decisions.

-Think of your job as a CEO….  There will be one after you and there were many before you!  Every decision you make will have a lasting impression.

-“My advice…to all my young bucks…is to learn compartmentalization.  DECIDE what is worth freaking out about and what to not give a freak about!  Hire the right people to handle the small stuff and you focus on the direction of the ship!”

-“Ill tell you this much…as i look around this place….All of that back-slapping and good ‘ole boy “crap” doesn’t get you anywhere!  I see right through that!  Make the decision that you have a purpose for EVERY second in EVERY day!”

-“You will have 3-4 GENUINE friends in the business. 1 or 2 that you can call and ask for advice before you play Alabama!  Make it your goal (DECIDE) to figure out who they are as soon as possible.”

****I keep a book of quotes.  A small leather-bound notebook that I jot down things that stick with me and make me think.  Years before the convention, my mother and I were in Mexico Beach, FL speaking to a neighbor…Jill Siler… about “What brought you to the beach?”  After several minutes of rapport, she summarized all of those leaders in the following statement:

“The only things in this world we have TRUE OWNERSHIP of……..that the effects will last for eternity……are the decisions we make!”

BOOM!!!

-How powerful can one small, mundane decision be?

-How easily can one decision change your life?

-How can one decision be legendary?

Here are a few small decisions that changed our world:

Pastor Chris Hodges DECIDING to “look over” the youth of his church in Baton Rouge, LA until they could find someone else……….”PC” as we call him is now Senior Pastor of Church of the Highlands in Birmingham, AL with campuses across the state…and here is the big one….campuses in 13 of 21 PRISONS ACROSS THE STATE AS WELL.

……..ONE DECISION STARTED IT ALL.

Steve Philips, a pharmacist in a small town outside of Chattanooga, TN, DECIDED, as a member of Kiwanis International, to work with high school students in Key Club.  Steve has personally mentored hundreds of young men (including myself) and women and in turn, helped change cities…then states….and in turn the country.

……..ONE DECISION………

William Booth began his career in ministry in 1852.  After a disagreement with fellow church leaders Booth DECIDED to start his own ministry.  In 1867, Booth had only 10 full-time workers, but by 1874, the number had grown to 1,000 volunteers and 42 evangelists, all serving under the name “The Christian Mission.”  This group would later be named,        The Salvation Army……..

…..ONE DECISION…..

Possibly my favorite story supporting the power of one decision is the story of Jonathan and his armor bearer.  In 1 Samuel 14, Saul, his son Jonathan, and his men were camped in Gibeah in Benjamin.  They sent out men to do recon on the region.  Also, they went in search of a blacksmith in order to obtain swords and other weapons. They were not able to obtain the services of a blacksmith…so they had no weapons.

The scouting report wasn’t looking good. The RB wasn’t 100%, the LB core was beat up, and to make matter’s worse…..the Athletic Director Saul was losing his confidence and didn’t want to even play….literally….he was sulking under a dadgum Pomegranate Tree. (I had to pull a Coach Bowden right there).

Then….Jonathan made a decision:

1 Samuel 14: 1-10

14 ¹ One day Jonathan son of Saul said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the Philistine outpost on the other side.” But he did not tell his father.

² Saul was staying on the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree in Migron.With him were about six hundred men, ³ among whom was Ahijah, who was wearing an ephod. He was a son of Ichabod’s brother Ahitub son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the Lord’s priest in Shiloh. No one was aware that Jonathan had left.

⁴ On each side of the pass that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine outpost was a cliff; one was called Bozez and the other Seneh. ⁵ One cliff stood to the north toward Mikmash, the other to the south toward Geba.

⁶ Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.”

⁷ “Do all that you have in mind,” his armor-bearer said. “Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.”

⁸ Jonathan said, “Come on, then; we will cross over toward them and let them see us. ⁹ If they say to us, ‘Wait there until we come to you,’ we will stay where we are and not go up to them. ¹⁰ But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ we will climb up, because that will be our sign that the Lord has given them into our hands.”

“One Day”…..Jonathan decided…..and his decision was LEGENDARY!!!

Ladies and Gentlemen…….Today is your ONE DAY!

What is that thing that you keep wanting to accomplish?

Who is that person that you always wanted to interview?

Where is that place that you have always wanted to live….ONE DAY?

“I’m just waiting on God!” isn’t working anymore!!!!

Get out and DECIDE to apply action to those prayers!  Get up, drop the hyper-spirituality, the culturally acceptable mediocrity, and do something!

Is your current job a mission or a misery?!

Ive had to fight all of my life!  I’m not stopping now!

And when God gives me a dream…..

I want HIM to know that I’m game…..

Im suited up….

I have his gameplan……

I have four fingers in the air…..

and I’m sitting on GO!

Sweater Vests Beware….

Now Run and Tell That!!!!

#COACHKD