"The List"

A few years ago a movie came out, The Bucket List, and although I've never seen it, nor had I'd heard the term prior to the movie, I've been amazed at how many people now refer to their lists of goals as a "bucket list." I know some may argue that a "bucket list" differs from their career or personal goals, but to me, they all fall under the same umbrella. So, without further ado, here are a few items from "my list:"

1. Be a great father and husband - if this isn't #1 on a guys list, they're mistaken!

2. Get healthy - been trying to eat healthy and lose all the "sympathy" weight from my latest surgery. I'm down a total of 16 since the start of summer. I'm getting there, just not quite as fast as I would like.

3. Go skydiving - I got a small taste of this while on vacation in Gatlinburg this summer. Mark Tremayne and I went indoor skydiving. It was a blast, but left me wanting the read deal even more. Here is a pic from that experience:











4. Complete a triathlon - This goes hand in had with #2. I made this a goal when I had surgery. I've been training for quite some time now under the guidance of Carrie McCoy and the JustTri team. I recently competed in the bike portion of a sprint relay triathlon. I averaged 17mph for 16 miles. I had the help of Jacque Christian, who happens to be competing in an Ironman Triathlon this Sunday, for the swim, and Gregg Ryder for the run. We had a blast and finished 2nd in the mixed relay...out of two teams...ha. I will be teaming up with Mark Tremayne in a duathlon relay on the 26th. Here is a pic of me right after I finished my ride in the Outer Limits Triathlon:













5. Go to the Super Bowl - hopefully on February 6th watching the Bengals take home their first Super Bowl Championship.

6. Go to the World Series - hopefully this October cheering on the Red legs.

7. Work for The Ohio State University - I worked for the football team during my college days, I have 2 degrees from there, and would love to work there in some capacity some day.

8. Write a book - those of you that have followed my journey, know how much I would love to write a book that could somehow impact people in some way.

9. Start my own charity/foundation - once you become an amputee, you realize just how screwed up health care really is, and how limitations set by insurance companies have an adverse effect on us. If I can simply raise enough money to help one person receive the prosthetic they desire, then my foundation would be a huge success.

10. Go to the Olympics - I don't think this item needs any explanation!

11. Inspire others to live their passion and chase their dreams/become a motivational speaker - I love talking to people about my outlook on life and prove to others that no matter how hard things may first appear, it is imperative to keep fighting and you will succeed!!!

12. Love life - this has been something I have set out to do for as long as I can remember. We only get one of them, so we may as well make the best out of it!!!

13. STAY STRONG!!! - enough said!








As I said, these are just a few things I would like to accomplish during my remaining days. I'm sure I will continue to add, delete, and modify items from this list. "My list" will always be a work in progress and serve as a reflection of my current life. So, for once, a rough draft will suffice for my final paper.

Until we meet again, take care, remain positive, and stay strong!!!

Otis

Deep Thoughts...

Those of you that are familiar with SNL, may have read the title of this post and been reminded of those off the wall quotes scrolling over the top of some scenic backdrop, appearing between skits. Thus, I couldn't resist including one that I recently saw. As simple as it appears, it does have a great message that we can all learn from.

"I hope that someday we will be able to put away our fears and prejudices and just laugh at people."
-Jack Handy-

As many of you know, and as I have mentioned before, I enjoy reading motivational/inspirational books on leadership in the quest to find one little nugget or quote that I can utilize in my daily life. I recently found a few that I would like to share, along with how I've identified with them.

The first of these quotes is one that I heard way back during my Freshman year of High School, from my head football coach:

"Winners find ways, losers find excuses."
-Dale Mueller-

I can remember getting in my Dad's car after practice and sharing this quote with him, and saying it would be something that I would always try to embody. Although, I may not have won a lot races or a lot of football games, I can tell you, I never made an excuse for not being able to do something, given the issues I had with my legs. Instead, I would bust my ass on a daily basis just to be able to complete each drill, each practice, each game, each season, etc. Even after my "illustrious" football career was over, I've continued to try and uphold the meaning of this quote.

The next quote that I would like to bring to your attention came from an unlikely source in the form of a "tweet" I read on Twitter:

"People that tell you that you CAN'T do something, are only judging by what THEY CAN'T DO"
-Rev Run-

As soon as I read this quote, I had a rush of memories come to me from my childhood, and for that matter, my entire life anytime someone told me I wouldn't be able to do something as a result of the condition in my legs. I can remember sitting in one of the doctors offices at Children's Hospital back in 1988, and a number of doctors, specialists, and therapists told me I should never play football again or any contact/physical sports any more. Thankfully, my parents allowed me to do so and I was able to continue my "illustrious" football career through my senior year in high school. Now, I was never the best, in fact, I was far from it, but I can honestly say no one outworked me, and any time I hear someone say I can't do something, it turns into motivation for me to prove them wrong.

Now, it's no secret that my favorite book is The Radical Leap, so, I can't write a post about meaningful quotes without including one from this book:

"Do what u love in the service of people who love what u do."
-Steve Farber-

As you all know, this book has made a major impact on all aspects of my life, and it has been especially important to me throughout my "New Beginning." I feel this quote embodies how I try to approach my family, my job, my recovery, and so on. I am very fortunate to have had the opportunity to not only read this quote in Steve's books and his tweets on Twitter, but to have also had the opportunity to hear him speak to a group of educators and converse with him myself as well. The more I read/hear it, the more I believe it how important it is to have this burning passion, that he's referring too, inside you, in each and every single act you set out to complete. If you are lacking this passion, then I would argue you are wasting your time.

The last two quotes I would like to share within this post come from Jon Gordon, the author of many great leadership books addressing the topic of Positive Energy. The first of these quotes comes from The Energy Bus:

"The best legacy you could leave is not some building that is named after you or a piece of jewelry, but rather a world that has been impacted and touched by your presence, your joy, and your positive actions."
-Jon Gordon-

I firmly believe this quote speaks for itself, and when my time is up, I can only hope this can be said about me. I've always tried to maintain a positive energy, no matter what may be going on with my legs or anything for that matter. Dwelling on the negative will get me no where, and more importantly it will get my team of people that I surround myself with anywhere either.

The second quote I would like to mention from Jon Gordon comes from his latest book, Soup:

"When your folks talk about the challenges, then you talk about the opportunities"
-Jon Gordon-

As I read this quote, I couldn't help but think about myself and the many challenges I've faced over the last few years. It would be easy for me to use these challenges as an excuse, but I've always believed fighting to overcome these challenges provides me with "great opportunities."

It's unfortunate that in today's society, so many people are quick to point out the things that may hold us back, rather then lending a hand to support someone in doing what they have set out to do in accomplishing their goals. All of the previously mentioned quotes speak to this theme, thus, this is why I felt compelled to bring them to your attention. There are so many more quotes that I could continue to share within this post, but I'm sure I've exceeded your attention span. So, until we meet again, take care, remain positive, and stay strong!!!

Otis

California Dreaming!!!

Well, once again it has been a long a while since I've last posted, and for that I apologize. I know, I know, I've started out my last few entries with a very similar statement, but I promise I will give you some more bathroom reading more frequently now that the school year is coming to an end. I have a lot that I want to say, so I will re-visit more often to keep the posts shorter.

Ok, now to the title of this post, California Dreaming. Two weeks ago yesterday, I boarded a flight to Orange County, California to meet with a fantastic group of people (Steve Farber, Glen Warren, and David Pinter to name a few). However, the coolest part of my trip happened exactly two weeks ago today. As most of you that are familiar with my blog know that I'm a huge fan of Steve Farber and his books, but more importantly, I am a bigger fan of of what his books stand for. After my visit to Orange County, I quickly saw that I was not the only person in education that has been inspired by his books. In fact it was exactly two weeks today that I was extremely fortunate to attend and take part of the First Annual Extreme Leadership Conference for schools.

The morning session was based upon the LEAP philosophy found in Steve Farber's first book, the Radical LEAP. While the afternoon session was based upon his third book, Greater Than Yourself, and was held for staff from the Orange County Department of Education. In either case, both sessions provided myself and our administrative team at Darby a great deal of insight in how to utilize these themes within our school. To say this was an amazing experiene with a great deal of information to our team in implementing these principles in our school would be a major understatement. Additionally, I was provided the opportunity to briefly speak at each session.

I was surrounded by some unbelievable educational leaders and had the opportunity to discuss how we've used these ideas in our schools. The best part of the day was having the opportunity to hear stories from the principals that have had utilized these ideas and how they, their students, teachers, and the schools themselves have improved every aspect that a student may be involved with in their academic pursuits. I have a few links that will provide you with some additional information explaining this Extreme Leadership conference/movement for you to check out if you have a moment.

http://k12farber.ning.com/
http://stevefarber.com/blog/?p=1248


So, until we meet again, take care, remain positive, and stay strong!!!

Otis

L.E.A.P. "The P"

"Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you; they're supposed to help you discover who you are."
-Bernice Johnson Reagon-

I recently received an email from a teacher at Darby about a group of amputees that play soccer in the country of Liberia, a story that was also featured on ESPN. It was in that email that I saw the quote from above. As I read the quote, I knew it would become one that I would refer to often, and more importantly I knew it was one that I've tried to embody, not just in my current journey, but throughout my entire life when any obstacle or hurdle has presented itself.

So, once again, I know it's been quite a while since I've last posted and let me tell you, A LOT has happened since my last update. First and foremost, I received my "official" leg last Wednesday minus the artwork, but trust it will soon appear on a leg near you! Secondly, in what was quite a surprise, I visited Steve Farber's, the author of The Radical Leap, website earlier this week to see a post about yours truly, which REALLY meant a lot to me. Finally, through Mr. Farber's help, I have been in touch with a very Extreme Leader, Glen Warren of the Orange County Department of Education. He, like me, believes wholeheartedly in the LEAP principles. His belief is so strong he has planned and developed the first education conference based on LEAP, The Orange County Extreme Leadership Conference to be held on June 2nd. Not only has he invited me to come out, but he has mentioned the possibility of me having the opportunity to speak there as well. How cool is that?!!!

Now, that brings me to the topic of today's post and the final quality that "Extreme Leaders" exemplify is represented by the P, in the acronym LEAP, Proof. As Farber states, on page 174 in A Daily Handbook for Extreme Leaders, this proof must occur on three levels:

1. Prove it to others.
2. Prove it yourself.
3. Prove to others that you're proving it to yourself.

Proving it to others, or putting your money where your mouth is, is easier said than done. We have all worked with someone that has that mastermind idea at the 11th hour, but you wonder where they've been up until that point. Throughout my life, I have always prided myself on working hard in everything I do, whether it's teaching, coaching, working out, etc. I have always aspired to be seen as a hard worker and very committed to the team or the task at hand, and I hope people have seen that in me.

When it comes to my leg, I've always tried to look at the positives. Often times, I have done this more for the benefit of others than for myself. Now, it was time to prove it to myself, which I took the first step in doing so back in February when I made the decision to go through with my amputation, and ultimately on March 15th when I had my surgery. Every day since then, I have proven it to myself that I can be strong enough to go through this journey and take on any challenge in the future. One of my favorite aspects of The Radical Leap is Farber's description of the OS!M, or as he puts it "Extreme Leaders are living in the pursuit of the OS!M." What is an OS!M? you ask, well I think it's defined by Edg when he explains it to Steve as he describes the street luge in the following excerpt on pages 21 and 22:

"Now, imagine you're lying flat on your back on a long, wheeled sled-kinda like a skateboard-perched on the top of a steep hill. This isn't your serene, pastoral, snow-covered hill; it's an asphalt slope lined on both sides by parked cars. At the bottom of the hill, a quarter of a mile away, is a major intersection, and the traffic light down there is your finish line. Get the picture?

Your friend pats you on the helmet, gives you a mighty thrust toward Main Street, and-whoosh!-you are gravity's love slave. The asphalt is blazing two inches under your back, parked cars are screaming past your head, and you can't stop, you can't turn back, and right there, in that moment, there are only two words on your mind. What are they?"

Now, at this point, I'm sure you know what Steve said, "Oh Shit!", and thus, an OS!M is an Oh Sh*t! Moment. My OS!M came a few weeks ago, in that video you see under the Testing 1, 2, 3 post. I think you can see that expression on my face as I took those first steps in that test leg. As I mentioned earlier, I got my "official" leg last Wednesday, and each time I get up to walk anywhere, and experience that walk without the pain that used to accompany my every movement, I continue to have those OS!M's. I can only hope that these moments continue to come more and more frequently as I get my active lifestyle back.

Proving to others that you're providing proof to yourself basically consists of allowing others to participate in your own development as an Extreme Leader. Furthermore, allow others to be a part of your pursuit of these OS!M's. This is exactly what I have done throughout my recent journey, and I would be remissed if I did not mention all these individuals and express how much their participation has meant to me in this pursuit. First and foremost, my family has been with me every step of the way...literally. The look on my wife's face when I took those steps meant the world to me, and so too did the reaction my girls had when the saw me at the top of the stairs for the first time in my test leg, or the look on the faces of the folks at Darby as I've walked around the halls at school, and not to mention that overwhelming day in which they all wore the Stay Strong T-shirts in their support of me (yet another OS!M). Additionally, I must give major props to Dr. Lee and the great people at Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Center: Suzy; Katina; Lindsey; Mike; and everyone else at OFAC that has been there with me over the last 7 years. I must also acknowledge some of the great folks at American Orthopedics. In particular, Mike Hansen and all his work in making my prosthetic to fit my needs and lifestyle. Also, David Deluccia has proven to be a great source of support and information since the day I made the decision to have this surgery. Finally, there have been a great group of individuals that have "provided proof" to me that they are committed to me and my pursuit of the OS!M. People like Mark, Lou, Norma, Lidle, Napes, my parents, and MANY others that have been there for me every step of the way to lend a helping hand.

I apologize for such a long post, but a lot has happened to me since my last update. I promise to come back sooner with my next update. So, until we meet again, take care, remain positive, and stay strong!!!

L.E.A.P. "The A"

It's been longer than I would like since my last update, and a lot has happened since then. This past Wednesday, I returned to my friends at American Orthopedics for another fitting of my prosthetic. After a few adjustments, I was out and about walking in the exam room, up and down steps, and up and down a ramp. Much to my surprise, I was allowed to take home my test leg to wear it around the house and note adjustments that I deem necessary when I return this upcoming Wednesday. As you can see above, I'm standing on my own two feet in my room, and let me tell you it feels great! Additionally, that evening I took my daughter Madelyn for a walk, hand in hand, around the block. Although the feeling of walking was great, the best part of my day was the pride I saw in my wife's face watching me take on the various tasks at American Orhopedics, and the excitement exhibited by my girls when they first saw me with my new leg. In fact, hearing Maya say "Daddy, you have two legs, did your leg grow back?" or seeing Madelyn jumping up and down for joy on the couch was priceless. With their support, and the support of my friends, I know I will overcome any adversity and soon become more active than I have been in a long time. This leads me to the topic of todays post.

The third essential quality of an Steve Farber utilizes to describe an "Extreme Leader" is represented by the A, in the acronym LEAP, Audacity. In fact, according to Edg:

"Audacity is 'a bold and blatant disregard for normal constraints.'"

I've always tried to lead my life by breaking through any constraints or overcoming adversities. However, doing these things myself is not what gives me the sense of being "audacious" in my leadership style. Instead, I feel more accomplished, a greater sense of pride, and much more productive when "my team" works together to complete the task at hand. Whether it's my family team, my work team, or a team of friends, I have always loved the feeling of team work. I mean there is no better feeling than forming a team; challenging the views of the naysayers, or those who say "that can't be done"; working together and reaching the goal or win. This is audacity, and this is what I hope to accomplish in all aspects of my life.

In my current journey, I will need the help of all those around me to challenge the norms and reach my goals. I have my first one set, The Outer Limits Triathlon, August 29th 2010 at 7:00am. I will compete in this traithlon in a relay format. I will swim the half mile course along the banks of the Anderson Concrete quarry, Mark Tremayne will bike the 16 mile course, and his wife Alicia will run the 5K. It is my hope that next year, the three of us can compete it this sprint triathlon again. Only this time, my goal is to complete the triathlon by myself, and I know they will be up to do the same.

Finally, I must give David Wess, the owner of Inkworkz Tattoo Studio, a big thank you. I met with him last night to discuss some tattoo designs I would like included in my first official prosthetic leg. He graciously accepted the challenge to incorporate a number of things that mean a lot to me in a tattoo format. I must say, it will be the easiest tattoo I will ever get (no sitting through the pain)...ha!!! As always, until we meet again, take care, remain positive, and stay strong!!!

Otis

Testing 1, 2, 3

I wanted to send out a quick update on my progress. Today, I had the opportunity to go test my prosthetic leg and I've attached the video of the very first steps I took. You may be able to hear the voice of my wife and the gentleman who is making my prosthetic telling me to keep my hands on the bars. I just wanted to be free at last...ha! I will be returning to test my leg again next week after a few minor tweaks are made, and I should be able to take my leg home with me in 2 weeks. I will return to my LEAP posts with "The A" explanation very soon. Thanks for all your support! As always, take care, remain positive, and stay strong!!!

Otis

L.E.A.P. "The E"

Before I delve deep into the second phase of the LEAP, "The E," and what it means to me, I must first give a few shout outs and explanations. First, in my last post I talked about "The L," Love, in LEAP, and I mistakenly forgot to mention the three people that I love the most, my wife Kristin, and my two beautiful daughters, Maddie and Maya. Secondly, I would like to explain the logo pictured at the top of this post. Last Friday, as I wheeled myself in to work, I had no idea what I was in for. As I got in to my office, people from work started showing up in bunches with one thing in common. Everyone, and I mean everyone (teachers, administrators, secretaries) had on a gray t-shirt with that logo on the front. This was orchestrated by two of my great friends, Mark Tremayne and Lou Vazquez. The m squared represents my initials, and the Stay Strong has been my mantra throughout my journey. Thus, I would be remissed if I did not give a great big thanks to the staff at Darby High School, so I thank you from the bottom of my heart! If that is not a real life example of LOVE, I don't know what is. Additionally, the ENERGY that was generated in the building last Friday was intense. Which leads me to the subject of today's post.

As I mentioned in my last post, Steve Farber uses the acronym LEAP to describe the essential qualities in becoming an "Extreme Leader." Today, I would like to discuss the E, ENERGY, and what it means to me in my daily approach to life. As Farber states, it more than just energy that the extreme leader possesses, it's the ability to generate energy in those around them. In the A Daily Handbook for Extreme Leaders, on page 169 to be exact, there is a quote that resonated within me, and one that I have often asked myself throughout my life, especially in times when facing adversity:

"What effect does my action have on the energy of the people around me?"

As I've mentioned before, I have experienced a great deal of adversity as a result of the numerous ankle surgeries I've had. At a young age, I learned that my reaction or approach to these directly effect how those around me respond.

Whether it was returning to play football, returning to teaching and coaching, or most recently returning from the amputation of my right leg, I have found jumping back in to whatever I'm doing head first with focus and a great work ethic has enabled me to overcome any obstacle or adversity that stands in my way. Additionally, this has approach has made me feel successful in whatever challenge I have faced. I want to make it clear that when I say successful, I am not defining that by being named all league or coach of the year. I simply mean, I did not let my legs determine my future, and I'd like to think that along the way, I may have inspired some around me to work hard and take on the same approach as they face a difficult time in their lives.

Although I do not wish bad luck or injury to any of you, I do hope that when an obstacle or any type of adversity presents it self, you take it on and conquer it with hard work and a positive energy. Trust me, others will notice and feed off that energy. If you've never been presented with any type of adversity, I apologize to you and hope you will begin to challenge yourself and set your goals higher. There is no better feeling than coming back stronger and defeating something that's in your way.

Finally, just recently I started reading another business parable, The Energy Bus, by Jon Gordon and there is a line early in the book that exemplifies my approach to life, or ENERGY:

"Every problem has a gift for you in its hands as my man Richard Bach says. You can choose to see the curse or gift."

I have chosen to find the gift, and I challenge you to do the same!!! Sorry for such a long post, but as you may be able to tell, I am a firm believer in the power of positive energy. I will return soon with my thoughts on the A and the P. Tomorrow I get to test my leg at 3:30 pm tomorrow afternoon, and I hope to have pictures and video to share. So, until we meet again, take care, remain positive, and stay strong!!!

Otis

p.s. Many people have expressed an interest in buying a shirt. I'm trying to coordinate this, and sell them for $10. I would like to donate all profits to kids that need prosthetics.