"Huddle-Up" 36 Winning Plays for Teenagers
By Darol Wagstaff
Youth Motivation Specialist
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Salt Lake City, UT -- When Football Season is upon us, avid fans hunker down with their remote control in hand to cheer-on their favorite teams. Instead of being a spectator, I want you to jump into the huddle right now and learn some plays that will guarantee championship performance in your personal life, in your home and family, at school and work, and in your social activities.

The following 36 winning plays (six plays a week) will help you to score championship points in each of these six areas. The key to your success is that you do the plays during the assigned week. By the end of the sixth week you will be bigger, stronger, faster and better equipped to be successful in life. You will be "HUGE!"

Schedule this program on your calendar and get started!

"Service is the Key To Success" Winning Plays for Teenagers - Week One

Play #1 "Personal Life" on one: Take at least thirty minutes for yourself every day. The best time for this is right after you wake up in the morning (If necessary, wake up a half hour earlier than you usually do). Get your mind to think about what you need to do and what you want to do during the day. Make a plan, write it down and then carry it out. You can walk or run, listen to music or read during this time. You can do anything you want, this is your time.

Play #2 "Home" on two: Find an area in your house that needs some attention and clean it up. Start with your own room and then go to the garage and perhaps even the yard. Your parents will appreciate your efforts to make your home a better place to live.

Play #3 "Family" on three: Be nice to everyone. Give everyone you come in contact with a warm genuine smile.

Play #4 "School"on four: Have perfect attendance. No absences. No Tardies.

Play #5 "Work" on five: Show-up. That's all. Just Show-up. Don't call in sick, or get someone else to work for you. Just show-up.

Play #6 "Social Life on six": Think of one of your friends that could use some cheering up or an act of kindness and then do it.

These first six winning plays are simple but not necessarily simplistic. Keep track of how you do and tell me about your success.



"Defining Purpose" Winning Plays for Teenagers - Week Two

The Late Cavett Robert was the founder and chairman of the National Speakers Association. He always found something encouraging to say. He wrote notes, left messages, gave hugs and found the part of you that most needed love and caring. He also refused to participate in any conversation that criticized or put down another person. When there was an obvious dispute he would come up with a line like, "It's time we stopped fighting over the size of our piece of the pie and worked together to build a bigger pie.

He told me once that there are four kinds of people:

    1. People who don't want to go anywhere.
    2. People who don't want to go anywhere, and they don't want anyone else to go there either.
    3. People who settle for mediocrity.
    4. People who define and achieve a positive purpose in life.



This Week we contiune with the 36 "Winning Plays For Teenagers."

Plays 7-12 are focused on defining personal purpose.

Play # 7 "Personal Life": Make a list of five things that you have a strong interest in.

Play #8 "Home": Stay home at least four nights this week.

Play #9 "Family": Seek out your parents and have a discussion about your personal interest list. Tell them that you are trying to define the purpose for your life and would appreciate their input.

Play #10 "School": Make an appointment with a teacher that you can relate to. Visit with he or she for at least 30 minutes about your personal definition of purpose. Evaluate how your class schedule supports your list of interests and get their feedback.

Play # 11 "Work": Show up on time. Last week was show up. This week is show up on time. Think about whether or not you like your job, and if it supports your areas of interest.

Play #12 "Social Life": Have a meaningful discussion about defining purpose with a close friend. The 19th century author, "George Eliot"(Mary Ann Evans Cross) wrote: "Friendship is the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with someone, having neither to weigh your thoughts nor measure your words." Having a conversation like this with a close friend can be an awesome experience.

Keep track of how you do and tell me about your success. I'll post some of your comments in future articles.



"Dare To Dream" Winning Plays for Teenagers - Week Three

Tom Clancy gave the commencement exercise speech at Villanova University in 1990. During his speech he told the graduating students that he was going to give them their last lesson in metaphysics (the philosophy of ultimate reality). Then he said, "Nothing is as real as a dream. The world may change about you but your dream will not. It will always be the link with the person that you are today, young and full of hope. If you hold on to it, you may grow old but you will never be old. And that ladies and gentlemen is the ultimate success."

When I was thirteen years old, my dream was to be the best freestyle snow skier in the world. Motivated by that dream, I set a current world record, had international recognition as a professional athlete, and am now recognized as one of the pioneers of the sport.

Plays 13-18 of the 36 "Winning Plays For Teenagers " are focused on making your dreams come true.

Play # 13 "Personal Life": Identify specifically what your idea or your dream is. A dream is an IDEA that makes you come to life.

Play #14 "Home": Make your home a positive and encouraging environment where you can set and achieve your goals.

Play #15 "Family": Tell your family what your dream is and get them involved by asking them to help you with specific things you are trying to accomplish. Then find out what their dreams are and help and believe in each other until everyone's dreams begin to come true.

Play #16 "School": Be motivated to achieve in school. Your efforts in school will carry over into other areas of your life. Maybe your dream is to achieve a 4.0 GPA.

Play # 17 "Work": Show up with a good attitude. You have now learned the three main steps of being successful at work. Play #5. Show up. Play #11. Show up on time. Play #17. Show up on time with a good attitude.

Play #18 "Social Life": Do something fun this week that will help you to celebrate your life.

One of my favorite books is titled, "Celebrate The Temporary" by Clyde Reid. Clyde tells us to: "Celebrate the simple things. Enjoy the butterfly, embrace the snow, run with the ocean, delight in the trees, or a single lonely flower. Go barefoot in the wet grass. Live in the now with all its problems, and its agonies, with its joy and its pain...Look closer, breathe deeper, stand taller. There is joy and beauty today. So celebrate it while you can. Celebrate the temporary." (Pages 15-17.)

The power of a dream is hard to measure. In 1988 fourteen-year-old Larry Adler of Potomac, Maryland, turned working around the house, cutting lawns, and running errands around the neighborhood into a business.

When Larry was nine, his stepfather gave him $19.00 to start a lawnmowing service. Five years later, that venture, Rent-A-Kid, was one of three companies that Larry owned.

Larry estimated that the $19.00 grossed $150.000 during the five years. It didn't take Larry's mother long to not to have to drive the teen-ager around to appointments - He traveled in his own limousine.

"Believe in your dreams, and your belief will create the fact."



"Self-Discipline" Winning Plays for Teenagers - Week Four

I met a couple from Maine who's little adopted girl was being bullied on her way home from school. One day the bully had peeled his peanut butter sandwich apart and stuck it to the little girls head. He told her not to take it off or she would have to answer to him. With the peanut butter sandwich still stuck on her head and crying in fear, the little girl reported the incident to her mother. The mother was furious and marched over to this young man's house. He was a latch-key-kid and had no parental supervision. She reprimanded the young man and told him to keep away from her daughter. Two days later she was sued by the bullies parents for harassment. They sued her for having the gall to discipline their son.

Often, when we think about discipline, we consider it to be some kind of punishment or consequence. The kind of discipline that we are going to focus on this week is self-discipline.

We need more self-discipline in our lives. The word discipline comes from "disciple, a pupil or follower." The best kind of doctor, teacher, coach, athlete, parent, and student, etc., is the disciplined one.

M. Scott Peck, M.D. identified four tools of discipline:

  • 1. Delay gratification.
  • 2. Accept responsibility.
  • 3. Be committed to truth.
  • 4. Balancing.

Plays 19-24 of the "36 Winning Plays For Teenagers" help to master the principle of Self-Discipline.

Play #19 "Personal Life": Set and maintain high standards for your personal behavior.

Play #20 "Home": Cheerfully do your tasks and chores.

Play #21 "Family": Determine and stand up for what your family believes.

Play #22 "School": Regularly spend time doing homework.

Play #23 "Work": Be honest and trustworthy in your business dealings.

Play #24 "Social Life": Abstain from pre-marital sex. (Not just for this week, but until you're married)

"Discipline is the basic set of tools we require to solve life's problems. Without discipline we can solve nothing. With only some discipline we can solve only some problems. With total discipline we can solve all problems." (M. Scott Peck, M.D. "The Road Less Traveled" pages 15-16.)



"Communication" Winning Plays for Teenagers - Week Five

A Judge was interviewing a woman about her pending divorce. He asked her, "What are the grounds for your divorce?" The woman answered, "We live on about three and a half acres, in a nice little house, with a stream running down through the property."

"What is the foundation of your marital problems?"

"I believe it's mortar and brick, but I'm really not sure about those things."

"Is there a real grudge?"

"No. We have never had a "garage", our carport seems to take care of all of our needs."

"Is there any infidelity in your marriage?"

"Why yes there is. My son has a Hi-Fi set and my daughter has a Hi-Fi set.

Getting somewhat frustrated the Judge then asked, "Does your husband beat you up?"

The lady quickly answered, "yes he does! About three mornings a week he wakes up earlier than I do."

"Why do you want a divorce?" Asked the Judge.

"I don't want a divorce!" Said the Woman. "I've never wanted a divorce, my husband want's the divorce. He says he can't communicate with me."

When you communicate, use your ears and your mouth according to the proportion that you have of each - two to one. Listen twice as much as you talk. Three fundamental communication skills are to: Listen, Learn, and Lead.



Plays 25 - 30 of the "36 Winning Plays For Teenagers" support effective, empathic communication.

Play #25 "Personal Life": To enhance your personal communication seek first to obtain, then to declare.

Play #26 "Home": Practice listening with love and understanding by reflecting on the meaning of what another person is saying, and feeling.

Play #27 "Family": Share and talk about what you are feeling, experiencing and understanding about each family member. Tell each family member that you love them.

Play #28 "School": Listen in school to learn. An anonymous writer wrote, "A wise old owl sat on an oak. The more he saw, the less he spoke. The less he spoke, the more he heard. Why can't we all be like that bird?"

Play #29 "Work": Identify one problem at work and provide the solution to that problem.

Play #30 "Social Life": Encourage your friends by communicating at least one positive message to them each day.

My Grandmother Wagstaff used to say:

    "Keep your heart free from hate, your mind free from worry. Live simply, accept little, give much, fill your life with love. Scatter sunshine, forget self, think of others."



"Leadership" Winning Plays for Teenagers - Week Six

Salt Lake City, UT -- Excellence and quality are a reflection of the way we feel about ourselves and about life. If we don't care about these basic things, then such not caring carries over into the work we do and our work becomes shabby and shoddy. Real craftsmanship, regardless of the skill involved requires real caring, and real caring reflects our attitude about ourselves and about life.

The "36 Winning Plays For Teenagers" are intended to support you to achieve excellence and quality in your life. This requires personal leadership. Leadership to meet your needs and to contribute positively to society.

Play # 31 "Personal Life": Commit yourself to a lifetime of personal mastery. Master your skills at playing a musical instrument, learning a second language or performing in school. Balance your mental, physical, spiritual, emotional, financial, social, community support, and family, areas of life.

Play #32 "Home": Identify and accomplish critical home-related tasks daily.

Play #33 "Family": Design a common family mission. Involve each family member so that everyone will be committed to eventually arrive at the same destination.

Play #34 "School": Get involved in extra curricular activities such as student council, service clubs, sports, and/or academic programs.

Play # 35 "Work": Force yourself to get those hard-to-get-done things done. The fear of results is procrastination.

Play #36 "Social Life": Always look and act your best. Daily exercise, proper diet, and adequate rest.

You have now learned 36 winning plays to make your life better.

Championship performance comes from having a positive self-perception, defining purpose, establishing priorities, living principles, and keeping a proper perspective. The architect Daniel H. Burnham wrote:

    "Make no little plans; they have no magic [there] to stir men's blood And probably themselves will not be realized. Make big plans; aim high and hope and work. Remembering that a noble, logical diagram once recorded will never die. But long after we are gone, will be a living thing. Asserting itself with ever-growing insistency. Remember that our sons and grandsons and daughters and granddaughters are going to do things that would stagger us. Let your watchword be order and your beacon beauty."



36 Winning Plays For Teenagers - by week

Week #1 SERVICE

    Play #1 "Personal Life": Take at least thirty minutes for yourself every day.
    Play #2 "Home": Find an area in your house that needs some attention and clean it up.
    Play #3 "Family": Be nice to everyone. Give everyone you come in contact with a warm genuine smile.
    Play #4 "School": Have perfect attendance. No absences. No Tardies.
    Play #5 "Work": Show-up. That's all. Just Show-up.
    Play #6 "Social Life": Think of one of your friends that could use some cheering up or an act of kindness and then do it.


Week #2 PURPOSE

    Play # 7 "Personal Life": Make a list of five things that you have a strong interest in.
    Play #8 "Home": Stay home at least four nights this week.
    Play #9 "Family": Seek out your parents and have a discussion about your personal interest list.
    Play #10 "School": Make an appointment with a teacher that you can relate to. Visit with he or she for at least 30 minutes about your personal definition of purpose. Evaluate how your class schedule supports your list of interests and get their feedback.
    Play # 11 "Work": Show up on time.
    Play #12 "Social Life": Have a meaningful discussion about defining purpose with a close friend.


Week #3 MOTIVATION

    Play # 13 "Personal Life": Identify specifically what your idea or your dream is. A dream is an IDEA that makes you live inside.
    Play #14 "Home": Make your home a positive and encouraging environment where you can set and achieve your goals.
    Play #15 "Family": Tell your family what your dream is and get them involved by asking them to help you with specific things you are trying to accomplish.
    Play #16 "School": Be motivated to achieve in school.
    Play # 17 "Work": Show up with a good attitude.
    Play #18 "Social Life": Do something fun this week that will help you to celebrate your life.


Week #4 SELF-DISCIPLINE

    Play #19 "Personal Life": Set and maintain high standards for your personal behavior.
    Play #20 "Home": Cheerfully do your tasks and chores.
    Play #21 "Family": Determine and stand up for what your family believes.
    Play #22 "School": Regularly spend time doing homework.
    Play #23 "Work": Be honest and trustworthy in your business dealings.
    Play #24 "Social Life": Abstain from pre-marital sex. (Not just for this week, but until you're married).


Week #5 COMMUNICATION

    Play #25 "Personal Life": To enhance your personal communication seek first to obtain, then to declare.
    Play #26 "Home": Practice listening with love and understanding by reflecting on the meaning of what another person is saying, and feeling.
    Play #27 "Family": Share and talk about what you are feeling, experiencing and understanding about each family member. Tell each family member that you love them.
    Play #28 "School": Listen in school to learn.
    Play #29 "Work": Identify one problem at work and provide the solution to that problem.
    Play #30 "Social Life": Encourage your friends by communicating at least one positive message to them each day.


Week #6 LEADERSHIP
    Play # 31 "Personal Life": Commit yourself to a lifetime of personal mastery. Master your skills at playing a musical instrument, learning a second language or performing in school. Balance your mental, physical, spiritual, emotional, financial, social, community support, and family, areas of life.
    Play #32 "Home": Identify and accomplish critical home-related tasks daily.
    Play #33 "Family": Design a common family mission. Involve each family member so that everyone will be committed to eventually arrive at the same destination.
    Play #34 "School": Get involved in extra curricular activities such as student council, service clubs, sports, and/or academic programs.
    Play # 35 "Work": Force yourself to get those hard-to-get-done things done. The fear of results is procrastination.
    Play #36 "Social Life": Always look and act your best. Daily exercise, proper diet, and adequate rest.

 
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