From Whence Character
by Jeremy Bolander on May 7, 2009 12:33 PM MDT
in Strictly My Opinion
Email
PrintCharacter.
It is a word that is tossed about casually, but with the weight of an anvil, and woe to those who must catch it and try to make sense of it. Caught up in the idea are every word and action associated with a human being, and yet from that morass we are to come away with a judgment as to whether our values are reflected by another soul, or endangered by it.
Sometimes it seems easy, almost too easy. Some young men and women are so ensorceled in the fabric of "character," so swaddled in its many layers and truisms that doubt begins to creep into the mind of the beholder. The phrase "too good to be true" rings with its hollow promise, and a player like Tim Tebow or Knowshon Moreno becomes regarded with mystery, as if we can't know truly who they are, underneath all of those layers.
On the other hand we have the Robert Ayers and Chris Bakers of the world, young men with only the scarcest of rags to cover their modest souls. This threadbare transparency shows us the night which has taken up residence within them, this black serenity which must always live within their souls, and which no amount of time may expunge.
But know that for those of us who seek the truth, the rags and transparency are a blessing. We can see that the elbows have been patched, that the soles have been worn thin, that the cloak allows water and wind to pass through. Of course, the darkness passes through as well.
And with it, stars.
To understand the fabric of character, and how a rag of it can clothe as well as a bolt of it, we must first divide it up into two ideas.
The first idea is character as an aspect, that is, character as it applies to everyone. This is the simpler of the two tasks. The second idea will be to describe the threads that weave together to create GOOD character.
Character as an aspect is described thusly, by the venerable Merriam-Webster:
a: one of the attributes or features that make up and distinguish an individual
c: the complex of mental and ethical traits marking and often individualizing a person
Sigh. If you love words as I do, you are familiar with the process of divining useful definitions from typical dictionaries. You will also have multiple dictionaries, especially OLDER ones, which you will refer to in your efforts. In this instance I see right away a preponderance of verbiage, always a red flag in a definition. A definition should delimit a concept, with concise edges and essential data, not blur the boundaries with words like "or" and "often". Often, but not always? How is that definitive?
First lets strike the "often" from the second part of the "definition, since your ethical and mental traits most certainly do individualize you. After referring to a few (older) dictionaries, and pondering the concept myself, let us forward another definition, the one afforded us from the Ayn Rand Lexicon:
Character is the moral essence of a man.
Which is to say, character is your self-made identity, expressed by your actions in accordance with your principles. To further illuminate the idea, consider character to be your identity, except it only subsumes the part of your identity which you shape by choosing, accepting and following through on particular moral values. And of moral values I am here referring to those values which you choose of your own volition (i.e. not under coercive force), and which have the power to shape the whole of your life, not just a specialized part of it (for example, maintaining your gap may certainly be a value worth pursuing on the football field, in that lone specialized environment, but it falls far short of being a guiding principle in choosing your friends, or in establishing your relationship to government).
Put simply, character is what you are morally, essentially.
I searched in vain for any popularly accepted conception of character that did not fit under this set of limits. But it still leaves wide open the much more critical issue of determining what constitutes good character.
Above I described character as a woven fabric, consisting of many threads. I phrased it this way for a reason. Studying the idea of character made one thing very clear, and that was: no part of good character can be validated in isolation from the other parts.
What this means is that while you can look at any individual thread of character (and there are, potentially, many such threads), and examine it for the purpose of better understanding it, no individual thread can be validated apart from the whole cloth it constitutes. This is why a rag of good character is just as potent and valid as a yard; character doesn't exist in quantity, but only quality.
As to what actually constitutes good character, I will leave it to the community to discuss the individual threads, those shining stars of virtue, at your leisure. Threads like Honesty, Integrity, Independence, Productivity all deserve substantial attention, and books could be written on each topic. For this post, I will severely limit myself to discussing the whole cloth of good character itself, as well as briefly touching upon the fundamental action subsumed under that whole cloth as well as briefly covering their antithesis.
Good Character
If character is your moral essence, and if your morals are the guiding principles meant to further your life, than good character can properly be described as those moral principles which further a good life, i.e. one of happiness. Within this statement I make a number of metaphysical, epistemological and ethical assumptions in order to claim that happiness is a good barometer for judging your life. Among the assumptions is the critical metaphysical assumption that reality is the standard by which everything must be consistent. This is certainly a point that is open to debate, and which a book could be written about. Since this is not a book, I will go ahead and operate on the metaphysical assumption contained in the Law of Identity, A=A, and leave any debating of this point in the comments. I caution you: if you do not agree with this principle (identity) than it would be best to come to terms with that idea before arguing the points in the post, as they are reliant upon it.
To continue, with reality as the standard, the primary principle which subsumes all the others is the idea of rationality, i.e. the non-contradictory use of your mind to identify, pursue, acquire and protect values. Rationality says simply, that real things must be pursued by real means according to reality. Reality dictates that a human has a certain nature, and that a pear has a certain nature and that water has a certain nature. Rationality dictates that a human should eat the pear and drink the water. No matter how complex the ethical discussion, at its base it will reduce to a discussion of reality vs. fantasy, rationality vs. irrationality.
In looking to acquire players of "good character" the Broncos have put a premium on rationality, on players whose focus is turned outward on reality, and on applying their values on the world around them in the hopes of impacting it enough to feel the reverberations of those values back to them. To the wayside have fallen those whose attention is turned inwards upon their emotions, whose actions show an unwillingness to act as reality demands, whether that is staying in your assigned gap (integrity), earning your position on the staff (productivity), or uttering truthful statements (honesty). The process has not been a perfect one, and has oscillated between degrees of both rationality and irrationality, but there can be no doubt about the commitment of energy to acquiring rational players, and of divesting the team of irrational players.
It is also worth noting that, like most men, those that have been acquired or discarded are mixed quotients of rationality and irrationality, swinging like a pendulum between the two extremes. But good character begins with the discovery of the damage irrationality can cause, and the search for good character necessarily involves the search for those who expend added vigor in attaining greater heights of rationality, and of sustaining those heights longer.
Rod Smith is an example par excellence of such an upswing. His moral pendulum has remained rigid in the upper-most regions of high character for so long that it seems seized, as if it couldn't possibly fall back, ever. But what keeps it up there is his knowledge that it could fall back, at any time, and that only consistent, virtuous action will keep it there.
And at its root, all virtuous action consists of one fundamental activity. One single effort can be identified in the way a player plays, practices, or speaks in interviews.
That action is: Focus.
I am talking here about purposeful alertness. Many of you have already identified this trait in McDaniels, and I have seen it referred to several times as "detail-oriented," which is a bit inaccurate. What he is doing specifically is remaining open and mentally alert, even in relatively insignificant circumstances.
Note that focus implies effort. Compare this to the lackadaisical, out-of-focus drifting that seems to have been the hallmark of the Denver Broncos for several years now. There was a profoundly disturbing inability to maintain any significant degree of intensity, i.e. focus.
Just like focusing your eyes as a baby, the act of focusing your mind is an acquired skill, and one that must be exercised frequently and regularly. This does not mean pain, but it does mean struggle. Great character means, essentially, embracing that struggle through continuous, scrupulous mental effort, in a lifelong commitment. It is a fundamental struggle based on principle. And, just like focusing your eyes, it is a struggle that gets easier the longer you do it, until a negligible amount of effort is required to sustain it. However, it would be a mistake to think that NO effort was required, at any stage.
The identification of Focus as a primary virtuous action, leads also to the identification of its antithesis, the act of evasion. I am speaking here of mental evasion, of anti-effort, indeed the resentment of the effort required to focus. Evasion can be anything from ignoring the need for a coaching staff while promoting friends, to making off-the-cuff remarks with no regard for their effect. Both instances reject the moderate-to-high amounts of effort required to maintain consistency with reality, and both unnecessarily place the onus of grasping reality on someone, anyone, else.
Again it is worth noting that focus is an effort, and evasion is the vacuum which occupies any moment where focus is not observed, or actively shunned, and that most men swing between the two states in varying degrees of control. And again, the higher the degree of focus, and the higher the degree of control over that state, the higher the degree of moral character in that person.
Focus as the primary indication of rationality, rationality as the primary indicator of good character. The idea is a pretty simple one. The better you use your mind, the better person you will be. This has no relation to overall intelligence either. A brute can have just as much moral fortitude as a genius, and vice versa. What matters is effort.
Take heart in noting the focus with which a player like Robert Ayers addresses his past. He can recall the details and the emotions. He addresses it directly without fear. That is not the act of an evader, of one who has shoved their past into a cloistered recess, to become a cobweb-covered specter that haunts them and breeds a fear so profound that they jump at shadows. Ayers, and others like him, have used their past as the momentum they need to begin the upward trend in their character. Denver catches them at their apex.
It will take a certain amount of effort and energy for them to stay there. But now we know that it is the same effort and energy that will help them stay here, with the Denver Broncos.
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This should break the record for Recs, purely on strength of writing
Thanks, styg. Such a gift
Hillis/Moreno in '09
Appreciate it Bear
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on May 7, 2009 5:05 PM MDT up reply actions
wow
agreed that the extent to which a team focuses can have much more to do with the outcome of a game than their raw talent level. The ubiquity of “superstars” lauded for their “potential” that never appears speaks to the fact that the public is obsessed with talented athletes before they earn the right to be respected as men of character, or even professionals. You wouldn’t respect a dentist merely because he went to a good dental school, you would judge him/her on the quality of work. Same goes with almost any profession. Only in pro sports is the obsession with “potential” taken to such an extreme that it seems a miracle that any young athlete ever amounts to anything. I think that before talent is assessed, character should be a prerequisite in player evaluation, not in the sense that only choirboys will be admitted to the team, but in the way that you put it, that character is important so far as the team is concerned as it pertains to the ability of the player to focus on the goal of making the team better.
Great post..rec’d!
by orangeandblueblood7 on May 7, 2009 12:54 PM MDT reply actions
Absolutely
We are talking about the difference between a car-lot and a road. they are both loaded with cars, and, in particular, the car-lot is loaded with beauts, but a car is nothing without a driver.
The players who are loaded with potential, and yet never add up to the sum of their parts could very well be guilty of waiting for someone to show up and “drive them,” to their goals. While coaches might make good motivators the vast majority of their work will require reciprocation onthe player’s part.
When it comes to our goals, no one can pinch hit for us. I think Shanahan designed teams ran almost purely on the fuel he put in their tanks. When he started running on fumes, the rest of the team was doomed…
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on May 7, 2009 5:10 PM MDT up reply actions
That transcended "fun Broncos talk" (which is great),
to something that is helpful to me in my life. Thanks.
High praise
and I am stoked you got additional use out of it!
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on May 7, 2009 5:11 PM MDT up reply actions
Jeeze
I think I am going to Stanza this post so I can use an ereader.
Tis better not to throw it to the deep receiver but the open receiver.
Stanza=software?
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on May 7, 2009 5:11 PM MDT up reply actions
Ya
Nice piece of freeware. Will convert any text or webpage into the format for e-readers so you could use it on a Kindle, iPhone, Palm, Blackberry, and others.
It also just makes a nice format here for reading things in general.
(Company was just bought by Amazon…)
Tis better not to throw it to the deep receiver but the open receiver.
which means we'll have to pay for it soon
Pray for the best, prepare for the worst, and hope you come down somewhere between the two.
flabbergasted
i love the way you manhandle your words into something awesome
you have a real skill and im grateful you share it with us so often
rec’d
"Have you ever heard of the emancipation proclamation?"
- "I don't listen to hip-hop"
"Born like this / Into this"
It is truly my pleasure.
and so often is up for interpretation…Summertime in Alaska is practically here, and I have a lot of salmon, shrimp, halibut and crab to catch. Something tells me I will be frequently awol in the coming months! ;)
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on May 7, 2009 5:12 PM MDT up reply actions
nope not allowed
can you spell laptop connected to satellite phone? LOL
Pray for the best, prepare for the worst, and hope you come down somewhere between the two.
so seafood is good for your brain
looks like sushi is on my menu tonight
"Have you ever heard of the emancipation proclamation?"
- "I don't listen to hip-hop"
"Born like this / Into this"
oh man
unagi here I come….
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on May 7, 2009 9:48 PM MDT up reply actions
oooooh
I love unagi!
"From the get-go, we targeted a certain type of player: tough, smart, competitive, versatile, a good person that loves football and wants to win." -Coach McDaniels
by Colorado_Kitten on May 7, 2009 10:26 PM MDT up reply actions
It has to be the best
followed by the soft shell crab roll. nomnomnomnom
I know there are those who swear by black cod sashimi. They often profess to prefer it over life itself. I wouldn’t know, since the sashimi doesn’t seem like a wise idea to me….
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on May 8, 2009 6:51 PM MDT up reply actions
See, after a post like From Whence..
I picture you as our wise old Thoreau. And then you throw lolspeak at me -and I have to remember that you are actually around my age. I’ll have to visit Alaska sometime -as it seems to do wondrous things for the mind and soul.
I like sashimi. But I’m not very adventurous in my selection. Yellowtail will do just fine. I’ve tried octopus once, and found it just much too rubbery for my western mouth to really enjoy.
"From the get-go, we targeted a certain type of player: tough, smart, competitive, versatile, a good person that loves football and wants to win." -Coach McDaniels
by Colorado_Kitten on May 9, 2009 9:23 PM MDT up reply actions
Thanks again for the editing NYC
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on May 7, 2009 5:12 PM MDT up reply actions
Wow, excellent read, much to digest...
Character’s definition in Living English " Character is who you are when no one is watching"
I was thinking that you could say that the threads of our character are woven each day and become a compilation of all of our thoughts words and deeds, that’s why the Bible says that the day of a man’s death is better than his birth, he has had his whole life to weave the good name and reputation that he has. ie… Rod Smith
The reality of our day is tremendously different than the reality of 20 years ago and will be 20 years from now. While I see a lot of good in the world it does seem that Good Ole Fashioned values are not valued the same and it makes me apprehensive for my 4 year old son. For instance Is there really such a thing as “Harmless flirting” for someone who is married? To me it’s an oxymoron but in today’s world, not so bad, but where does it lead?
Now I am not trying to talk bad of Shanny, my garment has many threads that I am not proud of, and I have a lot of respect for him, but could the new restaurant and 25,000 square foot house have been harmless flirting when he was already married? Did he loose his focus?
At any rate I surely enjoyed your read, was sad to get to the bottom.
Can you rec’d more than once? :)
"even a stopped clock is right twice a day" Yosemite Sam
by lovewatchinthegame on May 7, 2009 1:16 PM MDT reply actions
Re:" Character is who you are when no one is watching"
This is a great way to spot character, (and picadillos), especially in oneself (anyone else would be spying, lol).There is an important correlation to its antihesis as well, which is that whoever you are, it is important to be that person even around others. Many people transmutate beneath the lens of the observer, which is a shame. I think the range of characters who frequent this site is proof that we need everyone to be themselves, and to seek their own self-growth on their own terms.
RE: good ol’ family values, I am often surprised at where they show up, as often as I am disgusted by where they are lacking. There is a balance there I suspect, but I don’t worry too much about it. our values will always be a struggle to pursue, which is part of why we rejoice in sport. There is fuel to be found there.
And I think you are on to something with Shanny’s “other” concerns. He also had a son entering the pro-ranks to coach with a close friend, and you know Shanny lost some sleep worrying about him, knowing full well what kind of scrutiny and slings and arrows he will ahve to endure in his career. I think Shanny was on his way to creating something he may have been able to step away from some day, perhaps even of his own volition. But I think he surrounded himself with the wrong people, and hte cost came out of his reserves of strength and time.
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on May 7, 2009 5:26 PM MDT up reply actions
Well said...
thanks for the input and again, excellent read!!!
"even a stopped clock is right twice a day" Yosemite Sam
by lovewatchinthegame on May 7, 2009 7:32 PM MDT up reply actions
You took the time to reply
and that is more than enough, I appreciate it!
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on May 7, 2009 5:26 PM MDT up reply actions
Impressive
I found myself re reading every sentence so I could fully comprehend what was just written, even then I had to read some 3-4 times. Very well written, I appreciate you taking the time to enlighten us on this Thursday afternoon. It actually enlightned me to realize I need to focus on my JOB and close MHR.
Thanks again Styg
Close MHR????
I have failed! :(
(Seriously, though, thanks!)
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on May 7, 2009 5:27 PM MDT up reply actions
Just for a few Hours!!
No I had a ton of work to do and just needed some inspiration. MHR will never stay closed.
Well stated and a great reason to belive this team will be better than last years...
Is the team full of character or composed of characters?
There is no I in team.
We were certainly getting on the character path again last year
whether it would have continued is lost to the aether at this point. Still, one cannot argue with the amount of deadwood that got trimmed this year, and with only one of them being resigned (Niko, to my knowledge), that CERTAINLY can’t be argued with.
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on May 7, 2009 5:29 PM MDT up reply actions
The fabric of character
Styg, I would love to see this published in a venue with even broader appeal than our dear MHR. Your prose is world class, arguments carefully plotted and supported, and thinking shows an incisive clarity that I can only admire as superior . I am constantly amazed at the depth of understanding I get reading MHR. thank you and of course rec’d.
Superior?
doubtful. However, this is my “dayjob” if you will, so it is right in my wheelhouse. And believe me, I wouldn’t put the effort forth here if I didn’t feel the reciprocation was there. I learn from this community every day, in countless ways.
It is amazing what dialogs rooted in valuing can provide, if let off their leash a little bit. (The value of course being a rabid Broncos fandom.)
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on May 7, 2009 5:32 PM MDT up reply actions
Styg - I'm humbled and struck breathless
"From the get-go, we targeted a certain type of player: tough, smart, competitive, versatile, a good person that loves football and wants to win." -Coach McDaniels
Humility need not apply
your response to it is nothing less than recognition and reflection. We tend to get what we give around these parts.
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on May 7, 2009 5:34 PM MDT up reply actions
Just...wow
Much appreciated; just an amazing work.
"Don't feed the trolls. Remember to be polite. And please show self-restraint in comment length!" -Me, to myself, because I need constant reminding.
I have come to the conclusion that you and Kitten are connected
I suspect you share a computer, as you seem to comment within minutes of eachother, consistently….. :)
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on May 7, 2009 5:35 PM MDT up reply actions
Correct conclusion
Wrong reasons. :-)
Married – but work miles from each other and have our own computers at home. Just a coincidence about the timing. It was amusing, actually. Today I read this post on a break at work, and immediately emailed Stu commenting about it. He replied back that he knew exactly what my email was about before he even read it, as he had also just finished your post. But we are both hopelessly addicted to MHR, so it’s no surprise.
"From the get-go, we targeted a certain type of player: tough, smart, competitive, versatile, a good person that loves football and wants to win." -Coach McDaniels
by Colorado_Kitten on May 7, 2009 8:53 PM MDT up reply actions
Posted for consistency. :)
"Don't feed the trolls. Remember to be polite. And please show self-restraint in comment length!" -Me, to myself, because I need constant reminding.
awesome
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on May 7, 2009 9:50 PM MDT up reply actions
lol - so true...
it makes me wonder how many other quiet connections we have here at MHR.
"From the get-go, we targeted a certain type of player: tough, smart, competitive, versatile, a good person that loves football and wants to win." -Coach McDaniels
by Colorado_Kitten on May 9, 2009 9:27 PM MDT up reply actions
A Few thoughts...
Character’s definition in Living English " Character is who you are when no one is watching"
My daughter worked her butt off to earn free tickets to a Sacramento River Cats (AAA Baseball) game with her school and during the pre-game assembly for all these students from various schools in the area the guy giving the presentation used that exact term and have the children repeat it several times. “Character is who you are when nobody is watching”. Good stuff. Thank you!
Also styg,
I am pretty sure that Ayn Rand also defined character in the same way. Character is the moral essence of man. I have found that my critical thought and overall intelligence increases every time I read a classic from decades past. The novels of today are garbage in comparison. As much as I enjoy Tom Clancy…even he doesn’t compare to the works of old.
Epic post. Thank you!
Verbose in style, dispersion of thought, procrastination in life.
classic novels are wher it is at, no doubt
but I would hate to sell short talented contemporaries. the book has taken somewhat of a backseat to much more…thoughtless?…forms of entertainment, and so the press seems to be not there for anyone not on The List (NYT bestsellers). There you will find the same names over and over. Consumer confidence and marketing seems to be the sensible, but unfortuante culprit.
Personally I take my cues from Victor Hugo, Dumas, and other romantics (Ayn Rand was a more modern romantic, along with the western writer Frank H. Spearman, and very enjoyable).
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on May 7, 2009 5:39 PM MDT up reply actions
talented contemporaries
Khaled Hosseini wrote Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns which are powerfull novels of modern Afganaston. Ken Follett with Pillars of the Earth and World Without End. will entertain as well as educate. I think you would enjoy anything by Christopher Moore and I’ll bet you laugh your butt off at The Lamb. Last reccomendation is The Shack by William P. Young.
It all starts in the trenches - HT 11/11/08
Leave the hateful vitriol to the uninformed - HT 3/16/09
Thank you for the recommendations
I have heard of Follett, just not sure in what context. Now to find a timestore…..
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on May 8, 2009 10:20 PM MDT up reply actions
Atlas Shrugged! Good stuff
It’s a reflection of a reality that is all too easy to see happening these days.
I was also going to comment on the usefulness of this article in a much bigger arena than MHR.
It’s a spot on view of our daily lives, in a “civilized” world. Our communities, whether large (USA) or small (insert hometown here), are made up of people with varying degrees of “character”. Each person affects the entire community whether directly or indirectly. When the number of “low characters” in the community gets too large (or too loud), it will inevitably require the “high character folks” to appease them, or make a stand and make them change their ways or leave the community.
I believe that’s a microchosm of today’s society. Unfortunately we cater to those who lack focus and character, even though they refuse to work hard and do the things everyone else does to succeed. They wish to blame everyone else for keeping them down, thus creating additional burdens for the people of good character.
Do some people legitimately deserve help from others….you bet they do, but they are the minority in an evergrowing group of people who want happiness and wealth provided to them sans hard work.
Sorry to wax philisophical, but your GREAT post inspired me! LOL
A proud prognostication of 10-6 in 2009!!!
Agreed.
On Atlas Shrugged…I actually enjoyed Fountainhead more. I even tried to convince my wife to name our child, if its a boy, Roarke. She hated it and refused to even consider it. So I am back to hoping for a girl this December. lol
I will say this. If there is one state in this Union that resembles the nation in Atlas Shrugged it would be California. Our Legislators are going to a conference in Nevada this month to try and figure out why businesses are fleeing California. I just laughed….the answer is so obvious, but politicians don’t understand “obvious”.
:)
Verbose in style, dispersion of thought, procrastination in life.
Good luck on the girl!
And you are so right about California. Your State is so beautiful, and has so much to offer……Not to mention vast resources that those in charge refuse to use.
At least the beauty can somewhat compensate for the fits of “banging your head against the desk” that must inevitably happen at times.
I will check out Fountainhead….I haven’t read that one yet. :)
A proud prognostication of 10-6 in 2009!!!
Fountainhead, as I think, is sort of the prelude to Atlas Shrugged.
And I bang my head on my desk daily!
Verbose in style, dispersion of thought, procrastination in life.
They are separate stories
but their is a sort of prelude nature to FH. FH is about individualism vs. collectivism in one person. AS is about individualism vs. collectivism in a whole country.
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on May 8, 2009 6:53 PM MDT up reply actions
It's been about eight years since I read those two books.
From what I remember, I liked the Fountainhead better than Atlas Shrugged. My memories tell me that AS was too preachy. I personally do not wholly agree with her overall philosophy but I do respect her writings on literary merit alone.
I also prefer fountainhead
Galt’s speech in AS is a turn off for me, as it is too long. As long as we are talking focus, I challenge anyone to read and intellectually absorb that speech in one sitting. Rand made a terrificly logical case for why the length of the speech is warranted by the development up to that point, but I can’t read the speech without stepping out of the novel, which is never a good thing.
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on May 8, 2009 10:13 PM MDT up reply actions
I tend to agree...
A 50 some odd page speech rehashing the same ideas that have been brilliantly portrayed earlier in the book (several times), was OK the first time I read it. On my second reading a year ago, I actually had to quit….
I have Fountainhead coming from eBay, so I’m eager to get started on it. :)
A proud prognostication of 10-6 in 2009!!!
Great stuff Styg
Definitely rec’d and buzzed.
"I am not one of those who think that coming in second or third is winning." -- Robert F. Kennedy
ditto
Guardian of the Gate to La La Land!
Little, Wright, Atwater, Davis, and Sharpe...
Why are they not in the Hall...I just don't understand.
Thanks guys.
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on May 7, 2009 5:39 PM MDT up reply actions
A zillion points
for using “ensorceled” in a sentence. That alone gets a huge rec from me. Google itself found only 4,990 instances and that includes indexes of dictionary sites. : )
"They need a hero to tell them that the impossible can become possible..... WHEN... YOU'RE... AWESOMMMME!" -- Rhino the Hamster
side note
In screenwriting, some writers consider character and plot to be the same thing. In other words, character is conceived of as not so much what you are as what you do. I won’t dive deeply into religion, as this clearly isn’t the forum, but this is an essential aspect of Christianity — that we are defined morally by our actions. It’s not that we don’t do dumb stuff, it’s whether we actually do good stuff as well.
"They need a hero to tell them that the impossible can become possible..... WHEN... YOU'RE... AWESOMMMME!" -- Rhino the Hamster
by broncosmontana on May 7, 2009 3:50 PM MDT up reply actions
I know exactly what you mean with screenwriting
in that format exposition is an expensive and undesirable luxury. Dialog and action rule the day. I learned more about characterization from Lew Hunter than I did from years of studying fiction. I love the efficiency inherent in the best screenplays, and while my ability there is limited, I never tire of breaking down others’ screenplays and, of course, critiquing the movies in situ. :) I have found that teleplays have become of such high quality anymore that they can be even more fun to break down, in terms of efficiency. Unfortunately, production contradictions tend to be glaring in teleplays.
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on May 7, 2009 5:45 PM MDT up reply actions
When you subscribe to that...
you become a human doing instead of a human being!! (Steven Covey)
"even a stopped clock is right twice a day" Yosemite Sam
by lovewatchinthegame on May 7, 2009 7:38 PM MDT up reply actions
styg absolutely awesome and rec'd
I love the delineation between character and “good” character.
It reminded me of a morals and ethics class I had where the professor told us everyone has morals and ethics. Morals = the values you hold, ethics = what you’re willing to do to make your values real. The real question then is: are your morals and ethics “good” or “bad”.
Once again styg, absolutely amazing and awe-inspiring post
Pray for the best, prepare for the worst, and hope you come down somewhere between the two.
Yes,
Morals are the content of a code of ethics (ten commandments are the morals in a biblical ethical code). Ethics are the science of understanding and erecting a code that supports morality. All in all it boils down to one’s metaphysical views, so I was always surprised that Ethics was one of the first classes in philosophy we are taught. I suppose the thought there is it is easier to engage a young mind on the topic because it comes across (only initially though!) as less abstract…. If I were teaching it, I think I would personally prefer to introduce students to philosophy at a much younger age, through a historical treatment of the main figures (think storytelling). Then for a rigorous scientific breakdown in late highschool, early college, start with metaphysics. i think this would allow the student to see philosophy as an integrated whole before they have really had to digest the difficulties of isolating any individual aspect, such as politics, or volition. Some abstractions are simply too complex. they need good scaffolding built beneath them to protect young minds who dare the initial forays. In fact, i think a lot of humanities could use a more rigorous scaffolding to protect young minds, much as math develops on many levels to buffer young scientists and engineers.
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on May 7, 2009 5:55 PM MDT up reply actions
Instead of going to Canton every year
The rookies should read this!!! What a terrific read Styg! I even had to go to dictionary.com a few times…LOL! Keep em coming.
"I can do all things through HIM who gives me strength"
"And you KNOW(shon) this...man!!!"
by BroncoCountryHawaii on May 7, 2009 4:11 PM MDT reply actions
Thanks Hawaii!
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on May 7, 2009 5:56 PM MDT up reply actions
I appreciate it
and thank you for stopping in!
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on May 7, 2009 5:58 PM MDT up reply actions
Styg, A wonderful piece, your love of words, and how we use them, to define us---poetic my friend.
Charactor= char——actor
useing the fire of reason, we char the fabric that surrounds ( us ) the actor
in an attempt to know who, and what we are…
Bravo!
Rec’d
Real Power, comes with the realization that One cannot change the Moment;
only ones perception of it: Atitude! JQM
very interesting
I would add to it, but I have a thing about taking analogies way too far. Just ask the editor staff about tomatos!
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on May 7, 2009 6:00 PM MDT up reply actions
Lombardi on leadership
It’s a little ways down, starting with Winston Churchill and it continues through Gruden and Belichick.
http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/2009/05/sunday-at-the-post-2/
What should be noticed is how the emphasis in on ‘little’ things, such as details, rather than the grand scale events that we often associate with the heroic conception of leadership.
equating leadership with unrelenting attention?
It makes sense. I have always dreaded on the job promotions, in that I know I am not leadership material. I like to clobber an idea into the dirt with singularity or grasp the picture in its entirety and advise. I simply don’t have an interest to engage in the leadership level of constant attention and delegation. I am too susceptible to “doing it myself” which is just a no-no, for leaders. I think one can lead from amny different positions, but I know that I, and everyone else would always have a sense of relief when I no longer was required to have leadership duties. I was an intense slavedriver with no sympathy or laidback and casual to the point of boredom, if something didn’t matter in the big picture. I’m sure it was unnecesarrily taxing for all involved.
I have always admired those who thrived in leadership roles, and am always interested in what motivates them, and how they are pyschologically structured…
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on May 7, 2009 6:12 PM MDT up reply actions
a loose synonym or allied concept
The category on some scouting reports is called character, and we see it expressed in the negative as history of arrests and/or off-the-field incidents.
PFW lists injuries, age, intelligence, character and other things as factors that could impact draft status.
Leadership became an issue last year when many of the draftees seemed to fit into a particular profile. Many of them were team captains and others were already in graduate school.
The two issues — of character and leadership — have been used to talk about the same issue, with character being used in the negative, as in what they lack, and leadership as its antonym.
I don’t think think of the two terms as opposites, even when character is used to denote its absence, but I thought the article by Lombardi provided an interesting counterpoint to this discussion.
The Broncos have been described as “lacking leadership” but I think this is a synonym for other problems.
My thinking on the subject is influenced by Personality psychology but I don’t make any great claims for that sub-field, since it’s a weak area in psychology. I like Kiersay’s adaptation of the Meyers-Briggs Type test. Also, the Strong-Campbell Interest Inventory is a useful instrument.
I strongly recommend Please Understand Me by Keirsay and Bates.
More later.
Kiersay's adaptation
I got that test as part of a job hiring process for Raytheon. Very enjoyable test with substantive questions where I felt in control with my answers most of the time. A few questions that I viewed as being indecisive in their phrasing (but maybe that was the point???) LOTS of questions, took a long time to complete. INTJ.
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on May 7, 2009 9:56 PM MDT up reply actions
testing, etc.
“Forced choice” questions are supposed to ‘get you off the fence.’ In other words, you’re should have problems with their wording. Also, they have to phrase the same question in two ways; negative and positive. People tend to answer in the affirmative so questions need two variants for balance. Asking people about their general personality tendencies leads to ambiguous wording at times.
The same biases that affect other forms of surveys also affect personality inventories. People attempt to look good, which may mean they answer in a way that they believe reflects positively on themselves (which reveals something about their attitudes, too, but that’s not what they’re looking for), and they also attempt to conform to a caricature which they aspire to. If they want to be a doctor then they give answers that they believe a doctor might give. This doesn’t work for the Strong-Campell, which is correlated to the responses that people who are happy in the field give. Their responses may be counter-intuitive so ‘projecting’ your responses usually doesn’t work.
You come in as a “Mastermind,” which is where I often come in (INTJ). My last time re-taking the MB gave me a INTP (Architect). There are questions about validity because of the lack of inter-test consistency. It’s quite normal to shift around somewhat, so not every time will or should yield exactly the same type (it will probably still be close though).
The Wikipedia entry on this subject is quite good.
Sometimes I really hope the Broncos read the articles on this site
and sometimes I really hope our division rivals don’t! ; )
"They need a hero to tell them that the impossible can become possible..... WHEN... YOU'RE... AWESOMMMME!" -- Rhino the Hamster
Gracias Steve!
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on May 7, 2009 6:12 PM MDT up reply actions
Thanks for the inspiration
That’s above and beyond what is expected in this greatly entertaining site. Pushing us intellectually like this is welcomed.
What is “reality” though? Isn’t it possible that we’re limited by having only two eyes, and uncritically accepting what our teachers have taught us? Certainly history, at least, can be shown to be highly subjective.
Some of Rudy Rucker’s novels, including “Spaceland” and the last two in the “…ware” series explore folding ourselves into higher dimensions and the extra abilities that gives us. Just the opposite of Abbot’s classic “Flatland” tale of people living in only two dimensions. Michio Kaku’s “Hyperspace” is a pop-science overview of the history and implications of this concept.
Pushing my self into those unknown regions via concentrated meditation, while imagining that it is possible, is a main driver in my life. It definitely requires focus.
I accept that this is outside of commonly understood reality, and my family and friends accept that I can be a little eccentric. But I don’t deny “normal reality”, I try to add to it.
OK, this is probably not rationality, and may well indicate flaws in my character. For example I “should” be working now, not engaging in philosophical excursions. But your post was such a delight to take in that I felt inspired to respond with more than just adulation.
Thank you.
"Remember, it's only a game."
ah...I struggle to tame the monkey mind
and I fail quite often…most often.
"From the get-go, we targeted a certain type of player: tough, smart, competitive, versatile, a good person that loves football and wants to win." -Coach McDaniels
by Colorado_Kitten on May 7, 2009 4:58 PM MDT up reply actions
I read an interview with Dave Stewart
of the Eurythmics, where he said the secret to his success was only thinking about one thing at a time.
When he’d finished, he’d think about something else. THAT takes focus.
It is difficult, but doesn’t it feel great when you do get “in the zone” though? Meditation, creative working, making love, whatever, when you lose the sensation of time?
"Remember, it's only a game."
the zone!
The only place to be. I only wihs the transition were quicker, or could be brute forced! But then I guess it wouldn’t be the zone… :)
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on May 7, 2009 6:13 PM MDT up reply actions
a treasure incomparable
really. I’m renewed and inspired now. I think I shall attempt that kind of focus tomorrow. I have a tech report that really needs to get done soonest – we’ll see how long I can keep the focus. :-)
"From the get-go, we targeted a certain type of player: tough, smart, competitive, versatile, a good person that loves football and wants to win." -Coach McDaniels
by Colorado_Kitten on May 7, 2009 9:00 PM MDT up reply actions
I don't fault the pursuit of knowledge on any level
no matter how eccentric. All I ask is that no one force me to pay for it! :)
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on May 7, 2009 6:15 PM MDT up reply actions
If I was to walk up to my dad tell him something, and it had the word 'ensorceled' in it,
he would say, “what in the hell did you just call me”, that coming after I pick myself up off of the ground. But seriously, I never judge a book by it’s cover, nor do I judge a person by how they look or dress. Only by opening the pages of that persons soul can one really draw any conclusion of how that person is, characteristically speaking. Some people grow up in an environment steeped with so much corruption and stench (violence) that it would seem they would never have a chance in life to be a “good” person. We see it though, and we have to wonder, was their something or someone at a particular time in their life that touched them? Hmmm…
I hear people say, well he did this, or he did that, and he can’t be trusted. I say, did he do his time, because if he did, he’s paid his dept then, huh? Forgiving is a hard them for a lot of people to do, and even if they forgive, they will never forget it.
Forgiving being hard
sometimes we don’t even realize we are taking issue witha transgression against us, which makes it even harder to forgive. Personally I don’t ascribe to the idea of forgiving others as virtuous, except in that someone granting forgiveness often needs to be more merciful to themselves…
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on May 7, 2009 6:19 PM MDT up reply actions
forgiving is a gift you give yourself!!!
"even a stopped clock is right twice a day" Yosemite Sam
by lovewatchinthegame on May 7, 2009 7:44 PM MDT up reply actions
I absolutely agree with that
To forgive others is a mercy of love toward yourself moreso than toward an offender. Whether “they” have asked for it or no, or are even aware of it or no; forgiveness softens the hardened walls around your heart and allows you to move on and grow.
"From the get-go, we targeted a certain type of player: tough, smart, competitive, versatile, a good person that loves football and wants to win." -Coach McDaniels
by Colorado_Kitten on May 7, 2009 9:05 PM MDT up reply actions
well said!!!
"even a stopped clock is right twice a day" Yosemite Sam
by lovewatchinthegame on May 8, 2009 12:06 AM MDT up reply actions
Awesome Post - McDaniels Food for Thought
That action is: Focus.
I am talking here about purposeful alertness. Many of you have already identified this trait in McDaniels, and I have seen it referred to several times as “detail-oriented,” which is a bit inaccurate. What he is doing specifically is remaining open and mentally alert, even in relatively insignificant circumstances.
Note that focus implies effort. Compare this to the lackadaisical, out-of-focus drifting that seems to have been the hallmark of the Denver Broncos for several years now. There was a profoundly disturbing inability to maintain any significant degree of intensity, i.e. focus.
NOT to dwell on McJaygate…for it is water that has truly gone under the bridge, and off into the dark night.
But I have been trying to figure out what it was that McDaniels saw (or did not see) in Cutler back in their time together in January. The short time together that the Coach and QB spent together going over the playbook and McD’s new system.
Did Mcd see a small character flaw in Cutler – the lack of focus and effort – that made McD question whether Cutler was the right man for the job of being the QB in his new offensive system? Was Character really the issue that moved McD to be open to the possibility of Cassel being the next Bronco QB? Thoughts?
Thanks Styg – now we have an idea what time in Alaska does to a man!! I know I lived there for a time too.
To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also DREAM; not only plan, but also BELIEVE.
I strongly believe Cutler had difficulty focusing
He wasn’t the only one, and he has a pretty darned good reason. Kitten’s post on the effects of diabetes helped me understand a bit that he was certainly susceptible to biochemical changes that most people don’t have to endure. that said, i agreed with colinski in that thread, that we certainly don’t need any excuses for the way things went down, or what Cutler’s actions said about him.
And yes, the fly on the wall would be a very valuable interview at this point! :)
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on May 7, 2009 6:24 PM MDT up reply actions
Like a tree.
Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.
Abraham Lincoln
I'm betting
that the standard news cycle regarding “character” especially for a draft prospect is as predictable as the sun arcing through the sky. Like the tree’s shadow, I’m thinking that the typical “character” conundrum surrounding a player follows a pattern of wax and wane, until the season rolls around and reality is given center stage. Again, I am with Colinski in hoping that more attention is paid to the fact that even if we drafted a team of choirboys, we would still need to address the ability of the team to succesffuly fill out a roster of guys with leadership qualities, a team first attitude, and the intelligence to adapt on the fly.
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on May 7, 2009 6:30 PM MDT up reply actions
Breakfast Club
Styg fabulous article for this noob to read. As I was reading I kept thinking of my own fabrics that I’ve had woven in my work life, my personal life and all this inconsistencies that I’ve lived with within myself. No matter how old we are we still can focus on living a “better” life and leaving a positive impact on others.
We have a group of men (7) who each Saturday morning meet for breakfast at the same time, same place for our “male bonding”. We discuss sports, politics, current events, anything that comes up the group wants to discuss. We have deaths, births, marriages…just a slice of life. The thing that remains constant is we have each other for that moment in time that we share with each other.
I will for certain share your thoughts on character with this group and can’t wait for their enlightenment as to their own views to the essence of character. Great topic and many thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Sounds like a special group
Let us know how it goes!
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on May 7, 2009 7:33 PM MDT up reply actions
Awesome!
Those that cant coach, compete!
Failing to plan is planning to fail.
All I want is 53 Rod Smiths. Is that asking too much????
thanks boydy
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on May 8, 2009 7:02 PM MDT up reply actions
Thanks styg...
Character is something that I feel we’ve left behind a little bit in the modern world. It’s something your parents might say when you’ve been through a tough time: “Oh, it builds character.” I think we’ve lost a little bit of what it actually means to have character. Those who have talent and no character are like shooting stars; they burn quickly and disappear. But the greatest stars, the ones we remember long, long after their talent is gone, they are the ones with character, the moral something we all need.
Good writing, too! :)
sounds like a good lesson
imagine what other good concepts are out there that need to be rescued or revived. There is a terrorist type idea that has been applied to language and the realm of concepts where certain words get “package-dealed” to us…i.e. they hold their meaning only in some specialized context which divorces them from the realm of human values.
When we lose certain concepts, we are all poorer for it.
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on May 8, 2009 7:05 PM MDT up reply actions
OMG Text Wall!; TLDR
Could you imagine this posted in any other forum?
Reading this makes me feel like spending hours of my day reading about football isn’t a waste of my life after all.
Even if I’m not capable of generating something so eloquent, I’m just proud to be part of this community.
In terms of the Broncos apparent commitment to character, it once again makes me proud to be a Broncos fan. While I consider putting character first a great recipe for long-term success, I also take comfort in the fact that I’m supporting good people, win or lose.
I think my "quest" goal
for this season is to see a team out there that I can root for, from top to bottom (i’ll tolerate a few minor exceptions) when they lose.
I couldn’t root for Bly, McCree, Webster and others. I could tolerate them, in the name of Orange and Blue, but I just didn’t like them. I suppose there will always be one or two players on a team that are hard to like, but the last few years it has really felt like a lot.
And I REALLY didn’t like slowik….
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on May 8, 2009 7:08 PM MDT up reply actions
Styg, I know many have said it, but you definitely have a gift!!
Particularly liked the following:
“He addresses it directly without fear. That is not the act of an evader, of one who has shoved their past into a cloistered recess, to become a cobweb-covered specter that haunts them and breeds a fear so profound that they jump at shadows.”
Avoidance and denial are poor coping mechanisms (at best- ha!) Our character does not grow until we decide to face our past and take responsibility for our future. Reminds me of one of my favorite quotes “Everywhere you go, there you are.” It always reminds me of the importance of taking ownership of my words and actions – past, present, and future— since, afterall, I am going to be living with my dear old self the rest of my years =).
"according to the map, we've only gone 4 inches"
I have to relate a terrific scene from Les Miserables by victor Hugo
In the scene, an exconvict who has escaped from a life sentence, and has built a good life for himself and many others, while living under an assumed identity, learns that another man is going to be put to death for his crimes, having been identified as Jean ValJean by some prisoners who are looking for a reduced sentence.
JanValJean albors over the decision to let the man hang for his deeds, and thus live a life of freedom from then on out, or to turn himself in to save the man. Hugo gives ValJean every opportunity and excuse imaginable to let the man hang, from showing that the man is an idiot, and incapable of contributing to society, to having ValJean’s archnemesis (a local policeman who is sure of his real identity) personally apologize to him for being wrong about pursuing him so doggedly.
Eventually ValJean makes the right choice: but he does it for the right reasons, not just because the man doesn’t deserve to die for his crimes, but becaause the man has no right to ValJean’s good name! ValJean had also saved lives, and had saved an entire town. He knew that to properly calim those actions as his own, he had to claim ALL his actions as his own: he had to own his past and present to deserve his future. He realized that you cannot be only the half of yourself that you like the most, you have to be your whole self. Other wise only half of you has a life ahead of you, and half a life in a being as integrated as a human is the same as no life.
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on May 8, 2009 7:16 PM MDT up reply actions
Stars
In your multitudes
Scarce to be counted
Filling the darkness
With order and light
When I got to your punctuated thought about stars, I thought of Les Miserables – so I’m not at all surprised to see you validate my suspicions. Although, as a singer, I related instantly more to the musical telling than the book…I hope that doesn’t make me too kitschy. ;-)
"From the get-go, we targeted a certain type of player: tough, smart, competitive, versatile, a good person that loves football and wants to win." -Coach McDaniels
by Colorado_Kitten on May 8, 2009 11:07 PM MDT up reply actions
What a great comparison. I saw the musical many, many years ago,
really enjoyed it. I’d like to go back and read the book though. I think I may have to bump it up to the top of my reading list now =).
"according to the map, we've only gone 4 inches"
Styg
Everything you post is very detail oriented and precise, and usually your posts are more about football, but have a perspective into us as people. This post will no doubt help me personally with who I am and who I strive to be, I love reading what very smart articulate people write. It betters me as a person and that I’m grateful for. Thanks for yet again assisting me in my continuation of growth in Character and as a man.
"I'd rather be an outstanding Sergeant, than just another Officer."
-Dan Daly
you are very welcome
and thank you
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on May 8, 2009 7:17 PM MDT up reply actions
It’s refreshing to read an article that makes a point and adheres to the rules of logic. Whether I agree or not, you clearly develop and state your premises, and present a conclusion based on the stated premises. It so happens in this instance, I largely agree with you. One of these days you’ll prepare an equally logical argument whose conclusion I don’t agree with, and I’ll take that opportunity to verbally (keyboardly?) parry with you.
Good work.
I look forward to it!
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on May 8, 2009 7:17 PM MDT up reply actions
Coach
as always outstanding but I think this time you outdid even yourself. Its good to see this on a football blog where we have lost a sense of what it takes to be a role model. Football players are a big part of shaping children’s dreams and helping them become people they do. Guys like self proclaimed “Ocho Cinco” and the like have a very negative impact on the outcome of some. Again Thanks Coach
http://www.davusx.net/assets/db/la_la_land.gif
"We should have kept Seattle and dumped San Diego from the Division"
Davis and Sharpe to the Hall!
I am working on something
that talks a bit about just what effect sport (especially viewing it) has, both idealistically and and in actuality. I have found that a ton of research is required,a nd I am suspecting that it is too big of an idea for a post here on mHR. We’ll see what comes of it. If the Broncos start losing, I am sure I will lose interest quickly… :)
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on May 8, 2009 7:19 PM MDT up reply actions
It is a choice....
This is what I will take away with me. It is a choice that we are making every second. I hope this realization will help me make the fabric I am yet to sew, a better brighter fabric.
Again it is worth noting that focus is an effort, and evasion is the vacuum which occupies any moment where focus is not observed, or actively shunned, and that most men swing between the two states in varying degrees of control. And again, the higher the degree of focus, and the higher the degree of control over that state, the higher the degree of moral character in that person.
My image is the Circa 1960-’61 Broncos home uniform sock. Some what folk lore to me ... but referred to as the clown sock by my Dad.
by YellowStoneBronco on May 8, 2009 1:52 PM MDT reply actions
That is a terrific thing to take away from this article
The choice to focus or not is the most fundamental choice that I think a human being can make. And it is tough. Sometimes the act of focusing can make you feel tired and worn out, even if you aren’t physically tired. Your eyes will get heavy, your mind will try to wander. It can be excruciating getting it on point. But it is worth it. And it gets easier the more you do it.
I have found that taking time every day to think about the ideas that motivate me really helps. Our goals and values have a unique gravity all their own. They will pull us to them if we give them the chance….
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on May 8, 2009 7:22 PM MDT up reply actions
Styg, I forgot....Awesome man, keep 'em coming!!!
I’ll read this again, and again to remind myself. Thanks again…
Thanks Bfree
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on May 8, 2009 7:22 PM MDT up reply actions
Prose Stylin'
Styg,
For someone who clearly takes pride in florid prose, you stumbled a bit on the title. Though the redundant usage “from whence” has become ever more common - and thus accepted by the big-tent language Mandarins - it is, well, plainly redundant.
Otherwise, I enjoyed the read.
redundant perhaps...but as a matter of taste, I liked it. :-)
"From the get-go, we targeted a certain type of player: tough, smart, competitive, versatile, a good person that loves football and wants to win." -Coach McDaniels
by Colorado_Kitten on May 8, 2009 4:55 PM MDT up reply actions
Good catch.
I think some leeway can be granted in a title (where complete sentences, and thus grammar, aren’t adhered to) but I do agree that it is a redundancy.
I’ll leave it as is. Like a reminder.
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on May 8, 2009 7:25 PM MDT up reply actions
hey styg
you have a link to this post on the CBSSportsline.com Denver Broncos team page. Yay you.
Pray for the best, prepare for the worst, and hope you come down somewhere between the two.
thanks for the heads up
I hope their readers can find some use in here somewhere… There is a cardinal “sin” in sportswriting, never refer to the team as “we” or “us.” LOL, I do that all the time….
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on May 8, 2009 8:00 PM MDT up reply actions
Buzzed and recomended!
The following is the comment to Yahoo Sports that I wrote in the “BUZZ UP” comments section.
An insightful, well written article directed toward inspiring the reader to consider what it takes to build character, and with a bent toward the NFL and what they are looking for in players and coaches alike! A must read!
Much appreciated. Somethings such as this article should be read by all human beings!
It is better to keep silent, and appear to be wise, then to ramble on and remove all doubt! The Wisest Man, Solomon.
Excellent breakdown
much better than my original “distribution notes.” NYCBroncoFan was kind enough to “edit” (i.e. completely redo while saving it from obscurity) my distribution notes, so what you see there is his good work, not mine.
Thanks Metal, and I appreciate you taking the time to help others find it!
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on May 8, 2009 10:17 PM MDT up reply actions
What a gift!
I return from the Great Alone and immediatly open the MHR. I find this masterpiece and am enriched by your work. Thank you for sharing your immense talent.
It all starts in the trenches - HT 11/11/08
Leave the hateful vitriol to the uninformed - HT 3/16/09
Absolutely my pleasure
and by great alone, do youmean the cabin in Talkeetna? I need to get up there and see it for myself, and help you load up your woodshed…
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on May 8, 2009 10:14 PM MDT up reply actions
Focusing on focus always gets good results
From a cost benefit analysis, if there is such a good payoff on focusing, why is it so difficult to do? Why do so many coaches not focus on the essential supporting tasks that will improve their team?
Red’d, another great example of cabin fever producing prolific prose.
I agree, Larsen shouldn’t get any bigger. I am getting tired of his bone crushing hits knocking the pixels off my TV, once they fall to the floor they are very hard to find.
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