Luke was 3 when he started with T-Ball. All he knew is that he wanted to be a baseball player “like the ones on TV”. I believe our role as parents – coaches – is to help him, give him confidence, encourage him and pick him up when he “falls”.
As parents/coaches should we really say this; “Now Luke you know you will strike out at least 7 out of 10 times at bat. You’ll fall about 3,000 times and probably sprain your ankles sliding into base. The playing field is full of dust and dirt and when the wind is blowing it’ll get in your eyes. You’re a lefty, so right handed pitchers will probably hit you with the ball thousands of times. You’ll develop callouses from hand chalk, you’ll be sore from running and injured from other players running into you. You might get hit in the head with a bat and die. You might get a concussion and permanent brain damage. While other children are in their comfy beds you will be sweating out on a practice field somewhere. Every weekend and most weeknites you’ll need to be at practice instead of with other friends. You’ll be too tired to do your homework most of the time and you’ll have to do it anyway. There’s politics at every level of sports and sometimes you’ll sit on the bench even if you’re the best player. And your odds of ever being a professional ball player are 1 in a million. Now honey go get’em!”
Most people would agree that’s insane and would never do that to someone they love.
Yet when we announce to our family and friends that we’re going to start a new business what do 95% of them tell us in most cases?
As parents/coaches – we will support Luke every step of the way. As he grows as an athlete he will decide what his goals are. He’s smart, so he’ll seek advice and counsel from those who have already achieved goals similar to his. Then he will decide if the work and the struggles to achieve them are worth it.
Because, to paraphrase Nathan Hale, we each have but one life to live so
Live With intention,
Dr Bill
About Dr Bill Toth
Bill’s Background
I’m just an average guy who’s learned a few things about Life, Success and Personal Development – thanks to some incredibly good and bad experiences during the past 25+ years. I’ve made many mistakes and have learned to combine down to earth values with a unique ability to distill complex concepts into simple powerful strategies which can be immediately applied to produce measurable results. In short;
“I’ve traveled the territory, drawn a few maps and I’m happy to share them”
I do not consider myself to be an “expert” and my work is never presented as the definitive doctrine on how you should live your life or what it takes to be successful in your business. I am a work in progress and if you were to you join me on life’s journey by hiring me as your coach or partnering with us in business – our learning will very likely be a two way street. In fact, I expect it to be.
“What you know dies with you – what you DO leaves a legacy”
I was raised in upstate New York and eastern Pennsylvania. This rural upbringing is strongly reflected in my personal value hierarchy: Faith > Family > Friends > Fitness and Finance.
Education and a commitment to continuous improvement are next on the list. All these and more are strongly reflected in my coaching, teaching, writing and speaking.
While growing my private practice I also taught Orthopedics and Neurology at both the undergraduate and graduate level, produced a TV show on fitness, appeared on numerous radio and TV programs, authored numerous journal articles, chapters for medical texts, served as vice-president of my state medical association, and started a family. I have had the honor and privilege of consulting with and coaching a diverse population of people from royalty to prisoners, from children to CEO’s, from amateur to professional athletes from 41 countries and people of almost every race, creed, religious belief and nationality.
I am passionately committed to contribution and Living With Intention. Part of my philosophy is to think globally while acting locally. I am a very active member of my church, as well as several community organizations. After church, my favorite philanthropy is the Nourish the Children. I have also performed extensive volunteer work for both the Anthony Robbins Foundation, and the Make a Wish Foundation.
Why become an Entrepreneur?
I became an entrepreneur because after 5 years of Health Care Reform I found I was merely an employee of the various insurance company’s I was interacting with. I became painfully aware I was working more hours for less money and that what I was doing wasn’t working!
At the same time my beautiful daughter, Casey, was born. This was the first time in my life I started to think about my future, and of course hers. When children come into your life, your perspective changes from Firebirds and Ferrari’s to Gymnastics, music lessons, horseback riding and so forth. Suddenly, I had to think longterm – was what I was doing going to provide all the things that a father wants for his children?
In October of 1998 I started my entrepreneurial endeavors on a very part time basis. Less than 3 months later my New Year’s Resolution was to put my practices up for sale. In May of 1999 I sold them and began to work on my dreams and my fortune on a full time basis. From there, it took me a full five years to get to the point where I could do whatever I wanted to do. Along the way I wrote my first book: “Morning Moments”…as well as learning a few things about money, transitioning careers and happiness. I am happy to share what I know, in short again;
“I’ve traveled the territory, drawn a few maps and I’m happy to share them”
In summary; Transitioning careers was the hardest challenge I’ve ever taken up and it’s been the most rewarding! In so many ways, this is the very best personal development seminar I’ve ever taken because I met mySelf and my wife in the process…and every perceived adversity was worth it.
Today, with my wife Julie, we “get to” pay the gift forward by coaching, mentoring others through the same process. There is no greater pleasure than showing others how to earn their freedom and then observing what good they do with it.
Life Will Never Be The Same
