When I was in elementary school there was little saying that kids would chant to the local bully, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me!” But when you stop and think about it, the saying isn’t accurate. Words can and do hurt – sometimes worse than physical pain – and once said, can never …
WF Pride: Positive Attitude and Passion for Life & Work
This past weekend, many countries throughout the world celebrated ‘Valentine’s Day.’ It’s a time when people exchange cards, candy, gifts or flowers with their special ‘valentine’. The day of romance we call Valentine’s Day is named for a Christian martyr, Saint Valentine, and dates back to the 5th century. Some people look forward to this for weeks and months on …
WF Pride: Focus on Unity and Humility
Tibetan-born Sherpa Nawang Gombu and American Jim Whittaker reached the top of Mount Everest on May 1, 1963. As they approached the peak, each considered the honor of being the first of the two to step to the summit. Whittaker motioned for Gombu to move ahead, but Gombu declined with a smile, saying, “You first, Big Jim!” Finally, they decided …
WF Pride: Willingness and Desire to Sacrifice and Serve
As a father of four, there is nothing I wouldn’t do for my kids. As much as they are similar in their looks and last name, they are all unique and different in so many ways. And of course I like to take credit for their good qualities, and blame the areas that need improvement on my wife – as …
WF Pride: Excel in Communication
If you know me at all you would know that I am a pretty straight forward, or as some would say, a blunt individual. I usually say what I’m thinking or what I think needs to be said. I am much better now at softening the delivery and packaging of what I say. But when I was younger, I had …
WF Pride: Discipline and Accountability
There was a brief story that made minor headlines this week that most people probably missed – I may have too, but was lucky enough to catch it on the news. The country of Germany has decided to once again print the book ‘Mein Kampf’ for the first time since World War II. What is Mein Kampf? And who wrote …
WF Pride: Integrity
A few weeks ago I had the chance to sit down with an old friend, reminisce for a bit, and talk about what he does for a living including his role in the hiring of new team members. One thing from our conversation really stood out to me. He said, “I hire people based on their character, values and work …
WF Pride: Recognition and Respect of Others
WF Pride Recognition and Respect of Others Chad Cottingham For the second year in a row, a local church in our town has put on an interactive journey and nativity scene for Christmas. The ‘Bethlehem Journey’ as it’s called, takes people on a literal journey to Bethlehem – complete with a camel, donkeys, sheep, chickens, marketplace and Roman guards. It takes …
WF Pride: Positive Attitude and Passion for Life and Work
WF Pride Positive Attitude and Passion for Life and Work Chad Cottingham Sometimes it seems our culture is built around the bottom line: ‘What have you done for me lately?’ often comes well ahead of ‘Good morning!’ Not only at work but sometimes at home too. Everything is itemized, counted, evaluated, and stacked up for comparison. But purposeful, balanced people tend …
WF Pride: Focus on Unity and Humility
WF Pride Focus on Unity and Humility Chad Cottingham Christmas has always been one of my favorite times of the year – especially as a kid. One of the traditions we had growing up was to open the small stocking gifts on Christmas Eve and then the regular gifts Christmas morning. My two brothers and I would get a hodgepodge of …