Ron Goch
The Telios Group
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April 27, 2024
I ran across an article on sportsmanship that includes a poem – He Is Only a Boy – featured in a high school football game program.
It is amazing how some parents and fans in general get pretty worked up and animated during kids games and towards kids as they give their very best on the sports field.
I know there was a time I caught myself shouting directions to our son as he attempted to play youth basketball. I was encouraging him to “box out” the guy he was playing defense against and go get the rebound. He looked at me with a big question mark on his face as if to say, “box what?”
I looked at my wife and said, “He has absolutely no clue what “box out” means, and that’s my fault because I didn’t take the time during the week to teach him what ‘box out’ means.” I continued, “I have no business yelling instructions about something I haven’t taught him how to do. So from this point forward, unless we work on something during the week and he knows what I’m talking about, I’m just going to sit here and be quiet.”
My wife just looked at me and smiled. I had a pretty good idea what she was thinking…”You, be quiet? I’ll believe it when I see it.” For those of you who know me, or wo’ve come to know me through our blogs, understand I’m a pretty animated person who finds it challenging to just sit still, let alone be ‘quiet, ’ and simply ‘observe’ an event.
Well, when our son’s game ended, I apologized to him and shared that I wouldn’t say anything in future games unless he and I worked on things during the week or previously. He thought that was a good idea. Over the years, that ‘idea’ has proven to be a good rule between myself and our kids.
So this article – He Is Only a Boy – really hits home with me.
It’s a great reminder to continue being a mentor and role model for our kids, and I encourage you to do the same with your kids and/or all of today’s youth. Together we can make a difference.
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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April 27, 2024
I recently had the opportunity to experience the thrill of white water rafting for the first time, and it was much more fun than I anticipated.
Oh, I thought it was going to be fun, but I had a blast!
To start, our guide wasn’t too impressed with our technique on land as we practiced trying to row in sync. Our guide didn’t hesitate to communicate that she felt that we’d likely be in trouble on multiple occasions down the river.
As she excused herself to take a potty break just before we were to enter the water – I guess we really did have her worried! – her comments were enough motivation for each of us to start practicing right then and there on land until we all were paddling/rowing in one motion. When we did finally get in the water, we did everything our guide asked, and rowed together each time she instructed us to row forward or backwards.
Gradually, she began to gain confidence in us, as we began to gain confidence in our abilities to control the boat by rowing/paddling together.
I expected a few rapids and thought we may get a spray or two of water on the way down, but I didn’t anticipate the energy rush I experienced and enjoyed throughout the two-hour ride down the river.
It was simply awesome.
One time, the entire raft was submerged under water – first the front with the back sticking straight up and then the back end – and somehow we emerged from the water and we were all paddling our way down the river, smiling and laughing between every forward stroke.
I was able to stay hydrated throughout the two hours due to my mouth being wide open on a few occasions as we entered the fast-moving rapids.
Luckily, there was a photographer near the most difficult rapids who rapidly snapped photos of us going in and emerging fro, the water with priceless expressions on our faces.
I’ve done a lot of fun things with friends, but this was something we all had never experienced and I’m glad I was with some great friends and we were all paddling in the same direction.
I can’t wait to do it again.
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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April 27, 2024
Will you accomplish something of significance today?
How will you know if it’s significant?
Who would it be significant to – you or someone else?
Will you impact someone in a significant way today. Will it be positive or negative? How can you ensure it will be positive?
Each of us have the ability to impact others in a significant way, and it’s up to each of us how, when, where and to what degree we impact someone and whether we will choose to have a significantly positive or negative impact.
I encourage you to make someone’s day by significantly impacting them in a positive way.
I hope you have an awesome day!
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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April 27, 2024
I recently read an editorial in the USA Today titled “Students Aren’t Interchangeable” and I couldn’t agree more.
It highlights the enormous variation in academic abilities among youth, and how students run the risk of ending up in one of two tracks – “In classes full of students with weak skills and lousy attitudes or in so-called advanced courses where they find themselves in over their heads.”
The editorial explains that part of the problem is a movement towards anti-tracking, which began in the 80s.
This editorial speaks to the average student who has been left off the schools radar screen and unless parents speak up about what’s happening with our average students today – just as it happened when we were students – they will continue to receive a below-average education and not maximize their individual potential.
Let’s band together and speak up for the average so they receive above average attention and opportunities to maximize their individual abilities.
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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April 27, 2024
I was at a game last week where fans were celebrating prematurely and I had a bad feeling as I watched them taunt the opposing fans in the stands that their actions may come back to haunt them.
They did.
Unfortunately, and maybe fortunately for some, the fans doing the taunting soon were on the receiving end as the final horn sounded and their team lost.
As the saying goes, “Don’t count your chickens until they’ve hatched.”
I read a story where Miami players were stomping on Louisville’s midfield logo prior to a football game between the two schools a few weeks ago. If true, that showed a great deal of disrespect to Louisville athletics. Two, there’s nothing like giving the other team – in this case the home team – some additional motivation.
As they say, “Win with class and lose with class.”
And, it might be a good idea to keep the stomping on the field, but not on the opposing team’s logo.
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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April 27, 2024
I recently attended a college football game with friends and we were surrounded by over 100, 000 fanatical fans who only took their seat during TV commercial breaks.
When cameras went live and the ball was in play, each of those 100, 000-plus fans stood and cheered. At times, it was deafening.
As a part of my every day job, I can usually be found working each week in some capacity at a sporting event.
But on this one Saturday, I was just like any other fan as I stood and cheered, clapped, and exchanged high-fives with my friends.
It was great just being a fan, enjoying the game, and the entire event atmosphere. And what a game it turned out to be – a one point win for the visiting team.
People have told me over the years how they think it’s “pretty cool” I have the opportunity to work in sports.
I’m thankful to be working in sports, something I enjoy very much. But I also think it is “pretty cool” to just be a fan!
It’s not every day I get the chance to be a cheering fan and act fanatical at a sporting event. Last Saturday, though, was one of those moments, and my friends will tell you I took full advantage of it.
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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April 27, 2024
I read an interesting article in the USA Today regarding the Push to Increase CPR Training.
It makes a lot of sense. The article states that more than 300, 000 Americans die from cardiac arrest each year. The objective of the American Heart Association is to double the number of people who learn CPR. It’s an ambitious, yet achievable goal and one each of us can impact positively if we each take steps to learn CPR.
Check out the article and please do your part to learn CPR. You never know when the opportunity will present itself for you to save a life, or when someone may just save your own life by using CPR.
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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April 27, 2024
Do you know what your gift is in life? Have you been blessed with an ability to speak, to connect people, to adapt to almost any situation?
How do you use your gifts?
Do you take full advantage and leverage your gifts for others benefit, or do you simply take your gifts for granted?
Do you say “one of these days, ” or do you choose to say “today is the day and I’m going to seize the moment?”
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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April 27, 2024
About four years ago I received a bronze dinosaur in the mail.
A good friend and business associate sent me the bronze dinosaur as a reminder not to be a dinosaur, to stay on the cutting edge, and to never say “We’ve done it this way for many years and it’s worked, so we’re not going to change.”
Do you know someone who clings to the old, who hasn’t changed with the information age, or who remains in his or her comfort zone versus taking chances?
Common sense tells me that what once was successful 20, 30, 40-plus years ago likely is not going to be successful today.
The challenges may be the same – or comparable – but the solutions and answers to success are likely different.
In our fast-moving world, being a dinosaur instead of open-minded and flexible is likely a ticket to extinction.
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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April 27, 2024
I recently read a great quote I thought our readers might enjoy:
“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” – Henry Bucher
Look for opportunities to give today.
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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April 27, 2024
We’ve all heard the saying “You have to see it to believe it.”
And, if you believe it, you can achieve it!
Just the other day I heard this and thought back to my days in sports. One of my coaches used to say, “Visualize the race – the whole race from start to finish – and visualize winning.”
I transferred this same visual concept to football where each night before I went to bed, I’d visualize myself making big plays in practice or in game situations.
Now, here we are in business all these years later and the “see it to believe it” concept applies just the same.
If we can see it, we will believe it. And, if we believe it, we can achieve it.
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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April 27, 2024
Have you told everyone “thank you” who has impacted you and your life in a special way?
I recently lost a very close friend. A very special man who I considered a role model; an honorable man; someone who cared and did more for others than he ever did for himself.
Not so long ago something motivated me to fly to his home and express my gratitude for all he did for me over the years and the impact he had on my life.
Without warning, my friend was gone and although saddened by his departure, I was very thankful I had the opportunity to thank him for his selfless acts, the time he took for me, and the role model he was in my life.
Today, I encourage you to take time to thank those who’ve impacted you in a special way. You never know what tomorrow may bring and based on my recent experience, you’ll no doubt be glad you took the opportunity.
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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April 27, 2024
Some people choose to focus on positive things and some choose to focus on negative things.
Choices. We all have them and we all make them. Choose to be positive today and confident in all you would like to achieve.
As someone once said, “The positive thinker sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible.”
Believe you can achieve the impossible today!
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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April 27, 2024
Many colleges used to celebrate Midnight Madness as a way of tipping off the collegiate basketball season, but fewer schools are hosting a “midnight” event to start the 2006-07 season.
Like so many schools, the University of Illinois is hosting an event to tip-off the season, but it won’t be at midnight. The doors open for the Illini Madness at 8 pm and the event tips off at 9 pm.
The weekend of Oct 13-15 is being billed as IlliniFest with a football game, the Ilini Madness event, and the volleyball team hosting two home matches during the weekend festivities.
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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April 27, 2024
I’ve been outspoken about my support for girls and women’s sports for years and I guess it’s starting to rub off on those close to me, but I didn’t think I could ever convince one of my childhood friends who I’ve known since elementary school to actually watch a WNBA game.
You see, Derk is one of those guys who loves watching college and professional football, and hasn’t had an interest to watch a women’s sporting event…until this past weekend.
I was visiting with him on the phone and he was sharing with me all the college football highlights from this past weekend, and out of the blue he asks me, “What did you think of that WNBA Championship game?” I said, “What did you say?” I could tell he was smiling when he repeated: “What did you think of that WNBA Championship game?”
I said, “Did you actually watch the game, or did you see the highlights on the news?” He said, “I watched most of it. Great game;” I just couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I said, “You really watched the WNBA Championship game?” He said, “Yep. It was a great game. Some of those girls can really play.” I said, “That’s what I’ve been telling you for years. I’m glad you finally took the time to watch a game.”
Derk continued, “I never was much of a Lambeer fan since his playing days in Detroit, but when he said in one of the games Detroit was about to win in Sacramento, ‘I guess there won’t be any confetti flying tonight, ’ I just about lost it. That was a pretty funny quote.” I said, “You watched other games besides the Championship game?” He said, “Two or three games, as well as the Championship game. I guess you’re rubbing off on me.”
I think the WNBA – which celebrated its 10th year this past season – has been rubbing off on a whole lot of people over the years, including some guys who may of thought they’d never watch a girls or women’s sporting event.
As they say: “Never say never!”
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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April 27, 2024
I received the following thoughts on wisdom from a friend today and thought I’d share it in today’s post. I hope you enjoy.
It Is Better To Be Alone, Than In The Wrong Company
Tell me who your best friends are, and I will tell you who you are.
If you run with wolves, you will learn how to howl.
But, if you associate with eagles, you will learn how to soar to great heights.
A mirror reflects a mans face, but what he is really like is shown by the kind of friends he chooses.
The simple but true fact of life is that you become like those with whom you closely associate for the good and the bad.
The less you associate with some people, the more your life will improve.
Any time you tolerate mediocrity in others, it increases your mediocrity.
An important attribute in successful people is their impatience with negative thinking and negative acting people.
As you grow, your associates will change.
Some of your friends will not want you to go on.
They will want you to stay where they are.
Friends that don’t help you climb will want you to crawl.
Your friends will stretch your vision or choke your dream. Those that don’t increase you will eventually decrease you.
Consider This:
Never receive counsel from unproductive people.
Never discuss your problems with someone incapable of contributing to the solution, because those who never succeed themselves are always first to tell you how.
Not everyone has a right to speak into your life.
You are certain to get the worst of the bargain when you exchange ideas with the wrong person.
Don’t follow anyone who’s not going anywhere.
With some people you spend an evening: with others you invest it.
Be careful where you stop to inquire for directions along the road of life.
Wise is the person who fortifies his life with the right friendships.
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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April 27, 2024
Has your employer given you permission to fail? Have you given yourself permission to fail?
I used to view failure as purely negative. For years I focused squarely on winning – especially when I competed in sports. I did everything I could to win and avoid failure. When I did fail, I was so caught up in the “losing” that I often missed the opportunity to learn.
Over the years, as I transitioned from athlete to working in the sports business, I learned how to turn failures into future successes. I’m not afraid to make mistakes or fall short, but instead look for the opportunity to learn from each of my mistakes, miscues and short-comings.
Now, my failures – and I do have my fair share – are more like investments in future successes.
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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April 27, 2024
I recently heard someone compliment a co-worker when he said, “She doesn’t let her job description define her. She does whatever it takes and I’ve never heard her complain.”
When I heard this, I thought it was a great way to describe someone who arrives early, stays late and does whatever is needed in order for a customer to have an excellent experience.
We all have worked with someone like this, or maybe you’ve witnessed someone in action who obviously loves their job and who would do anything for anyone.
If the garbage needs to be taken out, this person is the first to step up and deliver. If someone calls in sick, this person volunteers to work a second shift.
What’s the difference between this person and your average business person? Quite simply: their attitude.
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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April 27, 2024
I read an article this weekend about a dream some folks have in Kent, Washington to raise money to build a non-profit Hispanic community center.
It sounds like a great idea and I know first-hand the center would benefit many people.
While growing up in Illinois, I had the pleasure of volunteering at our local community center as a youth and enjoyed everything the center offered. Not only did I learn the benefits of volunteering in the community and working with people, but I stayed out of trouble and contributed to the community in a positive way.
With record growth of the Hispanic community throughout the United States, the idea and dream of some day building a community center in Kent that will provide all Hispanics with a wide range of services is an excellent idea, and one that will likely be a reality in the very near future.
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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April 27, 2024
The WNBA, which is celebrating its 10-year anniversary, scored an extension of its sponsorship with Vonage, who becomes the first presenting sponsor of the WNBA Finals.
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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