On The Tunney Side of the Street #210, Jan. 5, 2009 (www.JimTunney.com)

After Further Review … As we start a New Year and begin a fifth year “On the Tunney Side of the Street,” my sincere gratitude to all of you for reading – and many who have responded – to these musings. These messages over the last four years have taken issues – good, bad, right or wrong - from the world of sports in an attempt to relate them to lessons for everyday living.

So, what will we be facing in 2009 after experiencing a financially difficult 2008 – especially the last quarter? Surely, the troubling economic downturn has not left anyone unscathed. Will we endure more of these disastrous economic times, and if so, how do we deal with it? Will our new president make certain that “Yes, we can” becomes “Yes, we did?” Is a positive attitude enough?

Legendary Hall of Fame Green Bay Packers Coach Vince Lombardi said, “The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of determination” http://www.vincelombardi.com/ (e.g., “It’s the Will, Not the Skill”). In the NFL, players who became injured during a game, retreated to the sideline and would often say “Tape it up – I’m going back out there (to play).” That’s a work ethic and a WILL that is needed today. Here are a few examples:

Charlie Johnson, Denver QB http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charley_Johnson (circa 1960s) was told by the team doctor during a game that the cartilage in his knee was torn. Charlie said, “Just straighten out my leg; I gotta go play.” Larry Wilson, defensive back of the then St. Louis Cardinals http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.jsp?player_id=232 (circa 60s & 70s), broke both hands, taped them up (looking like 2 small pillows) and continued to play and even intercepted passes! Jack Youngblood http://www.ramsusa.com/youngblood.html (Los Angeles Rams circa 1980s), who had broken his leg in a playoff game, had the leg taped up and played the entire game in Super Bowl XIV http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/history/recap/sbxiv. There are hundreds of other stories.

The message here – as it relates to everyday living – is that our “determination” (our WILL) to step onto the field (Life itself) must not let downturns (disabilities) deter us from succeeding in spite of the problems ahead. We must trust ourselves to be successful – and that leads me to suggest a new book, “Jeffrey Gitomer’s Little Teal Book of TRUST” (www.gitomer.com), which gives us an insight on how to use trust as a blueprint to make our lives better.


Will you let trust, coupled with determination, be paramount for you in 2009?