Providing Insights on Leadership and Success. Coach Bechler is a John Maxwell Leadership Team Member.
For many of us in the United States, Labor Day is the unofficial end of the summer and is filled with cookouts, pool parties, and college football.
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But Labor Day began as a way to recognize our nation’s workers and their accomplishments.
As a youngster, my dad would serve as a firefighter for the races run at Michigan International Speedway.
M.I.S. was less than 10 miles from my house. My brother and I plus one lucky friend would look forward to the four or five races each summer we’d attend.
This was before the era of luxury boxes and suites, so we’d sit behind pit row with the racer and pit crew families. I got to meet a lot of cool people and collect my share of autographs.
The Dos Equis guy might be called “the most interesting man in the world” but to me, Frank Bechler held that title.
This weekend is special for me.
December 10, 1943 was my dad’s birthday.
Even though he is no longer here physically, not a day goes by that I don’t think of him. His impact on me has been what you’d hope a dad’s impact would be.
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As a middle schooler, my mother wouldn’t let me play tackle football. I figured I’d be able to talk her out of it prior to entering high school.
I guess I overestimated my lawyering skills.
Do you happen to have a case of the Monday’s?
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Does someone around you have a case of the Mondays?
I hope not.
My dad was a throwback to a different time. A different era. He could fix anything. Build anything. Seemingly do anything.
He had been a fire fighter, police officer, truck driver, elected official, army vet, and Hillsdale College maintenance worker.
He was featured in the top lawn and garden tractor magazine (he was so excited that he was finally a centerfold model). He also got more than half a million views on Facebook for his customized John Deere lawn mower/fire truck. In all, he built 5 custom tractors that have seen their fair share of parades.
“When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know; but when you listen you may learn something new.” (Dalai Lama)“What are you doing? There are cars coming”, said my mother.“Don’t worry mom”, I replied confidently. “Pedestrians have the right of way”.“Yeah and you’ll be DEAD RIGHT”, she retorted.