Finding a Reason to Win
Posted by Orrin Woodward on February 7, 2013
Matthew Jeffers, a college senior at Beth Tfiloh in the Baltimore area, sent a special message through email to the Baltimore Ravens organization. Wow! It is powerful. Coach John Harbaugh forwarded the email to his team during the middle of a tough streak in the season. Matthew’s video teaches that life doesn’t care about feeling sorry for yourself or pity parties, but what it does respond to is a positive attitude. My favorite quote in the video is: The only disability in life is a bad attitude. BAM! A positive attitude is the most powerful combatant to life’s misfortunes. Life isn’t fair to anyone, but how a person learns to play the cards he is dealt makes all the difference!
The Mental Fitness Challenge has an entire teaching segment on the importance of attitude in overcoming life’s obstacles. This video is filled with nuggets on changing one’s attitude and perspective to change one’s results. I am not surprised the Baltimore Ravens won the Super Bowl after the perspective change that occurred within the team from watching this video. Congratulations to the Baltimore Ravens, but more importantly, congratulations to Matthew Jeffers for meeting life’s challenges head-on with a positive attitude, thus inspiring others to do the same!
Sincerely,
65 Responses to “Finding a Reason to Win”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
Micah Kramer said
What a powerful message to start today! Thanks Orrin! Your daily blog posts are like “Wheaties, the breakfast of Champions!”
Fired up!
Micah
Lisa Volkmann said
Thank you for the reminder of having a positve attitude. We all have different backgrounds and we could use that as an excuse or use it to move on in life. I like what you wrote – the only disability in life is a bad attitude – we have to choice to change our attitude and thus create our atmosphere around us. The power of assosication that we have thru the LIFE business creates a wonderful positive atmosphere that one can take with and grow and create a daily positive attitude for themselves and others they come incontact with.
Peggi Kern said
I love the video!!Thanks, Orrin.
Kim Myer said
What a day to start the day – this video brought me to tears!! There was no greater truth ever spoken and I am grateful for my association with the LIFE community and especially the Policy Council for continuing to share these nuggets of pure goodness. Thank you for sharing this, Orrin!
Matt Livermore said
Wow! This video sends chills right down your spine. Such an excellent reminder.
Donna Allen said
Finding a Reason to Win! What a Story! Our Disabilities Should Never Hold Us Back!!!
Yitz Weiss said
POWERFUL message – thanks for sharing!
Scott Staley said
Perspective – the right one – is priceless. Its amazing how a situation can be a catalyst for greatness… or the reason for mediocrity. I love the video. Thank you for sharing it – its an awesome message.
Tina Abernathy said
WOW Orrin, powerful message and I hear it loud and clear!
The statement that caught my attention was ..Life doesn’t care if you want to win…if you need to win…
I will finish it with Just go out there and win!
THe LIFE opportunity gives us a chance to silence the bad attitude and give others the permission to do the same through our example.
Blessings
Candace and Steve Brown said
Positive attitude is everything! Self pity looks small when you listen to him. People respond to a positive attitude everytime.
Kevin Hamm said
Orrin,
Great post, and a great truth. Attitude is a major part of every victory and every defeat. It determines both resolve and retreat. I choose victory and resolve. Thanks again.
John Richardson said
That is an amazing reminder to who, what, and why we’ll finish strong. There is no room for self pity, it is a paralizer for progress in our lives.
Moshe Deutsch said
Wow thanks Orrin that’s the way to start the day
Chad Waters said
Great attitude triumphs all!
Great video Orrin!
Kristen Seidl said
WOW Orrin, wow! More people need to take the time to read your blogs every day. It takes but a mere 10 minutes and can truly transform your day and your thinking. Needed this, thank you!
Marc Militello said
All I can say is WOW! What an incredible way to remember that ATTITUDE IS SO IMPORTANT!!!
Yosef Wasserman said
A very powerful message. I cry, every time I watch it.Thanks for all that you do to help us with our “positive attitude”.
Michael Hartmann said
This young man is a true inspiration, not only to the Baltimore Ravens, but to me, my family and everyone else on this planet striving to be the best they can be each day! Thanks for sharing!!
Michelle Bjork said
Wow! Very powerful!
Keith Sieracki said
Thanks Orrin!! Those that face adversity greater than our own is a reminder of really how fortunate we really are. Change your attitude- change your outcome! Thanks for the great reminder Mr Jeffers!
Tennyson Heen said
Great find to get out and share with all of us to share this to spread this message even further.
Strong! If the message is true enough, it gets through as it did to reach John Harbaugh’s desk and for him to forward it to his team – reality check.
Football is a game and all professional athletes have a relatively short window to excel at that and then get back to what everyone else is doing and dealing with LIFE.
There is more to life than sporting events, though those are enjoyed by many of us who participated in them as high school players and college players as well as many more people get caught up in the fervor.
LIFE, helps even out the playing field.
Christine Fleury said
Wow what a great way to start the day! Incredible video! Very inspiring. Thanks Orrin!
George Lucas said
Orrin,
The message in the story is very powerful. It really makes you understand that you can control your life with the correct attitude.
George
Yancy chaj said
That is great and amazing it is important to be reminded of having a positive attitud and finding a reason to win all we do in life is important to have that reason why the dream that moves us to do something. Thank you
Yancy Mejia
Clint Fix said
Thanks for sharing that video! Very inspiring!
Andrew Rockwell said
Amen! Attitude is so important!
Bob Rasmussen said
Great video! I agree that outside of character, a good attitude is our greatest asset!!
Matthew Scott said
I enjoy seeing the ties you make regarding key, life-augmenting principles to the wide spectrum of interests, fields, and genres! I, too, have a special place in my heart for sports.
Isn’t it remarkable that these highly promoted and revered sports athletes look to and find inspiration in those among us, that, with the exception of our attitude and will to win and/or persevere, are generally regarded as unexceptional? All of us have the capacity that Matthew does to be great.
“The only disability in life is a bad attitude.” It seems that the most powerful asset anyone can have in life really is a positive attitude.
Thanks for a great post! My ESPN days are behind me, but I still gravitate to the great, organic stories that can be found there.
Jason Dames said
Thx Orrin!!!!
Chris LaBlanc said
If the news were like that every day we would have a world that is 180 degrees from where it is right now. I can imagine a world where people take responsibilities for thier attitude and stop blaming people for thier unhappiness. It will be awesome when this happens, it will a time of joy. This message was and is a great way to start a day off. Thanks for the blog Orrin!
Mike Hellweg said
Awesome message! Brought tears to my eyes! Matthew is so right on with his message, it is the only thing that matters in our daily struggles and victories!!! How cool for the Ravens to see this before the game!!!
Elaine Mallios said
This is GREAT! thank you! crying again….geez.
Randy Robson said
Powerful! Orrin Woodward, Chris Brady, George Guzzardo, Claude Hamilton, Bill Lewis, Dan Hawkins, Wayne MacNamara, and Tim Marks have such great blogs! I love the information being taught in the LIFE business. Thank you!
Charles Gopez said
Thanks Orrin! I needed to hear that. It’s time to become a self-pity-party-pooper. See you on Saturday!
Barb Bartel said
I can only repeat “Wow!” Matthew said it every bit as well as John Maxwell.
Nancy Pope said
Wow what an incredible message! I can tackle any problem with a great attitude – ANYTHING!
Rick Monsipapa said
Great message of overcoming adversity and having the ability to win everyday with problems facing you daily. Football seems so minor compared to this young man’s story.
J & P Harteis said
The first time we saw this video, Orrin, we thought of you & Laurie! We all have so much to be thankful for, because of “Who” we belong to! God bless!
Stuart & Carrianne Hall said
Great article Orrin!! Thanks for sharing! I love being involved in an organization who constantly promotes our leaders, as well as other leaders (outside our organizaion) that are truly making a difference!Like you have said… A rising tide raises all ships!
God Bless
Brian Hewuse said
The LIFE business im in is the best business for me teaching me new levels of leadership in mu family work & my business
Alison Ruhlman said
Awesome and powerful video!
Jim Martin said
LT-IT
Michael Stithem said
Fired up
Jeremy Pethke said
Wow… This video really helped me count the many blessings that I have been given!
God Bless
eben smith said
Man Orrin that was a gut check for me. This was a truly inspiring video. It put things in perspective for me.
robert wilcox said
WOW! “The only disability in life is a bad attitude!” What a great blog Orrin thank you for sharing!
James Boyle said
Great video and powerful message.
I have always felt that I have had a good attitude, even when life has had us against the ropes, I have managed to smile and keep a positive outlook. In the past year the LIFE Business has helped me grow as a student and can now see that with every adversity I have lost a step in the climb to my own greatness. LIFE has reminded me what it is to dream again, be able plan my future and has provided the road to get there. Thank you for posting this and giving us LIFE.
Randy Donais said
Right on, Orrin! Attitude, like everything else in our heads, needs to be changed to some degree. Kristen Seidl’s recent blog on patience is a great example of that.
Even after almost a year in the business patience, or the lack of it, is still my achilles heel.
Marcus Bingham said
What a perfect reminder of all we are given, and all that we take for granted.
Timmy Sorensen said
Seems like I always come across your blogs when I truly need them the most at that point in the day, thank you so much for your commitment to better our lives!
Mark Tucker said
Very inspiring! Thanks for sharing this!
Edd & Rosemary Paul said
Wow, what a powerful message about life and the effective way to view it! When life is viewed with a conquering mindset, everything else will take care of itself. Thanks for sharing Orrin.
Joseph Keller said
The power of a message thats so true! Thanks for sharing
Brian & Dianne Harrison said
Thank you for sharing this video Orrin. Attitude is everything.
Bill Eder said
Wow! Orrin: Great blog once again. It reminded me of song by Bing Crosby a while ago.
Lyrics go “You got to accentuate the positive eliminate the negative and latch on to the Affirmative, don’t mess with Mr. In-between.” Loved the video.
Reyna Zimmer said
Having a postitve attitude has always been a struggle for me, especially during adversities. Because of the LIFE business I am learning to look past the clouds and focuEs on the GOOD IN MY LIFE, no matter what may be goimg on! God ALWAYS has provided!
THANKS FOR THE video, loved it!
Dwight Maynor said
We never watch the Super bowl but, did this year when we found out Michael Oehr was on the Baltimore Ravens team.
I’ve been trying to locate the Matthew Jeffers video with no success. I tried the links in Orrins post and I’m missing
it somehow. Maybe someone would clarify if this video is available for those who’d like to watch it? Thank you!
Dwight Maynor said
OK, I just looked at the top of the post page and the video is right there! OOPS! Thank you for your Leadership Orrin and bringing truth to us that we’d have to do a lot of research to locate! It’s made a massive difference in my life and allowed me view myself more accurately as others see me.
Dwight Maynor said
WOW! The company I work for has invested thousands of dollars sending us to Leadership training over the years. Nothing has had the impact and lasting support of the LIFE/Team material and coaching I’ve received here. I thank God for this organization coming into our lives and your commitment to excellence not only in yourselves but, in the products that are offered to us. A family member has been dealing with health issues that the doctors can’t get identified or controlled for over a year. For someone who’s been athletically active and healthy it’s been difficult to watch this happen to him. The Life material has had a positive impact on his attitude. Between this video and the Edge CD with Laurie and Paige, we realize our struggle is minor compared to what so many others deal with. Thanks again Orrin and the PC for your commitment to us!
PappaBiggs said
Wow, that’s powerful. Sent it to more than a handful of friends.
Jim Martin said
Thanks Orrin for reminding us on ATTITUDE! It is the difference maker in all lives.
LT-IT
Chris said
This post on attitude is so important to understand. Thanks!!
Marsha Wiggins said
Wow Orrin this is a very moving video! It warms my heart, inspires me to do better and reminds me tht life IS exactly what we make it.
Kim Decker said
Awesome Orrin,
This one says it ALL!
Donna said
This is such a strong profound video I shared out to many places where I am connected.
Thank You Mr, Orrin for sharing.