Being committed to something for one year can change your life — and I’m living proof of that.

Charge Up turns one year old this week, and my friends, the future is bright!

When I look back and think about the launch event on the evening of July 11, 2018, I can still feel the excitement from the hundreds of people gathered in that room. No detail was overlooked, and our goal was to ensure that each person there felt a connection to the purpose of the project. We were just beginning to build our community, and that day was about celebrating with family and friends.

The concept of Charge Up was actually born in September of 2017, following the sudden death of my father in late April, 2017. It would serve as my vehicle to go from grief to gratitude, by sharing the lessons and wisdom he had passed on to me during my 50 years as his son. With nine months to strategize, Charge Up went from what was simply going to be a blog-based concept to a total platform that would include blogs, vlogs, podcasts, social media posts, video-based interviews, personal videos, and community dialogue.

As we finalized the business plan prior to roll-out, each of us knew the magnitude of the commitment and investment this dream would take to become a reality. The team I had put together had strong ambition and talent, so we set the bar high. There was no doubt that each of them were the right people for the project and they each brought their own talents to the table. I had so much passion and vision that it became contagious.

But this dream wasn’t just about me. This was my way to ensure that the legacy of my father would never leave my heart, and I wanted to share it. I wanted his spirit to continue to live on through my message. Each and every day as I invest into this project, I know he is walking beside me and directing me with pride. There is an unexplainable sense of purpose in this mission of spreading positivity and gratitude, and through it I have been blessed to discover what so many others search for —  my “why.”

What is your “WHY?” First, think about some important questions. What is your gift to society and how can you leave it better than you found it? How can you be a better husband, wife, father, mother, uncle, aunt, friend, employee, or coach? How can you ensure that there is a part of your life that is selfless, rather than selfish? Where will you be able to find a true sense of fulfillment in your everyday actions? Can you be committed enough to pursue your passion and still balance your life?

These were all the questions that were running through my head as we toasted Charge Up last July 11th, and we wasted no time. Since then, our commitment to growing our community and making a positive impact is exactly where we wanted it to be – in fact, we have exceeded our projections and plan to aim even higher in our second year.

Take a look at these accomplishments in just our first year:

• > 3,300 social media posts

• ~ 10,000 website views

• > 5,000 podcast downloads

• > 6,200 minutes of content viewed on YouTube

• ~ 3,000 followers on Facebook with more than 62,000 reactions and over 16,000 shares

• > 39,000 likes on Instagram

• > 1,500 retweets and more than 6,700 engagements on Twitter

• And the one metric that absolutely amazes me, we’ve put together over 220 original blogs, podcasts, and videos!

However, the most important number from those first 365 days is how many people we were able to affect with our content. How many found a quote or a story that elicited an emotion that they acted on? How many discovered the leader within themselves? How many stepped outside their comfort zone? How many made a conscious effort to show gratitude? These are things that matter most to me when I look back and reflect upon the impact we have made.

There are definitely days that I wonder if all the effort will ever reap the rewards and expectations I have? Some days, I am lucky to get two or three people to view content. Other times, thousands will latch on to a particular blog, podcast or post that I didn’t even think would create much attention. The fact of the matter is, you never know. That’s the motivation for me to keep going each and every day.

Something that may surprise those that don’t know me personally is that Charge Up is not my career; it’s my “passion project.” I call it that because for some reason I naturally thrive in spending my off time writing; the same as one loves to golf, fish, travel, hike or run distance races. Think of it as a hobby — we all need an outlet to share our ideas, creativity, and happiness outside of the borders which define our lives, such as family and career.

I will be the first to tell you that my career is extremely rewarding. I have been in this respective field now for 20 years, and the company I represent, my current role, and the team I work with is extremely challenging and gratifying. There is nothing in my life that I would change.

However, my pursuit of gratitude and being an “influencer to elicit greatness” out of others provides me with fulfillment. There is a difference between feeling “rewarded” and “fulfilled”. Both are critical to our true happiness, but a strong sense of fulfillment is something you carry around on a daily basis and it is based on the opportunity to serve those who serve others.

This venture isn’t a solo act — I can’t imagine not having my team of committed, dedicated and passionate people along for the ride. First and foremost, a huge thank you the person to whom I refer to as “Wonder Woman,” and that is our Strategist/Copywriter, Andrea Frost.  She is my right and left hand. Thanks to her, I am able to do what I love most, and that is write. She uses her gifts and talents to do everything else that makes this clock tick, and I don’t take that for granted. She invests hours of her time, creativity and mindfulness into making Charge Up unique and impactful.

There is the Elvis of Central Texas, the voice heard around the world through the LA Lloyd Rock Countdown, Lloyd Hocutt. If you like our podcasts, he’s the reason. All I do is speak into the microphone and he does his magic from there. He has been a mentor, an encouraging voice and a great friend.

Then there are the boys from Zapata, Texas, the Garza brothers – who aren’t really brothers. Shout out to Abel Garza, the only man whose camera lens actually takes ten pounds off me, and Joe David Garza, who is like a unicorn. You hear about them all the time, but you never see one. When we are able to have a rare sighting, his work is second to none. Both Abel and Joe David are perfectionists and take tremendous pride in what they do. As a result, I benefit from their amazing work and I thank you both for your contribution to Charge Up!

Our newest team member is Jayden Mount, who is just getting her feet wet but already has made a solid impact on our content and marketing research.

Our goals remain to reflect, inspire and empower, with a focus on leadership, character and action.

REFLECTION…

Who do you want to be? Where do you want to go? What do you need to get there? I’m asking lots of questions, but I will also help you find the answers through our content and resources provided. Let’s figure out your destination, and what you need for a successful journey.

INSPIRATION…

Journeys are often two steps forward, one step back (and sometimes 5 steps back and a tumble to the ground before you get back up). You’ll need fuel in your tank to keep moving forward, so consider Charge Up your fuel stop (minus the dubious bathrooms). I’ll share what I’ve learned, and also bring you the best insights from those who inspire me.

EMPOWERMENT…

So, here’s the catch to all this guidance (of course there’s a catch – no free lunches here): Charge Up is a pay-it-forward concept. The goal is empowerment – and once you’ve achieved yours, don’t forget to extend a helping hand to others. The best leaders know that empowering those around you doesn’t diminish your strength; it amplifies it.

I can think of no better way to conclude than to sincerely thank each and every one of you that has supported Charge Up and built this community. I am humbled to have earned your trust and respect. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to speak at over 60 events in just the past year – from corporate events, to NCAA university sports programs, high school leadership groups, and high school athletics. I have traveled all over the country speaking, and it fuels me. To all those who provided handshakes, hugs and selfies, I say “thank you.” To those who were kind enough to look in the camera and say, “And don’t forget my friends, Charge Up!”, I hope you know that a few seconds of awkwardness meant the world to me.

To those friends that didn’t hesitate in allowing me the opportunity to present and work with their respective programs once we launched, and continue to encourage and support my endeavors today, including Mike Alfaro, Caitlin Bollier, D’Layne Kelly, Bill Harrison, Tom Damiani, John Carpenter, Mari Bissaro, Leticia Morales Bissaro, Maggi Welham, Penny and Roman Foore, Donna Fields, Patrick Murphy, and most of all, a very special friend that’s like a daughter to our family, Molly Fichtner and the Athletic Department at the University of Louisiana Monroe, I sincerely thank you.

But the biggest thank you of all goes to my family. To my inspiring wife, Beth, and my two beautiful, strong and successful daughters, Isabel and Catherine — I am so thankful for your support and encouragement. It has been a long 365 days for you as well. Your selflessness and kind hearts push me to be a better person. I love you. I also want to thank my brother and his family, my sister and her family, and my uncle and aunt whose love and guidance make the hard days easier and the easy days brighter. I am forever grateful for what was always my father’s number one priority…family.

Go do great things today and make a difference.

Do you think you know enough about leadership to assume the role today?

My answer…”Be careful what you wish for!”

The life of a leader: a day spent shaking hands, delegating difficult and time-consuming tasks, and always talking about big picture projects. Going from meeting to meeting to listen, and maybe offer a quick snapshot of what’s going on within the ivory tower. Truth or fiction?

FICTION.

Leadership is a complex blend of competencies and capabilities. It is not a position or a title; it is action and example. It is not just a matter of guiding others to complete a task. The foundation of leadership doesn’t necessarily include motivation or inspiration. Those traits are earned, along with respect, trust and integrity. You see, true leadership is having the confidence that when you say, “let’s go”, the team has complete buy-in and is behind you all the way.

The role of a leader is often a thankless, risky and lonely responsibility. You cannot lead from the crowd — you must have the boldness to act alone and make difficult decisions that will affect people. A leader must have the courage to take risks and trust and be vulnerable to go down the difficult road in an effort to achieve the greatest reward. It’s understanding that failure is part of the game, and knowing how to audit your self-awareness and move forward without fear of failing again.

You are not born a leader. People become leaders through various processes, including teaching, learning and observation. Leaders possess a specific skill set that comes from practice, application and observation over a period of time. In other words, leadership is a process, and more importantly, a commitment.  Like all processes, it is a skill that takes time to develop. Rush, and you may become an ineffective or unconfident leader. Invest in the process, believe in the system and have a genuine willingness to learn and you have the opportunity to do great things.

10 SKILLS NECESSARY TO BE A COMPETENT LEADER

1. INTEGRITY – having character, consistency and a commitment to always do the right thing
2. COURAGE – being able to face a challenge head-on with confidence and fearlessness
3. PASSION – a tremendous desire to contribute to the task at hand because of the buy-in you have
4. COMMITMENT – dedicated to achieve beyond all circumstances and challenges
5. EMPATHY – the genuine ability to understand another’s feelings and help them reach their full potential
6. PERSPECTIVE – the ability to provide a point of view that offers solutions, yet willing to adjust if necessary
7. GRATITUDE – an honest feeling of thankfulness for the genuine efforts of others
8. WILLINGNESS – being prepared to act, both at planned and unplanned times, with confidence
9. HUMILITY – the ability to be and act with sincere disregard to your title or position
10. SELF-AWARENESS – the conscious knowledge of one’s own character, feelings, motives, and desires

If you still feel confident, then the work will begin. You must be prepared as a leader to trust and serve and give those around you permission to succeed. In order for that to occur, you must be available, embrace diversity, view people in terms of their potential and challenge the unchallenged. It will be your job to raise the bar and ensure that everybody who follows understands your vision and a willingness to invest in their success.