THE QATSPY® Yankee Performance Sports Training & Apparel Quarters
By: Charles W. Boatright
Graduates, You Completed 1st Leg of 4 X 4 Relay- You have Heard a Number of Commencement, but I would like to Provide what I have Learned
At age 64, I would like to provide you with some insight that will allow you to have a successful life, while enjoying the journey along the way. Success is often measured in money that is earned, accomplishments achieved in life, or being recognized by others for these things achievements. I would like to present a little different perspective on how success could be viewed that provides the most satisfaction.
Here are the four (4) Legs of your 4 X 4 Relay in life:
FIRST LEG– Basic Developmental Leg– Developing our fine motor skills, learning skills, social skills, and strengthening skills derived from fitness. Fine Motor Skills is developing hand-eye coordination, especially from sports and the arts. Learning Skills are what is referred to as the 4-R’s (reading, writing, math, and the S- Science). Social Skills can be defined by Sportsmanship. Team sports and playing with others will help to develop Social Skills.
SO WHY is it important to develop our fine motor skills at an early age during the first 10 or 12- years of our life. HERE’S WHY– Highly developed fine motor skills during this time frame is significant to ALL OF US. These fine motor skills are what separates Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Micheal Jordan, Steph Curry, Chipper Jones, and Wade Boggs, just to name a few extortionary athletes, from the rest of us. We have one opportunity to highly develop these fine motor skills and that is it, we than have to rely on our gross motor skills after this period.
Here’s some encouraging NEWS for all of US- There’s a training technique that we can use that will allow us to take fine motor skills developed in one sport and help develop skills in another sport called APPERCEPTION. This is the very reason why it is so important to get kids involved in sports at an early age. Also sports builds confidence and self-esteem in other areas of our lives especially in our ability to learn.
SECOND LEG– Advance Developmental Leg– Selecting a career field that challenges you and allows you to make a living and invest in your future. One of the best challenges is following a health and fitness program and selecting a sport to be involved in and interact with others for our social health. Investing in your health and fitness program is like having a 401(k) for your mental, physical, and spiritual well-being.
Here’s another pitfall to avoid; never confuse knowledge with experience. Most of people’s biggest mistakes occurs when a person confuses their knowledge that they have gained with experience that they have little of. To avoid this, Constantly seek out advice from others, especially those who have years of expertise and experience in that area. Don’t be reluctant to ask for advise, in doing so you will forge long lasting friendships with others that is our main mission in life, DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS!
One reason that I retired early from transmission line work was that younger and inexperienced engineers were not seeking out advice from those that have been through the gauntlet of life on the job that they would be willing to share. The biggest transformation that one can make in their life is to consider failure as gaining experience and success as developing one’s confidence.
One of the biggest impacts that you can make in your life is to start a habit of investing in your future. Start a 401(k) or IRA and use direct deposit, especially if your employer matches all or part of your contribution. Do Not Miss This ONE. The reason I was able to retire at age 57 was that I took advantage of investing in my future through these vehicles at an early age of 21. I put back 10 percent of my income into a 401(k) and IRA Programs. If you get a chance read the book The Richest Man in Babylon, by George S. Clason, please do it will change your life.
Here’s the QUESTION– Why work for 35- odd years doing what you have to do and not be able to enjoy the things you want to do? That isn’t logical! This is why a 401(k) Program for your health and fitness is just as important as a 401(k) program is for your finances.
Develop a hobby(s) that you have a passion for and enjoy doing in order to have that hobby that can become your future profession when you retire. That was exactly what I did, as I took writing, golf, health, and fitness and apparel to start my own online business that I’m still doing at age 64. I even can model my line of clothing at age 64, shown above with our leather jacket line to recognize the 40th Anniversary of the release of Raiders of the Lost Ark.
The Bunt-Type Chip Shot
When looking for a career path, don’t overlook 2-year technical colleges. I can attest to this as being a great future. I got a call this week from a Line Utility Company looking for linemen. They weren’t just looking for a few linemen, but 80 linemen. Linemen, like a lot of craft skills jobs, have unlimited earning potential. So don’t think college is your only option. Linemen are making salaries that equal or in some cases surpasses those of executives. I should know, I was one of them before I got my Engineering Degree.
THIRD LEG– With experience that you gain in life, reach out to help others that are struggling and be a lifeline and mentor for someone. Continue to be active in your health and fitness that includes a sport. Continue to develop and don’t fall into the trap of looking or dwelling on the past.
Let me be the first to tell you that we can deal better with our failures than we can with our successes. Success leads to complacency. I like what Coach Nick Saban believes and what the Apostle Paul wrote and said concerning our past in Philippians 3:13 this is vital to reaching a promising future- Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,
Successful coaches have the ability to develop this type of philosophy in their teams. Using a sport analogy, like running in a track heat, the runner can’t afford to look back and run an effective race. They will lose their momentum, rhythm, and direction in the race. Learn from the past, but don’t dwell in the past. One can’t complete in their race if they are constantly looking and staying in the past.
FOURTH LEG– The hobbies and interests that you develop can be used to have an active lifestyle later in your life, so in other words, challenge yourself and constantly be active. Retirement isn’t retiring from work or life, but from work you have to do, in order to do the work that you enjoy doing on your own schedule and pace.
The reason you are able to enjoy your life in the future is the work you put into those two 401(k) or IRA plans that you faithfully invested in working on, these are your health and fitness and your financial 401(k) and IRA plans. Even at age 64, I still work out and play golf walking the golf course. I’m also a fitness and golf coach where I’m the instructor in my online videos and I model my line of clothing that I carry in my Online Store, THE QATSPY®.
I even enjoy riding my INDIAN Motorcycle and flying that was a part of my job as a Grid Engineer patrolling our transmission lines. I still enjoy, listen to, and can relate to the song by Glen Campbell entitled ‘The Wichita Linemen’. Glen Campbell just happened to be an Arkansas boy as I am.
I was even ask to do a photo shoot to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the movie the Raiders of the Lost Ark, I’m showing here with the US WINGS Leather Jacket and Fedora that I carry in my Online Store:
In closing, let me leave you with the 5- P’s of life:
Develop a Purpose, Passion, Perseverance, and Patience in whatever you Pursue in life.
I took the opportunity to attach my 12-Point New Year’s Resolution Plan
Contribute to Others for a better Life Yourself
Also don’t fail to contribute to your favorite charity or organization that helps people get back on their feet. I give to the Friendly Chapel Church that is operated by my Brother and dear friend Paul Holderfield that provides high school kids with scholarships to college or Technical College. If you select this link it will allow you to support Bro. Paul.