Success Lessons From The Golden Bear

Johnny Lingo opens with a boy running across an unnamed Polynesian island to a Hawaii Five-O type soundtrack. He arrives at the village and announces to the kindly white shopkeeper who owns the island's only store, "He comes, he comes! Johnny Lingo! Johnny Lingo!" The village explodes with excitement.

But what if you think you have a really talented kid (everyone thinks they do) and you want to see him/her excel. As a coach let me offer you the game plan, the same one that I would ask you to follow if your child is training with me, the same one I follow with my sons.

growkit golden teacher Each grip is really a matter of preference. Sometimes, the type of percussion instrument you play will determine the type of grip you should use. In many cases it is good to know how to play drums with both types of grips. This will allow for you to always be prepared no matter the situation.

Outside of Huxley at night there could be a fire in the wood burning fireplace. A world renowned Schooner Operator could be playing classical guitar alone. While at the other end of the deck a couple of people are sipping tea or coffee. Others coming up from the baths refreshed and ready for sleep. Couple of raccoons vibrating calmly nearby as a mystical lady tells you to fear not. Their scent uniquely pungent still to my memory. Sounds of nature flourish. Sparks from the crackling fire fly up into the gentle breeze of the cool crisp evening toward the star filled universe surrounding us. Stratus clouds intermingle with silhouettes of tree branches.

golden teacher Like any experienced Jewish son, I quickly disregarded my mother's concern as paranoia. This is a woman who would triple-lock her bedroom door living in a convent (probably to ward off any lesbian nuns). When I became a lawyer, she suggested I change my last name and pretend to be gentile, because "law firms might not like the Jews." I informed her that in fact many of the most prominent law firms had Jewish names, but my mother wrote that off to an "attempt to be politically correct." According to her, those Jews were probably just figureheads. Apparently the Pope is the real mastermind behind the American legal system.

golden teacher growkit The spring water for the baths are from the property. Esselen Indians use to bathe in these waters hundreds of years ago. The water from the natural hot springs are pumped up from below the ground and are considered healing. I've seen people drink the water even though it has a slight smell like sulfur. Strangely as a kid when I use to melt sulfur and other stuff from my chemistry set I use to always get a cold after accidentally inhaling the fumes. But here I have only had good experiences at the baths -- no side effects at all from the sulfer, people even drink this water for health (I tried it twice).

golden teacher Turn off the noise. Have a quiet time each day to shift gears. If you work outside of the home, plan just 15 minutes of alone time in your car before you pick the kids up, or rush to the store. Get a great CD or tape and play it, all alone in your car as you change states from employee to mom, wife or sane woman.

Later, when I turned fifteen, I went on a rather special family holiday. Our normal holidays were spent camping in tents. This time we stayed in a lovely old colonial hotel in the highlands. I first saw him across from our family table in the diningroom. He was alone at his table. Tall, dark haired with beard and moustache, he was about ten years too old for me. He was, however, around the age of all the men in the books I was absorbing by osmosis at the time.

School for me was not the most inspiring place. I was quiet and retiring on the surface but a secret revolutionary developing a silent but burgeoning dislike of authority in all its forms. I had a couple of special friends but was never invited to join the 'in' crowd. My personality was still forming. I had no way of impressing it on anyone. I had zero marketing capacity so I could never sell my coolness so that there would be buyers.

growkit golden teacher Like most school-year children, I became friends with whom I sat next to. We talked before and after class--and sometimes during. I don't exactly remember why, but the girl started to write me notes. I think it was because she was too bored during class.

growkit golden teacher A teacher cannot be a friend to his/her students. You are 'in loco perantis'. That carries responsibility. Obviously, you need to be approachable. That means you need to have a friendly demeanour. Tell your class when and where you are available to see them about any issues they have and help they need.

It is more fun than kindergarten and more free than old fashioned rock concerts at the Greek Theatre in L.A. (In the nature of this play one might turn a leaf or a rock into a musical instrument and get a unique sound or one might wear costumes or make faces or pretend one is a rock star an athlete or a dancer or singer -- all is allowed).