Kevin W. McCarthy

How Would You React?

My daughter, Anne, is a 16-year-old competitive soccer player.  She serves as a junior captain of her Trinity Prep high school soccer team as well as a player on the Football Club of America (Kumba Soccer) located here in Orlando.  Her Kumba team was having a car wash fund raiser in late September.  An accident occurred where one teammate's foot slipped off the brakes and the car pinned another teammate against a wall.  Bree McMahon's legs were crushed.  Anne was one of many who sprang into action.  She called 911 and provided a towel for Bree's head as she lay on the ground awaiting the arrival of paramedics. 

Initially, we anticipated broken legs and damage to Bree's knees.  The severity of the accident came to light a few hours later when Anne's text from the hospital said, "Bree's legs might have to be amputated because the blood vessels were crushed."  Judith and I immediately headed to the hospital to be and pray with the girls. 

Jenna Bush Hager (George and Laura Bush's daughter) of The Today Show did a feature on Bree.  The clip below tells the story.  You'll also get to see and hear a brief comment from Anne from behind Bree's hospital bed. 

Bree and Chelsea (the driver involved in the freak accident) are young Christian girls whose faith is serving them both well in terms of forgiveness given and received.  The character of both young ladies is remarkable.

If it were your legs crushed that day, how would you respond?  My hope would be that I would have grace and understanding like Bree.

How Authentic Is Your Personal Brand?

The integration of your personal brand and personal identity will both improve your life and your work life.  Learn how to anchor your personal brand in the bedrock of your being.

In light of the sad revelations about Tiger Woods, perhaps this video was prophetic in terms of the dangers and costs involved in not having this full integration. 

This video is a contribution I make to a monthly leadership journal called The New Face of Leadership Magazine that is published by my colleague and friend Dr. Stephanie Parson.

Which Team Experience Would Best Serve Your Business and Life?

Today's On-Purpose Business Minute invites your wisdom in the comment section. Help me help my daughter Anne and lots of other high school athletes making decisions about college sports programs.

Learn more about the UNC Women's Soccer Program by watching the video trailer to Winning Isn't Everything.  This is a great example of an On-Purpose Team!

Pittsburgh Penguins' Stanley Cup Runneth Over

SeaWorld Orlando has Discovery Cove where you can swim with the dolphins and the Penguin Encounter where you can watch penguins frolic and play in a frozen environment.  

Move over Orlando, Pittsburgh has bested SeaWorld with Super Mario's Mansion where the whole family can swim with the Penguins AND the Stanley Cup. 

I grew up in the Pittsburgh, PA area and we Pittsburghers do love our sports.   My brother, Bob, who lives there, keeps me up to date with lots of happenings around town.   Sports are something fun we've shared as kids, especially since we were a family of athletes.  

Mario Lemieux is the owner of the Pittsburgh Penguins.  The team's former star and hockey legend naturally threw a party at his home for the championship team.   My brother has some friends who attended the team party and forwarded these photos.  (Note that the kid in the yellow flotation device is not wearing Red Wings.)

Don't be too alarmed by the scene.   The Stanley Cup is traditionally hoisted and jolted by the winning team.  It is revered enough to fight for; real enough to be enjoyed.  The Stanley Cup adds yet another page to its history of storied adventures.

Let's hope that Cup can swim!

Be On-Purpose!

Kevin

Mario's Mansion outside of Pittsburgh:

The Stanley Cup on display before it takes a dip in the pool.

Easter Family Photo

Our family attended church at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Augusta, GA – the church where Judith and I married 25 years ago.  Accompanying us was Judith's 93-year-old mother, aka Grannie.  It was  a special event for us all to be together. 

Afterward Anne and I headed to the Masters to watch those amazing golfers.   We sat in the stand at hole 8 for quite a while.  We watched Trevor Immelman make a long birdie putt and Tiger Woods sink an eagle putt.  The weather was wonderful.  Tonight my nose is sunburned red! 

We're staying with the Parkers who have graciously opened their house to the McCarthy invasion once again.  It is nice to have in-laws who are so welcoming.  So thanks John and Mary Bright!

I hope your Easter was fun, family filled, and joyful.  Easter is the most holy of days because of the miracle of Jesus' resurrection.  Regardless of your present circumstances, joy can be had in the hope of Easter.

Be On-Purpose!

Kevin

Happy Easter!

May your Easter Day be filled with joy!

We're in the Augusta, GA area for the holiday with family.   My wife grew up here.  Later today, my daughter Anne and I are heading to the Masters Golf Tournament to watch the greats of the game.  We're hoping to watch Trevor Immelman play as his father and I are acquainted through my books.  They're a nice family.  I was delighted to see him win the green jacket last year.  

I hope your Easter Day is special.

Be On-Purpose!

Kevin

Three Generations of McCarthy Men: One Atlanta Braves Game

March 17, 2009 - Disney Wide World of Sports

I'm very fortunate to have my parents living nearby in Winter Park.  Most every day I stop by their house for a visit.   The same can't be said of my son Charles, who at 18 is away at school.  St. Patty's Day turned out to be a day for the luck of the Irish.

Spring break and spring training baseball and three generations of McCarthy Men made the trek to see the Braves and the NY Mets play at Disney.   The video is admittedly not the best, but the sentiment is priceless.   As you can imagine, my son was not happy with me pulling out my little FlipHD recorder and capturing the moment in the ninth inning with a 360 view.

It is fun to take an afternoon off of work and just be with family.   That's so on-purpose!

Meeting Brian Biro - America's Breakthrough Coach

Asheville, NC - May 16, 2008

One of the great joys of being a best selling author and professional speaker is the other best selling authors and speakers one gets to meet.  Friday, I once again had this joy with a man who all about having a Joyful Spirit - the title of one of his books.

Brian Biro is America's Breakthrough Coach - a true On-Purpose Person.  A guy with a joyful heart and a sharing spirit.  Allow me to put a blatant plug in for Brian to any readers looking for a speaker.  Brian truly is a coach, motivational speaker, and, most importantly, the genuine article.  Here's a guy who gets people on their feet in a greater belief in their true selves and possibilities. 

Brian Biro's first book, Beyond Success, provides an in depth look and understanding into "The 15 Secrets of Effective Leadership and Life" through the eyes of former UCLA basketball coach, John Wooden.  Coach Wooden is unarguably the greatest college basketball coach of all time, yet the titles were incidental to his goal of developing boys into men.  While coaching swimming at UCLA, Brian and Coach Wooden formed a friendship so this book is truly a personal account rather than the distance of a journalist.  Read it and learn.

 

The Masters Golf Tournament - Trevor Immelman

I'm pulling for Trevor Immelman to win the Masters Golf Tournament this weekend.  Why?  It was back in 1998 that I received a phone call from a man with an English accent who said he was from South Africa and was in Orlando, could he come see me at my office.

Helicopter Flight in Pittsburgh

It was a crystal clear September Fall day in Pittsburgh when my brother and I took flight in the Robinson R-44 helicopter. 

Ya gotta try it!