Ascending Solutions, Inc.’s Post

⚾ Honoring Willie Mays: A Childhood Memory with Lifelong Lessons As a lifelong SF Giants fan and baseball player, I consider myself incredibly lucky to have met the legendary Willie Mays and deeply saddened by his passing. I still vividly remember the day he showed up to the neighborhood sandlot, watched us play ball and signed my ball and glove. That simple act of generosity left an indelible mark on me, teaching me valuable life lessons that I carry with me to this day. Life Lessons from Willie Mays: 1️⃣ Willingly share your gifts to inspire others: Willie Mays didn't have to show up for his young fans, but he chose to and he didn’t just sign a ball and glove; he shared his passion for the game, igniting a lifelong love for baseball in me. This taught me the power of sharing our talents and knowledge to uplift and inspire those around us. 2️⃣ Be willing to spend an hour to make a lifelong impact on someone you don't know: That brief interaction had a lasting impact on me, reminding me that even small gestures can profoundly affect others. Taking time to mentor, advise, or simply listen can change someone's life forever. 3️⃣ Be an ambassador for your passions: Willie Mays embodies the spirit of baseball and the SF Giants. His passion for the game and his dedication to the community have shown me the importance of being a positive representative for what we love, both in our personal lives and professional careers. Reflecting on these lessons, I strive to bring the same generosity and passion to my work and personal life. Whether it's through mentoring colleagues, volunteering, or simply being present and engaged, I aim to make a positive impact, just as Willie Mays did for me. Thank you, Willie Mays, for not only being a baseball legend but also a source of inspiration and a role model. Your simple act of kindness has taught me the importance of giving back and being a passionate ambassador for what we love. #WillieMays #SFGiants #Baseball #LifeLessons #Inspiration #startup #entrepreneur #forevergiant

It's truly fascinating how life unfolds; at times, when you express your aspirations, opportunities materialize seemingly out of thin air. I asked a coworker of mine if he needed any volunteers for assistant coaches. Fast forward a couple days, I get a text “Any interest in coaching a youth baseball team? I know you mentioned it the other day and we need a coach.” Again, funny how life works! Lesson number one, sometimes a simple conversation can open doors that you did not know existed. Stay tuned to more lessons learned on this journey. #coach #opportunity #volunteer #myjourney #opendoors

#Contract makes a salary that is the highest paid contract for assistant coaches….when is to much to much when it comes to college football between the and NIL, the portal and coaches salaries? Where does education and actual learning come into the equation? #highered #highereducation #coach #coaching #entrepreneur #careerdevelopment #jobs #communitycollege #economicdevelopment #nonprofit #career #cte #careergoals #skillsgap #comm #manufacturing #training #smallbusiness #smallbiz #learn #startup #covid #construction

I had a delightful time watching the men's and women's basketball tournaments these past few weeks. Even though I have never been good at the game (wrestler!), I appreciated seeing how the fundamentals consistently made the difference in the outcome. Fighting through screens, boxing out on rebounds, moving the ball, shooting and ball-handling, etc. In each chapter of my working life: military, social service, corporate sales, fundraising, executive leadership; it has been the fundamentals that have made the difference. Especially in relationships! Don't assume your clients, customers, colleagues, know what is happening at your business/practice/department. Fundamentally stay in consistent touch with them and make sure they know how much you value the relationship.

Bill Walton: A Master of Success in Basketball and Business “Bill Walton's wisdom transcends time: 'I learned from yesterday, I dream about tomorrow, and I try to make today my masterpiece,' a mantra that resonates with us all." Bill Walton, who sadly passed away yesterday (2052-2024) at 71, was more than a basketball player and entrepreneur. He was a philosopher of personal growth and excellence. His quote, “I learned from yesterday, I dream about tomorrow, and I try to make today my masterpiece,” is a mantra that encapsulates his approach to life. We will delve into the life and mindset of Bill Walton, exploring the profound lessons we can learn from his words and how they can inspire us in the world of business. For the rest of the story, click the link below. #billwalton #dedication #basketball #nba #ncaa #success #business

🌟 Opportunity knocks, but sometimes we hesitate to answer… Instead of taking the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go to Alaska and play baseball, I chose to focus on work and making money…. I worked the whole summer and only ended up making around $1,000… My missed opportunity taught me that viewing money as scarce often leads to regret… 💰 Take calculated risks… They could be your path to something incredible! 🚀 #motivationalvideos #success #business #personaldevelopment #inspirationalvideos

Jay Royster visited me in The Knakal Map Room not too long ago and asked some great questions. In this clip, he asked me what I thought athletics taught me about brokerage and how it applies to brokers today. And I have to tell you, folks in this business need to have two things: 1️⃣ Competitive Spirit: Brokerage is fiercely competitive, mirroring the intensity found on the field. Athletes naturally develop a resilient competitive nature, an invaluable trait that fuels their drive to excel, even in the most challenging professional landscapes. 2️⃣ Teamwork: Success in commercial real estate, much like in sports, is a collective effort. It's not a path you walk alone; it necessitates the support, collaboration, and diverse strengths of a dedicated team. The camaraderie and synergy developed through team sports equip individuals with the skills to thrive in collaborative environments. What do you think? Do you think these two attributes are important? Would love to hear your thoughts. #TheKnakalMapRoom #crebrokers #nycrealestate

It’s college softball tournament time and last weekend was the first round of regionals. Friday evening I tuned in to watch my alma mater, the University of Missouri (Mizzou), play their first game. They were ranked #7 and should have easily beaten Omaha – who was unranked. Well, they play the games for a reason… Mizzou got beat. Well… the haters and non-believers came out of the woodwork. Social media was full of them. In case you aren’t familiar, in the regionals you have to lose twice before you’re out of the tournament, and there are four teams in each region. That meant Missouri had to win 2 games Saturday to advance to meet Omaha on Sunday and they would have to beat them twice to win the regional. The odds are less than 20% that this will happen. But, it did!!! Missouri won. It was exciting (too exciting for me) as there was no score going into the ninth inning (softball usually plays 7 innings) when Mizzou finally scored. The odds were against them… Many of their “fans” didn’t believe in them. But… they did it anyway! Sound familiar? I know so many entrepreneurs and business owners who let other people determine their destiny. They let other people talk them into and out of things. They let other people make them feel like winners or losers. (All these people are well meaning – they think they’re protecting you… what they’re really doing is holding you back and squashing your dreams). Your success (winning and losing) is in your hands. Don’t ever let anybody convince you otherwise. Don’t ever allow yourself to feel less than because of what somebody else did – or said. You, and you alone, are the magic. You determine your outcomes and your success. Nobody else. Even when the odds are against you. Even when they appear to be stacked against you. Your actions. Your mindset. Your opinion - - - it’s ALL that matters. Go have the success you want! Exceed every expectation! If you do, the haters will disappear… like they did last weekend when Mizzou won! #CompleteMarketingSystems, #BusinessOwner, #Success

Since Big Block Athletics has been in existence, I've done what I could to find the best talent to work for me. This month is some of my top employees anniversary month. Since their start date, they have provided great effort to Big Block Athletics. #business #entrepreneurship

It's my favorite time of the year! #marchmadness Where dreams are made, upsets rule, and your office bracket is won by someone who picked their favorite mascots. But upsets are way more commonplace now. Mid-majors routinely upset the blue bloods of college basketball filled with NBA-level talent. How does a team with players who will never sniff an NBA contract, beat NBA-caliber players? The upset happy mid-major with 4 juniors and a senior, have played together for 3 yrs. They trust each other. They have experience. They know where they should be on the court. The one-and-done blue bloods don't have that- but pure talent usually is enough. It's hard to compete when you lack talent. But not impossible. When all the talent you do have is focused on the right thing, at the right time, and helping your teammates. Special things happen. David drops Goliath. Douglass drops Tyson. UMBC drops UVA. I love the #underdog , the upset, the team with no business competing winning. Most #SMBs are the underdog. They lack talent and resources and have no business winning, yet they do. So, keep shooting, keep punching, keep communicating, and magic happens. Watch out for the Lobos #11 New Mexico. #ncaa #smallbusiness