Review-Fran Tarkenton's New Biography: "Every Day Is Game Day"

I just finished reading Fran Tarkenton's new biography, "Every Day Is Game Day." It has been my privilege to work with Fran over this past year as one of his business partners. Watch what Fran says about it in the video above.


Besides being loaded with rare photos of his NFL days with the Minnesota Vikings, the New York Giants, and his induction into the football Hall of Fame, Fran tells some fascinating stories about his childhood, growing up in the back alleys of Washington, DC. and moving to Athens, Georgia. The son of a preacher, Fran has that same fervor and zeal that has propelled his success over all these years.


He also relates inside stories of playing high school football and then playing in college for the Georgia Bulldogs. Also there are fascinating behind the scenes stories about coaches, players and the games that made him a record breaking Hall of Fame quarterback. His relationship with coach Bud Grant and players like Ahmad Rashad is telling about the character of this All-Star football player.

Especially touching is the loss of his father to a heart attack following the Vikings loss to Roger Staubach and the Dallas Cowboys when the "Hail Mary" pass was born.

There are some not so serious, even laughable moments as Fran relates his days as a Monday Night Football commentator, working alongside the great Don Meredith and the famous sports pundit Howard Cosell.

In, Every Day Is Game Day" you will discover some great insights into the man, the legend and the legacy of Fran Tarkenton, one of the greatest quarterbacks to play the game. The stats and the stories speak for themselves:

• Almost instant star in very first game with new franchise with 4 touchdown passes, 1961
• Moved to New York Giants in 1967, back to Vikings in 1972 in stunning trades
• At retirement leading lifetime passer in 6467 attempts
• Leading passing quarterback with 3686 completions at retirement
  
• 47003 total yards passed
• Passed for 342 touchdowns
• Rushed for 3674 yards and 32 touchdowns
• Led Vikings to 3 Super Bowls
• All NFL player 4 times
• Selected for the Pro Bowl 9 times
• Famous for exciting elusive scrambling style of play
  

His fierce drive and determination are balanced by his commitment, care and concern about the people around him. I cried reading about Fran helping one of his business partners connect with some of their long lost family.


On the verge of turning 70, (though you'd never know it) Fran is still extremely active with the businesses he started and is still considered a hero to thousands of loyal fans, business associates and friends. Always a devoted father and husband,with high and noble ideals, I believe you will find this book to be an eye opener about what it takes to be a high achiever and a winner. Fran Tarkenton is all of that and more.

Do I recommend this book. The answer is a resounding YES! You will be encouraged, your heart will be stirred, you will be re-energized and, I believe, forever changed.

About the author: David Henning is the President of the Freshstart Company, LLC and has over thirty years experience as a radio talk show host, radio and television copywriter, newspaper editor and public speaker. Having started, owned and operated several businesses, Dave is a proven leader in the business world. Dave is a freelance copywriter and has authored hundreds of articles about helping people get a fresh start in life.

What Is Your Mission?

"There comes a special moment in everyone's life, a moment for which that person was born. That special opportunity, when he seizes it, will fulfill his mission- a mission for which he is uniquely qualified. In that moment, he finds greatness. It is his finest hour."

-Winston Churchill

Today, ask yourself, "What is MY mission? Why am I here? How can I move forward to discover, cultivate and achieve my God-given mission?" Instead of focusing on how much "stuff" you can market and sell, focus on changing the world for the better by become who you were meant to be. Let go of your preconceived notions and watch what happens.

CARPE DIEM- "Seize the Day!"

About the author: David Henning is the President of the Freshstart Company, LLC and has over thirty years experience as a radio talk show host, radio and television copywriter, newspaper editor and public speaker. Dave is a freelance copywriter and has authored hundreds of articles about helping people get a fresh start in life. Copyright © 2005 David Henning and the Freshstart Co.

What's Your Excuse?

Okay, so my neighbor across the hall in the office building where I spend most of my life sends me this "interesting, must see" video clip.

This amidst 68 emails that came in just this morning.

If you're like me, you get a gazillion forwarded emails a day with someone wanting you to "check this out." Usually it's a ridiculous political opinion forwarded from "who knows where" attempting to raise your blood pressure and turn up the "anger and outrage thermostat" a notch or two.

Or worse yet, they want you to forward it to ten people you know for good luck or blessing and if not, who knows, you might be in for something dreadful.

Well, I stopped playing that game a long time ago, if I ever really did. You see, I choose who and what to let into my brain. Without being "pie in the sky" or "pollyanna," I choose to try to see the best in others and the best in even bad situations. Medical and University research confirms it's better and a healthier lifestyle.

It has been shown in clinical studies that unresolved bitterness, anger and unforgiveness does not hurt the person or issue that has ticked you off or made your blood boil. Not one bit.

Who it does hurt is you. Don't take my word for it. Do your own due diligence and PRIMARY research. There are cases of high blood pressure, strokes, heart attack and even cancer that can be traced back to what I call "Ebenezer Scrooge Syndrome," or E.S.S. ( I just made that up.)

So what's my point? Thanks for asking. If you think you have an excuse for not being successful, or feel you've gotten a raw deal... or better yet... you're waiting for the federal government to take care of you or improve your situation....

Then watch this incredible video from a guy who makes no excuses and has taken what he's been dealt in life and made the most of it. Whether or not you like or play golf, this is a must see. Be encouraged, there is hope and yes, there is light at the end of your tunnel!

And TAKE ACTION today to get out there and make a difference!

Check it out: http://www.thegolfchannel.com/golf-videos/meet-butch-lumpkin-9477/?ref

Don't worry, its from the Golf Channel, so its safe. Your thoughts?
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Success Is Inside You

SUCCESS IS INSIDE YOU!

Explore the possibilities, unleash the dream within you. Success is not a destination that you arrive at, it’s a journey. Success is not money, wealth and power, it’s being all that you can be with God’s help and becoming all that you can be as you take this journey called life.

“Success is knowing your purpose in life, growing to reach your maximum potential and sowing seeds to benefit others.” John Maxwell1.

KNOWING. Do you know your purpose? Have you written it down? Why are you here? What do you want out of life?

Yogi Berra: ‘If you don’t know where you are going, you might wind up someplace else.”

2. GROWING. Success comes as the result of growing to our potential. It has been said that potential is God’s gift to us and what we do with it is our gift to Him.

Henry Ford, ”There is no man living who isn’t capable of doing more than we think we can do. We have nearly limitless potential, yet few ever try to reach it.”T

TIPS: 1. CONCENTRATE ON ONE MAIN GOAL. No one ever reached their potential by scattering themselves in 20 different directions. Reaching your potential requires FOCUS.

2. CONCENTRATE ON CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT.

Resources for your personal growth.
EACH DAY YOU CAN BECOME A LITTLE BIT BETTER THAN YOU WERE YESTERDAY.

You will find that what you GET as a result of your growth is not nearly important as what you BECOME along the way. The potential for greatness lies within you!

3.SOWING. Sow seeds that benefit others. Without that, the success journey can be a lonely and shallow experience. We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give!

Zig Ziglar: “Help enough other people get what they want and you will end up getting what you want.”

There is tremendous gratification and personal reward that cannot be measured in helping people. That’s why I am committed to helping you succeed.

In the Smithsonian Institute, Washington, DC…there's a video of speech given by President John F. Kennedy to congress, on May 25th, 1961. It records the stirring words of an impossible goal that stunned scientists and the nation.

He said, “I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal before the decade is out of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to earth.”

IT WAS RIDICULOUS, WILD, IMPOSSIBLE!

Even some people at NASA thought it couldn’t be done. The technology required to make it happen didn’t even exist, and they weren’t sure that it could exist.

Yet, NASA, despite all the doubts, took on the challenge and on July 16th , 1969, Apollo Eleven lifted off from Pad 39 at Kennedy Space Center and began a journey of 244,930 miles to the moon.

Four days later, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, Jr. landed the lunar module, Eagle on the surface of the moon...and 500 million people watched on television as Armstrong took his first step into the powder fine gray dust of the moon and uttered those famous words,

“That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

WHAT HAPPENED? In the blink of an eye, John F. Kennedy’s speech made a lunar landing change from an impossible dream to an obtainable target.

We didn’t have the technology to do it, but it became POSSIBLE because of a change in

ATTITUDE. WHEN OUR ATTITUDES OUTDISTANCE OUR ABILITIES, EVEN THE IMPOSSIBLE BECOMES POSSIBLE!

Yogi Berra, “Life is like baseball. It’s 95 per cent mental and the other half is physical.”

Sign in office “YESTERDAY ENDED LAST NIGHT.”
“ONE THING I DO. Forgetting what is behind, and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me.” (Philippians 3:13)

Sign over locker room door of Phoenix Suns. A quote from Bill Russell, famous center for Boston Celtics: “The game is scheduled and we have to play it. WE MIGHT AS WELL WIN.”

During Russell’s time with the Celtics they won 11 NBA Title Championships in 13 years.”

You have a life to live, a mission to accomplish.

My question to you today is, what are you going to do with it? WE MIGHT AS WELL WIN!