An Attitude of Gratitude

I spent today in Nashville, TN working with educators today!  It was a tough crowd but I gave 110% to each one there regardless of the fact that I believe half of them did not want to be there and felt forced to attend the one day training I worked so hard to prepare for.  But I am thankful anyway!

After getting back to the hotel I started to think about qualities in people that I admire and hope to continue to emulate.  I really enjoy being around people who have an attitude of gratitude toward life. Nothing turns me off more than working with people or even being around people for that matter that have an entitlement mentality - they feel as if the world owes them something.  People with an entitlement mentality expect their pay check on pay day but are the first ones to come in late and leave early.  People with an entitlement mentality are more interested in what's in it for me instead of what talents and skills can I offer others.  People with an entitlement mentality are the first to complain when things do not go their way and also the first to think of excuses of why they can't or shouldn't do something to help others.  I believe that the more you give in life, the more you get back!  Someone once told me that what you don't appreciate will eventually exit your life.

In my humble experience and journey through life the people who value what life has to offer also give off life to others.  Despite the pain, frustration, fears, and disappointments in life maintain an attitude of gratitude.  Be thankful...anyway!  I have been blessed and appreciate every opportunity that I have received in my life; be it big or small, hurtful or helpful, and always walk away feeling thankful for the lessons learned.  These experiences shape your character and when you have a positive attitude you will always benefit from it.  I strongly believe your outlook on life and thankfulness attracts others to want to help you more.

Let other people in your life know how thankful you are for them.  Especially those who are closest to you.  Sometimes it is easy to overlook those closest to you who have stood by you when others have only left you with broken promises...thank them...thank those who have stood by you and continue to stand in the gap despite your short comings.  Live with an attitude and gratitude and you will live without regrets and see every situation as a blessing and not a burden!  I'm thankful for the doors that have opened and closed over my life.

Educators' Symposium on Accelerating Learning in Sacramento, CA.

Honored to be the featured keynote speaker for the Educators' Symposium on Accelerating Learning conference held in Sacramento, CA.  The symposium was sponsored by Renaissance Learning, Inc. and brings together educators from all across the nation for a day and a half for professional learning as an educator to gain educational tips and techniques to improve their school district.  

 Some of sessions included topics on: English Language Learners, Common Core Standards, Struggling Readers to Successful Readers - Getting All Students College and Career Ready, Differientiated Learning, Digital Writing, RTI for English Language Learners, and Closing the Achievement Gap...just to mention a few.

After a great introduction from Dr. Gene Kerns, Vice President and Chief Academic Officer with Renaissance Learning, I was honored to deliver my signature keynote address called Homeless 2 Harvard!  From the beginning to the end of my presentation the audience stayed with me...some laughed, some cried, but overall I really feel that hearts were turned and the educators in the room felt validated and inspired.  I dedicated this presentation to Ms. G, my music teacher in high school.  Today Ms. G is 95 years old and I still send her a family Christmas card every year!  Always value and give credit to those who mentored you in life and Ms. G made me want to do more with my life and be more than where I grew up.

As I said in my closing comments; "You are a wonderful  and worthy person, appreciate that about yourself.  No one has ever been or will ever be quite like you.  You are an individual, an original, and all those things that make you uniquely you are deserving of love and praise.  So rise up and be recognized because today is your day to shine!"

Spoke to over 500 participants enrolled in the San Diego Job Corps!

Yesterday I had the pleasure and honor of speaking to over 500 Job Corps participants and staff members about living their dreams by standing out of the crowd and doing things in life that others do not have the ambition to change.  There are no secrets to success...it takes hard work, vision, and treating others the way you want to be treated.  Life does not open doors...you have to open them!

At the event I was elated to follow my mentor and spiritual father, Sergio De La Mora.  Unfortunately, the crowd was challenging and seemed like they wanted to be someone else. It never ceases to amaze me that you can have greatness speaking to you but because you are so preoccupied with low level living you miss the promise intended for you.  Don't let the mediocrity around you become you...rise above it!  I remember when I was 18 years old, still a gang member, homeless and living on the streets, working at a factory.  Most of the other employees that worked on the assembly line where twice my age and had been working there for years.  Being raised to always do my best, my very very best, I came up with a way to speed up production on the assembly line and help make the company more money.  The other workers were beside themselves because it meant that they had to work harder and smarter to do their job and keep up with the assembly line.

The spirit of lazyness and entitlement will keep you living a low standard, below quality of life where you have to be told when to sit, sleep, stand, eat, and go to bed.  I hope and pray that the youth and staff at the San Diego Job Corps catch a vision beyond the walls of where they are to where they can  and quite frankly need to be!  Did you know it takes $36,000 to put a youth through Job Corps and for the same amount of money you can send a student to Harvard for one year. Which young person would you want to invest into?  I'm just saying...

Robert Renteria's book From the Barrio to the Board Room!

I just finished reading Robert Renteria's book From the Barrio to the Board Room and all I can say is everybody needs to read his story.  Robert grew up in East LA, caught up in drugs, gangs, poverty, a high school drop out, abuse and neglect, but, through positive role models throughout his life learned the secret of success - hard work, dedication, passion, and perserverance!

After completing his GED, Robert went into the Army and came out a lean, mean, fighting machine with discipline in his life and a vision in his heart to become successful.  He became a successful businessman running his own company and commanded the corporate board room.  After successfully retiring from business, Robert's legacy is to take his message of hope nation wide and heal a hurting society.

The book reminded me of my struggle (from Homeless to Harvard) growing up and the challenges I had to face to be the best I could be and the central theme is that you have the God-given ability to achieve whatever is in your heart.  As my spiritual father, Pastor Sergio De La Mora would always tell me "what you see when your eyes are closed is more important than what you see when they are open."

Turning the Hearts Center purchased books and the FREE curriculum for the empowerment groups we have at the Center.  All materials come in English and in Spanish.  Dougluff.com is elated to work with Robert Renteria to bring From the Barrio to the Board Room to California.  If you would like to know more information or book Robert for a speaking engagement, please feel free to email me at: dougluff@gmail.com

"Don't let where you came from dictate who you are, but let it be part of who you become." -Robert Renteria

Urban Executive Leadership Forum at the Ritz Carlton Laguna

Last weekend I had an outstanding time at the Ritz Carlton in Laguna.  I was fortunate to be a keynote speaker for the Urban Executive Leadership Forum sponsored by the National Center for Education Research & Technology (NCERT) and corporate partner Renaissance Learning, Inc.  The education summit was designed for executives of large urban districts in Arizona, California, Minnasota, Nevada, Texas, and Wisconsin.

The purpose of this event was to provide peer-to-peer networking opportunities with some of the key educational leaders across the country to discuss some of the most difficult challenges facing education.  The four key areas discussed were:

• Urban Issues and Innovations
• Common Core State Standards
• Implementation Research Teacher Effectiveness, and
• National Education Policy, NCLB, ESEA, and beyond

For me, having an opportunity to tell my story from Homeless 2 Harvard was a great way to speak on behalf of thousands of urban youth who are gifted for greatness but need to be surrounded by mentors and adults who love them, encourage them, and bring out the best in them.  This was the first time I used www.prezi.com for my powerpoint presentation and I received raved reviews about my message.  Every school leader in America needs to hear what I have to say.  Hearts were turned in a major way!

One of the best parts of the weekend was having my family join me and experiencing the quality customer service of the Ritz Carlton Staff...I have come far from my days of being homeless and I still feel that my best days are still ahead of me!