pushy

My job is not to be easy on people. My job is to take these great people we have and to push them and make them even better.
--Steve Jobs (1955-2011) American entrepreneur and inventor.

Above: Clearing snow in Unicoi, TN. In the background is Pinnacle Mountain.

Effort

The difference between try and triumph is a little umph.
--Author Unknown.

This past October, a new bridge was completed on the Appalachian Trail leading to Laurel Fork Falls from Dennis Cove Road. The new "Koonford Bridge" is in the same location as the older, narrow bridge in the Laurel Fork Gorge. Though considerably wider, I'm glad they kept the handrails on just one side, just like the older bridge. This wasn't just a replacement project -- in order to accommodate the new, wider bridge, volunteers had to first widen and raise the stone support piers. Here is a link to a series of videos showing the dedicated volunteers who made this happen. The new bridge is very impressive both in its scale and craftsmanship. Sixty-six feet in length, it took about two months to complete.

Some of you might remember that back in January of 1998 the central section of the old bridge was washed away in a flood and quickly replaced by a crew of volunteers.  That 'quick fix' held up really well for 16 years.

walk the talk

He that gives good advice, builds with one hand; he that gives good counsel and example, builds with both; but he that gives good admonition and bad example, builds with one hand and pulls down with the other. 
--Francis Bacon, Sr. (1561-1626) English Lawyer and Philosopher.

Above: An abandoned, old, dilapidated house in Kingsport, TN (taken a month ago).

step by step

When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps. 
--Confucius (551-479 BC) Chinese philosopher.

Above: Small waterfalls found along Laurel Run outside of Church Hill, TN.

backbone falls

The individual activity of one man with backbone will do more than a thousand men with a mere wishbone. 
--William J. H. Boetcker (1873–1962) Presbyterian minister and motivational speaker.  

Above: Backbone Falls in Johnson County, TN. For information about Backbone Rock and Backbone Falls and for directions, click here.

footprints

One who walks in another's tracks leaves no footprints.
--Proverb 

Above: Blue walking along the Appalachian Trail near Iron Mountain Gap on the Tennessee/North Carolina border. Much more snow up there than I anticipated finding! I thought we all agreed it was spring?

Tipton-Haynes House

This home, built in 1784 by Colonel John Tipton (1730–1813), is part of the Tipton-Haynes Historic Site in Johnson City, TN. Click here to read more about the house and its colorful history.  

Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it. --Edmund Burke

strive valiantly

It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat. 
--Teddy Roosevelt (1858-1919) 26th US President.  

Believe it or not, baseball season is underway. The Milligan Buffaloes host the Johnson University Royals in a double header starting today at 1pm. This is a photo I took in my studio of Ernesto Fernandez, a Milligan College outfielder and pitcher from the city of Santiago in the Dominican Republic. Go Buffs!

your choice

We herd sheep, we drive cattle, we lead people. 
Lead me, follow me, or get out of my way. 
--George S. Patton (1885-1945) US Army General

stand tall

You can stand tall without standing on someone. You can be a victor without having victims. 
--Harriet Woods (1927-2007) American politician and activist. 

Red spruce trees on the summit of Unaka mountain. Directions here.
 

a long-range perspective

The manager has a short-range view; the leader has a long-range perspective. 
--Warren G. Bennis  (b.1925) professor and author. 

Above: The view of Milligan College from White Rocks Overlook on Buffalo Mountain, 3.2 miles away. Notice the new dorms under construction! [click to enlarge]

fun, fun, fun

 

People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing.
--Dale Carnegie (1888-1955)  American lecturer, author. 

My boy Blue recently learned to play frisbee - and he loves it -- so much so he'll even ignore the tennis ball in favor of the frisbee. Wonders never cease.  When he gets overheated, he simply goes and lays down in the creek. And he'll have fun, fun, fun til his daddy takes the frisbee away. (Thanks to my friend Peter Nelson for taking these pics.)

justice and power

Justice and power must be brought together, so that whatever is just may be powerful, and whatever is powerful may be just. 
--Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) French Mathematician, Philosopher and Physicist. 

For directions, click here. The road to Red Fork is paved, but if you continue up the mountain on Unaka Mountain Road, know that it took a big hit with the recent heavy rains, and is in rough shape in many places. For the last few years, the road has been in great shape, but now has deep gullies in many places, especially on the Unicoi side of the mountain. A high clearance vehicle is a must! For a detailed discussion of all there is to see and do on Unaka Mountain, click here.

trust.

Trust is not just the foundation of leadership, it's the speed at which leadership operates. --John Maxwell (b.1947) Christian author, speaker, and pastor. 

The footbridge leading to Osceola Island on the South Holston River near Bristol, TN.

action + vision

Vision without action is a dream. Action without vision is simply passing the time. Action with Vision is making a positive difference.
--Joel Barker, author

the path of leadership

We must be silent before we can listen.
We must listen before we can learn.
We must learn before we can prepare.
We must prepare before we can serve.
We must serve before we can lead.
--William Arthur Ward (1921–1994) author 

"Blue" leading the way on the Appalachian Trail on Unaka Mountain.