“We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead.”  ~II Corinthians 1:8-9

Have you ever been in a season where you felt like this? Crushed and overwhelmed beyond your ability to endure? Maybe you even got to the point where you expected that your life was over. It’s in these moments that we have a choice. We can either rely on ourselves, our ability to get through it, and our friends advice on how to get through it, or we can rely on God and trust that He’ll get us through and ultimately use the test or trial we’re facing for good.

For most of us, God is always our last resort. Only when we’ve done everything we can and still come up short do we seek God and pray. Have you been there? How many times have you made God your last resort?

I believe God wants us to get to a place where He is our first resort. If you’re going through a test or trial right now, give it over to God. If you’re not, the next time you find yourself entering into a test or trial, don’t try to fix it first, instead give it to God. Seek Him. He will not disappoint you.

All it will take is a few times trusting God with what you’re going through, and you’ll never make Him your last resort again.

Stop relying on yourself, start relying on God.

Thoughts?

The post The Place Where God Wants Each of Us to Get To appeared first on Doug Smith Live.

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” ~Matthew 19:26

Don’t be surprised if you come across situations in your life that seem impossible. Jesus said that in our lives there will , there will be situations and circumstances that are humanly impossible to overcome, BUT with God, ALL things are possible.

• Overcoming the sin that you keep repeating over and over again may seem impossible, but with God it is possible.

• Restoring a relationship, a marriage, or a family may seem impossible, but with God it is possible.

• The doctors may have said there is nothing more they can do and it is impossible that you’ll overcome this sickness or disease, but with God, it’s possible.

• Getting your life together may seem impossible, but with God, it is possible!

• Overcoming an addiction may seem impossible, but with God, it is possible.

• Getting out of debt and becoming financially secure may seem impossible, but with God it is possible.

• Raising a great family when you weren’t raised in one may seem impossible, but with God, it is possible!

• Doing something significant with your life even though you’ve wasted year may seem impossible, but with God it is possible.

• Overcoming tragedies in your life may seem impossible, but with God, it is possible.

• Having a relationship with God may seem like an impossibility with you, but with God, it is possible.

There is nothing you deem to be impossible that is not possible with God. With God, ALL things are possible. He can do anything! He can get you through anything! He can help you overcome anything! He loves you. He has a plan and a purpose for your life.

So stop going through life without God. Stop going to Him only when it’s an emergency. Stop making God your last resort. Stop relying on yourself. Stop messing around. Get serious about God. Once you get a taste of the life God created you to live, you’ll never go back!

Impossible is nothing to God.

Thoughts?

The post Nothing is Impossible appeared first on Doug Smith Live.

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 To listen to past interviews, go to my podcast page. In addition to the monthly interview podcast, I will be teaching one leadership lesson as well as sending out two e-newsletters. The newsletter will be published 1-2 times a month with new leadership content not found on my blog, leadership quotes, leadership resources, and interviews with leaders.Subscribe to the newsletter by clicking here.

 Episode #17: Tunch Ilkin

Bio: Tunch is the men’s pastor at South Hills Bible Chapel, sports broadcaster and a former Pittsburgh Steelers Offensive Tackle. Listen here:

My Key Takeaways:

• When you see a good leader, you know it!
• Have heroes to emulate – do what they do
• Walking with Christ is all about not being alone – it’s about doing life together
• We can rationalize and justify anything, we need men to call us out!
• Tunch fell in love with the body of Christ, before the person of Christ
• Live a life that demands an explanation
• Be FAT – Faithful, available, and teachable
• If God is moving somewhere, I want to be there!
• Don’t be a big shot!

Questions:

Tell us about yourself, your family, your passions, and what you do.  You were a professional athlete. Looking back on that season of your life, if you had to summarize the entire experience and the impact that it had on your life, what would you say?

Personal Leadership:

Walk us through your leadership journey . . . did you always aspire to be a leader wherever you were? How did you learn leadership? Did someone teach you?

Can you name a person or a few people who have had a tremendous impact on you as a leader? How did they impact your life?

Could you talk about one or two of your greatest leadership failures? What did you learn from them?

Ministry/Faith 

You were born Muslim and converted to Christianity. Can you walk us through that journey? Why Christianity?

God has given you a significant platform, how do you manage that? Did you always manage it well?

As young leaders, it’s easy to aspire to have a platform that you have. Can you talk about the cost and responsibility that comes with having a platform?

You have a passion for men’s ministry. What is your main message to men?

You have a huge heart for “the poor, needy, addicted, and abused.” Can you talk about how that developed and what you have learned over the years about making a difference in the lives of the “least of these?”

If you could talk about anything else as it relates to ministry and your faith, what would you say?

Closing Questions:

What do you want your legacy to be?

If this post helped you and you believe it could help others, please recommend it on Facebook, Twitter, Stumble Upon, and the other social media sites listed below. Also, I would love to hear your thoughts on this post. Leave a comment below! Thank you!

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The post Learning to Lead Episode #17: Tunch Ilkin appeared first on Doug Smith Live.

Notes:

God’s Plan for Victory: Joshua 6:1-5

2 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. 3 March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. 4 Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. 5 When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.

Finding Confidence in Christ: 

Joshua was confident because he trusted God’s promises!

Joshua 1:13 – God has given you this land

Joshua 1:15 – Possess the land the Lord your God is giving you

Joshua 2:9 – I know the Lord has given you this land

Joshua 2:24 – The Lord has given us the whole land

Joshua 6:2 – The Lord said to Jericho – I have given you Jericho, it’s king, and all it’s strong warriors.

The Only Thing You Need to KNow for the Rest of Your Life:  God is with you! 

Matthew 28:18-20 – . 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Because You Are With Me, I will not Fear – Psalm 118:6

God was with Abraham when he left everything he Knew

God was with Moses when he led the Israelites out of Egypt

God was with Joshua when they entered the promised land

God was with David when he fought Goliath

God was with Daniel in the lions den

God was with Jesus in the garden of ghetsemeny  

God was with the disciples when Jesus left

God was with Paul in prison 

God is with You When What’s In Front of You is Impossible

God is with You When You Don’t Even Know Him

God is with you when Life Falls Apart

God is with you when Nobody Else Is

God is with You When You Want to Quit

God is with You When You are Scared

God is with You in Your Greatest Moments

God is with You in Your Insecurity

God is with you When You need to make a Tough Decision

Romans 8:38-39 –  ³⁸ And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[a^] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. ³⁹ No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Outcome of Living a Victorious Life in Christ 

Joshua 6:27 – So the Lord was WITH Joshua and his reputation spread throughout the land. 

2 Chronicles 16:9 – The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.

Acts 10:34 – 34 Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism.

What God did for me, He’ll do for you! He uses people that trust and obey Him! 

Trust and obey Him with your friendships

Trust and obey Him when your life falls apart.

Trust and obey Him when there is a battle in your mind

Trust and obey God to ALWAYS give you the victory!

If this post helped you and you believe it could help others, please “like” and share it on Facebook, Twitter, Stumble Upon, and the other social media sites listed below. Also, I would love to hear your thoughts on this post. Leave a comment below! Thank you!

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The post Podcast: Trusting God When it Doesn’t Make Sense appeared first on Doug Smith Live.

For the first time in my life, I’ve gone public with my goals! It was a hard thing for me to do. It scared me. Why? Because it brought up questions like:

• What if I don’t accomplish everything I set out to do?
• What if everything thinks my goals are shallow and selfish?
• What if I look stupid?
• What if other people don’t think I’m capable or ready to accomplish my goals?

These were all valid thoughts that crossed my mind. However, I am sick of letting fear hold me back. Worst case scenario: I don’t accomplish any of my goals and feel humiliated. Even if that happens, it’s not the end of the world.

Instead of looking through the lens of fear, what if I looked through another lens. What if . . .

• I accomplish all of my goals?
• What if by going public, I inspire others to set and achieve their own goals?
• What if it helps me be accountable to what I want to do?
• What if it opens up doors for relationships with other who want to accomplish similar things and we form a mastermind group and achieve our goals together?

Seth Godin wrote a few blog posts last year that had a significant impact on my thinking in this area, I encourage you to read them: 

• Be willing to have your worst one ever.
• But What if I fail?
• Reject the tyranny of being picked: pick yourself

As I wrote before, most people will cheer you on as you pursue your goals, so why not share them? What’s the worst that can happen? Go public! It may just be the kick in the pants you need to go to the next level!

Consider going public with your goals this year! I’d love to hear them! Feel free to share your goals with me by commenting below!

If you would be interested in joining a Mastermind group with me where we share our goals with each other and keep each other accountable, click the contact me tab on this site and let me know! 

If this post helped you and you believe it could help others, please recommend it on Facebook, Twitter, Stumble Upon, and the other social media sites listed below. Also, I would love to hear your thoughts on this post. Leave a comment below! Thank you! I would also encourage you to subscribe to this blog via RSS feed or e-mail! You can sign-up for e-mail by typing your e-mail address in the box on the left hand side of this site that says “E-mail updates”.

The post Going Public appeared first on Doug Smith Live.

Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

I love this verse! It says you must believe two things about God:

1. That He exists
2. That He rewards those who earnestly seek Him

I’ve found that a lot of people believe that God exists, but few people believe He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. When people think of God rewarding them, they usually think of God blessing them with a house, a car, money, vacations, etc.

While I believe that God does want to bless you with these things (so you can use them to bless others),  they are not the  primary way God rewards you.

Yes, God wants your needs to be met. Yes, He wants you to have more than you need so you can be a blessing to others. However, God’s greatest rewards are not things! Jesus said that all the things you’re chasing and dreaming of having (a house, a car, food, money, etc.) are already taken care of. God knows we have need for them.

Instead, Jesus resets our priorities: Matthew 6:31-33 says, “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

You don’t seek God to get stuff. You seek God to get God. When you do that, the stuff comes and your needs will be met, but those things won’t be important to you. What will be important to you are the true rewards that come from seeking God, which is more of Him!

God’s greatest rewards for you are more of Him. More of His presence in your life. More of His leading in your life. More of His wisdom in your life. There is no greater reward in life.

In 10,000 years, it won’t matter what kind of car you drove, what kind of house you lived in, or what cool experiences you got to have. What will matter is what you did for God.

Stop worrying about stuff. Start seeking God. Only then will you get the greatest reward God has to offer: Himself. When you seek Him, the stuff takes care of itself.

When’s the last time you sought God to get more of God? What fears are holding you back from going after him with everything in you? Comment Below!

If this post helped you and you believe it could help others, please recommend it on Facebook, Twitter, Stumble Upon, and the other social media sites listed below. Also, I would love to hear your thoughts on this post. Leave a comment below! Thank you!

I would also encourage you to subscribe to this blog via RSS feed or e-mail! You can sign-up for e-mail by typing your e-mail address in the box on the left hand side of this site that says “E-mail updates”.

The post God’s Greatest Rewards appeared first on Doug Smith Live.

One reason I love networking and attending conferences is the fact the you get exposed to people, ideas, and resources that  otherwise would have never come across your path. That is how this book ended up in my hands. I attended Jubilee Professional and everyone in attendance got a copy of this book.

To be honest, I was excited that we got a book, but I was hesitant to read it. I didn’t really know much about the author and the title and cover were not very appealing to me. However, I trusted the people who put on the conference and I decided to give the book a chance knowing that I could always put it down.

As soon as I started reading this book, I could not put it down.  All other reading was put on hold. This book is a game changer. I recently wrote an entire blog post on the primary challenge Visions of Vocation presents: Knowing what you know about the world, what will you do?

That question will go with me everywhere I go and challenge me in everything I do. This book will challenge for you to take responsibility, for loves sake, for the way the world turns out.

You need to read this book and get that challenge embedded into your heart. The question is, after reading it, what will you do with what you learn?

Buy the Hard Copy (Affiliate Link)

Buy the Kindle Version (Affiliate Link)

Some Key Takeaways:

• In our own different ways we are responsible, for love’s sake, for the way the world is and ought to be.

• Can you know the world and still love it? Can you know me and still love me?

• There are moments when we can do nothing else than cry out against the wrongs of the world. It is just not the way it is supposed to be. Tears matter, and sometimes they are very complex.

• Good societies anywhere require people who see into the messes and horrors and complexities of human history and decide to enter in for justice’s sake, for mercy’s sake.

• It’s possible to get all A’s and still flunk life

• Knowing what you know about the world, what will you do?

• A mind without a heart is nothing

• If we lose God in the modern world, then we lose access to these four great ideas – meaning, purpose, responsibility, and accountability.

• To have knowledge means to have responsibility to means to have care for. If one knows, then one cares; if one does not care; then one does not know.

• Books are a gift, but they can never teach us to live. We have to see the words made flesh.

• God is not a passive responder to life and death, and that he does not expect us to be.

• The teachings of Jesus never disconnected from the tensions of life, from the questions and concerns of real people in the world.

• Most of life is not lived not globally, but very locally.

• The way we educate the next generation will affect the way the world turns out

• Those who know the most, mourn the deepest. Knowing the hurt of life, what are you going to do?

• To choose to know, and still love, is costly, it was for God and it is for us.

• God knows us and still loves us

• It is one thing to know about messes, but it is something else altogether to step into a mess. It is one things to know about things being wrong, but it is something else altogether to decide that I am responsible to make it right.

• “We do not fall in love and then get married. We get married and then learn what love requires.” -Stanley Hauerwas

• Walk, first, through the fire, then philosophize

If this post helped you and you believe it could help others, please recommend it on Facebook, Twitter, Stumble Upon, and the other social media sites listed below. Also, I would love to hear your thoughts on this post. Leave a comment below! Thank you! 

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The post Book Review: Visions of Vocation by Steven Garber appeared first on Doug Smith Live.

In this podcast I interviewed Allan Woods, former Vice Chairman and Chief Information Officer at Mellon Financial. This was one of my favorite interviews. Allan is one of the most interesting people I have ever met. He retired from Mellon in 2005 in order to become a paramedic. In his words, “I went from being the most senior person in the boardroom to the rank of a rookie in the ambulance, having twenty-year olds tell me what to do.” In the interview, Allan talks about that transition and what it taught him.

Allan also shares with us his best leadership advice. At Mellon, he was responsible for 8,000 people in his reporting structure. He lets us know what it takes to be in that position of responsibility.

You can find the questions that I asked and my key takeaways below in the show notes. I know that this interview will add value to your life! Enjoy!

Episode #47: Allan Woods

 Key Questions 

• Tell us the story of transitioning from being at the top at Mellon to starting a new career as a paramedic.
• When you started off as an EMT, you had twenty-year olds telling you what to do. Through that experience, what did you learn about being teachable.
• You have lived a life most young leaders dream of living. Life at the top. Corporate jets, first class clubs, meetings at world-class resorts, etc. Looking back on that experience, what advice would you give young leaders striving to get there? Was it everything it seems cracked up to be? Was it hard to walk away from?
• What advice do you have for young leaders when it comes to money?
• What’s the greatest thing being a paramedic has taught you?
• You had 8,000 employees in your reporting structure, what is it like to be in that position? What are the challenges? What is essential to leading well?
• What have you learned about failure throughout your life?
• How do you process pain as a leader?
• What do you want your legacy to be?

Key Takeaways:

• The most powerful people on the planet can do some amazing things, but they can’t save souls. As believers, we have that opportunity.
• #1 Key to success in a job is to show up!
• Work hard… really, really hard!
• Everybody fails. The failure isn’t a problem, it’s how you respond to failure.
• Own your mistakes!
• Never ever give up!
• Everyone needs 2nd, 3rd, and 4th chances!

Announcements: 

1.) Learning to Lead Breakfast Series – Our November breakfast is Saturday, November 15th at 8 a.m. at the Bistro to Go on the North Side of Pittsburgh. Greg Peaslee, an Executive at UPMC, will be speaking. Register for this event here.

How You Can Help this Podcast:

•  To listen to past interviews, go to my podcast page. 
• Subscribe to this podcast
• Rate and leave a review of the podcast
• Share the content on Social Media
• Sign-up for my Learning to Lead Newsletter 
• If you have an idea for a future podcast you would like to hear or a leader you would like me to interview, e-mail me.
• If you enjoyed the podcast, please rate it on iTunes and write a review.

If this post helped you and you believe it could help others, please recommend it on Facebook, Twitter, Stumble Upon, and the other social media sites listed below. Also, I would love to hear your thoughts on this post. Leave a comment below! Thank you!

I would also encourage you to subscribe to this blog via RSS feed or e-mail! You can sign-up for e-mail by typing your e-mail address in the box on the left hand side of this site that says “E-mail updates”.

The post Learning to Lead Episode #47: Allan Woods appeared first on Doug Smith Live.

In this message, I share 7 things that God has done for us that will eliminate all excuses we have not to trust Him and to not become the men and women He called us to be. I hope this message encourages you to go all in with God! Enjoy!

Notes: 

No Excuses: 7 Amazing Things about Being a Christian that I Take for Granted!

²⁰ For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. -Romans 1:20

“I don’t believe in God, that’s ok, He believes in You!”

What makes someone trustworthy?

• You can trust people who will do whatever is necessary to maintain a relationship with you! God has done everything possible to have a relationship with me and to ensure I live an abundant life!

Here are 7 amazing things that are available to every child of God on the planet that we should never take for granted:

• Salvation – Christ died for me – Romans 5:8 say, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

“God’s salvation does not come in response to a changed life. A changed life comes in response to the salvation, offered as a free gift.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”

2.) God gave us the Bible – 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

3.) We have the Holy Spirit – In John 16:5-15, Jesus said it’s better that He leaves so that God can give us the Holy Spirit.

• The Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8).
  2. The Spirit guides us into all truth (John 16:13).
  5. The Spirit reveals Christ to us and in us (John 16:14-15).
  6. The Spirit leads us (Rom. 8:14; Gal. 5:18; Matt. 4:1; Luke 4:1).
  8. The Spirit empowers us (Luke 4:14; 24:49; Rom. 15:19; Acts 1:8).
  11. The Spirit bears witness in us that we are children of God(Rom. 8:16).
  12. The Spirit produces in us the fruit or evidence of His work and presence (Gal. 5:22-23).
  13. The Spirit distributes spiritual gifts and manifestations (the outshining) of His presence to and through the body (1 Cor. 12:4, 8-10; Heb. 2:4).
  23. The Spirit dwells in us (Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 3:16; 2 Tim. 1:14; John 14:17).
  24. The Spirit speaks to, in, and through us
  27. The Spirit transforms us into the image of Christ (2 Cor. 3:18).
  36. The Spirit enables us to obey the truth (1 Pet. 1:22).
  42. The Spirit teaches us (1 Cor. 2:13; John 14:26).
  43. The Spirit gives us joy (1 Thess. 1:6).
  44. The Spirit enables some to preach the gospel (1 Pet. 1:12).
  46. The Spirit knows the things of God (1 Cor. 2:11).
  48. The Spirit brings things to our remembrance (John 14:26).
  49. The Spirit comforts us (Acts 9:31).

 4.) We can be led by God – Romans 8:14 says, “As many that are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”

God’s specific will vs. God’s general will
*God will never lead you to do something that isn’t in line with his general will (the Word of God) The more Word you have in you, the better you’ll be at discerning the Spirit leading you! 

5.) God helps us Grow to our Maximum Potential

¹⁰ For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. ¹¹ No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. –Hebrews 12:11-12

It may seem like there is nobody else interested in your potential, but God is. God sees your worth. God knows your gifts. God knows what your capable of and if you’ll walk with Him, He’ll make sure you get developed and grow!

6.) God gave us a Community to Do Life With!

⁴² All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper^[i]), and to prayer.⁴³ A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. ⁴⁴ And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. ⁴⁵ They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. ⁴⁶ They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity^[j]— ⁴⁷ all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47

“Safe people do 3 things: Bring us closer to God, closer to others, and closer to who we were truly made to be.” –Henry Cloud

As Reid Carpenter says, “In life, it doesn’t get any better than having magnificent friends, pursuing a magnificent vision, for a magnificent God! There is No better juice than that!”

7.) God gives us a Purpose bigger than Ourselves!

¹⁰ For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. –Ephesians 2:10

“When you catch a glimpse of your potential, that’s when passion is born!” –Zig Ziglar

In summary, God has given us everything we need to live our best lives, do what we are called to do, and to have a great relationship with Him.

• He’s given us salvation
• He’s given us the Bible
• He’s given us His Spirit
• He promises to lead us
• He helps me develop my potential
• He’s given us the Body of Christ
• He’s given us a purpose to wake up every day and go after!

My prayer is that we will never take for granted all the wonderful things He’s provided for us.

If this post helped you and you believe it could help others, please recommend it on Facebook, Twitter, Stumble Upon, and the other social media sites listed below. Also, I would love to hear your thoughts on this post. Leave a comment below! Thank you!

I would also encourage you to subscribe to this blog via RSS feed or e-mail! You can sign-up for e-mail by typing your e-mail address in the box on the left hand side of this site that says “E-mail updates”.

The post No Excuses [New Podcast] appeared first on Doug Smith Live.

In this episode of the L3 Leadership Podcast, Doug Smith interviews Clint Hurdle, Manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates. They talk about Clint’s favorite moment as the Pirates manager, coaching, leadership, faith, family, and more!

L3 Leadership Podcast Episode #123: Interview with Clint Hurdle, Manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates

L3 Leadership Podcast Episode #123: Interview with Clint Hurdle, Manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates

Clint’s Bio:

Managerial/Coaching Career

Clint Hurdle was named manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates on November 15, 2010, thus becoming the 39th manager in the organization’s history. The 2016 season will mark his 42nd overall in professional baseball. Hurdle has led the Pirates to the postseason in three consecutive seasons, joining Fred Clarke (1901-1903) and Jim Leyland (1990-1992) as the only managers in club history to do so. Under Hurdle’s guidance, the Pirates posted the second-best record in the Major Leagues in 2015 (98-64) and the best mark overall from May 9 thru the end of the season (85-48, .639). In his five seasons as Pittsburgh’s manager, Hurdle has posted a 431-379 record. He picked up career win #900 on 6/12/15 and his 431 managerial victories in a Pirates uniform rank seventh on the club’s all-time list. In addition, Hurdle enters the 2016 season ranked sixth in wins among active managers (965). For his efforts in 2015, Hurdle finished fourth in the voting for N.L. Manager-of-the-Year by the BBWAA; he finished second to Washington manager Matt Williams in 2014. During the 2014 campaign, Clint picked up his 800th career managerial victory on May 23 and was a member of Mike Matheny’s coaching staff at the All-Star Game in Minnesota. Hurdle was named the 2013 National League Manager-of-the-Year by the BBWAA after leading the Pirates to a 94-68 record and their first postseason berth since 1992. He received 25 first-place votes and was listed second on the other five ballots, as well as being the only manager in either league named on all 30 ballots. Hurdle was just the second Pittsburgh manager to win the award, joining Jim Leyland, who won in 1990 and 1992. Hurdle also captured Manager-of-the-Year honors from The Sporting News in 2013, joining Billy Meyer (1948), Danny Murtaugh (1960, 1970) and Jim Leyland (1988, 1990, 1992) as past winners in club history. Hurdle spent 2010 as the Hitting Coach of the A.L. champion Texas Rangers, a club that led the Majors with a .276 average during the regular season – paced by A.L. MVP Josh Hamilton (.359 average, 32 homers and 100 RBI) and Vladimir Guerrero (.300 average, 29 homers and 115 RBI). Prior to joining the Texas coaching staff on November 5, 2009, Hurdle spent over 15 years in the Colorado organization, serving as a minor league hitting coordinator, Major League hitting coach and manager at the big league level. He compiled a 543-625 record while serving the Rockies as manager from April 26, 2002, until he was relieved of his duties on May 29, 2009. Clint has the most wins of any manager in Colorado team history, winning his 500th career game on August 29, 2008 at Los Angeles. In 2007, Hurdle led the Rockies to the World Series as the club captured its first National League pennant in franchise history. The 2007 club, which won 11 straight games in September, won 21 of its 22 games leading up to the World Series, where Boston pulled off a four-game sweep. During the 2007 post season, the Rockies swept the Phillies in the Division Series and Arizona in the Championship Series before falling to the Red Sox in the Fall Classic. For his efforts in 2007, Hurdle received four first-place votes and finished third in the voting for N.L. Manager-of-the-Year. His ’07 squad also compiled the highest single-season fielding pct. in Major League history (.989), a mark that still stands. Clint also served as manager of the National League in the 2008 All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium, the longest game (time, innings) in All-Star history (the N.L. lost 4-3 in 15 innings in a game that lasted 4:50). Hurdle was also a coach for the N.L. staff during the 2004 All-Star Game in Houston. Hurdle’s managerial career at the big league level began with a 4-1 victory over the Phillies at Coors Field on April 26, 2002. He replaced Buddy Bell as Colorado’s skipper that day and went 6-0 in his first six games – tied for the sixth-best winning streak by a manager following a mid-season managerial change in Major League history (Joe Morgan holds the record as his Red Sox won their first 12 games in 1988). In his five-plus years tutoring Colorado’s hitters, the club compiled the N.L.’s top two averages in 70 years (.294 in 2000 and .292 in 2001) and the league’s most base hits since 1930 (1,664 in 2000). In 2001 alone, the Rockies established a Major League record for total bases (2,748) and the N.L. mark for extra-base hits (598). Hurdle, who doubled as the club’s First Base Coach from 1997-98, remained on the coaching staff under three different Colorado managers; Don Baylor, Jim Leyland and Buddy Bell. Prior to becoming Hitting Coach in 1997, Clint served the Rockies as their minor league hitting instructor from 1994-96. Before he joined the Colorado organization, Hurdle managed in the New York Mets system for six years (1988-1993) and compiled a 412-418 record. In his first season as a manager, and in St. Lucie’s first year of existence, he led the club to a second-half division title and the Florida State League championship. Hurdle also took his 1989 St. Lucie club and the 1990 Jackson team to the post season, losing in the first round of the playoffs each year. After managing Williamsport in the Eastern League in 1991, Clint wrapped up his minor league managerial career with two seasons at the Triple-A level with Tidewater in 1992 and Norfolk in 1993. Clint with a Miracle League participant. Primarily an outfielder during his playing days, Hurdle was selected by Kansas City in the first round (9th player overall) of the 1975 June draft. After three full seasons in the minor leagues, which included American Association Rookie-of-the-Year and All-Star Game MVP honors while playing with Omaha in 1977, Clint made his Major League debut at the age of 20 with the Royals on September 18, 1977, and hit a two-run homer off Seattle’s Glenn Abbott in his second at bat. Hurdle played parts of 10 seasons in the Majors with the Royals (1977-1981), Reds (1982), Mets (1983, 1985, 1987) and Cardinals (1986) and compiled a .259 average, 81 doubles, 12 triples, 32 home runs and 193 RBI in 515 games. He appeared in the post season twice with Kansas City, going 3-for-8 with an RBI in four games against the Yankees in the 1978 A.LC.S., and advancing as far as the World Series in 1980, only to lose in four games to the Phillies. After spending the 1982 season in the Cincinnati organization, Hurdle was signed by New York as a minor league free agent prior to the 1983 campaign and played three years in the Mets system before being selected by St. Louis in the 1985 Rule 5 Draft. In his final season as a player (1987), Clint appeared in 97 games with Triple-A Tidewater and went 1-for-3 in three games with the Mets. In his big league career, he made 240 appearances in right field, 96 in left field, 92 at first base, 22 at catcher and 15 at third base. Hurdle, who hit the final home run in Minnesota’s historical Metropolitan Stadium on 9/30/81, hit his final big league homer on 9/9/86 at Three Rivers Stadium – a solo shot off Pittsburgh’s Rick Reuschel.

PERSONAL: Clinton Merrick Hurdle…Wife’s name is Karla…Has three children; daughter Ashley (7/18/85) lives in San Francisco, daughter Madison (8/7/02) and son Christian (11/15/04)…Is the Prader-Willi national spokesperson, an organization that raises awareness for Prader-Willi Syndrome, a complex genetic disorder his daughter Madison was born with; Prader-Willi affects about one in every 12,000 people and is caused by the deletion of part of an individual’s 15th chromosome (check out www.pwsausa. org for more information)…Is a 1975 graduate of Merritt Island (FL) High School, where he lettered in baseball, football and basketball…Batted .567 with four homers and 25 RBI in 24 games during his senior year while earning AllState and All-American honors…Was also a quarterback and signed a letter of intent to attend the University of Miami (FL), but chose to sign with Kansas City after the Royals selected him in the first round of the 1975 June draft…Spent second half of the 2009 season as an analyst on the MLB Network…Has been ejected 45 times in his career as a manager (24 times with the Pirates); also three times as a coach and once as a player…Was inducted into the Florida State League Hall-of-Fame in 2011… Supports countless community efforts in Pittsburgh and throughout the country, along with his wife Karla…Was named 2013 Manager-of-the-Year by the Pittsburgh Rotary Club and the 2013 Dapper Dan Man-of-the-Year, an award given annually since 1939 to a Pittsburgh sports fi gure in recognition of outstanding achievement on a national level…Had the baseball fi eld at Merritt Island High School dedicated in his name on 1/31/14…Received the Brooks Robinson Community Service Award from the MLBPAA on 11/18/14 for his dedication to young people across the country.

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The post Interview with Clint Hurdle, Manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates appeared first on Doug Smith Live.