By Rob Ficiur

Last week I wrote about some of the coaching beliefs of high school rugby Larry Gelwix.  When a coach has a record of 404 wins and 10 losses over the last thirty five years, he must be doing something right.

Coach Gelwix’s foundation is the character development.  He cares more about developing the character than if the team wins.  One time he suspended a team captain for cheating in school. Character was more important than the game.  Coach said the suspension was a pre-determined consequence for a choice the player made.

This column allows the reader to do a Character Self Test; to find out what you are really like.  Good news you are the only one who will mark the test.  Better news, part two of the article is Coach Gelwix’s Champions’ Challenge – a simple formula everyone can use to improve.

Self Test  Question #1

How do I treat people I don’t need?  To get by in life I need to get along with  my spouse, boss, friend and even my children.   This question does not ask you how you treat the people you need – or can get something from.    There are two other ways to refine the question:

a)  How do I treat someone “lower” than me?  Since this is a self test, don’t bother saying no one is lower than you because in our mind we probably have a pecking order of where people rank.  Whatever your occupation, there is someone below you in society or in the eyes of society.  How do I treat the person who is lower on this social ladder than I am?

b) How do I treat someone I don’t know?  In our rushed lives we meet store clerks today that we know we will never see again.  How do I treat the store clerk (especially when things aren’t going well).  How do I treat the stranger I pass on the street?

Self Test  Question #2

What do I do when no one will know what I am doing?

When no one will ever know what you are doing…when there is no way you can be  “caught” how do you act?  Here are some examples of questions you can ask and answer for yourself.

-If I get too much change from the store do I take it back?

-Will I tell a lie as long as no one will know?  What if it is a white lie (is there such a thing?)

The answer to what you do when no one will know what you are doing tells you who you are.

Coach promised that these two self tests NEVER FAIL to identify who you are.

The following challenge gives change to each of us instead of you and me a challenge; two specific things you can do every day to improve your character.

Seven Day Champions Challenge:

For seven days in a row do these two simple tasks:

1.  Every day consciously identify someone you don’t ‘need” (or someone who is lower than you) and step up how you treat them.

-Thank you

-Show dignity to someone you don’t need; and or elevate how you treat the people you already know.

Elevate how you treat others, so that ideally you would treat the homeless person with the same kindness and dignity you would your best friend or your boss.

2.  Seek out and do an “It is not my job / not my thing to do” task.  Do this Daily.

Anonymous service is best, because it purifies our motive.  Whether it is anonymous or not – do some act of service every day for someone.

The key is to take this Champions Challenge with a friend or do it as a family.  Talk and report daily to someone else who is taking the Seven Day Champion Challenge.  Share what you have done…Do it for seven consecutive days.  If you miss a day, start tomorrow again as Day #1.

After seven days; re-enlist and do it again for seven consecutive days.  Your world will change because your character will change.