My Soccer Story

July 15th, 2008

I’m not a young man anymore yet I remember this event that I’m about to tell you as if it was yesterday.

Many years ago, when I was a senior at Cupertino High School, I was fortunate to play in the California Central Coast Championship soccer game. Those of you who are from smaller states, California does not have a state championship. The state is just too big, so they have Sectional play offs; that is as far as you can go as a high school team. This was the biggest, most important game of the year. This was also my third trip to this prestigious contest – first time as a 9th grader, second time as an 11th grader. Having won the previous two championship games, the third trip held equal expectations and that was we would come out as winners. We were some what of a soccer dynasty. Not unlike the Yankees or the Celtics who have one multiple championships. Surely when you mention the Yankees or the Celtics that Cupertino Pioneers are mentioned in the same breath. Well, perhaps not.

I played goalie for our soccer team. I loved that position. Soccer players have received the reputation of faking some on-the-filed injury during minor contact on the field. We call that “FLOPPING.” In other words you flop to the ground grossly exaggerating the hit or push you just took from an opposing player acting as if you were dragged to the ground by a huge alligator or great white shark experiencing an excruciating injury holding that injured body part with a painful grimace on your face, eyes shut tight all while secretly peaking out of a tightly shut eye to see if the referee is buying into your academy award winning crash and burn episode. With soccer you will see them flop to the ground holding a knee or an ankle hoping the referee will call a fowl on the opposing team. Now when I see this played out on TV, I think to my self ‘oh brother! Is anyone buying in to this load of garbage? The guy was barely touched. Wow, what a wimp. Prior to becoming a soccer player I had played football. I loved to hit and to get hit. I think most young boys liked to play rough and physical. Do any mothers or your wives strategically plan birthday parties at play zones – you know, a place where you can jump on trampolines, or where there are arcades, or lazer tag, or some organized fun event that cost a boat load of money. I mean, come on, where is the creativity in that; right? I recall one year for one of my son’s 11th birthday party, we arranged with a school janitor to provide us a long water hose so we can soak an area of the school playing field that was barren from worn out grass during the past school year. It was June and the weather was getting quite warm. We got it nice and wet and muddy then brought all the boys who were attending my son’s birthday party, threw them a ball and let them play tackle for an hour in the mud. Didn’t cost us a cent – I promise you that if you put on a party where boys can beat on each other for an hour you have just thrown the most awesome party ever. That was the most inexpensive and most fun party we ever threw.

Well, as I was saying. I played four years of high school football. I loved to hit, I loved to be hit, but most importantly I loved the feeling of laying the smack down on some guy not expecting it. I was an intimidator. So let me explain why playing football translates well to playing goalie for a soccer team,  I like the fact that I could intimidate the opposing players by running at them when they had the soccer ball. They normally gave up the ball quickly because they did not want to get hit, and I didn’t mind the contact. My motto was if this guy is going to come that close to my goal, I’m taking him out. I would charge at him as fast as I could – going for the ball but knowing very well that I would bowl this guy over. Trust me; he would never get that close to my goal again. ‚ I loved the fact that several times during the course of a game the outcome rested on my shoulders. If I let the ball into my goal the power shifted to the opponents, if I blocked the shot we regained control of the ball and took the power and went on the offensive attack. ƒ I liked being the field general moving my defensive players in the right position.„ I had no problem taking the blame if we lost or giving others the credit when we won. … I loved the pressure of a one-on-one situation when an opposing player would break away with the ball and get behind my defense and knowing it is all up to me to stop this attack.

That third trip to the championship game was about to go down in history as the longest playoff game ever. At the end of regulation time the score was zero to zero. We entered the first over time period and at the conclusion, the game remained scoreless. By this time, players on both teams were exhausted and being fueled purely by the adrenaline of the moment and knowing this was the most important game they may ever play. For many of us who were seniors, we would never play in a game that mattered this much and at this level of great skill and competition. One of the opposing players broke through our defense with the ball and made his way sprinting toward my goal. When I realized there was no chance for any of my defensive players to catch him, I charged him running at him in a controlled yet brisk jog. Charging at an opposing player usually forces them to shoot the ball earlier than they planned – it kind of puts them in panic mode. With luck I would be close enough to block the shot and stop the attack. Once that opposing player saw me charge him leaving a wide open goal he became giddy with excitement and quickly but powerfully shot the ball. I had narrowed the gap between him and me and was fortunate enough to dive to my left and block his shot. The ball was kicked with such power I could not control the ball but rather it ricocheted off of me rolling just a few feet away from where I had landed. I scrambled to the ball on my knees and hands reaching the ball just as my opponent had. He tripped and fell on top of me. Among the melee that took place the ball squirted loose by the opposing player hitting the ball out of my hands with his fist. There were so many players around me by this time that the officials, who were still running to catch up with the play, could never see how that ball was illegally jarred loose. All I could do was watch the ball roll slowly toward my goal. With the other player now lying on top of me there was no chance for me to stand up and chase down the ball. All I could do is lie there and watch it roll in to the goal and score the winning goal for the other team. I was absolutely heart broken.

We gathered round the coach to hear his words of consolation and motivation. This is what he said. “Well, gentlemen, we won last year it was our turn, this year it is their turn.” As much as I admired my coach, I hated that statement. ‘What do you mean this was their turn?’ I was so fired up; I wanted a rematch right now. I was inconsolable an as you can see, even thirty years later, I’m still fired up about that lost as I was then.

I’ve never forgotten that phrase my coach used. “ . . . . This is their turn, this is their turn. . . . ????” Well I hope none of you buy that load of crap. I didn’t. But with regards to that game there was not one thing I could do about it. But you - Look at you. This year, this month, this day, right now, is it someone else’s turn? No way. Right now this is your time to shine. This is your time to take control of your life and make a difference. Right now, I want you to take claim to the opportunities that will help bring you and Agel within reach of all your dreams. Let me back track just a bit. I told you why I loved being a goalie.
I loved to influence the situation through intimidation.
The outcome of the situation rested on my shoulders
Being a field general – surveying the situation and making the right moves.
Blame or credit
One-on-one situation

As an Agel team member:
How will you influence the situation – I hope you will be an influential force for good by
Taking the products consistently and being a walking, breathing, living testament of the power of wholesome goodness found in our gels.
That you will be kind and accepting to all people whether they are interested in listening to your story or not. If you are truly Agel, your friends will never get away from it no matter if you never mention the business to them at all. They will get the message because of the way you live.
You will be giving – charitable gifts. It could be a plate of brownies to your neighbor, or it could be a tithe of your income to a community service, a school, a church or whatever/whoever can use your donation.
The outcome of your success should never rest on someone else’s shoulders.
Are you waiting for your upline to place people in your open centers?
Are you waiting for your upline to give you that motivational speech?
Be that upline, do not be dependant on any one. You need to be the real deal.
Be the Field General.
Every area needs a leader. Every group needs someone to step up and show them how it’s done. Will that be you?
Ask Ann or David Feinstein if they have room for any more leaders or if they prefer to retain all the leadership responsibilities to themselves. Are you kidding me? They would love to hand over the reigns to some one else because they know if you are successful they are successful.
Are you willing to take the blame or share the credit?
There is no blame to place in this company. There is nothing but positive vibes flowing here.
However, if you asked Eric or Chanida or Randy Gage why they are so successful do you really think they will say it was all them. No, they could probably rattle off a list of about 30 names each of people they would love to thank publically.
A good leader builds up their team – give them credit for what ever effort they put in. If they bring one person in this month, praise them. If they hold a meeting and only two people show up praise them. And them help them do better next time. As a leader, your best resource is not your up line. It is your down line. Give them the credit they deserve and watch them bloom.
Do you enjoy a one-on-one situation?
Would you rather just talk to one person in the privacy of your own home/ or stand before and audience of thousands. I love the one-on-one situation because that is when I can truly share the innermost enthusiasm for what I know to be the greatest direct selling product and company in the world. I would tell you how I met Glen or my experience with the products. I would share with you my story. Now, I understand the economies of scale and meeting with a large audience at one time certainly has its benefits. But there is nothing like the personal touch found in a one-on-one discussion.
I might give you a hug or help you feel better if you’re discouraged. It’s tough to do that in a crowd. But one-on-one, you can do so much.
My friends, if you’re not ready to take the lead, then when? If you’re not ready to take control, then when? If your not ready to share your story with others then when?

Now is the time, it’s not someone else’s turn. It’s your turn. Don’t miss this opportunity. Commit today. Change your life and the life of someone else.

I admire you deeply. I am proud of all of you immensely.

My name is Ken Danielson and I am Agel.