By RP Nation, on Wed Jul 25, 2012 at 8:30 AM ET  In my book, keynote speech and leadership workshops, all under the title “Building Cathedrals: The Power of Purpose,” I introduce a powerful metaphor of a “Fire” to describe personal and organizational setbacks we’ve all experienced. The metaphor originates from the great fire of 1666 that leveled London. Pre 1666, London was a very medieval town. 10,000 people annually dying of the plague. The major cause of the plague was diseased carrying rats and fleas. After the fire, the rats and fleas were gone. The leaders of London were determined and succeeded in rebuilding and making London a great city. We too, like London, can come out of our personal “fires” great.
I’m sure optimism played a big part in the leaders of London as they began to rebuild. Optimism has played a significant role in my transition from 20 plus years in corporate America to now an independent business owner, realizing that while I would experience months without making any money whatsoever, I would eventually be successful. In fact my co-author, Skip Wirth, lists seven characteristics of those who come out of “fires,” with number seven being “optimism.” And while I still believe more than ever the power of being optimistic, I also realize the challenge of never confusing faith that we will prevail in the end—which we cannot afford to lose—with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of our current reality (our “fires”), whatever they might be.
 Admiral Stockdale This lesson is best explained in an interview with Admiral Jim Stockdale, who was the highest ranking United States military officer in the “Hanoi Hilton” prisoner-of-war camp during the height of the Vietnam War. Tortured over 20 times during his eight-year imprisonment from 1965 to 1973, Stockdale lived out the war with without any prisoner’s rights, no set release date and no certainty as to whether he would ever see his family again. He shouldered the burden of command; doing everything he could to create conditions that would increase the number of prisoners who would survive unbroken, while fighting an internal war against his captors.
During an interview, Admiral Stockdale was asked what helped him and the other survivors endure the torture and isolation. He described elaborate communications systems, strategies to reduce the sense of isolation and even coping mechanisms while being tortured. Reluctantly, the interviewer finally asked the question, “Who didn’t make it out?”
Read the rest of…
Greg Coker: Prevailing in the End
By RP Staff, on Tue Jul 24, 2012 at 1:30 PM ET While traveling through the Jewish State, The RP was interviewed about his new book, The Liberal Case for Israel by The Times of Israel. Here’s a clip:
 Q: Your book debunks “eight crazy lies” about the Jewish State. Are they actually lies, or possibly misunderstandings?
A: There are many misunderstanding, but I identify untruths that really do rise to the level of crazy lies. This includes the libel that Israel is an Apartheid state and the ridiculous notion that Israel promotes gay tourism as a way to “pinkwash” its faults.
Q: One of the lies you debunk in the book is the use of the word “apartheid” when referring to Israel. In brief, what is your argument against this lie?
A: Arab citizens of Israel have all of the same rights and responsibilities as their Jewish neighbors (with one exception — military conscription which is now being debated.) This thoroughly refutes the notion that there is apartheid. Even in the disputed territories, Palestinian engage in self-government — a completely opposite approach of the former apartheid regime in South Africa.
Click here for the full article, and click here to purchase The Liberal Case for Israel.
The RP was also interviewed by Israel’s Titan Poker Blog for his exploits in Las Vegas a few weeks ago. Click here to read the entertaining interview.
By RP Staff, on Tue Jul 24, 2012 at 10:00 AM ET Politics of Hoops
The finances of Lin’s departure to Houston are more complicated than they appear. See how last summer’s negotiations left a loophole for the Rocket’s back office. [ESPN]
College basketball fans everywhere are drooling over the new ACC match ups set to begin in 2013, but Pitt had to pay a pretty penny to make the jump. [Yahoo]
Oh, so that’s why Nash went to LA. Hollywood is calling. [Grantland]
As usual, USA will be favored in tonight’s rematch of the 2008 Olympic finale. However, the Spaniards’ post presence and team experience may prove to be trouble for the guys in red, white, and blue. [Bleacher Report]
#1 ranked prospect of 2013, Jabari Parker, has an arsenal of offensive talents that will leave you saying, “He’s only how old?!” [Youtube]
By RP Staff, on Tue Jul 24, 2012 at 9:15 AM ET  It’s official: The RP is a very, very, very old man.
To commemorate the 45th anniversary of the Six Day War (and his ignominious birthday milestone), The RP is traveling the Jewish State with Mrs. RP and an RPette. The big birthday celebration will be held in Eilat, on a cruise boat in the Red Sea. At the conclusion, The RP will part the Red Sea, a la Moses.
(Hey, it couldn’t be much more difficult than reaching a World Series of Poker final table!)
Above, The RP is enjoying four of his favorite things: an RPette, his birthday hat, the State of Israel, and the country’s largest solar installation at Kibbutz Katura in the Negev desert in Southern Israel.
If you want to join in the commemoration of this dreadful day, please feel free to add your birthday wishes in the comments below.
By RP Staff, on Mon Jul 23, 2012 at 9:15 AM ET
OK, this one’s too easy for a contest.
Instead, we will challenge you to a more important question.
With his new hat, is The RP setting a new fashion trend? Or is this a major fashion FAIL?
Please comment below
By RP Staff, on Fri Jul 20, 2012 at 1:30 PM ET Since The RP has been very outspoken on the subject of his support for marriage equality. we at The Recovering Politician, in the interests of fairness, hereby provide the counter-argument:
h/t Danielle MacDonald
By Jonathan Miller, on Fri Jul 20, 2012 at 10:55 AM ET Last night’s horrific tragedy in a Colorado movie theater involved the brutal murder of more than a dozen human beings, including a few children whose lives were obscenely ended in a needless fit of violence.
I ask our political leaders to take a break from the their self-serving tweeting and sound-biting of what’s now emerged as our language’s most overused cliche — “our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims” — and instead offer some meaningful attention to the horrific crisis of gun violence in our nation, whatever your particular ideological view on the issue.
This should not be used and yet another opportunity to demonstrate your empathy for voters. Guess what — the families are already in our thoughts and prayers. The way to truly honor the victims of this tragedy is to use the authority the voters have already given you to take meaningful action to decrease the likelihood that this will ever happen again.
By Zack Adams, RP Staff, on Fri Jul 20, 2012 at 10:00 AM ET The Politics of Pigksin
Cowboys WR Dez Bryant has been arrested and charged with family violence, a Class A misdemeanor. It is reported that he shoved his mother during an argument. This is not the first time Bryant has had run ins with the law. [WFAA]The Colts have signed #1 overall pick
Here is an opinion piece on Bryant’s future. [ESPN]
Andrew Luck. Terms of the deal were not released. [Yahoo! Sports]
In more arrest news Rams first-round pick Robert Quinn was arrested for a DWI this month. [KSDK]
Which is the best division in the NFL? [NFL.com]
In even more arrest news Marshawn Lynch has been arrested for a DUI. Not a great offseason for the NFL’s crime image. [MercuryNews]
By Jonathan Miller, on Thu Jul 19, 2012 at 2:00 PM ET
By Jonathan Miller, on Thu Jul 19, 2012 at 11:00 AM ET
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In my book, keynote speech and leadership workshops, all under the title “Building Cathedrals: The Power of Purpose,” I introduce a powerful metaphor of a “Fire” to describe personal and organizational setbacks we’ve all experienced. The metaphor originates from the great fire of 1666 that leveled London. Pre 1666, London was a very medieval town. 10,000 people annually dying of the plague. The major cause of the plague was diseased carrying rats and fleas. After the fire, the rats and fleas were gone. The leaders of London were determined and succeeded in rebuilding and making London a great city. We too, like London, can come out of our personal “fires” great.
