APIVEO

Changing the World Through Youth Sports

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Sarah Foy : : APIVEO Player of the Month : : October 2014

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Congratulations Sarah and thank you for Always Playing IV Each Other!

Watch Sarah’s inspiring story of leadership on CBS Atlanta with special guest presenter, Mary Plant.

Sarah Foy October 2014

Excerpt from the APIVEO Player of the Month award ceremony;

Today we celebrate Sarah Foy because she Always Plays IV Each Other. There is no doubt that Sarah puts others first; but it’s important to know that she doesn’t do it by putting herself second. Sarah doesn’t simply get out of the way so someone else ends up in front of her. She knows that won’t actually help anyone. Instead, she rolls up her sleeves and cares for people; she lifts them up and puts them in places they can’t always go on their own.

Sarah is a gifted athlete. While I never saw her swim, I have seen a couple of inspiring pictures of her in the pool. I have no doubt that Sarah has a lot of awards and victories. But that’s not why she’s standing up here today. At the ripe old age of 10, Sarah is already true leader. Sarah knows the secret of leadership; LOVE! I have a friend that actually wrote a bestselling leadership book titled “Love Works.” Love always works! Sarah loves her sister, Hannah, and that love has led Sarah to become a volunteer with the Special Olympics. As a volunteer, Sarah leads kids to smile and have fun because she cares about them; because she loves them. The simple and pure love between sisters has overflowed into one of the greatest examples of leadership I have ever seen. My friend might have written the book “Love Works’ but Sarah, at 10 years old you are living it! You are a great leader! -Brad Jubin, APIVEO

Thank you Mary Plant, Zaxby’s, CBS Atlanta, Larry Smith and YMCA at Buckhead for your enthusiasm and support. You have made a wonderful girl feel appreciated and loved. That’s what is means to Always Play IV Each Other!

Leadership is NOT a Team Sport

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Leadership is an individual responsibility. Leadership is NOT a team sport. Each of us is called to lead in a specific and special way. That’s not to say a group of leaders cannot work together. To the contrary, leaders must cooperate. Leaders working in concert toward a common goal is extremely effective as long as each leader is personally responsibility for a specific area or function. In other words, they function as a team of leaders. There is a profound difference between a “leadership team” and a “team of leaders.”
A leadership team (a.k.a. leadership by committee) can lead to confusion, contempt and even worse, compromise. I know it’s not politically correct to call compromise bad, but all too often, sound and decisive leadership decisions are watered down for the sake of compromise. Many “win-win” situations turn into to “lose-lose” outcomes because of this.

A great leader will solicit input and feedback. A great leader will consider as many points a view as possible before making a decision. However, when it’s time to chart a course, cast vision or call a play he or she will make a decision and execute.

For example, think about the last time you purchased a car or some other expensive item. You most likely did research online as well as visited dealerships or stores. You asked friends and colleagues. You spoke with people that already owned the brand or item you were considering. After all of that work, you made the decision. I doubt you went back to everyone you spoke with and asked them to vote to try to form a consensus as a basis for your purchase.

In today’s “leadership team” environment we have lost a great deal of accountability. Decisions can become so diluted by team involvement that no one knows who made the decision. “Including everyone’s opinion” has become the goal instead of an individual making a sound decision and being held accountable for the outcome.

It’s essential that leaders remain focused on the things they do best and stay in their lane. Imagine a 4×100 meter relay race between a “leadership team” and a “team of leaders.” Each leg of a relay race requires a certain type of athlete. Because of this, the “team of leaders” will assign each leg of the race to the leader that is best suited or equipped for that leg. On the other hand, the “leadership team” has a much broader view of the race and the level of participation. The “leadership team” seeks to involve everyone in every leg for maximum involvement. When the race begins both teams will move the baton around the track, however, the “team of leaders” will move as individuals in succession allowing for the greatest speed and efficiency. The “leadership team” will run the race side by side and hand the baton to each other in stride. The outcome of this race is obvious.

I have never read a single definition of leadership that describes more than one person. A leader is simply a person of influence that is influential in the area where he or she has demonstrated competence and achievement. Leadership is exclusively an individual responsibility.

Drew Smith : : APIVEO Player of the Month : : August 2014

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Congratulations Drew and thank you for Always Playing IV Each Other!

Watch Drew’s inspiring story of leadership on CBS Atlanta with special guest presenter, Edwin Moses.

Drew Smith August 2014

Excerpt from the APIVEO Player of the Month award ceremony;

Today we celebrate Drew Smith because he Always Plays IV Each Other. Drew is a gifted track athlete. While I never saw him run personally, I have seen a couple of pretty impressive pictures of him hurdling as well as standing on the top level of podium with a medal hanging around his neck . But that’s not why he’s standing up here today. At the age of 11, Drew is already a true leader. Rather than standing around waiting for track practice to start he organized a pre-practice for his entire team. That’s leadership. On Fridays he helps the staff here at the Ron Clark Academy teach teachers how to teach him. That’s leadership. He volunteers his time in the community and even ran up his mom’s pizza bill by making a hefty donation to St Jude Children’s Hospital!

Now to present the APIVEO Player of the Month award for August 2014, I would like to introduce a great leader and athlete. A man that is dedicated to improving the world we live in by leveraging his unique talents and gifts to enrich the lives of others. For the past 15 years he has served as the Chairman of The Laureus Sport For Good Foundation. Along the way he ran a few races on the track as well. His career includes 2 Olympic gold medals, a world record that he personally broke 4 times along with a streak of 122 consecutive wins. It is my great pleasure to introduce Dr. Edwin Moses! -Brad Jubin, APIVEO

Thank you Edwin Moses, Zaxby’s, CBS Atlanta, Larry Smith, Ron Clark Academy and Jeff McPhail for your enthusiasm and support. You have made a young man feel appreciated and loved. That’s what is means to Always Play IV Each Other!

Bridges Spencer : : APIVEO Player of the Month : : July 2014

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Congratulations Bridges and thank you for Always Playing IV Each Other!

Watch Bridges’ inspiring story of leadership on CBS Atlanta.

Bridges Spencer July 2014

Excerpt from the APIVEO Player of the Month award ceremony;

Each month we present the APIVEO Player of The Month award to a youth athlete from Metro Atlanta that has demonstrated leadership through service on their team, in their home or in their community.

This afternoon we celebrate Bridges Spencer because he Always Plays IV Each Other.

Bridges is a catcher and outfielder for Buckhead Baseball and I hear he has a cannon for an arm. But that’s not why he’s standing up here today. At the ripe old age of 12, Bridges has already served the Atlanta Police Athletic League for several years. He has been a camp counselor and a trusted friend; he has helped organize equipment drives and refereed basketball games. He has rolled up his sleeves and cared for the kids served by the Atlanta Police Athletic League. That’s leadership! That’s Always Playing IV Each Other! – Brad Jubin, APIVEO

Thank you Gwinnett Braves, Zaxby’s, CBS Atlanta, Larry Smith, and Jeff McPhail for your enthusiasm and support. You have made a young man feel appreciated and loved. That’s what is means to Always Play IV Each Other!

Whitewater Baseball Always Plays IV Each Other: An APIVEO Story of Leadership

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If you had the opportunity to see the Whitewater High School baseball team play this past spring. you had the opportunity to witness a group of young men serving and caring for each other through the game of baseball. If you looked in the stands, you had the opportunity to see students, families and fans Always Playing IV Each Other with their APIVEO signs and cheers. As the season started Coach Rusty Bennett, Head Baseball Coach at Whitewater High School, introduced APIVEO to the team and it quickly became much more than a simple rally cry or motto for the Wildcats. APIVEO became the way these young men, coaches and families lived. They lifted each other up emotionally and physically on and off the field and by doing so they made it to the final high school baseball played in the 2014 season. Unfortunately, the Wildcats came up short in that final game. Losing game three of the state championship was a bitter pill to swallow but growing into leaders that serve and love each other in the process is the real and lasting victory.

[Read more…] about Whitewater Baseball Always Plays IV Each Other: An APIVEO Story of Leadership

Allie Hood : : APIVEO Player of the Month : : June 2014

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Congratulations Allie and thank you for Always Playing IV Each Other!

Watch Allie’s inspiring story of leadership on CBS Atlanta.

Excerpt from the APIVEO Player of the Month award ceremony;

Allie is a middle school student and basketball player at PEAK Performance. More importantly Allie is a daughter, she’s a sister and she’s a friend. Less than a year ago Allie’s world changed forever. She lost her brother, Tyler, to a drunk driver. Her family’s life will never be the same. The loss of a sibling, of a child, of a friend is not something that simply “goes away” with time. I don’t pretend to know why bad things happen and I certainly don’t try to justify this kind of tragedy as “meant to be.” And neither does Allie. Allie didn’t simply accept what happened to Tyler that night. Allie did what leaders do. She raised her hand and made a committed to make a difference. She stepped up to influence kids in a way that WILL save the life of another family’s “Tyler.” The best definition of a leader I have ever heard is “a person of disproportionate influence.” Allie is a leader. Allie is now a GA Teen Influencer for MADD. She is actively encouraging kids to turn away from underage drinking and to help stop drunk driving. Thank you Allie.

I’d like add one thing. There was something that I couldn’t stop thinking about while I was writing out my notes for today’s presentation. Has anyone ever heard the saying…”if you think you’re important, stick your finger in a glass of water, then pull it out and see if there is a hole left in the water.” Allie, Tyler left a hole in the water and so are you. Anyone that cares for and loves others will leave a hole in the water. Tyler is that important, you are that important and WE ARE ALL THAT IMPORTANT! Thank you for teaching me that. Now I would like to introduce the Atlanta Dream President and GM, Angela Taylor and the entire Atlanta Dream team, to present the APIVEO Player of the Month award for June 2014. -Brad Jubin, APIVEO

Thank you Atlanta Dream, Zaxby’s, CBS Atlanta, Larry Smith, Bruce Price and Jeff McPhail for your enthusiasm and support. You have made a young lady feel appreciated and loved. That’s what is means to Always Play IV Each Other!