Talon's Epic Journey

I’m a desert-dwelling writer on a quest to achieve mastery in my chosen profession. The journey has been long and fraught with challenges, but with a little patience, some effort, and a boat-load of passion I know I’ll reach my goal. Follow my progress on Twitter @TalonLawrence and my website.

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"Show, don’t tell" is a rule that’s been hammered into my skull since the start of my Mastery Journey. I dare say it’s the golden rule. When thinking of a meme, my mind immediately jumped to the famous scene from the film “Jerry Maguire.”

Citation:

Crowe, C. (Director). (1996). Jerry Maguire [Motion picture]. TriStar Pictures

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It’s always kind of awkward when someone shows up to the party dressed in your costume. It’s even more so when they wear your costume better.

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I spend far too much time editing as I write. Please, don’t be me. Edit once the idea is on paper. Otherwise, you will dump much more time than necessary on an assignment.

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Opinion - What the Browns Should Do Next Offseason.

The Browns have hit rock-bottom and should clean house next off-season. However, they must keep Gregg Williams. In fact, I propose they hire Jim Schwartz or Jeff Fisher as their next head coach. Both men share history with Williams. Since 1999, the Browns have been most successful with defensive-minded leadership (9-7 and a Wild Card appearance with Butch Davis, 10-6 with Romeo Crennel). It’s the team’s desperate attempt to land a franchise quarterback that has always held them back. Instead of repeatedly falling into this trap, they should instead embrace the identity of a stingy defensive, run-heavy, ball-control football team, traits that serve as the cornerstone of the rough-and-tumble AFC North.

Now for the hard part. I know Fisher was fired during the 2016 season and isn’t the most appealing option to many fans, but he did turn the Rams into a competitive outfit following their wildly erratic Spagnuolo years. In fact, the 2016 Rams were still a competitive 4-5 until they turned to the bewildered Jared Goff to appease a fickle Los Angeles fan base. True, Fisher lacks offensive prowess. He’s likely conscious of this problem and, if given another shot, could be more proactive to address it, though teams like the Titans and Jaguars have had success with similar schemes of late. I should also note that Fisher commands a healthy .512 winning percentage through 22 years of service, not to mention eleven playoff appearances and a trip to Super Bowl XXXIV (Pro Football Reference).

Schwartz coached under Fisher for several years in Tennessee and is currently a more attractive option to fans due to Fisher’s recent, abrupt, and highly-visible firing. However, Schwartz could be in high demand come off-season, and with the Browns’ reputation for constant turnover, he could be an elusive target. If this is the case, the Browns should go with his mentor, Fisher. I’m not a fan of constant turnover, but I crave a tough, competitive Browns team, instead of the lifeless mess that’s on display.

Reference: Jeff Fisher Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks. (n.d.). Retrieved October 24, 2017, from https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/FishJe0.htm

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Here are the final six courses and a visual representation of my Mastery Journey Timeline.

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Here are the first six courses and objectives to improve my skills.

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My Mastery Journey Timeline

Friends,

I’ve created a timeline to give you a better idea of what I intend to achieve over the coming months. Please click here to view the Mastery Journey Timeline.

Regards,

Talon

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Hecato says, ‘I can teach you a love potion made without any drugs, herbs, or special spell – if you would be loved, love.’

Seneca, Moral Letters, 9.6

In the daily hustle and bustle, stress and ill-will abound. Our modern world tends to reward a “me first,” hyper-competitive mentality. Sadly, love holds too little value. Public empathy is infrequent, mostly visible after some tragedy strikes, instead of being naturally practiced on a day-to-day basis. We live in volatile times and desperately need to learn how to love one another.

Reference:

Holiday, R., & Hanselman, S. (2016). The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations of Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living. New York, NY: Portfolio

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My LinkedIn Profile

Link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/talon-lawrence/

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My Personal Logo Alternate

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My Personal Logo Primary

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My Feedly Account

I’ve had Feedly for some time. It’s an excellent service that helps you stay informed in your industry with up-to-the-minute, personalized content. If you don’t have an account, check out the link below to get started.

Feedly Link: https://feedly.com/i/welcome

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My Papaly Account

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Effort without talent is a depressing situation... but talent without effort is a tragedy.

Mike Ditka

I have an autographed photo of “Da Coach” on my office desk. He flips me the bird as he walks off a football field somewhere in time (I assume during the 1985 season). I admire the man’s fire and often scroll through his many quotes. Sure some are borrowed, some are plain out there, but this one’s special. This one I’ve kept with me for several years. Whenever I find myself slacking, I look at the photo and think of this quote. It reminds me to invest my all in everything I attempt. I may stumble, and the results might not be perfect, but I'll find solace in knowing I made a genuine effort.