QUOTE/STORY OF THE WEEK...

“I want to correct the record now; this was a crew effort. Circumstance determined that it was this experienced crew that was scheduled to fly that particular flight on that particular day. But I know I can speak for the entire crew when I tell you we were simply doing the job we were trained to do.” – Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger

FROM AP...Capt. James Ray, a spokesman for the U.S. Airline Pilots Association, which represents US Airways pilots, said Sullenberger plans to spend more time with his family in retirement. He will also continue to talk to lawmakers about raising minimum qualifications for pilots and work to lower the maximum number of hours pilots are able to work in a single day.

"Each generation of pilots hopes that they will leave their profession better off than they found it," Sullenberger said in a statement. "In spite of the best efforts of thousands of my colleagues, that is not the case today. Though I am retiring, I will continue to serve as the same kind of advocate I have always been — not only for aviation safety, but for the airline piloting profession. I will work to remind the entire industry — and those who manage and regulate it — that we have a sacred duty to our passengers to do the very best that we know how to do."

US Air will miss Sully, and all of us who regularly fly will miss him as well. The pride he exhibited in his chosen field, the humble way he behaved after he became a hero, are qualities to emulate.

"Every time I get on a plane, I feel like, Oh God, I hope it's Sully at the pilot's seat. Now I know it's not going to be. In a way it's sad." -- Mary Berkwitz, survivor

NEWS FROM THE NFL LAST WEEK…

"Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom." -- Aristotle

"Merlin Olsen was an extraordinary person, friend and football player. Merlin was a larger-than-life person, literally and figuratively, and leaves an enormously positive legacy." -- NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell

Merlin Olsen, a Hall of Fame defensive lineman with the Los Angeles Rams and a charter member of the team's famed “Fearsome Foursome,” made a remarkably smooth transition into careers in broadcasting and acting. Olsen, 69, died Thursday at City of Hope Hospital in Duarte, Calif., while surrounded by his family, his brother Orrin said. He had been diagnosed last year with mesothelioma, a form of cancer that affects the lining of the lungs.

As only the great Steve Sabol can, here is a video link as he looks back on the life of Merlin Olsen.

1. Report: Jets could match Thomas Jones' contract for LaDainian Tomlinson.

Source: AOL FanHouse

2. Redskins sign RB Larry Johnson to three-year, $12-million deal.

Source: ESPN

3. Agent: Bradford pushes back workout to March 29.

Source: NFL.com?

Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford has moved his pro day to accommodate NFL teams, according to his agent, Tom Condon.

4. Seahawks, Cardinals to consider offer sheets for Charlie Whitehurst?

Source: NFL.com?

Both the Seahawks and Cardinals are mulling offer sheets for restricted free agent quarterback Charlie Whitehurst, according to league sources.

5. Jaguars won’t alter draft plan in bid for QB Tim Tebow ?

Source: Jacksonville.com?

Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver likes to call former Gators QB Tim Tebow an icon, but he indicated Thursday the Jaguars aren’t going to deviate from their draft board to select the former Florida quarterback. “Personally, I think Tim Tebow is an extraordinary young man and he’s an extraordinary athlete. He’s going to be successful in the National Football League,” Weaver said during an interview before a Team Teal Rally on Thursday.

THINGS I HEAR…

"I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best." -- Marilyn Monroe

1. Here is my first mock draft for NFL Network, but just the top 10. Let me know your thoughts and refrain from the idiot comments…for one day.

2. I keep hearing from my Jets sources that they’re having internal discussions regarding Brandon Marshall and would love to put together a package of players that might entice the Broncos and still keep their first-round pick.

3. The draft stock of Oklahoma State’s Dez Bryant is slipping and might continue to slip. I talked to two teams that need a receiver and feel like he’s a huge talent but also a huge risk. Bryant is talented, but with that talent come concerns off the field.

4. Arizona is far from convinced that Matt Leinart is its short- or long-term answer at quarterback. His work ethic and commitment continue to be questioned, I’m told by sources in the Cardinals building. It would surprise me if Leinart is the starter on opening day, especially if the team is able to sign Charlie Whitehurst from the Chargers. Whitehurst is a hard worker, dedicated teammate and willing to pay the price to be a starter in the NFL.

5. If the Jets or Vikings sign LaDainian Tomlinson, they better hope he stays healthy. But more important, they better hope their starters stay healthy and they don’t have to count on LT being the old LT. The last two years, he played three games on turf and carried the ball 47 times for a 2.7 average per attempt. Here are his numbers the last two seasons: 30 games, 515 carries, 1,840 yards, 3.6 average. How is LT better for the Jets than Thomas Jones? I’m confused. Are you confused too, Yahoo Dave?

LEADERSHIP IMPROVEMENT IDEA...

"It is never too late to be what you might have been." -- George Eliot

A Lesson in Letting Go

Author: Catherine Franz

Do you hear yourself saying?
When I have enough money, I'll...
When I go on vacation, I'll...
As soon as I find the right partner, I'll...
When the house is clean, I'll be able to...
When I can afford a better car, I'll...
When this project is over, I'll...
As soon as I get more clients, I'll...
I can't leave work, or I'll...
When my kids are grown and moved out, I’ll...
How much of your life do you put on hold?

During coaching sessions, people share their "I'll’s" with me all the time. The most popular justifications are that they are waiting for the money or the time to magically open up.

Tracking the reasons over a 10-year period and finding the bottom-line truth, people aren't hungry enough to do what it takes to find or create the money.

I'm sure you have accomplished many things in your life without money. Thus, why would you believe that these I'll can't be on that list as well?

There are five elements involved with achieving prosperity. Money only one of them. Energy (sometimes mislabeled as power), love, time and success are the other four.

Belief underlies this whole process. The belief that you need money to accomplish whatever is on your list. The belief that there are no other options. And so many more. What are your beliefs that are placing your "I'll's" on your hold list?

An excellent question. However, until you are aware of what's on the list, and they are a true want, you don't open up your vision to their possibilities.

The biggest time I was aware of this in my life was some years back when my father was very ill. He said to me, "Go after your dream, don't wait for anything." I'm sure you've heard that as well somewhere in your life.

Discussing that further with him, I realized that I didn't know what I wanted. So I thought. I soon realized that that wasn't it at all. I just didn't believe it was possible to "really" live the way I wanted. Since then, I travelled for a year all over the world, attending and teaching at conferences, attending universities, and even personally studying with well-known writers.

And how it all came about was still an awesome miracle to me. Most of the adventure paid for by someone else, or an organization. But I had to take risks, at least they were big risks to me. Sometimes I didn't know how I was going to get there or back, where I was going to sleep, or what to do in between destinations. In every situation, every instance, things appeared that still leave me spell bound.

And it all began with a little trust and belief. Since this time other amazing adventures appeared, including studying with some of the most amazing people in the world.

Can this happen for you? You bet it can. Dr. Wayne Dyer, Donald Walsh, and Deepak Chopra, three I now call friends, tell you all about it in their books and lectures as well.

What underlies all this? One thing -- our belief system. If you believe you must have money in order to do something, then you will need to. You closed the window to possibilities. If you need all the answers before you start, you will get exactly that, waiting on all the answers to appear.

Have you given up on one of your "I'lls"?

As children, we don't understand adult situations. We hear this and that and when there are gaps, we toss in whatever is available from our warehouse of experiences. We usually carry this learning experience until we’re seniors. And there is an awakening when we realize there are less years ahead than behind. A new wisdom emerges.

Until...you...

Ask new questions when these beliefs saboteur your success. This is examining that belief. When this occurs, it is important to ask these valuable questions:

(1) What is the belief? You need to name it to claim it. Many times, we don't want to own that belief -- we avoid the ownership. This denial dances around until we can no longer stay behind the way. Until it gets bad enough... we're broke, eating our loneliness away, and other destructive habits. Learn to name it, this automatically starts the change, then take it one step at a time from that point. Don't look jump the ocean. Stick your toe in the water. It’s cold water and you need to get used to it a little at a time. Give it daily conscious thought. Just by doing this alone, you build the boat that will cross the ocean.

(2) Does the belief serve me any longer? Did the belief serve you when you were a teenager, and now you are 55? Adjust it for the age.

(3) Who says the belief needs to be this way? What gives them the right to say this? Are they just transferring their own belief to you? Don't be willing to accept it. Form your own. Give it some space.

(4) Who will be upset if you change this belief? The fear of losing someone, confronting someone on their beliefs, is nerve wracking to most people. Do you really need to confront them on it? No. Do you need to tell them they are wrong? No. Do you need to let it go and form your own? Yes.

Take more leaps of faith!

Change your beliefs, every single one that isn't current serving you. Stop, I'll'ing...or when’ing.

It takes space to open up and invite abundance and prosperity into your life. If your life is too full with excuses, what ifs, or someday you'll, there isn't any room.

Invest in yourself today and every day of your life, not just your money.

Invest in your own energy, your personal power, your love for yourself and others, your time, and your success.

The payoff is the biggest in the world...happiness... living your life now and not later.

Be brave, not much, just a little. Take a leap of faith purposely every day for the next week. When it works, continue the process. One toe at a time.

Create the new space needed to invite abundance in. Go ahead, go in. The waters fine. Stop waiting for the eclipse marks to stop. They stop when you take the leap!

ARTICLES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED THAT AREN’T WORTH MISSING...

"Logic will get you from A to Z; imagination will get you everywhere." -- Albert Einstein

How to not spend the day just answering and sending emails. Great read

Three Steps to Make Your Next Speech Your Best

STORIES TO SHARE....

"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go." -- Dr. Seuss

Fireman Billy ?

Author: Unknown?

The 26-year-old mother stared down at her son who was dying of terminal leukemia. Although her heart was filled with sadness, she also had a strong feeling of determination. Like any parent she wanted her son to grow up and fulfill all his dreams. Now that was no longer possible. The leukemia would see to that. But she still wanted her son's dreams to come true.

She took her son's hand and asked, "Billy, did you ever think about what you wanted to be once you grew up? Did you ever dream and wish what you would do with your life?"

"Mommy, I always wanted to be a fireman when I grew up."

Mom smiled back and said, "Let's see if we can make your wish come true."

Later that day she went to her local fire department in Phoenix, Ariz., where she met Fireman Bob, who had a heart as big as Phoenix. She explained her son's final wish and asked if it might be possible to give her six-year-old son a ride around the block on a fire engine.

Fireman Bob said, "Look, we can do better than that. If you'll have your son ready at 7 o'clock Wednesday morning, we'll make him an honorary fireman for the whole day. He can come down to the fire station, eat with us, go out on all the fire calls, the whole nine yards! And if you'll give us his sizes, we'll get a real fire uniform for him, with a real fire hat -- not a toy one -- with the emblem of the Phoenix Fire Department on it, a yellow slicker like we wear and rubber boots. They're all manufactured right here in Phoenix, so we can get them fast."

Three days later, Fireman Bob picked up Billy, dressed him in his fire uniform and escorted him from his hospital bed to the waiting hook-and-ladder truck. Billy got to sit on the back of the truck and help steer it back to the fire station. He was in heaven.

There were three fire calls in Phoenix that day and Billy got to go out o n all three calls. He rode in the different fire engines, the paramedic's van and even the fire chief's car. He was also videotaped for the local news program. Having his dream come true, with all the love and attention that was lavished upon him, so deeply touched Billy that he lived three months longer than any doctor thought possible.

One night all of his vital signs began to drop dramatically, and the head nurse, who believed in the hospice concept that no one should die alone, began to call the family members to the hospital. Then she remembered the day Billy had spent as a fireman, so she called the fire chief and asked if it would be possible to send a fireman in uniform to the hospital to be with Billy as he made his transition.

The chief replied, "We can do better than that. We'll be there in five minutes. Will you please do me a favor? When you hear the sirens screaming and see the lights flashing, will you announce over the PA system that there is not a fire? It's just the fire department coming to see one of its finest members one more time. And will you open the window to his room?”

About five minutes later, a hook-and-ladder truck arrived at the hospital, extended its ladder up to Billy's third floor open window, and 16 firefighters climbed up the ladder into Billy's room. With his mother's permission, they hugged him and held him and told him how much they loved him.

With his dying breath, Billy looked up at the fire chief and said, "Chief, am I really a fireman now?"

"Billy, you are," the chief said.

With those words, Billy smiled and closed his eyes one last time.

Follow me on Twitter: michaelombardi