alongside fear

The things you have in mind in life, those goals you've set, dreams you've thought up, if you want to actually accomplish them, you'll have to do them alongside fear. 

Gary John Bishop

Unfu*k Yourself 2023 Day-to-Day Calendar: Get Out of Your Head and Into Your Life. October 30

a collection of individuals

After bearing witness of who He was and of His mission, Jesus invited the multitude—all twenty-five hundred of them—to come unto Him “one by one.”(3 Nephi 11:15) That same day He healed the sick and afflicted one by one. (3 Nephi 17:9) He later “took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed . . . for them.” (3 Nephi 17:21) He ministered to and ordained the twelve disciples one by one. (3 Nephi 18:36)

No matter the size or composition of your organization, it will always be a collection of individuals. Regardless of the quorum, class, team, or organization—church or otherwise—focusing on the progress of individuals will lead to greater achievement and more joy. This principle applies in every setting. In church, we can think of it as looking at each individual and determining the next ordinance that they need to continue their progression on the covenant path toward eternal life with a loving Heavenly Father. Outside of church, it can mean helping others achieve their potential. It always requires a caring focus on the one.

Mark A. Bragg

"A Master Class in Leadership: One Day with the Savior," BYU Speeches. February 7, 2023

leading others with kindness

May 15, 1993, was a much-anticipated day for me. It was the day of the UCLA Book Fair, and one of the speakers was Warren G. Bennis, my favorite leadership thinker and author at the time. I had studied his books and could not wait to hear him speak in person. I got my ticket and arrived early on that hot day in hopes of snagging a good seat in the auditorium to listen to him. I even took my copy of his book On Becoming a Leader, just in case I met him and it wasn’t too awkward to ask him to sign it. But I knew that it was highly unlikely, especially as I saw the line to get into the auditorium grow and grow.

While I was waiting in line, I noticed an elderly gentleman who seemed lost or disoriented in the heat, so I asked him if he was okay. He said that he really wanted to hear Warren Bennis talk but didn’t know where to go. I told him that he was in the right place and that the long line was to get into the auditorium. He said that he didn’t have a ticket but hoped to get in somehow. I told him the event was completely sold out but that if he held my place in line, I would go ask if there was the possibility of a standby list.

The person at the door told me that there was some overflow and that the man could just go in with me. I went back and gave him the good news. When we entered the auditorium, we saw Warren Bennis way up on the stage talking to some people.

The man said to me, “Let’s go talk to him.”

My response: “Uh, no. C’mon, you’re going to get us kicked out. Let’s just sit down!”

But he insisted, so I followed him up to the stage, just waiting for security to tackle us. Suddenly Warren Bennis looked up and saw the man, hurried over and brought him up on stage, and hugged him. I soon realized that the older man was his brother and that they hadn’t seen each other for years. His brother then pulled me onto the stage to meet Warren Bennis! He told his brother how I had helped him outside and how he might not have been able to get into the auditorium if it weren’t for me. It was completely untrue, but I loved hearing it. Warren Bennis then hugged me and thanked me. He saw my copy of his book On Becoming a Leader and asked if he could sign it for me.

Now, the point of the story is this: As he signed my book, Warren Bennis said something that I will never forget. He said:

You know, I write a lot about the characteristics of leaders and how they need to examine their lives. I don’t write as much about how they need to care for those who follow them. The first principle of leadership should always be leading others with kindness.

Mark A. Bragg

"A Master Class in Leadership: One Day with the Savior," BYU Speeches. February 7, 2023

delusional confidence

But for a camp* that included Durant, Stephen Curry and LeBron James, his biggest lesson came from someone six years younger than him.

“Delusional confidence is the greatest thing. I learned that last year and I saw that with Anthony Edwards,” Hayes-Davis said. “He is the walking embodiment of delusional confidence.”

That’s something he carries now he wish he had before. When speaking on that, Hayes-Davis sprinkled in some great advice you should take on yourself into whatever you’re trying to achieve, whether it’s as big as trying to get back to the NBA or not.

“That’s the one thing I would tell to younger Nigel, is delusional confidence will take you a long way in this life, whatever avenue of life you want to do,” Hayes-Davis said. “Having that will set you up to avoid doubt in yourself, it will set you up from making bad decisions, it will set you up from feeling too high or too low about yourself, it will set you up to not worry about when things go wrong, because they do go wrong. But with that, it will keep you on track.”

Kellan Olson

"Nigel Hayes-Davis back in NBA as a completely new player with Suns," Arizona Sports. September 28, 2025

*Nigel was invited to be one of the practice players working with Team USA as they prepared for the 2024 Summer Olympics

unable are the loved to die

Unable are the Loved to die

For Love is Immortality,

Nay, it is Deity —

Unable they that love — to die

For Love reforms Vitality

Into Divinity.

Emily Dickinson

Unable are the Loved to die. American Poems, © 2000–2022 Gunnar Bengtsson.

delight ourselves in the Lord

When we delight ourselves in the Lord, He changes our heart to want what He wants for our lives.

Hannah Benson

"God Gives Us the Desires of Our Hearts, But Not the Idols We Ask For", crosswalk.com, accessed 9/19/2025. Bible Reading: “Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your hearts.” - Psalm 37:4 (ESV)