Mike O'Connell

THE NOW GENERATION

The young man in this photo inspires me every time he worships at

I want to encourage young people to KEEP RUNNING AFTER GOD! DON’T HOLD BACK.

I would exhort you the same way Paul did Timothy. ”Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.“
‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

86% of adults report feelings of loneliness. How can this be the case? The world is more “connected” than ever or is it?

This year commit to in person, face to face, human to human connection. Your soul will thank you!

One of the greatest human needs is to be known. Whether you know it or not you NEED CONNECTION.

Here are 5 reasons that you need to get surrounded by some people you can be real with this year.

1. The atmosphere you permit, decides the product you produce.

2. Everybody needs an environment where they don't have to perform.

3. Vulnerability is contagious and breaks down walls we've put up in our own hearts.

4. Accountability will lead to greater responsibility.

5. Confession of weaknesses and praying for each other will lead to the healing you've been searching for. James 5:16

Don't do life alone. We are BETTER TOGETHER.

The days seem long but the years GO FAST! If you’re a parent, keep leaning in! Your children are your greatest stewardship.

Someone recently asked me, “Mike, what do you want your legacy to be?” Without pause I answered, “To be respected the most by those who know me the best.” Truthfully, there are some really tough days in parenting where I wonder if that will be the case with my kids. I ask myself internally will my kids ever want to be around me after they leave the house?

I learned a valuable lesson playing college football and evaluating every rep on film that I want to encourage you with. It’s never as good as it seemed and it’s never as bad as it seemed. If you are walking through a season of condemnation in your parenting can I encourage you? Reality for all of us parents doesn’t look like the highlight reels you see on social media. We are all in it! Can I get an amen parents?! Don’t fall into the trap of comparison.

If I can give you parenting advice in one sentence it would be, “Lots of love, lots of discipline, consistency throughout.” Continue to guard your heart from bitterness towards your kids and commit to being the chief encouragement officer in your home! Praying for all of you! 🙏🏼

“Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did.”

You may not be where you want to be, but you aren’t where you used to be.

The only way to lose in the game of life is to stay down after getting knocked down.

But that’s not who you are. You get back up and you keep leaning in, growing and persevering.

Failure doesn’t define you, it refines you. You welcome it. You have decided it’s not your undertaker but your teacher.

This journey you are on is going to cost you everything, but it’s worth it!

Keep going 🤟🏼

As I drove into Iowa City this Thanksgiving, I was reminded of a season when I had to fight for gratitude, even when everything in me resisted. Sometimes, being back in Iowa City triggers vivid flashbacks to childhood memories. This time around, a memory struck me as we drove down Melrose Avenue in Iowa City, flooding my heart with immense gratitude. Though unspoken, I felt it deeply.

I recalled a meeting with the University of Iowa provost in February 2006, just two weeks after the devastating news that I hadn't been accepted into the University despite turning down multiple scholarship offers to walk on the football team.

Growing up attending games at Kinnick Stadium, I dreamt of the day I would be part of the Iowa Swarm. Faced with disappointment and embarrassment, my mother and I attended the meeting with the provost to plead our case for making an exception to their rules, allowing me to pursue my dreams at their university. Though much of that meeting is a blur, one statement from the provost remains etched in my memory: “Michael, data reveals that if we let you into school here, you will fail out in your first semester.” This was said to me, a young man with a 3.3 GPA, who attended a high school with academic prestige, placing me in the bottom 50% of my graduating class – the reason for my University rejection.

I will never forget the love and support I felt from my mom in that moment. A 'we will find a way' kind of woman, she looked at me as we walked out of the provost's office and said, “We have other options we can exhaust.” I looked back at her and responded, “I think God has a different plan for my life.” It must have been God’s grace that led me to that conclusion because I aspired to be a Hawkeye so badly.

Fast forward, Dan McCarney and the Iowa State Cyclones gave me a shot. There is much I could unpack on how that even happened, but that's a story for another time. As I revisited this memory yesterday, gratitude erupted in my heart. This is because, had I not attended Iowa State, there's a high chance I would have never ended up in Omaha, NE. In 2011, Iowa State’s team orthopedic surgeon, Tom Greenwald, introduced me to Todd Doxzon. That introduction turned out to be the catalyst for moving to Omaha, NE in 2012 to serve at Todd’s church. Without Omaha, NE, I wouldn't have crossed paths with Jerica. If I hadn't married Jerica, there would be no Judah, Journey, and Royce.

Reflecting on the statement I made walking out of that meeting – 'I think God has a different plan for my life' – I can now drive down Melrose Avenue and recognize that plan as I gaze at my beautiful family.

I hope this story encourages someone during this Thanksgiving season. You may not be able to see the full picture yet, but know that God could be using disappointment to guide you to your ultimate destination. Fight for gratitude, knowing that as long as you're still breathing, He is still writing your story.

Happy Thanksgiving!

10 Lessons I Learned Doing Underwater Training With Navy Seals:

1. You don’t rise to the level of your goals, you fall to the level of your training.
2. Your poise has to match the pressure otherwise the pressure will eat you alive.
3. Your ability to fail forward will determine how far you go in life.
4. There is a right way and there is wrong way. Do it right, do it light. Do it wrong, do it long.
5. Your ability to execute the mission is predicated on your ability to eliminate all distractions and have relentless focus.
6. Your courage is connected to your camaraderie.
7. You can do hard things! You’re more capable than you think you are.
8. You can’t train for all of life’s battles but training hard consistently instills the proper mindset to face all of life’s battles.
9. Your ability to be coachable will determine if you’re promotable.
10. Humility will take you further than arrogance ever will.

Shout out to for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime. So many lessons learned and most importantly incredible relationships established.

Want to grow? Start believing these 3 words.

Had a blast speaking to the Northwestern Mutual team in South Dakota last week. It was evident they’ve built a strong culture. I like to say organizations don’t build culture, people do and they have some of the finest people.

I am thankful for new relationships and the opportunity to do what God created me to do. A big thanks to their leaders Chris, Jess and Eric for bringing me in. Also a big shout out to Jordan Montgomery who set up the opportunity. I wouldn’t be where I am or doing what I’m doing without the amazing people in my life.

Giving a keynote next week at Iowa State so I was going through old photos of my time at the University.

I started as a scrub with no name on the back of my jersey, getting dressed in the visitors locker room before practice and doing air squats and push ups in the corner of the weight room while everyone else lifted weights.

I want to tell someone, IT’S NOT HOW YOU START, IT’S HOW YOU FINISH. You might want to tap. You might want to quit but STAY THE COURSE. Keep your eye on the vision and celebrate small wins along the way. This season isn’t meant to destroy you but to develop you. God isn’t done writing your story! YOUR CHARACTER IS BEING SHAPED IN THE DARK ROOM. Your time is coming. Keep believing. Keep working. In your corner.

We are in a move of God 🤯

As we worshipped on Good Friday — 47 people proclaimed their faith publicly by being baptized!

Only Jesus 🙌

See you tomorrow 8a, 10a & 12p to celebrate RESURRECTION POWER ⚡️

John Ertz, Jen Lann and the leaders at Northwestern Mutual in Ohio are leading an incredible organization.

Thanks for giving me the opportunity to speak to your team about leadership and vision.

I love their theme for this year, “Fortune favors the bold and the brave.” Keep being courageous and go crush it this year!

Royce turned 2 today! Can you believe it?! ❤️

10 years ago I got asked to give a talk at a middle school. I was in the middle of pursuing a professional football career. While eating lunch after the talk, I told my brother that I wanted to do that the rest of my life. Holding a mic was never an aspiration, but on that day something was awakened in me - purpose & passion.

I’m so thankful for everyone who has been there for me on this journey of fulfilling a calling. We are just getting started! I am honored and humbled every time I step in a room or on a stage to speak. I take this call very seriously and I am excited for all God has in store 🙏🏼

What a gift to preach on my 34th birthday! I am getting older but I feel like I am hitting my stride. I know who I am, where I am going and why I am here. I am excited for all God has in store for me and my family in this next year. I am GRATEFUL to be on the journey with you! Thanks for for all your love and support. ❤️🙏🏼

BIG is a state of mind. You can change your life today by changing your perspective. Think different today!

We begin a new season in the OC household today. Our two oldest Judah & Journey had their first day of school! and I are so excited for them and we are so proud of them. We are so thankful for all the wonderful people who have poured into our children. It truly takes a village to raise children. Here’s to a new adventure!

“The atmosphere you permit, determines the product you produce.” A.W. Tower says, “You are the company you keep. I’ve heard it said that you are the average of the 5 people you hang around the most.

Who are you surrounded by? Who has your ear? Do they tell you want you want to hear or what you need to hear?

My goal is to get around people who won’t let me stay comfortable. I know and I can say that about Jordan Montgomery]. He embodies the type of people I want in my inner circle. He makes everyone around him better because he lives in the service mode.

I challenge you to take inventory of who is influencing you in this season. What is the fruit of those relationships?

Thanks Jordan Montgomery] for making me better!

You can have COMFORT or GROWTH but you can’t have both. What will you choose this week?

Dear College Football Players,

What you get to do is special but who you get to do it with is even more special. This game will knock you down but it's your coaches and teammates that will pick you back up. Remember, the most connected teams are the most effective teams. Here's three reminders as you kick off a new season.

SELL OUT TO THE STANDARD
The standard has been set. Your mission and values are clear. Don't settle for anything less than the standard you have worked so hard to set. Be accountable and hold one another accountable to that standard. Championship teams are married to their standard and never consider divorcing it.

SELL OUT TO THE STRATEGY
Your coaches have worked hard to develop a process that produces success. TRUST THE PROCESS. BELIEVE IN THE PROCESS. WORK THE PROCESS. Post game locker room celebrations are the result of working the process well Sunday - Friday. Saturday is when you reap what you sowed.

SELL OUT TO DOING IT WITH LOVE
Love will never show up on a stat sheet. It's hard to manage and quantify but you know when it's at work on a team or not. Dabo Sweeny told his team before winning the 2017 National Championship that the difference in the game was going to be love. He told his team they were going to win it because they loved each other. Love causes you to find strength that you didn't think you had. Love causes you to overcome obstacles that you didn't think you could overcome. Love causes you to fight for something bigger than yourself. Sell out this year to loving your teammates, to loving the process and to loving the game of football and you will give yourself the best chance at experiencing success.

CHILDLIKE GENEROSITY

Have you ever had your card denied while at the cash register? Recently someone was at our house telling us about a time when that happened to them. They called their bank immediately and realized their checking account was drained. They couldn't believe it.

Judah, my five-year-old son was in the room listening to this person tell the story. What he interpreted was that this person didn't have any money. What he missed or couldn't quite comprehend was that this person moved money over from their savings to their checking so that they could finish the purchase.

As this person was finishing their story, Judah quickly ran to his room with zero hesitation. I was standing in the kitchen so I couldn't see what Judah was doing but I could hear him. He quickly ran back down the hallway into the living room holding his shark piggy bank (The one I am holding in this photo). He looked at this adult who just finished telling us this story and said, "You can have my money". The person chuckled and said, "I don't need your money Judah, thank you though".

I was standing in the other room listening to this exchange and it rocked me. Judah's generous spirit was challenging and convicting. Judah didn't hesitate using what God blessed him with to meet what he thought was a need someone else had. I thought to myself, I want to respond with more childlike generosity. Can you imagine what the world would look like if we all operated with childlike generosity?

Here are a few lessons I learned from this.

1) Judah trusts that his daddy's got him and that enabled him to give freely. Do you trust that God is your provider?

2) Judah recognized that he is a funnel for God's resources to flow through. Are you open or closed-handed?

3) Judah figured out it is more blessed to give than receive. Are you consumed by giving or getting?

4) Judah figured out the key to living is giving. Are you fully alive in this season? How you answer this question could be an indicator of your generosity.

5) Judah's generous spirit was contagious. Who will you impact today with your generosity (Time, talent, treasure)?

Go be generous today!

“If you’re too big to serve, you’re too small to lead”

The leader looks to serve rather than be served. They don’t use people, they serve people. This is different. Go be different today!

7 years with has been a dream. Today we are spending time celebrating what Jesus has done, what Jesus is doing and what Jesus will continue to do in and through our marriage. We aren’t perfect but we are committed. I am thankful to be doing life with my best friend and I am excited to keep building together. Jesus continue to be the center...

Happy Anniversary Jerica Ann ❤️

Craig Groeschel says, “People would follow a leader who is always real than one who is always right.”

Leader, let me remind you…people admire your strengths, they admire your success but you know what the connect with? Your weaknesses…yes read that again…your weaknesses.

Vulnerability, transparency and authenticity from a leader always leads to….

A team that has greater love
A team that has greater trust
A team that gets each others backs
A team that buys into the vision

People don’t buy into organizations, they buy into leaders…start being a leader that people want to follow by choosing to be vulnerable, transparent and authentic.

The future you will step into one day is directly connected to the small choices that you make today.

Little by little and moment by moment you are shaping your future by every small choice that you make.

The seemingly small choices today lead to big impact in the future.

Be faithful in the little today…

Jerica Ann O’Connell

Happy Birthday to my way better half! Today, we celebrate your life! I am so thankful Jesus brought you into my world in 2013. You are the best wife and mom!

So many people have been blessed by the deep wisdom that pours out of you. I know my life has been changed by it! I am so thankful to be doing life side by side with my best friend. So excited to see what is in store this next year!

If you love Jerica, please help me celebrate her today! HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 🎉🎂🎈

⚡️ WIN THE WEEK ⚡️

What would you add to this list?

Go crush your week! Cheering you on.