As a college basketball coach for nearly 20 years, I had many experiences that I was proud of. But, I also made my share of mistakes, especially early in my career. Now that I have left coaching to work with teams as a leadership trainer and consultant, I look back on my career and offer up five things that I wish I knew when I first started out in coaching.
Speak like a Champ
“There are two types of speakers: Those who get nervous and those who are liars.” (Mark Twain)
My 6th grade year was coming to a close. It had been a good year.
I had won my fair share of kickball games at recess. My “Killer B’s” tag team won homemade wrestling belts at our improvised events during lunch. And maybe most memorably, I received my first kiss from a girl not named “Mom”.
But there was one thing left to do…
Winning with Millennials
“Don’t Criticize them; They are just what we’d be under similar circumstances.” (Abraham Lincoln)
OMG! Millennials are everywhere. HELP!
It seems that everywhere we turn, Millennials are shaping, influencing and dominating the world around us. What in the world are we to do?!? [Read more…]
Contagious Enthusiasm
“In every day, there are 1,440 minutes. That means we have 1,440 daily opportunities to make a positive impact.” (Les Brown)
In his book WINNING EVERY DAY, the former Notre Dame football coach, Lou Holtz, tells the story of the Trappist monk who was allowed to say only two words every three years.
After the first three years, he met with Brother Superior and said, “Bad bed!”
Three years later, he came back to say, “Bad food!”
After three more years of silence, the monk said, “No TV!”
Another three years passed. This time, when the monk met with Brother Superior, he handed him his robes and sandals and announced, “I quit!”
Brother Superior said, “Well don’t expect me to try to dissuade you. You’ve done nothing but complain since you got here!”
It was pretty obvious that the monk didn’t add value to his fellow monks or to the atmosphere.
Dead Right
“When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know; but when you listen you may learn something new.” (Dalai Lama)One day in high school, I was walking down the sidewalk with my mother. We needed to cross the street. Instead of going to the intersection and crossing at the cross walk, I decided to do it sooner since I figured I could make it before the next car went by. My mother grabbed my arm and pulled me back.
“What are you doing? There are cars coming”, said my mother.“Don’t worry mom”, I replied confidently. “Pedestrians have the right of way”.“Yeah and you’ll be DEAD RIGHT”, she retorted.
Matter of Perspective
“At Harvard they labeled me a jock. In the NFL they considered me intellectual.”
(Pat McInally, former NFL player)
A story is told of a husband and wife sitting at a table at the husband’s high school reunion. He keeps staring at a drunken lady swigging her drink as she sat alone at a nearby table.
The wife asked, “Do you know her?”
“Yes,” the husband signed, “She’s my old girlfriend. I understand that she took to drinking right after we split up all those years ago, and I hear she hasn’t stopped since.”
“I can’t believe it!” the wife said. “Who would think a person could go on celebrating that long?”
Perspective. We all see things differently. Even husbands and wives. Come to think of it . . . especially husbands and wives!
Anyways, moving on . . .
Simple Yet Profound Career Advice for Anyone
“How do I get a good job one day?”
“What do I need to do now to start preparing for the ‘real world’?”
“The sports industry is so competitive, what advice would you give?”
“What should I major in if I want to work in sports?”
These are just a few questions that are regularly asked by students or people trying to get into the sports industry. Harvey Mackay wrote a book entitled “Dig Your Well Before You Are Thirsty”. It was primarily a networking book but it also brought up a number of good points in regards to getting a job, getting a better a job and getting ahead in your job.
When Life Gives You Lemons; Make Lemonade
“A pessimist is someone who makes difficulties of his opportunities. An optimist is one who makes opportunities out of his difficulties”
(President Harry S. Truman)
It has often been said, “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” Lemons by themselves are sour. Lemons with sugar and water become delicious lemonade.
This phrase is a reminder to us about making the best of things that come our way.
Change the World Without Spending a Dime
“Be the change you want to see in the world.” (Gandhi)How often are you or someone around you negative about society, other people, or the world in general? If only you had the power to change things. If only you had money like Bill Gates, you could make a difference in life. Well, the truth is that you can make a difference in this world…and it doesn’t have to cost a thing. [Read more…]
It Is What You Make It
“I am not what happened to me. I am what I choose to become.” (Carl Gustav Jung)
“If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn’t sit for a month.” (Theodore Roosevelt)
Are you going through a mid-life crisis? “IT IS WHAT IT IS”
Have you been passed over for a promotion? “IT IS WHAT IT IS”
Is your girlfriend is a nag? “IT IS WHAT IT IS”
Your parents don’t understand you? “IT IS WHAT IT IS”
You say your husband doesn’t listen to you? “IT IS WHAT IT IS”
Are the people around you are idiots? “IT IS WHAT IT IS”
Hearing “It is what it is” makes me want to punch someone. And then when they’d complain, I’d just say, “Sorry, but it is what it is”
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