Habits are NOT Situational

(editor’s note: Article originally written in September of 2017)

Integrity is NOT situational.

Habits are NOT situational.

Even if you are an NFL All-Pro.

Little daily positive habits lead to long-term success.

The best employees, athletes, or students do not turn their talent, hustle, or work ethic on-or-off like a light switch.

Consider Julio Jones, the star wide receiver for the Atlanta Falcons as a good example of this.

In 2015 against Tampa Bay, the Falcons threw an interception in their own end zone. The defensive player took off the other way. Jones sprinted after him and finally chased him down just before he could score. Jones ran more than 90 yards to make the tackle. But, you see, the play would never have counted because there was an offside penalty on Tampa Bay.

Atlanta Falcons safety Ricardo Allen noticed something about Julio Jones on that play, 

”He clearly saw the flag was thrown. But the thing he was putting out: You’re not going to take the ball from us and go score. You’re not going to do that. He didn’t have to do that. He could’ve saved his energy. He could’ve sat back and watched. But that’s just the type of person he is. When he comes to practice, he’s running full speed like it’s the fourth quarter of the championship game.”

Last week the Dallas Cowboys played the Denver Broncos.

In the middle of the third quarter, the Dallas quarterback threw an interception. The Cowboys star running back Ezekiel Elliott was five yards away from the defensive player, Chris Harris, who intercepted the ball.

Elliott immediately stopped, put his hands on his hips and refused to chase after Harris, who, after zig-zagging around was tackled by a Dallas lineman.

Ezekiel Elliott was probably frustrated because he was having a terrible day and his team was losing.

However, there was still a chance that his team could rally. There was still more football to be played.

It is one thing to be frustrated, it is another to quit on your team. Elliott has come under fire repeatedly for other issues, both on and off the field. This leads one to wonder about him as he quit on his team.

Habits. We all have them.

Some of us choose each day to develop good habits, while others of us choose to have bad habits. Today’s actions are a result of yesterday’s choices. We make hundreds of choices per day, which develops our habits – both good and bad.

Many of us will blame our circumstances for our actions but in reality, circumstances just serve as an opportunity for us to reveal our habits.

An opportunity to reveal our character which has been forged by our choices. Julio Jones did the right thing even though the circumstance didn’t matter. Ezekiel Elliot did the wrong thing even though the circumstance called for him to act.

Choices. Habits. Character.

Integrity is NOT situational.

Neither are habits.

 

Jamy Bechler is the author of four books including The Captain and The Bus Trip, host of the Success is a Choice Podcast, professional speaker, and trains organizations on creating championship cultures. He previously spent 20 years as a college basketball coach and administrator.  The Leadership Playbook is Bechler’s online program that helps athletes become better teammates and more positive leaders while strengthening a team’s culture. As a certified John Maxwell leadership coach, Bechler has worked with businesses and teams, including the NBA. Follow him on Twitter at @CoachBechler. To connect with him via email or find out about his services, please contact speaking@CoachBechler.com. You can also subscribe to his insights on success and leadership by clicking here.