One of the hardest things to do is keep showing up. It is hard when you feel like you are not getting anything out of it. It is hard when you feel like nobody notices you are there. It is hard when you feel unappreciated when all you want is a chance to show what you're made of.
There is a story of an unnamed man who was an armor bearer to the son of one of the ancient Kings of Israel. Jonathan was the name of the King's son. And Jonathan was not opposed to picking fights and making stuff happen. In wore ridden times, King Saul, who was ordered by God to attack their arch rivals, the Philistines, chose not to take action. On the other hand, Jonathan, who was what we would call today a "go getter," came up with this what I would have probably considered, really stupid idea:
"Now it happend one day that Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who bore his armor, "Come, let us go over to the Philistines camp that is on the other side. But he did not tell his father."
Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, 'Come let us go over there to the camp of these Philistines; it may be that the Lord will work for us. For nothing restrains the Lord from saving by many or by few.'
So his armor bearer said to him, 'Do all that is in your heart. Go then; here I am with you, according to your heart.'
'Very well, let us cross over to these man, and we will show ourselves to them.'
So both of them showed themselves to the camp of the Philistines. And the Philistines said, 'Look the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden.' Then the men of the camp called to Jonathan and his armor bearer, and said, 'Come up to us, and we will show you something.'"
So here you have it, Jonathan and his armor bearer called down to get in a fight with about 20 Philistine warriors. Not good odds, especially since the armor bearer is not even a warrior!
However, the story finishes with the Philistine's being delivered into the hands of the Isrealites as God had promised King Saul. Jonathan and his armor bearer (and a lot of divine intervention) wiped out about 20 Philistines in the camp.
The point of this story is about the will to keep showing up as the armor bearer did. He was a last guy on the totem pole, not a warrior, not an officer, just the guy who carried Jonathan's shield and sword. Kind of like a gold caddy for a soldier. The unnammed nobody, who just kept showing up to follow and serve his leader, became a warrior that day.
So many of us never reach our "potential" because we are unwilling to keep knocking on the door and showing up. We may knock for a while, but when it starts getting hard, boring, something else comes up, when we start feeling sorry for ourselves, and we start thinking we deserve something, we stop.
In the end, those who are not reaching their potential is because of their lack of investment. Investing is doing what you may not want to do now, knowing that this unrewarded effort now will provide exponential rewards sometime in the future.
This week keep knocking, keep showing up, keep serving, keep investing...
Monday, August 24, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
THE ACID TEST OF THE TRUE COMPETITOR
Bad coach, bad team, bad teammates, bad family, bad economy, bad gym, sick, tired, burnt-out, no sleep, no food, too-much food, "just don't have it," or "just don't feel like it today."
All reasons not to compete or go at it with your greatest ability, intentions, focus, and concentration.
But...the great one's thrive in the bad. This is why when I hear these things from my athletes, I make it a point for them to concentrate harder, go harder, reach down and go get something they didn't know they had. Why? I tell them, "You just got tougher."
This world, your opponents, your teammates, don't care about all the bad things that you can excuse as a reason not to practice, workout, or compete. That's what makes the great ones, the greatest. When it was the worst they were the best.
Below is what I believe to be the "acid test of a true competitor," written by H.A. Dorfman:
"One of the true measures of an athletes competitive tendency is how he performs when he's not at his physical best. Ineffective or poor competitors panic, try to do too much (overkill), or give in by declaring, 'It's gonna be one of those days' (surrender). A true competitor recognizes the need to compensate with intelligence, intense concentration, and persistence. Courage. It's a legitimate competitor's instinct to stick to the battle plan, rather than succumbing to disorientation or losing his spirit (heart and soul).
The true competitor holds himself even more accountable to employ all his mental resources on those days when his physical skills seem to be unavailable. Seem to be. His sympathetic nervous system will help, if he gives it a chance, providing adrenal rushes as needed. Many players have said--without being aware of that physiological backup system--Funny, I've had my best performances when I've felt my worst."
This week, every time you feel you don't want to do it...work out...practice...put in that extra hour of work...DO IT. And when you do it reach for that good stuff you have deep inside, concentrate harder, will that burst of energy you need, and get it done. Do this consistently, and you will be called a true competitor.
All reasons not to compete or go at it with your greatest ability, intentions, focus, and concentration.
But...the great one's thrive in the bad. This is why when I hear these things from my athletes, I make it a point for them to concentrate harder, go harder, reach down and go get something they didn't know they had. Why? I tell them, "You just got tougher."
This world, your opponents, your teammates, don't care about all the bad things that you can excuse as a reason not to practice, workout, or compete. That's what makes the great ones, the greatest. When it was the worst they were the best.
Below is what I believe to be the "acid test of a true competitor," written by H.A. Dorfman:
"One of the true measures of an athletes competitive tendency is how he performs when he's not at his physical best. Ineffective or poor competitors panic, try to do too much (overkill), or give in by declaring, 'It's gonna be one of those days' (surrender). A true competitor recognizes the need to compensate with intelligence, intense concentration, and persistence. Courage. It's a legitimate competitor's instinct to stick to the battle plan, rather than succumbing to disorientation or losing his spirit (heart and soul).
The true competitor holds himself even more accountable to employ all his mental resources on those days when his physical skills seem to be unavailable. Seem to be. His sympathetic nervous system will help, if he gives it a chance, providing adrenal rushes as needed. Many players have said--without being aware of that physiological backup system--Funny, I've had my best performances when I've felt my worst."
This week, every time you feel you don't want to do it...work out...practice...put in that extra hour of work...DO IT. And when you do it reach for that good stuff you have deep inside, concentrate harder, will that burst of energy you need, and get it done. Do this consistently, and you will be called a true competitor.
Monday, August 10, 2009
CELLO'S AND BASKETBALL
When Bobby Knight was coaching basketball at the University of Indiana he would often have successful people come and talk to his teams.
Here is a speech from the man who Coach Knight wrote was, "one of my smartest invitations." The man's name was Janos Starker, who is acclaimed world wide as the "king of cellists" and was a professor at the Indian School of Music.
This speech encompasses everything that anyone who wants to be great at something needs to know and understand. After reading this ask yourself, "Where am I choosing not to strive for excellence in my sport or my profession and am I happy with being a dilettante?
"I started playing cello when I was six. At that time, I didn't choose it. My mother did. Eventually, three years later, I realized, first of all, it was something that I loved. I realized that I couldn't go through a day without thinking, doing, making music. This is one of the basic principles that I state: that anyone who can go through a day without wanting to be with music or hear music or make music is not supposed to be a musician.
I believe that to be valid for every single profession. If you can go through a day without wanting it or thinking it or living with professionalism in the profession that you are in, you are not supposed to be in it.
It wasn't important to me as a boy, nor did it ever become important to me, to be recognized as No. 1 or No. 2, because it is a nonsensical listing. Always, I tried to do the maximum with what nature gave me. What is necessary in my profession is no different from yours.
I forgot everything else in the world. There was no music, no parents, no girlfriends, nothing but concentrating on the game.
This seems to be the problem, looking at all my students, in the studying process: to have the willpower, the ability to concentrate. When I go on stage nothing exists but that piece of music that I'm playing or that objective which I set for myself.
Discipline means concentration, and concentration means discipline. Discipline means that you have a routine that you follow with total conviction of priority. Is the priority to win alone, or to do the best one can do? We must have total conviction that we want to do it, not just when the chips are down but at all possible times. The practice is just as important as the moment when you are in front of everybody.
The only difference in our professions is that when the game is over, the score sort of unquestionably shows whether you succeeded or not. That's a little bit different for us.
But the self-respect is no different. Whether the audience cheers or not, it does not mean anything. If i know that I have done well, whether they like it or not is not important. Did I do the best I could under the circumstances, with total concentration and dedication to the cause of the moment?
Discipline means to learn everything that helps to the maximum performance.
Where is the parallel, the musical parallel to basketball?
For a lifetime, we develop skills, so as to find the proper note. That's why you train for a lifetime, to find the basket.
As a cellist, when you are six years of age, eight, twelve, you have to practice three to four hours a day just to obtain the basic skills and the strength in your hand and your arms and muscles, because you need considerable muscle power. We are hitting strings with the fingers sometimes at the speed of two thousand notes per minute.
There are people who can shoot successfully eight times out of ten in practice. To improve on the percentage, you must consciously know what part of the body functions how. This requires the thinking process. It doesn't mean just that you are following instructions of the coach. Eventually you must use your own brain: Why does it work? Why is the coach right?
Until the individual discovers it for himself, it is never going to result in consistency.
The word consistency is the key. You have to do everything that we mean when we speak of professionalism. I'm not talking about being paid for something when we speak of professionalism. The professional is the one who is consistent at a higher level than anybody else. And anybody else is called a dilettante. Dilettantes can sometimes succeed in doing things marvelously well. Sometimes. But they are not consistent.
I spent a lifetime trying to understand the underlying basic principles that make it possible for someone to use the body, arms, and then the head. I find that the underlying principles are the same. When I watch you guys, sometimes I notice that artistry and grace are involved, and the fluency of motions that we are doing in music. How to improve it and to make it consistent is what we are all trying to do in every field. That's where the brain process, analysis, and the total dedication, total priority for the game, in preparation as well as while it is in progress, and the discipline that is required.
Here is a speech from the man who Coach Knight wrote was, "one of my smartest invitations." The man's name was Janos Starker, who is acclaimed world wide as the "king of cellists" and was a professor at the Indian School of Music.
This speech encompasses everything that anyone who wants to be great at something needs to know and understand. After reading this ask yourself, "Where am I choosing not to strive for excellence in my sport or my profession and am I happy with being a dilettante?
"I started playing cello when I was six. At that time, I didn't choose it. My mother did. Eventually, three years later, I realized, first of all, it was something that I loved. I realized that I couldn't go through a day without thinking, doing, making music. This is one of the basic principles that I state: that anyone who can go through a day without wanting to be with music or hear music or make music is not supposed to be a musician.
I believe that to be valid for every single profession. If you can go through a day without wanting it or thinking it or living with professionalism in the profession that you are in, you are not supposed to be in it.
It wasn't important to me as a boy, nor did it ever become important to me, to be recognized as No. 1 or No. 2, because it is a nonsensical listing. Always, I tried to do the maximum with what nature gave me. What is necessary in my profession is no different from yours.
I forgot everything else in the world. There was no music, no parents, no girlfriends, nothing but concentrating on the game.
This seems to be the problem, looking at all my students, in the studying process: to have the willpower, the ability to concentrate. When I go on stage nothing exists but that piece of music that I'm playing or that objective which I set for myself.
Discipline means concentration, and concentration means discipline. Discipline means that you have a routine that you follow with total conviction of priority. Is the priority to win alone, or to do the best one can do? We must have total conviction that we want to do it, not just when the chips are down but at all possible times. The practice is just as important as the moment when you are in front of everybody.
The only difference in our professions is that when the game is over, the score sort of unquestionably shows whether you succeeded or not. That's a little bit different for us.
But the self-respect is no different. Whether the audience cheers or not, it does not mean anything. If i know that I have done well, whether they like it or not is not important. Did I do the best I could under the circumstances, with total concentration and dedication to the cause of the moment?
Discipline means to learn everything that helps to the maximum performance.
Where is the parallel, the musical parallel to basketball?
For a lifetime, we develop skills, so as to find the proper note. That's why you train for a lifetime, to find the basket.
As a cellist, when you are six years of age, eight, twelve, you have to practice three to four hours a day just to obtain the basic skills and the strength in your hand and your arms and muscles, because you need considerable muscle power. We are hitting strings with the fingers sometimes at the speed of two thousand notes per minute.
There are people who can shoot successfully eight times out of ten in practice. To improve on the percentage, you must consciously know what part of the body functions how. This requires the thinking process. It doesn't mean just that you are following instructions of the coach. Eventually you must use your own brain: Why does it work? Why is the coach right?
Until the individual discovers it for himself, it is never going to result in consistency.
The word consistency is the key. You have to do everything that we mean when we speak of professionalism. I'm not talking about being paid for something when we speak of professionalism. The professional is the one who is consistent at a higher level than anybody else. And anybody else is called a dilettante. Dilettantes can sometimes succeed in doing things marvelously well. Sometimes. But they are not consistent.
I spent a lifetime trying to understand the underlying basic principles that make it possible for someone to use the body, arms, and then the head. I find that the underlying principles are the same. When I watch you guys, sometimes I notice that artistry and grace are involved, and the fluency of motions that we are doing in music. How to improve it and to make it consistent is what we are all trying to do in every field. That's where the brain process, analysis, and the total dedication, total priority for the game, in preparation as well as while it is in progress, and the discipline that is required.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
THE MAGIC OF TEAMWORK
I tried hard to stay awake for the 1st game of the NBA Finals. I made it until halftime. But when I woke up in the morning, I looked to the trusty NBA Playoffs IPhone application and read "Magic 75-Lakers 100." The Black Mamba, Kobe Bryant, had put together one of his top playoff performances to give the Magic their worst defeat this post season.
Are the Magic done? Can they bounce back? On Friday, posted on dwighthoward.com, Superman promised, "We will come harder on Sunday." So with confidence from the man in the middle, I feel we cannot count the Magic out just yet.
Oh...By the way. This team has had a knack for proving their critics wrong. Myself being one of them.
The point of this article is not to predict outcomes or analyze the NBA finals but simply write my thoughts on a powerful lesson this particular teamwork lesson the Orlando Magic team has taught me. It's not anything that I didn't know before, but it is something that I always seem to forget. You know, it's one of those lessons that must beat you down before it can get you to listen.
This Magic playoff run has been fun to watch. The way they have played has been different from other great NBA playoff teams in the past. Their are some particulars through statistics that display their teamwork, like four starters and the first guy off the bench averaging double figures. Like multiple players making big plays, Hedo Turkoglu hitting the game winner against the 76ers, or Rashard Lewis hitting the turn around three in the corner to ice the game against Boston. Or multiple players having huge performances like Rafer Alston hitting six three pointers in the Eastern Conference Finals, or Dwight Howard closing them out with 40 points.
But I do not think all of these things happen if this team does not possess this one quality that marks a great team.
I give all the credit to a high school player (and a Boston Celtics fan) I train for this statement. We were talking about why the Magic keep winning. He said in disgust, "They're a great team. They don't care who gets the credit." Wow, all this time of watching this team and thinking, "Why does this team keep winning?;" I was hit right between the eyes by the wisdom of a high school student.
"NO ONE CARES WHO GETS THE CREDIT"
The Magic are a selfless team. You can see it in the way they play, the way they interact, and the way that they are coached. It doesn't matter who scores what, or who gets the ball at the end of the game, all that matters to this team is winning. Whoever is the hero, the team celebrates, and whoever is the goat, the team encourages and brings them back. This, my friends, is an essential quality of a winning team.
WHO WANTS THE CREDIT ON YOUR TEAM?
If you are on a sports team, business team, or any other team, here is how you begin to apply this powerful teamwork lesson:
1) BECOME OR FIND A SELFLESS LEADER: The fastest way to build a team who doesn't care about getting the credit is to become one or find a leader who doesn't care about getting the credit. The attitude of the team always follows the attitude of the leader. Selfish motives always leave a leader looking behind him with no followers left. So how do you become a SELFLESS LEADER who is willing to serve rather than be served? Author Ken Blanchard gives 3 ways:
1) "Having a near death experience;" 2) "A spiritual awakening;" 3) "Having a significant role model."
This is why sometimes to become a SELFLESS LEADER first you may need to find one. This is step 1 in building a great team or organization. Without this, the rest of this article is pointless.
2) WORK HARD TO CREATE TEAM MAGIC: Team Magic is the act of taking group of individuals who believe they are performing their jobs correctly and make them into tight knit group committed to working at their highest level for the good of the team. When individuals can put their team or their organization in front of their own goals, the outcome produces a team spirit that's almost magical. It is invisible to outsiders, but felt by the team, it is the most powerful thing a team can have.
3) CREATE A WINK CULTURE: Former UCLA basketball coach, John Wooden, understood what creating a winning culture looked like. In his book, Wooden on Leadership, he wrote about how he taught his team to understand the value of each step to their goal: scoring more baskets then the other team. He wrote, "In basketball, a field goal is usually scored only after several hands have touched the ball. No shot is blocked, no play is run, no game is won, unless everyone is doing his job-serving the team to the best of his ability. No one player should take credit for the effort of all the others. A player who is thumping his chest after he makes a basket is acknowledging the wrong person. Thus, I insisted the player who scores "winks" or gives a "thumbs up" to the teammate who helped-the one who provided the assist. That way it was more likely to happen again."
Every "score" in sports or business needs an assist. The more assists a team has, the better it is. And the more that assist person is given the credit, the stronger the team. Create a culture that looks to give an assist, and especially a culture that looks to praise the one who gives the assist.
4) FIND TEAMMATES WHO ARE CALLED NOT DRIVEN: In the Maxwell Leadership Bible, John Maxwell writes about the difference between CALLED and DRIVEN people. Though DRIVEN is a word often used in positive context when speaking of personal achievement, when used in the context of teamwork, it does not fit or belong. "Driven people think they own everything. They are self-serving. Most of their time in protecting what they own. They want to make sure that all the money, recognition, and power move up the hierarchy move away from everyone else to them." Maxwell then gives the description of a CALLED person. This person is the addition that is most beneficial for any team. "Called people are different, they think everything is on loan, their relationships, possessions, and positions. They understand that possessions are only temporary." CALLED people make the best teammates. Everything they do is for the good of the team. There are no egos or hidden agendas. The only agenda is how to serve the team best to win. Sunday at 8:00pm EST, may the BEST TEAM win...
Are the Magic done? Can they bounce back? On Friday, posted on dwighthoward.com, Superman promised, "We will come harder on Sunday." So with confidence from the man in the middle, I feel we cannot count the Magic out just yet.
Oh...By the way. This team has had a knack for proving their critics wrong. Myself being one of them.
The point of this article is not to predict outcomes or analyze the NBA finals but simply write my thoughts on a powerful lesson this particular teamwork lesson the Orlando Magic team has taught me. It's not anything that I didn't know before, but it is something that I always seem to forget. You know, it's one of those lessons that must beat you down before it can get you to listen.
This Magic playoff run has been fun to watch. The way they have played has been different from other great NBA playoff teams in the past. Their are some particulars through statistics that display their teamwork, like four starters and the first guy off the bench averaging double figures. Like multiple players making big plays, Hedo Turkoglu hitting the game winner against the 76ers, or Rashard Lewis hitting the turn around three in the corner to ice the game against Boston. Or multiple players having huge performances like Rafer Alston hitting six three pointers in the Eastern Conference Finals, or Dwight Howard closing them out with 40 points.
But I do not think all of these things happen if this team does not possess this one quality that marks a great team.
I give all the credit to a high school player (and a Boston Celtics fan) I train for this statement. We were talking about why the Magic keep winning. He said in disgust, "They're a great team. They don't care who gets the credit." Wow, all this time of watching this team and thinking, "Why does this team keep winning?;" I was hit right between the eyes by the wisdom of a high school student.
"NO ONE CARES WHO GETS THE CREDIT"
The Magic are a selfless team. You can see it in the way they play, the way they interact, and the way that they are coached. It doesn't matter who scores what, or who gets the ball at the end of the game, all that matters to this team is winning. Whoever is the hero, the team celebrates, and whoever is the goat, the team encourages and brings them back. This, my friends, is an essential quality of a winning team.
WHO WANTS THE CREDIT ON YOUR TEAM?
If you are on a sports team, business team, or any other team, here is how you begin to apply this powerful teamwork lesson:
1) BECOME OR FIND A SELFLESS LEADER: The fastest way to build a team who doesn't care about getting the credit is to become one or find a leader who doesn't care about getting the credit. The attitude of the team always follows the attitude of the leader. Selfish motives always leave a leader looking behind him with no followers left. So how do you become a SELFLESS LEADER who is willing to serve rather than be served? Author Ken Blanchard gives 3 ways:
1) "Having a near death experience;" 2) "A spiritual awakening;" 3) "Having a significant role model."
This is why sometimes to become a SELFLESS LEADER first you may need to find one. This is step 1 in building a great team or organization. Without this, the rest of this article is pointless.
2) WORK HARD TO CREATE TEAM MAGIC: Team Magic is the act of taking group of individuals who believe they are performing their jobs correctly and make them into tight knit group committed to working at their highest level for the good of the team. When individuals can put their team or their organization in front of their own goals, the outcome produces a team spirit that's almost magical. It is invisible to outsiders, but felt by the team, it is the most powerful thing a team can have.
3) CREATE A WINK CULTURE: Former UCLA basketball coach, John Wooden, understood what creating a winning culture looked like. In his book, Wooden on Leadership, he wrote about how he taught his team to understand the value of each step to their goal: scoring more baskets then the other team. He wrote, "In basketball, a field goal is usually scored only after several hands have touched the ball. No shot is blocked, no play is run, no game is won, unless everyone is doing his job-serving the team to the best of his ability. No one player should take credit for the effort of all the others. A player who is thumping his chest after he makes a basket is acknowledging the wrong person. Thus, I insisted the player who scores "winks" or gives a "thumbs up" to the teammate who helped-the one who provided the assist. That way it was more likely to happen again."
Every "score" in sports or business needs an assist. The more assists a team has, the better it is. And the more that assist person is given the credit, the stronger the team. Create a culture that looks to give an assist, and especially a culture that looks to praise the one who gives the assist.
4) FIND TEAMMATES WHO ARE CALLED NOT DRIVEN: In the Maxwell Leadership Bible, John Maxwell writes about the difference between CALLED and DRIVEN people. Though DRIVEN is a word often used in positive context when speaking of personal achievement, when used in the context of teamwork, it does not fit or belong. "Driven people think they own everything. They are self-serving. Most of their time in protecting what they own. They want to make sure that all the money, recognition, and power move up the hierarchy move away from everyone else to them." Maxwell then gives the description of a CALLED person. This person is the addition that is most beneficial for any team. "Called people are different, they think everything is on loan, their relationships, possessions, and positions. They understand that possessions are only temporary." CALLED people make the best teammates. Everything they do is for the good of the team. There are no egos or hidden agendas. The only agenda is how to serve the team best to win. Sunday at 8:00pm EST, may the BEST TEAM win...
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
A LEADER YOU CAN'T TURN YOUR BACK ON
The NBA playoffs is by far my favorite part of the year. Nothing beats 40 straight nights of watching the best basketball players in the world display their sometimes unbelievable talent.
But there is one guy in the playoffs who I find to be most intriguing, Chauncey Billups. In game to against the Lakers, Chauncey Billups did something that most basketball players and fans would think is quite risky. In an in-bounds play (under the basket), he threw the ball off of Kobe Bryants' back, jumped in bounds, caught it, and made a lay-up (Watch Here).
This isn't the first time I've seen Billups do this however. I had the privilege of watching him to the same thing in the Colorado 6A State Championship Game when he was a senior in high school. I just remember thinking, "I can't believe he just did that."
The closest things I have in common to Chauncey are we both are from Colorado and we both represent the graduating high school class of 1995. He played at a 6A school in inner city Denver; I played at a 2A school in the mountains of Western Colorado. But as secluded and as small of town I was from, being a basketball fan and player, I knew about the kid on the other side of the hill.
Maybe it's because Billups was the high school player of the year all 4 years, won the 6A state championship twice, and was a McDonalds All-American. Colorado hadn't seen a basketball player like this kid...ever.
Back to throwing the ball off Kobe Bryant's back.
After I watched Billups do this, I thought to myself, this is a guy you don't want to turn your back on. Chauncey has been a winner everywhere he's been. Chauncey's leadership ability has made each and every team he has played on a contender. You can't turn you back on a leader who is a proven winner; he'll prove you wrong every time.
Billups was traded to the Denver Nuggets this year from the Detroit Pistons. In the last 5 years Chauncey's team had been in the Eastern Conference Championship game, gaining one NBA Championship. Billups went to a Nuggets team who was super talented, but seemed to have personalities that couldn't mesh.
Add Chauncey to the Nuggets, and all of a sudden they are right back where he was last year, except with another team, and in a different conference.
Chauncey Billups is a great example of what great leadership will do for a team. Below are a few things that make Chauncey a great leader. These are the intangible things that help take those around him to higher levels. The lessons learned are much greater than the game of basketball and can be applied to anything in life.
1. Billups Leads with a Winner's Mindset: Whenever Billups has been in a starting line-up his impact has been nothing short of great. Billups lead his high school team to two state championships. In college, Billups lead the Colorado Buffalos to their first NCAA tournament birth in 28 years, and finally after a frustrating few years in the NBA lead the Pistons to 5 Eastern Conference finals and one NBA Championship. Traded to the Nuggets this year, Chauncey has, for the 6th, time lead his team to a Conference Final. He's a winner.
2. Billups Leads with Confidence and Courage: The team always takes on the personality of their leader. A great always diplays confidence and courage to get the job done. Formerly known as "Smooth," Billups has now earned the nickname, "Mr. Big Shot." Why, because he fearlessly takes and continues to drill shots in the 4th quarter to either win a game, or put a dagger in the heart of the opponent. When you have someone like this on your team, the team plays with a lot more confidence and fearlessness in the 4th quarter. You never believe you're going to lose, and you know if your leader gets the opportunity, he's going it happen.
3. Billups Leads as a Great Teammate: I've personally worked with some of Chauncey Billups teammates from his Piston's days. What I get from them is Chauncey is one of the best locker room guys in the league. He earns the respect of his teammates and they absolutely love him. You can't be a great leader if your teammates don't love you. And it's difficult to lead your team to anything if you do not care for them, because they won't care for you! Leadership is about people. In order to be a great leader. Before you figure out how to be a great leader, first figure out how to be a great teammate.
4. Billups Leads with a Chip on His Shoulder: Billups did not get to where he is today on a silver platter. He was drafted 3rd to the Boston Celtics (1997-1998) in the 1997 draft but was traded to Toronto (1998) halfway through the season. He then played for the Denver Nuggets (1999-2000) and then the Orlando Magic (2000) where he sat out the season with an injury. Billups was then signed to the Minnesota Timberwolves (2000-2002) in the 2000. In the 2001-2002 season he had a breakout year. Noticing his talent the Detroit Pistons signed Billups in 2002 and was put in the starting role.
Billups said this in a newspaper article about his journey, "I haven't seen somebody go through it the way I did. I came in on top, third pick, and before too long I was written off as a player. There were people who were like, 'He's done.' And to make it back to the top of that mountain, it's crazy. Especially how I did it. "I climbed that mountain. Some people get a helicopter ride up. I climbed it. It's beautiful."
There is nothing wrong with leading with a chip on your shoulder. That chip reminds you everyday where you came from and where you are going. When you lead like this, you look at everyday as an opportunity to get better. You look at every day is a blessing. You look at every failure as a stepping stong and never take success for granted. You build this and instill this into your teammates only how you bring it everyday.
5. Billups Leads as a Change Agent: Billups will probably make a great coach one day. Nuggets coach George Karl says having Chauncy is like having a coach on the floor. His leadership ability, and the capacity to develop great relationships with his teammates have turned the Devner Nuggets into a winning team who believes in themselves. He is a change agent. He can turn losers, or potential teams, into winners. You can't teach that and you can't put a value on that type of person. Leadership is about producing change. Great leaders change things for the better wherever they go. They always leave a place better then what it was before they got there. They do this by changing their team or organization into a culture of winners and develop long lasting relationships create a family.
These are just a few of the intangibles of my favorite player in the NBA. It's a privilege to write about him. I've always respected him as a player, but what I admire about him is his leadership. He's a player that many turned their back on. I bet they don't now.
But there is one guy in the playoffs who I find to be most intriguing, Chauncey Billups. In game to against the Lakers, Chauncey Billups did something that most basketball players and fans would think is quite risky. In an in-bounds play (under the basket), he threw the ball off of Kobe Bryants' back, jumped in bounds, caught it, and made a lay-up (Watch Here).
This isn't the first time I've seen Billups do this however. I had the privilege of watching him to the same thing in the Colorado 6A State Championship Game when he was a senior in high school. I just remember thinking, "I can't believe he just did that."
The closest things I have in common to Chauncey are we both are from Colorado and we both represent the graduating high school class of 1995. He played at a 6A school in inner city Denver; I played at a 2A school in the mountains of Western Colorado. But as secluded and as small of town I was from, being a basketball fan and player, I knew about the kid on the other side of the hill.
Maybe it's because Billups was the high school player of the year all 4 years, won the 6A state championship twice, and was a McDonalds All-American. Colorado hadn't seen a basketball player like this kid...ever.
Back to throwing the ball off Kobe Bryant's back.
After I watched Billups do this, I thought to myself, this is a guy you don't want to turn your back on. Chauncey has been a winner everywhere he's been. Chauncey's leadership ability has made each and every team he has played on a contender. You can't turn you back on a leader who is a proven winner; he'll prove you wrong every time.
Billups was traded to the Denver Nuggets this year from the Detroit Pistons. In the last 5 years Chauncey's team had been in the Eastern Conference Championship game, gaining one NBA Championship. Billups went to a Nuggets team who was super talented, but seemed to have personalities that couldn't mesh.
Add Chauncey to the Nuggets, and all of a sudden they are right back where he was last year, except with another team, and in a different conference.
Chauncey Billups is a great example of what great leadership will do for a team. Below are a few things that make Chauncey a great leader. These are the intangible things that help take those around him to higher levels. The lessons learned are much greater than the game of basketball and can be applied to anything in life.
1. Billups Leads with a Winner's Mindset: Whenever Billups has been in a starting line-up his impact has been nothing short of great. Billups lead his high school team to two state championships. In college, Billups lead the Colorado Buffalos to their first NCAA tournament birth in 28 years, and finally after a frustrating few years in the NBA lead the Pistons to 5 Eastern Conference finals and one NBA Championship. Traded to the Nuggets this year, Chauncey has, for the 6th, time lead his team to a Conference Final. He's a winner.
2. Billups Leads with Confidence and Courage: The team always takes on the personality of their leader. A great always diplays confidence and courage to get the job done. Formerly known as "Smooth," Billups has now earned the nickname, "Mr. Big Shot." Why, because he fearlessly takes and continues to drill shots in the 4th quarter to either win a game, or put a dagger in the heart of the opponent. When you have someone like this on your team, the team plays with a lot more confidence and fearlessness in the 4th quarter. You never believe you're going to lose, and you know if your leader gets the opportunity, he's going it happen.
3. Billups Leads as a Great Teammate: I've personally worked with some of Chauncey Billups teammates from his Piston's days. What I get from them is Chauncey is one of the best locker room guys in the league. He earns the respect of his teammates and they absolutely love him. You can't be a great leader if your teammates don't love you. And it's difficult to lead your team to anything if you do not care for them, because they won't care for you! Leadership is about people. In order to be a great leader. Before you figure out how to be a great leader, first figure out how to be a great teammate.
4. Billups Leads with a Chip on His Shoulder: Billups did not get to where he is today on a silver platter. He was drafted 3rd to the Boston Celtics (1997-1998) in the 1997 draft but was traded to Toronto (1998) halfway through the season. He then played for the Denver Nuggets (1999-2000) and then the Orlando Magic (2000) where he sat out the season with an injury. Billups was then signed to the Minnesota Timberwolves (2000-2002) in the 2000. In the 2001-2002 season he had a breakout year. Noticing his talent the Detroit Pistons signed Billups in 2002 and was put in the starting role.
Billups said this in a newspaper article about his journey, "I haven't seen somebody go through it the way I did. I came in on top, third pick, and before too long I was written off as a player. There were people who were like, 'He's done.' And to make it back to the top of that mountain, it's crazy. Especially how I did it. "I climbed that mountain. Some people get a helicopter ride up. I climbed it. It's beautiful."
There is nothing wrong with leading with a chip on your shoulder. That chip reminds you everyday where you came from and where you are going. When you lead like this, you look at everyday as an opportunity to get better. You look at every day is a blessing. You look at every failure as a stepping stong and never take success for granted. You build this and instill this into your teammates only how you bring it everyday.
5. Billups Leads as a Change Agent: Billups will probably make a great coach one day. Nuggets coach George Karl says having Chauncy is like having a coach on the floor. His leadership ability, and the capacity to develop great relationships with his teammates have turned the Devner Nuggets into a winning team who believes in themselves. He is a change agent. He can turn losers, or potential teams, into winners. You can't teach that and you can't put a value on that type of person. Leadership is about producing change. Great leaders change things for the better wherever they go. They always leave a place better then what it was before they got there. They do this by changing their team or organization into a culture of winners and develop long lasting relationships create a family.
These are just a few of the intangibles of my favorite player in the NBA. It's a privilege to write about him. I've always respected him as a player, but what I admire about him is his leadership. He's a player that many turned their back on. I bet they don't now.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
WHAT'S YOUR LIMIT
I was watching a story about two celebrity brothers who are famous Bull Fighters in Spain.
In an interview with the younger brother, they asked him something to the effect of, "Does it scare you that you may die or be seriously injured every time you step into the ring?"
His answer was profound.
He said something to the fact of, "Yes, but it is good to have fear, because without it, you would surely be killed or malled."
He then said, "I like it because it takes me to my limit every time. And because of this I have found out what I am made of, who I really am."
I was intrigued that this young bullfighter was able to look at his profession his lively hood as something that showed him what he was made of every time he went out to compete.
When is the last time you tried to find your limit?
The limit muscle is the same as any other muscle. If you do not seek to stress it, it will slowly atrophy and it will lose its strength.
Do you have something in your life that takes you to that limit? A place where you go to learn a little more about what you are capable of and who you are? Do you have a ring with an angry bull waiting to fight?"
Here is how you know you do not have a ring with a bull in it:
1) Your life is boring, Your life is all about you.
2) You spend your time searching for quick fixes and quick pleasure
3) You get no satisfaction out of a good days work or training because there was no purpose.
4) You are in the same or worse place now as you were a year, 3 years, or even 10 years ago.
5) You are scared to go after what your heart is telling you to do.
Taking yourself to that limit is like walking into a ring with an angry bull. But consistently taking yourself there not only gives you the motivation to prepare on a daily basis for the fight, but in the end tells you what who you really are and what you're capable of.
This week find a bull to fight--
"Ole"
In an interview with the younger brother, they asked him something to the effect of, "Does it scare you that you may die or be seriously injured every time you step into the ring?"
His answer was profound.
He said something to the fact of, "Yes, but it is good to have fear, because without it, you would surely be killed or malled."
He then said, "I like it because it takes me to my limit every time. And because of this I have found out what I am made of, who I really am."
I was intrigued that this young bullfighter was able to look at his profession his lively hood as something that showed him what he was made of every time he went out to compete.
When is the last time you tried to find your limit?
The limit muscle is the same as any other muscle. If you do not seek to stress it, it will slowly atrophy and it will lose its strength.
Do you have something in your life that takes you to that limit? A place where you go to learn a little more about what you are capable of and who you are? Do you have a ring with an angry bull waiting to fight?"
Here is how you know you do not have a ring with a bull in it:
1) Your life is boring, Your life is all about you.
2) You spend your time searching for quick fixes and quick pleasure
3) You get no satisfaction out of a good days work or training because there was no purpose.
4) You are in the same or worse place now as you were a year, 3 years, or even 10 years ago.
5) You are scared to go after what your heart is telling you to do.
Taking yourself to that limit is like walking into a ring with an angry bull. But consistently taking yourself there not only gives you the motivation to prepare on a daily basis for the fight, but in the end tells you what who you really are and what you're capable of.
This week find a bull to fight--
"Ole"
SECRET INGREDIENTS FINALLY REVEALED
One of my philosophy's is pay attention and listen for simple truths. Simple truths are those things that are already innately built inside of us, but we must sometimes be observant, open, and clear in our minds to fully understand.
My simple truth for this week came from an unlikely source. It came at about 9pm last night after a 12 hour work day. I found this simple truth while watching "Kung Fu Panda."
It was an "aha" moment for me. Not because I didn't already know it, but because it is something that I try to instill in my athletes and those around me, but was put in such a simple, teachable way. It's the Secret Ingredients of Success.
It's not a new secret way to run faster. It isn't a new machine that makes you jump higher. It's not a new pill that increases your strength. It's not "P90X" or the "Perfect Push-Up."
Po, the Kung Fu Panda was enlightend by an unlikely circumstance when his father Shifu (who passionatley sold noodles to the people in town and claimed to have a secret ingredient), said to him,
"I think it's time I told you something, I've been needing to tell you for a long time."
He went on to say, "I'm finally going to give you the secret ingredient to my noodles."
Now with Po and myself sitting in suspense Shifu said in a loud tone,"Nothing--the secret ingredient is nothing!"
Po, with looking confused, remarked, "Huh, it's just plain old noodle soup, there is no special sauce or anything?"
His Father then hit him with this simple truth gem; "Don't have to. To make something special, you just have to believe it's special."
Wow--with my eyes halfway open, I suddenly felt and looked wide-eyed just like the Panda that was standing across from me on my TV. At that point, the Kung Fu Panda who earlier said that he sucked at kung fu more than anyone in the history of those whose sucked, finally understood a simple truth that changed his life and the outcome of the story.
There is no special ingredients to being successful as an athlete. There is only how much you believe in yourself. There is only how much you believe in your team and your teammates. There is only how much you love and have a passion for what you do. And there is only how much you really want it. No special ingredient, just believe.
95% of us were not born with incredible athletic or scholastic talent. But choose to believe you are equipped with everything you need to make an impact, to do something special, usually succeed. And choose to have believe that it is important, it is fun, and it is special.
Be ready to take critisism from those who do not believe. But as I love to say, "If you're not being criticized, you're not doing anything."
Let your belief squash the petty and mindless criticisms of others.
Critics will remain miserable looking for the secret ingredient. And only because they envy you, will they criticize you. If critics believed in themselves, they wouldn't have to talk about you.
Love something so much it comes alive. Believe in something so much it becomes a magnet to others because of your attitude and passion for it.
Remember this week. There is no secret ingredients. There is only how much you believe in yourself, in your teammates, and in what you do. Try this and like the fat, clumsy, face-stuffing, Kung Fu Panda, you will start kicking some butt.
My simple truth for this week came from an unlikely source. It came at about 9pm last night after a 12 hour work day. I found this simple truth while watching "Kung Fu Panda."
It was an "aha" moment for me. Not because I didn't already know it, but because it is something that I try to instill in my athletes and those around me, but was put in such a simple, teachable way. It's the Secret Ingredients of Success.
It's not a new secret way to run faster. It isn't a new machine that makes you jump higher. It's not a new pill that increases your strength. It's not "P90X" or the "Perfect Push-Up."
Po, the Kung Fu Panda was enlightend by an unlikely circumstance when his father Shifu (who passionatley sold noodles to the people in town and claimed to have a secret ingredient), said to him,
"I think it's time I told you something, I've been needing to tell you for a long time."
He went on to say, "I'm finally going to give you the secret ingredient to my noodles."
Now with Po and myself sitting in suspense Shifu said in a loud tone,"Nothing--the secret ingredient is nothing!"
Po, with looking confused, remarked, "Huh, it's just plain old noodle soup, there is no special sauce or anything?"
His Father then hit him with this simple truth gem; "Don't have to. To make something special, you just have to believe it's special."
Wow--with my eyes halfway open, I suddenly felt and looked wide-eyed just like the Panda that was standing across from me on my TV. At that point, the Kung Fu Panda who earlier said that he sucked at kung fu more than anyone in the history of those whose sucked, finally understood a simple truth that changed his life and the outcome of the story.
There is no special ingredients to being successful as an athlete. There is only how much you believe in yourself. There is only how much you believe in your team and your teammates. There is only how much you love and have a passion for what you do. And there is only how much you really want it. No special ingredient, just believe.
95% of us were not born with incredible athletic or scholastic talent. But choose to believe you are equipped with everything you need to make an impact, to do something special, usually succeed. And choose to have believe that it is important, it is fun, and it is special.
Be ready to take critisism from those who do not believe. But as I love to say, "If you're not being criticized, you're not doing anything."
Let your belief squash the petty and mindless criticisms of others.
Critics will remain miserable looking for the secret ingredient. And only because they envy you, will they criticize you. If critics believed in themselves, they wouldn't have to talk about you.
Love something so much it comes alive. Believe in something so much it becomes a magnet to others because of your attitude and passion for it.
Remember this week. There is no secret ingredients. There is only how much you believe in yourself, in your teammates, and in what you do. Try this and like the fat, clumsy, face-stuffing, Kung Fu Panda, you will start kicking some butt.
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