Archive for January, 2009
Actions Ripple Outward
“He led no armies into battle, he conquered no countries, and he enslaved no peoples… Nonetheless, he exerted a degree of power the magnitude of which no warrior ever dreamed. His name still commands a respect as sweeping in scope and as world-wide as that of any other mortal …” — Said of Thomas Edison
On this day in [...]
Power to Inspire
“Risk more than others think is safe.
Care more than others think is wise.
Dream more than others think is practical.
Expect more than others think is possible.”
What are the words that inspire you? The subject of motivation becomes an important one for the Super Bowl coaches before Sunday’s game.
In fact, yesterday the Associated press ran [...]
Accepting Responsibility
“The price of greatness is responsibility.” – Winston Churchill
The next victory for Pat Summitt will be the 1000th of her career.
Summitt, coach of the University of Tennessee women’s basketball team, goes after the milestone Monday night at Oklahoma.
Just trying to comprehend that many victories strains the imagination. Even winning 30 games a season for the [...]
Practice Leads to Super Bowl
“We think in generalities, but we live in detail.” — Alfred North Whitehead
If the Super Bowl comes down to a last-minute kick, then the Arizona Cardinals will be in good hands — literally.
Ben Graham will be the holder on field goals and extra points, and he has arrived at his position through persistence, initiative and [...]
Leaving Fear Behind
“Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold.” – Helen Keller.
Have you ever seen players who were afraid to win? Or afraid to lose? Or just plain afraid?
They can take a lesson from comedian Dave Chappelle.
Interviewed on Inside the Actors Studio recently, Chappelle [...]
Seeking Out Competition
The other day I had the occasion to walk past the famous West 4th Street playground in Lower Manhattan in New York City. The playground has earned international renown for attracting some of the best basketball players in the world.
You can bet that over the years, thousands of players have shown up at the park [...]
Two Things to Know About Practice
“Practice as if you are the worst, perform as if you are the best.” ~ Unknown
Happy Birthday to hockey superstar Wayne Gretzky, who turns 48 today.
For many years, Gretzky was the best player in the National Hockey League, and some people say he is the best to ever play in that league.
However, today we’d like [...]
Coaching With Perspective
“I can’t say as ever I was lost, but I was bewildered once for three days.” ~ Daniel Boone
“No situation has any meaning except the one you give it.” ~ Peak performance expert Dave Cross
Today’s posts concern the perspective you bring to your life, and how much your attitude affects how you live and [...]
Being a Gamer
Recently, athletic director Todd Smith of the Montclair Kimberley Academy in Montclair, N.J., addressed a group of seventh- and eighth-grade student-athletes and challenged them to be “gamers.” Coaches use this term often, but what does it mean? Coach Smith laid out a powerful definition that is a challenge to all student-athletes — and coaches (remember, [...]
The Power of Affirmations
Yesterday we spoke about the mental side of slumps, and the expectation of failure that grows as the slump deepens. Today we’ll talk about the opposite: how positive expectations can produce great results.
Did you ever hear of legendary salesman Bill Porter? Born with cerebral palsy, he refused to go on disability and instead won a [...]
