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Beating the Odds

Daily Motivation

A few days ago, a coached reach out to me, said that her team was going through a rough stretch, and asked if I had any wisdom to offer.

I told her I had no wisdom of my own, but that there was plenty in this article from the Gold Medal Squared Web site.

Written by Loyola-Marymount volleyball coach Tom Black, the article tells of a team that faces a huge fight in every match. Black says a coach must do three things: 1) teach students how to learn, 2) remember you’re part of something bigger than yourself, and 3) celebrate growth.

Black really motivated me with this article, because — unlike the scores of games — all those three items are things I can control.
In fact, when I read the article I was wishing I had seen it during my own season. And that’s the point. Get all the motivation you can get! Don’t wait until you are way down in the dumps. Daily motivation helps direct your energy and focus toward the right thing.

And motivation is doubly important for students and athletes, because you can’t build real skill without it.

Motivation is where you find it. You can ask a friend, like my coaching colleague did. You can read a book, see a movie, look up a daily quote. Or you can listen to a daily motivational message from sports psychologist Dr. Rob Gilbert. It’s called “Success Hotline,” it’s free and the message changes every day. The number is (973) 743-4690. My friend Karin Abarbanel finds it so valuable in her field — writing — that she dedicated a post to it on her blog, Karin Writes Dangerously.

Keep in mind that real motivation begins with and within you. You have to look for it. Staying motivated is a big part of your mental game.

“The best motivating is self-motivating,” said speaker Jim Rohn. “The guy says, ‘I wish someone would come by and turn me on.’ What if they don’t show up? You’ve got to have a better plan for your life.”
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TotalGamePlan offers Winner’s Workshops for schools, sports teams and businesses. The emphasis is on motivation, skill-building and teamwork. To bring a Winner’s Workshop to your group, just email coachtully@totalgameplan.com or call (973) 800-5836. To order a copy of “Ten Things Great Coaches Know,” click here.

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