Thirty-five ago, the U.S. Olympic hockey team was creating what came to be known as the Miracle on Ice. Under the stern leadership of coach Herb Brooks, the Americans upset the then-Soviet Union and capped a sports story for the ages with a victory over Finland. Brooks, whose tough style involved insults and at least […]
Real toughness isn’t throwing fists or getting in someone’s face. Real toughness is absorbing negative feedback, stepping back from its sting, and re-examing it for ways to improve.
Before entering the hospital for open-heart surgery, my mother-in-law spoke lovingly to her daughters. “I’ve had a long, wonderful life,” she said. “I have wonderful children. I saw my grandchildren, and even my great-grandchildren. I’m ready for whatever happens.” My mother-in-law, whose name was Fran, never left the hospital, and died Thursday. With her words, […]
Think of the last time something went wrong in your life. Perhaps it was a project that came up short, an accident on the road, or even an illness. How much of it was unavoidable, and how much of it was due to mistakes you made? If you tend to blame outside factors instead of […]
Feb. 22 marks 31 years since the U.S. Olympic hockey team upset the Soviet Union en route to the gold medal. Those of us old enough to remember saw the jubilation and the celebration on the ice. But no one saw the hard work behind the feat. Except the players. They will never forget. After […]
Last night’s U.S. men’s Olympic hockey victory over Team Canada came nearly 30 years to the day after the “Miracle on Ice,” in which the Americans stunned the Soviet Union. If anything, the victory over Canada underlines exactly how unbelievable the “Miracle on Ice” was. At least this year’s American team is made up of […]
Our team got a kick out of this post of a little boy reciting Herb Brooks’ speech to the U.S. Olympic hockey team before its game against the Soviet Union. Maybe you can use it, too. Some rhetorical points worth noting: Brooks created sense of history by using the phrase “great moments.” He then mentioned […]
“A group becomes a team when each member is sure enough of himself and his contribution to praise the skill of the others.” – Norman S. Hidle What makes the difference between one successful season …and a successful program? The answer is culture. What are the shared values in your locker room? The standards? Is the […]