JIM BROWN AND THE ART OF BEING OBSESSED WITH DETAILS

“The nine years I was in pro ball, I never quit trying to make my mind an encyclopedia of every possible detail — about my teammates, about players on other teams, about the plays we used, and about both our and other teams’ collective and individual tendencies. Every play I ran, I had already run a thousand times in my mind. You get a jump on the game when you visualize beforehand not only the regular players you run, but also the 101 other things that might happen unexpectedly. So when you’re in the actual game, whatever happens, you’ve already seen it in your mind and plotted your countermoves — instantly and instinctively.”

-Jim Brown

MJ ON LEADING BY EXAMPLE

It comes down to a very simple saying: There is a right way and a wrong way to do things. You can practice shooting eight hours a day, but if your technique is wrong, then all you become is very good at shooting the wrong way.

If you don’t back it up with performance and hard work, talking doesn’t mean a thing.

I’ve always tried to lead by example. That is just my personality. I never led vocally. I never really tried to motivate by talking because I don’t think words ever mean as much action.

They always say a picture carries a thousand words. So I tried to paint a picture of hard work and discipline.

But a leader has to earn that title. You aren’t the leader just because you’re the best player on the team, the smartest person in the class, or the most popular. No one can give you that title either. You have to gain the respect of those around you by your actions. You have to be consistent in your approach whether it’s basketball practice, a sales meeting, or dealing with your family.

A leader can’t make any excuses. There has to be quality in everything you do. Off the court, on the court, in the classroom, on the playground, inside the meeting room, outside of work. You have to transfer those skills, that drive, to whatever environment you’re in.

And you have to be willing to sacrifice certain individual goals, if necessary, for the good of the team.

From "I Can't Accept Not Trying" by Michael Jordan

UNRELENTING PURSUIT OF YOUR GOAL

"It's determination and commitment to an

unrelenting pursuit of your goal that will enable

you to attain the success you seek."

-- Mario Andretti



INDIVIDUALS PLAY THE GAME BUT TEAMS WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS

The following was written by Temeka Johnson, the outstanding point guard of the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA.  It is one of the best things I have read from a player on the concept of teamwork:

I am reading another book and I think this one is real fitting for what it is that I do and I also think It is fitting to you all that work with others as well. It is called TeamWork By John C. Maxwell. I can remember getting one of his books when were in school and I absolutely loved it.

The first question is why is Teamwork important? And I would like to start with the part that is Title The Value of Teamwork.

A Chinese proverb states, “Behind an able man there are always other able men.” The truth is that teamwork is at the heart of great achievement. The question isn’t whether teams have value. The question is whether we acknowledge that fact and become better team players. That’s why I assert that one is too small a number to achieve greatness. You cant do anything of real value alone.

I challenge you to think of one act of genuine significance in the history of humankind that was performed by a lone human being. No matter what you name, you will find that a team of people was involved. That is why President Lyndon Johnson said, “ There are no problems that we can not solve together, and very few that we can solve by ourselves.”

C. Gene Wilkes, in his book Jesus on Leadership, observed that the power of teams not only is evident in today’s modern business world, but it also has a deep history that is evident even in biblical times. Wilkes assert

• Team involve more people, thus affording more resources, ideas, and energy than would an individual.

• Teams maximize a leader’s potential and minimize her weakness. Strength and weaknesses are more exposed in individuals.

• Teams provide multiple perspectives on how to meet a need or reach a goal, thus devising several alternatives for each situation. Individual insight is seldom as broad and deep as a group’s when it takes on a Problem

• Teams share the credit for victories and the blame for losses. This fosters genuine humility and authentic community. Individuals take credit and blame alone. This fosters pride and sometimes a sense of failure

• Teams Keep leaders accountable for the goal. Individuals connected to no one can change the goal without accountability.

• Teams can simply do more than an individual.

If you want to reach your potential or strive for the seemingly impossible – such as communicating your message two thousand years after you are gone- you need to become a team player. It may be cliché, but it is nonetheless true; Individuals play the game but teams win championships.

You can check out Meek's blog at: http://2meekmoments.blogspot.com/

BELIEF AND DETERMINATION AND CONQUER ALL

I received this via email from my friend and mentor Coach Dale Brown.  The next time you think you can't achieve a goal because of your past, or a serious handicap, or some difficult adversity then play this and know that through belief and determination you can accomplish amazing feats.

THE ONLY WAY TO OBTAIN CONFIDENCE

"Confidence is the most important single

factor in this game, and no matter

how great your talent, there is

only one way to obtain it-work."

-Jack Nicklaus



OR MAYBE YOU'RE JUST MAKING EXCUSES