tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41063080468569082532024-03-05T12:07:48.157-05:00THE HUDDLEIn COACH RICE'S HUDDLE there's an air of expectancy. Entering the HUDDLE means you're ready 2 raise your level of thought, vision, and action. Expect and prepare to surpass your goal(s) & win this game one possession at a time. BALL UP TOP!COACH RICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458830382584112956noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106308046856908253.post-29568783205318280402014-06-03T09:19:00.000-04:002014-06-03T09:24:07.266-04:00THE 2ND QUARTER S.U.R.G.E.<div>The second quarter has been in full swing since April and I delayed this post for a few reasons that I won't get into right now. Now that it's June, we're in the last phase of the 2nd quarter and that means it's time to make our presence felt in the game. It's time for What some call a second quarter push but I call a second quarter surge. Often times, the way we start can or cannot have an effect on the overall game. However, there are certain spots in our pursuit of happiness which can truly propel us into the next stratosphere if we are mindful, intentional and relentless in our approach. <br>
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I call it a SURGE instead of a PUSH because the definitions alone hold different weight. To push means to press upon something with force in order to move it away. To surge means to rise or roll with a heavy swelling motion, or to undergo a large momentary increase. Would you rather force your success away or would you rather rise to and roll with your success? <br><br></div><div>You may have actually had a great 1st quarter, but one quarter doesn't define an entire game or an entire year for that matter. In order for any growth or progress to occur we must objectively look at our body of work for all it's highs, lows, in-betweens, the good, bad and ugly. <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">This is the moment that we uncover who we are, what we possess and where we are willing to go. The second quarter is the opportune to demand more from ourselves while it's still early in the game. The second quarter is the power quarter because it provides us an opportunity to take our good to better, our better to best, and our best to phenomenal. The 2nd Quarter can give us tremendous momentum if and when we take advantage of it. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The 2nd quarter SURGE, simply put, is the process of </span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Strategically Uncovering and Redirecting Gifts and Energy.</i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> Sometimes it takes a below average, average and/or even an</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> above average quarter for us to stop and simply take inventory of where we are and why we are where we are. Whatever the case, we have the freedom to choose whether or not we will improve or enhance our performance. </span></div><div><br></div><div>
May I remind you that everyone was created with at least one gift and often times that gift is simply waiting to be uncovered. It's waiting to be claimed. Your gift is your winning lottery ticket that some of you have yet to go and claim. You are the winner but you're letting your ticket sit on the counter and collect dust. Everyone else knows what your gift is and where your gift is, but you won't redeem the ticket. As a matter of fact, other people are jealous because they can see your gift but you refuse to pick it up and use it. The key to winning in any quarter is uncovering your gift. The moment that you simply acknowledge and receive it, you automatically begin winning but it takes diligence and tenacity to grow your gift. <br>
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Redirecting your gift is simply about knowing your gift inside and out from every possible angle yet being confident and bold enough to apply it in different areas of your life in order to make a more meaningful impact. Redirecting your gift means you have an obligation to share your gift with other people. As a result of your generosity those around you will be inclined to share their gifts as well. Ironically sharing your gift is the best kept secret to success when in,fact it, your gift should never be a secret. <br>
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The secret to THE SURGE is the Uncovering and Redirecting portion. Ironically, it's the UR in the word that stand out. Remove the UR from the word and it has zero meaning and impact. Sound familiar? Let's think about it.... </div><div><br></div><div>UR <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">the gifted </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">UR the talented</span><br>
UR the beginning</div><div>UR the finisher</div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">UR the catalyst </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">UR the revolution</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">UR the question</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">UR the answer</span><br style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">UR the franchise</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">UR the victor </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">UR the difference maker </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">UR the game changer </span><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">UR the powerful voice in your head</span></div><div>
UR the master of your fate <br><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">UR the judge, the jury and the executioner </span><br><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">UR the undisputed champion</span><br><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">UR the sole controller of your 2ND QUARTER SURGE</span></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">The possession arrow is in yoUR favor.<br></font>
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So what RU waiting for? </div><div>
<br><b>REBOUND.RESET.RELEASE. </b></div><div><br></div><div><br>
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</div>COACH RICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458830382584112956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106308046856908253.post-34530920149310574902014-03-14T07:27:00.000-04:002014-03-14T07:27:10.716-04:00MARCH MADNESS: 3 WAYS TO EFFECTIVELY CLOSE THE 1ST QUARTER<br />
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Get your brackets ready! It's that time of year. March Madness brings out every current, former athlete and wannabe coach and sports analyst in America. Everyone is super anxious for the field of teams to be chosen so they can enter their respective office pools in order to flex their basketball muscle and claim their spot as the undisputed bracket champion. I can't remember a year when the NCAA basketball tournament didn't live up to and/or surpass the hype of March Madness. From the cinderella teams to the dominant and storied programs, every game is critical, every possession is important, every strategy is intentional, every team has a unique story, every fan, alumni, analyst and bracketologist is hungry for victory and focused on making sure their bracket doesn't get busted. Sound familiar? It should. Imagine if we approached our lives as ferociously as people approach March Madness. <br />
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Before the tournament starts, everyone has a formula that they use to fill out their respective brackets. Some look at stats, others look at individual scorers, strength of each team's regular season schedule, the head coach, margin of victory, etc. Whatever the strategy may be, everyone completely fills out their bracket and has faith that they will win. Imagine having faith in something that we have zero control over that's out of our reach yet we don't have faith in some of the things that are within our reach. See why they call it "madness"?<br />
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As we MARCH into the final phase of the 1st quarter, there are three ways to effectively close it and step boldly into the 2nd quarter; <br />
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1) FEARLESSLY FILL OUT YOUR BRACKET:</b> <br />
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You want to win, right? Move up the deadline on those goals you've set and finish them ahead of schedule. As a matter of fact, add an additional goal to your original list of goals you set. Take risks on the action that will yield the highest reward for you. This is a time when you have to be selfish in your strategy. Take action that others might view as "crazy" or "overly ambitious". Let that gut instinct determine the end result that you want. This is the time when your heart and gut must be in complete agreement and are willing to stretch. Don't just write out your plans, write out your power and claim it. <br />
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2) MAXIMIZE YOUR MADNESS</b> <br />
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When the MADNESS is at it's peak, no one misses a score update, an upset of a favored team, a landslide victory. Why? They re-structure their lives around the "madness". It becomes their priority, their focus, their obsession. Imagine if we rearranged our priorities and placed the same energy that we utilize on the "MADNESS" and place it into those daily tasks that we want to do and have to do. We would completely destroy our competition. <br />
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Become obsessed with finishing at the top, but moreover become obsessed with the fulfillment that finishing brings. Make the image in the mirror your biggest cheerleader and your most formidable opponent that pushes you to the edge of maximum competitiveness. Develop a sense of urgency, a "MADNESS", that leads you to record your daily wins and losses as you accomplish the predictable and unpredictable. Celebrate your small wins for the moment then wake up the next day like they never happened yet with a renewed and intensified hunger to go to the next level. <br />
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<b>3) MARCH LOUDLY </b> <br />
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As you examine and re-examine your bracket, boldly follow the path of most resistance and march deliberately toward the goals you've set. Your bracket should be the envy and wonderment of those around you. However, your footsteps should be so definite and powerful that your teammates and opponents are left in awe. Allow your footsteps to be so phenomenal that you can't duplicate them and those goals in front of you not only see you coming to accomplish them, but they tremble as they hear you approaching. Put the necessary blinders on that help you stay the course no matter how far away the actual goal is. March so loudly that all those along the way recognize the intensity and intention of your journey. No need to talk loud along the way. Allow your inner voice to be your inner victory. Your work and your footsteps will speak volumes louder than anything your mouth can utter. Allow your MARCH to be the ultimate routine for the championship run. No need to look at the time. The time is now. No need to look at your teammate(s), they're expecting you to close the deal. Well done is always better than well said. So get it done! <br />
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REBOUND. RESET. RELEASE.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYwd1I5kKe4GxZTrLzcs6OWQBQzkBeMFHiZ9Sf8KsxbPOTS3u2K-8GpHUwJjjOhoYvNr4XNK6yJItwzBicK0I503Zno_rrWLKmWxA5q5tRH3c8nEA9kh-SEOO7occIUfblUx1mOmAsbws/s1600/RS_Logo3+(4).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYwd1I5kKe4GxZTrLzcs6OWQBQzkBeMFHiZ9Sf8KsxbPOTS3u2K-8GpHUwJjjOhoYvNr4XNK6yJItwzBicK0I503Zno_rrWLKmWxA5q5tRH3c8nEA9kh-SEOO7occIUfblUx1mOmAsbws/s320/RS_Logo3+(4).jpg"></a></div>COACH RICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458830382584112956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106308046856908253.post-77306947776780163872014-02-04T14:47:00.000-05:002014-02-05T21:30:04.144-05:00FIRST QUARTER PUSH: 3 WAYS OUT OF THE RESOLUTION RUTRight about now the newness of the New Year and it's resolutions have pretty much worn off. Right? Wrong? Am I judging you? Relax! It's not that type of party. The key to winning any game is about how you start before you start. That's not a typo. Are you confused? I hope not. Let me just get down to brass tax so you can get on with your day but more importantly this week, this month and ultimately this quarter. The resolution rut is a pain in the butt, but you have the choice to get yourself out it. <br>
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There are 3 ways out of the Resolution Rut; <br>
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<b>1) Know The System</b>: <br>
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Some leadership guru was quoted as saying, "stop setting goals and begin creating systems", and I honestly couldn't agree more. Seeing that we are all creatures of habit, we always want to achieve and surpass goals and get new results. The reality is we have a difficult time achieving and surpassing goals because we're not committed to new behaviors, habits or systems. Our minds allow us to envision the huge and impressive results without envisioning the detailed work that goes into reaching the goal. When we leave out the details of the process, we simply fantasize. Once you snap out of any fantasy, you pretty much perish any follow-up thoughts about what you were fantasizing about in the first place. <br>
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Unbeknownst to us, we have already developed systems for everything we do including but not limited to getting dressed in the morning, making meals, even cleaning and/or maintaining our spaces (home, car, office). Now, I didn't say these systems are perfect, nor did I suggest that they're effective, but they allow us to function at some level. Therefore, before we set goals, we must pay attention to the systems that we have in place and then objectively evaluate the outcomes as well as our feelings about those outcomes. Knowing the system means you know the plays that will work regardless of the predictable and unpredictable challenges. When you know the system, you're more confident. When you know the system you're more focused. When you know the system, you control the system. Knowing the system means you intentionally choose your play every single possession and understand that if the system fails, you can still run a variation of the original system. Rejection or failure of your system hopefully leads to an enhanced desire to get out of the resolution rut. <br>
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<b>2) Know Your Personnel</b> <br>
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Once you create, run and know the system, be intentional about the resources you choose to help you run your system. There are people and things that are required for your system to run effectively, but it's up to you to make the adjustments that will allow the system to produce the desired results. Don't have resources in place that throw off the chemistry of your team. You can have a team full of talent but if there's no chemistry, there's chaos. Stop choosing certain resources because they're convenient or because those resources worked for someone else. The competitive edge of knowing your system and knowing your personnel comes from you being decisive about where you want to go and who you want to be once you arrive. <br>
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<b>3) Dictate The Tempo </b><br>
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Stop rushing to get to the 4th quarter. You have no idea what challenges are waiting for you. Moreover, you don't know if the plays you're running or the personnel you're using in the 1st quarter will even be enough to compete, let alone produce the desired results during the 4th quarter. I'm not suggesting that you operate at half speed or that you not focus on winning during the first quarter. I'm not asking you to be nonchalant or unenthusiastic in your approach. As the sole controller you must demonstrate a balance of focus, urgency, critical thinking and patience as you encounter obstacles and challenges. Rather I'm admonishing you to tweak your system to produce tangible and excellent results every possession. <br>
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The first quarter is the warm-up quarter, however it's not be taken lightly. Your performance sets the tone for what you will do and how you will do it. It's up to you to have <b>first quarter vision with 4th quarter effort and tenacity.</b> Make every possession count by making every practice count. If your practice and your system are thorough, the first quarter push will look like hard work but feel like walk in the park. Get out the rut now by creating your systems first. Your goals will thank you. <br>
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REBOUND. RESET. RELEASE. <br>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip9-yMGpK3lUJOLtZH_OEUldyMiJlEQuVOy2pAQjqdVcJMPPjra_j5St05pUQ2LTeKPXB5JcGmoT164eJA11pVm2zi3YlcHDgyBdQmGE6esxaJzzebRJzkJR5fYoI2-nyzRaJvwUiS_yA/s1600/RS_Logo3+(4).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip9-yMGpK3lUJOLtZH_OEUldyMiJlEQuVOy2pAQjqdVcJMPPjra_j5St05pUQ2LTeKPXB5JcGmoT164eJA11pVm2zi3YlcHDgyBdQmGE6esxaJzzebRJzkJR5fYoI2-nyzRaJvwUiS_yA/s320/RS_Logo3+(4).jpg"></a></div>COACH RICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458830382584112956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106308046856908253.post-31605217029207111862013-12-02T09:06:00.001-05:002013-12-03T06:30:37.937-05:004th Quarter Close Out - Phase 1/Game StatisticsHGood Morning Team! <div><br></div><div>We're at Day 3 of my 4th Quarter CloseOut and if you ve been following my directions you should have written down a pretty extensive list of things. I've encouraged you to exhaust the lists because there's something to be said about blessings, wins, and gifts and how their interconnectedness translates into how we successfully close one year and start another. During this time of year some people begin to name and claim their New Year's resolutions. Now, that's not a bad thing because at least they're starting before New Year's Eve and New Year's Day! Often times people base their resolutions on what didn't happen during the current year. In essence, they push back the date in order to get "ready" for the new year. </div><div><br></div><div>Am I clowning people who make resolutions? Nope!</div><div><br></div><div>Am I someone who doesn't make resolutions? </div><div>No. </div><div><br></div><div>Am I hear to tell you what your resolutions should be? </div><div>Heck No! </div><div><br></div><div>All I'm asking you to do during the first 3 days of this closeout is to take inventory of your game statistics. From those statistics, I want you be mindful, grateful and objective about how successful this year has been thus far. Regardless of what you think you've won more than you've lost, you've been blessed more than you've been cursed and your gifts havent been completely revealed or utilized. Based on your stats simply analyze what needs to happen and what doesn't need to happen. It 's the first step en route to finishing strong and starting even stronger. Take inventory on how your lists make you feel. Do you feel confident? Happy? Surprised? Motivated? Indifferent? Angry? Whatever emotion you feel, use that emotion to decide what action(s) you'll take to finish this year strong. Notice, I didnt say anything about setting any new goals/resolutions just yet. </div><div><br></div><div>Blessings -> Which ones have you taken for granted? </div><div><br></div><div>Wins -> Have you forgotten that progress toward a goal is a win, not just completion of it? </div><div><br></div><div>Gifts -> Do you have hard time naming or sharing what yours are? </div><div><br></div><div>Are your blessings & wins true reflections of how effectively you utilizing your gift(s)? </div><div><br></div><div>Numbers don't lie, check the scoreboard. </div><div><br></div><div>REBOUND. RESET. RELEASE. </div><div><br></div><div><br></div>COACH RICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458830382584112956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106308046856908253.post-4771074269050259422013-11-03T20:47:00.000-05:002013-11-05T09:50:49.814-05:00EARN YOUR SPOT<br>
For the second year in a row, I ran in the annual Rockville 10K in Rockville, MD. This is the race's 38th year. In fact, it's the oldest race in Montgomery County. Since April of 2012, I've been committed to running at least 3 times a week along with my supplementary training. I've run in rain, sleet, snow, heat, humidity, wind and extreme cold. I never allowed the weather to be a factor. Mind you, there was a time when I absolutely despised running. On the days that I didn't run, I literally would be furious with myself. Why? Because I felt like I broke a commitment to myself. A commitment that required me to push myself to the limit and remain consistent in my quest to remain fit, but moreover to remain a champion. On those missed days, I felt like someone was either coming for my spot or they had already taken it. I realized that I had to earn my spot daily. <br>
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During the race I saw people from all walks of life, in all shapes, sizes, and fitness levels. I saw breast cancer survivors, young runners, old runners, tall runners, short runners, novice runners and professional runners. As we all warmed up, took our mark and rushed out the gate there was a collective enthusiasm and confidence that filled the air. We all had something to prove, but we didnt know exactly what we had to prove. See, this race wasnt like grade school where you compete against the person next to you. This race wasnt about competing against the clock or the course. This race was and is about competing against whats inside of you and the race you run everyday is about earning your spot. <div><br></div><div>Earning your spot is having the courage, vision and work ethic to push yourself to do things just because. Earning your spot is about ignoring the elements and opinions you cant change and finding a way to shed your old skin as much as you need to shed it. Earning your spot is about making less announcements and producing more results in your way and in your time. Earning your spot is about inviting a certain level of discomfort into your life knowing that regardless of the pain, the force and moments of temporary convenience that comes with it, you will get better. Earning your spot is about being a finisher not just a participant. Earning your spot is GROWTH. </div><div><br></div><div>So as you take your mark today, remember that the spot you haven't work for will never be reserved and the spot you think you deserve is on someone else's radar and within their reach and can be occupied at any given time. There's no need to talk about what you're about to do. There's only a need to go above & beyond what youre capable of doing. </div><div><br></div><div>Re-introduce</div><div>Re-invent</div><div>Re-commit</div><div><br></div><div>Earn your spot. Every second, every minute, every hour. </div><div><br></div><div>REBOUND. RESET. RELEASE.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwuyyLfugi546cEcJaGmRr4x2zGya0qwEqsUyYjSwKttY0ilJaELP8y-ykqUOncGXN0tz7gSMx0IskgMHqXj9zCEvA9VUtxcOZsF18ozEYikwJHyGAQqIfwQmpM4hoABGnh7NUhpvOspY/s640/blogger-image--137175104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwuyyLfugi546cEcJaGmRr4x2zGya0qwEqsUyYjSwKttY0ilJaELP8y-ykqUOncGXN0tz7gSMx0IskgMHqXj9zCEvA9VUtxcOZsF18ozEYikwJHyGAQqIfwQmpM4hoABGnh7NUhpvOspY/s640/blogger-image--137175104.jpg"></a></div><br></div>COACH RICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458830382584112956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106308046856908253.post-55418053454463269822013-09-03T07:30:00.000-04:002013-09-03T07:30:02.103-04:00FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL:" The Season Opener"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXDu1pLrjKLEPTMJgCjXrXOH_rid2nzGYjfMGZYDFsLc1kyAYUR3UXsHScXTFug7gKvPZOo0ByUlG5JeusXPSa4mjjxCfLfReGY2urXvbtxuAdGcPa9t5JtrMtLNt6hIipv3PzyRjUAV8/s1600/REBOUND+4+SUCCESS+LOGO+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXDu1pLrjKLEPTMJgCjXrXOH_rid2nzGYjfMGZYDFsLc1kyAYUR3UXsHScXTFug7gKvPZOo0ByUlG5JeusXPSa4mjjxCfLfReGY2urXvbtxuAdGcPa9t5JtrMtLNt6hIipv3PzyRjUAV8/s200/REBOUND+4+SUCCESS+LOGO+2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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</div>In the words of one of my favorite West Coast MCs, "ONCE AGAIN IT'S ON!"<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br />
That's right! No matter how far away it seemed, no matter how badly some of you wanted to turn the calendar upside down to force the days, weeks and months to go back to the first week of June, it's here. That's right, it's the first day of school. While some of you may already be in the full swing of school others are still milking the last few seconds of their summer vacation. </div><br />
<div>Some are excited, others couldn't care less if they tried, and many absolutely loathe the thought having to rearrange their schedules just to go back to school. From my window, as a father, educator and coach, the first day of school is the season opener. You get an opportunity to start fresh, deliberately make some changes and get closer to your dreams/goals. </div><br />
The stadium lights come on, the crowd has gathered, your teammates,parents and even your teachers are waiting for you to take your place and showcase the new and improved you. They all have expectations of you that are higher than the ones from last season. Are the lights too bright? Is the noise of the crowd too much for your eardrums? Will you help or hinder your team? Will your parents and teachers teammates be convinced or confused by your performance? As you look in the mirror are you confident that the reflection is an accurate indication of who you are? Inquiring minds wanna know. <br />
<div><br />
Your offseason (for those who believe in the concept) gave way to countless opportunities for self-improvement. If there's an unprecedented and infectious excitement and enthusiasm about the season opener, then that means you took advantage of those opportunities and made new strides during your offseason. It also means that you're ready to unveil to spectators, reassure your teammates and re-convince your opponents that you are still a force to be reckoned with. If there's a somber and nonchalant approach to your season opener, there's some serious soul searching to do and some steps that need to be retraced. It's the season opener for crying out loud. If you're the champion that you think you are and claim to be, you know that you don't have a choice once the whistle blows and the lights come on. You have to compete. Either you're in for tragedy or you're in for triumph, but the only way to find out what you're made of is to line up and make today better than yesterday. By association many already assume that you deserve to be on the team while several others are skeptical. Whose expectations will you meet? What reality will you confirm? No need to answer. Let your results speak for themselves. <br />
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REBOUND.RESET.RELEASE. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCybDrTaGuPQFAW3eTawdlFVBAFLRnMIeVRXb8BvGT53e4M75_jGsn00Wm_kJdmQMguyLWrVBtTkdxsTzCoPll3HjOzWDau_DKEnsecaogaomDLjPa94GDZZoKWR-jBqIAE6s7FZkdU6U/s1600/REBOUND+4+SUCCESS+LOGO+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCybDrTaGuPQFAW3eTawdlFVBAFLRnMIeVRXb8BvGT53e4M75_jGsn00Wm_kJdmQMguyLWrVBtTkdxsTzCoPll3HjOzWDau_DKEnsecaogaomDLjPa94GDZZoKWR-jBqIAE6s7FZkdU6U/s200/REBOUND+4+SUCCESS+LOGO+2.jpg" /></a></div>COACH RICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458830382584112956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106308046856908253.post-81965087638944897412013-04-30T12:00:00.000-04:002013-04-30T12:30:56.117-04:00ADVERSITY IS FALSE ADVERTISEMENT This is an excerpt from my forthcoming book due for release in the Fall of 2013...<br />
<br />
When I was in 7th grade, I decided to play football. I remember a high school football coach coming to our practice to talk about adversity. It was the first time I had ever heard the word and at that moment I was somewhat intimated by the sound of it. The intensity of the coach’s face along with the stories that he told about current and former players overcoming adversity were particularly interesting. What made the stories interesting was the fact that the players he mentioned were not particularly gifted with size,speed or quickness. They were gifted with drive.<br />
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<br />
Adversity is a state, condition, or instance of serious or continued difficulty or adverse fortune. When I think of adversity now, I immediately think about Eminem in the movie 8 Mile. For those who haven’t seen the movie, Marshall Mathers aka Eminem plays himself, a poor white kid growing up in a trailer park in Detroit, Michigan who aspires to become a hip hop artist. He has a group of loyal friends who he’s known for some time. They all love hip-hop and they believe in him and support him in his quest. They constantly run into a rival hip-hop group who call themselves the Free World. Throughout the movie Eminem and his crew have several run-ins with this rival crew and get into a series of lyrical and physical battles in the streets. The consensus is that Eminem’s lyrical skills are not quite up to par and they don't impress his rivals. Out to prove them wrong and himself right, he enters the most popular weekly freestyle battle at a local club. In front of thousands, Mathers steps to the mic, looks around, nods his head to the hip instrumental, stares his opponent in the eye then into oblivion and nothing comes out of his mouth. To his dismay and the disappointment of the crowd at hand, he completely embarrasses himself and is booed off the stage.<br />
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While many would deem this instance an epic failure and assume that he did not have the skills to compete in the first place, others might say that he choked due to fear. People have turned fear into an acronym that stands for False Evidence Appearing Real. Are fear and adversity the same? Or does adversity bring about fear? While fear might be false evidence, adversity is false advertising. The craft that Eminem ate, drank, and slept was not displayed to the people in the club that night because he chose not deal with adversity. Was it out of fear? Most would say yes. I would say that adversity convinced him that his skill was not good enough or good at all. In his mind, he viewed the crowd, the atmosphere and even the other MC as the opponent when, in reality, the biggest opponent was the reflection in the mirror.<br />
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We read and hear stories about athletes and entertainers and even everyday people who consistently overcome insurmountable obstacles. We often discover that these people have displayed courage, determination, focus, discipline and drive and we assume they are born with it when in reality they have developed it in the face of adversity. We often hear that people have triumphed in the "face of adversity.” While these proven household ingredients never fail those who possess and use them, there is an element of overcoming adversity that most people don’t address. The first face of adversity that they have conquered is same one that we all must conquer; the face in the mirror. When was the last time you looked in the mirror? I’m not talking about when you brush your teeth, do your hair or remove that nagging nose hair. I’m talking about shutting the door, turning on the light and getting up close and personal with your reflection. No need for talking, smiling, frowning, or even glaring. As you focus on your reflection, let your soul simply talk to you, tell you the truth, set the expectation, allow you to envision who you want to become. Let the moment build some suspense and most importantly confidence. The eyes are without a doubt the window to the soul and it is the soul that tell you the real deal about adversity. <br />
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Adversity is false advertising because it paints a picture of fear, failure and inadequacy before we get a chance to prove otherwise. Look at David and Goliath and the odds that David would win. Look at J.K. Rowling, the author of Harry Potter, who was a single mother on welfare and discouraged by 11 publishers that her book was not worth writing or reading. Walt Disney himself was actually deathly afraid of mice, but chose Mickey Mouse as the icon of his empire. Nic Vujicic was born with no arms or legs but can swim, surf, and play golf. All of these people could have thought of a thousand excuses and could name a thousand people who have discouraged them directly or indirectly, but instead they found every reason not to buy the negativity that people tried to sell them.<br />
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<br />
The truth is you cannot face or conquer adversity outside of yourself until you face and conquer the adversity inside of yourself. You cannot fix what you will not face. Know that God hasn’t given you a spirit of fear. That’s something that you gave yourself. Often times fear settles in because we haven’t spent enough time thinking or talking to ourselves. Therefore our own insecurities become the elephant in the room. If we continue to ignore that elephant and put forth zero effort to get him out of the room, sooner or later he’s gonna get hungry and angry then eat and destroy everything in the room, including you. That elephant will completely disregard everything you want, need and value, but if you haven’t faced your reflection then you won’t be ready or confident to face that elephant. <br />
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<br />
Adversity comes with a FEE.<br />
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Adversity is a FORCE that pushes or pulls us to take action<br />
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Adversity is an EXPECTATION that we will match or exceed the intensity and power of that force. <br />
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Adversity is an ENCOURAGEMENT from within that convinces us that who we are is what we’re willing to do.<br />
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Adversity is false advertisement that forces, expects and encourages us to choose. It’s really all about how we view what we value. Some may think that force is an overly aggressive word, but when faced with challenges we are forced to step up or step down. When faced with adversity we do can choose to do one of three things; freeze, run or fight. In any event, our perception of the false advertisement compels us to do something. We freeze and let it continue it’s sales pitch to us because we’re unprepared or uninformed. We run because we buy that we’re not able to conquer it. We fight it because we refuse to lay down and let it beat us.<br />
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The cost of success is about the FEE that adversity charges. You either choose to pay by taking action and investing in yourself or you choose to lose by sitting there and investing in excuses. We must stop thinking that we don’t have the ability and/or the resources to face adversity. We have both, but we must develop the character, the heart and determination to conquer adversity. <br />
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I'm Coach Rice. I approve this message and I'm ready to pay the FEE. Are you? <br />
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REBOUND. RESET. RELEASE. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif19hDYqbMIAbKdDa3HfrsRQR4y_6Yyf7dU44Q_huHH0IX8Hnm84N4wtrdUQFxEeriMBk9zZQvNDJ719iJtTkNOz8TUGs5GWoVEJFF9K5QltLIYh_TbeKqJv8Phwp6q0a19iWi7_h8YpA/s1600/COACH+RICE+LOGO+11'+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif19hDYqbMIAbKdDa3HfrsRQR4y_6Yyf7dU44Q_huHH0IX8Hnm84N4wtrdUQFxEeriMBk9zZQvNDJ719iJtTkNOz8TUGs5GWoVEJFF9K5QltLIYh_TbeKqJv8Phwp6q0a19iWi7_h8YpA/s320/COACH+RICE+LOGO+11'+(1).jpg" /></a><br />
COACH RICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458830382584112956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106308046856908253.post-31263400842192870492013-04-09T09:00:00.000-04:002013-04-09T10:15:19.924-04:00ARE YOU HURT OR INJURED?Are you hurt or injured? <br />
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I often ask my players this when there's a hard foul or a pause in action. It's been a question that I find myself asking during practice and games. Why? I'm genuinely concerned about the well-being of my players,but I also need to know how mentally tough my players are or aren't. Some might think that being hurt and being injured are the same thing because they both involve pain and/or discomfort, but there's a fine line between the two. It's all about the <b>INTERPRETATION</b>. Often times, we interpret being hurt as being injured and we "milk" the opportunity to gain sympathy from the people around us. There are times when we can play hurt but we choose not to do so. When we choose not to push ourselves, we contradict the champion's creed and lose the competitive edge. <br />
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To be hurt, by definition, is a slight decrease in efficiency in one's performance. The key word here is <i>slight</i>. We often times don't have much control over getting hurt. However, our hurt can be self-inflicted as we often allow people or obstacles to serve as the root of a slight decrease in our performance or actually convince us to give up and use being "hurt" as an excuse for not competing at the highest level. To be injured, on the other hand, is defined as a state of being impaired or deficient. When we're injured we have the choice to rehab or remain injured. Ironically, 90% of the rehab is mental while the remaining 10% is physical. More often than not, it's on the battlefield of our minds that we defeat ourselves. We let one person doubt our ability. We let one person talk us out of our game. We let one failure destroy our confidence. We let one challenge make us second-guess ourselves. Why? Because as hard core and invincible as we claim to be, we all have a sensitive side that rears it's ugly head, disrupts our normal routine and determines if we're hurt or injured. That little voice in our head is responsible for the aforementioned. If we allow the smallest amount of inconvenience to convince us that we can't compete then we'll never win. It's about the <b>CONVERSATION</b> we choose to have with ourselves.<br />
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We cultivate unhealthy relationships with excuses. When we're hurt we allow excuses to join our inner circle and throw a party because of a moment of inconvenience. We allow that party to never ever end. We promote the party and invite people to it. In fact, we invite the words can't, won't, and quit to bring their sleeping bags and have a sleepover night after night after night until they're not guests anymore. In turn, they become part of the family. They lay around all day with no purpose, nowhere to go and nothing good to say. Why? Because we've allowed the <b>EXPECTATION </b> for ourselves to be lowered. If we have even the slightest regard for ourselves we'll look excuses, along with the words can't, won't and quit square in the eyes, grab them by the collar and aggressively remove them from our minds as well as our vocabulary. <br />
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In sports ICE (ice, compression,elevation)is the strategy used when dealing with bruises or sprains. <br />
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In life, ICE (interpretation, conversation, expectation) is the strategy used when determining if we're hurt or injured. <br />
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Interpretation - in moments of tragedy, we must look pay closer attention to <br />
how and why things happen. It's not the load that weighs us down, it's <br />
the way we carry it.<br />
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Conversation - in moments of tragedy, we must speak victory and <br />
deliverance to ourselves (internally and externally) and align our <br />
actions with our words toward progress, restoration and rehabilitation. <br />
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Expectation - in moments of tragedy, we must raise the expectation of ourselves and those around. Expect and demand that you push you and that they push you. <br />
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Being hurt means you pay little or no attention, then play through with no mention<br />
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Being injured means you're down temporarily but come back with a vengeance<br />
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On the path of excellence, expect that life will be filled with bumps and bruises<br />
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Champions never back down, learn to fail forward, and separate reasons from excuses<br />
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Get knocked down 8 times , get up 9 <br />
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ARE YOU HURT OR ARE YOU INJURED?<br />
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REBOUND.RESET.RELEASE.<br />
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COACH RICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458830382584112956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106308046856908253.post-29197441871008223912013-03-28T12:00:00.000-04:002013-04-01T08:47:55.448-04:00MARCH MAINTENANCEOnce again it’s on! It’s that time of year time to pull out your brackets, do your research, devise your strategy and make some critical decisions that will allow you to achieve maximum results. Some call it March Madness. I call it March Maintenance. <br />
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If you hadn’t noticed, March is the end of the first quarter. Yeah, I know. It’s a blur right? Many of us have made strides during the first quarter and others have gotten off track with our personal and professional goals that we set on that glorious 1st day in January. Why? We could think of millions of excuses but never address the reasons. Honestly, there’s no need to harp on what hasn’t happened at this moment. I’d rather take a different route and look at what has happened. After all, numbers don't lie. While every day is an opportunity to play in a championship game, every year is an opportunity to enhance your legacy one quarter at a time. Therefore, I cordially invite you to March Maintenance. <br />
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March marks the beginning of Spring. The weather begins to change and hopefully we experience a shift in our dreams, goals or visions by virtue of the work that we've done. Some of us hope that this shift will occur based on our talent and/or the change in season. We must not be so consumed with the conditions that are beyond our control and focus on what we vow to maintain through mindfulness, consistency, tenacity, integrity, evaluation and accountability. Those are always key elements to our success.<br />
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March Maintenance is about objectively looking at the 1st quarter and asking the following questions: <br />
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What was the game plan? <br />
Who's in the starting line up?<br />
How did I start? <br />
What did I do well? <br />
What needs improvement? <br />
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Whether or not we've achieved our goals, we have to approach our goals and aspirations like the 1st quarter of the game;<br />
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1) Slowly get warm and work yourself into the flow of the game.<br />
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2) Dictate the tempo. Know when to hurry and when to slow down. <br />
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3) Make sure the strategy is feasible, intentional and plays to the strengths of your team. <br />
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4) Know which plays and players translate into team chemistry and success.<br />
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5) Identify which obstacles can potentially prevent you from executing your strategy. <br />
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We must not overexert ourselves during the first quarter, nor should we set low expectations or give minimal effort. We shouldn't be overly concerned with the score at the end of the 1st quarter either. Rather, we should be more concerned with the statistics that we can control; our preparation, our practice and our pursuit. Some say that you "play like you practice". Others say "it s not about how you start it's about how you finish." I say that it s about the maintenance of our march that brings us success. Maintenance is the marriage of preparation, desire and consistency. As you look back at the 1st quarter you set an expectation. How painful or rewarding is that look back?<br />
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Whatever the case may be don't look too long. Develop intentional amnesia and demand more from yourself. Don't allow the stats from the 1st quarter to determine your passion and effort in the forthcoming quarters. Don't base your success on someone else's brackets. Use your own stats to demand more from yourself and more from your teammates. You've got 3 more quarters to play. Write your successes and shortcomings in the sand and engrave champion on your heart.<br />
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Maintain the clarity of our vision.<br />
Maintain the commitment to consistency. <br />
Maintain a tireless work ethic. <br />
Maintain that good is the enemy of excellence. <br />
Maintain that you owe it yourself and all those who came before you, then March beyond your expectations. <br />
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The whistle's blowing. 2nd quarter is coming. <br />
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REBOUND. RESET. RELEASE.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil85TEgo0ulQQfavIPp0dmnubsfVN8HBOMf_7HFFnGRJ7tjYE2XhKVwUCKv3kzKNmN37vlrRGAI1OvH5_Y8sQxcVP6vap9ELvp35ZhAWj3puNjV459Q2lFw1IleJ-K9qiD1WEkuYo8-Dk/s1600/COACHRICELOGO.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil85TEgo0ulQQfavIPp0dmnubsfVN8HBOMf_7HFFnGRJ7tjYE2XhKVwUCKv3kzKNmN37vlrRGAI1OvH5_Y8sQxcVP6vap9ELvp35ZhAWj3puNjV459Q2lFw1IleJ-K9qiD1WEkuYo8-Dk/s320/COACHRICELOGO.jpg" /></a><br />
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COACH RICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458830382584112956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106308046856908253.post-64895028533672302392013-02-12T06:00:00.000-05:002013-02-12T06:00:07.918-05:00WORK WHILE YOU WAIT<br />
"Hurry Up and Wait!" This is a phrase often heard in the armed forces as it pertains to detailed missions. When some people hear this for the first time, they chuckle. It actually sounds like an oxymoron. On one hand, it is. On the other hand, it's not. In fact, it's a cornerstone proverb of this life that we've been expected and challenged to live.<br />
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When I was younger I'm sure I was the only person who couldn't wait to be 16. Right? I was chomping at the bit to turn 16 so that I could get my driver's license. However, when I finally got my license my parents quickly informed me that while I met the state of Ohio's requirements to operate a motor vehicle, I had to meet the state of mom and dad's requirements first. Once the novelty of 16 wore off I became focused on 18 which was followed by the fascination with 21 then 25 and then the fascination with getting older suddenly began to fade. Could it be that after countless moments of clarity we realize that the times we envision to be the most grandiose in our lives are based on waiting? "I can't wait to be 16. I can't wait to be 21. I can't wait to be 25. Now that I'm 25, I, I, I.............I'm 25? Hmmmm. Next is stop is 30. When you slow down and evaluate it, you'll realize the waiting you've done wasn't necessarily that bad. However, if you stop and think too long about it some opportunities will pass right by you simply because you were focused on the wrong thing. No matter the age, goal or expiration date you've put on your calendar to accomplish certain things in your life, there's a moment in time where you have to stop yourself in your tracks simply to ask; Is this what I worked for or what I waited for?<br />
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No matter the case, the reality of time is that it marches on regardless of where you live or how you live. No matter how much we claim that we cannot wait until the next great thing happens, we have to wait. However, we have a choice of whether or not we pass the time or spend the time. It's the difference between working to get better and waiting/hoping to get better. <br />
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My philosophy of life is simple; <b>work while you wait</b>. No matter how hard we try, we can't speed up time, we can't make it stop and we can't slow it down. You often hear these go get em' phrases like 'Carpe Diem', 'Embrace the Now', 'Maximize the Precious Present'. Ultimately it means we must play the game in front of us, one possession at a time and squeeze every ounce of energy out of ourselves while we're living. In the song, "<i>Just The Two Of Us</i>" Bill Withers sings, "good things might come to those who wait, but not for those who wait too late, we gotta go for all we know." The Chrysler commercial states, "good things come to those who work." I personally prefer to fuse the two philosophies and simply say good things come to those work while they wait. Many of you will take heed to my words or maybe you already live by these words. Others may just continue to work however you wish with your head down instead of working with your eyes lifted. Waiting is not resting. Instead, waiting is praying, planning, organizing, envisioning, working, and risking as you take that first small step into the abyss of the unknown. <br />
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There are 3 benefits to working while you wait;<br />
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1)It minimizes distractions and maximizes discipline. <br />
2)It enhances your appreciation of time.<br />
3)It helps eliminate excuses. <br />
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Champion entrepreneurs don't wait for that perfect job to find them. They create that perfect job in the meanwhile. <br />
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Champion athletes don't celebrate their championship the entire off-season. They immediately go back to work in order to ensure that they stand in the winner's circle the very next season.<br />
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Champion politicians don't rely on the delivery of one speech in one night to get them elected. They work diligently on their platform and campaign strategy when they're away from the podium so that their speech is simply an extension of their work.<br />
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Ordinary people don't become extraordinary people by wishing on a star. They build their own spaceships and become stars.<br />
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So what are you waiting on?<br />
What are you working on?<br />
Are you waiting on the work?<br />
Or are you working on how you wait?<br />
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Whatever you do, make your work worth the wait.<br />
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REBOUND.RESET.RELEASE. <br />
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COACH RICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458830382584112956noreply@blogger.com0Washington, DC, USA38.8951118 -77.036365838.7962463 -77.1942943 38.993977300000005 -76.8784373tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106308046856908253.post-51785490450344739212013-01-29T10:00:00.000-05:002013-01-29T10:00:12.414-05:00ARE YOU GAME-READY?<br />
Let's bring it in. 1-2-3 WIN! <br />
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As you break from the huddle and you set foot in the arena there's a physiological change that occurs; your heart beats harder and faster, your palms sweat, your stomach is filled with butterflies,etc. Whatever the case may be, it's game time and everything that you, your teammates, your coaches, and your fans expect to happen will soon come to fruition. No time for do-overs, no time for excuses. No time to for "shoulda, woulda, coulda." The game is here. Only the results will speak. <br />
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Every day is an opportunity to play in a championship game. Unbeknownst to us, each day could bring a major or minor shift in our season. In any event, it's our undeniable duty to make the adjustments. It's the essence of being GAME-READY. New challenges, news success and new failure await us every day. When we are game-ready, it doesn't necessarily guarantee immediate success but it does guarantee that our success is closer than we realize. <br />
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If you're game ready the following should apply: <br />
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* ARRIVE EARLY <br />
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* DRESS FOR THE OCCASION<br />
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* FOCUS ON YOUR INDIVIDUAL TASK AND THE GOAL OF THE TEAM. <br />
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* APPROACH SUCCESS AND FAILURE AS IF YOU'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED EITHER.<br />
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* DON'T STOP UNTIL PROGRESS IS MADE. <br />
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When you're game-ready you don't need a new year's resolution or a presidential inauguration to motivate you. You are the standard. You are the trendsetter. You work the hardest. You push yourself the farthest even when no one is watching you. <br />
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You are the commander in chief. So, raise your right hand and promise yourself, your God, your team and your opponents that you are about to bring the noise every single moment you are in the game. <br />
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REBOUND. RESET. RELEASE. <br />
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COACH RICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458830382584112956noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106308046856908253.post-70382675653162214632013-01-01T00:30:00.000-05:002013-01-01T00:43:25.445-05:002013: UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTHAPPY NEW YEAR! <br />
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I won't start this blog or this year by sharing my new year's resolutions with you. <br />
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I won't start this blog or this year by asking you to share your new year's resolutions with me. <br />
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I won't start this blog or this year by telling you how to set, honor, and evaluate your New Year's resolutions.<br />
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What I will do is simply remind you that you are a bonafied UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT! Yes, unbeknownst to most of you, you are an unrestricted free agent. I'm not addressing this universal truth because it's New Year's Day. Rather, I'm bringing this to your attention because this is our daily reality that we routinely ignore. <br />
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Wikipedia simply states that Unrestricted free agents are players without a team. They have either been released from their club, had the term of their contract expire without a renewal, or were not chosen in a league's draft of amateur players. These players, generally speaking, are free to entertain offers from all other teams and to decide with whom to sign a new contract.<br />
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While wikipedia provides a detailed definition of an <b>UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT</b>, I will tweak it just a little to fit your needs. Why? Because I'm unrestricted and so are you. <br />
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As an <b>UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT</b> the following rules apply: <br />
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* <b>You are always with a team even when you're "not with a team.</b>" <br />
God, Family, and Friends can guide you to resources/tools that you need to win. <br />
First, you've got to ask them to commit to being a part of your team, then trust their ability to get er' done.<br />
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* <b>You have not been released from any club, your contract has not expired</b>. <br />
YOU ARE THE FRANCHISE. You draft the contract and make the decisions that <br />
determine if you win or lose, if you have a championship team or a championship <br />
legacy, and if you are an all-star or a hall of famer. <br />
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* <b>You never have to rely on being drafted.</b> <br />
While certain teams may not want you, all teams can use your skills. Know who <br />
you are definitively, hone your craft, work while others are sleeping. Carve <br />
your niche based on your passion. Let your results get you noticed, not your reputation. <br />
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* <b>You are free to entertain offers from all other teams</b>! <br />
Each day your team may be comprised of different players depending on the <br />
challenges, goals and expectations for that particular day. Winning is about <br />
chemistry. Pick the best teammates for each day that maximize your chances to win. <br />
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One of my mantras is, "every day is an opportunity to play in a championship game." When I say this most people find it to be clever because I view life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness from a coach's perspective. However, as an <b>UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT</b>, my mantra has evolved into "every day is an opportunity to play in a championship game and I will win by choosing the best teammates available for each championship task at hand." The power of your <b>UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT</b> status relieves you of the pressures of making new year's resolutions. As an <b>UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT</b> the year doesn't determine what you resolve, your strategy, focus and diligent actions do. When you make a new year's resolution you turn yourself into a <b>RESTRICTED FREE AGENT<i></i></b> because the phrase/concept alone locks your goal(s) into one year while your commitment to daily evolution unlocks your mind and your vision infinitely. <br />
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Therefore, whatever you decide to resolve, involve, change, estrange, evaluate, prognosticate, castrate, debate, upgrade, downgrade, fast from, blast from, edit, "dead it", twerk, work, complete, delete, attract, extract, name, claim, tweak or speak, know that you are an <b>UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT</b>. No fast-talking money-hungry agent needs to negotiate your contract. You choose, trust and empower every teammate, you set every expectation, you call every play, you shake every hand, you lead every meeting, you ask every question, you write every offer, you make every key decision, you conquer every obstacle, you win every possession, you close every deal. <br />
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Unrestricted in thought, unrestricted in word, unrestricted in deed..... <br />
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UN-RE-STRICT-ED!!! <br />
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REBOUND.RESET.RELEASE. <br />
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COACH RICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458830382584112956noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106308046856908253.post-71963184673355675002012-09-11T07:36:00.001-04:002012-09-11T07:43:48.472-04:00REBOUND 4 SUCCESS: GAINING THE EDGE<br />
"Don't push me cuz I'm close to the EDGE. I'm trying not to lose my head. It's like a jungle sometimes it makes me wonder how I keep from goin' under." <br />
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Every time I hear the hook of the song "The Message" by Melly Mel, I immediately think of someone who has reached their boiling point. I envision someone who is so passionate about something that all it takes is one iota of temptation for them to give up or one degree of motivation for them to push through. <br />
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"It's been said by coaches and athletes that winning isn't everything, it's how you play the game." Well, I say that winning isn't everything to those who don't have an undeniable, unprecedented, burning passion for what they do." Often times, I've had players and former students tell me that some people win because they are "just plain good". Whether they're referring to athletes, musicians, entrepreneurs, coaches, ministers,teachers, mentors or older siblings, they often expect them to win because of who they are never once considering or even inquiring how they gain the EDGE on a daily basis.<br />
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We all have people who we admire up close and/or from afar. These role models are those who have achieved extraordinary fame, fortune or success based on their work ethic, talent, focus and drive. <br />
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How do these people gain the EDGE? <br />
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I personally believe that they interpret the EDGE to mean Extra Discipline Guarantees Excellence. Taking time and energy to discipline specific aspects of life will undoubtedly manifest itself accordingly. <br />
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Getting the EDGE is simply about studying the path of excellence then creating your own system to achieve it, maintain it and improve upon it. Ultimately, getting the EDGE is mastering one's space and time. Wanna get the EDGE? Try these 3 things;<br />
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<b>1)Maximize Your Shot Clock (24 hours) </b> <br />
Objectively look at your current routine, write it down, then analyze the <br />
productive and counterproductive things that you spend time or waste time doing. <br />
To gain the EDGE you must drastically adjust your schedule. To get the EDGE your <br />
time must be spent on things that have redeemable value. Reading, writing, <br />
praying, meditating, studying, strategizing and practicing your craft/passion all <br />
have redeemable value once you commit to and implement them. <br />
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<b>2)Break Down The Film </b> <br />
Learn about the habits that your role model has adopted that allows them to be <br />
more successful than you. Find out what they're reading, how much they read, when <br />
they go to bed, when they get up, what they eat, etc. Find out who or what <br />
motivates them to succeed. Take pieces of their formula, then adopt similar habits <br />
that will help you gain the EDGE. <br />
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<b>3)Call An Isolation Play</b> <br />
Those who gain the EDGE purposely set themselves apart. Commit to spending time <br />
alone and uninterrupted in your quiet place doing the work that most people don't <br />
want to do. Turn the TV and your cell phone off, close the blinds, and lose your <br />
watch. Gaining the EDGE requires the removal of all external temptation and <br />
distraction. After all, our brains are designed to be the most effective when we <br />
intentionally focus on 1 thing at a time. <br />
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What you do now makes you good enough<br />
What you’re willing to do makes you greater than <br />
What you consistently do beyond requirement & expectation makes you excellent<br />
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Gain The Edge <br />
REBOUND.RESET.RELEASE.COACH RICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458830382584112956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106308046856908253.post-12033840469478234602012-02-01T08:15:00.002-05:002012-02-01T08:15:53.961-05:00NEW POSSESSION, NEW OBSESSIONNEW POSSESSION, NEW OBSESSION <br /><br /><br />31 days into the New Year and some of you are off to a great start. You’ve made an executive decision to commit to either trying something brand new or resurrecting something that was beneficial from the past. Some folks call it a new year’s resolution, others refer to it as a lifestyle change or even a habits adjustment. I personally like to refer to this in the form of a phrase/mantra; “New Possession, New Obsession.”<br /><br /> Some of you started out the year with unprecedented passion and tenacity and somehow have already lost steam, focus, and determination. What’s up with that? Why does it happen? Well, the truth is that often times we make promises to ourselves to change the world and ourselves simultaneously by adopting new practices cold turkey. <br /><br />Don’t get me wrong, it’s very healthy to practice positive thinking, planning and self-talk whether you’re taking on a new lifestyle or throwing away another. However, you have to turn up the tenacity of your thoughts and intentions and transform them into consistent action. You have to truly be focused, clear, decisive, intentional, and proactive, but above all you have to be obsessed with the game of life before you roll out the bed and step on the court. Whether it’s practice time or game time, in order to take it to the next level you have to be OBSESSED with creating new results in your life. <br /><br />The game of life is played one possession at a time. I often emphasize the importance of maximizing your 24-hour shot clock. With 2012 in full flux time will surely get away from you if you’re not OBSESSED with each possession. Within each possession your power resides in the decisions you make strategically or hastily. Even when you make the right decisions be obsessed with making the next possession better by pushing yourself to the maximum with no regrets, no shame, no fear, or apprehension. Be obsessed with minimizing your turnovers, be obsessed with making your team better, be obsessed with thinking this game, be obsessed with playing harder and smarter. Be obsessed with changing your New Year’s resolution into your new day’s resolution. Don’t quit until you succeed, don’t leave the floor until you’ve made your last shot, don’t head for the locker room until you’re drenched in sweat and you’ve exhausted your efforts and left zero traces of failure. Be obsessed with every opportunity you possess. New Possession, New Obsession. BALL UP TOP! <br /><br />REBOUND. RESET. RELEASE.COACH RICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458830382584112956noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106308046856908253.post-52970410953727895112012-01-02T10:59:00.005-05:002012-01-02T15:08:26.957-05:00OPEN LETTER TO 2011Dear 2011,<br /><br />It's only been 2 days since you left, but I'm feeling good about the last time that I saw you. Just like any other year you didn't slow down for me or anyone. You simply did what you always do;kept it moving. I'm sure you're wondering why I'm writing this letter. Quite frankly, I am wondering the same thing. The truth of the matter is through the good, bad, happy and sad you were right in synch with the Divine Creator. You taught me countless lessons about people, spirituality, relationships, purpose, money, life, death, and most importantly, time. No matter how anybody looks at you, you were consistent. Many people are glad that you're gone and that's their own personal battle or bias. I'm personally glad that you came. I don't necessarily miss you because in my mind, you'll always be a part of me. You've shaped me and prepared me for 2012.<br /><br />If I could personify what you were to me, I would say that you were the Coach of The Year. Why? You showed me the schedule, gave me plenty of time to prepare and practice for the season and you also allowed me to pursue my dreams. You were extremely instrumental in helping me define my role on the team and finding my purpose in life. You allowed me to see which teammates were dedicated to the vision of the team and which teammates were detrimental to the team. You've allowed me to see what focus, perseverance, dedication, consistency and commitment will produce. You allowed me to see which opponents were easy to defeat and you gave me the resilience to defeat those opponents who were more difficult to defeat. You allowed me to use timeouts when necessary, call the plays I thought would work best for the team, and play through my turnovers, bad shots, and missed defensive assignments.<br /><br />2011, you allowed me to play my game, but you encouraged me to critically and objectively analyze the weaknesses in my game so that I'm never I'm satisfied. 2011, you taught me that hard work beats talent and good enough is the enemy of excellence. You pushed me to extract the lesson from losing and to take pride in details of preparing to win. You inspired me to dig deeper and give more myself in my relationship with 2012. Reflecting on our relationship is great therapy. Through success and failure, each of the lessons have been infinite blessings. 2011, you've challenged and help me grow. You are appreciated. <br /><br /><br />Respectfully,<br /><br /><br /><br />CoachCOACH RICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458830382584112956noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106308046856908253.post-85258103899180428172011-12-01T07:23:00.009-05:002011-12-25T08:39:49.893-05:00THE LOCKOUT IS OVERThe lockout is over. I repeat, the lockout is over. Now, we can finally start the season. I'm not talking about the recently terminated NBA Lockout. Im talking about life's lockout. <br /><br />What is life's lockout?Life's lockout happens when we play this game for the wrong reasons; Monetary Gain & Personal Recognition. Life's lockout occurs when we expect and demand more profit from management as it relates to the job we're doing. We've been selfishly lobbying for certain perks so that we can get what we think we deserve. There exists a preoccupation with the benefits that our fellow teammates and opponents have been awarded. Once we find out what they've been awarded with we automatically want what they have, just because. Naturally, we lock out ourselves out of the genuine satisfaction of doing what we're passionate about, we lock ourselves out of valuable relationships that we could have with our teammates along with other professionals in the league and we ultimate lock ourselves out of the arena because we've lost focus on what the true owner has called us to do; commit our work to Him. No matter what job we do, it must be done in the spirit of service that benefits those around us.<br /><br />Today is Christmas and the season has begun. Christmas is coined as a season of giving, but every season we're blessed to play should be a season of giving. Regardless of the position we play on the team, we must properly play our role and think pass first. We've all been blessed with gifts that allow us to make a living when we should use those gifts to make a life. Our priorities are way out of line. We think being blessed is about our point accumulation when in fact it's about what we do to help our team win. That said, play this season as if your contract is based on assists instead of points scored. Give your time, talent, tithe and tongue to those who are in need. This season, enter each game with the goal of making your team better. Allow your teammates, opponents, coaches, fans and the owner to witness that you are committed to the future of the franchise and the profession. Every season is not about how you make your Championship Run. Instead each season is about where you make your Dynasty Stand. <br /><br /><br />REBOUND. RESET. RELEASE.COACH RICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458830382584112956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106308046856908253.post-33372918414073391242011-07-27T10:18:00.007-04:002011-07-27T23:49:45.618-04:00IT'S HALFTIME (PART 3 OF 3)As halftime draws to a close and you prepare to head back out onto the court, there’s one last question that needs to be addressed; <br /><br />WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO WIN? <br /><br />The immediate response that comes to mind is simple; play harder & smarter, but often times that’s not enough. You can play extremely hard, but just hustling isn’t enough. Don’t mistake motion for action. It is when you rush success that it blows up in your face. True enough, in order to win, we must have a sense of urgency, but that urgency must be controlled. Preparing for your return onto the court the following must be in place: <br /><br />1.Hold yourself accountable first and admit what you’ve failed to do<br />2.Communicate the expectation you have for yourself and your teammates<br />3.Commit to your role on the team <br />4.Ask them for help before you need it<br /><br />January through June has been what it will be. No do-overs. There’s nothing you can do about it now except prepare to do everything in your power to either enhance history or keep history from repeating itself depending on how the first half went. If you had a good first half, then congratulations are in order. Celebrate, but stay focused. Do your best to replicate the behavior that has brought you success. Maintenance is required in order to match good but deliberate elevation is required to turn good into great. If you had a bad first half then halftime is the most important part of the game. You must experience intentional amnesia regarding what went wrong, then start over. Do a meticulous self-analysis prior to the end of the halftime speech. Re-train your mind to focus on hard work, teamwork, and winning. Correct your body language in such a way that is contagious and conveys a message of a champion who is ready and willing to do whatever it takes to help the team win. Let the words that your prepare to speak challenge, motivate and direct your team to victory. <br /><br />So as you call your team into the huddle, remind them of what the expectation is, what the focus is, what every member will commit to, and remind them the following rules:<br /><br /><br />Think the game one possession at a time <br />Systematically put together possessions that help build momentum <br />Encourage your teammates on good and missed plays<br />Leave everything on the floor. <br /><br />Halftime is over. The 2nd half is the half that is the most meaningful. Return to the floor and expect and prepare to win. <br /><br />REBOUND. RESET. RELEASE.COACH RICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458830382584112956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106308046856908253.post-86856566989159363162011-07-27T10:18:00.005-04:002011-07-27T10:43:01.449-04:00IT'S HALFTIME (PART 3 OF 3)As halftime draws to a close and you prepare to head back out onto the court, there’s one last question that needs to be addressed; <br /><br />WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO WIN? <br /><br />The immediate response that comes to mind is simple; play harder & smarter, but often times that’s not enough. You can play extremely hard, but just hustling isn’t enough. Don’t mistake motion for action. It is when you rush success that it blows up in your face. True enough, in order to win, we must have a sense of urgency, but that urgency must be controlled. Preparing for your return to the court the following must be in place: <br /><br />1.Hold yourself accountable first and admit what you’ve failed to do<br />2.Communicate the expectation you have for yourself and your teammates<br />3.Commit to your role on the team <br />4.Ask your teammates for help before you need it<br /><br />January through June has been what it will be. No do-overs. There’s nothing you can do about it now except prepare to do everything in your power to either enhance history or keep history from repeating itself depending on how the first half went. If you had a good first half, then congratulations are in order. Celebrate, but stay focused. Do your best to replicate the behavior that has brought you success. Maintenance is required in order to match good but deliberate elevation is required to turn good into great. If you had a bad first half then halftime is the most important part of the game. You must experience intentional amnesia regarding what went wrong, then start over. Do a meticulous self-analysis prior to the end of the halftime speech. Re-train your mind to focus on hard work, teamwork, and winning. Correct your body language such that it is so contagious that your teammates correct their body language. Allow your body confident and intimidating body language to send a message of a champion who is ready and willing to do whatever it takes to help the team win. Let the words that your prepare to speak to your teammates challenge, motivate and direct your team to victory. <br /><br />So as you call your team into the huddle, remind them of what the expectation is, what the focus is, what every member will commit to, and remind them of the following rules:<br /><br /><br />Think the game one possession at a time <br />Systematically put together possessions that help build momentum <br />Encourage your teammates on good and missed plays<br />Leave everything on the floor. <br /><br />Halftime is over. The 2nd half is the most meaningful half. Return to the floor not just to expect and prepare to win, but to work until you win. <br /><br />REBOUND. RESET. RELEASE.COACH RICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458830382584112956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106308046856908253.post-39416861288605670172011-07-20T06:50:00.002-04:002011-07-20T09:59:20.595-04:00IT'S HALFTIME (PART 2 OF 3)2) WHAT HAS YOUR TEAM DONE POORLY OR NOT DONE AT ALL? <br /><br />Sometimes people want all the good news first because they believe that hearing good news will ease the pain and take away the impact of the bad news. Well, to each his own and to each coach his own. Often times we have to endure some pain and criticism in order to get better. In those moments of pain and criticism is when you discover what motivates you to play. As I write this, I think back to games in which I vividly remember starting halftime with the “bad news” first to remind my players of the expectation(s) we had for ourselves as a team and furthermore to reiterate the very fine details we reviewed, prepared for and practiced leading up to the game. <br /><br />The halftime speech is a preliminary character exam, a gut check pop quiz and/or a dissertation of deference that’s worth 100% of your grade. Pointing to the shortcomings or areas of improvement are absolutely imperative. My question at halftime is never, “what’s happening out there?” Rather, my question is; what have you prepared for and focused on during practice?" When your team is doing poorly there are several things that possibly contribute to their poor performance; <br /><br />Poor Defense- not protecting your goal, not communicating, not calling for helpside defense, not helping on helpside defense, and not fighting through screens is a sure fire way to lose sight of your team's goal.<br /><br />No Hustle- someone can be more talented than you, but never let them out work you. The opponent who outthinks and outworks you, rules you. Hard work beats talent.<br /><br />Poor Shot Selection-your decisions are your power. Recognize that deciding to take certain shots, including those in your range, aren’t meant for you take on every possession. <br /><br />Not Sharing the ball- utilize your teammates in order to get a better view of the goal. Make the passes that are sensible and in the best interest of your team. Passing the ball is your way of asking for help. Involve your teammates and they will involve you. If u can achieve your goal alone, the goal is too small. <br /><br />Unforced Turnovers- you’re not holding your dreams and aspirations close enough to your heart. As a result, your dreams are easier for others to take from you.<br /><br />Poor Rebounding- you’re not boxing out and fighting for the very thing that you claim to love and want. Sometimes you gotta do the dirty work. If you fight for it will eventually give you opportunities to take and make second and third-chance shots. <br /><br />Sound familiar? <br /><br />Whether you’re the coach, the point guard or the franchise player you’re not above criticism. Investigating what your team has done poorly or not done at all during halftime reiterates the importance of expecting and preparing in the heat of the battle. Whether you’re winning, losing or tied success and failure leave clues. During halftime, I challenge you to turn wrong into redemption. <br /><br />REBOUND. RESET. RELEASECOACH RICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458830382584112956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106308046856908253.post-76155218987060904812011-07-12T12:58:00.001-04:002011-07-12T12:58:36.011-04:00IT'S HALFTIME (part 1 of 3)Here we are at the midpoint of 2011. Guess what? It’s halftime. What do most people normally associate with halftime? A time to take a breather, get some snacks and relax. RIGHT? Well, if you’re a world-class spectator in this life, then the answer is yes, but if you are a champion, then the answer is an emphatic “NO”. <br /><br />Halftime is the opportunity to analyze the stats from the first half and put together a winning strategy for the 2nd half. Whether you’re winning big, losing big, trading buckets in a close one, or tied, no lead or any series of bad plays are permanent. In fact, halftime reminds us of our responsibility to lead, follow or get out of the way. No matter how prepared, focused, and consistent you’ve been, the reality is that the first half is just a scrimmage. Therefore, you gotta acknowledge it, celebrate it briefly then get back to work. When have you ever heard someone talk about their overall success of an entire game or season when it’s only halfway done? <br /><br />As you make your way into the locker room take note of the atmosphere in the arena, the body language of your teammates and coaches, how the fans are greeting you and what the commentators are saying. Most importantly pay attention to how you're making your way to the locker room; Are you running? Jogging? Walking? How you carry yourself can be an indicator of what contribution you've made to the team and are willing to make to the team consistently or what element you've taken away from the team consistently. <br /><br />That said, let's review the first half from January to June. I want you to be completely honest with yourself in your halftime analysis. It’s absolutely imperative that you use halftime to ask ourselves 3 questions: <br /><br /><br /><br />1)WHAT HAS YOUR TEAM DONE WELL? <br /><br />The What: name those things you’ve done well and those things you take pride in having accomplished.<br /><br />The Who: name the teammates who have been instrumental to and supportive of you achieving your goals. <br /><br />The When: name the time when you saw your strategy working for you<br /><br />The Why: name the little things that have contributed to your success<br /> <br />The How: name the process and path that is responsible for your success<br /><br />During the first half of this year you’ve had success in one or several areas. Whether you deem that success to be minor or major, it's a step in a positive direction. Write down the accomplishments (expected & unexpected) that you've made this year and identify the what, who, when,why and how then distinguish which accomplishments are most in line with your team's philosophy, vision, and objectives. <br /><br />Check back in tomorrow, Wednesday, for It's Halftime (Part 2 of 3) <br /><br />REBOUND.RESET.RELEASE.COACH RICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458830382584112956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106308046856908253.post-24886499178892500682011-06-09T08:05:00.010-04:002011-06-09T09:09:18.756-04:00D DAYAs some of you know, Monday, June 6th, was, in fact, my birthday. Ironically my birthday is also the anniversary of D Day which was marked by June 6, 1944 during World War II, a war one of my grandfather's served in as a member of the United States Army. It was a day in which allied troops landed on a 50-mile stretch of heavily fortified French coastline to fight Nazi Germany on the beaches of Normandy, France. President Dwight Eisenhower called it a crusade in which "we will accept nothing less than full victory." <br /><br />What does the D in D Day stand for?<br /><br />Because D-Day of Operation Overlord was the largest amphibious assault in military history, it became the popular expression to refer to June 6, 1944, and was not used to mark the first day of an operation thereafter. It basically took on the persona that the phrase "9/11" has taken to refer to the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon. General Eisenhwer and Winston Churchill may have tried to give the "D" an actual meaning for the benefit of the press and the civilians, but previous to that, it did not stand for anything except "day". <br /><br />Coach what point are you trying to make? <br /><br />I'm saying that we often celebrate our birthdays and treat them special and that's what we are supposed to do. However, we must begin to treat each day we're granted just as special and realize that every day that we wake up is a birthday. It's a rebirth of self, one that we've never seen before or will ever see again. The original D Day was a victory that troops expected and prepared to earn. It's time that we expect and prepare for victory every single day. <br /><br />My challenge to you is make every day your D DAY one in which you "accept nothing less than full victory". <br /><br />D= Dedicate time to your Creator, regardless of your faith. Thank Him for the gift.<br />D= Demand excellence every day you have breath in your lungs from yourself and those around you<br />D= Direct your thoughts, words, & actions in a such manner that your energy is positively contagious <br />D= Develop your craft and character<br />D= Dismiss all of the negative thoughts from your brain and people from your life who stunt your growth<br />D= Declare the goal, the dream, the victory before you begin<br />D= Demonstrate your leadership more by what you do then by what you say<br />D= Dominate every aspect of the game one possession at a time<br /><br />Make today and every day that follows a Day of dedication, a Day of demand, a Day of direction, a Day of development, a Day of dismissal, a Day of declaration, a Day of demonstration and a Day of domination.<br /><br />REBOUND. RESET. RELEASE.COACH RICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458830382584112956noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106308046856908253.post-33721152376422252702011-05-31T06:59:00.003-04:002011-05-31T07:08:23.869-04:00REBOUND 4 SUCCESS:LUPUS, THE RELENTLESS, CONFUSED & UNPREDICTABLE DEFENDERAs we wrap up Lupus Awareness month it has dawned on me that this disease is very much a relentless and confused defender to those who are affected by it. For those that do not know what lupus is let me briefly explain. <br /><br />Systemic lupus erythematosus, often abbreviated to SLE or lupus, is a systemic autoimmune disease (or autoimmune connective tissue disease) that can affect any part of the body. With lupus, the immune system attacks the body's healthy cells and tissue instead of the unhealthy cells, resulting in inflammation and tissue damage. It is a Type III hypersensitivity reaction caused by antibody-immune complex formation. SLE most often harms the heart, joints, skin, lungs, blood vessels, liver, kidneys, and nervous system. The course of the disease is unpredictable and often found to mimic other diseases and conditions. It disguises itself as the consummate team player when, in fact, it tears the team apart. Therefore, I call lupus a relentless, confused and unpredictable defender because it doesn't know it's role, it overcompensates to prove a point and it ultimately destroys team chemistry. Sound familiar?<br /><br />Often times we willingly submit to and ultimately suffer from lupus in our lives. Coach what do you mean by that? We suffer from a different type of lupus when we choose certain people to play on our team. While they appear to be capable, hard working and committed to the team’s vision during practice and in the offseason, they show their true colors when game time comes. All of a sudden when game time arrives our “so-called” teammates turn into relentless, confused, and unpredictable defenders. They play hard, they battle for rebounds, they fight through screens they even dive on the floor for loose balls but as soon as they get steals they either give the ball back to the opposing team, they step out of bounds, or they shoot and score on the opposing team’s basket. Who does that? Some of the teammates you’ve selected in the past or the ones that are currently on your roster. <br /><br />So, what am I saying? I’m saying that often times we put people on our team and our team is affected in the very same way. We pick people to play on our team because we think they can help us win because of their appearance instead of what they are actually capable of doing. We also put people on our team because they say they want to help the team win when in fact they’re only in it for themselves. When we construct our teams we must communicate what each member’s role will be on the team. If people can’t accept their role then cut em’. Do not sign and trade them because they could easily assume a lupus like role on someone else’s team. May is Lupus Awareness Month but people are affected by lupus all year around. Someone you know has Lupus. <br /><br />REBOUND. RESET. RELEASE.COACH RICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458830382584112956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106308046856908253.post-79951128101950225652011-04-13T13:36:00.003-04:002011-04-13T13:43:03.851-04:00REBOUND 4 SUCCESS: The Road To Your Final F.O.U.R. (Round 4 of 4) RESPONSIBLITY OF RECOGNITIONOnce you’ve reached the 4th round, there is an air of expectancy that I like to call a Responsibility of Recognition. Responsibility of recognition is the undeniable duty of acknowledging that you have been blessed with a gift and you have the duty to use it. When others know your gift, watch you use it, benefit from it and endorse it, you have created championship caliber expectations. Once the expectations have been set it’s your responsibility to recognize how and when you’ll use your gift to help your team get better and ultimately win. <br /><br />The recognition that you are given is a reflection of who you are and what you stand for in this life. You’ve made it to the 4th round so naturally the stakes are higher, the competition is harder, the crowd is bigger, and people recognize that you are worthy to be where you are. With that recognition comes an enormous responsibility to be forthright, reliable, strong willed, focused, resilient and brave in the face of adversity. Therefore, the responsibility should be held in such a high regard that you expect, prepare for and demand nothing but success in all of your endeavors. You are responsible for recognizing the strengths and the weaknesses of the champion within and you must take advantage of that one shining moment to confirm and reconfirm who is the undisputed champion.<br /><br />The responsibility of recognition is a lifestyle characterized by healthy habits like prayer, meditation, devotion, civility, sportsmanship, impeccable work ethic, and perseverance. <br /><br />The responsibility of recognition is a demeanor of humility and gratitude that requires you to be humble yet not weak, proud yet not boastful. <br /><br />The responsibility of recognition is governed by a bill of rights which gives you the right to demand more from yourself and your teammates every single day that you’re breathing. <br /><br />The responsibility of recognition means you accept the duty to serve others first no matter what role you are playing. <br /> <br />The responsibility of recognition has the mantra “maintenance is required” which means you will vigorously hone your craft and sharpen your skill set today as if you will lose it tomorrow. <br /><br />The responsibility of recognition is a presence of mind that knows while you’re resting, someone is practicing to take your spot.<br /><br />The responsibility of recognition means that there is no off-season because champions only rest long enough to catch their breath. <br /><br />Do you recognize your responsibility? <br /><br />REBOUND.RESET. RELEASE.COACH RICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458830382584112956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106308046856908253.post-90455991117270418502011-04-10T10:13:00.003-04:002011-04-10T10:19:58.905-04:00REBOUND 4 SUCCESS:The Road To Your Final F.O.U.R. (Round 3 of 4) BE UNMOVABLEIn order to get to Round 3 of your FINAL FOUR, it is absolutely imperative that you be UNMOVABLE. In thought, word and deed being unmovable is not just about being a physical presence that refuses to move. Instead, it is about possessing an attitude that never quits, never backs down. Being unmovable is an inability to interpret or speak negativity. It is consciously refusing to convert to pessimism as a religion or a way of life. Being unmovable is about having an impregnable faith in a higher power and knowing that the higher power is the source of your internal and external strength. <br /><br />Being unmovable means possessing the discipline to resist the temptation to second-guess yourself, lose focus of your goal, procrastinate, take shortcuts, or quit. It requires you to block out the noise of the crowd, the burning in your chest, the pounding of your heart, the butterflies in your stomach, the fatigue in your muscles, the thought of failing and the fear of fear itself. While blocking all of these things out you must recall the instructions of your head coach as well as listen to your inner coach as you tell yourself, "no one can move me, no one can deny me." After all, it is in trenches of your mind that you win the battle and the war before the ball is even tipped. <br /><br />So let the competitive blood boil in your veins, baptize yourself in the sweat and the tears, invite your opponent to attempt to move you from your position, and hold your ground as if your very next breath depended on it. Wear victory on your chest instead of your emotions on your sleeve and never flinch in the face of adversity.<br /><br />REBOUND.RESET.RELEASECOACH RICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458830382584112956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106308046856908253.post-58410742272829991182011-04-06T12:19:00.004-04:002011-04-09T13:04:47.828-04:00REBOUND 4 SUCCESS: The Road To Your Final F.O.U.R. (Round 2 of 4)Ownership is the 2nd Round on the Road to your Final F.O.U.R. It is during this round that you must reveal who you are not only by what you say but more so by what you do. Whether you win, lose or draw you must take ownership of the decisions that you’ve made and own the next moment. Some of you spend too much time dwelling on the wins thinking that they are the very things that define you. Defining yourself by wins alone gives birth to a false sense of entitlement and accomplishment and as a result your practice and performance suffer. What defines you are your losses and whether you react or respond to them. Reacting to a loss often results in extreme anger, self-doubt, giving up, blaming others and making excuses. Responding to a loss is looking at the stats, acknowledging what happened, focusing on the why, correcting the how and anxiously preparing to win the very next time. While winning is an expectation that you have for yourself, the key to growth is in how you win and how you lose. The lesson in both scenarios cultivate ownership. Wins build confidence while losses build character. <br /><br />Ownership means that “you play like you practice”. Often times you don’t own your practice. You don’t intentionally practice with a sense of urgency that results in you getting better. Instead, you practice just to get finished. Ownership means that you practice and play with every ounce of strength you have and not blame anyone but yourself for not preparing better, not practicing harder, not playing smarter, not playing harder, not asking for help, not calling timeout when necessary, not listening to the coach, or not trusting your teammates. <br /><br />Ownership requires that every movement and every decision you make is done with such vigor that your opponents and your teammates fear and respect you. Your opponents have a fear of facing you and your teammates fear letting you down. Whether you win, lose or draw today, own every decision, own every play and live with no regrets.<br /><br />REBOUND.RESET.RELEASE!COACH RICEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458830382584112956noreply@blogger.com1