As 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."
What does the D in D Day stand for?
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".
Coach what point are you trying to make?
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.
My challenge to you is make every day your D DAY one in which you "accept nothing less than full victory".
D= Dedicate time to your Creator, regardless of your faith. Thank Him for the gift.
D= Demand excellence every day you have breath in your lungs from yourself and those around you
D= Direct your thoughts, words, & actions in a such manner that your energy is positively contagious
D= Develop your craft and character
D= Dismiss all of the negative thoughts from your brain and people from your life who stunt your growth
D= Declare the goal, the dream, the victory before you begin
D= Demonstrate your leadership more by what you do then by what you say
D= Dominate every aspect of the game one possession at a time
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.
REBOUND. RESET. RELEASE.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
REBOUND 4 SUCCESS:LUPUS, THE RELENTLESS, CONFUSED & UNPREDICTABLE DEFENDER
As 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.
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?
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.
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.
REBOUND. RESET. RELEASE.
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?
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.
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.
REBOUND. RESET. RELEASE.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
REBOUND 4 SUCCESS: The Road To Your Final F.O.U.R. (Round 4 of 4) RESPONSIBLITY OF RECOGNITION
Once 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.
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.
The responsibility of recognition is a lifestyle characterized by healthy habits like prayer, meditation, devotion, civility, sportsmanship, impeccable work ethic, and perseverance.
The responsibility of recognition is a demeanor of humility and gratitude that requires you to be humble yet not weak, proud yet not boastful.
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.
The responsibility of recognition means you accept the duty to serve others first no matter what role you are playing.
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.
The responsibility of recognition is a presence of mind that knows while you’re resting, someone is practicing to take your spot.
The responsibility of recognition means that there is no off-season because champions only rest long enough to catch their breath.
Do you recognize your responsibility?
REBOUND.RESET. RELEASE.
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.
The responsibility of recognition is a lifestyle characterized by healthy habits like prayer, meditation, devotion, civility, sportsmanship, impeccable work ethic, and perseverance.
The responsibility of recognition is a demeanor of humility and gratitude that requires you to be humble yet not weak, proud yet not boastful.
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.
The responsibility of recognition means you accept the duty to serve others first no matter what role you are playing.
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.
The responsibility of recognition is a presence of mind that knows while you’re resting, someone is practicing to take your spot.
The responsibility of recognition means that there is no off-season because champions only rest long enough to catch their breath.
Do you recognize your responsibility?
REBOUND.RESET. RELEASE.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
REBOUND 4 SUCCESS:The Road To Your Final F.O.U.R. (Round 3 of 4) BE UNMOVABLE
In 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.
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.
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.
REBOUND.RESET.RELEASE
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.
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.
REBOUND.RESET.RELEASE
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
REBOUND 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.
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.
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.
REBOUND.RESET.RELEASE!
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.
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.
REBOUND.RESET.RELEASE!
Saturday, March 19, 2011
REBOUND FOR SUCCESS: THE ROAD TO YOUR FINAL F.O.U.R. (ROUND 1 OF 4)
Once again it's on. It's the middle of March and all the attention is turning to the one of the most exciting sporting events ever created; The NCAA Men's National Basketball Championship Tournament. 64 teams stand on the fringe preparing and practicing for the opportunity to truly be called “the best”. 64 teams with the same ultimate goal; to win the championship trophy. While this common goal/dream seems tangible to all teams, only one team will truly be able to make it a reality. However, your team is capable of making it to the FINAL F.O.U.R. every season.
The Final F.O.U.R that I’m referring to is rooted in your ability to achieve your dreams as part of your desire to live your purpose.
Fulfillment is the first round of the FINAL F.O.U.R. People often pursue numerous things in their lives with reckless abandon and different ulterior motives. Some pursue things for the money, recognition and prestige while others pursue for the pure passion of the work, but very few people pursue what gives them a sense of fulfillment. Why? Because they are dependent on the approval of their peers and often times their parents. The reality is that living for anyone’s approval other than God places them in psychological and occupational bondage. As a result, they become a slave to their own ego.
There are way too many of you setting goals and chasing dreams based on the outcome being monetary reward. While money is absolutely necessary to survive in this world, it’s only fulfilling as long as you view it as your path to power and/or the only thing that will affect change. The essence of fulfillment only occurs when you do who you are. Doing who you are allows you to do what you love and help others near and far. Fulfillment is a by-product of self-actualization. This means maximizing your potential in a specific manner while getting the continual satisfaction of a job well done that is appreciated by the intended recipient. You have a choice to pursue and execute those things in your life that make you genuinely feel good about yourself and others. I encourage you to strive to do the work that allows you to be so insatiable in the process that it no longer feels like work.
The tournament has begun and the first round opponent doesn't seem to intimidate you, but it should. Fulfillment is a desire and a need we all have, but won't admit. The more you try to ignore it, the harder it will be to face in the heat of battle because your ego is the teammate who has convinced you to look past fulfillment. If you ignore it's importance and impact you'll find yourself watching instead of changing the game.
REBOUND. RESET. RELEASE
The Final F.O.U.R that I’m referring to is rooted in your ability to achieve your dreams as part of your desire to live your purpose.
Fulfillment is the first round of the FINAL F.O.U.R. People often pursue numerous things in their lives with reckless abandon and different ulterior motives. Some pursue things for the money, recognition and prestige while others pursue for the pure passion of the work, but very few people pursue what gives them a sense of fulfillment. Why? Because they are dependent on the approval of their peers and often times their parents. The reality is that living for anyone’s approval other than God places them in psychological and occupational bondage. As a result, they become a slave to their own ego.
There are way too many of you setting goals and chasing dreams based on the outcome being monetary reward. While money is absolutely necessary to survive in this world, it’s only fulfilling as long as you view it as your path to power and/or the only thing that will affect change. The essence of fulfillment only occurs when you do who you are. Doing who you are allows you to do what you love and help others near and far. Fulfillment is a by-product of self-actualization. This means maximizing your potential in a specific manner while getting the continual satisfaction of a job well done that is appreciated by the intended recipient. You have a choice to pursue and execute those things in your life that make you genuinely feel good about yourself and others. I encourage you to strive to do the work that allows you to be so insatiable in the process that it no longer feels like work.
The tournament has begun and the first round opponent doesn't seem to intimidate you, but it should. Fulfillment is a desire and a need we all have, but won't admit. The more you try to ignore it, the harder it will be to face in the heat of battle because your ego is the teammate who has convinced you to look past fulfillment. If you ignore it's importance and impact you'll find yourself watching instead of changing the game.
REBOUND. RESET. RELEASE
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
THE TRADE DEADLINE: WHO STAYS? WHO GOES?
One mystery that is always synonymous with NBA All-Star Weekend is the trade deadline. Personally, I look forward to the trade deadline. Why? It’s the most exciting time of the season and a reminder to all of us that this game, as much as you may love it, is still a business. Every team owner, general manager, and head coach must assess their current team to see who’s worth keeping and who needs to be let go for the greater good of the team.
The end of February is near which means that 66% of the 1st quarter of 2011 is complete. No matter who your opponents have been or what the goal is for your team, the first quarter can very well set the tone for the quarters that follow. During the first quarter you’re just breaking a sweat, you’re finding out who is in a groove early, where the mismatches are and what plays are going to get the best shots most frequently. The first quarter is also the time when the coach has to figure out who he can count on to make plays consistently from 1st through 4th quarter throughout the season. The goal for your team is to compete at the highest level in order to win each quarter. The difference in your season en route to the championship is that during each quarter there is a trade deadline. Much like professional sports, you have people on your team that you need to evaluate and re-evaluate and just like most professional teammates they think they shouldn't be on the trading block. Why? In their mind they’re doing their job and helping the team. While they may be doing their job and they deserve to be in the league, they may not always be the best player for your team during this season.
The trade deadline is about the following questions:
1) What players have been instrumental to the team’s success thus far?
2) What roles have they played?
3) What do the stats indicate that your team needs the most?
4) Can you make a legit championship run with the players you have?
5) Is the team committed to your system, practice plan, vision for the franchise?
6) Who or what are you willing to give up to get to the next level?
While certain teammates undoubtedly deserve the franchise tag or a contract extension, there are players who may only be around for half the season or one full season. Other players regardless of how long they’ve been with the team may need to be traded, cut, or be sent to the D League. Is it personal? Never! It’s just business. As the player/coach you’ve got to make sure that you maintain your position and your position is determined by your team’s performance. The members you choose for each season will determine whether you just make the playoffs every season or become a storied franchise. The players on your team are fit into 2 categories; those that are in the way and those who are on their way. You’ve got major decisions to make: WHO STAYS and WHO GOES?
Rebound. Rest. Release.
The end of February is near which means that 66% of the 1st quarter of 2011 is complete. No matter who your opponents have been or what the goal is for your team, the first quarter can very well set the tone for the quarters that follow. During the first quarter you’re just breaking a sweat, you’re finding out who is in a groove early, where the mismatches are and what plays are going to get the best shots most frequently. The first quarter is also the time when the coach has to figure out who he can count on to make plays consistently from 1st through 4th quarter throughout the season. The goal for your team is to compete at the highest level in order to win each quarter. The difference in your season en route to the championship is that during each quarter there is a trade deadline. Much like professional sports, you have people on your team that you need to evaluate and re-evaluate and just like most professional teammates they think they shouldn't be on the trading block. Why? In their mind they’re doing their job and helping the team. While they may be doing their job and they deserve to be in the league, they may not always be the best player for your team during this season.
The trade deadline is about the following questions:
1) What players have been instrumental to the team’s success thus far?
2) What roles have they played?
3) What do the stats indicate that your team needs the most?
4) Can you make a legit championship run with the players you have?
5) Is the team committed to your system, practice plan, vision for the franchise?
6) Who or what are you willing to give up to get to the next level?
While certain teammates undoubtedly deserve the franchise tag or a contract extension, there are players who may only be around for half the season or one full season. Other players regardless of how long they’ve been with the team may need to be traded, cut, or be sent to the D League. Is it personal? Never! It’s just business. As the player/coach you’ve got to make sure that you maintain your position and your position is determined by your team’s performance. The members you choose for each season will determine whether you just make the playoffs every season or become a storied franchise. The players on your team are fit into 2 categories; those that are in the way and those who are on their way. You’ve got major decisions to make: WHO STAYS and WHO GOES?
Rebound. Rest. Release.
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