6.06.2009
DRE BLY - LEADERSHIP
49ers' Dre Bly: “Championship teams start with a great leader, a great guy at the top. You need somebody great to lead you.”
KOBE BRYANT - ATTACKING & LEADING
Rafer Alston talking about Kobe after Game 1 of the NBA Playoffs: “Kobe just attacks, attacks, attacks. LeBron will dominate, then ease back. Kobe just keeps coming. It’s relentless.”
Rick Fox on Kobe's early career: "He was perceived as the little brother. He wanted to be the big brother. He had the desire to lead."
Rick Fox on Kobe's early career: "He was perceived as the little brother. He wanted to be the big brother. He had the desire to lead."
6.05.2009
KOBE - PRESSURE RELIEVER
Magic Johnson had his magnetic smile. Michael Jordan soared to the basket with his tongue hanging out. Kobe Bryant is baring his teeth and scowling in these NBA finals.
Bryant makes no apologies for his no-fun demeanor.
"I just think it's been building," he said Friday. "I've been pacing myself all year waiting for these playoffs to come around. The table is set."
The Lakers exhaled a day after routing the Orlando Magic 100-75 in Game 1 of the NBA finals.
Much of Bryant's laser focus is the result of the Lakers losing to Detroit and Boston in their previous finals appearances in 2004 and last year. He detests losing, and at 30, he is more conscious that winning championships is the bedrock in building the legacy of a player who wants to be among the greatest.
"I just want it so bad," he said. "This time around we're just really locked in."
Coach Phil Jackson said that behind closed doors Bryant is just as quiet and focused.
"You have to stay driven and motivated, and I think it's really important that he takes that leadership role for this team," he said.
Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy has seen Bryant's willful side emerge before.
"When he's playing as well as he did last night, there's really no pressure on anybody else. You shoot the ball freely, you play freely because if you hit a bad stretch, you'll just go back to him and he'll take care of everything," Van Gundy said. "What the great players do to make their teammates better is they take the pressure off of them."
Bryant makes no apologies for his no-fun demeanor.
"I just think it's been building," he said Friday. "I've been pacing myself all year waiting for these playoffs to come around. The table is set."
The Lakers exhaled a day after routing the Orlando Magic 100-75 in Game 1 of the NBA finals.
Much of Bryant's laser focus is the result of the Lakers losing to Detroit and Boston in their previous finals appearances in 2004 and last year. He detests losing, and at 30, he is more conscious that winning championships is the bedrock in building the legacy of a player who wants to be among the greatest.
"I just want it so bad," he said. "This time around we're just really locked in."
Coach Phil Jackson said that behind closed doors Bryant is just as quiet and focused.
"You have to stay driven and motivated, and I think it's really important that he takes that leadership role for this team," he said.
Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy has seen Bryant's willful side emerge before.
"When he's playing as well as he did last night, there's really no pressure on anybody else. You shoot the ball freely, you play freely because if you hit a bad stretch, you'll just go back to him and he'll take care of everything," Van Gundy said. "What the great players do to make their teammates better is they take the pressure off of them."
6.04.2009
VINCE LOMBARDI
There was a marvelous book that came out in 2001 titled: What It Take To Be #1. A lot of people write books on the topic of being #1 but this particular book is about Vince Lombardi, one of the great coaches and leaders of our time. It is written by someone who knew Coach Lombardi at a very deep level -- his son, Vince Lombardi, Jr. It is an inside look at the way Vince Lombardi lived his life and coached his teams. One of the better chapters deal with seven elements of success in the Lombardi philosophy.
COURAGE
Courage is the habit of mind that allows us to meet danger, opposition, or hopelessly long odds with poise and resolution. Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage means experiencing fear.
"The important thought is that the Packers thrived on
tough competition. We welcomed it; the team had always
welcomed it. The adrenaline flowed a little quicker when
we were player the tougher team."
-Vince Lombardi-
PASSION
Passion and enthusiasm are the seeds of achievement. Enthusiasm is like an ocean tide. There's a certain inevitability about it. Passion sweeps obstacles away. It's tough to be a leader if you can't energize your people and tap into their emotional energy.
"To be successful, a man must exert an effective influence
upon his brothers and upon his associates, and the degree
in which he accomplishes this depends on the personality
of the man. The incandescence of which he is capable.
The flame of the fire that burns inside him. The magnetism
which draws the hearts of men to him."
-Vince Lombardi-
SACRIFICE
Character takes sacrifice: the giving up of one thing for the sake of another.
"I think you've got to pay a price for anything that's
worthwhile, and success is paying the price. You've got to
pay the price to win, you've got to pay the price to stay
on top, and you've got to pay the price to get there."
-Vince Lombardi-
TOTAL COMMITMENT
Closely related to the habit of sacrifice is the habit of total commitment. Total commitment means no loafing, idling, standing around, goofing off or phoning in sick. The essence of commitment is the act of making a decision.
"The quality of each man is the measure of that man's personal
commitment to excellence and to victory -- whether it be football,
whether it be business, whether it be politics or government."
-Vince Lombardi-
HARD WORK
Jim Howell, then head coach of the New York Giants where Lombardi was an assistant would comment: "When other coaches -- the rest of us -- would leave the Giant offices, there was always one light still burning, the one in Vince Lombardi's office."
"If you really want something , you can have it if you're
willing to pay the price. And the price means you have to
work better and harder than the next guy."
-Vince Lombardi-
DISCIPLINE
Hard work is also discipline: the kind of focused training that develops self-control. Discipline helps you make the hard decisions. In leading a team or organization, discipline leads to freedom.
"A good leader must be harder on himself than anyone else.
He must first discipline himself before he can discipline another.
A man should not ask others to do things he would not have
asked himself to do at one time or another in his life."
-Vince Lombardi-
MENTAL TOUGHNESS
Mental toughness was one of my father's favorite topics. He believe it was the single most important skill leaders could develop in themselves and the people around them. Mental toughness is the ability to hold onto your goals in the face of the pressure and stress of current reality. It's the ability to hold on, and hold on , and hold onto what you want in the face of what you're not. Mental toughness is the glue that holds a team together when the heat is on and helps that team persevere just a little bit longer, which in many cases is just enough to outlast the opposition.
"Mental toughness is many things, and rather
difficult to explain. It's qualities are sacrifice and self-denial.
Also, most importantly, it is combined with the perfectly
discipline will, which refuses to give in. It's a state of mind --
you could call it 'character in action.'"
-Vince Lombardi-
"The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender."
-Vince Lombardi-
COURAGE
Courage is the habit of mind that allows us to meet danger, opposition, or hopelessly long odds with poise and resolution. Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage means experiencing fear.
"The important thought is that the Packers thrived on
tough competition. We welcomed it; the team had always
welcomed it. The adrenaline flowed a little quicker when
we were player the tougher team."
-Vince Lombardi-
PASSION
Passion and enthusiasm are the seeds of achievement. Enthusiasm is like an ocean tide. There's a certain inevitability about it. Passion sweeps obstacles away. It's tough to be a leader if you can't energize your people and tap into their emotional energy.
"To be successful, a man must exert an effective influence
upon his brothers and upon his associates, and the degree
in which he accomplishes this depends on the personality
of the man. The incandescence of which he is capable.
The flame of the fire that burns inside him. The magnetism
which draws the hearts of men to him."
-Vince Lombardi-
SACRIFICE
Character takes sacrifice: the giving up of one thing for the sake of another.
"I think you've got to pay a price for anything that's
worthwhile, and success is paying the price. You've got to
pay the price to win, you've got to pay the price to stay
on top, and you've got to pay the price to get there."
-Vince Lombardi-
TOTAL COMMITMENT
Closely related to the habit of sacrifice is the habit of total commitment. Total commitment means no loafing, idling, standing around, goofing off or phoning in sick. The essence of commitment is the act of making a decision.
"The quality of each man is the measure of that man's personal
commitment to excellence and to victory -- whether it be football,
whether it be business, whether it be politics or government."
-Vince Lombardi-
HARD WORK
Jim Howell, then head coach of the New York Giants where Lombardi was an assistant would comment: "When other coaches -- the rest of us -- would leave the Giant offices, there was always one light still burning, the one in Vince Lombardi's office."
"If you really want something , you can have it if you're
willing to pay the price. And the price means you have to
work better and harder than the next guy."
-Vince Lombardi-
DISCIPLINE
Hard work is also discipline: the kind of focused training that develops self-control. Discipline helps you make the hard decisions. In leading a team or organization, discipline leads to freedom.
"A good leader must be harder on himself than anyone else.
He must first discipline himself before he can discipline another.
A man should not ask others to do things he would not have
asked himself to do at one time or another in his life."
-Vince Lombardi-
MENTAL TOUGHNESS
Mental toughness was one of my father's favorite topics. He believe it was the single most important skill leaders could develop in themselves and the people around them. Mental toughness is the ability to hold onto your goals in the face of the pressure and stress of current reality. It's the ability to hold on, and hold on , and hold onto what you want in the face of what you're not. Mental toughness is the glue that holds a team together when the heat is on and helps that team persevere just a little bit longer, which in many cases is just enough to outlast the opposition.
"Mental toughness is many things, and rather
difficult to explain. It's qualities are sacrifice and self-denial.
Also, most importantly, it is combined with the perfectly
discipline will, which refuses to give in. It's a state of mind --
you could call it 'character in action.'"
-Vince Lombardi-
"The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender."
-Vince Lombardi-
KOBE BRYANT - OLYMPICS
J.Colangelo speaking on K. Bryant during the Olympics "He raised the bar for everyone. It didn't matter what our schedule was, he was in the workout room by 8am."
6.03.2009
DAILY TO DO'S FOR LEADERS
Below is the list of 12 Simple "Daily To Do's For Leaders"
1. Be the hardest worker at practice today
Without fail, one of the quickest ways to impact a team is with your own work ethic. Choose to be one of the hardest workers on your team. Not only does it set the tone for the work ethic of your program, it is also one of the best and quickest ways to enhance your leadership credibility with your teammates and coaches.
2. Be a spark of energy and enthusiasm
Let your passion for the sport shine through. Spread a contagious energy and enthusiasm amongst your teammates. Think about how lucky you are to be able to play and compete.
3. Model mental toughness today
Because your teammates will look to you under pressure, adversity, and stress, be sure to model mental toughness. Bounce back quickly after errors to show your teammates how to respond to negative situations. Maintain your poise and optimism despite any mistakes you might make so that your teammates can trust and rely on you to get them through the tough times.
4. Connect with a teammate today
Leadership is all about relationships. Invest the time to build and strengthen the relationships you have with each of your teammates. Inquire about their day, challenges, and goals. Make a special and ongoing effort to get to know every athlete on your team, not just your friends. The relationship building you do each day will pay off immeasurably down the road.
5. Compliment a teammate today
Be on the lookout for teammates who are contributing to your team. Call out a teammate for making a hustle play, pushing through a weight workout, recovering quickly from a mistake, etc. Praise the actions and attitudes you want to see repeated. As Mother Teresa once said, "Kind words are short and easy to speak but their echoes are truly endless."
6. Challenge a teammate today
Challenge at least one of your teammates today. Positively push them and yourself to make the most of your workout. Make a friendly wager. See if you both can improve your times in conditioning. Offer to stay after to help if there is anything they want to work on. Good leaders consistently invite, inspire, and sometimes implore others to greatness.
7. Support a teammate today
Odds are, at least one of your teammates is struggling with something today - it could be a performance slump, a rocky romantic relationship, a disagreement with a coach, an unglamorous role, struggling with a class, or a sick family member. Good leaders are consistently on the lookout for teammates who might be struggling and are ready to offer an ear to listen, an encouraging word, a pat on the back, or a shoulder to cry on.
8. Constructively confront negativity, pessimism, and laziness today
As a leader, have the courage to constructively confront the negativity, pessimism, and laziness that will crop up on your team from time to time. Instead of fueling the fire by joining in or silently standing by, be sure to refocus your teammates on solutions rather than dwelling on and complaining about the problems. Left unchecked, these problems can quickly grow to distract, divide, and destroy your team.
9. Build and bond your team today
Team chemistry naturally ebbs and flows throughout the course of the season. Take the time to monitor and maintain your team's chemistry. Let your reserves and support staff know how much you appreciate them. Stay connected and current with each of the natural sub-groups on your team. Douse any brush fires that might be occurring and continually remind team members about your common goal and common bond.
10. Check in with your coach today
Invest the time to check in with your coach today. Ask what you can do to best help the team this week. Find out what your coach wants to accomplish with today's practice. Also discuss if there is anything your coach is concerned about regarding your team. Discuss your collective insights on your team's chemistry, focus, and mindset. Work together to effectively co-lead your team.
11. Remind your team how today's work leads to tomorrow's dreams
It's easy to get bogged down during your season with monotonous drills, tiring conditioning, and demanding workouts. Remind your teammates how all the quality work you do today gives you a distinct advantage over your opponents. Help them see and even get excited about how today's hard work is a long-term investment in your team's goals, rather than just a short-term hardship or sacrifice.
12. Represent yourself and team with class and pride
Leaders have the awesome privilege and responsibility of representing their teams. Take advantage of this opportunity by representing your team with class and pride. Hold a door open for someone, sit in the front rows of class and actively engage in the discussion, say please and thank you, dress in respectful attire, etc. These tiny pushes represent you and your team with class and distinction. And they ultimately set you up for a lifetime of respect and success.
1. Be the hardest worker at practice today
Without fail, one of the quickest ways to impact a team is with your own work ethic. Choose to be one of the hardest workers on your team. Not only does it set the tone for the work ethic of your program, it is also one of the best and quickest ways to enhance your leadership credibility with your teammates and coaches.
2. Be a spark of energy and enthusiasm
Let your passion for the sport shine through. Spread a contagious energy and enthusiasm amongst your teammates. Think about how lucky you are to be able to play and compete.
3. Model mental toughness today
Because your teammates will look to you under pressure, adversity, and stress, be sure to model mental toughness. Bounce back quickly after errors to show your teammates how to respond to negative situations. Maintain your poise and optimism despite any mistakes you might make so that your teammates can trust and rely on you to get them through the tough times.
4. Connect with a teammate today
Leadership is all about relationships. Invest the time to build and strengthen the relationships you have with each of your teammates. Inquire about their day, challenges, and goals. Make a special and ongoing effort to get to know every athlete on your team, not just your friends. The relationship building you do each day will pay off immeasurably down the road.
5. Compliment a teammate today
Be on the lookout for teammates who are contributing to your team. Call out a teammate for making a hustle play, pushing through a weight workout, recovering quickly from a mistake, etc. Praise the actions and attitudes you want to see repeated. As Mother Teresa once said, "Kind words are short and easy to speak but their echoes are truly endless."
6. Challenge a teammate today
Challenge at least one of your teammates today. Positively push them and yourself to make the most of your workout. Make a friendly wager. See if you both can improve your times in conditioning. Offer to stay after to help if there is anything they want to work on. Good leaders consistently invite, inspire, and sometimes implore others to greatness.
7. Support a teammate today
Odds are, at least one of your teammates is struggling with something today - it could be a performance slump, a rocky romantic relationship, a disagreement with a coach, an unglamorous role, struggling with a class, or a sick family member. Good leaders are consistently on the lookout for teammates who might be struggling and are ready to offer an ear to listen, an encouraging word, a pat on the back, or a shoulder to cry on.
8. Constructively confront negativity, pessimism, and laziness today
As a leader, have the courage to constructively confront the negativity, pessimism, and laziness that will crop up on your team from time to time. Instead of fueling the fire by joining in or silently standing by, be sure to refocus your teammates on solutions rather than dwelling on and complaining about the problems. Left unchecked, these problems can quickly grow to distract, divide, and destroy your team.
9. Build and bond your team today
Team chemistry naturally ebbs and flows throughout the course of the season. Take the time to monitor and maintain your team's chemistry. Let your reserves and support staff know how much you appreciate them. Stay connected and current with each of the natural sub-groups on your team. Douse any brush fires that might be occurring and continually remind team members about your common goal and common bond.
10. Check in with your coach today
Invest the time to check in with your coach today. Ask what you can do to best help the team this week. Find out what your coach wants to accomplish with today's practice. Also discuss if there is anything your coach is concerned about regarding your team. Discuss your collective insights on your team's chemistry, focus, and mindset. Work together to effectively co-lead your team.
11. Remind your team how today's work leads to tomorrow's dreams
It's easy to get bogged down during your season with monotonous drills, tiring conditioning, and demanding workouts. Remind your teammates how all the quality work you do today gives you a distinct advantage over your opponents. Help them see and even get excited about how today's hard work is a long-term investment in your team's goals, rather than just a short-term hardship or sacrifice.
12. Represent yourself and team with class and pride
Leaders have the awesome privilege and responsibility of representing their teams. Take advantage of this opportunity by representing your team with class and pride. Hold a door open for someone, sit in the front rows of class and actively engage in the discussion, say please and thank you, dress in respectful attire, etc. These tiny pushes represent you and your team with class and distinction. And they ultimately set you up for a lifetime of respect and success.
GENERAL DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER
"To be a leader a man must have followers. And to have followers, you must have their confidence. Hence the supreme quality of a leader is unquestioned integrity. Without it, no real success is possible whether it is in a section gang, on a football field, in an army, or in an office."
LEADERSHIP
Leadership is the willingness to put oneself at risk.
Leadership is the passion to make a difference with others.
Leadership is being dissatisfied with the current reality.
Leadership is taking responsibility while others are making excuses.
Leadership is seeing the possibilities in a situation while others are seeing the limitations.
Leadership is the readiness to stand out in a crowd.
Leadership is an open mind and an open heart.
Leadership is the ability to submerge your ego for the sake of what is best.
Leadership is inspiring others with a vision of what they can contribute.
Leadership is the power of one harnessing the power of many.
Leadership is your heart speaking to the hearts of others.
Leadership is the integration of heart, head, and soul.
Leadership is the capacity to care, and in caring, to liberate the ideas, energy, and capacities of others.
Leadership is the dream made reality.
Leadership is, above all, courageous.
Leadership is the passion to make a difference with others.
Leadership is being dissatisfied with the current reality.
Leadership is taking responsibility while others are making excuses.
Leadership is seeing the possibilities in a situation while others are seeing the limitations.
Leadership is the readiness to stand out in a crowd.
Leadership is an open mind and an open heart.
Leadership is the ability to submerge your ego for the sake of what is best.
Leadership is inspiring others with a vision of what they can contribute.
Leadership is the power of one harnessing the power of many.
Leadership is your heart speaking to the hearts of others.
Leadership is the integration of heart, head, and soul.
Leadership is the capacity to care, and in caring, to liberate the ideas, energy, and capacities of others.
Leadership is the dream made reality.
Leadership is, above all, courageous.
HOW TO BECOME THE BEST
From the magazine, "Get Motivated," comes an excellent article titled, How to Rebound From Setbacks: Ruben Gonzales, the three-time Olympian tells how he excelled in one of the Olympics’ most perilous sports --the lug.
Principle 1- Go All the Way: When you decide that quitting is not an option, you will soon be in the top 10 percent of your field. Odds are, ninety percent of your competition will simply give up!
Principle 2- Create a “Dream Team”: Ninety percent of success is determined by whom you associate with. So create a Dream Team of people around you who will encourage you through the toughest times.
Principle 3- Give Yourself a Pep Talk: It’s easy to get down when things aren’t going your way. After a bad luge run, sometimes I walk up and down the track for 20 minutes, saying: “I can do it! I will make it, because there’s always a way!” When you get down, pick yourself up and give yourself a pep talk.
Principle 4- Learn from Your Mistakes: High achievers believe that they will either do well at each task they tackle or they will learn something to help them win in future. As funny as it sounds, most successful people “fail their way upwards.” I was no different, crashing all the way to the top!
Principle 5-Recover Quickly: When winners make mistakes, they don’t waste time whining. They do whatever it takes to recover quickly, so they don’t lose their momentum. When a boxer gets knocked down, he has only 10 seconds to get back up. If he gets up in eleven seconds, he loses the fight. SO the next time you get knocked down, decide to act like a winner. Get up, take immediate action and make your dream a reality!
Principle 1- Go All the Way: When you decide that quitting is not an option, you will soon be in the top 10 percent of your field. Odds are, ninety percent of your competition will simply give up!
Principle 2- Create a “Dream Team”: Ninety percent of success is determined by whom you associate with. So create a Dream Team of people around you who will encourage you through the toughest times.
Principle 3- Give Yourself a Pep Talk: It’s easy to get down when things aren’t going your way. After a bad luge run, sometimes I walk up and down the track for 20 minutes, saying: “I can do it! I will make it, because there’s always a way!” When you get down, pick yourself up and give yourself a pep talk.
Principle 4- Learn from Your Mistakes: High achievers believe that they will either do well at each task they tackle or they will learn something to help them win in future. As funny as it sounds, most successful people “fail their way upwards.” I was no different, crashing all the way to the top!
Principle 5-Recover Quickly: When winners make mistakes, they don’t waste time whining. They do whatever it takes to recover quickly, so they don’t lose their momentum. When a boxer gets knocked down, he has only 10 seconds to get back up. If he gets up in eleven seconds, he loses the fight. SO the next time you get knocked down, decide to act like a winner. Get up, take immediate action and make your dream a reality!
MICHAEL JORDAN - PRACTICE HABITS
“I’ve always believed that if you put in the work, the results will come. I don’t do things halfheartedly. Because I know if I do, then I can expect halfhearted results. That’s why I approached practices the same way I approached games.”
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