You write your narrative. In large part, you determine whether your story is heroic and inspiring, ordinary, or forgettable. Don't let others, especially nonbelievers, control the conversation.
You have powerful tools available - consistency of attitude, decision-making, effort, and performance. You have the opportunity to define your destiny. When you combine it with like-minded teammates, you create a powerful synergy.
Attitude. Show up on time and ready to go. Yesterday before the game, I discussed the difference between "nervous" and "excited." Top competitors are excited for the competition. They have 'done the work' of preparation and practice vital to success. Attitude includes your willingness to learn and especially your enthusiasm to support your teammates. Attitude means listening attentively and having curiosity. Attitude can include having positive "body language".
Regardless of your politics, you have to be "Fired up! Ready to go."
Decision-making. Decisions define you. Decisions determine destiny. You choose to spend your time or to invest it. In class, are you dialed in and learning or distracted? At practice, are you committed to making good decisions and profiting from mistakes, erasing those from your future? Are you expanding your basketball IQ daily?
Effort. Effort is more than the sum of its parts. It involves engagement, awareness (know what's happening), alertness (react), and toughness. As youngsters, we heard the term "false hustle." Vacuous running down the court is fool's gold. Are you seeing ball and man, playing in a stance, pressuring the ball, denying penetration and cutters or are you just 'out there'? You can see a loose ball and react, but if you lack the desire to possess the ball more than your opponent, that's "false hustle". You can never be an "energy vampire." Effort means having energy, energizing your teammates, and the intangible "edge" that you see from some players.
Performance. Performance bridges the gap between "know that" and "know how." Performance implies 'making a difference'. Making a difference doesn't always show up in the scorebook. Pressuring the ball forcing a turnover, getting a deflection, dropping into a passing lane to stop penetration, blocking out, setting a good trap, drawing a charge, screening effectively, moving without the ball, getting a "hockey assist", moving a defender with a cut, and tieing up an opponent show up where it matters...on the scoreboard.
That doesn't diminish the value of assists, rebounds, and points. But because you play ninety percent of the game (on average) without the ball, how are you impacting the game each possession?
Winners know what's "inside our boat." During the 1987 World Women's Rowing Championship, the US team was about three inches shorter, twenty pounds lighter, and competing in the battering waves of lane six in Copenhagen versus a heavily favored Russian eight. But with a heroic effort, the women defeated the Russians and captured a silver medal. Winners leave their mark, regardless of the score.
