In Management Secrets of the New England Patriots, James Lavin writes:
"Belicheck-style preparation systematically covers every aspect of winning football games: opponent analysis, clock management, strength and conditioning, strategy and tactics, situational practice, two-minute drills, advance planning for inevitable injuries, matching player talents and skills to roles, recognizing what the opponent is doing, forcing and avoiding turnovers, managing emotions, preventing penalties, avoiding trouble on and off the field, substituting players smoothly, etc."
Examining our collective success, we can make excuses or better choices. Where we didn't execute well enough, we can prepare better, develop more, and choose wisely or we can blame facilities, schedules, support, injuries, officiating, and other factors we can't control.
If we're having great success, why change? Two principles endure:
1) Do more of what is working and less of what isn't.
2) Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.
Results depend on process and talent. Attitude, concentration, commitment, discipline, effort, patience, resilience, sacrifice, study, tenacity, and time don't depend on talent.
When Jon Gordon spoke to the Pittsburgh Pirates he asked the team whether anyone thought they could work harder. EVERYONE raised their hand. I doubt they are an exception. If we can work harder, what holds us back?
How hard we study and work is our choice but also our habit. We can build better habits (activity, diet, spending, study, time management) through our actions not by our thoughts. Choose to build better habits...starting now.