"Somebody's gotta win and somebody's gotta lose." - Everyone's Mother
I can't speak for you, but we're not going home with trophies this season. To borrow a phrase from mariner Steve Callahan, sometimes "I felt as though I had a view of heaven from a seat in hell."
What are you going to say to your team after the season. I'm going to borrow some thoughts from Laurence Gonzales, author of Deep Survival and Surviving Survival.
1. Work, work, work. Focus on your process, the nuts and bolts of improving. It's easy, but not sufficient, to dredge up "there's always somebody else who's in the gym right now." When our work doesn't match our dreams, frustration ensues. Unhappy with your grades? Do the work. Disappointed in your performance? Work your craft.
2. Be here now. Play in the moment. Play present. Next play. Focus completely on the task at hand. Don't look at me if you miss a shot (or make one). "Do the next right thing right." Don't focus on the officiating, your parents, or your friends in the stands. Win this possession...over and over.
3. Be tough. Brad Stevens says, "the game honors toughness." Jay Bilas shared humiliation as a freshman at Duke when he didn't go to the floor for a loose ball. He distinguishes the 'false hustle' chest-thumping toughness from authentic actions belonging to tough players.
4. Touch someone. Premature babies in nurseries grow faster and go home quicker when they're touched and massaged. Humans are social animals. We need to express and feel our humanity. Teams 'in touch' perform at a higher level. Share the fist bumps and high fives liberally. Let your teammates know that you're there for them. Excellent teams radiate joy.
5. Be grateful. John Donne wrote, "no man is an island." As teammates, embrace a community greater than ourselves. Gratitude is part of Don Meyer's core values - passion, unity, thankfulness, humility, and servant leadership. Everyone likes to be appreciated. Share your gratitude.
If players want to make a difference, they must become different. We can help. Above all, "two is one and one is none" is about people. Inspire someone.