Monday, July 30, 2018

Basketball: The Disciplines of Success

"Success leaves footprints." - Kevin Eastman

What makes us different? How do we measure success? Development leaves fingerprints on the canvas of lives. When a former player gets suspended for substance abuse, frustration sets in at the 'inattention' to life lessons. When players earn advanced degrees, have academic or other achievements, celebrate for the person and their family. 

Control what you can control. 

In his MasterClass, Thomas Keller shares six disciplines learned (at his mother's elbow...she managed a restaurant). He began as a dishwasher. 

Organization. "Organization speaks for itself." You know it when you see it. "It is the difference between failure and success."

Efficiency. Efficiency builds execution. Practice at a higher tempo. Use that most valuable resource...time. 



Critical feedback. Understand how our input improves others' output. "It's the critical feedback that we learn from the most." He focuses on the restaurant customer who is not happy...how can we improve their experience? Growth... understanding... self-analysis. 



Repetition. "Repetition makes reputations." John Wooden marveled at how Bill Walton never tired of repeating the same footwork and moves that produced greatness. "Make gnocchi every Sunday...you'll have it in the freezer for convenience meals." Make the gnocchi

Rituals. Great habits build consistent performance. As Aristotle said, "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit." We make our habits and our habits make us. What habits make us?  

Teamwork. "Without me being part of that team, being efficient, they couldn't do their job (server, chef, bartender)." Unless the twelfth player on the team is punctual, committed, challenging the starter, then the team suffers. Basketball is a collective experience. Do you play on the team or for the team

Lagniappe:


Chris Oliver podcast quotes and Buffalo Bulls video... Highlights: 

“We started charting paint touches and there was a pretty good correlation on at least one paint touch and our points per possession.” (Kirby Schepp has noted this in charting his possessions as discussed on FIBA video). 

“We are guaranteed to get an open shot once we get you in drive and kick basketball.” (Penetration draws defenders, opens the perimeter, and forces tough closeouts.)