It's easy to dismiss motivational speakers. "They're selling us a bill of goods." The most important talk we hear comes from within. But motivational speakers help us get there. We can't change the world until we change ourselves.
Exceptions happen. Churchill galvanized England with his speech promising never to surrender. He failed many times during his career; but he saved Western civilization.
We need self-talk that translates into actions, behaviors, energy, and values.
It's an old concept. My daughters' team that won 55 consecutive league games had TOGETHER. Our word in high school was SACRIFICE. The Celtics used UBUNTU, about community. "I am because we are."
My assistant, Steve, suggested PERSISTENCE, for the coming season. Whenever I hear persistence, I think of Coolidge.
Suggesting SIMPLIFY, Coach Jim Boone explains how hard simple really is. John Maeda's Laws of Simplicity suggested these:
In You Win in the Locker Room First, Gordon and Falcons coach Mike Smith used seven 'C' words to describe winning over players.
Our word becomes a platform, a rallying point, a vision focusing an individual or a group upon their destiny.
We had an excellent team that used FIGHT. They hadn't seen the movie. Before the game began, I'd ask, "Are we going to stand around all day, or are we going to fight?" They'd respond, "Fight."
We'll have a team word this season. Possibilities abound...including POSSIBILITIES. But it won't be my word; it must be theirs, because they have OWNERSHIP and ACCOUNTABILITY for the results and to each other. What's your word?
Lagniappe:
Don Kelbick teaches separation off the dribble emphasizing footwork. Whether we emphasize footwork or shoulder-hip-ball, players learn solutions to the problem of getting separation.