Modernism seduces us to believe in originality and convention. But we know, “there is nothing new under the sun.”
The beloved storyteller Aesop spun simple stories with profound meaning.
“The Fox and the Grapes” tells us how a hungry fox cannot reach grapes on a vine. He walks away muttering how the the grapes were sour anyway. As coaches or players, when we can’t achieve the desired end, will we dismiss the prize as unworthy anyway?
The Tortoise and the Hare. Everyone knows that “slow and steady wins the race.” Warren Buffett told Jeff Bezos that Buffett’s approach goes neglected because nobody wants to get rich slowly. Excellence takes time. The players who invest their focus and time earn the fruits of their labor.
Wolf in Sheep's Clothing. We know that what you see is not what you always get. Aesop gets credited for biblical wisdom. Time reveals A baser nature... also seen in the tale of the Scorpion and the Frog. You’ve all known situations of peers undermining another to their benefit.
The Lion and the Mouse Don’t hesitate to offer small favors as you never know when a small kindness gets repaid. Similar phrases include, “bread cast upon the waters...” in Teammates Matter, Williams explains how as a walk on at Wake, he got no perks, not even a gym bag. But later, he found the star player’s bag in his locker. The star needed no trappings of success.
The Boy Who Cried Wolf inauthenticity will bite you in the backside. When we complain about everything, serious issues that we care about will likely go unaddressed. Sometimes you can fight City Hall or enlist their help to get the resources (including practice time) needed.
The Old Man and His Sons What individually is easy to break can become insurmountable together. We also hear that “there is power in numbers.” The single finger is weak, but a fist offers strength. The country is founded with the motto E pluribus unum, one from many.