Memorable, Useful Analogies for Sport and Basketball

Analogies reinforce concepts between disciplines. They help us solve problems and think out of the box. 

How many times have we heard players say after a mistake, I know, I know? To know is to do. Use analogies to do better. 

"All cooking is about time and temperature." - Thomas Keller

• Our progress relates to time invested and its intensity.
• ACHIEVEMENT = TIME x EFFECTIVENESS
• The quality of time spent matters not just time.

"Never accept the fact that something is yours." - Sam Jackson

• Fight for your position every day. Someone is coming for you. 
• “You had to look at your players and defend every player to the rest of the organization.” (Al Davis philosophy for the Oakland Raiders in Michael Lombardi's Gridiron Genius)
• Michael Jordan told Roy Williams that he would work as hard as any player ever at Carolina. Williams told him that he had to work harder than that. 

Michelangelo crafted his magical Pieta at age 26. Many were amazed. He explained that it was no miracle, because he had worked on his craft ten hours a day since he was eight. 

• "The magic is in the work." 
• Malcolm Gladwell's "10,000 Hours" may be questioned but it follows on the heels of Wooden's "faith" and "patience" in the Pyramid of Success.
• Dashrath Manji cut a road through a mountain with a hammer and chisel. 

Spanx founder Sara Blakely says, "make it, sell it, build brand awareness." She turned an idea into a five billion dollar business. She owns the business having never sold stock or bonds to raise funds. 

• Each of us has a brand to nurture and defend. 
• Remember that Chuck Daly, two-time NBA Champion coach said, "I'm a salesman." 

Investigative journalist Bob Woodward seeks "the best version of the truth."

• Kevin Eastman says we have to "tell the truth, live the truth, and take the truth." Excellent players want the truth. 
• Self-awareness and analysis reveal the "brutal facts" about our teams.  

Playwright and author David Mamet asks "what hinders you?" What's the equivalent of writer's block for coaches? 

• Losing streaks aren't "obstruction." 
• Ego and stubbornness can prevent us from change, growth, and adaptation. 
• Would lack of identity for a team approach writer's block?
• Netflix profiled tennis coach Patrick Moratoglou in The Playbook. He coached Marcos Baghdatis from a raw teen up to number eight in the world, and the youngster dumped him saying, "now I know how to be at the top of the game." A fall from grace ensued. 

"Excuses are poison." Robin Arzon migrated her career from law to fitness.

• Teams and coaches navigate waters filled with poison. 
• Coaches work to immunize teams against laziness, selfishness, complacency, envy and more (The Disease of Me). 
• Remember coach Wooden, "don't whine, don't complain, don't make excuses."

Lagniappe (something extra in two parts). Both are relevant. 

Take parts of a workout and make it your own. In my opinion, it's better to have fewer moves executed well than many executed less well. And when possible, finish with the dominant hand.