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.
- "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.
- 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.