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Friday, June 23, 2023

Basketball: Your Commencement Address


Coach, imagine you're asked to deliver the commencement address at your local high school. The committee asks for a draft. What's your strategy? 
  • Why are they asking me? 
  • Who's my audience?
  • What do I want to say? 
  • Add "nots". Not too long, not stuffy, not boring. 
"Congratulations, graduates. You made it. Thank you Principal Dumas for that spectacular introduction. And the best part was that you delivered it just as I wrote it. The selection committee asked why they should pick me as speaker. My first thought was, "with a straight face?" I added, "I won't be too long or too boring."

1. Picasso said, "good artists borrow; great artists steal." Here are stolen lessons for your everyday use.  
 
2. Keep it simple. At Celtics' practice, Brad Stevens said, "basketball, it's not rocket science." The best part about science, whether you believe it or not, is that it's true. 

3. Bring your best self every day. Stand tall. Make eye contact. Have a firm handshake. 

On the court. Play hard. Play smart. Play together. 

4. Be a good teammate. Not everyone can be a great player, but everyone can choose to be a great teammate. Be happy for another's success. Life is a team sport. 

5. "Look for the helpers." That's genius from Mr. Rogers. Don't go it alone. The Navy SEALs say, "two is one and one is none." 

6. During interviews, dress for success. Sure, it's 90 degrees out, but cover those sleeve tattoos. And remember, "flip flops are not shoes."  

7. Appreciate irony. My first day of school, a six year-old was banging on the door saying, "Mommy, don't leave me." I never did that again. No, seriously, decades later I asked that kid's mother what he's doing now. "He's a principal in New Hampshire." School got better for him. That's called 'overcompensating'.

8. Think again. Do you know how long English has been America's official language? <I see wheels turning> It's not. Don't believe everything you here. Ask yourself, "can that be true?" or "is that even possible?" Some try to take advantage of your trust." Don't fall for that stuff. Adam Grant, author of Think Again advises, "Keep a rethinking scorecard." 

9. Read, read, read, read, read. Reread a great book. It's better to reread something great than to read ten bad books. Abandon bad books. Except mine. 

10. Share. Eleven-time NBA championship coach Phil Jackson says, "basketball is sharing." Share something great - a book, a quote, a recipe, a movie. 

11. Give and get feedback. Be "performance-focused, feedback-rich." You can't know if others are on the same page without asking, "what is your understanding?" President Ronald Reagan said, "Trust but verify." 

12. Avoid dumacity. You're asking, "what is dumacity?" It's the act or condition of being a dumbass. Don't take selfies hanging off cliffs. Don't drink and drive or ride with a drunk driver. If that someone special says he doesn't want to be with you, don't jump off a bridge. There's someone else special out there.

13. Have a plan. Be intentional. Nature finds a way. Greatness has to make its way. Do something every day for your craft and something for your business. 

14. Ask better questions. "Why am I wrong?" or "what could go wrong?" Players might think how can we win. Coaches ask what puts us in the best position to win. What can we do to avoid losing? 

15. Hard work is a skill. It's not for everyone. "There's never a crowd on the extra mile." Kobe Bryant took a thousand shots a day in the summer. Larry Bird took 500 free throws before school. Isiah Thomas played for up to eight hours a day at the playground. 

16. Obsess the product. Sara Blakely took an idea of better undergarments and turned it into a five billion dollar business. She never raised money with stock or bond capital. She preaches, "make it, sell it, build brand awareness." What's your brand? 

17. Become a storyteller. We are storytelling animals. The Dalai Lama explained much of his wisdom occurred by listening to the many leaders with whom he had met. Craft stories of SUCCESS - simple, unexpected, concrete, credible, emotional, stories. Bill Bradley was a banker's son, not the most athletic guy. He worked out for three hours a day and all day Saturday starting at age twelve. At Princeton, he scored the most points during the Final Four, with 58 against Wichita State. 

18. Study greatness. Study leaders. Character is job one. Leaders have different approaches. Nelson Mandela learned from his father to speak last. Give a more thoughtful response when you've heard what others say. 

19. Make friends with the dead. Some of my heroes, my role models have long departed - Bill Russell, Dean Smith, John Wooden. Were they perfect? Of course not. But they shared memorable lessons.
  • "My ego demands the success of my team." - Russell
  • "A lion never roars after the kill." - Smith
  • "Make every day your masterpiece." - Wooden
20. Dream big. Work bigger. You graduated. You can do anything.
 
Lagniappe. Play with joy. 

Lagniappe 2. Have this finish in your toolbox. 

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