Wednesday, October 9, 2024

Basketball: The First Penguin Award

Have you received a "First Penguin" award? In The Last Lecture, Professor Randy Pausch explains. "Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want."

The "first penguin" jumps into predator-infested waters, well, because somebody has to in their search for food. "Sometimes we're the windshield; sometimes we're the bug."

Failure is our companion on the success journey. Edison didn't stop at one, ten, a hundred or even 999 tries to invite the lightbulb. Lincoln lost most of his elections before winning the Presidency. John Wooden won a title in his 16th season at UCLA. Nobody gifts us overnight success.

Kara Lawson tells players to "handle hard better." Coach Gregg Popovich reminds players to "get over yourself." Kevin Eastman says, "get past mad; get past hard."

The "First Penguin":

  • Becomes comfortable with being uncomfortable. 
  • Works harder than you can imagine. 
  • Does five more, the 'extra', the unrequired work. 
  • Lets everyone sees them sweat. 
Lagniappe. Shooting practice. 

Lagniappe 2. Ball sticking means low scoring. 

Lagniappe 3. Great players are detail oriented.