“Winning means you’re willing to go longer, work harder, and give more than anyone else.”
– VINCE LOMBARDI
I really like this quote from the great Vince Lombardi.
And does it really stop at sports?
Of course not.
If you have a job (or even a job interview), the best thing you can do is go longer, work harder and give more than anyone else.
Do you have to be gifted to do this?
Of course not.
Ten Commandments for Success in Baseball
by Joe McCarthy (1949)
1. Nobody ever became a ballplayer by walking after a ball.
2. You will never become a .300 hitter unless you take the bat off your shoulder.
3. An outfielder who throws in back of a runner is locking the barn after the horse is stolen.
4. Keep your head up and you may not have to keep it down.
5. When you start to slide, slide. He who changes his mind may have to change a good leg for a bad one.
6. Do not alibi on bad hops. Anybody can field the good ones.
7. Always run them out. You never can tell.
8. Do not quit.
9. Do not fight too much with the umpires. You cannot expect them to be as perfect as you are.
10. A pitcher who hasn’t control hasn’t anything.
I just got off the phone with one of my she-ros, Rayna DuBose.
Rayna was a top basketball recruit and received a full scholarship to Virginia Tech. After her first season, she contracted a type of meningitis and within 24 hours, she had all four limbs amputated. Now she is a motivational speaker.
She said that was the best thing that ever happened to her.
Why?
Because now she is helping other people.
A pretty bold statement from someone who, wakes up and first thing in the morning, puts on her arms and legs (prosthetics).
We cannot control our situations but we can control our attitudes towards them.
Be like Rayna.
We, as humans, tend to focus more on the things we DON’T have, versus the things we DO have.
Common statements are:
“I don’t have a backhand.”
“I don’t have enough money to pay the bills.”
“I don’t have the iPhone 4.”
One of the best things you can do to become happier and more successful is cultivate gratitude.
Focus on the things you DO have.
Here’s what you do:
1. Make a list. At the top, write, “I am grateful for…”
2. Create three columns.
3. Name the columns, “Things,” “People,” and “Other”
4. In the column of “Things,” write down any material possessions you are thankful for; in the column of “People,” write the names of people you are thankful for; and in the column of “Other,” write down anything that doesn’t fall into the other two categories (i.e., health, job, education).
5. Read your list 4 times a day (after lunch, after dinner, before bed, first thing in the morning).
6. Do this for a week and see if you feel any different.
Let me know your reactions.
What else would you write in the “Other” category?
Life is always throwing curveballs at us.
There will always be situations that are not to our liking.
It could be the economy, the weather, umpires, grumpy co-workers, bad influences, etc.
The situation is not nearly as important as…
OUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS it.
We control our attitudes.
Suppose you are driving and the person behind you begins to tailgate you. They then pull in front of you, and irritated, you tailgate them back.
Doesn’t this make you just as bad as them?
You can’t control if someone tailgates you, but you can control your reaction to them, can’t you?
Absolutely.
Nothing external from you has any control over you, unless you let it.
Don’t let it.
Today I had the fortunate opportunity to meet one of the most mentally tough athletes in history, Mariano Rivera, closer, New York Yankees.
Teammates have said that Mariano is very humble and is the same person that he was when he played in the minor leagues. I could believe that. He was such a pleasure to speak to and had such a great positive energy about him.
Rivera once said:
“When you start thinking, a lot of things will happen. Emotions take place, and you have to know how to control your emotions. If you don’t control your emotions, your emotions will control your acts, and that’s not good.”
Rivera told me today that during pressure situations, you need to keep your composure.
How does Rivera do it? He focuses on the catcher’s mitt. He acknowledges the pressure, then gets to work.
You may not have Mariano Rivera’s cut fastball, but you can have the same mindset and focus as him.
Starting NOW.
Are you looking for a certain level of success in sports, sales or school?
Is there somewhere you want to get to?
Let me tell you a secret.
It’s not out there.
Success is already inside you.
If you have the right mindset (all-out effort/constant improvement) and have passion for what you do, you are successful.
Set goals, but enjoy the process.
Success is a journey, not a destination.
Success is a marathon, not a sprint.
I recently spoke to a minor league baseball player and asked how his off-season was going, how his workouts were going. He said they were going fine. There wasn’t excitement in his voice. It didn’t sound like he was pushing himself to get to the next level. It almost sounded like he was giving up or that the major leagues was a near impossibility.
All of the successful people in the world have one thing in common–They act successful BEFORE they become successful. That comes from inside. And this is trainable.
There are no limits, you can always improve. Don’t be content. Create your vision. Start taking action.
With this mindset, ANYTHING is possible.
Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.
-BUDDHA
For many, this is the most wonderful time of the year. I concur.
Even though I feel like this all year ’round, I particularly enjoy the holidays for one main reason.
People GIVE.
Don’t get me wrong, people giving is not so I can get “stuff.”
People giving is actually people GETTING.
Let me explain…
When you give to someone, you GET much more in return. It feels better when you GIVE than when you receive. That’s a big reason why I blog every day and donate my time, services and products throughout the year. It makes ME happy.
When you give, you feel good.
The best way to make yourself happy is to make someone else happy.
The best way to get motivated is to get someone else motivated.
The best way to become successful is to make someone else successful.
That’s why I think this is the most wonderful time of the year.
Can you apply this to teamwork? School? Your job?
You bet.
As a matter of fact, research has shown that people who volunteer and give more of themselves, reap the health benefits (mental and physical) for up to 50 years.
It’s about OTHERS.
So as you go through this holiday season, focus less on what you might get and focus more on what you intend to GIVE. And remember, it doesn’t necessarily have to be an object, it can be your time, a compliment or just doing a little bit extra.
Someone once asked George Foreman, former world heavyweight boxing champion of the world, how he withstood the pain from being a boxer.
Foreman replied:
“If I see what I want real good in my mind, I don’t notice any pain in getting it.”
How does this relate to you?
1. Visualize the athlete, student, or salesperson you want to be.
2. Do whatever it takes to get there. No exceptions.
3. Begin today.