Quote of the Day:

”Once you learn to quit, it becomes a habit…. KEEP GOING!!”

Talent is Overrated ... The secret to success?

Perfect practice makes perfect. 

I'm in the middle of reading the outstanding book by Geoff Colvin called "Talent Is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else".

Brief summary: "Why are certain people incredibly great at what they do? Most of us think we know the answer- but we're almost always wrong. That's important, because if we're wrong on this crucial question, then we have zero chance of getting significantly better at anything we care about."

So, what makes world-class performers so remarkable? Colvin presents a ton of research that shows natural, innate, "born-with" talent is just a fallacy. Also, it isn't simply "hard work" that elevates some above others. The short answer? Deliberate practice. (there are many details about what deliberate practice is and is not...post with details to come).

Granted, you need to have the physical qualities and mental cabilities to perform a certain task (ex: height to be a basketball player, right brain strength to be an artist).

From chess grand-masters to violin virtuosos, from General Electric's CEO to Tiger Woods, Colvin reviews how these remarkable people actually possess average IQ's and have done one thing to rise above the competition: practice with intention. A LOT of practice, with specific intentions.

Check back in the next post for a quick overview of how Tiger Woods and Mozart became so great at what they do.

Quote of the Day:

After a short hiatus, the blog is back up and running!
"Two kinds of ballplayers aren't worth a darn: One that never does what he's told, and one who does nothin' except what he's told. " -Bum Phillips

Quote of the Day:

The noblest search is the search for excellence – Lyndon B. Johnson

You don't "have to"; you "get to".

Here is a link to a great post written by Michael Hyatt entitled "How a Shift in Your Vocabulary Can Instantly Change Your Attitude"- click here.

Quote of the Day:

You need to be aware of what others are doing, applaud their efforts, acknowledge their successes, and encourage them in their pursuits. When we all help one another, everybody wins. – Jim Stovall

3 Ways to Build Team Trust

Another great blog post by Stephanie Zonars (www.LifeBeyondSport.com)!!

As I gathered with a team for a Building Trust workshop last weekend, the assistant coach roamed around the room with a small box collecting cell phones. I’ve heard about coaches doing this, but it hadn’t happened at one of my workshops yet. Got me thinking about the impact of technology on relationships.


We’ve experienced the upside. Facebook has connected us with long lost friends and family. Texting makes it easy to communicate basic information quickly. Twitter even saved some lives in the Haiti earthquake.
 
But for all the benefits, electronic communication alone will not result in strong, healthy, trusting relationships. The youngest of Generation Y (born after 1990 and referred to by Tim Elmore as Generation iY) seem to lack patience as well as listening and conflict resolution skills—all of which are required to build relational trust.

I’ve noticed, however, that when given the opportunity to connect face-to-face, young people do engage. In fact, the high school and college teams I work with share with courage and vulnerability. Seems that it’s less a function of willingness and more a response to environment.

Our world is moving so fast, we must proactively work to slow it down and create an atmosphere for the individuals on our teams to feel comfortable sharing. Three practical ways you can do this on your team:

Model the behavior you want. If you want your team to put their phones away and talk to one another, show them how. Refuse to check your phone when you are in the middle of an in-person conversation. Answer it when your athlete or co-worker is in the midst of a heartfelt disclosure and you can bet they won’t readily open up to you again.

Institute tech-free zones. Make team functions tech-free zones. Meals together, game nights, bus rides—make some of these tech-free times and opportunities to interact face-to-face. Keep it playful and your team may not even notice the absence of their tech toys.

Ask questions. Your team members want to know that you care about more than just their performance. Take time to ask them about their families, dreams and experiences. People like to talk about themselves, and you’ll be amazed at what you’ll learn! Can’t think of what to ask? Check out these great questions.

Building trusting relationships isn’t hard, but it takes time. If you want a trusting team it’s going to take intentional time, effort and creativity.