Kobe on Leadership.
- Leaders must hold themselves accountable first.
- Lead by example.
- Set the standard.
"If you are going to be a leader, you’re not going to please everybody. You got to hold people accountable, even if you have that moment of being uncomfortable."
Coaching Gold from Coach Saban 🏆
It takes what it takes.
There are no secrets to success.
1. What do you want?
2. What does it take to get there?
3. Are you willing to commit?
4. Can you handle the hard?
No Deposit - No Return!
“You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ … You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” — Eleanor Roosevelt
Stay present in the moment.
Have a sense of urgency in all you do.
Being urgent at the moment is the "little thing" that makes a massive difference in the success of teams.
- How bad do you want it now?
- Do you have a sense of urgency?
Trust the GRIND.
This poem hit me hard...
"Good timber does not grow with ease...By sun and cold, by rain and snow, in trees and men good timbers grow."
Very, very good.
Some WISDOM for Young Coaches.
I was a Head Coach at 26. A Principal at 33. I have been doing both for the last 11.
I have learned a lot about coaching and leadership.
Here are 9 of the most important things I have learned...
1: PLAYERS NOT PLAYS
In pressure situations, do not worry about plays. Focus on players. It is so easy to worry about a "play." In reality, players win. Get the ball in the "player's hand who will make the right "play."
2: LEARN the 20-40-60 RULE ASAP
The earlier you learn this as a coach, the better off you will be.
- In your 20's - you worry about what others think.
- In your 40's - you don't care what others think.
- In your 60's - you realize no one was thinking of you to begin with!
3: PLAY THE LONG GAME WITH CULTURE
Culture Wins. Culture is a long game, but culture is fragile. Culture is...
- What you Allow.
- What you Emphasize.
- Every Day.
Focus on your culture every day. Every decision you make defines your culture.
4: RELATIONSHIPS FIRST
Coaching is about managing and leading people. And leading people is always about relationships. Don't ever lose sight of this. Focus on people.
5: SIMPLICITY WINS
Can you explain your offensive or defensive philosophy in 8 words or less? You should. And your players should, too. Simple wins.
6: GIVE UP SOME CONTROL
As a young coach, I tried to control how we played. I coached BB like I coached FB, play-by-play. I have since learned to teach kids how to play and not try to control every movement. It is much more enjoyable for everyone, and success has followed.
7: FIND A GREAT MENTOR
I was lucky. I had a 30-year coaching legend as my assistant coach. His wisdom was priceless. One time, I had a sticky decision with a player/parent. I was grounded on principle. I was lucky to have my mentor.
8: CONNECT WITH COACHING COLLEAGUES
Coaching is hard. The skill set needed to do a good job is incredible. You are also on an island at times. Connect with your coaching colleagues on a personal level. The relationships are lifelong and priceless.
9: FAMILY FIRST
Don't lose sight of your time. Don't lose sight of your commitment. Always make time for your kids and family. Done right, raising kids in a coaching household has incredible rewards!
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“Be satisfied with even the smallest progress," Marcus Aurelius said.
You’re never going to be perfect—there is no such thing. You’re human. So instead, aim for progress, even the smallest amount.