Melanie Toloumu

Curriculum Coordinator. Mentor. Science Educator. Lifelong Learner. Boys Volleyball Coach. Wife. Mother of 3 Sons
#alwaysfailforward #ramson3familyon6
#blessed

[The Winning Difference @thewinningdiff1]

"Run hard when it gets hard to run.
Everything starts with discipline.
Practice until you can’t get it wrong - not just until you get it right.
If you don’t respect it enough to do it right-when it’s the right way to do it, how can you be trusted in a game?"
- Nick Saban

[The Winning Difference @thewinningdiff1]

You can either expect it to happen

Or

You can make it happen.

The choice is yours.

[Coach AJ 🎯 Mental Fitness @coachajkings]

Nick Saban said, "If you want to be good, you really don't have a lot of choices, because it takes what it takes."

Your daily choices matter.
• They reflect your character.
• They reflect your commitment.
• They shape who you become.

7 Choices to Make Today👇

[Coach the Coaches @WinningCoaches]

5 Hard Truths for Athletes:

1. No one owes you anything.
2. Nothing worth having comes easy.
3. Hard work is the price of admission.
4. Hard times create strong people.
5. Improvement has no offseason.

~ via @TheCoachJournal

[Coach Dan Casey @CoachDanCasey]

"You can only coach somebody to the depth of your relationship with them. The better you know them, the harder you can coach them. If it's a surface-level relationship, it will be surface-level coaching."

-Dan Quinn

[Coach AJ 🎯 Mental Fitness @coachajkings]

NO STRUGGLE, NO GROWTH

The stories you tell yourself and how you frame your challenges will determine your future.

Growth becomes a habit when you make it a consistent part of your daily life. It only happens when you accept these 3 things: 1. There will be adversity and challenges
2. Hard work and effort is required
3. Growth is a journey

[Kevin DeShazo @KevinDeShazo]

The best are willing to be challenged.
The best are willing to be corrected.
The best are willing to be wrong.
The best are willing to adjust.
The best are willing to listen.

Humility is the advantage.

[Robert Griffin III @RGIII]

Surround yourself with the people who push you to be the best version of yourself. Your circle should be filled with the best people, not just the yes people.

[Jamy Bechler @jamybechler]

NO EXCUSES.

This is a great look into the mindset of being a champion.

Possibly the greatest commercial of all-time.

[Coach AJ 🎯 Mental Fitness @coachajkings]

Nick Saban said, "My toughest job? Being a leader. Being a leader is about vision, about organization, about communication, about being focused on an organization's needs, and about anticipating problems."

Being a leader is tough.

It takes action and courage.

8 Nick Saban Principles on Being a Great Leader:
1. Great leaders stand up when adversity rises -
It's during tough times when leaders need to provide strength and guidance. True leaders stand, give support, and take ownership during tough times. This is when leaders are looked to lead because that is when you are most needed.

"Times of adversity are when leaders are needed most." - Nick Saban

2. Great leaders allow the team to take ownership - It isn't about what you can accomplish, but asking what can we accomplish together. Give people ownership and responsibility. Let people know that this is also their team, and they're responsible.

"Great leaders know how to follow." - Nick Saban

3. Great leaders embrace future leaders - Great leaders develop more leaders. They focus on nurturing talent, empowering others, and creating a culture of continuous learning. It means believing in people and their potential.

"I strongly believe that one of my responsibilities as head coach is to help those on my staff fulfill their potential and achieve their dreams." - Nick Saban

4. Great leaders lead the orchestra, but let them play - This is the art of letting go as a leader. You have to have faith and trust in your team. Empower them, love them, and care for them. You have to be smart, tough, and use good judgment. It should be easy to serve them and want to see them at their best.

"At home, as a parent, lead your children but allow them the room to grow." - Nick Saban

5. Great leaders make tough decisions - Great leaders don't try to please everyone. They know it isn't about popularity, but about responsibility. It means making tough choices and decisions. Leadership is being willing to do what is right for the team even if it doesn't make you liked.

"Make the tough decisions by doing what is best for your organization - but always be fair and honest with those involved." - Nick Saban

6. Great leaders accept responsibility - It always starts with you. When you accept responsibility, you set a standard for yourself. People notice when you honor your commitments and take ownership of your performance. This self-accountability sets a positive example for others and builds credibility.

"Whatever happens on your watch, take the fall. The worst thing a leader can do is pass the buck." - Nick Saban

7. Great leaders must insist on excellence - Everything you do should be done at the highest possible level. Your ability to be great and focus on working at the process will create results. Your commitment to excellence will set an example for everyone else and inspire others.

"If the leader doesn't demand it, then certainly everyone else won't expect it." - Nick Saban

8. Great leaders don't have all the answers, but they find them - People respond to a positive, constructive, and directed environment. It is easy to be negative, but hard to stay positive. Your ability to find answers during tough situations sets an example for others.

"The best leaders know they don't have all the answers, but they know where to find them." - Nick Saban
- - -
Follow @coachajkings for more posts like this!

The quotes and context of the post is sourced from Nick Saban's Book: How Good Do You Want to Be?

[The Winning Difference @thewinningdiff1]

"Having talent means you have a temporary advantage until someone works harder than you.

Work to raise your talent, don’t rest on it." @PaulBiancardi

Outwork your talent, every single day.

[The Winning Difference @thewinningdiff1]

“Don’t be a blame guy. That’s the first sign of loser mentality when you blame someone else for a mistake,” Kirby Smart
Great teams create opportunities for themselves with their relentless effort and high level of character.
Adversity is a fuel for inspiration not depreciation.

[The Winning Difference @thewinningdiff1]

When athletes play for the team, not the spotlight, magic happens.

Success is not about individual glory; it's about collective achievement.

It's not about who stands out; it's about who stands together.

📽️@MarchMadnessMBB

[Ball is Psych @BallisPsych]

Body Language is Self-Talk

LV 🏀🧠
https://t.co/KJUbVUdCkd

[The Winning Difference @thewinningdiff1]

"Holding a teammate accountable is something that you do for them not to them.
It doesn't always feel that way in the moment.
You have to rise above your ego to be able to take accountability from a teammate.
A player led team will always out perform a coach led team." @AlanSteinJr

[Coach the Coaches @WinningCoaches]

"A player who makes a team great is better than a great player." (John Wooden)

[The Winning Difference @thewinningdiff1]

“What’s easy doesn’t lead to success. What’s convenient doesn’t lead to winning. What’s comfortable doesn’t lead to championships. If you want to separate yourself from the competition, do the hard, inconvenient, and uncomfortable things on a regular basis,” @janssenleader

[Jon Gordon @JonGordon11]

11 Thoughts About TEAMWORK! 💪

[The Winning Difference @thewinningdiff1]

"Success follows struggle.
It follows hard work.
It follows effort.
It follows sacrifice.
It follows dedication.
And yes, it even follows failure.
It doesn't come before.
You can't skip the process to be great!" 
@CoachJordan82

[Coach Ray Ostrowski @CoachRayO3313]

Nothing is acceptable but your very best

Nothing is given - everything is earned

Wise words to hear from one of the greatest to ever do it!