The word of the day, excitability.
That's the ability to be excitable, the special quality of energizing, inspiring, and and making everything you do worth doing, seeing, and participating in.
It's a great time of year, summer camp season. I've been really blessed to have worked 3 camps at two Division I schools (Mount St. Mary's and VCU) over the course of the past 8 days, and as always, I left knowing that sharing the game of basketball with young people really makes my life. You have to bring a certain amount of excitability to a camp. I tell my players all the time, good habits are contagious, just as bad habits are. You have to show you want to be there right? For me it's easy. There's no place I'd rather be than in the gym, so it comes natural. It's been that way since I was 12 years old, and carrying it over to the next step, coaching, hasn't been difficult for me.
In order to be great at whatever it is you do, first you have to want to be great, but then I think the thought of being great has to light you up. I talk about buying into yourself first, knowing that you will be successful. If you wouldn't buy what you're selling, why should anyone else? There is some form of motivation behind everything we do. I believe our ability to really get into what we do comes from that motivation. If your motivation is to just get through the day, you are going to put just enough into it to get through.
But let's say your motivation is that you set your goal to be the best, EVERY TIME OUT. I'm not saying that means you are the best, but that's where you want to be. How exciting is that? This is what's special for me about coaching, that's why I get excited. Every time out, I can set my sights on the top and start climbing.
Sure, this applies to a lot of things in life. If you are a teacher, you want to be the best educator in your subject, grade level, etc. If you sell cars, you want to be the best salesperson there is. So you bring the excitability. No matter what is going on in your life, you block it out, and you turn the volume up on the good stuff that you do have in your life.
I won't lie and say my life is close to perfect right now. It's a struggle, knowing what opportunity you need, and working so hard to get, almost having to just wait, put your life on pause until the news comes. It hasn't come, but it will. Either way, when I walk into the gym and pick up that ball, none of that matters. Thinking about your situation constantly distracts you from investing your full energy in what you're doing right now. Not 6 months ago, Coach James Jabir, the Head Coach at Dayton University, told me, "Don't forget to enjoy where you are right now." I really think that's stuck with me more in 2013 than anything.
So tomorrow, wake up and be excited. Approach every situation and stand out because your excitability is unmatched. Let others be the judge, but if you really love it, you won't have to try to hard. Everyone is famous for something, everyone is known for the things they do and the way they go about doing it. Be the example. Be better than you were yesterday. Be excitable.
Live in your own reality,
TP
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Monday, May 27, 2013
Don't call it a comeback...
Wow has it really been that long since I've posted on here?
Time flies when you're staying busy, and I've been all over the place the past couple months, succeeding, winning, searching, making memories, and just living. I've had a lot to dominate my time, different priorities that most people don't run into in their normal daily activities.
But this post is inspired by you, because you've all been there, you have given me support, and you have shown me love through tough times.
I posted on facebook about an hour ago that for the first time since last July, I will be on assignment, better known as "doing the news thing", for the first part of this week. Nothing crazy, don't get too excited, just for the first part of the week. But the enthusiasm I got off of the people when I posted that was awesome, and it's contagious. If I wasn't already excited, I can be now.
I haven't been a journalist for a while, 10 months now. Since that happened, I've stayed away, on my own accord. I haven't been looking to be a journalist again, I've turned down inquiries, and I guess I've really surprised some people with that. In many ways, I was driving down my road, on my journey as a journalist. The speed limits were holding me down, and it's funny, when you have a fast car, and people ask you what keeps you from just opening up and taking off, what can you say? Then it happened, the crash. I saw the accident coming, and my journey was put on hold. It wasn't my fault. I haven't gotten behind the wheel since. It hasn't been fear of driving again that's held me back, I'm not afraid of you either. I guess I just have been happy riding the bus for a while. There's nothing wrong with the bus, or taking the train, or a plane.
That's my analogy. But tomorrow, I get behind the wheel again. Sometimes you get a freelance opportunity you can't pass up, so I'm heading west for a few days. Don't read a lot into it, don't call it a comeback. There are no expectations or anything, and it doesn't mean I want to drive again all the time, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to telling stories again. I'm pretty damn good at it.
What's the bigger picture here? Don't ever let the past keep you from being successful in the present. People make the wrong decisions all the time, and they affect our lives in so many ways. Accept this as a fact of life. Not everything is in your control. What you do control though is how you let it motivate you, and how you prepare for the next opportunity that comes up. If you really love something, and it really means a lot to you, you will always love it, and it will always mean that much.
Realize how good you are, and how great you can be. We all have the capacity to win. The journey is sometimes long, but our lifetime is finite, and that tells us that the bad times won't last forever. How hard you work tomorrow matters, so don't ever let anyone tell you you aren't great. Don't call it a comeback, I've been living in my own reality for years. This one's for you...
-T
Time flies when you're staying busy, and I've been all over the place the past couple months, succeeding, winning, searching, making memories, and just living. I've had a lot to dominate my time, different priorities that most people don't run into in their normal daily activities.
But this post is inspired by you, because you've all been there, you have given me support, and you have shown me love through tough times.
I posted on facebook about an hour ago that for the first time since last July, I will be on assignment, better known as "doing the news thing", for the first part of this week. Nothing crazy, don't get too excited, just for the first part of the week. But the enthusiasm I got off of the people when I posted that was awesome, and it's contagious. If I wasn't already excited, I can be now.
I haven't been a journalist for a while, 10 months now. Since that happened, I've stayed away, on my own accord. I haven't been looking to be a journalist again, I've turned down inquiries, and I guess I've really surprised some people with that. In many ways, I was driving down my road, on my journey as a journalist. The speed limits were holding me down, and it's funny, when you have a fast car, and people ask you what keeps you from just opening up and taking off, what can you say? Then it happened, the crash. I saw the accident coming, and my journey was put on hold. It wasn't my fault. I haven't gotten behind the wheel since. It hasn't been fear of driving again that's held me back, I'm not afraid of you either. I guess I just have been happy riding the bus for a while. There's nothing wrong with the bus, or taking the train, or a plane.
That's my analogy. But tomorrow, I get behind the wheel again. Sometimes you get a freelance opportunity you can't pass up, so I'm heading west for a few days. Don't read a lot into it, don't call it a comeback. There are no expectations or anything, and it doesn't mean I want to drive again all the time, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to telling stories again. I'm pretty damn good at it.
What's the bigger picture here? Don't ever let the past keep you from being successful in the present. People make the wrong decisions all the time, and they affect our lives in so many ways. Accept this as a fact of life. Not everything is in your control. What you do control though is how you let it motivate you, and how you prepare for the next opportunity that comes up. If you really love something, and it really means a lot to you, you will always love it, and it will always mean that much.
Realize how good you are, and how great you can be. We all have the capacity to win. The journey is sometimes long, but our lifetime is finite, and that tells us that the bad times won't last forever. How hard you work tomorrow matters, so don't ever let anyone tell you you aren't great. Don't call it a comeback, I've been living in my own reality for years. This one's for you...
-T
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Because there's no greater feeling....
I've been on the road a lot the past couple weeks, mainly up north on basketball and job related trips. It's been great to meet new people, see old friends and brothers, and to just get away and be productive away from home base. Coaching at the high school level allows you a little bit of time now and again when school's out for break and practice schedules are scaled back. The trips I've made have all been well worth it, it's an exciting time of year.
While I was on one of these ventures, a college coach asked me, "So why do you want to coach at the next level?" Fair question. I don't think I gave a bad answer. I've grown up in this game, and I can't imagine not being around it virtually every day as I have been for so many years. I don't talk the talk, I walk damn it all, I literally was working out 360 days out of the year during my high school and college careers. It's what made me successful. These days, I'd say I average 4-5 days on the court per week, key word there is average. It's funny how a lot of people think they are in love, but they have no idea what love is. My answer continued with how much I enjoying coaching, how much I love sharing this great game (or great games, I should say with soccer) with others. I probably also mentioned the need for a full time gig, and I want that to be in this business, having tried my hand in television for a couple years and coached part time. It's the honest quick answer I gave.
But I have to say, for the past week or so, watching the men's and women's NCAA Final Four, man has that question lingered. What is the one thing that sets being a coach apart from everything else? I think for all coaches, our answers are different. I mean hey, there's a lot to love, and it's hard to pick one.
I'm not sure what game was on when it hit me though. I realized what it is for me, that makes me love this as much as I do. As the two teams were lining up to shake hands at the end of the game, I want to say it was the Notre Dame-UConn Final 4 match up, seeing the celebration and happiness on the winners' faces, that look of accomplishment, it really hit me. I coach because to me, there's no greater feeling than the one you have after a hard fought victory with a team of individuals who have sacrificed, worked harder, and executed to be in a position to win a big game. There is no greater feeling than that for me, because when you give yourself to a game, invest emotionally and mentally into a team, the payout of success is the sweetest thing you could get in return.
I could pick my fair share of moments like that, as a player and a coach. I've been very blessed thus far. Perhaps my favorite memory was February of 2011, at VCU's Siegel Center. I was the top assistant at Cosby High School at the time, and we had just won our 3rd consecutive Dominion District Championship. Tonight though was the big showdown, the Central Region Championship, and as we vied to set a record with our 3rd consecutive Central Region Title, a very good Thomas Dale team featuring their own college talent stood in the way. It had been a hard few weeks for me personally, as my grandmother was on the last leg of her battle with a degenerative brain disease better known as Dementia. At times, I was going from the hospital to practice, and back to the hospital, and while I've lost plenty of people close to me over the years, seeing a loved one lose that battle and deteriorate is not easy, ever. She lost the battle and was laid to rest the day before the game.
We were focused and the preparation was very strong. Our kids played well and didn't allow a field goal in the final 6 plus minutes of the game to help us pull away with the victory. Man, what a great feeling that was, standing at mid court of the Siegel Center raising that trophy high with what felt like the whole world watching. It's one of those moments that you don't remember specific details because you're so psyched and it happens so fast. But no one can take it away from you, and the memories of the people you made that journey with stay with you. What greater feeling can there be?
So what is your feeling? It's not the same as mine, but we all have that one thing that takes us to another level. To me, winning is always the goal, but since no one's goal is really to lose, at least not often, then we are all striving for the same outcome, even though we can't all attain in. The Bible discusses it in 1 Corinthians 9: 24-27, one of my favorite verses that I learned through basketball. If you earn the chance to be a winner though, what more is there to celebrate. Let's face it, success is earned, even if the price varies.
Find your feeling. Maybe there's no wrong answer to the question why, but there can be one right one at the same time. When you live in your own reality, and make your reality the strongest, you will get to that place more often.
In closing, today would have been my fraternal brother Bobby Thomason's 26th birthday. There isn't a day that goes by that you're not on my mind, but today even more so brother, and I hope I can be a little greater today than any other day for you. I've lost other friends in the past 5 years or so, and even another brother, and through losing these people I challenge myself everyday to be a little bit better because God has given me the chance to for whatever reason, while others were called home. It's His plan that we are living out, and that gives me hope. So happy birthday Bobby. I'm sorry brother, and we miss you.
Never Quit.
-Travis (BT)
While I was on one of these ventures, a college coach asked me, "So why do you want to coach at the next level?" Fair question. I don't think I gave a bad answer. I've grown up in this game, and I can't imagine not being around it virtually every day as I have been for so many years. I don't talk the talk, I walk damn it all, I literally was working out 360 days out of the year during my high school and college careers. It's what made me successful. These days, I'd say I average 4-5 days on the court per week, key word there is average. It's funny how a lot of people think they are in love, but they have no idea what love is. My answer continued with how much I enjoying coaching, how much I love sharing this great game (or great games, I should say with soccer) with others. I probably also mentioned the need for a full time gig, and I want that to be in this business, having tried my hand in television for a couple years and coached part time. It's the honest quick answer I gave.
But I have to say, for the past week or so, watching the men's and women's NCAA Final Four, man has that question lingered. What is the one thing that sets being a coach apart from everything else? I think for all coaches, our answers are different. I mean hey, there's a lot to love, and it's hard to pick one.
I'm not sure what game was on when it hit me though. I realized what it is for me, that makes me love this as much as I do. As the two teams were lining up to shake hands at the end of the game, I want to say it was the Notre Dame-UConn Final 4 match up, seeing the celebration and happiness on the winners' faces, that look of accomplishment, it really hit me. I coach because to me, there's no greater feeling than the one you have after a hard fought victory with a team of individuals who have sacrificed, worked harder, and executed to be in a position to win a big game. There is no greater feeling than that for me, because when you give yourself to a game, invest emotionally and mentally into a team, the payout of success is the sweetest thing you could get in return.
I could pick my fair share of moments like that, as a player and a coach. I've been very blessed thus far. Perhaps my favorite memory was February of 2011, at VCU's Siegel Center. I was the top assistant at Cosby High School at the time, and we had just won our 3rd consecutive Dominion District Championship. Tonight though was the big showdown, the Central Region Championship, and as we vied to set a record with our 3rd consecutive Central Region Title, a very good Thomas Dale team featuring their own college talent stood in the way. It had been a hard few weeks for me personally, as my grandmother was on the last leg of her battle with a degenerative brain disease better known as Dementia. At times, I was going from the hospital to practice, and back to the hospital, and while I've lost plenty of people close to me over the years, seeing a loved one lose that battle and deteriorate is not easy, ever. She lost the battle and was laid to rest the day before the game.
We were focused and the preparation was very strong. Our kids played well and didn't allow a field goal in the final 6 plus minutes of the game to help us pull away with the victory. Man, what a great feeling that was, standing at mid court of the Siegel Center raising that trophy high with what felt like the whole world watching. It's one of those moments that you don't remember specific details because you're so psyched and it happens so fast. But no one can take it away from you, and the memories of the people you made that journey with stay with you. What greater feeling can there be?
So what is your feeling? It's not the same as mine, but we all have that one thing that takes us to another level. To me, winning is always the goal, but since no one's goal is really to lose, at least not often, then we are all striving for the same outcome, even though we can't all attain in. The Bible discusses it in 1 Corinthians 9: 24-27, one of my favorite verses that I learned through basketball. If you earn the chance to be a winner though, what more is there to celebrate. Let's face it, success is earned, even if the price varies.
Find your feeling. Maybe there's no wrong answer to the question why, but there can be one right one at the same time. When you live in your own reality, and make your reality the strongest, you will get to that place more often.
In closing, today would have been my fraternal brother Bobby Thomason's 26th birthday. There isn't a day that goes by that you're not on my mind, but today even more so brother, and I hope I can be a little greater today than any other day for you. I've lost other friends in the past 5 years or so, and even another brother, and through losing these people I challenge myself everyday to be a little bit better because God has given me the chance to for whatever reason, while others were called home. It's His plan that we are living out, and that gives me hope. So happy birthday Bobby. I'm sorry brother, and we miss you.
Never Quit.
-Travis (BT)
Monday, April 1, 2013
Rise
Easter Sunday is perhaps the most motivational holiday there is, for me as a Christian anyway. I don't go into promoting my personal beliefs or agenda on this blog, but I will say that conceptually, the fact that Jesus Christ rose from the dead after suffering and going through what he did, is enough to motivate anyone, even if you aren't a believer.
So, through my own prayer and reflection yesterday, I kept coming back to a simple theme, rise.
What better time than now to rise? Rise up, raise your bar, raise your status, rise to the occasion. Sometimes, we don't struggle to find this motivation, but we struggle in applying it to our situations. It's time to rise above that as well.
Believe it or not, sometimes we hold ourselves down. Our loyalty, attitude, work ethic, choices, or ideas can be our enemies as easy as they can be our allies. I've said it before, my loyalty has been one of my biggest weaknesses in recent years. I've dedicated a lot of energy and work to get to plateaus that were blocked for me. Sometimes, our mentality to "stick with it" and keep trying to get over the hump can actually be a bad thing. Being loyal to someone or something that doesn't treat you right, respect you, promote you, or help you can be wasteful. It's not your fault, but at some point you have to realize that there is more to it, and you have to rise. Sure, there are decision makers and people in authority that play roles in your situation that you cannot control, but where you devote your time and energy is almost entirely on you.
I say, wake up tomorrow and decide that it's time to rise. You can never be content with where you are on the spectrum. Once you grow content, you are done. Champions that grow content get upset, kings that got content lost their empires, companies that get content lose money to competitors. It's ok not to be happy with where you are, I'm right there with you. But we have to focus on what we are doing to rise, not on how unhappy we are, or how frustrated we are. We have to stop saying we will do it tomorrow. This is a season of new beginnings, a season of growing, so what better time to do it.
Let's face it, our days are numbered. It's sad but true. One of the motivating factors that I leaned on as a player was the simple idea that every time I walked off the court it could be my very last time, so I better make it count. Walking off the court unsatisfied with a workout or performance is acceptable, you should never feel that way, but if you approach every time out as if it was the very last time, you get more out of yourself. I tell this to my players everyday. The fact that one day we might not be so lucky to do be able to do the things we love is reason enough to rise that extra bit more.
Here it is, another important minute, in an important hour, on an important day that will impact the rest of your life. I say, choose to rise. Aim for higher goals, and don't let things you can control get in your way. Don't put it off, and don't waste that time moving at the same level too long. This week, I will rise. Will you? Because I know that if I don't, someone else will. That's enough for me.
Live to rise, in your own reality.
So, through my own prayer and reflection yesterday, I kept coming back to a simple theme, rise.
What better time than now to rise? Rise up, raise your bar, raise your status, rise to the occasion. Sometimes, we don't struggle to find this motivation, but we struggle in applying it to our situations. It's time to rise above that as well.
Believe it or not, sometimes we hold ourselves down. Our loyalty, attitude, work ethic, choices, or ideas can be our enemies as easy as they can be our allies. I've said it before, my loyalty has been one of my biggest weaknesses in recent years. I've dedicated a lot of energy and work to get to plateaus that were blocked for me. Sometimes, our mentality to "stick with it" and keep trying to get over the hump can actually be a bad thing. Being loyal to someone or something that doesn't treat you right, respect you, promote you, or help you can be wasteful. It's not your fault, but at some point you have to realize that there is more to it, and you have to rise. Sure, there are decision makers and people in authority that play roles in your situation that you cannot control, but where you devote your time and energy is almost entirely on you.
I say, wake up tomorrow and decide that it's time to rise. You can never be content with where you are on the spectrum. Once you grow content, you are done. Champions that grow content get upset, kings that got content lost their empires, companies that get content lose money to competitors. It's ok not to be happy with where you are, I'm right there with you. But we have to focus on what we are doing to rise, not on how unhappy we are, or how frustrated we are. We have to stop saying we will do it tomorrow. This is a season of new beginnings, a season of growing, so what better time to do it.
Let's face it, our days are numbered. It's sad but true. One of the motivating factors that I leaned on as a player was the simple idea that every time I walked off the court it could be my very last time, so I better make it count. Walking off the court unsatisfied with a workout or performance is acceptable, you should never feel that way, but if you approach every time out as if it was the very last time, you get more out of yourself. I tell this to my players everyday. The fact that one day we might not be so lucky to do be able to do the things we love is reason enough to rise that extra bit more.
Here it is, another important minute, in an important hour, on an important day that will impact the rest of your life. I say, choose to rise. Aim for higher goals, and don't let things you can control get in your way. Don't put it off, and don't waste that time moving at the same level too long. This week, I will rise. Will you? Because I know that if I don't, someone else will. That's enough for me.
Live to rise, in your own reality.
Sunday, March 24, 2013
"Everyone has their own path..."
Chances are, none of you have any idea who Vidal Nuno is.
Tonight's post is inspired by him, particularly a quote on Chad Jennings' excellent New York Yankees blog.
Vidal Nuno is a young pitcher in the New York Yankees organization. He has yet to make it to the major leagues, but ask any serious Yankees fan and they will tell you that he's sure pitching like he belongs there very soon. In big league camp as a minor league player, the lefty has perhaps been the team's most consistent starting pitcher in camp. Of course, this is Spring Training, and a lot of your established veterans are on special schedules that they are comfortable with, but that's what leads to opportunities for minor league players like Nuno. Here's his take on his Spring Training performance so far.
“Everyone has their own path,” he said. “It’s about them taking a chance on you. They gave me all the chances they could, and it’s about working hard every day. Just try to keep up what I’ve been doing, and see how it ends in the season.”
Talk about hitting the nail on the head, wow how right is he? I not only agree with him, but as someone also working down their own path and working toward opportunities, I can empathize.
Nuno is right in saying that we all have our own individual paths that we are on to get where we are going. I tell my players all the time, no two jump shots are the same. There are fundamental concepts we incorporate as shooters, but everyone has their own way. The same can be said for our paths. In Nuno's case, how many tens of thousands of guys have played major league baseball? The end result of getting there might be similar, but no two individual careers are the same.
The next part of that quote talks about chances. I'm also waiting on someone to take a chance on me, professionally. I'm not alone. There are so many of us out there, primed and ready to take off when our number is called. Or are we? See that's crucial there, and this quote serves as a reminder, that when you get a chance from someone, you better be ready. Nuno tells us the key to that, working hard every day.
And it's hard to "keep doing what [you're] doing." We are winners, and therefore we are impatient. We have success and we don't stop to celebrate, we go looking for more. But his message of patience is accurate, because you can't let your readiness or performance slip because you are frustrated, angry, or beleaguered. We are building strong mental toughness through these trials and tribulations. All you can do, is all you can do. If you can look yourself in the mirror and say you did just about everything you could, then you can trust that it just wasn't meant to be, and it wasn't up to you.
Lastly, Nuno acknowledges the fact that at some point, it ends. No matter how well he pitches, one day this struggle will be over (at the end of Spring Training in this case). There's a more definite ending though, because one day he will throw his last pitch, just as I will coach my last game, or just as we all one day will take our last breath. One day we will not be able to do the things we love anymore, so why do we waste the opportunities we have to do them now?
Whether or not Vidal Nuno pitches in a game for the Yankees this season, or ever at all for that fact, is to be determined. That decision is not up to him, he doesn't just show up to Yankee Stadium on Opening day and present himself. What is up to him is how hard he works, and how much preparation and effort he is willing to put in to make it happen. Until then, we live in our own realities, and stay focus on our own paths, the paths that God has set out for us to find and utilize.
I have to say though, it's kind of hard not to root for Vidal Nuno.
-TP
Tonight's post is inspired by him, particularly a quote on Chad Jennings' excellent New York Yankees blog.
Vidal Nuno is a young pitcher in the New York Yankees organization. He has yet to make it to the major leagues, but ask any serious Yankees fan and they will tell you that he's sure pitching like he belongs there very soon. In big league camp as a minor league player, the lefty has perhaps been the team's most consistent starting pitcher in camp. Of course, this is Spring Training, and a lot of your established veterans are on special schedules that they are comfortable with, but that's what leads to opportunities for minor league players like Nuno. Here's his take on his Spring Training performance so far.
“Everyone has their own path,” he said. “It’s about them taking a chance on you. They gave me all the chances they could, and it’s about working hard every day. Just try to keep up what I’ve been doing, and see how it ends in the season.”
Talk about hitting the nail on the head, wow how right is he? I not only agree with him, but as someone also working down their own path and working toward opportunities, I can empathize.
Nuno is right in saying that we all have our own individual paths that we are on to get where we are going. I tell my players all the time, no two jump shots are the same. There are fundamental concepts we incorporate as shooters, but everyone has their own way. The same can be said for our paths. In Nuno's case, how many tens of thousands of guys have played major league baseball? The end result of getting there might be similar, but no two individual careers are the same.
The next part of that quote talks about chances. I'm also waiting on someone to take a chance on me, professionally. I'm not alone. There are so many of us out there, primed and ready to take off when our number is called. Or are we? See that's crucial there, and this quote serves as a reminder, that when you get a chance from someone, you better be ready. Nuno tells us the key to that, working hard every day.
And it's hard to "keep doing what [you're] doing." We are winners, and therefore we are impatient. We have success and we don't stop to celebrate, we go looking for more. But his message of patience is accurate, because you can't let your readiness or performance slip because you are frustrated, angry, or beleaguered. We are building strong mental toughness through these trials and tribulations. All you can do, is all you can do. If you can look yourself in the mirror and say you did just about everything you could, then you can trust that it just wasn't meant to be, and it wasn't up to you.
Lastly, Nuno acknowledges the fact that at some point, it ends. No matter how well he pitches, one day this struggle will be over (at the end of Spring Training in this case). There's a more definite ending though, because one day he will throw his last pitch, just as I will coach my last game, or just as we all one day will take our last breath. One day we will not be able to do the things we love anymore, so why do we waste the opportunities we have to do them now?
Whether or not Vidal Nuno pitches in a game for the Yankees this season, or ever at all for that fact, is to be determined. That decision is not up to him, he doesn't just show up to Yankee Stadium on Opening day and present himself. What is up to him is how hard he works, and how much preparation and effort he is willing to put in to make it happen. Until then, we live in our own realities, and stay focus on our own paths, the paths that God has set out for us to find and utilize.
I have to say though, it's kind of hard not to root for Vidal Nuno.
-TP
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Expect to Win
In a world where not everything is in your control, your mindset is one of the most critical aspects that you have command over. Let's face, unfortunately we run into situations where no matter what we do, or how hard we work, the outcome is just out of our hands. It's a terrible feeling, because people who are in charge of making those decisions do get them wrong. I can say that I've served as a witness to that many times.
But your mindset and approach are up to you. I'm here to tell you that it's best to attack every challenge, every opportunity with the expectation that you're going to win. You are going to win. You are not going to be beaten. You have worked harder, prepared better, and you're very good at what you do, so when the ball goes up on the first whistle, you know that when the final buzzer sounds, you're going to be the victor.
On my blog I encourage you to live in your own reality, because it's often the person with the strongest reality that succeeds. Realize that you play the game for one reason, to win. Having fun, making friends, blah blah blah, it's all secondary. Winning has to be the priority. It's why we are here, to find success.
Of course, I'm making a comparison based on athletics, so here's a few other examples. Why do you go on a job interview? To get the job. You are competing against other candidates, and you want to be the one that wins. I have enjoyed the past 8 months away from the television industry (and yes, I do appreciate everyone who misses my work, you guys are the best), but why did I go to work, why did we produce newscasts? Some people might answer that they are there to make money, there because they enjoy it, or there to provide a public service. The number one reason should be to win, to be the best news outlet in the market, the best at your particular role. You can do all of those other things through your focus on being the best.
When I was playing, one of my favorite motivational quotes was, "You control who's the best player on the floor." Ask some of my players today, and I've told them that time and time again. I'm a believer. The first step toward being the best is wanting to be the best.
There's a certain aura about a person who walks into a situation and knows they are going to be successful. Hater call it cockiness or arrogance, but I believe it can be real, if that person is willing to put the work in to set themselves up for success. One of the huge things I preach is that you are confident because you prepared, and you worked the hardest. What good comes of showing up a defeatist? In the back of your mind, when you know you don't stand a chance, you are already dooming yourself. We've all been there, it's a helpless feeling.
I may not be in the best spot right now, and at times the stress has really gotten to me. However I am blessed, every minute of every day. I can't enjoy any environment where there's no challenge every day, where there's no competition, and no winning to be done. That's why I do what I do, because I can't see myself doing much of anything else. Certain things just aren't good for certain people. So as tough as it is, I persevere with my goals in mind.
When I wake up tomorrow morning, I'll start with a prayer as I always do. I'll thank God for another day, another chance to be great. I'll ask Him to help me take advantage of the opportunities He has provided. That's what I know I need to do, everyday, just rise, shine, and give the Lord the glory. And then I'll go tackle all that the day brings, but not once will the thought of losing or failing at a task cross my mind. I hate that feeling too much. Winning is my expectation. Make it yours.
-TP
But your mindset and approach are up to you. I'm here to tell you that it's best to attack every challenge, every opportunity with the expectation that you're going to win. You are going to win. You are not going to be beaten. You have worked harder, prepared better, and you're very good at what you do, so when the ball goes up on the first whistle, you know that when the final buzzer sounds, you're going to be the victor.
On my blog I encourage you to live in your own reality, because it's often the person with the strongest reality that succeeds. Realize that you play the game for one reason, to win. Having fun, making friends, blah blah blah, it's all secondary. Winning has to be the priority. It's why we are here, to find success.
Of course, I'm making a comparison based on athletics, so here's a few other examples. Why do you go on a job interview? To get the job. You are competing against other candidates, and you want to be the one that wins. I have enjoyed the past 8 months away from the television industry (and yes, I do appreciate everyone who misses my work, you guys are the best), but why did I go to work, why did we produce newscasts? Some people might answer that they are there to make money, there because they enjoy it, or there to provide a public service. The number one reason should be to win, to be the best news outlet in the market, the best at your particular role. You can do all of those other things through your focus on being the best.
When I was playing, one of my favorite motivational quotes was, "You control who's the best player on the floor." Ask some of my players today, and I've told them that time and time again. I'm a believer. The first step toward being the best is wanting to be the best.
There's a certain aura about a person who walks into a situation and knows they are going to be successful. Hater call it cockiness or arrogance, but I believe it can be real, if that person is willing to put the work in to set themselves up for success. One of the huge things I preach is that you are confident because you prepared, and you worked the hardest. What good comes of showing up a defeatist? In the back of your mind, when you know you don't stand a chance, you are already dooming yourself. We've all been there, it's a helpless feeling.
I may not be in the best spot right now, and at times the stress has really gotten to me. However I am blessed, every minute of every day. I can't enjoy any environment where there's no challenge every day, where there's no competition, and no winning to be done. That's why I do what I do, because I can't see myself doing much of anything else. Certain things just aren't good for certain people. So as tough as it is, I persevere with my goals in mind.
When I wake up tomorrow morning, I'll start with a prayer as I always do. I'll thank God for another day, another chance to be great. I'll ask Him to help me take advantage of the opportunities He has provided. That's what I know I need to do, everyday, just rise, shine, and give the Lord the glory. And then I'll go tackle all that the day brings, but not once will the thought of losing or failing at a task cross my mind. I hate that feeling too much. Winning is my expectation. Make it yours.
-TP
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Believe in yourself all the way
I've decided it's time to challenge myself with a new concept.
I believe in myself, I'm confident in my work ethic and my ability to make good things happen, exceed expectations, and make the most out of situations. This is the way we all should be. If you work hard, put up hundreds of shots, and put the time into your game, you should be confident in your ability to hit shots in the game. It's a simple concept, I preach it, I believe in it.
But, we all come up a little short, because sometimes a little sliver of doubt is still there, in the back of our minds. You know, that little bit of nervousness, that, "what if I don't win" that creeps in at the last second.
For me, I've gone into situations with that disease, and now it's time to change. I've learned that one sign of maybe, one sign of what if, is noticeable in my performance with the task at hand. Total self confidence has to be the goal. 99% doesn't get the job done in a close game. I can name occasions where I've been 99%, and that 1% of questioning myself made the difference. The best have to be able to admit their mistakes, it's part of the process.
Being able to admit that you've made a mistake though is the first step in fixing the problem. You have to live for the big games, the huge moments, and sometimes those moments can bring with them that anxiety, that uncertainty. So now that you know there's an issue, you have to work to fix it.
Trust your preparation, in anything you do in life. If you aren't prepared, you invite windows for error. That's about as simple as it gets. You have to prepare as best you can, and in some situations, preparing is not easy. Still, I say approach every challenge, every interview, every game, with the attitude that I am going to succeed because I am best suited for success. That doesn't mean you're the most experienced or anything, but you have to know you will get the job done, you were born for this and now is your time.
Life's full of challenges and obstacles, and a lot of those come from outside sources. We need not create any for ourselves. Take the challenge on yourself to bring light to that dark corner of doubt in the back of your head. In this journey toward success, we must commit to ourselves fully, prepare for the best and worst of what that journey offers, bounce back, and overcome adversity. Don't be the source of your own downfalls. Promise yourself that you will buy into all that you have to offer, 100%. Work harder, fight on, and live in your own reality, because more often than not, those who have the strongest reality often win the day.
#Eyesforward
- TP
@travisponton on twitter----follow
I believe in myself, I'm confident in my work ethic and my ability to make good things happen, exceed expectations, and make the most out of situations. This is the way we all should be. If you work hard, put up hundreds of shots, and put the time into your game, you should be confident in your ability to hit shots in the game. It's a simple concept, I preach it, I believe in it.
But, we all come up a little short, because sometimes a little sliver of doubt is still there, in the back of our minds. You know, that little bit of nervousness, that, "what if I don't win" that creeps in at the last second.
For me, I've gone into situations with that disease, and now it's time to change. I've learned that one sign of maybe, one sign of what if, is noticeable in my performance with the task at hand. Total self confidence has to be the goal. 99% doesn't get the job done in a close game. I can name occasions where I've been 99%, and that 1% of questioning myself made the difference. The best have to be able to admit their mistakes, it's part of the process.
Being able to admit that you've made a mistake though is the first step in fixing the problem. You have to live for the big games, the huge moments, and sometimes those moments can bring with them that anxiety, that uncertainty. So now that you know there's an issue, you have to work to fix it.
Trust your preparation, in anything you do in life. If you aren't prepared, you invite windows for error. That's about as simple as it gets. You have to prepare as best you can, and in some situations, preparing is not easy. Still, I say approach every challenge, every interview, every game, with the attitude that I am going to succeed because I am best suited for success. That doesn't mean you're the most experienced or anything, but you have to know you will get the job done, you were born for this and now is your time.
Life's full of challenges and obstacles, and a lot of those come from outside sources. We need not create any for ourselves. Take the challenge on yourself to bring light to that dark corner of doubt in the back of your head. In this journey toward success, we must commit to ourselves fully, prepare for the best and worst of what that journey offers, bounce back, and overcome adversity. Don't be the source of your own downfalls. Promise yourself that you will buy into all that you have to offer, 100%. Work harder, fight on, and live in your own reality, because more often than not, those who have the strongest reality often win the day.
#Eyesforward
- TP
@travisponton on twitter----follow
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