I've been criticized more than once or twice for being overly optimistic. I'll take that criticism every day of the week.
After all, if we can't be optimistic about what's to come, I think that means we're doing something wrong. We are optimistic because we are confident, and we are confident because we work hard. Plain and simple.
As coaches, our teams feed off our optimism. I read an article earlier today about San Antonio Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich. The focus was on the Los Angeles Lakers, and on their close loss last night to the Spurs. The writer praised Popvich for being the difference in the game last night, because of the way he is, the way he inspires confidence in his players to overachieve. Giving your players confidence that they will go out and be successful, according to the writer, helped the Spurs win a close game at the end.
If Popovich let one bit of doubt cross his mind that a certain player can't hit the game winning shot, his players pick up on that. A vote of confidence from a coach can make a world of difference.
As coaches, we don't set expectations overly high, but we approach our new seasons with optimism, that if we stick to the plan, learn, get better, and adapt that plan throughout the season, we can achieve our team's goals. You set the bar high, not so high that your team will never get there, but high enough to push yourselves to get a little higher than you did the last time you tried.
So as we begin our seasons, at the high school and college levels, we find reasons for optimism in what we have. We look forward to our first practice, our first exhibition, and our first regular season game. Everyone wants to win, and as I've written before, wanting isn't nearly good enough. You make wins. You combine all of the ingredients, a game plan, good coaching, outstanding effort from your players, and everyone's hard work in your basketball family, and you make wins. Coaches prepare recipes, players follow the directions, and add their own extras to it.
Tomorrow when you go to practice, no matter your roll, find a reason to be optimistic. Realize that your work today makes tomorrow better, and be optimistic in your ability to make a difference. You can have an impact if you choose to make one. I have my eyes on what I want, but it turns out what I want is also something I need, so I challenge myself everyday to get there. I have to be optimistic, otherwise I wouldn't do what I do.
Live in your own reality, and find your own optimism.
Follow me: https://twitter.com/travisponton
-TP
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Buy into yourself
Start with yourself.
Hall of Fame football coach Bill Parcells once said that everyday we fight 3 separate adversaries:
Sometimes the problem with us is that we don't buy into everything we have to offer to the situation. That's division. I'm here to tell you that you have to eliminate division from within immediately, because if you wouldn't buy what you're selling, how can you expect anyone else to? Look at yourself as the product, and you have to believe in that product in order for others to follow suit.
I've noticed that in athletics, and in coaching in particular, coaches will try to be like other more-accomplished coaches. I disagree with this. I say that you can learn so much from other coaches who have experience and success, and you should show the utmost respect to everyone. But, I'm here to tell you, I'm working on being my own coach. I want to be the best Travis Ponton I can be, and I know that if i put the time and effort into it, when the opportunity comes I can keep building my own legacy. Meet new people, open your mind, learn from the best, but be your own person. You can spend all your time trying to be the next Michael Jordan, Peyton Manning, Jimmy Johnson, Roy Williams, etc., or you can start investing in yourself. The most successful people I think realize this early, and work to join those elite names at the top of their professions.
A lack of self confidence is one of the easiest weaknesses to spot. You've either got it or you don't. But it's not something we're born with, and it's a renewable resource that's easy to find. We handicap ourselves by going into any situation with any doubt in our minds that we can be successful. Stop letting division from within slow you down. You're destined to do great things, and until you give up on that concept then you have a chance to keep moving in the right direction.
All things good and bad start somewhere. Make a decision to start something great right now. take the first step by eliminating the obstacles you have created for yourself. There are so many other things standing in your way, but control what you can control and build your own foundation that you know is the best in the neighborhood. When you know you're great, it's easier for everyone else to see.
I always say to live in your own reality, and remember that the person with the strongest reality usually comes out on top. We tackle division from within more than we even notice, but if we can minimize that, and start buying into ourselves, we can start every morning ahead of the curve. Wake up tomorrow morning, thank God that he gave you another day to carry out His plan for you, and then make the most of it.
"Everyday is a holiday, every meal is a feast."
-TP
twitter: @travisponton
Hall of Fame football coach Bill Parcells once said that everyday we fight 3 separate adversaries:
- Division from within
- Your competition
- Public perception
Sometimes the problem with us is that we don't buy into everything we have to offer to the situation. That's division. I'm here to tell you that you have to eliminate division from within immediately, because if you wouldn't buy what you're selling, how can you expect anyone else to? Look at yourself as the product, and you have to believe in that product in order for others to follow suit.
I've noticed that in athletics, and in coaching in particular, coaches will try to be like other more-accomplished coaches. I disagree with this. I say that you can learn so much from other coaches who have experience and success, and you should show the utmost respect to everyone. But, I'm here to tell you, I'm working on being my own coach. I want to be the best Travis Ponton I can be, and I know that if i put the time and effort into it, when the opportunity comes I can keep building my own legacy. Meet new people, open your mind, learn from the best, but be your own person. You can spend all your time trying to be the next Michael Jordan, Peyton Manning, Jimmy Johnson, Roy Williams, etc., or you can start investing in yourself. The most successful people I think realize this early, and work to join those elite names at the top of their professions.
A lack of self confidence is one of the easiest weaknesses to spot. You've either got it or you don't. But it's not something we're born with, and it's a renewable resource that's easy to find. We handicap ourselves by going into any situation with any doubt in our minds that we can be successful. Stop letting division from within slow you down. You're destined to do great things, and until you give up on that concept then you have a chance to keep moving in the right direction.
All things good and bad start somewhere. Make a decision to start something great right now. take the first step by eliminating the obstacles you have created for yourself. There are so many other things standing in your way, but control what you can control and build your own foundation that you know is the best in the neighborhood. When you know you're great, it's easier for everyone else to see.
I always say to live in your own reality, and remember that the person with the strongest reality usually comes out on top. We tackle division from within more than we even notice, but if we can minimize that, and start buying into ourselves, we can start every morning ahead of the curve. Wake up tomorrow morning, thank God that he gave you another day to carry out His plan for you, and then make the most of it.
"Everyday is a holiday, every meal is a feast."
-TP
twitter: @travisponton
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Trust in your own greatness...
Sometimes, we are all faced with a rare circumstance where we are nervous, or feel unprepared. A lot of these situations are avoidable, as I've always been taught, hard work and preparation is the key to success. But how do you prepare for putting yourself out there and contacting an employer about a job opening, for example. It can be a source of anxiety, especially when you want to be successful so bad.
I always tell you, my readers, that I practice what I preach. Otherwise, I'd be a hypocrite. Those of you that know me, know that I tell you to live in your own reality because I do so myself. So let me give myself some advice once again as I remind you to...
TRUST IN YOUR OWN GREATNESS.
If you focus on yourself first, concentrate on improving your flaws, and work hard at being the best at whatever it is you do, then eventually you'll wake up one day and realize that you're making it. I had a coach tell me in high school that the game is more fun when you're better at it than anyone else, and you get better by working harder than they do. By carrying this mentality and striving to be the best, we are taking the steps toward greatness.
Sometimes we fail. We have bad days, we get in ruts, we look ourselves in the mirror and don't like the things we see, inside or out. But success is addicting. Once you get a taste, you have to be hungry for more.
Self confident people are more primed for success, and the one with the strongest reality often prevails. Believe in yourself, know that everyday you wake up, greatness is there for the taking. It is up to you to make it happen. Greatness isn't easy. We don't wake up with it. But if we wake up thankful for the opportunity to seek it, and we convince ourselves how great we can be, our potential sky rockets.
I think we are surrounded by plenty of doubters, so there's no need to doubt yourself. Say what you mean, and mean what you say. Shake the nervous side out of your personality. Live in your own reality, and remember that if you're going to do something, you might as well be the best at it. Trust in your own greatness, no matter what challenge you're facing. If you go in realizing that you can, then you will.
TP
I always tell you, my readers, that I practice what I preach. Otherwise, I'd be a hypocrite. Those of you that know me, know that I tell you to live in your own reality because I do so myself. So let me give myself some advice once again as I remind you to...
TRUST IN YOUR OWN GREATNESS.
If you focus on yourself first, concentrate on improving your flaws, and work hard at being the best at whatever it is you do, then eventually you'll wake up one day and realize that you're making it. I had a coach tell me in high school that the game is more fun when you're better at it than anyone else, and you get better by working harder than they do. By carrying this mentality and striving to be the best, we are taking the steps toward greatness.
Sometimes we fail. We have bad days, we get in ruts, we look ourselves in the mirror and don't like the things we see, inside or out. But success is addicting. Once you get a taste, you have to be hungry for more.
Self confident people are more primed for success, and the one with the strongest reality often prevails. Believe in yourself, know that everyday you wake up, greatness is there for the taking. It is up to you to make it happen. Greatness isn't easy. We don't wake up with it. But if we wake up thankful for the opportunity to seek it, and we convince ourselves how great we can be, our potential sky rockets.
I think we are surrounded by plenty of doubters, so there's no need to doubt yourself. Say what you mean, and mean what you say. Shake the nervous side out of your personality. Live in your own reality, and remember that if you're going to do something, you might as well be the best at it. Trust in your own greatness, no matter what challenge you're facing. If you go in realizing that you can, then you will.
TP
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
The journey...
Success is a journey, not a result. I don't think many people, many teams wake up and walk into greatness, walk into championships, walk into money, or even walk into their wildest dreams.
I was told by a great coach that success is indeed built toward day by day, bit by bit. You don't have to tell me twice, I'm a believer.
The journey is hard. I look at my current situation, this leg of the trip as you might call it, and I'll be the first to admit parts of it are pretty bad. I won an Emmy Award last spring, and now I don't even work on TV.
Two weeks ago, I took a chance. I decided that emailing my resume and cover letter was not enough, and since the job was at a college nearby, I got in my car and went. On my way to apply for that job, a great coaching opportunity by the way, a tractor trailer had a blowout and the tire debris came bouncing through traffic. I am very blessed to have gotten through unscathed, but needless to say the hundreds of dollars of minor damages to my car is a tough pill to swallow. Here I am, struggling to pay the bills as it is, trying to take the next step and show initiative, and then I end up losing money at the end of the day.
How do you respond to that? It's easy to get discouraged, although for me quitting is never an option. Like everything else, it happened that I was in that spot at the wrong time because that's where God wanted me to be. I haven't even heard about the job, probably won't, and while I got to meet some great new people in the process, I still have the thought in the back of my head that maybe I shouldn't have gone, especially if the result, AKA not getting the job, was a foregone conclusion.
So, the journey an be rough. Remember that. I have said it before though, that the hard times make the great ones feel that much better. God requires that we weather the storm to prove that we belong. Sure, there are plenty who don't belong, but those who earn things value them more when they get them. Strangely, and surprisingly, I'm a better coach for going through this ordeal. I'm not quite sure how yet, but I believe that one day I'll share this story after a huge win, knowing that I might not appreciate it so much if I didn't have to overcome along the way.
Some days, you feel like you're on top of the world, and others, you feel like you've hit rock bottom. I suspect that for most of us, most days are in the middle. The challenge.... figure out how to make more of those days the top of the world variety. Along the way, you might have a few more rock bottom moments, but you have to take chances to get to the top.
Don't be satisfied, be hungry. Live in your own reality. Remember that you have the capacity to be great, but earning that success is a journey. Be willing to pay the price, wipe the dirt off your brow, and keep moving.
Thanks for reading and sharing, follow me on twitter, @travisponton.
I was told by a great coach that success is indeed built toward day by day, bit by bit. You don't have to tell me twice, I'm a believer.
The journey is hard. I look at my current situation, this leg of the trip as you might call it, and I'll be the first to admit parts of it are pretty bad. I won an Emmy Award last spring, and now I don't even work on TV.
Two weeks ago, I took a chance. I decided that emailing my resume and cover letter was not enough, and since the job was at a college nearby, I got in my car and went. On my way to apply for that job, a great coaching opportunity by the way, a tractor trailer had a blowout and the tire debris came bouncing through traffic. I am very blessed to have gotten through unscathed, but needless to say the hundreds of dollars of minor damages to my car is a tough pill to swallow. Here I am, struggling to pay the bills as it is, trying to take the next step and show initiative, and then I end up losing money at the end of the day.
How do you respond to that? It's easy to get discouraged, although for me quitting is never an option. Like everything else, it happened that I was in that spot at the wrong time because that's where God wanted me to be. I haven't even heard about the job, probably won't, and while I got to meet some great new people in the process, I still have the thought in the back of my head that maybe I shouldn't have gone, especially if the result, AKA not getting the job, was a foregone conclusion.
So, the journey an be rough. Remember that. I have said it before though, that the hard times make the great ones feel that much better. God requires that we weather the storm to prove that we belong. Sure, there are plenty who don't belong, but those who earn things value them more when they get them. Strangely, and surprisingly, I'm a better coach for going through this ordeal. I'm not quite sure how yet, but I believe that one day I'll share this story after a huge win, knowing that I might not appreciate it so much if I didn't have to overcome along the way.
Some days, you feel like you're on top of the world, and others, you feel like you've hit rock bottom. I suspect that for most of us, most days are in the middle. The challenge.... figure out how to make more of those days the top of the world variety. Along the way, you might have a few more rock bottom moments, but you have to take chances to get to the top.
Don't be satisfied, be hungry. Live in your own reality. Remember that you have the capacity to be great, but earning that success is a journey. Be willing to pay the price, wipe the dirt off your brow, and keep moving.
Thanks for reading and sharing, follow me on twitter, @travisponton.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
"You always do what you want..."
Chasing your dream isn't easy. It's not supposed to be.
This is a tough time of year for me, like most stuff, I'm pretty open about that. It didn't get any easier when I was driving down the highway yesterday and an 18 wheeler blew a tire in front of me. I got very lucky. Some people were looking out for me, and I made it out with just a few hundred dollars of minor damage to my car. But through the tough times, all the while, I keep my eyes fixed on where I want to be.
Honestly, I couldn't do that though without all the great support I get from so many outlets. I want to focus on the support other people give me. I have great mentors, friends, and brothers looking out for me, and I'm very blessed.
Last Friday, I talked to my AMC, one of my favorite fraternal brothers. Benny is someone I look up to, and he helped me become the man I am today, like any good AMC is supposed to do. It was his birthday and I was on the phone with him. We were catching up, and I was telling him about some of the ups and downs I've had the past year. Then he said something that made the difference for me, and really has picked me up.
He cut me off and said, "That's what I admire about you, you always do what you want to do."
I'd like to agree that this is a true statement, for the most part. Always is such a definitive word, but I'd agree that I try my hardest to do what I want to do. I figure, if your time on Earth is limited, why not spend as much of it as you can doing the things that are important to you. I guess I developed this habit, or maybe it's better framed as a philosophy, as a teenager. I placed value on doing certain things, like working out and hitting the basketball court, working on my game, every single day. Then around that, I was able to manage my time accordingly.
It's important to find what you enjoy doing, find what you need to do, and find what you're obliged to do, and do it. I waste time. I'm guilty of it, we all are. I don't get even get close to doing everything I'd like too. Now I have to ask myself though, "Well, what's holding you back?"
4 years ago, when I lost a brother, I got a brutal reminder that one day all of us run out of time. I posted on here about a month ago telling you to stop wanting and start doing. What a great compliment to have someone tell you that you are successful in this, especially someone you love and respect.
So, as you plan how you spend your day, waste less time, and always strive to do what you want to do. Chase your dreams, work to not only be happy, but to be at least confident that you got the most you could out of today. Live in your own reality and trust that good days are ahead if you make them.
Twitter: @travisponton
This is a tough time of year for me, like most stuff, I'm pretty open about that. It didn't get any easier when I was driving down the highway yesterday and an 18 wheeler blew a tire in front of me. I got very lucky. Some people were looking out for me, and I made it out with just a few hundred dollars of minor damage to my car. But through the tough times, all the while, I keep my eyes fixed on where I want to be.
Honestly, I couldn't do that though without all the great support I get from so many outlets. I want to focus on the support other people give me. I have great mentors, friends, and brothers looking out for me, and I'm very blessed.
Last Friday, I talked to my AMC, one of my favorite fraternal brothers. Benny is someone I look up to, and he helped me become the man I am today, like any good AMC is supposed to do. It was his birthday and I was on the phone with him. We were catching up, and I was telling him about some of the ups and downs I've had the past year. Then he said something that made the difference for me, and really has picked me up.
He cut me off and said, "That's what I admire about you, you always do what you want to do."
I'd like to agree that this is a true statement, for the most part. Always is such a definitive word, but I'd agree that I try my hardest to do what I want to do. I figure, if your time on Earth is limited, why not spend as much of it as you can doing the things that are important to you. I guess I developed this habit, or maybe it's better framed as a philosophy, as a teenager. I placed value on doing certain things, like working out and hitting the basketball court, working on my game, every single day. Then around that, I was able to manage my time accordingly.
It's important to find what you enjoy doing, find what you need to do, and find what you're obliged to do, and do it. I waste time. I'm guilty of it, we all are. I don't get even get close to doing everything I'd like too. Now I have to ask myself though, "Well, what's holding you back?"
4 years ago, when I lost a brother, I got a brutal reminder that one day all of us run out of time. I posted on here about a month ago telling you to stop wanting and start doing. What a great compliment to have someone tell you that you are successful in this, especially someone you love and respect.
So, as you plan how you spend your day, waste less time, and always strive to do what you want to do. Chase your dreams, work to not only be happy, but to be at least confident that you got the most you could out of today. Live in your own reality and trust that good days are ahead if you make them.
Twitter: @travisponton
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Someone has passed on you...
I'm dealing with a struggle from within right now. You've been there before, when you're ready to just rip into someone so bad, but instead choose to just take the high road and "let it go". Is it more rewarding to not hold any punches and just let loose on said idiot, or does your "reputation" run the risk if you do react. How much should you really care about what that person thinks or says? Or, then again, how much would someone else care? It's tricky.
Somewhere along the line, someone has passed on you. They've compared you (see previous post) and chose someone else for that position, opportunity, etc. If you live in your own reality, you realize it's probably not your fault. Maybe the other guy was better suited, or, most likely, that decision maker just made the wrong choice. Maybe someone knew someone, some kind of politics came into play, you know, stuff happens. But, either way, in some context, you've been passed up.
Me, I've been passed on more times than I can count. So, I am reverting back to my high school days on this one, and making a list. This list is composed of those who have passed on me before, people I have to prove wrong every single day. I grew up playing ball under a lot of sayings, one of them is that even when your coaches aren't there, play like they are still watching, because they always are. You're always in the spotlight, and a lot of that light comes from those who didn't see enough in you to give you a chance.
One of the most bull shit societal sayings is, "Don't take it personal." I say, absolutely take it personal. Make your list right now, of people that have done you wrong and made you angry. Let that list motivate you every day to do more, work harder, and rise up. My list is full of names of all the haters out there who don't think Travis Ponton belongs, don't think Travis Ponton can hack, don't think Travis Ponton deserves something. It's funny, I look back on some of the names that used to be on that list, and I've done a lot more than they have.
Transitioning now, a lot of you who know me, know at least part of the story of what happened in the early morning hours of September 14, 2008. It was early that Sunday morning that many of us lost a brother, lost a friend, when Bobby Thomason was murdered in Radford. It's a night that I don't go a day without thinking of, remembering being right there, second guessing myself, wondering why it was him and not me. I can still close my eyes and picture what happened.
I shouldn't be here.
And yet, here I am.
That thought crosses my mind often. God picks us to deal with tough circumstances, and he picks his time for all of us to succeed and fail, to be born and to die. I can confide in that.
I have to say, I never thought I'd be riding in the car with one of my fraternal brother's parents, telling them how their son died, showing them where his body landed. Being in that Emergency Room, washing his blood off my hands. I still remember the funeral, September 23, taking off my paul bearer lapel and laying it on the coffin, as hundreds of people said goodbye, and the military fired those rounds in the air to the sound of the bugle playing TAPS. Brotherhood runs deep for me, because like most everything in life, it's fleeting.
This will be a tough weekend for me, no doubt. Always is. It'll hurt a little more than usual the next 10 days or so. Like many, I never forget. I am a better person because of Bobby Thomason, and I can do much, much more to be great for his sake, because I'm here. I have the opportunity to do what others can't. I'm sorry that I haven't done more with that opportunity, and I'll always be sorry I didn't do more on September 14, 2008.
It's what we go through, what we overcome in life that makes us who we are. No one can judge you. Someone somewhere has passed on you, but they don't know anything about what makes you special, what makes you tick. They couldn't walk a mile in your shoes. I find that I can't put into words how I feel, but if you want to know why I love the game of basketball, why I'm so passionate about coaching, and why I love to win, there's a little insight.
Live in your own reality. Be great because others never got the chance to. Never Quit (BT).
Always your brother...
Somewhere along the line, someone has passed on you. They've compared you (see previous post) and chose someone else for that position, opportunity, etc. If you live in your own reality, you realize it's probably not your fault. Maybe the other guy was better suited, or, most likely, that decision maker just made the wrong choice. Maybe someone knew someone, some kind of politics came into play, you know, stuff happens. But, either way, in some context, you've been passed up.
Me, I've been passed on more times than I can count. So, I am reverting back to my high school days on this one, and making a list. This list is composed of those who have passed on me before, people I have to prove wrong every single day. I grew up playing ball under a lot of sayings, one of them is that even when your coaches aren't there, play like they are still watching, because they always are. You're always in the spotlight, and a lot of that light comes from those who didn't see enough in you to give you a chance.
One of the most bull shit societal sayings is, "Don't take it personal." I say, absolutely take it personal. Make your list right now, of people that have done you wrong and made you angry. Let that list motivate you every day to do more, work harder, and rise up. My list is full of names of all the haters out there who don't think Travis Ponton belongs, don't think Travis Ponton can hack, don't think Travis Ponton deserves something. It's funny, I look back on some of the names that used to be on that list, and I've done a lot more than they have.
Transitioning now, a lot of you who know me, know at least part of the story of what happened in the early morning hours of September 14, 2008. It was early that Sunday morning that many of us lost a brother, lost a friend, when Bobby Thomason was murdered in Radford. It's a night that I don't go a day without thinking of, remembering being right there, second guessing myself, wondering why it was him and not me. I can still close my eyes and picture what happened.
I shouldn't be here.
And yet, here I am.
That thought crosses my mind often. God picks us to deal with tough circumstances, and he picks his time for all of us to succeed and fail, to be born and to die. I can confide in that.
I have to say, I never thought I'd be riding in the car with one of my fraternal brother's parents, telling them how their son died, showing them where his body landed. Being in that Emergency Room, washing his blood off my hands. I still remember the funeral, September 23, taking off my paul bearer lapel and laying it on the coffin, as hundreds of people said goodbye, and the military fired those rounds in the air to the sound of the bugle playing TAPS. Brotherhood runs deep for me, because like most everything in life, it's fleeting.
This will be a tough weekend for me, no doubt. Always is. It'll hurt a little more than usual the next 10 days or so. Like many, I never forget. I am a better person because of Bobby Thomason, and I can do much, much more to be great for his sake, because I'm here. I have the opportunity to do what others can't. I'm sorry that I haven't done more with that opportunity, and I'll always be sorry I didn't do more on September 14, 2008.
It's what we go through, what we overcome in life that makes us who we are. No one can judge you. Someone somewhere has passed on you, but they don't know anything about what makes you special, what makes you tick. They couldn't walk a mile in your shoes. I find that I can't put into words how I feel, but if you want to know why I love the game of basketball, why I'm so passionate about coaching, and why I love to win, there's a little insight.
Live in your own reality. Be great because others never got the chance to. Never Quit (BT).
Always your brother...
Sunday, August 26, 2012
I shall not want...
While I'm very open about my religious faith as a Christian, I try to keep my posts religiously neutral. However, just as a warning, a Christian Biblical verse somewhat inspired this post.
I was driving home from the gym this afternoon, and as I passed a church here in Chesterfield, the first part of the popular Psalm 23 was on the light up sign out front.
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
I remember going to Bible schools every summer growing up, and at one such place the entire focus was on Psalm 23, and learning it.
But this post is not about Christianity, Psalm 23, or anything else. It's about me, it's about you, it's about living in your own reality, and it's about finding ways to get better. I want to focus on the last four words, I shall not want.
Obviously, I love to coach, and one of the things I tell my kids is to eliminate certain four letter words from their vocabulary, particularly can't, won't, don't. Well it's time to add one to the list...want.
Subliminally, we use the word want dozens of times a day. My new piece of advice for myself, and for you, is to stop wanting, and start getting. You want to win? Well, who doesn't want to win, the other team does too. Go out and make a win happen. You want to go to the park for a run? Then get up and go do it.
I get it, sometimes it's not that easy. There's nothing to stop us from wanting, but there are obstacles sometimes in the way of getting. But I hypothesize that if you leave behind a "want" attitude and adopt a positive, confident "get" attitude, then you will succeed more often.
There's a popular song, "you can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you just might find you get what you need." That statement is largely true, but I'm here to tell you, don't just stop at "what you need". Be hungry, work harder, get more. And then use that to do some good for others.
I'm guilty. I've been a "wanter" for a long time. I mean, I've said out loud too many times stuff like, "I want to get this job" or "I want to coach at the next level" and even "I want to be successful." Maybe that's why I haven't gotten there. I vow, from this day forward to stop cheating myself, and start approaching everything with an "I am" attitude.
Stop wanting. Start doing. Start getting. Start making things happen. You might not always get the result you want, but if you live in your own reality, the odds will be in your favor.
I am my own mechanism for success.
I will work harder tomorrow than I did today.
I shall not want.
-Travis Ponton
twitter: @travisponton
I was driving home from the gym this afternoon, and as I passed a church here in Chesterfield, the first part of the popular Psalm 23 was on the light up sign out front.
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
I remember going to Bible schools every summer growing up, and at one such place the entire focus was on Psalm 23, and learning it.
But this post is not about Christianity, Psalm 23, or anything else. It's about me, it's about you, it's about living in your own reality, and it's about finding ways to get better. I want to focus on the last four words, I shall not want.
Obviously, I love to coach, and one of the things I tell my kids is to eliminate certain four letter words from their vocabulary, particularly can't, won't, don't. Well it's time to add one to the list...want.
Subliminally, we use the word want dozens of times a day. My new piece of advice for myself, and for you, is to stop wanting, and start getting. You want to win? Well, who doesn't want to win, the other team does too. Go out and make a win happen. You want to go to the park for a run? Then get up and go do it.
I get it, sometimes it's not that easy. There's nothing to stop us from wanting, but there are obstacles sometimes in the way of getting. But I hypothesize that if you leave behind a "want" attitude and adopt a positive, confident "get" attitude, then you will succeed more often.
There's a popular song, "you can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you just might find you get what you need." That statement is largely true, but I'm here to tell you, don't just stop at "what you need". Be hungry, work harder, get more. And then use that to do some good for others.
I'm guilty. I've been a "wanter" for a long time. I mean, I've said out loud too many times stuff like, "I want to get this job" or "I want to coach at the next level" and even "I want to be successful." Maybe that's why I haven't gotten there. I vow, from this day forward to stop cheating myself, and start approaching everything with an "I am" attitude.
Stop wanting. Start doing. Start getting. Start making things happen. You might not always get the result you want, but if you live in your own reality, the odds will be in your favor.
I am my own mechanism for success.
I will work harder tomorrow than I did today.
I shall not want.
-Travis Ponton
twitter: @travisponton
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