Tag: motivation

Focus.

It was once said that courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the choice you make in the face of fear. Similarly, focus does not exist in the absence of distractions – it exists in spite of them. 

Focus, then, also represents a choice. The decision you make to maintain and hold fast to your “vision” regardless of the situation, temptation or challenge.

It is highly unlikely that you will ever find yourself in an environment totally free of distractions. You can always count on something to be there to draw your attention, pick away at your resolve or make you second-guess your intentions, abilities and actions. 

Distractions – especially now – are going to be more than abundant.

Some of these will present themselves as the self-inflicted variety. Usually born of doubt.

The ones you create and then tell yourself. You know, those little white lies that excuse the failure you are ultimately setting yourself up for. The rationale you use to lessen expectations, dim the light of your talents and diminish your purpose. The fiction that only serves to deflect attention from performance. 

The prose that is generated to soften the blow when you tell yourself that you are not quite up to the challenge, because you think it might require too much of you. All because you choose to allow doubt to wedge its way into you.

Then there are those distractions that will act to divert your focus from the outside in. Perhaps it is your peers chipping away at your self imposed discipline, sacrifice and commitment. Or the press and the punditry that look to fill their space with copy and your head with nonsense. The chirping opponent looking to draw a flag.

A hostile playoff venue to take you out of your game. If you allow yourself to succumb to these types of “noise”, your eyes may come off the ball. You might lose your way. Failure may appear.

You have the ability to overcome these distractions, maintain your focus and relentlessly pursue your vision.

But this talent needs to be exercised regularly. Your ability to choose to remain focused in the face of distraction can become powerful – but only if you consistently challenge yourself to do so in all cases.

Confront every distraction and put it in their place. Recognize their origins and intentions. See them for what they usually are – self-doubt.

Keep your eyes on the prize, your head in the game and your heart full of purpose.

Focus.

Attitude

To epitomize attitude is often easier said than thought, understood and applied.  

But attitude truly is everything.  

In the right hands, a coach, mentor or leader can make attitude a powerful weapon of mass instruction. Instilling in others an awareness of its impact and how it can promote achievement and success.  How it ripples ever outward.  And ultimately, creates unanticipated growth.  

Of all the things that we seek to control and temper throughout the course of our daily lives, attitude  tends to be the one thing that is overlooked or taken for granted.  Perhaps because it often requires more effort and perseverance than was  ever anticipated.  After all, it is not something that can be held, defined or KPI’d. It is only just attitude.

But then again, attitude is EVERYTHING.  It alone belongs to and answers to us. It is a personal, business and life changer. If we can fully recognize and honor that.  

However, more often than not, we choose to cede our authority to it.  The wrong one.  Allowing it to run rough-shod over us and others when we allow it.  Attitude alone has the ability to transform any adversity into opportunity. Attitude provides one with the proper perspective regardless of the severity of the situation.  It is our ally when we understand its goal.  Enemy when we do not. 

Attitude – good or bad – can go viral.  It can become  a highly contagious element. For good.  And, for bad. 

You must be willing and able to become  the relentless source of a positive attitude for all.  Not just for you.  But for all.

And then? 

Be willing to administer the vaccine should all negativity happen to turn it into a bad  infection. 

And be the cure.  

Through your attitude.

Discovering life’s passion on the LOS

The helmet and pads came off for the last time in Beloit forty-four years ago. And  to this day, I remain 65, an O-lineman. Yet true to that slice of heaven; the line of scrimmage. There were inklings back then, ongoing thoughts thereafter, followed by a steady flow of contemplation. All of which collaborated to assert one absolute truth: it is what made me who I am today. 

Now there are many aspects of the game.  Mine happened to take residence in the box. And two fundamental elements running in parallel, at two different depths, conjoined to make it the  greatest ever invented.  

First, there is the passion that circulates throughout the game itself.  

The oftentimes brutal physical nature of competition between our five and theirs. Knock down, drag out brawls on every play, in that box. Contusions, scrapes, strains, breaks, tears and blood were all part of the agreement, confirmed via handshake after the game. But without a doubt, this  was what we looked forward to in the weight room over the winter, throughout the week in practice, leading to those glorious Saturday afternoons. 

Yes it was fun.  But more so it was pure joy. The residue of which could be felt until that following Wednesday.

Then within that framework of the game, was yet another element. That something that permeated to your core; a passion for what it demanded of and from you as a person. True, it extracted from you.  But at the same token it replenished you, on a deeply personal, emotional, mental and spiritual level.  You see, being on the line of scrimmage gave back ten fold of what it took, in an unparalleled manner. 

Yes, it was a game. But it proved to be much more than that. Each opportunity granted, lesson learned and affirmation supplied possessed a gravity all their own. 

Like becoming one who gladly accepts the weight of the moment being granted. 

Shunning the spotlight. 

Leaving it all out there for those on your left or right. 

Embracing your failure on the play before as impetus for your success in those yet to come.  

Valuing a level of perseverance garnered by enduring exhaustingly hard work.  

Appreciating your role as one who paves the way for others to succeed.

As time passed, these and many more of the gifts granted during those precious moments on the LOS became more apparent as they weaved themselves into the fabric of life off the field.  Confirming the veracity of their mass in substantial and lasting fashions. 

Such as accepting and engaging the weight of all responsibilities in all manner and form, arriving on their time, yet touching every aspect of your being.  

Discovering the value of humility through promoting others. 

Freely giving of oneself without any expectation or desire of return. 

Knowing that there is much to be learned in defeat – whether personal or professional – and that  your response to that event  will eventually lead you back to the outcome you desire; victory. 

Mustering oneself to embrace personal sacrifice and persevere, regardless of the cost, to improve, grow and become what you are meant to be. 

Providing empathy, care, attention and love that will ensure the safety, security and success of those all around.

It has been said that football is the game of life.  A statement of fact to which many will attest.  

This O-lineman suggests that it is taught in numerous, lasting and most compelling fashions – particularly at the line of scrimmage.  Lessons that continue to emerge from that original classroom, bound to a core curriculum, taught on a field that is now being professed in the home, at work, in the community and throughout the world.  

The last snap was 44 years ago. 

Age and infirmity aside, if given another chance, the passion to play remains. An offer would be very difficult to pass on rejoining this pastime. That passion still remains.

Fortunately, the LOS still remains ingrained within. A space I will occupy throughout the rest of my life.  That perpetual source of passion that runs to my core.  An avenue to now teach the lessons embraced while on it.

Defining one’s true purpose.