"Complaining Is not a Strategy"

"Complaining is not a strategy." - Randy Pausch

Carnegie Mellon professor Randy Pausch delivered The Last Lecture while dying of pancreatic cancer. Live our lives teaching life.

We choose lives of gratitude or grievance. Coach John Wooden told players, "don't whine, don't complain, don't make excuses."

The "elastic exercise" adds value. Put a rubber band on one wrist and every time you complain, switch it to the other wrist. It raises consciousness about our complaints, providing "negative feedback" about an undesired habit.

Don't "have to, get to." Setting up and breaking down the gear? That means I get to and finished practice. A bad day practicing volleyball isn't so bad after all.

Leave the bench area in better condition than you found it. Don't leave the floor looking like a flood zone. 

Unhappy with playing time? Improve, impact the game, and make everyone around you better. "Do more to become more; become more to do more."

Green with envy? Envy is one of the seven deadly sins. Moreover, it doesn't look good on us. Remember MUDITA, the ability to be happy for another's success. "Your joy is my joy."  

Be a great teammate. Someday you will fondly recall players who were great teammates, who helped you and the team succeed. 

Lagniappe. Get a consult from ChatGPT. AI lights the dark corners. 

"I love the quote, "Complaining is not a strategy." It’s a reminder that while venting frustration can sometimes bring short-term relief, it doesn’t solve problems. It shifts focus away from taking responsibility or seeking solutions. In coaching and leadership, staying proactive and solution-oriented is far more effective. Complaining can become a distraction, whereas action and thoughtful responses can lead to real progress."