The Power of Stories

Although Americans have few shared beliefs, ninety percent still believe in the "American Dream", that through hard work you can earn success. As young people, you have the best (the longest time) to write your own narrative, whether you are beginning or ending your high school experience.

An awards recipient listened to a lengthy introduction about his many accomplishments, his rise from humble origins to a prominent position in the judiciary. As he arose to speak he began, "Thank you for that wonderful introduction. And the best part, you delivered exactly as I wrote it!"

Consider for a moment the words of Bill Russell, the greatest winner in the history of sports. Russell won an NCAA Championship, an Olympic Championship, and an NBA Championship in the same year. He also won fourteen championships (eleven NBA, two NCAA, one Olympic) in fifteen years. "My ego demands, for myself, the success of my team." His story revolves around finding ways to make his teammates better, day after day, year after year. By doing so, he received more credit than players who sought individual achievement.

Your team can be an athletic team, a business, or your family. Ask yourself what are you prepared to do, how, and when to drive that success?

Kevin Sivils, a three-time basketball coach of the year in Texas writes about the most important award that his TEAM gives out...the best TEAMMATE award. The players vote and decide (through their own criteria) who is the best. Great teammates are enthusiastic, committed, determined, unselfish, respectful, communicators who radiate positivity.

Pete Carril, former basketball coach at Princeton, reminded his children daily as they left for school, what he had learned through experience. "The smart take from the strong." He knew that education came before sports.

Jay Bilas, former Duke star, and ESPN commentator wrote about getting a small task from his father at home. He was asked to remove and replace some contact paper in his sister's bathroom. He found the job difficult and did a mediocre job at it. His father returned home late from work and removed the paper, sanded down the vanity, and replaced it properly. Bilas wrote that he was ashamed of what he had done, and that it had taught him to do the job right the first time.

Every day we have the opportunity to learn lessons in victory and in defeat. It is our choice how receptive we are to those lessons, the daily stories of our lives.