How We Respond to a Challenge Is What Gets Recorded

We often judge ourselves and others by outcomes instead of process. Despite our best preparation, practice, effort, and decision-making, we may not get the desired result. Shape better process.

Outcomes depend on many factors - skill, team coordination, the opponent, and luck.

Two observations from Urban Meyer apply:

• “We don’t control the events in life, and we don’t directly control the outcomes. But we always have control over how we choose to respond. How we respond means everything. We call it the R Factor.”
• “Nobody wants hardship or adversity, but everybody gets it. It’s inevitable. No one escapes pain, fear, or difficulty… a successful life involves some amount of necessary pain. When it happens, don’t run from it. Learn from it.”

And they apply not only in sport, but in life. We studied hard but didn't get the grade we wanted, the job we wanted, the college we applied to, or success in the relationship we desired. Give it our best shot. 

What improves our process?

• Attitude. Am I engaged, positive?
• Choices. Are my decisions for the team or just myself? 
• Effort. Am I energized and bringing energy to the team/job/relationship? 

At practice each day, ask "how am I using this to improve?" When Coach Ralph LaBella and I attended a UCONN women's practice, we saw the women take a couple of laps to loosen up. Nobody cut corners. Prepare as champions prepare. 

Notes: It's early, but the attacking stats show trends.