Basketball: Adding Value

"Character is job one." Your job as a student-athlete includes representing yourself and MVB. That includes how you present on social media. 

Add value for yourself and others through family, education, experience, mentoring, and more. 

Over time, assume more responsibility for your growth and development. Become your own coach. 

Reading builds productivity. Here's a tip. If you hear about a great book, don't run out and buy it. Check out available summaries online. Some summaries can't do a book justice. For example, no summary replaces the quality writing and storytelling of The Boys in the Boat. 

Here's a summary of Think Like a Monk by influencer Jay Shetty who invested three years in a monastery. 

Key Ideas: (from Think Like a Monk)

1. Clarify your identity

2. Reverse negativity with Spot-Stop-Swap

3. Get intimate with fear, then detach

4. Hone good intentions

5. Live your purpose and dharma

6. Improve your routines and habits

7. Master the mind

8. Build self-esteem, not ego

9. Practice frequent, specific and broad gratitude

10. Understand and nurture relationships through trust and connection

11. Service is the direct path to a happy and fulfilling life

Here are a few key points: 

What is ego? Ego represents our self-worth. An overinflated self-worth can make us insensitive or indifferent to others. It overlooks weaknesses. Without enough ego, we may lack the ability to fight through tough situations. Ryan Holiday's book, Ego Is the Enemy addresses where ego helped or hurt individuals. Arlene Blum led the all-woman ascent of Annapurna (8,000 m peak). She didn't personally make the final ascent, leaving that to stronger climbers. George Marshall had the chance to be the top general in World War 2. He yielded to General Dwight Eisenhower, while Marshall stayed behind to manage logistics, his area of expertise. Neither let ego interfere with duty. 

From "Think Like a Monk"

Identity backstops performance. Become a "student of your sport, focused on being prepared and competitive at all times." Our habits and behaviors establish identity.

Identity flows from values and habits. Shetty advises people to be true to their "high values" and to avoid low ones.

For example, being on a team doesn't make you a good teammate. A good teammate has empathy for her teammates and 'serves', not taking advantage.

The book summary is lengthy and deserves thought and study. 

Lagniappe. Being a great teammate comes easier for some than others. It means being able to put the team and other individuals above ourselves.