Not Average

"We all have a thousand excuses for why we don’t achieve our goals in life. There is one reason: because we failed to prepare properly. There are no excuses." - Erik Kapitulik, The Program

Being part of MVB means commitment to "not average." Excellence requires "more," more time, more discipline, more effort, and more will. Average players never make an MVB roster. 

Think about professional athletes. Most were the best player on their team for most of their lives. Even if they outworked others, they still have limits. 

Consider former Celtic Henry Finkel. He averaged 27 points a game in his senior year at Dayton, was selected an All-American, and became a second round NBA draft choice. 

He was a journeyman center in the NBA, traded to the Celtics in 1969. Later, he was understudy to Dave Cowens, helping the Celtics to an NBA championship in 1974. During his nine year NBA career he averaged five points and four rebounds a game. He is a champion. 

Don’t do the easy wrong; do the hard right.
You have to go against your nature.
It’s not in everybody’s nature to get up every morning & work.
When we don’t have a challenge, we are not our best. That’s what drives us." -Geno Auriemma
📽️@WDWconvo pic.twitter.com/cFDO5Isnuz

— The Winning Difference (@thewinningdiff1) April 7, 2025

Excellence is hard. Do hard better. You're not average. 

Lagniappe. Develop 'refocusing' habits. 

"Develop better habits so that when we are under stress, we don’t have to make good mental or emotional decisions—we do them habitually." - Erik Kapitulik in The Program

Some refocusing ideas:

• Focus on a fixed point (e.g. a point on the net)
• Dot b. "Stop and take a slow, deep breath" (cleansing breath)
• Shake out your hands or dry them on your socks.