Failure as Fertilizer

“You’re not allowed to give excuses because excuses are a sign of weakness. We give no excuses when we fail. Failure is just fertilizer to help us grow as a team,” Rick Pitino

Excuses are yours to make.
Standards are yours to own.
Your choice matters. pic.twitter.com/4tqhyPVKkA

— The Winning Difference (@thewinningdiff1) March 17, 2026

‘This honest Turk,’ he said to Pangloss and Martin, ‘seems to be in a far better place than kings…. I also know,” said Candide, “that we must cultivate our garden.’ 

In the French philosophical novel Candide, Voltaire reminds us to care for our garden. This resonates throughout sports as coaches explain, "I'm only worried about our team" or "I don't have any control over that." Charlie Jones wrote a novel about covering Olympic crew, having asked an oarsman about conditions. "That's Outside My Boat." 

Coach Scott Celli can't concern himself with the ML12 schedule, stronger opponents, or (limited by MIAA) offseason player development. 

As a player, recognize that "losses are lessons" and the most vivid lessons arise from failure not victory. 

In "Golf Is not a Game of Perfect," Dr. Bob Rotella writes that one of the biggest mistakes a golfer can make is to work on swing mechanics during a tournament. Total focus belongs on the shot at hand, which includes club selection and course management. Similarly, don't fix your attack mechanics or serve during a match. 

Coach Celli adheres to John Wooden's advice, "Don't whine, don't complain, and don't make excuses." 

The best way to find playing time, role, and recognition from September through November is to refine your technique, tactics, physicality, and psychology now, during the offseason. Refine now, reward later. 

Lagniappe. Control your breathing. 

Navy SEALS use box breathing to stay calm & intensely focused during stressful situations.

3 times per day for 5 minutes each will exponentially reduce your cortisol / stress levels.

Come back to this tweet to practice daily pic.twitter.com/vnnPlbIvfJ

— Bitcoin Teddy (@Bitcoin_Teddy) February 22, 2026