Image from Coach Mike Neighbors via John Maxwell's "Talent Is not Enough"
Everyone has hardware and software, your body and brain. To become a high performance "thinking machine," upgrade both. There's no secret sauce.
Find mentors
Mentoring is the only shortcut to excellence. Mr. Rogers said, "Look for the helpers." Often we don't know what we don't know. The eager student attracts mentors. Remember that the cornerstones of Wooden's "Pyramid of Success" are enthusiasm and industriousness (hard work).
The mentor makes the mentee better...and vice versa.
Think Like a Boss
Medicine is a hierarchical training program. Early on, students learn the basics, the fundamentals of anatomy, physiology, biology of health and disease, pharmacology, etc. They get exposure to clinical specialties - Surgery, Medicine, Ob-Gyn, and have electives. To accelerate your career arc, think at next levels. As a student, think as an intern. As an intern, think as a resident. As a resident think as a Staff Attending and researcher. As a varsity player, think like a collegian.
As a student-athlete, ask better questions. How do I enhance my process? What are my strengths and weaknesses? What defines excellence and how can I navigate that path?
"The Game Honors Toughness"
Career development is not fair or equal. Coach Dave Smart says, "The best teams play harder for longer." The best students focus, develop 'winning' habits, and a gritty, "growth mindset." The same goes for players. Toughness and resilience translate into commitment, discipline, and higher performance over time.
It's not an easy or a linear process. Even the best players and coaches have setbacks. But they have the capacity to persist.
Plan Your Work; Work Your Plan
What do you want? How will you earn it? Develop your origin story. The ten year-old was dressed in softball gear. Her father said, "I see you're going out to play softball." She said, "No, Daddy, I'm going out to win."
The French have a saying, "Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose." The more things change, the more it's the same thing."
All Things Are not Equal
The same is not equal. “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others," wrote George Orwell in Animal Farm. Miami Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra said it another way, "There is always a pecking order."
Every position is open, but not to the same degree. At least four players compete for the middles. I couldn't rank them one to four. The designated server spots are wide open. A plethora of players play high level offseason volleyball, paying the literal and figurative price.
Chase perfection and sometimes you catch excellence. The race is on.
Lagniappe. Ask open-ended questions. What did you learn today?
— Coach Ray Ostrowski (@CoachRayO3313) April 6, 2026
Lagniappe 2. Lower body workout. You absolutely can do this.
Every exceptional MVB athlete has been an exceptional athlete. Your new assistant Gia Vlajkovic met that "decathlete" standard...strength, power, vertical jump, endurance, versatility standard. Two others 'sandwiched' her MVB time, Elena Soukos and Sadie Jaggers.
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