Punch Lines

All opinions expressed in the blog are solely my own. The blog is not an official publication of any City of Melrose organization. 

Toughness is a skill that transfers to school, business, and sports. Develop stories for complex situations. When possible, steal lines where appropriate.

A group's woman leader was in trouble. Her assistants discussed the situation.

Person A: "I suppose the right thing to do in this situation is stay out of it."

Person B: "So, what's your idea?" 

Sometimes a team struggles. Brad Stevens asks, "What does my team need now?" In Upton Sinclair's classic, The Jungle, the hero's answer for everything was "I will work harder." That's wearing 'blinders'. A good answer comes from the East:

"Chop wood, carry water." Stick to the fundamentals. Excellence follows doing the ordinary with extraordinary consistency. 

Charlie Jones covered the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta - rowing, canoeing, and kayaking. With the distant venue he felt left out. He learned how the Olympic crew team ignored factors like rain or water conditions. An oarsman's quote became the title of his book, "That's outside my boat." Take care of your business within the team. Some say, "Keep your cards close to the vest."

Coaches care about everyone on the team. That doesn't mean that they treat every player exactly the same. Red Auerbach made an agreement with legendary Bill Russell that Red could yell at him at practice. Russell also could take a practice off when he needed to. Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said it another way, "There is always a pecking order."

Bruce Jenner won the Olympic gold medal in decathlon in 1976, setting a World Record. During Pulmonary medical training, instructors taught us the elements of the "Bruce Jenner Protocol," what it takes to be your best. 

• Exercise (training) 
• Rest (sleep and recovery)
• Nutrition (protein) 
• Medication (or supplements)
• Motivation (Gold Medal or other reason to achieve)

Former five time NBA Champion coach Gregg Popovich discussed the metaphor of breaking a giant rock. He said that it might take a hundred hits before the boulder split. He explained to players, "You can't skip steps" and "pound the rock."

Gino Auriemma's future "four-peat" National Champions (UCONN Women's basketball) started practice with two laps around the Gampel Pavilion. Every player navigated the full perimeter of the court without stepping within the boundaries. The unspoken message was clear, "Champions don't cut corners." 

Simplicity rules. Years ago we attended a Celtics' practice at the Waltham training center. Brad Stevens spoke with Ellen, who explained that she was a rocket scientist. Stevens explained, "Well, basketball isn't rocket science." Keep decisions simple whenever possible because although a thinking person's sport, keep it simple. 

Comebacks. Unfair criticism is...well, unfair. Remember this. "Dogs don't bark at parked cars."

Lagniappe. Learning is vital. 

“Don't be on your deathbed someday, having squandered your one chance at life, full of regret because you pursued little distractions instead of big dreams.” - Derek Sivers

Lagniappe 2. Defensive tips.

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