What Is Your Relationship with Failure?

Successful people have something in common. They've failed...a lot. Failure allows us to make "course corrections" in reassessing what we've done and how we can improve.

Failure is data. Take advantage of data to learn from it.

This doesn't mean an all-consuming obsession with failure. From studying game (and sometime practice) video, examine both strengths and areas to practice.

Years ago Melrose had a relatively tall attacker who often struggled because her contact point was barely above the net. When attackers struggle, break down (video) the process:

1) Attack footwork

2) Coordination of footwork with armswing

3) Decision making - "the right shot at the right time"

4) Contact point and difficulty for defense

5) Execution of the shot 

Each of us has "three lenses" of visualization:

• How we see ourselves
• How we see others
• How we see the world

Take ownership of our attitude, beliefs, values, and actions. Model excellence for teammates. Don not become a victim of "bad officiating" or "bad luck" or "bad sets." As Coach John Wooden advised, "Don't whine. Don't complain. Don't make excuses."

Great players want to be coached, to be informed of how they can be better. Setbacks are inevitable. Overcoming them is a choice. 

Lagniappe. "Champion Mentality: 

• Stays positive 
• Takes responsibility 
• Finds solutions 
• Admits their faults 
• Asks for feedback 
• No Victim Mentality 
• No Complaints 
• No Blame for others 
• No excuses 
• Recognizes faults 
• Wants feedback" - Allistair McCaw in "Habits That Make a Champion"