Unadulterated Truths

"At the highest level in the final minutes of any tight game or in finals and playoffs, it’s not the team who makes the biggest plays that prevails, but the one that makes the least errors. Anyone can inflict pain, but those who can endure hardship and tough times best will succeed." 59 Lessons: Working with the World's Greatest Coaches, Athletes, & Special Forces" by Dr. Fergus Connolly

The principal 'edge' of old age is experience. "Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want." 

The best students aren't always the smartest. They are those who focus, study effectively, manage time, and keep going when others quit.

Notice any similarities with the best athletes? 

Practice

Warm up with the intent to loosen muscles and avoid injury. Practice with intent. Direct every serve with purpose. Read every server, setter, hitter, and ball with the belief that will make you one step faster, one step better. 

Focus

Disallow distractions. Don't be thinking about texting your friends or your Spanish homework. Be present in the moment. Focus is a superpower. 

Study the Game

If you don't have game video to review, ask yourself what you could do better. Maybe it's placing your serve more accurately or intentionally. Maybe it's communicating so "no ball hits the floor." Maybe it's closing the block quicker. Give yourself grace and commit to continual improvement. 

Play Harder for Longer

Canadian basketball coach Dave Smart says that the best teams have the ability to "play harder for longer." Be in superior condition. If that means a few sprints after practice, do it. In basketball there's a drill called 17. You only do this drill when you're completely healthy. Some of you should not even think about it now. 

Sprint sideline to sideline across the width of the court 17 times. The objective is to complete these repetitions within one minute. It's one minute of all-out effort, challenging yourself. Maybe you can't do 17 but can you do 15? Or do the drill for sixty seconds and seek your personal best. The first time will be your best. 

In the fifth set, you will know that you trained harder than your opponent.  

"The best" are frankly, a little bit crazy. To push yourself harder for longer and to do it consistently makes you different. 

Lagniappe. Kaizen 

First, the ChatGPT "McKinsey Slide" (3 second impression)

Then the "long form." 

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