Love or Pain

The best are the best for a reason. In his podcast, Gilbert Arenas said that there are two avenues to success: love or pain.

You either love something so much that you are willing to do whatever it takes to be successful, or you feel a pain from defeat so deep that you will do whatever it takes to never experience it again.

In the same podcast, Matt Barnes was asked what made the Golden State Warriors different than the other teams that he had been on. Matt said that everyone kept their egos at the door and the goal was to win. Basketball and winning was the most important thing. But he also said the chemistry and environment and energy was different. Everybody enjoyed being there. There was love in the room and love circulating throughout the culture of the team.

Matt also said that the work ethic from everybody was surprising. Everyone would be shooting before and after practice.

On some teams, everybody shows up right on time and they leave as soon as practice is over. There are some teams where most people come early and stay late like with the Warriors.

I would encourage every coach to create an atmosphere of love. Create a culture where people want to be in the gym, want to be around each other, and want to compete with and against each other.

I would encourage every player to be a light of love. Love to play, love to practice, love being around your teammates. Love to work, love to get better, and love to compete.

If you don’t love what you are doing enough to do the work it takes to be your best, you will experience the pain of defeat.