What Do You Want to Get Out of The Process?

First, watch the video below for an insight into the type of parents and parental support that NBA legend Kobe Bryant grew up with:

(Watch the video before continuing)

In the video, Kobe Bryant was asked, "Who was your greatest teacher growing up?"

He said his parents were great. They instilled in him the importance of imagination and curiosity with the understanding that if you want to accomplish something, you have to put in the work to get there.

Kobe grew up thinking the world was his oyster and all things were possible if he was willing to put in the work.

He was then asked, "Who was more influential for you, your mother or your father."

Kobe said, "Both were influential at different points. My mom was there on a daily basis. My father was really influential at a critical time."

Kobe then told a story about how when he was 10 or 11 years old, he played in a summer league where he went the entire summer without scoring a single point. The league was a very prominent summer league in Philadelphia called the Sonny Hill League. His father, his uncle, and NBA legends like Wilt Chamberlain and Earl the Pearl Monroe played in this league, and Kobe embarrassingly went the entire summer without scoring at all. 

Something to think about - If your athlete went an entire season without scoring, how would you feel and how would you respond?

Kobe said he was terrible and still growing into his body, and said that he remembered crying about not scoring. Kobe's father then gave him a hug and told him, "Listen, whether you score 0 or score 60, I'm going to love you no matter what." 

Kobe said, "That is the most important thing that you can say to a child because it gave me all the confidence to fail - I have the security there."

This had me thinking about a question I heard Brett Ledbetter, a consultant, author, and speaker who works with some of the best coaches and athletes in the world ask: "Who do you want your athlete to become as a result of the chase?"

At the end of most games, athletes are asked 2 questions:

1 - Did you win?

2 - How many points/goals/touchdowns/runs did you score?

We condition our athletes at an early age to believe that results matter more than anything.

But take some time to really think about who you want your young athlete to be, who you want them to become, and what you want them to get out of the athletic experience. When they are retired from whatever sport they play, whether that happens after playing in high school, college, or professionally, who do you want them to be as a result of the journey and the chase? Then, think about what your role is in that process.

To set a benchmark, think about what you want your athlete to get out of the next 6 months to a year. What kind of performance skills do you hope they develop, and more importantly, what kind of moral skills do you hope they develop? Then think about your role in the development of those skills.

With every interaction we have with our athletes, we are communicating to them what we value and what feel is important, and much of that communication (verbal and non-verbal) becomes their inner voice. Because of his parents, Kobe's inner voice said, "The world is your oyster, and all things are possible if you put in the work."

ASK YOURSELF:

1 - What do you hope your athlete's inner voice says?

2 - What do you want your athlete to get out of the athletic experience?

3 - What skills - performance and moral - do you hope your athlete develops over the next 6 months to a year?

4 - What is your role in the process?

To help you get started, ask yourself, "Who do you want your athletes to become as a result of the chase:

- More or less confident

- Happier or less happy

- More stable or more fragile

- Stronger or weaker character

- More humble or bigger ego

- More or less respectful

- More or less grateful

- More or less emotionally resilient

- More open or more defensive

- More or less ethical

For a Google doc version of this, click here: What Do You Want to Get Out of the Process?

Mamba Mondays | What it Takes to Be GREAT

Even though he is no longer with us, I love studying the mind, habits, and work ethic of Kobe Bryant. Kobe was known as a true student of the game, and one of the hardest workers we have ever seen. Kobe had a lot of talent, and he had God-given size and athleticism, but Kobe became one of the best ever because of how hard he worked on and off the court.

Kobe Bryant was a true student of the game of basketball and of life. Kobe was so focused on being great that he focused on every detail in his daily life so that he would be able to pick up even the smallest details on the basketball court.

Kobe said, "By reading, by paying attention in class and in practice, by working, I strengthened my focus. By doing all of that, I strengthened my ability to be present and not have a wandering mind."

From a young age, Kobe devoured film and watched everything he could get his hands on. He said it was fun for him, and the most important question to ask was: Why?

Kobe knew early on that he wanted to be great, and he put in the work needed to live out his dreams. Here is what Kobe said about greatness in his book, The Mamba Mentality:

"If you really want to be great at something, you have to truly care about it. If you want to be great at something, you have to obsess over it. A lot of people say they want to be great, but they're not willing to make the sacrifices necessary to achieve greatness. They have other concerns, whether important or not, and they spread themselves out. That's totally fine. After all, greatness is not for everybody.

“What I’m saying is greatness isn’t easy to achieve. It requires a lot of time, and a lot of sacrifices. It requires a lot of tough choices. It requires your loved ones to sacrifice, too, so you have to have an understanding circle of family and friends. People don’t always understand just how much effort from how many people go into one person chasing a dream to be great.

There’s a fine balance between obsessing about your craft and being there for your family. It’s akin to walking a tightrope. Your legs are shaky and you’re trying to find your center. Whenever you lean too far in one direction, you correct your course and end up overleaning in the other direction. So, you are correct in leaning the other way again. That’s the dance.

You can’t achieve greatness by walking a straight line.

Respect to those who do achieve greatness, and respect to those who are chasing that elusive feeling.”

THIS WEEK

1 - What is something you want to be great at?

2 - What is something you should commit to doing every day in order to grow into being great?

3 - What is something that can keep you from achieving your dreams and becoming great?

4 - What can you do to overcome those barriers or challenges?

For a Google doc version of this article, click here: What it Takes to Be Great

WEEK 35 DEVO | Steph Curry and The Faith of a Mustard Seed

My favorite Steph Curry story comes from his very first college basketball game. We know Steph Curry as an NBA champion, an NBA MVP, and the best shooter of all time, but there was a time when Steph was known as an undersized, not-good-enough, underrecruited freshman who went to Davidson in part because no major program recruited him.

Steph started his first college game as a freshman for Davidson, but he had 9 turnovers in the first half, and they were down 18 points at half-time. His coach, Bob McKillop, said that he had to make a big decision at half-time. They were down big, and they had to decide whether or not they were going to keep the struggling freshman in the lineup. When they were recruiting Steph and watching him play in high school, they watched him play in a game in Las Vegas where he was awful. He kept turning the ball over, he was missing shots, he was getting beat defensively, but he never stopped playing, he never showed frustration, and he was never impacted by the demons of failure. Coach McKillop said to himself, "This is a young man who transcends time. He lives in the moment." 

At half-time, Coach McKillop said to his staff, "Remember Las Vegas," and they kept him in. Davidson ended up winning the game, and Coach McKillop said that was the beginning of Steph having confidence in himself at that level, and the beginning of their confidence in him. Steph bounced back and scored 32 points in the next game against Michigan, one of the best teams and programs in the country.

Steph said that by playing for a small school like Davidson, he was able to play his way through a lot of his mistakes and grow, but he had to work through all of it without losing confidence in himself. He said having a coach who believed in him was huge, but there was also the tough love, and he had to want to be and embrace being coached:

"I'm thankful because I wanted it so bad that I was cool accepting being coached. I knew I didn't know it all. I knew I had a lot to learn and had a lot of room to grow. But I was okay with getting coached no matter how tough it was and no matter how embarrassing it was, and I'm thankful that I accepted it early so that I could kind of go through those lumps and not lose confidence in myself. Having a coach who believes in you is one thing, and they are going to try to set you up for success, but you gotta walk into that, and you gotta make them look like they know what they are talking about - no matter how hard it is. Or, you can cower away from it, and give in to defeat and to what you can't do on the floor, or the failures that you have, and all that type of stuff. Be open to being coached because it is the only way you are going to get to your full potential, it is the only way you are going to get exposed to where you can look in at yourself in the mirror, and say, 'This is what I need to work on, and these are the strides that I can take to get to where I want to be,' and roll with that mindset."

Steph Curry was a late bloomer, and in a world where kids are starting to get ranked in the 1st and 2nd grades, he modeled how to move at your own pace. 

But he also models the importance of having faith throughout your journey. Steph said going to Davidson was not a power move to try to get himself in a position to make the NBA because only a few people from Davidson had made it to the NBA. It took a leap of faith from him to fully commit to it and to make the most of the opportunity.

In Matthew 13:31-32, Jesus was in the middle of teaching 6 different parables when he said:

"The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches."

A mustard seed is very small; it is only about 1-2 millimeters in size. But the seed can grow into a bush that is upwards of 20-30 feet tall and wide. Steph Curry was a small, overlooked high school basketball player, but he has completely changed the game of basketball with the way he plays. Now he is like a tree that the birds of the air (or people all over the world) can come and nest in its branches.

There are a lot of reasons to quit, to doubt yourself, and give in, but have faith in yourself and faith in God. God has great plans for us all. His plans are to prosper us, and not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).

His plans for us might not include being professional athletes (or they might), but if we abide in Him, pray constantly, and strive each and every day to do the right thing, to be good people, and bless and serve others, our joy may be made full (John 15:11), and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6).

THIS WEEK

1 - When people tell you, "Know, you are not good enough to play for me," what does that do to you and your motivation and confidence?

Steph Curry's dad said, "When people tell you, 'No, you aren't good enough to play for me,' any competitive person is going to remember that, and it's going to motivate them."

2 - What is the hardest part about people doubting you?
For me, it hurts my confidence sometimes. It's easier for me to work hard and try new things when people have confidence in me. It's harder for me to get out of my comfort zone when there is doubt around me.

3 - What can you do or what Bible verse can you lean on to find the confidence to keep going?
I will lean on some of the verses in this article. I will find even the smallest faith and hold on to that (Matthew 13:31), knowing that God has great plans for me (Jeremiah 29:11), and knowing that all things work for the good of those who love him and who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).

For a Google doc version of this devo, click here: Steph Curry and The Faith of a Mustard Seed

Do What Makes Your Heart Sing

Passion, energy, and enthusiasm are powerful forces. In fact, Carmine Gallo writes that the most popular TED TALK speakers share something in common - a passion, an obsession they must share with others. Successful speakers can't wait to share their ideas, and they have a charisma that is directly associated with their passion and joy for what they do.

I would argue that the best coaches and teachers share the same passion, joy, and obsession for what they do. A school administrator that I respect once told me, "I hire for energy, and I train for skill. The best teachers that I have been around aren't always the most skilled teachers, but they have the best energy. They have an energy that is contagious. They are like magnets that people - students, parents, and other teachers - are drawn to."

I recently started reading Gallo's book called Talk Like Ted thinking that I was going to learn more about public speaking, but instead, I learned about the importance of finding your passion and bringing energy and enthusiasm to everything you do.

In Talk Like Ted, Gallo writes that science confirms that passion and energy are contagious. The people we coach, teach, and lead can feel our energy, and they can feel and are inspired by our passion.

I once read that passion is love in action. Passion expert Melissa Cardon defines passion as a positive, intense feeling that you experience for something that is profoundly meaningful for you as an individual.

We are inspired, fall in love with, and are motivated by PEOPLE. We run through the wall for PEOPLE. Our passion can energize and inspire us and those around us. Great coaches and leaders can appeal to and touch the hearts of the people they lead. Be someone that people want to listen to and follow by discovering your passion. Talk Like Ted quotes a popular speech by Steve Jobs:

"Find your passion. Get inspired to be inspiring. Find what makes your heart sing and share it with the world."

We all have the ability to push the limits of our potential, and passion, enthusiasm, and the right mindset are the forces that do it.

ASK YOURSELF

1 - What do I do?
I coach multiple sports, and I make blog posts.

2 - What am I passionate about?
I am passionate about helping others grow and become better versions of themselves.

3 - What makes your heart sing?
My heart sings when I can help someone and they light up with joy and excitement.

Mamba Monday | NO FEAR

In his book, The Mamba Mentality, Kobe Bryant wrote, “When it came to basketball, I had no fear.” He then wrote what that meant to him:

What I mean by that is: If I wanted to implement something new into my game, I’d see it and try incorporating it immediately. I wasn’t scared of missing, looking bad, or being embarrassed. That’s because I always kept the end result, the long game, in my mind. I always focused on the fact that I had to try something to get it, and once I got it, I’d have another tool in my arsenal. If the price was a lot of work and a few missed shots, I was OK with that.

As a kid, I would work tirelessly on adding elements to my game. I would see something I liked in person or on film, go practice it immediately, practice it more the next day, and then go out and use it. By the time I reached the league, I had a short learning curve. I could see something, download it, and have it down pat.

From the beginning, I wanted to be the best.

I had a constant craving, a yearning, to improve and be the best. I never needed any external forces to motivate me.

During my rookie year, at first, some scouting reports said I wasn’t tough. The first time I went to the basket in games, I’d get hit and the defense would think they had me. I’d come back the very next play and pick up an offensive foul just to send them a message.

I didn’t need that extra push to be great, though. From day one, I wanted to dominate. My mindset was: I’m going to figure you out. Whether it was AI, Tracy, Vince—or, if I were coming up today, LeBron, Russ, Steph—my goal was to figure you out. And to do that, to figure those puzzles out, I was willing to do way more than anyone else.

That was the fun part for me.

(Excerpt From The Mamba Mentality. This material may be protected by copyright.)

Kobe’s mindset allowed him to manage the natural fear we all have in the most productive way - he focused on getting better and the work more than anything. When we are focused on the work and being the best we can be, there isn’t a lot of room for thinking about fear or what you are afraid of.

THIS WEEK

1 - Fear is a part of life. The key is conquering fear and not letting fear conquer us. How do you overcome fear?

2 - When you are faced with obstacles, like fighting for a spot on the team, what is your mindset and approach?

3 - What is something you can take from Kobe's message?

Week 35 | Jesus Taught in Parables

Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas recently told a couple of young NBA players, “Coaches always want someone who they can rely on.” One of the simplest ways to become someone your coach can rely on is to listen and apply what they are teaching you.

It’s amazing how many of our athletes don’t listen and don’t apply new information that their coaches give them. Coaches sometimes have to go over things or teach and reteach things over and over again before they can get some athletes to even try new skills, much less use them in the game or master them.

We are often educated way beyond our level of obedience. How many times do we need to hear that we alone control our attitude and effort? The message won’t help us until we do it and live it.

Some of the best coaches have some of the best quotes and one-liners. They can be powerful ways to say something important or to make a point in a different way.

Jesus did this by speaking in parables. In Matthew 13, Jesus taught 6 different parables:

Parable of the Farmer Scattering Seed

Jesus began with telling a story about how a farmer went out to plant some seeds. As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died. Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted (Matthew 13:1-9)!

Some people listen to Jesus and hear and apply His messages to their lives and receive the blessings that come with it, and some don’t. 

Some athletes listen to their coaches and become athletes their coaches can trust and rely on, and some don’t.

Parable of the Wheat and Weeds

A farmer planted good seeds in his fields, but then enemies came and planted bad seeds. When the harvest came, they kept the good plants and they burned the bad weeds.

Jesus later explained that the good seeds are the people of the kingdom, and the bad weeds are the people who belong to the evil one. The angels will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s Kingdom. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand (Matthew 13:24-29).

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The athletes who gain the trust of their coaches usually get more opportunities than those who don’t.

Parable of the Mustard Seed

The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches (Matthew‬ ‭13:31-32‬).

Our faith should rest in the power of God. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. If you have faith and keep working, good things will happen to you and through you.

Parable of the Yeast

The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough (Matthew‬ ‭13:33‬).

Even a little faith can take over and transform a team. One teammate that brings energy and enthusiasm can lead to a championship culture.

Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl

The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field. 

The Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it (Matthew‬ ‭13:44-46‬)!

Not all coaches are great coaches, so seek good teaching, instruction, and coaching like they are hidden treasures or choice pearls that need to be found and cherished. And when you find a good coach who cares about you, appreciate them and let them know how much you do.

Parable of the Fishing Net

Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a fishing net that was thrown into the water and caught fish of every kind. When the net was full, they dragged it up onto the shore, sat down, and sorted the good fish into crates, but threw the bad ones away. That is the way it will be at the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked people from the righteous, throwing the wicked into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew‬ ‭13:47-50‬).

On your teams and in life, be good seeds planted in good, deep soil, and do and produce good things. Seek good teaching, instruction, and coaching like they are hidden treasures or choice pearls that need to be found and cherished. Be a good catch that you coaches and teammates want to keep and be around, and think thoughts and do things that Jesus demonstrated for us and would make Him proud.

THIS WEEK

1 - Which parable touches you the most?

Having the Faith of a Mustard Seed touches me the most. Doubt, fear, and anxiety can overwhelm me at times, but I need to have faith and remember that all things work together for the good of those who believe.

2 - What can you do this week to apply this parable in your life?

This week, I commit to having faith. Even if that faith is only the size of a mustard seed, if I work hard knowing that God will take care of me, my faith will grow and so will my ability to serve and bless others.

3 - What will be your biggest obstacle this week?

Bad things, obstacles, and storms are going to come this week. I will face adversity, and when the storms come, I can get down and lose faith.

4 - What is something you can do to overcome these obstacles?

I will write down the Parable of the Mustard Seed. Every morning, every night, and every time my confidence and faith drops, I will read it and remember God has great plans for me.

For a Google doc version of this devo, click here: Jesus Taught in Parables

The Mamba Mentality - Fearless

Kobe Bryant was known for his Mamba Mentality. The Mamba Mentality means, "Trying to be the best version of yourself." It means, "Every day, you are trying to become better."

One of the pillars of Kobe Bryant's Mamba Mentality is Fearless. Kobe Bryant was asked, "Why is being fearless such an important part of the Mamba Mentality?" He said:

"I think the greatest fear that we face is ourselves. It's not anything that is external; I think the greatest fear you face is yourself because we all have dreams, and its very scary sometimes to accept the dream that you have, and it's scarier still to say okay, I want that. It's scary because you're afraid that if you put your heart and soul into it and you fail then how are you going to feel about yourself?

Being fearless means putting yourself out there and going for it no matter what. Go for it. Not for anybody else, but for yourself."

He was then asked, "When you got to the league, you were 18 years old. Did you have any fears before getting there or when you got there?" Kobe said:

"Yea, I had fears that everybody was going to be right, that I made a poor choice, and that I wasn't going to amount to anything. That was always in the back of my mind.

But every person has the ability to put one foot in front of the other. If you're saying, 'Okay, I'm going to climb Mount Everest,' at the bottom of the mountain, you are going to look up and think, 'I am not going to climb Mount Everest.' But if you break it down into sections and you just put one foot in front of the other, one step at a time, the next thing you know - you are at the top of the mountain."

Kobe's plan for conquering fears is to push through by setting short-term goals, seeing the facts, and working one step at a time. The critics will doubt you, and maybe they will be right. But maybe they won't.

THIS WEEK

1 - What do you do when you feel fear? How do you push through something when you are afraid?
2 - What is something you used to be afraid of that you overcame?
3 - What did you do to overcome that fear?
4 - If you had one piece of advice for someone who is afraid to go after something they really want, what would it be?

Week Devo 33 | Pro Day

NFL athlete and real estate agent Nick Ralston has an amazing story about how he made it to the NFL, and how his faith in God and hard work helped him overcome the obstacles in his life to make it to the best football league in the world.

Nick was a star running back at Argyle High School (a small town west of Dallas) in Texas before going to play college football at Arizona State and Louisiana-Lafayette. At the end of his college career, he was in the middle of preparing for an NFL Pro Day in 2020 when the Covid pandemic hit and forced him to cancel his Pro Day, derailing all of his plans. His opportunity to work out in front of NFL teams was immediately ruined and taken away from him, and so were his NFL dreams. Instead of joining an NFL team, Nick moved to New York following a relationship that eventually didn't work out, and suddenly this former Texas high school football star was stuck in New York with no real options.

He had every reason to give up on everything, but instead of quitting, something switched in him. Nick said that he would not let his struggles define him and he went to work. He moved back in with his parents and worked out 4,5,6 hours a day for 10 months while getting his real estate license. He didn't even want to keep going, but his dad told him to see it through, to keep his hope alive, and to keep working.

The next year, he finally had his Pro Day and there was only one Dallas Cowboy scout there; but that scout really liked him. This scout went to Arizona State and had kids who grew up in Argyle as well. Nick said, "It's just a crazy God thing. That's just how God works sometimes." God took him out of a certain situation and put in him an environment where He was able to shape Nick and prepared him for what was to come, and God just told him, "Go to work." Nick said it was his faith, his work ethic, and his grit that pulled him out of rock bottom. Nick said:

"We all share adversity, and we are all either going into a storm, in a storm or coming out of the storm. There are things that can help us get out of terrible situations. There is a test to the testimony. There is a test that you have to pass if you want to reap what you sow. God's ways are higher, and He has a plan for you. If you have faith the size of a mustard seed and you tell the mountain to move, it will move for you, and nothing will be impossible for you. Always have faith that things are going to work out."

Nick said that God left bits of hope throughout his career that inspired him to keep going. He had a group of four or five coaches along the way who told him they believed in him. Those coaches encouraged him, taught him, and planted seeds of hope within him. 

The power of a coach and seeds of hope help us get through even the toughest circumstances.

We all have adversity. We all face storms. Adversity and storms are parts of life. We are defined by the obstacles, adversity, and storms we face in life. Two of the most important questions in life are:

1 - HOW will you get through the storm?

2 - WHO will you become at the end of the storm?

Will you go through the storm depressed, beaten, and feeling sorry for yourself, or will you go through the storm with love, joy, peace, and energy and enthusiasm?

When you come out of the storm, will you be broken, bitter, or better?

The choice is yours. Nick said he was so broken down that he had to live with positive podcasts playing in his ears. He had to feed himself positive energy all day because the second he didn't, negativity and the devil attacked him.

Jesus said in John 10:10, the thief, the devil, comes to steal kill, and destroy, but Jesus came so that we could have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance, to the full, until it overflows. But we have to fight for it. It starts with having faith. In Matthew 13, Jesus teaches a series of parables. In Matthew 13:31-32, he tells the parable of the Mustard Seed:

"The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches."

A small bit of faith and hard work can go a long way. Nick was down and out. He had every reason to quit, but he didn't. He leaned on his support system around him, he worked hard, he fed his mind, thoughts and soul positive podcasts like Jon Gordon and Ed Mylet, and he kept his faith in God. Because he had the faith of the mustard seed, he became successful, and like the tree growing big and tall enough for the birds of the air to come and nest in its branches, we are able to learn and grow and use Nick's story for good.

Nick was recently cut from the Dallas Cowboys, but I have faith and belief that Nick is going to find success and joy in life because of the man he has become.

THIS WEEK

1 - What is one obstacle in your way that you need to beat?

2 - What is one thing that you can do or listen to or read that can fill your mind, heart, and soul with positive energy and positive thoughts to keep you inspired and motivated?

3 - What is going to be your biggest hurdle to beating this obstacle?

4 - Who is someone who can help you overcome this hurdle, or what is something that you can do to overcome this hurdle?

I plan on taking gratitude/prayer walks every morning, and writing three positive things in my journal every morning and night. Science shows that doing these two things can increase your overall happiness.

Good luck this week, and I pray that you are happier and full of more hope at the end of the week!

For a Google doc version of this devo, click here: Pro Day

Circle Up

“Kids must buy into YOU and what you do in order to be successful.”

- Former NBA Coach Hubie Brown

This is especially true in today’s world where kids seem to ask, “Why?” after every instruction. When I was a kid, asking why was a health hazard, but it is so common today that if you don’t have legit answers, you risk not being effective enough to engage your student-athletes to drive performance.

So how do you get them to buy into you and what you do? Spend some time getting real with them and let them know who you are and why they should buy what you are selling.

A simple way to do that is get in a Circle, ask 1-3 get-to-know you questions, and start the relationship building process. The Circle is an effective relationship building tool because everyone is equal and included in the Circle, and everyone has the opportunity to listen and share in the Circle.

Try asking these three ‘favorite’ questions to get the party started:

1 - What’s your favorite thing to eat (or what is your favorite music, or what is your favorite thing to watch)?

2 - What’s your favorite thing about basketball (or whatever sport you coach or play)?

3 - What’s your favorite thing to do in practice and why?

You answer first, and work your way around the Circle. There are no right or wrong answers (only appropriate or inappropriate answers). If somebody doesn’t want to share, that’s fine. Being in the Circle can be different and difficult for the shy kids.

But make sure everyone has the OPPORTUNITY to share. The more often you Circle Up, the more everyone will feel comfortable enough to share, and you will quickly be able to dive deeper with questions like:

1 - What is your biggest challenge?

2 - What does respect mean to you?

3 - How do you like to be held accountable?

4 - How do you handle adversity?

If you are short on time, ask one question at the beginning of practice and one at the end of practice. Or ask one today, one tomorrow, and one the next day.

The Circle process is a versatile way to have a conversation about anything, it’s a great relationship building tool, and it is one way to get your athletes to buy into you and what you do.

Walk in Love

One of the most important things we can do is learn how to walk in love. Love is how we treat people.

When you are around people they may not remember what you said, and they may not remember your record together. But they will remember how you made them feel.

They will always remember if you made them feel good or made them feel bad.

They will remember if you made them feel valued or unvalued.

Add value to people by walking in love.

How we treat people is the most important thing we do. Spend your time valuing people and treating people with love. This will lead to blessings, wins, and changed lives.

Mamba Mondays | Be Relentless

Kobe Byrant was known for his Mamba Mentality. The Mamba Mentality means, "Trying to be the best version of yourself." It means, "Every day, you are trying to become better."

One of the pillars of Kobe Bryant's Mamba Mentality is Relentlessness. Kobe Bryant was asked, "What does relentless mean to you?" He said:

Relentless means to be unyielding, never give an inch, and to always go after it, always go after it, always go after it. If there is a challenge that ensues, good - I want to see how I stack up to that - so I go after it and go after it. It's fun because get a chance to compete against opponents and see where you stack up against them. Maybe I'm not good enough today, but that's fine because I'll be good enough the next time I see you. You get a chance to always measure yourself, and it's fun.

When he was asked if he was born with this relentlessness or if it was something that he learned over time. He said he had to learn it over time. Kobe grew up in Italy where he was the best basketball player because he was taller and faster than everyone, but when he came back to America to play, it wasn't the same because kids were bigger and stronger than him. He said he played in a league where he didn't score 1 point all summer. It was devastating for him, but he couldn't give up. Kobe bounced back, he kept practicing and playing, but it wasn't handed to him. He was 11 years old learning a valuable lesson about grit and relentless.

Kobe said this experience was embarrassing but drove him. He vowed to be much, much better. When he asked if he lives for the moments when he was embarrassed, down, and people are kicking him, Kobe said:

"Those are the moments that occur. Whatever moments occur - good, bad, or indifferent, I can use those moments to propel me forward and use those moments as fuel to help me be a better player."

We all experience good moments and down moments. How you handle yourself and how you respond to the good and the bad defines who you are.

THIS WEEK

1 - How would you describe how well you handle good moments in your life and career?

2 - How would you describe how well you handle or respond to the down moments in your life and career?

3 - What could you do to better respond to the good moments and the down moments in your life and career?

4 - What is one thing you can do today or this week to help you become more relentless?

Week 32 Devo | The Parable of the Weeds

Sports are an opportunity to build better athletes and better people, but it is easy to get caught up in the wrong things on your journey. There are a lot of great things that can come from sports, but there are also a lot of distractions that can derail you.

We all have the opportunity to be great and to achieve our dreams, but we have to be willing to make the right choices and decisions along the way. The hard part is that we have to do that in environments filled with people who don't have the same goals and dreams that we have.

How do you stay focused on your goals and dreams when the people around you don't have the same goals, dreams, and habits? How do you stay focused and productive when there is junk, obstacles, and distractions in your way?

Those can be hard questions to answer, but they might be the most important questions that you can answer.

Jesus talks about the weeds that can pollute gardens in his Parable of the Weeds.

In Matthew 13:24-30, Jesus told a crowd of people:

“The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.

"The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?'

"'An enemy did this,' he replied.

"The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?'

"'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First, collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.'"

In Matthew 13:37-44, Jesus explained what this parable meant:

"The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

"As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear."

There is a saying in basketball that, "The time will come when winter will ask you what you were doing all summer." There will come a time when we will have to answer for all of our thoughts, words, and actions. The beauty of being a follower of Jesus is that we know that God has a plan for our lives. But we also must know that the enemy, the devil, does too, and he works hard polluting your garden with bad weeds.

Whose plan are you living out?

Are you and your field going to be fruitful and productive, or will you allow the weeds to pollute you and your field, causing you to become unfruitful and unproductive? We don't do life alone. There will be good things in our lives and in our fields, and there will be bad things. The wheat will come up, but so will the junk. 

Who are you? What will you produce? What kind of person will you be? Are you going to make the right choices and shine like the sun in God's kingdom, or will your ending be the fiery furnace?

God created a world where the choice is yours.

THIS WEEK

1 - What are 3 good things in your life that make you a better person?
2 - What is 1 weed in your life that is keeping you from becoming the person you want to be?
3 - What can you do to remove or overcome the weeds in your life that are holding you back?
4 - What is one person, one story, or one Bible verse that you can lean on to help you remove those weeds?

The Bible verse that I am using is, Ephesians 6:9-13:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground.

To access the Google doc version of this, click here: The Parables of the Weeds 

 

Touch the Line | Mamba Mondays

Kobe Bryant did a Ted Talk for TEDxShanghai where he talked about giving a group of athletes a new pair of shoes; all they had to do was touch the line.

One kid didn’t touch the line, and Kobe talks about how he held the kid accountable and why:

You can’t short-change yourself; you’re not cheating anybody but yourself. You’re tired, but you are literally this far away from the line; why would you not go that extra to touch the line? 

If I let you get away with that, all of a sudden you’ll start to cheat something over here, or not give your best over there. And as years go on, you’re not going to reach your full potential because you’ve been taking these little shortcuts that just add up, add up, add up, add up.

I can’t let that happen. Our job as teachers and mentors and inspirers - it’s our responsibility to hold you accountable to those things.

- Kobe Bryant

Week 31 | Listen, Learn, Apply

Have you ever noticed that some athletes listen, learn, and apply new skills and information faster than others? You can show some athletes a new skill or new play one time, and they are able to master it, and some seem to never master new information.

When I teach our athletes a new skill, I tell them, "In 6 months, some of us are going to have this mastered and will be using it in games, and some of us won't. The key is not being afraid to miss or fail. You are going to mess up 1,000 times before you get it right, so speed up the learning process by trying and messing up today."

Being able to listen, learn, and apply new information is a skill that every athlete should master.

This is a message that Jesus shared in the parable of the sower.

One day, Jesus went out of his house and sat beside the sea. When a large crowd gathered around him, he got in a boat, sat down, and started teaching the people on the beach. He told them:

"A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no roots. Other seeds fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seeds fell on good soil, where it produced a crop - a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear." (Matthew 13:3-9)

He later explained himself:

"When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no roots, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown." (Matthew 13:19-23)

Listen, learn, and apply. Have an ear to hear new information, learn new information, and apply new information.

THIS WEEK

1 - What is one thing that you have learned that was difficult and that you didn't know you would be able to master?

2 - When do you hear, learn, and apply new information the best?

3 - When do you struggle to hear, learn, and apply new information?

4 - What is one thing you do or need to do or overcome to do a better job of listening, learning, and applying new information?

Our Father, help me this week to have an ear to hear. Help me to hear important information, learn important information, and apply important information. In Jesus' name, Amen.

For a Google doc version of this, click here: Listen, Learn, and Apply