8.25 Cheryl Miller: Enjoy the Journey

By -

"You can be driven. But be driven in a way that you can enjoy the journey.” - Cheryl Miller

Do you ever put so much pressure on yourself that you stop enjoying the journey?


To be great at anything you have to be driven. Being driven means having an inner push or determination that keeps you moving toward your goals, even when things get hard. It’s more than just wanting something—it’s the discipline and motivation to keep working for it.


Cheryl Miller is considered by many to be the best female basketball players of all time. She once said, “You can be driven. But be driven in a way that you can enjoy the journey.” It’s good to have high standards, big goals, and strong motivation. Drive is what pushes you forward, but ambition shouldn’t make you miserable. If you’re so focused on success that you never stop to appreciate the progress, relationships, or experiences along the way, you’ll burn out.


Pursue greatness without losing your joy.


Cheryl also said, “I wasn’t the greatest athlete and I couldn’t jump out of the gym and I wasn’t an extraordinary ball handler. I was just someone who loved the game so very much and had a passion for sport and life.”


When you love and enjoy what you do, you are more likely to stick with it and work harder at it no matter what happens to you.


Control what you can control. Do what you can. Be the best you can be, and don’t let the pressure to be great steal your joy.


Question of the Day: How can you keep your joy while doing what it takes to pursue greatness?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Maybe It's My Fault

By -
Image
One of my favorite Michael Jordan commercials is his, "Maybe It's My Fault" commercial. Michael says,  "Maybe it's my fault. Maybe I led you to believe it was easy when it wasn't. Maybe I made you think that my highlights started at the free-throw line and not in the gym. Maybe I made you think that every shot that I took was a game-winner, that my game was built on flash and not fire. Maybe it's my fault that you didn't see that failure gave me strength; that my pain was my motivation. Maybe I led you to believe that basketball was a God-given gift and not something that I worked for every single day of my life." This is my favorite commercial because it made Jordan real. MJ was such a super-hero to so many of us, but this commercial made me realize that Jordan was not born the great basketball player who ever lived - he worked hard to become the greatest basketball player who ever lived. He tried, he failed, and he tried again. His failure fuel...
Read more

A Coach's Job Is Never Done

By -
Image
A lot of coaches don't really sleep. When they finally stop watching film, stop analyzing the last practice, stop preparing for the next practice, and stop looking at their budgets, and grades, and fundraising, they close their eyes and that is when the thoughts just don't stop. - I should have done this ... - I should have done that ... - Could I have done this better? - I should have done that better ... - I hope __________ knows I love them and just want what's best for them ... - I hope that _________ knows that I care about their son/daughter and I just want what's best for their kid ... We close our eyes at night, but it's hard to get to sleep and to stay asleep. We never stop thinking about the game and our kids. And the crazy part is, we never stop thinking about them and caring about them and worrying about them when they are gone. If you have a coach that cares for your athlete and invests in them, thank them and appreciate them. If they can ...
Read more

Just Keep Coaching

By -
Image
Coaching and leadership can be a lonely, draining journey. People often ask much more of you than they are willing to give, and you rarely feel appreciated for going above and beyond for all the people in your life. It can feel like you are giving and giving and giving while everyone around you just takes and takes and takes. BUT REMEMBER WHY YOU DO IT. Remember the coaches you had when you were growing up and the impact that they had on your life. Remember that these kids and their families NEED you. Your parents need someone they can trust to help raise these kids and teach them both to love the game and life lessons through sports. Remember that these kids you coach will have memories of their time with you - good and/or bad. Remember that the coaches you are leading and mentoring both look up to you and are watching you. You are training the next generation of coaches and leaders. Whenever I feel drained, I remember that because I am called to coach and lead, I am also called to se...
Read more