The Compass Points North

All companies have a vision. Some are very clearly stated, and others may live in the grey. No matter what, most know where they want to go, but most are predicated on results and not processes. For example, Company X wants to hit a certain earnings mark by the 2nd quarter statement. If I was their employee, I would say “that’s great” but what is my process to make that happen, and why is this important. As someone who is in a position of leadership, I want my team to push past the conventional definition of vision. I want our vision to be something we can touch, taste, smell, and most of all enjoy on a daily basis, and I refuse to put the parameter of a result on our vision – it will only hold us back from being the best versions of ourselves everyday. Take a look at what vision means to us:

V – Voice: Find your voice, and have the courage to express your ideas.

I – Idea: Be quiet and listen to all of the idea’s floating around in your head and heart. Pick the important one’s and cultivate them.

S – See: Actively take the opportunity to look around. There are many great things happening around us, we just don’t pay attention.

I – Invent: Thomas Edison said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Go out and be creative, and do not fear failure, for failure is just another word for teacher.

O – Ownership: Be passionate about what you see and what you are doing. “The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire.” -Ferdinand Foch

N – North: One of the destinations of good vision is optimism. So, we are always looking up.

Lessons from “Lean on Me”

I was first introduced to the song “Lean on Me” around 1988 when Club Nouveau covered it. Let me tell you, I wore out that tape out in my “boom box.” Anyways, even as a ten year old that song hit a cord with me…I loved the song, but I really loved the message. For much of my life I have been sad about the fact that people can really be cruel to each other, and the older I get I believe we keep getting farther away from Humanitarianism, instead of bridging the gap. So, to come a little closer as people today, let us learn something from Bill Withers lyrics.

SHOW EMPATHY FOR OTHERS: “Sometimes in our lives we all have pain, we all have sorrow.”

BE POSITIVE: “But if we are wise, we know that there’s always tomorrow.”

OFFER A LENDING HAND: “Lean on me, when you’re not strong, and I’ll be your friend, I’ll help you carry on.”

DON’T BE PRIDEFUL AND SHARE: “Please swallow your pride, If I have things you need to borrow, for no one can fill those of your needs, that you don’t let show.”

LEND A HELPING HAND: “If there is a load you have to bear, that you can’t carry, I’m right up the road, I’ll share your load, if you just call me.”

We can all be better friends to those within our lives, and to those that we haven’t let in yet. And we will need friendship in return. Don’t let the money, cars, and land come in between you and your human side. You can’t take that stuff with you when your number is called. Thank you Bill Withers…I will be someone people can lean on.

Some of the greatest people in the world…

…wash floors, clean houses, or take care of other’s who cannot take care of themselves. I was listening to Coach K’s book “Beyond Basketball” while I was working out this morning. Coach K speaks very highly of his mother, Emily Krzyzewski. He says she was one of the greatest people that he has ever known, and she cleaned the Chicago Athletic Club for years. So, he discovered at a young age that some of the greatest people clean up after others for a living. This story got me thinking about my wife, Angie. My wife is one of the greatest, most giving, and the most selfless people I have ever had the opportunity to know. She has given up almost all of her own personal dreams to allow me to pursue mine. She is a wonderful mother, and she does whatever it takes to make sure our family has what it needs, even if that means taking care of elderly people who cannot take care of themselves for over 40 hours a week during the middle of the night. Angie leaves for work at 10 P.M. every night, and returns home at 7 A.M., and is lucky to steal a couple hours of sleep before having to pick up our youngest from preschool at 11 A.M. She never complains or feels sorry for herself, she just does what is necessary. She makes sure our team at home has everything it needs, so that I can make sure that my team here at school has every opportunity for success. I am so lucky to know the greatest person in the world, and I only hope I can give back to her a small percentage of what she has given me. Make sure you tell that person in your life who has given you the opportunity to pursue your dreams that you love them.

Little Moments Like This

I heard a college football coach recently have to justify his excitement he shares with his players. He shows positive excitement when they make big plays and score touchdowns. He gives them high fives, and even the occasional chest bump. Too often coaches are expected to be stoic, or only show the emotion of getting in a players face who has just made a mistake. This coach justified his actions by stating there is so much stress and pressure on coaches and athletes, and success is not guaranteed, that we should really relish and appreciate the positive moments. I think he hit the nail on the head. As long as you can be humble and show good sportsmanship, you should be happy and excited when your team has success. Life is too short to be a grumpy old coach. We are going to enjoy the moment that we had last night. My team defeated our rival, we haven’t been in the same conference since 2003, and this was a really big deal for our community and for our program. It feels really good, and we know that we have matches coming up that we have to prepare for, but we are going to take a little bit of time to thank God for the opportunity to compete, and enjoy little moments like this.

FAITH

Anyone who knows me well, would not categorize me as a religious person.  In fact, I am a self-proclaimed doubter for most of my life.  But something significant happened to me this weekend.  While reading the book, The Mentor Leader, by Tony Dungy, I came across a passage from the Bible about Faith.  ”Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see” (Hebrews 11:1).  First of all, this quote got me thinking about one of the steps along our journey, which is, “belief without proof.”  Which I think really means having faith.  We haven’t proved ourselves yet, but we have to believe that we are good, and that we deserve to have success.  Secondly, it got me thinking about my collegiate career.  During every National Anthem I used to speak to my mom’s Uncle Jack who had passed away in 1999.  He was a hero of mine, even though most of what I knew of him came from stories my mom told me (I only ever met him once).  Although I had my doubts about God, I believed my Uncle Jack was looking upon me.  Those silent prayers before each game gave me a great sense of peace that everything would work out for the best.  I believed I had the strength and courage to go out and put my best foot forward, and good things would happen because of that.  I started really doing some soul-searching when we arrived at our hotel, and did some major contemplating about what it means to have faith.  I decided that I needed to talk to our players about faith, and in turn I needed to back up my own words, and have faith myself.  I had a long talk with God, and if nothing else, God is a great listener.  The sense of relief I felt afterwards was immense, and in turn the pressure was taken off.  When the pressure is off, your mind clears, and you can coach at a whole other level.  I also got back in touch with my Uncle Jack, and I felt him there with me.  He was helping me coach in a calm-assertive state.  He helped me make quality decisions, and I know he saw to it that my players brought confidence, strength, and faith to the court.

The Fever Remains

I woke up today with the fever for the season still burning. We are about 30 days away from the players reporting for the 2011 season, and it can’t get here soon enough for me. I really tried to not think about volleyball during the month of June, and I believe I did a fairly good job of just letting go for a little while (I think coaching both my boy’s baseball teams helped). But that being said, it is time for volleyball…I can’t wait to see us running “the system” soon. I can’t wait to see the new players find their place in this program. And I can’t wait to see the returners step onto the floor with the new confidence they gained this past spring. We are ready…ready to leap…ready to grab our destiny…ready to reach the peak of the Summit. Go ‘Yotes!

Fall Fever

Well, we just finished up our off-season tourneys…with a sweep.  We didn’t drop a set, and we ran “The System” the best we ever have.  This has got me wishing we could skip over summer and get right to the season.  I would give up the warm weather this summer, if we could just fast forward.  I am so excited about the way we trained and grew as a team over the last four months that I just don’t want to stop.  I have had some seasons in my career where I was very ready for summer break, where I just felt like we all needed a little time away from each other, but not with this group.  I just want to keep training and playing.  This is a special group of kids, and we are adding some great ones next fall.  For the first time in my career, “The System” is taking shape.  It has been living in my head for so long…and now to see it take shape on the floor is a dream realized.  I hope somewhere Hank is smiling down at me.  He might not have been a volleyball player or even a fan, but I hope he knows how he inspired me.  Ever since I was 11 years old, I have dreamed of putting a product out on the floor that would make Hank proud.  Well, I think we are close.  Play with the HEART OF A LION!