What makes walk-ons special?

Earlier today I was watching an internet video by leadership guru, Robin Sharma, about doing things for the love of them instead of the money you can make off of them. It got me thinking about how special our walk-ons are. They embody playing volleyball for the love of the sport.

Every season, we bring in one to two walk-ons. I am always humbled when they choose our school when we have no scholarship to offer them. Division I volleyball allows us to have 12 individuals on scholarship every year, and we like to carry 14 to 16 players. Which means we always have a few dedicated individuals who are playing for us, while paying for their education themselves. I have come to appreciate how difficult that is. We have all the same expectations of our walk-ons as we have for our scholarship athletes. We expect them to be at every practice, weight/training session, summer training, study table, tutoring sessions, team meals, and travel all over the country while missing at least four days of class a month.

Every one of our walk-ons would love to be on scholarship, and they hope that one day I will call them in the office and tell them that they will be on scholarship the following season. But, the truth of the matter is that scholarships being offered to walk-ons is rare. So, why do they do it? They do it for the feelings they feel when they practice and play the sport they love. These players will truly learn how to pursue their passions, and not the almighty dollar. The old saying goes, “if you do what you love, you will never work a day your whole life.” And no one understands that better than walk-ons. I know their hearts and minds get filled with doubt from time to time, but the ones that carry on, absolutely love what their are doing.

We all have a lot to learn from the player who chooses to walk-on, and pursue the sport they love like they did when they were 12 years old when there was no monetary value to sports…just the love of playing.

The Thrilla in Manila

“The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses – behind the lines, in the gym, long before I dance under those lights.” -Muhammad Ali

In my last post we talked about The 1%ers.  Well, I came across this quote while looking for quotes to use with me team, and I thought this is what The 1%ers are all about.  They know that life and success is about the journey.  They only get to hold the trophy over their heads and stand in the spotlight if they’ve put the work in ahead of time.  The kind of work that gets no glory.  They bleed and sweat with no one else around.  The 1%ers don’t do it for the crowd.  They do it because they love the grind…they don’t feel whole at the end of the day if they didn’t leave some blood and sweat on this earth.  In the movie “Rocky II,” Mick says something to the like of, to win a 45 minute fight, you have to put 45,000 minutes in of hard work ahead of time (I paraphrased that).  If you want to live The 1%er lifestyle, you have to fall in love with the journey.  And the journey can be isolating at times, and you’re not going to get the pat on the back…so you have to take satisfaction in your work.  If you do all of those things away from the “lights,” you will earn the opportunity to succeed – remember though, The 1%ers don’t believe they deserve it.  They know, all that comes to them is earned.

The 1%ers

You have all heard or read about the 99% versus the 1%…the average and underprivileged versus the wealthy. Well, this has nothing to do with that. This is way more important than money. This is about happiness, and reaching your potential in life.

For a long time now, I truly felt that there was a gap between people who were creating successful/fulfilled lives, and those floating along, making excuses, and underachieving. Let me preface this with a little about who The 1%ers are: 1% of people are willing to do what it takes to achieve substantial success. 1% are willing to do what the other 99% are not. 1% of people will use their time to get better, and the other 99% will waste it with excuses. 1% see every difficulty as an opportunity, and the other 99% see difficulty as a reason to quit. 1% of people will give, and the other 99% will take. 1% of people make a choice to operate in the 1%. The other 99% make a choice to make excuses about why they aren’t in the 1%. 1% of people want to succeed as badly as they want to breathe, and the other 99% take every breath for granted.

Now, you may know that I am a collegiate volleyball coach, and a former Division 1 baseball player, so I do relate a lot about life to sports. I think about who The 1%ers are in athletics all the time. The ones who really are willing to do “whatever it takes” to reach their potential as a student-athlete or Pro. I think a lot about why there are so very few special ones, but yet, many who operate in the average.  I just think it is so much easier to be average…you don’t have to put work in, and you always have a built-in safety net, “I could have been great or the best, but I just didn’t want to go to the gym that much.”  I love The 1%ers who grind everyday to become the best, but get beat out, and still get up the next day and do it again.  They know that glory may come, but that’s not why they do it.  They do it to reach their potential, not someone else’s definition of great.

I read an article in Men’s Fitness on Jerry Rice back when he did Dancing With The Stars.  I would consider Rice a 1%er.  He definitely had the motivation of football, but he was motivated by so much more…he wanted to be the best he could be with no excuses.  Here is some of what he said in the interview with Brandon Guarneri:

MF: Your off-season training routine was the stuff of legend. What was the hardest thing about your workouts?
Rice: The hill sprints were about two-and-a-half miles up, and the last 800 meters were completely uphill. We ran it for time, and if you could get around that 15, 16 mark, that was excellent. A lot of guys came to train with me over the course of my career, and a lot of guys fell by the wayside.

You know your body is going to be sore, and you know there’s going to be some days where you don’t want to get out of bed, but still, you’re obligated to do that, and that was my approach to the game. I enjoyed every second of it. A lot of guys dreaded going to training camp. I looked forward to it, because I had already prepared myself.

I was in top shape. Whenever I stepped into that stadium, I felt like I owed the people something. I wanted them to walk away with something special on that given day.

MF: As someone who’s been highly motivated for his whole career, what kind of tips can you offer our readers as to how they can stay motivated?
Rice: You just have to want to do it because you know it’s going to benefit you. I feel so much better when I go to the gym. Even those days where I feel like I don’t want to go, I still push myself to go and I feel so much better after. It puts a very positive spin on your day. That’s going to help you in the long run.

The 1%ers are people like Jerry Rice, and they are not just in athletics.  They are teachers, business leaders, and social workers to name a few.  They aren’t hard to spot, because they stand out among the average 99%ers.  They put in the work, and they grind everyday.  They want to succeed as badly as they want to take their next breath.  The bar they compare themselves to everyday is that of their potential…they strive to be the best version of themselves, and they never get satisfied.

So, I challenge you to leave the average behind, and join The 1%ers.  I guarantee it will always be difficult, and everyday will be a challenge.  But without pain, their can be no progress.

Proud to be a ‘Yote by Tori Kroll

I am excited to put up this post by a very special guest blogger today.  Today’s post is written by junior setter, Tori Kroll.  Tori came all the way from Germantown, Wisconsin to join the Coyote Volleyball Family.  She not only has run our offense for the last two years, but she has also been a very active in community service, and holds a 3.57 GPA.  She is a leader on and off the court, and today she is going to tell you why she is Proud to be a ‘Yote!

“Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.” Henry Ford

  I feel this quote describes the team concept on my USD Volleyball team.

 “Coming together is a beginning…”   I have  committed to be part of the USD Volleyball team, not as an individual but as a team player.  At the start of each season I am excited to do my best and have individual goals in mind; however,  once we begin team practices I realize we  need to come together as a team to achieve a common goal.  Being part of the Yote team to me means I must come together with the other players and be willing to adjust my individual goals to help meet the team goals.   My coaches stress the team concept and feel it is more important to play well together as a team than to have great individual players.  I feel the Yote volleyball team  does this; we come together as a team and become a “family”.  This team bonding and family feeling is what I like most about our volleyball team. 

“staying together is progress….”  I know we all have varying talents and abilities on the team but I like how we are willing to share these and stick together as a team to reach a common goal.   I don’t feel like I have to face opponents by myself; on this team we have each others backs just like our own family would and we have great coaching.  We win and lose as a team and we don’t blame individuals.   It is important to me that our team sticks together on and off the court.  Off the court I can count on any teammate to help me transition to college and campus life. I also like that our team sticks together and goes to social events together.  We like hanging out together.  Having my team and coaches to support me is another reason why I  like playing and studying at USD.  My team or “Yote Family” is why I am not home sick and enjoy college.  Staying together as a team is an important part of our program because there is no I in team.  If there is no team work, we are just a bunch of individuals doing our own thing and we will not be successful or make progress.

“…working together is success”  On this team we build each other up, we push each other  to the best of our abilities and help each other succeed.  I do not get jealous of  others abilities but praise them and work hard to compete at their skill level.  I work hard and train because I don”t want to let the team or my coaches down.  We need each player pulling and working for the team for us to be successful.  We, players and coaches, can do great things together!  I wouldn’t want to play for any other team or coach nor go any where else but USD.  I am proud to be a Yote and love my team and coaches.

 “The achievements of an organization are the results of the combined effort of each individual.”Vince Lombardi

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!