Sports for the Soul

Extensive studies by psychologists suggest that people who embrace a positive attitude are going to be happier, healthier, and more successful than those who don’t. Our own personal experiences confirm that when we maintain a positive attitude we’re more productive, we feel better about ourselves, and life tends to go a lot smoother for us—both personally and professionally.

However, “positive thinking” is often misunderstood. Some people hear the phrase “positive thinking” and immediately think of “wishful thinking.” They think of self-help gurus forcing smiles or naïve Pollyannas pinning their hopes to unrealistic expectations. People who view positive thinking this way are missing something key.

Nick Saban has already established himself as one of history’s greatest college football coaches. And while no one would accuse him of exuding a happy-go-lucky, smiling-all-the-time persona (he’s better known for his no-nonsense persona), Coach Saban is a big believer in the importance of having a positive attitude. Here’s how he sees it… [continue reading…]

Coinciding with the release of my book, Old School Grit, I’ve been talking a lot about GRIT lately. Defined as the willpower to persevere with passion and a sense of purpose, psychologists have discovered that if one could identify a single “secret” to success, GRIT would be it.

The discussion of GRIT is exciting, especially when we talk about pursuing our passion and finding our purpose. But it’s vital to not overlook the most important part of the grit equation: perseverance. Without relentless perseverance, the pursuit of your passion will end quickly.

Finding your purpose is only the first step. Pursuing your passions will give you an advantage over those who aren’t as passionate, but it’s not a free pass down easy street.

If you’re going after something worthwhile, you’re going to face lots of adversity along the way. That’s just the way it is. You’ll be pushed to the brink. There will be times when you question yourself. There will be times when you feel like things aren’t going to turn around for you. There will be times when you feel like giving up.

And when those times occur, you must remember the words of Yogi Berra… [continue reading…]

We live in a fast-paced, highly-competitive, constantly-changing world. No matter what industry you’re working in, the rapid pace of change can be exciting, but it can also be overwhelming. If you’re not careful, the ever-changing demands of your daily work life can lead to such high stress levels that you get burned out and lose your enthusiasm and focus for whatever it is you’re trying to accomplish.

We have three choices for how we can deal with changing circumstances and the stress that this can cause.

First, we can dwell on the past and try (unsuccessfully) to avoid the task at hand.  Second, we can worry about the future and all the uncertainties that lie ahead. Or third, we can choose to accept things as they are and discipline our thoughts to seek peace and clarity in the present moment.

The first two choices lead to more stress and eventual burnout. Successful people focus on the third choice.

Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari knows what it’s like to work in an extremely competitive and ever-changing field. He offers three practical steps for keeping your focus on the present and avoiding burnout in your career… [continue reading…]

Goals are vital to a person’s wellbeing. Numerous studies have shown that simply writing down specific, measurable goals will give you a distinct advantage over those who don’t.

I’ve personally seen the power of goal-setting work again and again in my life. But I’ve also found—as you probably have too—that setting goals alone is not enough.

There is a way to take goal-setting to another level. [continue reading…]

To coincide with the launch of my new book, Old School Grit, I’ve been discussing what it means to have an “old school” mentality.

I recently wrote about the “old school code” that some of the greatest coaches of all time lived by. Today, I want to talk about the “old school attitude” that drove Michael Jordan to become the greatest basketball player ever.

Jordan will always be known for his incredible work ethic and his extreme competitiveness, but a certain old school principle was another one of the driving forces behind his success. MJ believed that you are not entitled to anything and you must go out and earn everything you get… [continue reading…]