Sports for the Soul

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…]

I’m excited to announce that Book No. 2 in the Sports for the Soul series is here!

This new book is all about GRIT.

Good, old-fashioned, keep-moving-forward, never-back-down GRIT!

Psychologists tell us that the “secret” to a successful and happy life, more than anything else, is something called GRIT. Defined as the willpower to persevere with passion and a sense of purpose, research shows that grit is what matters most in whether a person succeeds or fails. [continue reading…]

In my book, OLD SCHOOL GRIT, the main character is an archetypal “old school” basketball coach entering the final days of his long and storied coaching career. While his team tries to advance through the NCAA postseason tournament, he uses his last days as a coach to write his grandchildren letters revealing the rules for a successful and happy life. These rules provide a clear path to success in any endeavor.

Because the coach in this book is a composite figure based on several of history’s greatest “old school” coaches, I think it’s important that we define exactly what an “old school” coach is.

Some people use the term “old school coach” in a negative way to mean someone who yells a lot or is too stubborn to adapt his strategies. That’s not the way I use it.

I use the term “old school” in an affectionate and nostalgic way to mean someone who adheres to what may be called “old fashioned” values and principles.

While there have been some old school coaches like Vince Lombardi and Mike Ditka known for their hot tempers and loud personalities, I would argue that calm-demeanor leaders like John Wooden and Tony Dungy are also old school coaches.

So, what exactly makes an old school coach “old school”?

I offer the following four characteristics. [continue reading…]