Darrin Donnelly
Jul 21, 2020
A few months ago, I had the privilege of interviewing Barry Switzer. I interviewed the Hall of Fame coach for research and guidance on a book I’m working on. (The book will be No. 6 in the Sports for the Soul series.)
Our interview covered numerous topics that will be featured in my upcoming book, such as how to build self-confidence, how to turn things around when adversity strikes, and how to attack each day with a fun, joyful attitude. As we talked about these important subjects, we also talked about the single biggest topic on everyone’s mind at the moment: the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. [continue reading…]
Darrin Donnelly
Jun 2, 2020
“I always look at a negative and turn it into a positive. I try to teach my kids: just take that negative, learn from it, and turn it into a positive.
…
Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others MAKE it happen.”
– Michael Jordan, 14-Time NBA All-Star, 6-Time NBA Champion
We are living through a moment in history when the value of “positive thinking” is being put to the test.
Halfway through the year, it’s looking like 2020 will be remembered for all the wrong reasons. The COVID-19 pandemic has turned our way of life upside down, unemployment rates have skyrocketed, and protests and riots have occurred all across the nation over yet another horrible and senseless tragedy.
Most of us are feeling overwhelmed by the negative events that seem out of our control.
You may find yourself asking questions like, “How can I think positive at a time like this? What good can positive thinking really do right now?” [continue reading…]
Darrin Donnelly
Mar 18, 2020
“We don’t control the events in life, and we don’t directly control the outcomes. But we always have control over how we choose to respond. How we respond means everything.”
– Urban Meyer, 3-Time National Champion Football Coach
These are unprecedented times.
The sudden spread of COVID-19 has turned all of our lives completely upside down. Two weeks ago, most of us were getting excited about March Madness, looking forward to spring break plans with family, or perhaps focusing on exciting new work projects. In a very short period of time, all those plans have been canceled or put on indefinite hold.
In times like this, we have to focus on making the best of things, moving forward, and doing our best to focus on solutions. The following five success techniques used by top achievers in the sports world can be of great benefit to helping us all cope with the current pandemic. [continue reading…]
Darrin Donnelly
Nov 7, 2019
“Don’t pick a career for money or some other reason. Do what you love, because it will never feel like work. … If there is something that’s your passion when you’re young, do it. Let everything else take care of itself.”
– Bill Belichick, 6-Time Super Bowl-Winning Coach
When you listen to highly-successful people give life advice, again and again you hear a common message: do what you love and chase a dream you’re passionate about.
You hear this advice from achievers in every field. Not only from great coaches like Bill Belichick, but also from entrepreneurs, businesspeople, artists, scientists, teachers—successful people in nearly every line of work.
Those that follow career paths they are passionate about are not only much happier than everyone else, but they also end up more successful. [continue reading…]
Darrin Donnelly
Oct 24, 2019
“It’s easy to fixate on how the other team has better resources than you do. But it’s more important to concentrate on maximizing your own resources instead of worrying about things you can’t control.”
– Mike Leach, 2-Time National Coach of the Year
In sports, there are dozens of factors you have no control over. You have no control over random injuries to your players, the weather, the plays your opponent will choose to run, etc. The list of things you don’t control could go on and on.
The most successful coaches refuse to waste their time and effort worrying about such things because it only gets in the way of the things they DO control. And it’s the things you do control that determine how successful you will be. [continue reading…]
Darrin Donnelly
Oct 3, 2019
In Bob Stoops’ excellent autobiography, No Excuses, passages from those who worked with or competed against Stoops are sprinkled throughout. One particular passage that stood out to me comes from Mark Mangino, the man Stoops hired as his assistant head coach and running game coordinator when he arrived at Oklahoma prior to the 1999 season…
“When I got to OU, it was in worse shape than it looked from the outside. But Bob Stoops, he doesn’t let anything beat him down. If I was having a bad day, he’d say, ‘Don’t let them get you twice.’ That was his favorite saying. In other words, deal with a problem once and then move on.”
– Mark Mangino, Former Oklahoma assistant coach and Kansas head coach
Another way Bob Stoops often puts it: “Don’t let them beat you twice.”
Life is full of setbacks and surprises. Whether it’s losing a game, losing a sale, getting bad news, or suffering any other type of setback, it’s how you deal with those setbacks that determines how quickly you’ll turn things around. [continue reading…]
