“I firmly believe that any man’s finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle victorious.” -Vince Lombardi
What drives each person is relevant to that individual. However, when it is just about yourself, most plans will fail. Great teams are comprised of individuals committed to a unified mission. Every Team has ultimate goals, and every player has personal goals…. There is nothing wrong with a player wanting to score touchdowns, hit home runs, or shoot 3 pointers. In fact, that is what makes up our sport’s dreams. However, when these goals are the player’s main objective, it leads to selfishness…
A team can have different personalities but must have one mindset. It is critical on “Player Led Teams” that there is a choice to compete for a common goal. Everybody dreams of being a hero one day, but these people are defined for their cause, not their individual action. Selfishness destroys a team, while selflessness builds a great culture. Nobody thinks about you more than you… We are in our thoughts all day long. So how do we focus on the greater purpose of being on a team? You have to test your heart, mind, and spirit…
- HEART: WHAT YOU DO… Is your heart aligned with the team’s mission? “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything YOU DO flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23…. The best proof and influence you have is your example. Great players are working to make everyone around them better. What you do speaks volumes over what you say…. If you want to prove your heart is about the team…. You need to seriously answer this basic question. Are you doing everything in your power to be the hardest worker, best teammate, and most coachable player?
- MIND: WHAT YOU THINK…. Is your mind aligned with the team mission? Again, there is nothing wrong with personal goals… But do you want them for personal glory or for team success? Your motive makes all the difference… “What happens is of little significance compared with the stories we tell ourselves about what happens…” If you want to prove your mind is about the team…. You need to seriously answer this basic question. Are your thoughts consumed with what you are getting or not getting?…. Or are they related to the team?
- SPIRIT: WHAT YOU BELIEVE… Is your belief aligned with the team mission? Have you truly gone all in? Belief is a conscious decision, not a magical happening. Lots of teams talk about belief, until things don’t go their way. You see it all the time… Instead of responding in failure, they fall apart. True belief in the team does not waver because of results. There is a bigger picture…. love for your teammates, faith in the unseen, and the greater values of the game. If you want to prove you believe in the team…. You need to seriously answer this basic question. When I look in the mirror…Am I truly being the best example I need to be for this team?
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