Close out Drills

Here is a collection of Close out drills.  If you have a favorite close out drill that you would like to share I would love to see it.  Thank you Jada Pierce from St. Joseph's for passing along some great ideas and defensive drills.

Trust the Process

"We learned that there was a purpose behind his system.  He didn't enforce the rules because he wanted to catch people and punish them but rather to make sure that everyone was committed to the same purpose.  At first we were accountable to the rules, but gradually we became accountable to one another.  If my teammates could make the commitment to be at work five minutes early, why couldn't I?  Eventually we began to draw pride in the Tom Coughlin way." Michael Strahan

From "Earn the Right to Win" by Tom Coughlin and David Fisher.

Can't

Can't never could and Won't never will.

Eliminate can't from your vocabulary and those around you.  
I believe this poem best describes why. 

"Can't is the worst word that's written or spoken; 
  Doing more harm than slander and lies;
On it is many a strong spirit broken, 
  And with it many a good purpose dies. 
 It springs from the lips of thoughtless each morning 
  And robs us of courage we need through the day.  
It rings in our ears like timely-sent warning 
  And laughs when we falter and fall by the way.

Can't is the father of the feeble endeavor, 
  The parent of terror and halfhearted work;
It weakens the efforts of artisans clever, 
  And makes of the toiler an indolent shirk.  
It poisons the soul, the person with a vision;
  It stifles in infancy many a plan; 
It greets honest toiling with open derision 
  And mocks at the hopes and the dreams of anyone.

Can't is a word none should speak without blushing; 
  To utter it should be a symbol of shame; 
Ambition and courage it daily is crushing; 
  It blights a person's purpose and shortens their aim, 
Despise it with all of your hatred of error; 
  Refuse it the lodgment it seeks in your mind; 
Arm against it as a creature of terror, 
  And all that you dream of you some day shall gain.

Can't is the word that is foe to ambition, 
  An enemy ambushed to shatter your will; 
Its prey is forever the person with a mission 
  And bows but to courage and patience and skill. 
Hate it, with hatred that's deep and undying, 
  For once it is welcomed back it can break you;
Whatever the goal you are seeking, keep trying 
  And answer to this unwanted thought by affirming, 'I CAN!'"

by Edgar A. Guest

The Questions you ask matter

One of my favorite podcasts is The EntreLeadership Podcast by Dave Ramsey.  The podcasts are usually between 30-40 minutes and well worth the time.  Recently I listened to the How to Stop the Blame Game and Win which discusses the book "QBQ! The Question Behind the Question" by John G. Miller.

My take away from the podcast was about communication and how we should choose our words carefully.   How we start our question can change the tone and direction of the conversation.  

WHAT and HOW usually lead to positive and solution based answers.  They are empowering questions.  

• HOW can I help you?  
• WHAT should I have done differently?  
• HOW did I fail to communicate clearly?

WHY and WHEN usually lead to blame.  

• WHY did the job not get done?  
• WHEN did the email get sent?

As a leader we must be intentional with our message and also conscience of are we asking the right type of questions?  If we are asking the right questions then we are creating more solutions instead of playing the blame game and hearing excuses.

"Words can inspire. And words can destroy. Choose yours well". Robin Sharma 

Inspire and be Inspired

If we are lucky we come across people in our lives that make a big difference.  A year ago  I was fortunate enough to meet such a person. Sonya is one of those rare and special souls that you are grateful to know and spend time with.  She helped me coordinate the Whiteboard session last year at UNT and if you ever need to run an event there is no one better.  She is a Veteran of Desert Storm/Shield and a true connector of people.   I am thankful for her friendship and for helping me be a better person and a better coach.  She inspires me to be the best I can be so I would like to share some of the quotes she has shared with me.  

"Relationships are like elevators--the right people will take you up while the wrong people will take you down." Van Moody

"You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with."  Unknown

"People seldom do things to the best of their ability.  They do things to the best of their willingness."  Author Unknown

Colin Powell on Leadership

"Purpose is the destination of a vision."

"Good leaders set vision, missions, and goals.  Great leaders inspire every follower at every level to internalize their purpose, and to understand that their purpose goes far beyond the mere details of their job.  When everyone is united in purpose, a positive purpose that serves not only the organization but also, hopefully, the world beyond it, you have a winning team."

From "It Worked for Me" by Colin Powell

Enthusiasm

One of my favorite quotes:

Enthusiasm is...

• that certain something that makes us GREAT--that pulls us out of the mediocre and commonplace--that builds us into power.  It glow and shines - it light up our faces.
• the maker of friends.
• the maker of smiles.
• the producer of confidence.
• the key to changing a loafer to a go-getter.
• what changes a pessimist to an optimist.

Author Unknown