By: Coach Mickey Marley

Originally Published in: Game Ready - 52 Takeaways for Winning

If you are a professional, or at the least someone who has sought out to be a champion, you probably have experienced 'The Grind.' For you this may mean a lot of work, a lot of hours at work, and a lot of 'no fun,' time consuming stuff. There's a lot of truth in that description.

Someone, in fact, a lot of 'someones' have already gone through 'The Grind' to become the very best possible in your field. I don't know what 'The Grind' is in your chosen field, but I have a simple suggestion. Pick up the phone and call someone who does know!

Now, having said all of the above, let me personally share with you one bit of advice-you better beware of 'The Grind.' If all you do day in and day out is 'The Grind,' well, you will eventually grind yourself out of your chosen field. Some people will agree and some disagree with that last statement, but that is a matter of opinion. To me, you have to find some balance in life.

I coached football for thirty-seven years, and it was only recently that I figured this out. You might call me a slow learner. I just call myself dumb for not figuring it out earlier. In the latter years of my career, I made 'The Grind' less of a grind, and guess what happened? We still won games. Now, it's not as if all hard work stopped and everyday was a vacation. We still got after it! We just did it in such a way that made life easier on us as coaches, and that worked in our particular situation.

To be successful in your chosen profession, you will inevitably go through 'The Grind.' My question to you is, Will you let 'The Grind' become such a grind that 'The Grind' eventually grinds you up? Only you can answer that question.

It's really pretty simple. 'The Grind' is necessary. I flat out mean 'The Grind' is essential to success. But you don't have to lose yourself in 'The Grind.' Stay healthy, wise, and wealthy, and find the balance in life that works for you.

Originally Published in: Game Ready - 52 Takeaways for Winning

You are probably thinking, what in the world does this guy mean with the statement potential will get you fired. Potential is great, right? Potential is awesome, right? How could potential get you fired?

First, what does potential look like? It is untapped ability, which if not tapped into by the owner, will become worthless. What value is potential if not tapped?

In the coaching world - truth be told - in every walk of life, the saying 'potential will get you fired' holds true. A coach could have a whole bunch of players with potential, but if that coach doesn't attempt to tap that potential and use it to the very best of their God-given talents and abilities then what good is that potential? It is great to have potential. It is greater to tap it!

Many times, the one with potential doesn't really know or believe they have it. That player, student, or employee doesn't see their potential. It's possible, for some reason, they have been blinded to it over time. It is up to the coach, teacher, or leader - whomever is in charge - to try to the best of their ability to clear up any doubts.

You must be willing to push, pull, or prod, within reason, in order to get a player to tap that potential. Most people have never been challenged enough in their lives to really live up to their full potential. I believe some coaches do not challenge their players enough to 'tap that potential.' If you do not challenge your players enough to 'tap that potential.' then you are doing your players a great disservice. In reality, you are not doing your job.

It is definitely a two-way street. A coach, teacher, or leader can only do so much to help someone recognize their potential and provide avenues in which that potential can be tapped.

It's really pretty simple. As a player you have a choice. Do you choose to tap your potential or do you choose to not tap your potential? After you make the choice, then what do you do? You live with it. Now, what choice do you make? It's totally up to you.

Originally Published in: Game Ready - 52 Takeaways for Winning

Guess what is the easiest thing in the world to make? Well, it's an excuse.

Anybody can make one, and most people do. It's easy to come up with a reason why you didn't do something or to blame someone else for something you did or didn't do. Yes, the world is full of 'excuse makers!' Now, you may be thinking that everything that has been said so far seems pretty harsh. All I can say is, 'If you are an excuse maker, then I guess it is.'

You see, truth be told, nobody wants to hear about how you couldn't do something or why someone or something stopped you from doing whatever it is you were supposed to do. Here's a reality check. 'Nobody wants to hear excuses except other excuse makers.'

You may have noticed that at no time have I mentioned the fact that it cannot be debated. You will run into obstacles doing whatever it is that you do. Trust me on this one. Things are going to happen, good and bad. You just should deal with it. It goes back to a phrase I emphasized in an earlier takeaway: 'Do your job.'

I guarantee you nobody will want to hear you complain, gripe, or make excuses. Like it or not, all of us are being evaluated by something or someone. Whether we are at home, at work, or out in the community, we are being evaluated. So, what does that mean? Well, as a football coach you are evaluated by wins and losses. Like it or not, that's the way it is.

Believe me, nobody wants to hear any excuses why the team lost the game. They just don't. As a business person, nobody wants to hear any excuses why you lost an account. They just don't. A school teacher doesn't want to hear any excuses why a student didn't do the homework assignment. They just don't. We can go on and on, but I think you get the point.

Now, at no time did I say mistakes would not be made, because we are all human. Believe it or not, mistakes happen. The thing is nobody wants to hear any excuses about the mistakes. Own the mistakes and don't make excuses.

Again, you may think that's a little harsh, but let me ask you a question. Is it harsher than hearing the words 'your services are no longer required with our company?' You decide what you think is the best option - excuses or no excuses.

It's really pretty simple. Nobody wants to hear excuses. If you are an excuse maker, stop.

  ]]> https://coachesinsider.com/volleyball/no-excuses-2/feed/ 0 62533 https://coachesinsider.com/football/the-grind-5/ https://coachesinsider.com/football/the-grind-5/#respond Tue, 18 Jul 2023 08:00:05 +0000 https://coachesinsider.com/?p=94632

By: Coach Mickey Marley

Originally Published in: Game Ready - 52 Takeaways for Winning

If you are a professional, or at the least someone who has sought out to be a champion, you probably have experienced 'The Grind.' For you this may mean a lot of work, a lot of hours at work, and a lot of 'no fun,' time consuming stuff. There's a lot of truth in that description.

Someone, in fact, a lot of 'someones' have already gone through 'The Grind' to become the very best possible in your field. I don't know what 'The Grind' is in your chosen field, but I have a simple suggestion. Pick up the phone and call someone who does know!

Now, having said all of the above, let me personally share with you one bit of advice-you better beware of 'The Grind.' If all you do day in and day out is 'The Grind,' well, you will eventually grind yourself out of your chosen field. Some people will agree and some disagree with that last statement, but that is a matter of opinion. To me, you have to find some balance in life.

I coached football for thirty-seven years, and it was only recently that I figured this out. You might call me a slow learner. I just call myself dumb for not figuring it out earlier. In the latter years of my career, I made 'The Grind' less of a grind, and guess what happened? We still won games. Now, it's not as if all hard work stopped and everyday was a vacation. We still got after it! We just did it in such a way that made life easier on us as coaches, and that worked in our particular situation.

To be successful in your chosen profession, you will inevitably go through 'The Grind.' My question to you is, Will you let 'The Grind' become such a grind that 'The Grind' eventually grinds you up? Only you can answer that question.

It's really pretty simple. 'The Grind' is necessary. I flat out mean 'The Grind' is essential to success. But you don't have to lose yourself in 'The Grind.' Stay healthy, wise, and wealthy, and find the balance in life that works for you.

Originally Published in: Game Ready - 52 Takeaways for Winning

Is it that you have total command of a situation? Is it that you have some command of the situation? Or, is it that you don't want anything to do with the situation in the first place? In other words, you avoid command.

Here is the best way I can describe for you what control really means to me. Have you ever been on the back of a horse that was runnin' away? Well, first of all, for those of you who don't have a clue as to what that feels like, it is when a horse takes off running at full speed and will not stop. Sounds like fun, right. Well, wrong!

That horse will run you into fences, trees, ditches, and just about anything else blocking its path. I have been on the back of a runaway horse, and believe me when I tell you there is nothing quite like it. In a split second, you know that if you don't take control of the situation that horse will.

You have some options, but your options are limited. What's worse, time is not on your side.

First option: You can jump off. Let me advise you, don't do that.

Second option: You can stay on and let that horse run you into fences, trees, ditches, and anything on its path. Don't do that.

Third option: You can rope or lasso a tree stump like one of our friends did years ago. Let me tell you, for sure, don't do that.

Here's your final option: Take control of the situation. Do that!

This is what I know from my own experience with a runaway horse. What you do is reach down as far as you can on the left-hand side of the reins and start getting that horse to going in circles. Eventually, that horse will slow down, and you won't get yourself involved in a painful wreck.

The runaway story is an example of you taking control. Personally speaking, I can tell you my personality lends itself to being in control. Now, not everyone is built that way. I emphasized earlier 'you gotta be you,' so all I'm saying is somebody's gonna be in control or you'll have complete chaos.

You, as an individual, have to decide what you want. Teams and organizations have to decide what they want when it comes to who is in control. All I know, if there is no captain runnin' the ship that ship will crash and sink. I'll give you one better. If you let that horse you are riding run away, guess what? It will. And, what's worse, it will get you hurt.

It's really pretty simple. Someone, or something, is going to be in control. You have a lot more decision-making power in that control than you think. It's just a matter of how you handle control and the situation facing you.

Originally Published in: Game Ready - 52 Takeaways for Winning

I can't speak for you, but I certainly can for me. I always want to know the consequences that may be involved before I do something. Now, to me, the word consequence doesn't have a big elaborate definition. It simply means what happens when you do or don't do something.

Last time I looked, I live in the greatest nation on the planet, the United States of America. Now, in this great country a person can do anything they want to do. You are probably saying, 'No you can't.' You may be saying to yourself, 'You can't rob a bank in the United States or just haul off and punch someone in the face.'

Stop and think about it for a minute. Sure, you can, but after you do you will deal with the consequences of your actions. In this country we have something called laws which dole out the consequences. We can play this game all day, but I bet you get the picture.

I will say this about consequences; they come with every action a person does or doesn't do. Consequences are negative and positive. I personally believe when most people hear the word consequences their first thought is negative. But think about it, if consequences are a result of our actions then they can also truly be positive.

In the athletic world, when a player works out with intensity, purpose, and passion, the consequences will be a bigger, faster, and stronger athlete. Sounds pretty positive to me. When a person truly gives their best effort in whatever they are doing usually good things happen. Sounds pretty positive to me.

Well, on the flip side, if a person is lazy and expects everything to be given to them, usually they are just 'flat out of luck.' Sounds pretty negative to me. Personally, I would rather work on the 'positive than negative.' Ultimately, it comes down to you and your choices.

Sound familiar?

Again, I can't speak for you but I can for me, and this is how I approach 'consequences.' I live by this philosophy when it comes to how I spend my time.

'All negative people, stay away from me. I don't want any of that negative stuff you got infecting me. All you positive people, come hang around me. I want that positive stuff you got infecting me.'

It's really pretty simple. There are consequences in everything that we do. Those consequences are either 'positive or negative' dependent upon the choices we make. Hopefully, your choices will bring positive, not negative, consequences. Let's face it. We're all human and make mistakes, so hopefully you will learn from the negative as well as the positive. One thing I am sure about, we all will have to deal with consequences - positive or negative.

Originally Published in: Game Ready - 52 Takeaways for Winning by Coach Mickey Marley

I made this statement earlier, but I think it bears repeating. I often would ask my players this question: 'How many of you want to be a champion?' Everybody immediately would throw their hands up.

Next question. 'How many of you are willing to do what it takes to become one?' Again, everybody would throw their hands up.

Now, when talking to a high school football team most players understood the questions asked and threw their hands up due to their true conviction. Some didn't really understand the questions asked and threw up their hands mainly because everyone else did.

We, as coaches, always made sure that all involved with the team eventually understood those questions. How did we do that? The answer is simple. We, as coaches, demanded everyone's best effort at all times.

The difference between 'want vs. willing' is huge, and as coaches, we know that to be true. It is our job to make sure all involved with the team learn the difference.

So, for instance, you say you want a Mercedes. That's great. Well, are you willing to do what it takes to get one? You know, like all things, it comes with a price tag.

Or, maybe you want to be a doctor or lawyer. Again, that is great. But are you willing to do what it takes to be a doctor or a lawyer?

Now, you just raised your hand to say that you want to be a championship caliber football player. The question is, 'Are you willing to be a great teammate?' And, as coaches, we must ask the team this question. Are all of you truly committed; committed to giving all you got in every lifting session, workout, team meeting, practice session, your actions on and away from the field, academics, and games? This list certainly can go on and on.

If one is willing to truly 'pay the price' in whatever they are doing then they have a great chance for success. If one is not willing to 'pay the price' in whatever they are doing then they have a lousy chance for success. I mean lousy.

The true champions in any field of endeavor are sure of what they want and are willing to go get it. The question you must answer is 'Do you know what you want and are you willing to go get it?' There is a huge difference between 'want vs. willing.' You decide the difference for you.

It's really pretty simple. Successful people, in whatever field they choose, don't luck into it; they work into it. That work is a lifetime commitment. Successful people know in their youth what they want, and as they age, believe me, they still know what they want. They are willing to pay the price to become successful.

Originally Published in: Game Ready - 52 Takeaways for Winning

There is no question that a team is made up of individuals all trying to accomplish a common goal. It stands to reason that a player will perform better, accomplish more and have a better chance of success if he feels good about himself and what he is doing. Helping your player achieve a level of confidence through skill improvement is a critical objective for every coach.

If you think about it, we as coaches all face the same dilemma. Do you tell them what they need to hear or do you tell them what they want to hear? Truth is you must tell them what they need to hear as honestly and directly as possible. To do anything less is simply to falsely inflate a player's ego, which does nothing to build skill-based confidence. Giving out false self-esteem doesn't do anyone any favors, except your opponent. A world where everyone gets a participation trophy, certificate or ribbon does not exist in the real world of competition. Telling a player up front when he needs to make corrections prevents problems down the road for the entire team. Blunt assessment and honest critique matters most. What is at stake here, quite frankly, is the success or failure of the team.

Don't get me wrong, I believe a player's self-esteem is important, but it must be developed legitimately. Coaches determine where the opportunity exists within each player. The best way to do that is through an honest individual player assessment. Every coach has his or her own style, which is as it should be. If that style is 'firm but fair,' then demonstrate that every time. If that style is 'relaxed but always in control,' then consistently deliver that style. But never confuse players by sugarcoating what needs to be fixed, no matter what kind of coaching style you use.

The job of building true self-esteem in an individual player is predicated on a coach taking time to show that player how to improve and holding him accountable for improving. When you get that you get a better, more confident player and, most importantly, a more confident individual. The more of those you get, the better your team gets. I call that Team Esteem.

There is nothing more satisfying than to coach a team that is confident, not cocky, but confident. It stands to reason these players will have a chance to dominate every time they compete if they follow the game plan and feed off the Team Esteem that has been created.

These statements sum up the job ahead when it comes to building Team Esteem.

• You as a coach determine the self-esteem syndrome.
• In the real world of competition everyone does not receive a trophy.
• Coach with a consistent style that never falls back on the temptation to sugarcoat.
• Turn individual self-esteem into Team Esteem.
• Watch as individual and Team Esteem combine to create true confidence.

It's really very simple. Giving out false self-esteem doesn't do anyone any favors, except your opponent.

By: Coach Mickey Marley

Originally Published in: Game Ready - 52 Takeaways for Winning

If you are a professional, or at the least someone who has sought out to be a champion, you probably have experienced 'The Grind.' For you this may mean a lot of work, a lot of hours at work, and a lot of 'no fun,' time consuming stuff. There's a lot of truth in that description.

Someone, in fact, a lot of 'someones' have already gone through 'The Grind' to become the very best possible in your field. I don't know what 'The Grind' is in your chosen field, but I have a simple suggestion. Pick up the phone and call someone who does know!

Now, having said all of the above, let me personally share with you one bit of advice-you better beware of 'The Grind.' If all you do day in and day out is 'The Grind,' well, you will eventually grind yourself out of your chosen field. Some people will agree and some disagree with that last statement, but that is a matter of opinion. To me, you have to find some balance in life.

I coached football for thirty-seven years, and it was only recently that I figured this out. You might call me a slow learner. I just call myself dumb for not figuring it out earlier. In the latter years of my career, I made 'The Grind' less of a grind, and guess what happened? We still won games. Now, it's not as if all hard work stopped and everyday was a vacation. We still got after it! We just did it in such a way that made life easier on us as coaches, and that worked in our particular situation.

To be successful in your chosen profession, you will inevitably go through 'The Grind.' My question to you is, Will you let 'The Grind' become such a grind that 'The Grind' eventually grinds you up? Only you can answer that question.

It's really pretty simple. 'The Grind' is necessary. I flat out mean 'The Grind' is essential to success. But you don't have to lose yourself in 'The Grind.' Stay healthy, wise, and wealthy, and find the balance in life that works for you.

By: Coach Mickey Marley

Originally Published in: Game Ready - 52 Takeaways for Winning

If you are a professional, or at the least someone who has sought out to be a champion, you probably have experienced 'The Grind.' For you this may mean a lot of work, a lot of hours at work, and a lot of 'no fun,' time consuming stuff. There's a lot of truth in that description.

Someone, in fact, a lot of 'someones' have already gone through 'The Grind' to become the very best possible in your field. I don't know what 'The Grind' is in your chosen field, but I have a simple suggestion. Pick up the phone and call someone who does know!

Now, having said all of the above, let me personally share with you one bit of advice-you better beware of 'The Grind.' If all you do day in and day out is 'The Grind,' well, you will eventually grind yourself out of your chosen field. Some people will agree and some disagree with that last statement, but that is a matter of opinion. To me, you have to find some balance in life.

I coached football for thirty-seven years, and it was only recently that I figured this out. You might call me a slow learner. I just call myself dumb for not figuring it out earlier. In the latter years of my career, I made 'The Grind' less of a grind, and guess what happened? We still won games. Now, it's not as if all hard work stopped and everyday was a vacation. We still got after it! We just did it in such a way that made life easier on us as coaches, and that worked in our particular situation.

To be successful in your chosen profession, you will inevitably go through 'The Grind.' My question to you is, Will you let 'The Grind' become such a grind that 'The Grind' eventually grinds you up? Only you can answer that question.

It's really pretty simple. 'The Grind' is necessary. I flat out mean 'The Grind' is essential to success. But you don't have to lose yourself in 'The Grind.' Stay healthy, wise, and wealthy, and find the balance in life that works for you.