(originally written on my Facebook blog on February 8th, 2009)
1. Life isn't fair.
2. Try not. Do or do not, there is no try.
3. I don't believe in the no-win scenario.
4. It ain't how hard you hit; it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done.
5. The game isn't over until the fat lady sings (i.e. the final buzzer sounds).
6. Go The Distance.
7. Every now and then say, "What the fuck." "What the fuck" gives you freedom. Freedom brings opportunity. Opportunity makes your future... If you can't say it, you can't do it.
8. Roll with the punches. Tomorrow's another day.
9. If your heart is empty, your head doesn't matter.
10. I'm not saying I have all the answers. I have failed as much as I have succeeded. But I love my life. I love my wife. And I wish you my kind of success.
Back when I coached CYO basketball, I used to give my travel teams a bunch of rules at the beginning of the season. Rule #1 was always the first rule I gave them - because no matter how young, or how old, they knew when I yelled out to any of them "what is rule #1?" that they had to stop worrying and possibly throwing a tantrum about what the ref might have called wrong, or what the ref might have missed, and to get their heads back into the game. Otherwise they would be "riding the pine".
Other rules I gave them over the years did include rules #2, #3, #5, and #6.
Later on, mentoring children and adults, I often have used the other rules in the list above as well, to keep them on the right track. In fact, I use them to remind myself as well, when I get a little "off balance". Maybe by publishing this list again, this advice can help you. My random act of kindness for today...
1. Life isn't fair.
2. Try not. Do or do not, there is no try.
3. I don't believe in the no-win scenario.
4. It ain't how hard you hit; it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done.
5. The game isn't over until the fat lady sings (i.e. the final buzzer sounds).
6. Go The Distance.
7. Every now and then say, "What the fuck." "What the fuck" gives you freedom. Freedom brings opportunity. Opportunity makes your future... If you can't say it, you can't do it.
8. Roll with the punches. Tomorrow's another day.
9. If your heart is empty, your head doesn't matter.
10. I'm not saying I have all the answers. I have failed as much as I have succeeded. But I love my life. I love my wife. And I wish you my kind of success.
Back when I coached CYO basketball, I used to give my travel teams a bunch of rules at the beginning of the season. Rule #1 was always the first rule I gave them - because no matter how young, or how old, they knew when I yelled out to any of them "what is rule #1?" that they had to stop worrying and possibly throwing a tantrum about what the ref might have called wrong, or what the ref might have missed, and to get their heads back into the game. Otherwise they would be "riding the pine".
Other rules I gave them over the years did include rules #2, #3, #5, and #6.
Later on, mentoring children and adults, I often have used the other rules in the list above as well, to keep them on the right track. In fact, I use them to remind myself as well, when I get a little "off balance". Maybe by publishing this list again, this advice can help you. My random act of kindness for today...