Lessons From An Eagle

 Last week our team was fortunate to have Lane Widick spend a few minutes with our team in a devotional before our game.  I wanted to share my notes from his message to our team.

"Adversity"--we can learn a lot from it.

Lane said he's always been fascinated with nature and how God puts certain instincts in certain animals.
For example, the eagle.  In Israel, there is a mountain range at 10,000 feet elevation where eagles nest.
Eagles do not build small nest (3"-4" branches).  There was once a 2 ton eagles nest found in Florida.

They then line the nest with soft leaves and the mother plucks her down from her own body to make sure it's soft.

The mother never helps the bird through the egg process.

After 6-7 months she teaches the young eagle how to survive.  Flaps her wings around the nest....Tears up the nest, so that it's not as comfortable.  Baby then learns to balance itself, etc.

God does similar things to us.  We often get too comfortable with people and things.  Moves us towards something at some point.

"Have to leave the comfort of the shallow for the depths..."

How does God stir our nest?
1.  Someone who's a tormentor in our life.
2.  Burden on us, that we don't know how to handle.
3.  Emotions to be overwhelmed.
4.  Hope of renewal.

God puts a relentlessness in us.
A spiritual hunger takes over our physical desires.  God puts this in us to find.
Stirred up and it's not about us.
Complacency yields to compassion.
Have to be broken before you can be fixed.

There is a day when the mother eagle pushes the baby out o the nest at 10,000 feet..As the baby free falls flapping and right before it hits the ground the father eagle (who has been circling and watching) swoops below to catch it.

God always catches us.

The lesson of flight comes without warning.

There is value in adversity.

Take away the struggle and you take away the strength.  Without the struggle there is no strength.

Great men of the Bible had struggles--Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon

Struggles can be helpful.

Renewal through adversity...

Psalm 103

How an eagle faces true adversity--
Storms in his life.  Many animals have a "6th sense" when they sense storms approaching and they try to run from the storm...However, an eagle has the best "vision" and sees the storm coming, waits until the storm comes and simply flies high above the storm, while other animals try to run and hide..

So we have two choices---Run away or Rise above

2 Cor 4:17-18--fix our eyes on the unseen
2 Tim 4--fight the good fight

How will you help your teammates going through struggles on the court, in academics, relationships, etc.
Rise above? or Run Away?

Eagles are solitary creatures, God created us to be with others.

Think of how Christ rose above adversity....

Arete--Skill & Competence & 10 Keys To Excellence

If you have ever been around Coach Meyer or a Lipscomb basketball camp, you have seen and heard the word "Arete".

As we continually work to define our culture (What's Us/ What's Not Us) we used the following today as our Team Devotional.

The devotional comes from John Maxwell's Leadership Bible.

The text is from Psalm 78:72--"...and David guided them with the integrity of heart and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands."

As a verse, the message jumped out at me both personally and as a coach.  Skill and the Heart must go together.  Without both, there is no way to pursue of commit to excellence in our "mind, body and soul" as the Greeks used the word Arete.

Maxwell says that David's leadership succeeded through a two sided coin: his hands and his heart.  We must all have that combination.  To have one without the other, Maxwell asserts leads to failure.

Maxwell discusses Skill and Competence and the 10 Keys To Excellence
1.  First value excellence
2.  Do not settle for average
3.  Pay attention to detail
4.  Remain committed to what really matters
5.  Show genuine respect for others
6.  Go the second mile
7.  Demonstrate consistency
8.  Never stop improving
9.  Always give 100%
10.  Make excellence a lifestyle

Rick Majerus Thoughts

There have been so many great stories about Coach Majerus over the last few days, I wanted to share some thoughts from my Majerus notebook.  I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to be around him several times.  From working his camps, to spending time with him and Coach Meyer, there was always something to learn.  Below are just a few thoughts from my notebook:

1.  Coach them every day.  Show them everything you know.
2.  To his team:  dive for balls, take charges, set screens, rebound, look for the open man.
3.  Team is built on players supporting each other.
4.  Must be a defensively skilled team.
5.  Can't score enough points to make up for a bad defense.
6.  Rebounding, Hustling and Defensie effort are determining factors.
7.  "To those who don't think defense is important, you'll get the best seat on the bench."
8.  You win transition on the first 3 steps.
9.  Spend an hour a day just thinking.
10.  Nothing is more important than academics.
11.  Academics and being able to speak. Don't cheat yourself.
12.  "I never travel with the team, too focused, too intense."
13.  Everything begins with a great effort.
14.  Filmed practice from 3 different camera angles.
15.  Your body language always displays your attitude.
16.  Great players have a slowness to their game.
17.  Maximize your abilities by being fundamentally sound.
18.  Technique--Technique--Technique
19.  There's a diference in being open and being open for a shot.
20.  Sacrifice speed for technique when learning.
21.  Setting a screen--Be Low, Be Wide, Be a pain in the butt.
22.  Do simple things right.

I remember being in the offices the summer of 1998.  Coach Majerus told me I was welcome to anything I wanted to watch, read or look at.  He said feel free to write down anything you find, just don't make any copies.  I was thrilled to go through their notebooks, scouting reports, etc.  But I asked assistant coach, Jeff Strohm, why he didn't allow copies.

Strohm replied that Coach Majerus knew that guys would take more care of their handwritten notes than just making copies to stick in a notebook or leave on the ground.

What Is The Process?

The word "Process" is probably overused today in sports.  We use it here multiple times daily and in every team/ staff meeting.  As much as it is used, I'm not sure all that use it, mean to use the same word for the same meaning.  I also don't think our players totally understand the exact context of the word each time.

I want our players and staff to know that the "Process" isn't a secret formula to guarantee success. If it was, everyone would be using it.  It's not a step-by-step guide to follow, even though there are elements and steps to the "process".

It's about getting our players to buy-in to "winning every day"..by doing the things necessary to win daily...The things that don't make highlights or box scores..Shots at game speed on your own, watching film, talking to teammates and coaches, protecting and building culture...It's about controlling the things that we can control and not giving into letting how we feel dictate what we have to do.

The "Process" is about Effort, Mental Toughness and Accountability--these things are all a matter of mindset.

It's a renewing of our minds--Romans 12:2

Coach Meyer's Thoughts On Being A Great Coach

One of the greatest attributes of Coach Meyer is his ability to coach the coaches.  Below are some of his thoughts on "Being A Great Coach".  These concepts apply to coaches and leaders at all levels.

To Be A Great Coach

• Team is an extension of the coaching staff
• Each year improve every aspect of your program
• Evaluate every year as your first year on the job
• Teach team roles and coach them
• Teach courtesy
• Know players and what it takes to motivate 
• Don't sit behind a desk and be judge, try and executioner.
• Touch 1/3 of team daily.
• Make percentage plays vs non percentage plays
• Get past failure.  Teach yourself and team.
• Get past success.
• Be careful how you treat people.
• Ways to keep the team on edge.  Stretch outside of comfort zones.
• Be responsible for the team.
• How can we lose?  Then look for ways to win.
• Think win all the time.
• Can't wait forever for potential.

5 Minute Daily Planning

5 MINUTE PLANNING ….You are going to have one of those days…you know, the kind where you are just on a roll?

You’re knocking off tasks, you’re getting things done---on your way to the most productive day you have had in a long time! And it is all because you did one thing.

YOU SPENT 5 MINUTES DOING ONE IMPORTANT TASK: DAY PLANNING.

Only five minutes. That’s all it takes to make a dramatic difference in what you get done. It’s a small investment of time that gives your day direction. You can do it. Day planning will help you optimize your time for getting more things done. It keeps you accountable for important appointments, to-dos and information. If you make this single, brief effort to plan you will find yourself needing less time each day to get organized.

Yes, a successful day can be yours, and it’s all done in a handful of minutes.

·       0:00- Plan your daily schedule, first by referencing monthly “master” calendar, and then by creating any necessary appointments based on yesterday’s activities. You should also block out hour-long segments of dedicated task time when needed. Don’t overbook yourself-reschedule or cancel appointments that interfere with your high priority tasks.

·       0:30- Scan yesterday’s notes and spot new tasks and appointment requests. This is particularly important follow-up action may have resulted from a phone conversation or business meeting that must be addressed with urgency

·       1:00- Check yesterday’s action list in your day planner for any tasks not completed. Evaluate whether these are still priorities or whether they should be put back on your Master Task List.

·       1:30 Repeat success. Make a mental note of what went well yesterday and see if you can match this success today. For example, if you made headway in a particular project, find time for it again today. Always build-off momentum of work that you have accomplished.

·       1:45-Write your daily task list, according to important needs and other urgent commitments that you deem necessary to your business. Be sure to fill your daily Action List with descriptive actions words like “complete,” “outline,” “research,” and “contact.” Keep your list short, realistic, and doable within the confines of your day.

·       3:00- Choose your top priorities: fact it, there are things you need to do today at work or at home in order to maintain order and accomplishment in your life. Some high priorities are quite obvious-such as meeting a work deadline-while others are less apparent through no less important such as paying a bill before its due date arrives.

·       4:00-Prioritize your tasks by assignment them an A, B, or C:

o   A tasks absolutely must be done today, and will suffer consequences if not. Only a few proud tasks earn this distinction. Don’t call in an “A” if you don’t fully intend to do it.            

o   B tasks need to get done, but won’t be penalized if not. Remember: B tasks if put off too long will become –level tasks that require urgent attention.

o   C tasks are the things you want to get done, but they can wait another day. These are great fill-ins for your downtime or time you might have left over.

·       4:30-Number your tasks in the order you want to complete them. Whenever possible schedule the most important tasks first, and then find an order that suits your daily movements.

·       4:45-Stuck? If you are not sure which task will go first, ask yourself the following questions: Which task best fits my role? Which task pursues my goals? Which work completed today will have the most impact on tomorrow?

·       5:00 Cross if off. On your daily task list write the words “Daily planning” and check it off. Enjoy the feeling of satisfaction from seeing this first completed task atop your list.

Taken from Day-Timer Magazine (www.daytimer.com)

Majerus 4 Defensive Items

As many high schools have recently began a new season.  Below are Four Defensive thoughts from Rick Majerus.  Majerus said, "You will win 20 games and conference championships with just these four things."

1. NO FAST BREAK BASKETS
1. 0 points in transition
2. Sprint, see the ball, talk
2. HAND UP ON EVERY SHOT
1. NCAA study--49% w/o hand; 29% w/ hand
3. BLOCK OUT, NO SECOND SHOTS
4. TALK
1. "Screen, help, red, deny, shot, etc..."

Be A Competitor

I'm often asked what is the biggest take away I have from being an assistant at the University of Tennessee and working with Coach Summitt.  Though I learned so many things the greatest take away is--competing at your highest level.  It's no wonder that "Be A Competitor" is a part of the Definite Dozen.  But being a competitor isn't about beating someone else.  It's competing at your highest level, whatever that might be.  Below are a few of the thoughts I want to bring to our culture here at Lipscomb:

1. What do you see in great competitors? Best at everything they do.  They don't take possessions off.  They push through being tired.
2. Compete in everything you do.
3. Are you underachieving or overachieving?  It's never too late.
4. Influence your opponent:  By being competitive, you can affect how your adversary performs.
5. Competition isn't social.  It separates achievers from the average.
6. You can't always be the most talented person in the room, but you can be the most competitive.
7. Competitors do not simply do things just to finish.
8. Competition should inspire you in all that you do.
9. You let others down when you take a day or a possession off.
10. Competition allow you to set yourself apart.
11. Only by learning to compete can you discover just how much you are capable of achieving.  You have more within you than you realize.
12. Too many people elect to be average, out of timidity.  As I look around, I see scores of underachievers.  The world if full of them.  The reason so many people underachieve, instead of overachieve, is simply because they are afraid to make a mistake or to fail or to be wrong.  They're afraid to find out what's inside of them.
13. Competitiveness is the opposite of complacency.  It's disquieting and uncomfortable.  It requires commitment and risk and soul searching.  When you choose to compete, you take a huge gamble.  You might just lose.  You might just have to admit, "That's the best I can do."
14. It's my experience that people rise to the level of their own expectations and of the competition they seek out.
15. Refuse to limit yourself.
16. It's not a matter of talent, it's a matter of effort.

Definite Dozen Lesson--Put The Team Before Yourself

This week we are sharing defining elements of our culture from Coach Meyer and Coach Summitt.  From Coach Meyer we are using the ATTITUDE acrostic and from Coach Summitt the Definite Dozen.

Today we are discussing PUTTING THE TEAM BEFORE YOURSELF.  Here are a few thoughts from notes I have taken from Team Meetings, etc.

1. Must commit to each other and the system.
2. Teamwork doesn't come naturally. 
3. We need each other.
4. Allows common people to obtain uncommon results.
5. Don't let your teammates down.  Your actions affect others.
6. No person on a team is more important than another.

Applying Team Attitude

TEAM ATTITUDE--this week we are talking with our team about two of the most influential parts of our Culture.  The first comes from Coach Meyer and the acrostic from ATTITUDE.  The second is the Definite Dozen from Coach Summitt.  I'll be sharing from both this week.

ATTITUDE
Successful teams have an overriding purpose that is brought to the forefront of their program and is kept as a focal point for everyone.  We have decided that in order to play championship basketball and develop players in all areas of life, we must emphasize a Team Attitude.  Coach Meyer took each of the letters of attitude to develop an acrostic to help teach our players what we think are the essential qualities a solid team possesses.

A--wareness & Communication
T--eachable
T--enacity
I--ntensity
T--echnique
U--nselfish
D--iscipline
E--xecution

We'll start today with AWARENESS & COMMUNICATION:
"In order to be a successful player in a championship program, you must be aware of what is happening on the floor and off the floor as it relates to your team's success.

Awareness involves a perception of how you are really doing in classes, you relationships with other people, and your ability to  perform on the basketball floor.  Once you are aware of aspects that will influence the success or failure of the basketball team and your teammates, it is essential that you communicate with teammates and coaches at every opportunity.  The team that communicates on and off the floor is the team that most often shows the maturity and discipline necessary to do the right thing in games and more importantly in life.

Effective Communication--The Power of Words

Communication is a key to success in anything that we do.  But it is critical to the success of a team.  I came across this article from The Boston Globe by Greg Bedard.  (Click on the highlighted area to read the entire article) In the article he discusses how the Patriots have simplified their offensive terminology to speed up their offensive tempo.

Coach Meyer taught us to use simple 1 syllable, 1 word  concepts to paint those word pictures.

I also admire Belichick for his pursuit of improvement.  He looked to Oregon's coach Chip Kelly and how they were able to communicate their entire offense in one word.

We will share this article with our team today to once again illustrate the importance of communication.

The following thoughts come from the article:

Just one word can be powerful.

Saying, “Help,” lets someone know a person needs assistance.

“Sorry,” can immediately heal some wounds.

“Stop,” could save someone from harm.

Yes, just one word can be potent.

The same holds true for football and the Patriots.

The Patriots operate their no-huddle attack most often using one word as the play call.

More accurately, they use six one-word play calls a game.

That word tells all 11 players on offense everything they need to know.

Formation.

Blocking scheme.

Direction on run plays.

Routes for receiver on passing plays.

Shifts in formations.

Snap count.

Possible alerts and play alterations.

One word.

You learn to make words that are easy to say, one syllable and distinct,” Belichick said

We have a really heavy terminology-based offense,” Brady said. “So everything is really memorization with us, which is actually really hard, I think, for the guys that come in here because things usually don’t make a lot of sense.”

Somewhere in NFL exile, former Patriots receiver Chad Johnson, who came from a numbers-based scheme with the Bengals, might be nodding.

The Patriots, like other NFL teams, have decreased play calls for emergency situations down to one word. “Clock” is used by everyone for a spike to stop the clock, and each player knows where they are supposed to line up. The Patriots expanded that for other plays needed in a pinch.

“A lot of times it was situational,” Belichick said. “Like we were in the hurry-up and you have to get the ball out of bounds, whatever it is. But sometimes we’ve had that where one play means this is where we line up, this is the play we run, this is the snap count it’s on, and we’re going to either try to catch the defense off balance or we don’t have time to have a big conversation about this. It’s line up, snap the ball, and we’re running a sideline route to get the ball out of bounds or something like that.”

But that was the extent of the Patriots’ quick verbiage with shortened play calls.

Why didn’t anyone think of taking the next step to extend those calls to an entire offense?

“They have things where they can call one thing and it’s going to tell them formation, plays, everything, and all you have to see is coverage.”

The collective Patriots’ response to Kelly’s assertion was, basically, “You run an entire offense like that? How do you get the players to comprehend that?”

Kelly declined to be interviewed, but those with knowledge of the discussion said Kelly laid out his rationale.

Players memorize thousands of words in songs, hundreds of movie lines, and many other things involving pop culture.

Why can’t players have instant recall of a handful of concepts? Heck, everybody knows No. 2 on a McDonald’s menu gets you a Quarter Pounder, medium fries, and a drink.

“It’s kind of easy,” Dickson said. “It comes with repetition. A lot of guys learn different. Myself, I just needed to be out there repping those plays. The more comfortable you get, the faster you’ll go. He wants to make it easier to where you’re not thinking about anything, you’re just going fast. Make it as simple as guys can learn it so you can go really fast. That’s the key, making it simple for your players so they can play at top speed.”

Kelly’s overall message to the Patriots: Don’t put a limit on your players’ minds; they will learn whatever you teach them.

“I was interested to hear how he did it,” Belichick said. “I would say he expanded it to a different level and it was very interesting to understand what he was doing. Certainly I’ve learned a lot from talking to Chip about his experiences with it and how he does it and his procedure and all that.”

Coach Meyer Lipscomb Chapel Talk

Were were fortunate to have Coach Meyer speak to our team after practice on Monday and then address our student-athletes in Chapel on Thursday.  Below are the notes I took from his chapel talk:

• Power of the handwritten note
• Pick up the tab when you take someone from lunch
• The appreciation of people
• Take notes--common characteristic of 500 richest people
• Cornell Note system--improve GPA half a point
  • Notes 2/3 of page
  • Ideas in 1/3 of page (what's on the test, etc)
  • Write it all down and pick out what will work for you…
  • Get all the good ideas
• You are your own worst critic and best expert
• Don't be in a major because  parents picked it for you.
  • Do what you want to do
  • Ecc. 5:19-20--Gift of God to be happy in your work
• Never me a selfish person that wasn't unhappy.  Never me an unselfish person that wasn't happy.
• Warren Buffett
  • Three Things In Hiring:
    • Work Ethic
    • Intelligence--noticing the little things
    • Character
  • The first two without the last one will kill you
• Cool Springs Galleria started because a Lipscomb guy could be trusted
• Character is critical to all we do
• Judging Character:
  • Can tell a lot about a person when life is kicking their butt.--"Loser's limp"
  • How they react to a butt kicking
  • How someone treats someone who can't do anything for them or to them..R.A. Dickey is kind to little kids.
  • "Kindness is the language that the deaf can hear and the blind can see"--Mark Twain  
    • Who you are and who's you are
• Servant Leadership
  • Oswald Chambers--died in 1917--wife spend her life making sure his works were published.  He ran a Bible school.
  • Challenge you to get the disposition of Jesus.  Get to know and the Holy Spirit guides you to those opportunities.
  • Holy Spirit guides us to notice opportunities.
  • John 13--is all you need to know about servant leadership.  It's Jesus, what He did when He knew He was going to die and washed their feet.--(there was no pavement, lots of dead animals and excrement…No wingtips there and loafers)
    • John 13:13--Love Lord with heart, soul, mind and strength.  Love neighbor as self..Reason we are here.  Neighbor is the person who cheats you, etc.  Everyone is your neighbor…Not just who you pick and choose.  Jesus meant to love everyone, not the convenient.
  • Can't serve others when we are only concerned with ourselves.
  • George Washington corporal story
  • No sacrifice too big/ no task to small
• Decision Making--
  • Make the right decisions
  • Not just the easy, convenient or popular
• Morning Routine
  • John 12:23
  • Adrian Rogers (preacher from Memphis)
  • First thing in morning--thank You for dying for me
  • Thank your for saving me
  • Thank you for living in me
  • This is a level we must get to
• Romans 6:23 (a) and (b)
• 2 Handed gifts at Christmas--those are the special ones--because you hand them to the person with two hands.
• St. Francis of Asissi--idea of Christ's message.  Proclaim the message of Christ and occasionally use words--How you treat people.  Be different from the people in the world.
• We are only vessels to carry the message to other people
• Nothing we can do that the Lord can't do better.
• Study Suggestions
  • Only way to know Christ is through study
  • Go to your 3rd place--where work and family can't get to you
    • Read/ Study/ Pray
      
      • get yourself ready for the battle of the day.  Devil is ready to kick our butt.
  • Going through reading a chapter a day out loud.  See it, hear it and then think about the chapter all day.

Coach Meyer Meeting With Team

We got off to a good start with our first practice on October 1st.  We began practice with our Athletic Director speaking to our team and then praying for our team, staff, university and season.  A truly unique way to start the season.

Practice concluded with a surprise visit from Coach Meyer.  As always, Coach was honest and direct with them.   Below are a few thoughts he shared with us:

TOUGHNESS

• Can take being yelled at.   Some of you have never been yelled at.  Means you are probably soft.
• Take hard coaching
• This will be a war
• Don't cash your chips in
• This pain is minimal...Wait till childbirth...
• Your job is to bring your skill level up.
• Be a good teammate..It's a special thing.  Mickey Mantle tombstone--"He was a great teammate"

TRUSTWORTHY

• To be where you are supposed to be
• Keep your mouth shut
• Drugs and Alcohol alter your perceptions of reality
• Winners can deal with reality...Can't run and hide.
• Be a problem solver--look for solutions vs blame
• Collaboration--teamwork
• Critical thinker--extra stuff/ study/ this is what separates the great ones.

CANCERS

• Some are slow acting
• Coaches have to treat cancers by cutting it out
• Selfishness causes cancer
• We all want to play
• You can control selfishness
• Not so bad to be dealt a bad hand in spots.  Because "life" will deal you some bad hands.
• Value of human life--decisions
• Don't make decisions because they are--Convenient, Easy or Popular.  Make them because they are right.

MARK TWAIN:

• "Kindness is the language that the deaf can hear and the blind can see."
• Our example isn't the main thing. It's the only thing.

Luke 8:10 & Bob Knight

Last night while Cole (our 9 year old) was getting ready for bed we read from a kid's devotional Bible. It was the parable of the sower and it was interesting that we talked about Luke 8:10

     "They will look,

       but they will not see,

       and they will listen,

       but they will not understand."

After reading and talking about the parable, I laughed because I immediately thought of Coach Knight and his emphasis of "See vs Look" and "Listen vs Hear".

We are sharing the following from Coach Knight's book, "Basketball According To Knight & Newell":

The following words are what Knight describes as teaching devices.

"This is a big thing for us.  Everybody "looks", but there are few who "see".  A basketball player who can see is much better than a player who shoots 60% from 3pt line and cannot work to get open without the ball.  Our players hear us say a thousand times to quit "looking" and start "seeing".  You have to see what is going on.  When you face the basket with the ball, you have to "see".  Anyone can "look".  But it takes a player to "see" what is going on.

Everybod "hears", but few things are "listened" to carefully. 

3 Elements of Trusting The Process

As we work with our team to be Process vs Result oriented, the two coaches we study the most are Nick Saban and Bill Belichick.  We then work translate their football process to our basketball process.  The following three items are critical elements of trusting the process:

Fundamentals: It’s about doing fundamental things well, not about gimmicks. Innovation is great, but if you didn’t execute with the last idea, what makes you think it will be different this time? In so many cases, execution trumps ingenuity, and ingenuity can even distract from what really matters. People are always looking for tips and tricks of the trade, when they should be focusing on really learning the trade.

People: It’s about getting the right people; the physical skills and talent need to be there, but just as important are character, attitude and intelligence. Find the right people, and then train them relentlessly, focusing on the smallest detail, to make sure they fit and contribute to the Process.

Clear expectations: DO YOUR JOB. This was the wording on a sign hung up by coaching great Bill Belichick when Saban worked for him. The Process requires that responsibilities and expectations are clearly defined for everyone who works in it, and then holding them—and getting them to hold themselves—strictly accountable.