“I never won anything by myself. I was always strong because of help that gave me extra strength to win.”—Dan Gable
Yesterday, I commented on the roles of technique (knowledge), conditioning (practice), and heart (desire) in success—in wrestling, football, …, and life. These have one necessity in common—TEAM. We don’t make it in sports or life alone. Dan Gable is one of the most successful (if not the most successful) names in wrestling. With all his successes, has the humility to know that he never won anything by himself. In our pursuit of success, we need help. We need the help of family, teammates, coaches, teachers, coworkers, etc. to give us that extra _____ that we need to succeed.
This is most evident in team sports. In football, for example, 10 guys can execute perfectly, but that one guy who flubs his responsibility can cost the play. Wrestling is an “individual” sport, however, no one makes it to the top of the podium without support.
I have friends who are going through struggles. We are all that “friend” at some time or another. They can’t go through it alone. We can’t go through it alone.
When people reach out, we tend to be one of three people: 1) the fixer, 2) the naysayer, or 3) the champion. We only need one—the champion. We need to be the supporter—the encourager. We need to be the teammate.
We may have expertise in the area and, thus, try to jump in an offer help (fix). (I can be guilty of this.) This is fine when done through the role of champion. It is not fine from the position of the stands. There is always some spectator who knows more than the coaches or the players. No one needs these people!!
The naysayers are equally destructive. These are the people who are either failures themselves or “successful” people who fear the challenge of competition. Lend no ear to the naysayers. (Perhaps this is why so many of the great wrestlers have developed cauliflower ear—from pushing out the sound of negativity and the voices of those who might deny them success?)
Be a champion for others. Support them in their endeavors.
Great coaches don’t fix or negate the efforts of their athletes. The great coaches teach, push, and encourage their athletes.
Great teammates don’t fix or negate the efforts of their teammates. Great teammates help correct technique, give 100%, and cheer for their teammates. Great teammates know that they only get better when everyone gets better.
I think of the veteran players in football (or any sport). These athletes are competitive. They are where they are because they are among the best of the best. Every season, there are rookies nipping at their heels. Eventually, they will yield their position as a starter to another and/or retire. No great athlete wants to be #2. The veterans push to keep their position, but they also push their backup. Why? Because it is a team effort. Should the veteran get injured, the backup better be prepared to step up. The veteran knows this. The rookie (if he is going to be successful) knows this. One-hundred percent 100% of the time is what makes everyone better. (The Steelers’ James Harrison comes to mind when I consider this.)
We need people in our lives to coach and support us. Sometimes these are hard to find. We need to keep looking—from both sides. He need to ask for help and support. We also need to offer to champion others in their pursuits. I recently shared these words from the legendary coach, Vince Lombardi: “Individual commitment to a group effort–that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.” How true this is!
Be your best today; be better tomorrow—and help others to do the same!
Carpe momento!
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