Are You Cheering For "Team You"?

It's March Madness, and the NCAA men's and women's basketball tournaments are dominating ratings. Fans around the country, like me, are glued to the television, clapping, screaming, and jumping up and down supporting their favorite team.

Are you cheering for yourself?  Or, are you waiting for something big to happen in order for you to get behind the home team, You? 

Have you lost hope that you will win at something?  

Cheering yourself on, is giving yourself energy to complete whatever goals you have set yourself.  You have to be your own coach and cheering section.  No one is going to believe in your dream like you, because the dream wasn't given to them.  It was given to you.

Like in any game, life is filled with disappointments and set-backs, but at the last minute, you can still make the winning score.  There is a saying, "Don't give up five minutes before the miracle happens."

Turn away from the past mistakes, and failures.  Live in the present, and go after whatever you have been putting off and doubting.  Lift up "Team You" by telling yourself over and over and over,  "I am a winner," until you no longer doubt yourself.   For too long you probably have been saying the opposite.

It's never too late,  You were born to win!

Coming Soon:

Trevor Hoffman-" I Gave 100 Percent"

Pitcher Trevor Hoffman, baseball's all-time saves leader, has decided to retire at age 43.  

Hoffman told the Associated Press, "What I'll take away from it (playing baseball) is I have no regrets. I went at the game 100% and didn't leave myself with any questions.  I got the most our of what I was given."

Can you say that for your life?  Have you been living your full potential?  If you haven't, start now.  Start today.  

Giving your full potential is living life fully.  This goes for giving yourself fully to your loved ones, as well as your job or career. 

Many of us lose the very ones we love because we have not fully been present for the significant other in our life. How many people find themselves divorced because they weren't aware that their spouse was unhappy? 

Or, maybe you wonder why you have been passed over for a promotion.  Often because we don't like a job, we give only half of ourselves.  Beware, others are watching and hearing that you are not doing your best, even our friends.

So, when you network to get a better job, your friends and co-workers who may know of a great opportunity for you, won't tell you, or recommend you.  They are not putting themselves on the line for you because they know you have been "half-stepping."

Give fully to whatever task is before you, and don't forget.  That applies to your loved ones too.

See Hoffman's retirement announcement:

Stick With the Plan

Florida State Upsets Duke, 66-61

When you face a tough challenge, it's tempting to keep changing the plans you made to tackle the situation, especially if it appears you are not going forward.  It makes sense to try other methods when you are failing.  However, many of us don't believe in our original plan, and this causes us to spin off in other directions.  It takes courage to have patience and believe that your plan will work through the challenge. Most give in to panic and fear.

Those who can keep the faith, and stick to the plan in the face of adversity are often winners. Florida State proved this when they ended Duke's 25-game winning streak.  Florida State 66, Duke 61.

"Our guys stuck with our game plan" Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton said.  "They maintained their poise.  We hit the big free throws down the stretch.  I hope they understand now exactly the way they have to play in order to be successful."

Florida State Upsets Duke:

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Watch fans storm the court:

Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll on Visualizing to Win

I had a chance to meet Coach Pete Carroll in his office at USC right after my son graduated there and Carroll was still coaching the Trojans.  I was so impressed how he was warm and open to strangers.  He focuses on you, and makes you feel good about yourself.  This is also attributed to his style of coaching.  They say he builds players up, rather than tear them down when they make mistakes.

It's no wonder that he has eased into coaching the Seahawks, because he makes players want to be the best you can possibly be.

Carroll could have rested on his laurels as being the highest paid university coach in the nation, but he chose to advance himself.  

ESPN reporter Shelly Smith says this about Carroll Coaching the Trojans in Los Angeles, "Carroll and his staff and the players were rock stars, A-listers even among the usual A-listers. The environment was contagious and hyper-charged."

But, even though Carroll who was at the top of his game at USC , he left for a bigger challenge to return to the NFL. Some say it's because he saw the controversy of Reggie Bush coming down the pike, but I choose to believe that he is following his philosophy to keep challenging himself and to be the best that you can be.

Against naysayers who say Carroll can't have the success in NFL like college, and that he is to "nice" for the NFL, he is proving them wrong, leading the Seahawks to victories.

One of his coaching techniques, is Carroll believes in visualization, one of the keys to win not only on the field, but in life. This is a key component in our lives no matter who we are.

Charles Haanel, author of the Master Key System (1912) which inspired the book, "The Secret" said this:

"If you desire to visualize a different environment, the process is simply to hold the ideal in mind, until your vision has been made real; give no thought to persons, places or things; these have no place in the absolute; the environment you desire will contain everything necessary; the right persons, and the right things will come at the right time and in the right place."

You can click on my pages tab on the top left to read an entire Visualization chapter in my book "Sporting the Right Attitude."

Here is Pete on winning and visualizing big:

NFL Hall of Famer Committed On and Off the Field

The legendary All American Running Back, Jim Brown made his television debut at the At&t Cotton Bowl Classic in 1957.  He was named the game's outstanding offensive player.

Today, watching him perform the coin toss for the LSU and Texas A&M game at the Cotton Bowl 54 years later, I remembered going to his home in Los Angeles once attending one of his meetings for gang members through his program Amer-I-Can.  I wanted to get involved to support the wonderful work he was doing getting young men out of gangs, and showing them a better way of life.  The Amer-I-Can Program helps participants develop their attitude from one of self-doubt to self determination to become productive citizens in society.  

Brown could have easily rested on his laurels, and just donated to organizations, but I was so impressed seeing how he opened up his home to gang members.  How many people would do that?  I was touched seeing the ultimate respect these gang members had for Brown.  He has such a strong commitment to helping these young men, and gives his whole self.  This is why his program is successful. Brown is committed just like he was in the field of sports. 

It's one thing for celebrities to support organizations through financial donations and the use of their name, but my hat is off to Brown and any other celebrity who actually rolls up their sleeves, spends time in the organization to help others. 

Visit his website:

http://www.amer-i-can.org/

Watch NFL hall of Fame Running Back, Jim Brown talk about the differences in today's NFL game.

ATTITUDE IS IMPORTANT

I was moved by a quote I read earlier in the week about Miami Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano.


Running back Ricky Williams said, "Tony spends a lot of time saying, 'If you do these things, you'll win.'  I feel that he does a little too much.  My personal opinion is, if you have the right attitude that you guys are going to win, then all the other stuff takes care of itself."


Wow Ricky!  How right you are.  This is the major reason that assures a person that nothing is impossible no matter the circumstances.  A positive attitude allows one to perceive the possibilities rather than difficulties.

Have No Regrets

After 20 years in the NFL, 297 consecutive games, iron man Brett Favre said, "I hold no  regrets, and I can't think of too many players off hand that can walk away and say that, individually and from a team stand point, it was way more than I ever dreamed of."

If we can coach ourselves to do the best in our lives and ignore negative comments like Favre, we too will have no regrets.  We can't let anyone stand in the way of our dreams and tell us we are too old, too young, or not talented enough to go after and live our dreams.

Giving Your Best is What Counts

The little guys, Texas Christian University hung on to beat the Wisconsin Badger's fearsome offensive line and powerful running attack. Andy Dalton, TCU's quarterback who won the MVP award said, "The way the system is, it didn't give us the opportunity to play in the BCS National Championship game, but we did everything we were capable of doing."


When you do your best in life, you can still feel gratified even if you don't get the opportunity you want. Just have faith, that it's just a matter of time before your dreams will materialize.