The Winning Attitude

I’d like to preface this article by having you watch the following video clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7771nzKMpo This is a scene from the movie Rocky Balboa. In this scene Rocky’s son is confronting his dad because he is angry that Rocky is going to fight again…and he claims that his dad’s fighting career has taken his thunder.

NOW WATCH THE CLIP

In my mind winning is all about perseverance. Like Rocky says, life is tough and nasty and it’ll take you to your knees. BUT, winning in life is about how many hits you can take and keep on getting up and moving forward.

USC has dominated college football for the past 6 years. Three Heisman Trophy winners in three years, 25 All-Americans and 27 NFL draft picks, Pete Carroll is being heralded as one of the best in the game…not only can he recruit but he puts his guys in a position to win. And well, 9.9 times out of 10 they are not only in the right position but they humiliate their opponent with lop-sided wins. Most people would say, wow what a lucky guy…he’s always been a winner and that’s just that. Well you’re WRONG.

For a while Pete Carroll was considered to be a guy that couldn’t get it done as a Head Coach. He was twice a Head Coach in the NFL and twice he was let go…WOW. So how does a guy like that turn it around? Carroll took the hits and kept on bringing it until finally it all fell in place. He had a mission and a plan to accomplish it and he believed in it…and guess what, he turned out to be a winner.

As a strength coach, I have a plan for the physical success of my athletes. Sometimes I don’t exactly get a great looking piece of clay to start with, but I know that if I just keep spinning the wheel eventually I’ll get the finished product I want. Coaches, don’t let your athletes give up…keep them marching forward and prepare them to take the hits and get right back up and keep moving forward. Because in this process lies success.