On the TUNNEYSIDE of SPORTS November 18, 2013 #463 Up next…”Ya gotta believe”!
After further review…”Ya gotta believe” is a recurring chant in today’s sports world. It’s written on signs that are waived by fans all over the country. “November is moving month” says Herm Edwards former NFL coach and current ESPN analyst, carrying the message one level deeper; if NFL teams are destined for the playoffs, they have to start believing in it now.
November is a major month in the sports world. NFL teams are beyond the halfway point in their season. The NHL is in full swing. The NBA is well underway. College football is accelerating towards its bowl season. College basketball has “tipped-off”. And let’s not forget soccer, which is in full kick both domestically and globally. Wow! It’s exciting just writing about it.
Every player, every T*E*A*M, and every fan subscribes to the motto above “Ya gotta believe”, but not all succeed at it. Why? Perhaps the answer can be found in Edwards’ book “It’s the Will, Not the Skill” wherein he expresses his principals and philosophies of success. Edwards says that while every NFL squad has 53 skilled players, each must possess the will to work together as a T*E*A*M. That will is vital to their common goal.
Does this philosophy work outside the world of sports? Of course it does! It counts for students and business people and something as simple as building a sandcastle! A few years back while running on the beach near my home, I stopped to watch a young boy (8-9 years old) building a sandcastle. He didn’t understand the incoming tide, and was flabbergasted when a wave ran up the sand and wiped out his castle.
Scrambling on his hands and knees he gathered more sand and was rebuilding his castle, only to have another wave demolish it. This process was repeated a few more times. There was undeniable joy in the rebuilding, but more importantly, this boy believed he could build another!
It was his attitude and belief that was important to the success of this experience. There was no parent, teacher or coach to push him onward—the encouragement he gave himself made all the difference. Note that the word “encouragement” shelters c-o-u-r-a-g-e, which by definition is “an ability to conquer fear or despair”. That is the essence of “Ya gotta believe”!
Will you continue forward when faced with fear and/or despair?
To contact Jim go to www.jimtunney.com or email him jim@jimtunney.com.
