Coach Kip

I mean I have, you know, fallen, but you get up. You don’t fall, you don’t learn anything

The world is full of lessons if you listen hard enough.  This lesson is from a Vet who now has artificial legs.  No it is not that you have to go through some tremendous tragedy before you can enjoy life.  The lesson is that if you are not failing on a consistent basis you are not learning.  I know I forget sometimes that when I fail at something it does not make me a failure.  I am only a failure if I stop trying.  Failing only means that there is another lesson to be learned.

If everything is going perfectly for you, then you are not growing, you are not getting better.  From an athletic perspective think of it this way:  Let’s take the bench press for example.  If you are a power lifter you want to be able to press as much as possible one time.  Lets say your goal is 500 pounds.  If you are an NFL prospect the scouts want to see how many times you can press 225 pounds.  Lets say your goal is 25 times.  Body builders may just want to use the bench press to gain mass and then use more specific lifts to sculpt their bodies for competition.

What we all know is that in none of these examples do any of the athletes simply go out and hit their goal on the first try.  They have to work at it over  time.  They have many failures along the way.  Many times they will have workouts where the goal is to fail.  And they happily accomplish failure because they know that they cannot succeed until they have failed.

Listen to the interview of Nick Staback on NPR.  Listen to how it begins as another Vet who has come home and has changed.  There seems to be nothing unique about the story until you learn that he has lost his legs.  Then listen to how the tone and the interview changes.  It is not the loss of his legs that has made the big difference, it is not the change to his perspective of life.  It is that he has learned that he needs to keep pushing himself to learn how to use his new legs better.  He knows that he is strong and will have a normal life and falling is part of succeeding in his new life.

So rejoice failure, failing, and challenge yourself.  See if you can fail.  See where failure can lead you.

NPR Interview - http://www.npr.org/2012/10/24/163469815/vet-walks-on-new-legs-with-a-little-help-from-mom

Lorenzo Neal is a 15 year NFL veteran. Not many people have heard of him. He plays Fullback, an old position that is quickly being done away with. Our football team for the last two years didn’t have one, and had no need for one.

Lorenzo is currently on the San Diego Chargers. His role on the team. Block for All-Pro running back Ladanian Tomlinson. And he loves it. He is greatfull everyday, he respects the fact that he was given an opportunity that not many people ever get. He loves the fact that he plays a kids game, and gets paid for it.

Yesterday I heard an interview with him on Nashville radio. The Chargers are headed to town to play the Titans this Sunday. During the interview it was clear that this was not just another football player. This was a guy who gets it. This was a guy who knows a thing or two about life. This is a guy who anyone can look up to with respect and admiration. He left the interview with this quote

“Love Everyone,
Trust Few,
And Power your Own Canoe.”

A somewhat silly quote but one that will stick with me for a long time.

• Love Everyone – We all can take a little from this quote. We as a Nation seem too stressed, to tense, to quick to get in each others faces. I have said it before and I will not be debated out of it. We live in the greatest Country with the greatest opportunity. We can do everything and anything but we have to remember to work together. Love your competitors, love your countrymen, love those less fortunate. Love everyone.

• Trust Few – It may seem cynical at first but it helps you tremendously. People will take advantage of you. People will try to do things that will take advantage of you. But the statement is much more deep than that. It means take care of yourself. Take care of your belongings. Take care of your future. If you look for someone else to do so it is unlikely to happen. You have to take care of yourself.

• Power Your Own Canoe – You are the only one who is going to make it for yourself. You are the only one who is going to create your future. You are the only one who controls your destiny. So do so. If you don’t get out the paddle, who knows where you will end up. Take out your paddle and start going somewhere.

If you have the time this afternoon go online to 106.7 the Fan in Nashville. At 3pm central time they will be replaying the interview. It does not last long, but it can make a big impression.

Conceive It, Believe It, Achieve It

Coach Kip