SEEKING TO BE THE BEST

With only five games remaining before our Regional Tournament begins, it 's finally dawning on me that the 2009-10 season is almost over.

Although we've had some slow starts, this team is statistically ahead of our teams over the past two seasons, and I think that is due, in-part, to a couple of players on our team that have really stepped up and taken their game to the next level.

It reminded me a an article I recently read about the traits of players that are the best:

THE BEST KNOW WHAT THEY WANT

I think a lot of people spend their life being average or good at something, but they don’t strive to be great. The best of the best not only know what they want, but they want it more.

THE BEST ARE MENTALLY STRONGER

Being mentally strong means you stay positive through adversity. It means you are resilient when facing pressure, challenges and change.

Weed and feed: Each day you need to weed out negativity and feed it positivity. You need to weed out the self-doubt and negative talk and feed it positive thoughts, memories and visuals.

THE BEST OVERCOME THEIR FEARS

Those that succeed, those that reach the pinnacle of greatness, are able to face this battle (overcoming fear) and win.

THE BEST SEIZE THE MOMENT

When the best are in the midst of their performance they are not thinking ‘What if I win?’ or ‘What if I lose?’ They are not interested in what the moment produces, but they are only concerned with what THEY produce in the moment. Rather than hiding from pressure, they rise to the occasion. As a result, the best define the moment rather than letting the moment define them.

THE BEST MAKE EVERYONE AROUND THEM BETTER

The point is to strive to be your best and inspire others to be their best, because it’s in the striving where you find greatness, not in the outcome.

(thanks Jon Gordon)