I learned a valuable lesson last night. My men’s league hockey team had just gone down by one goal to the other team in a closely contested playoff game. The score was now 4 to 3 in favor of the other guys, and as we skated back to the face off circle at center ice, one of the players on the opposing team was “chirping us.” “Nice turnover at the blue line there,” they said, with a cartoonishly evil grin. I could feel my blood pressure rising, and started formulating all manner of invectives in my head as play resumed. Then, suddenly, I stopped ruminating. “Just wait, “ I said to myself. In my third decade, I discovered a spiritual philosophy that made me feel as though the universe itself was speaking directly to me. This revelation came to me in the form of the Tao Te Ching, thought to be written by a 4th century BC Chinese philosopher Laozi. The Tao is a guidebook on how to govern a nation as much as it is a guidebook on how to govern one’s own life. One of my very favorite passages is a reflection on violence, of which there are several in the Tao. I believe this refers to violence in any form, whether it be physical, verbal, systemic, or self-imposed. As stated in Chapter 30, “For every force there is a counterforce. Violence, even well intentioned, always rebounds on oneself.” The third and final period began. After repossessing the puck in our defensive zone, our team rushed it all the way up the ice to the opposing net, and, in an unbelievable sequence of events, one of our forwards accidentally knocked the puck backwards as it was sliding into goal. Thankfully, our center forward was perfectly positioned to receive the errant puck, and buried it for a crucial score. Tied game, 4 to 4. “Just wait.“ With the third period clock ticking down, the battle continued. Their star forward, whose age I won’t speculate on here for risk of sounding like a bitter old man passed his prime, had many quality chances to retaliate, but our trusty Goalie withstood these assaults like a reinforced brick wall. We scored. 5 to 4. I looked over at the opposing bench. The trash talker was uncharacteristically silent. We scored again. 6 to 4. I heard shouting coming from the direction of enemy territory. Were they yelling at us? No, they were arguing with each other. Their violence had rebounded inward. With one minute to spare, we scored a final exclamation mark. The puck appeared to slide in slow motion into the lower right hand corner of their net. The quiet from their bench was deafening. “Just wait.” The wait lasted exactly 14 minutes. Our actions had redirected their violence more effectively than any clever retort could have. Last night was a reminder to me that the best response is sometimes no response at all. Are there exceptions to this rule? Of course. But should you decide to let your actions speak for you, your voice will ring as clear as the final buzzer in a playoff hockey game. *Note: no gen AI was used to write this.
William Bailey’s Post
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“Stop being a ball-hog!” As a leader with a continuous improvement mindset, my head is always on the swivel for the next big thing in leadership tactics and self improvement. Little did I know that my sermon today was going to come from my 10 year olds little league basketball game. I had the day off and that opened up the evening after homework for something we just don’t get to do enough of, a little basketball practice in the driveway before the big game tonight. Now my son is no Lebron or Michael by any means but he can hold his own on in the key in some 1 vs 1 with me, but for the life of me I couldn’t figure out why he played with the competitiveness of a fence post in the middle of that court with all of his teammates. We talked about some more aggressive offensive and defensive approaches he could take and ran drills all the way up till the buzzer to start the game. Tip-off came and he was on FIRE offensively and defensively until the clock struck zero to conclude the 4th quarter, with the opposing team taking the victory at 9-6, and my son scoring a whopping zero points. My son came off the court with his head hanging and discouraged but little did he know that all though he may have not won the game, for the first time, he was the leader of that team tonight sitting at a wing position. Every move he made was with intention and yielded impact on the game. And quite frankly, gave the opposition hell for 60 minutes. Here’s a couple take aways from tonight’s game 1. As leaders, it should never be our mission to put the ball in the goal, rather than to get the ball in the goal. 2. When we’re on defense, every one on our team has a responsibility and there are no time outs. 3. Some times you aren’t the one that has the best angle on a shot and your gonna have to pass the ball. 4. When the pressure comes, the worst thing you can do is nothing, move your feet. 5. Every move and decision we make has to be taken with purpose and intention. Crazy what 30 minutes with a 10 year old shooting hoops in a driveway will teach you. 1 on 5 isn’t favorable odds and you can’t ball-hog your way to a championship. Invest in your team, even if for only 30 minutes at a time. Stop being a ball-hog!
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Leadership Coach, Mentor, Advisor, Consultant for High Performing athletes, coaches, executives, CEO's and organizations
https://lnkd.in/gHn74c4W As a coach, mentor, advisor, and consultant to elite athletes, coaches, and organizations across various sports, every so often you come across an article, a video clip, or an interview that makes you pause, and forces you to think about how you can incorporate that into your daily practice. Well, here is one such article. SGA who is a star in the NBA (finalist for the MVP). The very notion that his coach uses a Tom Brady reference in describing what sets SGA apart is quite compelling, and an obvious credit to the mindset SGA has. It is that concept that resonated with me..."That’s what Shai is like. He loves the PROCESS of BECOMING a great basketball player as much as being a great basketball player." Think about that for a moment, he loves the process of becoming a great player...that means he embraces the grind, loves the process, enjoys the battle...these are all part of becoming a great player. He is not just talented. In fact it is all part of creating a great culture for your team, or for your organization. As the great Pavel Datsyuk, retired Detroit Red Wing hockey player said, when he was told by a reporter that he was not that talented, he only worked hard..."You are right, yet the harder I work, the more talented I become" To all coaches out there, foster the love of the game, in all aspects, including the grind, the process, and the battle...not analytically correct, but very, very important, nonetheless. BE OUTSTANDING!! #leadership #leadershipcoaching #leadershipdevelopment #coaching #coachdevelopment #highperformance #NBA #NHL #basketball #hockey
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Building brand strength through stories, standards, strategy and human-centred service design.
What do Rick Bowness and Dolly Parton have in common? Authentic Leadership. Earlier today, Bowness was interviewed as part of his debut coaching an National Hockey League (NHL) All-Star Game. When asked a question about what his early days as a player (QMJHL, CHL, AHL and NHL) has done for his career, he praised his coaches and talked about being a good player without having the puck. “… WITHOUT having the puck.” In a game where success is measured by how many pucks find their way into a net, the measure of leadership has very different math. Bowness was not a top goal scorer as a player, nor does he have a winning record as coach (0.429% in more than 720 games). Yet here he is, a beloved leader who coached in the NHL through five different decades (he started in 1988-1989) with six teams as head coach (including old and new Jets) and two as associate coach. Turns out, the magic he brought to the ice and his teams as a player transferred perfectly to behind the bench. Players describe him as a heart on his sleeve kind of guy: “It just comes down to being true to who you are. You don’t try to put on this facade or put on some tough-guy (act). You just be yourself, and that’s why everybody respects him.” (See full article in the Winnipeg Sun linked below). From a purely academic standpoint, authentic leadership goes beyond brand integrity (doing/saying the same thing) and asserts a “…genuine person in leadership roles – they are the same in that role as they are in their personal lives (Luthans & Avolio, 2003).” What I love so much about the topic of authentic leadership is that it tears away the traditional veil of “executive presence” and calls us to make thoughtful choices about being seen, being brave and being real (para phrasing one of my all time favourites, Brené Brown). That’s how we build trust, respect and make leadership about action - not titles. Want to read more about Dolly Parton and Authentic Leadership, here’s a great article: https://lnkd.in/eCc3btrX #leadership #leadershipdevelopment #authenticleadership
Heart on his sleeve, winning on his mind: Jets' Bowness has done the unthinkable
winnipegsun.com
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Ever had a dream or calling that was so strong you could feel the magnetic pull of destiny? But through unexpected circumstances and difficult trials, you lost sight of your dream? Lou Brissie, born in 1924 had one dream in life: to play baseball in the major league. At the age of 15, his talent as a pitcher began to spark the attention of professional scouts. Brissie planned to play in the major leagues after playing college ball and completing his degree. World War II interrupted his plans. While serving in Central Italy with the 88th Infantry Division, Brissie was severely injured. His lower left leg was shattered into multiple pieces. As the doctor was about to amputate his leg, Brissie begged the doctor to find another way. After 23 operations, doctors pieced his leg back together with metal plates and wire; his left leg would forever be 1 inch shorter than his right. Back home, doctors encouraged Brissie to give up on his dream of playing baseball professionally. But Brissie, with steely determination, refused to give up on his dream. Instead, he began throwing the ball while still on crutches. Wearing a metal brace, fighting through pain and setbacks, Brissie’s pitching improved. His determination earned him a shot to play in the minor league, and his raw talent allowed him to win games. In 1947, Brissie got the call that almost everyone told him he would NEVER receive. It was a call from the Philadelphia A’s inviting Brissie to play in the major league. He played professional baseball for 6 seasons, and in 1949 Brissie was selected as part of the American League All-Star team. >NEVER let someone else tell you when it is time to give up on your dream. >If deep down, you know a dream is still calling you, it is time to MAKE a decision. >Make the decision to step up to the plate and fight for your dream. >Make the decision to tell the practical naysayers you disagree with their assessment of YOUR future. >>Action Step - Set aside 10 minutes today to ask yourself: -Is there a dream deep inside me that is still calling my name? -Am I striving towards the pursuit of this dream? >>>If not, what made me stop fighting for my dream? -Was it the practical advice & opinions of other people that led me to lay down the fight for my dream? >>>If so, who in my life can I trust to be a supporter, advocate, enthusiast of my dream? When will I call them to ask for help? -Was it unrealistic expectations that led me to quit the fight for my dream?Expectations that the pursuit of my dream would be easy and pain-free? >>>If so, how can I establish realistic expectations that will allow me to be resilient in my fight for my dream? >>>>What questions would you add to this list? Sources Used: https://lnkd.in/d34vgG6E https://lnkd.in/dwg-cD2f
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Leadership Coach, Mentor, Advisor, Consultant for High Performing athletes, coaches, executives, CEO's and organizations
https://lnkd.in/gHn74c4W As a coach, mentor, advisor, and consultant to elite athletes, coaches, and organizations across various sports, every so often you come across an article, a video clip, or an interview that makes you pause, and forces you to think about how you can incorporate that into your daily practice. Well, here is one such article. SGA who is a star in the NBA (finalist for the MVP). The very notion that his coach uses a Tom Brady reference in describing what sets SGA apart is quite compelling, and an obvious credit to the mindset SGA has. It is that concept that resonated with me..."That’s what Shai is like. He loves the PROCESS of BECOMING a great basketball player as much as being a great basketball player." Think about that for a moment, he loves the process of becoming a great player...that means he embraces the grind, loves the process, enjoys the battle...these are all part of becoming a great player. He is not just talented. In fact it is all part of creating a great culture for your team, or for your organization. As the great Pavel Datsyuk, retired Detroit Red Wing hockey player said, when he was told by a reporter that he was not that talented, he only worked hard..."You are right, yet the harder I work, the more talented I become" To all coaches out there, foster the love of the game, in all aspects, including the grind, the process, and the battle...not analytically correct, but very, very important, nonetheless. BE OUTSTANDING!! hashtag #leadership hashtag #leadershipcoaching hashtag #leadershipdevelopment hashtag #coaching hashtag #coachdevelopment hashtag #highperformance hashtag #NBA hashtag #NHL hashtag #basketball hashtag #hockey
Inside the evolving leadership style of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, one of the NBA's next-up stars
nytimes.com
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Greek-English Interpreter and Translator. Specializations listed below. Interested in Language Technology and Language Education. Offering English Language lessons for all ages. Greek Music performer.
One of the reasons I like working in the language field is because language can sometimes be magic. As the Phillies try to make it to the World Series this month, I remembered one of my favorite bits of writing about baseball, sports and culture. Here is George Carlin's monologue on the differences, big and small, between football and baseball. *** Baseball is different from any other sport, very different. For instance, in most sports you score points or goals; in baseball you score runs. In most sports the ball, or object, is put in play by the offensive team; in baseball the defensive team puts the ball in play, and only the defense is allowed to touch the ball. In fact, in baseball if an offensive player touches the ball intentionally, he's out; sometimes unintentionally, he's out. Also: in football,basketball, soccer, volleyball, and all sports played with a ball, you score with the ball and in baseball the ball prevents you from scoring. In most sports the team is run by a coach; in baseball the team is run by a manager. And only in baseball does the manager or coach wear the same clothing the players do. If you'd ever seen John Madden in his Oakland Raiders uniform,you'd know the reason for this custom. Now, I've mentioned football. Baseball & football are the two most popular spectator sports in this country. And as such, it seems they ought to be able to tell us something about ourselves and our values. I enjoy comparing baseball and football: Baseball is a nineteenth-century pastoral game. Football is a twentieth-century technological struggle. Baseball is played on a diamond, in a park.The baseball park! Football is played on a gridiron, in a stadium, sometimes called Soldier Field or War Memorial Stadium. Baseball begins in the spring, the season of new life. Football begins in the fall, when everything's dying. In football you wear a helmet. In baseball you wear a cap. Football is concerned with downs - what down is it? Baseball is concerned with ups - who's up? In football you receive a penalty. In baseball you make an error. In football the specialist comes in to kick. In baseball the specialist comes in to relieve somebody. Football has hitting, clipping, spearing, piling on, personal fouls, late hitting and unnecessary roughness. Baseball has the sacrifice. Football is played in any kind of weather: rain, snow, sleet, hail, fog... In baseball, if it rains, we don't go out to play. Baseball has the seventh inning stretch. Football has the two minute warning. Baseball has no time limit: we don't know when it's gonna end - might have extra innings. Football is rigidly timed, and it will end even if we've got to go to sudden death. (Part 1 of 2)
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Founder & Principal at EQ Applied | Management Thinker & Doer | Emotional Intelligence Student & Teacher | Inc. and TIME Contributor
Jayson Tatum is doing it different this time around. Last night, the Boston Celtics took a 2-0 lead on the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA finals. A big part of that success is due to the play of Celtics superstar Jayson Taytum; interestingly, though, Taytum’s scoring is down significantly. In the regular season, Taytum averaged almost 27 points per game; in these first two games of the finals, he’s scored 16 and 18 points, respectively. But Taytum is doing other things his team may need even more: His assists and rebounds, for example, are up from his season averages. In last night’s postgame press conference, a reporter asked Taytum about this change. His answer was insightful. “I’ve been here before [in the finals] and we didn’t win,” Taytum replied. “We’re so close to what we’re trying to accomplish. Why would I let my ego or my need to score all the points get in the way of that?” Taytum continued: “We always talk about, ‘do whatever it takes, for however long it takes.’ And if I need to have 16 potential assists every single night and that’s what puts us in the best position to win…sign me up.” Do whatever it takes, for however long it takes. This nine word philosophy is much more than a great sound bite, it’s a lesson in emotionally intelligent leadership. But to truly understand why, it helps to know some of the backstory behind Taytum’s comments. What events have led up to the Celtics current success? And how can the Celtics’ philosophy help you be a more emotionally intelligent leader? Read more in today's column. https://lnkd.in/eb6F-thj #leadership #management #EmotionalIntelligence #boston #celtics #NBA #NBAfinals #eq #eqapplied #MakeEmotionsWorkForYouNotAgainstYou
With 9 Words, NBA Superstar Jayson Tatum Just Taught a Brilliant Lesson in Leadership
inc.com
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CEO Mentally Fit Latam | Transforming organizations with Elite Sport Methodologies | Trusted by adidas,DHL,Sodexo,Lacoste & more Fortune500 companies
As a leader or coach, the focus should never be for you to score the most points, but rather on having your players score at the service of the team. 🏀🏆 This is especially true in basketball, where true teamwork means ensuring that players are trained to recognize the best shot to take and who is in the best position/mindset to take it. Check out how this played for the Chicago Bulls during the 1997 NBA Finals versus the Utah Jazz. 🔍 It was a pivotal moment in the game when Jordan shed a double-team and kicked the ball out to a waiting Kerr, who sank a straightaway jumper to give the Bulls an 88-86 lead. One defensive stop later, and the Bulls were NBA champions once again. Jordan understood that in that occasion the best man to shot was not him but his teammate. 🙌 As leaders, let's take a page from Jordan's playbook and prioritize the success of our team over our own individual achievements. MJ brilliantly summarized it later with : Talent wins games, teams win championship. Sometimes passing the ball is more crucial than shooting it! #Teamwork #Leadership #MentallyFit Check out the full play in the link below! 👇 https://lnkd.in/gQMJVJYK
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CEO and Co-Founder of TicketManager. Tech Entrepreneur, Advisor, Board Member. Enterprise SaaS, Live Events, Sports Tech & Ticketing
One change can change everything. More often than not, the change is obvious - but big. It's something everyone hates and wants to be changed. Like pitchers and hitters stalling, making games too long. MLB instituted a pitch clock. That one change raised attendance by nearly 10%. A billion-dollar change. We've had a few of these changes here at TicketManager in our 16 years. And they always have a 10x impact. In the early 1900's, the NFL was getting crushed by college football. The college game was getting 100,000 fans to their big games (Army vs. Navy), while the NFL was getting 5,000. In "The League," John Eisenberg details two rule changes that launched the NFL past the college game: 1. The Forward Pass. Back then, in college and pro, if a forward pass fell to the ground within five yards of the line of scrimmage, it was a turnover. So nobody wanted to pass. The NFL changed to today's modern rules. 2. Unlimited substitutions. College didn't allow it, which led to a lot of mediocre two-way players. The NFL changed the rule. And the league took off. "Sometimes the best way to figure out who you are is to start by understanding who you're not." Find that thing everyone hates and change it. That sounds so easy. It isn't. As Van Pelt points out in the below ESPN piece. While we're at it, some suggestions for the other major sports: 🏀 NBA: Flopping. Make it so punitive it eradicates flopping from the game ⚾ MLB: Robo-Ump strike-zone ⚽ Soccer: Flopping - but even more so than NBA 🏒 NHL: 4 on 4. It's just way more exciting. 🏈 NFL: No more field goals. Take kicking out of the game completely. https://lnkd.in/gEWhGGpC
Scott Van Pelt's One Big Thing: Change has come to baseball -- for the better
espn.com
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Professor of Marketing and Director of Graduate Programs and Executive Education | Teacher | Mentor
Yesterday we celebrated the birthday of the late, great Tony Esposito. Thanks to Tony O, when I play hockey, I’m the goalie. When I play baseball, I’m the catcher (that’s thanks to Johnny Bench and Carlton Fisk). For a little perspective, I’m referring to floor hockey in high school gym class and little league baseball when I was even younger. I love sports but I was never that good at playing them. Just ask my Freshman B-team baseball coach. So why goalie and why catcher? In baseball, the catcher’s equipment set is referred to as the “tools of ignorance.” And a hockey goalie? Check out the picture. Is it some kind of self-loathing (which I don’t) or self-deprecation (which I do, too often)? I see these positions in line with my personality, having a view of the whole field of play, not seeking attention or glory (you can’t even see the goalie’s or catcher’s faces while they’re doing their work), while serving as the last line of defense, a bulwark for your team. Someone they can depend on. How about you? Whether we’re talking about sports, client presentations, stage productions, operating theaters, or debate teams, what role do you believe best suits you?
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