"Call Another Play": My Coaching Philosophy for Winning in Life and Business

By: Ryan DuBois

As a coach on the football field and in life, I've always emphasized adaptability and resilience. My mantra, "Call Another Play," not only guides strategies during games but also underscores the importance of agility and responsiveness in managing teams and leading successful business ventures.

In "Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us" by Daniel H. Pink, we learn that

"The secret to high performance and satisfaction—at work, at school, and at home—is the deeply human need to direct our own lives, to learn and create new things, and to do better by ourselves and our world."

This belief is foundational to our approach.

Embracing Change with the 90-Second Rule During my time as a softball coach, I introduced the "90-Second Rule." This rule granted team members 90 seconds to feel upset or frustrated after a play, after which they needed to reset emotionally and refocus completely.

Angela Duckworth's "Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance" reinforces this concept, stating,

"Enthusiasm is common. Endurance is rare."

Her insights on perseverance align perfectly with our practice of moving past setbacks quickly and purposefully.

In everyday life, while 90 seconds may seem brief, the principle holds: set a specific time to deal with disappointments before moving forward. This period might extend to 90 minutes in personal situations. Recognizing and adjusting this timeframe is crucial for maintaining effectiveness in all areas of life—whether at work, at home, or on the field.

Strategic Time-Outs and Team Assessments Understanding the strategic importance of timeouts parallels closely with assessing team dynamics.

Carol S. Dweck’s "Mindset: The New Psychology of Success" teaches us that fostering a growth mindset is essential for adapting and improving continuously—key for optimizing our team's configuration and ensuring everyone plays their ideal role.

Just as in sports, where not everyone can be the quarterback, in business, it's crucial to align skills and roles correctly.

Role charts are crucial, and Path for Growth has some great templates!

Igniting Passion and Purpose in Your Team A crucial part of my coaching strategy is ensuring that every team member is consistently motivated and engaged. It’s not enough to gather talent; we must also ignite their passion, purpose, and drive.

This process often requires a nudge from an external perspective, a role that a coach plays adeptly.

As Peter Bregman suggests in "Leading with Emotional Courage,"

"If you are willing to feel everything, you can do anything."

Sometimes, discovering what truly drives each individual requires deep engagement and the courage to ask the tough questions that uncover their core motivations.

The Philosophy of Perfect Practice

"Practice doesn’t make perfect, but perfect practice gets you closer to perfect." - Ryan DuBois

This principle is essential in sports and equally applicable in business and personal development. The quality of practice is more important than quantity. It's not just about going through the motions; it's about focused, deliberate practice where every drill is meaningful.

After assessing your team, goals, and opponents, it's critical to practice the fundamentals that will get you closer to a winning season, successful product, or thriving business venture.

Practice hard, win easier!

Practice, Adjust, Succeed My philosophy of "Call Another Play" emphasizes the need for constant learning and adaptation. The emotional readiness to adapt and succeed is vital, whether adjusting strategies in a game or reshaping a business plan.

In "Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise" by Anders Ericsson and Robert Pool, the concept of "deliberate practice" is highlighted as a systematic approach to skill improvement that emphasizes purposeful and systematic practice.

They define it as a

"mindful and highly structured form of learning by doing,"

which aligns with our focus on making every practice session count towards perfection. Ericsson and Pool argue that anyone can achieve high levels of expertise with enough of the right kind of practice, supporting our belief that practice hard wins easier.

Halftime Philosophy: The Score is Always Zero-Zero One of my key coaching philosophies is to approach every moment as a fresh start, much like the start of the second half in football, where the score in our minds resets to zero-zero.

Ryan Holiday's "The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph" beautifully complements this mindset:

"The obstacle in the path becomes the path. Never forget, within every obstacle is an opportunity to improve our condition."

Each play, then, is an opportunity for victory, demanding our best effort and full engagement.

Keep Calling the Play:

This approach extends beyond mere participation; it's a proactive way of navigating life and career challenges. Every setback is a chance to learn and grow. Whether facing project difficulties, career transitions, or personal development hurdles, remember that every challenge is an opportunity to recalibrate and make a strategic move. Let's not just play the game; let’s change how we play to achieve greatness.

Drawing on my coaching background, I've learned that success in any field comes from the ability to adapt and strategically call another play. It’s crucial not only to respond to setbacks but also to use them as opportunities for growth and success.

By continuously evaluating and optimizing our team dynamics and keeping each member fired up and focused, we enhance our collective ability to overcome challenges.

Remember, we win as the best team, not merely as a collection of talented individuals.

So, when the next challenge arises, take a moment, assess your team, and with conviction, call that next play.

Are you ready to redefine the rules of the game in your own life or business?

Whether you're facing personal challenges, professional hurdles, or team dynamics that need recalibrating, remember: there is always a way to call another play.

If you find yourself needing a strategic timeout to reassess and refocus, I'm here to help guide you. Together, we can uncover the potential for greatness that resides within you and your team.

Don’t hesitate to reach out—let’s make each play count and strive for victory in every endeavor. Let’s play to win. Reach out to me, Coach Ryan DuBois , and let’s start making those pivotal plays together.

Committed to You, Committed to Excellence,

Coach Ryan DuBois