PART XIX - The Secret Of Longevity - Getting Back Up.

One of the toughest things to do as a coach, or in life for that matter, is to get back up after a tough moment. There's a voice inside of you telling you to go curl up in a ball, sit in the corner and have a pity party. There's another voice inside of you telling you to get back up and move on. Voice #1 is the easiest one to listen to; it is loud and a constant in your head. Voice #2 is quiet and understanding, but at the same time, telling you you're better than the moping.

After a tough loss, the natural response is to dwell on everything that went wrong. You ask yourself "What could I have done differently?" You beat yourself up. I've been there plenty of times.

However, as you get more experience and grow older, you begin to understand the importance of moving on to the next "moment".

I've talked about not letting one bad moment, snowball into other bad moments. Voice #1 wants the snowball effect to happen. You drop a game, continuously focus on that game, and then lose focus on what is next and may drop that one as well. Thus, the snowball effect is now underway and once that gets rolling downhill it is hard to slow down.

Discipline yourself to listen to Voice #2. It is OK to be disappointed about the previous moment, but learn from it.

Failure is the greatest teacher of them all.

Get back up and work harder the next day. Working hard and working towards the next moment gets your mind off of what just took place, it allows you to set a new goal and it allows those who are counting you on that new day to draw off of your positive energy.

Positive energy, just like negative energy, is contagious.

You can only control what is in front of you, but you can learn, teach and correct from experiences that were disappointing. When you learn how to master that aspect is when you begin to turn the corner in your career.

Remember, all things, good and bad, shall pass. That's with EVERYTHING in life. Whether you choose to hang onto things is up to you. The next moment is right in front of you. Don't let that next opportunity slip through your hands because your hands are covering your face, still disappointed about what is in the past.

Yours For Better Basketball Always,

Brian / Coach Robinson