Practice ONE.49 with OSU WLAX team this past week was freakin’ magic, at least to me. I was virtual (still too sick to be with, damnit). The team was in the locker room. Ella kicked it off by reading Day 299 in BBTL. Coach made her read it again. So much better the second go.
Coach assigned one of the team leaders to break us into smaller teams of defense, middies, attackers, and coaches. I sat alone and tuned in. Mostly all I heard was noise. Too many voices hitting the microphone, next to nothing was received. Tuned in, anyway. Heard more than I imagined. Each team selected the “most believable” to rep them in front of the room. We heard from seven of those, one at a time. I heard everything they said. One signal carries so much less noise. Damn.
I had said next to nothing as our practice time wound down. Put a bow on it in roughly 5 minutes time. Told a story of my childhood. The final words from my mother when departing for my first day of college back in 1977. Sticky, it was. She reminded me I was not coming back home. On my own now. FIO. Make the most of it. And she told me to remember this truth – Nothing worth possessing has ever been given. You want something, Chester, go get it. Work for it. Take it. Don’t expect the world to hand you anything. Told the team to remember this truth before every game against any opponent, no matter their ranking, no matter their record. Treat them with respect. Take nothing for granted. You both wanna win. Who wants it more? Who is willing to do what it takes? Who is gonna take it?
Leaders are believers. Leaders are connectors. Leaders initiate. Leaders don’t make space, they take it. Damn.
Live hard. Love ❤️ harder…
BUILT TO LEAD 