Tuesday, June 10, 2008

What it Takes to be Number One


"The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary."
- Vince Lombardi


***

Vince Lombardi is commonly referred to as "The Greatest Football Coach of All Time." When Lombardi took over the Green Bay Packers in 1959, he told reporters, "I'm no miracle worker." In his first season as head coach, the Packers finished 7-5 after have gone 1-10-1 the previous season. The following season the Packers were 8-4 and made it into the playoffs. In two short years, Lombardi had turned the Green Bay Packers around. Over the next seven seasons, under the direction of Vince Lombardi, the Packers won five NFL championships and two Super Bowls.


Lombardi was a great motivator and a master disciplinarian. Lombardi would often say, "Success has a price. Winning has a price. It's hard work, it's sacrifice and not many people are willing to pay that price." In his most famous speech given, What it Takes to be Number One, Lombardi said, "Winning is not a sometimes thing; it's an all the time thing. You don't win once in a while; you don't do things right once in a while; you do them right all the time. Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing."


Vince Lombardi had a simple but disciplined coaching philosophy. While most professional coaches were teaching complicated offensive schemes, Lombardi had only five plays in his offensive playbook. With a simple offensive scheme and a disciplined practice regimen, Lombardi expected each play would be with run to perfection. Lombardi once said, "We never really fool anybody, the opposition knows what's coming, but they can't stop us because each player knows his assignment and we practiced it a thousand times."

How about you? Do you have the discipline to practice something a thousand times? Discipline is a willingness to do what is right and then doing things the right way. Discipline is a willingness to forego immediate satisfaction for long term results. Over the years, I have seen talented people that did not make the most of their talents because they lacked discipline. They were not willing to "keep their nose to the grindstone." Simply put, they were unwilling to sacrifice and work hard. Instead of embracing a disciplined lifestyle, they were content to live a self-indulgent lifestyle, which led down a dead-end street. They now wish things could be different.

I've also seen people set personal goals only to quit a short time later. Why? They were not disciplined in their approach. They were not willing to sacrifice, work hard and/or "practice it a thousand times." Those lacking discipline are generally quick to blame others and events for their lack of success. They lack success because they lack discipline. Success emerges out of discipline. I do not know of any successful people who are/were not disciplined.

Vince Lombardi was considered a master disciplinarian; not because of a punitive coaching style, but, because he required strict adherence to doing things the right way. Lombardi's players have said that Lombardi's disciplined coaching style not only made them better football players, but made them better people.

Vince Lombardi gave what would be his final speech on June 22, 1970, in Dayton, Ohio. He died of cancer on September 3, 1970. In his final speech, Lombardi said:

"I believe that man's greatest hour, in fact -- his greatest fulfillment, his finest fulfillment, is that moment when he has worked his heart out for a good cause and lies exhausted but victorious on the field of battle -- whenever -- wherever that field of battle may be -- in your business, in my business, wherever.

Success in life is a matter not so much of talent and not so much of opportunity but rather of concentration and perseverance. The man who succeeds above his fellow man is the man who early in life clearly decides his objective and towards that objective he directs all of his powers."

How about you? Are you willing to work hard for long term results? Are you disciplined in thought and action? Will you practice a thousand times to get it right? Vince Lombardi not only left his mark on football; his philosophy of discipline has influenced the entire sports field, the business world and the personal development field. No matter what you do, if you embrace Coach Lombardi's philosophy of getting it right, you can't go wrong!

Have a TERRIFIC TuesdayI
It's your life: live it, love it & celebrate it!

MJD

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