Super Bowl Your Life

Just a few days from now, a certain percentage of Americans will have their ritual foods and beverages on hand, their "tribe" around them, new batteries in the remote; and if windows are open, passers-by will hear a variety of incantations (and curses) erupting from within as the Super Bowl game plays on television screens, large and small.

Whatever your opinion about such events, Woody Hayes, a Hall of Fame American College Football Coach, once said something we can apply to anything: "Paralyze resistance with persistence." Coach Hayes obviously did this quite well to earn his title in sports history.

We don't always have an organization watching us as we move through life, ready to reward us or proclaim our efforts worthy of distinction. Some receive such kudos; but, most of us get the occasional pat on the back. But it's really not what others deem worthy about what we do, is it? There's a term that fits here, one Coach Hayes believed in and, even if not in the exact words, espoused to players he worked with: Personal best.

Personal best happens when you're clear on what you want to accomplish, have a plan but are willing to be flexible and adjust as you move forward, and persist no matter what. Sometimes we think persistence has to be bigger than it needs to be. We could add the word "consistent" here to help expand this thought.

If you consistently persist, you're going to accomplish more than if you do nothing or wait for everything to be perfect. Say you want to write a book, but you have a busy schedule. If you give thirty minutes to one hour every day to your writing, you'll be much closer to your goal than if you wait until the quiet weekend or whatever time period you believe would be ideal (those blocks of time will feel like icing on the cake). Whatever your dream or goal, if you're not giving it your attention, at least from several minutes to one hour a day, you're probably resisting something and should take a look at what that might be.

Super Bowl Sunday is actually about more than just the game or the party. It's about two teams comprised of individuals who consistently persist as they train, engage with others, and focus their attention. In a way, it's a mirror for viewers, one that reflects the human drama where we strive for a goal, meet challenges, experience "failures," and define what success means to us. Thankfully, most of us don't have to do this with millions of people watching us.

Albert Einstein said it well: "Nothing changes until something moves." The something is usually us or our attitudes. What do you want? What's stopping you? What will you do to move forward? Decide what your own "Super Bowl ring" will be as your reward, then go for it.