Tag: mindset

Hustling like a Winner

It’s been said before, but, in the foundations of winning, Hustling is a key cornerstone. As often observed in sports, business, or any area demanding relentless competitiveness, it’s the quintessential difference-maker—the trait that often sets the exceptional apart from the ordinary. It’s a defining superpower, a competitive tool, a unique differentiator, and a core component of any winning strategy.

The Decision that leads to Hustling

Geno Auriemma, the esteemed coach of the UConn women’s basketball team, insists that “Attitude is a choice.” So too, is the decision to hustle. Hustle isn’t merely about raw effort. It’s strategic and purposeful. Like Auriemma’s squads meticulously dissecting their opponents on the court, you, in life and business, have to understand your competition and the dynamics of your playing field. Hustling is about reading the game, anticipating the next moves, and responding with unmatched swiftness and decisiveness.

But hustle doesn’t mean being reckless. It’s rapid, yes, but it’s also calculated. It’s about making your presence felt, creating opportunities, and seizing control. A true hustler is a disruptor, altering the course of the game.

Hustling as a Strategy

Hustle isn’t a standalone trait; it’s intrinsically woven into the fabric of a winning strategy. John Wooden, the Wizard of Westwood, was known to say, “Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.” When the talent on the court is well-matched, the team that hustles—that gives a little more, fights a little harder—often tips the balance in their favor.

Your strategic hustle involves determination, resilience, and an unyielding will to win. It means running for every loose ball as if your life depends on it. Because, metaphorically, it does. Your future, your success, your victory—they all hang in the balance.

Differentiation Through Hustle

In a world where everyone is working towards achieving greatness, hustle is what sets you apart. It’s the mark of your identity, an unwavering testament to your determination and grit. Your relentless pursuit of your goals underscores your hustle, making you stand out from the crowd. When the going gets tough, your hustle will carry you through.

In the words of Croix Sather, the “Marathon Man” of motivation and peak performance, “If you don’t challenge yourself, you will never realize what you can become.” Hustle is your challenge to yourself, an unspoken pledge to push your limits.

Building Your Hustle Muscle

Are you hustling?

There will be days when your spirit will flag and your motivation will hit rock bottom. On such days, recalling the wisdom of Jim Rohn, the motivational speaker who said, “Either you run the day or the day runs you,” can be particularly useful. Rohn understood that developing your hustle muscle might not be straightforward, but it’s essential.

Start with small steps, maintain consistency, and soon, your hustle muscle will become stronger. If you stumble, learn to pick yourself up and get back in the game. Resilience is the true essence of hustle.

Tony Robbins, the renowned life coach, often reminds us that “The only impossible journey is the one you never begin.” Similarly, you can’t build your hustle muscle if you never start. So, kickstart your journey, however daunting it might seem, and let your hustle guide you.

Spreading the Hustle

In any team or organization, fostering a culture of hustle can turbocharge the path to success. As a leader, your hustle should inspire your teammates. Let them witness your drive, your passion, your unrelenting pursuit of your goals. Set an example; become the embodiment of hustle.

Just as Coach K did at Duke, Dean Smith did at North Carolina, and John Wooden did at UCLA, be the kind of coach who encourages, uplifts, and instills the power of hustle in your team. Remember, hustle is contagious. Encourage it, and it will spread like wildfire.

In conclusion, the power of hustling is undeniable. It is a superpower, a beacon guiding you to victory. It’s a competitive tool, a key strategy, and a unique differentiator. So, embrace the grind, let your hustle roar, and watch as it carves the path to your success. The wisdom of these coaching legends, motivational speakers, and high-performance experts reinforces one undeniable truth: Winning isn’t merely given—it’s earned, and hustling is integral to that journey.

Comments, please

Please leave a note at the bottom of this post and tell us what you liked and what we might have missed. We appreciate that you are hustling and hopefully your words will inspire some of the others that are hustling as well.

Top 10 – Bonus resources re: Hustling:

Here are some additional places that you can get valuable information. Most are links to books on Amazon.com (and you can help us out if you purchase through the links, at no cost to you).

“Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court” by John Wooden

A rich account of Coach Wooden’s life principles, lessons learned from basketball, and the philosophy behind his coaching success, this book delves deep into Wooden’s ideas of success, teamwork, and hustle.


“Geno: In Pursuit of Perfection” by Geno Auriemma

This autobiography of Coach Geno Auriemma details his journey to becoming one of the most successful coaches in women’s college basketball history. His relentless hustle, resilience, and pursuit of perfection are recurring themes.


“Leading with the Heart: Coach K’s Successful Strategies for Basketball, Business, and Life” by Mike Krzyzewski

Coach K shares insights into his leadership style, team-building techniques, and the role of hustle in his coaching approach, making this book a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the power of hustle.


“A Coach’s Life: My 40 Years in College Basketball” by Dean Smith

Smith shares his experiences from his coaching career, including how he fostered a culture of hustle in his teams. His perspective on the role of hard work in success is enlightening.


“Awaken the Giant Within” by Tony Robbins

Robbins shares his insights on how to master your emotions, body, relationships, finances, and life. His concepts on taking massive action and unleashing your power—essentially, hustling—resonate with the theme of our chapter.


“The Art of Exceptional Living” by Jim Rohn

Rohn presents his philosophy on life, success, and personal development. His ideas on taking control of your day, managing your time effectively, and consistently pushing your limits align closely with our exploration of hustle.


“Dream Big Act Big: Breakthrough and Unleash the SUPERSTAR Within You (“Run Across America” Special Edition)” by Croix Sather

In his book, Sather shares what it took for him to decide (and run) an ultra-marathon across America. His emphasis on challenging oneself and pushing one’s limits ties in perfectly with our discourse on hustle.


“The Talent Code: Greatness Isn’t Born. It’s Grown. Here’s How.” by Daniel Coyle

Coyle explores how talent is developed through a combination of deep practice, ignition, and master coaching. His discussion of hustle as a tool for developing talent offers valuable insights.


“Relentless: From Good to Great to Unstoppable” by Tim S. Grover

As the trainer for athletes like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, Grover shares his philosophy on mental toughness, tenacity, and the relentless hustle required to achieve greatness.


“Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance” by Angela Duckworth

Duckworth delves into the concept of “grit,” a blend of passion and persistence that drives high achievers. Her insights on the role of nonstop effort and resilience in long-term success make this book an excellent companion to our chapter on hustle.

Did you leave a comment about Hustling?

When would NOW be a good time to do that? Coach Wheeler wants to hear your story of Hustling! What challenges did you overcome by Hustling?

Perception is Reality:

In the 1980s, the American political strategist Lee Atwater said simply and succinctly: “Perception is reality”.

Perception is reality – this three-word phrase carries profound significance. It is the lens through which we view our world, shaping our understanding of ourselves, the people around us, and society at large. It is not just a point of view, but a fundamental truth that influences our actions, reactions, and ultimately, our results. As we embark on the journey to winning, we must first triumph over the battleground of perception.

Winning the Inner Game

This chapter explores the three pillars of perception – Perception of others in our life, Perception of you as created within society/social media, and Perception of self. We’ll learn from the wisdom of thought leaders like Tony Robbins, Jim Rohn, Jordan Peterson, Geno Auriemma, Abraham Lincoln, Barack Obama, and John Wooden, drawing upon their writings and speeches to enlighten our understanding.

The Power of Your Tribe:
Perception of Others in Your Life

Perception is reality

In the quest for winning, the role of those around us cannot be overstated. As the legendary Jim Rohn observed, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” This reality showcases the transformative power of our immediate social circle – their perceptions can significantly shape our personal reality. It’s a phenomenon of social mirroring, wherein we unconsciously adopt the attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors of those closest to us.

The charismatic life coach Tony Robbins emphasizes the connection between the quality of our lives and the expectations of our peer group. We are deeply influenced, consciously and unconsciously, by their perceptions and expectations.

So, how can we leverage this reality? Be intentional about the company you keep. Seek out those who inspire you, who push you to grow. Yet, maintain your uniqueness. Absorb the positive, let the negative flow past. Remember, you are not merely a reflection of others’ perceptions – you are the artist of your own reality.

The Digital Persona:
Perception of You Created Within Society/Social Media

Social Media Perception is reality

As we navigate the digital age, the perception of us within society and on social media has taken on a new dimension. It’s an arena where perception can often eclipse reality. This phenomenon reminds us of the wisdom imparted by John Wooden, the exceptional basketball coach, who said, “Be more concerned with your character than your reputation.”

Today, our society shapes a narrative, a brand of ‘you.’ Social media platforms magnify this perception, often blurring the lines between reality and illusion. Robbins suggests, “It’s not about the goal. It’s about growing to become the person that can accomplish that goal.” Society and social media can either facilitate or hinder this growth.

How can we navigate this new digital reality? Remember, you are more than your online persona. Authenticity resonates. Stand for your values, share not just your triumphs but also your trials. Use these platforms to inspire, to learn, and to narrate your own unique journey. You are the author of your story, society, and social media are just the platforms.

The Inner Self:
Perception of Who You Are

What do you see when you look in the mirror every morning?

Jordan Peterson, a noted psychologist, preaches the importance of putting your house in order before criticizing the world. This advice extends to our perception as well. Our self-perception lays the foundation of our reality. It’s the prism through which we view and interpret the world.

However, we often fall into the trap of becoming our own harshest critics. This skewed self-perception can create a harsher reality than what truly exists. Geno Auriemma, a renowned basketball coach, aptly said, “What you permit, you promote. What you allow, you encourage.” If we permit a distorted self-perception, we promote a distorted reality.

How can we adjust this perception? Robbins proposes changing our strategy. Understand that you are a work in progress. Recognize your flaws, but celebrate your strengths. Own your mistakes, but also revel in your victories. The pursuit is not for perfection but for progression. By embracing our complexities, we start altering the perception of self.

Overcoming Frustration

Overcome your frustration by changing your perception of reality

Embarking on the journey of changing perception isn’t easy. It’s fraught with frustrations and obstacles. But as Robbins advises, “Identify your problems but give your power and energy to solutions.” Frustrations are not walls, they are mirrors. They reflect what we need to understand about our perceptions and ourselves.

John Wooden’s philosophy adds a powerful perspective to dealing with frustrations – “Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” When faced with frustration, focus on your strengths and abilities. Transform frustrations into growth opportunities.

Barack Obama’s wisdom fits here beautifully. He once said, “Change is never easy, but always possible.” Changing perceptions is no different. It’s a journey filled with challenges, but the destination makes the journey worthwhile.

Abraham Lincoln’s statement provides another layer of insight. He said, “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” We can apply this to our perceptions. We can shape our future by consciously molding our perceptions today.

Wrap UP

Pick the facts you want and reinforce them in everything you do

“Perception is reality.” This powerful statement carries immense implications for our journey towards winning. However, perception is not fixed. Like a river, it is fluid, adapting and evolving with time. It is influenced by our experiences and in turn, influences our reality.

Navigating the journey of perception may seem like traversing a complex maze, but it is through this maze that we come to understand ourselves and our world. Every twist, every turn, every dead-end, and every clear path offers lessons for growth.

Embark on this journey with courage, patience, and resilience. For it is through understanding and molding our perceptions that we earn our victories, not just in the world outside, but most importantly, in the battleground within. In the end, perception isn’t just reality, it’s the foundation upon which our winning is built and ultimately, earned.

What is your experience?
Please share in the comments!

Please leave a comment below and let us know your experiences with the “Perception is Reality” concept in your life, good or bad. It will make our website more interesting and we would really appreciate it!

Additional Resources related to
“Perception is Reality”….

Tony Robbins’ “Awaken the Giant Within“ – This book delves deep into the concept of personal perception and provides actionable steps on how to harness and change our perceptions. You can look for it on Amazon or other book-selling platforms.

Jordan Peterson’s “12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos” – Peterson explores the importance of self-perception and self-improvement. This book can be found on multiple platforms like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc. [The hardcover version is, at the time of this writing, selling for less than $15 on Amazon.com.]

Jim Rohn‘s “7 Strategies for Wealth & Happiness” – This book presents strategies on how to better navigate the influence of others’ perceptions in your life.

John Wooden‘s “Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court” – This book provides insights into how society’s perception of an individual can influence their actions.

The Obama White House Archives – On this website, you can find many speeches where Barack Obama discusses change and overcoming adversity.

Geno Auriemma’s Interviews and Speeches – Auriemma often speaks about self-perception and leadership in sports. His interviews and speeches can be found on various sports news websites and video-sharing platforms like YouTube.

Lincoln’s Letters and Speeches – Abraham Lincoln’s letters and speeches are insightful, many of which discuss the power of self-creation and shaping one’s future. These can be found on academic databases or dedicated historical sites.

Other points of view:

“Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking” by Susan Cain – This book provides a contrasting view on how perception is influenced by introverted versus extroverted personality traits.

“The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains” by Nicholas Carr – This book discusses the impact of the internet (including social media) on our minds, offering a different perspective on the influence of digital platforms on our self-perception and reality.

Mental Management – Start Training Your Brain

I just listened to a couple great podcasts about Mental Management (here are the links… Trail Runner Nation podcast and Brandon Webb’s podcast). Mental Management is a way to train your brain for high performance developed by Olympic Gold Medalist Lanny Bassham and if you have not read it yet you might want to read this previous post which includes an excerpt on Mental Management from Brandon Webb’s book “Red Circle”.

This is what I picked up
about Mental Management
from the podcasts…

There are three parts to our mental processes. They are the conscious, subconscious and the often overlooked self-image. The conscious is where we “think our thoughts”. The subconscious is where our skills are embedded (and much of our programming such as our values and beliefs are stored). The Self Image, according to Lanny Bassham, is often missed or overlooked.

A champion has a strong self image which means that they have confidence in their ability to perform at a high level during competition.

How do I build a strong self image?

At any moment, your self image is either becoming stronger or weaker based on the inputs that are received. Inputs might come from your conscious mind (the thoughts you think) or they may come from external sources such as family / friends / coaches or media. These inputs might say “You aren’t good enough.” or “You can do it.” but the key is which inputs are ACCEPTED! We have the ability to program our self image based on the thoughts that we accept and which ones we challenge.

Mental Management by Lanny Bassham

How Lanny lost the gold medal…

“Imagine the pressure that must be on him. Everyone expects him to win the gold medal. The only thing he can do is lose it.” This, or something similar, is what Lanny overheard from other competitors on the bus during his first olympics when he was coming in favored to win the gold medal.

What happened?

The conversation got “into his head” and Lanny had one of his worst performances in competition.  He ended up winning the silver medal, but it was a major disappointment for Lanny.

After those olympics in Munich Germany, Lanny spoke to psychologists to find out what went wrong. The response from psychologists of that time (1970’s) was that they felt they could definitely help him… learn to accept that winning the silver was good enough. Lanny wasn’t ready to accept silver so he reached out to gold medalists to find out how their thought processes worked so they could achieve at the highest levels.

With Winning In MindWhat he found out was what he turned into his Mental Management system and used to win the gold medal in the next Olympic games.

“The Mental Game isn’t just on Game Day. It is every day.” – Wendell Cherry, Hall of Fame Marksman

Building the Self Image of a Champion

Your Self Image keeps you in your Comfort Zone.  You need to re-program your self image through the things you say to yourself and the things that other people say which you accept as true.  Don’t defeat yourself.

You train your Self Image.

Mamba Mentality – a tribute to Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant coined the phrase, “Mamba Mentality” to describe his approach… to basketball, to competition, to life.

Mamba Mentality - tribute to Kobe BryantAs a life-long Celtics fan, it was hard for me to root for a Lakers player but you have to respect Kobe Bryant and his approach to the game of basketball. With his untimely passing, the time was right to take a look at how his mind worked and hopefully discover some of the secrets to his success.

I recently found the video below and it provides some of the best insights into how Kobe approached the game and his life. I’m not sure what else I can say except that it is well worth watching. If you want to be one of the best at something, this video will give you ideas that you can implement today. If you feel like you didn’t really know Kobe Bryant aside from his basketball career, this video provides glimpses into many other dimensions of the man.

I encourage you to watch this video and if you like it, please leave a comment below.

What did you think?
What can you learn from the Mamba Mentality?

Are you putting in the effort that is required to get what you SAY you want? Does your daily process and habits support your goals?

Do you have the Mamba Mentality? Are you serious about your game? Your life?

Players First – Wisdom from Coach Cal

Players First by John CalipariBelow is an excerpt from a book that I just finished reading. The book is by Coach John Calipari and Michael Sololove and it is titled “Players First, Coaching from the Inside Out.” The excerpt explains Coach Cal’s “Players First” philosophy…

… There was a time I coached partly for myself – for status, respect, money, wins. I’m not immune to any of these things, but they’re not really the point anymore, either. … I coach for the names on the back of the jerseys – not just the front. My players. They are sent to me by their fathers, their mothers, their grandmothers and their aunts – whoever in this world raised them and loves them. Others look at their NBA bodies and consider them lucky. Future millionaires, just stopping through before they cash in. That’s not what I see. They’re kids, some of them as young as seventeen years old. They all need me in a different way. Some want my affection, others my approval. It’s a burden to be responsible for other people’s children, sometimes a heavy burden.

“Players First” sounds like a great way to think about coaching, even if you are not the head coach of the Kentucky Men’s Division 1 basketball program. Even if your players are not future NBA draft picks, it is good to think about the responsibility you, as a coach, have to them and the people who raised them.

Other Book Reviews

If you are looking for other books to help you build a winning mindset, check out these book reviews on the blog… 12 Rules For Life and The Undoing Project.

There are loads of great ideas in Coach Cal’s book and you can look forward to seeing a few more excerpts from the book on this blog. Please leave a comment below and tell us how this idea of “Players First” compares to your own coaching philosophy. I know there must be some coaches out there that coach their team to put the name on the front before the name on the back. That’s a Team-First focus and it is a good thing, right?

Intensity Wins

This past week, I witnessed an interesting example of how “Intensity wins basketball games”. Before I tell you that story, let me explain what I mean by “Intensity” as it relates to athletic competition.

Focus + Energy = Intensity

I know you have seen it in games. One team or maybe just a few players on a team want to win more than the other team. They are more “dialed in” on what they need to do as well as what the other team is giving them. These teams have more energy and they get to the loose ball more often than the other team. They are focused. Nothing distracts them when their opponent applies pressure. They execute their game plan and adjust to situations as they come up. They are intent on winning. I have yet to see a team lose that maintains their level of concentration and engages with energy.

Are some times when teams overmatched and have little chance to win? Yes … but they are usually overmatched in how intense they are playing as well.

Where does Intensity come from?

As a coach, how can you improve the intensity that your team brings to the floor? It’s a deep subject but let me say this, “The ability to play with intensity is a skill that is built in the unseen hours of practice and the off-season.” Intensity, while a skill that can be improved, is also a form of character. Players with intensity have enough ego to believe they can win and the will or determination to make it happen. It is rarely something that happens by accident.

I hope you have a sense of what I mean. I may write more about it in the future because I feel it is a topic that is often overlooked yet is critical to a winning mindset. If you want to discuss it further, send me a note via the Coach Wheeler Contact Page or leave a comment below this post.

Back to this week’s game…

The teams were evenly matched with similar records. Physically they were very similar as well. The difference in the intensity that one team brought to the contest showed up early in the first half. They raced out to a good lead. Double digits at times.

The other team mustered a bit of competitive energy and fought back to within 6 points or so. The first team did not lose their intensity and rebuilt their lead. As the game winded down, with less and less time remaining, something interesting happened.

Intense Patience

The team with the lead applied their intensity toward being patient and getting the best shot they could. In this state there is no shot clock so they were able to extend their possession time which reduced the chances for a comeback by the other team.

There were a few sparks of intense effort from a couple players on the other team but there were other players who had clearly given up. In a team sport like basketball, if someone gives up it is very difficult for a team to function at a high level.

It was such a clear demonstration of how intensity wins basketball games that I had to pass along the story to you. Do you have examples of how your team’s intensity helped you win? Or the opposite? How do you channel your teams energy into an intense focus on the game and not on distractions? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Your Food Mindset

Cookie Monster - Your Diet Expert?
Are your food choices and eating habits similar to this guy?

Have you ever thought about how Food affects your Mindset? When you think about it, if you aren’t fueling your body with the right foods it is nearly impossible to perform at your best, either physically or mentally. Your food can also impact your mood… we have all been “Hangry” at one time or another (to quote a Snickers commercial). But is a candy bar really the right long term solution? This article will address what goes into developing and implementing a successful Food Mindset. In other words, we will cover what you need to do to improve your body & mind through the food you eat.

3W’s for developing a successful Food Mindset

(1) Why do you eat?  Are you eating for Health or for Fun? Are you usually eating to create your Best Body? Or is taste more important than nutrition for you? Does your food support a lean, low-fat body so that you are not carrying excess weight that will slow you down on the court? Or do you rely on food as a “drug” to manage your mood?

A clear idea of your motivation(s) when it comes to food will help you make better choices and stick to a plan that supports you reaching your potential on the court and in the classroom.

(2) What to eat. Do you have the knowledge you need so you know WHAT foods are the best to eat? Are you aware of what NOT to eat as well? There are many competing ideas when it comes to nutrition… from fad diets to traditional approaches to the latest research, so it can be nearly impossible to know everything.

I like to keep things simple. The first thing you need to know are the basic food groups… Fats, Proteins, Carbs. Within these groups there are good foods and bad foods. For example, there are “slow carbs” like veggies that boost your blood glucose level over a longer time versus “fast carbs” like pasta, sugary foods or soda which causes your blood glucose to spike to high levels quickly and then crash back down leaving you craving more food.

By converting food into blood glucose your body fuels your brain and muscles. This is how what you eat can have a huge impact on how you feel and how you will be able to perform.

As important as knowing WHAT to eat is knowing what NOT to eat (or at least limit as much as possible). There are three things (the 3 S’s) that are at the top of the list of foods to avoid… Sugar, Soda and Syrup.

Sugar is the ultimate “fast carb” and it shows up in more foods than you might imagine. It is not just candy. Sugar is included in things like bread, pasta and many other “fast carbs”. Quick note: veggies are ‘slow carbs’. Fruits are ‘fast carbs” but not quite in the category of sugars since fresh fruit often has fiber that helps your digestion system.

The second ‘S’ is Soda. Soda drinking is often just a habit, especially for young athletes. If you can change your “default drink” to water, your taste buds will adapt and eventually you won’t even want the sicky-sweet taste of sodas. Note: Diet Sodas are not the same as water, even if they claim ‘zero calories’. They are loaded with chemicals that are not doing your body any favors. Learn to drink water 1st !

The third ‘S’ is Syrup, in particular High Fructose Corn Syrup or HFCS. Don’t be tricked by the fact that it has “fructose” in the name and that is the sugar typically found in fruit. Plus it comes from corn, so how bad can it be? Plenty bad. It is even sweeter than sugar and is in almost every prepared food you find in the supermarket. Check food labels and work to remove it from your diet. Note: It won’t be easy… but with work it is possible.

Eating for Life by Bill Phillips

A good book on the subject of food for athletes is Bill Phillips’ “Eating for Life”(Amazon link). This book was a follow up to his successful book, “Body for Life“, (Amazon link ) which also has some great ideas to help you improve your Food Mindset .

(3)  When do you eat?  Your body is designed to handle time periods where you have plenty to eat as well as time when there is nothing to eat. In today’s society, we usually have plenty of food and, putting aside the quality of the food we choose to eat, the quantity of food nowadays is probably the largest contributor to the obesity epidemic.

Athletes are not exempt from obesity. As the saying goes, “You can’t out run a bad diet.” so no matter how hard you work out, you still need to dial in your diet. On top of that, few people today are choosing to ‘not eat’ and activate the “Fasting Protocol” portion of their metabolism.

The good news is that you don’t need to go without food for days and days to get the benefits of Fasting. Intermittent Fasting is when you limit WHEN you eat to a certain part of the day, usually 8 – 12 hours. This gives your body a chance to ‘fast’ for 12-16 hours every day and the result is that many of the ‘weak cells’ in your body don’t survive the fasting process. This leaves you with a higher percentage of healthy cells and since we are always making new cells we won’t miss the weak ones who get eliminated.

Side note: It has been shown that fasting for 3-5 days prior to chemo treatment makes the treatment more effective and reduces the side effects. Did you know that while cancer cells replicate faster than normal cells, they are also dependent on the availability of sugar (blood glucose) and are also weaker than healthy cells.

Implementing a successful Food Mindset

Once you know the 3W’s: Why you are eating, What you need to eat and When to eat, there are three key concepts that will turn your knowledge and motivation into a successful Food Mindset. They are Mental Discipline, Hydration and Personal Identity.

Mental Discipline

Mental Discipline is a skill that can be developed but it is much easier to build habits that allow you to conserve your mental willpower for other challenges you will face throughout the day.

One way to cultivate mental discipline / food habits  is to build a “cheat day” into your diet. Just knowing that you have one ‘cheat day’ per week can give you discipline to eat better for the other 6 days. You will probably find that even on your cheat day, you will eat better because “eating right” has become a habit as part of those other six days per week.

Coach Wheeler on How to create a compelling personal vision for your lifeAnother way to develop Mental Discipline is to use the power of both Plan & Process thinking. Coach Wheeler is developing a short (~10 minute) speech on creating a vision for your life. Part of that speech explains Plan vs. Process thinking. (Link to Coach Wheeler’s YouTube video – this is an early practice speech at Toastmasters).

In short, Plan thinking is having a goal and figuring out the steps you need to achieve that goal. Process thinking is geared toward “winning each moment”.  It is setting up processes that will lead “in the direction” of what you want. Process thinking is built on the idea that you might not be able to control the outcome of every step in your plan. But you can control how you approach everything you do on a day-by-day, moment-by-moment basis. When Plan & Process thinking are combined (with a clear Vision and Focused action… mentioned in Coach Wheeler’s video), your chances for success are greatly increased.

Translating this into your Food Mindset means that you have a Plan for the food you are going to eat. Plus you can execute that plan by implementing the Processes that produce success. Some process examples might include how you do the shopping, cooking and eliminating sources of bad choices. If you “win the shopping”, you are much more likely to have good food. Can you “win the cooking” and you set yourself up to eat better? By eliminating bad foods from your environment, you are making it easier to follow your plan.

Hydration

Hydration is one of the easiest things to overlook when it comes to your Food Mindset. As mentioned earlier, making water your default beverage is a good start. It offsets other (bad) alternatives such as soda but there is more to the story when it comes to water. Your body needs water. In fact, we are MOSTLY WATER and when our body is low on water, we often interpret it as “hunger”. It is always a good idea to drink some water when you first feel hungry. This way you aren’t taking in extra calories when you are really just thirsty.

Hydration is critically important for athletes. It is good to imagine that “sweat is weakness leaving your body”. You also have to replenish the water in your body to operate at your best. Keep in mind… we are losing water through evaporation even when we are not soaked in sweat. Every breath leaves with a bit of water. (That’s what you see in the winter when you can see your breath.) Every time you go to the bathroom, your body is using water to eliminate waste from your system. That’s why you need to be aware of your hydration level.

A good way to look at hydration is to monitor the color of your pee. If it is dark yellow, you are dehydrated. If it is almost colorless, you are probably in good shape. Note: This is a guideline and does not address illnesses that might affect the color of your urine. I don’t pay a doctor online … or in real life, so get medical attention if something seems out of line.

Identity

Coach Wheeler's book, Fat is all in your HeadFinally, the last part of your Food Mindset is your Identity. This is how you see yourself.

Are you an athlete (so you eat good foods that allow you to perform at your best)? Or are you a generally lazy person who eats whatever is offered or “tastes good”? Y0ur identity shapes all of your decisions in life, not just food. If you want to learn more about how you can shape your identity so it supports your Food Mindset, check out Coach Wheeler’s book, “Fat is all in your Head“.  It starts out with the story of how Coach Wheeler lost over 50 pounds by changing his thinking.

Bottom Line…

Your Food Mindset is up to you. It can impact all areas of your life. The sooner you take control of the food you put in your mouth, the sooner you will start to achieve your potential. On the other hand, you could continue to let it slide. And your goals will continue to slide away from you as well. The choice is yours. Please leave a comment below and tell us what you decide!

 

Tai Chi for Sports

Ancient Warrior Movement Protocol (tm)We just announced the first “Ancient Warrior Movement Protocol (TM)” workshop that will show you how to use Tai Chi for Sports performance improvement! It will be held at the Marlborough School on Sunday, June 17th (Father’s Day) from 5:30-6:30pm. Doors open at 5pm.

Click on the picture to the right to see the flyer with more information. You can signup for the event on the new CoachWheeler Facebook Page (be sure to “Like” the page when you visit too).

As a bit of a preview for the upcoming session, we found this Tai Chi for Sports Performance video on YouTube…

The video above is geared toward Soccer (not basketball) and is not the featured instructor for our upcoming Ancient Warrior Movement Protocol ™ session. The video does provide a couple of good ideas that will help prevent injuries while giving athletes a competitive advantage.

The Ancient Warrior Protocol training session will feature Linda Peck who is a certified Tai Chi instructor and 2nd degree black belt in the martial arts version of Tai Chi. She has worked with athletes ranging from football to tennis player and even runners.

Hope to see you at the Ancient Warrior training session ! It will be an interesting workout that will introduce beginners to the concept of Tai Chi for Sports. All are welcome. Sign up today!

 

Coach Wheeler’s Formula for Success

Coach Wheeler's Formula for SuccessThis article is a little different from the other ones on this blog. Different in a good way.  The topic of Success is probably more related to your career or life in general… and less “basketball specific”. I think you will find that  Coach Wheeler’s “Formula for Success” is in the vein of John Wooden’s “Pyramid of Success” that he taught his players at UCLA. If you want to “build a winning mindset”, you will definitely be interested in Coach Wheeler’s “Formula for Success”.

What kind of Formula for Success
are we talking about?

While Wheeler’s Formula for Success is primarily focused on business or career success, it can be applied in other ways. (I am hoping you will leave a comment after reading this article saying how you are going to apply the ideas in your life.) If you are looking for financial success, whether you have a job or a business, you will certainly find this “thinking framework” helpful.

Inspired by…

12 Rules for lifeThe top level concept, that your “volume & quality of work” determines your overall success, was inspired by Jordan B. Peterson. He is a clinical psychologist, tenured Professor at University of Toronto and, in general, a pretty smart guy from what I can tell. His knowledge of clinical psychology studies allows him to provide insights that many other “self-help” authors either miss or aren’t backing up with science. To paraphrase the success quote from him that inspired this article, “Success in life is predicted, primarily, by 2 traits: industriousness and intelligence.” (He also has a book out that is called “The 12 Rules for Life” which I have heard a lot about on podcasts so I am hoping to read it soon.)

First Layer of the Formula…

Coach Wheeler's Formula for SuccessThis probably won’t sound earth shattering but it should make immediate sense when you think about it. “The volume and quality of your work determines your [eventual] success in life.” Duh? Right?

If we stopped there, you probably would not get much out of this formula because that statement is common sense.  But if we go deeper, you should find more ideas that you can turn into actions which will lead you to more success in your chosen field.

Next Level…

As you can see in the diagram above, I am calling the “volume” side of the formula “Hard Work”. I think we can all agree that putting in more effort and time (the definition of “hard work”?), will result in more output and productivity. If you produce more, your results should (over time) lead to success.

What goes into “Hard Work”?

Hard Work - Formula for SuccessThe Formula for Success has 3 parameters under “Hard Work”. They are (1) Passion, (2) Health and (3) Consciences. Let’s look at each in more depth.

(HW-1) Passion. We all need motivation if we are going to put in the hard work that is needed for success. Developing the skills of self motivation will help you do the work that others (i.e. the competition) won’t. It will also help you go further than the competition as well. The reason it is such common wisdom to say “Live Your Passion” is because it is critical to enjoy the process of “work” … so you will do more than your competitors. Think about it this way, if you are motivated by a passion for your work… is it really HARD work? Probably not.  On the other hand, will you be passionate about everything you need to do? No, but we will talk about that in the third element of Hard Work, Consciences.

(HW-2) Health. This should be self-evident and common sense, but if you don’t maintain your health, you won’t be able to produce as much as possible. Letting your health decline will reduce your energy and may even “take you out of the game.” Aside from all the diet guru’s who are giving you weight management advice, Health is actually pretty simple. The three key elements of Health are a) Food, b) Sleep and c) Play.

I use the word “Play” (instead of exercise) on purpose. If you approach exercise as drudgery, you won’t enjoy it and I have heard that the effectiveness will actually decrease. Choose an exercise that you can, on some level, enjoy. It will energize your mind while building up your physical capacity at the same time.

Do we really need to discuss Diet & Sleep? 8 hours of sleep is a good goal but you can tell what works for you. If I could recommend one change to your diet, I would ask you to drink more water (instead of calorie-filled & chemical-filled drinks). We all know that green veggies are your friend… and they will impact your health & work output. Think about it like this… imagine you get a raise at work for every time you have a meal with green vegetables. [It doesn’t really work like that, but isn’t it a neat way to convince yourself to eat better?]

(HW-3) Consciences. This is related to self-discipline as well as self-identity. Are you the type of person who does what needs to be done? Especially WHEN it needs to be done? Author Jocko Willink has a good quote (and book by the same name), “Discipline = Freedom“. This is the one area that you can make the most immediate impact … if you pay attention to your thoughts and take control of your habitual ways of thinking.

Power of Habit by Charles DuhiggI’m not talking about willpower.  Willpower is  a limited resource and it can “go away” when you are tired at the end of a long day or you have a dip in your motivation. Be sure to build as much of your “need to do” activities into habits and routines that you don’t have to think about. A good book for learning how to do this is “The Power of Habit” by Charles Duhigg.

One more thing about Hard Work…

Before we look at the other side of the formula (Smarts), I should explain one particular part of the Hard Work diagram. Did you notice the words “Goya”, “Goya”, “Goya” where the connector lines lead into the Hard Work bubble? This is taken from a motivational speech by inspirational keynote speaker Croix Sather. GOYA is an acronym for “Get Off Your Ass”. In terms of Coach Wheeler’s formula for success, GOYA is a reminder that you need to TAKE ACTION and not just think about what you should be doing. This is also a great transition into the “Smarts” portion of Coach Wheeler’s Formula for Success… as we keep in mind that thinking alone won’t get you what you want!

Let’s Get Smart!

Smarts-Formula for SuccessThe second major component of Success is “Smarts” or “general intelligence”. Coach Wheeler breaks this down into 3 parts, (1) Knowledge, (2) Social Skills and (3) Problem Solving. Going back to Jordan B. Peterson, he has said that the studies show intelligence, as measured by IQ, is incredibly difficult to improve. On the other hand, Knowledge can continually be accumulated and you can gather facts or ideas that you can use across a wide variety of situations. Coach Wheeler also added Social Skills to his model for success and we will discuss how to build and leverage them more below.

(S-1) Knowledge. As we go through life, we pick up information that we can then apply to solving problems in the future. This increases the value of our output and increases our chances for success. As you learned above, IQ is tough to change but we can “look smart” by simply learning “the tricks” for success in a given situation. There are typically two ways that we learn… independent learning and structured learning.

Independent learning is when we take the initiative and learn on our own. Examples include watching instructional YouTube video or reading books. There is an amazing amount of information out there and we probably have more access to information now than at any other time in history thanks to the internet and search engines. Smart people continue to learn.

Structured learning would include traditional schooling or perhaps one-on-one coaching. One of my favorite sayings about school is “Math = Money”. This means that learning math in school will help you handle money (and grow your wealth) when you get out into the “real world”. Depending on the quality of your teachers, it might be easy to get bored or “zone out” in school. Stay focused and keep asking yourself questions that help you stay engaged. “How will I use this in my life?” is a good one to start.

(S-2) Social Skills. There are many different types of “Smarts” and your ability to work with, and influence, other people is a major consideration when determining the quality of your work. We are not saying that you should try to make everyone happy. Sometimes you need to create conflict to get what you want or solve the problem that you are presented.

Toastmasters - Public Speaking and LeadershipAnother way to look at social skills is your ability to communicate effectively. On top of that, your leadership skills figure into your eventual success. How do you improve these things? Join Toastmasters. They are a world-wide non-profit organization dedicate to helping their members improve their public speaking and leadership skills. Find a chapter near you by visiting their website… Toastmasters International.

(S-3) Problem Solving.  This is typically correlated to the people’s “inherited” qualities of IQ and creativity. Even though much of your qualities may be genetic, there is still a skill that can be developed. If you want more ideas on how to improve your Problem Solving, here is the first article in our series on the topic. To learn when we publish more Problem Solving articles, be sure to sign up for our email notification service (in the right column on this page).

It is a fair statment to say that the quality of your work output is generally tied directly to your ability to solve problems. Brain Power (i.e. IQ) is good to have, especially when you are tackling more complex problems but everyone can learn how to solve problems. If you are motivated and work hard at accumulating the knowledge you need to solve problems in your area of expertise, you will be successful. This is where I tell you that all the parts of Coach Wheeler’s Formula for Success work together to make you successful.  But you probably already figured that out, right?

Bottom Line…

Will Coach Wheeler’s Formula For Success work for you? Like they say “The program will work… if you work the program.” I don’t think there is anything too “out there” in this formula. It should be easy to understand… but what are you going to do with it? Can you “up your game” when it comes to Hard Work? What do you need to improve on the “Smarts” side of the Formula for Success? If you don’t change what you do, how can you expect different results? The choice is up to you. You can use the formula… or you can “go with the flow” and take whatever life gives you. Which do you think will turn out the best for you?

Downloadable Bonus !

Coach Wheeler's Formula for SuccessCongratulations! You have made it all the way to the end of this article. You deserve a reward for your efforts. (Hopefully the article was interesting and not exactly “hard work”.) Your bonus for making it this far is a downloadable copy of Coach Wheeler’s Formula for Success diagram. You are welcome to share it on social media and, ideally provide a link back to this article. Right-Click on the link below and “Save As” to get the downloadable PDF version!
SuccessFormula-download-CoachWheeler

 

Likely Interview Questions for Coaches

Coach Wheeler WinsIf you want to coach a varsity team or even a college team, it is inevitable that you will, at one time or another, find yourself in front of an interview committee. I have seen it become a common practice for selection committees to all sit around a conference table where they ask a prospective coach a pre-assembled list of interview questions. While there is often one or two questions that vary from school to school, there are also a number of interview questions that many schools use. Coaches who want to be hired should be prepared to answer these questions. Read them over (and the explanation that goes with each) so you are properly prepared the next time you interview for a coaching job.

(1) Describe your Strengths / Weaknesses?

This is very common for corporate jobs. It must be in an HR manual somewhere. So, how are you going to answer?Strengths should line up with the job description and be truthful. My opinion is that it is important to show the value of your strengths. This should be what separates you from the other coaches they are interviewing.

Weaknesses are a trickier subject. Presenting your “weaknesses” as a strength is probably an expected answer and, as such, is unlikely to set you apart from other candidates interviewing for the job. A better approach would be do some real soul-searching and present a real weakness… with the steps you are taking to become better.

(2)  Rules are broken … what are you going to do?

It is a common scenario for an interview question. “A player violates a rule right before “the big game”. What do you do? I’ve found that it is best to “stick to the rules”… while expressing your disappointment.

Another [often unwritten] part of this question is how would you prevent the situation from happening in the first place.  I try to emphasize the setting of clear expectations early in the season. This way players (and parents) know what will happen if rules are broken.

(3)  Describe your typical practice plan…

I have a general format that all my practices use (and it is TOP SECRET).  If you are an AD looking for a Head Basketball Coach,  contact me to schedule an interview and I will “spill my guts”. In an interview, if you can’t talk about how you plan your practices, the interview committee starts to question if you are really prepared to coach their team. It also doesn’t hurt to talk about how your practices change over the course of a season. (If you want to learn how I look at different parts of a basketball season, check out this article titled “4 Part Basketball Year”.)

(4)  X’s & O’s Questions…

This is usually posed by a former coach that is on the committee. They are looking to see what you know about the game and how you would approach certain game situations. It can also be a trap if your approach does not match what the former coach expects. As an up-and-coming coach, we know that a “non-traditional approach” can often be very effective, especially if it is unexpected by the competition. In an interview though,you need to convince the committee that you know what you are talking about. Examples where you used your approach successfully can help show that, while it might not match “traditional thinking”, it definitely can get the job done.

The other part of the X’s & O’s interview questions is to find out what you are bringing to the team. If your approach relies on a full stable of high quality athletes and the “pipeline is empty” for these types of athletes at this school, you may be hurting your chances of being hired. On the other hand, if you can show them how you make better players out of the ones already there, you have a chance.

(5) Why do you want this job?

Everyone has their own reason for applying. The key is that your answer needs to make sense in the context of your background.  If you have been an assistant for a while, it makes sense that you want to move up to the head coaching position and run your own program. Unless you are going for a college level coaching opening, you aren’t applying to coach for the money. I have my own reasons for applying for each job… and this is something that each coach has to think about for themselves. Be as truthful as possible. This is not the time to set of the B.S detectors for the interview committee because they want to know what motivates you. (And that it matches what they want to see from their new coach.)

Bottom Line…

Be prepared for all of these standard interview questions when you apply for a coaching position. Is this a complete list of interview questions? Of course not. What this list will do is get you thinking so that you can take your preparation one step higher. If you want to be good at coaching, you need to be good at interviews. Oh yeah, one more thing…

HERE IS A BONUS FOR EVERYONE WHO HAS READ ALL THE WAY DOWN TO HERE…
Questions for the interviewers…

At the end of almost every interview I’ve ever had, I have been given the opportunity to ask my own question(s). If you don’t have any questions, you were either not paying attention to the discussion during the interview or you have not put much thought into the information you need to evaluate whether or not this job is right for you. Here are some questions to get you started. Feel free to customize them to make them “your own”.

“Who will I be working with?”

This might be obvious based on who set up the interview and who is running it (e.g. the AD & Principal) but if there are any question about it, now is the time to ask. Another aspect of this is how they expect the communication process to be handled with parents of players. For a new coach who the parents are not comfortable approaching, they may take their complaints directly to the AD, Principal or even the school’s superintendent. As a coach, you want to head this off and address concerns before they become major issues.

“What are the key things that need to change [from the previous coach]?”  “What are their expectations for the new coach?”

The previous coach left for a reason. Was their job not re-offered? Or did they see the writing on the wall (few quality players in the pipeline) and figured it was a good time to “retire”.  As the new incoming coach, you might not get the full story (or they may decline to talk about it due to confidentiality reasons) but if you phrase it discreetly you may get some insights into what they want to see from their new coach. This gives you a chance to shine a light on how you are the best choice for the position.

“Since I, as the new coach, plan to raise the standards both on the court and off, how will this be supported by the school and parents?”

Some schools are happy just fielding a team and winning is not a priority. Maybe they are a “baseball school” or a “soccer school” and a winning basketball program is not a top priority. It is important that you, as the new coach, understand what support you will receive. It is likely that higher standards will not be appreciated, especially by the parents of players who do not meet those standards. Again, it is important to communicate with parents so they understand what you are trying to accomplish.

Are you looking for a coach that will build a competitive team? Or would you prefer someone who “keeps everyone [sort of] happy”? 

This is another form of the question above. It will help you gauge where the school sees it’s basketball program. In my experience, the idea of “keeping everyone happy” is a fool’s errand and unlikely to happen. Another way to look at it is this… players earn their playing time based on what the coaches see in practice. If they want more time, they should talk to their coaches and put in more effort.

Fundraising is an important part of many athletic programs. Can you describe what is done at your school in terms of fundraising for the basketball program?

The amount budgeted for the team compared to what will need to be picked up by parents or outside sponsors is also good to know. If you can bring some fundraising ideas or, better yet, can involve parents in the process, you will be one step ahead of some candidates.

The end of the interview…

Always try to leave on a high note. SMILE. Sometimes something as simple as a smile and a good handshake is enough. The last question and the last thing you say is what will stick in the memory of the interview committee. (Assuming you did not mess up big time in the rest of the interview.) Stay positive and, as much as possible, leave on an up-note… and they followup after an appropriate amount of time.

Will this list of interview questions guarantee success?

I hope these interview questions will help make you more successful. Of course, they won’t magically move you to the top of the list if the committee has already made up their mind. In that case, the interviews are often just a formality so the committee can check off a box that says they held interviews. What does that mean for you as the “odd man out”? It means you got a chance to practice your interviewing skills and will do even better at the next interview.  In basketball you don’t expect your players to hit 100% of their shots. Interviewing is a percentage game too. Hang in there and keep working to make your resume more attractive to potential employers. Do your preparation for every interview … and eventually the numbers will be in your favor! Good luck… unless I am interviewing for the same job. In that case, disregard everything in this article.  😉