Entitled to Nothing
“We are entitled to nothing.” -Coach Thomas and Coach Kerns
In this quote, I believe we have the embodiment of sustained success in athletics and life. “We are entitled to nothing.” Taken at face value, this statement means that one must work to achieve anything that is to be gained, whether it is a good grade, a victory in competition, respect from others, a certain job, a raise, a big contract, love of others, salvation and spiritual peace. Every day the slate is wiped clean and we must work to earn what that day would bring.
In a successful program where those that went before you have earned overwhelming victories, it is easy to believe that because you wear the uniform, the same success is befitting of your station as a member of that team. In work, because we have held a position for some time, we are due for a move upward or receive more compensation. In relationships, by virtue of our legal and blood ties we are due certain benefits of the relationship. In society, we are afforded certain opportunities simply because of our name, or who we think we are.
Few things are as destructive or unappealing than a sense of entitlement. Coach Thomas started over every day and every season. He tasked those in his charge with working to earn the right to wear the uniform instead of ascribing some intrinsic value to the uniform itself. You earned the right to be a productive member of the community as opposed to some intrinsic value being ascribed to you by virtue of your address. He set a higher standard that must be continually striven for instead of stating that one had arrived and was entitled to respect, love, victory, or success.
By considering the victories to be higher than ourselves, the achievements of the team and others higher than ourselves, we are propelled to work to achieve the stated goals and by virtue of humble workman-like performance often exceed the expectations we had for ourselves. Coaches’ achievements were built on this foundation and his instruction derived from this concept. Programs, communities, relationships, families, even nations are built on this concept.
Am I entitled to the love and respect of my spouse and children, or do I work every day to build those relationships through love and self-sacrifice that result in a healthy family and fulfilling marriage? Am I entitled to more money and a better job, or do I work every day to make decisions and perform my tasks in a manner that will lead to achievement of my goal? Do I rest on the accomplishments of the past or the accomplishments of others, or do I seek to make my own mark and earn the success I desire? The challenge today is to live as if you are entitled to nothing and work to retain and gather the fruits of those goals that are higher than ourselves.
Learn by Listening
“Learn by listening.” -Coach Thomas and Coach Kerns
This seems like a simple concept. I mean, how else do we learn? We read and write, but ultimately, we listen to instructors and others who provide information that we then absorb. We learn by practicing and “doing” as well. Every day we take in information from others via media, conversation, and written works that is meant to teach us something. Yet, Coach felt that this simple and obvious statement was important enough to impart to his teams.
I think it is because we have a general aversion to listening to learn. We listen, but do we hear? We are very quick to react to information or dismiss it. We consider the source or whether we really want to learn what is being offered. In the athletic context, there are new skills, new techniques that are taught and practiced each day. We hear the instruction, but a decision is then required – do we accept it and try to learn what is being taught by practice, or do we resist it and do things our own way?
As a coach, you are a teacher. You instruct your players to utilize and learn techniques that lead to success. As an employer you instruct your employees on the best methods for performing their critical tasks. As a parent you instruct your children on how to conduct themselves to be successful in life. What happens when no one listens? Moreover, what happens when no one truly hears and applies what is being taught?
As a person in a position of leadership, all you can do is impart the information. That is why Coach put the burden on the listener in the above quote. Once you have imparted instruction in a credible manner, it is up to the listener to learn from what they have heard. We are all “listeners” in some context or another. It is our choice to truly hear and implement what we have heard.
Today, listen to learn. Accept the challenge to truly hear what is being said, accept it at face value and practice the instruction given. Put aside your resistance to learning and those self-destructive tendencies to think your methods are better and to go your own way, instead, submit to wise, reasoned counsel and put it in to practice.
