The sound of excuses can be crippling. We are all familiar with lines like: “I can’t practice today, I don’t have a ride,” “I would practice on my own but I have too much to do this week,” “I’m tired and I’m not feeling 100% today,” and “I would have made that play if it wasn’t for so and so.” It is no secret that excuses stop us from reaching our full potential, and yet we fall victim to excuses again and again. So, how do we overcome excuses?
Excuses dwindle when we begin to learn the power of positivity. As a coach, I teach my kids two strategies for overcoming excuses: “Things you can control vs. things you can’t control” and “The 33% Rule”.
Things you Can Control vs. Things you Can’t Control
This advice was given to me from my former coach and mentor, Patrick Evans.
Things you Can Control: Effort and Attitude
Things you Can’t Control: Coaches, umpires/referees, parents, the weather, the crowd, field conditions, your performance, your teammates performances
The only thing we have control over is our effort and our attitude; how hard we try and how we react to situations. We may not have 100% to give on a particular day, but it is important to give 100% of what we do have. Effort and attitude are about working hard. It’s about remaining positive even when we are struggling. We cannot control our outcomes and the environment around us but by doing the right thing, by working hard and remaining positive, we will come out on top.
The 33% Rule
The 33% Rule comes from Sue Enquist, former UCLA softball player and coach. Enquist says, “You can divide people into three categories – the top, middle, and bottom thirds. Bottom third people are people who whine and complain and take energy and motivation out of an organization, instead of contributing to the team effort. Middle third people are the ones whose attitude is determined by circumstances. They are happy and positive when things are going well, but they are down in the dumps in times of adversity. And finally, there are top third people. The top third of people maintain a positive attitude even in tough times.”
I encourage my athletes to be top third; to remain positive and encourage others to follow. It only takes one to bring the whole team down, but it can also take just one to bring the whole team back up. Excuses come from negativity and when we can learn to remain positive whether we are on top or we are at the very bottom, we can learn to overcome our excuses.
