In today’s world we have people talking to us, giving us information, and even giving us opinions on what they think we should be doing. The outside input can be never-ending. We see this in athletics all the time, whether it’s family members, hangers-on, or close friends. Everyone has the answers for us. This is when it becomes dangerous, because if players listen to the wrong voices, they can seriously jeopardize their chances for attaining success.
A major key to growing and improving — to reaching your goals — is to make sure you listen to the right voices. The “right voices” may be tough to listen to, as they often tell you truths you may not want to hear. But the truth will set you in motion to reach the goals and dreams you have for yourself. But understand that the truth will hurt sometimes. The truth will ask you to do things that are uncomfortable and difficult. But the truth will also get you on your way to where you want to be!
It has been my experience that coaches are great voices to listen to. I can tell you that our guys listen to Doc Rivers because his agenda is quite simple. That agenda is (1) for us to win and (2) for each player to reach his potential for himself and this team. There is no better person to hear the truth from than a coach who has your best interests at heart.
To find the right voices, we all have to think long and hard about who is in this for us vs. who is in this more for themselves. Those who are truly in it for you are the voices you need to listen to — not those who just tell you what you want to hear.
The great players in our league want the truth more than they want to feel good! The truth will help them get where they want to be.
