The great collegiate basketball coach John Wooden led his UCLA Bruins to an unprecedented 10 National Basketball championships. Was it because he had the most talented players on those teams that enabled him to capture championships? In all the information written about his legacy the single theme throughout is that he created a culture that advocated the mastering of the fundamentals of the game. Players that played for coach Wooden understood that it wasn’t about showing off, but rather simply about showing up with all of their ability.
In the game of business we must come to understand that we are company athletes. Unlike sports, for us, every day is game day. In the beginning of each of their seasons, what sports athletes work on are the basics. The legendary football coach Vince Lombardi would start off every preseason by holding up a football and saying, “gentlemen, this is a football.” It doesn’t get any more basic than that.
In our game of business, we must know what the fundamentals are that will grow our business. We must commit to doing what it takes to become brilliant at those basic fundamentals.
What basic skill do you need to be proficient at performing to take your game to that championship level?
Champions execute everything they do in a certain way, weather on the playing field, boardroom or even selling over the kitchen table. Whatever you identify your basics to be, you must be CALM in executing them.
C – Be Clear on your overall vision of where you are headed and what it will look like and feel like once you arrive. Be clear of yours and your company’s values as they are the guide posts for your decision making along the way. Be clear of your goals and objectives so you can improve your trajectory to a successful championship.
A – Be Accountable to yourself and others. The more accountable you become the more your stock will rise. It is an indicator of dependability, certainty, and confidence. Michael Jordan was accountable to himself and his team. He gained the confidence of his team to be the go to person the last second of many games to pull out the winning shot.
L- Be Leaderful. This is being the gate keeper of the vision. It’s being optimistic, relentless, and compassionate. It’s about growing the other people you work with so they can grow the organization.
M- Be Motivated. Champions don’t need anyone outside of themselves motivating them. They are motivated from within. They learn how to find the healthy and compelling leverage within themselves to make good things happen.
This week, create a mini off season for yourself and identify what your basic fundamentals are that if executed successfully on an ongoing basis, will lead you to your championship. Develop a plan to become brilliant at the basics. Make the time to practice those throughout your season so you can carry out that plan.
Be CALM as you execute the basics.
Make it up, make it fun & make it happen!