The Outliers

People who make the very top of their skill don’t work harder than everyone else; they work much, much harder than everyone else.

It appears that 10,000 hours of purposeful practice is required for mastery in anything. Generally that’s done in about a ten year span.
-Acquiring 10,000 hours of purposeful practice by adulthood requires one to be a part of a special program or by extraordinary opportunity. A kid just can’t get 10,000 on their own efforts.

Many of the very successful were born at the right time. There are certain windows in history where significant events offer significant opportunities.

IQ’s above 120 have very little advantage in real world achievement. Up to an IQ of 120 has some advantage, but above that 120 mark, everyone is smart enough to excel equally.
Above the 120 IQ threshold, other aspects impact real world success: Creativity, divergent thinking, hard work, etc.

Practical intelligence is knowing how to do something without always knowing why or being able to explain how to someone else. It is knowledge to use, not knowledge for knowledge sake. It includes social knowledge.
IQ and practical IQ are not orthogonal. (one does not guarantee the other)
Fifty percent of IQ is heredity, but 100 percent of practical IQ is environmental – usually from the family.

There seem to be two styles of child rearing:
1. concerted cultivation – an effort to monitor and coach a child’s interests, skills, and opinions; developing a child’s ability to secure their rightful place socially (they shape their world)
2. accomplishment of natural growth – an effort to care for their children but let them grow and develop on their own (the world shapes them)
All other factors being the same, practical IQ is the big separator, and “concerted cultivation” develops social IQ.
Poor families raise their children by “accomplishment of natural growth”. Upper income families raise their children by “concerted cultivation”.

Three qualities required to make work satisfying:
1. autonomy – your future is in your hands
2. complexity – challenges requiring creativity
3. reward – as a result of your hard work
Humble origins with entrepreneurial parents are breeding grounds for children with high practical IQ’s.

Key factors in the very successful:
1. 10,000 hours at adulthood
2. upbringing – good school, parental models
3. timing of events – world conditions, “lucky” breaks, etc.
4. smart enough (120 IQ)
5. culture standards – sleep, language, manners, social dictates, etc
6. take advantage of opportunities when they are presented

2 Signings in 1 Day

It was a big day for Bethel basketball as we signed Spencer Khrin (above) and Cody Cochran (below). Both of these individuals are classy kids and are very well rounded. They are a perfect fit for Bethel College in how they handle themselves both on and off the floor. Their character will be a great representation for our program and I am so excited to start working with these young men. Welcome to the family Spencer and Cody!

Michael Mislan Signs

Today was a very special day as Coach Natali and I drove down to Indianapolis Roncalli High School to sign Michael Mislan. Michael is our first recruit for next year and I could immediately sense the excitement and anticipation he had for playing at Bethel College next season. Michael was recently getting calls and going through individual workouts with numerous D-1 coaches. After discussing D-1 options with other coaches, it was Michael's choice to be at a place where he could grow spiritually as well as academically and athletically. This is the type of person he is! Not only is he a tremendous player, but he represents himself very well off the floor. A student-athlete like this is definitely worth 7 hours in a car down to Indy and back today. Congrats to Michael Mislan and welcome to the Bethel basketball family.

Coaching Quotes from History

Being a History teacher for so many years I've read and studied many different world leaders. What has intrigued me most about some of these leaders is their unique talent with words. Here are some quotes that I think can apply to all professions...especially coaches.

“The army is a team. It lives, eats, sleeps, and fights as a team. -George Patton

“Victory belongs to the most persevering.” -Napoleon

“The secret of war lies in communication.” -Napoleon

“Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys.” -Sun Tzu, The Art of War

“Strike hard and fast and do not separate.” -General Heinz Guderian

“Make use of time and space.” -Napoleon

I think in coaching we need to have high expectations and high standards WITHOUT lowering them. I think those expectations have to be realistic. Unfortunately, coaches who place unrealistic expectations on themselves and on their teams set everyone up for failure.

I like what Krish Dhanam’s says about leadership:

-Plan with attitude.

-Prepare with aptitude.

-Participate with servitude.

-Receive with gratitude.

-This should prepare you from the multitudes!

Remember a coach needs to strive for excellence. The greatest enemy of excellence is good.

As a leader of your team your success is not just based on how you perform, but how others around you perform.

What this sign says along the road is clear! We need to communicate our thoughts very well to our team.

Communicate, communicate and then communicate some more!

Finally, husbands..."If you treat your wife as a thoroughbred, you will never end up with a nag.” think about it.

David's worst to his best

David in his worst hour makes it maybe his best hour

How many times do our support systems fail us?

Friends fail us, family messes things up, the boss is out of whack. When all the support systems fail who do we turn to?

1 Samuel 30: 1-25

We need to lead our families in good times and bad. We need to be able to show compassion.

David did a lot of stupid things. Can you think of a dumb thing that you have done in the last 6 weeks? I know I can! David made some real dumb mistakes. Are we capable of doing the same?

It is OK to rest?

-Jesus fights when we can not fight anymore. In what ways has he done so for you?
-Do you feel that Jesus might be angry with you when you sit?
-What was some of David’s actions that we need to apply in our daily life?

Who’s heart can you refresh today?

10 Tips to Successful Practice

Basketball practice is quickly approaching so I thought I would share some things that could help.

Poor practices could be from poor preparation. Most of Coach John Wooden’s practices took him longer to PLAN than they took to RUN. It's all about details---Those who fail to plan; plan to fail.

Here are 10 tips that I take into consideration with practice:

1. Make sure your players know why you do what you do.

2. Don’t ask players or your team to do something that is impossible to do. They will question your ability as a coach and not their ability as a player. Maximize your practices and look to evaluate each practice you have.

3. Post your practices. Your players will know what you have organized and prepared for the day. They will learn that there is a purpose for what you are doing everyday.

4. Don’t ask players or your team to do something that is impossible to do. They will question your ability as a coach and not their ability as a player. You can still be demanding but asking for the impossible is not wise.

5. Don’t stop and correct EVERY mistake. Sometimes you just have to let players play.

6. If we are constantly yelling in practice or in the game then eventually you will be “tuned out” by your players.

7. Try to create 30 second instructions. Any longer than 30 seconds and players attention spans waivers. In games you get about 30-45 seconds during timeouts so create that in a practice setting.

8. When your team is having a “bad practice” always allow your leaders to call a time out in practice and circle the troops. Let your leaders correct the problem, rather than you. This takes communication on your part between the coach and the leader to let them know they have this freedom.

9. Most players will settle for mediocrity, especially in their practices. Coaches need to drive home a commitment to excellence.

10. How are you creating adversity in your practices? Be creative.

A Small Coaching Tip

One of the best things a coach can do is look to improve...get better...find a different way of getting things done well.
We ask that out of our players so we need to ask that out of ourselves. All top businessmen are constantly looking to find out what is working in their professions.

I love to listen to Lou Holtz on ESPN. I loved to listen to him when he coached at ND. I have been told that he was constantly asking questions of other coaches when he coached; always picking their brain. Here he was a very successful coach and he was not giving answers, but asking questions.
Who ? What ? Where? Why? It allowed him to think and improve.
I think in all professions that is a must. The company that becomes complacent or the program that becomes complacent will eventually fail.
In over 30 years of coaching I have been able to see great coaches coach. I love to watch them in “their classroom”--the practice gym. During my years in coaching I have seldom, if any, (well, Digger when he coached at Notre Dame) have been turned down by a coach or a staff to watch what they do in practice.
Think about getting out to talk or watch someone else before the season starts. I find those opportunities are better than going to a clinic. They are also MUCH cheaper

Iron sharpens Iron