Heard a football coach talking about the upcoming season today.
In a passing comment he said….
“In order to improve, you have to be able to self-assess”.
Difficult to do.
That’s what we leave up to parents, teachers and coaches when we are young. They assess our performance, our efforts and our results.
They make judgements. They consider what it might take for us to maintain or improve. They change or affirm what we are doing.
They assess us.
In that passing comment, the coach gave insight to what it really takes to improve and succeed.
For parents, teachers and coaches can do everything within their power and ability to influence us.
That outside influence and instruction teaches and can motivate and even bring good results.
However, until we become able to look at ourselves, with truthful honesty and clear introspection…and assess our own selves…and our own abilities and performance….we will not have lasting success.
Athletically, Michael Jordan looked at himself honestly after losing to the Detroit Pistons in the 1990 playoffs. He saw a great player. A league leading scorer. A top level talent.
But he knew that Detroit was going to put him down on the court when he drove toward the basket. He knew they were going to play overly physical with him to tame his ” high wire” game.
He also knew that to take the next step toward a title… he and his team from Chicago would need to get past Detroit.
He looked at himself and saw a physical frame that was too thin. Perfectly athletic and capable of great things… but not capable of enduring the rigors of surviving the physical play.
He inspected himself and saw something lacking.
To improve…he did a self-assessment.
He surmised that strength was needed. A more muscled frame was needed. A frame that would enable him to withstand the push and pull of physical play.
He went to the weight room.
After his assessment of himself he committed to changing his body into what he knew was needed.
Along with the stronger physical frame…and as an after effect of the commitment…came a stronger and tougher mindset. His team followed suit.
That Assessment and the subsequent commitment led to six championships and the label of being the greatest of all-time.
“To improve … you have to be able to self-assess.”
No coach could have created that change or that committnent in Michael.
No coach or trainer or parent or teacher can create the needed change and committnent in you or me…enough to realize a success that can endure.
Outside influence can bring momentary success.
Inner assessment and committment though, can develop the one given to them into a champion that can create a success process which paves the way to a continual and memorable achievement.
I have done this myself.
In the Summer of 1994, I came upon an additional way of doing business, Through a relationship with a great man from Mississippi, I learned a method of business that brought and still to this day brings great business and results.
In late February, 2003 I sought out research to better able me to do what was needed. I was lacking. That research lifted me to another level of ability to better serve the people I served.
Early in 2010, after hearing what a client wanted, and knowing it was not in my “sweet spot” at that time, I did an assessment, made a decision and formed a partnership with another advisor, who was experienced and efficient in what I was not efficient at. That decision and the subsequent partnership has benefitted many clients, that fellow advisor ….and myself with business and added ability and insight.
In the late spring and summer of 1971, a very successful football coach decided that in order to continue the success he had realized to a great level…he would have to change.
He self-assessed.
He had won championships. He had great and national acclaim.
But he and his team and his system had grown stale, outdated and suffered through two seasons of mediocrity. There were calls for his dismissal.
In that summer of 1971, Paul Bryant took his coaches away from their campus to learn a new System.
He told them they were going to learn a new offense called the “wishbone”…and furthermore, they were going to sink or swim with it.
He knew that committed change was necessary and needed.
He was willing to take a great risk, change and execute the effort to excel with a new way…rather than stay safe and fade into the mediocrity his team had faded into.
He won over 100 games in the next ten years, three championships and won more games than any major college coach had, by the time he retired.
After reaching a point of crisis, he assessed himself and his program and took necessary, although risky steps. Greater success followed than had been achieved before.
The same thing has occurred with so many great successful people.
“To improve…. you have to be able to self assess.”
Spiritually. Physically. Maritally. Occupationally.
Do it.
Be courageous and do it continually, before a crisis arises.
It goes against human nature to get introspective when all is well.
Weather changes.
So do situations.
Do the assessment.
Ask the hard, but necessary questions of yourself.
It is worth the risk.
August, 2017
Terry Bethea 