# 40

"Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed."

Lou Holtz is the head football coach at South Carolina. For years he has demonstrated the ability to take a football program on the downside and turn it into a team worthy of national ranking and bowl contention. However, that was not always the case. As you will see in this brief story, (God's Little Devotional Book for Teachers, 1999, Honor Books) Holtz was forced to change his attitude if he wanted to be a successful head coach.

"Lou Holtz is a man known for winning--winning seasons, winning lifetime record, a winning attitude. Holtz admits that he didn't always have a winning attitude. Holtz's first job as a head coach was at the College of William & Mary. Upon reviewing the schedule his team faced, Holtz concluded that he didn't think his team could even be competitive. He was right. Week after week, his team lost."

"By the second year, Holtz felt he could field a competitive team, but he didn't believe the team could beat its powerhouse opponents. Again, the team did as expected--it never lost a game by more than six points, but it consistently lost to the 'big' schools when winning mattered most to fans and recruits."

"Finally Holtz realized what was happening. He concluded that confidence was the one factor that was making the difference. When the team played expecting to lose, it did. He made a life changing decision: Expect the best from yourself and others, and you won't be surprised when you get it."

"You get the best out of others when you give the best of yourself." Harvey Firestone

Are You Mentally Tough?

Mental toughness is a learned trait, not inherited! The key to changing attitudes is to start repetitiously thinking the attitude you wish to acquire.

You are mentally tough if:

• You are self motivated and directed.
• You are positive but realistic.
• You are in control of your emotions.
• You are calm and relaxed under fire.
• You are highly energetic and ready for action.
• You are determined.
• You are mentally alert and focused.
• You are doggedly self confident.
• You are fully responsible for yourself.

"I don't know the secret to success, but the key to failure is to try to please everyone." Bill Cosby

Contact Tom at: tomhughes@motivationNmore.com

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