Practice and Play

Once a year I step away from my professional world and immerse myself completely in sport. Yes, the goal is to win, and the months and weeks leading up to the USA Adult Volleyball Championship are filled with extra hours in the gym, on the court, and in visualization. Wait….what? Yes, part of my annual preparation is using my imagination to practice each play, each opportunity to touch the ball, both offensively and defensively.

I believe the power of visualization is amplified over time. Last year I figured out I’ve been playing this tournament for over two decades. Two decades. How many things in your life have you done for that long? I think it’s easy to decide “I’ve done this so many times, I don’t need to prepare as much as I did.”, and I suspect many of us make this choice until it becomes a habit.

Inevitably at some point in the tournament(s) (two three-day tournaments are strung together to equal one “convention”) I am asked about where I played—my resume of volleyball if you will. Funny thing is—I don’t really have one. Not compared to the plethora of big names in the gym. The one thing I do have is the power of my mind. And, the discipline to use it.

You do too. It’s not about your resume after you’ve been in the workforce. It’s about your discipline to learning and growing, advancing your potential by being courageous and taking risks. Using your mind to imagine the meeting success, the program you deliver, the difficult conversation you need to have.

Both of my teams medaled—one silver, one gold. Oh, and one all-tournament award. Now it’s your turn. What will you medal in this year? And what discipline will you commit to it? Your all-tourney award is waiting…