Favorite Inspirational Quotes

Players fifty years ago wanted to win just as much as players today. Foot soldiers 1000 years ago wanted to win the battle as much as combat troops today. The difference is that everybody worries about it more today because of the media and the attention they give to the question of who’s winning and who’s losing. These are the wrong questions. The correct question is: Did I make my best effort? That’s what matters. The rest of it just gets in the way.

John Wooden (10 NCAA basketball championships in 12 years)

This inspirational quote is from a man who knows about winning which the parenthetical information above should show. He was a man who knew where to focus which is on doing the best you can. Are we keeping our eyes on the task at hand, doing our very best, or are we letting what happens around us get in the way?

Wooden said that the media was focusing our attention on the wrong things like who’s winning and who’s losing. For sure, they focus our attention on negative things.

We all want to win. But the ones who do win are the ones who keep their focus on the task at hand doing the best they can, continuing with determination and persistence, and taking right action.

Brescia offered an analogy from his grandfather that is very apt and that I had not heard of before. No matter what you are doing, think of yourself as on top of a ball. You have to keep your attention on what you are doing, balancing, or you will fall off the ball.

This is a great analogy and one I shall keep in mind. If I don’t give it my best and if I don’t maintain my focus on the ball, I will fall off.

From Brescia’s essay:

Every top performer in every field of endeavor focuses constantly on what they should be doing right now to get their desired outcome. To allow others to control your focus, to lose sight of your goals for seconds, then minutes, then hours will cause you to fall down constantly. Control your focus and you will be in control of your emotions, your actions and your life.

Now get on the ball and stay there!

Tags: inspirational