The Competitor’s Brain

What do you focus on in college?

I considered this for a bit, and it finally hit me. Why, when I was in college, did I major in accounting, of all things. I met some amazing people, worked on some fun accounts, but accounting. I am not the best with rules and guidelines and I am generally pretty creative. You do that stuff with accounting, you go to jail, do not pass go, do not collect $200! 
So to my graduating seniors: do not make the same mistake I did. Yes, it was a good background. No, it was not the background for me. 

Consistency

This one's a great story from Billy Oppenheimer's weekly "Six at Six" email. It's here if you want to read it. The legendary lacrosse coach Tony Seaman told a room full of kids that if they wanted to play D1 lacrosse, they needed to shoot 100 shots a day every single day. 
Paul Rabil followed that recipe to a D1 scholarship and a spot as one of the best lax players of all time. 
Listen for the story. 

Significance

In the movie Field of Dreams, Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner) goes to Minnesota to find Dr. Archibald Graham (Burt Lancaster). It's one of the best scenes in movie history... I am biased. They discuss the significance of the half-inning 50 years later. 
"We just don't recognize life's most significant moments while they're happening. Back then I thought, 'Well, there'll be other days.' I didn't realize that that was the only day."
What significant moments of your life are you overlooking that might be happening today?
 

Inflection Points

We all have inflection points in our lives. In the novel "Out Stealing Horses" by Per Petterson, the narrator tells a story about growing up where his life could have gone in multiple directions. He made a choice at that point to take the proper direction, and it greatly influenced his life.
So the question I'll ask you is: are you ready for the next inflection point in your life? And how will you respond when it happens?

You Don't Have To Have Your Best Stuff

"Godfather of Sports Psychology" Dr. Ken Ravizza says that you don't have to have your best stuff to compete. Hall of Fame pitcher Bert Blyleven says that 10% of the time, you'll have your best stuff; 80% of the time you'll be mid; and 10% of the time you'll have no stuff.
So how do you win when you have your best stuff?
And, more importantly, how do you win MORE when you are in that 80%? Because over the long run, your success will depend on that.

Life Is Not A Skill Game, Life Is A Strategy Game

Dr. Rob Gilbert says this all the time. And it's true. If you consider the strategic aspects of a situation, rather than just going ahead and executing, you will see better performance. Not all situations call for the same exact execution; a sales call with the same client on two different days can require different approaches based on factors you will need to learn on the fly.
So how will you pick the best strategy for the situation?

Carrying Yourself with Confidence

Well, I guess when you don't record podcasts, you lose momentum.
In his podcast The Knowledge Project, Shane Parrish interviews Dr. Jim Loehr. (The title of his book I couldn't remember is "Toughness Training for Life." 
Regardless, Loehr tells a story about interviewing a bullfighter that illustrates the confidence that is necessary to deal with fear - regardless of whether you're facing a bull, sales meeting, client, test, or at-bat.

O Stream of Life

There is a fountain at Mudd Hall of Philosophy at USC that says "O stream of life, run you slow or fast, all streams reach the sea at last." If the sea is death or the end, this means that the stream of your life will get there eventually... so what will your stream be like? Meaningful, or meaningless? 

Giving Them Their Money's Worth

I am on a Springsteen kick... sorry. When someone goes to see The Boss, they know that he's going to give them their money's worth. (I saw him last weekend and he played for three hours. He is 74. My feet hurt standing up.)
When someone comes to watch you play, are you giving them their money's worth? After all, time is money...

Nothing To Lose

When Bruce Springsteen walked into the office of music executive John Hammond in 1972, he was nobody. He played a mental trick on himself at that point: he figured that if he failed, he was no worse off than if he'd never walked into the office. 
Spoiler alert: he crushed it, and consequently, you know who he is.