Recognize that your thoughts shape your reality and outcomes, implying a need for positive or goal-oriented thinking.
View obstacles not as roadblocks, but as opportunities for growth and learning, adopting a mindset that ’the obstacle is the way'.
Prioritize the team’s success over personal ego or individual recognition, fostering a humble, collective approach.
Prioritize collective success (‘we’) over individual achievement (‘me’) for true team efficacy.
Consistently identify and focus 80% of your time and effort on the ‘main thing’ that drives your core objective, even amidst distractions.
Intentionally engineer uncomfortable situations in training or preparation to build mental toughness, making actual performance feel easier.
Cultivate grit by understanding that there are ’no sick days’ for important work, pushing through challenges consistently.
Adopt a ‘one more round’ mindset, understanding that you will be knocked down and must consistently get back up and continue fighting.
Practice patience and ‘sleep on’ important decisions to avoid rash judgments and allow for clearer thinking.
As a leader, proactively address the most obvious or difficult issues (’the elephant in the room’) first.
If you react negatively or ‘snap’ at someone, always make an effort to circle back and address the interaction constructively afterwards.
Delegate tasks in areas where you are not an expert to avoid burnout, prevent self-dilution, and focus on your core strengths.
As a leader, dedicate significant time to engineering and refining processes, clearly defining their goals.
Design your calendar intentionally, focusing each day on a ‘mountaintop for that day’ (daily goal) that contributes to a larger North Star goal.
When facing a new challenge or project (the ‘blank page’), focus on executing the first small step well, rather than being overwhelmed by the entire goal.
Embrace the monotony of consistently addressing small issues and improving processes daily, as this cumulative effort leads to unpredictable breakthroughs.
After a major achievement, intentionally schedule time for renewal and rest for all team members to prevent exhaustion and maintain competitive drive.
In a contention phase, shift focus from merely acquiring individual talent to building a cohesive, integrated team.
Actively assess and ensure the presence of effective leadership within the core team, as players are central to success.
Recognize that complex projects require diverse individuals in different ‘silos’ to work symbiotically towards a common goal.
Empower specialized, ‘siloed’ departments to define and execute their daily contributions towards the overarching organizational goal.
When hiring a head coach, look for someone who commands buy-in, is an expert in their domain, and possesses the humility to delegate and acknowledge their non-expert areas.
When evaluating a potential coach, gather direct feedback from players they’ve coached, specifically looking for evidence of their ability to inspire loyalty (‘run through a wall’) and simplify complex concepts.
When assessing players, combine physical talent with intangibles like football character, personal character, and football acumen to predict useful skill in their role.
To achieve elite status, combine natural talent with conscientiousness (dedication to improvement) and the ability to quickly process information.
Evaluate individuals not just on their ability to accurately recognize patterns, but also on the speed at which they can process and act on that recognition, especially in fast-paced environments.
Utilize specialized testing (e.g., military-inspired) to assess a candidate’s combative drive alongside their capacity for productive social behavior.
Seek individuals whose primary motivation is a deep passion for the core activity, driving their dedication and study.
Look for individuals who can understand and mentally manipulate the spatial and strategic aspects of complex systems.
Prioritize individuals who value team success and winning above personal statistics or individual accolades.
Value conscientiousness as a trait that indicates a willingness to consistently put in the necessary work for improvement.
Identify individuals who not only handle pressure well but also approach high-stakes situations with confidence, believing they will thrive.
For players with character concerns, conduct a thorough, case-by-case investigation using experts, psychological testing, and interviews with mentors to get a complete picture.
Offer second chances to individuals with past issues, but only if they demonstrate genuine receptiveness to development, including engaging with professional counseling to acquire new tools for productive behavior.
Strategically mix highly character-driven individuals (‘A+ kids’) with a few high-talent, lower-character individuals (‘C kids’), relying on the strong team culture to positively influence the latter.
When evaluating performance, look beyond traditional statistics for ‘hidden production’ – actions that create advantages or disrupt opponents without appearing on the stat sheet.
Design strategies that force opponents into longer, more mistake-prone drives by disrupting their preferred offensive patterns.
When acquiring players, critically assess their past performance within their specific scheme and supporting cast, and determine if your team can replicate or enhance that environment.
Be aware of the psychological pressure and unmet expectations that often accompany high-profile player acquisitions, which can impact performance.
Value players who bring positive energy and a love for the work environment, as this can significantly impact team morale and success beyond their direct statistical contributions.
Use a physical reminder of a major goal, coupled with daily handwritten messages, to focus and motivate a team towards specific daily actions needed to achieve that goal.
Develop proactiveness by actively seeking solutions to boredom or challenges, rather than passively waiting, to stay ahead.
Understand that desired achievements or ‘badges of honor’ must be earned through effort and performance, not given.
Maintain a consistent work ethic, showing up and performing daily, similar to the ’no sick days’ lesson.
Establish consistent, intentional daily routines to ensure steady progress and reliability.
As a leader, recognize that your energy is contagious and can influence the team’s morale and performance.
When evaluating key roles, consider if the individual is a ‘student’ (requiring heavy guidance) or a ‘partner’ (capable of collaborative leadership), aligning with the team’s current needs.
When developing or selecting quarterbacks, prioritize those who can quickly learn and process complex game situations, as required by pro-style systems.
Plan for player attrition due to salary cap constraints by having a robust development system to promote backups into starting roles.
While having a blueprint is important, acknowledge and adapt to the ‘poker and luck’ elements of talent acquisition, as ideal players may not always be available when needed.
In early building phases, focus on drafting ‘pillars’ (foundational talent); once contending, shift to drafting for specific team needs to fill voids and maintain competitiveness.
Instead of aiming for balanced resource allocation across all positions, strategically choose to be ‘dominant and imbalanced’ in key areas that align with your team’s winning strategy.
Utilize aggregated mock draft data to understand the probable range where a player will be drafted, aiding in strategic planning.
Prioritize thorough preparation to avoid surprises, even if a player is projected to go earlier than anticipated.
When evaluating draft picks, understand that ‘reaches’ might be relative to positional scarcity; the difference between a high pick and a much later pick for the next best player at that specific position might be small.
Recognize that draft decisions are often influenced by private medical information not available to the public, which can explain seemingly unexpected picks.
Embrace a liberal education and consistent reading of diverse, interesting material to open your mind to new perspectives and prevent boredom.
Channel the ‘pain of losing’ or fear of failure into a relentless curiosity and proactive search for knowledge and edges from various sources.
Actively seek out individuals who can synthesize complex concepts, ideas, and wisdom from various sources, and learn from their insights.
For highly impactful books, commit to deep study and re-reading to extract maximum value and ensure no insights are missed.
Protect and guard dedicated time for deep work, research, or focused tasks to ensure productivity and flow.
Cultivate calmness during stressful professional situations, recognizing that others may be observing your reaction and leadership.
Engage in a meditative practice, such as looking at the stars, to gain perspective on daily challenges, reduce stress, and foster hope for future improvement.
Incorporate a physically invigorating morning routine, like a cold plunge, within the first 30 minutes of waking to ‘ignite’ and jumpstart your day.
Define success not just by personal achievement, but also by enabling collective fulfilling experiences and actively seeking opportunities to give back to your domain.