Setting the table for greatness
From the series: "STAND OUT IN THE CROWD"
by Frank Allocco, Sr.
Series Introduction
Some eye opening basketball statistics:
The beauty of sports is not in becoming a great player, it is the learning of valuable Life Skills that will serve players throughout their lives. If we look beyond the focus of winning and achieving success, the arena of competition is one of the finest classrooms a young player could ever have.
Some eye opening basketball statistics:
- 2.9% of high school players will play college basketball.
- Less than 1 in 75, or 1.3 percent of NCAA Seniors will be drafted by an NBA Team.
- About 3 in 10,000 players (0.03 percent) of high school seniors will eventually be drafted by an NBA team.
The beauty of sports is not in becoming a great player, it is the learning of valuable Life Skills that will serve players throughout their lives. If we look beyond the focus of winning and achieving success, the arena of competition is one of the finest classrooms a young player could ever have.
In an active and aspiring family of four boys, my oldest brother Jerry served as our role model and leader. Our fifteen-year old mentor filled his bedroom wall with motivational sayings that served as the philosophical foundation in his quest to become an outstanding athlete and coach. His collection reached far beyond his own dreams as my siblings and I walked by his room daily, peeking in to observe the newest wisdom inscribed by the strokes of his black marking pen on the long and narrow strips of white adhesive tape. This simple, but profound collection of handwritten lessons formed a large diamond on the beige walls of his tiny room at the top of our stairway. Over time, his inspirational “artwork” stretched toward the ceiling with the peak of that geometric figure summoning him to the highest level with the Nobel Award winning author Albert Camus’ quote, “Greatness consists in trying to be great.”
The desire to be great lives in all of us, but the life experiences of victory and defeat teaches us that the will to win is not enough, that the journey toward greatness demands intense preparation and planning. Whatever your field of endeavor, the pursuit of excellence requires a desire to embrace greatness complemented with a work ethic that focuses on the skills inherent to your quest.
The desire to be great lives in all of us, but the life experiences of victory and defeat teaches us that the will to win is not enough, that the journey toward greatness demands intense preparation and planning. Whatever your field of endeavor, the pursuit of excellence requires a desire to embrace greatness complemented with a work ethic that focuses on the skills inherent to your quest.
The desire to be great lives in all of us, but the life experiences of victory and defeat teaches us that the will to win is not enough, that the journey toward greatness demands intense preparation and planning.
The basketball and life lessons taught at my Excel Basketball Camp has provided tens of thousands of children with the basic building blocks for success. Our campers learn to play hard and give their best effort at the Station Drills and appreciate the value of repetitions in the Dribble Series and Pistol Pete Ballhandling Series. Our Daily Lectures teach them to eliminate distractions while learning to listen and become active participants in communication while our games stress teamwork and competitiveness.
Over the thirty-nine years of Excel, the themes of camp have varied each week with a message relative to the “personality” of each group. With a generation of lessons taught in our motivational sessions, one of my favorite topics is “Setting the Table for Greatness.” This message stresses that preparation for greatness consists of creating the habits of working hard with an emphasis on the proper execution of “the little things.” Players learn to focus on daily improvement and developing the skills needed to excel. They are challenged to approach their time expenditures with no regrets in their dedication to utilize every day, knowing that greatness could present itself at any moment.
As you immerse yourself in your efforts and focus on becoming just a “little bit better” you will eventually become a lot better and move closer toward becoming the best you can possibly be. You will be amazed to discover that the actions of setting and pursuing your goals with the proper frame of mind and bolstering them with a great work ethic fueled by an insatiable desire for improvement are the key utensils in “setting the table for greatness.
Over the thirty-nine years of Excel, the themes of camp have varied each week with a message relative to the “personality” of each group. With a generation of lessons taught in our motivational sessions, one of my favorite topics is “Setting the Table for Greatness.” This message stresses that preparation for greatness consists of creating the habits of working hard with an emphasis on the proper execution of “the little things.” Players learn to focus on daily improvement and developing the skills needed to excel. They are challenged to approach their time expenditures with no regrets in their dedication to utilize every day, knowing that greatness could present itself at any moment.
As you immerse yourself in your efforts and focus on becoming just a “little bit better” you will eventually become a lot better and move closer toward becoming the best you can possibly be. You will be amazed to discover that the actions of setting and pursuing your goals with the proper frame of mind and bolstering them with a great work ethic fueled by an insatiable desire for improvement are the key utensils in “setting the table for greatness.
Don’t be discouraged by disappointment, realize that every success, failure, and repetition takes you one step closer to your inevitable meeting with greatness.
Approach your future with confidence and anticipation. Don’t be discouraged by disappointment, realize that every success, failure, and repetition takes you one step closer to your inevitable meeting with greatness. Your unwavering commitment to excellence is the invitation and you must be willing to welcome “him” to the table when the opportunity comes knocking.
As my brother Jerry’s wall was a daily reminder of his goals, my weekly challenge guides our campers to stay focused on their dreams, to take the symbolic step of setting an extra place at their table each day. The dedication of that vacant place setting serves as a subtle reminder of the preparation needed to achieve success and the fact that greatness could present itself at any moment. What a shame it would be if greatness called and had no place to sit!
As my brother Jerry’s wall was a daily reminder of his goals, my weekly challenge guides our campers to stay focused on their dreams, to take the symbolic step of setting an extra place at their table each day. The dedication of that vacant place setting serves as a subtle reminder of the preparation needed to achieve success and the fact that greatness could present itself at any moment. What a shame it would be if greatness called and had no place to sit!
The door to the past has been shut and the key has been thrown away. You can, however, open the door to your future with the committed actions of your present.
Remember, you can’t do anything about yesterday. The door to the past has been shut and the key has been thrown away. You can, however, open the door to your future with the committed actions of your present. Don’t miss opportunities because of the steps you didn’t take today. Be ready to welcome the challenge when greatness calls!
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