In our last couple +1s, we talked about Emerson and I dominating our boys-only, weekend-away chess tournament protocols.
As you may recall, I celebrated his enthusiasm while helping me get some ice for my hotel-room ice bath. (Thanks to our Heroic Head Coach and President, Michael Balchan for that brilliant idea! 🙌 🧊 🥶 )
Then we chatted about my dilemma of which Heroic sports team I’d watch that Saturday night while he played his final match. Will it be Notre Dame football or Toronto FC?
Yes, please!
I watched both.
🤪 🤓
Then we chatted about how, as awesome as watching elite athletes do their thing is, the ULTIMATE reason why sports are so popular and potentially empowering is because those elite performers SHOW US what we’re capable of achieving!
Which is why, the moment Emerson walked in at 9:00 p.m., I turned the Notre Dame football game off so we could execute our P.M. protocol so he could show up Heroically in HIS big game.
Now…
Today I want to go back to the ice bath conversation.
After we hammered that mission to get the bath nice and cold (measured by ice cubes still floating in the bath! 🧊 🥶), I shared that Ralph Waldo Emerson quote with him.
I repeat…
The way he hustled between the ice machine and the hotel bathtub and tried to hold the bag just right so all the ice got in there was awesome.
It was the embodiment of Ralph Waldo’s admonition to “be active and energetic!”
You know me and how easily I get goosebumps and tears in my eyes. And… I just got them again as I felt into his commitment to joyful excellence.
I want to be him when I grow up.
(Hah. Seriously.)
So…
After I shared the Ralph Waldo quote with my Emerson, I told him that his enthusiasm reminded me of John Wooden’s wisdom as well.
He and I hadn‘t talked about it for a while, so I wasn’t sure if he’d remember it.
I asked him if he did.
He said: “You mean the thing about Competitive Greatness?”
To which I said, impressed he remembered that phrase: “YES! Exactly. You remember the two qualities that form the base of Wooden’s Pyramid of Success of which Competitive Greatness is at the top?”
To which he said: “Hmmmm…. Having fun and working hard?”
To which I said: “EXACTLY. Enthusiasm—or having fun doing what you love to do!—AND a commitment to working hard to squeeze all the potential out of yourself in pursuit of mastery.”
And…
That’s Today’s +1.
Want to attain “Competitive Greatness” in YOUR life?
Whether that’s in your Energy, your Work, or your Love?
Or, of course, integration and full expression of all three?
Awesome.
And…
Give us all you’ve got.
All day.
Every day.
Especially…
TODAY.
P.S. Check out the Notes on Wooden on Leadership (one of my all-time favorite books!) for more on Wooden’s Pyramid of Success.
P.P.S. I just realized this is +1 #1900. Awesome. The fun has just begun. 🤓
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