If you didnt already know, I coach youth basketball.
I’ve been coaching since I was in highschool.
But, that coaching was for basketball camps, and not coaching my own team like I do currently.
While still a player myself in high school and in college, I would view my coaching time as a secondary education in sports and winning…
Why?
Well, the people who would run the basketball camps were highschool and college coaches themselves.
Not only did they have knowledge of the technical and fundamental aspects of the sport (what we say as the X’s and O’s) but they are often times full of wisdom that can help motivate, inspire and challenge you to be better.
One thing I learned during this time was The Champions Manifesto.
I dont remember much about the day I learned about it, other than someone brought in a print out of the Champions Manifesto so they can read it to us coaches during or morning meeting.
However, I do remember the profound effect one me!
It’s like it was an ancient piece of wisdom, that foresaw all of the potential struggles a person will have to overcome to be great.
Its a hard hitting piece of inspiration, that helps me when times get tough, or I dont feel like going on.
I dont know who wrote this, but I do know that when times are tough, I can say “Champions Manifesto” to myself, and I get a burst of inspiration and perspective.
It helps me push through even when I don’t feel like it.
While it was written in an athletic context, it definitely applies to making money and entrepreneurship…
the parallels are uncanny!
You don’t even have to try to “re-imagine” the words to fit your struggles, they just work with all things that are worth striving for.
We all are striving to be a Champion in our business and in our lives, so read this each day, (multiple times a day) and remember the message.
Apply the message.
When you are feeling lazy, or uninspired, or defeated because things just aren’t clicking, READ THIS MESSAGE!
Without further ado, here it is in its completion. If you know who wrote this, let me know so I can give credit to the author.
The Champions Manifesto
True CHAMPIONS are made, not born. CHAMPIONS are made in adversity. Bad days,
problems, heartaches, and losses are necessary elements in molding CHAMPIONS. Character is built in the storm. It is not built in prosperity; it is built in adversity. You develop strength when you are in trouble. Learning to handle opposition rightly will make you a CHAMPION.
CHAMPIONS don’t let circumstances affect their character. Bad games, bad plays, bad breaks do not change their will to prepare, their will to strive for excellence every chance they get…everyday…all day long.
CHAMPIONS inspire their teammates to play harder, more intensely, by their example. They walk their talk.
CHAMPIONS are interested in learning all they can, mastering skills and responsibilities, acquiring every characteristic that helps them gain the edge.
A CHAMPION is not an individual star necessarily – but a team player that knows how to function with others.
A CHAMPION lives above pressure and thrives on it.
A CHAMPION is willing to pay the price – Whatever it takes!
A CHAMPION is single minded in purpose.
A CHAMPION is not sidetracked by distractions, by things that do not help them reach their goals.
A CHAMPION knows that winning is a by-product of being committed to excellence – winning takes care of itself.
A CHAMPION lets nothing interfere with their priority – becoming the best they can possibly be.
CHAMPIONS hang around with other CHAMPIONS – because they want to be influenced by each other’s character. Nothing hinders them from this goal.
CHAMPIONS love competition – the challenge of becoming more disciplined, more intense, more prepared. They realize the harder the battle is, the greater the adversity – the stronger they’ll become and the quicker they’ll achieve their goals.
CHAMPIONS relish the battle. They are driven to excel.
CHAMPIONS are never satisfied with their performance, but are always content with the fact that they are continually striving to get better.
CHAMPIONS are uncomfortable with imperfection – always pursuing perfection – knowing it can never fully be reached, but loving the battle of trying to reach it. They Fight for Excellence!
CHAMPIONS are committed to Excellence…always…only!
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CHAMPIONS AND EVERYONE ELSE IS VERY SIMPLE CHAMPIONS ARE ALWAYS WILLING TO DO THE “LITTLE THINGS” – THAT’S THE SIMPLE DIFFERENCE
Being a CHAMPION has nothing to do with being #1, or the amount of playing time a person gets. In fact, being a CHAMPION is not exclusively a characteristic of athletes. There are CHAMPIONS in all facets of life; student’s can be CHAMPIONS, parents can be CHAMPIONS as well…anyone can! We’re talking about character, not winning and losing.
CHAMPIONS don’t care if there are 5 or 50,000 people at a game…or even if it is a game or practice. They only know that each and every situation is a chance, a chance to improve.
CHAMPIONS are not affected by the scoreboard, or team records. Whether the score is 50-0 or 0-50, whether they are 10-0 or 0-10, they play the same and practice the same…ALL OUT!
CHAMPIONS never worry about things they can’t control, they realize they can only control themselves and their attitude.
CHAMPIONS never quit! They don’t even know what the word “quit” means. They only know to keep working, to keep striving…regardless of the circumstances.
CHAMPIONS know that to be a CHAMPION they must be committed to excellence in everything they do, in every situation- whether at home, at school, at work or at play. They realize that it is impossible to be committed to excellence in one thing and not another, because being a CHAMPION is not what you do but WHO YOU ARE … IT’S
CHARACTER!
CHAMPIONS never make excuses, grumble, complain, point fingers or talk about other people. They only talk about how they can get better.
CHAMPIONS thrill to the joy of the struggle.
CHAMPIONS know they have to learn to serve before they will ever know how to lead.
CHAMPIONS never desire that their opponents fail, or get injured. In fact, they actually want them to play well, because the better the opposition plays, the greater the CHAMPION is challenged to perform! It’s the double win!
The CHAMPION’S theme is, “Competition Breeds Excellence!”
The mark of a CHAMPION is how hard they work when no one is watching
CHAMPION’S realize that sometimes they fail…maybe often and over and over. But they know that what makes them CHAMPIONS is how they respond each time they fail. The CHAMPION chooses to forget their failures and fight on again. Their motto is, “knocked down seven times, get up eight!”
Being a CHAMPION has nothing to do with success and failure on the scoreboard, it has to do with choosing a Championship Character every moment of every day.
CHAMPIONS realize that some days, even most days they don’t “feel” like working, striving, paying the price to becoming a CHAMPION. But then they remember, or another CHAMPION reminds them, that being a CHAMPION is a choice they make over and over each day… and so they make that choice again.
Above all, Being…Becoming a CHAMPION is a Choice you Make Each Day. WHAT WILL YOU CHOOSE?