Be Better
It has been estimated that the average adult may make in the neighborhood of 35,000 decisions in a day. Young children may make around 3,000. There is no way to accurately measure this but you get the idea that we make a lot of decisions every day no matter what your age. I believe that one decision we need to make every day is quite simple. Be Better.
For the last 9 months I've worn a band every day with that simple phrase. Here's why. At the 2016 National Athletic Directors Convention an Athletic Director from Tampa, FL by the name of Lanness Robinson was running for a seat on the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrator Association Board of Directors. During his brief campaign speech he talked about his uncle, the late Freddie Solomon who had a fantastic career in the NFL. Freddie had been the main target on what would become one of the most famous plays in NFL history called "The Catch". What you don't see on the highlight is Freddie Solomon slip as he makes a cut. The rest was history as his teammate Dwight Clark made the leaping touchdown catch that propelled the San Francisco 49er's to the Super Bowl.
After the game, although thrilled with winning the NFC Championship, Freddie's family and friends could tell he was troubled. When asked about it he simply said "I have to be better". He was upset that he had slipped and not been able to do his job at an important time of the game and was determined to be better. In honor of his uncle, who died of cancer in 2012, Mr. Robinson had made that a goal of his every day as well. The story moved me and has motivated me ever since to try and live it out daily in my professional and personal life.
We can all try to be better today than we were yesterday in some area of our life. Is it something we need to be better at physically? Do we need to be in better shape? Do we need to get better at a skill in a sport that we're playing? A song we're singing? A part of a song we're playing in the marching band?
Do we need to get better mentally by studying a little bit more to make sure our grades stay where they need to be? Do we need to read more to stay sharp and challenge our self to grow personally and/or professionally? Is there a course I can take to help make me better at my job?
Do we need to be a better:
For the last 9 months I've worn a band every day with that simple phrase. Here's why. At the 2016 National Athletic Directors Convention an Athletic Director from Tampa, FL by the name of Lanness Robinson was running for a seat on the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrator Association Board of Directors. During his brief campaign speech he talked about his uncle, the late Freddie Solomon who had a fantastic career in the NFL. Freddie had been the main target on what would become one of the most famous plays in NFL history called "The Catch". What you don't see on the highlight is Freddie Solomon slip as he makes a cut. The rest was history as his teammate Dwight Clark made the leaping touchdown catch that propelled the San Francisco 49er's to the Super Bowl.
After the game, although thrilled with winning the NFC Championship, Freddie's family and friends could tell he was troubled. When asked about it he simply said "I have to be better". He was upset that he had slipped and not been able to do his job at an important time of the game and was determined to be better. In honor of his uncle, who died of cancer in 2012, Mr. Robinson had made that a goal of his every day as well. The story moved me and has motivated me ever since to try and live it out daily in my professional and personal life.
We can all try to be better today than we were yesterday in some area of our life. Is it something we need to be better at physically? Do we need to be in better shape? Do we need to get better at a skill in a sport that we're playing? A song we're singing? A part of a song we're playing in the marching band?
Do we need to get better mentally by studying a little bit more to make sure our grades stay where they need to be? Do we need to read more to stay sharp and challenge our self to grow personally and/or professionally? Is there a course I can take to help make me better at my job?
Do we need to be a better:
- student
- daughter
- son
- mother
- father
- sister
- brother
- teammate
- wife
- husband
- teacher
- coach
- doctor
- lawyer
- banker
- laborer
- stay at home mom
- grandparent
- athletic administrator
- _______________
You get the idea. Keep filling in the blanks.
As mentioned earlier we can be faced with thousands of decisions in these roles but let's get up in the morning, remember one simple phrase and make the most important decision of the day to just BE BETTER. If we will make that one decision I believe we will be on our way to fulfilling those roles to their fullest, being the best we can be and in turn make ourselves, Roughrider athletics, activities and Roosevelt High School an elite place to be each day.
As a way to remind you of that the photo above is of a little band we've had made to help remind us to be better. If you would like one please stop by the Activities Office to get yours. We'd love to give you one. If you're a Roughrider alumni living away from Des Moines let me know and we'll send you one. (If you're not a Roughrider we'd be happy to give you one too because we want everyone to be better).
Riders, let's make the most important decision we can make today and every day.
Let's Be Better.
Let's Be Better.
#bleedblue
#bebetter
