THE LAST DAY,THE LAST POST

Here we are, the end of 2020. Most of us are ready to move on into the coming year excited about change and the creation of possibilities not disabilities. To help in that effort, I have written and published my next book, THE COMPETITIVE BUDDHA, due in late May of 2021. I promise you that the issues we had to confront during COVID are addressed within...impermanence, detachment, courage, faith, hope, integrity, selflessness and others, all related to sports and life. It serves you as a tool kit for navigating these unchartered waters during a pandemic and offers a spiritual path to guide all of us to being the best version of ourselves and up our game in life. here is amnestying excerpt from the introduction: 

This book is not just for those in athletics but for anyone interested in the potential of the human spirit. I simply use the arena of athletics as a vehicle to explore leadership and masterful performance in sports and all arenas of life. In his classic tome, Golf in the Kingdom, Michael Murphy talks about developing “astronauts of inner space” who break through to levels of awareness not yet explored by the human race. I hope to scratch the surface of this concept and help all of us be such explorers.

My book is not an impeccable masterpiece on Buddhist thought. Writing this book was a daunting task. I was overwhelmed at times because there is so much to comprehend, so much to know. So, I decided to stick to basic simple truths that I can get my head wrapped around. I don’t claim to know much but what I do know, I will share with you as I have with many others over a 40-year career in athletics.

Here is my attempt to bring well-chosen and selective laws, principles, and strategies of the Buddha into the world of sports to help heighten the joy and happiness while reducing the suffering in our lives. Sport is one of the few activities in life that addresses the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of full capacity living, making it an invaluable vehicle for such growth. I’m a life-long student of philosophy, psychology and sport.

I’m humbly aware that I am no scholar. I’m a thoughtful, observant jock with a deep spiritual connection helping me to master my craft. I’m not a Zen Buddhist but I practice each day how to be a better version of myself by attending to the teachings of the Buddha. I am the hole in a flute through which comes the breath of those brilliant Buddhist minds, from me to you.

I’ve been at it for most of my life and after 40 years of coaching, teaching, writing, performing, I am only half way there. I am a spiritual seeker, a spiritual wanderer and wonderer looking for and discovering ways that appear to make sense, especially in the world of sports where I’ve been attached at the hip since I discovered a ball at the age of five. I’m trying to figure it out. Sports has been an awesome venue to ask the bigger, deeper questions. Everything I am today has been heavily influenced by sport and my years as a competitive athlete, coach and teacher.

Have a very joyful, peaceful, loving and connective new year. See you at the beginning as I continue to use this avenue to make a difference in the lives of all who read within.

Much Love and chi,

Jerry

DORMANT LEADERSHIP

 Here is a concept I talk about in my best seller, THE WAY OF THE CHAMPION.

Check this out.

I have have observed that every one of us has the extraordinary potential to be a leader. In fact, I believe we are all leaders yet for various interesting reasons, those innate, natural traits remain beneath the surface of our persona...in a word, they acquire the status of being DORMANT...asleep, untapped, hidden, obfuscated ( what does that mean?), frozen in time only to be thawed when the need appears. For example, there is a story about some people standing around watching a young boy pinned under the wheel of a car that rolled down the driveway only to come to a stop on top of his little body. Amid the frantic crowd appears a 65 year old woman who lifts the car and directs the others to pull the boy from under the tire. She demonstrated the leadership qualities of courage, determination, integrity, fearlessness, sacrifice, commitment, and audacity, traits she never believed existed within her.

Now, because I believe we all have leadership traits, I also believe that not everyone of us must or should be leaders. Even if you are considered by others to be a good leader , it not a good enough reason to take on that role. You must have love and passion for wanting to serve others in this way... you must be eager and willing and ready to demonstrate those special qualities that we all have to different degrees. For those who choose not this path of leading,coaching,mentoring,parenting...that is just fine but know you choose so, not because you can't but because you exercise your power of choice. Ironically enough such a decision is, indeed, a leadership trait...so there, you are a leader who coaches yourself to follow the path of your own heart.

OK? Now, here is an exercise for us to do. List 10 traits that you will find in good leaders you have known. Be brutally honest and underline 3 of those traits that you believe you have or are capable of demonstrating at various times. Now, if you have been wanting to show leadership but have had the "I feel this is not me" syndrome, take those three traits and write

Way of Champions – BLOG

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down all the ways throughout the day that you can demonstrate these as a way to give and serve others from this place of leadership. Keep it simple,keep it specific then proceed to watch how others respond to you and how you feel about exercising what were dormant traits. Only do this and be this way IF you have had the inkling to dabble with something new. SIMPLE yet NOT EASY...Yes?

I'm leading myself away from writing...getting somewhat antsy to lead myself up the mountain and follow some deer... GOOD Leadership is a give and take...leading and following...it's BOTH.

DocJ

TRUSTING LEADERSHIP PROCESS

 The mighty Mississippi River moves slowly at times, only to rapidly speed up in the narrows. Then as it reverses direction and it appears like it is off course returning to the start... only to reverse itself again as it heads to it's destination, a total of 2,348 miles. If you were in a kayak on the river, you might get nervous and think you were going in the wrong direction. If you trusted the flow you would know that it was a temporary setback and not get out of the boat and give up on your journey because you trust that if you stay the course, you will arrive at your destination. The journey of extraordinary leadership is like the river...it has many reversals, setbacks, failures and losses. You will plateau, slow down, stand still and then speed up and experience the "rapids of growth". All of this movement is a natural progression in your evolving process of being an extraordinary leader or coach. This is a process no different than those you lead experience. We are all in the same boat so to speak and this is the point where compassion for each others journey takes place. Only the great leaders and coaches of all time acknowledge,trust and accept this natural process to be so. When you grow daises, you would never think of pulling them up in order to accelerate their growth as they break through the soil for the first time. You trust that they will grow when ready, one millimeter at a time. The journey of evolving as a leader and coach may be slow. No need to panic or be fearful. After 35 years of functioning in leadership and coaching capacities, I imagine that I am perhaps only half way there still experiencing the setbacks and failures, learning from them and continue to go forward because I love the ride...it has been an amazing journey of growth, fulfillment and joy amid the setbacks and failures. To help you with the process remember the following:

1)it's not about you, it's about them.

2)stay emotionally engaged to them, love them for their pure intentions.

3)know the difference between what you can and can not control. HINT: you can't control them.

4)forget about outcomes and focus on the process. 5)be real,be open,be receptive and be service oriented.

Let me say that I do not pretend to have answers... just some observations. It has been said that there are two ways to obtain wisdom: PAINLESSLY from a teacher or PAINFULLY from life. I have discovered that the latter is far superior. You must learn to be a warrior leader through the ups and downs like the river. I simply offer practical guidelines to help you to trust and stay the course on these unchartered and turbulent waters of extraordinary leadership. MEDITATION, I have found, is one way to help stay focused,calm and relaxed throughout this process. Read my book, "The Way of the Champion" for more on how to develop the skill of meditation. Also, my book, THE COMPETITIVE BUDDHA, due in late Spring of 2021 has a whole part Three on such leadership

 

THE RIPPLE EFFECT

 When you drop a pebble in the center of a calm lake, the reaction created is a series of concentric circles that ripple across the water to the most distant shore touching everything in its wake. So it is with coaching and leadership. Who you are and what you do comes from your center, your essence and as you talk,guide, mentor and teach, your words ripple outward impacting and influencing all within your world. And that influence is never neutral... your body language, tone, words, habits and behaviors will either light the fires of passion in those you coach and lead OR douse their flames. To create growth and change in others, follow the advice of Gandhi who teaches us to be the change you want to see. In a word: MODEL. Model the behavior you expect others to emulate. I am always perplexed by coaches who demand fitness and wellness from their athletes and then proceed to stand on the sidelines chatting and laughing and watching as the athletes run, lift weights and stretch their bodies to keep fit. What message does that send? When I coach a team, I always expect myself to do what I ask of them. I RUN, LIFT and STRETCH with them. I recall when a nutrition expert was talking to a group of athletes and everyone was tuned out. At first I thought the athletes were being rude but the truth was, this "expert" was severely overweight. Why would they listen to him?

History tells us that in ancient times, the most respected generals did not seek comfort. They purposefully experienced the same adverse conditions...toil, hunger, thirst, cold...as their soldiers. They modeled what they expected from those they led. My dad was a high ranking officer in the New York City fire department. He often led a group of tentative, scared men into burning buildings carrying the hose and showing them how it was to be done. He was fearless and performed that way. The men were in awe of this warrior, admired him and became willing to go to battle under his guidance. In today's parlance, "he walked the talk"...he had integrity and courage. He created the ripple effect and to this day he is remembered, 45 years after retirement, as an extraordinary leader.

Let the following questions help to guide you towards modeling what you want from those you lead:

1) How do you cope with failure?
2)How do you handle pressure and adversity ?
3)How do you exhibit patience and persistence?
4)How do you create balance and congruity in your daily life?
5)How do you deal with criticism?
6)How do you listen?
7)How do you give to others?
8)How do you accept responsibility and be accountable for your actions? 9)How do you do all that you can to be the best you can be?
0)How do you show respect and trust in others?

How you express yourself with the above is how others will learn to express these items as well. You are the pebble and they are the recipients of it's wake. Again, WALK YOUR TALK. My rule of thumb when in leadership roles is: Never ask of others what you do not do yourself... or at the very least mimick in your own life on some scale. My favorite leadership/ coaching story along these lines is about the time I was invited to give a key note talk at the NIKE/China convention on Leadership. The day before my talk there was a 5K race with 135 participants from the conference...all of them senior executives with an average age of 30. I managed to win the race handily much to the surprise to this young group.( they couldn't imagine this older guy being able to outrun them) I can tell you that I have never had such extraordinary attention at my presentation the following morning. They were ready to follow every word. I was able to use the race to my advantage. I lead with my heart, legs and passion and they seemed ready to follow wherever I went with the discussion, whatever I said . BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE said Gandhi.

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ORGANIC WARRIOR LEADERSHIP

 Here is something I give thought to every time I am given the privilege of being in a leadership role.

It is called Organic Leadership. Be a farmer!

Most who call themselves coach/leader are using what seems to be an industrial model, a linear, authoritative approach based on conformity. They seem to "manufacture" good soldiers who follow orders. The Warrior Leader, on the other hand, uses a creative agricultural model, one that is organic in nature not mechanical. They are able to establish environments of "good soil" where others will flourish. They are willing and able to "customize" conditions to the circumstances of a situation depending on individual differences and needs. With such personalized leadership, they "grow" proteges who, rather than follow orders from others like a good soldier, they follow the orders of their hearts. The difference between the two styles is drastic: the first model is akin to eating greasy "fast food" while that of the Warrior leader feeds on organic, healthy gourmet fare. The former is more financially, physically and spiritually costly . The latter energizes,inspires, and empowers the spirit...good "soul food". What model do you prefer? Can I take your order? Can I fill your cup with love and heart?

Keep shining, DocJ

THE DANCING COACH

 Wow...two blogs in one day... This is the perfect follow up to the Leader's Creed the post that was just written. This is about the dual DANCE that great coaches and leaders do to be most effective. Give this some thought and see how it impacts and even empowers you with your athletes.

1) There is the dance between giving and receiving, receiving and learning.To be an effective leader,coach,teacher and mentor, you must be a good student and follower. I suggest that you be open,receptive and listen to those you lead because they can teach you about who they are and this will make your work more effective. When you accrue this wisdom, you,in turn, can lead and teach them as they can now more effectively follow and learn from your wisdom.

2) There is the dance between the two distinct axes of leadership, the first being performance management, the x's and o's of the business,sport or project...or life. The second axis , perhaps more important and crucial, is what I refer to as the Spiritual or Inspirational axis , allowing you to INSPIRE and EMPOWER those under your guidance. Oren Lyons,leader,caretaker and faith keeper of the Native American tradition and a member of the Onondaga Council of Chiefs,claims that you can't have effective leadership without spirituality. Without spirituality, you have a unidimensional approach which,in a word, is DISPASSIONATE, or the absence of heart. Without heart(love,caring,kindness,respect, positive regard,trust)you set a tone with a team, organization,family or individual that is UNSAFE,unloving,uncaring and spiritless in a results-driven culture where failure is unacceptable and taking risks is discouraged. In this unsafe environment, progress and growth and change are inhibited and curtailed. Emotional cancer is abundant and proliferates. All involved suffer. What is needed is an environment of "emotional engagement", very much like being a good parent provides.

The ancient Taoist sage and author of "The Art of War", Sun- Tzu,reminds us about how to lead with HEART: "Regard your soldiers as your children,and they will follow wherever you lead. Look upon them as your beloved sons and they will stand by you until death".

All the great leaders and coaches today seek to inspire and empower others. They accomplish it in environments that are safe, where those they lead open their hearts and give permission for them to enter and that's where a leader's greatest INFLUENCE takes place, where others will begin to believe they can be something other than ordinary. Don't be a wallflower, don't sit out this dance. Waltz like a Warrior Leader and dance the dance.

A LEADER'S CREED

 Here is a rerun from the distant pass written back in 2011 as a blog. It is excerpted from my book called, COACHING WITH HEART, and this creed is the essence of how we remind ourselves to lead in this way.

 I WRITE AS I TALK...INCESSENTLY ONCE I BEGIN. But for this blog, I will cut to the chase and state what I believe to be the central belief of our sacred work of coaching/leading. It is something I have written after reading a statement by Rudolph Steiner on his approach to teaching and then, putting my spin on his philosophy:

REGARD THOSE YOU COACH & LEAD IN SACRED AWE,
COACH & LEAD THEM IN LOVE,
CREATE & CULTIVATE A PLACE OF HEART,
WHERE ALL BELIEVE THEY CAN BE SOMETHING OTHER THAN ORDINARY.

 I make this suggestion: place these words in a frame and hang it in a place where you can read it each day before you do your precious work with others. 

CULTIVATING AN OPEN HEART

 In my next book, The Competitive Buddha, I include as one of the vital values of championship teams the idea of COMPASSION. Here is a small excerpt from that section of the book.

We need compassion and human affection; they are the ultimate sources of success in life.

The Dalai Lama

Compassion is a major theme throughout Buddhist teaching; it brings us inner strength with less fear and increases self-confidence leading to our success in sports and life. It is something that can be taught and therefore learned through consistent conscious intentional practice.

According to Buddhist thought, compassion is a state of mind of wanting others to feel free, happy, confident and successful. Isn’t this what we all crave for each other in athletics? Coach Phil Jackson agrees and believes that compassion had been the most integral, important aspect to his coaching. He found that a few kind, thoughtful words can have a strong, positive, transformative effect on an entire team. He considered it one of several elements responsible for his championship cultures. When Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant became compassionate leaders, they transformed the Bulls and Lakers into two of the greatest teams of all time. Compassion for Phil, Michael and Kobe, was the key foundational building block in their competitive sports world. Compassion is an essential characteristic of the Mamba Mentality.

It’s no accident that coach Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors has thoughts about compassion in sports, as Phil was his mentor while playing with the Bulls. One of Steve’s core values for the Warriors is compassion. Steve believes that the most powerful leaders in the world are the ones who have enormous compassion for others. Coach Kerr also experienced compassion with head coach Gregg Popovich, as a player on the San Antonio Spurs. I’ve talked with Steve about compassion as a cultural value. He believes, as does Jackson, that players respond wholeheartedly to such an environment by their actions, such as when they play or don’t, and understanding their roles, as well as understanding each other. Being a great communicator, Kerr actively demonstrates his understanding of his players’ concerns, issues, and what matters most to them. Because of this approach, all the Warriors feel that they are valued, that they are important, and that they are relevant, regardless of their talents.

Buddhism’s teaching of compassion is extremely compelling in athletics. The Buddhists’ culture is intent on cultivating an open, unlimited heart toward humanity. The Chinese ancient book, TAO TE CHING, states that “leaders whose positions are lasting are those who are most compassionate; when two armies meet, the one with compassion is the one who tastes the “victory.”

Such thought is extremely relevant in the current world of sports. Where there is compassion, there is courage within, giving a person a sense of comfort and security, knowing that if risks are taken, regardless of outcome, all will be fine. For example, compassion helps you to not worry about mistakes, failures or loss. Compassion helps athletes to learn from setbacks and move on. Compassion also empowers you to be brave, fearless and tenacious.

TEAM CULTURE MAGIC

 Having been an intimate part of over 115 championship teams, I feel certain that there is a special magic to these cultures, one that goes well beyond winning championships. Here is an excerpt from WIN THE DAY book of mine that details what that magic is. 

The magic of the power of a harmonious group is an important feature that has made THE ART OF WAR one of the most widely read books among generals, corporate CEOs, and athletic coaches throughout the world. The Chinese book of change, the I CHING, teaches that the human spirit is nourished by a sense of connectedness and unity. As coach Jackson says in the above quote, each member is strengthened by a well-connected, cohesive, unified team. When you experience this, magic happens.

When I work with teams that demonstrate connectedness and harmony it is pure magic. I notice something special about them...how they walk, talk, run, play. It’s different in a special way. The following passage describes my experience after being with such a team during an action- packed, intense final-four weekend. I gave each member a copy, and I want you to have a sense about their dance, their way, one that mesmerized all who came to watch. I wish we all could experience the magic of such a team:

"In my view, the athletes who play on this team do so because there is a magic to it, one that is hard to find in life. Partly, this magic resides in the physical sensation and pleasure of catching a ball on the run, sprinting to the goal for a score. Part of the magic is in the psychological realm where we feel the trust, security, and confidence from being together all season. And in the spiritual domain, it is the safe, comfortable place created to help us take risks and look foolish or fail, so necessary to discover what we are made of, the juice of life, a way of being, not only on the field, court, arena, but in the larger game of life. There is not only the relationship with team, coach, self, but our relationship to the stick, the ball...all an extension of our hearts, our souls, an expression of who we are. There is also an aesthetic component of the team, one that demonstrates the absolutely most beautiful way of playing andcompeting. Just as ballet is the most beautiful way of moving the body between two points, our team is to your sport as ballet is to walking. It is the magical ultimate win the day experience incorporating body, mind and spirit. So many other teams wish they could dance like you rather than experience a dance form more rigid, forceful, less fluid, and contrived. These are forms without soul, without heart, without courage. When they see you, they discover a more disciplined, beautiful, flowing way, free of fear, filled with compassion, all of which fills the void, the holes in the soul. They crave your dance and are not sure what it is or how you’re being. They just know they are tired of being the wallflowers in the big dance. they want a piece of the magic you own, yet, until they let go of the need to fight you, beat you, destroy you and simply play the game or dance the dance, the magic will be forever elusive."

They won the national championship, but more importantly, they won the day as well as the hearts of all who came to experience their demonstration of passion and love for each other and for the game. They were being champions even before the outcome was decided. The next year, at the final four, the team t-shirts read: DANCE ON. They did and won, once again for their seventh consecutive National Championship..

Magic happens when you remember to remain connected to your love and passion for the game and each other and become so much more. In what ways is your team culture magical? Notice what happens when you embrace the win the day philosophy.

LESS IS MORE: SIMPLICITY

 Here is a value that I wish to live by each day. A minimalist at heart, I see how I can uncompliate my life by choosing LESS rather than MORE. Here is an excerpt from my BUDDHA BOOK. 

We are all drowning in a sea of information. There is too much to learn, too much to know. This is complicating our way. The Buddha asks us to notice the great way of simplicity; when we do, greater happiness will be ours. It has been said that the Buddha left all of his wealth to be simply in nature.

The world of athletics is becoming extremely complex and we could learn from the Buddha, a more simple, happier way. From the time children are five years old, family life becomes a complex schedule of sporting events, practices, expenses, travel...total disruption and all-encompassing lifestyle as we all hope our kids catch the next train to Stanford. It continues into high school and beyond. Whatever happened to the simpler days of just playing in the sandbox? Sports are out of control and one must wonder, are we any better off because of it? Think about all the attendant technological advances: watches, heart-rate monitors, energy bars, replacement drinks, exercise machines. Clearly much is gained, yet so much is lost. Whatever happened to listening to your body for appropriate feedback? Ethiopian Abebe Bikila won an Olympic gold medal in the marathon running barefoot. No high-tech shoes or digital timepiece for him; he simply ran. Complex gadgetry can create distraction, anxiety, and tension, hindering performance.

Take a close look at your exercise and sports agenda. Think about ways in which you can seriously create change toward a more simplified program. What’s essential and what’s not? Do you really need all that equipment? Will having those expensive running shoes really help you to run up that hill more quickly? If so, is it necessary to run so quickly? Do you really need to jump into your car and drive thirty minutes each day to an exercise gym when you might be able to gain the same benefits by lifting weights at home, using the travel time saved for reading or meditation? For some athletes and exercise buffs, portable heart monitors are useful and worth having, an integral aspect of their training; for others, they are superfluous gear of little value. How do you feel about this?

As you begin to feel the numerous benefits from a shift in consciousness to a more simplistic physical world, you may become motivated to do the same in other aspects of your life. Take a look at your environment, your diet, your relationships, your career, your possessions. What can you shed to create a less complicated lifestyle? By noticing this, you will begin to create much happiness in your life by following the less is more approach: a simple meal, a simple day, a simple home. There’s less to worry about; it hardly matters when your no-frills ten-year-old car gets scratched in a parking lot. A computer, for some, is essential; for others, it’s an expensive toy they can do without.

Creating simplicity in your complex world is not easy. It requires re-thinking priorities and the willingness to empty your pockets to fill our soul. Taking a cut in salary could mean more hours with the family, quality time with your hobbies and

less upheaval even if there’s less money left over at the end of the month. it requires coming to terms with a deeper, more spiritual question: “How much is enough?” As opposed to “How much can I get?” Perhaps it means learning how to live simply in order to simply live.

Simplicity is liberating. It helps you to focus only on that which really matters. Mastery is experienced during times of pure, unadulterated simplicity. Perhaps the greatest sophistication in life is when we can embrace the competitive Buddha sports way: less is more.

BE HERE NOW

 Another excerpt from THE COMPETITIVE BUDDHA . BE HERE NOW

 For today’s athlete to mourn the past is to perseverate on a mistake, a missed shot, a faulty defensive move. To worry about the future is to perseverate on the possible outcome, results and statistics. Living in the present moment is to intentionally dwell in what is happening now...what are you doing, how are you being and what is happening all around you?

To be the best Buddha athlete, you must learn to live in the present. In his classic book, THE WAY OF ZEN, Alan Watts refers to what Western mystics call the Eternal Now, the state of this one moment. This means to park your attention on to what’s going on without focusing on past regrets or future fears. According to Watts, “I have realized that the past and future are real illusions, that they exist in the present, which is what there is and all there is.”

What I have recently learned, and this may help you, too, is if I am thinking of the future, I come back to the present, by reminding myself that I am thinking, right now in the present, about the past and future and simply acknowledge that fact; then I continue to follow what’s going on now. It might sound like this: “Oh, I’m thinking of the future in this present moment. What else am I doing now?What can I think about now that will keep me in this precious moment?”

This is what a Tiger Woods or a Steph Curry or a Megan Rapinoe can do so well. And like these icons, we all can come back to the “now.” Kobe was a true Buddha in his ability to be present most of the time on the court.

A competitive Buddha approach is one that knows in all physical activity you must be focused in the here and now to experience mastery. What we all need to know is that being in the now is pure joy and satisfaction. Alan Watts points out that you don’t dance to get to the other side of the floor; you don’t sing to get to the end of the song. Neither should you work out, train, run, swim, bike, or do your job just to get it done. Focus on the joy of the process – minute by minute, day by day. Again, Kobe was brilliant at this, as he was with so many of these values. He didn’t play to get to the end of the game or season.

To help you focus like this, direct your attention to all the wonderful things going on inside you as you play. Feel the blood flow through the arterial pathways. Remind yourself of all the little things you must do now. Focus your eyes only on what you are doing: the ball, stick, field, weights, the book you are writing. Choose a good visual target. Fill your ears with words of encouragement and positive expressions. If possible, listen to music that facilitates concentration in the moment. Or think about the runner who took all the numbers and hands from the face of his watch and wrote one word: now! Wow! He had the correct time, every second of every day. Try to season your life as if you were to live forever, yet act as if this is your last day on earth. Carpe diem: seize the day. In the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., feel “the fierce urgency of now.”

By the way, I must tell you that as I wrote this book, every minute of the journey includes the music of R. Carlos Nakai playing on my Spotify play-list. It puts me into the total creative, relaxed present state.

BELIEFS AND PERFORMANCE

 Examine your beliefs to see if, indeed, they limit or expand you. Here are some thoughts taken from my book WIN THE DAY.

There is an expression I use; what you believe you receive. We have within ourselves all of what we need to accomplish extraordinary things. The iconic bumblebee, it is too small, too heavy and has a low aerodynamic structure, yet it can fly hundreds of miles in a single day.

I love to tell my teams that their opponent’s greatest advantage is your lack of belief in yourselves. I then proceed to mention that this belief they must have is not connected to outcomes or results. Their belief needs to focus on all that they can control; the little things, their promises and their culture. I say you may or may not win the game but you’ll compete like crazy and play your very best. BELIEVE THAT!

Here’s how to coach the value of BELIEF with your culture:

•   When you feel a sense of self-doubt and lack of belief, know that you are probably concentrating too much on what you can’t control: the outcomes, results, points or goals scored.Refocus, instead, on believing in the following:

•   Believe in yourself and your team and staff. You have skills, strategies, and enough talent to perform well. Simply show up at your even and believe that you can demonstrate your current level of expertise. Believe that you are in a position where the best will happen. Expect to have fun and enjoy the process. Believe you will be better because of the experience.

•   Believe in your teammates or partners. Believe that they, too, are willing to do all they can to make the most of a situation. Have discussions in the group about commitment and desire with regard to going all-out and giving your best. Believe that you are there for each other, and when the going gets tough you’re willing to even bleed for each other.

•   Believe that your coaches and leaders have the same goals and desires as you and the team, and will work endlessly to give of themselves and do all that’s needed in order for everyone to experience their full potential.

•   Believe that achievement is yours when you believe all of the above. Expect to achieve higher levels of performance. Believe you will have a great experience and terrific season as you put yourself and your teammates and coworkers in position to be the best all of you can be.

•   Believe in the need to start doing that you’re not doing in order to strengthen your belief in yourself. What do you need to stop doing that you are doing in order to strengthen your belief in yourself?

According to psychologist John Lilly, “beliefs are limits to be examined and transcended.” The ancient Chinese book, THE TAO TE CHING, teaches us that “evolved individuals have no fixed minds.”

William James, the brilliant American philosopher, once said that “human beings, by changing the inner beliefs of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives.”

BUDDHA BRAIN, MAMBA MIND

 What many do not know is that the late, great Kobe Bryant was a daily meditator. His mentality, as well, was very much like the Buddha mind. Here is an excerpt from my next book, out in Spring and now available at Amazon pre-order. 

I was smack dab in the middle of writing this section of the book, “Buddha Brain, Sports Mind” when I received the heartbreaking news that Kobe Bryant left this world with his daughter Gianna and seven other friends in a devastating helicopter crash. This unfortunate loss awakened in me how Kobe, indeed, was more of a Buddha than most ever knew. I immediately had the thought that I wanted somehow to honor this iconic athlete’s life and his mission which was to impact the world of the female athlete. I choose to take various aspects of his character and mentality and integrate them into the content of this book in an appropriate way. I was talking to one of Kobe Bryant’s close friends recently, George Mumford, and he encouraged me to follow through with this idea, come from my heart and let my intuition do the writing with no pretension and put my ego aside. The outcome was the new title for this pivotal section PART TWO, now called “Buddha Brain, Mamba Mind.” By doing this I hope to promote his legacy and inspire you to embrace what is now called the “Mamba Mentality,” a variation on the theme of THE COMPETITIVE BUDDHA.

Let me begin this section with a word about the Buddha Brain, which believes that life and performance in sports is all about our thoughts. If you change your thoughts you change your life and performance. If you wish to take charge and experience mastery, your thoughts must align with your vision. In this section I present impeccable, time-honored Buddhist truths that will influence your thoughts and help create an environment of mastery that supports that vision. But something else is essential to achieve mastery. You must connect the Buddha Brain with the power of the Mamba Mind.

Where the brain is the physical organ in the head manufacturing all thought, the mind is the physical brain plus the body, the world you inhabit and all of your essential being and culture coming together to develop your mentality, a mind-set that helps define masterful performance. It is a behavioral package that results in particular ways of going about a certain task. This is where the Mamba Mind gets interesting.

Kobe’s brain apparently was marinated in most of the Buddha values that I present in this section during his long career thanks to his connection with Phil Jackson and George Mumford. Therefore, he developed a way of performing on the court and in life and brilliantly labeled it the Mamba Mentality. This mentality drove him on a constant quest to find answers. He had an endless curiosity to figure things out. His approach, like Buddha Sports athletes, was all about the process and his belief and trust in the wisdom of diligence...he worked hard. He refused to harbor fear about results and focused instead on the Buddhist concept of being present now. He believed in intentional practice. It didn’t matter what others thought about him. He followed the Eightfold Path's teachings especially Right Action, Right Thought, Right Effort, Right Livelihood, Right Mindfulness, and

Right View. In order to perfect his craft, he acted in faith of his convictions. Kobe was an unusual person who, to the time of his death, took refuge in his practice of daily meditation. His intention was to practice being the best version of himself daily, one of the strongest hallmarks of the Buddha athlete.

The Mamba mind is the Zen mind or beginner’s mind, made up of the list of values and thoughts of this section. It is a child’s mind free of judgment, free of fear and free of expectation. When athletes and others experience this mind-set, they feel a sense of divine liberation. It is only then, when we control our Buddha Brain thoughts, that the state of mastery can be attained.

THE PATH OF MASTERY

Speaking of mastery, here are a few thoughts to better help you to gain a perspective on the Buddha Sports concept of mastery. There is no path to mastery; mastery is the path. It is a state of mind achieved through a consistent day-by-day lifestyle of high-level, intentional practice of your sport or other activity. In Buddhist teaching, practice is the way of mastery. This path is often a thousand miles or more but it begins with a single, high-quality first step called intentional preparation. Focusing on this single act alone is considered mastery. And that movement is repeated over and over and over until you feel it is time to move ahead.

Practice as if you are preparing for the national championship or perhaps an important talk or presentation. Prepare as if it were your last chance to prove your level of competency. It takes courage to prepare consistently in practice with game time mastery and intensity. The Buddha Brain and Mamba Mind will help you to achieve this.

Mastery means “time in the saddle,” a consistent, gradual, continual and intentional preparation. It is a principle easily learned. I have prepared well to write this book by diligently exercising my Buddha Brain and Mamba Mind for thousands of hours over a thirty-year span. However, this can only be accomplished when there is love, passion and joy for the work you do. Kobe had this in his life. Mastery in all of life is only possible when these three heart-felt values are present. When they are, the sky's the only limit and you experience mastery.

LEANING INTO A SCARY VULNERABLE PLACE

 So here is an excerpt from my book WIN THE DAY. FYI, my writing here is a way to inspire you to consider various aspects of leadership, this one being vulnerability. In the book , I include ways to implement these aspects but for blog purposes, I just have a certain amount of space so often times that implementation is not included. Here we go. Remember, VULNERABILITY is interesting. It is something we ADMIRE in others yet for ourselves, it is not easy.

Vulnerability is not weakness. And that myth is profoundly dangerous. It’s about showing up and being seen.
Brené Brown, Ph.D.

Being vulnerable is a strength often related to being authentic. Great coaches are not afraid to be authentically vulnerable and admit they made a mistake or say “that loss is on me, I didn’t prepare us well enough.” Steve Kerr is such a coach. He’ll apologize to players if he keeps players on the bench too long. If a player has a disagreement with him about how he’s being used, he listens and doesn’t take it personally.

This trait is a value rarely found in the coaching profession or among athletes in all sports. We struggle with being authentic and vulnerable because we think of it as weakness while in actuality it is strength. It demonstrates courage (see section on Courageousness). In the words of Brené Brown, Daring Greatly means the courage to be vulnerable.

I know from a personal perspective how much courage it takes to be authentic and vulnerable. I’ve been practicing with these values in my coaching for forty years. While I feel I’m only half way there, I keep experimenting with shedding my mask. My mission is not only to make a difference in the lives of others; it’s to master my craft. Every year I get closer to getting “mask-free: and emotionally “naked” on the never ending journey towards full authenticity. It takes courage and the willingness to take risks to “show up and be seen” in the words of researcher/author Brené Brown. I continue to work at being unapologetically me. It’s a frightening place to visit yet it is absolutely essential if I hope to be effective and remain sensitive, caring, respectful, authentic and genuine so as to truly make a difference in the lives of others. It requires me to lean into this fearful, scary place and that takes courage...BUT, I can tell you that when I have the presence of heart to do this, it is so worth it. Most people feel that in order to do their work well, they need a mask they can hide behind such as a title, adegree, a rank, a position. But for me, I can’t do my best work with a mask. I must put aside the Dr. Jerry Lynch, author, athlete mask, come out from behind it and meet you as a human being in all my flaws and imperfections. This is when I truly connect, heart to heart rather than head to head. That’swhen the real work begins.

Those of you who know me and have attended any of my conferences

and workshops know that I don’t use the stage, microphone, or title; I dress comfortably and do not own a “power suit;” I don’t hide behind notes or a lectern. I’m being the same person I am whether leading a group or swimming with my kids or talking with my friends. By being open and stripped of the entire “professional garb” as it were, I can be thoroughly seen and be someone whom I would feel comfortable around. Why do I do this? I do this because I’ve learned that if I want to make a difference, I must connect and meet my audience where they’re at. I must be willing to look silly, make mistakes, forget what I said, fail and even risk you not liking me.

My attitude is that we’re all the same...human beings not human doings...who are here to help each other learn by sharing that part of ourselves. I need to learn from you what I need to know so that I can help you to know what you need to learn. It’s that simple. I still get caught up into the “professional trap” and I can feel the distance between our hearts set in. I refuse to connect head to head because no growth takes place. So I try each time I get the opportunity to make a difference to show up and be seen – or in my case, be experienced. The result of being authentic and vulnerable is I gain the trust and respect of others and they become loyal, secure, enthusiastic and committed to “going the distance” with me. This demands “outside-the-box” behavior, out on the edge, fearlessly fighting to win the hearts of my athletes.

GO SLOWER,ARRIVE SOONER

 Here is a short excerpt from my next book, due to arrive in Spring 2021. It is on PATIENCE AND ITS VALUE ON AND OFF THE COURT.

My new book, The Competitive Buddha, is now available for pre-order from a local bookstore near you or in hardcover from Amazon

In my selfish, impatient view, the rest of the world needs to catch up to me. It is also this perception that causes me unnecessary, endless suffering. Patience is the virtue I fail to master. And, what is worse, I want to have patience now and do not want to wait any longer. Surely you see the irony in this last sentence and it speaks to the gravity and urgency of my problem.

Well, I’m happy to tell you my level of self-compassion is helping me to be more patient each day, accepting most of those things that can annoy me in the present moment. I am feeling more peaceful and less anxious. I attribute this shift in consciousness to my daily meditation practice which helps me be more mindful of this issue and accept what is. It’s not like my impatience is permanently gone but I do feel good about how I can catch it early as it begins to appear. I take three deep breaths and remind myself how I’d rather be happy than right. Being aware of my impatience has been the key to managing it.

Patience is an important virtue for those of us in athletics. We want success and we want it now. We want to play more, earn more, get more and more and do not want to wait. This makes us tight, tense and tentative which in turn delays the changes of what we desire from occurring

As suggested in the opening quote, Buddhist thought teaches that all things come at the appropriate time. Patience is the ability to enjoy and immerse yourself in the process, the flow of life, as it assumes its own form and shape. I use the following story to demonstrate the importance of patience and mastery in sports:

An athlete went to her coach and asked how long it would take to develop into a world-class triathlete. He reassured her that if she trained properly, it would take four to five years to come into her own.Feeling frustrated and uneasy about this, she told him she didn’t want to wait that long. In an attempt to force the issue and arrive on the scene sooner, she asked how long it would take if she worked harder, faster and with more effort. Ten to twelve years was his reply.

This sports story, unfortunately is the rule not the exception with athletes. I experience this in my work constantly. It’s important that you don’t think of patience as the capacity to endure. Instead embrace it as an opportunity to be at peace and give yourself time to work toward your goal without time constraints as you enjoy the path of continual improvement. Remember the concept of KAIZEN in Part One: the slow, gradual process of consistent improvement. I like to ask athletes to recite this mantra when impatience is hindering their progress: Go Slower, Arrive Sooner.

Remember that in sports as in life, things occur not when you think they should but when they are supposed to, when the time is right. There is a natural flow to all things. Think for a moment about a race between the tortoise and the hare. Through the inner Kaizen-Buddha qualities of consistent, deliberate, steady slow movement, the tortoise arrives sooner than the faster, more spastic, fatigued hare.

Perhaps the strongest virtue displayed by Buddha Tiger Woods is his palpable patience, winning or losing, up or down. He is mindful of the nature of the game, one of continual cycles as you go through some periods of not being at the top of your game. Tiger embraces golf’s cyclical nature. He is a champion in high times as well as low. The Buddha knows the wisdom of steady, serene thoughts unaffected by the swings of life. For Tiger, the key to his success is patience, the calm and uncompromising enduring of inevitable change.

To help you get a sense of patience in action, consider a shift in your attitude as you contemplate the following about the ancient martial art, Tai Ji and invite others to join you:

Tai Ji practice is never in a rush to get someplace in the future. It is always in the present with the focus on the process. To experience this, wave your arms around the body slowly, feeling every detail of the joints throughout your arms, clicking into action, softly propelling the rippling and curvaceous motion. We call this powerful, graceful motion “Cloud Hands.” As you enjoy this Tai Ji way of waving your arms, you’ll find yourself slowing down, to savor this delicious and fun experience. You now have arrived at the place where you always want to be.

GO SLOWER, ARRIVE SOONER

 I continue to excerpt segments of my next book, to arrive in late Spring 2021. This one is on 

Patience and how it can mitigate suffering on and off the court. Hope you like it.