What Makes the Great Ones Great

An Excerpt From
What Makes the Great Ones Great
by Don Yaeger

Throughout my career as a sportswriter and author, I have not only witnessed incredible skill, but I have also had countless world–class athletes share with me the behaviors they have embraced, honed and utilized to drive themselves to unimaginable heights. I wanted to know how they were able to do what they did for so long and how they stayed ahead of the competition year after year.

Greatness is unique in that it cannot be quantified the way other statistics in sports can. Numbers are irrefutable proof of a record, such as Kareem Abdul–Jabbar's accomplishment as the highest scorer in NBA history or the undefeated record of the 1972 Dolphins.

But does the achievement of those numbers make them the Greatest?

During my interviews, it appeared to me that the truly Great athletes practiced a small set of behaviors that made them dramatically better from their peers. These improvements drove their daily decisions, and the ever-so-slight differences were enough to give them an edge in their ultracompetitive professions.

Among those I interviewed, almost none of them gave credit to their physical gifts; there was always someone bigger, faster and stronger than they were. Instead, the Great ones credited daily discipline and appreciation for what they had achieved–and an even Greater desire to do more. This mindset defies human nature. Most people achieve some level of success and are satisfied with their place, but the truly Great achieve that same level of success and then ask, "What's next?"

The Ripple Effect of Positive Communication and Good Behavior 🗣️:

- In today's fast-paced world, the rise of aggressive behavior in schools, families, organizations, and corporations is a growing concern. This trend poses a significant threat to our collective well-being and productivity. It's time for us to recognize that good behavior and positive communication aren't just polite gestures; they are essential for creating thriving communities and a better society. The Foundation of Strong Organizations 💪 For any organization, a healthy internal environment is crucial for success. Aggressive behavior, whether it's verbal insults, passive-aggressiveness, or bullying, erodes trust, stifles creativity, and leads to high turnover rates. It creates a toxic atmosphere where people are afraid to speak up or share ideas. Conversely, an organization that prioritizes good behavior and positive communication benefits immensely. When we feel respected and valued as a team, we are more likely to be engaged and motivated. This leads to: * Improv...

Premarital Counseling needs and building awareness to our Genx:

-Dear Friends!! Spread the word on Premarital Counseling needs and build awareness to our Genx Researchers have discovered that premarital counseling is a way to * Improve their ability to communicate * Set realistic marital goals * Build a genuine perspective of marriage * Develop deeper levels of understanding * Develop conflict resolution skills The sessions comes with many more benefits .. To fix an appointment, please call +91 9686451614 or write to teamjagruth@gmail.com . Veena Jain Founder -Jagruth Relationship and EI Coach Practitioner of EFT, NLP , CBT and Mindfulness

Click to read the collection of 200+ articles and videos on life skills:

💭 Level Up Your Life: Unveiling Your Life Skills Toolkit We'll be diving deep into a variety of areas, all designed to equip you for whatever life throws your way. Here's a sneak peek at some of the exciting topics we'll be exploring: So, get to learn and get ready to embark on a journey of self-discovery, self-improvement and empowerment. Together, let's build that life skills toolkit and conquer whatever life throws our way! Click your area of interest below to read many many articles under each topic: 1. Life Skills- - - 2. Corporate Stories 3. Work Life Balance 4. Understanding Teenagers 5. Understanding Life 6. Happy Feeling 7. Leadership Skills 8. Initiatives 9. Health and wellness 10. Motivating Potentials 11. My friends are gold 12. Relationship Management 13. Understanding Self 14. Fun and Fun 15 . Hit hard 16. Activities Or Also you can select based on year of publication: Click for articles of 2020 ---...

30 simple life skills for 30 days:

*How can I improve myself within a month?* This is a plan for 30 days. You can start practicing it from tomorrow. Follow one life skill per day as per the numbering 1-30 below. So if you follow order without miss, you will be able to do this whole exercise in a month. Many times we want to bring many habitual changes in us, but we fail to do it because of lack of initiative and many more reasons. Let us take this opportunity to imbibe this 30 better life skills in us. For better planning and implementation of this 30 skills. You should plan for the day one day prior. So that you can start your day afresh with a skill. *30 simple tasks for 30 days -:* *Day 1*. Greet people with smile. Life is short. Life is simple. Do not complicate it. Don’t forget to smile.. *Day 2*. 'Greet first'. Make an habit of, you greeting the person before he greets you 'Hi, Good morning'. *Day 3*. Start planning your day. It will take a few minutes but ...

Papaya and it’s health benefits:

- *PAPAYA & TONGUE EXERCISE* In the future, the new treatment method for malignant tumors will no longer be chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery, but changing one's diet to improve the new blood vessels! Great medical knowledge! A high-quality diet is the natural chemotherapy three times a day. The following information should be taken seriously, it is simple and easy to implement, and it is very good! ‭‭ What you may not know is: Papaya, which is usually easy to obtain, is the king of fruits! The tomato that the doctor praised was nothing compared to papaya. Papaya has been selected by WHO (World Health Organization) as the fruit with the highest nutritional value for two consecutive years, that is, the king of fruits! The nutritional value of papaya is: 1. Calcium: Papaya has 2 times that of apples. 2. Vitamin C: Papaya has 13 times that of apples, 7 times that of bananas, 7 times that of watermelon...

From the Ground Up: Why Teams Drive Success and Leaders Pave the Way:

- In the vibrant and often demanding landscape of the workplace, success isn't a solitary achievement. It's a collective effort, a finely tuned craft where each instrument plays a crucial role. And at the heart of this craft lies a fundamental truth: the team actually does the job. They are the engine room, the innovators, the problem-solvers who operate at the ground level, translating strategies into tangible results. We've all seen it – the late nights spent brainstorming solutions, the collaborative efforts to meet tight deadlines, the sheer ingenuity displayed when faced with unexpected challenges. This is where the real magic happens. Teams, empowered and given the space to operate, bring a unique blend of skills, perspectives, and creativity that is essential for navigating the complexities of the work. They understand the nuances, the local context, and can often devise solutions that a top-down approach might miss entirely. But where does leadership fit into this ...

What is Emotional Intelligence and it's importance for successful life:

- Understanding the concept of EQ: Emotional Intelligence, or emotional quotient (EQ), is defined as an individual's ability to identify, evaluate, control, and express emotions. People with high EQ usually make great leaders and team players because of their ability to understand, empathize, and connect with the people around them. IQ, or intelligence quotient, is score derived from one of several standardized tests designed to assess an individual's intelligence. IQ is used to determine academic abilities and identify individuals with off-the-chart intelligence or mental challenges. EQ is a better indicator of success in the workplace and is used to identify leaders, good team players, and people who best work by themselves. Emotional awareness is best inculcated from an early age by encouraging qualities like sharing, thinking about others, putting oneself in another person's shoes, giving individual space and the general principles of cooperation. There are toys an...

You can win with "butterfly effect":

Each one of us are born genius. It is true if you believe in the power of your own self. The secret of success most of the times lies in our attitudes. Eric Thomas quotes this in a very fascinating way ' When you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe, then you’ll be successful'. There is a very motivating story about Edward Lorenz an MIT meteorologist who tried to explain why it is so hard to make good weather forecasts. In 1963, Edward Lorenz presented a hypothesis to the New York Academy of Science. His theory stated simply, was that: A butterfly could flap its wings and set molecules of air in motion, which would move other molecules of air, in turn moving more molecules of air—eventually capable of starting a hurricane on the other side of the planet. Lorenz and his ideas were literally laughed out of the conference. What he had proposed was ridiculous. It was preposterous. But it was fascinating! Therefore, because of the idea’s charm and intrigue, th...

(Mind maps) 10 ways to build emotional intelligence:

- Click to watch the mind map in a very excellent approach: (Mind maps) 10 ways to build emotional intelligence- is from the book written by Daniel Goleman. Source: Directly linked to youtube. Further reading: Emotional intelligence (otherwise known as emotional quotient or EQ) is the ability to understand, use, and manage your own emotions in positive ways to relieve stress, communicate effectively, empathize with others, overcome challenges and defuse conflict. Emotional intelligence helps you build stronger relationships, succeed at school and work, and achieve your career and personal goals. Intellectual ability or your intelligence quotient (IQ) isn’t enough on its own to achieve success in life. Yes, your IQ can help you get into college, but it’s your EQ that will help you manage the stress and emotions when facing your final exams or stresses in real life. Click to read full article from source:

Friendship (Why friends are important):

Are friends with us only to do parties and fun. Discover a lot about what kind of asset friends are, what kind of role they play in our life: - Happy people might spread their good fortune, say researchers. In the same way happy friends will. - A large friend list may add years to your life. One study found people with many chums lived 22% longer than those with only a few buddies. Good friends often encourage you to make healthy choices, like staying active. They can squash stress, too. - Loneliness doesn’t just feel bad. It’s actually bad for you . Researchers at Brigham Young University found that having few friends is as dangerous for you as smoking more than a pack a day or drinking heavily. And it can actually be worse for you than being obese or a couch potato. The connection’s not clear, but a strong social network can reduce your risk of stress and depression. When you’re feeling good, you’re more likely to take care of yourself. - Pets aren’t just great co...

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