REAL LIFE EXAMPLE OF DOING WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN

So I'm sitting there watching the 2012 National Football League's Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies a couple of weeks ago.  I am always intrigued by the humanity that comes forth during the induction speeches.  I watch and listen to all with much interest.

One speech in particular caused me to pay extra-special attention.  It was Cortez Kennedy's speech and it framed precisely one of my most important personal coaching philosophies.

Let me summarize this great player's resume.  He was drafted 3rd overall in the 1990 NFL draft and went on to play 11 great seasons as a Seattle Seahawk, being voted to the first-team Pro-Bowl 6 consecutive years, 8 years total, and the second-team Pro-Bowl 2 other times.  He was voted to the All-Decade NFL team for the 90's and finally inducted into the National Football League Hall of Fame in 2012.

In 1992, Cortez was selected as the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year, recording 14 sacks, 93 tackles, 2 defended passes, and 1 fumble recovery.  He was routinely double- and triple-teamed.

Seattle was 2-14 in 1992.  During Cortez's career they were 76-91.

How can a professional football player maintain the focus, resolve, and dedication it takes to win the League's highest defensive honor when his team is LOSING?  If winning is his only motivation--he cannot.

But allow me to reiterate what I said in an earlier post.  As a coach, you must stop talking about winning and losing.  You must instead focus in on teaching your players the absolute necessity of doing their best to DO THE THINGS IT TAKES TO WIN.

I will guarantee you that Cortez Kennedy did not have a satisfying experience for the 1992 season in terms of a won-lost record.  If winning was his ONLY motivation, I would venture to guess his performance would have deteriorated immensely, making the Defensive Player of the Year Award impossible.

Cortez had a much deeper and more personal motivation.  He continually did the things it takes to win.  Mind you, I'm not talking about just games--that's the easy part.  I'm talking about practice (yes, Allen Iverson!) when the only ones who see you are your teammates.

So, here is the lesson:  If a Hall of Fame football player can continue to perform at Hall-of-Fame levels even in the face of losing 14 games in one year and 99 games throughout his career, then maybe winning is less important than doing those things it takes to win.

Did Cortez Kennedy win?