Vince Lombardi Once Said, “Winning Is Not A Sometime Thing; It’s an All The Time Thing.” He Was Right.
Well, it’s getting late, and I’m still awake – even though I have an 0430 alarm set to disrupt my slumber for my morning Advanced Programming class. By the way, after a good deal of thought, I’m renaming that class the Krav Maga Houston Master Class.
Not that I’m claiming I’m a master, but rather inviting those who wish to master Krav Maga into a class setting where I can pour myself into the process with dedicated students.
So, back to why I’m up late… The New England Patriots won Super Bowl 51 about 2 hours ago here in Houston, Texas. But, at one point, the Patriots were trailing the Atlanta Falcons by 25 points in the third quarter of the game. As a Patriots fan, you can imagine the text messages showing up on my cell during most of the game. You see, I’d picked the Patriots to win, an unpopular pick in many areas of Houston.
People in the southern states sort of carry a friendly dislike of people from Boston, and that terrible accent is one only a mother could love (maybe). I try to point out that most of the Patriot’s players are not from Boston, but the point falls on deaf ears. People here also love to hate Tom Brady. They say he’s soft, whiny, and an all around big baby. Really? Well, he’s 39 years old and plays at the highest levels of the NFL. I think that deserves respect.
So why are so many people rooting for Atlanta? Here’s the strangest thing of all – people love to hate perennial winners. Don’t get me wrong. People love winners, but typically only winners to which they can relate. We root for the underdog, because we see ourselves in their plight and effort to somehow rise above the favorite and win. But, when an underdog becomes a perennial winner, most cannot see themselves in their shoes any longer. As a result, many begin to look for reasons to root against the same team with which they once identified. I could go on and on, but there’s no point.
The truth is, the Patriots won the Super Bowl because, (1) that team, (2) the management, and (3) the coaches are winners. Don’t misunderstand. People aren’t born winners. Winning is a highly elusive skill set. It’s developed through hardship, study, desire, grit, effort, reflection, and a process or procedure that sometimes has malleable lines stretched or otherwise reformed to fit the challenge at hand. Most of all, winning is believing.
So, for all you Kravologist out there, how do you win at Krav Maga? From where do your breakthroughs emanate? What process – equal parts experience, belief, and action – do you follow to achieve your next big breakthrough. If this question is met with silence, it’s time you put some serious thought into how you can start winning consistently. Winning is first about effort, then excellence, and finally unending belief.
The ideal I’m attempting to convey is so ethereal, that words barely do it any justice. For me, within the footprint of Krav Maga, It’s difficult to articulate or describe the day or hour that things fell into place so that the world and all it’s questions and doubts fell silent. There is simply a knowledge that “it” (whatever it is) can be done. In looking back, it feels like crossing a line into a plane and place where everything is possible – where your objective cannot exceed your grasp.
I hope and pray you find that line and cross it. Ironically, you won’t know you’ve crossed over as you travel through – only in the aftermath of your success will you sense the passing of the critical journey. Go and seek excellence bred with desire and you will find your way. Stay focused and believe.
