My Personal Best: Life Lessons from an All-American Journey

The mark of a champion, I believe, is consistency of performance at your highest level under pressure.

There is no shame in learning that someone else is better at doing something than you are. Shame is only justified when someone else is better because you failed to make the effort, 100 percent, to realize your potential.

"I don't care how tall you are, I care how tall you play."

But my deep belief is that the score is a by-product of something much more important: effort.

"Do not mistake activity for achievement,"

The formula I used to teach this is uncomplicated: explanation, demonstration, imitation—correction, when necessary—and then repetition, repetition, repetition, and more repetition.

LITTLE THINGS MAKE BIG THINGS HAPPEN

It never got personal, because the purpose of criticism or discipline is not to punish, embarrass, or ridicule, but to correct and improve.

before casually discounting the potential of any individual or team, give them a chance to succeed—give them your sincere belief and full support.