The Mental is to The Physical 10 to 1

Persistence

In 2014 I took over as the head coach of the Detroit Lions which had not been accustomed to winning on a regular basis. I have always believed that it is the 6 inches between the ears that determines the outcome of most games. When I was an assistant coach at Penn State under the tutelage of Joe Paterno prior to a big game he was always at his best. We had lost a couple games which was totally uncharacteristic for us. In our Friday morning staff meetings he would often give us a glimpse of the talk that he was going to give the players that evening. I can’t recall exactly who we were slated to face that upcoming Saturday afternoon, but his talk centered around a poem by Og Mandino, The Greatest Salesman in the World. He focused his talk on a few stanzas from his poem ‘I Will Persist Until I Succeed’ which follow.

I Will Persist Until I Succeed

I was not delivered unto this world in defeat, nor does failure course in my veins.

I am not a sheep waiting to be prodded by my shepherd. I am a lion and I refuse to talk, to walk, to sleep with the sheep.

I will hear not those who weep and complain, for their disease is contagious. Let them join the sheep the slaughterhouse of failure is not my destiny.

I will persist until I succeed

I will strive and strive again each obstacle I will consider a mere detour to my goal and a challenge to my profession

I will persist and develop my skills as a mariner develops his by learning to ride out the wrath of each storm

I will persist until I succeed

I believe that your mind set is the most important factor in whether you will succeed or fail. Whether it is in sports, business, your physical well-being or your spiritual journey. It begins with your ability to reconstitute your belief system and press forward.