Make Each Day Your Masterpiece

                                     Photo Credit: Eric TERRADE, Unsplash

My favorite coach of all time, John Wooden, once said: “Make each day your masterpiece."

Wooden was more of a life coach than a sports coach, even though he was the most successful coach in college history in any sport. His lessons applied to all parts of life, not just the sport he coached.

As a coach, Wooden valued and emphasized small incremental improvements each day. It was his way of helping create a "masterpiece team."                                                                                 

Each day, Wooden's small incremental approach to coaching created the all-time Mona Lisa of basketball teams. His teams were the picture of exquisite beauty and power because of his incredible attention to daily details.                                           

As part of his detailed approach, Wooden also focused on helping his team do things right the first time. Wooden said: "If you don't have the time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?" Sage advice.

I think about the person in our programs who starts walking and jogging a little more each day. Each day, the person gets a little better by completing a manageable workout with a slight increase from the previous day. Using the painting analogy, the runner does not try to paint their running masterpiece all in one day. The runner takes small steps toward their goal each day. And they do their best to do it right the first time.

The new runner paints a small piece of the running canvas well before painting the next section of their running masterpiece.  They don't move to the next level until they have mastered today's activity. Many champions in our programs started their journey precisely this way.

To become the best version of yourself, taking small and attainable steps each day is crucial. Success is attained by giving your best effort today rather than attempting to make up for lost time by working twice as hard tomorrow.

Minor improvements each day are how you paint your athletic masterpiece to become the best you can become.

Let me say all of this another way. Wooden was very clear and direct about this next point. He would constantly say that you can’t make up for it by working twice as hard tomorrow if you miss a practice or slack in practice.   Make small improvements today; don't wait until tomorrow.  And have the mindset to do a little today so you don't get in the habit of trying to make up what you missed tomorrow.                                     

I've never seen anyone reach their potential by saying, "I chose to miss today but will work twice as hard tomorrow to make up for my loss today approach either."                                      

Taking small steps each day is the road that leads to a personal masterpiece. Focus on today. Nothing can be done about yesterday, but you can be more consistent today. Hope springs eternal by starting to repaint your masterpiece today. 

In summary, you create your best athletic masterpiece by being consistent day by day. Each day, one slight improvement contributes to the masterpiece on your athletic canvas that you paint over time. 

The saying goes: "By an inch, it’s a cinch." Make sure you are consistent in moving forward by an inch each day. Don't try to run 20 miles today to make up for the inch you missed yesterday.

Be the best version of yourself today, just a little better than yesterday.  Paint your own life, Mona Lisa, starting today and building slowly from there. No one could ask for anything more. 

You are champions.

Blessings,

Coach Weber

Philippians 4:13

                    Paint your masterpiece a little at a time day by day