Vault: Team Selection

The Iceberg Illusion & Why Mistakes Matter

Icebergs have two parts: what people see (above the surface) and what people don’t see (below the surface). Success Is An Iceberg We often get mesmerized by someone’s above the surface success and don’t factor in all the below the surface opportunity-costs they paid to achieve that success. This is the ‘iceberg illusion’. It’s been a …

Permissionless Rather Than Positionless Basketball

Many refer to it as POSITIONLESS play. Years ago, while working with Canada Basketball, we had referred to it as developing the ‘global’ player (i.e. players that could shoot, pass, and dribble from all positions). Perhaps, better said, it’s PERMISSION-LESS… players are no longer seeking permission to initiate from multiple positions, in multiple ways. Perhaps, …

Dysfunctional Teams (and Your Ultimate Trump Card)

Here’s how you end up with a dysfunctional team culture: Someone points out that one of the team members is negative and a real problem. And the coach says, And here’s how you end up with a toxic environment on your coaching staff: Someone points out that people are afraid to contradict this person. And the …

Mortar Not Just The Bricks

Five-time CEO Margaret Heffernan, spoke at length on the topic of social capital during her June 2015 TED Talk. The words that hold true for developing a winning culture are: “What matters is the mortar, not just the bricks.” Character, as defined by personal discipline and helpfulness, is the the glue that holds your team together. Teams that are made up …

Unfairness: The Missing Ingredient In The Debate On Toughness

So, I tried something new the other day. I began soliciting feedback on Facebook. I asked the question: What’s your definition of “TOUGHNESS”..? (Felt like I was opening up a Pandora’s Box. Ha!) Go ahead… chime in. There’s no expiration date on this debate. Vote: You see, toughness is one of those catch-all buzzwords that gets …

Profile of a Champion: 8 Principles Of Successful Living

To achieve success and fulfillment in virtually any endeavour one wishes to undertake, there is a common set of conditions that must be met. Every great man and woman throughout the pages of history has been a living testament to the prerequisites of achievement, which I call the “Eight Principles of Successful Living.” PRINCIPLE #1: …