Never Count Yourself Out
I love this time of year. I’ve been known to sit for 12 or 13 hours at a basketball arena, watching NCAA basketball, even when my teams are not playing in that location. I love March Madness.
One of the reasons I love watching the games is the emotions of the underdog - when the one no one thought could win pulls off an upset. This year, Oakland University beat the blueblood Kentucky Wildcats in the first round. And yet, even though it happens annually with different teams, we’re surprised.
I used to coach basketball and other sports before I went to law school. I still coach my kids teams. I’m trying to put myself in the place of Greg Campe, the Oakland head coach, before the Kentucky game. What do you think he said?
“Hey guys, I know we’re going to get killed here, let’s just do our best.”
There’s no way that happened. He thought and told his guys the truth. “If you believe in yourself, and believe in your teammates, we can do this. Even though no one else thinks we can, I know we have a chance.”
This year it was Oakland. Last year it was Saint Peter’s. Twenty plus years ago, it was Valpo. But the principles are the same. If you don’t believe in yourself, no one else is going to. And maybe it really doesn’t matter that they don’t, but you never accomplish anything unless you believe in yourself, your efforts, your preparation, and your opportunity. Too much of life seems to be more negative.
I can’t do this.
That won’t work.
They won’t make that gift.
More pessimistic than any sense of optimism.
Let’s let March Madness and possibilities of upsets remind us that so much in life is within our control. That we can do anything. I know I always feel much better after this first weekend, because I do believe in that upset, that small guy who can do great things, who believes they are capable of taking on the impossible task. I hope you feel as if even the great challenges are worthy of effort, engagement and overcoming naysayers because with effort and teamwork, anything is truly possible.
