The Super Bowl, Tom Brady, Motivation and Success

Dear Reader,

A disclaimer: even if you are not a sports fan, there is something important for you in this post. 

Among all of the stories about the New England Patriots’ thrilling come from behind victory in the Super Bowl last night, there was one that truly amazed me, that made me stop and think.

The bigger theme of the story was what this super bowl victory means to Tom Brady, one of the greatest athletes in the game, but one small, easily overlooked aspect of this article was equally profound, and contains a lesson for us all.

Do you know what Tom Brady keeps in his locker?

• A picture of his family.
• A card with his kids names on it, and a painting from them with their handprints and a message of love.
• A few simple performance notes, such as reminders to keep up on his toes.

That’s it. Why do I find that amazing?

Here’s a man who has played the game of football for years, at the highest level, with one of the greatest success records ever, still using simple motivational and performance techniques available to us all.

Many of us know about these techniques – vision boards, affirmations, reminders on post-its – and yet we often take them for granted. Sometimes we may think they are silly. Perhaps we even doubt if they work. But here is a highly successful person who uses them day in, day out, through ups and downs, even after years of success.

What might those little reminders do for Tom Brady?

• I imagine that the family photo and keepsake from his children inspire him, and remind him of what is most important in his life when he goes out onto the field to perform.
• The performance tips help, in the simplest, most essential way, to stay focused on the most important things he needs to do, in potentially challenging situations, in order to achieve his dreams.

Huge.

Do you do that, dear reader?

Consistently?

I have to confess – I don’t. Yes, I incorporate those simple things sometimes – but I don’t always look at them. And I go for periods of time without using them at all.

So here’s the bottom line, to me: if one of the best makes sure to remind himself of love, what’s most important to him, and how to perform well, maybe I would be well-served to pay attention to detail, take nothing for granted, and do the same.

What do you think? Here’s the link to the full article if you want to see for yourself. Leave a comment letting us know your thoughts.

I honor your loving heart,

John