Person > Player

Big difference between these two statements:

• “I’m a basketball player.”

• “I play basketball.”

​

Kyrie Irving

To become the best player you can become, you have to go through a significant amount of adversity. For example, Kyrie Irving had one or more of the following performances happen to him from 2011-14:

• Shoot less than 50%

• 5 or more turnovers

• Lost the game

One or more of these happened in the following amount of games:

• 2011-12 = 86% of the time

• 2012-13 = 81% of the time

• 2013-14 = 85% of the time

Think about that for a second. Kyrie is dealing with adversity over 80% of the time.

 

People who view themselves as ‘Players First’:

• Defined by their results.

• Self-worth is attached to their performance.

 

People who view themselves as ‘Person First’:

• Defined by how they handle results (which is in their control).

• Handle success and failure in a more stable way.

• The ability to handle adversity and grow from it.

• The ability to continue to focus on the team.

• The ability to stay in line with who you are.

• The ability to handle success in a more humble way

​

Dear Basketball:

• Write a letter to Basketball as if it's a person. Describe the impact that it's had on your life; good or bad.

​

For more WDW Exercises CLICK HERE!!!

​

Adapted from Bret Ledbetter's What Drives Winning