By nature, admiration is more like a want.  The more I want, the bigger the next want.  The more admiration I get the more admiration I seek.  And, like wants, the satisfaction is short-lived.

I think that one of the things we most admire is œhard-work.  Somehow, that has been translated into long hours at work.  I do not see that one is the same as the other.

We only have a certain amount of energy to expend in a given day.  I dont care that you are still moving around in your 12 hour day or fourteen or whatever it is.  You havent done your best work for all that time.  At times you are not working at all.  The question I have is what are you avoiding dealing with somewhere else in your life?  Your relationship with family, your responsibility for your health, etc.

Even if you are the energizer bunny, what about your family and friends?  You job is not you life.  Most coaches will probably have trouble with this.  You have a life, the job is a part of that life.  You are not your job.

You MUST take care of yourself.  Your health, is imperative.  Without good health, you cant do your job, anyway.  This includes time for yourself.  An hour to read.  Time to go workout.  You spiritual side, however you express that, needs tending.

You that have children saw them come into the world.  You will have a relatively short period of time to make a difference in their lives and then they will be out in the world carving out their own lives.

Oh, they will come back from time to time but the relationship will be different.  They will love your support of their pursuits and they will want to do it themselves.  They want your admiration.

Do not miss seeing your child grow up.  You will never get the chance again.  I know.  Been there, done that.

Earning admiration can separate people on any team.  It is about me, not them.  You may earn someones admiration along the way but your intention needs to be on giving your teammates or your team what they need to be successful.  Admiration is not what motivates you to do what you do.  It will ultimately separate you from you team.

Sometimes heroic play is a way to get admiration, when all that is needed is for everybody to do their job.  The missed slam dunk with five seconds to play that would have iced the game when a simple layup would do the trick.

I am not an “oohs” and “aahs” guy.  There are very few times I can be excited about the spectacular when simplicity will do.  You see it every day in the workplace.  Simplicity is the art of execution in any endeavor.

The big deal, project or sale.  It is not to say we wouldnt welcome one of those.  Not at the expense of smaller opportunities.  A couple of 5 jump shots will erase a 3-pointer every time.  Dont get me wrong.  I love to shoot the three point shot.  Just be sure it is the best option, not a heroic effort driven by a want for admiration.

All that is important to get here is admiration is a bi-product of fulfilling commitments, or is it the automatic effort to look good? Anything we do that is automatic is a limitation.  It isnt bad or wrong, just limited.