I think sports provides great lessons in life. So, I would like to look at some take away life lessons from the National Championship game last night.

#1 – Recruit the very best coaches you can get. Coaches-Managers make a world of difference
#2 – Recruit the best players you can get. Talent guided in the right direction makes a difference.
#3 – Character and attitude counts – Don’t allow knuckleheads to disrupt your team
#4 – Have a strong system and process for every thing you do and stick to it
#5 – You must have a game plan. You don’t “wing it”
#6 – Do not tolerate excuses. Focus on solutions, not excuses
#7 – Pay the price – In speaking with one of the Ohio State coaches, he told me that what they require of their team members would be considered damn near abuse by most people. “You can’t have the rings, if you can’t take the dings.” – Mark Tewart
#8 – Practice – The hurry up offense of Oregon did not seem to phase the Ohio State players and they made mention of how hard they practiced and planned for it.
#9 – Handle adversity – Shit happens, keep moving, no whining – Ohio State lost not one but two quarterbacks and never missed a beat. They did not whine or complain, they got busy.
#10 – Have the highest expectations to create a belief system. They believe they will win championships
#11 – Care – It’s easier for everyone to win if you care about one another and act like a family. Their team members are close and have each others back. They act like family. Selfish individuals bring down a team every time if coaches ALLOW it.
#12 – Desire – You have to want it so bad, you become obsessed and maniacal while others are trying to convince you that it’s not good to be that way.
#13 – It’s always about the little things – The little things add up to big things and small holes cause big flat tires. Pay massive attention to details
#14 – Know your numbers. Numbers add up to results. If you don’t know where you are at or what you are doing you cannot get better.
#15 – Eliminate or minimize distractions. – “Keep the main thing, the main thing
#16 – Grind – I was told by one of the Buckeye assistants coaches is that one of the things that makes Urban Meyer special is his ability to grind. “If he thinks the game plan is totally prepared, he will still turn everything over at least three more times to check.”
#17 – Always add more talent. In business, team members come and go but you can’t wait to add talent. Always be recruiting.
#18 – Take action and execute! – It’s all talk, until you execute and kick ass!
#19 – When you lose, regroup and get better, don’t quit
#20 – Don’t worry about haters. The higher you clime the ladder of success, the more people that will see your rear end.