The Athletic’s Post

As a former NFL QB, Jeff Kemp knows the value of a huddle. Over the years, Kemp learned that not all friendships are created equally, and that the deepest friendship rarely just happen for men. Learn more about how to build these types of friendships on our blog. https://lnkd.in/gPdRH8gg

Some broadcaster once said “A good closer has to be THIS CLOSE to not caring”. - Makes sense. Give up a home run and blow your starting pitcher’s masterpiece, while every fan and some coaches suddenly begin to wonder why they trusted you in such a crucial role? Mess with a kind, overthinking person’s confidence. While the batter taunts you, flips the bat in your face and you get pulled from the game knowing you only had to get 3 guys out… Then consider the embarrassment could come again tomorrow night and you could be jobless if that performance persists for even a week. Gotta care just enough to show up sober, stretch to avoid injury and listen to your coach from time to time. Any more than that and you’ll be in your head too much. I was so done with the “Do you know the password” BS and other mind games that I just decided to do my job well until someone told me otherwise, break mental health best practices in hopes to survive until offices reopened, teach myself more about SAP during lockdown in case I had to get a job elsewhere and dismiss ideas I didn’t like from corporate courses about how to learn while keeping the things I found worked for me. I turned my hell of isolation into a laboratory for peak performance. Which gave me a good start to my chess journey! - Locked another essential test ID? ➡️ Can I clone it, change the name then hide it under a different umbrella so those H-1B workers don’t realize I have a spare? What role would give me some of securtity team’s authorization and how can I request it in a way that doesn’t raise red flags so I avoid waiting in a queue? I bet they’d give it to me in the sandbox. Maybe I could test this only in the sandbox as there is plenty of data I can change there, at least test enough to prove the code change is unnecessary in hopes we scrap the stupid project operations didn’t want altogether. Never would’ve thought of workarounds or viewed harassment as practice had I cared. I did fabulous! Up to the point they had to go at my mom cause then I would care. Haha. Children. Walmart has smothered many lawsuits and driven people insane or into life wasting anger. Corporate hates people they can’t control cause I don’t need or want their money. I want em out of business but I don’t care enough to make a plan to try. I’ll talk, past associates might join in the story sharing and if it happens it happens. I’d starve in a ditch before I begged in court. I hope to apply a similar loose mindset to chess. I actually like chess and probs have far more potential than I did with tech. Chess does require more structure though as “I don’t care” can lose very winning positions. We’ll see what happens.

So powerful! What is your 7 Habits story?

Whether we see obstacles or opportunities comes down to mindset. Steve Young shares an inspiring story about investing in our own self-awareness, vulnerability, and growth in order to be a better team player or leader. Seek out mentorship. Look for opportunities to learn. Let’s see how good we can get! #leadership #growthmindset

Want to know the secret behind 20 years at the top? LeBron’s got it... and it’s not just talent. It's being wholehearted. Wholehearted in his dedication to the game... showing up every single day, working harder than anyone mand giving everything he’s got. Wholehearted in his commitment to his family... being a role model on and off the court, proving that legacy is more than just stats. He now even plays with his son! Can you get more wholehearted than that? Wholehearted in how he empowers others... lifting up his teammates, championing social causes, and setting a standard of integrity. He's never had any scandals. He just keeps going and going. Maybe we can’t all be LeBron, but we can be wholehearted in our own way at home, at work, and at play. Sure LeBron is a physical freak. But it's the mental side of his game that sets him aside. And the mental side is something we can all work on. Go do that thing you've talked about. Go help that person who needs a hand. Go be wholehearted. There's no telling where it will lead you. :) #wholehearted #leadership #creativity #teamwork #hr

Can a paradigm shift change everything? Hearing NFL Hall-of-Famer Steve Young share how The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People shaped his journey, both on and off the field, has been truly inspiring. His story is a powerful reminder of how these enduring principles can elevate both our personal and professional lives. I invite you to discover the impact these habits can have on your own journey. #7Habits #7HabitsEffect

Welcome to Chronicles! Where I take you on a journey through my personal journal entries from my younger years, where I reflect on the experiences that shaped me and unknowingly laid the foundation for the leader I would become. These entries capture pivotal moments of resilience, self-discovery, and the early seeds of leadership practices. As I revisit these raw reflections, I’ll connect the dots to how these formative experiences evolved into critical leadership skills that have guided my work today. Through these stories, I challenge leaders to embrace the power of reflection, as I did, to uncover their own leadership strengths. By looking back, we gain a deeper understanding of the resilience we’ve built and the skills we've honed. This is an invitation to pause, reflect, and recognize how far you’ve come, while using those insights to fuel your continued growth as a leader. If you're ready to tap into your past to propel your future leadership, Chronicles is for you! Enjoy, Dr. Damia Chronicles: https://wix.to/QHAaE0J #newblogpost

Breaking records and breaking barriers! 🚀 🏈 CJ Stroud set the NFL rookie passing yard record, and his mental game is as strong as his arm. 💪 Let’s dive in to this week’s Mental Performance Tips From The Pros! #mastery #tipsfromthepros #mentalperformance #cjstroud #mindsetmatters #championmindset #stayfocused #believeinyourself

🏈 Who else is feeling the fantasy football fever? 🏆 As we gear up for another exciting NFL season, I can't help but reflect on why fantasy football is so much fun for me - both personally and professionally. Here's why I think it's more than just a game: 🏈Strategy & Analysis: It's like being a mini-GM. Drafting, trades, waiver wire picks - all require careful thought and data analysis. 🏈Networking: My leagues have brought me closer to colleagues and even opened doors to new professional relationships. Who knew trash talking could be such a great icebreaker? 🏈Continuous Learning: Staying on top of player stats, team dynamics, and league trends keeps my mind sharp and adaptable. 🏈Stress Relief: There's nothing like the rush of a last-minute touchdown to take my mind off work stress (or add to it, depending on the matchup 😅). Fantasy football isn't just a game- it's a collection of skills we use every day in our lives. Plus, it's an absolute blast! Who else is playing this season? Drop your team name below, and let's connect over our shared love of the game! My team names this season: 🏟️Jackson Lambert 🏟️Cook’n Brown Rice 🏟️Ray Finkle

“Do you believe in miracles?” 🏒 I watched “Miracle on Ice” last night with my two sons. It’s the movie about the men’s ice hockey team that represented the United States in the 1980 Olympics. The team was put together by Herb Brooks whose sole mission was to beat the Soviet Union team. At the height of the story, Brooks has his team doing sprints after a lackluster performance in international play. He runs them into the ground. The lights have been turned off, players are laid out on the ice, and the other coaches are arguing with him. Then, Mike Eruzione says, “I play for Team USA!” At that point, the suffering ends and the team is solidified. Brooks put together a team of players who would work to win. They were by no means the most talented, the fastest, or the biggest. They were a bunch of guys who Brooks tested—and tested hard. Brooks put culture first. He wanted the right players, and he got them. A GROUP of extremely talented players is often no match for a TEAM of players who work for and with each other toward a common goal or mission. When you are recruiting, hiring, and trying to retain your talent, are you focused on the perfect players, or the players who will move your organization forward by becoming part of the mission? If you’re struggling with retention, in particular, it might help to take a deep look at the culture within your organization. PS: Ready to get to work? Let’s chat: https://lnkd.in/eNBvy-Dh