Hi everyone, it’s Dan Lier, America’s Coach and today’s success track is about The Power of Encouragement, and how you can impact the people in your life.
Have you ever been in a place in your life when you just needed a boost and someone was there to pick you up, dust you off, and get you back on track? I know I have… and one of the many things I’ve learned from working with companies and people around the world is that too many people don’t have someone around them that’s encouraging in nature.
It doesn’t cost any money or take any fancy degrees to encourage others; it just takes you making a decision to be that way. It makes others feel good and it raises their level of performance.
One of my favorite stories about someone who encouraged me, when he could have said something cutting, was the first time I met Magic Johnson. It was the summer of 1981… I was working out at Michigan State playing organized pick-up games at Jenison Field house.
In order to play in the pick-up games, you had to be a college player and of course, the winners stayed on while the losers had to sit. The games were full-court and we played to ONLY 4 baskets, so each possession was crucial.
I was going into my sophomore year at University of Toledo and Magic has just won the MVP award for the NBA finals… the short story is that the game had just started and on the first possession Magic stole the ball. I had anticipated the steal and he threw me the ball and I just went up to lay the ball off the glass for an easy lay-up. Much to my surprise, Greg Kelser was right behind me and pinned the ball up on the square and pulled it down… and his team went the other way for a score. We ended up winning the game 4-3, yet that turnover could have cost us the game.
Magic pulled me aside as the next team was coming out to play us and he said, Young Man, you’ve got to put that ball down. You’re alright, let’s go.” I was so impressed. Here was Magic Johnson, the toast of L.A. and the NBA, who could have said something negative, yet Magic understands how to get the most out of his players, and he “picked me up” rather than tearing me down. Encouragement builds self-esteem and encouragement makes the one who is receiving the encouragement, want to dig in and perform.
So, who can you encourage today? Is it one of your co-workers? Is it someone who is working for you? Maybe it’s your husband; your wife or one of your children.
Think about someone you can encourage today… and better yet, make a decision to encourage someone in your life each and every day. Imagine if we all did that, what kind of world we could create.
Let’s make it happen!
Your Coach,
Dan
