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🧭How Jay Wright Used Attitude to Win 2 National Championships

🧭How Jay Wright Used Attitude to Win 2 National Championships

The Growth Compass
July 27, 2023

Good Day, and welcome to The Growth Compass. We are the Nicholas Cage of mental fitness, resilience, and leadership because we hunt down the treasure so you don’t have to.

Here’s where we’re headed today:

Zig Ziglar on attitude
How to get unstuck from a negative attitude
How Jay Wright won 2 National Championships with “attitude”
Must-watch video of a child’s determination to win

Zig Ziglar’s Thought on Attitude

"Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude."

- Zig Ziglar

How to Get Unstuck from a Negative Attitude

Attitude is everything. It's the lens through which you see the world, the driving force behind your actions and decisions. A positive attitude allows you to overcome adversity. A negative attitude can hold you back. Your attitude can turn a difficult situation into an opportunity.

Negative moments and experiences stick in the mind. They linger and they last because that is how your brain is wired. Your brain is wired to give more weight to negative experiences than positive ones because in our evolutionary past, this bias was essential for our survival. This negativity bias is called “loss aversion.” This means that negative experiences and emotions can have a more profound impact on us compared to positive ones. So how do we change this?

Step 1 - Awareness and Acceptance - Become aware of this natural inclination towards negativity. Once you realize that your mind tends to focus on the bad stuff, you can start to challenge this habit and be aware of when it happens.

Step 2 - Challenge Negative Thoughts - Once you're aware of your negativity, challenge those negative thoughts. Ask yourself if there's evidence to support these thoughts or if you might be exaggerating the situation. Consider alternative perspectives and possibilities. Look for evidence of positive aspects in the situation, no matter how small they may seem.

Step 3 - Practice Gratitude - Cultivate a gratitude practice to shift your focus towards the positive aspects of your life. Regularly take time to reflect on the things you are grateful for, such as your relationships, achievements, or even the simple pleasures in life. This practice can help rewire your brain to notice and appreciate the positive more often.

Step 4 - Reframe and Refocus - Learn the art of reframing negative situations. Instead of dwelling on what went wrong, focus on what you can learn from the experience or how you can grow from it. Refocus your attention on solutions and proactive steps you can take to improve your circumstances. By reframing and redirecting your thoughts, you can break free from the grip of negativity and develop a more positive mindset.

By understanding our natural tendency towards negativity and practicing the art of reframing, we can break free from the shackles of pessimism. It’s all about training your mind to see the brighter side – and with a little patience and determination, you'll unlock the key to a more fulfilling and happier life.

How Jay Wright Used Attitude to Win 2 National Championships

When Villanova basketball exited the huddle, they would say one word: “Attitude.” For Jay Wright, this word is what sustains you, whether it is in sports or life. Below is a brief passage from his book Attitude.

“I don’t specifically recall when that “Attitude” chant began for us. Like a lot of things we do, it’s probably a combination of borrowed philosophies I have picked up over the years. I do know it dates to my early days at Hofstra.

Hofstra wasn’t a good basketball team then. Game plans and strategic tactics were not going to turn our roster into a super-talented group. We were losing games. The one thing we could do to improve ourselves was to bring a great attitude, every day, to confront the challenges we faced.

“Don’t walk around like a loser,” I told the players. “Walk around with a great attitude. That’s what we can control.”

We were struggling so much in that first season at Hofstra, I would find myself playing Louis Armstrong’s version of “What a Wonderful World” in the car just to buoy my spirits. One night, I played that song for the team in the locker room.

Some undoubtedly wondered if the coach was losing it. But I was trying to change their attitude because we couldn’t seem to change anything else.

In the end, it worked. The only thing we accomplished during that 1994-1995 season was maintaining a positive attitude. Our record was poor (10-18), but we felt good about our effort.

Seeing that a good attitude had an impact on us that year, it dawned on me that this was an idea worth hanging on to. Somehow that morphed into the chant, “1, 2, 3, Attitude!”

Attitude was one of Jay Wright’s core values, and it is interesting to see that importance on positivity and mindset. You can’t always control what happens, but you can control your attitude and mindset. For him, the attitude came first, regardless of the outcome, and then winning followed.

You aren’t positive because life is easy. You're positive because life can be hard. It is easy to be positive when everything is going well, but being positive is hard especially when you are down on your luck or facing new challenges.

Takeaways:

Transformation through Attitude: There is significance in maintaining a positive attitude in both sports and life. While external circumstances may be beyond your control, your attitude and mindset remain within your power to shape. Prioritizing a positive outlook can lead to a greater sense of fulfillment and satisfaction, irrespective of outward accomplishments.
You Have a Choice: Every day you have a choice of who you want to be. Rather than depending on external conditions, having a positive attitude reminds you to cultivate positivity regardless of challenges. Embracing a positive mindset during tough moments empowers you to approach difficulties with determination and grace, creating personal growth and resilience.