You can learn a lot from people who are successful. And the success doesn’t even need to be in your area of expertise. The principles are the same. Although I’m not a massive footy fan, I am a massive Wayne Bennett fan……. as much as it irks me because I’m a passionate Blues supporter and he’s a passionate Queenslander. He has set an Australian coaching record for the most grand final wins (7), and the most seasons with a single club (21 seasons with the Brisbane Broncos). He is a man of great character. So I’m willing to overlook the whole Queenslander thing….. ;-)

This week I’ve been listening to the audiobook version of Wayne Bennett’s ‘Don’t Die With The Music In You’, which he wrote in 2002. In this book, he talks a lot about the young players who don’t make it, and how they are often the ones who make lots of excuses – blaming everyone but themselves for their failure to progress. Bennett says that the ones who do make it are the ones who are willing to ‘pay the price’ to be successful – which involves making a commitment and doing the hard yards. And, in a team environment, the best team members can be the ones who want to perform at their best so they don’t let their mates down.

In his book, Wayne Bennett also talks a lot about being honest with yourself and true to yourself. He shared the following poem, and I would encourage you to think about what you want to think of yourself when you look in the mirror. Amanda :-)

The Guy in the Glass – by Dale Wimbrow

When you get what you want in your struggle for self,
And the world makes you king for a day,
Then go to the mirror and look at yourself,
And see what that man has to say.

For it isn’t a man’s father, mother or wife,
Whose judgement upon him must pass,
The fellow whose verdict counts most in life,
Is the man staring back from the glass.

He’s the fellow to please, never mind all the rest,
For he’s with you clear to the end,
And you’ve passed your most dangerous, difficult test,
If the man in the glass is your friend.

You can fool the whole world down the pathway of years,
And get pats on the back as you pass,
But the final reward will be heartache and tears,
If you’ve cheated the man in the glass.

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Image: Sheba_Also – flickr