Rob Bell's Blog, page 5
June 11, 2023
What D-Day Can Teach Us About The Importance Of Patience In Life
Dwight D. Eisenhower was a Five-Star General of the United States Army and during WWII and he served as supreme commander of allied forces.
He was in charge of it all.
He was tasked to lead the D-Day invasions to liberate Europe and it was simply the largest land invasion force in history. Naval, air, and ground forces were all needed to work in unison for the mission to be successful.
The invasion was described as an intricate jigsaw puzzle, which each piece needed to fit perfectly. Therein involved an obsessive amount of preparation, planning, and attention to detail, with the highest of stakes.
Herein lies the importance of patience in life.
The puzzle of the D-Day invasions also involved several allied countries and the world’s greatest political and military leaders. The egos, agendas, and the global leaders need for recognition led to critical complexity.
Besides the when, where, and mass secrecy needed for the amphibious landing, nothing had been left to chance.
Operation Overlord was the code name for the invasion that involved approximately 156,000 American, British, & Canadian forces along five separate beaches across a 50-mile stretch in France.
To help illustrate the complexity of Operation Overlord, in less than one month, over 850,000 soldiers, 570,000 tons of supplies, and 148,000 vehicles landed in Normandy, France.
However, even though everything had been accounted for, there was one piece that was out of their control.
The weather.
The importance of patience in life and whether D-Day was to be successful depended upon optimal weather. Low tide, light wide, and good visibility were essential to success.
But, the weather outlook was not favorable and modern day technology was not available for forecasting. The weather outlook was so poor that many of the top German generals had taken leave away from the front lines and the possible invasions. Can you imagine? They “couldn’t wait” to take a break.
General Eisenhower and others had to wait…It wasn’t until the day before on June 5th, that the order been given to proceed with Operation Overlord.
June 6th looked like the only opportunity for weeks.
Patience is the new mental toughness!
Check out our new book:
D-Day marked the start of the end of WWII and by the end of August 1944, the Nazi army was in full retreat out of France.
No one likes to wait, but we will have to wait in life. Eisenhower’s ability to wait for the latest weather is in part what allowed the allies to have such success!
The importance of patience in life is if you can wait, then you can win!
Life and success is a game of attrition and timing. There will be times of “important urgencies” as well as times of waiting. Both are essential.
The skill becomes knowing WHEN to be urgent and HOW to be patient!
Patience is essential! Have you ever drank wine before it’s ready?
The results we want are always a long-term campaign. Just like the D-Day invasions, proper planning and patience is required.
One ingredient called for within the recipe of success always includes short-term sacrifice for long-term achievement. Patience and over-valuing the long-term means going beyond time management hacks and tactics.
However, waiting in the short-term causes us to feel discomfort, unease, or uncertainty. The short-term is over-scrutinized and over-analyzed. The short-term focus isn’t incorrect, but it is incomplete. Hence, the short-term is simply a snapshot, not an entire movie.
Issues arise when we only focus on the short-term.
We immediately extrapolate it into the long-term. We think and act that just because the short-term is good or bad, then it will continue that way. We speculate and fast-forward through all of the positive and negative scenarios and outcomes.
The importance of patience in life is because we can’t fast-forward success or results.
Dr. Rob Bell is a Sport Psychology Coach. DRB & associates coach executives and professional athletes. Some clients have included three different winners on the PGA Tour, Indy Eleven, University of Notre Dame, Marriott, and Walgreens.
Check Out All The Books
Keynote Speaking On Mental Toughness
Mental Toughness Podcast as we interview expert athletes and coaches about Mental Strength and their Hinge Moment.
New Blog Posts are published weekly.
Follow on Twitter @drrobbell
Follow on Instagram @drrobbell
window.addEventListener('LPLeadboxesReady',function(){LPLeadboxes.addDelayedLeadbox('WPM9ibP3euzHNXNXvL4RnZ',{delay:'30s',views:0,dontShowFor:'0d',domain:'drrobbell.lpages.co'});});
The Sheer Importance Of Patience In Life |
Dwight D. Eisenhower was a Five-Star General of the United States Army and during WWII and he served as supreme commander of allied forces.
He was in charge of it all.
He was tasked to lead the D-Day invasions to liberate Europe and it was simply the largest land invasion force in history. Naval, air, and ground forces were all needed to work in unison for the mission to be successful.
The invasion was described as an intricate jigsaw puzzle, which each piece needed to fit perfectly. Therein involved an obsessive amount of preparation, planning, and attention to detail, with the highest of stakes.
Herein lies the importance of patience in life.
The puzzle of the D-Day invasions also involved several allied countries and the world’s greatest political and military leaders. The egos, agendas, and the global leaders need for recognition led to critical complexity.
Besides the when, where, and mass secrecy needed for the amphibious landing, nothing had been left to chance.
Operation Overlord was the code name for the invasion that involved approximately 156,000 American, British, & Canadian forces along five separate beaches across a 50-mile stretch in France.
To help illustrate the complexity of Operation Overlord, in less than one month, over 850,000 soldiers, 570,000 tons of supplies, and 148,000 vehicles landed in Normandy, France.
However, even though everything had been accounted for, there was one piece that was out of their control.
The weather.
The importance of patience in life and whether D-Day was to be successful depended upon optimal weather. Low tide, light wide, and good visibility were essential to success.
But, the weather outlook was not favorable and modern day technology was not available for forecasting. The weather outlook was so poor that many of the top German generals had taken leave away from the front lines and the possible invasions.
General Eisenhower and others had to wait…It wasn’t until the day before on June 5th, had the order been given to proceed with Operation Overlord. June 6th looked like the only opportunity for weeks.
D-Day marked the start of the end of WWII and by the end of August 1944, the Nazi army was in full retreat from France.
No one likes to wait, but we will have to wait in life. Eisenhower’s ability to wait for the latest weather is in part what allowed the allies to have such success!
The importance of patience in life is if you can wait, then you can win!
Life and success is a game of attrition and timing. There will be times of “important urgencies” as well as times of waiting. Both are essential.
The skill becomes knowing WHEN to be urgent and HOW to be patient!
Patience is essential! Have you ever drank wine before it’s ready?
The results we want are always a long-term campaign. Just like the D-Day invasions, proper planning and patience is required.
One ingredient called for within the recipe of success always includes short-term sacrifice for long-term achievement. Patience and over-valuing the long-term means going beyond time management hacks and tactics.
However, waiting in the short-term causes us to feel discomfort, unease, or uncertainty. The short-term is over-scrutinized and over-analyzed. The short-term focus isn’t incorrect, but it is incomplete. Hence, the short-term is simply a snapshot, not an entire movie.
Issues arise when we only focus on the short-term.
We immediately extrapolate it into the long-term. We think and act that just because the short-term is good or bad, then it will continue that way. We speculate and fast-forward through all of the positive and negative scenarios and outcomes.
The importance of patience in life is because we can’t fast-forward success or results.
Dr. Rob Bell is a Sport Psychology Coach. DRB & associates coach executives and professional athletes. Some clients have included three different winners on the PGA Tour, Indy Eleven, University of Notre Dame, Marriott, and Walgreens.
Check Out All The Books
Keynote Speaking On Mental Toughness
Mental Toughness Podcast as we interview expert athletes and coaches about Mental Strength and their Hinge Moment.
New Blog Posts are published weekly.
Follow on Twitter @drrobbell
Follow on Instagram @drrobbell
May 30, 2023
4 Simple Ways: How To Achieve Patience
We are designed to get from point A to point B as quickly as possible.
To illustrate, which program would you buy?
How to be rich in 90 days or less?Or
How to be rich in 7-9 years?This illustrates the appeal that speed has in our lives.
We assume speed and quickness equates to an easier path. We look at the example above and think of the time rather than the product. Seriously, who wouldn’t want a faster way?
We do not get in our car, plug in the GPS, and pick the slowest path. Life is the same way; we are built to start our journey and reach the mountaintop of results as efficiently as possible.
We value speed and quickness!
The importance we place on speed is also how we value time. And our hardwiring itself suggests that the speed of time is the most valuable resource. Society relishes and romanticizes ultra-high-speed and quickness.
Tools such as “Insta,” “mobile ordering,” “5G or 6G or 7G internet speed,” “binge watching,” “same-day delivery,” “artificial intelligence,” and “live betting” have all made such activities in life way faster and seemingly more convenient.
These examples reveal the massive increase of speed in society as a whole. Technology has quickened the rhythm of life. And as a result of increased tempo and cadence of life, our patience has decreased.
Before we look at how to achieve patience, we must ask ourselves “why.”
When access to goods, people, and services are readily available, “Why” should we have patience?
“Life” is complex with kids, travel, bank accounts, appointments, and activities. Burned out, overwhelmed, worried, rushed, and tired are descriptors that are common and relatable. Society as a whole has reported that we are more rushed, hurried, anxious, and pressed for time than during any other time period.
It has also been reported a “time famine” exists because there is simply too much to do.
The irony is that we have more available ‘time’ to us now than at any point in history. We possess more leisure time than ever before. However, because we are programmed for quickness, our leisure time has even sped up.
But many think of time as an opponent. It must become an ally, not an opponent, in order to win the challenges we face. The product takes patience, and no matter how much we adore speed and quickness, we can’t fast forward the process. How can I increase my patience?
Patience is the path to our overall mental health, mental wellness, and performance.
Patience is the new mental toughness!
Check out our new book:
4 Simple Ways On How To Achieve Patience1.Patience is a process, not a destination.
There will be tests and teachers of patience, but one never actually arrives at “Hey, I’m patient.” We merely become better and well-equipped at handling, dealing, and coping with the stressors of life. Situations and circumstances vary.
The more over-whelmed we become, the more patience we need.
The Sheer Power of Patience and Wealth
2.This too shall pass
If things are going poorly, remember, this too shall pass.
If things are going great, unfortunately, this too shall pass.
We can’t have it both ways.
The relationship with how to achieve patience must be rooted in acceptance. We must accept situations as temporary, both good and bad. We must accept situations and people as they are, not as we shall have them. And this is tough!
Patience is intended as a liberator of your circumstances. Time is our most precious resource and acceptance of this fact should be freeing.
3.Focus on rhythm, not speed
Stress is a result of not being able to slow down.
It’s caused by too much time spent on the unimportant. Anxiety occurs when our mind is flooded with a meteor shower of “what-ifs.” There’s a better path instead of focusing on the speed from point A to point B.
Rhythm is quickness under control.
Routines can help create rhythm and a proper cadence of life.
There are natural routines that we do on the daily, from waking up, exercising, or brushing our teeth. Meetings, events, and even important decisions can have a rhythm to them and the most efficient ones have a familiar routine and structure.
4.Plan for flow
Flow happens naturally, we can’t force it.
However, we can put ourselves into situations that require our sole focus and attention.
The fastest way on how to achieve patience is to plan out your week, the Sunday evening before, or just plan for the next day ahead. There will be head winds and adjustments, but it will help keep the main thing the main thing.
We need to plan for times when we will be totally immersed into the daily activities at hand. This helps allow for our rhythm to unfold.
The largest obstacle of flow is the starting and stopping of trivial actions. The task switching or context switching stems from replying to emails, calls, or commenting on LinkedIn, and taking five minutes here and there. These interruptions interfere with the major goal, which is total immersion into the task at hand. However, the more often we switch, the more it tasks our mental energy.
We can better achieve flow and being in the moment by starting small and allowing increments of time to focus (e.g. for the next thirty minutes, I will stay completely immersed in the activity at hand with no interruptions or distractions).
Check out our new book:
Dr. Rob Bell is a Sport Psychology Coach. DRB & associates coach executives and professional athletes. Some clients have included three different winners on the PGA Tour, Indy Eleven, University of Notre Dame, Marriott, and Walgreens.
Check Out All The Books
Keynote Speaking On Mental Toughness
Mental Toughness Podcast as we interview expert athletes and coaches about Mental Strength and their Hinge Moment.
New Blog Posts are published weekly.
Follow on Twitter @drrobbell
Follow on Instagram @drrobbell
December 19, 2022
The Sheer Power Of Patience And Money
Rich people have money, but wealthy people have time. The power of time is how one creates real wealth. Wealthy people use their money to actually have more available time.
The main principle behind wealth is patience and money.
Warren Buffet said it best when asked by fellow billionaire, Jeff Bezos, why everyone doesn’t adopt his simple investment strategy, he said, “ because no one wants to get rich slow.”
Warren Buffet’s net worth at age 36 was approximately 8 million dollars. Not a bad nest egg, however, that level of wealth is around Jimmy Buffett’s net worth. Eight million is not a reason why you know Warren Buffet’s name.
With time, by age 56, Warren Buffet’s net worth was estimated at 1.4 billion. And by age 66, his wealth had increased to 17 billion.
His wealth from age 90 has risen to approximately $93-100 billion dollars.
Example #1 The Power of Patience and Money
If one just started investing just $13 a day at the age of 23, assuming a return rate of 6%, they will become a millionaire by age of 67. If one started investing at age 35, one would need to save $30 a day for the same return by age 67. And if someone waited until the age of 45, it would take $63 per day to reach millionaire status by age 67.
The reason why time is so powerful is through compounding. Compound interest causes wealth to accumulate because one not only earns on money invested, but one also earns returns on those returns.
Compounding is patience in action.
Example #2 The Power of Patience and Money
If one invested, $1000 in AAPL stock (Apple) in 1980, that investment would be worth 1.4 million in 2023, forty or so years later. And that does not included dividend payments or splits of the stock. However, if one invested $10,000 at the stock offering of AAPL, that money would have increased to $14 million dollars.
That is the sheer kick-ass power of time.
And one would not have had to be clairvoyant to experience the power of time. If one invested $1000 in the S&P 500 in the year of 1980, that investment today would be worth approximately $100,000.
Time grants money so much power that the stock market has never lost money. With time as a partner, the stock market has never lost money!
However, if you watched any financial shows, you’d be very hard pressed to find evidence showing the growth of the economy. The negative outweighs more than the positive and people watch shows for doom and gloom, not positive and upbeat.
Within the world of setbacks, monetary losses become instantaneous and excellent television fodder. But, people heavily invested with the stock market would be remiss to not share that their wealth increased since the year of 2000. However, during times of upheaval and market losses, the same individuals would be calling their financial advisor.
Money, like everything else encounters setbacks, adversity, upheaval, and strife.
As Morgan Housel, author of the book, Psychology of Money wrote, “Progress happens too slowly to notice, but setbacks happen too quickly to ignore.”
Example #3 The Power of Patience and Money
To illustrate how the stock market has never lost money, one needs to examine the GDP.
The global gross domestic product (GDP) is a great indicator of a country’s economic health. In 2000, the global gross domestic product was approximately 33 trillion dollars. In the United States alone, circa 2000, the GDP was 10 trillion dollars.
To illustrate the power of on wealth, by 2022, the global GDP had risen to 84 trillion dollars and the United States GDP was 21 trillion dollars.
That’s an increase of 51 trillion dollars globally and 11 trillion dollars within the United States GDP.
The S&P 500 follows the largest 500 companies in the United States. Similar to the GDP, it provides another indicator of an economy’s health. In the year 2000, the S&P 500 had an average closing price of $1427.22.
In the year 2022, the average closing price of the S&P index was $4425.88. That’s an average increase of the S&P 500 across just twenty-two years of almost $3000.
Which means…
If you can wait, then you can win.
Click To Tweet
If you can wait, then you can win.
Time possesses so much power that the inverse to patience and money is also true. We must use the tools to maximize the power of time. If we did nothing with the $1000 in 1980 except put it under our mattress, then the buying power today of that same amount would be approximately $300!!!
We favor the immediate over the long-term.
Let’s face it, saving money and earning a 6% return is not sexy. A new car, I-phone, outfit, or shoes is sexy. Hosting the best boat party or wedding or birthday party is sexy.
We get more immediate satisfaction and joy out of out of spending than saving. We value the immediate over the future. And we want it, now.
Dr. Rob Bell is a Sport Psychology Coach. His company DRB & associates coach executives and professional athletes and is based in Indianapolis. Some clients have included three winners on the PGA Tour, Indy Eleven, University of Notre Dame, Marriott, and Walgreens.
Please Check out all the books and the mental toughness podcast - 15 Minutes of Mental Toughness as we interview expert athletes and coaches about Mental Strength and their Hinge Moment. New blog posts are published weekly.
November 16, 2022
15 Real Life Examples of Patience | DRB & Associates
“We should not let an illusion of urgency force us to make decisions before we are ready.” — Nelson Mandela
Patience is the number one attribute when it comes to becoming a great chef. You have to be patient because it takes a long time. It actually took me 20 years before I could execute it properly. – Chef Jason Atherton
Nelson Mandela was sent to prison in 1964. He spent 27 years as a political prisoner and was released in 1990. He brought an end to Apartheid and fostered a new peace in South Africa. He became the first president of South Africa in 1994, proclaimed a new constitution, and received the noble peace prize. If not familiar, then research his real life examples of patience and mental toughness. Ryann O’Toole turned professional in 2010 and won her first LPGA event in 2021 at the Scottish Open. It was her 228th professional start. Prior to the win, she had contemplated retiring from the game.Stephanie Kwolek finished college in 1946 as her lifelong work as a chemist began. She specialized in creating a material as hard as steel, but lighter. Ten (10) years passed throughout the experiments and her fellow chemists had given up on the idea. At last, a serendipitous find helped her create the fist group of synthetic fibers known as Kevlar. Patience has literally saved thousands of lives.Judy Heumann and Kitty Cone both were disability rights activists. They helped organize a sit-in at the federal building at 50 United Nations Plaza in San Francisco. The sit-in was orchestrated to protest the failure to enact section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. On April 5th, 1977 approximately 150 Americans with disabilities and allies occupied the federal building. They refused to leave until Joseph Califano, secretary of health, education, and welfare signed the regulations that affected the disability population. On April 28th, 1977, he signed the regulation. It still is the longest sit-in to date inside of a federal building. The sit-in was of historic importance and ultimately led to the Americans with Disabilities Act. This story can be witnessed in the documentary Crip Camp, which is part of our top Mental Toughness Documentaries. 15 Real Life Examples of PatienceBill Wilson’s parents abandon he and his sister as youths. He suffered from depression and as a twenty year old had his first alcoholic drink. He claimed, “I had found the elixir of life.” He experienced seventeen (17) years of destitute drunkenness and underwent four different hospital stays for alcohol addiction. His comeback resulted in his ultimate sobriety, founding Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), and writing the Big Book of AA. It has since sold over 30 million copies and Bill W. was considered one of the top 100 influential people of the 20th century. Jadav Payeng was a teenager when he came across hundreds of washed up snakes on the island of Majuli in India. We wrote about him in the book- NO ONE Gets There ALONE. Thus, in 1979, he began planting trees on the sand bar to combat the erosion. Over 40 years, He created a vast forest that now spans over 1300 acres. Today, the island houses over one hundred elephants, a hundred deer, five Royal Bengal tigers, wild boars, several species of birds, including vultures and pelicans, and many one-horned rhinoceroses. The forest is known as Molai forest and he has become known as the forest man of India. Ray Bourque entered the NHL in the 1979-80 season for the Boston Bruins. Throughout his 21-year hall of fame career, he held the record for most goals, assists, and points by a defenseman. During his final game in the NHL, he won the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche. He played in 1,612 regular season and 214 playoff games before winning the ultimate prize, which was the longest span in the history of the Stanley Cup. His and others real life examples of patience and persistence helped him become an icon of mental toughness. Charles Darwin set sail on the ship HMS Beagle in 1831. It wasn’t until 1835 that he visited the Galapagos Islands and began to formulate his theory of evolution. It wasn’t until 1859, that he published the transformational book on evolution, On The Origin of Species. It took twenty eight years of persistence to complete. The America’s Cup was first competed in 1851. The New York Yacht Club (NYYC) would hold the prestigious sailing cup for over 132 years. It was quite simply the longest streak in sports. At one point, human hands did not touch the trophy itself in over 100 years. However, in 1983, the Royal Perth Yacht Club represented The Australia II, skippered by John Bertrand, and finally won The America’s Cup. Another incredible sports and mental toughness documentary! The Chicago Cubs won the World Series in 1908, which was the same year the Model T ford made its debut. They became dubbed “cursed” and the lovable losers. After a 108-year hiatus, The Chicago Cubs won the World Series on November 3rd, 2016. Everyone seemed to experience these guys’ real life examples of patience. Prince Charles III became King Charles III of England at the age of 73. He was the longest serving heir-apparent in the history of the monarchy before becoming king.Sergio Garcia turned professional in 1999. He had won to date 36 international professional golf tournaments. However, he was winless in major championships for his first 73 attempts since 1999. He finally won The Masters in 2017, his 74th major appearance. His ability to adapt and overcome his lack of mental toughness helped him win. Jack Campbell was a Hockey goaltender and was the 11th overall pick in the 2010 NHL draft. He played 2 NHL games over the next seven years with five different teams. He was mired in the minor leagues until 2018 when he won his first NHL game. He became a starter and was selected for the 2022 NHL All-star team, 12 years after being drafted. George Foreman won the boxing heavyweight championship in in 1973 by beating Joe Frazier. He retired thereafter losing the famous “rumble in the jungle” fight to Muhammad Ali. He has several real life examples of patience. But, in 1994, at the age of 45 years old and 10 months, the unranked Foreman beat Michael Moorer to regain the Heavyweight championship. It was twenty years after his first title and he stated,As characters in the bible, Job is seen as the model of patience. Job faces intense and immediate bouts of struggle and setbacks. He sits in silence for seven days and nights. Job 7:3 states, “So I have been allotted months of futility.” It doesn’t say exactly how long he suffers, but it is evident that he is patient with his afflictions. Moses may be an individual in the bible who exhibited the most patience. He was certainly impatient at times as he struck the rock at the bequest of his people and against the will of God. But, the Israelites spent forty years in the desert wandering before reaching the promise land.“I was the best I ever was at age 46! Something I’d waited for, for years. Boxing, sparring, bag punch and roadwork were like a dream.”
Dr. Rob Bell is a Sport Psychology Coach. His company DRB & associates coach executives and professional athletes and is based in Indianapolis. Some clients have included three winners on the PGA Tour, Indy Eleven, University of Notre Dame, Marriott, and Walgreens.
Please Check out all the books and the mental toughness podcast - 15 Minutes of Mental Toughness as we interview expert athletes and coaches about Mental Strength and their Hinge Moment. New blog posts are published weekly.
15 Real Life Examples of Patience | DRB & Associates
“We should not let an illusion of urgency force us to make decisions before we are ready.” — Nelson Mandela
Patience is the number one attribute when it comes to becoming a great chef. You have to be patient because it takes a long time. It actually took me 20 years before I could execute it properly. – Chef Jason Atherton
Nelson Mandela was sent to prison in 1964. He spent 27 years as a political prisoner and was released in 1990. He brought an end to Apartheid and fostered a new peace in South Africa. He became the first president of South Africa in 1994, proclaimed a new constitution, and received the noble peace prize. If not familiar, then research his real life examples of patience and mental toughness. Ryann O’Toole turned professional in 2010 and won her first LPGA event in 2021 at the Scottish Open. It was her 228th professional start. Prior to the win, she had contemplated retiring from the game.Stephanie Kwolek finished college in 1946 as her lifelong work as a chemist began. She specialized in creating a material as hard as steel, but lighter. Ten (10) years passed throughout the experiments and her fellow chemists had given up on the idea. At last, a serendipitous find helped her create the fist group of synthetic fibers known as Kevlar. Patience has literally saved thousands of lives.Judy Heumann and Kitty Cone both were disability rights activists. They helped organize a sit-in at the federal building at 50 United Nations Plaza in San Francisco. The sit-in was orchestrated to protest the failure to enact section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. On April 5th, 1977 approximately 150 Americans with disabilities and allies occupied the federal building. They refused to leave until Joseph Califano, secretary of health, education, and welfare signed the regulations that affected the disability population. On April 28th, 1977, he signed the regulation. It still is the longest sit-in to date inside of a federal building. The sit-in was of historic importance and ultimately led to the Americans with Disabilities Act. This story can be witnessed in the documentary Crip Camp, which is part of our top Mental Toughness Documentaries. 15 Real Life Examples of PatienceBill Wilson’s parents abandon he and his sister as youths. He suffered from depression and as a twenty year old had his first alcoholic drink. He claimed, “I had found the elixir of life.” He experienced seventeen (17) years of destitute drunkenness and underwent four different hospital stays for alcohol addiction. His comeback resulted in his ultimate sobriety, founding Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), and writing the Big Book of AA. It has since sold over 30 million copies and Bill W. was considered one of the top 100 influential people of the 20th century. Jadav Payeng was a teenager when he came across hundreds of washed up snakes on the island of Majuli in India. We wrote about him in the book- NO ONE Gets There ALONE. Thus, in 1979, he began planting trees on the sand bar to combat the erosion. Over 40 years, He created a vast forest that now spans over 1300 acres. Today, the island houses over one hundred elephants, a hundred deer, five Royal Bengal tigers, wild boars, several species of birds, including vultures and pelicans, and many one-horned rhinoceroses. The forest is known as Molai forest and he has become known as the forest man of India. Ray Bourque entered the NHL in the 1979-80 season for the Boston Bruins. Throughout his 21-year hall of fame career, he held the record for most goals, assists, and points by a defenseman. During his final game in the NHL, he won the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche. He played in 1,612 regular season and 214 playoff games before winning the ultimate prize, which was the longest span in the history of the Stanley Cup. His and others real life examples of patience and persistence helped him become an icon. Charles Darwin set sail on the ship HMS Beagle in 1831. It wasn’t until 1835 that he visited the Galapagos Islands and began to formulate his theory of evolution. It wasn’t until 1859, that he published the transformational book on evolution, On The Origin of Species. It took twenty eight years of persistence to complete. The America’s Cup was first competed in 1851. The New York Yacht Club (NYYC) would hold the prestigious sailing cup for over 132 years. It was quite simply the longest streak in sports. At one point, human hands did not touch the trophy itself in over 100 years. However, in 1983, the Royal Perth Yacht Club represented The Australia II, skippered by John Bertrand, and finally won The America’s Cup. Another incredible sports and mental toughness documentary! The Chicago Cubs won the World Series in 1908, which was the same year the Model T ford made its debut. They became dubbed “cursed” and the lovable losers. After a 108-year hiatus, The Chicago Cubs won the World Series on November 3rd, 2016. Everyone seemed to experience these guys’ real life examples of patience. Prince Charles III became King Charles III of England at the age of 73. He was the longest serving heir-apparent in the history of the monarchy before becoming king.Sergio Garcia turned professional in 1999. He had won to date 36 international professional golf tournaments. However, he was winless in major championships for his first 73 attempts since 1999. He finally won The Masters in 2017, his 74th major appearance.Jack Campbell was a Hockey goaltender and was the 11th overall pick in the 2010 NHL draft. He played 2 NHL games over the next seven years with five different teams. He was mired in the minor leagues until 2018 when he won his first NHL game. He became a starter and was selected for the 2022 NHL All-star team, 12 years after being drafted. George Foreman won the boxing heavyweight championship in in 1973 by beating Joe Frazier. He retired thereafter losing the famous “rumble in the jungle” fight to Muhammad Ali. He has several real life examples of patience. But, in 1994, at the age of 45 years old and 10 months, the unranked Foreman beat Michael Moorer to regain the Heavyweight championship. It was twenty years after his first title and he stated,As characters in the bible, Job is seen as the model of patience. Job faces intense and immediate bouts of struggle and setbacks. He sits in silence for seven days and nights. Job 7:3 states, “So I have been allotted months of futility.” It doesn’t say exactly how long he suffers, but it is evident that he is patient with his afflictions. That said, Moses may be an individual in the bible who exhibited the most patience. He was certainly impatient at times as he struck the rock at the bequest of his people and against the will of God. But, the Israelites spent forty years in the desert wandering before reaching the promise land.“I was the best I ever was at age 46! Something I’d waited for, for years. Boxing, sparring, bag punch and roadwork were like a dream.”
Dr. Rob Bell is a Sport Psychology Coach. His company DRB & associates coach executives and professional athletes and is based in Indianapolis. Some clients have included three winners on the PGA Tour, Indy Eleven, University of Notre Dame, Marriott, and Walgreens.
Please Check out all the books and the mental toughness podcast - 15 Minutes of Mental Toughness as we interview expert athletes and coaches about Mental Strength and their Hinge Moment. New blog posts are published weekly.
May 20, 2022
What Really Happens When You Prove Yourself Right ?
When someone close to you tells you, “You can’t do something” , “that’s a bad idea” or ” don’t try it”, it becomes a lightning strike.
The most successful people in the existence of the world were told either through their circumstance or by someone else that they “were not good enough.”
We either believe that person or we believe ourselves. We cannot be on the fence during these moments. When you prove yourself right, you’ll make an impact for others and yourself!
Why a lightning strike?
Lightning is the most powerful force that one can imagine and it directly connects the atmosphere with the earth.
Lightning strikes can have temperatures of 20,000 degrees Celsius, which is hotter than the sun. It can produce up to 10 billion watts of power. Meaning, just one strike could power up to 56 homes for an entire day.
But, there is an even more dangerous and powerful type of lightning.
It’s called POSITIVE LIGHTNING and this type of lightning comes from “out of the blue.”
Positive Lightning is being told “you’re not good enough” or that “you can’t do something.”
The lightning strike can cause serious damage and ruin people OR it can serve as the variable that determines the path of your entire life.
WE CANNOT BE ON THE FENCE when we are told by someone close to us, (or our circumstance) that “we can’t do it.”
We will either believe that negativity OR we will believe in ourselves. What happens is most people try to prove others wrong, but what really happens when you prove yourself right? You make an impact in life!
Now, coaches, teachers, bosses and employers, too often make the fatal mistake of being a lightning strike! We’ve all made this mistake.
As important as these painful moments are, we all need a lightning rod in our lives as well. However, we still can all be the lightning rod for others! We need someone to protect us from that strike!
ONE person to speak truth, encouragement, focus and confidence that WE CAN DO IT! It is a hinge moment of connection between who we are and who we will become.
It only takes one.
Dr. Rob Bell is a Sport Psychology Coach. His company DRB & associates coach executives and professional athletes and is based in Indianapolis. Some clients have included three winners on the PGA Tour, Indy Eleven, University of Notre Dame, Marriott, and Walgreens.
Please Check out all the books and the mental toughness podcast - 15 Minutes of Mental Toughness as we interview expert athletes and coaches about Mental Strength and their Hinge Moment. New blog posts are published weekly.
May 6, 2022
10 Actions of Tough Basketball Teams | (INFOGRAPHIC)
10 Actions of Tough Basketball TeamsThere’s two kinds of seasons in Indiana. Basketball season and waiting for basketball season.
Check out our blog post- 10 Life Lessons From The Last Dance Documentary
Now, I’m just a mental coach.
However, I have been fortunate enough to have watched, observed, and listened to great coaches throughout the state and through the entire country and every level. There’s something about the sport of basketball coaches.
Here’s what I’ve discovered in an infographic about tough basketball teams.
1.Take Charges- It seizes massive momentum for the team and swings the crowd either way. It usually comes down to one player who has this unique Will-set. Will > skill.
2. Grabs 50/50 balls- Rebounding is an attitude in action! Rebounding won’t always win a game, but if you don’t have this will, it can lose it for you.
3. Dive for loose balls- What can I say here, who doesn’t love a little hustle behind that muscle? I love players that dive on the hardwood and simply win that ball.
4. Execute Traps/Force Turnovers- This only occurs when teams have practiced and prepared for these situations and tough basketball teams are simply together on this trait. I love coach Seth Greenberg’s take on this, “if you trap a little, they think about it a lot.”
5. Set And Fight Through Screens- Coach Garrett Winegar says it perfectly, “Be fast to set, and slow to receive.”
It really frustrates the screener if they move too fast, because it often results in a foul. It also demands a level of toughness and team communication to fight through them as well.
6. Cut Hard/ Sprint the Floor- It’s rough to see players hang their head and take a few upset steps after a mistake before hustling (hopefully) back down the court. It happens too often, a second lost becomes a step too slow to recover and a basket in transition.
Show me someone who hustles so hard that coach HAS to take them out of the game! When most players hustle that hard, it shows tough basketball teams.
7. Help Each Other Move On- We were not put on this earth to coach ourselves. If we could, then we would. We need each other and we especially need our teammates to help us get outside of our own head. NO ONE gets there ALONE!
8. Watch Film/Shoot/Hang Out- The levels and depth of a team need to go beyond the front of a jersey. Does the team truly fight for one another and care about one another? If they do, then they allow each other to coach each other when needed.
Besides, then the team becomes friends for a reason instead of just a season.
9. Communicate- It makes me laugh when people yell “communicate.” But, it’s true. teams often fail to communicate for three reasons. a) fatigue, b) lack of leadership or c) fear of looking stupid.
10. Make The Front End of One & One’s- This is just one of those things that I love to see, making the front end!
If they are missed, then one can simply count these as a shooting turnover.
Want to add more characteristics of tough basketball teams? Please do so! Would love to hear from you!
Dr. Rob Bell is a Sport Psychology Coach. His company DRB & associates coach executives and professional athletes and is based in Indianapolis. Some clients have included three winners on the PGA Tour, Indy Eleven, University of Notre Dame, Marriott, and Walgreens.
Please Check out all the books and the mental toughness podcast - 15 Minutes of Mental Toughness as we interview expert athletes and coaches about Mental Strength and their Hinge Moment. New blog posts are published weekly.
March 31, 2022
Most Important List of 10 Mental Toughness Documentaries
Our previous two posts have a plethora of mental game documentaries. So, basically for another set of twenty to pick from: check these two posts out.
This list may eventually run its course , but as stated before: We would not promote or suggest docs that suck or wouldn’t help you Be The BEST At Getting BETTER.
10. Bob Ross: Happy Accidents, Betrayal, & Greed
“Happy Trees!” The life of Bob Ross, The Joy Of Painting creator is well-documented. He brought joy to millions and his passion was clear and always on displayin this mental toughness documentary. Unfortunately, he got mixed up with two extremely shady and ruthless characters, Annette Kowalski and Walter Kowalski. Spoiler Alert- Any Bob Ross material or proceeds are not owned by the Bob Ross family.
The Danbury Trashers were a minor league hockey team in the UHL league in Connecticut. James Galante purchased the team and named his son A.J. Galante, president and general manager. He was 17 years old! But, he sure knew hockey! There were organized crime ties involved within its ownership and that lead to the downfall. But, the team had a hold on how they thought the game should be played (i.e., they set the league record for penalty minutes).
In our other mental toughness documentaries list, we had Hired Gun as a killer. This was almost as good. It follows the best back-up singers of all-time and delves into their roles, dreams, and the step forward into the next. Don’t let anyone tell you luck isn’t part of success. Bruce Springsteen, Sting, & Mick Jagger all star in this one!
There is a line from Andy Roddick in this documentary that basically says ” There’s only been one person in history who didn’t have it as a young star and turned himself into an older star; and it was Mardy Fish.” There are two main sections to 1 hour and 30 minute show. His rise to the next level of top tennis, the mental toughness part, and his struggle with mental health afterwards.
If you grew up when I did, it was tough not to like the Beastie Boys. They produced one of the top game changing albums of all-time. And they produced so much sampling and lyrical hits, that it was simply genius. This illustrates their story and continuation and struggles throughout the journey to stardom.
Now, when it comes to Mental Toughness, Dolly Parton is it! The poverty she grew up in and the struggles that she had to overcome was intense. There was a special line in this about fear that she addressed and basically said, ” I’m going to make it.” That’s the grit needed and she lays it all out there. This is one of my favorite mental toughness documentaries.
4. Kevin Garnett: Anything Is Possible
I was always a fan of KG since I saw him at a McDonald’s All-American game in 1995. He was a 7 footer who dribbled like a guard! I always enjoyed his doggish mentality and his intensity as he was one of the first to jump from H.S. straight to the NBA. This film follows his career and you’ll get a glimpse into what it really takes even when you have all the talent. The arm-wrestling scene is the best!
Marc- Andre’ Leclerc is a free climber (no ropes), but what makes even Alex Honold take notice of him is that he climbs on all-different surfaces. It is a pretty intense film that has some major twists. His passion emanates from such a transcendental journey. If you dig climbers and climbing movies, check it out.
2. 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible
We go from anything is possible, to nothing is impossible on our documentary journey. Nirmal Purja is the star in this climbing/ orienteering journey. His goal is to summit the 14 highest peaks in the world in seven months. The record for the summits has been 16 years….These mental toughness documentaries simply get better and better.
This is number one on the list for a reason! Scott Lindgren is the star of this epic film and just had him a guest on our podcast as well– 15 Minutes of Mental Toughness
Scott Lindgren changed the sport of kayaking in the 90’s and is a member of the International Whitewater Hall of Fame. He’s made 50 first descents all around the world. His vehicle is kayaking, but his story is the reason for these mental toughness documentaries. He provides tons of insight and clarity into the mental game!
Dr. Rob Bell is a Sport Psychology Coach. His company DRB & associates coach executives and professional athletes and is based in Indianapolis. Some clients have included three winners on the PGA Tour, Indy Eleven, University of Notre Dame, Marriott, and Walgreens.
Please Check out all the books and the mental toughness podcast - 15 Minutes of Mental Toughness as we interview expert athletes and coaches about Mental Strength and their Hinge Moment. New blog posts are published weekly.
March 1, 2022
7 Ways To Build Grit | Honest & Tough
HONEST ways?
It’s honest, not only because these are truthful, but because the truth often hurts! For example, when someone asks you “do you ‘really’ want to know what I think?” Is that an honest request, or is it an ask for positive feedback, even if it was awful?
The truth hurts because we can ALWAYS get better or go faster, or go farther.
If seven is a bit too much of a task to tackle, then check out our popular post on just ONE of the 7 ways to build grit.
1. Step Into the Next- The best in history, in any field, were able to recreate themselves and always focused on the process rather than the product. What shapes your priorities is how you answer the question.
2. Do Hard Stuff! – Gratitude and Perspective are powerful forces of both the mind and spirit!
3. The Daily Disciplines- Adam Kerley was a guest on our podcast 15 Minutes of Mental Toughness and he spoke at length about the common shared characteristic amongst the best athletes… he said ” The Daily Disciplines!” It’s an important singular tool as we build the 7 ways to build grit.
4. Rid The Media- The mental game is much more about subtraction than it is addition… It is frankly often about removing the things or people in our lives that simply do not propel us forward.
5. Marinate Your Mind- I’ve written often about the importance of soaking our mind inside of positivity, present focus, and confidence! Learn from others and how they did it grants us our own self belief.
6. Puke & Rally – It’s not about the setback, it’s about the comeback! This is the honesty part that not many want to share with you when we discuss 7 ways to build grit. Your own journey will be harder than you think, but remember your harder (tougher) than you think as well! Puking is not fun, but it is necessary!
7. Rest- A good line of thinking when it comes to training, preparing, and recovery is the following: It’s not about over-training as it is about under-recovering.
Dr. Rob Bell is a Sport Psychology Coach. His company DRB & associates coach executives and professional athletes and is based in Indianapolis. Some clients have included three winners on the PGA Tour, Indy Eleven, University of Notre Dame, Marriott, and Walgreens.
Please Check out all the books and the mental toughness podcast - 15 Minutes of Mental Toughness as we interview expert athletes and coaches about Mental Strength and their Hinge Moment. New blog posts are published weekly.
