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NBA Coach: Your Choices, Preparation, and Mindsets Define Success

By Elise Hitchcock'18 and Charlie Dennis'18, 11/08/17, 1:15PM CST

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Student-athletes Elise Hitchcock'18 and Charlie Dennis'18 reflect on Mr. Kevin Eastman's road-tested, inspirational message he recently shared at Cretin-Derham Hall.

Cretin-Derham Hall hosted NBA championship coach and world-renowned motivational speaker Mr. Kevin Eastman on October 30. Eastman, a consultant to coaches and teams, advised attendees on the mindset of a champion. He shared the insights gathered from his work with athletes at all levels, from high school to pro.   While he focused on our student-athletes and individuals who are looking to excel in their athletic careers, we share our takeaways from the evening with our bigger community and hope you find something that is meaningful for your personal benefit.

Eastman put an emphasis on the choices we make as student-athletes, our preparation, and our mindsets. He claimed that these critical factors define our success.

Advice To Our Student-Athletes

The people you surround yourselves with are the individuals that determine the choices you make and attitude you have towards others.

If you are constantly around peers that make poor choices, you are going to start making those same choices.

As athletes trying to achieve goals, negative peer groups have the ability to deter your success. It is your job as a student-athlete to recognize that the choices you make and the people you surround yourselves with matter - and if you must change them to benefit your well-being, you will need to do so.

How you prepare for things determines how you perform. This applies to all students, regardless of whatever activity or club they join. If your plan is to skip studying for a Spanish vocabulary quiz, you are not going to receive a good grade. The same unwritten rule applies to an individual that skips practice but expect to nail their receiving route in the next football game. To reiterate, the more seriously you take practice, the more success you will be able to showcase.

How truthful you are with yourselves, how high are the standards you hold, and the how dedicated you are to the habits you form are all quotients of the mindset of leaders. Hold yourselves accountable for your mistakes, allowing learning to take place. The best leaders are those who learn from their failure. In addition to being coachable, be a teacher to yourselves. Set standards or goals for yourselves and don't stop working until they've been reached. Finally, your habits become what  you are known for by your teammates, coaches, and teachers. Develop working habits that rid yourself of distractions and bring you closer to the goals and standards you want to meet.

It is never too late to utilize Eastman's advice in your daily life. His wisdom is useful for all, which is why we were all so lucky to have him speak to us. Remember to make choices that will positively benefit you, be prepared for what you can, and have a mindset strong enough to help you reach your goals.