A common denominator in sports is that at the end of the season every team except one fails to reach their ultimate goal. This is what makes sport participation great, the opportunity to be able to build character off the court by experiencing failure on the court.
Our response to failure is what paves the path to greatness. Many of us don't reach greatness (our full potential) due to our fear of failure. We allow failure to paralyze us rather than ignite our potential.
Last season Derrick Rose had a season to remember, being the youngest player to win the MVP award and leading his team to the best record in the NBA regular season. But he failed to lead his team to victory against the Miami Heat in the second round of the 2011 playoffs.
Although Derrick Rose failed in the playoffs, he is not a failure because he refuses to let the loss against the Heat define his greatness. After reading an article by Neil Hayes of the Chicago Sun-Times, I believe Derrick Roses demonstrates 4 ways to respond to failure.
1. Take full responsibility for your failure. Derrick Rose blames himself for the Bulls losing to the Heat in the playoffs. People that are on the path to greatness have learned the importance of taking responsibility for their failures. They don't blame and they definitely don't make excuses. Rose, “I put that all on me, me not making the right decisions, me not knowing the clock, decision- making, turnovers. It really got to me and hurt the team,”
2. Seek the help of others to overcome failure. Overcoming failure requires taking and giving. Taking full responsibility and giving others the opportunity to partner with us to overcome failure. Overcoming failure is never done alone, it requires the help of others. Derrick Rose demonstrated this by working out with Rob McClanaghan six days a week during the off season. He knew that he couldn't get over failure by himself.
3. Honestly evaluate failure then take the necessary steps that are required. As Rose evaluated his failure he came to the conclusion that fatigue was a major factor along with decision making, turnovers, and understanding in game situations. So during the off season he committed himself to more running and film study. Tom Thibodeau, “He’s all over the place like most of these guys in the offseason, but wherever he goes, he works, he studies, he watches film. When he was with Team USA, it wasn’t just what he was doing in practice every day. It was his commitment to extra shooting after, getting there early, being ready to play, and he does that year-round. You know he’s going to get better with his approach."
4. Allow humility to be the result of failure. Failure provides us with the opportunity to become humble. Rarely do we become humble when we are on top, it is at the low points of life where humility is taught. It's up to us if we are going to be teachable students. Rob Mcclananghan, “You would think a guy who is 22 years old and is the MVP of his hometown city would be a little cocky,” McClanaghan said. “But he just gets more humble.”
