Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Day 9-Dream Factory
"The more you PRAY the BIGGER YOUR DREAMS will become and the BIGGER YOUR DREAMS become the more you will have to PRAY."
"We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."
2 Corinthians 10:5
"Growing up I consistently heard this verse interpreted in negative terms. Take captive negative thoughts and make them obedient to Christ. And that is half the battle. But if we see only the negative implications and not the positive possibilities, it becomes a half truth. This verse is not just about capturing sinful thoughts and getting them out of our mind; its also about capturing creative thoughts and keeping them in our minds. It means stewarding every word, impression, and revelation inspired by the Spirit of God."
Mark Batterson-Draw the Circle.
What would it look like if the men's soccer team was a "dream factory"? What if we pursued our dreams as an act of obedience instead of a burden? What would it look like for us this off-season?
Here is an except from an article in Harvard Business Review about Sir Alex Ferguson and his management approach.
"Ferguson's teams had a knack for pulling out victories in the late stages of games. Our analysis of game results shows that 10 recent seasons, United had a better record when tied at halftime and when tied with 15 minutes left to play than any other club in the English league. Inspirational halftime talks and the right tactical changes during the game undoubtedly had something to do with those wins, but they may not be the full story.When their teams are behind late in the game, many managers will direct players to move forward, encouraging them to attack. Ferguson was both unusually aggressive and unusually systematic about his approach. He prepared his team to win. He had players regularly practice how they should play if a goal was needed with 10, five or three minutes remaining. "We practice for when the going gets tough, so we know what it takes to be successful in those situations," one of United's assistant coaches told us.
United practice sessions focused on repetition of skills and tactics. "We look at training sessions as opportunities to learn and improve, " Ferguson said. "Sometimes the players might think, 'Here we go again,' but it helps us win." There appears to be more to this approach than just the common belief that winning teams are rooted in habits- that they can execute certain plays almost automatically. There is also an underlying signal that you are never quite satisfied with where you are and constantly looking for ways to improve. This is how Ferguson put it: "The message is simple: We cannot sit still at this club."
Ferguson: Winning is my nature. I've set my standards over such a long period of time that there is no other option for me- I have to win. I expected to win every time we went out there.
Ferguson speaks passionately about wanting to instill values in his players. More than giving them technical skills, he wanted to inspire them to strive to do better and never give up-in other words, to make them winners."
Ferguson's Formula by Anita Elberse and Sir Alex Ferguson.
