This post just crossed my desk. It is a quote by Sean Payton, the head coach of the Denver Broncos. This quote was featured in Coaches Journal, a blog I highly recommend. The quote was titled, “Don’t Eat the Cheese!”
“The minute you feel like you’ve arrived or your skill set is done, you have a problem. Don’t get caught in the trap of people telling you how great you are. You’ve got to keep working.” Sean Payton
I remember reading a quote by a famous actor who was being interviewed and he was asked if the critics who gave him negative reviews got him down. The actor replied he had more trouble with those who said how great he was. He wanted to keep improving and needed the criticism. As an athlete or a coach, if you are not learning, you are not improving. If you think you have arrived, you will get left behind.
Look at your game objectively. Often a tournament winner won more because the opponent played poorly than the winner played great. It is important to know that and to keep improving. If you cannot look at your game objectively, find someone who can.
The cheese is a trap baited for athletes and coaches. Don’t eat the cheese!