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Motivation-N-More strives to provide the tools, strategies, and techniques necessary to empower individuals to become more productive on the court, in the classroom, in the office, and in the game of life.

Go!  Just Go!
Right, left, wrong, right – Go!
No stopping and looking back.  No what-ifs.  Just Go!
This is something new.
There are no wrong moves – you’ll learn from everything.
There are no mistakes except inaction.  Go!
You’re scared to do this?
I’m scared you won’t do it.
Go, even if it’s in the completely wrong direction at first.
Say your prayers and Go!

Tim Nichols and Craig Wiseman – from Live Like You Were Dying

During the past week I got to witness about 140 young boys and girls begin their basketball dream at the Ohio “Yes, I Can!” Basketball Camp.  There were some talented players and some not so talented players.  But these young people were full of passion, excitement, and enthusiasm.  Like a sponge, these young campers tried to soak up everything we as a staff had to offer.  We spoke to them about the three qualities of successful people:

1. They pay attention
2. They challenge themselves
3. They begin with the end in mind – they set goals

And like almost every camp we have conducted for the past 28 years these young people improved dramatically.  But more than that, this camp was a special camp because these campers truly cared for one another, they cheered for one another, they encouraged one another, and they celebrated their small victories with each other.

Will they all become basketball players?  The answer to that question is probably not.  There is however a teacher, a coach, a lawyer, a doctor, a bridge builder, a chef, an artist, and a street sweeper in this group. 

In the long run, you only hit what you aim at.  Therefore, though you may fail, you had better aim high at something. Henry David Thoreau

Upon returning home from the “Yes, I Can!” Camp, I drove to Atlanta and met with Ed Kozol.  Ed is a good friend and my former Associate Head Coach with the Kansas Cagerz.  Ed and I had lived part of our basketball dreams coaching on the college and the minor league professional levels.  We were in Atlanta to observe the NBA’s Developmental League pre-draft tryout.  We would be writing a couple articles for Pro Basketball News.

Within the tryout camp there were actually three camps.  The first camp was of course for players trying to be selected for the upcoming NBA D-League Draft.  There were two hundred players from throughout the United States, Canada, and Japan – each trying to live their basketball dream.  For two days the players would try to impress NBA D-League coaches, league officials, and their camp coaches.  Last year in a similar camp, thirty three young men were selected. 

Like many of the tryout camps Ed and I had conducted over the years, there were players who could play beyond the college level – either overseas or in the D-League.  There were players who might have the skills to play in the lower level minor leagues here in the US.  And then there were players who were giving their dream one last shot.

We observed the twenty teams as they played.  There were great shots, rim-rattling dunks, no look passes, strong drives to the basket – but there was also poor shot selection, missed lay-ups, and bad passes.  These young men gave it there all for two days for a shot at their dream.

Set your goals high, and don’t stop until you get there.  Bo Jackson

The second camp was for officials.  Every game was video taped – and every official was evaluated.  Pre-game conferences, half-time pointers on the floor, and post game evaluations.  Like the players in the games they were officiating, the officials were also trying to live a dream – improve enough so that they may eventually get a chance to call a game in the NBA.  They worked their craft just as hard as the players did.

Step by step.  I can’t see any other way of accomplishing anything.  Michael Jordan

The third camp was for a select group of former NBA players trying to make the transition from the playing court to the sidelines.  Guys like Tracy Murray, Sean Rooks, Kelvin Upshaw, and Tony Campbell (these were four of NBA former players we interviewed for the article in Pro Basketball News).  Each one of these young men is willing to do what they have to do to break into the coaching ranks, including summer league teams, minor league coaching, and tryouts like this weekend’s D-League Tryout Camp.

• Tracy Murray: Tracy had a 12 year NBA career.  Known throughout his career as a shooter, Murray led the NBA if 3 pt. FG percentage in the 93-94 season.  He had a career best 50 points in a game in 1998.  He was part of a World Championship team with the Houston Rockets in 1994-95. (Side-note:  Tracy attended our “Yes, I Can!” Basketball Camp between his freshman and sophomore years in HS)  Goal: Coaching on the collegiate/pro level or broadcasting
• Sean Rooks: Sean played 12 years in the NBA.  He played for several teams including the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Lakers. Currently, Sean is the Head Coach of the “D” Leagues Bakersfield Jam.  Goal: NBA bench coach – to be the best coach he can be.
• Tony Campbell: Campbell had an 11 year NBA career.  Drafted by the Pistons in 1984, Campbell had to prove his mark in the CBA before getting his NBA shot. He led the Minnesota Timberwolves in scoring three straight seasons.  Traded to the Lakers, Campbell won an NBA Championship with the “Showtime” Lakers.  Goal: Coaching on the NBA/Collegiate level.
• Kelvin Upshaw:  Kelvin played three seasons in the NBA with Miami, Boston, and Dallas.  He also had stops in the USBL, the CBA, and overseas.  He has coached in the CBA and the “D” League as an assistant coach. Goal: To be an NBA Head Coach

So what keeps us from fulfilling our Dreams?  On the way home from Atlanta, I stopped in a store called “Music for a Song.”  I picked up a book/CD called, Live Like You Were Dying, (Tim Nichols and Craig Wiseman, Rutledge Hill Press, Nashville, TN, 2004)  Country Singer Tim McGraw inspired the book when he recorded a song with the same title about the death of his father, Tug McGraw (included with the book). In the book is a section called, “Too Many Stop Signs.”  Here is that section:

Too many stop signs.  Maybe that’s the problem.  There are just too many stop signs in this world.  Every road you go down, just when you’re about to get somewhere…there’s another stop sign.

It’s a metaphor of our lives that every road has stop signs all over it.  It’s no wonder so many people feel as if they will never get to their dreams.  It’s no wonder that so many people don’t even bother to begin the chase.  They know there will be so many stop signs.

Well I decided to do something about it.  I decided to tie a little ribbon around every stop sign between my house and where I go every day just to remind me that while my car or bike should stop frequently, I and my dreams and my journey should not stop.

Those little ribbons remind me that I need to keep going, that I should pursue my dreams - that I shouldn’t be standing still.  Those little ribbons remind me that stop signs are for cars and buses and motorcycles.  Stop signs are not for dreams and hopes and plans and adventures.  Because of those little ribbons, the stop signs now remind me to…GO!

Don’t get caught up in those stop signs – Dream It!  Believe It!  Do It!

Motivation-N-More Motivational Speaking:

Tom has been motivating individuals for over 25 years. Topics include:  Teambuilding, Goal Setting for Success, Leadership Training, Developing a Positive Attitude, and Improving Performance through Achievement Motivation.  If you are looking for more than “just another speaker” for your next event, contact Tom today.

• Upcoming Events:
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Yes, I Can! Basketball Camps:  28th summer of “Yes, I Can!” Camps

"More than a basketball camp, it is a success camp.  In 27 years I’ve seen my share of miracles."  Ron Slaymaker, Kansas Sports Hall of Fame and NAIA Hall of Fame Basketball Coach

• Kansas Overnight Camp: Ottawa University; Ottawa, Kansas  - July 13-17
• Day Camps/Clinics: We will come to your gym to conduct a three day camp or one day clinic. To reserve your camp date or for information on hosting a “Yes, I Can!” Camp at your school, contact Tom Hughes.
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Contact Tom at: tomhughes@motivationNmore.com

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