Crush It Like These Major Players: Key Steps to Being on Top of Your Game and Having First-Rate Status!

GOAT! That’s a term Mikaela Shiffrin doesn’t like having said about her. It brings a flashback of the real animal. Also, she prefers the term ‘resetting records’ over ‘breaking records’. No one can take away her first-rate status as a downhill skier. She recently became the winningest female athlete in World Cup.

In a different world, Lebron James reigns supreme. He recently passed the all-time scoring record once held by Kareen Abdul-Jabbar. The GOAT label often comes up with James too. Interestingly, breaking the scoring record wasn’t something he thought possible or set out to do in the early days of his career.

While Shiffrin and James dazzle in different sports, they just crush it on the ski slopes and basketball hoops. The similarities stack-up based on how they’ve maintained longevity, are media savvy and bring a high sense for social consciousness. James is vocal on justice issues, Shiffrin on climate change.

Jabbar had kind words to say about James when his record was smashed. He reminded us that “when one person climbs higher than the last person, we all feel like we are capable of being more.” Lindsey Vonn might agree with those words since it was her winning record that Shiffrin passed to being on top.       

Shiffrin had a low period after the sudden loss of her dad from a head injury. Her focus went off-track as her passion was low grade. Even with James breaking the record, the Lakers haven’t been putting up enough points. So how do they keep their game at such a high level? What’s the secret to their longevity?

  • Creativity:- As Shiffrin raises her level of preparation for upcoming events she finds ways to keep her performance on the up-and-up. Plus, creativity isn’t always flashy but it’s likely groovy.   
  • Consistency:- For James to break the all-time scoring record, he had to be dropping points on a consistent basis. That might explain how he broke the record in one less season than Jabbar.   
  • Reinvention:- James has changed NBA teams three times and with each team he’s won a championship. Beyond his physical condition, he’s also been about game reinvention.      
  • Collaboration:- Shiffrin has teamed-up with other skiers on sounding the alarm about climate change. They feel the future of the sport rests on not having warm winters that cause snow melt.        

Shiffrin still has some fuel left in the tank. Many believe she’ll pass the all-time World Cup wins record held by a male skier. While her last Olympic appearance was a disappointment, she’s the only skier to have won in all six World Cup disciplines, according to the LA Times.

If not GOAT, then at least first-rate status is something they both can claim based on how they crush it. James is still running up and down the court like he’s got spring-chicken legs. Shiffrin is used to being on top of the mountain heading down. But renewed passion inspires us to rise from low grade to high-point.

Talkback: Could James be as good as Shiffrin on the slopes, or Shiffrin as good as James on the court?

Tip: ‘GOATS’ know how to ‘crush it’ with passion and maybe even go from low grade to high point.

Tracks: Tedashii Ft Lecrae – Get Out My Way – https://youtu.be/ZBshbsz1nGg

Archie Eversole Ft ‘Chiefs’ Playoff Hype – We Ready – https://youtu.be/Lzuc2fiwIOk

Lebron James and Serena Williams Give Us a Preview of 2019, Using a Review of 2018

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The College Football National Championship was a shocker! Well, maybe not to Clemson players and fans, but to Alabama coach Nick Saban and the roll-tide squad who fell short at the end. The sports world will re-watch the game highlights and see that they’re some budding stars in the making.

Lebron James and Serena Williams are already big-time stars with lots of winning moments too. They were recently named AP Male/Female Athletes of the Year. James for the third time, Williams for the fifth. So, if you’re wondering what’s next for them, they give us a preview of 2019, using a review of 2018.

James has been recovering from a groin injury suffered during the Christmas Day game. He doesn’t want to return too soon, making sure that he’s fully mended. In 2018 he got no NBA Championship parade or MVP awards. But his ‘game stats’ were just as impressive in social advocacy and community impact.

The same kinda holds true for Serena who didn’t get to win that coveted 24th grand slam championship. But she did something that few have accomplished by returning to the game after a dicey child birth less than a year earlier. The AP selection group says she got the award for showing perseverance.

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Serena recently played a tune-up match in a mixed-doubles game. She’s hoping to get back to her usual ‘passion & fire’ form. For James during his absence, the Lakers coach is hoping that the team can find its mojo while he’s out. James and Williams on and off the court help preview 2019 for how to:

  1. Flex your stuff

During her pre-game warm-up and stretch, Serena was seen holding her child close. It seemed her baby was a little fearful and needed some lovin’. So, in the new year we can break the fear. Just take time to warm-up to how you’ll flex your stuff, bring some hustle-love to your game and stretch yourself in 2019.

  1. Up your game

James is probably spending a lot of time with the team trainers doing things to strengthen the injured muscle. How he plays the game might be about shots and rebounds. But how he ups his game might be about hustle and flow. It’s about getting mind, body and soul to work together and put you on a roll.

  1. Earn your keeps

Downtime from the game for Serena allowed her to grow her family. Downtime for James might also be about how he grows his value with pro sports, his Foundation and other biz enterprises. Sometimes the work you do isn’t just about the 9 to 5, but also how you add value personally, professionally and socially.

  1. Rock your best

James recently re-shared a quote from former ESPN Anchor Stuart Scott who once said “Don’t downgrade your dreams just to fit your reality. Upgrade your convictions to match your destiny.” That might be a good way to describe how they approach their game to amaze at work and rock their best.

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The clock is still ticking on James’ return. Fans want to see that magic again. Serena is getting ready for her next grand-slam tournament at the Australian Open. If the review of 2018 serves as a preview of 2019, they’d say you gotta get on up and do what you gotta do to keep it smokin’.  Holla if you with me!

Tip: In order to rock your best and earn your keeps you gotta get on up and do what you gotta do to keep it smokin’.

Talkback: What’s in-store for your new year to make it a “new you, new woo?”

Tracks: Jodeci – Get on Up – https://youtu.be/Sy6gPBix32k

Angie Stone – Do What You Gotta Do – https://youtu.be/4oS-GAy5MUY