Paradox of the Product Goal

April 22, 2013 Leave a comment

This is from an article by Jason Selk on Forbes.com:

Strategy number two is to help the CEO identify with the process, not the result.  Think about a baseball player in the batter’s box. If all he’s thinking about is, “I gotta get a hit,” he won’t. It’s what’s called the “paradox of the product goal.” What the batter needs to think about are the actions that will get him a hit – tracking the ball, the short swing, and the follow-through.

The same truths apply to CEOs. Instead of dwelling on meeting their numbers, they need to think about the process that will ensure that success. All they need to do is focus on the three most important tasks to get them to their goal. Science tells us that focusing on process is what brings results.

How many players get caught up in the paradox of the product goal? They think “I have to score” or “I have to make a play” and get so focused on doing that one thing that they forget the details that allow them to do that in the first place. They forget about moving their feet, seeing their options, skating hard, making the smart plays and instead try to force things and do it all themselves. Focusing on the process will ultimately lead to a successful result. Doing the little things right leads to big success.

Filed under Coaching, Hockey, Individual Skills, Motivation, Position Play Tagged with , ,

Stick on Puck

February 5, 2013 Leave a comment

Defensive hockey is all about two things, stick position and body position. How you position yourself and your stick will dictate what your opponent can and cannot do. The single biggest teaching point when coaching defensive hockey (whether forwards or defense) is stick on puck.

Bringing your stick to the puck applies pressure on the offensive player. It takes away his or her immediate options. It eliminates any passing lanes that may have been available. It forces the puck carrier into a puck protection situation or creates a turnover. It allows you to position your body to hit/pin the offensive player. Stick on puck effectively shuts down the puck carrier.

The timing of stick on puck is critical. One on One situations call for stick on puck. A defenseman playing a rush should not use stick on puck. A forechecker finishing his check should look to come in stick on puck. A forechecker looking to cut the ice in half should not.

Stick to puck needs to be strong and firm, it should not be a sweep. The player should attack with his/her stick out and a strong wrist. A sweep to the puck will open lanes and options as the stick moves. With the right timing and pressure, stick on puck is the most effective defensive technique for shutting down an opponent.

Filed under Hockey, Individual Skills, Position Play Tagged with , , , , ,

What a Flat Tire Can Teach You

May 31, 2012 Leave a comment

Driving home from the rink today I wasn’t 100% focused on my driving, instead looking around at campus. My tire nudged the little stone barrier on the side of the road, and the sidewall blew out. While getting a flat tire sucks, it reminded me about two very important things.

1. Execution requires focus. I was not very focused on my drive home. Even though I have done it many times, executing the drive home still takes concentration. I spaced out for a brief second and I blew a tire. It is no different in sports – have a momentary lapse in focus and you instantly increase your chances of failure. You must be completely focused on the task you are trying to accomplish and all the little details that are involved in doing your job successfully.

2. View the world from the inside out, not the outside in. My first thought was “Ugh, this sucks. I’m having an average day, and this would have to happen.” This was a very selfish and outside world thought. I instantly blamed my flat tire on the world conspiring against me, rather than my own lethargy and lack of discipline in my driving. As soon as I had that thought, I knew that I could not let my flat tire dictate the rest of my day. The world is what you make of it, not what it makes you do.

Luckily, getting a flat tire requires that you change it. I had plenty of time to sit and think while changing my tire and it helped me to clear my head and get back on the right track.

Filed under Motivation Tagged with , , , ,

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