No matter how you may feel about Lavar and Ball Fam, there is no denying that they are on a mission. They know where they want to be and are making the moves that align with those goals despite anyone else’s opinion. If you are reading this I’m sure you have a big dream you want to make a reality. For those athletes here are 6 Things you can learn from Lavar Ball and the Ball Family.
1. Have A Vision
Know where you want to be in the long term. Don’t be afraid to dream and shoot for the stars. Lavar said my son Lonzo is going to UCLA for a year and then play for the Lakers. A vision he had since Lonzo was little. Dream big now because everything is a journey that can take years to manifest.
What’s your big vision?
2. Have A Blueprint For The Vision
Set goals and measurables. Give yourself milestones for things you need to achieve to reach your vision. If your vision is to become a college athlete what goals should you hit to earn that scholarship? Whether that be a starter, email that coach and introduce yourself. A dream without a plan is just a wish.
What are 3 things you need to achieve along the journey?
3. Trust The Vision
The road is never as straight and narrow as we hope for. Things don’t always go as plan. Injuries happen, schools run out of scholarship or like in the Ball family case you could get suspended from your college team. That doesn’t mean there are no other avenues to bring your vision to reality. Rehab to be stronger than before, reach out to your top 6-15 schools or go play basketball overseas.
The roads may change, but the vision stays the same.
4. Haters Gonna Hate
If you don’t have haters, you ain’t poppin’ as they say. Let them hate, who cares it’s your life, it’s your sports dream. Don’t let their insecurities weigh you down from achieving what you are meant to go do. The people that laughed when they launched Lonzo’s shoes saying it would never sell are the same people who will be buying them once their kids start asking for them or they see all of their friends rocking them.
You will come across people that will say your Olympic dreams are dumb, you’ll never be a sponsored athlete. Imagine how good it will feel once you achieve your goal and they can’t say a word to you.
If the people around you aren’t motivating or encouraging you to be better why keep them around?
Who are your top three supporters?
5. Stay in Yo Lane
Put the blinders on and focus on what you have going on. If we are real there are plenty of athletes with similar goals as you. Thousands of high school athletes dream of going D1 yet most of them get lost watching the blue-chip recruits highlights on all the Instagram accounts.
If they spent more time training instead of watching the IG highlights, they could have a chance to get their highlights on those accounts. Take time to focus on what you need to do to reach your goals.
What is one distraction you can eliminate?
6. Do What’s Best For You
You can’t please everyone; not your coach, parents, friends, teammates, etc. Sometimes you have to make that tough decision to say this is not aligned with my sports vision. People may not like your choice but a least you can live with knowing you made a personal decision that was for your best interest. Live without regrets.
It’s your career and life why not chase after your vision instead of living someone else’s vision for you?