Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Anatomy of a Miracle - Jeff Keller

As the final seconds of the game ticked down, millions of people around the world couldn't believe what was about to happen. And as the game ended, we heard Al Michaels' now famous words, "Do you believe in miracles?"
A miracle is was. The greatest upset in sports history. Yes, I'm referring to the 1980 U.S Olympic Hockey Team victory over the Soviet Union in Lake Placid, New York. The American squad went on to capture the gold medal that year.
Let's remember what the American team was up against - and why this victory against the Soviets was truly a "miracle." Going into the 1980 Olympic games, the powerful, professional Soviet hockey team had won four consecutive gold medals and was undefeated in the Olympics since 1968. In 1979, the Soviets beat the professional National Hockey League All-Stars 6-0.
The U.S team, on the other hand, was a collection of untested college players. Shortly before the 1980 Olympics, the Soviets played the U.S Olympic Team in an exhibition and the Soviets embarrassed the U.S squad by a score of 10-3. Everyone knew there was no way these college players could even compete with the Soviets, let alone beat them.
Everyone that is, except Herb Brooks, who coached the 1980 U.S team. Brooks thought that he could pull off a miracle. He believed the U.S could win a gold medal even if it required beating the "unbeatable" Soviet team.
In 2004, Walt Disney Pictures released a movie about Coach Brooks and the 1980 U.S Olympic team, aptly titled "Miracle." It's a wonderful, inspiring movie starring Kurt Russell as Coach Brooks. After watching the movie recently, I couldn't help observing that while every miracle is unique, there are some elements that most miracles have in common. For instance:
* A miracle is the result of a BIG dream. It's hard to imagine a dream that was bolder or more audacious than that of Herb Brooks. How on earth could he even fathom that he could mold a bunch of college hockey players into a team that would defeat the mighty Soviets?
Remember, the Soviet team was thought to be invincible. Yet Brooks allowed himself to dream that he could coach a team that would defeat this powerhouse.
You see, many people dream too small and then they can't get excited about the pursuit of the dream. It's the big dream that gets your blood moving and it's the big dream that gets other people excited about joining you in the quest.
People often wonder, "How do I know if I should pursue my dream, or whether it's simply "unrealistic?" Richard Bach said, "You're never given a wish without also being given the power to make it come true." So, if your dream is constantly "speaking" to you and there's tremendous emotion attached to the dream, that's a positive sign.
Then again, if you would like to accomplish something but it doesn't send chills down your spine thinking about it, there's a good chance that you're really not energized about that goal and you won't be willing to do what it takes to turn the dream into reality.
* A miracle is not achieved by talent alone. There's a great line in the movie where Coach Brooks tells his players, "You don't have enough talent to win on talent." There was no denying that the Soviet team had more talent than the American youngsters. Brooks knew, however, that the team with the greatest talent doesn't always win.
When selecting the team from the hundreds of college hockey players who tried out, Brooks surprised people when he cut many talented players. Instead, he chose players who did not have as much skill but fit within his unique system and had the psychological makeup he desired.
* A miracle requires creative thinking. Other teams in North America had attempted to defeat the Soviets by playing a "North American style" of hockey. What Brooks realized is that this style of play was not working! In other words, the Soviets were able to win against that strategy time after time.
Brooks determined that he would use a different strategy, abandoning the traditional North American style. He was willing to innovate, to develop a new system that stressed superior conditioning, discipline and speed. He knew it would be challenging for his players to learn and execute... but his willingness to innovate eventually paid off with a gold medal.
* A miracle requires uncommon sacrifice. Nobody said that a miracle comes easily. Herb Brooks warned his players that they would have to be "uncommon" men to defeat the Soviets and win a gold medal. They would have to develop a superior level of conditioning. His practice sessions were excruciating.
The most memorable scene of the movie takes place during one of the exhibition games the team played preparing for the Olympics. The U.S Team had not given a full effort, and when the game ended, Brooks called his already tired players out on the ice and made them skate "sprints" up and down the ice. He wouldn't stop even when the lights in the rink were shut off! His message: if we want to achieve a miracle, we must give it our all in every second of every game.
* A miracle is generally a team effort. When you set out to achieve a miracle, you're fooling yourself if you think you can do it on your own.
Extraordinary achievements require a collection of individuals pulling together for a common goal. Brooks assembled a group that played as a team, with their individual egos in check.
* A miracle is often inspired by adversity. Herb Brooks was an excellent hockey player in his younger days. In 1960, he tried out for the U.S Olympic hockey team and he was the very last person to be cut from the squad. That team went on to win a gold medal.
Can you imagine the disappointment he must have felt as he saw himself lose out on a gold medal as a player? He was motivated by this setback to get that gold medal as a coach.
It's easy to think that miracles are for "other people" - the people we see on TV or read about in the newspaper. And yet a part of us knows that we, too, can perform miracles.
Rekindle your ability to perform extraordinary feats by renting the movie, "Miracle." ( the DVD version includes an interview with Herb Brooks, who tragically died in a car accident before the movie was released.)
I can't say for sure, but I'll bet that whatever you want to achieve is not as monumental as what Herb Brooks set out to do in the 1980 Olympics. Perhaps it's time for you to embark on a bold dream, using your own innovative approach and a willingness to persist through all the obstacles. Then, one day, maybe we'll be watching the movie of YOUR miracle!

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