Don’t let the frumpy grey hoodie fool you. Coach Bill Belichick is no fashion icon but that’s the only standard he hasn’t set in the National Football League.
Over his 22-year career, Belichick has:
- 12 Super Bowl appearances (including 8 wins),
- most divisional championships at 17,
- 2nd most regular season wins: 298
- most playoff wins as a head coach: 31
- a .662 regular season winning percentage.
Plain and simple – Belichick is the best.
Even if you’re not big into NFL football, Belichick’s example has something to offer you.
Are you responsible for a business, ministry or a family? You need gut check moments – times to evaluate, ask honest questions and challenge yourself for excellence.
7 Gut Checks With Belichick
1. No excuses.
The axiom across the NFL is when your starting quarterback is out, you’re happy if you can win half your games with the backup quarterback. Belichick doesn’t think that way. In 2016 the Patriot’s franchise player, quarterback Tom Brady, was unavailable for the first four games. #inflategate
The Pats had 3 wins and 1 loss.
No Tom Brady? No excuses.
They found a way to win.
What excuses are keeping you from success?
2. Adjust or die.
Bill Belichick’s 71 years old. A lot of people when they’re 71 aren’t that aggressive. They think, “Well, it worked last year so it should be good enough this year.” Not Belichick.
He doesn’t even keep what worked well last week. One week the Patriots will beat their opponent by relentlessly running the ball. The next week they attack through the air with 50 or 60 pass attempts.
Is there something past the best before date in your work?
3. Be known for results.
Some NFL teams are known as passing teams. Some teams are running teams. Others are defensive teams. The Patriots are a winning team.
Their identity is in results not function.
Are you making necessary changes to become what you need to succeed?
(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) ORG XMIT: SLS123
4. Don’t lose before you win.
Belichick’s teams don’t beat themselves. The Patriots don’t commit a lot of penalties or turnovers. They don’t make mental errors. When their opponents make errors they take advantage of them, immediately.
How is your internal voice? Do you self-sabotage leading to mental errors?
5. Perfect your systems.
Belichick’s coaching staff have honed their systems. They work their systems. The Patriots consistently have the best special teams in the league. That’s not by luck. The Colts had Luck – as in Andrew. The Patriots have Lombardi – as in Super Bowl trophies.
What are you doing to improve your capabilities?
6. Practice perfect.
The Patriots practice “situations.” They see game plays before they happen because they anticipate them in practice. Players without focus in practice and a high football IQ don’t last long in Foxboro.
Are you focused on what will help you most?
7. Stay ahead of the curve.
Belichick’s never faced a “rebuilding” year because he’s always rebuilding. He’s traded or let go veteran players at their prime much to the chagrin of teammates and fans. Can you say Welker, Milloy, Mankins or McGinest? All were released and none matched their production post-Patriots.
Even the now retired Tom Brady struggled after leaving the Patriots.
How are you doing with making tough, but timely decisions?
My hat’s off to Belichick but maybe I’m biased. What do you think? Please leave a comment below.
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I hate to say I am not a football fan even though it is watched in my home frequently. But I did need to hear this message this morning. We are called to be our best and I needed some questions and inspiration to get me going. Thanks Pastor Bob
I don’t know anything about this coach, but he is a very successful coach. Open-minded & has some great advice. There is always room for improvement & change. People grow stagnant if they are not open, to change things up. What worked before…may not work in the future. Life always involves “reinventing yourself”…& making improvements & shifts. If you are against change, you are doomed. Life never stays the same…it is constantly on the move. So, it always needs adjustments. Sometimes small ones…sometimes large ones. You have to be ready for it…& roll with it. I love his commitment to always improve & not to be stuck with one style of “playing the game”. A true leader …that has a winning game plan. Great blog Pastor Bob. I always look forward to it every week. Keep on, keeping on. ❣️
Love how you can work any message to have football in it 😉 not surprised it’s a great message