Champions Manifesto

THE CHAMPIONS MANIFESTO

True CHAMPIONS are made, not born. CHAMPIONS are made in adversity. Bad days, problems, heartaches, and losses are all necessary elements in molding CHAMPIONS.

Character is built in the storm. It is not built in prosperity; it is built in adversity. You develop strength when you are in trouble. Learning to handle opposition rightly will make you a CHAMPION.

CHAMPIONS don’t let their circumstances affect their character. Bad games, bad plays, bad breaks do not change their will to prepare, their will to strive and fight for excellence every chance they get……. everyday…….. all day long.

CHAMPIONS will inspire their teammates to play harder, more intensely, by their example. They walk their talk.

CHAMPIONS are interested in learning all they can, mastering skills and responsibilities, acquiring every characteristic that helps them gain the edge.

A CHAMPION is not an individual star necessarily – but a team player who knows how to function with others.

A CHAMPION lives above pressure but thrives on it.

A CHAMPION is willing to pay the price – whatever it takes!

A CHAMPION is single-minded in purpose.

A CHAMPION is not sidetracked by distractions or by things that do not help them reach their goals.

A CHAMPION knows that winning is a by-product of being committed to excellence – winning takes care of itself.

A CHAMPION lets nothing interfere with their priority – becoming the best they possibly can become.

CHAMPIONS hang around other CHAMPIONS because they want to be influenced by each other’s character. Nothing hinders them from their goal.

CHAMPIONS love competition – the challenge of becoming more disciplined, more intense, more prepared. They realize the harder the battle is, the greater the adversity – the stronger they’ll become and the quicker they’ll achieve their goals.

CHAMPIONS relish the battle. They are driven to excel.

CHAMPIONS are never satisfied with their performance, but are always content with the fact that they are continually striving to get better.

CHAMPIONS are uncomfortable with imperfection – always pursuing perfection, while knowing it can never fully be reached, but loving the battle of trying to reach it. They Fight For Excellence!

CHAMPIONS are committed to Excellence…always…only.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CHAMPIONS AND EVERYONE ELSE IS VERY SIMPLE. CHAMPIONS ARE ALWAYS WILLING TO DO THE “LITTLE THINGS.” THAT’S THE SIMPLE DIFFERENCE.

Being a CHAMPION has nothing to do with being #1, or the amount of playing time a person gets. In fact, being a CHAMPION is not exclusively a characteristic of athletes – there are CHAMPIONS in all facets of life: students can become CHAMPIONS, parents also…anyone can! We’re talking about character, not winning and losing – CHAMPIONSHIP CHARACTER!

CHAMPIONS don’t care whether there are 5 or 50,000 people at the game…or even if it’s a game or practice. They only know that each and every situation is a chance, a chance to improve.

CHAMPIONS are not affected by scoreboards or team records. Whether the score is 50-0 or 0-50, whether their record is 0-10 or 10-0, they play the same and they practice the same – All Out!

CHAMPIONS never worry about things they can’t control, they realize they can only control themselves and their attitude.

CHAMPIONS never quit. They don’t even know what the word “quit” means.  They only know to keep working, to keep striving…regardless of circumstances.

CHAMPIONS know that to be a CHAMPION they must be committed to excellence in everything they do, in every situation – whether at home, at school, at work, or at play. They realize that it is impossible to be committed to excellence in one thing and not another, because being a CHAMPION is not what you do but WHO YOU ARE……….IT’S CHARACTER!

CHAMPIONS never make excuses, grumble, complain, point fingers, or talk about other people. They only talk about how they can get better.

CHAMPIONS thrill to the joy of the struggle!

CHAMPIONS know they have to learn to serve – before they will ever know how to lead.

CHAMPIONS never desire their opponents fail or get injured. In fact, they
actually want them to play well, because the better the opposition plays
the greater the CHAMPION is challenged to perform! It is a double win!

The CHAMPION’S theme is “Competition Breeds Excellence”

The mark of a CHAMPION is hard work – they work when no one is watching.

CHAMPIONS realize that sometimes they fail…maybe often and over and over. But they know that what makes them a CHAMPION is how they respond each time they fail. Champions choose to forget their failures, and fight on again.

The “Mark” of a CHAMPION is how they respond each time they fail. The
CHAMPION chooses to forget their failures and fight on again. Their motto
is “knocked down seven times, get up eight!”

Being a CHAMPIONS has nothing to do with success and failure on the
scoreboard, it has to do with choosing to have a CHAMPIONSHIP CHARACTER every moment of every day.

CHAMPIONS realize that some days, even most days – they don’t “feel” like working, striving, paying the price to becoming a CHAMPION. But then they remember, or another CHAMPION reminds them, that being a CHAMPION is a choice they make over and over and over each day……and so they make that choice again.

Above all, Being…BECOMING A CHAMPION is a CHOICE YOU MAKE EACH DAY.

What Will You Choose?

Scotty Kessler