Author: bestdayeverconsulting

These are definitely examples of teams that went from “Underdogs to Dawgs to Winners” and worth looking at the principles outlined in the book that these groups followed to get to their top of the Pyramid of Joy. Each of these teams were able to build a culture and a plan to bring success to their program, high level athletes perform at levels that others are not willing to, in order to make their dreams and dreams of their followers come true!

The USA Women’s Hockey Program took the disappointment of earning a silver medal (many teams would be satisfied) in 2022 to inspire them to change things up. They went with a greater commitment to culture, to having a new plan, and to detreminatIon to become an unselfish family. Even in the gold medal game when they got behind they had belief and a plan B to go to. As a program they went from Underdogs to favorites because they were willing to do the work together that other teams were not willing to do. So from disappointment they did the necessary work in all areas to rise to the top.

The USA Men’s Hockey Program also rose from the disappointment of last year’s 4 Nations overtime loss to Canada. Their task was to go against the team considered the best in the world that starts a minimum of 3 of the best on the planet in their top five. So what did the US team do to earn this gold medal. They had a great culture of family and unselfishness. The squad were willing to do those necessary tasks to succeed that many are not asked to do with their NHL teams. This is one of the biggest points made in the book ‘Underdogs to Dawgs to Winners” – be willing to do those necessary jobs in training and in competition that the favorites or bigger organizations do not have the willingness to do. This is definitely shown by the team’s efforts in not allowing a single power play goal (18 for 18) in the entire Olympics, even stopping a 5 on 3 versus the powerful Canadian attackers. The other reason this culture grew to success in this tournament is they believed in themselves and each other. Belief in facing the challenge and willing to do the uncomfortable stuff.

The last of these great sports stories for this week involves a soccer team from the Arctic Circle in Norway -Bodo/Glimt to qualify for the round of 16 in the UEFA Champions League. They defeated Inter Milan of Serie A of Italy whose line up salaries is more than $660 million while the side from Northern Norway has a total of $60 million approximately. This was a 2 legged tie with both clubs having a home match and Bodo winning both matches. How did they accomplish this to overcome a top club from a top league? It is right out of the “Underdogs to Dawgs” playbook – Culture of Hardworking, unselfish players, family willing to do whatever team needs and belief in themselves and each member of the team. They have a leader that gets these ideas to become realty on the field.

These teams are the types of efforts my book wants your team, group, business or organization to experience.

After spending over 40 years as a coach and leader I wanted to share my ideas, insights and experiences to help you perform better as a leader, coach and athlete. A lifetime of competing on and off the field or court or wherever competition is called for in any situation. In the book about going from an Underdog and ending up a winner there are some covenants if followed can help any individual, team or group to be better.

Since the year began I have leaned into “Purple Bears Take Care of Purple Bears“ which for me has to do with being in a team, group or organization you need to look after each other. Could be helping each other, could be holding each other to a higher standard and could be reaching down to pull each other up. Deb had knee replacement surgery this January and it was my time for Family to Take Care of Family (she had done the same for me just a year ago when I had a fractured ankle). As the caregiver for a few weeks it hit me that this is where the book was true to life and why it is not just for soccer coaches and soccer players (although it definitely works for them). This covenant steps outside of sport and into life for teams to have a positive culture, for an organization to have a forward moving culture and for a family to have a loving culture. Family Take Care of Family!

I wrote this book for you and I to be better Humans, Leaders, Coaches and Athletes by learning from my insights, experiences, victories and mistakes. Also have to give a huge shout out to those that are Caregivers Everyday! You are Amazing!

AIR Additions, Interrupt, Reward- That is different than how I used AIR in consulting with programs and organizations meaning Access, Interrupt, Reframe, that I borrowed from my friend and colleague Glen Fisher who used it quite wonderfully with his athletes in Australia. This use of AIR is more personal and much more for individuals in looking ahead to do more to make this year better for them and their neighborhood, community and the planet!

A- additions -what are you adding to your family, community and the world we live in ! What are your contributions that you have made over the past year and what do you foresee as possible contributions for 2026 can be. For ‘26 be a part of making additions! This will make you better and the world where you live better, by looking at not just being thankful but by making contributions using your talents.

I- interrupt -how can you stop doing those actions that you have control over that are not improving your life, community or this planet. Change out of those activities that are not making lives better! Stop the stuff that isn’t positive!

R-reward- when others do well, appreciate the accomplishments of other’s contributions, show gratitude to those doing good stuff for others. Can be just a word to compliment or a show of appreciation in any other way that says Thank You or I noticed what you are doing to help us.

This AIR is much more directed to individuals in making their lives, communities and our world a better place. If you want much more on the organizational AIR pick up “Underdogs to Dawgs to Winners” a book I authored to suggest ways to become a better leader, competitor and contender in striving for success. In your lives and with your team, organization and group.

A month ago a part of our UNC Charlotte Soccer Family of the early ‘90s passed when Ant Man suddenly and surprisingly passed away in Tulsa. A number of us (from the soccer program at UNCC with Anthony) were able to attend his wonderful celebration of Life hosted by his kind and generous spouse Nina. So Ant was still bringing us together as he did when he was a 49er athlete, we shared stories and laughed and cried. We talked about what a wonderful player for CLT he was and the dribbling hip swivel that was a signature move, his infectious smile and laugh, and his combination of kindness and mischievousness that made him a fabulous teammate. Going forward we would all like to move ahead from Anthony’s celebration of life in a manner that Ant Man would celebrate!

Days later, Los, one of Anthony’s teammates was verbalizing how he was struggling with the loss and talked about how hard it was to get over the loss of his beautiful and wonderful sister 20 years ago. That is a similar amount of time since my older brother passed also. I don’t know if we ever fully get over these losses particularly like these three that were sudden. What we can do is live in a way that they we would find as being incredible. Do life in a way that we say ‘Ant would have enjoyed that, he would have been proud I did that, and he would have expected more of me than that”

Living our lives in a way that we are checking in with Ant, Carlos’s sister, and my brother, like they are there with us to check in about our joys, challenges, and make us live up to their expectations! SO THEY HAVE PASSED BUT NOT GONE FROM OUR LIVES! I look forward to your continued help to live a better life!

The Best and Quickest way to improve a team, program, organization or business is for the leader to get better themselves. Find ways to get better yourself that improve your group! You will find that those you lead will appreciate that you are holding yourself accountable. I can do better at _____________, so we will be able to perform at a higher level . A huge difference to those that say They (meaning their team) should have done this or that and I told them. Well you did not train or teach them or tell them well enough! If you are a true leader, You are responsible! That is why good or bad, you start with ME and not They. Sometimes it is to do more of what was good and sometimes it is to eliminate the bad. When it all works it is because of good leadership that we succeeded and when it doesn’t work it is because of me that we failed. It is not because of them or they that we did not meet the standards necessary. Being a better leader starts with “What can I do better that makes Us better?” It is never about they need to do better, if so you are not yet even an average leader !

In Frank’s Pyramid of Joy there are only 3 levels as finding and searching for Joy should be simple. The foundation or lowest and easiest to achieve is fun. Fun can and should be a frequent occurrence that doesn’t require a lot of preparation or work to achieve; a laugh with friends, a song to dance to, a walk in the woods or a warm up with teammates. Enjoyable moments that are mostly light hearted and require not much planning and are often spontaneous or spur of the moment.

The next level is Happy. Happy is a higher and deeper level of emotion. To reach this level may require more preparation, work, planning and effort. This could include; success at a new skill, traveling to a new place, getting an opportunity, being on a trail. Happy moments help you to find more meaning and richness in your life or with your group.

The highest level is Joy. Joy is at the pinnacle of the pyramid and at the highest level of enrichment, success and leads to the fueling of lives. To reach this level will require preparation, planning, work and striving to overcome challenges and barriers to get into this zone of Joy. Joy could be reached in the following ways; achievement by a student or child, finishing a marathon, team winning a championship or business having their most successful year. Achieving Joy makes life richer, more fulfilling and enjoying elation from accomplishing a hard earned goal or target.

Having and understanding of a Pyramid of Joy helps leaders and individuals to reach higher and more gratifying passage of time. If a team or person understands this, he has a direction to head up the trail to triumph and accomplishment.

Examples that might demonstrate what a Joy Pryamid might look like are; Fun- Walking is fun, Happy – Hiking on a trail in the woods, Joy- Hiking on a trail in Yellowstone Park and you photograph a grizzly bear crossing a stream.

Fun- Team has a BBQ together, with laughs and stories told, Happy- Entire team passes fitness test as they all worked hard and pushed each other in the off season, Joy- Team wins a championship by playing harder than any other team because of their level of fitness.

Fun- Business employees meet after work for a happy hour, Happy- Business employees work together to build a brand at our company by implanting the plan of their leader because all rise together and we are appreciated, Joy- Business rises to become at the top of their field because employees are willing to do those things by their creativity and belief in their company that other companies employees do not do.

By having a Pyramid of Joy helps to give a compass to head in the right direction for fulfillment as an individual, team or organization!