Author: bestdayeverconsulting

Stan and Josh Kroenke have won championships with their teams in the NFL, the NBA and the NHL, all of those heralded by the fan bases but none compared to the dancing in the streets around the globe when the long suffering Gunners captured the Premier League title! In doing so they gave a great example to leaders of organizations, teams and programs. Although many Arsenal fans were cynical of the billionaire owner from MO, USA taking over their club, they had an idea that included patience, a plan and a learning process.

Hiring Mikel Arteta was a key factor to building the championship culture, he was a first time manager with a rocky start to his time in charge. They (Stan and Josh) gave him time and resources. A first time leader doesn’t know what he does not know! Mikel came with many ideas that some worked and some did not. He eventually moved with the owners support to his winning way, which was to build a great defense and a team with talented but gritty players that took advantage of controllable set play opportunities. Without Mikel’s ability to adjust and the Kroenke’s belief, this week’s time for Gunner’s to be at the peak of the Pyramid of Joy doesn’t happen.

Hoping that the Kroenke’s patience is given to the other first time coaches they have coaching their teams especially if David A. and Matt W. are willing to adjust and learn as Mikel did about what works for their teams. Study how Mikel progressed as a leader with the help of Stan and Josh giving him patience, a plan and resources. Mikel changed the culture to one of toughness, togetherness and adjusting his plan.

THANK YOU STAN AND JOSH FOR BRINGING JOY TO ALL OF US GUNNER FANS (also a Nuggets, RAPIDS and AVs fan) no Rams, Go Broncos!

The Nuggets are my favorite NBA team to follow owned and operated by KSE that own 4 of my favorite teams, 3 in Denver and 1 in London. Thank You Stan and Josh for providing me with many hours of Joy and some Torment from the teams you own but this article is written as an exercise about what a leader should do in evaluating the year and to make progress forward. So we are looking to give an analysis as a consultant or decision maker not as a fan. It has been 10 days since the Nuggets finished their disappointing season which is approximately the right amount of time in order to analyze what went right and wrong and how to best move forward. Normally we use a system called AIR to recognize the steps to take moving forward. For this piece we have been over the Access ( Good and Bad) and Interrupt (Get Rid Of) stages. Here is the Reframe stage so that the Nuggets can again have another Best Day Ever (my consulting company is about getting you there).

1. Need to take care of assets/family. Changes are needed in keeping athletes mentally and physically healthy. Changes need to be made in strength and conditioning program in season, pre season and off season. Way too many soft tissue issues that are lasting much longer than they should be. This is also a problem with the London team also. For the Nuggets/Gunners some of this can be pre training activities or training activities to make sure each individual is ready for both training and competition. This needs to include keeping them mentally healthy as well as physically as the two are very intertwined. Using Aaron G as an important member of the team/family, one of the most oft injured key figures. Is his body balanced? Is the training he does on his upper body causing the injuries to his calves and hamstrings? Need balance in his strength and conditioning work. How can we change the approach so he stays healthy mentally and physically in training and for competition? This is true for every member of the team as what has been done did not work! That is a Reframe!
2. Everyone needs to DEFEND! Individual defending is a skill that can be taught! You will not have a championship team again without the entire team becoming good defenders. It is not about a scheme or tactics. It is totally about having a standard that everyone including Jokic and Murray must meet! If it is not David A’s forte they must have someone on the staff that works on everyone being better defenders, then tactics can make a difference. It is not just about bringing in guys that are better defenders it is about making the guys you have motivated and taking pride in being total two way players. Studying how they defend and studying who they are defending. Good defending never has an off night, shooting can but you can still win. They can defend better, they are NBA athletes. They must want to and you must coach them to. That is a Reframe! You can get better ball handlers and better shooters but if you don’t keep the guys mentally and physically healthy and don’t defend, we will be watching other teams in the second round!

REFRAME NUGGETS !

These principles in dog training are to help the dogs live a better life and find their forever home. If you are a leader of a team or group it is to help your people live a better life and improve your organization. Since leaving everyday coaching I have been volunteering at Foothills Animal Shelter in Golden, CO. The shelter has some great education programs to help volunteers help the dogs at the shelter. The classes I have been involved in were taught to us by Carol K, Tommy M and Allie M, all of whom do an excellent job of making you more comfortable and confident at getting the pups ready to leave the shelter for a great life in their new environment. While in these courses it struck me how much some of the principles would carryover to all leaders that want to improve those they lead.

1. Communication should be clear, consistent and concise- whatever you are saying or the actions you are taking must be the same every time for that action or verbalization or signal. This is how learning occurs about what to expect whether for dogs or people. If sometimes it means something different this is how confusion occurs for pups and peeps.
2. Have high value treats ready! Learn the kinds of treats that work with this particular dog? What motivates this dog to do what will get the pup adopted and he will stay in their forever home? For a leader what motivates each individual member of your group? Have high value treats ready for your dogs to get the behaviors you’re after and do the same thing for the people you lead! Some need only vocal praise and some need high value treats (cheese, hot dogs, chicken). Find what your people need to motivate them to perform as an individual and for your team/group to be better.
3. The dog learns that you care about them and enrich their lives as you work with them and spend time and energy giving them agency. As a leader of a team or group if your people know you care about them and want to enhance their lives makes it easier for them to follow your lead and motivates them to work hard for the team.

The biggest factor in this case of “Treating Them Like Dogs” means you care and want their lives to be better and that is what great leaders make clear to their dogs and their people!

One of the ways to become a better coach is to work on your craft by coaching and every time I watch a team play I coach that team by making the decisions that need to be made. I am lucky that the Nuggets is one of my favorites and offer an opportunity to make a lot of challenging decisions. Thanks to Stan K and Josh K for providing us with a team that is so much fun and so much disappointment. David A is a very thoughtful coach and is a very knowledgeable basketball mind. Like myself he is the son of an excellent coach! Being a top coach I am sure he is always trying to do what is necessary to help the Nuggs win. In coaching from my seat these experiences make me better when I am actually the head coach, so when situations happen I have already experienced them while coaching the Nuggets or any other team I am watching to get more experience in tough situations.

These are my ideas for David A to think about since I have been working as a non hired consultant;

1. Change up the non Jokic time -using a half way through quarter and end of quarter, base time more on actual time rather than just game time. You have gotten in a rut with how you are doing this and should make a game plan for each team and every circumstance. (The Warriors game should have put him out there for the start of the fourth quarter after the long comeback) You changed it up vs Jazz) Must change the beginning of second and start of the fourth. Your opponents are now counting on you doing the same thing every time.
2. Coach the situation but every one is different and may require your art of coaching rather than just following analytics. Situations no subs when Jamal M was shooting 3 free throws (know he was going to make them, so rebounds don’t matter) call timeout vs OKC for when you want to shoot so it is win or go to OT and you get the shot you want.
3. Need to have 2 spacers and cutter not 2 man and 3 spacers. Change up who plays with JV.
4. Make everyone defend there is no reason Julian S can not defend if he is expected to, not asked but expected (you could change his career in the way you have changed Payton W) you want to play D up!

You got this and I am excited to coach with you to make the Nuggets better and me a better coach. You are a good coach who will get better just need to keep getting better every training and every game!

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!