Above the Line

1. Above the Line: The Foundation of Success

Above the Line behavior is intentional, on purpose, and skillful. Below the Line behavior is impulsive, on autopilot, and resistant.

Above the Line is a mindset. It's a conscious choice to approach every situation with intention, purpose, and skill. This concept is the cornerstone of success in any field, whether it's football, business, or personal life. Above the Line behavior requires discipline, self-awareness, and continuous effort.

Below the Line is the default. It's easy to fall into impulsive, reactive patterns when faced with challenges or adversity. The key is recognizing these moments and consciously choosing to respond Above the Line. This means:

• Pausing before reacting
• Considering the long-term consequences of your actions
• Taking responsibility for your choices
• Seeking solutions rather than making excuses

By consistently practicing Above the Line behavior, you create a foundation for success that can withstand any challenge.

2. E + R = O: Master Your Response

Event + Response = Outcome

Control your response. While we can't always control the events that happen to us, we have complete control over how we respond. This simple equation (E + R = O) is a powerful tool for understanding the impact of our choices.

The R Factor is crucial. Developing a strong R Factor means:

• Pressing pause to assess the situation
• Getting your mind right and focusing on productive thoughts
• Stepping up to face challenges head-on
• Adjusting and adapting to changing circumstances
• Making a positive difference in your environment
• Continuously building skills to improve your responses

By mastering your responses, you can influence outcomes in your favor, even in the face of adversity. This principle applies not just to individuals, but to teams and organizations as well.

3. Create a Culture of Excellence

Culture is what we believe, how we behave, and the experience that our behavior produces for each other.

Culture drives behavior. A strong culture aligns everyone's efforts, engages hearts and minds, and energizes people to perform at their best. It's not just about what you do, but how and why you do it.

Building a culture of excellence requires:

• Clearly defining and communicating core values
• Leading by example and embodying those values
• Holding everyone accountable to the cultural standards
• Celebrating behaviors that reinforce the desired culture
• Addressing inconsistencies quickly and decisively

Remember, you don't get the culture you want; you get the culture you build. Invest time and energy in creating a culture that supports your goals and brings out the best in your team.

4. Relentless Effort: Embrace the Grind

Great effort can overcome poor execution, but great execution cannot overcome poor effort.

Effort is non-negotiable. The foundation of success in any endeavor is the willingness to put in consistent, relentless effort. This means embracing the grind – the daily, often unglamorous work that leads to extraordinary results.

To cultivate relentless effort:

• Set clear, challenging goals
• Break big objectives into smaller, manageable tasks
• Celebrate small victories along the way
• Develop mental toughness to push through discomfort
• Surround yourself with others who share your work ethic

Remember, talent alone is not enough. It's the combination of talent and relentless effort that leads to greatness. Embrace the challenge, push your limits, and commit to giving your all in everything you do.

5. Competitive Excellence: Practice Like You Play

Elite performance requires elite preparation.

Practice with purpose. Competitive excellence is about bringing your best when it matters most. This doesn't happen by chance – it's the result of deliberate, focused practice that simulates game-like conditions.

To achieve competitive excellence:

• Treat every practice rep as if it's a game situation
• Develop mental toughness through challenging drills
• Focus on both physical and mental preparation
• Study and visualize success in high-pressure moments
• Learn from failures and use them to improve

By practicing with intensity and focus, you build the confidence and skill set needed to perform at your best when the stakes are highest. Remember, you play how you practice.

6. Power of the Unit: Build Unbreakable Bonds

The strength of a team is determined by the strength of the connections on the team.

Foster deep trust. The power of the unit lies in the strong bonds between team members. This "small-unit cohesion" creates a level of commitment and performance that far exceeds what individuals can achieve alone.

To build powerful units:

• Invest time in team-building activities
• Encourage open communication and vulnerability
• Create shared experiences that build trust
• Recognize and celebrate individual contributions to the team
• Hold each other accountable to high standards

When team members have an uncommon commitment to each other and their shared purpose, they can achieve extraordinary things. Cultivate this bond within your team or organization to unlock its full potential.

7. Alignment: The Key to Elite Performance

In order to achieve elite performance, alignment is essential.

Align purpose, culture, and strategy. When everyone in an organization understands and is fully committed to its purpose, culture, and strategy, extraordinary results become possible. Alignment creates synergy and enables teams to execute at the highest level.

To achieve alignment:

• Clearly communicate the organization's purpose and goals
• Ensure that cultural values are understood and embraced at all levels
• Develop strategies that support the overall mission
• Regularly assess and address misalignments
• Empower leaders to maintain alignment within their units

Remember, alignment is not a one-time effort – it requires constant attention and reinforcement. When achieved, it becomes a powerful force multiplier for your team or organization.

8. The 10-80-10 Principle: Elevate Your Team

The key to success is moving as many of the 80 percenters into the top 10 percent as you can.

Focus on the middle. In any organization, roughly 10% are top performers, 10% are underperformers, and 80% fall in the middle. The key to success is elevating that middle 80% to higher levels of performance.

Strategies to move the 80%:

• Pair top performers with those in the middle to mentor and inspire
• Create a culture of continuous improvement and learning
• Recognize and reward progress and effort, not just results
• Provide clear paths for growth and advancement
• Challenge the 80% with stretch assignments that push their limits

By focusing your energy on elevating the middle, you can dramatically improve overall team performance. Don't waste time trying to motivate the bottom 10% – invest in those who are willing and able to grow.

9. Think Like a Leader: Cultivate Original Ideas

Exceptional leaders think about common things in an uncommon way.

Prioritize deep thinking. Leadership requires the ability to think deeply, originally, and often bravely. In a world of constant distractions, carving out time for focused thought is crucial for developing innovative solutions and strategies.

To think like a leader:

• Schedule regular time for uninterrupted reflection
• Challenge assumptions and seek diverse perspectives
• Encourage and reward original thinking in your team
• Stay curious and continuously learn from various sources
• Practice solving complex problems through mental exercises

Remember, leadership is a mindset first and a skill set second. By cultivating your ability to think critically and creatively, you'll be better equipped to lead in any situation.

10. The Power of Belief: Unleash Your Potential

The highest levels of performance are empowered by the deepest levels of belief.

Belief is transformative. When you truly believe in your abilities and your mission, you unlock levels of performance that were previously unattainable. Belief creates vision, strength of will, resilience, and ignites your full potential.

To harness the power of belief:

• Clarify your goals and visualize success vividly
• Surround yourself with people who believe in you and your mission
• Celebrate small wins to build confidence
• Reframe setbacks as opportunities for growth
• Continuously reinforce positive self-talk and mindset

Remember, belief is not just about individual performance – it's contagious. When a team shares a deep belief in their purpose and abilities, they become capable of achieving extraordinary things.

Last updated: January 24, 2025