December 2023
Dec 14, 2023
What do your labels say about you? How can you change or improve them?
As leaders, as coaches, and as players labels follow you. Whether or not the labels associated with you are true or not, once you have them, they are with you everywhere you go.
As I have traveled around throughout this past year, I constantly see how many of the labels that get placed on individuals are there for a reason. In business, in basketball, and in life, a lot of times those labels tend to be on the negative side. That might not be fair and in some cases, the circumstances may have an influence, but regardless a label is a label. They will follow your name everywhere you go until you decide to do something about it.
So, the most important question to ask yourself is, what do your labels say about you?
Think about what traits, skills, and characteristics always seem to be brought up when your name is mentioned. Are you known for always being the guy who complains and drains the energy of the room and the people around you? Or maybe, you’re the guy who just can’t seem to figure out how to be on time. On the flip side, you could be known as the guy that just always comes through, that can be counted on at all costs.
As the year 2023 comes to a close, I am challenging myself, my team, and all of you to examine the labels associated with your name.
Here is a quick, but simple process that will help you ensure the labels that follow your name are labels you can be proud of.
Identify the labels associated with your name, both the good and the bad. Not only do you want to identify the labels you need to destroy, but you also want to identify the labels you want to build upon and improve.
Once you identify your labels, ask yourself, “Is this a good label or a bad label.” From there make two lists, one with all of the labels you want to eliminate, and the other with all of the labels you want to strengthen and improve.
The next step is taking the time to determine what actions you need to either stop or continue to improve the labels associated with who you are.
Lastly, take action to make the changes you want. The only way you will ever change the perceptions and labels that follow you is by doing things in a way you haven’t before. Changing is the only way to change.
Again, labels apply to us all. Take the time to learn yourself better, take the time to analyze what you are known for, and truly ask yourself if the labels you have now are the labels you want to have because they will follow you until you change them.
To close out the year, I would just like to say how grateful I am for everyone who has supported Driven Basketball and we have so many new and exciting things on the way as we turn the corner into 2024! See you all soon.
- Phil Beckner