Ice Chip #35

Alive.  Next.

While listening to a recent Jim Rome Sports Radio Talk Show; I was very interested in his comments about the powerful message of:  Not Dead, Can't Quit: No Limit Thinking with Navy SEAL Vet Richard Machowicz.  Jim had heard it several times and was discussing the recent performance - or lack thereof - of a few NFL teams, wondering if some of them had already quit on the season.

I was really tuned in to both Jim's comments and Rick's story. 

I decided to research Rick on the web and found a great video of him addressing the 2008 Oakland Raiders Football Team at a casual function.  Here are some comments from that talk.  His focus is on never quitting.

 “It's the consistent progress or moving toward the thing they want to do, regardless of whatever 'thing' comes up -- and I call that thing "quitting." That quitting conversation will show up a hundred different ways.”

“A man can only be beaten in two ways:  if he gives up or he dies.”   

Rick decided if he was in a situation with extreme stress or pressure, that statement was too long; so he wanted to shorten the sentence.   He shortened it to:  “Not Dead, Can’t Quit.  As long as I had a thought, I was still in the game.”

“Quitting is a subtle conversation.”  It is an insidious conversation.  It will appear when you are pressed to the limit.

“Literally, it's a very simple process of getting on target and moving forward vs. the conversation that leads to quitting. And those conversations show up every day for people. And really, that's the battle. That's the war. If there's a war going on, really the war is within yourself and one you have to confront day after day

“You've got to be able to generate within yourself the mind frame that you must always be going forward.”

On first blush, or first glance; Rick’s thoughts are quite powerful and inspirational.  I commend him on his 10 years of extraordinary service as a Navy SEAL, and his intense committment to follow through to achieving his goal. 

From a Remember the Ice perspective, I wanted to offer an empowering alternative to his concept.

Alive.  Next.

His comment:  “You've got to be able to generate within yourself the mind frame that you must always be going forward;” truly embodies the above two words.

This is the time to draw upon your newly minted empowering word choice.  From a Remember the Ice perspective, his concept suggests:  Dead.  Can Quit.  There is no way he could possibly think that way with the successes he has experienced and the circumstances he has overcome.

I believe his message is more powerful by focusing on being Alive and on the Next right thing to do.

One day I hope to have the honor of meeting this decorated soldier.  He has a powerful message to share.

We all have powerful messages that can be enhanced by focusing on our choice of words used to convey them.  Keep your focus keen and sharp.

Alive.  Next.

Empowering regards,

Bob

P.S.  Our “(k)notty word” poll is up to 468.  Would love to get to 500…. Make your selections. 

comments