Tags
Dave Chatmon, George Guzzardo, mental fitness challenge, Orrin Woodward, the-life-business, the-team.biz, Will Smith
“Being realistic is the most commonly traveled road to mediocrity.” These words are shared by one of my favorite actors, Will Smith. At last night’s challenge group we discussed chapter 4 in Orrin Woodward’s ‘Resolved’ book discussing how to align our conscious (ant) mind with our subconscious (elephant) mind towards our vision. The ant and the elephant parable says that the conscious mind stimulates only 2,000 neurons while the subconscious mind stimulates 4 billion neurons. Both our ant and elephant needs to be fed… our ant thinks in words and our elephant thinks through images, but it is up to us if we are the ones feeding it. Sadly, because of the media – TV and advertisements, most people have lost control of their elephant, allowing someone else to program it. In chapter 4, Orrin closes with the story of Will Smith and how Smith’s example is inspiring because his ant and elephant are aligned better than any other actor in Hollywood. Even with overwhelming set backs in his life, Will Smith has 14 films that have grossed over 130 million dollars per movie. This is almost unheard of in his profession. And it is because he decided at 16 years of age that he was going to program his elephant mind.
Take a look at this video where Will Smith shares some of his wisdom and secrets to his success:
“Skill is only developed through hours and hours of beating on your craft.”
“Talent requires bettering yourself every single day.”
“You don’t start out building a wall; you say, ‘I am going to lay this brick as perfectly as a brick can be laid’ and you do that every single day and soon you will have a wall.”
“If you are not making someone else’s life better, than you are wasting your time.”
“You really have to focus with all of your fiber, all of your heart and all of your creativity.”
“You can’t be scared to die for truth.”
Will Smith is an incredible example of someone who’s ant and elephant are aligned in common purpose towards his dreams. Every time I hear and read about the ant and the elephant it takes me back to my high school AAU basketball days. My coach at the time, Dave Chatmon, and now mentor in the-life-business has always had his ant and elephant aligned; even before he knew that there was such a thing.
When I was 17 going into my junior year of high school, my AAU Kenosha Wildcats basketball team had the opportunity to play in a world tournament in Maui, Hawaii. Dave had signed us up for it over a year in advance so that we could spend that year fundraising for the trip. We started out with a team of 10 participating in the trip but as time got closer 4 of the players backed out so we only ended up having 6 eligible players. I had been coming from Australia where I spent 3 weeks playing in tournaments down there and was changing planes in LA to fly straight to Maui. We knew it would be tough going down there with only 6 players because all these other teams had a full roster where they would basically beat us through sheer numbers on the bench. But we didn’t allow that to stop us from going. We ended up staying for 2 weeks where the first week we stayed at a YMCA camp that had a gym and small cabins that our team could stay at for no fee because Dave had connections with the owner of the property. I remember clearly we had been practicing in the gym and everyone was kind of emotional and tired. It was very hot those particular weeks so the combination of the heat and our disbelief that we could handle playing in all those games with teams like Walt Disney, Palos Verdes and some international teams, really got the best of us. So Dave, in his cunning way of turning lemons into lemonade told us all to go grab our pillows in the middle of practice. I knew he had been getting frustrated with us but why would we need our pillows? He told us to meet him down by the ocean front in 5 minutes. So we did, all sweaty and moody with pillows in hand.
We first had to get into a circle and he basically spent time attempting to motivate us through sometimes harsh words so that we would remember the reason why we were there. Just as girls sometimes do, it only made us more frustrated. Then, what he did next is what I feel a perfect representation of the ant and elephant aligned in common vision. He had us all lay back on the ground with our eyes facing the sky and our head rested on our pillow. He told us to close our eyes and stay quiet and to clear our minds. Then he began to walk around our little circle telling a story (as close as I can remember).
“There is this small basketball team from Kenosha, WI that signed up to play in a world tournament in Maui. They have been playing together for three years and have over 200 competitive games under their belt together. They don’t have much height, much size or even much speed but what they do have is a lot of talent and a hunger to win. They play basketball because it’s their passion. When they signed up for this tournament they thought their coach was crazy. They didn’t know how they would come up with the $20,000 it would cost to send everyone down there for two weeks and they certainly didn’t think they could even qualify to play with some of the other talented teams. They doubted themselves often but they believed in their coach and their team. This little Kenosha team had never been talked about even locally and had lost a lot of games before they started winning. But once they started to believe in themselves it didn’t matter who their opponent was, they would fight for every win and soon became the team to beat in many tournaments. Now this team is in Maui, Hawaii with only 6 players preparing to play some of the best AAU teams in the world. This was their dream. All the effort and pain it took to get to this moment was worth it because they were finally there. They are walking into their first game of the tournament ready to play. They fight for every point and every breath of air and win the first game, the 2nd and every game there forward. They win the tournament and become champions. When they arrive home they drive through the city and see billboards with their team picture showing world champions in Maui, Hawaii. Everything they had worked so hard for was respected for all to see. That little underdog team from Kenosha, WI were tournament champions.”
And then he had all of us raise both our hands into the air (eyes still closed) as he passed out a picture to each of us that was laminated. And when he told us to open our eyes we saw the billboard with the Kenosha Wildcats as world champions.
Talk about feeding the elephant! From that point forward our subconscious kept going back to what it would be like as underdogs to win the entire tournament and have our team picture on one of the billboards in Kenosha. I don’t think that image ever escaped us throughout the rest of the trip because with over 20 teams participating we managed to win 3rd place in the entire tournament. While it would have been nice to say we were champions, I truly believe that we became champions before the tournament even started because we played our hearts out that next weekend and accomplished something that we never thought we could.
That is what the ant and the elephant is all about. Visualizing what success looks like in your life, aligning your conscious and subconscious mind in unison to accomplish something great. Training yourself to see it so clearly that the victory has already taken place in your mind, it’s only a matter of time that it actually happens. What the mental fitness challenge (MFC) and the-life-business is designed to do is filter out all the garbage that is fed to us that is training our ant and elephant and provide proper nourishment through information that will get our elephants charging towards our dreams. It’s taking control of the programming of our subconscious mind. If you haven’t read Orrin Woodward’s Resolved book, I would do so immediately as your elephant depends on it.
What stories do you have that explain the concept of the ant and the elephant? I look forward to your feedback!
Blessings,
Kristen
Kristen: What a incredible story. I was reading again the Will Smith story when I got notice of your blog. Our challenge group last evening was alo very good. I shared a small story,nothing like yours, about a time when ,not knowing then ,when an ant and elephant came together. It was when I had a sailboat.There was three of us on the Lake that would sail together kind of our own little ragattas,sail boat races, the other two guys had C scows and I had a M20. C scows have only one main sail,while my boat had a much smaller main sail and a jib. This said the larger main sail on the
C boats left me with my smaller main behind. One day one of the guys asked me “when are you going to use your jib so you sail faster”. I started to think how can I manage both sails single handed. One morning before getting up i tried to invision how I could sail single handed with both the main and jib sails. I aligned the ant and elephant brain and was able to manage both sails and the keel board thus becoming more competitive in the mini regattas.Sometimes if you think it ,it can happen. Just a small story to say the ant and elephant happens in big and small ways. Get your ant on the back of your elephant and charge on to accomplish you dreams large and small .Blessings –Bill–
You are exactly right Bill and what a great story to give another example of how the ant and elephant work together to accomplish big and small visions. Thanks for your wisdom!
It has been an amazing journey so far with the Team and LIFE opportunity. I have learnes throughout this process the power of visualization. Throughout my years on the golf course, I have continually used the power of visualization to collect dozens of victories. On the otherhans, i have experienced the effects of feeding my elephant with negativity. During times of struggles, i began to doubt my abilities and had difficulty playing at a competitive level. Once i was able to refocus my thoughts towards the positive, my results have improved dramatically.
Keep leading the charge in the wisconsin area. It has been amazing to see your growth as a person and as a leader.
Thanks Chris! That is definitely a great example! I have seen you grow in all areas of your life as well and it’s so exciting. Visualization is so powerful and sometimes we forget that. Keep running hard for your dreams, it’s only a matter of time before they are real.
Kristen thanks for sharing a great example of what that kind of visualization can do. As i listened to Orrin Wooward and Chris Brady frame the discussion with a couple of examples I started to think of some of my own experiences where this had happened. As we transitioned into the discussion one of the questions asked how the engagement of the senses helps in talking to your elephant. A couple more examples came to mind. So if you will indulge me…
One of my early memories of this type of influence is from my grandmother. Whenever i went to her house, you would walk in the door and smell coffee. she had an old style percolator and it was always going(or so it seemed) . She had a huge heart and loved all us dearly. it was in her house that some of my first adventures in cooking occured. To this day every cup of coffee i have brings up an image of her and what love and sacrifice looks like.
Another example comes from my father and i have reallly only come to realize this recently. i love to run some people might say im crazy but i truly love it. But what ive come to recognize is where some of that comes from. when i was young our home was in the country, we lived on a dirt road with a couple other homes and had a good sized property. On many occassions, particularly in summer i would be out roaming about untill the last possible moment before i was called home. what this meant was that my father would be standing on the deck calling for me. As i would enter the yard he would challenge me to run…fast!, hard! to reach the house. This usually meant a 100 to 200 yard sprint. And it would always bring a smile to my dad’s face. This image and example of pleasing my father clearly influenced me as i took on running in my high school and later years. I point out that this was a positive image that had a lifelong impact. How many people out there have experienced just the opposite? Who have been put down,told what they couldnt do, scoffed at or worse. This is why our system is so important in changing how someone thinks. Putting positive reaffirming commentary and imagery into the minds of those who fight those demons.
My last example is much more recent. In 2009 i began training for an Ironman triathalon. If you are unfamiliar you swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles and run 26. 2 miles(a full marathon) and you have a maximum of 17 hours to complete it. During the course of my training i volunteered at the madison ironman. It was there that i got to see some of my friends and others finish their race. The cool part is that every athlete is called out by name as they come down the finish chute..the announcer calls out “jon smith you are an Ironman!” as they cross the finish line! Well i can tell you that i took that away with me as i was into the hardest part of my training. On the days of my hardest runs, my longest bikes, days i just didnt want to train. I played in my mind the announcer calling my name “Matt Mooney you are an ironman”. it still gives me goosebumps and it got me through. Such that when i finally was doing my first ironman, i was running with another guy with about 8 miles to go and i looked at him and said we got this. there was never a doubt as to crossing that line. and 8 miles later i heard that call at 13:05 on the race clock. IT was awesome!
So the challenge is this..Joanne Brandjten said it like this how do we take those examples we have and use them in life. Well here is how…equate achieving a goal with some positive memory that you have; create the association, listen to the cds, have a daily to do list that keeps you moving to that goal.
But most of all know that anything and everythng is possible!!
We have a great group of leaders showing us how
Feed your elephant, get him or her charging, give your ant a helmet and a seat belt and tell him to hold on cause you are going for greatness!
Wow Matt!! It doesnt surprise me one bit all your experiences aligning your ant and elephant. It’s amazing how we go through life not realizing there are principles behind certain times of our life. I am sure many people have similar ant and elephant experiences if they think hard enough. Thanks for sharing with us and I have no doubts that your ant and elephant are going to charge for greatness! Proud of you Matt!
Thanks Kristen
I am so grateful to leaders like you that set the example. To have an education system that can help people start feeding their own elephant. We are blessed to have and be part of a loving community that is committed to serving each other for the betterment of all
Hey Matt: what great examples you share thanks so much. I sure hope others will be inspired to put the helmet on thier ant seat belt the ant and go get the dreams they
always wanted. Keep keeping on my friend I know you will. I also am proud of the leader you are becoming . Peace be with you.
Thanks bill I really appreciate your support, your servant heart is a beacon for others to follow. Glad to be in it with you.
Kristen,
Oh boy…who is feeding my elephant? Let’s just say that every morning when I wake-up I read something to myself. It goes like this:
My Mission Statement/Manifesto
I, Jeff Taff, take it upon myself to help restore America’s founding principles through the re-education of “truth and success,” house by house, family by family, student by student…in order to fulfill my destiny. Combining my mind, heart, and will, I am changing this world for the better. I understand that my integrity and character will be challenged along my journey, but my courage to address wrongs in the face of fear shall always prevail. I vow to remain positive in my attitude toward my quest for truth. No excuse shall be made as failure is simply not an option. I expect, and will accomplish this goal, leading to a “Refor-vival-sance” in America, and leaving this world a better place than when I entered. This is my purpose, my mission in life, and it will be…my lasting legacy!
So, I tell ya what. I’m not hiding from the truth. There’s only ONE person who has the ability to control what goes in and what comes out…and that person is ME! I know that by feeding my manifesto to my hungry elephant every morning, it won’t be before long until my little ant is eating the same amount of Wheaties in the morning…if ya know what I mean! That’s how I plan to feed my elephant and enable my mind to be “all that it can be” in pursuit of living the life I’ve always wanted for myself and my family.
-Jeff
Oh hey…you’re from Kenosha. Cool! I was just there this past weekend for a cousin’s graduation party. My sister lives there and teaches at a private elementary school in Racine, WI. Small world.
-Jeff
It definitely is a small world! I grew up in Kenosha but moved to Waukesha about 8 years ago. Thanks for your comments!
Awesome Jeff! I really appreciate you sharing this! It is so inspiring to read mission statements as they are great accountabilty partners for growth. You had some pretty powerful statements and my prayer is that more people stand on their convictions as you are. Thank you for striving for excellence!
You are welcome. That’s how we’re going to change this crazy place of ours. PDCA…Make a plan, Do it, and check and adjust along the way!
-Jeff
Jeff
That is great. that is such a powerful tool to have an affirmation/mission statement. To state in the present tense what you are becoming working towards is a huge weapon in feeding that elephant. Keep it up and God bless
Thanks man! I appreciate your positive words.
-Jeff
Hello Everybody! I just finished reading the LIFE book I got when I signed up! Funny! On pages 122-123 Orrin recalls the exact same story Kristen just shared. That was at about the halfway point of the point and it peaked my interest acutely from there. He went on to talk about the camel, quality, not quantity, the service revolver, etc. Good stuff! Especially the elephant and ant because the metaphor is so simple and direct. If you can see it and believe you can have it! Eventually you will!
Well said Randy! That LIFE book is phenomenal and covers so many different principles for success – including the ant and the elephant. You are such a hungry student and I look forward to helping you grow and succeed in the-life-business.
Kristen,
What a great blog article once again!
I read this article and had many emotions flood my memories and you took me right back to that day on the meadow at the edge of a cliff overlooking the ocean in beautiful Maui! It has taken me since the day you posted this to now to even be able to write a comment.
You know sharing a dream; painting the picture clearly so others can see, smell, and even touch it, is really fun but a difficult skill that I have been trying to master for my entire life. It started as a 21 year old asking a bank for over 6 figures to trust me in buying a boat so I could launch my charter fishing business. We find that we need to be able to explain with passion and posture our dreams with others almost every day if you think about it.
Because you and my daughter Jess believed in me along with many other athletes on our team I was able to believe enough in myself to even lead that team to a World tournament and even to be able to qualify to play in it! I remember many times girls would come to practice and have an attitude and after asking enough questions I would find that their family and close friends would tell them that we can’t earn enough money to go and that we were not good enough to play international basketball. I mean 10 small kids from Kenosha? Come on! I would ask the girls, “Well what do you think?” Every single time through tears you ladies would say, “I want to prove to them that we can do it and that we can win it!”
How many times in our lives have we had the chance to turn criticism to a positive energy to drive success! I believe that is one of the strongest forces if we can harness it and use it! I see that same thing repeated in the LIEE/TEAM business, we have to harness that same energy and drive ourselves to the practice of self improvement and empowerment but with humble posture and reassurance that we together can make a difference and change our lives and the lives of others!
All I can say is we lost our amazing left handed point guard the night before we got on the plane to go to Maui because her mom decided she couldn’t go! Why, because another parent on the team who from the start said her daughter couldn’t go on this trip and started to make the other parents feel scared to let their daughters go. (Sounds like the friends and family members that want you to do well in life, but not better then them!! So they try to scare you so that you don’t go boldly into the future and becoming the person that God has intended you to become!) Also, we lost our 6’1” center the month before because she was in a serious car accident.
Most teams would have stopped the trip realized they had no chance in this type of tournament competing at a level that they could be proud of. But we had been studying from Phil Jackson of the Bulls, Micheal Jordon of the Bulls, and Pat Summit of Tennessee and we were running the Triangle offense which Micheal Jordon called the, “Equal Opportunity Offense”. This meant that we would succeed or fail as one unit, one team, with one direction. This offense puts everyone in the position of their maximum performance and lets the most talented players succeed by letting others shine! This was a very frustrating at the start for a few players but over time, well it would earn us a consolation championship in a World Tournament and defeat many teams that we should not have been able to play against let alone beat!
Aligning the Ant with your Elephant happens through education and understanding, and then hard work with fatigue until you eventually enter a zone. Once you enter the zone you may not realize it at first but you will feel it….it is joy and a feeling of no matter what happens you are ready and whatever happens you will adjust because nothing will stop you from the final victory that you see, that you have worked toward actually happens. Your brain has no idea what is real and what is imagined! It is up to us to create that imagination and make it real!
Do the work and get your dreams aligned with your actions and considerate done!
God Bless
Dave Chatmon
WOW Dave, thank you for your amazing comment and adding to the story. You are a true leader in everything that you do and I am blessed to call you a mentor. There are not too many people that can qualify for that position but you have earned it in my life. Thank you for sharing your wisdom for everyone to read. You are on your way to some amazing accomplishments in LIFE and I look forward to joining you.
Kristen, That is the best teaching, using visuals with a story to make your point. You are moving to a new level of leadership! Proud of you, George
Thanks George! Your leadership and mentorship is priceless and I am blessed to be working with you. Thank you for all that you continue to do!
Kristen,
What an amazing story and example of the ant and elephant concept. Dave Chatmon knew what he was doing then and sure does now. I know what an integral part he has played in your developing leadership. We all thank him for not only his direct leadership in LIFE, but in pushing you (in a good way of course) to your level of leadership.
I certainly can relate to the whole visualization concept from both my days of competing and from my days of coaching. In swimming, just like other sports, visualization is crucial to success. My coaches always had us visualize our races using all the senses and I did the same with my athletes. It is the difference maker in succeeding and so key to getting you through the tough spots. With your ant and elephant aligned there truly is no limit.
Thanks for your example, your leadership and constant support.
God bless,
Joanne
You are exactly right Joanne! The best coaches were once athletes and masters of their sport. You certainly did a great job duplicating those important ant and elephant principles into your athletes and you are now doing that in your community! Proud to be playing the game of LIFE with you!
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