Tony Romo Has Mastered the Elite Mindset

OK, I admit it.  I'm a huge homer.  I am a big Dallas Cowboy fan, and, perhaps, an even bigger Tony Romo fan.  Despite the many people who criticize Romo, label him a choker and think he only puts up big numbers, Romo has orchestrated more 4th quarter comebacks in the last decade than any other NFL quarterback.  

I particularly like to quote him because what he says often provides so much insight into the mindset of an elite athlete.  Here is what Romo had to say after he fired the winning touchdown with 7 seconds left to play in the opening game of the 2015 NFL season against the New York Giants.  His leadership helped the Cowboys to a 27-26 win.  

“What you have to understand is that you rehearse this and prepare for is in your mind way before the game,” Romo said. “The more times you can do that, it just feels like you’ve already gone through it. You can make it a repetitive thing that is systematic and not random.”

"You've just got to stay calm," Romo explained. "At that moment, at that point in the game, you can't just fall on it and protect the football. There's not much time left, and you've got to have poise in that situation when random things happen. Someone misses a block, ball is on the ground, whatever it is that comes up, you find through the years if you play long enough that the experiences you've had you can just get calm, get back up, trust your guys around you to do their job and then go through the progression."

Though the game was exciting and came down to the last play, Romo understands the importance of maintain the proper level of arousal, mental visualization, and the need to stay calm throughout the game.  He also understands that great plays and exciting comebacks are about preparation and deliberate practice.  

For more on mental conditioning, download the Mindfuel app:  http://appmc.hn/1aekztQ.   

For more about the Dallas Cowboys franchise, buy the book, Razor Thin:   The Difference Between Winning and Losing.  

Excerpts taken from ESPN.go.com.  

Quiet Leadership: Eli Manning and Giants are Ready for the Super Bowl

“We got an excellent message from Eli.  It was very well-needed. For players like myself who have been to a Super Bowl, it is still great to hear someone speak with that kind of leadership. And you know, Eli doesn't say much. When he says it, he means it and you know it is coming from the heart." 

--Antrel Rolle, New York Giants’ safety, discussing a speech given by Eli Manning as they prepare for their Super Bowl rematch with the New England Patriots.   

Eli Manning’s Quiet Leadership"There's a lot of pressure coming into a season on a team like this and if you walked in and are working with a veteran quarterback, and you make a mistake and he's ripping you apart, putting you down or making it obvious on the field that it's your fault, then that would make a tough situation even worse.

"Eli doesn't approach it that way. I know that when me and Victor came in, we didn't know everything and we still don't. But when we made a mistake, ran the wrong route, he always took the time to help us. That's what good leaders do. They realize the team's not just made of vets. You have to be willing to accept other people's mistakes and Eli is great with that, one of the best.

"I don't know how he was before. But maybe because he didn't always get that when he started out he understands how important it is. Again, that's just Eli - hard worker, commander, leader."

-- Jake Ballard, the second-year tight end.

"Instead of jumping on receivers when they make mistakes, Eli is more likely to pull them aside on the sideline, explain what they had discussed in practice and tell them what he's expecting from them," said former Giants quarterback and current ESPN analyst Tim Hasselbeck. "When you have a guy who doesn't have a confrontational approach to dealing with things, that's a better way of handling things. One of the reasons he and Kevin Gilbride [Giants’ offensive coordinator] get along so well is because Eli is the way he is. Kevin can be pretty fiery."

"Eli told everybody at the beginning of the season that he's a leader," Giants defensive tackle Chris Canty said. "And he's proven that with his performance."

"I think a leader is someone who motivates someone to achieve a goal or change their actions or improve their actions, and Eli has that ability," Barden said. "Now, he's not the kind of guy who's going to get in your face or ride you and yell at you. He displays his displeasure or his emotion as anyone else does, but he goes about it in a way so that it doesn't negatively affect the game."

-- Ramses Barden, Giants’ third-year receiver, discussing Manning’s statement about his elite status as an NFL quarterback.

Elite Status as Quarterback

"That's been obvious to me, since I've been here and you want that kind of attitude out of your quarterback. Now he's had the opportunity to prove it beyond a doubt, putting up numbers that are beyond what people expected from him," said Barden. 

Solid Stability

"It's his strength," "You're not dealing with a roller-coaster guy here, you know? These are all young receivers and I know how confident they all are talking to him, trying to tell him what they see," said Sean Ryan, the Giants' second-year receivers coach.

"…But after being with him for a while, it's his consistency not only as a quarterback but as a person that you know you can count on,” Barden said.

At the outset of Manning's fourth season that Tiki Barber introduced himself as a network commentator by calling Manning's leadership skills comical. Months later, Manning led the Giants past the undefeated Patriots in the Super Bowl. Process is all about patience.

"He's all right, he's as tough as they come,"

--Hakeem Nicks, wide-receiver.   

Intelligence and Preparation

"He has functional intelligence. He can sit in a film room and break down route combinations, pass protections, defensive fronts, and he can do it all in about three seconds. Coaches like to get into the habit of running tape over and over so players understand what you're trying to do. Eli doesn't need that. We get excited about fast-twitch athletes, guys who are really explosive physically. He's what you call a fast-twitch thinker."

--Duke offensive coordinator Kurt Roper, who coached Manning at Ole Miss.

"For us it's no surprise our offense goes how Eli directs it," Giants left tackle David Diehl said. "His understanding and grasp of our offense, his knowledge of things, the way that he's able to recognize blitzes or coverages or different things. When he is watching film, he notices things that the [defensive] line is doing. Not many quarterbacks pay attention."

A season ago, he was berated by Giants fans for not showing enough emotions on the sidelines during a difficult 10-6 season. Now, it is considered remarkable how he never looks rattled especially during the playoffs. Manning boasts an all-time playoff mark of 6-3.

"I think it is his mentality. It is his approach. Nobody sees what he does behind the scenes. He is a studier and a pounder. He is looking for every little advantage that he can get. He is just trying to be the best he can be to help this team win," head coach Tom Coughlin said.

"If we could all just remember that and use that. He loves playing against the best competition, but it is just all about doing the best for his team."

"I think we are always confident going into games. Guys understand the way to win football games against good teams. Our defense is playing great with pressure and turnovers," Manning said. "Our offense for the most part is protecting the ball and playing smart football. When we have a chance to make a big play we are making them."

Excerpts from ESPN.com (2/4/2012) nytimes.com (01/20/2012) and Sports.yahoo.com (01/16/2012; 2/2/2012).

Eli Manning Leads New York Giants to the Super Bowl Again

“Eli is just as calm in the fourth quarter as he is in the first quarter of a preseason game. They expect to score. That’s impressive.”

 --Eli Manning’s brother Peyton said outside the New York Giants’ locker room after their overtime N.F.C. championship game.  

Eli quarterbacked the New York Giants to a win in the N.F.C. championship game against the San Francisco 49ers.  Manning and the Giants advanced to the Super Bowl with a 20-17 victory.   They will face the New England Patriots whom they upset in their previous Super Bowl meeting in 2007.

Excerpts from nytimes.com (January 23, 2012)

Eli Manning: Maturity, Preparation and Focus Equals Success

“He’s tough, he’s hard-nosed, he hangs in there. He believes in himself and his teammates. This is something that we’ve worked on and directed an awful lot of attention towards from the neck up with our team, and the last two weeks it’s paid off.” --Tom Coughlin, the New York Giants’ head coach, discussing quarterback Eli Manning mindset and maturity.

Eli Manning has been on fire during the past two weeks. In a victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, the Giants trailed, 16-14, but won, 29-16, after Manning threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes. Last Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, Manning threw two more touchdown passes — this time only 58 seconds apart — as the Giants came back from a 10-point deficit late to win, 31-27. Manning is 29 of 38 for 353 yards in the fourth quarter this season, with four touchdowns, no interceptions and a passer rating of 139.5 — best in the N.F.L. and nearly 34 points higher than his 105.6 rating over all.

Manning Inspires Others to Prepare

“You study so you can react without hesitating. The only way we’ll all be on the same page is if we have seen it before.”
--Kareem McKenzie, Giants’ lineman, who understands the importance of preparation and practice.

An Appreciation of a Team Approach

Manning was quick to deflect the attention when asked about the Giants’ successes in the fourth quarter, saying, “It is not just one person, it is everybody doing their job.” The team understand Manning’s importance to their success.

“We follow his lead.” --Giants’ tight end, Jake Ballard.

Excerpts from NewYorkTimes.com (October 6, 2011)

Inside the Mind of a New NFL Coach: Jason Garrett, Dallas Cowboys

"Be great today.  That's what it's about.  You have to be good each and every day in everything that you do, and if you continue to do that, the right habits will develop and hopefully the results will come.

"We don't talk a lot about winning games. We talk about doing things the right way and then being prepared to play the best you can play."

--Jason Garrett.  

Garrett, in his first game as the Dallas Cowboys' head coach, led his team to a 33-20 upset victory over the favored New York Giants.  It was their first win since late September.  The Cowboys entered the game with a 1-7 record, after beginning the season as a Super Bowl favorite.    

Though he encouraged his players to enjoy the win, Garrett was already thinking about the next opponent:  the Detroit Lions.  

"It's hard not to get your mind going on the next one," he said. "You're challenged so much in this league. Detroit is going to be a great challenge for us on Sunday afternoon."

Garrett wants the team prepared as much as possible, because he's a firm believer that each work day incrementally determines the outcome on Sunday.

The Cowboys played inspired, energetic football in beating the NFC East-leading Giants.

"Like Jason said, and it's kind of boring, but you're trying to put good days upon good days," backup quarterback Jon Kitna said. "And hopefully it gives you a chance to win on Sunday and then you perform well on Sunday."  

Kitna was forced into a starting role since a shoulder injury sidelined starter Tony Romo.   Kitna, in his third start, threw for 327 yards off of 13-of-22 passing with three touchdowns. He had six completions of at least 25 yards, including four plays that went for over 40 yards each.

"You have to constantly prove to the players that what you're telling them is the right stuff," Garrett said. "I think a big part of that is having the right kinds of players, players who are receptive to coaching. We have the right coaches here, we have the right kind of players here."

"Certainly winning the ballgame on Sunday is an important part of credibility for coaches," Garrett said. "And that's whether you're a new coach or if you've been coaching a team for a long time. … The business is a bottom line business. You have to win games. You have to perform on Sundays. But I think the best way to go about doing that is taking care of the process along the way. So I think our players understand that."

• One day at a time, one game at a time
• Establish credibility
• Foster positive work habits
• Have players with receptivity to coaching 
• Build on success
• Focus on results  

What is your mindset?  Are your teammates responding?   

Excerpts from www.dallascowboys.com (November 15 &16, 2010) 

For more on the Dallas Cowboys franchise, click on Dallas Cowboys:  Peak Performance Case Study.  

Execution: Not Sexy but Successful

“You’re always going to be faced with the situations that came up yesterday at some point in the season. You’re always going to face that. And if you have reliable people who are prepared and anxious to have an opportunity to play and prove themselves, then you can carry on.

“Regardless of whether you’re a five-play-a-game guy or not, you’re very involved in everything that we do. Our coaches, our meetings, are all for the purpose of providing everyone with the information they need to perform well.”

--Tom Coughlin, head coach, NFL New York Giants, discussing injuries that have forced him to change his lineup.

“One thing that we say is when somebody goes down, we like to step up. In the receiver room, we try to take pride in that.”

--Dominik Hixon, New York Giants' back-up wide receiver and special teams player, who returned three kicks for a total of 180 yards, including an 83-yard run that led to a field goal in the second quarter. He finished with 6 receptions and 269 all-purpose yards in a win over the Washington Redskins.

“The one thing I can say about our team right now is whether we’re up 3 or down 3, up 7 or down 7, we have the confidence that we’re going to come back and win the game. A lot of us feel like that because we have done it before.

“You raise your own standards as well as your team’s standards. You carry yourself differently because you do not allow yourself or your teammates to settle for mediocrity. You expect greatness from everybody. You’re no longer saying: ‘Oh, man, we didn’t get it done. Well, what are you going to do? We’re not perfect.’

“Now it’s like, ‘That’s unacceptable.’ We know how good we can be when we play the way we’re supposed to play.

"This team handles adversity extremely well, and it’s just another opportunity for us to demonstrate it.”

--Sean O'Hara, veteran New York Giants center, who responded to questions about injuries and other distractions this year (including the legal troubles of Plaxico Burress) and last year during their Super Bowl championship run.

“Once you have guys here complaining or being bitter about not getting the ball enough or not making enough plays, that’s what causes the problems. We’ve had that here. We don’t have that here now. That’s why we’re 10-1.

“I’d rather have 53 guys who play like Pro Bowlers, regardless of whether they get into the Pro Bowl or not. That’s what our team is. We have 53 stars. Instead of having that one star-power guy, that guy that gets all the attention, all the love, every week reporters have somebody else to talk to, something else to write about. That’s good. That’s good for our whole team, because that means everybody’s shining. And if you’ve got your whole team shining, you can’t have nothing but a good team.”

--Antonio Pierce, NFL New York Giants' linebacker, discussing the team's continued success in 2008 after a Super Bowl victory last season.

“I love it completely. That’s what this thing is all about for me: team. Team.”

--Tom Coughlin, discussing his feelings about the New York Giants' success.

So, despite crises, multiple problems and adversity, the New York Giants continue to execute and win. So, what does this have to do with you and your business?

Well, it's official: the recession is real and has been since December 2007. Many experts suggest that we will be in this condition until at least 2010. The economy is a mess. In these times of turbulence, we can't wait for the government to take over or bail us out. Our customers have problems needing solutions. Our customers need to know that we have answers for them. They expect us to have products, services, processes, and expertise to help them to survive and make money. We have to demonstrate that we have what they need and most importantly that we can execute and make things happen. We have to communicate our value and our ability to perform when the opportunity arises. Most importantly. You can't wait for your customers to come to you. What do you need to do? What does 2009 hold for you and your business?

If you really want to succeed, you have to get down and dirty and execute. You must demonstrate your value to your customers when they need you most, show them that you’re willing to roll up your sleeves, and get to work. Why does it seem so hard? Isn't there an easier more interesting way?

The problem is that we all think that we can be the top dog, the leader, the big enchilada. We want to be the go-to-guy, the CEO, the thinker. We imagine ourselves as strategists and visionaries. The big guy in the corner office is the one that get paid the most. We want to be paid and respected, even worshiped for our high-level thinking. It affirms us, stimulates our mind, validates us and our place in the universe. It fulfills the promise of our intelligence, the ability to anticipate change and make a difference in our business universe.

But, what is your business there for? You are needed, and expected, to provide a solution, tackle a problem, make something easier, better, or make a headache go away. However, everyone fancies themselves as the architect. Few of us what to pick up the the hammer and the nails and build the house. When you’re in business, your job is to offer a product, a process, a service or your expertise to a customer or a company that needs it. Someone has to make sure it gets done.

The key is to execute. In order to do that you have to be close to the customer and their business. To do that well is to understand what their business needs. And most of the time, what a business needs from you is execution. The bad news is, however that, execution is not exciting, it is not fun, it is not glamorous, it is hard, very hard. The truth is that execution isn’t sexy.

In this economic climate, the reality is that execution rules. Execution makes money. Execution drives the economy. Execution helps a business move forward. It allows businesses to make measurable progress against their goals. Of course, this is what businesses need to focus upon all the time, but especially when budgets and human resources are disappearing rapidly. Companies don’t necessarily need a new mission statement or an pie-in-the-sky three-year or five-year plan (most likely they already have one). Most of the time, a simple results-oriented mentality to make things happen is what is needed. It is what works.

The bottom lines is that the dirty work is taking care of the details. We can’t always be focusing on strategizing, planning, forecasting, and theorizing. Sometimes it’s time to shut up, and execute.

So, find resources, anticipate barriers, make a plan, train your team, make the plan happen, refine it, maintain it, evaluate it. Make sure your team is talking to each other and your customers. Make it clear that your company is willing to roll-up its sleeves for its customers.

Are you really committed to succeed? Are you willing to pay the price? Have you put together a team that understands and values execution. Your survival and profitability will depend on it.

Excerpts from the New York Times, 11/25 and 11/30/2008.