Oct 5, 2017
As the eloquent introduction goes on each Mart and The Fishbowl podcast Harvey and Dave are in search of some of the most sustainable systems of excellence. Observing, Listening, and asking questions of some of these ‘successful people’ is a wonderful tool towards applying some of this wisdom to your own life in the hopes that you can garner some growth and fulfillment as well.
It is no accident that many of the ‘greats’ out there also do the same thing.
When Harv and Dave got the chance to sit down with NHL veteran/All-Star Kyle Okposo it was extremely refreshing to hear how he observes other ‘greats’ to help himself be the best version of himself that he can be.
Shattuck St. Mary’s is a prep school in southern Minnesota that has been churning out elite level hockey talent for the better part of two decades. It was also where Kyle set the foundation for himself not only as a hockey player but as a young man. This was also where, as a 14 year old freshman, Kyle would take the time each day to go down to the rink and watch a young Sidney Crosby. For those living under a rock Sidney Crosby has been arguably the best player in the world for the last ten years. Even as a freshman in high school Kyle knew Sidney was a special player and he wanted to learn from him, watch how he practiced, watch how he played.
This was also where Kyle first played for Coach Tom Ward. A man who Kyle describes as, “Being a Lion who doesn’t know he’s a Lion.” “He was a maker of men. There was no other way to play and be a person, than the right way.” Doing things the Right Way is the only way to describe Coach Ward’s coaching philosophy and it is the way Kyle has approached everything in his life ever since.
As with any successful athlete or person Kyle’s journey has not come without some bumps in the road. These slumps and learning how to minimize them are what makes good players great ones. “I was able to refind my confidence through raising my work ethic.” “You have to find ways to trick your mind.”
From helping a struggling New
York Islanders organization go from one of the worst teams in the
NHL to playoff contenders, to brining a Buffalo Sabres team back to
the glory it’s been used to in years past, Kyle’s philosophy of
doing things the Right Way are still his guiding principle. As a
father, as a husband, as a man Kyle is constantly asking himself,
“How am I going to get better today?” This daily reflection coupled
with the personal mantra of “Holding myself to the standard of, if
I think it’s right, I’m going to do it” are two simple ways Kyle
keeps his purpose and vision clear and allow him to pursue
excellence on the ice and more importantly in his
life.