Jul 20, 2017
Back to school, Back to school, to prove to Dad that I’m not a fool. Little line there from the Billy Madison movie brought Dave and Harvey back to the hallways of Champlin Park High School where they had an enlightening sit down with a man by the name of Pete Ockuly. One could sense a small shiver going down Harvey’s spine as they made their way through the school. Forced to recount his days of getting shoved into lockers and coughing up lunch money Harvey pressed on with courage and confidence. Appears some of these MindStrong lessons are actually working. They trekked deep into the bowels of the school and settled in the back room of a biology lab. Mr. Ockuly was testing our resolve. Class was about to begin.
Pete Ockuly is a teacher, writer, and coach. He grew up in the Minneapolis area and was a wrestler in college. He now teaches Biology at Champlin Park High School and is the head football coach there. A new chapter began to unfold in Pete’s story back in 2007. The fold in this story started with failure as so many often do. Pete’s football team was strong that year and in the section final his team not only got beat, but did so in a sort of timid, soft, and accepting manner. Where was the jam? Where was the enthusiasm? Where was the leadership? These were the questions the coaches were asking themselves at the bonfire that night after the loss.
The answer came in the forming of the Leadership Academy. Pete realized that forming better leaders in his student athletes would not only translate into more wins on the football field, but more importantly would be developing better people in life. Within Pete’s Leadership Academy he talks about creating a strong core. Not the kind of abdominal six pack core that Dave carries with him, or the one pack that Harvey does, but a mental core. Creating stability, and strength of leadership through your inner core.
Harvey and Dave were all ears as Pete explained self awareness, enthusiasm, mental toughness, and building confidence through competence. The guys then had to really dig in as Mr. Ockuly took them through the process of forming a habit and building new ones. They took a tour through the mind and learned about the Motor Cortex and the Basal Ganglia and how both play a vital role in recognizing cues and giving rewards to your brain. It was at this point where Harvey’s brain actually began to ache, Motor Cortex must have been overwhelmed, so it was perfect timing as music began to croon over the loudspeakers in the school.
Are you worth following? Are you aware of your habits and how you can change them? How clear are your visions and goals? Do you enjoy music? The answers to these questions and so much more await the listeners in episode 8 as Pete Ockuly dives deep with Mart and the Fishbowl.
PETE OCKULY'S DIAMOND SERIES
Home Plate- “This world works better, when people work together.” Groups can do more than individuals. Togetherness. Pete wants to facilitate teamwork.
First Base- Pete values the word ‘we’. He values his relationships and values teamwork. He hates selfishness and self interest within a team or a group. He also values sacrifice.
Second Base- Pete’s daily systems revolve around reflection. He constantly asks himself, “Where do I want to be?” He writes journals on this question and upon reflecting Pete answers these questions by reminding himself to take action and make adjustments.
Third Base- Pete has always envisioned himself being the guy who is getting interviewed and being a guru for his material. So in a sense, he is realizing his vision!
PETE OCKULY CLIFF NOTES
Intro LipJacks
Who is Pete Ockuly? (min. 2:50)
The Leadership Academy (min. 4:35)
Become Worth Following (min. 8:37)
Develop your Inner Core (min. 10:00)
Self Awareness (min. 10:43)
Mental Toughness (min. 12:19)
Enthusiasm (min. 14:43)
Confidence from Competence (min. 17:45)
Biology Lesson (min. 20:36)
Developing a New Habit (min. 23:25)
Hold Onto your Basal Ganglia (min. 27:20)
Musical Intermission (min. 32:05)
GPA-RARARA (min. 37:40)
Road Trip (min. 41:10)
Advice for Young Athletes (min. 45:30)
Pete’s Diamond Series (min. 52:40)