Quote of the Week...from Rick Pitino

Set higher standards for your own performance than anyone around you, and it won't matter whether you have a tough boss or an easy one.  It won't matter whether the competition is pushing you hard, because you'll be competing with yourself.                                   ---Rick Pitino

Rick Pitino is the current head basketball coach of Iona College, whom my Florida Gators just played (and somehow defeated) in the opening round of this year's National Invitation Tournament.  He's coached several teams over the decades, most notably Kentucky and Louisville, consistently taking them deep into the NCAA championship "March Madness" tournament and winning a couple of titles.  He mentored his assistant coach Billy Donovan, who would in turn coach Florida for many years, earning them consecutive national titles in 2005 and 2006.  But Pitino also fell from grace in scandal as in 2017, as part of a sweeping NCAA investigation covering many schools, as his program was found tainted by illicit escort services and bribery for players...he was first suspended and then fired, later suing Louisville on account that they did not provide him due process...the two parties ultimately settled.  I'm sad about all that, but also realize that people do fall from time to time in their lives from their own flaws, and the more famous they are the harder and louder they hit the ground.  That's too bad for Pitino as he absolutely did not need to cut any corners to generate competitive, winning teams: he was and still is a great, motivating coach...as his above quote indicates.  It's been my experience over the years that keeping high working standards for myself and consistently adhering to them, while possibly (and irrationally) perceived as a threat of sorts by insecure bosses and colleagues, over time works to liberate myself from others' control, whether it be from micromanagement or peer pressure manipulation.  It helps that I've seen as role models over the course of my life other people who have exhibited this independent consciousness to their assignments and always noticed how they tend to deflect controversy and intrigues away from themselves.  I'm not perfect in this regard, but along with another quote, from Max Ehrmann's Desiderata, I think I'm making a little progress: "Avoid loud and aggressive persons: they are vexatious to the spirit.  If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself."  I wish Rick Pitino the best for the rest of his career and life...it was great seeing him coach his team against the Gators Wednesday evening...