TimeOut Feature: Words of Wisdom from George Raveling

NABC Executive Director Jim Haney shares valuable lessons from recent NABC Foundation Court of Honor award recipient George Raveling.

By Jim Haney, NABC Executive Director
 
On June 22, 2016, the NABC Foundation held its annual Court of Honor Gala. Each year we celebrate a person who has invested in the game of college basketball or has used his experiences in college basketball in his life’s journey. Past honorees are Jerry Colangelo, Bill Bradley, Phil Knight, Jim Nantz, Dick Vitale and John Thompson, Jr. This year we are celebrating George Raveling.
George was the head coach at Washington State University when I held the same position at the University of Oregon. Known back in that day as a great recruiter, George proved to be an outstanding coach at Washington State, Iowa and USC.
In 1992, the NABC’s executive director, Joe Vancisin, was retiring and there was no doubt who would be his successor: George Raveling. George was that well thought of in the college coaching community! His passion for coaching and young people kept him at USC. He would have been a terrific executive director for the NABC.
Recently, George gave the commencement speech at his alma mater. How appropriate that one of Villanova’s former basketball student-athletes would give the commencement address just months after Villanova won the 2016 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship!
I have broken from the usual question and answer format to share some comments George shared during that commencement speech. As we transition into another recruiting year and academic year, George’s comments are particularly appropriate. We are one decision away from a new start. Enjoy and consider these words of George.
“Over the course of my 78 years, I have stuffed my suitcase of life experiences with valuable lessons learned. I’d like to share five that I believe will fuel your personal success.
 
1. Make every day your masterpiece
Let what you do be an expression of who you are. Each day you possess 86,400 seconds of opportunities to maximize your full potential and skills. Face every precious moment with your best contributions to grow, learn, and prosper. Ultimately recognizing that “If it is to be, it is up to me.”
 
2. Be accountable to yourself
Hold yourself to only one standard, the very best version of yourself. Start by being accountable to yourself. The toughest battle a person has to fight, is to live in a world, where every single day, someone is trying to make you be someone you don’t want to be. Never second-guess yourself. If you work toward being normal, you will never know how amazing you can be. As Oscar Wilde said, “Be yourself, everyone else is taken.”
 
3. Construct a personal development plan
We no longer live in a nation where our work is done by the BODY, our daily work is now performed by the MIND. Investing in your self-development is the best investment you will ever make. Design the life you wish to live, life is always under construction. Don’t be afraid to challenge the status quo. In today’s work place it’s what you know, not who you know.
 
4. Surround yourself with as many extraordinary people as possible.

Follow the footprints of successful people. Research confirms that the #1 way to make strong improvements in your life is to associate with people who you aspire to be. These individuals will lift you up, challenge you, help you reach your outer limits. If you want to travel fast, travel alone. If you want to travel far, travel together.

5. Create a lasting legacy for yourself
How do you want to be remembered? Creating a reputation that will follow you through your life is important. Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones. Make your life an awesome story of LOVE, COURAGE, and PERSEVERANCE. Just imagine if tomorrow was your last day on earth, how would you like to be remembered? Leave behind shoes no person can fill.
Now I’m certain you can see why I wanted to share these life lessons with you.
 
 
This article appears in the Summer 2016 edition of TimeOut Magazine. To read the entire issue, click here.