I must confess I really like Pete Carroll.

It has nothing to do with team loyalty to the Seahawks.  After all, I am an Eagles fan.

When I worked at USC during some of Carroll’s term there he struck me as a most unusual motivator for a football coach.

Pete Carroll is the guy who lost the Super Bowl to New England in the last minute of the game.  But if ever there was someone who can overcome that weight around his neck, Pete Carroll is the man.

A recent New York Times article points out how former New Orleans Saints all-star tight end Jimmy Graham was “coached” on his new team.  After he dropped a pass during practice, Carroll came running over to him not to curse him out or belittle him into being better, but to counsel him not to worry and just focus more.

The takeaway for the rest of us is to stop beating ourselves up – it never works.  You know you want to be better but to heap more pressure and risk a critical loss of self-esteem is not the answer.

Focus on the present eliminating negative distractions and doubts not useless invectives that all but guarantee failure and unhappiness.

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