It wasn’t until I moved to Central NY from the tri-state area that I became a college basketball fan.

Here in Syracuse, we bleed Orange!

Last night, college basketball enthusiasts witnessed an epic battle between Duke and Syracuse. The Orange squeezed out a blood boiling OT victory in front of 35,446 raving fans in the Carrier Dome.

Before the game, I watched an interview between the competing coaches of this new ACC rivalry, Mike Krzyewski of the Duke Blue Devils, and Jim Boeheim of the Syracuse Orange.

Photo courtesy of missy and the universe

Coach K and Jimmy B epitomize leadership. They manifest qualities of humility. vulnerability, honesty, and high emotional intelligence.

During the interview, the reporter asked the Hall of Fame coaches about retirement. Boeheim answered by saying he considered hanging it up five years ago. Yet, he still has the desire to coach. (Yaaaa, especially after last night’s win) Jimmy B’s here to stay for the foreseeable future. Love ya coach!

Coach K said, if and when the day comes he senses he’s lost the desire to put in the work to prepare to be successful, (Boeheim nodding his head in agreement) that will be a telling sign it’s time to quit. Hop into the golf cart, drive to the first tee, and spend the remaining days moving the handicap into single digits territory.

Combined, Coach K and Coach Boeheim have over 1,900 wins. Even with all their success. The National Championships. The big bank. The notoriety. They passionately invest the sweat equity necessary to accumulate W’s in their respective accounts.

Recruit, practice, watch game film, at times engage with recalcitrant media, wannabe coaches, ravenous fans, etc. Day after day. Month after month. Year after year. Decade after decade. They approach their craft as Steven Pressfield preaches, like a pro.

I recently read a listicle by Dan Walschmidt, on the things you need to do to be successful.

Here they are:

• You have to make the call you’re afraid to make.
• You have to get up earlier than you want to get up.
• You have to give more than get in return right away.
• You have to care more about others than they care about you.
• You have to fight when you are already injured, bloody, and sore.
• You have to feel unsure and insecure when playing it safe seems smarter.
• You have to lead when no one else is following you yet.
• You have to invest in yourself even though no one else is.
• You have to look like a fool while you’re looking for answers you don’t have.
• You have to grind out the details when it’s easier to shrug them off.
• You have to deliver results when making excuses is an option.
• You have to search for your own explanations even when you’re told to accept the “facts.”
• You have to make mistakes and look like an idiot.
• You have to try and fail and try again.
• You have to run faster even though you’re out of breath.
• You have to be kind to people who have been cruel to you.
• You have to meet deadlines that are unreasonable and deliver results that are unparalleled.
• You have to be accountable for your actions even when things go wrong.
• You have to keep moving towards where you want to be no matter what’s in front of you.

The secret sauce to winning is sweat equity.

Regardless if you’re a Hall of Famer, parent, business coach, entrepreneur, teacher, or whatever you’re trying to accomplish or become, the “I Dream of Jeannie” solutions are chimerical. Mythical. Complete fantasy.

If you love what you do, (71% don’t) you’ve got to work your ass off, day in, and day out.

Take another look at that list.

What do you need to be doing, that if you did it, would move you closer to a W?