It's March. There is madness. Yet, along with this madness comes hope. Every year in college basketball, there is an underdog who takes down great teams in the NCAA tournament. The most famous Cinderella team is probably the 1983 North Carolina State Wolfpack, coached by Jim Valvano. NC State squeaked into the tournament by winning the ACC tournament in dramatic fashion, then stunning the world by beating the Houston "Phi Slamma Jamma" team at the buzzer in the National Championship.
In the ESPN 30-for-30 film, Survive and Advance, Dereck Whittenburg and other present-day members of the team retell the story of their journey towards the national title. In a very motivational and emotional documentary, we learn what it truly means to have hope.
Many know Coach Valvano (also known as Jimmy V) from ESPN's Jimmy V Week, in which they raise money and awareness for cancer research. Before the enthusiastic Coach Valvano died from bone cancer in 1993, he spoke on various occasions (including the famous 1993 ESPY speech), inspiring people worldwide. There are many things you can learn from Jimmy V, whether it's through his speeches, his example, or his 1983 team's example.
After watching his speeches numerous times, these are 10 things I have learned from Jim Valvano and they are 10 of the best life lessons to be learned.
1. Laugh, think, cry.
“If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that's a full day. That's a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you're going to have something special."
Some of the greatest things in life are simple. Laughing gives us joy, thinking gives us wisdom, and crying releases feelings. These are some of the greatest gifts in life, especially when shared with others.
2. Dream big.
“Be a dreamer. If you don't know how to dream, you're dead."
When Coach Valvano was hired by NCST, he was the new kid on the block. He entered a conference with some of the all-time greatest coaches: Mike Krzyzewski, Dean Smith, Terry Holland, and Lefty Driesell, among others. This did not stop Valvano from saying his goal was to be a national champion. People thought he was crazy. How did he respond? He achieved his dream.
Do not let people's words stop you from dreaming. The greatest feats and accomplishments in history have resulted from a dream. When there's a will, there's a way.
3. Know you can do extraordinary things.
"There are 86,400 seconds in a day. It's up to you to decide what to do with them."
When Jimmy V was 16 years old, he heard Rev. Bob Richards speak at a basketball camp. He said, "The Lord must have loved ordinary people because he made so many of us." But what Richards said next is what changed Valvano's outlook on life forever. "Every single day, in every walk of life, ordinary people accomplish extraordinary things."
If everyone was special, no one would be special. Ordinary people can accomplish extraordinary things. If you have motivation, you will have success.
4. Have a vision.
"Nothing can happen, yet first a dream. If you have a person with a goal and vision, there's great hope."
Having a dream and having a vision are similar, but slightly different. Dreams are just ideas in our head that sound good. Having a vision is the next step -- it takes the practical steps in achieving your dreams. Valvano and the '83 Wolfpack team would have practices at the beginning of the year where they would practice cutting down the nets. They were ready to achieve their goal. Don't just dream, execute the plan. Have drive and desire.
5. Have enthusiasm.
"How do you go from where you are to where you wanna be? You have to have an enthusiasm for life."
The greatest college basketball coach of all time, John Wooden, created a pyramid of success. The cornerstones of success according to Wooden were enthusiasm and hard work. With these two things, anything is possible. Valvano lived by these words. Valvano was fired up on the court and whenever he spoke.
In life, you best succeed when you love what you are doing. Don't chase boring dreams. Make life joyful.
6. Fight whatever you are faced with.
“I'm going to fight my brains out to be back here again next year for the Arthur Ashe recipient. I want to give it next year!"
The 1983 "Cardiac Pack" were faced with countless challenges throughout their season. Without an all-star on their team, NCST had to play Michael Jordan, Ralph Sampson, Sam Perkins, Clyde Drexler, Mark Price, Hakeem Olajuwon, and more. Not only did the Pack put up a fight, they beat each of these players (some more than once).
Beneath the surface, Valvano was faced with a battle that is much more difficult: a body-killing illness. Whether your struggle is great or small, fight it with every ounce of power you have.
7. Survive and advance.
"Survive and advance."
In the ESPN documentary, the players recalled that before every tournament game, Valvano reminded his team that if they lost, their season would be over. He told them to simply "survive and advance." In life, we must take one challenge at a time and defeat every present tribulation before moving on.
8. Be secure in heart, soul, and mind.
“Cancer can take away all of my physical abilities. It cannot touch my mind, it cannot touch my heart, and it cannot touch my soul."
Though he lived with cancer for months, Valvano never appeared scared. He was always secure in the fact that his body is only temporary. Take heart. Be not afraid of what can happen on this earth, but delight in where your destiny is.
9. Don't just believe in yourself, believe in others.
“My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person -- he believed in me."
Valvano said that whenever he got a new coaching job, his dad would always say "Son, my bags are packed." His dad was confident and ready to fly down and see Valvano's team win the national championship. Though it only happened once in his many years of coaching, Valvano said his dad gave him hope to strive for that goal.
Support is one of the greatest gifts. We must love others daily and share in their goals - especially our family's. Help others achieve their goals.
10. Don't give up.
“Hope: Things can get better despite adversity."
The famous phrase from Jim Valvano: "Don't give up, don't ever give up." He said those words at the ESPY awards the month before he died. He showed not only through his coaching, but also his fight against cancer. He has been a huge inspiration to how I live my life. Count every day as a blessing and love others.
No matter how great your trial seems, have hope. Take heart and know that you can overcome it. Stay positive and never give up. Don't give up, don't ever give up.
