Training Camp: What the Best Do Better Than Everyone Else

Chapter 16. The Microscope

Sully laughed and said, "Yeah, I remember," as he showed Martin the microscope.

Coach then turned his attention to Martin. "We talked about the telescope representing the big-picture vision for your future. It's the perfection and greatness that you strive for. Well, the microscope represents the zoom-focused actions you need to take each day to realize the vision you see through the telescope. As Edison said, 'Vision without execution is hallucination.'"

Everyone laughed.

"The microscope is all about execution, and to execute with excellence you must take zoom-focused actions. Zoom-focus means that you are not just working hard, but working hard on the right things. It means you must identify the key 'little ordinary things' that are fundamental to your success, and then you must focus on them, practice them, and strive to execute them to perfection. The best zoom-focus, and this is the fifth trait of what the best do better than everyone else."

The Best Zoom-Focus

"Why would he do that?" Martin asked.

"Because he knew that a player couldn't run or jump or play at their best if their shoes weren't tied. Success is all about the fundamentals. And the fundamentals are little and ordinary and often boring. But to be the best, I'm telling you now, you must master them. ...