Marc Loranger

Curt Cignetti describes the mindset and the steps it takes to be great. "It's a process and it's a way you go about doin' things. It's a standard, it's an expectation. A high standard, a high expectation, it's accountability. It's discipline, commitment, toughness, work ethic, pride." Greatness comes from what you consistently do. "It's wantin' to be great versus wantin' to be normal. And normal kind of equals average and average is okay." Average isn't bad - it's just not great. And greatness requires something different. "To be great you gotta have special focus, special commitment, special preparation and discipline, and the ability to say no to some things." It requires you to do be willing to do more. It means competing and bringing a mindset of excellence to everything you do. It starts with being intentional. "Every play has got a life and a history of its own. Play every play like it's nothin' nothin'. Don't be affected by success or failure. Be able to compartmentalize and go to the next play." That's the mindset - focus and execution over excuses. "You get to the end of the game, game's on the line, you're used to practicing that way, playing that way. You're just doin' your thing. That guy is lookin' at the scoreboard and he's tightenin' up a little bit." Anyone can go through the motions. But to be great, you have to practice like it matters.