“Find a way or make a way”
This is a mantra for high-agency human beings.
It applies on the ice and off the ice.
This idea of high-agency encompasses:
antifragility
extreme ownership
discipline over default
leaving things in a better place than you found them
On the Ice
Improve the conditions of the puck by any means necessary. This is the mindset of high-agency hockey players on the ice. Find a way to improve the puck or make a way yourself.
Take ownership of your responsibility to care for the puck when you have it and support it when a teammate does.
This is accomplished on ice on and off the puck:
On Puck
Finding the immediate right solution or extending the play and making your own solution
Playing to full possession whenever possible (tape to tape)
Playing to 75:25 area races (tape to space where a teammate can be first)
Building space before or upon the first touch to allow for cutbacks and other play extending moves
Manipulate, do not be manipulated mindset
Off Puck
Finding the right space, right time, right speed, right lane to support your teammate
Setting a passing lane by presenting your stick on the ice
Communicating specifically on where your teammate can send the puck (especially if his back is turned)
Find a way or make a way off the ice
High agency players become high agency people:
take responsibility for their own development and progression
understand no coach is coming to save you
Coaches aren’t telling Tom Brady to watch the film for multiple hours a day, train specifically for his body, recover even harder than he trains, and eat food that optimizes his energy and performance. He’s taking the initiative to control what he can. Ownership of everything he can control.
That’s high agency behavior. Internal locus of control.
You might get denied access to a level of hockey, find a way, or make a way to where you want to be in 5 years.
One year at a level you weren’t hoping for won’t ruin your career unless you tell yourself it will.
How can you develop one aspect of high-agency today?
Additional Resources:
Check out this thread by George MacGill.
This video by me:
And this Ryan Holiday article: