LM Aug.2018

Friday, Sept. 28—9:30am CLOSING GENERAL SESSION

Competitive Greatness 24/7: Sue Enquist Excellence Never Blinks

By Mary Schaefer IASA Director of Communications and Marketing Sue Enquist, a former UCLA coach who has achieved more national championship titles (11) than anyone in NCAA Division I softball history, is frequently asked how individuals discover the champion in themselves every day. “It’s really a discipline. The minute your toes hit the floor you must take five seconds to remind yourself you don’t have to be perfect,” said Enquist. “The problem with the love affair of being a champion is everybody is in love with the medal, the trophy, which is the last 10 seconds of the season. Do your best every day and be mindful of the little things, pay attention to the details.” Enquist will share some of the techniques she has learned in coaching champions in her presentation at the closing session of the IASA Annual Conference on September 28th. Her keynote will focus on a renewed road map for personal excellence, including actionable principles to launch your sustained improvement in work, home and play. Throughout her career, Enquist said, she’s noticed a common theme in successful people is they pay attention to the details. It’s a skillset she’s tried to emulate. The daughter of a chemical engineer and World War II veteran and nurse, she articulates her philosophy of life, leadership and competition in three words: Prepare, love and honor.

“I was an ordinary kid. I was not blessed with an amazing physique but was surrounded by people that put a high value in preparation and attention to details, process and discipline,” said Enquist. “The second thing I learned at a very young age is there are going to be things you like to do and those activities you don’t like to do.” She is thankful for the teachers, family and coaches that helped inspire her to be her best. Above all, she coaches the importance of staying committed when everybody is ready to check out and not be part of the game or process. “Being able to love the class, love the game, love the challenge on its hardest day will separate you from everybody else because that is when everybody quits,” she states. “So the idea is really around loving the game, including loving academics unconditionally because average people slow down or quit when it gets hard.” In 2006, Enquist retired after 36 years as a UCLA student, coach and administrator. She has been honored with inductions to six Hall of Fames including the UCLA Hall of Fame, USA Softball Hall of Fame, National Fast Pitch Coaches Association and International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame. She’s extremely proud of the graduation record during her coaching years, which reached a level of 98.5

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