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Some of the members of the Dallas Cowboys recently embarked on transformative mental training in Georgia, as they prepare for the upcoming 2023 NFL season. The event, initiated by quarterback Dak Prescott, was kicked off by a simple statement from a former Army Ranger: “February 11, 2024,” the date of the Super Bowl, per Jori Epstein of Yahoo Sports.
The workshop focused on going beyond just cultivating team culture to harnessing it effectively.
Prescott’s motivation stemmed from the Cowboys' consecutive postseason losses, pushing him to explore every avenue for improvement. He joined forces with O2X, a company co-founded by former Navy SEALs Adam La Reau and Paul McCullough, specializing in enhancing physical and mental performance. The five-session curriculum incorporated tactics from special operations units, addressing nutrition, sleep, conditioning, resilience, and stress management.
The Cowboys delved into the minutiae of decision-making under pressure, engaging in concentration games with heart-rate monitoring. They learned to reset mentally through breathing exercises and mindfulness techniques. The goal was to refine precision during critical moments, akin to the heartbreak they experienced in the 2021 playoffs due to timing errors.
Despite the team's success under head coach Mike McCarthy, breaking their Super Bowl drought of more than 27 years hinges on elite decision-making. Players now employ grounding mechanisms and communication strategies to ensure peak performance. Beyond the X's and O's, they've embraced vulnerability, sharing personal stories and motivations.
Dak Prescott encapsulated the workshop's ethos, saying, “I don't wanna just be culture, culture and how to build a better culture because we're good on that — It’s more about how to use your culture. It doesn’t mean anything if guys aren’t telling us what they’re sacrificing or what they’re trying to get better at, and if other guys aren’t holding them to that.”
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CeeDee Lamb feels amazing after Lake Oconee experience
The Cowboys launch their journey to the Super Bowl on Sunday Night Football against the New York Giants, determined to translate these lessons into championship success. As they strive to be 1% better in every aspect of their game, the echoes of their Lake Oconee experience resonate with the date they aim to reach – “February 11, 2024.”
“That s** was amazing,”* said wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. “The best feeling ever. Definitely, we hope and we’re gonna continue to work until we get there. February 11 can’t come soon enough.”
In the quest for the Lombardi Trophy, the Cowboys have learned that building culture is not enough; it's about effectively using that culture to achieve greatness.
