Success Spotlight with Greg Hayes

Success Spotlight with Greg Hayes: Coach, Mentor, and Teacher
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Greg Hayes is truly one of  a kind. He has accomplished so much in his life while always having the desire to help those around him. He has impacted thousands of people and made each one of their lives better. Greg is a teacher and coach at Valencia High School, the Assistant Coach for the Master’s College Men’s Basketball Team and a Basketball Camp Director at the City of Santa Clarita.

How do you define success?
“Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming.” – John Wooden. The more I live, the more I understand it applies to every aspect of my life.
But I also think, ultimately, the key to success is to “love the Lord thy God with your whole heart, and with your whole soul, and with your whole mind, and with your whole strength; Love your neighbor as yourself.” I will never achieve this, but it is a daily challenge to strive to live up to it.
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What are your dreams?
When I was a little kid, I wanted to be a major league baseball player. That didn’t happen. But I’ve had ‘dreams’ come true that I never dreamed. I coached basketball at UCLA, I’ve acted, traveled the world coaching basketball, am in the process of writing and publishing a book, and had other blessed experiences that I never envisioned. I’ve learned that we should never stop dreaming and that we don’t always choose our dreams, but often times, they come to us.

What have you done and what do you plan on doing to achieve your goals?
I’m learning the key is to focus on today and the present moment, and that little things add up to big things. It’s important to strive to be healthy physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, and to be grateful and prayerful moment by moment. It is also important to think about others.

What is your biggest failure and how have you grown from it?
My biggest failures have been times of pride, which leads to defensiveness, pushing people away, a closed mind, and a critical and unloving spirit. Ultimately, that pride leads to a fall. Hopefully, I’ve learned to listen, be more open, have a softer heart, not take myself so seriously, and be more grateful and loving. One of the things I’ve learned to do is keep a gratitude journal where I write down the five things I’m most thankful for at the end of each day.

What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
Three things stand out:

• When I would ask my dad for advice on what to do, he would say, “It is your life and you’re going to have to live with the consequences of your decisions.” At first, I didn’t understand why he wouldn’t give me specific advice. Eventually, I came to understand the wisdom of the advice. It gave me freedom and courage to make my own decisions and also knew I would have his support with whatever I did.
• What do my students/players learn about me while I deal with whatever
• Instead of doing things ‘because that’s the way things have always been done,’ find the best way.

You can connect with Greg Hayes here:
Greg Hayes Basketball Shooting DVD Facebook
Greg Hayes Youth Basketball Camps Facebook

Jake Kelfer is a bestselling author, high energy inspirational speaker and career elevation coach. He aims to inspire people on their journey to personal success and happiness. His first book, Elevate Beyond, provides a framework for gaining an advantage in school, work and life. You can connect with him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn. ​​​