The Law of Attraction + H.E.A.R.T = SUCCESS

To be successful, there are truly only two things a person needs to accomplish their goal(s); an understanding of the Law of Attraction and H.E.A.R.T, and how to implement both at the same time.

The Law of Attraction is placing a goal in your mind and not letting anything get between you and your goal.

H.E.A.R.T is defined as Having Enough Attitude Resilience &Toughness.

For a better understanding of this relationship and how it can lead you to success, check out our latest podcast; and listen to one of our real life stories about how the Law of Attraction and having H.E.A.R.T led to accomplishment of a long term goal.

CLICK HERE for the link to the H.E.A.R.T Athletics LLC, Podcast 0003 


#PlayWithHEART

12MAR16 1939

12MAR16 1939

I've been a bit busy these past couple of days and didn't allocate my time properly so I missed a few blog days. My bad. I'm still a work in progress. But here's an update on today (which was a really cool day).

I stayed up late Friday night reading the Bible. I know, wild and crazy night right? Lol. So I didn't get to sleep until 4 am, which led to me "sleeping in." I woke up and started to sort through all the sublimation printer information I received from the NBM conference. My goal is to produce all the hoodies and our other products here in the states so we can decrease our lead time, create jobs and get our products to our customers faster.

I'm prepping for my radio interview with Kennie Long from the Texas Youth Football Association. TYFA is the league that is on the show Friday Night Tykes. My nephew, John Harris (the irony, right? lol) who works as my Sales Manager put me in contact with him. We sent emails back and forth and we spoke on the phone Friday about H.E.A.R.T Athletics and the Helmet Hoody. He suggested I come onto the radio show and speak at length about our products, myself and the company. Needless to say, I stoked. The interview will be Monday, March 14th at 8 PM Central time. You can click here for the link ----> TYFA Radio Interview

I uploaded a video promoting the show time and will continue to do so until it airs. I'm not really a "look at me" guy anymore but I have to be when promoting the business because I want you to look at the business. Damned if you do, damned if you don't...

Other than that, I've just been sitting back and thanking God for bringing me this far. I don't have any issues at all with self-confidence, but starting something from scratch is kind of nerve wracking and at times there is some doubt that creeps in. *Every time I here the word creep I think of TLC. Weird...* Whenever that happens, I have to force myself to think positively because what you plant in your mind, your mind will return. So, just remember to plant only positive thoughts in your mind. And I'll do the same.

John Harris
CEO - H.E.A.R.T Athletics LLC

"You are, what you eat" Swag

So it's here. The "You are, what you eat" swag.

Linganore High School Design

The design is simple enough. The concept is that "you are what you eat". As an athlete, the most important meal of the day is breakfast. Your day should always start with it, and to be the best, you have to eat the best to be at your best...

This is why we have designed the shirt specifically for teams and players who have won any sort of battle. Whether it's a Pop Warner, Conference, County, Regional, State or National Championship. It doesn't matter. A championship is a championship. And you deserve the right to display it (humbly, of course).

If you are, truly, what you eat, then champions eat what they're made of. Everything you eat is used and broken down by your body. The attributes and composition which you are made of, enabled you to win. THESE are the key ingredients which produced your victory. Why wouldn't you want to replenish them every morning?

Winning is everything or the only thing. The will to WANT to win is. Learning from defeat is as well. Doing the right thing over and over until it becomes habit is what enables you to fight through adversity and to become a Champion. And every champion eats breakfast.

John Harris
www.hearthelmethoody.com

The H.E.A.R.T Helmet Hoody

The fully customized H.E.A.R.T Athletics Helmet Hoody is here!  This is just a few iPhone pics my Wife took of me wearing the Bishop Manogue (Reno, NV) Helmet Hoody. Here is a link to see a 360 degree view http://youtu.be/HcvhbNi2QuE. 

Been there...Done that...

The team I help coach is stuck in a 7 game losing streak...Does it suck? Short answer, yes.  Have I been here before?  Short answer, yes.

My Sophomore year in High School, I was good enough to start on Varsity.  I played both ways, and we were not the best team in South Jersey.

In fact, we went 1-8.  The only team we beat was worse than us, but we beat them.  It was a 14-7 score too.

I remember it because I NEVER felt so happy I. My life to get a win...EVER.  But for some reason, there was a side to me that felt for Haddon TWP. because I KNEW how bad they were.

The funny thing is, even with that "win", I knew we deserved more.  We were better than out record indicated.  We practiced hard and needed to stay the course.

I knew deep down in my soul that there were better times ahead.  I didn't know when and exactly if they would ever appear, but I KNEW they would...

Guess what?  They did.

Moral of the story.  Work hard, have faith in yourself and your teammates, and good things will possibly happen.

What the mind perceives, it believes.  That is all...carryon.  

Who do you believe in...?

We're told by most coaches that, sports are metaphors for life.  Every lesson you learn in sports can be translated into the adult world. 

I believe this to be true, but my issue is why then are parents encouraging their kids to aspire to be someone else?

When we see someone imitating another individual, our comments tend to be anything less than reassuring. 

If this is the case, why would you encourage your kids to look up to someone else when they can be taught at an early age (and its a great life lesson) that eventually, at some point, they will only have themselves to lean on.

Any sport I played, I KNEW that my favorite player wasn't able to help me...at all!  In all honesty my favorite player could have been a dirtbag.

Stop enabling your athlete and start building them up to be self reliant and efficient...

Seriously, think about that.

H.E.A.R.T Athletics Helmet Hoody

The H.E.A.R.T Athletics Helmet Hoody is finally here. Here are a few facts about it.

1. There is NOTHING like it

2. You can support your team and not feel awkward by still wearing your Letterman Jacket

3. Letterman jackets are corny

4. You look like you're wearing an actual helmet

5. It'll keep your face warm

6. 15% of EVERY sale is donated to YOUR team.

Your Greatest Opponent

Who is your greatest opponent? Honestly there are probably dozens of answers. Maybe even hundreds if you add in haters.  But in reality, you truly only have ONE opponent...

Your greatest opponent is and will always be yourself.  No matter how skilled or trained an opponent is, THEY can NEVER make you quit.  Ever.  Only you can green light that decision.

Dell Bates III, Nevada Dream Cornerback

This is what prompted H.E.A.R.T Athletics to design this shirt.  It's of one of my defensive backs (Dell Bates III, seen above).  It shows him playing himself.  Although in a game he can't play against himself physically, he can beat himself MENTALLY.  

You have to win the mental battle before you can ever hope to win the physical one.  I hope you guys enjoy the design.

I'm proud of my guys

This weekend (4MAY13) the Nevada Dream traveled over 4 hours in 3 vans to play the first place Pacifica Islanders.

We (the Dream) didn't have a full roster due to some players not practicing (so they don't play), we went to battle with the ballers we did have.

Well, in the first quarter we gave up 21 points which is extremely uncharacteristic of us, we didn't give up.

We went into the half down by 28. But my guys could have cared less (about the score that is).

Our Offense and Defense came out in the second half with a lit fire (we should have come OUT like this, but that's on us Coaches). This passion they played with allowed us to shutout the Islanders and win the second half 7-0.

But...a game is composed of 2 halves, not 1. While I'm proud of my guys for playing their HEARTS out the entire game, we have to play OUR game for the entire 60 minutes.

Moral of this story:
1. Play your game for the entire game
2. Never quit

Nike to Rapist: Here's more $

Let me ask you a few questions, and answer them honestly.

Would you like an "alleged" rapist dating your daughter?

Would you like your impressionable son to look up to the same person just because he played football?

When there is smoke, is there usually fire?

Would you trust this same person with your sister?

Well Nike believes (or had made you to) that he's an "alright" guy. No...he isn't. He's actually a turd. And nobody keeps him or Nike accountable for his actions.

Don't let ANY company force feed a turd down you throat just because he wins games.

Winning is awesome, but when the game is over all you have left is you...and your character.

Scientist have found the gates of Hell...

Apparently, this link will take you to the article ---> http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2302755/Gate-Hell-Turkey-Hierapolis-temple-doorway-matches-mythical-portal-underworld.html



I can't help but call BS on this. I've been through the gates of hell and came out smelling like roses.

Actually, many of us have been through those gates and it looked NOTHING like the article's picture...

It actually looks like this

How much do you need...?

What is H.E.A.R.T? I define it as Having Enough Attitude Resilience & Toughness. Seems pretty straight forward. But the most important part of this definition is the "Enough" part.

What's enough for me may not be enough for you and vice versa. We all need to evaluate ourselves correctly and realize just what is enough for us.

Don't worry about anyone else, worry about you. Get through your day, game, practice, work schedule, homework, etc.

Be the best you can be. You do this by continuously moving forward and playing with H.E.A.R.T!

Giving Up



You know, when it comes to just about anything, you're always going to have to compete.

It doesn't matter if its school grades, athletics, at your job, in the gym, etc. Whether you choose to believe it or not, YOU ARE COMPETING.

After watching the Saints/Eagles game last night. I had this sickening feeling in my gut. Anyone with one functional eyeball could see that the Philadelphia Eagles gave up...

They not only gave up, but they completely quit. This is a terrible message to send to kids who look up to them, their fans, Coach and the City of Philadelphia.

This is why I believe it's important to teach kids (at a very young age) the importance of H.E.A.R.T.

Times are going to get rough, sometimes they might down right suck, but if you give up, it will NEVER...EVER get better. You have to dig deep, look inside yourself, put your big boy/girl pants and get to work.

The showed absolutely NO H.E.A.R.T and definitely forgot their big boy pants in Philly.

Seriously...Who does this...?

Every beginning to Football Season, I can't help but think of my little mans Nick Gavin.  Seriously, I can't.  I mean, I'm a football dude, I am.  But this little guy (he's not little anymore, but to me he will always be my little dude) is the epitome of the "football spirit".  Let me take you on a trip to memory lane...

 

I first met Nick when he was 4, maybe 5.  And if you ever met him, you know he isn't the biggest kid in the world (neither am I though...).  So I go to Tim Gavin's house when I first move to Maryland, because he invited me over and I had NO friends in the area.  I had no idea what was in store.  Made no reservations, I just went to see what was what.

 

So I get to Timmy's crib, his Mom's and Pop's where mad cool (to this day, I feel like they're MY Mom's and Pop's) and his little brother (Nick) was CRAZY cool.

 

We kick it for a minute, and Nick tells me that one day he wants to play football.  Well, anybody who knows me, knows that football is the way in with me (or just about any sport).  So I tell him that I play and that we can run through some drills, so he can see what it feels like to be a REAL football player.

 

I teach Nick the basics of "tackling".  So before we know it, we're basically running two man Oklahoma drills with the two of us.  I don't know where my head is at (this is LITERALLY the FIRST time I'm at Timmy's house) but when when Nick comes to tackle me (I'm on my knees 'running' at him in the drill) I "juked him". This, being a Tail Back, was a natural reaction.

 

What I want you to do is look at the picture below.  This is an estimate of the fireplace that the Gavin's have at their home.  This is the fireplace that will be the focal point of this story....

 

So, Nick Gavin comes to "tackle" me.  I "juke" him.  As a 4 year old kid, he' coming FULL STEAM...He misses (if you see the fireplace above, you can imagine the rest of the story...).  His nugget hits into one of the fireplace bricks...'Till this DAY, I still feel bad...Nick rams his nugget into the fireplace (I STILL can't believe it!).  Seriously, after 2 maybe 3 minutes, he has a nugget the size of a basketball chillen on his forehead.

Me being the "new kid" in the neighborhood and it's my first time in Timmy's house, I'm thinking....,"fuuuuuuuuuccccccckkkkkkkkk".  Seriously, I am.  But, there is something in this kid's eyes that tell me something else.  Don't get me wrong, he's crying because he just took a header into a fricken fireplace. But he has this look like, "I'm gonna tackle your black ass before you go home"...Seriously...that's what I saw.

After about 3-5 minutes of "babying", Nick Gavin put on his "big boy Lancer Pants" and wanted to go again!  This 4 year old had a Watermelon chillen on his forehead and he STILL wanted to tackle ME!

At this point, I KNEW this kid was special.  I knew NOTHING would stop him, even though life would through him many, many curve balls because of his height and size.  Although he may have paused, this kid had NEVER stopped.  His heart and determination are what set him apart from his classmates.

The only 2 dudes I love younger than me, more than anything else are Booshi Bear and Nick Gavin.  I want nothing but the best for BOTH of them.  Nothing....

Off-Season

Every shirt that is created by H.E.A.R.T Athletics LLC is either rooted in our beliefs, or tailored to a specific athletes liking.  Other companies (no name, no blame) just tend to make cookie cutter crap because of their logo.  *Blogger Note*  I think my business logo trumps theirs...but that's me...

When we created the "Off-Season" shirt (available in Men's, Women's and Youth...), the purpose was to inform those who "believe" in this time of year, that this time of year actually does not exist.  If it actually did exist, Saint Nick would be enjoying it from December 26 to December 24...Exactly.

Any competitive athlete knows (or SHOULD) know that training should be year 'round.  Where the problem lies is that most athletes want to get by on mere talent alone...yeah, that doesn't really work past the High School level.  But the fact remains that it shouldn't exist on that level at all.

The Off-Season is a myth.  It does not exist.  If you want to get better, be better, play better...you have to put in work.  There is no time for days off.  If you want to take days off, don't play.  Don't waste yours or your teammates' time.  Some people actually WANT to win.

So the next time you think the "Off-Season" actually exists.  Go to NIKE's website and order one of the atrocities...

Lazy but Talented...

If you look at this shirt...I mean REALLY look at this shirt, it should piss you off.  It does for me.  I look at this shirt and it makes me sick to my stomach.

There are several reasons why this shirt bothers me, and I'm going to try and explain...

1. "Lazy but Talented"...what is the moral behind this phrase?  What/where is the motivation?  You're talented, ok, there are a ton of people with talent.  But you have the audacity to tell me that you're lazy as well?  Stupid...plain stupid.

2. I WAS the lazy but talented kid.  I look back at the talent that I wasted not working as hard as I should have been.  My college career was cut short because I was too lazy to go to class.  I look at this shirt and NIKE wants kids to think that it's cool to half-ass things...?  Stupid...

3. While you think it's cool to coast and not work hard, there is some kid out there (with probably less talent than you and a much bigger H.E.A.R.T) working his/her ass off to make you look like the lazy bastard you were all off-season.

4. This shirt was made for a professional football player.  What a great item to make for the youth to want to wear and emulate.  Do you really want your kid looking up to a Pro who endorses this type of sentiment?  Is this what you want your kid to strive for?

5. This shirt should now piss you off.

It's not where you start, it's where you finish...

Before I start this blog post...I want you to take a look at this helmet.  Are you good?  You see it?  Good...This helmet represents more to a few than most, but those who recognize it realize that it represents a ton of #HEART.

I realize that I may be coming off as a "homer" because I wore it, but the fact of the matter is, it represents alot more to me than most (although every fan of this helmet feels the same).  This helmet represents hard work, dedication and preparation.

This helmet has won Chips (Championships) in 3, count'm, THREE different DECADES.  The 80's, 90's and the 00's (and thanks to Urbana it won a few less, but hey, who's counting...).  The point is, that anything less than #1 is not accepted.

In 1995, the Linganore football team won 9 out of 10 regular season games.  The ONE game it lost, it lost by ONE point (I know, a loss is a loss, but we HAVE to put that loss in perspective).  Out of the 8 teams that made the 2A Playoffs, Linganore was the 7 seed...SEVEN!

That didn't matter to this team.  It knew that regardless of how it started or how people "viewed" it, it had to produce in crunch time to produce results.  Without a home game in the Playoffs, it won every single game.  Resulting in ANOTHER Championship.

Linganore went on the road to play 2 other teams (one which they had already beaten) on their way to a State Title.

I say that, to say this...It doesn't matter where you start, it matters where you finish.  The end product is only as good as the amount of hard work you put in.  This team went through it's ups and downs and came up smelling the roses.

Times get hard, but you have to be HARDER...The bumps and bruises you receive in life should give you the determination to keep striving for your goals 100%.  If you stay down every time you get knocked down, you'll NEVER achieve your goals.

So set your goals, go hard and follow you #HEART!

3 Life Lessons I Learned Playing Football

In my life I've been fortunate to have plenty of teachers who left me with knowledge that I previously did not have.  Some have been family members, some friends, teammates and PLENTY of haters.  But the one teacher that left a definite imprint has been sports.  Without a doubt, Football has reinforced most of the lessons that may have fallen to the wayside that the aforementioned may have tried to hammer home.  So...since my head is so thick, it only made sense that constantly knocking it against others while trying to win a "meaningless" game would only clarity those lessons while giving them relevance.  Here are 3 of the lessons that I learnt.

1. There is ALWAYS someone bigger, badder and tougher than you....ALWAYS.

My Pops used to tell me this...constantly.  When I moved to MD from NJ, I most definitely kept my Lawnside swagger.  He would tell me to tone it done, but I wasn't having it.  This was when I was 15, 16 years old, let's fast forward to when I was a Sophomore in college.  The last college game I played in I had to cover a DIII All-American.  I talked shit all week, but my best friend Tim Gavin knew what time it was (he knew I was nervous because I talked in my sleep).  Well, long story short, I got beat for about 7 catches, 120 yards and 1 TD.
Lesson Learned: Keep your mouth shut, or someone will shut it for you.

2. Don't look for someone to save you.  If you do, you'll be waiting a REALLY long time.

I started playing football when I was in 3rd grade.  I rode the bench until I got to High School (and believe me, it sucked).  I knew I was good but never really got a shot to play.  When I went to High School I said to myself, "there is NO WAY I'm riding the bench ever again".  I decided that a concussion was a better way of going out than sitting for another 4 years.  I watched Pro's and collegiate players, studied how they played and changed my strategy.  My offensive model was Eric Bieniemy and defensive one was Eric Allen, with a splash of Dick "Night Train" Lane. Ever since my Freshman year of High and ALL through college, I started every game (yes, even as a walk-on Freshman at a Division 1-AA college).
Lesson Learned: If you want it bad enough, grab your sack, pull down your skirt and take it.

3. Tough times don't last, tough people do.

My first year of playing Varsity Football (Sophomore Year) my team was really young and inexperienced.  We went 1-8 and barely won that one game 14-7 (against another bad team, Haddon TWP).  But I loved football and didn't care if we lost EVERY game, I just wanted to compete and play.  Some guys quit during the season and some quit on the team even though they continued to play.  All that mattered to me was going out and gettin' it in (that's slang for "doing work").  Shit is going to get shoveled on you in life, just as in sports and you have to decide right then and there if you're a going to eat it or use that manure to plant something for next year.  I was fortunate enough to plant that manure and it grew into a State Champion at Linganore High School.  I never forgot how bad the taste of losing felt and vowed to NEVER taste it again.
Lesson Learned: Even a blind squirrel can find a nut (you keep trying and something good will happen).

Well, these are just a few of my lessons that I learned that were cemented through sports that I try to express through my company H.E.A.R.T Athletics.  I hope you guys enjoyed this post and feel free to share it with your friends and family members.

John H. Harris II

H.E.A.R.T Series, Part Three: Andre Coard

I've known Andre' Coard ever since I moved to Lawnside NJ, in 1987 (yeah, 1987).  And to this day, Andre has to be one of the toughest people I've EVER met.  Plain and simple, Dre' doesn't get punked and he doesn't give up.  Andre is one of those guys who if he says he's going to do something, it's either going to happen, or he's going to make it happen.

When we first started playing Pop Warner football together, Dre' was so tough and fearless that his nick name was Herschel...as in Herschel Walker.  He ran tough, he played tough and he would hit anything in another jersey that moved on two feet.  As a youngster, this is not the norm, but there also really aren't any huge players at this age either (that are good).

The biggest thing with Dre' though is that he never lost this passion or H.E.A.R.T when he got older.  By the time we went to High School (Haddon Heights), we (BOTH Dre and I) were not what you would call the "biggest" cornerbacks you've ever seen.  In fact, we were quite small, but frankly we didn't give a sh!t.  Our motto was, "Water covers 2/3's of the Earth...WE cover the rest".  And on top of that, we LOVED to hit.  Opposing ball carriers may not have felt our hits, but they knew we were there, and we were going to be there ALL DAY LONG.

Dre's H.E.A.R.T sticks out in my mind in one game in particular.  As Sophomore's, we started Varsity against Sterling High School.  Sterling at this time had a Tailback at 220 lbs and a Fullback at 250 named Joe Miller.  We watched tape and the coaches would continuously remind me and Dre that we should tackle low so we don't get injured.  Before the game, Dre tells me, "F that...if either one of them comes my way I'm going head to head and we're going to see what's really good".

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for getting hyped up before a game...but Dre' REALLY meant what he was saying!  The very first play of the game was a dive to Joe Miller.  He and Dre met head to head on the sideline and long story short...Joe won...that battle.   Dre NEVER gave up.  At 140 lbs, Dre took on a 250 lbs Senior Fullback head to head.  He just would not give up or even think that that was a possibility.  That first play of that game had a huge impact on me that I never told Dre' about.  I saw him get in the mix and it made me want to not only get in on it too, but to NEVER fair catch a punt...ever.

Andre' Coard was and still to this day is one of the toughest dudes I ever met or had the opportunity of knowing that played his H.E.A.R.T out.  Dre', you inspired me then, and you continue to do so now.  You probably didn't know this, but you do now, and it's meant alot to me and helped me to get to where I am today.  I wish you the best in everything you do, and I'll see you at the top man!

Never Go Down Without a Fight

I was taking a break this morning from work and I came across this little gem on the internet.  I love plays like this because it's part skill, part luck and part determination.  It would have been easy for the QB to take the sack, but even as he was going down he KNEW where his receiver would be.  Now don't get me wrong, throwing in this situation is wrong...absolutely wrong and usually winds up being intercepted.  But it worked, because of practice and determination.  Sometimes you have to go against the grain to achieve your goals. 

John H. Harris II
Owner/CEO
H.E.A.R.T Athletics LLC