‘Demand excellence in your life’ — J. Robinson

“Demand excellence in your life,” said J. Robinson, former University of Minnesota Wrestling Coach, director of a huge network of wrestling camps and motivational speaker.

He was in Minneota last week to talk with athletes, students and faculty. In between, he snuck in a little motivational speech for members of the SMSU Mustangs wrestling team.

Among them was Minneota wrestler Cole Hennen. He told the group, “You can control the future. You are unique. There are 300 million people and not one other one like you.”

He challenged the SMSU wrestlers by saying, “If you don’t know where you are going, it’s very hard to get there.”

The former Gopher coach told the wrestlers, “If you fall down over and over again, the key is, will you get back up.”

He added, “Decide what you want to do and go in that direction.”

Robinson told the SMSU wrestlers he’d be watching to see how they do this year.

The former national champion said he’s had about 30 knee operations and recently had an operation on his neck. But he’s still traveling the circuit, giving everyone his brand of how to attain excellence in your life. “You’ve been given this day to use as you will. You can control your future,” he said.

Robinson said, “You’ll be amazed how happy you’ll be if you find your purpose. Life is about choices, knowing what to do. People who know exactly what to do will do it.”

Robinson came to Minneota upon the request of his friend, Minneota wrestling coach Joel Skillings. Skillings has worked with Robinson at wrestling camps around the country and will continue in the future.

“I didn’t last year — but that was a personal choice,” he said. Now, he’s brought Robinson to Minneota to help motivate students and fans.

“If you don’t know who you want to be — how can you expect to be that person,” Robinson said.

Life is a matter of “perspective,” said Robinson. “It’s important how we look at the situation in order to work together,” was the kind of message that fit the SMSU wrestling team.

“How you look at it is how you find what you’re looking for,” he said.

According to Robinson, “Choice is the second greatest gift God gave us. Choice is a great thing.”

It doesn’t matter if your teaching, playing sports or just living life, “Nothing is more important than your mental attitude,” said Robinson.

He told the audience, “You were put here for a purpose.”

As for making the most of what you have, he said it was about, “Skill development.”

The coach who has developed hundreds of great athletes said, “You get to choose. But you have to give up something to be good.”

While the whole world is still ahead of each person, “You get no second chances. And it’s your obligation to help other people,” Robinson said.

He said some people think they can put on a good show in public, but, he said, “It’s who you are when no one is watching,” that matters.

He said he was, “Here to help people be better,” and that’s the attitude everyone should have.

“The key isn’t knowledge, it’s action.” Robinson wasn’t shy about handing out the key to all this excellence.

“Hard work,” he said.

“Effort is compounded, over and over. Decide what you want to do, and go in that direction,” he said.