The Game Changing Assist: Six Simple Ways to Choose Success

By Angela Lewis

Angela R. Lewis uses the game of basketball as a metaphor for life in her new book “The Game Changing Assist: Six Simple Ways to Choose Success.” The underlying premise of the book is that success is a choice and this book gives students the tools to make the best decision to help them accomplish their goals. Anchored in two foundational tenets essential to personal growth: giving and gratitude, Lewis offers those choosing to create a custom path of success with a manual that’s part story, part workbook.
With only 3% of high school students receiving an NCAA Division I scholarship and between 2-3% landing Division II and NAIA scholarships, “The Game Changing Assist” seamlessly weaves anecdotes from Lewis’ life as a college and professional athlete with core principles from the game of basketball to help the reader face the harsh statistical realities by empowering them to craft their own options in life. Lewis, sets up the perfect pass by ending each chapter with an activity that provides the reader an opportunity to reflect, self-evaluate and create an action plan.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Angela Lewis
• Release date: Jan 4, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301132713

Book preview

Angela Lewis not only writes these words but it is as if she is speaking directly to you. The game changing assist is just that the perfect assist to help change your life. These are life lessons that not only athletes can you use but anyone to help better their future. -

Jayme Callahan University of Wisconsin, assistant women’s basketball coach

The game changing assist is perfectly designed for any young athlete with ambition to succeed in life. Each chapter takes you on a journey in self-discovery of your abilities and builds your foundation for the development of personal growth through mentorship and selflessness."

Angela Nelp – Mercer University, assistant women’s basketball coach

The Game Changing Assist

Six Simple Ways to Choose Success

Angela R. Lewis

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2012 Angela R. Lewis

This book is also available in print at most online retailers.

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This book is dedicated to my extraordinary parents, Sylvester and Leonia Lewis. Thank you for choosing to love me unconditionally.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Chapter One: Choose Your Voice

Chapter Two: Choose Your Vision

Chapter Three: Choose Your Values

Chapter Four: Choose Your Response to the Valley

Chapter Five: Victory is a Product of Choices

Chapter Six: Choose to Volunteer

Chapter Seven: Conclusion

About the Author

Acknowledgments

This book is truly a labor of love that has been in the works for nearly a decade. For years, I have kept a journal, not knowing how my entries would be used; but hoping that they would have purpose someday. As a college coach, people asked me to speak to students regularly, and the concepts in this book became the topic(s) for my speeches. The entire time I was coaching, I vividly remember waking up in the middle of the night, hearing myself giving motivational speeches. The topic changed regularly as I stood in front of the large audience. Oddly enough, I could not see their faces, did not know the location, but it felt so real. Over the years, this has been happening to me, and I ignored the clear message: inspire the lives of others with the words placed on my heart from God. This is what I am supposed to be doing, and it became painfully clear due to the tragedy of a friend’s death.

Life Changed Forever

Early one brisk fall morning in November 2009, while walking into the Al McGuire Center at Marquette University, I received a call from a friend. She informed me that our mutual friend, Jackie Moore died the previous night from an undetectable heart defect. Jackie was only twenty eight years old and was an assistant women’s basketball coach at Eastern Illinois University. She possessed a beautiful spirit of giving, laughter and love. Her charisma and easy going personality gave her the ability to talk her way into or out of any situation. As a college basketball coach she worked tirelessly to do her job well, even in extremely difficult circumstances. More than anything, she loved the players she coached, and they all loved her as she challenged them, to Go hard. Stunned and in disbelief I reevaluated my priorities and changed my values after attending her memorial service. Her legacy will forever live in my heart as I remember the numerous conversations we had about how to best help young people.

The question How do I want to use my life? kept running through my mind as I tried to heal from my friend’s death. I loved teaching basketball, but I no longer wanted to be in the college coaching profession due to the time commitment. In addition, although I enjoyed teaching basketball, I found myself caring deeply about the players as people, sometimes even more than about the actual game itself. I became profoundly concerned with how they would spend their lives when they left the confines of college athletics. I determined that if the players did not have a framework or process for accomplishing their goals that they could always refer back to, then simply playing basketball would not develop them holistically.

As a result I moved back to St. Louis and began working with a local school district as a support for students who participate in the Voluntary Transfer Student program. I was given the opportunity to work with students, who are like I was, lived in the city of St. Louis, but rode the bus to a suburban district. The conversations and guidance I gave these students was exactly what I wanted to give the young women I coached.

Through deep thought and reflection it is clear that this is the moment I have been waiting for! God has taken me through many amazing experiences, and organizing them in this way allows me to fulfill the purpose to give more assistance to athletes and non-athletes. Consequently, I have reached this point only because of the incredibly supportive people in my life that helped make this book possible.

Thank You

The phenomenal people in my life have sustained me throughout this journey. My family and friends continue to offer the love, encouragement and honesty that allows me to move forward. I am grateful for all of you. It is impossible though to put into words the amount of gratitude I have for the guidance my parents have graciously provided. Their unwavering belief in me, combined with unconditional love is an irreplaceable gift that I cherish.

I would also like to thank my brothers, Rodney and Ron who pushed me to be greater than I ever dreamed I could become. It was incredible growing up in the house with twins who loved me so much. They are mentors, friends and teammates always keeping a sense of humor in any situation. Also,