Do you remember the scene in the movie, The Empire Strikes Back, when Luke Skywalker is in the swamp with Yoda? When instructed to use his mind to raise his ship out of the swamp, Luke replies, "All right, Iʼll give it a try." In a disgusted tone, Yoda sighs and says, "No! Try not. Do or do not. There is no try!"

It was Super Bowl weekend, 1971. I was 14 years old. The Miami Dolphins were trying to beat the Dallas Cowboys. I read an interview with Larry Csonka in Sports Illustrated. "We worked all year long to get to the Super Bowl." His teammates used the same word in interviews: GET. Words trigger pictures, bring about emotions, and create expectations. The result? They were crushed 24-3 by a Cowboy team that expected to win it. The next season, the Dolphins went 17-0 and won it all. That is what Larry Csonka told me over dinner one night in Phoenix. We were both speakers at the same event. The concept is "goal setting THROUGH not just TO!" The words we use matter.

Super Bowl Weekend 1972, I invested $45 in a two-day seminar by Bob Moawad. I missed the game. Instead, I learned: how to write out goals on 3 x 5 cards; the importance of good mental management; using the right words to describe what you want; stretching your comfort zones; how to improve your self-image, self-esteem; and the confidence that comes of knowing and believing you deserve good things if you set exciting goals, visualize the outcome, and work both hard and smart in between. Thanks to Bob, I never use the word TRY.

Have you ever said, "Iʼll try and lose weight"? What about, "Iʼll try to come to your party"? How did you do? You see, what we are really saying is, "I intend to fail; I am just letting you and I know in advance." Itʼs an escape clause. John F. Kennedy said, "History is a relentless master. It has no present, only the past rushing into the future. To TRY to hold fast is to be swept aside." Baseball philosopher Yogi Berra said, "Baseball is ninety percent mental and the other half physical." There is great wisdom in his humorous turn.

In 2005, I read with dread as player after player and coach after coach from the Seattle Seahawks used the words "GET to the Super Bowl." Based on those expectations, I wore my Pittsburgh Steelers polo shirt that day. I was chastised, ridiculed, and had strangers come up to me on the street and yell at me. Guess what? Pittsburgh won with a 23-year-old quarterback. The Steelers expected to win. Their language reflected their belief. This morning, I was so happy to read in the paper a safety for the Broncos use the word TRY in describing his expectations. Gratefully, not a single player or coach from Seattle has said that. They are all saying, "One more win!" They expect to win. Sunday, the best defense goes against the best offense. In the past, the best defense won three out of four times. It promises to be a good game. The loser will TRY to win.

Johnny Cash once said, "You build on failure. You use it as a stepping-stone. Close the door on the past. You donʼt TRY to forget the mistakes, but you donʼt dwell on it." The word TRY carries with it, albeit on a subconscious level, doubt, fear, uncertainty, and a decided lack of confidence. The Hawks have plenty of confidence; just ask Richard Sherman. His idol? That would be Muhammad Ali.

Over one hundred years ago, James Allen wrote, "Circumstance does not make the man, it reveals him to himself. Not what he wishes or prays for does a man get, but he justly earns. His wishes and prayers are only gratified and answered when they harmonize with his thoughts and actions. Men are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves; they therefore remain bound." Pay attention to the words you use to describe your future: Conceive, Believe, Achieve. Yoda was right. "Try not. Do or do not. There is no try!" Now letʼs get that ship out of the swamp.