When it comes to athletics, young people are taught to leave it all on the field, but Coach Joe LaPietra wants the opposite. He sees kids showing so much grit in sports, and he wants them to show up in other parts of their lives with the same determination, confidence, and spirit.
In his incredibly successful Mastery of the Mind (MOTM) courses, Coach “LaLa” doesn’t teach motivation. He teaches skills and lets the motivation come from within. He says, “These kids already have the seeds in their athletics, so we translate that into the rest of life.” The MOTM program focuses on developing human and emotional intelligence by teaching real-life tools and skills.
So, what are these skills? MOTM is an amalgamation of a lifetime of learning for Coach LaLa. Beginning as a quarterback and captain of the football team at Franklin & Marshall College, he continued with a successful career in financial services, where his management style boiled down to “don’t build a business, build a system and let the system build the business.” When he retired, he realized he had more to do, and he developed MOTM to share his experience and know-how with students.
MOTM is a series of modules covering everything from public speaking to personal finance and more. He includes lessons in manners, coping mechanisms, and setting boundaries. His philosophy is simple: LaLa - Learn, Adapt, Lead, Achieve.
The program has been offered in 14 schools to over 1,500 students. MOTM encourages students to “get real,” allowing their shared vulnerability to be a starting place for growth. From the very first module, the students share and learn from one another, realizing that they are not alone in their challenges. The lessons of the program reverberate in success on the playing field. Coach LaLa says he sees “Teams bond and students grow.” MOTM has the full support of the athletic coaches who see the transformative impact, building students into stronger athletes and better people.
The program's true success is measured in the engagement, attendance, and bonding exhibited by the kids. “Those are the best testimonials,” says Coach LaLa. MOTM is a 501(c)(3) organization. Coach LaLa lives in Potomac and is actively seeking new schools to participate in the program in the DC area and beyond. More information can be found at www.motmusa.org.