Tuning Up with Former Minnesota Vikings Lineman
Alan Ali’s Playbook: Confidence, Competition, Travis Scott, and Koe Wetzel
Tune-Up Tuesday is an extension of The Monday Morning Coach, helping all of us to stay motivated past the Monday morning motivational and into Tuesday when the reality of persistence is more difficult to carry out than the concept itself. The objective is to interview and profile artists, athletes, former athletes, and coaches to offer varying perspectives on how music influences the way we compete, workout, and stay motivated when it’s sometimes difficult.
There’s much more than meets the eye regarding our next Tune Up Tuesday guest. I learned of this early on during his first year in high school when I coached our freshman football team.
His name is Alan (Uh-Lawn) Ali. He was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas, is a proud Kurdish-American, and had (has?) a killer jump shot (even though I couldn’t get him to play on my freshman basketball team, but for a good reason).
Eventually, he would become a five-year starter on the offensive line for SMU and TCU Football. He was also one of the 1.6% of football players skilled enough to sign with and play in the NFL. Ali signed with the Minnesota Vikings after college. Now that he is retired from football, he is currently a Talent Advisor for Insure National in Dallas, Texas.
Below, Alan shares the music that fuels him, his outlook on competition, and how competitiveness has helped him in his post-football career. Enjoy!
The Monday Morning Coach: Okay, this is how I like to start these Tune-Up Tuesday Q&A’s. Apple Music or Spotify?
Alan Ali: Apple Music
TMMC: What’s currently playing on your streaming service?
AA: I like all genres of music depending on what I’m doing. But, the main artists I listen to are: Turnpike Troubadours, Koe Wetzel, Travis Scott, Don Toliver, Morgan Wallen, and Tyler Childers.
TMMC: What’s a genre of music the people you know might be surprised you’re into?
AA: Hip-Hop/Rap
TMMC: Playlists or albums? And why?
AA: Albums. And Rodeo by Travis Scott is my all time favorite album. You can hear a story being told throughout the album, and it’s some of the best production I’ve heard.
TMMC: When preparing for a big meeting or event, what’s your go-to song, playlist, album, or genre? And why?
AA: I usually go with rap before doing anything that I need to feel confident for. I think hip-hop/rap is the one genre of music that promotes confidence in the lyrics.
TMMC: How has your taste in music evolved over the years, and what does that say about your personal growth?
AA: I used to only listen to rap in high school, but I now enjoy country and classical music. I think it’s important to have a balance of music that matches the mood you would like to be in. You can’t be hype all the time. Sometimes you need something to relax you, or help you focus on small tasks.
The habits I have everyday will determine if I reach my full potential. —Alan Ali
TMMC: Do you prefer listening to music solo or sharing it with friends? Why?
AA: Solo because each of my favorite songs have special meanings to me, and I understand that people won’t connect with those songs in the same way I do.
TMMC: What’s an album or song, or who’s an artist, that’s helped you get through a difficult stretch of a season (of life, work, or a sport’s season)?
AA: Koe Wetzel. He has some very relatable music that brings up some sad things in life, but he also has songs that encouraged me and gave me confidence to keep going.
TMMC: If you could collaborate with any musician, living or dead, who would it be and why?
AA: Travis Scott. I think he has one of the best musical/artistic minds of my generation.
TMMC: Okay let’s talk about competition: How did the definition of competition change for you transitioning from high school to college? College to the pros?
AA: High school for me was pure love of the game and just having fun out there. When I got to college I realized that it would take a different level of commitment to excel. You weren’t playing just for the fun of it anymore, to me winning was the only way to have fun at the collegiate level. So I did everything in my power to win as much as possible, and it was the most rewarding/addicting feeling ever. When I got to the NFL I realized it was a job and it’s about either performing and getting the job done or you’re out. I loved all levels of football though. I think as I moved to each level I became more obsessed with winning and it was an addicting feeling.
TMMC: How has competition help shape your mindset for what you do today?
AA: It has made me go above and beyond in my career now. Everything I do, I go all in on. Even though I have just started my professional working career I have already found early success due to the habits I created while playing football.
TMMC: What and/or who motivates you?
AA: Being the best version of myself motivates me. I want to reach my full potential as a human being. So the habits I have everyday will determine if I reach my full potential. Staying disciplined and trusting the process is the only way to success.
TMMC: Can you describe a time/game when you were really nervous and music helped you dial in on your objective? And if applicable, what did you listen to?
AA: Before every game I listened to the same playlist and had the same last song before I’d put my phone away to run out of the tunnel. The song was “90210” by Travis Scott.
TMMC: If you had to create a soundtrack to help inspire or motivate someone who doesn’t believe in themselves today, which 3 songs would you absolutely include?
AA: “90210” - Travis Scott(the 2nd half of the song). “The Rut” - Turnpike Troubadours. “Better Without You”- Koe Wetzel
TMMC: Lastly, how do you “tune-up” your Tuesdays when work, life, or workouts feel monotonous or difficult?
AA: By just doing what you told yourself you were going to do. Keeping promises to yourself builds the most confidence in a person. For a man to acquire a particular skill, he must constantly act in a particular way. Therefore success is not an act but a habit.
TMMC: Ali, thanks for your time and sharing your life experiences and music tastes with us. I’m so happy to see the man you’ve grown to become and are becoming.