Coach Tip Tuesday: You Wouldn't Have Believed Me

Back on Eastern Daylight Savings Time, I’m back again for Coach Tip Tuesday!!

This week, I want to share something that I recently asked my Team MPI coached athletes to do for themselves.  I asked them to reflect on their 2018 season, determine what they are most proud of, and to look forward to the future and think about what short-term and long-range goals that they would like to reach for.

Why did I ask them to do this??  Over the last few years, I personally have been forced into self-evaluation and self-reflection.  While this was forced upon me by a variety of circumstances that popped up in my life, it ended up being something I was ultimately grateful for.  Reflecting on what went well in my life, what could have gone better, and where I’d like to go help me develop a focused trajectory that ultimately led me to a place of peace, fulfillment, and success.  A success that I defined on my own terms, not anyone else’s.  A place of peace that was hard-won after several years of turmoil and stress.  And a fulfillment that came not only from my own actions, but the support of those who I am fortunate enough to call my family and friends.  I want all of this and more for the athletes who I work for.

My job as a coach is to help the athletes who I am working for see how worthy and strong they are.  It is also my job to evaluate their training as an “unbiased” third party to help them make solid choices that continue to lead them down the path that will ultimately get them to their goals.  Over the years, I’ve found that athletes get so caught up in the day-to-day that they lose sight of the progress that I can so clearly see that they’ve made.  Asking the athletes who I work for to take time to write down these reflections for themselves is one way I’m striving to do the best job I can for them - to help them see what I see - that they are strong, capable, and have much to be proud of.

My gal Glinda nailed it in my all-time favorite film “The Wizard of Oz:”

Glinda: “You've always had the power. [...]”
Dorothy: “I have?”
Scarecrow: “Then why didn't you tell her before?”
Glinda: “She wouldn't have believed me. She had to learn it for herself.”

If I had told each of the athletes who I work for earlier this year that they would do things that they never thought possible, that they would reach goals that they thought might be too lofty, that they would do things that would surprise themselves, they would not have believed me.  All athletes do need to learn this for themselves.  And the funny part is, all athletes DO learn this themselves.  But, in my experience, most athletes don’t even realize that they *have* learned this.  Requesting an end-of-season reflection is one surefire way to draw attention to this, and to have athletes be honest with themselves in a very powerful and positive way.

So my friends, this week I encourage YOU to do an end-of-season reflection.  What are you most proud of??  What enabled you to be successful??  What could you have done better??  What are YOUR long-range goals??  Dream BIG.  You all have always had the power.  Now go learn it for yourselves. :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFuxpphnN0k