Coaching Champions. . . Just Add Courage, Love and Discipline

Posted by: Jim Petzel 5 years, 10 months ago

(2 comments)

During the Olympics we have the great advantage of seeing the final product. It ends with amazing performances - ones that defy history and even our paradigm of what is humanly possible. What we can't see are the years of preparation, the overcoming of fears, and perfecting of performances that will be compressed into one opportunity that will last only minutes or even seconds in competition.

The hard work (whether in sports or in any walk of life) takes place in unassuming location with a coach or parent that believes in the athlete's potential long before the athlete does. From what I have witnessed this coaching requires three key elements to exist in abundance:

1. Courage - We all have fears that need to be squelched to reach our maximum potential. The competition can turn into a giant in our mind, the self doubt can dominate us and the fear of pain, failure or rejection can paralyze us. It usually requires someone else to calmly tell us, "You can do this."
2. Love - While not expressed in business very often, love is a secret weapon in coaching anyone in any area. The apostle John said, "perfect love casts out fear." If we know our coach is behind us, is for us and cares deeply about us, we are far more likely to heed their words and let go of that frozen board holding us in safety and go barreling down a shoot that is going to send us shooting into the air. Since we were not created to fly we instinctively don't want to let go, but nothing eliminates fear faster and more completely than love. Equally important to note is that the absence of love will perpetuate fear!
3. Discipline - No one is awarded an olympic gold medal in the neighborhood ice rink, local ski resort or weight room but these are the places that build the habits, the strength and the speed necessary to win later. Most of this activity is highly monotonous and the progress is sometimes difficult to see. This potentially leaves the athlete in a place that allows for that doubt to creep back in again sending the entire process in a loop back to the beginning. Fear needs to be addressed over and over again. Its only through an on going cyclical, repetitive process that momentum is built, skill is enhanced and the impossible is accomplished!

Courage, Love, Discipline. . . Repeat. . . Repeat. . . Repeat

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