I picked up a copy of How Tiger Does It by Brad Kearns at my local library. I thought (correctly) that there would be some information about coaching...since "even Tiger Woods" uses a coach...and he's the best there is.
Here's a short snippet from the book...this should get you thinking. Who do you have to hold you accountable? Who's in your corner being "not NICE"? (NICE, in my biz, stands for Nothing Inside me Cares Enough). Who's helping you be your best...even better than you think you can be?
Page 112...from the author's point of view:
It's still not easy to be honest with yourself or notice your shortcomings when you are completely wrapped up in your endeavors. In the final stages of my (Brad Kearns) nine-year professional triathlon career, I suffered a steady decline in results. Though it was clearly time to step away, I found it difficult to face and deal with that reality after nine years of total focus on swim, bike, and run. My friend Peter Coulson, husband and coach of the greatest female triathlete in history, Australian Michelle Jones, was instrumental in my facing and accepting the reality that I was not able to compete at a top level anymore, nor was I even truly interested in doing so. While I was doing the song and dance...Coulson would phone me and unload in his brusque Aussie accent. "Kearns, you suck. Fourth place sucks. Look who beat you; those guys suck. I remember when you could get off the bike and run away from everyone...Now look at you. You should f---ing retire, Kearns." The caustic style was just what I needed to penetrate through the facade of eternal optimism and unbreakable self-confidence that athletes must manufacture to compete at the elite level. Even a victory would be met by Coulson with, "Oh yeah, who was second? He sucks, he's a nobody. Third? Never heard of him. You beat no one. That was a nothing race--a cherry pick. It's time to retire."
And also from Page 112...the part I really dig as a business coach:
Do you have someone looking over your shoulder, telling it like it is? Or are you surrounded by a bunch of sycophants, politically correct safe distance-keeping coworkers and super dilettante friends, who see your blind spots and know the truth, but for whatever reason (social customs, don't care enough, noses too upturned, or fear of repercussion), don't bother opening up to you? This is especially relevant the higher up the competitive ladder you climb. Even--or especially--if you are a CEO or world champion, you have to seek out unfiltered critical feedback, hone your listening skills, and be open to self-reflection and adaptation.
The author goes on to draw Tiger Woods' experience and success into this discussion. To read that, buy (or borrow) the book.
The point, however, is clear. If you want to succeed, you can do better with the right person in your corner. Think about your business...who's pushing you harder than yourself? Who is looking at your business with an outside set of eyes? Who is caring enough to tell you like it is?
That's my role as your coach...and it's a role I take very seriously. It doesn't matter if we're meeting in person, over the phone or in a video chat. If you want help doing even better--whatever level you're at--give me a call or send me an email.
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