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This is another gem from Brian Cain that deals with three basic principles that coaches can incorporate into every single action. From coaching technique, to programming, to hiring interns, principles can always be referenced. These three principles may sound cliche on the surface, but when you get past that, they really can be applicable.
Live in the Present
"Today is the most important day of your life, because it is the only day you can control," says Cain. Dwelling on yesterday or daydreaming about tomorrow deals with feelings and not function. Action can only be taken today.
As a strength coach, it is necessary to evaluate training cycles and analyze testing data. Planning for future weight room renovations or the addition of a new staff member are also examples of things that coaches need to spend time on. Spending time in quadrant two is always a struggle.
But the the most important thing is action. Taking action to prevent repeatable mistakes or to improve on past testing protocols is much different than spending time wondering what was good or bad. We all know that things are always good and bad, never good or bad. Planning and taking action to improve the culture of the weight room or streamlining prehabilitation circuits for next season is still making today count.
Don't count the days–make the days count.
Focus on the Process
Process over outcome–that is it in a nutshell. Coaches need to worry less about the results and concentrate on the little things that will improve those results.
The lifters that are always set up for failure are the 300-pound bench pressers that want to bench 500 pounds. Disregard that the goals are either too vague (I want to get stronger) or their goals are unattainable (I want to add 200 pounds to my bench in three months). The real issue is that they are focused on the final number.
Lifters want to add 200 pounds to their bench but don't want to do any of the extra workouts, mobility work, eat right, etc.
"I want to be all-conference" is a result. Try not missing a workout, not drinking, eating right for a month, and then see if you have any improvements. Focus on the day-to-day tasks that will all add up to make a significant difference.
As a coach, try little things like writing a hand-written letter every day to one of the coaches you look up to. Try going through every single workout sheet to identify any inconsistencies. Try reading one research article everyday. See if all of these things don't add up to make you a better coach.
Control what you can control.
Stay Positive
I understand every time you hear someone say, "stay positive," you want to punch them in the face. I'd like to ask them after jacking them in the face, "still feeling positive, mother f**ker?"
Seriously, being around negative people can be draining. Do your best not to hire, work with, or work for negative people. They will drain you. I will admit, I threaten my computer weekly and make people in the office nervous, but the general outlook has been much improved.
I realized recently that I control my attitude. I am not ones to talk about feelings, but I still control them.
I will not allow someone else to dictate my attitude.
There is one person that dislikes everyone of my YouTube videos–even the ones my daughter is in. There are people that have negative comments about elitefts™. How about the shit-stain that complained on our Facebook page that he didn’t get his shoes? He posted negative comments on a Saturday night when his shoes were delivered Saturday afternoon (ahead of schedule). They were sitting on his mom’s porch (she had to buy them for him). This dude went crazy about how bad of a company we are and I was enraged.
But Then I Realized…
Why am I so mad and why is this piss-ant controlling me? I started to feel bad for him. His mom bought him some lifting shoes and no-one ever pay attention to this kid. This young man just wanted someone to acknowledge him as a lifter. You see a bunch of people that post like this all the time.
Same thing for the people (like me) that post YouTube videos or take selfies. If I don’t want people to dislike my videos, then I should stop posting. If you don’t want people commenting or liking your pictures, then don’t post them. Isn’t that why people post pictures of themselves anyway? To get “likes?”
Be the coach or lifter that other people want to be around. Be the person that makes everyone around you better. Stay as positive as you can all the time. You control your attitude–not the people on social media.