Functional Path Training

Eric Hoffer – The True Believer

If you want insights and a deeper understanding of what is happening today this is a must read. It was first published in 1952. I first read it for a class in college in the mid 1960’s. He is one of my intellectual heroes. As a college student I devoured everything he wrote. Eric Hoffer, the author resists classification. He had no formal education beyond early elementary school. He was migrant worker for many years and then a longshoreman in San Francisco. He was self-educated, having spent all his free time in public libraries reading history and philosophy.

True Believer delves into the characteristics of mass movements. The characteristics of the ideologues who led the movements. Even though it was written almost seventy years ago, it could have been written today looking at the vents in our world. He saw Trump and Putin coming. If you are interested in learning ,more abbot Hoffer there is a timeless documentary called A Savage Heart featuring Eric Severeid on CBS interviewing Hoffer.

Thoughts from Morning Walks & Long Bike Rides

So often it is not about time, it about timing. Know why to do what you do and then find the right time.

“Generation that plants the tree is NOT the generation that gets the shade.”

Talent identification is hard! No formulas or algorithms. It takes enormous about of footwork and careful observation and analysis. Developing the talent to its full potential is even harder.

At each higher level of sport everything happens faster.

Forget barriers, they are just bumps in the road. Instead think about conquering new frontiers. Explore, push the envelope.

In the sprint stride – forget frontside and backside. Those are artificial constructs that take away from the whole action.

Don’t think less of yourself, think of yourself less.

Why are injuries in sport continuing to trend up when more attention than ever is devoted to injury prevention?

Pay attention to what you are paying attention to.

Are you doing you job or just doing what you have to do to keep your job?

Thoughts on End of Season Review/Debrief

Whether you are a national governing body reviewing your  performance at the Olympic games or a high school coach just ending your season and preparing for next year. Here are few thoughts that may help you begin an effective performance review/debrief. First of all, if you did well don’t be fooled by success and be complacent. Use the success as a springboard. If your last year was great or a disappointment – the approach should be the same. You need to ask hard incisive questions that get to the why. These questions should lead to specific actions. Often the tendency is to start with the answers and fit the questions to those answers. That is a sure road to mediocrity.

Too often the focus is on what and who, but this is the time to channel your inner Simon Sinek and dig deep for the whys. Catalog what you did well and why. What will change? Are you changing just to change or are there specific reasons? Once you have completed this process then act now. Great teams and organizations have a sense of urgency. Get er done now!

Tokyo Olympics in the Rear View Mirror

Well, the 2021 Olympics are in the books. It was an Olympics like no other. Great performances, disappointing performances, surprising performances, great upsets, in short just about everything you want to see in an athletic contest. But something was missing for me, and it wasn’t spectators. The magic, the passion that has been ignited in me by the Olympics just wasn’t there. I think the added year dragging it out was part of the malaise that I felt. I had skin in the game, our swimmer from the Sarasota Sharks won a silver medal, an outstanding accomplishment in one of the toughest events in swimming. The extra year was to her benefit, but for many others it was too much mentally and physically.

I do think we need to rethink the Olympic games. For sure to downsize it would be a good place to start. Now we are looking at three years preparation rather than four. This presents interesting challenges. Over the next months I will be posting more on lessons learned from the games. Questions that have been raised. We can’t let this unique learning opportunity pass.