What is your relationship with feedback? Something that has stuck with me for a while as an educator and coach is that many people, especially kids, have a terrible relationship with feedback. In the US I think a lot of this comes from the fact that grade school doesn’t value feedback it only values results. I find myself asking the question a lot lately, “how can I shift my material in class to incentivize seeking feedback and criticism and remove the weight of the result.” When I’m on the field coaching, I always incentivize risk taking and mistakes because the training ground is a place to learn and failure and feedback are essential for learning. Yet in the more formal educational spaces, and I imagine professional spaces as well, we create a focus around the opposite. It only makes sense then that we would be developing students, athletes and people with a very poor relationship feedback. I wonder how you all feel about this and if you would like to share your relationship with feedback and your views on why you think so many young people avoid it. Take a minute to share your thoughts below and also provide an example of a time when failure was influential in reaching success.

“Winning is a process driven by character” This quote has shaped my coaching career and success more than any other. I’m curious what you all think about this and how you would explain winning to your team or kids.

I have worked with so many trainers of the last two decades and this word comes up the most. You want to be great at something...give it consistent effort, with intensity and focus and eventually you will be incredible. Which makes me wonder, why is this so hard to do...? What do you think?

Most athletes go through their schedule without ever thinking deeply about why they are doing what they are doing. Living with intention means understanding the HOW and the WHY behind everything, not just the WHAT. Here is what that looks like. Typical Question: What are you doing this weekend? Typical Athlete Answer: I have practice tomorrow and then I have a game on Sunday with my club team. That answer is surface level. It tells us what is happening, but nothing about growth, focus, or purpose. Now listen to the difference. Same question: What are you doing this weekend? INTENTION Based Answer: This weekend I am training with purpose. I have practice tomorrow to improve my first touch and stay calm under pressure because I want to control the pace of the game instead of rushing. Then on Sunday I have a game where my focus is to apply what I worked on, communicate more with my teammates, and compete with confidence so I can impact the game and keep getting better. One athlete is just going through the motions. The other is showing up with INTENTION. 🎯 Every session has a purpose. 🎯 Every rep has a reason. 🎯 Every game is a chance to prove growth. No more absent minded training. Show up with intention and watch it pay dividends. Leave a comment below that represents what showing up with intention looks like for you this week. Parents and coaches, this applies to you too 🫵

If you don’t know Brené Brown, you should. Her work on vulnerability, courage and shame is epic. This coaching point has been at the core of my culture based leadership for the past 7 or 8 years. Whether you are an athlete or a parent or a coach it doesn’t matter. Start leaning into this concept and you will see exceptional results. Starting this community, as a former, IRL only Coach was an example of an action of courage over comfort and it has already in just two months changed my life. What action do you need to take this week that will require you to choose courage over comfort?