LESSONS

 Some of the best advice I have ever been given...

"Assumption is the mother of all fuck ups." 

- Coach Bob Knight

I had the privilege of spending 5 days with Coach Knight and his staff at Texas Tech in 2006.  I was fortunate enough to travel to Lubbock, Texas with Head CoachDan Vanhooren and Wayne Thomas, who I was learning from as a member of the Calgary Dinos coaching staff.

I made sure to write down this quote and circle it as soon as I heard it.  It grounds me and focuses my attention on listening, and fine tuning my communication skills so that everyone understands what I am talking about.  

While what I want may make sense in my head, it doesn't always to those in your conversation!  Never assume.

"If you want to dance, you have to pay the band." 

- David Fucile

My assistant coach in high school, and long time teacher and guidance counselor used to say this on a daily basis at practice.  He would always say it shrugging, or in jest while he would try to grab your arm or get the team going for practice.  It was his way of showing he cared.  It was his way to remind everyone that if we wanted to accomplish our goals as a team, we had to put in the work!

"Learn as much as you can! Steal as much as you can!" 

- Coach Fabian McKenzie

Before I was lucky enough to be employed by CBU, and work alongside Fabe, he told me this as a young coach trying to get my feet wet into the profession.  It has stuck with me everyday as I try to become a better coach.  

You never can know enough.  You can always learn.  Your way is never the only way or the best way.  There is always something more or something new that can help you.

And by stealing he meant you don't have to reinvent the wheel.  While it is great to create new schemes and be fancy and creative, some great coaches have come before me.  Modeling systems after them, and mastering them can go a long way in preparing yourself and your team for success.

"Come on man!  At least wash your face and brush your teeth!" 

- David Philip

As a freshman at CBU, I came to Sydney for 2 weeks in July prior to starting school.  It was a chance to assimilate myself to the school, and to my teammates.  We would coach camps during the day, scrimmage at night, and we even went out on the town a few times.

While I have never drank, I remember staying out late one night after a workout and scrimmage.  I was exhausted and had a hard time pulling myself out of bed the next morning.  I remember getting to the gym just in time for the beginning of camps, and sitting against the bleachers waiting for the campers to arrive.  I could barely keep my eyes open.

As a Senior, Dave walked by and told me to pull myself together.  To brush my teeth and wash my face.  I must have looked and smelled horrible.

I loved Dave as a teammate.  He pushed me to be a better player.  He was never the epitome of a student-athlete, but you can learn something from everyone.  Before I leave the house to meet people, this is the minimum that I do everyday.

"As long as you don't worry me, I trust you." 

- Cheryl Skinn (Bourdeau)

My mom had a unique way of discipline when I was growing up.  She was very strict until I made it to high school in grade 9, and after that she let me make my own decisions.  She did have a very unique way of making me feel like I disappointed her if I did misbehave.  

"Mom, can I miss school today?  I am not feeling well." 

"Sure! No problem.  As long as you know that you can't go to basketball practice later, and you feel like you can stay on top of your school work, and hand in all of your assignments on time, and make sure you get all of the work done around the house that I need completed before the end of the day, I have no problem with you staying home."

"Ok. School it is!"

But the biggest lesson was not letting her worry.  As long as she knew where I was, she was content.  I could bike with my friends from 8am-8pm.  I could stay out late (to a degree), or I could go over to a friends house, as long as I communicated.  The times that I didn't, which were few, she would wait up for me and scold me, and take away my privileges.  

Communication is key.  Especially to your loved ones!

"Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up" 

- Thomas Edison

The San Antonio Spurs use the term, "Pound the Rock", which is the example of a rock carver who may need 1000 hits before it breaks just right for them.  Persistence.  Attitude.  Consistency.  This quote embodies all of those things for me.

Plus I am incredibly stubborn.  

"If you chase two rabbits, both will escape." 

- Anonymous

This is one of my all-time favorites that I like to use as a quote of the day at practice.  And while multi-tasking has become very normal for most people, that overlooks the point.  Especially if you are chasing, and not planning your next steps!

The completion of tasks is important.  Whether that be the habit of making your bed every morning, or getting a workout program finished to its completion, prove to yourself that you can do it.  It will mean more as you move on to the next.

"At the end of the day, there is always an empty parking lot." 

I coined this for myself a few years ago.  It was after a big win at home with the CAPERS.  Either against our rival, or to clinch a playoff spot.  I spent about an hour in the office afterwards watching game film, and writing out some notes about what our next steps would be as a team.

The gym was packed that night.  This was pre-pandemic.  The crowd was on their feet during parts of the game, and showed great admiration for the hard work that the team put forward.  I remember getting a few congratulations after as well from co-workers and fans.  It was a great feeling.

But as I walked outside to go home, I realized my car was the only one left in the parking lot.  This brought me back to some other memories of great wins, and walking outside afterwards, after the jubilation had worn down, and realizing how few people were actually around.

It made me realize that at the end of the day, very few people are actually there for you, and actually support what you are doing.  What matters is what motivates you internally, to push you to wherever you want to go.  As John Calipari says, Coach YOUR team.  No one, but yourself, really knows what goes into what you do, in whatever you do, on a daily basis.

Trust your work.  Push yourself.  Make yourself content.  That way when the parking lot is full, people can see the fruits of your labor.

A quoting inspirationalist.  Another way to define a Daring Optimist

Make sure to SUBSCRIBE at the top of the blog.

And remember, the feedback is what I look forward to more than anything.  I am just an email or a message away!

MS