How Coaches Help Others To Succeed- Secrets I Learned From A Surfer In Maui About Coaching
By: Sandi Krakowski
My sweet 15 year old Bobby has had a dream of surfing since he was a little guy. An avid skateboarder, drummer, snowboarder and all around wild guy, considering his Mommy is a "Professional Dream Maker" we made sure he got more than just his feet wet and got him some private lessons while we were in Maui, Hawaii.
As we set out early that morning, rising at 6:00 am we headed out to what would prove to be a day that was for more than just Bobby.
Arriving at the Goofy Foot Surfing School by 8:00 am we were introduced to Armando, the instructor. Raised in the Bronx and making his way through life as a warrior, he quit school early, made sure his siblings were always safe and provided for. According to his amazing story he shared with us, when they were all taken care of and on their way, he set off to pursue a dream of living in Maui. He was here today teaching us surfing. A man with a kind heart and yet a 'get it done!' attitude that was definitely acquired by not having life handed to him, I was thrilled he was going to be Bobby's coach!
He began his lesson talking about why the water is in control, not you. The water doesn't obey the surfer, the surfer has to learn to drive himself through the water and go for the ride. Because things can be very unpredictable and even dangerous, the surfers job was to keep his butt down, his knees bent and 'go with it!' with all they could.
It didn't take more than 5 minutes until my business mind kicked in and I could relate so much to this coach. As he told Bobby to keep his butt down and knees bent or he could end up with his face in the coral reef, I was reminded of the thousands of times I've told my clients to get their butt UP out of the chair and their knees walking into the marketplace or they too, could end up with their face in the cement of despair and poverty.
Armando continued to give Bobby encouragement and warning, the sign of a real coach. He told us he wasn't trying to hurt Bobby but that he had to make him hate him first to be sure he was safe above all things. I assured Armando that Bobby wasn't served life on a silver spoon, nor babied through his life. Hard work and get your butt moving was the reality of our homeschooling and our life training. I also commented, "Don't worry I am totally aware that you have to tell us all this because far too many parents don't raise their kids anymore, they just give birth to them and let them run without any tools for living." Armando laughed and told Bobby he had some amazing parents!
The surfer instructors shared with me the parents who get mad, no wait, the word was PISSED OFF, when their lazy children smash their face into the reefs and expect someone else to take the blame. Or the lazy parents who get angry because their lazy non-caring approach to parenting isn't working when these kids are called upon to take control of their bodies, their life and get real on the waves!
I encouraged them that they were doing a great job and that in my profession, I have to remind a lot of adults to grow up, step up and go ride the waves of life if they want to get anywhere. I shared with them how some adults who have never been spanked as a child act like a bunch of spoiled brats and blame everyone else in life for why they can't get anywhere with their goals. I also shared the hundreds of thousands of clients we have the honor to serve everyday who are getting past their own crap and riding the waves of life every single day, building a business and going farther than they ever dreamed was possible.
Before Bobby and Armando headed into the water he asked if we would like to say a prayer. I was thrilled! Yeahoo! A coach who isn't politically correct! We prayed over Bobby to be a warrior and to be wild like he was designed by God! To have angels that surf and are protecting him as he goes and above all things, to have a champions spirit and heart in all he did. And off they went!
Bobby went into his first wave and from the rocks on the beach I could literally FEEL the release of warrior come over him. This was something Xbox and living in safe Indiana couldn't teach him. Real life wildness is something we are all designed by God to enjoy and he was doing it! He got up on his board the first time and the rush of success filled his heart and mind!
Over and over again he took those waves…. sometimes falling and other times riding it all the way to the shore. But each time I could see him overcoming his own fear, hesitation and all tendency to hold back. I could also tell after his 2 hour lesson he had discovered muscles he never had before! It was an amazing time!
Words began to pour into my heart with the downloading power of a God that knows me well.
"You were never designed to be safe!"
"You were not created to play small!"
"No one was designed to live without faith and excitement!"
"Diseases, depression and despair will leave quickly if you do something you're afraid of daily!"
WOW… I had tears in my eyes.
The day before I went up 1200 feet and saw the islands from a parasail! It was so true! Playing safe was not what any of us were created for! It took 1200 feet up with no one holding my hand to really see that!
What an amazing day and an amazing trip we had!
Going to Maui was on my dream list! Now it's on my DONE list… and we've even decided to make the dream bigger by going back this fall to purchase a Condo that we can come to and work at a few times per year! Working a month in Maui, two times per year. That was not something I would have ever thought was possible years ago when they told me I might not live another year.
Do you now understand why I say with such passion that NOTHING is impossible? 🙂
My question for you today is quite simple- what is your dream? I want to know about the dream that makes you soar! Not the one that is safe, protected, planned, secured and mapped out…. the one that rises in your heart without any hesitation that God knit into you so you could be all that He designed!
Please share it with me in the comment section below! I can't wait to hear all of your dreams!
Sandi Krakowski is a "Back To Basics Step By Step Business" expert who currently serves more than 100,000 clients in over 136 countries. Her systems help the average business owner as well as big corporations get extra-ordinary results quickly. She has a track record for her 'bringing it into action' processes that company owners find easy to implement with quick results. She has been working online successfully for the last 14 years.
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