Professionals find ways to MOVE THE NEEDLE. We can smash the glass and reset the gauge to full, but that doesn't make it so.
What separates an amateur from a professional approach? Steve Kerr (eight rings) focuses on the trio of mindset, mentors, and culture. Don't sleep on the mental toughness of Kerr, whose father was murdered by terrorists. Kerr worked in broadcasting after his playing career, and developed a dossier of technical and tactical insights that he brought into coaching.
Consider Kevin Durant, who awakens and asks himself, "how do I get better today?" Professionals seek continuous improvement, a learning mindset. Author Stephen King writes, "amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work."
Professionals relish coaching and recognize that coaching is not criticism. Surgeon and author Atul Gawande hired an experienced surgeon to oversee his surgery and comment on his process. "Surgical mastery is about familiarity and judgment." Basketball mastery is about vision, decision, and execution. Becoming better at anything shared publicly demands growing a thicker skin while transforming coaching into excellence.
Of violin instructor Dorothy DeLay, Gawande writes, "DeLay also taught them to try new and difficult things, to perform without fear. She expanded their sense of possibility." Professionals seek to extend what's possible.
In his epic book, On Writing, Stephen King shares that his wife is his best critic. Writing and competition mean overcoming failure. "By the time I was fourteen the nail in my wall would no longer support the weight of the rejection slips impaled upon it. I replaced the nail with a spike and went on writing." Keep going.
In Legacy, James Kerr explains the success of the legendary All-Blacks rugby squad. They understand humility. "Sweep the sheds." They appreciate character. "Better people make better All-Blacks." They prepare. "Train to win." They build their legacy. "Plant trees you'll never see."
During Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine training, we learned the "Bruce Jenner protocol." Jenner was an Olympic gold decathlete. What mattered?" To win gold, you need the right diet, rest, proper training (exercise/practice), supplements (medication), and motivation, an overarching purpose. Professionals do whatever it takes.
In his MasterClass, writer David Mamet shares that he has a phrase engraved on any new wristwatch, "what hinders you?" What's keeping you from success?
Farnam Street shares their ideas about professionalism. Key words include commitment, competence, consistency, probabilities, and reality.
Lagniappe:
From CoachPintar.com a screen the screener play, mini-loop
Happy Fathers' Day to all the dads out there. Being a father takes little talent; becoming a day is a skill.