Monday, June 13, 2022

Invest in Yourself "Just One Thing"

I lack many basketball answers, but write to share and to inform the search. Invest in yourself. Author David Mamet advises, "Every day, do 'just one thing' for your craft and one for your business."  

Craft blends leadership, organization, strategy, teaching, game management, media relations and more. Imagine a few options for each:

Leadership: 

  • Reading, Legacy, by James Kerr “Humility does not mean weakness, but its opposite. Leaders with mana understand the strength of humility. It allows them to connect with their deepest values and the wider world.”
  • Course, MasterClass, Presidential Leadership, Doris Kearns Goodwin examines Lincoln, the Roosevelts, and LBJ in depth. 

Organization: 

Strategy:
  • Reading, Basketball: Multiple Offense and Defense, Dean Smith (The book I'd take if stranded on a desert island with basketball...)
  • Course, MasterClass, Sara Blakely Teaches Self-Made Entrepreneurship ("Make it, sell it, build brand awareness.")
Teaching: 
  • Teach Like a Champion Example: "Technique Three: Stretch It. This technique pushes a teacher to take correct answers and ask students to add depth or nuance to their answers."
  • Reading, Basketball Methods, Pete Newell ("Get more and better shots than our opponents.")
Game Management: Is there a great answer? Great coaches win with great players first. Nobody wins big without talent. "Good judgment comes from experience; experience comes from poor judgment." 

Media Relations: 
  • Course, MasterClass, Chris Voss, The Art of Negotiation
  • Reading, Influence, Robert Cialdini
  • Study, former Pistons head coach Chuck Daly
What about enhancing our business? 
  • Craft overlaps our business interests. 
  • Network. Consider sharing an email or message with a colleague at least a few days a week. 
  • "Build brand awareness." Say 'yes' to opportunities to share. 
Lagniappe. Great video analysis from Chris Oliver. Watch video daily. 

    Lagniappe 2. Imagine we're asked to give a ten-minute presentation at a coaching seminar. What subject would we choose? What topic might they ask us to present? How would we add value for other coaches?