"Coaches take teams where they cannot go alone" and "coaches put their teams in the best position to win." Both sound easy.
These remind me of this Kipling poem.
I Keep Six Honest Serving Men
(They taught me all I knew);
Their names are What and Why and When
And How and Where and Who.
I send them over land and sea,
I send them east and west;
But after they have worked for me,
I give them all a rest.
I let them rest from nine till five,
For I am busy then,
As well as breakfast, lunch, and tea,
For they are hungry men.
But different folk have different views;
I know a person small
She keeps ten million serving-men,
Who get no rest at all!
She sends em abroad on her own affairs,
From the second she opens her eyes
One million Hows, Two million Wheres,
And seven million Whys!
Kipling’s poem "Six Honest Serving Men" celebrates curiosity, learning, and the importance of questioning to understand the world. The "honest serving men" Kipling refers to are six fundamental questions: What, Why, When, How, Where, and Who. These questions symbolize the core tools of inquiry, which allow individuals to dissect and comprehend the various aspects of their environment and experiences.
At a deeper level, Kipling presents a framework for intellectual engagement. The poem emphasizes that learning doesn’t happen passively; it is driven by the active pursuit of understanding through questioning. Each question plays a role in helping to unravel different facets of life. “What” refers to the identification of things; “Why” seeks purpose and motive; “When” and “Where” help place events in time and space; “Who” looks for identity; and “How” explains process and methodology. Together, these questions guide an individual in uncovering knowledge and truth.
Kipling also contrasts the insatiable thirst for knowledge in youth with the complacency that can emerge with age or routine. As people grow older, they sometimes stop asking these essential questions, satisfied with what they already know. Kipling gently critiques this stagnation, encouraging a lifelong engagement with curiosity. The poem’s tone is both instructive and empowering, promoting inquiry as a way to live a fuller, more thoughtful life.
Ultimately, "Six Honest Serving Men" reflects Kipling’s belief in the power of curiosity as a driving force for growth and wisdom, urging readers to maintain an inquisitive spirit throughout their lives.
Our tools:
Research shows that using punishments in basketball practice doesn't solve the problem. Instead of coaching through fear, focus on scoring systems that hold players accountable while giving them a chance to work on their mistakes. This approach encourages high standards and… pic.twitter.com/hWstISd4gL
— Transforming Basketball (@transformbball) October 2, 2024
Curiosity helps us become our better selves. Model excellence, lead, communicate, problem solve, prepare, and adapt...all high level skills that make teams and individuals around us better.
Lagniappe. Bob Starkey shares a "copy and print" idea.
Something that @TeamCoachBuzz gave me years ago that I keep by my bed…I believe #TodayMatters and to take full advantage we need to measure the results of the day.#BedtimeAudit pic.twitter.com/sahbBwipld
— Bob Starkey (@CoachBobStarkey) October 3, 2024
Lagniappe 2. Choose one to work on at a time. Praise over criticism is a great place to start.
20 WAYS TO LEAD POSITIVE
— Jon Gordon (@JonGordon11) September 30, 2024
If you want to maximize your influence and build a great team and organization, you need to lead positive. It's what makes great leaders great. In this spirit here are 20 ways you can lead positive, starting today!
1) Build a great culture by living…