Character Coach Lesson #1: Introduction to 5 Pillars to Live By (Edit)

Introduce myself

Character coaching

Tony Bennett’s 5 pillars of success

Quote from Focus on the Family:

“If my life is just about winning championships—if it’s just about being the best—then I’m running the wrong race,” he once said. “That’s empty. But if it’s about trying to be excellent and do things the right way, to honor the university that’s hired you, the athletic director you work for and the young men you’re coaching—always in the process trying to bring glory to God—then that’s the right thing.”

Coaching Philosophy

Being a good teammate

Pillar 1: Humility

Know who you are- and know who you’re not.

In other words, don’t think less of yourself, but think of yourself less.

Conceit is a cancer.

Humility leads to team collaboration/teamwork- the cornerstone of good team chemistry

The humble athlete:

Cultivates trust

Encourages ideas

Helps others

More open to own development

Empathetic, willing to work at change

Coachable & approachable

The prideful athlete -

Initially impressive & self-confident

become disparaging/critical, take credit, impulsive, defensive, & hog opportunities

Peak early

Unwilling to take responsibility

Pillar 2: Passionate

Do not be lukewarm

Have a plan and a purpose

If you’re gong to try to do something, throw your whole self into it.

Convincing your team, as a leader, that reaching a higher goal is worth the all-in fervent investment with everyone contributing

Know/understand your team…& pushing them past their comfort zone

Individual attitudes propelled by collective voice (common goal)

Pillar 3: Unity

Do not divide our house

Division only weakens

Stick and work together

Communicate, come together, and work through conflict

Team roles defined differently and evolve in time with each member a partner in the process

Pillar 4: Servant-hood

Make teammates better

You should always be thinking about how you can help the other person

Must first feel comfortable aligning our role with that of the coach, then we can support our teammates with peer feedback & coaching

By serving teammates, helps build commitment to team goals

Pillar 5: Thankfulness

Learn from each circumstance

Do you have an attitude of gratitude? If not, why?

No one achieves their full potential by themselves

Show gratitude by giving back

2 Types of Programs

Winning justifies everything

Group of individuals playing for themeselves

No positive leadership (drinking, our late, school attendance)

Coaches have a double-standard on how they treat each player

All performance-based with no practice expectations

Coach never addresses anything in life but winning or losing

Not sustainable; players unhappy

Overall Player Development

Physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual

All have equal worth regardless of age/skill

All respect authority: coaches, umpires, teachers, parents

All expected & willing to work & wait: diligence and discipline

All put family ahead of self (humility)

Achieve sustainable success: players happy

3 Results of Living by the 5 Pillars:

Results in long-term success in recruiting & winning

Results in graduating players who are successful pro athletes, husbands, and fathers

Results in a program that is sutainable, above repoach that former athletes speak about in glowing terms (recruits itself)

Next week: Humility

END