A couple a days ago I wrote about how failure was a “good” thing in my post, Failure is the Only Option.  A point of clarification … I am not saying you need to lose all of your games to grow!

What I am saying is that if you are a coach preparing your team for a contest:

• If you only practice at what you are good at
• If you only put your athletes in situations where they will be successful
• If you don’t test your athlete’s boundaries physically and mentally
• If you don’t help your athletes get better at what they are not good at

Then your team will probably not improve to its full potential. Don’t be afraid to attempt, fail, re-teach, and try again.

What I am saying is that if you are a player training to be a better athlete:

• If you only do the workout you like
• If you only do the lift you are good at
• If you don’t push past your physical or mental barriers
• If you stop before you go to failure on your heavy day lift

Then you are probably not going to improve to your full potential as an athlete. Don’t be afraid to attempt, fail, get stronger, and try again.

What I am saying is that you are a coach trying to improve your effectiveness:

• If you always fall back on the same teaching and coaching methods you have used, just because they are comfortable
• If you are opposed to trying new technology as part of your coaching method
• If you keep coaching the same way, because “if it aint broke, don’t fix it”
• If you are using the same coaching materials (printed playbook, handouts, whiteboard, PowerPoint presentations) because you “don’t have time to learn any new fangled programs”

Then you are probably not going to improve to your full potential as a coach. Don’t be afraid to attempt, fail, improve, and try again.

What I am saying is that when attempting new things, “failing” is part of the learning process, and it is OK.   Expanding your comfort zone means exactly that.  The more you do those uncomfortable things, whether it is working hard at a lift you are not good at, or trying a new piece of technology, the more comfortable they come.  Eventually they will move from outside your comfort zone, to at the edge of your comfort zone, to firmly entrenched in your comfort zone.

Attempt… and DO… great things… and in the process don’t be afraid to fail greatly!

You Can Do More… your brain is lying to you…. don’t believe it!

Jeff Floyd – youcandomore1@yahoo.com

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