Over the past several weeks I have seen several articles and interviews of performance directors at various training centers commenting on training. Not one of them was over thirty. I do not think you have to be an old man or women to direct a program or to be an expert, but experience does matter. I was a young turk once who knew everything and was not afraid to tell anyone who would listen and some who would not listen what I knew. I was sure I knew everything. I am convinced now that taking that stance was a real impairment to my learning – how can you learn when you know everything? There is a real value to knowing what don’t know. Sometimes it is more important than knowing what you do know. In today’s face paced world of instant results and quick fixes it is easy to get caught up hype and promotion. Everyday as I coach I see and do things now that I learned through experience. No book or class or class to prepare you for the reality of day to day coaching. All of you who are younger in your careers seek out mentors who have been this for awhile and have achieved. I know how helpful Joe Vigil has been to me and continues to this day. Hang out with people that challenge you and make you better. One thing Joe Vigil said to me was to be was to gain experiences, not have the same experience over and over. Learn from failure, we all fail; those who ultimately are successful are those who learn from their failures and do not repeat them.
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