HoopClinics

by Coach Ken Sartini

I was reading an article from Reader’s Digest regarding Life-Changing Advice.  Some of the points they made were:

These were made by three different people.
“Ask yourself, what are my strengths, my passions and where do they meet?”
“When others say your goal is too risky, rise above the negativity.”
“Consider your key skills and how they’re transferable to a new job.”

When I talked to my players and  students about careers and where they were going with their lives I tried to point out several things.  I used myself as an example of course.

We talked about the fact that they might change careers 6 – 8 times in their lifetime… (this was back several years so that number might be higher now)  Years ago people got into a career and stuck with it… even if they didn’t like it.  Loyalty was big then,  now, you don’t see as much of that in the world.  Employers and employees both think about #1 and #1 alone.  Right or wrong, that’s just the way it is.

I explained that you need to have a goal, find something that you love to do and then use that towards a career.  IF you do that, you will never work a day in your life.  It took me a long time to find myself and get into teaching and coaching as my life long career.  (It cost me a lot of money in retirement but just maybe that helped to form who I am)

I told them that they need to write their goals down on paper, otherwise its just a wish list.  I also explained that it was important to have a Plan B.  Things don’t always work out the way we plan them for whatever reason.

I always told my students to have a dream, something to strive for.  One student told me what he wanted to do.  ( His dream/goal was unrealistic – his academic abilities would not allow him to be successful there ) I tried to explain that his goal was not realistic.. and of course he pointed out to me that I had always told them to have a dream and then strive to achieve it.  I then reminded him of having a Plan B…. everyone needs to have a Plan B.  I gave him the example of a professional athlete who had achieved his goals to make it to the Pro ranks.. and in the first month he blows his knee out completely and his Pro career is over.  He needs something to fall back on…. the Plan B.

I wanted my students and players to be successful in whatever endeavor they chose to work towards.  I also told them that they might achieve their dream only to find out that it was NOT what they thought it was going to be.  Plan B again.  Have a dream, work towards it but be prepared to shift gears somewhere along the line if things don’t work out.

Isn’t that what we do as coaches all the time?

Basketball Coaching