I came to Emily with the notion that there was something bigger out there I wanted to be doing, but I wasnt sure how to get there. For people who arent sure what they could get out of working with a career coach, Moyer explained it to me perfectly.

The women who choose to work with career coaches are ready to make a major shift into purposeful, meaningful work, she said. Theyre ready to stop following others expectations. Theyre sick of feeling undervalued and underpaid. Theyre feeling called to forge their own path instead of doing whats safe. Or they just want to feel inspired and excited, rather than miserable and demotivated. Balanced, instead of harried and spread too thin.

All of that resonated with me, in particular the part about wanting to feel inspired and excited. Sure, I knew that I could churn out copy on any given topic, but what I really wanted was to be using my writing toward something that felt more fulfilling. Moyer told me that it is possible.

We began our video chat session with a moment of meditation followed by an oracle card reading. (Moyer is located in Chicago and Im in New Jersey but no matter, she had such an easy way about her that it seemed like we were in the same room.) Moyers approach to career coaching is holistic, incorporating Western organizational strategy and Eastern philosophy and ancient wisdom not your typical approach to career counseling, but I decided to be open-minded and give it a try.

As we both closed our eyes, it quickly became apparent that this brief meditation was an effective tool to clear the space for us to focus on the time we had together. In a world where we are constantly available and responding to beeps, rings and bells, it felt great to ensure that this time we had set aside for a specific purpose was sacred.

Emily told me that she would select a card for me but that there would be no bad cards to worry about. My card was Freedom and she read me the description and we used it as a jumping off point to get into the root of why I was seeking career help.

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The ice breaker worked, and I found myself opening up to Emily, telling her about the bigger dreams I had for my writing: to publish a book and write movies. I wanted to do more of the style of writing that was actually in my own voice.

After listening attentively, Emily gave me the encouraging news that I was already way ahead of the game in that I knew what my passion was. She was right. I knew plenty of people who had the vague notion that they wanted to be doing something great, they just werent sure what it was. For me, I know that when Im writing I feel most like myself. Call it a passion or a calling, but when Im in the zone and the writing is flowing, I know its what Im meant to be doing.

The second thing Emily told me I had going for me was that I understood that focusing on advancement in my career would actually have a positive effect on all the other aspects of my life. I know that for a lot of women, especially mothers, the idea of focusing on work can feel almost selfish. But I already knew that by being fulfilled in my work, it would just make me an even happier, more productive mom, wife and friend.

Moyer said that while women now have so many options when it comes to career and lifestyle, often the availability of options can feel overwhelming.

Many of us are trying to do it all, weighed down by having too much on our plate, she said. Others are just unsure what choices are right for us, out of the myriad options. Additionally, we tend to take on an extraordinary amount of additional emotional responsibility for other people in our lives. Any of this can lead a person to feel stuck, confused or lost.

Still, Moyer said that stuck is really not such a bad place to be.

It means youre in a position to make a change; to decide that you want a different life experience," she said. "Feeling these things means you're able to acknowledge that its time for purpose and meaning to be prioritized.

Moyer asked me if there were things in my life I set aside dedicated time for, and I said yes. Ever since becoming a mom, Ive prioritized my workouts, not just because they help me be fit but because I need them for reasons that have nothing to do with how I look, like keeping stress at bay and feeling energized. Moyer pointed out that I was already accustomed to setting aside time for something thats important to me, so could I do that with my writing? She made the distinction that we were talking about creative writing, the stuff I want to write. She encouraged me to schedule an hour a day for what she called soul writing.

The idea of that felt simultaneously luxurious and anxiety-provoking. On the one hand, I loved to write but thinking about the outcome of my work often made it feel like a chore or something to avoid.

Moyer explained to me the yogic concept of "aparigraha" which translates to non-attachment. Do the work for works sake, she told me. Because it is your gift. Because it is why you are here. Because you must. Release the outcome. Release the attachment of what will come from your writing time. Write to write.

By the end of the session I surprised myself by tearing up how had I let the thing that made me feel most like myself, creative writing, become something I dreaded doing? Moyer sagely smiled at me: It wasnt like she had outlined a new life trajectory for me, instead she had helped me change my own mindset about my work. It was something that on the surface seemed so simple, but the shift had eluded me until working with her.

Since working with Moyer, I feel a renewed energy for writing and real excitement about the possibilities. Im the one in the drivers seat, deciding which opportunities to devote my time and attention to and which ones to decline. I know that anything is possible if I put in the work.

If youre considering working with a career coach, take the time to make sure the person you choose to work with is a good fit. Most coaches will offer a getting to know you call so you can see if youre on the same wavelength. Unlike therapy, career coaches usually work with clients over a shorter period of time, and though some emotional stuff may come up, the work is more goal-oriented than explorative.

Its time to work with a career coach if you are ready to both invest in and do the inner work your career coach will challenge you to do, said Moyer. Working with a career coach usually requires you to face some tough stuff and you need to make sure youre in a place in your life where youre ready to do that.

Although it wasnt easy to confront the old patterns and beliefs that were holding me back, in the end I was so glad that I did. Now, instead of ending the week wondering what Ive done, I wake up each morning ready to rock n roll and do the things I love the most. Next up: penning that screenplay.

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I was feeling uninspired at work until a career coach gave me this one tip - NBC News

John believes that the growing disconnect between parents and children can be easily fixed (Pic: John Pradeep JL)

Most of us may have crossed paths with people who completely regret the career path they have chosen, lamenting that they did not get to pursue their passion and cribbing the rest of their days away. They dont say, If you love what you do, youll never work a day in your life for nothing and making this message loud and clear to parents is Chennai-basedJohnPradeepJL, who is Indias first theatre-based life coach for children and parents. It took 15 years forJohnto figure out what he really wanted to do in life and now, he does not want others to wait long for that realisation to dawn upon them. He believes that every child is good at something and that their skills need to be developed around their area of choice through proper guidance.

We can understand that children need guidance, especially if they have to figure out their area of interest with respect to choosing a course that would steer them towards their career goals, but why include parents? Parents are an essential part of childrens lives and if I coach children and send them home to their parents who may not be on the same page with them, then all my training and guidance goes to waste. This is why I hold sessions to benefit both the child and their parents. One is not mutually exclusive of the other, saysJohn,who tells us that he has designed an array of programmes that includes theatre training, personal coaching and theatre performances to help children grow up to be responsible and well-rounded individuals through theatre that takes lessons from varied experiences and struggles that he went through in life from being sexually abused as a child to figuring out that theatre was his true calling at age 27. Excerpts from an enriching conversation:

How exactly did you discover that you could use theatre as a medium to help children? I was 27 when I figured out that theatre was what I wanted to pursue in life. I used to be part of the drama team in school, regularly performing in plays. I remember being so passionate about it that even being sick could not stop me. But my parents wanted me to become a doctor and so I put my theatrical aspirations on the backburner and continued focusing on my studies. But unfortunately, I was not able to secure a seat in a medical college as I had initially planned. So, I took up Physiotherapy instead but quit it a few months later. Then I took up Biotechnology and became a part of my college drama team in Tiruchy. Even though I was actively a part of it and was getting rave reviews for my performances, I did not think of it as a career option. Later, after graduating in Biotechnology, I took up a job at a call centre in a bid to become salaried and independent. That did not work out and I went ahead to pursue an MBA. I did not like it and went to work at a training centre. Again, it was not what I was interested in so finally, I went to work in a Montessori school where I received training and also learnt how to interact with children. I did not receive any certification but I was able to develop a theatre-based curriculum for kids. I moved to Chennai from Tiruchy soon, finally understanding that I wanted to combine the two greatest loves of my life theatre and children. I took up a job at Evams Happy Cow, the childrens division of Evam Entertainment, and I have not looked back ever since.

Could you give us an overview of the programmes that you conduct? I conduct a range of theatre-based programmes for children of different age groups, through puppetry, shadow theatre, clowning, mime, plays and also good-old conversations! The first programme is called Happy Children, Happy Families for toddlers and their parents. The main aim of this programme is to devise a proper routine for kids, wean them from technology and help them learn kindness and gratitude. The second programme is for pre-teens and teens called Real-life Incredibles where I identify their core passions or strengths and nourish them with hand-holding and a lot of guidance. I encourage them to give back to society by making use of their passions. For example, if a child is very good at dancing and also believes in leading a plastic-free, zero-waste lifestyle, then I encourage the child to choreograph a dance routine that inculcates the message of living a green life and perform it at their school to create awareness. Yet another programme called 'Bridge' is a platform for both teenagers and adults to start conversations about uncomfortable stuff. It is a safe space for them to talk about any traumatic experiences they have had or even something that they have never shared with anyone before. I believe it is a great opportunity for both parents and kids to get different perspectives on life and expand their minds truly.

Do you believe that both parents and children should have support systems of their own? Yes, of course! I think that parents have a tendency to think that they are enough for the child and there is no need for anybody else to interfere in their childs life but that is so problematic. In fact, through my Real-life Incredibles programme, which is inspired by DisneysThe Incredibleswhere each family member is a superhero, I encourage parents to designate trusted adults as their childrens mentors. Supportive peer groups for both adults and children are necessary too so they can have age-appropriate discussions. Both parties (children and parents) should never feel like they are alone. This concept is also inspired from my life. I was sexually abused as a child and did not tell anybody of my ordeal because I did not have a support system. I was scared. I do not want any child to go through the same horrors that I went through and I strongly believe support systems can help because the child will confide in someone or the other, if not the parents.

Tell us about the theatre performances that you conduct at schools. How are they helpful to children? Currently, I have four shows that premiere at different schools and other organisations, out of which two are clowning shows that are just meant to provide pure entertainment. My play,Oru Oorularevolves around a father telling stories to his daughter every single day without fail. What is so great about that you may think but the fact I want to emphasise on is that this storytelling session not only helps strengthen the father-daughter bond but also helps set a proper routine for the child. This is based on the storytelling sessions that I have with my 6-year-old. She cannot sleep without listening to my stories and it has helped in stopping her from falling asleep to YouTube videos that many children do these days. Yet another play is titledThe Greatest Fairytale Ever, which has been devised to break stereotypes set by all fairy tales the princess waiting for the prince to come save her or the notion that all stepmothers are evil. I think it helps children get an unbiased view of stories that will help them become non-judgmental.

What do you think are the causes of the problems in the teenager-parent relationship today? First of all, I think parents should realise the fact that most problems that they think they have with their teenagers are not problems in the first place! Teenage is a time when the children are suddenly identifying themselves as individuals and a lot is going through their mind and body already. They are at conflict with themselves, so obviously they may be prone to conflicts with their parents too. Parents should just think of teenage as a phase that will go away soon and give them substantial projects to work on individually. Try empowering them and see the positive changes for yourself!

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Meet John Pradeep JL, who's giving kids life lessons using the power of theatre - EdexLive

In 2003, a lanky kid from Melbourne with a bleached curtain haircut resembling Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys led Australia to victory at the FIBA Under-19 World Championships.

His name was Andrew Bogut, who already stood 69 tall at age 18. Bogut picked up tournament MVP honours with averages of 26.3 points and 17.0 rebounds per game, en route to the gold medal.

Edit: This is the last gold medal that any Australian mens team has collected at a World Championships event.

Boguts talent alerted the University of Utah, who promptly offered him a scholarship. Throughout his two-year collegiate career, the Victorian would grow to a height of 7 feet and elevate his game to a new level. In 2005, Bogut was named the best player in NCAA Division I basketball, with averages of 20.4 points and 12.2 rebounds per game. He remains the only Australian to win this honour. Following a stellar NCAA career, Bogut was a touted NBA prospect and entered the draft, where Milwaukee selected him with the first overall pick.

Bogut recently caught up with Kane Pitman on the Locked on Bucks podcast to talk all things Milwaukee. The interview provides an insight into the pressures Bogut faced as the number one overall pick, Scott Skiles coaching and that horrific arm injury among other topics.

Bogut spoke of the isolation and pressures he faced after the Bucks drafted him with the first overall pick. Initially a big fish in a small pond at the University of Utah, he now had to start from the bottom in Milwaukee.

Getting drafted to Milwaukee and becoming a professional, basically, its your job now. I felt a lot more isolated and kind of by myself, Bogut said.

The big man averaged 9.4 points and 7.0 rebounds per contest in his debut season, leading to a First Team All-Rookie selection. These are typically impressive numbers for most rookies, but par course for a #1 pick.

I wouldnt say I had an outstanding rookie year or bad rookie year I think I was quite average, He said. I had some good games and showed potential. Not knowing how to handle it was the hardest thing. I think maybe having a closer knit group at the time would have helped me a lot more. I didnt know how to handle it and hadnt spoken to anyone that had been through it.

Although Bogut averaged a healthy 28.6 minutes per game, he didnt possess the infinitely long leash often given to high lottery picks on struggling teams.

It wasnt a situation like most #1 picks, playing 35-40 minutes and winning 15 games, where theyre going to blood you as much as possible.

Rather, the Bucks were competitive in Boguts rookie season, finishing with a 40-42 record and sneaking into the playoffs with the eighth seed.

Bogut made strides in his second NBA season, with per-game averages of 12.3 points and 8.8 rebounds. Unfortunately, it wasnt enough to lift a struggling Bucks team, and coach Terry Stotts paid the price. With Milwaukee sitting at 23-41 and out of playoff contention, Bogut endured his first change in coaching personnel. The Victorian also experienced his first taste of the NBA as a business making strategic decisions, when he was shut down following a minor injury.

I was playing on a mid-foot sprain, playing through it and playing fine, Bogut shared. The franchise basically tapped me on the shoulder and said hey, wed rather you not play the rest of the year and get your foot right. I thought my foot was worse than it is, not realising that essentially it was time to shut up shop and try to get a higher pick in the draft.

Milwaukees revolving door of coaches continued when Scott Skiles was hired ahead of Boguts fourth NBA season. Skiles would coach Bogut for the remainder of his tenure in Milwaukee, at a time when the Australian centre reached his peak. Speaking about his former mentor, the big man credited his commitment towards defence as follows:

I really learnt a lot from [Skiles]. He was the first coach that held me accountable defensively. I got labelled as a defensive bust coming out of college in college I couldnt afford to foul out, because I was a 20/12 guy. I probably couldve been better defensively but I couldnt really afford to foul. He really got my defence to an elite level.

Bogut also lauded Skiles tactical knowledge, calling him one of the best Xs and Os coaches hes ever had, and paid compliments to the former Milwaukee head coachs understanding of the game.

However, Skiles was known to be a hard taskmaster who demanded discipline and full effort. The one thing that he struggled with maybe was toning it down a little bit at times. A lot of guys obviously did get frustrated and burnt out from it, and struggled to play for him after an extended period of time.

In the Scott Skiles era, Milwaukee struggled to make progress, making the playoffs only once. Bogut expressed his frustration towards the organisations inability to maintain a stable playing roster.

To be honest, after my third year with him it was a little bit tough, because it was the same old thing. I think the franchise was stuck in this revolving door where it felt like everyone that we got in a trade or signed in free agency was coming in and getting their numbers up to go elsewhere. I was the only guy on a long-term deal and it was very frustrating, Bogut said. I cant fault what Skiles did. I think he turned that place around for what he had and the resources that he had. We just couldnt form any stability as far as the playing roster [went].

In the 2009/10 NBA season, Boguts fifth campaign as a professional, the Melbourne native finally justified his draft selection. He averaged 15.9 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game and claimed an All-NBA Third Team selection. To date, Bogut remains the only Australian to ever make an All-NBA team. At his peak, in 2009/10, the 7-footer was arguably the NBAs second best centre behind Dwight Howard.

Unfortunately, in a cruel twist of fate, Bogut would never hit these heights again. Towards the end of his breakout 2009/10 season, he suffered a sickening arm injury against the Phoenix Suns. After going up for an emphatic breakaway dunk, Bogut received a slight push in the back from Amare Stoudemire. He then lost his balance, falling with the weight of his body on an outstretched right arm.

It was a demoralising injury. I finally lived up to that number 1 pick and averaged 16 and 10 a night. I really felt like it was all coming together. I felt confident out there and consistency [started to develop].

The injury was in Boguts shooting hand, resulting in a profound setback on the offensive end. His free throw numbers in the ensuing years are quite telling, as the big man struggled to regain his shooting touch.

I lost all of my shooting touch and any kind of potency with my right arm. I was told by some doctors that I probably wouldnt regain that touch for a number of years.

Bogut remarkably returned from his career-defining injury in just seven months. He was back in time for the opening tip of the 2010/11 season, missing a total of just six games due to injury. Looking at Boguts career statistics for games played, you wouldnt even know he had such a gruesome injury, given that his rehab coincided with the off-season. However, reflecting on his rehabilitation, Bogut acknowledged that the window might have been quicker than it should have been.

I probably rushed back from it to be honest, Bogut admitted. I came back way too soon. It was essentially a 6 to 9 month injury, but I was back in four months.

The decision resulted in Bogut playing through injury, something that required additional surgery after the season concluded.

Every fifth shot Id feel like someone stabbed me in the elbow. I knew something was wrong and in that offseason, I went and got a scope/clean out on it. I had surgery again on it and there was a massive chunk of bone just floating around in my elbow joint. Playing through that for a whole season was [tough].

When asked whether there was any pressure to get back on the court promptly, and who may have generated that pressure, Bogut attributed it to a variety of factors, starting with his contract.

Probably 60/40 me, The big man shared. They gave me a big contract the year before and that was going into the first year of the contract. There was also me being hard-headed, when the doctors said 6-9 months.

Bogut still averaged a double-double in the 2010/11 season, in spite of his premature return from such a devastating injury. With averages of 12.8 points and 11.1 rebounds per game, he was still one of the leagues premier centres. Bogut focused his energies on defence in the wake of his injury, leading the league in blocked shots with 2.6 per game.

I started to get really good mentally, Bogut said. I was like, you know what, my offence has dropped a little bit because my touch is gone. But Im going to try and dominate the game defensively. I started blocking a lot more shots.

The NBA was a very different league in 2005. In Boguts rookie year, the average NBA team would attempt 16 three-pointers per game. This number has now more than doubled to 33.7 treys per game in 2019. As a 7-foot centre residing firmly in the paint, three-point shooting simply wasnt a priority for Andrew Bogut.

I wasnt shooting 3s. Probably should have just been more confident and aggressive with it coming in. It just wasnt a thing back then. I probably should have taken more onus on being confident with it and keep on shooting it, Bogut said.

After the arm injury, the three-point shot became a distant thought. Bogut understandably lost the confidence to even step out for a mid-range jumper.

That arm injury basically changed all of that for the mid-range. Things went south as far as having the flexibility to do it, and also just having the confidence to get the mobility back to shoot it.

Andrew Bogut shot 69.2% from the charity stripe in his sophomore year of college, with six attempts per game hardly a small sample size. He would never reach this mark in the NBA, making just 62.9% of his free throws in his best season (2009/10) and 55.6% for his career overall.

Bogut believed he was making progress prior to his horrific arm injury in 2010.

I think for me, early on, it wasnt horrible but it needed some work I felt like I was getting there.

That horrific arm injury changed everything, and the big man described how it affected his free throw shooting.

I didnt work on shooting the whole off-season because I couldnt, Bogut said. I couldnt line my elbow up with the rim for a long long time and get under the ball. Funnily enough, towards the end of my career now, playing over here in Australia, I feel way more confident at the line. Im confident to go there and shoot 70% this year.

Bogut was right to be confident in his free throws. He is currently shooting 78% from the foul line, through 14 NBL games in the 2019/20 season.

When questioned about his favourite moment as a Milwaukee Buck, Bogut recalls a game winner against San Antonio in 2005. The then-rookie sunk the defending champions with a quick-release shot off a Toni Kukoc inbound pass. Bogut, who is of Croatian descent, idolised Kukoc in his youth.

Probably my rookie year, I hit a game winner against San Antonio, Bogut recounted. People that know me know an idol of mine was Toni Kukoc growing up. So if you go back to that play, Toni Kukoc was the inbounder. So he actually inbounded it to me and I hit the game winner from just outside the block. That was an unbelievable feeling playing against Tim Duncan, [Spurs head coach Gregg] Popovich and the Spurs.

When asked if he has ruled out returning to the NBA, Bogut indicated that anything is possible.

Ive never put the line through anything. If there is a good opportunity with a good team to hitch my trailer on to get a championship, I would probably definitely listen. There has been a few teams that have been kicking the tyres already about (my) availability.

Obviously Ill finish off this season here in Sydney. If there is something that is both appealing to myself, my family and the team well look at it. But it wont be a case of going back at all costs, just to anybody I can. If there is a genuine opportunity to try and extend the resume and compete for a championship Id do it. If not, Ill take a much needed two or three months of training and rest before the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.

At 35 years of age, Bogut has reached the twilight of his career. The Tokyo Olympic campaign will likely be his last one, and is hence a priority for the Victorian. Bogut has little to gain by returning to the NBA, unless a strong title contender seeks out his services.

Originally posted here:
Andrew Bogut on life in Milwaukee and the injury that changed everything - The Pick and Roll

When Travis Green was a rookie with the New York Islanders there was one dreadful night when he thought his NHL dream was going to end.

Each time he stepped on the ice, he felt like something went wrong.

His team lost and he was certain blame would be directed his way, the teams checking-line centre, and hed be shipped off to the AHL, never to be heard from again.

This is going to be my defining moment as a professional hockey player, he said in June, while sharing the tale in a Vancouver ballroom filled with coaches from the pro and amateur ranks, all gathered for an NHL Coaches Association clinic.

As he stared down at his skates, still in his sweaty Islanders uniform, he realized there were a pair of shoes in front of him.

He looked up. It was legendary Isles head coach Al Arbour. Here it comes, Green thought. The coach hadnt spoken with him much up to that point.

Call the interaction a defining moment for Green the player, and person. Arbour sat down, stared right at him, and told him to forget about the game.

It was almost like a father to a son, Green recalled.

Travis, these are great players, Hall of Fame players and they have these kind of nights. And they had one tonight. And for you its going to happen again and you need to understand that. I need you to understand it and your team needs you to, too, Green recalled Arbour saying.

Youve got Mario Lemieux coming in Saturday night and we need you to get some rest, have a good skate tomorrow, learn from this and be ready to play against him, Arbour added, according to Green.

Here was a man who cared enough to make sure that one of his younger players was OK, Green said. That gesture that Al made will stick with me forever.

The culture of hockey hasnt always been one driven by empathy toward players.

But it has been for Green. Empathy, caring, understanding, listening and communicating are the five words he highlighted in what he believes drives a successful coach.

Youre not only coaching to help the players become better, but also to inspire them, the Canucks bench boss said. If you make better hockey players and you help them to become better people, Ive got a feeling youre going to win a lot more hockey games while youre at it.

There are things he mimics from coaches hes liked in the past just as there are things he avoids from coaches he didnt like.

Travis Green: Dont let your passion for winning overwhelm your coaching Jason Payne / PNG

You take tidbits from everyone, he said about his evolution as a coach. In his early days behind the bench he would get mad at his team after a loss.

But after a while it dawned on him how he was getting overwhelmed by his hatred of losing and had lost sight of how his team had played in the game.

One morning after a loss he watched some game film and realized his team had played pretty well.

I was the jackass who came in guns a-blazing, he admitted, realizing then he had to change his approach.

So, he started writing down a hoped-for score before games, something hed be happy with, so that post-game he could measure his own reaction against something hed spent time reflecting on.

It didnt change how he coached, but it became a way for him post-game to have something to look at that would force him to focus on his coaching, while helping to keep his passion for winning in check.

Thats still a fine line, communicating and being honest with players while still also being hard enough to get points across when you need them I like to talk to my players, I like to talk in general. I also like the team to have fun, which I think is very important.

Green: I like talking with my players. Nick Procaylo / PNG

Ernest Hemingway once said, more or less, that change happens gradually, then suddenly. Thats some of what were seeing now in coaching, according to Lorraine Lafrenire, the chief executive officer of the Coaching Association of Canada.

The flash points that were seeing are coaches who still behave the way they did 10 years ago, 15 years ago, she said, adding the coachs behaviour is a top-of-mind issue now.

You can bet your bottom dollar all the other coaches, GMs are talking about this. And they should be talking about this in the boardroom.

Lafrenire added this week: Theres a reckoning happening in hockey. I think there is also a reckoning happening in sport, in terms of the need for coaching styles to change. I think the conversation is a good thing.

There are the recent stories of the actions of Mike Babcock, Bill Peters and Marc Crawford. In the past theres the abuse on players by former junior hockey coach Graham James. And outside hockey there have been stories of abuse, many of them horrific, in a broad swath of sports.

These are catalysts for change, a painfully positive thing, Lafrenire said. It needs to continue. We cant go back to sleep.

When Sheldon Kennedy first started talking about his junior hockey experiences with James in 1996, it sent shock waves through the hockey world.

There were significant strides made in coach education, she said. The CAC continues to work in partnership with Kennedys Respect Group, which empowers people to recognize and prevent bullying, abuse, harassment and discrimination.

Whats really important is the support of the witness, Lafrenire said. Were trying to shift to a place where the bystander has more of the power in the moment, when something is occurring.

Creating whistleblower programs that demand independence on the investigating end and trust in the process on the reporting end, is the next important step.

The whole concept of duty of care belongs to everyone in the clubhouse, not just the coach and the player.

Don Cherrys year in Colorado wasnt a happy one for just about anybody. Steve Babineau / Getty Images

Coaching has, for the most part, come a long way from the days of Don Cherry abusing the few good players he actually had on his woeful Colorado Rockies 1979-80 squad. Cherry once yanked Mike McEwen, a skilled defenceman acquired early in the season from the New York Rangers, off the ice, literally: he reached out off the bench and pulled McEwen off the ice by his collar, then roughed him up.

The former minor league defenceman, who improved his stock coaching the highly talented Boston Bruins of the mid-70s, won just 19 games with Colorado that season.

Don Saleski, a checking forward who won two Stanley Cups with the Philadelphia Flyers, once said that Cherrys approach that season was in stark contrast compared to what he experienced with Fred Sheros Flyers.

Shero, he said, was tough, but rarely raised his voice. And he knew how to handle young and old players.

He knew how to coax his players. He got us to understand exactly what he expected of us, Saleski recalled a few years ago for Philadelphia hockey writer Bill Meltzer.

Saleski said Cherry didnt know how to handle young players.

Don had no clue what to do with them. No clue. So hed just scream and try to intimidate the guys by acting tough, he said. There was no self-reflection on his approach, it would seem.

One young player on the squad was Mike Gillis. The Cherry experience was an early lesson in how not to run a hockey team or how to treat people, Gillis said.

After a long, successful run as a player agent, he was hired in 2008 as general manager of the Canucks.

Mike Gillis in 2011: The former Canucks GM said he has long believed in having players involved in team decision-making. Ric Ernst / PROVINCE

He wanted his players to find themselves in a trusting, positive environment, one that reflected the diversity of modern society.

There has to be more opportunity for players to have a place to go that they can trust and rely upon, that theyre going to do the right thing, he said. Everyone is coming from different socio-economic backgrounds, different countries, different experiences.

The Canucks became a tight-knit group, which created a strong, trusting support network.

They were willing to open up with each other, with us. They werent concerned with being betrayed by us, Gillis said. I saw first-hand that when you remove the stigma of betrayal, they grow exponentially.

In gaining respect, you walk a fine line. You still have to be able to lead, to make the hard decision, while being transparent in doing so.

Modern players are wired by their school experience, which puts them at the centre of their learning process.

As students, they werent just told what to do, they were allowed to understand the whys and hows behind their lessons. And this process was, more often than not, also found in their sports life.

Lafrenire points to this shift in education as another catalyst for change.

Young people have had a hand in shaping their life, she said. Think about the practices teachers employed in the classroom 30 years ago, theyre no longer relevant now. What was acceptable then is not now. Command and control is not acceptable now we see that in the workforce. Were not building robots.

We wanted the players to feel they were included in the decision making, Gillis said. Every year wed sit down with our leadership group and ask is there anything we can do better? Can we communicate better? Can we treat you on the road better? Can we treat your families better?

Bo Horvat: accountability and positivity are the traits of a good coach. Gerry Kahrmann / PNG

Canucks captain Bo Horvat has had a number of coaches hes appreciated in his hockey career, who have been hard, but fair. And their reasoning has always been transparent.

I think what makes a good coach is holding guys accountable but at the same time being positive toward your players, he said. And every player is different. The coach has to know what buttons to push, whats going to motivate different players.

Players come to the NHL already knowing so much of the game. In the old days, perhaps, they had much to learn but now, between the coaching they get even before theyre teenagers and then the amount of time in the off-season they get to prepare, theres not much they dont know about the game, Horvat pointed out.

The other thing that cant be neglected: as todays players become tomorrows coaches in a reshaped culture, the screamer and-or abuser, will be harder to find.

I didnt want to forget, ever, what it was like to be a player, Green said.

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Patrick Johnston: Culture change in hockey coaching has been a long time coming - The Province

Am I in the right relationship? Is it too late to switch careers? Im never as assertive with my friends and co-workers as I want, but how can I change?

Just twenty years ago, if you had told somebody they should see a life coach to answer these questions, they wouldnt have had any idea what you were talking about. Today, life coaching practitioners can be found practically anywhereat counseling centers, gig economy websites, and even Airbnb. They contribute to the transformation economy, a growing collection of industries that also includes retreats, gurus, and adventure travel, where the product is a new and improved you.

We are seeking out experiences that actually change us in some way, that help us achieve our aspirations, the author Joseph Pine, who coined the term the experience economy with his co-author James Gilmore, told Quartz. Increasingly that will be part of the economy where consumers and even businesses increasingly go to companies and effectively say: Change me.

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Life coaches are everywhere in 2019, even Airbnb - Quartz

The Wall Street Journal recently prompted a discussion among executive coaches and their clients by publishing anarticleon the blurred lines between coaching and therapy. The story has stimulated conversations about what constitutes coaching best practices versus overreach. Purists argue that coaches should stay in their lane, keeping subject matter strictly business. In their minds, a coach is a coach, a mentor is a mentor, a therapist is a therapist. These are separate and distinct roles that should be kept separate and distinct.

Or are they?

At its core, coaching is meant to help leaders tap into their full potential so that they lead in such a way that their organizations achieve success. Yet the factors that contribute to leading with full potential and success don't materialize in tidy, separate packages. Leaders are whole people who bring their lives to their work (and their work to their lives) whether they know it or not.

Today's hyper-connected world has made it possible for executives to tackle work projects from home and home projects from work. They might attend a child's soccer game on Thursday afternoon and work Saturday morning. An urgent text from the spouse can sidetrack a business meeting, and an important email from the boss can delay dinner.

For better or worse, our lives are all tangled up. We bring more professional responsibilities home than ever before and more of our personal lives to the office. This can be a wonderful thing, with work colleagues helping celebrate joyful occasions from the home front. That said, it can also compound problems. Dysfunction at the office will often breed stress and irritability at home, and vice versa.

Beyond immediate family obligations and stresses, experiences from our personal history will also influence our work performance for good, bad and in-between. Executives who grapple with imposter syndrome frequently convey that they've lived with these insecurities for much of their lives. Many suspect that feelings of abandonment in childhood can spur workaholism, citing famous and highly successful workaholics, such as Steve Jobs and Larry Ellison, who were both adopted.

Coaching is blurry because our lives are blurry. One area impacts the other with ripples spreading in every direction, all the time. Such entanglements can make it impossible to help executives grow into the leaders they strive to be without delving into highly personal areas. Rather than steering away from deeper topics, I believe a good coach will steer right into them.

While coaches cannot and should not solve for all issues that come up in an engagement, they can help their clients clearly recognize them, reflecting back an accurate image like a good mirror. Once the clients can more truly see themselves (behaviors and beliefs), they can better address directly or indirectly related issues, using the best professional resources available to them. Underlying mental health conditions, difficulties coping with traumatic events and suicidal thoughts require the expertise of licensed mental health professionals and a good coach knows when and how to recommend one.

That said, not every personal hardship or challenge meet these criteria, with some better solved by others with different expertise. For example, a clinically depressed executive will have vastly different needs than an overwhelmed, struggling but otherwise emotionally healthy entrepreneur seeking help to create boundaries between work and home life. The latter might not benefit from speaking with someone who has no perspective on the demands of running startups. The advice might be all but useless.

When a coach approaches their work through the widest possible lens, seeking to create the most value for the client and the organization, they will find themselves wearing many different hats, playing different roles on behalf of their client (sometimes even within one conversation!). It's not that coaches are universal problem solvers, being all things to all clients. Instead, coaches will thoughtfully guide their clients through the process of first seeing what's really there (personally and professionally), then clarifying their options for moving toward their highest and best leading.

Coach. Mentor. Counselor. Therapist. Thought partner. It's not about the label as much as it is the outcome. Those who bring the most value to their coaching engagement don't get preoccupied with semantics. They take a holistic view of a person the complete person in order to help them gain a clear picture of and understanding about who they are as a leader, what they want to achieve and what might be holding them back. They solve for the big picture, which is the one that matters most.

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Coaching Or Therapy? Forget Semantics And Focus On The Big Picture - Forbes

Well, its that time of year again! We Fergusons have had a great year. Here are a few of our highlights.

As you can see from the enclosed family photo, Bob lost 40 pounds on a low-carb diet. He had to get a second job to afford the diet, because he now eats more red meat than a grizzly bear, but you cant knock the results. The low-carb plan doesnt allow you to eat anything inexpensive like pasta, potatoes or rice. But you can eat as many $12-per-pound steaks as you like. Weve spent so much on food this year, we cant afford to buy him new clothes! His pants are so baggy, he looks like he just graduated from clown school. Still, it beats the stomach staple the doctors were talking about, and he says he feels good.

Speaking of health, Chardonnays nose ring got infected and she missed most of this last semester at junior college. The whole experience has made her think seriously about changing her major from Tattoo Art Appreciation to Life Coaching, but nothings firm yet.

The really exciting news is that Chardonnay finally has a boyfriend a lawyer. No, wait a minute. Bob says Ive got that wrong. The boyfriend isnt a lawyer, the boyfriend has a lawyer. My bad. Kids these days! I could never have afforded a lawyer when I was his age. He must really be smart. Hes living above our garage until the heat dies down at his place, he says. Bob and I used to have an apartment like that, too once the heat came on, you could never turn it off.

Josh is doing well in Golf Course Management; he came thisclose to making the Pros List this semester, except for his low grade in lawn-mowing. Thank goodness he got an A in Watering Grass 101.

Bobs mother is still living. With us. Sometimes shes a little forgetful. I think she would probably be better off in a nursing home, but Bob wont hear of it. He says, As long as youre healthy, why shouldnt she stay with us? Except for the smoking, the drinking, the cleaning, the cooking, the swearing and the laundry, shes not much of a bother. And the kids love her. Theyre always trying to make her comfortable. But no matter how many times I tell them, they still try to turn her oxygen back on when shes smoking.

I suppose this is as good a time as any to explain that newspaper headline in June, Bob Ferguson Arrested in Credit Card Fraud. Actually, it was good news: They finally arrested the guy who had stolen Bobs identity. They caught him trying to charge a Slim Jim and a box of Handi-Wipes down at the Gas and Go Away. Little did the thief know that Bobs credit cards have been maxed out for months, and all the clerks have orders to call the police if he ever tries to use a credit card there again.

The thief is in jail and is still pretending to be Bob, but that will probably change when he finds out about the back taxes we owe from that tax-shelter fiasco last year. Apparently, you cant just skip mowing your backyard, call it a tree farm and start taking an agricultural deduction. Who knew? But if the fake Bob Ferguson wants to do eight to 10 years for tax fraud, thats fine with us.

Which reminds me, be sure to watch Bobs dad on 60 Minutes next week to hear his side of the story. The church calls it embezzlement, but Dad swears it was just a bookkeeping mistake.

Well, thats about it from the Fergusons. Ive got to go pick up Fluffy from the vet. Im not sure I want to see the bill, but really how much could a simple tail reattachment cost, anyway?

Wishing you and yours a Happy Holiday,

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News from the Fergusons - Dothan Eagle

USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin Published 5:27 a.m. CT Dec. 2, 2019

MANITOWOC - Young Professionals of Manitowoc County unveiled its "Future 15" award winners during its annual banquet Nov. 14 at Knox's Silver Valley Bar & Banquet Hall.

The "Future 15" are young professionals, ages 21-40, "who have given back to the community, showed leadership, and helped in many ways to make the area a great place to live and work."

TheHerald Times Reporterwill share profiles of each of the 15 winners in this series. The profileis provided by The Chamber of Manitowoc County.

Theresa Falvey(Photo: Provided)

Theresa began her journey as a business owner in Colorado, but felt a pull to come back to her hometown and open State of Grace. She feels a strong desire and need to nurture, bring healing and create community both within the walls of her business and the community.

Her mission at State of Grace is to create a space for community and healing, and this mission is why she does everything she does.She creates a space where her and her clients are communing and finding some capacity of healing by just being present.She does this through massage therapy, yoga, Reiki, life coaching, yoga/mindfulness in the schools, and massage and senior chair yoga in the local nursing homes.

Theresa is actively involved in many community organizations, such as Clipper City Co-Op, Big Brothers Big Sistersand Lakeshore Foster Families.

RELATED:Manitowoc Chamber honors this year's Future 15: Here are the winners

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Manitowoc County Future 15 winner: Theresa Falvey - Herald Times Reporter

Ready or not, 2020 is on its way. Are you excited to make this year your best year yet?

Unfortunately, more and more people are waking up to the reality that their current lifestyle does not support their health.

Whats a person to do to finally feel healthy, vital, and comfortable in their own skin? Health coaching could be the solution for you.

We all know diets dont work. If diets worked, we would all be living in our perfect bodies and feeling fabulous. The diet industry is in the business of making money, not making health.

The reality is, most people know what they need to do to be healthy, and they dont do it. Eating a donut or a bag of chips is not healthy. So often theres so much more contributing to why you may be still eating your favorite go-to unhealthy treats and not giving yourself true self-care.

Unlike a doctor, your health coach will help you get to the root cause of whats eating you, guide you to kick your Negative Nancy to the curb by learning a more positive way of thinking and, keep you motivated through every step of your healing journey.

Unfortunately, its much easier to race to the doctor, instead of changing a lifestyle habit. We would rather face a health challenge or live with feeling fat, frumpy and less than fantastic. Its not your fault. Your body wants to keep you safe and comfortable. It keeps you in the habits youve been maintaining for years instead of diving into a new unfamiliar routine.

We all want a quick fix, and its much easier to take a pill than to make a sustainable change. Many of our health challenges are simply messages from our body crying out, Slow down. Please take care of me. Listen to me. I need help.

When we dont listen to our bodies, these messages get louder and louder until our illness is full-blown.

Unfortunately, most doctors have a narrow focus on sickness, not health. Your doctor only has a very short time to assess your symptoms, strategize remedies, and get you back living your life.

Regaining your health is about getting to the root cause of not just what youre eating you need to discover whats eating you.

This is not our doctors fault. Many of us never go to a doctor for prevention. Doctors usually see you after your symptoms are extreme. As humans, we push through life and when things get really bad, thats when we look to the doctor for help. Doctors are trained to cure your symptoms with a pill and often we need so much more than that.

Dont get me wrong, I love doctors. If I fall off my bike and need 20 stiches to close my gashing wound or my broken arm, I want a doctor fast! I simply believe that we often need more than a doctor. We need a loving guide on the side to get you from where you are to where you want to be.

But I wonder, what would the doctor have to do to make their jobs obsolete? Maybe people could simply not get sick? Or, doctors could become wellness advocates by focusing on prevention. Your doctor might discuss things like how happy you are, why your boss is so crappy and whats totally stressing you out in life.

Not so surprisingly, these areexactlydiscussions that may keep you well, out of the doctors office and exactly what a health coach will discuss with you.

My clients come to me with information overload. They are confused by all the contradicting information in the health world.

A health coach will help you to sort out all the confusion and achieve your lifestyle goals. Everything from losing 10 pounds, to de-stressing and gaining energy, to improving nutrition, emotional eating challenges and loving your beautiful body.

The best thing about a health coach is you will be listened to and truly heard. Not only are we trained wellness authorities, we mentor, inspire and motivate our clients to cultivate positive health choices.

Health coaches have the time to delve into all your health. The ultimate goal of a health coach is to teach you all the best practices for living a healthier lifestyle now and long after the coaching program has ended.

With the right health coach, instead of struggling, your healing journey will be fun and inspiring. Youll feel supported, safe, educated and have the confidence to finally reach your health goals.

Read Help Clients More by Becoming a Health Coach.

Kathryn Chess is a nutritionist and joyful living coach. She is the founder of Joyful Living with Kathryn Chess, a company dedicated to empowering people to live in the body and life they love. Download a free copy of How to Stay Sane and Slim, Surefire Steps to Reignite the Happy in Your Holidays e-book at kathrynchess.com.

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This is What it's Like to Work with a Health Coach - Massage Magazine

This is a column by Scott DeCamp.

MUSKEGON, MI Billie Roberts III emerged from a somber Muskegon Big Reds locker room with watery eyes late Saturday night at Ford Field. His top-ranked team had just lost to River Rouge in the Division 3 state finals in stunning fashion, 30-7.

It was Billies fourth-straight season playing in the state-title game, and while he and his 2017 teammates were able to bask in the glow of a championship, this marked the third time he had experienced defeat on the big stage.

You might be surprised to know what was upsetting him the most, however, and it wasnt the loss to River Rouge.

What hurts the most is that Big Red football is over for me and its just going to take a while to get over that, he reflected. As far as the loss goes, that comes with the game of football.

Cory Morse | MLive.com

Muskegon football head coach Shane Fairfield hugs Muskegon's Billie Roberts III (53) after losing 30-7 to River Rouge in the MHSAA Division 3 football championship game at Ford Field in Detroit on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)

In the heat of the moment, thats an incredibly mature response by a young man whos been a work in progress throughout his four years under the tutelage of tough-love Big Reds head coach Shane Fairfield, assistants Matt Bolles and Don Poole, and the rest of the staff.

Billies comments are sincere, theyre introspective and they reflect the amazing growth that hes made as a person since he first entered the hallways at Muskegon High School.

You need to really listen to Billie. He is an expressive young man, and despite his reputation as a jokester and life of the party, he is uniquely profound in this thoughts and in his ability to listen to people after you scratch the surface.

Also, you need to continue reading this column. It lays out the realities of a football program like Muskegons, the players and coaches who make it what it is, and the tough city Big Reds call home.

MLive colleague Cory Morse, who is a multi-media journalist, and I felt compelled to tackle a project earlier this year. I was first inspired to do so while covering the Big Reds sports teams during the 2018-19 school year for MLive Muskegon Chronicle.

What struck me initially were the relationships forged, the chemistry and the love shown between Muskegon High student-athletes and coaches, such as Fairfield and Big Reds basketball coach/athletic director Keith Guy, witnessed through the access granted by those men, their programs and the school. What moved me to take on such an involved assignment were the complexities that not all, but many, Muskegon High School students face on a daily basis.

The main theme of the project was to examine how Muskegons coaches and educators embrace athletics as means to help young people under their watch better their lives in the long run. The crux of the Muskegon Big Reds series by Cory and me was taking an inside look at the schools tradition-rich football program.

Thats where this column is going. For starters, playing and coaching in the Muskegon football program is both a blessing and a curse. The Big Reds play in a historic stadium, in a football-crazed community. No high school football program in Michigan can claim the same tradition as the Muskegon Big Reds. Some might come close, but the Big Reds boast the winningest tradition (859-280-43 in 125 seasons) in the state by a wide margin and they rank seventh nationally in all-time high school football victories.

Michigan is home to many great high school football programs, but none are on the same plane as Muskegons when you consider the combination of excellence and championships (18 state titles total, six in the MHSAA playoff era) against the backdrop of socio-economic and other challenges faced by many in a community like Muskegon.

Heres just one example: Two peers of players on this seasons Muskegon football team lost their lives in fatal shootings a couple weeks before the season kicked off. In fact, a day later, a few players wrapped up football practice at the school and walked a couple blocks to the site of a candlelight vigil for one of the victims. Think about that. Muskegon is certainly not the only urban area in that state that encounters violence and poverty, but the topic of this column is Muskegon.

Back to the field, when you play for and star with the Big Reds, all eyes are on you. Muskegon is home to MLives Michigan High School Football Player of the Year award winner in each of the last three seasons (Cameron Martinez in 2018 and 2019; LaDarius Jefferson in 2017).

Much like the football program in which those young men played, a ton of pressure comes with such status. No matter what, youre wearing the target in every game you play. Youre the top dog and people line up to take you out, much like the wonderfully talented squads from River Rouge this weekend and Detroit King in 2018 did to the Big Reds in state-finals matchups.

Its difficult just to get to a state championship game. Muskegon has been there in seven of the last eight seasons. The Big Reds have won just once in those seven trips. Keyboard warriors and Internet tough guys write how the coaches need to go, and some are even critical of the teenagers playing a game.

The rallying cry for many critics is that Muskegon should be in the finals every year and should win it. Its a birthright. But what are those critics doing to help these coaches and players succeed? Are they making the countless sacrifices, and the time and emotional investments, that those very coaches and players theyre criticizing are making?

Do critics remember that these coaches are pouring everything they have into their professions, that the players are giving all they can to those coaches and to the program, in order to represent their school the best they can?

Do they remember that Saturdays loss to River Rouge, disappointing as it was, it still just a game and that the primary mission of the adults in the program is first and foremost to mold these young men into productive members of society?

Look no further than Billie Roberts. He was blessed with many gifts, one being an abnormally athletic 6-foot-4, 280-pounder with a world of still-untapped potential, plus a big personality and huge heart to match. Billie has several options to go play for a big-time college football program and, most importantly, the opportunity to better his life and the lives of those around him.

Had he won a state championship this weekend, how will that have bettered his life? It would have been a nice feather in his cap, certainly, and a nice way to cap his high school career. But if that were the best thing in his life, if that defined him as a person, then thats sad. Conversely, if Billie losing in a state championship game is the worst thing in his life, then hes pretty damned blessed.

If anybody had earned the right to express himself Saturday night after the loss to River Rouge, then it was Billie Roberts the player who strapped on the pads and slipped on the uniform and helmet 56 times in his Big Reds career. He was the one flipping 200-plus-pound tires and pouring sweat. He was the one sacrificing, along with dozens of teammates.

Do you want to know how he chose to express himself after his final high school game? He gave coach Shane Fairfield a big hug in the middle of Ford Field. He looked at the big picture.

The coaching staff has been a really big part of my life and success, he said.

After seeing what Ive seen following Muskegon High School athletics in the past year, and especially Big Reds football the good (so much of it is good), the bad and the ugly my No. 1 takeaway is this:

Billie and the Big Reds have won, clearly.

MORE:

Letter from the editor: We didnt just tell a great story about Muskegon football, we lived it for a year

Theres nothing like Hackley Stadium: Muskegon Big Reds home one of a kind

Muskegon High coach uses love and his own tough upbringing to steer players to success

Meet Damon Knox: A Muskegon High success whose story is still being written

Chemistry, role players as crucial as top talent for Muskegon Big Reds

Cameron Martinez to Earl Morrall: 25 greatest athletes in Muskegon High history

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Muskegon Big Reds may have missed out on a title, but we learned so much more (column) - MLive.com