When the emotional darkness of a full onslaught severe depression clung like a blanket to Kansas Newman University basketball coach Mark Potter, he knew it was time to get help. Earlier, he had called his wife Nanette crying. As Nanette peered into his eyes that very night, and asked the all-important question that he now admits probably saved his emotional life. Do you need me to take you to that event tonight Mark? Potter paused and admitted, Yes, I need help. Immediately, his wife called several phone numbers listed on the back of his insurance card and finally secured an appointment with a psychiatrist.

However, when the appointment time arrived two days later, Potter slid back in his chair announcing, Im not going and you cant make me, but Nanette boldly advised, that either theyd ask one of Potters burly, tall athletes to put Potter in the car, or he could get in by himself. Ok, Ill get in the car, Potter said.

After the appointment and starting on a prescription for medication, Potter hunkered down at home for a couple of weeks before finally opening his computer, and then talking with his team. He then eventually shared his message of hope and help for depression by forming his own company D2UP.org two years ago.

Coach Potter revealed his deeply personal story to a packed crowd Monday night Nov. 18 when a largely farming community gathered at the historic Blair Theater in Belleville, Kan.

Even with coaching over 800 games in 30 years at the college and high school levels, re-starting Newman Universitys mens basketball team which transitioned to the NCAA Division II level, recently inducted into the Wichita Sports Hall of Fame, being a prior college basketball and baseball player himself Coach Potter from Sedan, Kan., acknowledged his biggest emotional victory is now his personal, raw story of climbing out of Depression/The Silent Epidemic 13 years ago when he knew something wasnt right. The presentation was sponsored by a Culture of Health Grant and Kansas State University Research and Extension River Valley District.

Im on a mission now, Potter said. I want to talk to every farmer, every school. The suicide rate for farmers in northwest Kansas has risen dramatically. Suicide is now the second leading cause of death in ages 10 to 45 and its an epidemic. Why do we not go get help when its the one thing we need? Potter questioned the packed crowd gathered inside the theater. Not everyone needs to take medication for depression, but its okay to swallow some pride if youre a little bit broken.

I know how small communities are, because I grew up in one. We all have our pride, and we have Facebook and social media. Theres a lot of positive about social media, but do you know what we put on social media? Its those cute pictures and we try to paint this picture of a perfect family, Potter told the audience. And, I grew up in a tough family and we didnt talk about those issues. After going through severe depression, now I talk about it.

CAREGIVERS ROLE

Awareness of a caregivers role in being supportive, was heightened when Potters wife took her turn, on the stage. I taught school for 32 years and had a lot of training on de-escalation, but I didnt even recognize when my husband had mental illness, Nanette said. Then, I went to every therapy appointment with him.

If someone is falling through the cracks with their medication, Potter noted they can get a saliva test where theyll get a swab of their cheek, which is sent in to a lab, and that can help in narrowing down the right medication.

Sports stories hit especially close to home. And, Im speaking for the males here now. If youre struggling; I tell athletes when I travel in Los Angeles, New York City, anywhere, I tell them forget toughness just get help. Then we can deal with the toughness.

I just knew I was going to do this, Coach Potter wiped tears while recounting several tragic stories of people who, sadly never decided to get help, like the grandson of retired legendary Kansas State University football coach Bill Snyder. Snyders grandson died by suicide a year and a half ago.

Digging deep into his own story, Potter shared, when his severe depression hit, interestingly, his full life had so many positive elements at the time. My team was doing great, so was my marriage and children, but then everyday issues with the players seemed like 100 times magnified and my thought process was like, whats goin on here? Thats a chemical imbalance in the brain, Potter said. I was beginning to have dark thoughts. I remember driving and tears were rolling down my face. I thought, I sure wasnt going to tell my students or even my wife, but since then as you know, Ive learned you must go the doctor and get it fixed, he said, adding, A chemical imbalance can be addressed through medication, counseling or a combination.

Many of you here probably were raised that we dont talk about it. I think our generation, and generations before us have failed, because people have been suffering in silence with depression, Potter said.

When his depression struck, Potter said he didnt know what he was going through. I thought I was the only one. Then, I learned other coaches suffered from depression, too.

Potter learned that others suffering from severe depression were also relieved to be able to talk about it, but he said it was staggering what he learned from his own parents.

My mom said, What can I do to help you? And it turns out she too suffered from depression, Potter said. When his parents saw he was struggling, his dad also admitted he was on medication for depression for nearly 30 years.

Its the silence thats attached to whats now an epidemic. How many of you have been silent? Potter queried. Well, Im the most guilty person here I used to be silent. We pretended to be the perfect family. Were still trying to be the perfect family.

As he continued pouring his heart out, Potter said, Im intent on sharing so you can get the most out of your talent in whatever you do. There can be more peace in your life I can promise you that. Im not depressed now because of medication.

The only wrong thing you can do is to do nothing at all, Nanette said. Please share with your own family, or a trusted friend.

When I think about all the things Mark wouldve missed if I hadnt done something, she said Im just going to hope and really pray that you here think about this differently now. We are the face of mental illness and it is treatable.

If you knew that you could save a life by talking about it knowing that its not always comfortable to open up, you will save and change lives, Potter said. Im thankful to this day, that my wife didnt take no for an answer.

Hadachek is a freelance writer who lives on a farm with her husband in north central Kansas and is also a meteorologist and storm chaser. She can be reached at rotatingstorm2004@yahoo.com.

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Newman University basketball coach tells his story of depression and getting help - Fence Post

Ian Carrano@ic_sports1

Coaching a sport at any level is difficult enough, and coaching for the same program for 35 years is even tougher. Despite this challenge, Springfield College Diving Head Coach Peter Avdoulos has taken advantage of his opportunities and has significantly contributed to the colleges high level of success in diving.

Being named the NEWMAC mens diving coach of the year 14 times, winning seven National Championships, and coaching 111 All-Americans throughout his career, Avdoulos has secretly been one of the most successful coaches on campus.

Although his career has taken off significantly since graduating from Springfield College in 1985, he had a much different experience than most transitioning into becoming the legendary coach he is today.

Following his graduation, Avdoulos has stayed close to the colleges diving program. Growing up in East Longmeadow, he still had local access to Springfield Colleges athletic facilities. Shortly after his graduation, the diving coach position was eliminated, leaving the team without one. Wanting to help out some of his former teammates, he agreed to coach the team part-time, which turned out to become the full-time job.

It was a full-time position and so what happened was I live locally, and I had a job locally, Avdoulos said. I had teammates that were still here that didnt have a coach. So, I would come by after work and help them out. It just turned into once in a while, it turned into every day, and then they were expecting me to help them out.

Volunteering for the early part of his career, Avdoulos didnt initially believe he would end up becoming the full-time diving head coach until Athletics Director Edward S. Steitz decided to pay him for his contributions. However, as time progressed, he grew to enjoy coaching at the college level.

I just kind of wanted to give back and help the teammates who were still here. I never thought Id be a coach, he said. At first I was kind of skeptical coaching because I didnt know what the heck I was doing. But then, as soon as you can help somebody get better, its kind of infectious. Its like, Okay maybe Im okay at this.

Amidst all the success Avdoulos has found coaching diving over three decades, a lot of it can be connected to his ability to find talent.

Over the past two seasons, hes coached eight All-American divers, including eight divers who earned Diver of the Year awards from the 2007-2015 seasons. With the consistent amount of talent he brings in every year, Avdoulos explained what he looks for out of high-school divers.

Basically, just the love of the sport, potential, dedication. A lot of high school divers are worried that they dont have the repertoire to come in and dive in college, Avdoulos said. I just need someone that is motivated and coachable and has potential. If they buy into the program, theyre going to get better.

Valuing the approach to the sport rather than physical talent, his technique to scouting shows his desire to work with divers who he views has the highest potential and hard-working mentality.

Im looking for kind of a mentality instead of already fantastic, already really good at diving. More potential then proven skills, he said. I mean typically when somebody is already really good theyre going to go after D-I scholarships. I just try to develop from kind of the bottom up.

With a desire to get the most out of his divers, Avdoulos teams stick to fundamentals within his practices. While his team spends a lot of time in the pool, they also spend some time on land. Directing dry-land activities and strength training, he has his athletes spend two days a week with strength and conditioning coaches to balance out their workouts.

Along with the strength training workouts, Avdoulos uses accessories to help his divers perfect their craft. Attaching a harness to the diving board, divers are given an opportunity to practice their tricks with a sense of security to avoid hitting the water.

Like in most sports, technology in diving has played a vital role in allowing athletes to watch their performances to fix their mistakes in practice and in meets. Thats no different with Springfield College diving, which also uses an instant replay system to see visually where their dives need correcting. Understanding people grasp new concepts differently, Avdoulos has made sure to give his divers feedback prior to viewing the film.

As more of a personal coach, Avdoulos is able to get the most out of athletes. Understanding the abilities of his divers, hes been able to build relationships with them and help them execute dives with his vast knowledge of the sport. Seeing first-hand his command of his divers and of the sport, senior Valmore Stewart acknowledged his strong ability to help his divers perform at the highest level.

Coach Pete is a great coach because he understands exactly what each individual diver needs in order to execute each dive perfectly, Stewart said. Plus, he has a sense of humor that only divers can understand.

Throughout his long and successful career, Avdoulos work with a number of talented divers has continued to fuel his love for coaching the sport. With a desire to see his athletes develop into better divers, coaching through the years has been a rewarding experience, which Avdoulos explains what has kept him motivated through the years.

The success of the athletes. Making a difference in peoples lives. Its again rewarding. Its fun to see them develop. I think one of the main things here is development, he said. Its not just getting kids in that are good already and managing them. Ive had many divers come in and start diving in college, never dove before, and make it to the national level.

While his coaching allows his divers to live up to their full potential, Avdoulos impact on his athletes stretches further than the diving board. Understanding his great influence on those around him, he pointed out Avdoulos not only taught him just diving skills, but more importantly life lessons along the way.

From my freshman season to end of Junior year, Pete has been there to teach me not only about diving, but life in general, Stewart said. Hes taught me to go where your heart desires and not to waste time. To be aggressive and passionate with every endeavor I choose.

Through his scouting, management of his divers, and developing the diving program from the ground up, Avdoulos historic career came full circle in 2014 where he was recognized for his many accomplishments as the head diving coach.

Being inducted into the Springfield College Hall of Fame, Avdoulos induction was a powerful momentcelebrating his successful career. Looking back at the induction that put him in the same category as many of the former Springfield College greats with his long list of accomplishments, being selected into the Hall of Fame was a humbling experience he got to share with his family.

Its nice to be recognized, but its humbling to be put in the same group as some of those amazing people in the Hall of Fame. You have that feeling like you dont really belong, Avdoulos said. It was a little bit hard for me to accept that, look around, and see all the coaches around that were here and are here that have done amazing things.

The greatness hes instilled in Springfield Colleges diving program has revealed many qualities that have contributed to his success as a coach and a person in general.

He is understanding, caring, and stern when he needs to be. Great communication skills. Knows when to give you time. The whole nine yards, Stewart said.

Finding success at a consistent level, Avdoulos has cemented himself as one of the best coaches in Springfield College history. As people look back at his career, his greatness will not only be connected to the success of his athletes, but his impact in their lives as well. Through all his accomplishments as the head diving coach, Avdoulos will always be remembered as a great teacher, leader, and life coach for his effect on those around him.

Featured photo courtesy Springfield College Athletics

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'I never thought I'd be a coach': A dive into Peter Avdoulos' legendary career - SC Student Media

DENVER When Tyson Barrie was at his absolute best as a member of the Colorado Avalanche, he and Nathan MacKinnon established a rule: Barrie was not allowed to get off the ice during a power play before his partner in crime.

If I changed hed yell at me, said Barrie. Hed ask me if I was tired or whatever. He wanted me back there so I just kind of changed whenever he changed.

That helps explain how the puck-distributing defenceman ended up with more power-play ice time than everyone else at his position over the past two seasons and accumulated more points than all but John Carlson and Keith Yandle in that game state.

It may also hold the key to rediscovering his lost confidence after a puzzling first few months with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

For it was not by coincidence that Sheldon Keefe decided to elevate Barrie to the teams top power-play unit as part of his first changes as head coach. He also put him alongside Morgan Rielly to start Thursdays game in Arizona a move that was part precursor of things to come, part reassuring touch on the shoulder for a guy who never found any footing under previous coach Mike Babcock.

As much as Barrie didnt think it was a vote of confidence he needed with more than 500 NHL games and three 50-point seasons already under his belt, he appreciated the gesture. And it was immediately followed by his first goal in Leafs colours just in time for Saturdays return to his old stomping grounds.

Im not going to lie: That feels good, especially going into Denver, Barrie said after the 3-1 victory over the Coyotes. I didnt want to go in with no goals.

Following a July 1 trade that saw the Leafs give up their best-value contract, Nazem Kadri, for Barrie and Alexander Kerfoot, the 28-year-old defenceman represented a fault line between Babcock and general manager Kyle Dubas.

Not only did he have his power-play usage cut in half, there almost seemed to be paralysis by analysis with what the coaching staff wanted him to do at even strength. He was a round peg being hammered into a square hole at the expense of his instincts and he suffered through a two-assists-in-19-games slump that made his situation in Toronto look untenable as recently as a week ago.

You know Im trying. I think its obviously weighing on me a little bit, Barrie said on Nov. 14. Ive never really gone through a stretch like this in my career and switching teams for the first time. You dont want to feel like youre letting teammates down and the fans down.

Now?

Barrie believes hes found a new lease on life under Keefe, who is determined to find him a role that looks more like the one he once filled here in Colorado. That will include more shifts beside Rielly and a chance to work the puck around on a power play that features Auston Matthews, John Tavares and William Nylander.

As an offensive play-driver, he certainly fits the profile of the kind of player the new coach is hoping to lean on.

We feel like with some of the offensive people that we have and what were able to do, that that will make us a better defensive team because well have the puck a lot more, said Keefe. Well put the other team in tough spots that will limit their ability to transition and play against us.

When Keefe took time during his introductory press conference to say he was focusing on the kind of team the Leafs are, rather than what theyre not, it was hard not to think of Barrie. Hes never been a strong defensive player, per se, but he has a unique vision and a proven ability to make plays with the puck.

The off-season trade to Toronto caught him off-guard and hes taken ownership of his own role in the slow start. This cant all be explained away by a differing view from the coach. But his outlook seemed to turn on a dime when Keefe showed an immediate willingness to build him up and the Leafs bench erupted when Barrie jumped off the point to finally score on his 61st shot this season.

I think thats a big monkey off the back for him, said Matthews.

That monkey was heavier than most because Barrie is in a contract year and had been trending towards one of the least productive seasons of his career.

Hes still dealing with a sense of impermanence he and Kadri simply switched houses after being traded for one another, with Barrie not really in a position to lay down stronger roots in Toronto and will be reminded of what hes left behind this weekend.

Ive got to maybe pick up some mail, he said.

Barrie also planned to grab dinner with MacKinnon and some other former teammates on Friday night. Its a group he remains tight with after spending a decade in the Avalanche organization and essentially growing into a man in Denver.

Therell be some different feelings and emotions to contend with when he returns to Pepsi Center as a visitor. Hell know the guys on the opposite side of the ice much better than he does his own.

Oh, Ill tell you who Im not looking forward to seeing, said Barrie, in reference to his old buddy MacKinnon, the NHLs most explosive skater this side of Connor McDavid.

Yeah. Ive never played against him in my life, he said. Ive been on the fortunate end of that one when hes playing well. Im sure hell take it easy on me.

Originally posted here:
Leafs Tyson Barrie has new lease on life with Sheldon Keefe at the helm - Sportsnet.ca

England coach Eddie Jones says he's handling this month's Rugby World Cup defeat better because he has learned from previous experiences.

South Africa defeated England 32-12 to win the 2019 Rugby World Cup at the Yokohama International Stadium in Japan.

Jones was coaching Australia when they lost to England in the 2003 World Cup and says that defeat taught him a lot.

Having been through 2003, it has allowed me personally to handle this defeat better.

The decorated international rugby the coach has published an autobiography which tells his compelling life story.

The tell-all book, which is titled My Life and Rugby, was co-written with South African-born author Donald McRae.

In it, Jones opens up about his upbringing, family life, failures and his successful coaching career.

The coach says writing the book was a reflective exercise which has made him grateful for his fortunes.

It makes you think back to what was important in your life and how you got to where you were.

I've been lucky mate. I've coached a lot of good players. I've been fortunate like that.

Jones recalls when he was the assistant coach to Jake White, the former Bok coach who led South Africa to victory at the 2007 World Cup.

I had that great experience in the 2007 World Cup with Jake White and the South African team, which will always stay very fondly in my memory.

He speaks highly of SA's 2007 rugby team, including players such as Victor Matfield and Fourie du Preez, and says South Africa's rugby intelligence is often overlooked.

Because South African rugby is so well-regarded for its physical approach, the tactical side gets a little left behind.

In the book, Jones gets vulnerable about the time he was sacked as Wallabies coach and how he recovered from his stroke.

He hopes his story inspires others and says young coaches should not let heir background's define them.

I want it to be a bit of a textbook for young coaches. It doesn't matter what you've done as a player of where you've come from. Don't let your history or your background dictate what you can do.

It takes a bit of pain and suffering to have success.

Listen to coach Eddie Jones as he chats to John Maytham:

This article first appeared on CapeTalk : England coach Eddie Jones: It takes a bit of pain and suffering to have success

Link:
England coach Eddie Jones: It takes a bit of pain and suffering to have success - 702

For many modern companies, the technology team plays an integral part in the business. They're the ones who address critical problems, develop customer solutions and keep workflows moving with up-to-date tech tools.

It makes sense, then, that a leader should focus on keeping their tech team motivated and satisfied in their jobs. But how do you properly thank andencourage this hardworking group for their efforts?To find out more, we asked a panel ofForbes Technology Councilmembers how they keep their own tech teams happy.

1.Create A Culture Of Radical Transparency

I bend over backwards to make sure that there is radical transparency, where every single team member knows exactly what we are doing and why. I encourage brutal honesty to force discussions of the facts. Also, everyone is an owner. Every team member should treat the company like its their ship, and if they dont, they get off the ship. - Charles Silver,Permission.io Inc.

2. Share Their Impact On The Bigger Picture

It is imperative to the success of the entire organization that the tech team understand the impact their work has on the success of the company. Team members are motivated when they understand the overarching goals of the business and how their individual contributions play into achieving these goals. And just as important and warranted is celebrating their impacts and contributionslarge and small. - Kam Eshghi,Lightbits Labs

3.Connect Their Work To A Meaningful Purpose

The best way to sustain team motivation and happiness ultimately requires working on meaningful projects. The sense of purpose and making a difference is what gets our tech team out of bed each day. In our agriculture projects, its knowing that what you are doing with technology architecture is fundamentally advancing farming practices around the world. - Mark Pryor,The Seam

4. Prioritize Professional Development And Accountability

Provide opportunities to expand their knowledge through training and different work assignments. Provide flexible work arrangements. Show your trust in them by holding them accountable and responsible for their decisions. - Ray Murphy,Leo Cyber Security

5. Promote Top Performers

Give them achievable goals that they can hit, and give them exciting new projects to work on and always show them the big vision of what impact they are making. Promote the top-performing people periodically. Finally, have 1-on-1 meetings weekly, and have a coaching and career plan. - Gaurav Bhattacharya,InvolveSoft

6. Clearly Articulate Goals

Our tech team is supremely talented. I find the best way to keep them motivated is to clearly articulate what the goal is, and whyand then give them space to get there! Something we're trying to get better at is better celebrations upon hitting our goals. That's the next area for improvement. - Rory San Miguel,Propeller

7. Give Everyone A Voice

We aim to align everyone on the company vision and encourage them to voice how best to realize this together. Most developers like to work towards short-term goals where they have the freedom to decide how to accomplish these. We find that team-members are most motivated when their work is well matched with their individual abilities, inclinations and personal development ambitions. Finally, everyone loves recognition, so we encourage show-and-tell sessions and celebrate successes as a team! - Tom Salvat,CONCURED

8. Set Measurable Success Criteria

I've learned that to keep the team motivated and happy, they need to believe in the company's vision. If they believe in the vision, they will contribute valuable insights and suggestionswhich leads to growth within the company. Also, measurable success criteria is a must so everyone knows exactly what is needed. - Robert Morcos,Social Mobile

9. Respect Their Autonomy

Smart, creative people thrive in an environment that respects their autonomy and values their contributions. Recognizing and rewarding positive contributions is essential to maintaining team morale. A good manager understands that their role is to support the unique needs of all team members, not to enforce arbitrary constraints. - Mike Segal,DigitalX

10. Keep Challenging Them

Give them challenging assignments! When you work with the very best people in the industry, they need challenges beyond new features and fixing bugs. Giving them the flexibility and the challenge to work on advanced/fun projects is key. Also, providing them with good visibility where we stand vis-a-vis the competition (when we lose or win POCs for example) is a great way to get them more engaged in the business and motivates to improve the product further. - Galina Antova,Claroty

More:
10 Strategies For Building A Happy And Motivated Tech Team - Forbes

Traveler hiking in nature.

By: Dr. Sandra Lewis

Weve reached the final quarter of the year. Its a time when we almost reflexively look back to what we set out to accomplish at the beginning of the year.Many of us have moved someNew Years resolutionsand goals into our win column.But disappointment about what we did not achieve is also quite common at this time of year.

We ruminate about the wrong turns or actions that we didnt take to realize our dreams. We worry that we didnt achieve our financial goals. These thoughts and feelings can send us on a downward spiral toward regret, self-doubt, and even dread. We end up drained and anxious rather than energized and productive.

Truth is, these months make forsufficient time to make progress on something meaningful. This is about how much time nature takes to complete one season. Surely its enough time to take actions that will have a positive impact in our personal and professional development.

Revamping a self-care plan, writing a book chapter or two, taking a new approach to marketing an existing product or service, changing productivity strategies to get out of overwhelm and over-exertion, hiring an assistant, or plotting a new career or business direction are among the endless possibilities.

Nature just staged a worldwideequinox, which coincided with the final 100 days of the year. The change of seasons and the cyclical patterns are full of effective growth and change strategies.

At the equinox, the sun and the equator come into perfect alignment with each other. For much of the year, night and day are doing a dance where one grows longer as the other grows shorter. At the equinox, they share a 24-hour period evenly.

Each of us has our own inner sun, our purpose, the internal guidance that brings value and meaning to all that we do. Connect what you want to accomplish in the upcoming months to your purpose and core values.Connect your desires to the positive impact that you want to have in your personal life and career. Root yourself in a deep sense of meaning.

It will be a powerful source of motivational fuel as you navigate the ups and downs along the way to what you want.

[Related:You Cannot be DerailedOnly Slowed Down]

When we experience dark and light in equal amounts, its easy to see how one complements the other. Darkness helps us understand light, and vice versa.

In the final quarter of the year, when you find yourself focusing on whats missing, use this as a reminder to get clear onwhats possible. Make a list of what youd like to accomplish. Review your list, then narrow it down to one action, one goal that you can complete within a three-month period.

Choose an impact goal. This is a goal that, once completed, will leave you feeling accomplished and have an impact on other important career and/or personal development goals.

The equinox ushered in fall in the northern hemisphere. The leaves will become brilliant with color and then the trees will release them. But once the leaves are on the ground, they partner with the earth and become fertilizer.

Consider what you need to release in order to achieve your goal. You may have a habit or behavior pattern thats kept you from moving forward. Be aware that bad habits, like good ones, provide some kind of gain for us or we wouldnt continue them.

Get clear about how your old habit has served you. As you release the old habit, decide how you will take care of that need. Then, define the new practices you will put into place to support your forward movement.

Youve probably never seen a tree struggle to keep a leaf from falling. Releasing is part of the growth cycle. New leaves can only come when the old ones fall away. What will you let go?

[Related:Look Within to Conquer the Need for "More"]

If youre in the southern hemisphere, spring has arrived. With it come winds that spread seeds. After a period of rest and behind-the-scenes work during winter, the earth is softening, ready to nurture seeds and sprout flowers.

Bringing forth a project requires balancing work with recovery and downtime. Make energy management a part of your daily plan. Build the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual energy that you need to stay focused, centered, and thriving as you take action on your goal. The give-and-take cycle sustains your flow of energy. Nothing happens without it.

There are some plants that only flourish at certain times of year. The energy has to build in order for them to blossom.

The last nine months have prepared you for a harvest. Count your wins. Look at the actions youve already taken this year. Write them down. Celebrate. Pay close attention to the accomplishments that will help you achieve your impact goal. This is the time to reap the benefits of your work.

Take action on your strong finish in 2019. Stay aligned with your purpose and values. Let your setbacks lead you to clearly define how to move forward. Balance your energy expenditures with recovery and renewal. Gather the fruits of your labor and flow into a fresh start in 2020.

[Related:Pack Your Bags to Grow Your Leadership Skills]

Dr. Sandra Y. Lewisworks with women to transform fatigue, anxiety, and overwhelm into energy to protect themselves from burnout, create well-rounded lives, and make a purpose-driven impact in their career.

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The Final Quarter: Finish Strong With Strategies From Nature - Forbes

By: HSSN Staff Friday, November 22, 2019 | 12:28 PM

Ethan Swope knows his first head coaching opportunity will be more about development than team success.

Swope, Shaler Areas first-year wrestling coach, will take over a Titans roster with 10 wrestlers. Having low numbers will make it difficult to compete in dual meets, which feature matches in 14 weight classes.

While the PIAA might be transitioning from 14 to 12 weight classes for the 2020-21 school year, that wont help Shaler this season.

Its going to be a challenge for the next few years with numbers, Swope said. Were going through a lull right now in terms of varsity numbers. Were strong with youth and middle school numbers. Were hoping to carry that through and make sure the kids stay involved through high school.

Shaler has had plenty of success over the past five seasons. The Titans won a section title in 2016 and saw Ryan Sullivan win consecutive state titles before signing with Pitt.

Shaler also has a long history of consistency with coaching.

Drew DAgostino stepped down last season after leading the program since 2006.

Before that, Ric LaFerriere guided the Titans to a 247-99-1 record in the previous 19 seasons. LaFerriere replaced Bob Siar Sr., who guided the team for 23 years from 1965-87 and compiled a mark of 245-83-6.

Swope, a graduate of DuBois High School, wrestled for NCAA Division II Gannon. During his four-year career, Swope finished with a 58-34 record and recorded seven pins.

Swope was an assistant at Shaler for the past two seasons and previously was a volunteer at Plum.

I always want to have contact with the sport, Swope said. I always had coaches who put in a lot of time with me. Ive always wanted to give back to the sport. It teaches you so many lessons. Its nice to give back to the kids.

Swope is hoping to get Shaler headed in the right direction. That will allow the Titans a chance to build for the future.

When you are rebuilding, especially with our situation having low numbers, it gives us the opportunity to focus on individuals and their personal development, he said. We have a handful of kids with limited experience. We want to make sure each kid has separate goals. Thats the main focus of this year, focusing on each kid rather than the team aspect.

Tags: Shaler

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New Shaler wrestling coach ready to take on challenge - TribLIVE

I have written a book titled Maximise Potential which has everything I have learned on leadership, management, success, happiness, personal development, life, time management and few book reviews. You can download it for free here. Maximise Potential. It is a collection in one place of all the blog posts across topics over the last few years. Below is one of the chapters on goals.

The first step to understand about success is that it is not a destination but a wonderful journey that never ends. The best definition of success I have come across is by Earl Nightingale Success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal/goal. It is the process thats actually exciting. Most of the times once we reach goals like getting the promotion or losing the weight we cant keep up momentum but it is the process that actually keeps us energized. Once we achieve our goals we feel good for that moment but in order to keep that feeling ongoing we need to keep setting new goals. The important thing to remember is that goal setting is a lifelong activity and it does energize our lives. People talk a lot about dreams but there has to be a distinction between outrageous dreams and dreams that ignite. I can have a dream to be the greatest tennis player that ever lived but that dream is surely not going to be realized and it is very much outrageous. I think when we speak about dreams the first step we should clarify is whether it is aligned with our abilities and has a timeline associated with it. Running a marathon could be a worthwhile dream for me and something within my capability though it would require tons of training and will be a BIG stretch for me.

Jim Collins coined the term BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goals) in his blockbuster book Built to Last 20 years back and he said a lot of the visionary companies set BHAGs that energized the organization. I think goals for personal life can do the same for us energizing our lives and increase passion. The starting point of the success journey is to craft a personal mission statement and back that up with a powerful vision supported by purposeful action.The best example of a BHAG is this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before the decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earthby John F Kennedy. He made that statement on May 25th1961 and it was still a valid BHAG even after his untimely death. It is over 50 years old but the beauty lies in its simplicity and clarity. BHAGs cannot be vague..This just goes to show the power of a BHAG. It doesnt matter what the BHAG is but that you have a BHAG. There is also a lot of merit in having a personal mission statement. My personal mission statement is to maximize my potential and help others maximize theirs. The action I take towards this mission is to read continuously on leadership, management, business and then share insights on what I have learned through blogs. This gets me excited to read books that are tough and that I may not read normally. Another thing that is important to set is have a core set of values that you can live by. Values could be dedication, integrity, honesty, passion,.Again writing down a personal mission statement and clarifying our values will surely add purpose to our lives.

It is important to remember that goals are not resolutions. Once a new year starts most people start setting resolutions like Iam going to stop eating sugar, Iam going to lose weight, etc. Personally I dont set resolutions as I feel having goals with a burning desire is more effective. Research has proven that most people break their resolutions within a month of setting it. This is because we keep mentioning the things we wont do rather than the benefits it would provide. A better resolution could be I want to be super fit so that I can be at my best all day long and feel energized throughout ultimately leading to a longer life full of energy, contribution and happiness. As you can see this is a much more energizing message and probably can help us be on track more than resolutions. Finally with respect to maintaining our proper weight it is useful to remember that there is no quick fix. It is only daily action performed consistently over a long period of time that will produce desirable results. We have to be in it for the long haul.

Finally goals have to be in writing. As it is mentioned often Goals not written down are merely wishes. A wish is a goal without any energy. As Harvey Mackay says A goal is a dream with adeadline. Setting short term goals in bursts of 90 days really sets our life on track. Backing that up with long term goals like 5 years from now and 10 years from now will set us on the path towards the journey of success with the purpose and vision required to keep us spirited throughout. I have read that all top achievers write their goals down, read/review their goals on a daily/weekly basis so that it is always in the front and center of their lives. There are two theories on sharing goals. One says that keep your goals confidential and another says sharing them will put the necessary pressure to complete them. I think financial goals, personal goals related to family should be confidential but if you have goals like I want to exercise 5 times a week it may be best to make that public in which case it puts more onus on you to follow through. The example of Thomas Edison is often sighted where he would call a press conference to talk about his new invention/innovative breakthrough long before it was ready and then go to work to make that a reality..This puts pressure on him to deliver and he did deliver BIG TIME indeed.

We can feel satisfied once we reach our goals but the only way we can truly stay happy/excited is to keep setting more goals that stretch us and the process of setting goals and proceeding on the journey of success provides the real meaning to life. Finally we will encounter problems along the way on our journey. The way to overcome that is to go back to our mission, vision and values. Another trick I came across recently is to ask the10/10/10 question. Will this matter 10 minutes from now, Will this matter 10 months from now, Will this matter 10 years from now? This really clarifies what is truly important to us. Think BIG, Burn your boats, Set BHAGS, take action and go forward confidently in the direction of your dreams. I wish you a fun filled, happy, excitinggoal oriented success journey that never ends.

Thanks for reading this post. Here is the link and you can download it for free here. Maximise Potential. I would love to hear your feedback.

The views expressed here are my own and do not represent my organization.

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Maximise Potential by Shyam Ramanathan Get the Most out of yourself - Thrive Global

Magic Johnson has long been viewed by many as a top leader on and off the basketball court.

So its no surprise he was able to easily answer a question from baseball legend Alex Rodriguez at the29th Annual Achilles Gala this weekon what makes him a great leader. Johnson said listening to others and surrounding himself with smart people have been key to his personal development post a storied NBA career, which saw him rack up five championships as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. He added that staying active in communities as a way to keep learning and evolving has also proven important.

Johnson credited learning a lot in terms of business from former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz (Johnson once opened and operated Starbucks stores, after receiving the go ahead from Schultz) and fellow Los Angeles Dodgers owner, Guggenheim CEO Mark Walter.

Magic Johnson poses in the press room with the lifetime achievement award at the NBA Awards on Monday, June 24, 2019, at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

The Hall of Famer has enjoyed a successful second act as a highly regarded entrepreneur in large part by putting his leaderships skills into practice.

Johnson is the founder and CEO of Magic Johnson Enterprises (MJE). With an estimated valuation of $1 billion, MJE has invested in restaurants, entertainment venues and infrastructure projects. Johnson is also a part owner, through MJE, of the Dodgers.

Johnsons net worth is estimated to be around $600 million.

Although Johnson is a great leader, even the best could make a mistake or two.He regrets not taking Nike stockwhen Nike co-founder Phil Knight offered it to him.

Brian Sozzi is an editor-at-large and co-anchor of The First Trade at Yahoo Finance. Follow him on Twitter @BrianSozzi

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NBA legend Magic Johnson shares tips on how to be a great leader - Yahoo Finance

It used to be that when my husband or a friend would mention any way that I could improve (no matter how small), I would get offended or defensive.

Seriously. I couldnt take criticism, no matter how nicely it was delivered.

I felt like it was a blow to my ego. A knife to my heart. Like salt in my wounds.

Simple comments like, Mom, where are my socks? or Honey, can you please get your hair cut, it just looks better short. or Hey, could you not laugh so loud? were all things that I took personally.

Somehow I interpreted these things as Mom, you just arent very good at doing laundry. or Im just not attractive if I dont do my hair the way HE likes. Or If my laugh offends you that much, maybe we just shouldnt hang out anymore.

For years I felt like a victim to every single little thing people would say about me. I was never good enough. Never smart enough. Too loud. Too quiet. Not happy enough, etc.

Everything was always either someone elses fault, or something that I would get offended about.

All of that changed when I learned one simple truth:

What we believe about ourselves is always going to be mirrored back to us by the people and things in our lives.

Thus when others give us feedback or constructive criticism, we interpret it in a way that mirrors back to us what we truly believe about ourselves.

I found that the common denominator sabotaging all of my relationships was ME. My lack of self-love and belief in who I was capable of being, were literally making me act like a crazy person.

Id yell, fight back, or clam up and cease to converse with loved ones BECAUSE I didnt feel good about myself.

Id claim they were lying OR beat myself up internally about what they said, because it revealed to me the lack that I believed was there.

Id blame them for my lack of love and confidence.

However, I have learned that self-love and confidence are not things that only a few select souls are born with.

No, they are skills that we can and should cultivate!

Each of us are born into this world with loads of love and confidence. We love the skin we are in and feel joy to be alive.

Somewhere along the way we lose that acceptance of ourselves and get caught in the comparison trap.

We look at others and see all their impressive characteristics and abilities and forget that we too have someone amazing inside of us.

Our inner beauty begins to dim as we hide behind masks of who we think we should be in order to fit in. We accept the labels given to us from teachers, parents, religions and society. We learn that we are not good enough.

Somehow it is okay for us to feel those labels and get down about ourselves, but when someone else gives us those labels or suggests a better way to be, our ego gets mad. It fights back and wants to prove that person wrong.

It only does that however, when we secretly and subconsciously believe what that person is saying to us (or what we interpret they are saying).

After years of developing my self-love and learning how to be confident again, I have noticed that rather than getting offended by what others say or think about me, I now seek out their opinions.

I want to learn how to become better. I ask them for advice on how I can improve. I see that their comments were never meant to hurt me, but to help me. I use their opinions and suggestions to grow and blossom into who I was born to be. Instead of seeing their words as daggers to my heart, I accept them (or reject them without offense) as something to use for my personal development.

Just as any good college professor will give you edits to make a paper become even better, often our friends, family, and colleagues are simply trying to help us out. They are mirroring to us the potential that we have and what we truly believe about ourselves.

Lets learn to welcome their advice and use it to help us grow! It makes life so much better when we do.

Love and accept who you are and the feedback you receive will be helpful rather than hurtful.

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How to Accept Feedback Rather Than Letting it Break You - Thrive Global