Read on Twitter
One week to go!
As I prepare for the launch of #TheToughStuff, I thought I'd share more about how the book came to be.
A thread...
As I prepare for the launch of #TheToughStuff, I thought I'd share more about how the book came to be.
A thread...
In April 2019, @Leaders_Insight asked me to present on talent optimization, so I decided to look at it through the lens of coach optimization.
I argued that the "do as I say, not as I do" era of coaching was over, and we needed to start optimizing ourselves for performance.
I argued that the "do as I say, not as I do" era of coaching was over, and we needed to start optimizing ourselves for performance.
While the seed was planted that day, my speech was never
intended to become a book.
The coach optimization idea lay dormant for over a year, until COVID hit.
With time to reflect, it brought up all sorts of unaddressed personal issues that had been bubbling beneath the surface.
intended to become a book.
The coach optimization idea lay dormant for over a year, until COVID hit.
With time to reflect, it brought up all sorts of unaddressed personal issues that had been bubbling beneath the surface.
The theme was that they’d been winging it for most of their careers.
Seasons blended into each other, their personal lives were frazzled, and the competitive demands of the game had created the perfect excuse for failing to take care of themselves; there’s just not enough time.
Seasons blended into each other, their personal lives were frazzled, and the competitive demands of the game had created the perfect excuse for failing to take care of themselves; there’s just not enough time.
So, I began writing about the themes I'd touched on in my talk at LEADERS.
But how do you write a book about the emotional toll of head coaching when head coaches don't publicly talk about the emotional toll of head coaching?
The simple answer is: they do.
But how do you write a book about the emotional toll of head coaching when head coaches don't publicly talk about the emotional toll of head coaching?
The simple answer is: they do.
It doesn't take much digging to find that head coaches talk about the emotional toll ALL. THE. TIME.
When you go looking, you find stories hidden in plain sight, all over the internet.
Case in point: I had to cut ~16,000 words from the book.
I had too many anecdotes.
When you go looking, you find stories hidden in plain sight, all over the internet.
Case in point: I had to cut ~16,000 words from the book.
I had too many anecdotes.
Arsene Wenger's book contains a handful of stories I would've liked to include, but by the time it came out I was too far along with other narratives.
The words 'lonely' and 'loneliness' appear 31 times in his autobiography. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/13/sports/soccer/arsene-wenger-usmnt-uswnt.html
The words 'lonely' and 'loneliness' appear 31 times in his autobiography. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/13/sports/soccer/arsene-wenger-usmnt-uswnt.html
There are also current examples playing out before our eyes, like how AFL head coach Rhyce Shaw stepped down due to job stress....after ONE season. https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/afl/michael-voss-should-be-north-melbournes-top-coaching-target-says-mick-mcguane/news-story/e56b74c23b039e8deace7b1539fd9faf
#TheToughStuff will be a confronting read for many, as it gets to the core of who we are as human beings.
Some of the topics included: identity, obsession, loneliness, alcoholism, imposter syndrome, suicide, family dynamics, human connection, and learning to let go.
Some of the topics included: identity, obsession, loneliness, alcoholism, imposter syndrome, suicide, family dynamics, human connection, and learning to let go.
Ultimately, where I've landed is that the coaching community must look itself in the mirror and start to make changes.
No-one is coming to our rescue.
The great news is, if there's a group that understands what's required for peak human performance, it's us.
No-one is coming to our rescue.
The great news is, if there's a group that understands what's required for peak human performance, it's us.
The head coach of the future will prepare themselves for performance as robustly as we ask our players to.
The "do as I say, not as I do" era of coaching is over, and we needed to start optimizing ourselves for performance.
Unoptimized leaders cannot create optimized teams.
The "do as I say, not as I do" era of coaching is over, and we needed to start optimizing ourselves for performance.
Unoptimized leaders cannot create optimized teams.
I wrote #TheToughStuff to begin to normalize conversations about the human side of coaching.
It doesn't give you all the answers, but if it makes you think differently, I believe I've done my job.
I'm looking forward to showing you the work.
It doesn't give you all the answers, but if it makes you think differently, I believe I've done my job.
I'm looking forward to showing you the work.
