National Coffee Day

Today was National Coffee Day in the US (and Canada).  I stopped at Starbucks in Hudson to indulge in a Nitro Cold Brew with Sweet Cream.  It's been my go-to at Starbucks as of late.  Liz is keen to the seasonal Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew.  Yes, both drinks scream big franchise chain coffee, but they're delicious.  Which is why we spend so much money on coffee these days.

I wrote a blog 10 years ago about making the decision to start drinking coffee.  Here's the link if you're interested...  I wasn't a coffee drinker and the social buzz around coffee was still in its infancy.  Nothing like it is today.  I didn't like the taste of coffee, so I masked it with sugars and creams and predicted that I'd acquire a taste for it like my grandma told me adults do.

Since writing that blog 10 years ago, I've become somewhat of a "coffee snob" and more sophisticated than I did in my pre-coffee years.

I've probably had a majority of my coffee at big franchises like Starbucks or Caribou, however, I enjoy most those quaint little coffee houses that roast their own beans, make their own syrups and carefully craft every drink on the menu.  I've had some dandies and thought I'd take a stab at my 10 most memorable cups of coffee in the last 10 years.  Disclaimer: I don't know how to give coffee reviews and I'm a legit poser when it comes to understanding the ins and outs of coffee (although I've watch a few documentaries).  The coffee listed below is a real list of the drinks that pop into my head when I think of the best coffee I've ever had.  Nothing more.

1. The best cup of coffee that I've ever had, hands down, came from Dixon Coffee Company in Rapid City, SD.  A few years ago, we took the long way home from Colorado Springs so we could see Mt. Rushmore.  Liz and I spotted a cute little coffee truck in the parking lot of a grocery store with a long line, so we gave it a shot.  I ordered a caramel latte and she went with a vanilla latte with half the syrup.  It could have been a combination of many things other than the coffee, but we still talk about those drinks and long to go back to Rapid City for Dixon's.

2. Last summer the World Team Trials were in Raleigh, NC and our hotel was two blocks from Jubala Coffee. I stopped there several times in the three days that I was there and was introduced to an unforgettable coffee and lemonade concoction that changed my outlook on summer drinks for the entire Summer of 2019.

3. We make regular trips to Prescott, WI to visit our favorite local coffee shop - Twisted Oak.  I've had many great experiences there with my bride and others who visit us.  My drink of choice is the Paul Bunyan.  It's a latte with organic maple syrup.

4.  Liz and I had a special date night a few months ago and went to Minneapolis and tried a fun little restaurant.  After the meal, we walked through the city and enjoyed being sans children and we got some late night coffee at Spyhouse Coffee on Nicollet Ave.  I ordered their signature "Spygirl."  It was a delicious lavender and vanilla latte (with almond milk).

5. I will include another Spyhouse drink on my list because we went with several others, including our boys.  I thought outside the box and got their advertised special with golden turmeric and oat milk.  It was interesting and I enjoyed it.

6.  Just last week we ventured around Minneapolis and found a Peace Coffee cafe in Wonderland Park.  I chose their seasonal option called the Harvest Moon Latte.  It was a latte with brown sugar and pureed squash with almond milk and some additional spices.  It was incredible.  I've already recommended it to others and will be going back soon.

7. We visited Alaska two years ago and drove a few hours outside of Anchorage and made a stop in Talkeetna to try the famous Spinach Bread.  Liz and I were more excited about the breakfast burrito that was on their menu.  Next to that Airstream food truck was Conscious Coffee.  They jammed a ton of character in that little building and made a great drink for us, especially for a rainy morning.

There are a few international memories, too:

8.  A few years ago we stayed at the national training center in Paris, France called INSEP.  This little coffee experience makes the list because it's memorable, not because it was a good cup of coffee.  One of my athletes encouraged me to purchase a little espresso for 1 Euro.  It came in a paper shot glass-sized cup and was the strongest taste of anything I'd every put on my lips.  Needless to say, I didn't finish the 2 ounce drink.  I set it on the desk in my room and I took a nap.  When I woke up, the gasoline-like espresso had eaten through the paper cup.

9.  If you ever get the opportunity to try traditional Turkish coffee, it's a must.  The World Championships were in Istanbul in 2011 and we drank a lot of Turkish coffee at little street side cafes (along with "street meat").  They grind the beans very small and brew it with sugar.  I'm pretty sure the beans remain in the coffee when you drink it.  It's a special texture and extra frothy.  Good stuff.

10.  I have to "name drop" the Olympics in this post because there was a very small coffee option outside the venue in Rio called Café Leão.  It was a unique specialty coffee brand launched by McDonalds in Brazil.  It was the only place that I could find coffee besides the Nescafe truck next to my apartment.  It was actually very good and a fun little portable coffeehouse.

There are more, of course, especially Duluth Coffee Company and the several in Colorado Springs (Switchback) or Fargo (Beans serves each drink with a mini doughnut).  Liz and I were excited about Colectivo in Madison last weekend, too.  I try to collect stickers from all of these coffee shops along with the memories.  I'm still on the hunt for my first cup of kopi luwak.  I'm sure that one will get its own blog.  Coffee has been a new and exciting part of our lives and we enjoy the camaraderie mixed in with the mystery of trying new drinks and places.

Happy National Coffee Day.  FYI, October 1st is "International Coffee Day."

Building a Culture That Values People

I stumbled across this list in my notes.  It was posted on Coaches Toolbox.net and the site gave credit to J.P. Nerbun.

1. Be authentic and vulnerable with your team.
2. Read and journal together as a team.
3. Stop using conditioning as a punishment.
4. Use boundaries and consequences to develop self-discipline.
5. Give your athletes a voice at every opportunity.
6. Stop chasing talent and invest in grit.

College Freshmen, Choose Your Path Wisely

It's been one month since brand new college students moved into their dorm rooms on campuses all over the US.  The first few weeks go quickly as these young and men and women enjoy their many new found freedoms.  Now, one month in, everyone begins to find themselves establishing new routines.

In the opening month of college, incoming freshmen are flooded with opportunities to be involved in a variety of student organizations and groups.  With excitement and curiosity, they give some a try and once in a while some of them stick.

I was heavily involved with Athletes In Action while I was in college.  I wore many hats within the Christian athlete ministry.  Each start of the school year, we would put together freshmen welcome bags and distribute them during "welcome week."  Several new student-athletes would check the box on the information card that said they were interested in knowing more about AIA, so our leadership group would divide names and follow-up with those interested.

One thing I remember most about welcome week was the value of making others feel included.  We knew that a freshman student would likely chooses his/her spiritual path within the first month on campus.  We had a short window to help those fresh faces make their faith a priority.  For many, that first month set the trajectory for their spiritual involvement for their entire college years.

This is why today is so important to those college freshman.  It's been one month on campus.  Time is up.  That first month has passed and routines are established and priorities are being revealed.  For some, their personal faith journey didn't make it high on the priority list and it's not part of their routine.  Their college years will fly by and soon they'll wake-up as graduating seniors having missed out on critical years of growing in their faith.

This blog post today is my big attempt to encourage those new college students to make their faith a priority.  Check the box that says you're interested in hearing more about Athletes In Action, FCA, Cru, Intervarsity, Navigators or the Bible Study in your dorm room.  Don't cut it out of your life because you just never got around to it that first month of your college experience.  Reply to that text message or answer the phone call or e-mail from that person who is following-up about your interest.

The path you choose leads to a destination.  Choose it wisely.

Transition Wrestling is "Badass"

"You either walk inside your story and own it, or you stand outside your story and hustle for your worthiness." - Brene Brown.

Gabrielle Lord-Klein took on a big adventure because she saw a big need.  She also had a very big burden.  As a former college athlete and women's wrestling coach, she saw a growth opportunity for the advancement of women's wrestling: the media.  Like many, she was frustrated by the lack of coverage.  Instead of begging other media outlets to do more for women, she owned her story and started a website.  Now, she reports on the most up-to-date women's college wrestling stories and has quickly become the go-to resource for breaking news.

You can find Transition Wrestling on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and everywhere else you'd expect to see women's wrestling news.

Coaching changes and new programs have been the most relevant stories on Transition Wrestling until this week when she broke the news that the NCAA women's wrestling programs will have an opportunity to compete at an exclusive championship event.

Through Transition Wrestling, Gabby is moving the needle in the women's wrestling scene and this most recent article could very well put her into an entirely new realm of women's wrestling coverage.  A media outlet like this is exactly what women's college wrestling has been starving for - someone from the trenches investigating and representing thousands of female wrestlers.

Transition Wrestling is raw and real.  It's a passionate and powerful female stepping up and doing what no one else is doing.  And she's doing it on her own.  Her vulnerability magnifies her impact.  She's not a traditional journalist.  There's no man introducing her.  She not piggy backing off someone else's platform.  She knows who she is and where she's from and is jumping into unfamiliar territory in order to give others hope and a voice that can be heard.

Brene Brown also said, "when I see people stand fully in their truth, or when I see someone fall down, get back up and say, 'Damn.  That really hurt, but this is important to me and I'm going in again' - my gut reaction is, 'What a badass.'"  That pretty much sums up Gabby.

Performing Under Pressure

Remember the scene in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves when Robin of Locksley (Kevin Costner) was teaching his new friends how to use a bow and arrow and asked, "can you perform under pressure?" He had been instructing them on how to accurately shoot an arrow at a fixed target.  When they demonstrated that they had mastered the skill, Robin tickled one of them on the ear with a feather causing him to lose concentration and send the arrow off into the surrounding woods.  He explained that in the heat of battle, there are distractions all around and performing a skill to perfection is useless unless it can be done under pressure.  Then Robin demonstrated the concentration necessary to block out all distractions as his students made as much noise as possible.  He had honed his skills so he could execute in all situations...except for the gentle distraction from Maid Marian.

As coaches, we must be able to teach athletes to perform skills at the most optimal time.  When your athlete is tired and in a pressure situation, can he or she execute the technique that you have focused on during practice?  Remember, in the moment of truth, it's not about perfectly executing technique; it's about delivering under pressure most efficiently and effectively.

We use a blueprint that includes seven levels of development in learning skills.  It's not enough to just show a technique to athletes and give them time to repeat it.  It must be learned and then tested in several ways to be done during competition.  Unfortunately, many coaches stop at the first or second level.  However, to be successful, we must practice the performance at the following seven levels:

Level 1 - Learn the Skill - create a positive learning environment where athletes want to learn and are engaged with the process.  This is when the technique is broken down mechanically.  It's the "how it's done stage."  Like the ABC's and 123's.

Level 2 - Master the Skill - repetition, regular practice and quality feedback are essential.  Muscle memory is the goal.  In order to repeat a skill, an athlete must first know and comprehend the skill from Level 1.

Level 3 - Perform the Skill at Competition Pace - athletes learn skills at a controlled speed, however, the pace is much greater in competition and development must account for this difference.  Proficiency from Levels 1 and 2 are essential.

Level 4 - Perform the Skill When Tired - the result of many contests is determined in the final seconds, so it's essential that athletes perform skills very well in the final 5% of the contest when they're tired, dehydrated, glycogen depleted with heavy legs and lead feet.  Fatigue impacts the quality of execution, so creating practice situations that demand excellence in execution when tired is critical if we hope to see athletes do it in competition.

Level 5 - Perform the Skill When it Matters - training with a sense of urgency and demonstrating technical excellence under pressure is a learned behavior.  Many athletes crumble under pressure because they haven't developed the capacity to handle it.  Practices should be challenging and demanding so athletes learn how to "find a way."

Level 6 - Battle Ready - athletes must be consistent in their training and development of skills.  Too many athletes have a separate training mentality and competition mentality.  The best carry with them a "no compromise" attitude while training that is similar to the competition mindset.

Level 7 - Battle Tested - when all the chips are on the table and the athlete is tired, his/her preparation, development, and training must give him/her an edge. Their skills must be consistent in competition conditions.

These seven levels must be carefully planned and implemented in order to get the most out of athletes and help them be prepared to succeed in competition.  The levels build on themselves.  Ask yourself if you're preparing athletes to only be great technicians or to use championship skills during high stakes competition.

The scene in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves mentioned above is an example of how the seven levels are implemented into development and training.  If athletes aim to perform their best at the most optimal time, they must consider everything and their coaches need to account for everything as they improve their skills.

Goodbye 30's

I only have a couple of hours left in my 30's.  Tomorrow I will officially be Over the Hill.  At this time, I have nothing planned for tomorrow other than getting the boys on the bus and writing a blog before I go to bed.

I remember precisely when I turned 30.  I was in Herning, Denmark at the World Championships.  Since that day, I've had a lot of ups and downs.  My body was mostly sore the entire decade, although I've reorganized a few things and changed my diet, so I'm certain the next decade will feel much better.

I had a couple of kids in my 30's (one in my late 20's).  We lived in the same house and cycled through several vehicles in those 10 years.  I've done some coaching, career changes, world and local traveling, a few family vacations and over half the decade without Mountain Dew.

We entered into the elementary school world and sleep overs for our children.  We also bought a pop-up tent trailer and have been down a lot of water slides.  We've watched a lot of Netflix and kid's shows.  And House Hunter.

The best part of my 30's is falling more in love with Liz and our love overflowing into our children and welcoming other people's children into our lives and home.  It's sure made things interesting.

My apologies to those who read this blog today looking for a thought or two on an important topic.  See ya later, 30.

I'm cold

I have a few little "nuggets" that I like to share whenever the opportunity comes up with students, athletes and anyone else.  If I hear someone under my guidance say, "it's cold in here," I step in to share an important life lesson.  Well, at least that's what I believe it to be.  The truth is a very small percentage of people internalize the message.  Most of them roll their eyes.

Instead of saying, "it's cold," one should say, "I'm cold."  It's cold assumes that things are out of your control.  It's a victim mentally.  I'm cold comes from a place of power or personal responsibility and ownership.

It might be cold, however, we have the control to layer up or move around a bit.  We should always look for ways to increase personal responsibility and own our situations.

Next time you're feeling a little chilly, try saying, "I'm cold" and taking responsibility for your life and refrain from seeing yourself as a victim.  It's a very small thing that could have much bigger implications.

Change your words and it will change your life.

I appreciate it vs. thank you

I had a bit of an ah-ha moment today in the car as Liz and I were discussing many topics during a 4-hour drive from Madison to River Falls.  We were brainstorming ways to help our kids understand how to be grateful and it brought us through several past encounters throughout our lives.

I reached the conclusion that being appreciative and grateful aren't the same.  Saying, "I appreciate you" and "thank you" are different and come from different places.

Gratitude comes from humility.  Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less. In other words, thinking of others.  Saying thank you is directed towards another person and is about them.

In most cases, "I appreciate it" is not about another person.  It's actually about the person who "appreciates."  It's like staking a claim or sharing an opinion.  In some cases, entitled individuals choose the words, "I appreciate..." because it's self-focused.  It takes humility to say "thank you" and to refrain from telling the other what you think or feel.  "I appreciate..." is sharing your own thoughts.  "Thank you" is directed to another.  One is about yourself and the other is about others.  Just like entitlement vs. gratitude.

Now, before you get all bent out of shape.  Telling someone you appreciate them is wonderful and can filled with gratitude.  However, choosing those words instead of thank you can say a lot about us.  Thank you requires a little more vulnerability.  Hence, it comes from humility.  Humility cannot be faked and, as a result, neither can gratitude.  Appreciation has the potential to be disingenuous.

One of the many great things about an attitude of gratitude is that it makes everyone better.  It makes the person who is gracious feel more complete and whole.  It gives him or her an extra bounce in their step.

Here's my challenge: do you consider the difference when you say "I appreciate you" or "I appreciate it" compared to "thank you?"  Why is it more difficult to say thank you?  Our word selections make a world of a difference.  "In all things, give thanks" - 1 Thessalonians 5:18.  Will you choose gratitude and use those two little words?

Buroughs winning another medal is very impressive

I think American fans take for granted how special it is for Jordan Burroughs to win a medal at the World Championships (and Olympic Games) year after year.  Every generation of athlete faces unique obstacles that makes their success even more impressive.  For Burroughs to get on the podium, he has to beat a ton of Russians working together to beat him.

It's a peculiar situation.  The former Soviet Union has a lot of great wrestling countries.  Not very long ago, most of those athletes would not have been eligible to participate in the championships.  This year, six of the top 11 teams are former Soviet countries (1. Russia, 3. Kazakhstan, 5. Georgia, 9. Azerbaijan, 11. Uzbekistan).  The increased number of countries with great wrestling traditions and athletes is good for the sport.

What isn't good for the sport is that many of the wrestlers on those teams don't actually train in those countries.  In fact, they're not from them at all.  It's complicated for, let's say, a Georgian athlete who might have grown up across the border and wrestled at a club with his buddies and then ended up representing different countries.  Most of that is actually acceptable.  I don't even think it's outrageous  for Russian countries to share athletes because, after all, a lot of those countries are still "unified" in many ways.  Growing up in Dagestan or North Ossetia and competing for Russia or Uzbekistan or Georgia or another former Soviet country makes sense.  For example, Georgy Ketoev was born in Tbilisi, Georgia and won a world title and Olympic bronze for Russia then became a naturalized citizen of Armenia and won an Olympic bronze for them.

Heck, in the 2000 Olympics, David Musulbes (Russia) defeated Artur Tamayzov (Uzbekistan) in the gold medal match and they were both from North Ossetia.  That's confusing to Americans, however, it's more complicated than we think.  Like mentioned above, the former unified countries are still pretty unified.  But what about Bahrain, Hungary, France and several others?  Why do they have wrestlers from Dagestan on their rosters at the World Championships?

I think it's ludicrous that Burroughs has to beat several Russian athletes wrestling for other countries.  It's the real life Ivan Drago scenario played out in several matches.  Legend says that when Dan Gable was competing, the Soviet Union tried to find the perfect combination of skills wrapped up in one wrestler who could take out Gable at the Olympic Games.  It didn't work and wrestling fans believe the Ivan Drago character in Rocky IV is based on the pursuit to beat Gable.  Today, all of the skills needed to be competitive in a match against Burroughs are distributed to a few wrestlers from the Caucasus Mountains who wear the colors of a different country.  Currently, the Drago idea looks more like sending kryptonite to a bunch of countries in order to get more chances on the mat to beat Burroughs (Superman).  And if not beat him, at the least wear him out before the showdown with Russia.  The percentages to beat Burroughs are much higher when you have more chances to put him through the gauntlet compared to everything being wrapped up in one person.  The old way didn't work to beat Gable or Burroughs, but the new scheme is proving to be more taxing on Burroughs than any of us can imagine.

This year, Burroughs had to take a beating from a very skilled wrestler from Belarus in the first round, just squeaking out a gutsy win.  Then it was a professional MMA athlete in his second match.  Yes, literally a fighter.  Murad Kuramagomedov is a pro fighter from Dagestan who competes internationally as a wrestler for Hungary.  This is proving to be a great way for Russia to beat up on Burroughs before their star Zaurbek Sidakov gets his shot.   It took a final second push out for Sidakov to beat Burroughs in the semis yesterday.  I'm certain the three Russians he had to beat to get there played a large part in those closing seconds.  To be fair, the Belarus and Azerbaijan athletes appear to actually be from those countries, which are both former Soviet countries.

What can be done about this?  I'm not sure anything can be.  If a country is fine with an organized state-sponsored doping program, they'll do whatever they can to accomplish their goals.  Shifting a few athletes around seems to be the most effective way to chip away at Burroughs.  This is why his 8-consecutive years on the podium is so impressive.

Don't Overcook It - A Training Analogy

The Senior World Championships are currently taking place and the best wrestlers in the world are at their peak performance levels.  The rest of the world is in some version of the preseason.

College athletes are training with a purpose in the weight room, conditioning and even finding some mat time.  High school wrestlers are playing fall sports and jumping into some open mat practices and/or attending club practices.  Youth wrestlers might even be doing a few club practices.  Regardless of the age, this is the preseason and should be treated accordingly.

Championships and titles are a culmination of the entire year (preseason, in season and post season) and each season should have a specific desired outcome.  Being at your best at the optimal time cannot be accomplished in the preseason, however, not being able to reach your peak when it matters can be the result of mismanaging the preseason.

I'll give you a cooking analogy to explain this point.

No matter what method is used, a cook always runs the risk of overcooking meat.  No one really likes to eat meat that is overcooked.  Individual preference varies in how we enjoy steak on every level below overcooked.  Once overcooked, you cannot go back and un-cook the meat.  However, you can always undercook meat and choose to re-heat it many different ways.

The same is true about training and it's better for everyone to lean towards undercooked rather than overcooked.  Of course, "just right" is what's desired for each season and that can be very different for each athlete and program.

The coach and athlete's objectives should be clear during the preseason.  Executing technique with championship timing and wrestlers feeling like they're ready to win the state or national tournament  shouldn't be part of the equation.  Yes, you're making investments so these come true at the right time, but preseason isn't the right time.  The attention to skills should be about the mechanics (how the technique works) and essentially building a base.  Over-training in the preseason can sneak up on athletes and have repercussions at "tournament time" that are irreversible.  The preseason should always leave an athlete wanting more.

Athletes can push themselves to the limit during workouts and still be in a good situation.  Usually, athletes under-recover before they over-train.  Spacing workouts so the body heals and the mind feels good about the process can lead an athlete to feeling anxious and antsy for more.  That's how a preseason should conclude.  Athletes should end the preseason still hungry and, essentially, undercooked so you can keep the heat on to finish the product at the right time.  Once you overcook it, you cannot go back.

Have caution during the preseason.  Get to work and be intentional about your training while keeping an eye on how much heat you're applying.  If you undercook, you can always turn up the heat.  If you overcook, you're past done.  So, be mindful.  Some of us need to take it out of the oven.

A few technique observations from Worlds

The women's division will be concluding shortly and the men will be center stage for the next few days.  Greco-Roman wrestling was contested the first three days of the tournament.  The women followed and the final three days of the event will be men's freestyle.

I watched every single match in women's freestyle and will break things down on my own more later, however, there were a few very important things that I saw that we have to remember.  First of all, good position and consistent pressure wins wrestling matches.  Wrestling is complicated, but we make it much more complicated than it needs to be.  Basic skills are the most important skills.  Single leg attacks (usually with the head inside and finishing from the feet), short offense/front headlock scores, step outs...hand fighting and head fighting, hand and foot motion...these are the things that must be focused on most as they lead to the most success at the highest levels.

Certainly, wrestling is exciting when people are taking great risk and "throwing haymakers."  There's a place for creative and complex skills, for sure.  And it's important to be well rounded and have a lot of tools in your box.  However, those things are the spice or the season.  The main course is the most basic skills ("7 basic skills of wrestling").  Successful and sustainable wrestling careers are built on the main course.  If you live on spice, you'll impede your own growth and development.

I say these things that seem obvious because those basic skills are lacking across the US.  I attend youth, middle school, high school, college, and international events and it goes without saying that the higher the level, the better the basic skills.  On the flip side, the younger the competitors are, the more "fluff" and "flash" leads to success.  I think it's irresponsible for programs to operate on low level skills that brings low level success (youth).

I could write for days on this topic as it's something I'm very passionate about, but you understand what I'm saying.  So, here is a small list of a few things that I have NOT seen at the world championships in 3-plus days of freestyle wrestling.  Watch the archives of the women or the men over the next few days and let me know if I'm wrong, please.

• Chest lock + kick over - to be clear, I did see a lot of chest locks and expect to at the highest levels.  Add the kick over and scoring points just doesn't happen.  This is one of my biggest gripes with young athletes.  The number one defense for a double leg attack needs to be stuffing the head and getting legs back.  Trying to kick your opponent over when you're going to the mat is a good way to guarantee your opponent 4-points.  It spills over a little bit from Folkstyle because it can lead to something good.  There is probably less than 1% chance of it ending well in freestyle.
• Head in the hole - I'm just getting on the bandwagon of keeping your head high/centered and moving to a finish when your opponent's head is under your chest, so I was watching with a critical eye.  I was surprised that I didn't see a single front headlock finished with the head in the hole and circling around the near ankle.  I'm perplexed because I still want to believe that this is a good technique, low risk and generally successful if done well.  Yet, it just doesn't occur at the highest levels.  Personally, I love the head in the hole for our high school boys, so I'm struggling to cut it out of our arsenal.  I need to do more research on this one.
• Cement-mixer - Gator rolls, front headlock rolls, etc. all fall into this category.  In Northwest Wisconsin, we call the technique of a side roll with a front headlock and twisting into a half Nelson a "cement-mixer."  It's an intimidating middle school and high school technique for a strong kid.  Non-existent at the highest levels.
• Forearm on the knee on single leg finish - several wrestlers drill this finish ad nauseam and many in our room hear me correct them immediately because it's a lazy habit.  The intention is to hammer the side or backside of the knee with your forearm in order to turn the opponent away from you.  It seems logical, however, I simply do not see it successfully executed in competition.  It works in a drill practice setting because the wrestlers are not going live.  My response to a wrestler who insists on it is: "show me your data."

We did see a few fun and exciting risk-taking moves that have stood the test of time.  They're very calculated, though.  Left-handed headlocks, leg whips/back trips and a few others.  There were even a few spladdle attempts.  We also saw a lot of fireman's, which were taboo only a few years ago, and now head in the middle leg laces.  It is important for youth wrestlers to learn as many techniques as possible so they're well-rounded, well-versed, and have mat and situational awareness.  So, don't eliminate them, but train the basics to be the best.

In our lives, we cannot take things for granted (especially in youth sports).  Are we doing what we're doing because it's the way it's always been done?  Or are we doing what's best?  In sport, are we really interested in long-term, sustainable success or the flavor of the month?  You have to watch the absolute best wrestlers in the world to know what the best wrestling is.

Remembering Kindness in Wisconsin Rapids

I'm in Wisconsin Rapids this week doing the commentary for the World Championships from inside the TrackWrestling studio.  We sit in front of a green screen, so it looks like we're in Kazakhstan, but we're indeed in Rapids.  Every time I'm in Wisconsin Rapids, my mind is flooded with wrestling memories.  I'm sure many of you can relate.

Our high school wrestling team had some battles with Wisconsin Rapids in the 90's.  They were the object of our focus when it came to setting team goals and it's easy to revel in those glory days.  We were determined to stop their run of consecutive state titles and win our school's very first team state title.  We had some great teams and even though we were close on a few occasions, we never pulled it off.

Coach Brandvold was obsessed with figuring out a way to dethrone the champions.  He schemed and adjusted the line-up the best he could and we sure knew the ins and outs of those Rapids teams in the 90's (all pre-TrackWrestling, by the way...ironic).  Coach knew it would be important to see them in December and attended their home dual tournament.  It gave us an opportunity to get up close with our rivals and every little detail mattered.  He left no stone unturned and neither did Coach Lewie Benitz.  I learned a lot about being a coach by watching those two prepare for battle.  Brandvold always stepped off the distance between the mat and the chairs before our dual with Rapids started because he was convinced Lewie had sneaky ways of gaining an advantage.  One year, our chairs were 12-feet from the mat and their chairs were 8-feet from the mat despite what the rule book stated.  An honest mistake, right?  There was a time we had one of their studs dead to rights on his back and an inadvertent buzzer forced the official to blow the whistle that forced a re-start from the referees position.  Another honest mistake, right?

On top of the team memories, I have a plethora of individual memories in this town.  I first competed here at the Freestyle State Tournament when I was in 4th grade and I finished in 6th place.  I lost my very first [freestyle] match by technical fall to Nick Malanche in 12 seconds and I'm still upset with getting pinned in a "cow catcher" by a kid from Viroqua for 5th place.  He dug his long finger nails into my side and left claw marks that went with my tears.  It took me a few years to figure out how to be competitive in freestyle and I finally won my first freestyle state title as a Cadet in 8th grade.  I beat two high school state qualifiers in that tournament and also had my first 5-point throw when I stood up with a double leg, hooked an elbow and back arched.  That weekend alone gave me the confidence to set the goal of being a high school state champion the next year as a freshman.

Throughout my middle and high school wrestling career, I developed a friendly rivalry with Justin Tritz.  He founded TrackWrestling and I'm working alongside him this week.  We had a couple of showdowns right in Rapids at freestyle state and also had an important match in the Kohl Center's first year of holding the WIAA state tournament our senior year.  I was chasing my 4th title and he was on a "vision quest."  That was over 20 years ago and people still like to ask questions and reminisce with me.  All of those are great memories (I probably enjoy them more than he does ;) ).

All competition aside, the thing I sincerely remember most about Wisconsin Rapids is the kindness from the athletes, parents and coaching staff that we received every time we came to town.  There's no doubt, they thought about us daily just like we were thinking about them.  Brandvold pushed Lewie to be his best the same way Tritz pushed me to be my best.  Through it all, there was mutual respect and genuine kindness all around.

We attended their team dual tournament my senior year and after a long bus ride in inclement weather, we were a bit late for weigh-ins.  I showed up to the check scale slightly over weight.  Lewie made sure I had a place to workout and made sure the weigh-in process lasted as long it could so I could make weight.  He wanted us at our best and it showed me a genuine gentleness that wasn't always seen in the heat of competition.  He was a fierce competitor, but is also a very good man.  He always treated my dad well as the site host of the WWF State Tournaments and they developed a strong friendship.  I also appreciate how well he treated my mom.

The wrestling tradition is very strong in Wisconsin Rapids and their program is on the rise.  So is ours.  I'm finding myself scouting them in anticipation of future individual and possible team match-ups with big implications.  Team Sectionals will be in River Falls this season and it's possible that Rapids will come to our gym with a lot on the line (both teams would need to win the regional tournament to set-up the dual meet to qualify for Team State).  Additionally, Individual Sectionals are in Wisconsin Rapids, so many of our current athletes will begin creating memories of their own from this old mill town on the Wisconsin River.  It sure would be sweet if they could reminisce in 20-plus years with great memories.

Worlds Day 5

We're about ready to begin day 5 of the Senior World Championships in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan.  I'm reporting on the women's wrestling portion of the tournament for TrackWrestling.  It's 11:00 PM here in the studio, but we're treating it like 11:00 AM tomorrow.  Our internal clocks are a little out of commission right now.  We're plowing through, though.

The American women performed well yesterday and are set-up to have another good day.  Log in to watch the footage live on TrackWrestling.  Feel free to communicate throughout the broadcast with us through social media or text messages.  That helps keep our tanks filled and our engines rolling.

Worlds Day 4

The World Championships are taking place in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan.  I'll be doing the commentary for the [senior] women's division on TrackWrestling.  We'll be doing the "Scramble Cam" - four mats played simultaneously.

I'm fortunate to be able to do the commentating from a studio in Wisconsin Rapids rather than inside Bay Arena halfway across the world.  I'm doing the reporting live, though, so my hours are going to be messed up this week (+12 hour difference).

Quiet Contributors

Cleaning out my garage and sifting through some bins, I came across some great articles from the River Falls Journal.  The Journal and Bob Burrows did extensive coverage on the RFHS wrestling team on March 2, 2000.  The Wildcats were making their 4th trip to the team state tournament and the support from the community was incredible.  The 2000 team was very well-balanced and next to the 1997 team, it was probably the next best team, top to bottom, that Coach David Brandvold had in his career.

Many accolades from the individuals in the late 90's and early 2000's are on display in the basement of the middle school where the wrestlers get after it in the district's only wrestling room.  The state titles and school records that were easy for Burrows to write about are still quite lively as bench marks for the next generations of Wildcats wrestlers.

Some of the words that were shared in The Journal almost 20 years ago don't have real estate on the wrestling room walls, however, they're equally as important as the medals that do.

Every successful team has unsung heroes, role players and tremendous support systems, including reliable quality practice partners.  That's why I wanted to bring to light this article that I found stashed away.

I talked to Pete Kimball's father this morning at church and showed him this picture.  He had fond memories of that team and his son's contributions.  We talked about how important high school wrestling is to so many individuals who don't receive notoriety for their efforts.  He said that wrestling had a big impact on Pete's life as much as anything else he'd done.  It taught him how to fight for things and to overcome struggles.  Wrestling is a constant struggle and he explained how Pete choosing to be a dairy farmer has presented a lot of struggles and he's been able to overcome many of them because of what he learned in wrestling.

I love the quiet contributor stories.  I think they're the real pulse of high school sports.  These type of individuals are the glue that define the culture and dynamics of each team.  It's unfortunate that these stories aren't told more often, however, we all know they'd lose some value if they were talked about in the limelight.  At their core, they're behind-the-scenes, quiet contributors and unsung heroes, but make no mistake, they ARE heroes.

The Mind, Explained

Netflix has a new series called The Mind, Explained.  I saw it listed while browsing for something short and interesting to watch.  The idea of trying to understand what is going on inside our heads fascinates me.

The series briefly covers topics like anxiety, memory and others.  Each episode focuses specifically on one of those topics for 20-minutes.

I thought it would be helpful in my quest to understand others and to tap into the mind of my athletes, students and those around me.  As a coach, I try to develop the Total Athlete - body, mind and soul - so it made sense to choose The Mind, Explained.

Because of the length of each episode, the series only scratches the surface of complex topics.  However, it's worth the time and I learned a few important things that I'll be able to apply and be aware of instantly.

Boundaries for our kids

I had a long conversation today with a friend of mine who has three children just one step ahead of ours.  We talked about expectations and boundaries for them and compared and contrasted to the ideals of other families.  We both leaned heavy towards "conservative" and/or "traditional" ways of thinking in many cases...kind of old school in thought.  Of course, the conversation began with youth sports, but it ventured into dating and other typical high school and middle school things.

My oldest is in 5th grade and I enjoy listening to parents talk about their journey in hopes that I'll be as ready as I can be for future situations.  We've also had a few high school and college students live with us, so we've got a head start on some things.

We use modern and old school tactics to encourage our boys to do the right thing.  The same is true when it comes to correcting behavior.  We've had ups and downs like every family and we're still in the beginning stages of child rearing.  With only one in double digits for age, we're all still pretty naive.

I'd like to hear what kind of expectations and boundaries you have for your children.  For example, just based on our conversation starter today, how do you handle the youth sports scene?  Do you expect your kid to finish the season no matter what (no quitting mid-season policy)?  Do you have a plan for handling training and/or over-training, traveling, competitions, coaches, etc. or are you going with the flow?

How about when it comes to your children dating?  Should there be age restrictions, social media/electronics monitoring, curfews, sleep overs, etc.?

What are some of the things that, no matter how hard I try, there's no way that I'll be prepared for what's to come?  Based on your experiences, what advice do you have for parents?

Beginner's Pluck

For the last several years, a staple in my growth has been the Global Leadership Summit.  It takes place every August and gathers leaders from all over the world that focus on becoming better.  I've attended a satellite location in the Twin Cities and use it conclude my summer and jump start the next year.  I gather my reading list and find incredible leaders to follow through blogs, podcasts and other outlets.

Liz Bohannon is the co-founder and owner of Sseko Design and a rising star in the leadership world.  Her indelible talk at the GLS this year impacted many.  Instead of a mic drop, she literally flew off the stage while borrowing a quote from the movie Mighty Ducks to conclude her talk.  It was awesome.  She was quite spirited and determined, which is the definition of the word she based her book on: Beginner's Pluck.

Bohannon released the book at the Summit, so I purchased two copies and have made the recommendation to several people.  Unfortunately, the book is not officially available until October 1st, but you can pre-order it on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.  And I recommend that you do right away.  Believe it or not, she's actually passing through Minneapolis on her book tour (October 23).

I took a few pages of notes during her talk and have re-watched it a few times on the GLS app.  It's that good.  Here is a fancy sketch of some key points from the GLS website:

What resonated most with me personally was the idea that people don't you to be their hero; they need you to help them to be the hero in their own story.

I'd enjoy hearing from others their thoughts on Beginner's Pluck and the work that Liz Bohannon is doing.  She's a difference maker, that's for sure.

http://lizbohannon.co/beginners-pluck/

*Pluck (n.) - spirited and determined courage.

Where were you?

"Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September Day?"

I was a fourth year college student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison on September 11, 2001.  My Tuesday mornings that semester were set-up to include a morning workout followed by a history class discussion group.  I had done a workout in the weight room and finished with some stretching and sweating in the sauna.  My brother swung the sauna door open and told me that a plane had just crashed into the World Trade Center in New York.  I shrugged it off because, in my mind, I had envisioned a small plane bouncing off the side of the building.  I didn't consider anything else.  Why would I?  Moments later, WIBA radio made the same announcement.  If it was on the radio, what Tony told me might have been a big deal, so I took a shower and went to the wrestling offices to watch CNN with a few others before my discussion group started.  By the time I had gotten to a TV, the second plane had hit the South Tower and it was clear that these weren't accidents.

My class was scheduled for 9:55 AM (CST), so I stood and intently watched the coverage for the next 40 minutes that would change all of our lives forever.  The footage focused on the Twin Towers and smoke bellowed out of them.  Soon a report of another plane at the Pentagon was being reported and then to our surprise, and everyone else's across the world, the South Tower collapsed in a horrific heap.  We were all shocked.  I remember our secretary screaming when the tower fell and as we watched for what only seemed like a few minutes, they were saying another high jacked plane went down in Pennsylvania.  It was at that time that we began to comprehended that our nation was under attack.  Roughly 20 minutes after the South Tower collapsed, the North Tower fell.  It was unbelievable.  We were all stunned.  In just over an hour, hysteria broke out and our country was forever changed.

I went to class as scheduled.  It was a discussion group for the History of the Crusades from the Islamic Perspective.  The T.A. who ran the discussion was from Long Island.  Everyone showed up to class because things were still so fresh.  We all knew what jihad meant.  Our T.A. said there would be no discussion and we all shared what we had seen and heard.  Everyone was unsure of how to respond, but I remember the T.A. being scared because he hadn't heard from any of his family members.  Another student from NY said his parents worked next to the World Trade Center and he didn't know if they were safe, either.  There are a lot of people from the East Coast at UW-Madison and we quickly learned that cell phone service wasn't working and many were left waiting to hear from loved ones.

The rest of the semester, the professor of the class was called to offer a non-Western point-of-view on many new topics that were fresh in the media, especially jihad.  He traveled to Washington, New York and other places to speak about the attack and answer questions.  We had several weekly lectures canceled because he was being interviewed on CNN, MSNBC, etc.

Growing up, I remember adults telling me they knew exactly where they were when they heard of the assassination of JFK.  For an entire generation, that was a defining moment in their lives.  September 11, 2001 became a significant defining moment for those who were old enough to gather the news.  They'll always remember exactly where they were when they heard.

It doesn't seem like 18 years have passed.  My memory of the events from that day are still very vivid.  We were all challenged to "Never Forget."  And I haven't.

Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September Day?

The Watershed

Our Pastor shared a great story on Sunday that drove home a point and also forced me to think about how the "watershed" can affect our lives as athletes and coaches.  He explained that at the continental divide, water sheds one of two directions and either ends up in the Atlantic Ocean or the Pacific Ocean.  A simple understanding with big time implications for our decisions.

It's similar to the principle of the path: your destination is determined by your path.

I reiterated Pastor's analogy with some athletes later that day as they were beginning a version of preseason training (strength/conditioning and open mat practices).  I encouraged them to make their first day a "watershed moment," understanding that they're going in one of two directions.  In our case, it's either towards our goals or away from them.  The journey and process might not be predetermined, but the final destination is.  The water might meander a bit or get dammed up somewhere or even fall off a cliff in a waterfall.  But the ultimate destination is assured by one means or another.

What goals do you have as an athlete?  As an individual?  Are the decisions your making moving you towards those goals or away from them?  

It's really incredible that we would actually be sincere about making goals, but still choose to go in a direction that moves us further from that destination, isn't it?  Yet, it's so common.  Pursuing your goals and chasing your dreams requires daily active participation.  You must be intentional about what you're doing day in and day out.  Everyday is a watershed moment.

I've been to the "watershed" at Berthoud Pass just West of Denver.  In fact, it was the only route to Fraser, CO where one of my best friends resided.  The Continental Divide is fascinating.  Berthoud Pass is over 11,000 feet above sea level and full of switchbacks on both sides of the pass.  Using that route is always at the mercy of Mother Nature.  I remember feeling very small standing next to the sign that identified the geographical marking of the Continental Divide.  The snow that sat there was about to go in one of two directions in a moments notice (well, when it actually melted).

The watershed starts at one location and travels thousands of miles to the final destination.  Applying that to our goals, it's crystal clear that we MUST start in the right direction.  We must head towards our hopes and dreams otherwise we just won't get to where we want to go.

If you're daring enough to set some big goals, it's important that you make the correct first steps in the direction towards them.  The first step is the watershed moment.  Once you create the momentum, trust the process...but keep moving because tomorrow will surely bring to you another watershed moment and you must chose which side of the divide you're going to go.

Inside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator

One of my athletes shared this video with me.  It took me a few days to get to it, however, I'm glad I finally watched it because it helped understand a few things about the way I approach projects and sometimes life in general.

I'm committed to this 30-day blogging project and will enjoy the next few weeks.  The last couple of nights I've pushed my writing start time to after 10:30 pm...watch the video and you'll understand.  I blame the monkeys.

Sunday Soup Day

A family tradition that we started 7 years ago takes place every Sunday during the (NFL) football season.  We simply call it "Sunday Soup Day."  A long time ago, I had a very amateur cooking blog.  I made corny videos and shared recipes.  Then our kids became very picky eaters and now our cuisine is less than best.  I love cooking, though.  When we started having children, we decided that we had to try to create some of our very own traditions in order to make memories and Sunday Soup Day has stuck.

This week was the first Sunday Soup Day of the season.  We'll experiment with different soups through the first part of February.  Given the clientele in our household, I'm guessing I'll be making classic chicken noodle two out of three weekends.

Over 7 years, many of our friends and family members have been a part of Sunday Soup Day and it has created a lot of great memories.

Bonus points to anyone who can dig up my old cooking blog and pull some great soup recipes to try.

What are some of your special, yet very simple, family traditions?

YouTube TV

An extensive and exhausting conversation in our house over the last 13 years has been about DirecTV.  In college, a bunch of roommates and myself went all in on the most expensive television programming package, including all of the movie channels, NFL Sunday Ticket and other add-ons including a cartoon station that ran a Tom and Jerry marathon.  College students always do strange things.  Don't judge.  I have been a devoted customer ever since.

Despite the outrageous cost, I chose DirecTV because of the live sports options.  A REAL sports fan doesn't record or DVR sports.  End of discussion.  I'm committed to watching the Packers live and will NEVER choose to watch them in delayed fashion.  I wouldn't be able to pull that off anyways as I follow along on Twitter and other social media outlets.  I also enjoy watching many other sports and they need be viewed in real time.  The Packers are available on network television most of the time, so a big TV package isn't necessary for that alone.  Add to that FSN, BTN, ESPN, NFL Network and others and there haven't been many options.

Well, I'm happy to say that as of this week I'm no longer a DirecTV customer and I'm a satisfied sports fan.  I welcomed the NFL Sunday Ticket into my home in 1999 and this football season I'm not entertaining that option (I can borrow my brothers on the app).  The streaming options had been toying with sports, but have balked at the regularly scheduled live options, but MLB forced me to watch YouTube this year when it was the only option for a Twins-Brewers game.  And it worked...on my computer.  I did a little research and with help from a neighbor, I understood that YouTube TV gave me everything that I desired in DirecTV for almost $100 less per month.  Yes, that's two zeros...$100.  I just needed a Smart TV or a Roku so I didn't have to plug into my phone or iPad.

I had to take down our dish to complete an addition on our house and to put it back on the roof was going to require a two-week wait on a technician.  So, the timing was right to try the YouTube TV 5-day trial because I didn't want to miss any Twins games.  They're in the hunt right now.

This week I watched the Packers live on my TV (the Bears still suck), caught some college football and watched a lot of baseball.  All in real time on my TV through our Roku.  We also get to watch our favorite TV shows.  The only downside is the guide and navigating has been a bit of a learning curve and I've concluded it's not going to be as easy as DirecTV.  However, I can watch "cable tv" anywhere, including on my phone.  That's both good and bad.  I did pull up the Twins game to watch a bases loaded at bat when we were on a family walk tonight.  That was cool.  I just hope I'm not distracted by that possibility everywhere I go.  But I can say I don't mind being able to watch House Hunters while waiting to pick-up the boys.  I can also add other family members to my account, so my in-laws get cable for the first time in over 30 years.

So far, so good.  I've been very skeptical of the online TV stuff because it's missed on some important factors (for me).  Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, etc. are fun and we've watched plenty of shows with those subscriptions.  Those alone couldn't meet the demands of sports fan, though.  I think YouTube TV finally bridged the gap.  And our checking account is very pleased (so is my wife!).

The Brown Jug Returns to River Falls

Our community came together tonight for a much anticipated match-up under the Friday Night Lights.  River Falls battled long-time rival Hudson in their first Big Rivers Conference game of the season.  Both had a blemish on their record to a common opponent, so many expected it to be a toss-up.  This game is a significant one every year because the two play for a traveling trophy known as the The Little Brown Jug.  It had been a decade since that ceramic jug had taken rest in the trophy case at RFHS.

The parking lot was completely full.  People parked on the university's grass and the streets nearby were full of cars.  There were more people in Dave Smith stadium than I've ever seen for a sporting event at Ramer Field.  I recall a time in the early 90's when the Vikings and Chiefs scrimmaged each other and there were people all over the grounds.  Tonight was even more impressive than that.

There was also plenty of excitement during game time.  The student sections of both teams cheered loudly and were dressed in a chosen theme (RF: whiteout, Hudson: camo).  There was even a little back-and-forth banter.

It was a close game in the first half, however, the Wildcats came back in the second half and had 3 big interceptions and 4 touchdowns for the victory.  Not only did the Wildcats reclaim the jug, they shook the proverbial monkey off the backs of the coaching staff and others within the district.

Coaches and teachers in our district cannot say enough about how fun the culture has become at RFHS with a competitive and thriving football team.  It drives the culture in other sports the entire season.  It also brings our community together in a very important way.  Friday night was a good as it gets for students in high school (and younger).

Projects on top of projects

We have an unusually high number of projects happening right now at our house.  Each day seems to take on a mind of its own because we often don't know where to start with any of them.  We're currently in the middle of adding a mud room onto to our house, re-doing our back deck, re-arranging the garage/building storage and reconfiguring our basement to create a "secret lair" for the boys (a young boy's version of a man cave).  We kind of bit off more than we can chew.

It's been a bit overwhelming, to say the least, yet it's also provided many opportunities for new experiences.  So, it's also been fun and rewarding.

I don't have a carpenter's brain.  I'm not the typical handy-man, so I always feel out of place picking up lumber at Menard's.  Additionally, Liz is not a visionary when it comes to projects.  My dad is, though, and we've been making progress together.  We've also seen each of our boys step up to the plate in a variety of ways and we've been able to see their personalities shine in new ways.  That was unexpected.

We'll continue to hodge podge our way through these projects and eventually be finished with each one in time to start some more.  Just at the time when we've grown tired of the clutter, I have a fresh perspective on the chaos going on here.

I think it's important for us to take on some projects that are outside our areas of expertise and force us to see life through some different lenses, seek good advice, and ask for help.  In our situation, it might have made more sense for us to hire a contractor to complete our addition.  It would have been cleaner and more efficient, but we'd miss out on the growth areas and the opportunity to model to our children what we encourage them to do daily.

So, my advice tonight is to take on a project.  Build or create something.  Do something outside of your expertise and everyday routine that forces you to ask questions and get some help.  It's good for your soul and practice for the areas where you excel at life.

First Day of School

Today was the official "first day of school" in our household.  The middle school and high school year started yesterday, however, elementary schools in River Falls began today.

Isaiah is our oldest and is in 5th grade.  He has the same teacher for 5th grade as he did in 4th grade.  Micaiah is a 3rd grader and has a new teacher.  Our little squirt (Ezra) is an "older" in 1st grade.  He has the same teacher as last year, too, as he's in the multi-age Kindergarten/1st grade class with Mrs. Hanson.  All three of our boys will have had Mrs. Hanson for two years.  That's 6 consecutive years in her classroom.  She happens to be our neighbor, too!

There was a lot of excitement here this morning.  Liz had the day off, so we were fortunate enough to walk to the bus stop as big group of 5.  The boys could hardly contain themselves as they were ready with more than 40 minutes to spare.  Tomorrow will be another exciting day because the boys will need to be a little more self-sufficient with Liz heading to work just before the bus arrives.

Here's to an incredible 2019-20 school year!

Do you smile when no one is looking?

A small sentence stood out in an article that I recently read.  I've been pondering on it often over the last few days.

The article was about being appreciative and controlling your attention or what you choose to focus on.  It made me think that joy is not about my circumstances, but what God is doing in and through me.

Here's the sentence:

"One common thing to observe is how much you smile when no one is looking."

It's had me paying attention to where my attention is.  Am I satisfied with where I'm at in my life?  Do I choose gratitude enough to have a cheerful disposition so that I'm actually smiling?  Do I understand biblical joy enough to be content, and even smile on my free time?

When you're all alone, what do you focus on?  Do you smile when no one is looking?

Take the Stairs

I have several little idiosyncratic routines that I bestow upon my athletes.  They're often silly and create a number of interesting conversations.  At the same time, a few of them stick and become personal convictions of others.

I made a personal commitment to always choose the stairs and not take elevators.  When I traveled to Paris in 2001, I took the stairs to the 2nd level of the Eiffel Tower (674 steps) and went up and down the stairs outside the Sacre Coeur several times.  After that, there was no turning back and now traveling provides a lot of inconvenient obstacles.  My athletes will confirm this.

"Taking the stairs" went to a new level last week as one of our athletes moved into his 5th story dorm room.  Normally, it wouldn't be a conversation starter for him to take the stairs.  It's just the way it is and it's not negotiable.  However, the commitment went to new heights because he's fresh off ACL surgery.

They way we attack these small commitments is to remain 100% committed no matter what occurs.  It's easier to do something 100% of the time than it is 99% of the time.  The decision had already been made, so a repaired ACL wasn't going interfere with this college freshman taking the stairs.

What are some of your idiosyncrasies that you're certain set you apart?

College Move-In Day: Caution and Encouragement

Yesterday was the official move-in day at UW-RF.  Driving through campus, I felt excitement and optimism bubbling out of young men and women.  Students looked eager to take the next steps in their lifelong journey of education and self-discovering.  I love this weekend.  All over the US, from big public universities to small private liberal arts colleges, "welcome week" encourages inclusion and school spirit and sort of gives everyone the, "hey, go get it" feeling.  It represents a clean slate for so many students; a fresh start for many who are really just beginning their lives.

This is an interesting generation of students entering higher level education, isn’t it?  So many life experiences at 18 years old that generations past didn’t see. Some good, some not-so-good. They’re, by far the most globally connected generation in history with the entire world's information in their pocket.  They have learned about compassion since kindergarten, yet at the same time, they might also be one of the most uniformed and self-absorbed generations we've ever seen.
They’re misunderstood by many and still easy to figure out. They’re equal parts appreciative and entitled.  Good and bad.  Fearful and hopeful.


It seems as though their lives have been a constant juxtaposition up to this point.  Yet, they are the future.  They are the hope for our nation.  They are the next group of business leaders, philanthropists, parents, judges, teachers, politicians, etc., etc.  Many social scientists assert that these young adults will pass the generation ahead of them in many significant ways.  They are the change we've been waiting to see in this world.  They must be, right?  After all, that Ghandi quote was on the wall of every classroom they've been in since kindergarten.

Here, I saw several hundred (not an exaggeration) volunteers (I hope they weren't paid) of upperclassmen unloading cars and carrying boxes inside the dorms for the freshman.  Sure, it's welcoming, hospitable and all of those nice things.  But be careful.  This is big time stuff.  Showing up on campus scared and unsure of yourself isn't a bad thing.  Navigating your way on day one is critical to how the next 4-5 years will play out.  No one is going to carry your boxes in life or your books to class and countless other examples. 

They have what it takes to get the job done.  So, let's get out of their way.  Stop holding their hands and believe that the good stuff inside can be pulled out of them in the next few years.  Speak to their potential, not their problems.  Allow their potential to actually become potent in order to make a difference.