Quotes that I use to inspire me in my Coaching

Quotes that I use to inspire me in my Coaching
I have been fortunate enough to have a lot of people to help, inspire and mentor me on my coaching journey.
This blog is about 2 quotes that I try to follow when coaching athletes and helping other coaches.
The two quotes
John Quinn “There is no such things as secrets, it is how you use it (the information)”
Mike Boyle “God gave me two eyes, two ears and one mouth for a reason”
I tried to find a source for these, the best I could come up for Mike Boyle was by Socrates
We have been given two ears, two eyes, and one tongue. This means that we should hear and see more than we speak.” Socrates (469 BC–399 BC)
John Quinn came to Hobart as the head track and field coach in the early 1990’s, and as an athlete who was also a qualified throws coach I had some contact with him during his 7 years here.  As is the case, you don’t realise how much of an impact someone has on you until they have gone or as you get older and wiser. 
At a coaches meeting, where a few coaches where quite vocal about coaching courses and various other things, John pulled this quote in response to some question.  It is something that has stuck with me, since.
I first read the quote “God gave me two eyes, two ears and one mouth for a reason” in an article by Mike Boyle, probably on his old website.  His take on this was you should listen and watch twice as much as you talk.  I take a slightly different view in that I should watch and listen 80% of the time and only talk 20% of the time.
Why?
Because it is amazing what you learn by watching and listening.  You can hear and see changes in technique, you can see and hear if the athlete is working too hard or too easily.
What does this have to do with helping athletes and coaches?
My role as a coach encompasses a lot of things.
  • Advisor
  • Assessor
  • Counsellor
  • Demonstrator
  • Friend
  • Facilitator
  • Fact finder
  • Fountain of knowledge
  • Instructor
  • Mentor
  • Motivator
  • Organiser and planner
  • Role Model
  • Supporter
  • Educator/Teacher
I hope those quotes and my ideas of what a coach is required to do, make me better. 
Coaching is a learning curve, we make mistakes we learn and we improve.
Thoughts?

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