I was privileged to present on Dryland Training Saturday to
the Collegiate Swim Coaches Association. What made it a privilege was to have
Jim Richardson, the women’s swim coach at Michigan and Jim Steen, the swim
coach at Kenyon in the audience. I realized during the talk how fortunate I
have been to work with two great coaches like them. After my talk Jim Steen and
I were talking over some ideas we had about next year’s program and also looked
back over things that we had done over the years. What things had worked
and what had not, why we had gotten away from certain things and why we had
held onto certain things. We both had a good laugh about the time when we thought
we knew everything. On my flight home that evening I reflected a little more on
this. I guess the stage of knowing everything is a stage we all have to go
through in life both professionally and personally. As I look back on that
stage I realize how uncomfortable it was to think I knew everything. Not only
did I know everything but I would tell anyone who would listen.
How obnoxious is that? For me it was not long before I was knocked off my pedestal.
Certainly at this stage in my life and my career I realize what I don’t know. I
do know that what I do not know is much more than I do know. I also realize
that every day presents the opportunity to learn new things and experience new
challenges. For me now it is the joy of learning new things and meeting that challenge
every day that keeps me motivated and focused. I guess that why I sit in the back of the
room during some of the presentations I have heard over the past six weeks and
smile. I have heard a succession of young coaches who certainly know everything
and let us know it. I hope their fall is not as hard as mine was.
2 Comments
Joe P.
Don’t be so hard on yourself Vern. As great as Bob Dylan was, remember not all of his stuff was good. As a matter of fact, some of it was downright horrible. Unfortunately I saw the “born again” Bob in the early 80’s. He just made me glad to be alive, because he assured all 20,000 of us that when we died we were all going straight to hell. When it comes right down to it, it’s like Bob said in
Joe P.
Don’t be so hard on yourself Vern. As great as Bob Dylan was, remember not all of his stuff was good. As a matter of fact, some of it was downright horrible. Unfortunately I saw the “born again” Bob in the early 80’s. He just made me glad to be alive, because he assured all 20,000 of us that when we died we were all going straight to hell. When it comes right down to it, it’s like Bob said in “Subterranean Homesick Blues- Look out kid, you’re gonna get hit, by users, cheaters, & six time losers”. (Blood on the Tracks/Desire are my favorite albums).