Whatever you are good at, I am sure you have a certain level of expertise, and you likely have spent many years working on that craft. However, from time to time you need to “check yourself before you wreck yourself.” You have heard this famous rap lyric at some time in your life. There is a lot of truth to it. Humility is important.
I have learned the following from over 25 years of coaching soccer.
Over time you develop a lot of knowledge. Your ego will build on that. I have coached thousands of kids, won a lot of games, and won my share of championships. The problem is that my ego got so big that it convinced me that I had all the answers.
At that point, your ego goes unchecked, and your ability to learn stops. When this happens, the day will come when you will get exposed. The worst part is that it’s on display for everyone to see. It happened to me many years ago.
Starting from a position of humility helps you focus on what you don’t know. A respected coach I know encouraged me to “Have a hunger for knowledge and miss no meals.” In addition, the more I learn, the more I realize I don’t do as much as I thought I did.
Now I have developed a “Love of Learning.” The cool thing is that it has pushed me to become better than I thought possible. My players see it and they, along with their parents respect it. The best part about it is that it shows on the field.
The same will be the case for you in whatever craft you desire to learn and grow in. Don’t get to a point where you don’t need it.
